Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of the Ste20-like Kinase (SLK) with the Microtubule

Cytoskeletal remodeling events are tightly regulated by signal transduction systems that impinge on adhesion components and modulators of cellular architecture. We have previously shown that the Ste20-like kinase (SLK) can induce apoptosis through the induction of actin disassembly and cellular retraction (Sabourin, L. A., Tamai, K., Seale, P., Wagner, J., and Rudnicki, M. A. (2000) Mol. Cell. Biol. 20, 684–696). Using immunofluorescence studies, we report that SLK is redistributed with adhesion components at large podosome-like adhesion sites in fibronectin-stimulated fibroblasts. However, in vitrokinase assays demonstrate that its activity is not modulated following fibronectin stimulation. Double immunofluorescence studies in exponentially growing or spreading fibroblasts show that SLK is associated with the microtubule network and can be coprecipitated with α-tubulin. Furthermore, the stimulation of adhesion site formation by microtubule-disrupting agents induces the relocalization of SLK with unpolymerized α-tubulin to large vinculin-containing adhesion complexes. Using microinjection studies, we show that ectopic expression of activated SLK induces the disassembly of actin stress fibers, a process that can be inhibited by dominant negative Rac1. Significantly, endogenous SLK can be colocalized with Rac1 in spreading cells on FN. Finally, the overexpression of SLK by adenoviral infection inhibits cell spreading on fibronectin. These results suggest that SLK is part of a microtubule-associated complex that is targeted to adhesion sites and implicated in the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics.
Clinical relevance and frequency of transient stenoses of the middle and anterior cerebral arteries in bacterial meningitis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We sought to examine the frequency and clinical relevance of intracranial artery stenoses in patients with bacterial meningitis in whom the occurrence of stroke has angiographically been reported to be associated with stenoses or occlusions of the large basal cerebral arteries. METHODS Thirty-five unselected patients (24 men, 11 women; mean age, 51 +/- 18 years) with bacterial (n = 33) or fungal (n = 2) meningitis prospectively underwent serial transcranial Doppler sonography recordings of mean blood velocity (MBV) and pulsatility index in the middle (MCA) and anterior (ACA) cerebral arteries, as well as recordings of the ratio of the MBV of the MCA and internal carotid artery (MCA/ICA ratio) on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 14, and 21 after admission. The results were correlated with the Glasgow Coma Scale (days 1 to 14), the occurrence of focal cerebral signs, and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (short-term outcome, day 21). An MCA stenosis was diagnosed by an MBV of 120 cm/s or more or an MCA/ICA ratio of more than 3. An ACA stenosis was diagnosed by an MBV of 100 cm/s or more. RESULTS Transient stenoses occurred most frequently between days 3 and 5 and were detected in 18 patients (51%). Seventeen patients remained without a stenosis. Patients with stenoses showed a significantly poorer mean Glasgow Coma Scale score from day 3 (9 +/- 4) to day 14 (11 +/- 4) than patients without a stenosis (day 3: 13 +/- 4, P < .01 by t test; day 14: 14 +/- 1, P < .05). The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale score was not significantly different between both groups. The occurrence of mainly transient focal cerebral signs was significantly related to the number of narrowed vessels per patient (P < .05, chi 2 test). CONCLUSIONS Stenoses of the intracranial arteries occur frequently in bacterial meningitis and are associated with a complicated course of the disease.
Genotype assessment as a tool for improved risk prediction in cardiac surgery.

REDICTION OF PERIOPERATIVE mortality and morbidity risks remains an important issue in adult cardiac surgery for both the patient and the physician. One objective method to estimate the perioperative risk involves the use of risk prediction models (RPMs). These statistical tools have been utilized for more than 30 years and primarily are based on the correlations that exist among a patient’s preoperative health condition, the type of surgical procedure, and the frequency of postoperative complications that result from surgery. 1-3 One of the major limitations of current RPMs is their relative lack of accuracy. In fact, the calculated perioperative risk of death during adult cardiac surgery may be incorrect in 1 of every 5 patients and even higher in high-risk groups. 3,4 Over the past decade, linkages have been identified between inherited genetic information and many chronic pathologies (eg, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases) that increase the risks of postoperative complications and mortality following cardiac surgery. 4-6 These linkages raise the question of whether information about a patient’s genome could improve the predictive capability of existing RPMs. The present review addresses this question.
Downregulation of nitrovasodilator‐induced cyclic GMP accumulation in cells exposed to endotoxin or interleukin‐1β

1 Induction of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) results in overproduction of nitric oxide (NO), which may be a principal cause of the massive vasodilatation and hypotension observed in septic shock. Since NO‐induced vasorelaxation is mediated via the soluble isoform of guanylate cyclase (sGC), the regulation of sGC activity during shock is of obvious importance, but yet poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the activation of sGC by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) before and after exposure of rat aortic smooth muscle cells to endotoxin (LPS) or interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). 2 Exposure of rat aortic smooth muscle cells to SNP (10 μm) elicited up to 200 fold increases in cyclic GMP. This effect was attenuated by 30–70% in IL‐1β‐ or LPS‐pretreated cells, in a pretreatment time‐and IL‐1β‐ or LPS‐concentration‐dependent manner. When, however, cells were exposed to IL‐1β or LPS and then stimulated with the particulate guanylate cyclase activator, atriopeptin II, no reduction in cyclic GMP accumulation was observed. 3 Pretreatment of rats with LPS (5 mg kg−1, i.v.) for 6 h led to a decrease in aortic ring SNP‐induced cyclic GMP accumulation. 4 The IL‐1β‐induced reduction in SNP‐stimulated cyclic GMP accumulation in cultured cells was dependent on NO production, as arginine depletion abolished the downregulation of cyclic GMP accumulation in response to SNP. 5 Reverse‐transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the ratio of steady state mRNA for the α1 subunit of sGC to glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase was decreased in LPS‐ or IL‐1β‐treated cells, as compared to vehicle‐treated cells. 6 Protein levels of the α1 sGC subunit remained unaltered upon exposure to LPS or IL‐1β, suggesting that the early decreased cyclic GMP accumulation in IL‐1β‐ or LPS‐pretreated cells was probably due to reduced sGC activation. Thus, the observed decreased responsiveness of sGC to NO stimulation following cytokine or LPS challenge may represent an important homeostatic mechanism to offset the extensive vasodilatation seen in sepsis.
The role of proton motive force in expression of the Staphylococcus aureus cid and lrg operons

The Staphylococcus aureus cidABC and lrgAB operons have been shown to play a key role in the regulation of murein hydrolase activity and cell death in a manner thought to be analogous to bacteriophage‐encoded holins and anti‐holins respectively. Because of these functions, it has been proposed that the regulation of these operons is tightly controlled and responsive to key metabolic signals. The current study revealed the presence of two overlapping regulatory pathways controlling cidABC and lrgAB expression, one dependent on acetic acid and the other dependent on proton motive force (PMF). The latter pathway was analysed using agents that affect various aspects of the PMF. Gramicidin and carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), antimicrobial agents that dissipate the ΔpH and membrane potential (ΔΨ), both enhanced lrgAB expression. Restoration of the PMF by incubation of the bacteria in the presence of glucose restored lrgAB expression back to the uninduced state. In addition, valinomycin, which specifically collapses the ΔΨ, also induced lrgAB expression. In contrast, nigericin, which dissipates the ΔpH component of the PMF, was found to have a minimal effect on ΔΨ and lrgAB transcription. Finally, the ΔΨ‐inducible expression of lrgAB was shown to be dependent on the previously characterized LytSR two‐component regulatory system that is involved in the regulation of autolysis. The results of this study support a model in which the LytSR regulatory system responds to a collapse in ΔΨ by inducing the transcription of the lrgAB operon.
Comparing alternative metrics to assess performance on the Iowa Gambling Task

This study was conducted in response to calls to develop Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) metrics reflecting more homogeneous aspects of decision making, as well as to add to the literature on reliability and validity of the instrument. The conventional IGT metric, advantageous minus disadvantageous deck selections, was compared to alternatives in which Decks B and C or the first 40 selections were eliminated. We correlated these alternative metrics with performance on other neuropsychological tests in 214 healthy adults, and we compared participant subgroups stratified by health status (214 healthy and 43 unhealthy participants). Internal consistency of the IGT was low and could explain the modest levels of construct validity observed. Alternative metrics, especially Deck D minus Deck A selections (D–A), did improve construct and criterion validity of the IGT. They also showed different patterns of correlation with other neuropsychological measures and might enhance the clinical and scientific usefulness of this test. Future research with an eye to modifying the paradigm and/or administration procedures to increase intertrial consistency might also give a needed boost to construct and criterion validity.
Cardiovascular MRI for detection of myocardial viability and ischaemia

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States and Europe. Although there has been a decline in the number of deaths from myocardial infarction throughout the western world, the mortality for congestive heart failure has more than doubled. Importantly, CAD accounts for the majority (almost 70%) of congestive heart failure cases. In the clinical management of patients with congestive heart failure caused by CAD, the accurate assessment of myocardial viability is crucial to guide treatment; this is because revascularisation of dysfunctional but viable myocardium can improve ventricular function and long-term survival. Another everyday clinical scenario is the risk stratification of patients suspected to have CAD presenting for work up of chest pain syndromes. If left ventricular function is normal, stress testing remains the primary approach for detecting myocardial ischaemia. Traditionally nuclear imaging, stress echocardiography and (stress) electrocardiography have been the clinical mainstays for assessing myocardial viability as well as to detect myocardial ischaemia. However, cardiovascular MR (CMR) is a rapidly emerging non-invasive imaging technique, providing high-resolution images of the heart in any desired plane and without radiation. Rather than a single technique, CMR consists of several techniques that can be performed separately or in various combinations during a patient examination. For example, cine-CMR can provide assessment of cardiac morphology, function and contractile reserve; perfusion CMR with and without vasodilators can provide assessment of myocardial perfusion reserve, and contrast enhanced CMR (ceCMR) can be used for infarct detection as well as non-invasive tissue characterisation. This article will review the potential of CMR for managing patients with known or suspected CAD by discussing different CMR techniques for assessment of myocardial viability and myocardial ischaemia. The most precise definition of infarction, and therefore the loss of viability, is that myocyte death must have occurred. All ischaemic events …
Simulation of single-event upset in power MOSFETs

The effects of striking of ions on a low-voltage power MOSFET have been investigated in this work. Special emphasis has been given on the study of Single Event Gate Rupture (SEGR) event. The physics-based device simulation tools: Silvaco ATHENA and ATLAS are used for process and device simulations and characterize the electrical properties of a power MOSFET suitable for space applications.
The current state of vaccine development for ocular HSV-1 infection

Herpes simplex virus type 1 continues to be the leading cause of infectious corneal blindness. Clinical trials for vaccines against genital HSV infection have been ongoing for more than three decades. Despite this, no approved vaccine exists, and no formal clinical trials have evaluated the impact of HSV vaccines on eye health. We review here the current state of development for an efficacious herpes simplex virus type 1 vaccine and call for involvement of ophthalmologists and vision researchers.
A neutron spectrometer for avionic environment investigations

The aim of this work was to build an embeddable atmospheric neutron spectrometer to record data during airplane flights. The challenge was to design compact equipment with the largest detection range of neutron energy and the capability to determine the neutron spectrum. In this paper, we present this equipment, its validation and some preliminary flight results. We have validated this equipment and the method to analyze recorded data. So, with this equipment, systematic data recording can be considered to get more accurate informations on neutron flux and neutron spectrum versus altitude, longitude, latitude or solar event.
Implementation of Object Recognition for an Environmental Monitoring System Final Report for CSE 190 A : Projects in Vision & Learning

The goal of this project is to build an object recognition module to solve the interested object counting problem of an ecological image database. Taiwan Forestry Research Institution (TFRI) deployed a remote camera on a bee nest for population tracking. The camera captures one picture every minute in daylight, and transfers those images to the server at night. In order to shorten the data process, this project implements a computer vision approach to count the number of bees in every picture. If the counting result turns out good enough, it can avoid transferring any image but instead just some numbers. The source images of this project come from Archiving Gallery of Shanping Workstation of TFRI [5]. This report is going to present the implementation of this project (section 2), and then talk about the problems of the current approach (section 3), compare the complexity of two implements and open the discussion to further development (section 4).
Scinderin and cortical F-actin are components of the secretory machinery.

Secretory vesicle exocytosis is the mechanism of release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Secretory vesicles are localized in at least two morphologically and functionally distinct compartments: the reserve pool and the release-ready pool. Filamentous actin networks play an important role in this compartmentalization and in the trafficking of vesicles between these compartments. The cortical F-actin network constitutes a barrier (negative clamp) to the movement of secretory vesicles to release sites, and it must be locally disassembled to allow translocation of secretory vesicles in preparation for exocytosis. The disassembly of the cortical F-actin network is controlled by scinderin (a Ca(2+)-dependent F-actin severing protein) upon activation by Ca2+ entering the cells during stimulation. There are several factors that regulate scinderin activation (i.e., Ca2+ levels, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), etc.). The results suggest that scinderin and the cortical F-actin network are components of the secretory machinery.
Biliary Strictures Are Not the Cause of Pain in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis

Objective: To investigate the relationship of strictures of the common bile duct (CBD) with pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and jaundice. Methods: A total of 61 patients with CBD strictures caused by CP of alcoholic etiology were treated by endoscopic stent insertion for 1 year with scheduled stent exchanges. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale, and analgesic medication was recorded prior to and after endoscopic treatment. Results: Endoscopic drainage was successful in all cases, with complete resolution of jaundice during the 1-year follow-up period. Prior to the endoscopic stent insertion, pain scores were 6.8 ± 6.3. Following stent therapy pain scores were 7.7 ± 7.7. Pain scores, the number of patients requiring analgesics, the required amount of analgesics, and the type of analgesic medication did not change following treatment of CBD stricture. Conclusion: Successful endoscopic drainage of biliary obstruction has no influence on pain pattern in patients with CP. CBD obstruction does not cause pain in patients with CP.
Spontaneous and locomotor‐related GABAergic input onto primary afferents in the neonatal rat

The in vitro brain stem–spinal cord preparation of neonatal rats (0–5 days old) was used to examine the contribution of GABAA (γ‐aminobutyric acid) receptors to the spontaneous and locomotor‐related antidromic firing in the dorsal roots of neonatal rats. Spontaneous bursts of antidromic discharges were generated by the underlying afferent terminal depolarizations reaching spiking threshold. The number of antidromic action potentials increased significantly in saline solution with Cl– concentration reduced to 50% of control. Bath application of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline, at low concentrations (1–2 μm), or picrotoxin blocked the antidromic discharges in the dorsal roots almost completely. The increase in Cl– conductance was therefore mediated by an activation of GABAA receptors. Increasing the concentration of bicuculline to 10–20 μm never blocked these discharges further. On the contrary, in half of the preparations, the number of antidromic action potentials was higher in the presence of high concentrations of bicuculline (10–20 μm) than in the presence of picrotoxin or low concentrations of bicuculline. This suggests that bicuculline, at high concentrations, may have other effects, in addition to blocking GABAA receptors. Dorsal root firing was observed during fictive locomotion induced by bath application of excitatory amino acids and serotonin. A rhythmical pattern was often demonstrated. Bicuculline at low concentrations caused a decrease of the antidromic discharge whereas, at high concentrations, bursts of discharges appeared. A double‐bath with a barrier built at the L3 level was then used to separate the mechanisms which generate locomotion from those mediating primary afferent depolarizations. Excitatory amino acids and serotonin were perfused in the rostral pool only. Decreasing the concentration of chloride in the caudal bath caused a sharp increase in the number of antidromic action potentials recorded from the L5 dorsal root. These discharges, which were modulated in phase with the locomotor rhythm, were blocked by bicuculline. These data demonstrate the existence of a locomotor‐related GABAergic input onto primary afferent terminals in the neonatal rat.
High performance organic substrate with high dielectric constant, low loss, and low temperature coefficient of resonant frequency for high frequency RF module applications

In this paper we present a thin organic resin substrate material (called X-R) for RF modules and high frequency devices, which has a very low insertion loss property. The X-R material possesses the same dielectric constant (Dk=7.0) and the same loss (Df=0.003) as LTCC, and shows low TCF (temperature coefficient of resonant frequency) (5.9ppm/deg.C at 1GHz). We have proven that embedded band-pass filter based on the X-R shows very low insertion loss (S21) performance, which is promising for RF modules and high frequency devices
Tracking Deformable Object via Particle Filtering on Manifolds

Dynamic deformation of target is a prominent problem in image-based tracking. Most existing particle filtering based tracking algorithms treat deformation parameters of the target as a vector. We have proposed a deformable target tracking algorithm via particle filtering on manifolds, which implements the particle filter with the constraint that the system state lies in a low dimensional manifold: affine Lie group. The sequential Bayesian updating consists in drawing state samples while moving on the manifold geodesics; this provides a smooth prior for the state space change. Then we estimate affine deformation parameters through means on Lie group. Theoretic analysis and experimental evaluations against the tracking algorithm based on particle filtering on vector spaces demonstrate the promise and effectiveness of this algorithm.
Intravenous somatic gene transfer with antisense tissue factor restores blood flow by reducing tumor necrosis factor-induced tissue factor expression and fibrin deposition in mouse meth-A sarcoma.

Fibrin is deposited on the endothelial cell surface in the vasculature of murine methylcholanthrene A-induced sarcomas after injection of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Capillary endothelial cells of the tumor vascular bed become positive for tissue factor after TNF injection, based on immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Intravascular clot formation was not dependent on tissue factor derived from tumor cells, since in vessels of tumors not expressing tissue factor, TNF also induced fibrin/fibrinogen deposition. However, the time course of fibrin/fibrinogen deposition after TNF differed in tumors expressing no, little, or greater amounts of tissue factor. Fibrin/fibrinogen deposition was more rapid in tumors in which the neoplastic cells expressed tissue factor than in tumors not expressing tissue factor. In the tumors not expressing tissue factor, activation of coagulation was dependent on TNF-induced synthesis of tissue factor by host cells, i.e., endothelium or monocytes/macrophages. Intravenous somatic gene transfer with tissue factor cDNA in the antisense orientation (but not sense or vector alone) reduced intravascular fibrin/fibrinogen deposition and restored blood flow to the tumor, showing that de novo tissue factor expression is central in TNF-induced activation of the coagulation mechanism.
Representative literature on the phytonutrients category: Phenolic acids

ABSTRACT Research concerning the benefits derived from dietary polyphenols, a significant class within the family of phytonutrients, has increased considerably in the last decade. Prior to the late 1990s, the nutritional spotlight focused on the antioxidant capabilities of carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals. More recently, however, research has emerged in strong support of the antioxidant capacity of polyphenols and their role in the prevention and/or treatment of certain cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation. Polyphenols are categorized according to the nature of their carbon skeleton, ranging from basic phenolic molecules to highly complex compounds, such as flavonoids, the most common and widely studied of all phenolic compounds. The most prevalent phenolic acids include ellagic acid, gallic acid, tannic acid, and capsaicin.