bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of Fas‐Fas Ligand in Murine Testis
Authors: Xu Ji Ping , Li Xiang , Mori Etsuko , Guo Mao Wu , Matsuda Ichiro , Takaichi Hirohito , Amano Takashi , Mori Tsuneatsu 
Published: September 2011

Xu JP, Li X, Mori E, Guo MW, Matsuda I, Takaichi H, Amano T, Mori T. Expression of Fas‐Fas ligand in murine testis. AJRI 1999; 42:381–388 © Munksgaard, CopenhagenPROBLEM: During spermatogenesis, it has been suggested that the number of germ cells to be matured is regulated and restricted through the apoptotic mechanism. In the present study, we investigated the expression and apoptotic role of Fas and Fas ligand (L) in the murine testis.METHOD OF STUDY: The expression of Fas‐FasL in the murine testis was assessed by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR)‐Southern blot hybridization, in situ hybridization, and Western blot methods. The terminal deoxynucleotide transferase mediated dUTP‐nick end label (TUNEL) and DNA fragmentation methods were applied to detect the generation of apoptosis in germ cells.RESULTS: By means of RT‐PCR‐Southern blot hybridization, we demonstrated the positive expression of Fas in testicular germ cells, and of FasL in testicular cells, supporting the findings with in situ hybridization that Fas was localized in germ cells, whereas FasL was localized in Sertoli cells of murine testis. A specific band at 45 kDa was obtained in the lysates from testis and germ cells with Western blot analysis. Then, the co‐incubation of germ cells with Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9)‐FasL cells in vitro resulted in the induction of apoptosis in germ cells detected by the TUNEL method. Furthermore, DNA fragmented ladders were also demonstrated in germ cells co‐incubated with Sf9‐FasL cells.CONCLUSION: Fas‐FasL system seemed to play an apoptotic role in spermatogenesis by the molecular interaction between FasL on Sertoli cells and Fas on germ cells.
The Level of Human Decidua‐Associated Protein (hDP) 200, Identified as a Monoclonal Rheumatoid Factor in the Fallopian Tube
Authors: Halperin Dr. Reuvit , Hadas Eran , Bukovsky Ian , Schneider David 
Published: September 2011

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to examine whether ectopic pregnancy is associated with increased levels of human decidua‐associated protein (hDP) 200, identified as a monoclonal rheumatoid factor, in the related fallopian tube as compared with normal tubes.METHOD OF STUDY: Tubal fluid samples were obtained prospectively from two groups of patients: group I, 20 patients admitted for total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy (TAH and BSO); group H, 14 women with ectopic pregnancy, undergoing unilateral salpingectomy by laparoscopy or laparotomy. hDP 200 was assayed using double‐site enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS: Very low levels of hDP 200 were found in normal tubes, while tubes with ectopic pregnancy demonstrated significantly higher levels of tubal fluid hDP 200 (P < 0.00001). In addition, in women with ectopic pregnancy, the uterine fluid level of hDP 200 was significantly lower than the level of hDP 200 in the tube containing ectopic pregnancy (P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: The increased level of hDP 200 (a monoclonal rheumatoid factor) in the tube containing ectopic pregnancy, as compared with uterine cavity and normal tubes, might be associated with the implantation site of the pregnancy.
Natural Killer Cell Subpopulations and Cytotoxicity for Infertile Patients Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Fukui A. , Fujii S. , Yamaguchi E. , Kimura H. , Sato S. , Saito Y. 
Published: September 2011

PROBLEM: We evaluated the participation of the lymphocyte subpopulations in the endometrium and peripheral blood on in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‐ET) outcomes.METHOD OF STUDY: Peripheral blood samples were analyzed for the expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, and CD56, using a FACScan, and for natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, using a 51Cr assay. Endometrial samples obtained at a previous phase of the IVF cycle were analyzed for the expression of CD 16 and CD56, using a FACScan. RESULTS: The percentages of CD56+ cells and CD16+ CD56+ cells in the peripheral blood on the day of ET were significantly higher in the failed group than in the implanted group. In the endometrial tissue, the increase of the percentage of CD16+ CD56dim cells and the decrease of the percentage of CD16—CD56bright cells in the aborted group were significant when compared with the those of the delivered group.CONCLUSIONS: The increase of cytotoxic NK cells in the peripheral blood and the endometrium may affect the therapeutic results of IVF‐ET. It was suggested that modifications of NK cytotoxicity or of NK subpopulations might contribute to the improvements of IVF outcomes.
First Trimester Human Endovascular Trophoblast Cells Express Both HLA‐C and HLA‐G
Authors: Pröll Johannes , Blaschitz Astrid , Hutter Heinz , Dohr Gottfried 
Published: September 2011

PROBLEM: In human pregnancies, trophoblasts, in contrast to placental connective tissue and the fetus itself, come into direct contact with the maternal allorecognizing system at special sites. Villous syncytiotrophoblasts washed around by maternal blood lack HLA class I proteins, whereas extravillous trophoblasts, which deeply invade maternal uterine tissues, express high amounts of HLA‐G and also HLA‐C, the latter to a lesser degree, however. A subpopulation of extravillous trophoblasts, the endovascular trophoblast, enters maternal spiral artery lumen and, like syncytiotrophoblast, comes into direct contact with maternal blood. Less is known about HLA class I distribution on this endovascular trophoblast subpopulation.METHOD OF STUDY: A comparative immununohistochemical analysis was done on decidual cryo‐sections containing trophoblast‐invaded spiral arteries using different anti‐HLA class I monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and a peroxidase‐labeled streptavidinbiotin detection system.RESULTS: MAbs W6/32 (anti‐HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, ‐G), HCA2 (anti‐HLA‐A, ‐G) G233 and 87G (both anti‐HLA‐G) resulted in strong positivity on endovascular trophoblasts. L31 (anti‐HLA‐C) and HC10 (anti‐HLA‐B, ‐C) revealed clear positivity, whereas TÜ149 (anti‐HLA‐B, ‐C, some ‐A) produced a heterogeneous staining pattern, faintly positive on some endovascular trophoblastic cells and negative on others. MAb LA45 (anti‐HLA‐A, ‐B) did not bind to any endovascular trophoblast, neither did BFL.1 (anti‐HLA‐G) nor 16G1 (anti‐HLA‐G, soluble).CONCLUSION: This study shows that trophoblastic cells belonging to the endovascular subpopulation express considerable amounts of HLA‐G and slightly less HLA‐C.
Antigen‐Presenting Cells in the Human Female Reproductive Tract: Analysis of Antigen Presentation in Pre‐ and Post‐Menopausal Women
Authors: Fahey John V. , Prabhala Rao H. , Guyre Paul M. , Wira Charles R. 
Published: September 2011

PROBLEM: To determine whether cells in the female reproductive tract (FRT) are functionally capable of presenting antigen to T cells.METHOD OF STUDY: Analysis was done by determining the proliferation of purified autologous T cells to antigen, following co‐incubation with non‐proliferating cell suspensions isolated from the uterus and prepared by enzymatic digestion of reproductive tract tissues from hysterectomy patients with benign disease.RESULTS: All uterine preparations analyzed were functionally capable of presenting antigen; the ability to present antigen was independent of pre‐ and post‐menopausal status. In contrast, some, but not all, tissues from the ovary, Fallopian tube, cervix, and vagina were capable of presenting antigen.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the human FRT is an inductive site for immune responses. Regulation of antigen presentation in the reproductive tract may be important for protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
A Study of Early Pregnancy Factor Activity in the Sera of Women with Trophoblastic Tumor
Authors: Xiaoguang Fan , Laixi Yan , Shunhou Jia , Aiying Ma , Changxin Qiao 
Published: September 2011

PROBLEM: To detect whether or not the early pregnancy factor (EPF)‐like activity, or chaperonin 10, could be in the sera of patients with trophoblastic tumor in order to find another more efficient means to diagnose this kind of tumor.METHOD OF STUDY: The rosette inhibition assay was used to detect EPF‐like activity in 216 sera, collected from patients with gestational trophoblastic tumor, including 47 sera of patients with choriocarcinoma, 68 sera of patients bearing invasive mole, and 101 sera of patients with vesicular mole.RESULTS: The accuracy of diagnosing malignant trophoblastic tumor by detecting EPF‐like activity is 91.3% (105/115), with a false positive rate of 14.58% and a false negative rate of 4.48% by this method. Furthermore, the rosette inhibition titer (RIT) values have significant difference (P < 0.001) between the sera in patients with malignant trophoblastic tumor before treatment and those after treatment.CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that diagnosis of malignant trophoblastic tumor could be made with an accuracy of 91.3%) by detecting EPF‐like activity and that EPF‐like activity could be used as an indicator to distinguish benign from malignant trophoblastic tumor.
TOWARD 6 log10 PULSED ELECTRIC FIELD INACTIVATION WITH CONDUCTIVE PLASTIC PACKAGING MATERIAL
Authors: ROODENBURG BART , DE HAAN SJOERD W H. , FERREIRA J A. , CORONEL PABLO , WOUTERS PATRICK C. , HATT VOLMAR 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTGenerally, high grade products such as pulsed electric field (PEF) treated fruit juices are packaged after their preservative treatment. However, PEF treatment after packaging could avoid recontamination of the product and becomes feasible when electric field pulses of sufficient magnitude can be generated inside closed food containments. Microbial inactivation of 2 log10 was proved by using an electrically conductive plastic packaging material, and in this contribution it is shown that inactivation toward pasteurization level is achievable. Therefore, a series of microbial experiments with Lactobacillus plantarum at different energy levels were performed. The obtained microbial data with the plastic material have been compared with inactivation models from literature as well as with reference experiments. All treatments were done at ∼2.3 kV/mm, with treatment times between 10–600 µs, and the thermal load was below 38C. The maximum obtained microbial inactivation with the plastic packaging material was 5.9 log10 with a specific energy of 255 J/mL.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSIn order to further minimize the risk of contaminating microorganisms, e.g., introduced during the packaging process, this new technology of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment after packaging can be beneficial in reducing food safety incidents. This technique also makes hygienic packaging machines superfluous, which will reduce operational and investment costs. By proving that PEF inactivation through a plastic packaging material is possible, the first step toward PEF treatment after packaging has been taken. Important next steps toward industrial realization are extensive research on food grade conductive packaging films, PEF in‐pack processing methodologies and microbial investigation of different microorganisms.
Mast cell tumour and cutaneous histiocytoma excision wound healing in general practice
Authors: Killick D. R. , Rowlands A. M. , Burrow R. D. , Cripps P. , Miller J. , Graham P. , Blackwood L. 
Published: September 2011

Objective: To assess whether wounds from incomplete mast cell tumour excisions are at greater risk of healing complications than wounds from complete excisions, or cutaneous histiocytomas.Methods: Mast cell tumours and cutaneous histiocytomas submitted to Nationwide Laboratories between November 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008 were selected. Questionnaires were sent to submitting veterinarians requesting details of tumour characteristics, clinical approach to the tumour and wound healing.Results: Three hundred and eighty‐six mast cell tumours and 524 cutaneous histiocytomas were identified. One hundred and eighty‐five mast cell tumours and 244 cutaneous histiocytomas questionnaires were returned (47% response). Wound complications arose in 20% of mast cell tumours and 21% of cutaneous histiocytomas. Multivariable analysis confirmed that larger tumours, tumours on the feet and a soft/“baggy” appearance, were significantly associated with a greater frequency of problems, leading to delayed wound healing and dehiscence.ClinicalSignificance: Incomplete mast cell tumour excision does not lead to greater risk of wound complications. Mast cell tumour surgical wounds have a similar rate of wound complications as cutaneous histiocytoma wounds.
Production of an anticanine globulin (polyspecific) reagent for laboratory investigation
Authors: Sriwichai C. , Jiraudommongkol M. , Wutti‐In Y. , Vongchan P. 
Published: September 2011

Objectives: Canine allo‐ or autoantibodies are clinically important, but attachment of these immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies does not produce observable haemagglutination. Antibody to canine globulins is required to demonstrate sensitisation of red blood cells. Commercial reagents are available, but these often differ in sensitivity and specificity. Rabbit anticanine globulins (polyspecific) were produced for use in canine blood compatibility testing and in the investigation of immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia.Methods: Canine sera was pooled, IgG was purified and subsequently used to immunise rabbits. A rising titre of anticanine IgG was demonstrated by indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Rabbit anticanine complement was isolated and investigated by agglutination of complement‐coated canine red blood cells. Both antibodies were purified and checked for crossreactivity before being combined to polyspecific anticanine globulins. The obtained reagent was used to indicate sensitised canine red blood cells and free antibodies in three different types of clinical samples, including blood for compatibility testing and that for investigation of immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia and screening for post‐transfusion alloantibodies and was also compared to commercial Coombs’ reagent.Results: The product provided results in accordance with those from commercial Coombs’ reagent. The sensitivity for canine crossmatching was 100% and specificity for diagnosing immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia was 87%.ClinicalSignificance: This product is helpful for canine crossmatching purposes and in the investigation of immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia.
Selective removal of transition metals from acidic mine waters by novel consortia of acidophilic sulfidogenic bacteria
Authors: Ňancucheo Ivan , Johnson D. Barrie 
Published: September 2011

SummaryTwo continuous‐flow bench‐scale bioreactor systems populated by mixed communities of acidophilic sulfate‐reducing bacteria were constructed and tested for their abilities to promote the selective precipitation of transition metals (as sulfides) present in synthetic mine waters, using glycerol as electron donor. The objective with the first system (selective precipitation of copper from acidic mine water containing a variety of soluble metals) was achieved by maintaining a bioreactor pH of ∼2.2–2.5. The second system was fed with acidic (pH 2.5) synthetic mine water containing 3 mM of both zinc and ferrous iron, and varying concentrations (0.5–30 mM) of aluminium. Selective precipitation of zinc sulfide was possible by operating the bioreactor at pH 4.0 and supplementing the synthetic mine water with 4 mM glycerol. Analysis of the microbial populations in the bioreactors showed that they changed with varying operational parameters, and novel acidophilic bacteria (including one sulfidogen) were isolated from the bioreactors. The acidophilic sulfidogenic bioreactors provided ‘proof of principle’ that segregation of metals present in mine waters is possible using simple online systems within which controlled pH conditions are maintained. The modular units are versatile and robust, and involve minimum engineering complexity.
The Poverty Deconcentration Imperative and Public Housing Transformation
Authors: Oakley Deirdre , Ward Chandra , Reid Lesley , Ruel Erin 
Published: September 2011

AbstractPublic housing has been on the chopping block for almost two decades now in an effort to deconcentrate poverty. In 1992 the federal government created the Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) VI program. HOPE VI is driven by the assumption that deconcentrating neighborhood‐level poverty will yield better access to upward mobility opportunities for former public housing residents. To accomplish this, existing public housing is demolished and replaced with mixed‐income developments. Public housing residents are relocated, many with Housing Choice Voucher subsidies to private‐market rental housing. However, by its very definition mixed income means that only a small percentage of former residents get the opportunity to return. Do voucher relocated residents end up in lower poverty neighborhoods with greater upward mobility opportunities? We examine the spatial organization of relocation within the critical discourse on the deconcentration imperative. We highlight Atlanta because it recently became the first city in the nation to eliminate all of its public housing. Findings reveal that voucher relocatees end up in neighborhoods with modestly less poverty than the public housing neighborhoods they left. Questions remain about what poverty deconcentration means vis‐à‐vis policy goals. We provide recommendations for future research.
Automatic abstraction and fault tolerance in cortical microachitectures
Authors: Hashmi Atif , Berry Hugues , Temam Olivier , Lipasti Mikko 
Published: September 2011

Recent advances in the neuroscientific understanding of the brain are bringing about a tantalizing opportunity for building synthetic machines that perform computation in ways that differ radically from traditional Von Neumann machines. These brain-like architectures, which are premised on our understanding of how the human neocortex computes, are highly fault-tolerant, averaging results over large numbers of potentially faulty components, yet manage to solve very difficult problems more reliably than traditional algorithms. A key principle of operation for these architectures is that of automatic abstraction: independent features are extracted from highly disordered inputs and are used to create abstract invariant representations of the external entities. This feature extraction is applied hierarchically, leading to increasing levels of abstraction at higher levels in the hierarchy.
This paper describes and evaluates a biologically plausible computational model for this process, and highlights the inherent fault tolerance of the biologically-inspired algorithm. We introduce a stuck-at fault model for such cortical networks, and describe how this model maps to hardware faults that can occur on commodity GPGPU cores used to realize the model in software. We show experimentally that the model software implementation can intrinsically preserve its functionality in the presence of faulty hardware, without requiring any reprogramming or recompilation. This model is a first step towards developing a comprehensive and biologically plausible understanding of the computational algorithms and microarchitecture of computing systems that mimic the human cortex, and to applying them to the robust implementation of tasks on future computing systems built of faulty components.
Vantage
Authors: Sanchez Daniel , Kozyrakis Christos 
Published: September 2011

Cache partitioning has a wide range of uses in CMPs, from guaranteeing quality of service and controlled sharing to security-related techniques. However, existing cache partitioning schemes (such as way-partitioning) are limited to coarse-grain allocations, can only support few partitions, and reduce cache associativity, hurting performance. Hence, these techniques can only be applied to CMPs with 2-4 cores, but fail to scale to tens of cores.
We present Vantage, a novel cache partitioning technique that overcomes the limitations of existing schemes: caches can have tens of partitions with sizes specified at cache line granularity, while maintaining high associativity and strong isolation among partitions. Vantage leverages cache arrays with good hashing and associativity, which enable soft-pinning a large portion of cache lines. It enforces capacity allocations by controlling the replacement process. Unlike prior schemes, Vantage provides strict isolation guarantees by partitioning most (e.g. 90%) of the cache instead of all of it. Vantage is derived from analytical models, which allow us to provide strong guarantees and bounds on associativity and sizing independent of the number of partitions and their behaviors. It is simple to implement, requiring around 1.5% state overhead and simple changes to the cache controller.

We evaluate Vantage using extensive simulations. On a 32-core system, using 350 multiprogrammed workloads and one partition per core, partitioning the last-level cache with conventional techniques
degrades
throughput for 71% of the workloads versus an unpartitioned cache (by 7% average, 25% maximum degradation), even when using 64-way caches. In contrast, Vantage improves throughput for 98% of the workloads, by 8% on average (up to 20%), using a
4-way cache
.
Energy-efficient cache design using variable-strength error-correcting codes
Authors: Alameldeen Alaa R. , Wagner Ilya , Chishti Zeshan , Wu Wei , Wilkerson Chris , Lu Shih-Lien 
Published: September 2011

Voltage scaling is one of the most effective mechanisms to improve microprocessors' energy efficiency. However, processors cannot operate reliably below a minimum voltage, Vccmin, since hardware structures may fail. Cell failures in large memory arrays (e.g., caches) typically determine Vccmin for the whole processor. We observe that most cache lines exhibit zero or one failures at low voltages. However, a few lines, especially in large caches, exhibit multi-bit failures and increase Vccmin. Previous solutions either significantly reduce cache capacity to enable uniform error correction across all lines, or significantly increase latency and bandwidth overheads when amortizing the cost of error-correcting codes (ECC) over large lines.
In this paper, we propose a novel cache architecture that uses variable-strength error-correcting codes (VS-ECC). In the common case, lines with zero or one failures use a simple and fast ECC. A small number of lines with multi-bit failures use a strong multi-bit ECC that requires some additional area and latency. We present a novel dynamic cache characterization mechanism to determine which lines will exhibit multi-bit failures. In particular, we use multi-bit correction to protect a fraction of the cache after switching to low voltage, while dynamically testing the remaining lines for multi-bit failures. Compared to prior multi-bit-correcting proposals, VS-ECC significantly reduces power and energy, avoids significant reductions in cache capacity, incurs little area overhead, and avoids large increases in latency and bandwidth.