Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positive role of IQGAP1, an effector of Rac1, in actin-meshwork formation at sites of cell-cell contact.

The small guanosine triphosphatase Rac1 is activated by E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and is required for the accumulation of actin filaments, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin at sites of cell-cell contact. However, the modes of activation and action of Rac1 remain to be clarified. We here found that suppression of IQGAP1, an actin-binding protein and an effector of Rac1, by small interfering RNA apparently reduced the accumulation of actin filaments, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin at sites of cell-cell contact in Madin-Darby canine kidney II epithelial cells under the conditions in which knockdown of Rac1 reduced them. Knockdown of Rac1 did not affect the localization of these junctional components in cells expressing a constitutively active IQGAP1 mutant defective in Rac1/Cdc42 binding. Knockdown of either Rac1 or IQGAP1 accelerated the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced cell-cell dissociation. The basal Rac1 activity, which was maintained by E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion, was inhibited in the IQGAP1-knocked down cells, whereas the Rac1 activity was increased in the cells overexpressing IQGAP1. Together, these results indicate that Rac1 enhances the accumulation of actin filaments, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin by acting on IQGAP1 and suggest that there exists a positive feedback loop comprised of "E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion --> Rac1 activation --> actin-meshwork formation by IQGAP1 --> increasing E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. "
Silicon chip with capacitors and transistors for interfacing organotypic brain slice of rat hippocampus

Probing projections between brain areas and their modulation by synaptic potentiation requires dense arrays of contacts for noninvasive electrical stimulation and recording. Semiconductor technology is able to provide planar arrays with high spatial resolution to be used with planar neuronal structures such as organotypic brain slices. To address basic methodical issues we developed a silicon chip with simple arrays of insulated capacitors and field‐effect transistors for stimulation of neuronal activity and recording of evoked field potentials. Brain slices from rat hippocampus were cultured on that substrate. We achieved local stimulation of the CA3 region by applying defined voltage pulses to the chip capacitors. Recording of resulting local field potentials in the CA1 region was accomplished with transistors. The relationship between stimulation and recording was rationalized by a sheet conductor model. By combining a row of capacitors with a row of transistors we determined a simple stimulus–response matrix from CA3 to CA1. Possible contributions of inhomogeneities of synaptic projection, of tissue structure and of neuroelectronic interfacing were considered. The study provides the basis for a development of semiconductor chips with high spatial resolution that are required for long‐term studies of topographic mapping.
LANGUAGE TEACHERS: CONFLICTS AND RESTRUCTURING IN THE PROCESS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This paper is the result of a research in the English teacher education field whose goal is to follow the professional development of in-service teachers who studied Modern Languages in an undergraduate program at a public institution in the interior of the São Paulo state in 2002. Having in mind that many aspects of the human experience construction and organization process are reflected on language, in the investigation developed we compared excerpts from Practicum I and II reports and questionnaires with data from these former-students who are now in-service teachers. Our goal was to demonstrate that feelings like insecurity and anxiety related to the future career, felt especially during the undergraduate program, is still shown in the beginning of the in-service career. Besides being most of the times overcome, the feelings vary according to the student-teachers profile who, in a period of exploration of professional possibilities, structure and restructure the diverse options which life offers them.
Assumptions about Consumers, Producers, and Regulators: What They Tell Us about Ourselves

Calfee and Ringold’s 1992 article “The Cigarette Advertising Controversy: Assumptions about Consumers, Regulation, and Scientific Debate” (Advances in Consumer Research) rejected the prevailing view that advertising is a powerful influence that consumers are ill prepared to resist, discussed the pervasive desire to supplant consumer judgments with those of regulators, and criticized the common substitution of ad hominem attacks for reasoned arguments. In this article, I argue that scientific inquiry in the public interest must begin with a genuine respect for human autonomy, an appreciation of the fallibility of scientists and scientific inquiry, an understanding of consumer competence, and cognizance of both market and regulatory failures. We should explicitly consider the net impact of regulatory means and ends, and judge one another's assumptions, arguments, and evidence on the merits. To do anything less is to diminish the integrity and relevance of scientific research necessary to formulate public policy that enhances general welfare.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes: Role in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in Italy

The heritable defects of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been shown to predispose to breast and ovarian cancers. In a previous report, we analyzed 46 Italian families with breast and/or ovarian cancer for BRCA1 mutations. In the present study, those families and 11 others were screened for BRCA2 mutations; the newly enrolled families were also analyzed for the BRCA1 gene. The coding region and splice boundaries of BRCA2 and BRCA1 genes were assessed by the protein‐truncation test and single‐strand conformational polymorphism. A total of 20 different mutations were found in 21 families (37%). A total of 9 families (16%) showed mutations in the BRCA1 gene, including the one new mutation identified in this study (5382insC), and 12 families (21%) presented mutations in the BRCA2 gene. BRCA2‐mutated families presented breast and ovarian cancers or breast cancers only, whereas most BRCA1‐mutated families presented ovarian cancer alone or in association with breast cancer. All the BRCA2 mutations led to a truncated protein: 6 were frameshift mutations, 4 were non‐sense mutations and 2 involved the intronic invariant region leading to splice variants. Therefore, in the Italian population, the cumulative proportion of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations was within the range observed in other studies (37%), with higher involvement of BRCA2 than of BRCA1. Many families in which no mutations were found presented a very high incidence of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Among the 36 BRCA1 and BRCA2 wild‐type families, 24 presented at least 4 cancer cases, indicating the existence of other important predisposing genes. Int. J. Cancer 83:5–9, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fuzzy Multi-Keyword Query on Encrypted Data in the Cloud

With the popularity of cloud computing, more and more data information is gradually shift to the cloud. The security of cloud data has become a difficult problem that needs to be solved urgently. Data encryption is an effective means to ensure the security of data in the cloud. However, the retrieval of encrypted data is very different from the retrieval of plaintext. The traditional plaintext retrieval method is no longer suitable for the retrieval of the cipher text. In the previous fuzzy search strategy, although fuzzy keyword sets that building on keyword dictionary can realize the fuzzy search. But when the keyword set is constantly increasing, the fuzzy set will be exponentially growing. So the retrieval efficiency will be very difficult to make people satisfied. On the basis of the existing encryption data fuzzy search scheme, abandoned the original fuzzy set of keywords, the search request of keywords and keyword Dictionary of keywords matching correction method to realize the fuzzy search, improving the efficiency of retrieval. At the same time, the Chinese and English data mixed more and more, and the existing fuzzy retrieval scheme supports only a single language retrieval, using English and Chinese comparison table convert Chinese keyword to English keyword to support Chinese and English keyword search, making the precision ratio improved, greatly improving the user's search experience.
The repetitive component of the A genome of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and its role in remodelling intergenic sequence space since its evolutionary divergence from the B genome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an allotetraploid (AABB-type genome) of recent origin, with a genome of about 2·8 Gb and a high repetitive content. This study reports an analysis of the repetitive component of the peanut A genome using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones from A. duranensis, the most probable A genome donor, and the probable consequences of the activity of these elements since the divergence of the peanut A and B genomes. METHODS The repetitive content of the A genome was analysed by using A. duranensis BAC clones as probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (BAC-FISH), and by sequencing and characterization of 12 genomic regions. For the analysis of the evolutionary dynamics, two A genome regions are compared with their B genome homeologues. KEY RESULTS BAC-FISH using 27 A. duranensis BAC clones as probes gave dispersed and repetitive DNA characteristic signals, predominantly in interstitial regions of the peanut A chromosomes. The sequences of 14 BAC clones showed complete and truncated copies of ten abundant long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, characterized here. Almost all dateable transposition events occurred <3·5 million years ago, the estimated date of the divergence of A and B genomes. The most abundant retrotransposon is Feral, apparently parasitic on the retrotransposon FIDEL, followed by Pipa, also non-autonomous and probably parasitic on a retrotransposon we named Pipoka. The comparison of the A and B genome homeologous regions showed conserved segments of high sequence identity, punctuated by predominantly indel regions without significant similarity. CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of the highly repetitive component of the peanut A genome appears to be accounted for by relatively few LTR retrotransposons and their truncated copies or solo LTRs. The most abundant of the retrotransposons are non-autonomous. The activity of these retrotransposons has been a very significant driver of genome evolution since the evolutionary divergence of the A and B genomes.
Changes of Cerebral Biopterin and Biogenic Amine Metabolism in Leukemic Children Receiving 5 g/m2 Intravenous Methotrexate

Acute or subacute neurologic disorders can be observed in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate therapy for lymphoblastic leukemia or malignant tumor. Impairment of biopterin metabolism leading to decreased availability of monoamine neurotransmitters has been suggested to explain methotrexate neurotoxicity. To investigate such a mechanism, we have measured prospectively by HPLC the concentrations of total biopterin, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid of 57 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A sequential analysis of cerebrospinal fluid was performed for each patient: cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained before therapy and after each of the four high-dose methotrexate infusions during the CNS prophylaxis phase. A significant increase of total biopterin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid was observed after high-dose methotrexate therapy compared with the pretreatment values. No cumulative effect was noted. In contrast, no significant variation of the homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid levels was observed in cerebrospinal fluid. However, individual analysis revealed a transient decrease of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of six children. The increase of total biopterin mimicking that observed in inherited dihydropteridine reductase deficiencies suggests that methotrexate inhibits the regenerating system of biopterin in the brain of patients undergoing high-dose methotrexate therapy.
Effect of interferon alfa on the dynamics of hepatitis C virus turnover in vivo

In about 30% to 40% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, treatment with recombinant interferon alfa (r‐IFNα) causes a decrease of serum aminotransferases and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. The antiviral mechanism of interferon alfa (IFNα) in vivo is unknown. From serial measurements of serum HCV‐RNA concentrations following IFNα induced perturbation of the balance between virus production and clearance, we obtained kinetic information on the pretreatment steady‐state of HCV. In patients with chronic hepatitis C responding to IFNα, HCV‐RNA declined exponentially with a half life of approximately 2 days. Modeling of the data predicts that in patients with chronic hepatitis C responding to IFNα this cytokine predominantly acts as an inhibitor of de novo infection of susceptible cells. HCV is released from infected cells with a mean half life of 2.7 ± 1.3 days, whereas the clearance rate from serum is faster (mean half life, 0.7 ± 0.4 days). The minimum virus production and clearance per day in patients with chronic hepatitis C was calculated to be 6.7 × 1010 virions/d (range, 0.2 to 43.8 × 1010 virions/d). These values showed no correlation with the HCV genotype, aminotransferase levels, or the histological activity as assessed before the administration of r‐IFNα. Simultaneous kinetic analysis of serum aminotransferases as surrogate markers of hepatocyte integrity revealed half lifes for the release of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) from hepatocytes of 4.7 ± 3.8 and 3.0 ± 3.5 days, respectively. The half life data for HCV in chronically infected patients are remarkably similar to recently published data on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) suggesting that both RNA viruses replicate continuously and highly productive in vivo. The turnover rates explain the rapid generation of viral diversity and the opportunity for viral escape phenomena from the host immune surveillance.
A design of four-channel bilateral control system under time delay based on hybrid parameters

This research proposes a stabilizing method of bilateral control system under communication delay. Hybrid parameters of bilateral control are focused in design, then position and force controller are modified to eliminate the time-delay element or at least to remove the adverse effect of the element in some parameters important for stability. The developed system keeps the symmetric property of control structure that realizes the performance of force rendering and stability which are independent of manipulating side. The validity of proposed system will be shown by experiments.
Design of copper rotor induction motor for mild-hybrid electric vehicle

With the advent of NEMMP (National Electric Mobility Mission Plan), increase in both production and demand of hybrid and electric vehicles is expected in coming years. Mild hybrid vehicles (MHV) are sought as one of the most plausible options among alternative-fuel-vehicles. There are two prime goals behind development of MHV - a) increase in fuel efficiency and thereby reducing emissions b) keeping incremental cost as low as possible when compared to IC engine vehicle. A car-segment vehicle is considered as pilot-vehicle for the present work. In the pilot-vehicle, electric power is used for threefold applications - a) eliminating idling energy losses with regenerative braking b) engine cranking and c) assisting engine during peak power demand. Induction motor offers a cost-effective solution suitable for the application, due to its ruggedness and established control strategies. Further, use of copper cage in rotor yields higher torque for given input current, which is necessary for assisting engine cranking and peak power mode. As the motor is packaged in high-temperature-environment in the pilot vehicle, forced water cooling is provided. This allows reduction in size of the motor by around 30%. To this end, this paper will elaborate on FEA (Finite Element Analysis) - based design process followed and experimental results. Suitability of this motor to its application by means of simulation of motor performance for several drive cycles, will also be discussed.
Sequence and structural determinants of mannose recognition

Mannose, an abundant cell surface monosaccharide binds to a diverse set of receptors, which are involved in a variety of important cellular processes. Structural analysis has been carried out on all the proteins containing non‐covalently bound mannose as a monosaccharide in the Protein Data Bank, to identify common recognition principles. Proteins, highly specific to mannose, belonging to the super family of bulb lectins, are found to contain a consensus sequence motif QXDXNXVXY, which has been identified to be essential for mannose binding. Analysis of this motif in the crystal structures of bulb lectins has led to the understanding of the contribution of individual residues in mannose recognition. Comparison with other mannose binding proteins, reveals common hydrogen bonding patterns in all of them, despite differences in sequence, overall fold and the substructures at the binding sites of individual proteins. A database analysis also suggests that although the topology of the backbone, as at the binding site in bulb lectins, can generate mannose binding capability in a few other proteins, sequence and disposition of not only the residues in the motif, but also the residues in the neighborhood play a crucial role in allowing that property to be retained. Proteins 2000;39:358–364. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MicroRNAs and HIV-1: Complex Interactions*

RNAi plays important roles in many biological processes, including cellular defense against viral infection. Components of the RNAi machinery are widely conserved in plants and animals. In mammals, microRNAs (miRNAs) represent an abundant class of cell encoded small noncoding RNAs that participate in RNAi-mediated gene silencing. Here, findings that HIV-1 replication in cells can be regulated by miRNAs and that HIV-1 infection of cells can alter cellular miRNA expression are reviewed. Lessons learned from and questions outstanding about the complex interactions between HIV-1 and cellular miRNAs are discussed.
Projecting future drug expenditures--2008.

PURPOSE Drug expenditure trends in 2006 and 2007, projected drug expenditures by setting for 2008, and factors likely to influence drug expenditures are discussed. SUMMARY Various factors are likely to influence drug expenditures in 2008, including drugs in development, the diffusion of new drugs, drug safety concerns, generic drugs, Medicare Part D, and changes in the drug supply chain. The increasing availability of important generic drugs and drug safety concerns continue to moderate growth in drug expenditures. The drug supply chain remains dynamic and may influence drug expenditures, particularly in specialized therapeutic areas. Initial data suggest the Medicare Part D benefit has influenced drug expenditures, but the ultimate impact of the benefit on drug expenditures remains unclear. From 2005 to 2006, total drug expenditures increased by 8.7% to $275 billion. Drug expenditures in clinics continue to grow more rapidly than in other settings, with a 20.9% increase from 2005 to 2006, and drug expenditures in clinics are now greater than the amount spent in hospitals. Hospital drug expenditures increased at a moderate rate of only 3.8% from 2005 to 2006; through the first nine months of 2007, hospital drug expenditures increased by only 2.2% compared with the same period in 2006. CONCLUSION In 2008, we project a 5-7% increase in drug expenditures in outpatient settings, a 12-14% increase in clinics, and a 4-6% increase in hospitals.
Lesion of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons attenuates sleepiness and adenosine after alcohol consumption

Alcohol has a profound effect on sleep. However, neuronal substrates mediating sleep‐promoting effects of alcohol are unknown. Since the basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons are implicated in the homeostatic regulation of sleep, we hypothesized that the BF cholinergic neurons may have an important role in sleepiness observed after alcohol consumption. 192‐IgG‐saporin (bilateral BF infusions) was used to selectively lesion BF cholinergic neurons in adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats. Standard surgical procedures were used to implant sleep recording electrodes or microdialysis guide cannulas. The first experiment used between‐group design [lesion and sham (controls)] and examined effects of BF cholinergic neuronal lesions on alcohol (3 g/Kg; ig) induced sleep promotion. The second experiment used within‐group design [lesion (ipsilateral BF) and sham (controls; contralateral BF) in same animal] and local reverse microdialysis infusion of alcohol (300 mM) to examine the effects of cholinergic neuronal lesions on extracellular adenosine in the BF. Alcohol had a robust sleep promoting effect in controls as evidenced by a significant reduction in sleep onset latency and wakefulness; non‐rapid eye movement sleep was significantly increased. No such alcohol‐induced sleep promotion was observed in lesioned rats with significantly fewer BF cholinergic neurons. Rapid eye movement sleep was minimally affected. Adenosine release was significantly reduced following local infusion of alcohol on the lesion side, with significantly fewer cholinergic neurons as compared with the control side. Based on these results, we suggest that alcohol promotes sleep by increasing extracellular adenosine via its action on cholinergic neurons of the BF.
Individual Antigenic Specificity of Isolated Antibodies

Antisera produced against certain isolated human antibodies showed clear antigenic differences between these antibodies. Individual antigenic specificity was demonstrated for two anti-A antibodies, one anti-dextran, and one anti-levan antibody. Failure to produce specific antisera in other instances appeared to be correlated with a greater heterogeneity of the antibody population used as antigen.
Predicting peer interactions for opportunistic information dissemination protocols

Tactical edge networks provide one of the most challenging environments for communications, which significantly complicates the development of efficient and robust information dissemination solutions. In our previous work, we found that exploiting highly mobile nodes, such as Unmanned Air Vehicles, with cyclic mobility patterns, as message ferries can significantly improve the performance of information dissemination solutions. However, our experience demonstrated that robust forecasting mechanisms are essential in order to withstand frequent changes in the mobility patterns of message ferrying nodes. This paper presents an extension of the adaptive node presence forecasting component developed for DisService, a Peer-to-peer information dissemination system, that provides estimates of tolerance and accuracy of node mobility forecasts. We tested the extended forecasting mechanism in a simulation environment and found that it can lead to significant improvements in the timeliness and reliability of information dissemination.