Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Neointima Formation Following Arterial Injury in Immune Deficient Rag-1−/− Mice Is Attenuated by Adoptive Transfer of CD8+ T cells

T cells modulate neointima formation after arterial injury but the specific T cell population that is activated in response to arterial injury remains unknown. The objective of the study was to identify the T cell populations that are activated and modulate neointimal thickening after arterial injury in mice. Arterial injury in wild type C57Bl6 mice resulted in T cell activation characterized by increased CD4+CD44hi and CD8+CD44hi T cells in the lymph nodes and spleens. Splenic CD8+CD25+ T cells and CD8+CD28+ T cells, but not CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD28+ T cells, were also significantly increased. Adoptive cell transfer of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells from donor CD8−/− or CD4−/− mice, respectively, to immune-deficient Rag-1−/− mice was performed to determine the T cell subtype that inhibits neointima formation after arterial injury. Rag-1−/− mice that received CD8+ T cells had significantly reduced neointima formation compared with Rag-1−/− mice without cell transfer. CD4+ T cell transfer did not reduce neointima formation. CD8+ T cells from CD4−/− mice had cytotoxic activity against syngeneic smooth muscle cells in vitro. The study shows that although both CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells are activated in response to arterial injury, adoptive cell transfer identifies CD8+ T cells as the specific and selective cell type involved in inhibiting neointima formation.
Design of cyberphysical digital microfluidic biochips under completion-time uncertainties in fluidic operations

Cyberphysical digital microfluidics enables the integration of fluid-handling operations, reaction-outcome detection, and software-based control in a biochip. However, synthesis algorithms and biochip design methods proposed in the literature are oblivious to completion-time uncertainties in fluidic operations, and they do not meet the requirements of cyberphysical integration in digital microfluidics. We present an operation-interdependency-aware synthesis method that uses frequency scaling and is responsive to uncertainties that are inherent in the completion times of fluidic operations such as mixing and thermal cycling. Using this design approach, we can carry out dynamic on-line decision making for the execution of fluidic operations in response to detector feedback. We use three common laboratorial protocols to demonstrate that, compared to uncertainty-oblivious biochip design, the proposed dynamic decision making approach is more effective in satisfying realistic physical constraints. As a result, it decreases the likelihood of erroneous reaction outcomes, and it leads to reduced time-to-results, less repetition of reaction steps, and less wastage of precious samples and reagents.
Crack Propagation as a Free Boundary Problem

We present a continuum theory which predicts the steady state propagation of cracks. The theory overcomes the usual problem of a finite time cusp singularity of the Grinfeld instability by the inclusion of elastodynamic effects which restore selection of the steady state tip radius and velocity. We developed a sharp interface method and a phase field approach to investigate the model. The simulations confirm analytical predictions for fast crack propagation.
Comparative molecular cytogenetic characterization of seven Deschampsia (Poaceae) species

The genus Deschampsia P. Beauv (Poaceae) involves a group of widespread polymorphic species. Some of them are highly tolerant to stressful and variable environmental conditions, and D. antarctica is one of the only two vascular plants growing in Antarctic. This species is a source of useful for selection traits and a valuable model for studying an environmental stress tolerance in plants. Genome diversity and comparative chromosomal phylogeny within the genus have not been studied yet as karyotypes of most Deschampsia species are poorly investigated. We firstly conducted a comparative molecular cytogenetic analysis of D. antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula) and related species from various localities (D. cespitosa, D. danthonioides, D. elongata, D. flexuosa (= Avenella flexuosa), D. parvula and D. sukatschewii by fluorescence in situ hybridization with 45S and 5S rDNA, DAPI-banding and sequential rapid in situ hybridization with genomic DNA of D. antarctica, D. cespitosa, and D. flexuosa. Based on patterns of distribution of the examined markers, chromosomes of the studied species were identified. Within these species, common features as well as species peculiarities in their karyotypic structure and chromosomal distribution of molecular cytogenetic markers were characterized. Different chromosomal rearrangements were detected in D. antarctica, D. flexuosa, D. elongata and D. sukatschewii. In karyotypes of D. antarctica, D. cespitosa, D. elongata and D. sukatschewii, 0–3 B chromosomes possessed distinct DAPI-bands were observed. Our findings suggest that the genome evolution of the genus Deschampsia involved polyploidy and also different chromosomal rearrangements. The obtained results will help clarify the relationships within the genus Deschampsia, and can be a basis for the further genetic and biotechnological studies as well as for selection of plants tolerant to extreme habitats.
Serotonin Augments Gut Pacemaker Activity via 5-HT3 Receptors

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine: 5-HT) affects numerous functions in the gut, such as secretion, muscle contraction, and enteric nervous activity, and therefore to clarify details of 5-HT's actions leads to good therapeutic strategies for gut functional disorders. The role of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), as pacemaker cells, has been recognised relatively recently. We thus investigated 5-HT actions on ICC pacemaker activity. Muscle preparations with myenteric plexus were isolated from the murine ileum. Spatio-temporal measurements of intracellular Ca2+ and electric activities in ICC were performed by employing fluorescent Ca2+ imaging and microelectrode array (MEA) systems, respectively. Dihydropyridine (DHP) Ca2+ antagonists and tetrodotoxin (TTX) were applied to suppress smooth muscle and nerve activities, respectively. 5-HT significantly enhanced spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations that are considered to underlie electric pacemaker activity in ICC. LY-278584, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist suppressed spontaneous Ca2+ activity in ICC, while 2-methylserotonin (2-Me-5-HT), a 5-HT3 receptor agonist, restored it. GR113808, a selective antagonist for 5-HT4, and O-methyl-5-HT (O-Me-5-HT), a non-selective 5-HT receptor agonist lacking affinity for 5-HT3 receptors, had little effect on ICC Ca2+ activity. In MEA measurements of ICC electric activity, 5-HT and 2-Me-5-HT caused excitatory effects. RT-PCR and immunostaining confirmed expression of 5-HT3 receptors in ICC. The results indicate that 5-HT augments ICC pacemaker activity via 5-HT3 receptors. ICC appear to be a promising target for treatment of functional motility disorders of the gut, for example, irritable bowel syndrome.
IL-17 Mediates Immunopathology in the Absence of IL-10 Following Leishmania major Infection

Leishmaniasis, resulting from infection with the protozoan parasite Leishmania, consists of a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, from healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. A particularly severe form of cutaneous leishmaniasis, termed mucosal leishmaniasis, exhibits decreased IL-10 levels and an exaggerated inflammatory response that perpetuates the disease. Using a mouse model of leishmaniasis, we investigated what cytokines contribute to increased pathology when IL-10-mediated regulation is absent. Leishmania major infected C57BL/6 mice lacking IL-10 regulation developed larger lesions than controls, but fewer parasites. Both IFN-γ and IL-17 levels were substantially elevated in mice lacking the capacity to respond to IL-10. IFN-γ promoted an increased infiltration of monocytes, while IL-17 contributed to an increase in neutrophils. Surprisingly, however, we found that IFN-γ did not contribute to increased pathology, but instead regulated the IL-17 response. Thus, blocking IFN-γ led to a significant increase in IL-17, neutrophils and disease. Similarly, the production of IL-17 by cells from leishmaniasis patients was also regulated by IL-10 and IFN-γ. Additional studies found that the IL-1 receptor was required for both the IL-17 response and increased pathology. Therefore, we propose that regulating IL-17, possibly by downregulating IL-1β, may be a useful approach for controlling immunopathology in leishmaniasis.
A Social-Academic Network Analysis of the EURO Working Group on DSS

This paper addresses aspects of the social network analysis SNA performed on the social-academic network implemented for the EURO Working Group on Decision Support Systems EWG-DSS. The EWG-DSS network has more than 105 members and is defined with the objective of analysing and representing the various relationships that academically link the group members, as well as evaluating the group's collaboration dynamics. This paper shows graphical representations and discusses their corresponding interpretation and analytical data. This work is part of the study carried out within the underlying project of the EWG-DSS social-academic network to understanding how the group interacts, as well as encouraging new research and promoting further collaboration among the EWG-DSS group members.
Antibakterijskiučinakagregatamineralnogtrioksidaiamalgama Antibacterial Effect of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Amalgam

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of root-end filling materials, MTA and amalgam, by agar diffusion test. Materials and methods: Blood agar plates were inoculated with bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis each, and a polymicrobial suspension consisting of all the tested bacteria. Material samples were divided among the inoculated plates, and after 48 hours of incubation, the diameters of the inhibition zone (IZ) were recorded. Results: The strongest antibacterial effect of MTA was against Streptococcus mutans (IZ = 7.6 mm, sd 1.0), followed by Streptococcus mitis and Lactobacillus acidophilus (IZ = 7.3 mm, sd 0.5). The inhibition zone (IZ) for Enterococcus faecalis was 5.6 mm (sd 0.7), and for the polymicrobial suspension 5.3 mm (sd 1.0). Staphylococcus aureus was the only bacteria MTA did not show any antibacterial effect against. Amalgam showed no antibacterial effect against any of the bacteria tested. Conclusion: MTA showed antibacterial effect against 4 of 5 tested bacteria and the polymicrobial suspension, while amalgam did not inhibit the growth of any of the bacteria tested.
Haemoglobin S and βThal: Their Distribution in Maharashtra, India

It has been more than six decades since the first report of sickle cell anaemia in Indian subcontinent. Since then the researchers have been reported various haemoglobin varients prevalent in India, they are HbS, HbβT, HbE and HbD. Earlier studies were confined to tribal and scheduled castes populations as if sickle haemoglobin was restricted to these two groups only. Since a decade or so, few studies on haemoglobinopathies from other Indian populations are available. Examination of premarital age group of 5172 Indian subjects (2762 males and 2410 females) from eastern Maharashtra of India showed high incidences of HbS (0-33 per cent) and HbβT (0-10 per cent) in different ethnic groups. In present study cumulative gene frequency for HbS and HbβT was found to be of 6.1 per cent and 2.3 per cent respectively. In present study sickle cell gene has been found in general categories of Indian populations besides scheduled castes and tribal populations. In Scheduled tribes HbS ranges from 0-24 per cent, in Scheduled castes and Nomadic tribal groups, HbS ranges from 0-13 per cent, in Other Backward caste categories it varies from 0-20 per cent while in higher caste populations it ranges from 0-5 per cent. The incidences of HbS are much higher among tribal groups than that found in other caste populations. The incidences of homozygous individuals are very few in HbS and HbβT. The hitherto regional and populations specific HbβT haemoglobin variant in Sindhi and Bengali communities is gradually spreading in other populations of Maharashtra as evident from the present study. Lesser value of MCV, MCH and MCHC in homozygous HbβT is due to impairments of synthesis β-globin chain. The subject with the presence of β-thalassaemia is accompanied by raised level of HbA2. Unusual higher values of RBC and WBC suggest the high concentration of hypochromic microcytosis in anemia. The means of MCV MCH and MCHC in HbβT are much lower than the normal ranges compared to HbS.
Boosting Trait Inferences:: Psychological and Neural Mechanisms in the Effect of Faces on Brand Perceptions

A human face reveals a wide range of information to the observer. It can tell about the mood, and intention, but it can also serve as a cue for the characterization of a person. In order describe a person there are other means apart from the face which include voice, body shape, clothing style. Nevertheless, a face is the most distinctive and widely used key to a person’s identity. People judge others by spontaneously inferring personality traits from faces. Judging others’ faces is essential not only in people’s daily lives and social interactions, but also when they are exposed to any type of advertisement. Print, TV, or online advertisements usually display endorsers promoting the brands that have to be appropriately selected. Consumers, then, often form personality impressions about a brand based on endorser characteristics such as faces. Integrating Gestalt psychology, face perception, and endorsement with perceptual priming theories, five studies examine how endorser faces impact brand impressions. The results from the conducted five studies provide convergent validity regarding the unique relationship between human faces and personality trait inferences from endorsed brands. This dissertation shows that (1) holistic types of faces emerge from combinations of anatomical facial features; (2) holistic face types reliably and differentially convey a strategically valuable set of personality trait impressions; (3) personality inferences are boosted by matching faces in joint presentation (assimilation boost effect), and (4) by mismatching faces in sequential presentation (contrast boost effect); while both boost effects are largely independent from face attractiveness and self-similarity, the assimilation boost effect is moderated by emotional attachment to a brand; and (5) the assimilation boost effect, not the contrast boost effect, is associated with a brain region that emotionally triggers brand choice.
PU.1 regulates both cytokine‐dependent proliferation and differentiation of granulocyte/macrophage progenitors

PU.1 is a unique regulatory protein required for the generation of both the innate and the adaptive immune system. It functions exclusively in a cell‐intrinsic manner to control the development of granulocytes, macrophages, and B and T lymphocytes. We demonstrate that mutation of the PU.1 gene causes a severe reduction in myeloid (granulocyte/macrophage) progenitors. PU.1 −/− myeloid progenitors can proliferate in vitro in response to the multilineage cytokines interleukin‐3 (IL‐3), IL‐6 and stem cell factor but are unresponsive to the myeloid‐specific cytokines granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), G‐CSF and M‐CSF. The failure of PU.1 −/− progenitors to respond to G‐CSF is bypassed by transient signaling with IL‐3. In the presence of IL‐3 and G‐CSF, PU.1 −/− progenitors can differentiate into granulocytic precursors containing myeloperoxidase‐positive granules. Thus PU.1 is not essential for specification of granulocytic precursors, but is required for their further differentiation. The failure of PU.1 −/− progenitors to respond to M‐CSF is due to lack of c‐fms gene transcription. Transduction of c‐fms into PU.1 −/− myeloid progenitors bypasses the block to M‐CSF‐dependent proliferation but does not induce detectable macrophage differentiation. Therefore, PU.1 appears to be essential for specification of monocytic precursors. Importantly, retroviral transduction of PU.1 into mutant progenitors restores responsiveness to myeloid‐specific cytokines and development of mature granulocytes and macrophages. Thus PU.1 controls myelopoiesis by regulating both proliferation and differentiation pathways.
Epidemic-style proactive aggregation in large overlay networks

Aggregation - that is, the computation of global properties like average or maximal load, or the number of nodes - is an important basic functionality in fully distributed environments. In many cases - which include protocols responsible for self-organization in large-scale systems and collaborative environments - it is useful if all nodes know the value of some aggregates continuously. We present and analyze novel protocols capable of providing this service. The proposed antientropy aggregation protocols compute different aggregates of component properties like extremal values, average and counting. Our protocols are inspired by the antientropy epidemic protocol where random pairs of databases periodically resolve their differences. In the case of aggregation, resolving difference is generalized to an arbitrary (numeric) computation based on the states of the two communicating peers. The advantage of this approach is that it is proactive and "democratic", which means it has no performance bottlenecks, and the approximation of the aggregates is present continuously at all nodes. These properties make our protocol suitable for implementing e.g. collective decision making or automatic system maintenance based on global information in a fully distributed fashion. As our main contribution we provide fundamental theoretical results on the proposed averaging protocol.
The glycosidic antigen recognised by a novel monoclonal antibody, 75.12, is developmentally regulated on mouse embryonal carcinoma cells.

Monoclonal antibody 75.12 raised against the human ovarian teratocarcinoma cell line PA1 detects a ‘Y’ or iso‐leb glycosidic structure. Using the 75.12 antibody we have established that the Y antigen is expressed on some but not all mouse embryonal carcinoma (EC) lines. The Y or 75.12 antigen‐positive EC cell lines F9 and PCC4 cease to express the antigen after differentiation induced with retinoic acid and this decreased expression parallels the morphological differentiation of the EC cells. These results support not only the idea that carbohydrate structures present on embryonic cells undergo marked alteration during differentiation, but also that established mouse EC cells may differ in their differentiation states.
Sexual orientation and health among U.S. adults: national health interview survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE To provide national estimates for indicators of health-related behaviors, health status, health care service utilization, and health care access by sexual orientation using data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). METHODS NHIS is an annual multipurpose health survey conducted continuously throughout the year. Analyses were based on data collected in 2013 from 34,557 adults aged 18 and over. Sampling weights were used to produce national estimates that are representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. adult population. Differences in health-related behaviors, health status, health care service utilization, and health care access by sexual orientation were examined for adults aged 18-64, and separately for men and women. RESULTS Based on the 2013 NHIS data, 96.6% of adults identified as straight, 1.6% identified as gay or lesbian, and 0.7% identified as bisexual. The remaining 1.1% of adults identified as ''something else,'' stated ''I don't know the answer,'' or refused to provide an answer. Significant differences were found in health-related behaviors, health status, health care service utilization, and health care access among U.S. adults aged 18-64 who identified as straight, gay or lesbian, or bisexual. CONCLUSION NHIS sexual orientation data can be used to track progress toward meeting the Healthy People 2020 goals and objectives related to the health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons. In addition, the data can be used to examine a wide range of health disparities among adults identifying as straight, gay or lesbian, or bisexual.
Transfer of amikacin resistance by closely related plasmids in members of the family Enterobacteriaceae isolated in Chile

During a 9-month period when amikacin was the sole aminoglycoside used clinically in a hospital in Santiago, Chile, resistance to amikacin and other antibiotics was encountered in 42 strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, and Serratia liquefaciens. Amikacin resistance was transferable by conjugation and carried by IncM plasmids ranging in size from ca. 48.4 to 58.1 kilobase pairs. The plasmids had ca. 70 to 80% of their structure in common, as judged after digestion with restriction endonucleases. The resistance was mediated by a 6' aminoglycoside acetyltransferase. We conclude that selective pressure has favored the dissemination of a wide-host-range amikacin resistance plasmid and its derivatives.
Seizures induce dramatic and distinctly different changes in enkephalin, dynorphin, and CCK immunoreactivities in mouse hippocampal mossy fibers

Light microscopic immunocytochemical techniques were used to evaluate the influence of recurrent limbic seizure activity on the immunoreactivity for 3 neuropeptides--enkephalin, dynorphin, and cholecystokinin (CCK)--contained within the mouse hippocampal mossy fiber axonal system. Seizures were induced either by the placement of a small unilateral electrolytic lesion in the dentate gyrus hilus or by intraventricular injection of kainic acid. Both treatments induce epileptiform activity in hippocampus lasting several hours. Four days after either lesion placement or injection of 0.05–0.1 microgram kainic acid, immunoreactivity for all 3 peptides was altered throughout the intact mossy fiber system, bilaterally, but in distinctly different ways: enkephalin immunoreactivity (ENK-I) was dramatically elevated, dynorphin immunoreactivity was reduced, and CCK immunoreactivity (CCK- I) was either severely reduced or completely absent in the mossy fiber system. ENK-I was also clearly increased in other areas, including the lateral septum, the entorhinal cortex, and within the entorhinal (perforant path) efferents to temporal hippocampus. In contrast, the loss of CCK seemed restricted to the mossy fiber system in that immunostaining appeared normal in scattered hippocampal perikarya, within the dentate gyrus commissural system, as well as within other limbic structures. Four days after injections of 0.2 or 0.25 microgram kainic acid, mossy fiber ENK-I was greatly elevated, dynorphin immunoreactivity was reduced, but, unlike the situation with lower kainic acid doses, CCK-I was only modestly reduced in the mossy fibers and was clearly reduced in other hippocampal systems as well. These data indicate that epileptiform physiological activity differentially affects the regulation of 3 neuroactive peptides contained within the hippocampal mossy fiber system and suggest a mechanism through which seizurelike episodes can have a lasting influence on the operation of specific hippocampal circuitries.