Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mammalian sperm phosphodiesterases and their involvement in receptor‐mediated cell signaling important for capacitation

This study investigated the presence and function of intracellular cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in mature mouse spermatozoa. PCR analysis detected gene transcripts for most of the 11 known PDE families in whole testis, but mainly for PDEs 1, 3, 6, and 8 in spermatozoa. Using specific antibodies, the strongest evidence was obtained for PDE proteins 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 11 in both sperm lysates and intact cells. These showed a range of subcellular localizations, with PDE 1A being primarily in the flagellum but PDEs 4D and 10A being in both the acrosomal region and the flagellum, similar to specific G proteins and adenylyl cyclases implicated in cAMP regulation during capacitation. In live spermatozoa, inhibitors selective for PDE 1 (MMPX) and 4 (rolipram) significantly increased cAMP over control levels but only rolipram significantly stimulated capacitation and in‐vitro fertilizing ability; this suggests that compartmentalization has functional implications since only PDE 4 was abundant in both head and flagellum. Treatment of spermatozoa with CGS 21680, a stimulatory adenosine receptor agonist, significantly reduced cAMP‐PDE activity at the same time‐point when it causes increased cAMP. Thus, certain receptor‐regulated cAMP processes in spermatozoa may be controlled by changes in both PDE and cyclase activities. In addition to demonstrating for the first time that some of the more recently discovered PDE isoforms, including PDE 6 (usually associated with the retina), are present in mature spermatozoa, this study provides clear evidence that the intracellular location of specific PDEs has important functional significance during capacitation and fertilization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Working covariance model selection for generalized estimating equations

We investigate methods for data‐based selection of working covariance models in the analysis of correlated data with generalized estimating equations. We study two selection criteria: Gaussian pseudolikelihood and a geodesic distance based on discrepancy between model‐sensitive and model‐robust regression parameter covariance estimators. The Gaussian pseudolikelihood is found in simulation to be reasonably sensitive for several response distributions and noncanonical mean–variance relations for longitudinal data. Application is also made to a clinical dataset. Assessment of adequacy of both correlation and variance models for longitudinal data should be routine in applications, and we describe open‐source software supporting this practice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Research on synchronized phasor measuring method for dynamic signals

One important characteristic of current and voltage signals is their dynamic behavior which is usually ignored by the traditional phasor measurement algorithm, and inaccurate phasor estimates will be attain by the traditional algorithm because of dynamic behavior such as power system oscillations. The derivatives of Taylor expansion are employed to express dynamic signals and their coefficients are regarded as the constraints for an optimization function, which will generate a sequence to modify the coefficient of the filter. Not only will the physical meaning of the derivative coefficients be described in detail within this paper, but also an efficient phasor estimate algorithm, that has good performance under dynamic conditions, will be proposed. Theoretical analysis, simulation and analysis of real data demonstrate that the performance of the algorithm proposed by this paper is superior to traditional phasor estimate algorithm based on a FIR filter in the presence of oscillations and frequency deviations.
Tumor Budding in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Tumor budding is defined as the presence of a single tumor cell or a small cluster of up to five cells in the tumor stroma, linking it to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). 1 Imai2 illustrated that tumors with this trait have more aggressive qualities and allocated the term "sprouting" instead of "budding. " The term "tumor budding" was coined by Morodomi et al in 1989.3 Tumor budding in vitro or in experiments has been addressed by many names, depending on the researcher's background, few of which are tumor cell dissociation, focal dedifferentia-tion, or EMT.4.
Novel dual bit tri-gate charge trapping memory devices

Dual bit operation of fabricated tri-gate nonvolatile memory devices with aggressively scaled oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) dielectrics is presented for the first time. Compared to a planar cell, the proposed tri-gate device architecture offers higher readout currents and improved electrostatic gate control of the channel region yielding very good scalability of the devices. We have investigated devices with gate lengths in the range L/sub G/=100-220 nm and we focus on their write-erase, retention, and cycling characteristics.
Development of cellular neural network algorithm for detecting lung cancer symptoms

Lung cancer is the most common of lethal types of cancer. One of the most important and difficult tasks a doctor has to carry out is the detection and diagnosis of cancerous lung nodules from x-ray image's result. Some of these lesions may not be detected because of camouflaged by the underlying anatomical structure, the low-quality of the images or the subjective and variable decision criteria used by doctors. Hence, a detection system using cellular neural network (CNN) is developed in order to help the doctors to recognize the doubtful lung cancer regions in x-ray films. In this study, a CNN algorithm for detecting the boundary and area of lung cancer in x-ray image has been proposed. Computer simulation result shows that our CNN algorithm is verified to detect some key lung cancer symptoms successfully and has been proved by radiologist.
Male-mediated spontaneous abortion among spouses of stainless steel welders.

OBJECTIVES Male-mediated spontaneous abortion has never been documented for humans. The welding of stainless steel is associated with the pulmonary absorption of hexavalent chromium, which has genotoxic effects on germ cells in rodents. Clinical and early subclinical spontaneous abortions were examined among spouses of stainless-steel welders. METHODS A cohort of first-pregnancy planners was recruited from members of the union of metal workers and 3 other trade unions. The cohort was followed for 6 menstrual cycles from the cessation of contraceptive use. Altogether, 280 pregnancies were conceived, of which 35 were detected by human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone analysis and did not survive to a clinically recognized pregnancy. Information on exposure was collected prospectively in relation to the outcome and was available for all cycles resulting in a pregnancy. Information on pregnancy outcome was collected for all 245 clinically recognized pregnancies. RESULTS Increased risk of spontaneous abortion was found for pregnancies with exposure to paternal stainless-steel welding (adjusted relative risk 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.3-9.1). The results were consistent in analyses of both biochemically and clinically recognized abortions. There was no increased risk for spontaneous abortion in pregnancies with paternal exposure to the welding of metals other than stainless steel. CONCLUSIONS Male welding of stainless steel was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion in spouses. A mutagenic effect of hexavalent chromium has been found previously in both somatic and germ cells, and the findings could be due to mutations in the male genome.
Water quality and algae succession in integrated fish ponds.

Program of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand Program of Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Agro-Industry, Rajamangala University of Technology, Suvarnabhumi, Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand Aquaculture and Environment of Freshwater Fisheries Research Center (FFRC) of the Chinese Academy of Fishery, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, China
Purine catabolism in plants : purification and some properties of inosine nucleosidase from yellow lupin (lupinus luteus L.) seeds.

Inosine nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.2), the enzyme which hydrolyzes inosine to hypoxanthine and ribose, has been partially purified from Lupinus luteus L. cv. Topaz seeds by extraction of the seed meal with low ionic strength buffer, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and chromatography on aminohexyl-Sepharose, Sephadex G-100, and hydroxyapatite.Molecular weight of the native enzyme is 62,000 as judged by gel filtration. The inosine nucleosidase exhibits optimum activity around pH 8. Energy of activation for inosine hydrolysis estimated from Arrhenius plot is 14.2 kilocalories per mole. The K(m) value computed for inosine is 65 micromolar.AMONG THE INOSINE ANALOGS TESTED, THE FOLLOWING NUCLEOSIDES ARE SUBSTRATES FOR THE LUPIN INOSINE NUCLEOSIDASE: xanthosine, purine riboside (nebularine), 6-mercaptopurine riboside, 8-azainosine, adenosine, and guanosine. The ratio of the velocities measured at 500 micromolar concentration of inosine, adenosine, and guanosine was 100:11:1, respectively. Specificity (V(max)/K(m)) towards adenosine is 48 times lower than that towards inosine.In contrast to the adenosine nucleosidase activity which is absent from lupin seeds and appears in the cotyledons during germination (Guranowski, Pawełkiewicz 1978 Planta 139: 245-247), the inosine nucleosidase is present in both lupin seeds and seedlings.
F‐spondin promotes nerve precursor differentiation

Cells in the developing nervous system secrete a large number of proteins that regulate the migration and differentiation of their neighbors. It is shown here that a clonal central nervous system cell line secretes a protein that causes both a rat hippocampal progenitor cell line and primary cortical neural cells to differentiate into cells with the morphological and biochemical features of neurons. This protein was identified as F‐spondin. Analysis of F‐spondin isoforms secreted from transfected cells shows that the core protein without the thrombospondin type 1 repeats is sufficient to promote neuronal differentiation when adsorbed to a surface. F‐spondin can also inhibit neurite outgrowth while allowing the expression of nerve‐specific proteins when present in a soluble form at high concentrations. Therefore, F‐spondin can alter cell differentiation in multiple ways, depending upon its concentration and distribution between substrate‐attached and soluble forms.
A Fast Algorithm for Solving Scalar Wave Scattering Problem by Billions of Particles

Scalar wave scattering by many small particles of arbitrary shapes with impedance boundary condition is studied. The problem is solved asymptotically and numerically under the assumptions a d , where k = 2= is the wave number, is the wave length, a is the characteristic size of the particles, andd is the smallest distance between neighboring particles. A fast algorithm for solving this wave scattering problem by billions of particles is presented. The algorithm comprises the derivation of the (ORI) linear system and makes use of Conjugate Orthogonal Conjugate Gradient method and Fast Fourier Transform. Numerical solutions of the scalar wave scattering problem with 1, 4, 7, and 10 billions of small impedance particles are achieved for the first time. In these numerical examples, the problem of creating a material with negative refraction coefficient is also described and a recipe for creating materials with a desired refraction coefficient is tested.
Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of a full-length cDNA of porcine CR1-like gene.

Jing Cheng1, Junbing Jiang1, Junxing Zhao1, Zhirui Wang2,3, Yaogui Sun1, Haili Ma1, Kuohai Fan1, Wei Yin1, Na Sun1, Zhiwei Wang1, Xin Zhao1, and Hongquan Li1* College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02148, USA MGH-DF/HCC Recombinant Protein Expression and Purification Core, Boston, MA 02148, USA *Correspondence address. Tel/Fax: þ86-354-6288409; E-mail: livets@163.com
Analysis of toll-like receptor rs4986790 polymorphism in Saudi patients with primary open angle glaucoma

ABSTRACT Background: To investigate whether SNP rs4986790 in toll-like receptors (TLRs) is a risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in a Saudi population. Materials and methods: A cohort of 85 unrelated POAG patients and 95 unrelated control subjects from Saudi Arabia were genotyped utilizing Taq-Man® assay. The association between mutant genotypes and various clinical indices important for POAG was investigated. Results: Among cases, the normal pattern (A/A) was detected in 70 (82.4%) of the subjects, A/G in 14 (16.5%) and G/G in one subject only (1.2%). Among controls, prevalence of the genotype (A/A) was detected in 86 (90.5%), the (A/G) genotype in 8 (8.4%) and homozygous mutated genotype (G/G) in 1 (1.1%) subjects. Comparing cases to controls, the odds ratio of having heterozygous mutation (A/G) was 2.15 [95% CI: 0.853–5.417], which was not significant (p = 0.114). The odds ratio of having homozygous mutation (G/G) was 1.22 [95% CI: 0.075–19.99], which was statistically non-significant (p = 0.568). Likewise, the presence of the mutated allele (G) was non-significantly different between cases and controls (p = 0.154). Comparing cases to controls as regards co-morbidity with other systemic diseases, there were no statistically significant differences between groups in all assessed diseases except for a family history of glaucoma (p = 0.014) Conclusions: In conclusion, we could not detect any direct link between genotypes or allele frequencies of SNP rs4986790 in the TLR4 gene and POAG. In contrast, genotype (A/A) may be protective against POAG especially among individuals with no family history of glaucoma.
Design of an outer rotor ferrite assisted synchronous reluctance machine (Fa-SynRM) for electric two wheeler application

Ferrite Magnet assisted Synchronous Reluctance motors (Fa-SynRMs) are preferred for cost sensitive applications that need high efficiency and wide Constant Power Speed Ratio (CPSR). In this paper, a new rotor topology for an outer rotor Fa-SynRM is proposed to achieve high efficiency and wide (CPSR). Multi-objective optimization is performed using Genetic Algorithms (GA) in conjunction with a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based model to maximize efficiency-constrained CPSR, peak torque and average efficiency for a 1.2 kW electric/hybrid electric two wheeler application. For design studies, rotor structure with pole number between 10 and 16 and stators with different slot numbers with distributed and concentrated windings are considered. Stators are skewed to achieve zero cogging torque and effects of skewing on motor performance are incorporated into the machine model analytically. A 10-pole 48-slot design is chosen from the pareto optimal design set and is prototyped to test the validity of the proposed structure.
Photo-acoustic measurement of thermal conductivity of thin films and bulk materials

Thermal property data are important for every material that is exposed to thermal loading. Due to the microstructures of thin films such as grain size, amorphousness, and concentration of foreign atoms and defects, and also due to the physical dimensions of thin films, thermal conductivity of thin films may differ significantly from the bulk value. Because of the complexity of the thin film microstructure, experiments are often needed to determine thermal conductivity of thin films. The photoacoustic technique is one of the many techniques for measuring thermal conductivity of thin films. Compared with other techniques for thermal conductivity measurement, the photoacoustic method is relatively simple, yet is able to provide accurate thermal conductivity data for many types of thin films and bulk materials. In this work, a general analytical expression is developed, which relates the photoacoustic signal with the thermal properties, optical properties, and thermal contact resistance of a multi-layer system. Thermal conductivity of SiO{sub 2} with thicknesses from 0.05 to 0.5 {micro}m on Si wafer, e-beam evaporated thin nickel film on Si wafer and thermal barrier coatings on alloys is measured using the photoacoustic method up to a frequency of 20 kHz. In addition to the commonly used phasemore » shift fitting method, an amplitude fitting method is also employed. Using amplitude fitting, thermal conductivity for both thin films and bulk materials with smooth or rough surface are obtained, while phase shift fitting can only be used for films which are not thermally thick. Applications of the photoacoustic technique are discussed based on the experimental results. « less
What is the clinical significance of stromal angiogenesis in Barrett's esophagus?

Background: Enriched blood vessels occur in the stroma of Barrett's esophagus and are related to the ease of tumor invasion in the early stage of the cancer. Hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) is closely related with angiogenesis through expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. The aim of the present study was to determine the predictors for angiogenesis in Barrett's esophagus and evaluate their clinical significance.
Differential block of cardiac delayed rectifier current by class Ic antiarrhythmic drugs: evidence for open channel block and unblock.

OBJECTIVE The aim was to compare the effects of the class Ic antiarrhythmic drugs flecainide, encainide, and recainam on the delayed rectifier current, IK. METHODS Membrane currents were studied using the single suction pipette voltage clamp technique in freshly dissociated cat ventricular myocytes bathed in HEPES buffered physiological saline at 32 degrees C. RESULTS Flecainide and encainide decreased IK with IC50 values of 2.1 microM and 6 microM, respectively. Recainam (100 microM) reduced IK by only 7 (SEM 3)% after 20-30 min exposure and by 19% after an 80 min exposure (IC50 > 400 microM). None of the compounds blocked the inward rectifier, IK1. Block of IK by flecainide and encainide increased with depolarisation following a voltage dependence similar to that describing channel activation. Flecainide and encainide also slowed the time course of the IK tail currents, consistent with drug dissociating from open channels. CONCLUSIONS The observed voltage dependence for IK block by flecainide and encainide resembles the interaction reported between these agents and the excitatory sodium channel, ie, depolarisation enhances block while repolarisation leads to removal of block. The results further suggest that the electrophysiological profile of class Ic agents can have a markedly different ionic basis, ie, K+ channel block by flecainide and encainide is balanced by a potent block of sodium channels, while recainam appears to be a weak but relatively specific blocker of sodium channels only. These differences are not readily accommodated by the current Harrison-Vaughan-Williams classification scheme, and suggest the possibility that potentially important drug specific differences can exist within the same antiarrhythmic drug class.
Linkage scan of nicotine dependence in the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Family Alcoholism Study

Background Nicotine dependence has been shown to represent a heritable condition, and several research groups have performed linkage analysis to identify genomic regions influencing this disorder though only a limited number of the findings have been replicated. Method In the present study, a genome-wide linkage scan for nicotine dependence was conducted in a community sample of 950 probands and 1204 relatives recruited through the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Family Alcoholism Study. A modified version of the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) with additional questions that probe nicotine use was used to derive DSM-IV nicotine dependence diagnoses. Results A locus on chromosome 2q31.1 at 184 centiMorgans nearest to marker D2S2188 yielded a logarithm (base 10) of odds (LOD) score of 3.54 (point-wise empirical p=0.000012). Additional peaks of interest were identified on chromosomes 2q13, 4p15.33-31, 11q25 and 12p11.23-21. Follow-up analyses were conducted examining the contributions of individual nicotine dependence symptoms to the chromosome 2q31.1 linkage peak as well as examining the relationship of this chromosomal region to alcohol dependence. Conclusions The present report suggests that chromosome 2q31.1 confers risk to the development of nicotine dependence and that this region influences a broad range of nicotine dependence symptoms rather than a specific facet of the disorder. Further, the results show that this region is not linked to alcohol dependence in this population, and thus may influence nicotine dependence specifically.
Heterogeneity of Nigral and Cortical Lewy Bodies Differentiated by Amplified Triple-Labeling for Alpha-Synuclein, Ubiquitin, and Thiazin Red

Alpha-synuclein(alpha-S) and ubiquitin(Ub) are constituents of the Lewy bodies (LBs), composed of fibrillary structures. To clarify morphological heterogeneity of LBs, we looked for localization of these epitopes in relation to fibrillary structure possibly detectable by a fluorochrome, thiazin red (TR). On the sections of the substantia nigra (SN) and the cingulate gyrus (CG) obtained from Parkinson's disease brains, double amplification by CARD fluorescent immunohistochemistry with anti-alpha-S monoclonal (LB509) and anti-Ub polyclonal antibodies was performed, followed by staining with TR. These triple-labeled images were captured by a confocal laser microscope and subsequently stained with Campbell-Switzer method, a silver staining specific for LBs. Staining profiles of LBs were different between those in the SN and in the CG. Immunolabeling either with the anti-alpha-S or anti-Ub antibody was diffuse without halo structure in LBs of CG. In addition to this diffuse staining, a lot of LBs of SN exhibited a halo structure immunopositive for alpha-S and Ub, probably representing later stages of LB evolution. Irrespective of the presence of this halo structure, the TR signal was always concentrated in the center of LBs, as the silver-stained material was, suggesting that fibrillary components in the central portion of LBs undergo some conformational changes detectable by TR and the silver-staining. This technique reveals different epitopes in relation to LB evolution in vivo. Heterogeneity in staining profile of LBs, as clarified by this method, may represent evolutional changes of LBs, related to conformational states of their constituents.
Dataset For Motion and Device Mode Classification

Classification of motion mode (walking, running, standing still) and device mode (hand-held, in pocket, in backpack) is an enabler in personal navigation systems for the purpose of saving energy and design parameter settings and also for its own sake. Our main contribution is to publish one of the most extensive datasets for this problem, including inertial data from eight users, each one performing three pre-defined trajectories carrying four smartphones and seventeen inertial measurement units on the body. All kind of metadata is available such as the ground truth of all modes and position. A second contribution is the first study on a joint classifier of motion and device mode, respectively, where preliminary but promising results are presented.