Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biology, ecology and ultrastructure of Ascobotryozyma and Botryozyma, unique commensal nematode-associated yeasts

Ascobotryozyma (anamorph Botryozyma) is an ascomycetous yeast genus characterized by its unusual morphology and ability to attach to free-living nematodes in the genus Panagrellus. Other than species descriptions for four taxa little is known about these yeasts. Investigations were carried out to determine the ecological relationship and specificity with nematodes in addition to examining basic cell structure, thallus development and sexual reproduction. Based on previous examinations of the yeast and nematode it was hypothesized the fungus did not parasitize the nematode but instead remained attached to nematodes for dispersal. Electron micrographs supported our hypotheses and revealed a specialized cell wall and mucilage that aid in attachment to the nematode cuticle. Tests to determine the ability of Ascobotryozyma and Botryozyma to attach to different nematode taxa revealed that attachment varies across taxonomic groups. Examinations of thallus cells, thallus growth, cell fusion and ascosporogenesis are presented. This study provides insight into an otherwise cryptic yeast genus.
CoPtCr-SiO/sub 2/ perpendicular media for high density recording with a high order magnetic anisotropy energy term

The first and second order energy terms of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, K/sub u1/ and K/sub u2/, of CoPtCr-SiO/sub 2/ perpendicular recording media were studied as a function of film composition and film structure. Moreover, the fabrication of CoPtCr-SiO/sub 2/ media having adequate values of K/sub u1/ and K/sub u2/ for high recording density was preliminarily studied. An analysis of CoPtCr films with various kinds of seed layer materials revealed that the values of K/sub u1/ and K/sub u2/ varied significantly with the seed layer material used, probably due to epitaxial growth of CoPtCr on the seed layers. K/sub u2/ increased, accompanied by a reduction in K/sub u1/ as the c/a ratio of the hcp-CoPtCr lattice increased. Moreover, experimental results suggest that a high stacking-fault density enhances the K/sub u2/ values, especially in the high Pt content region. The addition of SiO/sub 2/ reduces the total anisotropy, K/sub u1/+K/sub u2/, but no significant change in the ratio of K/sub u2//K/sub u1/ was observed. The fabrication of CoPtCr-SiO/sub 2/ media with adequate values of K/sub u1/ and K/sub u2/ was successfully demonstrated, although more intensive efforts to enhance grain isolation are required to confirm the advantages conferred by the K/sub u2/ term.
Assessment of genetic risk factors for thromboembolic complications in adults with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

AIMS Nephrotic syndrome (NS) may occur with acquired hypercoagulability, however, the fact that it is accompanied by an underlying hereditary thrombophilia, especially combined hereditary thrombophilia would lead to thrombotic events. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of genetic thrombophilia to development of thrombotic events in adult patients with NS. MATERIAL AND METHODS Factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation were studied in 51 newly diagnosed idiopathic NS patients and age- and gender-matched 20 healthy control subjects included in the study. Renal vein Doppler ultrasound was conducted in order to investigate the prevalence of subclinical renal vein thrombosis. RESULTS Of 51 patients, 6 (11.8%) were established to have thromboembolic (TE) complications at the time of diagnosis (4 symptomatic, 2 subclinical), and no recurring thrombotic episode was observed. Genetic mutation was established in all patients that were found to have TE complications. Acquired hypercoagulability factors were similar in patients without and with TE complication. CONCLUSIONS The coexistence of inherited thrombophilia in NS may facilitate thromboembolic complications. If the cause of thrombosis cannot be explained by the usual factors attributed to the occurrence of thrombosis in NS, screening for the other factors, such as FVL, MTHFR, and prothrombin gene mutation, may be beneficial.
GRIP1 is required for homeostatic regulation of AMPAR trafficking

Significance Homeostatic plasticity constrains neuronal networks, allowing the brain to maintain a dynamic equilibrium. Loss of homeostatic plasticity disrupts normal brain function and has been implicated in autism spectrum disorder. Much of homeostatic regulation centers on synapses. In particular, excitatory AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) are moved in and out of synapses to recalibrate neuronal activity. AMPARs can be inserted at the surface to compensate for inactivity or removed to compensate for hyperactivity. We found that GRIP1, an AMPAR-binding protein implicated in autism, regulates the homeostatic shuttling of AMPARs between cytoplasmic and synaptic pools. Restoring GRIP1 regulation may therefore prove therapeutically useful in autism. Homeostatic plasticity is a negative feedback mechanism that stabilizes neurons during periods of perturbed activity. The best-studied form of homeostatic plasticity in the central nervous system is the scaling of excitatory synapses. Postsynaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) can be inserted into synapses to compensate for neuronal inactivity or removed to compensate for hyperactivity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the homeostatic regulation of AMPARs remain elusive. Here, we show that the expression of GRIP1, a multi-PDZ (postsynaptic density 95/discs large/zona occludens) domain AMPAR-binding protein, is bidirectionally altered by neuronal activity. Furthermore, we observe a subcellular redistribution of GRIP1 and a change in the binding of GRIP1 to GluA2 during synaptic scaling. Using a combination of biochemical, genetic, and electrophysiological methods, we find that loss of GRIP1 blocks the accumulation of surface AMPARs and the scaling up of synaptic strength that occur in response to chronic activity blockade. Collectively, our data point to an essential role of GRIP1-mediated AMPAR trafficking during inactivity-induced synaptic scaling.
Immunomodulatory effect of canine periodontal ligament stem cells on allogenic and xenogenic peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of canine periodontal ligament stem cells on allogenic and xenogenic immune cells in vitro. Methods Mixed cell cultures consisting of canine stem cells (periodontal ligament stem cells and bone marrow stem cells) and allogenic canine/xenogenic human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were established following the addition of phytohemagglutinin. The proliferation of PBMCs was evaluated using the MTS assay. The cell division of PBMCs was analyzed using the CFSE assay. The apoptosis of PBMCs was assessed using the trypan blue uptake method. Results Periodontal ligament stem cells and bone marrow stem cells inhibited the proliferation of allogenic and xenogenic PBMCs. Both periodontal ligament stem cells and bone marrow stem cells suppressed the cell division of PBMCs despite the existence of a mitogen. No significant differences in the percentages of apoptotic PBMCs were found among the groups. Conclusions Canine periodontal ligament stem cells have an immunomodulatory effect on allogenic and xenogenic PBMCs. This effect is not a product of apoptosis of PBMCs but is caused by the inhibition of cell division of PBMCs.
Effects of Strain Rate on Tensile Behavior of Reactive Powder Concrete

Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) reinforced with short steel fibers is characterized by ultra-high strength and high fracture toughness. Because of its excellent properties, RPC may be suitable as an advanced material for reinforced concrete structures subjected to impact loading. Thus, the objective of this study was to find out the effects of strain rates on tensile behaviors of RPC specimens subjected to rapid loading. The influence of the loading rates on failure modes, tensile stress-elongation curves and tensile stress-crack opening curves was investigated. Furthermore, based on the test results, a rate-dependent bridging law expressing the relation between tensile stress and crack opening was proposed.
Perk-Dependent Translational Regulation Promotes Tumor Cell Adaptation and Angiogenesis in Response to Hypoxic Stress

ABSTRACT It has been well established that the tumor microenvironment can promote tumor cell adaptation and survival. However, the mechanisms that influence malignant progression have not been clearly elucidated. We have previously demonstrated that cells cultured under hypoxic/anoxic conditions and transformed cells in hypoxic areas of tumors activate a translational control program known as the integrated stress response (ISR). Here, we show that tumors derived from K-Ras-transformed Perk−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) are smaller and exhibit less angiogenesis than tumors with an intact ISR. Furthermore, Perk promotes a tumor microenvironment that favors the formation of functional microvessels. These observations were corroborated by a microarray analysis of polysome-bound RNA in aerobic and hypoxic Perk+/+ and Perk−/− MEFs. This analysis revealed that a subset of proangiogenic transcripts is preferentially translated in a Perk-dependent manner; these transcripts include VCIP, an adhesion molecule that promotes cellular adhesion, integrin binding, and capillary morphogenesis. Taken with the concomitant Perk-dependent translational induction of additional proangiogenic genes identified by our microarray analysis, this study suggests that Perk plays a role in tumor cell adaptation to hypoxic stress by regulating the translation of angiogenic factors necessary for the development of functional microvessels and further supports the contention that the Perk pathway could be an attractive target for novel antitumor modalities.
Linking Boundary Crossing From Work to Nonwork to Work-Related Rumination Across Time: A Variable- and Person-Oriented Approach

This 1-year follow-up study (N = 841) investigated the relationship between boundary crossing behavior from work to nonwork and work-related rumination (i.e., affective rumination, problem-solving pondering, and lack of psychological detachment from work during off-job time). This relationship is important to examine as work-related rumination is a risk factor for poor recovery and ill-health over time. The aims were twofold: first, to examine these relationships in terms of temporal ordering, and, second, to show how individual differences regarding stability and change of boundaries from work to nonwork are reflected in work-related rumination across time. The structural equation modeling analyses lent support to the hypothesized normal causation model compared with the reversed causation and reciprocal models. However, only the cross-lagged relationship between high boundary crossing behavior at T1 and lack of psychological detachment at T2 was significant. Through latent profile analysis, 6 subgroups of boundary crossing behavior across time were identified. Over 70% of the employees belonged to the stable (low, moderate, high) and about one-third to the changing (mostly increasing) boundary crossing subgroups. Employees in the 2 stable (high and moderate) boundary crossing subgroups reported less psychological detachment and more problem-solving pondering during off-job time than did those in the low boundary crossing subgroup. Employees in the change groups reported simultaneous expected changes, especially in their problem-solving pondering. No effects on affective rumination were found. Thus frequent boundary crossing behavior from work to nonwork plays a different role regarding the various forms of work-related rumination during nonwork.
IncBricks: Toward In-Network Computation with an In-Network Cache

The emergence of programmable network devices and the increasing data traffic of datacenters motivate the idea of in-network computation. By offloading compute operations onto intermediate networking devices (e.g., switches, network accelerators, middleboxes), one can (1) serve network requests on the fly with low latency; (2) reduce datacenter traffic and mitigate network congestion; and (3) save energy by running servers in a low-power mode. However, since (1) existing switch technology doesn't provide general computing capabilities, and (2) commodity datacenter networks are complex (e.g., hierarchical fat-tree topologies, multipath communication), enabling in-network computation inside a datacenter is challenging. In this paper, as a step towards in-network computing, we present IncBricks, an in-network caching fabric with basic computing primitives. IncBricks is a hardware-software co-designed system that supports caching in the network using a programmable network middlebox. As a key-value store accelerator, our prototype lowers request latency by over 30% and doubles throughput for 1024 byte values in a common cluster configuration. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of in-network computing and that efficient datacenter network request processing is possible if we carefully split the computation across the different programmable computing elements in a datacenter, including programmable switches, network accelerators, and end hosts.
The Criterion Problem: What Measure of Success in Graduate Education?

A wide variety of potential indicators of graduate student performance are reviewed. Based on a scrutiny of relevant research literature and ex perience with recent and current research projects, the various indicators are considered in two ways. First, they are analyzed within the framework of the traditional "criterion problem," that is, with re spect to their adequacy as criteria in predicting graduate school performance. In this case, empha sis is given to problems with the criteria that make it difficult to draw valid inferences about the re lationship between selection measures and perfor mance measures. Second, the various indicators are considered as an important process of the graduate program. In this case, attention is given to their adequacy as procedures for the evaluation of stu dent performance, e.g., their clarity, fairness, and usefulness as feedback to students.
Students ’ Perception of the Learning Environment in Business Education in Kuwait : A Comparative Study between Private and Public Universities

Several private universalities have opened doors to students in the last decade or so in Kuwait. This has raised some questions about the quality of education these universities have been providing. This study explores the learning environment in business schools at private universities in Kuwait and tries to relate it to students’ attitudes toward their universities. The study compares that with the public Kuwait University and tries to find out if there is any gender difference in students’ perception. The study used regression analysis to explore the individual effects of each of the five dimensions of the learning environment (student cohesiveness, teacher support, involvement, task orientation and cooperation) on students’ attitude toward their academic institution. The findings of the study proved positive effects of the five dimensions of the learning environment on students’ attitude toward their academic institution however; students’ attitude was significantly higher for public institutions than private ones. When it comes to gender, the study found significant differences in students’ perception of the five dimensions of the learning environment and the attitude toward the academic institution.
Protective effects of cilostazol and levosimendan on lung injury induced by lower limb ischemia-reperfusion Alt ekstremite iskemi reperfüzyonuna bağli akciğer hasarinda silostazol ve levosimendanin koruyucu etkisi

Background:­In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of cilostazol and levosimendan, and the combination of these agents on the lung remote organ damage after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) following abdominal aortic surgery. Methods: The experiments were performed on 35 male Wistar albino rats weighing mean 219±26 g. The rats were randomly assigned into five groups, including each of seven rats. Rats were pretreated with cilostazol and levosimendan, alone or in combination, and then lower extremities were subjected to I/R induced by a infrarenal aortic occlusion for duration of 120 minutes, followed by a-60 minute- reperfusion. The rats were sacrificed under deep anesthesia and the lung tissues were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the lung tissues. The tissue samples were further examined histopathologically under light microscopy. Results:­ It was found that I/R elevated MDA levels accompanied by a reduction in SOD activities and GSH levels (p 0.05). Conclusion:­ In light of these findings, cilostazol and levosimendan may be useful for protecting the lung tissue from I/R injury, before limb ischemia in vascular surgery. However, the combined use of these agents does not further increase the protection from I/R injury.
Platelet interactions with viruses and parasites

Abstract While the interactions between Gram-positive bacteria and platelets have been well characterized, there is a paucity of data on the interaction between other pathogens and platelets. However, thrombocytopenia is a common feature with many infections especially viral hemorrhagic fever. The little available data on these interactions indicate a similarity with bacteria-platelet interactions with receptors such as FcγRIIa and Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) playing key roles with many pathogens. This review summarizes the known interactions between platelets and pathogens such as viruses, fungi and parasites.
Prediction by Graph Theoretic Measures of Structural Effects in Proteins Arising from Non-Synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

Recent analyses of human genome sequences have given rise to impressive advances in identifying non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs). By contrast, the annotation of nsSNPs and their links to diseases are progressing at a much slower pace. Many of the current approaches to analysing disease-associated nsSNPs use primarily sequence and evolutionary information, while structural information is relatively less exploited. In order to explore the potential of such information, we developed a structure-based approach, Bongo (Bonds ON Graph), to predict structural effects of nsSNPs. Bongo considers protein structures as residue–residue interaction networks and applies graph theoretical measures to identify the residues that are critical for maintaining structural stability by assessing the consequences on the interaction network of single point mutations. Our results show that Bongo is able to identify mutations that cause both local and global structural effects, with a remarkably low false positive rate. Application of the Bongo method to the prediction of 506 disease-associated nsSNPs resulted in a performance (positive predictive value, PPV, 78.5%) similar to that of PolyPhen (PPV, 77.2%) and PANTHER (PPV, 72.2%). As the Bongo method is solely structure-based, our results indicate that the structural changes resulting from nsSNPs are closely associated to their pathological consequences.
The past and the future of Alzheimer's disease CSF biomarkers—a journey toward validated biochemical tests covering the whole spectrum of molecular events

This paper gives a short review on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD), from early developments to high-precision validated assays on fully automated lab analyzers. We also discuss developments on novel biomarkers, such as synaptic proteins and Aβ oligomers. Our vision for the future is that assaying a set of biomarkers in a single CSF tube can monitor the whole spectrum of AD molecular pathogenic events. CSF biomarkers will have a central position not only for clinical diagnosis, but also for the understanding of the sequence of molecular events in the pathogenic process underlying AD and as tools to monitor the effects of novel drug candidates targeting these different mechanisms.
Perianal Crohn's disease.

Perianal disease in Crohn's disease is a difficult matter to deal with. The indication for therapy is not always clear in this disease with a relatively mild natural course. More confusion is caused by the fact that not all disease in the perianal region in a patient with Crohn's has to be Crohn-related. The usual ailments such as haemorrhoids may occur in a patient with Crohn's disease. The treatment has to be as for every patient. Primary mucosal and submucosal Crohn's disease in the anal canal has to be treated like uncomplicated Crohn's disease in the rest of the gastrointestinal tract with appropriate medication. The option for therapy in complicated abdominal Crohn's disease, most often resection, is not available in perianal disease without giving up faecal continence. One has to make a compromise, wishing to treat the disease as radically as possible, while preserving faecal continence as much as possible. The basis for treatment for complicated Crohn's disease is medical treatment for the primary disease. The choice in surgical options depends on the type of complication. A different strategy is needed for each type of complication. The therapy is different for perianal abscesses, rectovaginal fistulas, stenosis, high perianal fistulas and low perianal fistulas. It is proposed to treat abscesses by early incision and drainage, rectovaginal fistulas by a mucosal advancement anoplasty, high perianal fistulas by a seton procedure, low perianal fistulas by fistulotomy, and stenosis by mild dilatation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The differential assessment of children's attention: the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch), normative sample and ADHD performance.

"Attention" is not a unitary brain process. Evidence from adult studies indicates that distinct neuroanatomical networks perform specific attentional operations and that these are vulnerable to selective damage. Accordingly, characterising attentional disorders requires the use of a variety of tasks that differentially challenge these systems. Here we describe a novel battery, the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch), comprising nine subtests adapted from the adult literature. The performance of 293 healthy children between the ages of 6 and 16 is described together with the relationships to IQ, existing measures of attention, and scholastic attainment. This large normative sample also allows us to test the fit of the adult model of functionally separable attention systems to the observed patterns of variance in children's performance. A Structural Equation Modelling approach supports this view. A three-factor model of sustained and selective attention and higher-level "executive" control formed a good fit to the data, even in the youngest children. A single factor model was rejected. There are behavioural and anatomical grounds to believe that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is particularly associated with poor self-sustained attention and behavioural control. The TEA-Ch performance of 24 boys diagnosed with ADD presented here is consistent with this view. When performance levels on WISC-III subtests were taken into account, specific deficits in sustained attention were apparent while selective attention performance was within the normal range.