Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infrared radiation induces the p53 signaling pathway: role in infrared prevention of ultraviolet B toxicity

Abstract: We have previously observed that preirradiation with naturally occurring doses of near‐infrared (IR) protects normal human dermal fibroblasts from ultraviolet (UV) cytotoxicity in vitro. This effect was observed in temperature‐controlled conditions, without heat shock protein (Hsp72‐70) induction. Moreover, IR inhibited UVB‐induced apoptosis by modulating the Bcl2/Bax balance, pointing to a role of p53. Here, we show for the first time that p53‐deficient SaOs cells are not protected from UVB cytotoxicity by IR preirradiation, suggesting that the response to IR is p53‐dependent. Thus, we investigated the effect of IR on the p53 signaling pathway. Normal human dermal fibroblasts exposed in vitro to IR accumulated p53 protein, involving p53 stabilization and phosphorylation of serine 15 (Ser15) and Ser20. IR‐induced p53 accumulation correlated with increased expression of p21 and GADD45, showing that IR also stimulates p53 transcriptional activity. By modulating UVB‐induced targets of the p53 signaling pathway, IR irradiation appears to anticipate the UVB response and to prepare cells to better resist subsequent UV‐induced stress. This is reinforced by the fact that IR preirradiation reduces the formation of UVB‐induced thymine dimers.
Testing an egg yolk supplemented diet on boars to aid in sperm adaptation at 5°C

Abstract In many species, extended semen can be stored at low temperatures to slow bacterial growth. However, boar semen performs poorly at temperatures below 15°C and this poses unique challenges, as it is not easy to maintain a constant 15–19°C during shipment. Some extenders have been formulated with egg yolk for storage at 5°C but the addition of egg yolk is not applicable in the majority of commercial operations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if boar dietary supplementation with powdered egg yolk imparts any protective effects on sperm quality when stored at 15°C and 5°C for up to 11 days in a conventional extender. Ten boars were fed a commercial diet with the addition of 0.11Kg of powdered egg yolk for 10 weeks. Ejaculates collected on weeks 4, 6, 8, and 10 were processed for storage at both 15°C and 5°C and compared with ejaculates from boars fed a standard diet. Throughout an 11-day storage period, sperm quality was assessed including several motility and morphologic parameters and select plasma membrane properties (fluidity, integrity, and triacylglycerol content). Linear regression models were used to describe effects of treatment, storage day, week and temperature on all sperm parameters. Overall, there were minimal beneficial effects of egg yolk treatment on sperm quality parameters. Sperm from egg yolk supplemented boars did have a slower decline in viability and plasma membrane fluidity than that observed in the control sperm when stored at 5°C (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was an increase in total morphologic abnormalities in sperm from egg yolk fed boars compared to controls at week 10 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results of this study do not support a significant benefit to sperm quality or resistance to cold storage when feeding a 10-week dietary supplementation of 0.11Kg powdered egg yolk to crossbred boars.
Isoforms of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-6 Differ in DNA-binding Properties, Contain a Bifunctional Homeodomain, and Define the New ONECUT Class of Homeodomain Proteins*

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-6 (HNF-6) contains a single cut domain and a homeodomain characterized by a phenylalanine at position 48 and a methionine at position 50. We describe here two isoforms of HNF-6 which differ by the linker that separates these domains. Both isoforms stimulated transcription. The affinity of HNF-6α and HNF-6β for DNA differed, depending on the target sequence. Binding of HNF-6 to DNA involved the cut domain and the homeodomain, but the latter was not required for binding to a subset of sites. Mutations of the F48M50 dyad that did not affect DNA binding reduced the transcriptional stimulation of constructs that do not require the homeodomain for DNA binding, but did not affect the stimulation of constructs that do require the homeodomain. Comparative trees of mammalian, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans proteins showed that HNF-6 defines a new class, which we call ONECUT, of homeodomain proteins. C. elegans proteins of this class bound to HNF-6 DNA targets. Thus, depending on their sequence, these targets determine for HNF-6 at least two modes of DNA binding, which hinge on the homeodomain and on the linker that separates it from the cut domain, and two modes of transcriptional stimulation, which hinge on the homeodomain.
Distributed optimization algorithm for heat pump scheduling

This paper introduces a method that deals with Demand Response using a distributed optimization algorithm in a single or multiple building and supplier setup. On the household level, responsive loads are intelligently controlled in order to adapt to renewable power supply. In this paper, heat pump (HP) heating systems, in general one kind of controllable load, are considered as shiftable loads. These systems comprise an electrical heat pump and a thermal storage that can temporarily decouple the electrical demand of the heat pump from the building's thermal demand. Thus, the heat pump load can be shifted with higher flexibility. Wind and solar energy generation or a combination of both is considered as the renewable supplier. The proposed distributed algorithm optimizes the schedules of demand and supply by minimizing the supplier's imbalance costs and the disutility experienced by the customer. Applying Dual Decomposition (DD) leads to the single objectives for supplier and costumer. A global optimum for the overall system is identified through an iterative process based upon the local optima. The algorithm's performance is validated in three different test scenarios including single and multiple buildings as well as suppliers.
Effect of Year in School on Medical Students' Perceptions Evaluated with the Cognitive Behavior Survey, Attitudes Toward Social Issues in Medicine Survey, and Learning Environment Questionnaire

Background: We administered selected scales from the Cognitive Behavior Survey, Attitudes Toward Social Issues in Medicine survey, and Learning Environment Questionnaire. We gathered data from other medical schools to put our results into context. Purpose: To present results on these scales from our own and other medical schools to identify the effects of "year in school" on the results. Methods: We searched for articles that had cited the articles that originally presented the scales we used. We organized the results by type of curriculum and presented data from multiple points in each course. Results: With a few exceptions, the data suggest that students' perceptions of their cognitive behaviors, their attitudes to social issues in medicine, and their impressions of the medical school learning environment deteriorate as they proceed through the course. In the case of PBL and hybrid curricula, this may represent a reversal of gains conferred by these curricula during the early phases of the course. Conclusions: These data provide a starting point for further study of some of the influences on students' perceptions of medical curricula as they proceed through the course.
[Intrauterine therapy with levonorgestrel releasing IUD of women with hypermenorrhea secondary to uterine fibroids].

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Mirena IUD (Schering) treatment in women with severe menstrual bleedings secondary to uterine fibroids. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study comprised 12 women in the age of 30 to 43 years (average 36.4) with uterine fibroids and severe menstrual bleedings. Eight patients developed anemia with hemoglobin levels below 12 g/dL. All women were treated with the levonorgestrel releasing IUD. Half of the group was observed for 6, and the remaining women for 12 months. Intensity of menstrual bleedings was evaluated prior and after the treatment. US evaluation comprised measurements of endometrium and the fibroids. RESULTS No early complications were observed following the insertion of the IUD. Six weeks following the insertion, one patient had persisted menstrual bleedings and was operated, the remaining 11 noted decrease in the intensity of menstruation. After twelve weeks 3 out of 6 women with intramural fibroids developed ammenorrhea, the remaining 3 had scanty menstrual bleedings. Hemoglobin levels were normal in 11 women already 6 months after the insertion of IUD. Post treatment US revealed endometrium thickness of no more then 4 mm, and no change in the fibroids volume. CONCLUSION Insertion of levonorgestrel releasing Mirena IUD (Schering) reduces intensity of menstrual bleedings secondary to uterine fibroids.
Steganography by hiding data in TCP/IP headers

This work relates the areas of steganography, network protocols and security for data hiding in communication networks employing TCP/IP. Steganography is defined as the art and science of hiding information, which is a process that involves hiding a message in an appropriate carrier for example an image file. The carrier can then be sent to a receiver without anyone else knowing that it contains a hidden message. In this paper we present a novel scheme to send message imperceptibly between points over Internet. This scheme uses fourth-order chaotic system to generate chaos sequence which is used to encrypt secret message, and then embeds the modulated message into identification field of IP header. Compared with Ahsa's scheme, this scheme can provide higher security. Furthermore, this schema allows sending covert message point to point by selecting proper IP packets according to path MTU discovery.
Microwave thermal imaging: initial in vivo experience with a single heating zone

The deployment of hyperthermia as a routine adjuvant to radiation or chemotherapy is limited largely by the inability to devise treatment plans which can be monitored through temperature distribution feedback during therapy. A non-invasive microwave tomographic thermal imaging system is currently being developed which has previously exhibited excellent correlation between the recovered electrical conductivity of a heated zone and its actual temperature change during phantom studies. To extend the validation of this approach in vivo, the imaging system has been re-configured for small animal experiments to operate within the bore of a CT scanner for anatomical and thermometry registration. A series of 5–7 day old pigs have been imaged during hyperthermia with a monopole antenna array submerged in a saline tank where a small plastic tube surgically inserted the length of the abdomen has been used to create a zone of heated saline at pre-selected temperatures. Tomographic microwave data over the frequency range of 300–1000 MHz of the pig abdomen in the plane perpendicular to the torso is collected at regular intervals after the tube saline temperatures have settled to the desired settings. Images are reconstructed over a range of operating frequencies. The tube location is clearly visible and the recovered saline conductivity varies linearly with the controlled temperature values. Difference images utilizing the baseline state prior to heating reinforces the linear relationship between temperature and imaged saline conductivity. Demonstration of in vivo temperature recovery and correlation with an independent monitoring device is an important milestone prior to clinical integration of this non-invasive imaging system with a thermal therapy device.
Incident light angle detection technique using polarization pixels

In this paper we present the design and analysis of a CMOS image sensor pixel capable of detecting the angle of incident light. Determining the angle is of paramount importance in reconstructing the 3D information of the imaged scene. These pixels achieve this by including polarization gratings on top of the photodiodes in each pixel. Three different pixels, each with different grating orientation produce enough information to determine the local incidence angle. Because of the symmetric nature of the response for positive and negative angles, another set of pixels, called the linear quadrature pixel cluster has been included to break the symmetry and provide greater angle resolution.We present the simulation results as well as the design, which is targeted towards GlobalFoundries 65 nm CMOS mixed-signal process.
Age-dependent variation in behavior following acute ethanol administration in male and female adolescent rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

BACKGROUND There has been considerable focus on the adolescent stage of development in the study of alcohol use and the etiology of alcohol-related problems. Because adolescence is a process of dynamic change rather than a discrete or static stage of development, it is important to consider ontogenetic changes in the response to ethanol within the adolescent time period. In rodents, levels of ethanol-induced motor impairment have been shown to increase from early to late adolescence. This study investigated associations between behavior following acute ethanol administration and age, rearing condition (mother-reared vs nursery-reared), and serotonin transporter (rh5-HTTLPR) genotype in a sample of alcohol-naïve adolescent rhesus macaques. METHODS Rhesus macaques (n=97; 41 males, 56 females), ranging in age from 28 to 48 months, were administered intravenous (IV) doses of ethanol (2.2 g/kg for males, 2.0 g/kg for females) twice in 2 separate testing sessions. A saline/ethanol group (n=16; 8 males, 6 females) was administered saline in 1 testing session and ethanol in the second session. Following each IV injection, subjects underwent a 30-minute general motor behavioral assessment. Behavior in the saline/ethanol group was compared between the saline and ethanol-testing sessions using analysis of variance. Behavioral data for the larger study sample were averaged between the 2 testing sessions and summarized using factor analysis. Rotated factor scores were used as dependent variables in multiple regression analyses to test for relationships between behavior and age, rearing condition, and rh5-HTTLPR genotype. RESULTS During the ethanol-testing session, behaviors indicative of motor impairment (stumbles, falls, sways, bumping the wall, and unsuccessful jumps) were frequently observed in the saline/ethanol group, while they did not occur under the saline-testing session. Factor analysis of behavior following ethanol administration in the larger study sample yielded 3 factors: Ataxia, Impaired Jumping Ability, and Stimulation. Significant negative correlations between age and Ataxia were found for both males and females. Females also exhibited positive correlations between age and Impaired Jumping Ability and age and Stimulation. No significant correlations were found with either rearing condition or rh5-HTTLPR genotype. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that ontogenetic changes during adolescence in the behavioral response to ethanol differ between rodents and primates. Furthermore, sex differences in the behavioral response to ethanol appear to develop during adolescence.
A correlation study of the expression of resistin and glycometabolism in muscle tissue after traumatic brain injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression pattern of resistin (RSTN) in skeletal muscle tissue and its influence on glycometabolism in rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS Seventy-eight SD rats were randomly divided into traumatic group (n=36), RSTN group (n=36) and sham operation group (n=6). Fluid percussion TBI model was developed in traumatic and RSTN groups and the latter received additional 1 mg RSTN antibody treatment for each rat. At respectively 12 h, 24 h, 72 h, 1 w, 2 w, and 4 w after operation, venous blood was collected and the right hind leg skeletal muscle tissue was sampled. We used real-time PCR to determine mRNA expression of RSTN in skeletal muscles, western blot to determine RSTN protein expression and ELISA to assess serum insulin as well as fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. Calculation of the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (Q value) was also conducted. The above mentioned indicators and their correction were statistically analyzed. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group, the RSTN expression in the skeletal muscle as well as serum insulin and FBG levels revealed significant elevation (P<0.05), and reduced Q value (P<0.05) in traumatic group. Single factor linear correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between RSTN expression and Q values (P<0.001) in traumatic group. CONCLUSION The expression of RSTN has been greatly increased in the muscular tissue of TBI rats and it was closely related to the index of glycometabolism. RSTN may play an important role in the process of insulin resistance after TBI.
Molecular genetics of the most endangered canid: the Ethiopian wolf Canis simensis

The world's most endangered canid is the Ethiopian wolf Canis simensis, which is found in six isolated areas of the Ethiopian highlands with a total population of no more than 500 individuals. Ethiopian wolf populations are declining due to habitat loss and extermination by humans. Moreover, in at least one population, Ethiopian wolves are sympatric with domestic dogs, which may hybridize with them, compete for food, and act as disease vectors. Using molecular techniques, we address four questions concerning Ethiopian wolves that have conservation implications. First, we determine the relationships of Ethiopian wolves to other wolf‐like canids by phylogenetic analysis of 2001 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence. Our results suggest that the Ethiopian wolf is a distinct species more closely related to gray wolves and coyotes than to any African canid. The mtDNA sequence similarity with gray wolves implies that the Ethiopian wolf may hybridize with domestic dogs, a recent derivative of the gray wolf. We examine this possibility through mtDNA restriction fragment analysis and analysis of nine microsatellite loci in populations of Ethiopian wolves. The results imply that hybridization has occurred between female Ethiopian wolves and male domestic dogs in one population. Finally, we assess levels of variability within and between two Ethiopian wolf populations. Although these closely situated populations are not differentiated, the level of variability in both is low, suggesting long‐term effective population sizes of less than a few hundred individuals. We recommend immediate captive breeding of Ethiopian wolves to protect their gene pool from dilution and further loss of genetic variability.
Effects of volatile fatty acids on a thermophilic anaerobic hydrogen fermentation process degrading peptone.

Hydrogen fermentation using glucose as a single substrate caused abrupt pH drops and the gradual losses of hydrogen producers, which in turn led to system failure. In this study the use of a proteinaceous substrate, peptone, avoided the abrupt pH drops in the reactive system and allowed for further exploration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and pH effects on the hydrogen fermentation process. Our results showed that: (1) during the hydrogen fermentation tests, the abrupt pH drops were avoided thus system stability increased due to the production of ammonia from the peptone fermented, (2) pH control was not necessary and the addition of acetate to the process had little effect on the hydrogen fermentation process, (3) at the extreme pHs the addition of acetate either lengthened the lag phase (pH < or = 6) or slowed the hydrogen production rate (pH > or = 8), and both situations were not desired, and (4) high VFA content in the system sped up the consumption of hydrogen gas. Results of this study suggested that the hydrogen fermentation using the protein-containing substances as substrate was beneficial in maintaining the system pH. As long as the pH was maintained around 6-8, system inhibition due to VFAs accumulation was minimized. Thus, the optimal operation of a hydrogen fermentation process would be achievable via the control of substrate composition at a certain carbohydrate-to-protein ratio.
Transplacental mutagenesis of products formed in the stomach of golden hamsters given sodium nitrite and morpholine

Hamster embryos were exposed in utero to the action of sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and morpholine (Mo) administered simultaneously by stomach tube to the mothers on the 11th or 12th day of pregnancy. Embryo cells were examined for chromosomal aberrations, micronuclear formation, morphological or malignant transformation and drug resistance mutations. For detection of induced mutations, the embryo cells were cultured in normal medium for 72 h and then transferred to medium containing 10 or 20 μg/ml of 8‐azaguanine (8AG) or 1 mM ouabain (Oua). The number of 8AG‐, Oua‐resistant colonies was markedly increased after administration of NaNO2 and Mo. The embryonic fibroblasts also showed a markedly increased frequency of micronucleation and a slight increase in chromosome aberrations. This treatment also caused morphological or malignant transformation of fetal cells. After cultivation in vitro, cells from some transformed colonies produced tumors when inoculated into the cheek pouch of young golden hamsters. Orally administered N‐nitroso‐morpholine (N‐Mo), as a positive control, had the same transplacental biological actions on embryonic fibroblasts. However, transplacentally Mo alone was ineffective. A single administration of 500 mg/kg NaNO2 had only slight biological effects. N‐Mo was produced in the stomachs of animals treated simultaneously with NaNO2 and Mo. A small amount of a nitrosamine, N‐nitrosodimethylamine (DMN), was detected in the stomach after a single dose of NaNO2.
Spatially constrained non-Gaussian mixture model for image segmentation

A new color image segmentation algorithm based on spatial information with the Dirichlet mixture model is presented. This method uses Markov Random Field to incorporate spatial information between neighboring pixels into a Dirichlet mixture model. The segmentation model is learned using Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm based on Newton Raphson step. The obtained results using real image data set are more encouraging than those obtained using similar approaches.
Phosphorylation of Caveolin-1 Regulates Oxidant–Induced Pulmonary Vascular Permeability via Paracellular and Transcellular Pathways

Rationale: Oxidants are important signaling molecules known to increase endothelial permeability, although the mechanisms underlying permeability regulation are not clear. Objective: To define the role of caveolin-1 in the mechanism of oxidant-induced pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability and edema formation. Methods and Results: Using genetic approaches, we show that phosphorylation of caveolin-1 Tyr14 is required for increased pulmonary microvessel permeability induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Caveolin-1–deficient mice (cav-1−/−) were resistant to H2O2-induced pulmonary vascular albumin hyperpermeability and edema formation. Furthermore, the vascular hyperpermeability response to H2O2 was completely rescued by expression of caveolin-1 in cav-1−/− mouse lung microvessels but was not restored by the phosphorylation-defective caveolin-1 mutant. The increase in caveolin-1 phosphorylation induced by H2O2 was dose-dependently coupled to both increased 125I-albumin transcytosis and decreased transendothelial electric resistance in pulmonary endothelial cells. Phosphorylation of caveolin-1 following H2O2 exposure resulted in the dissociation of vascular endothelial cadherin/&bgr;-catenin complexes and resultant endothelial barrier disruption. Conclusions: Caveolin-1 phosphorylation–dependent signaling plays a crucial role in oxidative stress-induced pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability via transcellular and paracellular pathways. Thus, caveolin-1 phosphorylation may be an important therapeutic target for limiting oxidant-mediated vascular hyperpermeability, protein-rich edema formation, and acute lung injury.