Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunolocalization of AQP9 in liver, epididymis, testis, spleen, and brain.

The aims of this study were to determine the cellular and subcellular localization of aquaporin-9 (AQP9) in different rat organs by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. To analyze this, we used rabbit antibodies to rat AQP9 raised against three different AQP9 peptides (amino acids 267-287, 274-295, and 278-295). In Cos7 cells transfected with rat AQP9, the affinity-purified antibodies exhibited marked labeling, whereas nontransfected cells and cells transfected with aquaporin-8 (AQP8) exhibited no labeling, indicating the specificity of the AQP9 antibodies. Immunoblotting revealed a predominant band of 28 kDa in membranes of total rat liver, epididymis, testes, spleen, and brain. Preabsorption with the immunizing peptides eliminated the labeling. Immunohistochemistry showed strong anti-AQP9 labeling in liver hepatocytes. The labeling was strongest at the sinusoidal surface, and there was little intracellular labeling. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the labeling was associated with the plasma membrane of the hepatocytes. In testes Leydig cells exhibited anti-AQP9 labeling, and in epididymis, the stereocilia of the ciliated cells (principal cells) exhibited significant labeling, whereas there was no labeling of the nonciliated cells (basal cells). This was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. In spleen strong labeling of cells was observed of leukocytes in the red pulp, whereas there was no labeling of cells in the white pulp. In rat brain, AQP9 immunolabeling was confined to ependymal cells lining the ventricles and to the tanycytes of the mediobasal hypothalamus. Antibody preabsorbed with the immunizing peptide revealed no labeling. In conclusion, AQP9 proteins is strongly expressed in rat liver, testes, epididymis, spleen, and brain.
Detection of digital image forgery using wavelet decomposition and outline analysis

Digital Images are everywhere, in newspapers, on the covers of the magazine, in courtrooms and all over the internet. Throughout the day, we are exposed to them and most of the time we trust what we see. Due to the presence of powerful editing software in the market, there is uncertainty on the credibility of the digital images as these might be manipulated, therefore we propose the methodology to identify the duplicated image based on edge analysis method. The proposed method is able to identify forged area of an image and it's accuracy is 81.50% with in small processing time.
New approaches to the laser treatment of vascular lesions

The pulsed dye laser (PDL) was developed based on the concept of selective photothermolysis. Using a wavelength of light well absorbed by the target and a pulse duration short enough to spatially confine thermal injury, specific vascular injury could be produced. While the PDL revolutionized the treatment of port‐wine stains (PWS) and a variety of other vascular lesions, the mathematical model predicted that the ideal thermal relaxation time for the vessels in PWS is actually 1–10 msec, not 450 μsec. These original theoretical calculations have been proved correct recently in a study using both an animal‐vessel model and in human PWS. Longer wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum penetrate deeper into the skin and are more suitable for deeper vessels; while longer pulse duration is required for larger calibre vessels. A variety of lasers have been developed recently for the treatment of vascular lesions that incorporate these concepts into their design, including PDL at 1.5 msec, a filtered flash‐lamp pulsed light source with pulse durations of 1–20 msec, several 532 nm pulsed lasers with pulse durations of 1 to as high as 100 msec, long pulsed alexandrite lasers at 755 nm with pulse durations up to 20 msec, pulsed diode lasers in the 800–900 nm range, and long pulsed 1064 Nd:YAG sources. Preliminary results are encouraging.
Trade openness and stock market volatility in the ASEAN-5 countries: New evidence using SUR

ABSTRACT The present study investigates the relation between trade openness and stock market volatility in the ASEAN-5 countries, using data of the composite price indices and trade openness in these countries from 1990 to 2013. A two-step methodology is employed. Firstly, the volatilities of stock indices are estimated using GARCH family. Then panel and the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) methods are utilised to find the linkage between trade openness and stock market volatility. The results prove that the SUR method can efficiently handle certain limitations of the panel regression method in the present study. The results concerning the whole sample period demonstrate that trade openness affects the stock market volatility in Indonesia and Malaysia positively; and in Thailand negatively. Although the effect of trade openness on the Philippine and Singaporean stock market volatilities is not significant during the whole sample period, trade openness is found to influence stock market volatility in the Philippines and Singapore in the subsamples.
Detection of Behavioral Impairments Correlated to Neurochemical Deficits in Mice Treated with Moderate Doses of 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

Overt behavioral symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) do not occur until over 80% of the striatal dopamine content has been lost. Diagnosis of the disorder relies on identifying clinical symptoms including akinesia, resting tremor, and rigidity. In retrospect, behavioral deficits are observed several years prior to diagnosis. Behavioral manifestations in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD, such as changes in general locomotor activity and rotorod performance, require large doses of MPTP and are often transient. We hypothesized that, as in PD, subtle behavioral changes also occur in the MPTP model. In this paper, we demonstrate that mice treated with moderate doses of the dopaminergic toxin MPTP display deficits in behavioral parameters that are significantly correlated with the loss of striatal dopamine. In addition, these behavioral measures are correlated to dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter, and tyrosine hydroxylase expression and are improved following L-DOPA administration. Detection of dopamine-modulated behavioral changes in moderately depleted MPTP mice will allow for more efficacious use of this model in PD research.
The small RNA RyhB activates the translation of shiA mRNA encoding a permease of shikimate, a compound involved in siderophore synthesis

RyhB is a small RNA (sRNA) that downregulates about 20 genes involved in iron metabolism. It is expressed under low iron conditions and pairs with specific mRNAs to trigger their rapid degradation by the RNA degradosome. In contrast to this, another study has suggested that RyhB also activates several genes by increasing their mRNA level. Among these activated genes is shiA, which encodes a permease of shikimate, an aromatic compound participating in the biosynthesis of siderophores. Here, we demonstrate in vivo and in vitro that RyhB directly pairs at the 5′‐untranslated region (5′‐UTR) of the shiA mRNA to disrupt an intrinsic inhibitory structure that sequesters the ribosome‐binding site (Shine‐Dalgarno) and the first translation codon. This is the first demonstration of direct gene activation by RyhB, which has been exclusively described in degradation of mRNAs. Our physiological results indicate that the transported compound of the ShiA permease, shikimate, is important under conditions of RyhB expression, that is, iron starvation. This is demonstrated by growth assays in which shikimate or the siderophore enterochelin correct the growth defect observed for a ryhB mutant in iron‐limited media.
Influence of Exposure Time on Gene Expression by Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells Exposed to Lactobacillus acidophilus

ABSTRACT Analysis of global temporal gene expression by human intestinal cells when exposed to Lactobacillus acidophilus revealed induction of immune-related pathways and NF-κB target genes after a 1-h exposure, compared to a 4- or 8-h exposure. Additionally, an L. acidophilus derivative expressing covalently bound flagellin resulted in increased induction of il8, cxc1, and cxcl2 compared to the parent L. acidophilus.
The Asexual Yeast Candida glabrata Maintains Distinct a and α Haploid Mating Types

ABSTRACT The genome of the type strain of Candida glabrata (CBS138, ATCC 2001) contains homologs of most of the genes involved in mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, starting with the mating pheromone and receptor genes. Only haploid cells are ever isolated, but C. glabrata strains of both mating types are commonly found, the type strain being MATα and most other strains, such as BG2, being MATa. No sexual cycle has been documented for this species. In order to understand which steps of the mating pathway are defective, we have analyzed the expression of homologs of some of the key genes involved as well as the production of mating pheromones and the organism's sensitivity to artificial pheromones. We show that cells of opposite mating types express both pheromone receptor genes and are insensitive to pheromones. Nonetheless, cells maintain specificity through regulation of the α1 and α2 genes and, more surprisingly, through differential splicing of the a1 transcript.
Differential effect of impaired renal function on the kinetics of clavulanic acid and amoxicillin

Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid are prescribed as a fixed drug combination. The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of various degrees of renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate [GFR], less than 5 to greater than 75 ml/min per 1.73 m2) on the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid following oral (500 and 125 mg of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, respectively) and intravenous (1,000 and 200 mg, respectively) dosing. The volume of distribution and the systemic availability were independent of the renal function, while the total body clearance and the renal and the nonrenal clearance of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid decreased with decreasing renal function. The decrease in the total body clearance was more pronounced for amoxicillin than for clavulanic acid. This explains the increase in the ratio of the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve of amoxicillin to that of clavulanic acid with decreasing glomerular filtration rate after oral dosing; for example for a GFR of 75 ml/min, the ratio of amoxicillin to clavulanic acid was 4.9 +/- 1.2; for a GFR of 35 to 75 ml/min, 5.3 +/- 2.4; for a GFR of 10 to 35 ml/min, 11.9 +/- 5.8; for a GFR of 5 to 10 ml/min, 13.4 +/- 9.1; and for patients on hemodialysis, 14.7 +/- 5.3. Dosage recommendations are suggested which prevent undue accumulations of amoxicillin while maintaining adequate concentrations of clavulanic acid.
Altering the cellular mechanical force balance results in integrated changes in cell, cytoskeletal and nuclear shape.

Studies were carried out with capillary endothelial cells cultured on fibronectin (FN)-coated dishes in order to analyze the mechanism of cell and nuclear shape control by extracellular matrix (ECM). To examine the role of the cytoskeleton in shape determination independent of changes in transmembrane osmotic pressure, membranes of adherent cells were permeabilized with saponin (25 micrograms/ml) using a buffer that maintains the functional integrity of contractile microfilaments. Real-time videomicroscopic studies revealed that addition of 250 microM ATP resulted in time-dependent retraction and rounding of permeabilized cells and nuclei in a manner similar to that observed in intact living cells following detachment using trypsin-EDTA. Computerized image analysis confirmed that permeabilized cells remained essentially rigid in the absence of ATP and that retraction was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner as the concentration of ATP was raised from 10 to 250 microM. Maximal rounding occurred by 30 min with projected cell and nuclear areas being reduced by 69 and 41%, respectively. ATP-induced rounding was also accompanied by a redistribution of microfilaments resulting in formation of a dense net of F-actin surrounding retracted nuclei. Importantly, ATP-stimulated changes in cell, cytoskeletal, and nuclear form were prevented in permeabilized cells using a synthetic myosin peptide (IRICRKG) that has been previously shown to inhibit actomyosin filament sliding in muscle. In contrast, both the rate and extent of cell and nuclear rounding were increased in permeabilized cells exposed to ATP when the soluble FN peptide, GRGDSP, was used to dislodge immobilized FN from cell surface integrin receptors. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ultrabroadband Terahertz Absorption by Uniaxial Anisotropic Nanowire Metamaterials

Three-dimensional structure terahertz metamaterial absorbers with the properties of ultrabroadband and polarization-insensitive absorption were proposed. Different from the recent designs of the multilayer horizontal configurations, our design consists of the uniaxial anisotropic gold nanowire arrays that are filled in the frustum pyramid dielectric medium. The principle for the ultrabroadband absorption originates from the overlapping of the different but very closely positioned electromagnetic resonances. Each resonance frequency follows the equation of the odd multiple of the quarter wavelengths, which can be flexibly controlled by varying the height of the corresponding gold nanowires. In addition to the great prospect for the potential applications in terahertz, our design could also be easily extended to the other frequency regimes for a host of applications such as electromagnetic stealth, infrared detection, imaging, and solar cell.
Productivity Puzzles Across Europe

- Analyses labour productivity in Europe in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis - Examines 'productivity puzzles'- the unexpected decline in labour productivity growth at the onset of recession - Includes chapters on France, Germany, the UK, and Spain - Cross-country comparison at firm micro-level - Contributions at macro- and micro-level with efforts to compare and contrast literatures
Verbal Fluency: Language or Executive Function Measure?

Measures of phonemic and semantic verbal fluency, such as FAS and Animal Fluency (Benton, Hamsher, & Sivan, 1989), are often thought to be measures of executive functioning (EF). However, some studies (Henry & Crawford, 2004a, 2004b, 2004c) have noted there is also a language component to these tasks. The current exploratory factor-analytic study examined the underlying cognitive structure of verbal fluency. Participants were administered language and EF measures, including the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (FAS version), Animal Fluency, Boston Naming Test (BNT), Vocabulary (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III), Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST, perseverative responses), and Trail-Making Test-Part B (TMT-B). A 2-factor solution was found with the 1st factor, language, having significant loadings for BNT and Vocabulary, while the second factor was labeled EF because of significant loading from the WCST and TMT-B. Surprisingly, FAS and Animal Fluency loaded exclusively on to the language factor and not EF. The current results do not exclude EF as a determinant of verbal fluency, but they do suggest that language processing is the critical component for this task, even without significant aphasic symptoms. Thus, the results indicated that both letter (phonemic) and category (semantic) fluency are related to language, but the relationship to EF is not supported by the results.
Fast extraction of high-frequency parallel admittance of Through-Silicon-Vias and their capacitive coupling-noise to active regions

We introduce an accurate and efficient method to extract high-frequency parallel admittance (capacitance and conductance) among multiple Through-Silicon-Vias (TSVs). Our method utilize the analytical expression of TSV's MOS capacitance and the 3D quasi-electrostatic (QES) scalar potential Green's function in layered media for extracting the inverse of complex capacitance matrix of TSV segments, with consideration of low conductivity silicon bulk region and high conductivity well regions with VDD/VSS contact rails. The elements of the complex capacitance matrix of TSV segments can be summed up to the final results of parallel admittance matrix of TSVs. Our method is verified against a full-wave Finite-Element-Method (FEM) electromagnetic solver HFSS, and shows more than 103X speed-up with good accuracy in the frequency range from digital circuit clock frequency to 100 GHz (&#60;7% error for the self-admittance, the dominant quantity, and &#60;13% error for the mutual-admittance, the smaller quantity). The complex capacitance matrix of TSV segments and the scalar potential Green's function is also used to extract the noise coupling coefficient from TSV to active regions, which is also verified by HFSS simulation.
MTHFR Polymorphisms, Dietary Folate Intake, and Breast Cancer Risk

Folate plays an important role in DNA methylation, synthesis, and repair; intake has been associated with breast cancer. The folate-metabolizing enzyme, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is polymorphic at nucleotides 677 (C→T) and 1298 (A→C), resulting in allozymes with decreased activity. We evaluated these two common polymorphisms and their effects on the folate intake and breast cancer risk association in a population-based case-control study of 1144 breast cancer cases and 1236 controls using a PCR-RFLP-based assay. All subjects completed in-person interviews, which included a food frequency questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Cases and controls were similar in the distribution of MTHFR polymorphisms at codons 677 (41.4% cases and 41.8% controls carried the T allele) and 1298 (17.6% cases and 17.5% controls carried the C allele). An inverse association of breast cancer risk with folate intake was observed in all genotype groups, particularly among subjects with the 677TT genotype. Compared with those with the 677CC genotype and high folate, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) associated with low folate intake were 1.94 (1.15–3.26), 2.17 (1.34–3.51), and 2.51 (1.37–4.60) for subjects who had CC, CT, and TT genotypes (p for interaction, 0.05). No modifying effect of A1298C genotypes on the association of folate intake with breast cancer risk was observed. Results of this study suggest that the MTHFR C677T polymorphisms may modify the association between dietary folate intake and breast cancer risk.
Distortion-dependent unhooking of interstrand cross-links in mammalian cell extracts.

Interstrand cross-links (ICLs) are formed by many chemotherapeutic agents and may also arise endogenously. The mechanisms used to repair these lesions remain unclear in mammalian cells. Repair in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires an initial unhooking step to release the tethered DNA strands. We used a panel of linear substrates containing different site-specific ICLs to characterize how structure affects ICL processing in mammalian cell extracts. We demonstrate that ICL-induced distortions affect NER-dependent and -independent processing events. The NER-dependent pathway produces dual incisions 5' to the site of the ICL as described previously [Bessho, T. , et al. (1997) Mol. Cell. Biol. 17 (12), 6822-6830] but does not release the cross-link. Surprisingly, we also found that the interstrand cross-linked duplexes were unhooked in mammalian cell extracts in a manner independent of the NER pathway. Unhooking occurred identically in extracts prepared from human and rodent cells and is dependent on ATP hydrolysis and metal ions. The structure of the unhooked product was characterized and was found to contain the remnant of the cross-link. Both the NER-mediated dual 5' incisions and unhooking reactions were greatly stimulated by ICL-induced distortions, including increased local flexibility and disruption of base pairs surrounding the site of the ICL. These results suggest that in DNA not undergoing transcription or replication, distortions induced by the presence of an ICL could contribute significantly to initial cross-link recognition and processing.
Integrated microstrip-fed slot array antenna for emerging wireless application in IPD technology

In this paper, the design of a 2-by-1 array of microstrip -coupled slot antenna in Integrated Passive Device (IPD) technology is explained. This antenna which operates in the frequency range 57–64 GHz, has maximum gain 4.9 dBi. The radiation efficiency at 60 GHz is 76%. The designed antenna is integrated over an alumina substrate using flip-chip bonding technique. The size of the antenna is 2 mm × 4.5 mm and can be used for antenna in package for mm-wave wireless systems.
Globalization and Decentralization Forces in China＇s Higher Education Administration and Management Reform （1953-2015）： A Neo-institutional Analysis

From a neo-institutional perspective, this paper investigates the function and interaction of globalization and decentralization in China’s higher education administrative reform. Both the internal and external environments have shaped educational forms and functions. It is not increasingly difficult to understand the impact of globalization of higher education in the Chinese historical context of higher education changes. But it has become more controversial to discuss the decentralization and globalization of higher education administration in terms of the coexistence of Soviet model and the Western model, which provide the scope of transitions from centralization to decentralization in China’s higher education system. This research suggests that by coordinating the relationship between central and local dual administrative powers, enlarging provincial autonomy, enhancing the decision-making power of higher education administration, and expanding the autonomy of universities and institutions, China’s central government can rationally deal with the globalization and decentralization forces in higher education administrative and management reforms.
Trends in social inequalities for premature coronary heart disease mortality in Great Britain, 1994–2008: a time trend ecological study

Objective To compare trends in metrics of socioeconomic inequalities in premature coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in Great Britain. Design Time trend ecological study with area-level deprivation as exposure. Setting Great Britain, 1994–2008. Participants Men and women aged younger than 75 years. No lower age limit. Interventions None. Main outcome measures CHD mortality rates. Results There has been a decrease in socioeconomic inequalities in CHD mortality in absolute terms but an increase in relative terms. CHD mortality rates in men aged younger than 75 years fell by 69 per 100 000 (95% CIs 64 to 74) in the least deprived quintile and by 92 per 100 000 (95% CI 86 to 98) in the most deprived quintile (p for trend: <0.001). Mortality rate ratios comparing the most deprived quintile to the least deprived quintile increased in women aged younger than 75 years from 1.77 (95% CI 1.68 to 1.86) to 2.32 (95% CI 2.14 to 2.52). There was a weak negative association between the average decline of relative rates and area deprivation. Conclusions It could either be said that inequalities in premature mortality from CHD between affluent and deprived areas have widened or narrowed between 1994 and 2008 depending on the measurement technique. In the context of falling CHD mortality rates, narrowing of absolute inequalities is to be expected, but increases in relative inequalities are a cause for concern.