Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential expression of CD43 (leukosialin, sialophorin) by mononuclear phagocyte populations

CD43 is a hematopoietic cell antigen whose distribution includes T lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, and platelets. Although it has been detected on peripheral blood monocytes, its expression by other mononuclear phagocytes has not been well documented. Possible changes in monocyte/macrophage CD43 expression in response to inflammation are also poorly defined. To examine these questions, the expression of CD43 by rat peripheral blood monocytes and both resident and elicited peritoneal macrophages was examined. By flow cytometry with two anti‐CD43 monoclonal antibodies, blood monocytes were found to express large amounts of surface CD43, whereas surface CD43 expression by resident peritoneal macrophages was negligible. Peritoneal macrophage populations elicited by intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate were uniformly positive for surface CD43, although the level of expression was lower than that found on monocytes. By labeling resident macrophages with a fluorescent tracer dye, this phenotypic shift was found to reflect an influx of CD43‐positive elicited macrophages coupled with a disappearance of CD43‐negative resident cells. Evidence from both flow cytometry and Western blotting studies suggests that the CD43 expressed by elicited peritoneal macrophages is less heavily sialylated than that expressed by blood monocytes. These findings, coupled with recent evidence that CD43 influences cellular adhesion, indicate that differential expression of CD43 may play a role in monocyte/macrophage trafficking. J. Leukoc. Biol. 55: 536–544; 1994.
Padua Research Archive - Institutional Repository

The recent introduction of novel acquisition devices like the Leap Motion and the Kinect allows to obtain a very informative description of the hand pose that can be exploited for accurate gesture recognition. This paper proposes a novel hand gesture recognition scheme explicitly targeted to Leap Motion data. An ad-hoc feature set based on the positions and orientation of the ﬁngertips is computed and fed into a multi-class SVM classiﬁer in order to recognize the performed gestures. A set of features is also extracted from the depth computed from the Kinect and combined with the Leap Motion ones in order to improve the recognition performance. Experimental results present a comparison between the accuracy that can be obtained from the two devices on a subset of the American Manual Alphabet and show how, by combining the two features sets, it is possible to achieve a very high accuracy in real-time.
Quantitative Electron Microscopy of Cellulose Nanofibril Structures from Eucalyptus and Pinus radiata Kraft Pulp Fibers

Abstract This work comprises the structural characterization of Eucalyptus and Pinus radiata pulp fibers and their corresponding fibrillated materials, based on quantitative electron microscopy techniques. Compared to hardwood fibers, the softwood fibers have a relatively open structure of the fiber wall outer layers. The fibrillation of the fibers was performed mechanically and chemi-mechanically. In the chemi-mechanical process, the pulp fibers were subjected to a TEMPO-mediated oxidation to facilitate the homogenization. Films were made of the fibrillated materials to evaluate some structural properties. The thicknesses and roughnesses of the films were evaluated with standardized methods and with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in backscattered electron imaging mode. Field-emission SEM (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to quantify the nanofibril morphology. In this study, we give additional and significant evidences about the suitability of electron microscopy techniques for quantification of nanofibril structures. In addition, we conclude that standard methods are not suitable for estimating the thickness of films having relatively rough surfaces. The results revealed significant differences with respect to the morphology of the fibrillated material. The differences are due to the starting raw material and to the procedure applied for the fibrillation.
Do Professional Golfers “Choke”?

A study involving results of the PGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour, and the LPGA Tour investigated whether “choking under pressure” occurs among professional golfers. Players were individuals who either were leading going into the final round or within five strokes of the lead. It was hypothesized that players who were one stroke from the lead and to a lesser extent players who were leading should have higher final round scores than those players who were two or more strokes from the lead (“choking”). However, the results did not support the choking hypothesis. Players who were leading going into the final round won the majority of the time.
Copy Number Polymorphism of the Salivary Amylase Gene: Implications in Human Nutrition Research

The salivary α-amylase is a calcium-binding enzyme that initiates starch digestion in the oral cavity. The α-amylase genes are located in a cluster on the chromosome that includes salivary amylase genes (AMY1), two pancreatic α-amylase genes (AMY2A and AMY2B) and a related pseudogene. The AMY1 genes show extensive copy number variation which is directly proportional to the salivary α-amylase content in saliva. The α-amylase amount in saliva is also influenced by other factors, such as hydration status, psychosocial stress level, and short-term dietary habits. It has been shown that the average copy number of AMY1 gene is higher in populations that evolved under high-starch diets versus low-starch diets, reflecting an intense positive selection imposed by diet on amylase copy number during evolution. In this context, a number of different aspects can be considered in evaluating the possible impact of copy number variation of the AMY1 gene on nutrition research, such as issues related to human diet gene evolution, action on starch digestion, effect on glycemic response after starch consumption, modulation of the action of α-amylases inhibitors, effect on taste perception and satiety, influence on psychosocial stress and relation to oral health.
Treatment with Combined Streptozotocin and Liposomal Doxorubicin in Metastatic Endocrine Pancreatic Tumors

Treatment with combined streptozotocin and liposomal doxorubicin is safe and efficient in patients with endocrine pancreatic tumors (EPTs). No cardiac toxicity was reported. Background: The combination of streptozotocin and doxorubicin has been shown to be superior to streptozotocin and fluorouracil in the treatment of metastatic EPTs. However, the risk of cardiac toxicity from anthracyclins hampers the usefulness of the drug combination. Liposomal doxorubicin has a lower frequency of cardiac adverse events compared to doxorubicin. We wanted to assess the efficacy and safety of combined streptozotocin and liposomal doxorubicin in patients with metastatic EPTs. Methods: Thirty patients with metastatic EPTs were recruited from three medical centers in Norway and Sweden during a time period of 3 years. All patients had histopathologically confirmed diagnoses and bidimensionally measurable lesions. 30 mg/m2 of liposomal doxorubicin was administered on day 1 of each cycle. During the first course, 1 g of streptozotocin was given on 5 consecutive days. Thereafter, 2 g of streptozotocin was given on day 1 only. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. Results: Twelve of 30 patients (40%) achieved an objective radiological response with a median duration of 9 months. Stabilization of disease was achieved in 17 of 30 patients (57%) for a median duration of 11 months. Only one patient had progressive disease as best response. The 2-year progression-free survival was 18% and the 2-year overall survival was 72%. The treatment was well tolerated. None of the patients experienced cardiac toxicity. Conclusion: We conclude that combined streptozotocin and liposomal doxorubicin is a safe and efficient treatment for EPTs. The efficacy seems to be comparable to that of combined streptozotocin and doxorubicin, whereas the cardiac toxicity clearly favors using the liposomal drug combination.
B-flow imaging of the hepatic vasculature: correlation with color Doppler sonography.

OBJECTIVE B-flow imaging is a non-Doppler technology that provides real-time imaging of blood flow during gray-scale sonography. The utility of B-flow imaging is reflected in numerous publications that describe normal and pathologic findings in the carotid arteries and hemodialysis fistulas. However, there is a paucity of articles describing B-flow imaging of the abdominopelvic viscera. The purpose of this article is to illustrate a spectrum of findings encountered during noninvasive flow evaluation of the hepatic vasculature, correlating the Doppler sonography and B-flow imaging findings. CONCLUSION Color and spectral Doppler sonography are invaluable for noninvasive evaluation of the hepatic vasculature. However, a number of pitfalls and artifacts have been described that can cause important pathologic findings to be overlooked or can suggest incorrect diagnoses. In our experience, B-flow imaging often correctly displays normal and pathological vascular structures for which Doppler sonographic findings have been misleading or erroneous.
Landscape characteristics influencing the genetic structure of greater sage-grouse within the stronghold of their range: a holistic modeling approach

Given the significance of animal dispersal to population dynamics and geographic variability, understanding how dispersal is impacted by landscape patterns has major ecological and conservation importance. Speaking to the importance of dispersal, the use of linear mixed models to compare genetic differentiation with pairwise resistance derived from landscape resistance surfaces has presented new opportunities to disentangle the menagerie of factors behind effective dispersal across a given landscape. Here, we combine these approaches with novel resistance surface parameterization to determine how the distribution of high- and low-quality seasonal habitat and individual landscape components shape patterns of gene flow for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) across Wyoming. We found that pairwise resistance derived from the distribution of low-quality nesting and winter, but not summer, seasonal habitat had the strongest correlation with genetic differentiation. Although the patterns were not as strong as with habitat distribution, multivariate models with sagebrush cover and landscape ruggedness or forest cover and ruggedness similarly had a much stronger fit with genetic differentiation than an undifferentiated landscape. In most cases, landscape resistance surfaces transformed with 17.33-km-diameter moving windows were preferred, suggesting small-scale differences in habitat were unimportant at this large spatial extent. Despite the emergence of these overall patterns, there were differences in the selection of top models depending on the model selection criteria, suggesting research into the most appropriate criteria for landscape genetics is required. Overall, our results highlight the importance of differences in seasonal habitat preferences to patterns of gene flow and suggest the combination of habitat suitability modeling and linear mixed models with our resistance parameterization is a powerful approach to discerning the effects of landscape on gene flow.
An fMRI Investigation of Preparatory Set in the Human Cerebral Cortex and Superior Colliculus for Pro- and Anti-Saccades

Previous studies have identified several cortical regions that show larger BOLD responses during preparation and execution of anti-saccades than pro-saccades. We confirmed this finding with a greater BOLD response for anti-saccades than pro-saccades during the preparation phase in the FEF, IPS and DLPFC and in the FEF and IPS in the execution phase. We then applied multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to establish whether different neural populations are involved in the two types of saccade. Pro-saccades and anti-saccades were reliably decoded during saccade execution in all three cortical regions (FEF, DLPFC and IPS) and in IPS during saccade preparation. This indicates neural specialization, for programming the desired response depending on the task rule, in these regions. In a further study tailored for imaging the superior colliculus in the midbrain a similar magnitude BOLD response was observed for pro-saccades and anti-saccades and the two saccade types could not be decoded with MVPA. This was the case both for activity related to the preparation phase and also for that elicited during the execution phase. We conclude that separate cortical neural populations are involved in the task-specific programming of a saccade while in contrast, the SC has a role in response preparation but may be less involved in high-level, task-specific aspects of the control of saccades.
Activation of a Cyclic Amp-Guanine Exchange Factor in Hepatocytes Decreases Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression

ABSTRACT Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) activates intracellular signaling by regulating protein kinase A, calcium influx, and cAMP-binging guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Epac [exchange protein directly activated by cAMP] or cAMP-GEF). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate inhibits cytokine-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in hepatocytes by a protein kinase A–independent mechanism. We hypothesized that Epac mediates this effect. A cyclic AMP analog that specifically activates Epac, 8-(4-methoxyphenylthio)-2′-O-methyladenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (OPTmecAMP), and overexpression of liver-specific Epac2 both inhibited interleukin 1&bgr;/interferon &ggr;–induced iNOS expression and nitrite production. OPTmecAMP inactivated Raf1/MEK/ERK signaling, but ERK had no effect on iNOS expression. OPTmecAMP induced a persistent Akt phosphorylation in hepatocytes that lasted up to 8 h. Overexpression of a dominant-negative Akt blocked the inhibitory effect of OPTmecAMP on iNOS production. A specific PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, attenuated the inhibition of nitrite production and iNOS expression produced by overexpressing a liver-specific Epac2 (LEpac2). OPTmecAMP also induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in hepatocytes. Overexpression of dominant-negative JNK enhanced cytokine-induced iNOS expression and nitrite production and reversed the inhibitory effects of LEpac2 on nitrite production and iNOS expression. We conclude that Epac regulates hepatocyte iNOS expression through an Akt- and JNK-mediated signaling mechanism.
The Conditional Relation between Fama-French Betas and Return

We apply the conditional approach of Pettengill, Sundaram, and Mathur (1995) to the predominant model in asset pricing, the Fama-French three-factor model. We find that all three risk factors cross-sectionally drive asset returns. Further, we extend the test developed by Freeman and Guermat (2006) to multi-factor models and test if risk premia are priced within the conditional approach. Our test leads to qualitatively identical results as the Fama-MacBeth (1973) test, thus confirming its validity. Additionally, our use of portfolios sorted by various characteristics accentuates how critical the choice of test portfolios is to empirical asset pricing.
Gene Expression Profiling of Shoot-Derived Calli from Adult Radiata Pine and Zygotic Embryo-Derived Embryonal Masses

Background Although somatic embryogenesis has an unprecedented potential for large-scale clonal propagation of conifers, the ability to efficiently induce the embryonal cultures required for somatic embryo production has long been a challenge. Furthermore, because early stage zygotic embryos remain the only responsive explants for pines, it is not possible to clone individual trees from vegetative explants at a commercial scale. This is of particular interest for adult trees because many elite characteristics only become apparent following sexual maturation. Findings Shoot explants collected from adult radiata pine trees were cultured on four induction media differing in plant growth regulator composition, either directly after collection or from in vitro-generated axillary shoots. Six callus lines were selected for microscopic examination, which failed to reveal any embryonal masses (EM). qPCR expression profiling of five of these lines indicated that explant type influenced the absolute level of gene expression, but not the type of genes that were expressed. The analysis, which also included three EM lines induced from immature zygotic embryos, encompassed five categories of genes reflective of metabolic, mitotic and meristematic activity, along with putative markers of embryogenicity. Culture medium was found to have no significant impact on gene expression, although differences specific to the explant’s origin were apparent. Expression of transcriptional factors associated with vegetative meristems further suggested that all of the callus lines possessed a substantive vegetative character. Most notable, however, was that they all also expressed a putative embryogenic marker (LEC1). Conclusions While limited in scope, these results illustrate the utility of expression profiling for characterizing tissues in culture. For example, although the biological significance of LEC1 expression is unclear, it does present the possibility that these callus lines possess some level of embryogenic character. Additionally, expression of vegetative meristem markers is consistent with their vegetative origin, as are differences in expression patterns as compared with EM.
Surface features of a Mononegavirales matrix protein indicate sites of membrane interaction

The matrix protein (M) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the prototype viral member of the Pneumovirinae (family Paramyxoviridae, order Mononegavirales), has been crystallized and the structure determined to a resolution of 1.6 Å. The structure comprises 2 compact β-rich domains connected by a relatively unstructured linker region. Due to the high degree of side-chain order in the structure, an extensive contiguous area of positive surface charge covering ≈600 Å2 can be resolved. This unusually large patch of positive surface potential spans both domains and the linker, and provides a mechanism for driving the interaction of the protein with a negatively-charged membrane surface or other virion components such as the nucleocapsid. This patch is complemented by regions of high hydrophobicity and a striking planar arrangement of tyrosine residues encircling the C-terminal domain. Comparison of the RSV M sequence with other members of the Pneumovirinae shows that regions of divergence correspond to surface exposed loops in the M structure, with the majority of viral species-specific differences occurring in the N-terminal domain.
Caenorhabditis Elegans

Transparent, free-living nematode worm. Unsegmented body plan with full set of differentiated tissues (neural, endoderm, ectoderm and muscle). Genome size approximately 97 Mb, as five autosomes and one X sex chromosome. Fully sequenced genome, which comprises approximately 20 000 predicted genes. Defined cell lineage. Has made major contribution to studies of development, cell-to-cell signalling, cell ageing and cell death processes. Large-scale gene deletion, microarray analysis of gene expression and two-hybrid protein interaction analysis projects under way. Comparative studies mainly with C. briggsae, but also with other free-living and parasitic nematodes.
Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis: A Descriptive Study among Thoracic Surgeons

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications following surgeries and increase mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs. The use of antimicrobial prophylaxis is an effective measure to prevent development of SSIs. This study aimed to evaluate the current use of prophylactic antibiotics in thoracic surgeries in Iran. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among thoracic surgeons in order to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP). A four-section multiple-choice questionnaire was designed and hand-delivered to registered thoracic surgeons. The surgeons’ answers were considered correct when they were in accordance to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP) guidelines. Results: Seventy thoracic surgeons were requested to participate in this study and their response rate was 71.4%. Thirty-five (70%) surgeons had good knowledge about appropriate SAP. However, less than half of the respondents were aware of appropriate SAP in case of Ig E-mediated reaction to penicillin and risk of Gram-negative infections. The surgeon’s attitude score about the need for local and national guidelines for SAP was 78% and 90%, respectively. Accordance of the physician’s practice with ASHP guidelines regarding timing of the first dosage of SAP was acceptable while correct administration of an intraoperative dose was 40% in agreement with the guideline. Conclusion: Although thoracic surgeons had a good attitude towards antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines, their knowledge and practice should be improved for proper administration of SAP.
Transcriptional Adaptor ADA3 of Drosophila melanogaster Is Required for Histone Modification, Position Effect Variegation, and Transcription

ABSTRACT The Drosophila melanogaster gene diskette (also known as dik or dAda3) encodes a protein 29% identical to human ADA3, a subunit of GCN5-containing histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes. The fly dADA3 is a major contributor to oogenesis, and it is also required for somatic cell viability. dADA3 localizes to chromosomes, and it is significantly reduced in dGcn5 and dAda2a, but not in dAda2b, mutant backgrounds. In dAda3 mutants, acetylation at histone H3 K9 and K14, but not K18, and at histone H4 K12, but not K5, K8, and K16, is significantly reduced. Also, phosphorylation at H3 S10 is reduced in dAda3 and dGcn5 mutants. Variegation for white (wm4) and scute (Hwv) genes, caused by rearrangements of X chromosome heterochromatin, is modified in a dAda3+ gene-dosage-dependent manner. The effect is not observed with rearrangements involving Y heterochromatin (bwD), euchromatin (Scutoid), or transvection effects on chromosomal pairing (white and zeste interaction). Activity of scute gene enhancers, targets for Iroquoi transcription factors, is abolished in dAda3 mutants. Also, Iroquoi-associated phenotypes are sensitive to dAda3+ gene dosage. We conclude that dADA3 plays a role in HAT complexes which acetylate H3 and H4 at specific residues. In turn, this acetylation results in chromatin structure effects of certain rearrangements and transcription of specific genes.
Galaxy colour, morphology and environment in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We use the Fourth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to investigate the relation between galaxy rest-frame u-r colour, morphology, as described by the concentration and Sersic indices, and environmental density, for a sample of 79 553 galaxies at z? 0.1. We split the samples according to density and luminosity, and recover the expected bimodal distribution in the colour-morphology plane, shown especially clearly by this subsampling.