Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fine-tuning of the ribosomal decoding center by conserved methyl-modifications in the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA

In bacterial 16S rRNAs, methylated nucleosides are clustered within the decoding center, and these nucleoside modifications are thought to modulate translational fidelity. The N4, 2′-O-dimethylcytidine (m4Cm) at position 1402 of the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA directly interacts with the P-site codon of the mRNA. The biogenesis and function of this modification remain unclear. We have identified two previously uncharacterized genes in E. coli that are required for m4Cm formation. mraW (renamed rsmH) and yraL (renamed rsmI) encode methyltransferases responsible for the N4 and 2′-O-methylations of C1402, respectively. Recombinant RsmH and RsmI proteins employed the 30S subunit (not the 16S rRNA) as a substrate to reconstitute m4Cm1402 in the presence of S-adenosylmethionine (Ado-Met) as the methyl donor, suggesting that m4Cm1402 is formed at a late step during 30S assembly in the cell. A luciferase reporter assay indicated that the lack of N4 methylation of C1402 increased the efficiency of non-AUG initiation and decreased the rate of UGA read-through. These results suggest that m4Cm1402 plays a role in fine-tuning the shape and function of the P-site, thus increasing decoding fidelity.
Helicobacter pylori infection does not accelerate the age‐related progression of arteriosclerosis: A 4‐year follow‐up study

Background and Aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been reported to correlate with the onset of cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between H. pylori infection and the progression of arteriosclerosis has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to clarify the possible role of H. pylori infection in the development of arteriosclerosis.
Zerstörungsfreie archäologische Prospektion des römischen Carnuntum : erste Ergebnisse des Forschungsprojekts „ArchPro Carnuntum“

Over the course of four years (2012–2015) the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archeology (LBI ArchPro), in collaboration with the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) and on behalf of the provincial government of Lower Austria, has conducted the comprehensive, non-invasive archaeological prospection project entitled “ArchPro Carnuntum”. The purpose of this project has been to generate a basis for future archaeological research and the sustainable spatial planning and cultural heritage management in the area. By combining new information on buried archaeology using different aerial and ground-based archaeological prospection methods and a thorough archaeological interpretation of the combined data within the framework of a GIS environment, it was possible to document Carnuntum’s archaeological heritage, which is threatened by a dramatic increase in erosion and destruction through ploughing, infrastructure development and looting by treasure hunters. In total, an area covering eight square kilometres was explored at very high sampling resolution using magnetic prospection methods, while 2.5 square kilometres were mapped with ultra-high resolution ground-penetrating radar measurements. The results of the project and the spatio-temporal analysis and interpretation of the prospection data are presented here as a preliminary report.
The effects of sperm extracts and energy sources on the motility and acrosome reaction of hamster spermatozoa in vitro.

Extracts of washed spermatozoa from hamster and guinea pig cauda epididymidis and of human ejaculated sperm were all found to stimulate the motility of unwashed hamster epididymal spermatozoa in vitro, and to support development of fertilizing ability. The motility of hamster spermatozoa was only sustained in the presence of both sperm extracts and appropriate energy substrates, indicating a synergistic effect of the motility-stimulating component of the sperm extracts with energy sources. Albumin was also required for the development of fertilizing ability by hamster sperm. Comparison of different combinations of energy substrates indicated that pyruvate was the most important energy source for sperm motility and the acrosome reaction, but glucose and lactate played suporting roles. In all 3 species examined, the component of the sperm extracts that was responsible for stimulating hamster sperm motility was found to be heat-stable and to have the same elution volume on a Sephadex G-10 column, with an estimated molecular weight of about 200. These properties are identical to those of the sperm motility-stimulating factor found in blood serum and adrenal gland, suggesting that the active components may be similar or possibly the same.
Investigating light neutralinos at neutrino telescopes

We present a detailed analysis of the neutrino-induced muon signals coming from neutralino pair annihilations inside the Sun and the Earth with particular emphasis for light neutralinos. The theoretical model considered is an effective minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model without gaugino-mass unification, which allows neutralinos of light masses (below 50 GeV). The muon events are divided into through-going and stopping muons, using the geometry of the Super-Kamiokande detector. In the evaluation of the signals, we take into account the relevant hadronic and astrophysics uncertainties and include neutrino oscillation and propagation properties in a consistent way. We derive the ranges of neutralino masses which could be explored at neutrino telescopes with a low muon-energy threshold (around 1 GeV) depending on the category of events and on the values of the various astrophysics and particle-physics parameters. A final analysis is focused on the upward muon fluxes which could be generated by those neutralino configurations which are able to explain the annual modulation data of the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. We show how combining these data with measurements at neutrino telescopes could help in pinning down the features of the dark matter particle and in restraining the ranges of the many quantities (ofmore » astrophysics and particle-physics origins) which enter in the evaluations and still suffer from large uncertainties. « less
Tissue Responses to Postoperative Laser Therapy in Diabetic Rats Submitted to Excisional Wounds

In a previous study about low-level laser therapy biomodulation on a full-thickness burn model we showed that single and fractionated dose regimens increased wound healing and leukocyte influx similarly when compared with untreated control. In order to verify if this finding would be similar in an impaired wound model, we investigated the effect of single and multiple irradiations on wound closure rate, type of inflammatory infiltrate, myofibroblasts, collagen deposition, and optical retardation of collagen in diabetic rats. Female Wistar rats in the same estrous cycle had diabetes induced with streptozotocin and an 8-mm excisional wound performed with a punch. The experimental groups were: control group – untreated ulcer; single-dose group – ulcer submitted to single dose of diode laser therapy (λ = 660 ± 2 nm; P = 30 mW; energy density: 4 J/cm2) and fractionated-dose group – ulcer submitted to 1 J/cm2 laser therapy on Days 1, 3, 8, and 10. The ulcers were photographed on the experimental days and after euthanasia tissue samples were routinely processed for histological and immunohistochemistry analyses. Independently of the energy density, laser therapy accelerated wound closure by approximately 40% in the first three days in comparison to the control group. Laser therapy increased acute inflammatory infiltrate until Day 3. Both laser groups exhibited more myofibroblasts and better collagen organization than the control group. The findings demonstrate that low-level laser therapy in the immediate postoperative period can enhance the tissue repair process in a diabetes model. Similar effects were achieved with laser therapy applied a single time with an energy density of 4 J/cm2 and applied four times with an energy density of 1 J/cm2. The application of laser therapy in the inflammatory phase was the most important factor to the enhancement of the tissue repair process.
Graft-Free Sinus Augmentation Procedure: a Literature Review

ABSTRACT Objectives The restoration of edentulous posterior maxilla with dental implants is challenging due to a deficient posterior alveolar ridge. Over the last decade an advance in the graftless bone augmentation procedures had occurred where the space left beneath the Schneiderian membrane is filled with blood clot in order to produce bone formation. The aim of present article is to review the scientific literature with respect to bone formation in the sinus, after membrane elevation procedure, without using any bone substitutes. Material and Methods A comprehensive review of the current literature was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines by accessing the NCBI PubMed database. The articles were searched from 1993 to 2013. English language articles with minimum one year patient follow-up and radiological and/or histological diagnostics of newly formed bone were included. Articles were excluded, if usage of bone graft or bone substitutes and/or usage of osteotome has been made during sinus lift operation. Results A total of 19 studies were included: 2 studies were related to the sinus membrane’s osteogenic potential, 3 to the histological evidence of bone formation in monkeys and humans, 12 to the radiologic evidence of bone gain, and 2 to the space-maintaining management. 100% of the reviewed articles presented with increased bone formation and high implant survival rates resulting from the graft-free technique. Conclusions It is clearly shown in the review that the potential of the maxillary sinus to heal and to form new bone without bone grafts or substitutes is of high nature.
TNF Is Important for Pathogen Control and Limits Brain Damage in Murine Cerebral Listeriosis1

Cerebral listeriosis is a life-threatening disease. However, little is known about the bacterial virulence factors responsible for the severe course of disease and the factors of the immune system contributing to the control of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) or even to the damage of the brain. To analyze the importance of the actA gene of LM, which mediates cell-to-cell spread of intracellular LM, the function of TNF in murine cerebral listeriosis was studied. C57BL/6 mice survived an intracerebral (i.c.) infection with actA-deficient LM, but succumbed to infection with wild-type (WT) LM. Upon infection with actA-deficient LM, macrophages and microglial cells rapidly, and later LM-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells, produced TNF. In contrast to WT mice, TNF-deficient animals succumbed to the infection within 4 days due to failure of control of LM. Histology identified a more severe meningoencephalitis, brain edema, and neuronal damage, but a reduced inducible NO synthase expression in TNF-deficient mice. Reciprocal bone marrow chimeras between WT and TNF-deficient mice revealed that hematogenously derived TNF was essential for survival, whereas TNF produced by brain-resident cells was less important. Death of TNF-deficient mice could be prevented by LM-specific T cells induced by an active immunization before i.c. infection. However, brain pathology and inflammation of immunized TNF-deficient mice were still more severe. In conclusion, these findings identify a crucial role of TNF for the i.c. control of LM and survival of cerebral listeriosis, whereas TNF was not responsible for the destruction of brain tissue.
Adipocyte Phospholipid Transfer Protein and Lipoprotein Metabolism

Objective—Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is highly expressed in adipose tissues. Thus, the effect of adipose tissue PLTP on plasma lipoprotein metabolism was examined. Approach and Results—We crossed PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2)-Cre recombinase (Cre) transgenic mice to create PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo/aP2-Cre mice that have a 90 and a 60% reduction in PLTP mRNA in adipose tissue and macrophages, respectively. PLTP ablation resulted in a significant reduction in plasma PLTP activity (22%), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (21%), high-density lipoprotein-phospholipid (20%), and apolipoprotein A-I (33%) levels, but had no effect on nonhigh-density lipoprotein levels in comparison with those of PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo controls. To eliminate possible effects of PLTP ablation by macrophages, we lethally irradiated PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo/aP2-Cre mice and PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo mice, and then transplanted wild-type mouse bone marrow into them to create wild-type→PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo/aP2-Cre and wild-type→PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo mice. Thus, we constructed a mouse model (wild-type→PLTP-Flox-&Dgr;Neo/aP2-Cre) with PLTP deficiency in adipocytes but not in macrophages. These knockout mice also showed significant decreases in plasma PLTP activity (19%) and cholesterol (18%), phospholipid (17%), and apolipoprotein A-I (26%) levels. To further investigate the mechanisms behind the reduction in plasma apolipoprotein A-I and high-density lipoprotein lipids, we measured apolipoprotein A-I–mediated cholesterol efflux in adipose tissue explants and found that endogenous and exogenous PLTP significantly increased cholesterol efflux from the explants. Conclusions—Adipocyte PLTP plays a small but significant role in plasma PLTP activity and promotes cholesterol efflux from adipose tissues.
Poly-γ-glutamate-based Materials for Multiple Infection Prophylaxis Possessing Versatile Coating Performance

Poly-γ-glutamate (PGA) possesses a nylon-like backbone and polyacrylate-like carboxyl groups, and shows an extraordinary solubility in water. In this study, the effective synthesis and structural analysis of some water-insoluble PGA ion-complexes (PGAICs) using cationic surfactants, hexadecylpyridinium (HDP), dodecylpyridinium, benzalkonium and benzetonium, were examined. We demonstrated their spontaneous coating performance to the surfaces of different materials (i.e., plastics, metals, and ceramics) as potent anti-staphylococcal and anti-Candida agents. The tests against Staphylococcus aureus revealed that, regardless of a variety of materials, PGAICs maintained surface antimicrobial activity, even after the water-soaking treatment, whereas those against Candida albicans indicated that, among PGAICs, PGA/HDP complex is most useful as an anti-fungal agent because of its coating stability. Moreover, the log reduction values against Influenza A and B viruses of PGA/HDP-coated surfaces were estimated to be 5.4 and 3.2, respectively, suggesting that it can be dramatically suppressed the infection of influenza. This is to our knowledge the first observation of PGA-based antiviral coatings.
Analysis of technical efficiency’s lettuce farmers in Dalat City, Vietnam

The study aims to determine the technical efficiency and factors affecting the technical efficiency of lettuce farmers in Dalat City. The study’s primary data were collected by surveying structured questionnaires from 100 lettuce farmers in Dalat City. The Cobb-Douglas production, combined with the technical inefficiency according to the one-stage estimation method, was estimated by the program Frontier 4.1. The calculated results illustrate that the average technical efficiency of lettuce farmers is 0.76; with the usage level of available inputs and present techniques, Dalat lettuce production in the rainy season may increase by 24%. Besides, the study has also indicated that factors such as lettuce cultivated area, number of seedlings, and amount of pure potassium fertilizer positively influence lettuce yield. In contrast, the amount of pure nitrogen fertilizer negatively affected lettuce output. However, the education level and experience of household heads in lettuce cultivation positively affected technical efficiency. Therefore, to improve lettuce productivity and technical efficiency in Dalat City, the study suggests that farmers need to increase the amount of potassium fertilizer and reduce nitrogen fertilizer. In addition, state agencies recommend teaching lettuce farmers about the balanced and reasonable application of N, P, and K fertilizers through documents or training courses.
The relationships between the use of self-regulated learning strategies and depression among medical students: An accelerated prospective cohort study

We conducted this study to determine the relationships between the use of self-regulated learning strategies (SRL) and depression scores among medical students. An accelerated prospective cohort study among 623 students at a public medical university in Vietnam was carried out during the academic year 2012–2013. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (21 items) was used to measure depression scores as the primary research outcome, and to measure anxiety and stress scores as the confounding variables. Fourteen SRL subscales including intrinsic/extrinsic goal orientation, task value, self-efficacy for learning, control of learning beliefs, rehearsal, elaboration, organization, critical thinking, meta-cognitive strategies, time and study environment, effort regulation, peer learning, and help seeking were measured using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Data were collected at two points in time (once each semester). There were 744 responses at the first time (95.88%) and 623 at time two (drop-out rate of 16.26%). The generalized estimating equation was applied to identify any relationships between the use of each SRL subscale and depression scores at time 2, adjusting for the effects of depression at time 1, anxiety, stress, within cluster correlation, and potential demographic covariates. Separate multivariate GEE analysis indicated that all SRL subscales were significantly negatively associated with depression scores, except for extrinsic goal orientation and peer learning. Whereas full multivariate GEE analysis revealed that self-efficacyT1, help-seekingT1, time and study environmentT2 were found to be significantly negatively associated with depressionT2, adjusting for the effects of depressionT1, anxiety, stress, and demographic covariates. The results should be used to provide appropriate support for medical students to reduce depression.
Adaptation to Novel Accents: Feature-Based Learning of Context-Sensitive Phonological Regularities

This paper examines whether adults can adapt to novel accents of their native language that contain unfamiliar context-dependent phonological alternations. In two experiments, French participants listen to short stories read in accented speech. Their knowledge of the accents is then tested in a forced-choice identification task. In Experiment 1, two groups of listeners are exposed to newly created French accents in which certain vowels harmonize or disharmonize, respectively, to the rounding of the preceding vowel. Despite the cross-linguistic predominance of vowel harmony over disharmony, the two groups adapt equally well to both accents, suggesting that this typological difference is not reflected in perceptual learning. Experiment 2 further explores the mechanism underlying this type of phonological learning. Participants are exposed to an accent in which some vowels harmonize and others disharmonize, yielding an increased featural complexity. They adapt less well to this regularity, showing that adaptation to novel accents involves feature-based inferences.
Distributed (∆+1)-coloring in sublogarithmic rounds

The (∆+1)-coloring problem is a fundamental symmetry breaking problem in distributed computing. We give a new randomized coloring algorithm for (∆+1)-coloring running in O(√log ∆)+ 2^O(√log log n) rounds with probability 1-1/n^Ω(1) in a graph with n nodes and maximum degree ∆. This implies that the (∆+1)-coloring problem is easier than the maximal independent set problem and the maximal matching problem, due to their lower bounds by Kuhn, Moscibroda, and Wattenhofer [PODC'04]. Our algorithm also extends to the list-coloring problem where the palette of each node contains ∆+1 colors.
Central and peripheral contributions to neuromuscular fatigue induced by a 24h treadmill run

Vincent Martin, Hugo Kerhervé, Laurent A. Messonnier, Jean-Claude Banfi, André Geyssant, Regis Bonnefoy, Léonard Féasson, and Guillaume Y. Millet Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unité 902, University of Evry Val d’Essonne, Evry; Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne; Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Savoie, Le Bourget du Lac; and Department of Clinical Physiology of Exercise, Bellevue Hospital, University Hospital Center, Saint-Etienne, France
The performance of bags-of-tasks in large-scale distributed systems

Ever more scientists are employing large-scale distributed systems such as grids for their computational work, instead of tightly coupled high-performance computing systems. However, while these distributed systems are more cost-effective, their heterogeneity in terms of hardware, software, and systems administration, and the lack of accurate resource information leads to inefficient scheduling. In addition, and in contrast to the workloads of tightly coupled high-performance computing systems, a large part of the workloads submitted to these distributed systems consists of large sets (bags) of sequential tasks. Therefore, a realistic performance analysis of scheduling bags-of-tasks in large-scale distributed systems is important. Towards this end, we introduce in this paper a realistic workload model for bags-of-tasks, and we explore through trace-based simulations the design space of scheduling bags-of-tasks. Finally, we identify three new scheduling policies that use only inaccurate information when scheduling, and we compare them against known classes of proposed scheduling policies.
The impact of social deprivation on the response to a randomised controlled trial of a weight management intervention (BeWEL) for people at increased risk of colorectal cancer

Abstract Background Although 45% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases may be avoidable through appropriate lifestyle and weight management, health promotion interventions run the risk of widening health inequalities. The BeWEL randomised controlled trial assessed the impact of a diet and activity programme in overweight adults who were diagnosed with a colorectal adenoma, demonstrating a significantly greater weight loss at 12 months in intervention participants than in controls. The present study aimed to compare BeWEL intervention outcomes by participant deprivation status. Methods The intervention group of the BeWEL trial (n = 163) was classified by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles into ‘more deprived’ (SIMD 1–2, n = 58) and ‘less deprived’ (SIMD 3–5, n = 105). Socio‐economic and lifestyle variables were compared at baseline to identify potential challenges to intervention adherence in the more deprived. Between group differences at 12 months in primary outcome (change in body weight) and secondary outcomes (cardiovascular risk factors, diet, physical activity, knowledge of CRC risk and psychosocial variables) were assessed by deprivation status. Results At baseline, education (P = 0.001), income (P < 0.001), spending on physical activity (P = 0.003) and success at previous weight loss attempts (P = 0.007) were significantly lower in the most deprived. At 12 months, no between group differences by deprivation status were detected for changes in primary and main secondary outcomes. Conclusions Despite potential barriers faced by the more deprived participants, primary and most secondary outcomes were comparable between groups, indicating that this intervention is unlikely to worsen health inequalities and is equally effective across socio‐economic groups.