Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Humoral and Memory B Cell Response Induced by the Plasmodium falciparum 19-Kilodalton Merozoite Surface Protein 1 in Mice

ABSTRACT The 19-kDa carboxyl-terminal fragment of the merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-119) has been shown to regulate antibody (Ab)-mediated protective immunity to blood-stage malaria infection. But the serological memory to this antigen tends to be short-lived, and little is known of the mechanisms that regulate the formation of B cell memory to MSP-119 antigen. We studied the formation of B cell memory response after immunization with the recombinant 19-kDa Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (PfMSP-119). Immunization with PfMSP-119 resulted in delayed increase in germinal center (GC) B cell numbers. This poor GC reaction correlated with short-lived PfMSP-119-specific antibodies in serum and the short life of PfMSP-119-specific plasma cells and memory B cells (MBCs) in spleen and bone marrow. PfMSP-119-specific MBCs were capable of producing antigen (Ag)-specific Ab-secreting cell (ASC) responses that were short-lived following challenge immunization of the immune mice with antigen or transgenic Plasmodium berghei parasite expressing PfMSP-119 in place of native P. berghei MSP-119 at 8 weeks after the last immunization or following adoptive transfer into naive hosts. However, no protection was achieved in PfMSP-119 immune mice or recipient mice with PfMSP-119-specific MBCs following challenge with transgenic P. berghei. Our findings suggest that PfMSP-119-specific IgG production by short-lived plasma cells combined with the poor ability of the PfMSP-119-induced MBCs to maintain the anamnestic IgG responses failed to contribute to protection against infection.
Resiliency of Network Topologies under Path-Based Attacks

Network topology has no direct effect on the correctness of network protocols, however, it influences the performance of networks and their survivability when they are under attack. Recent studies have analyzed the robustness of the Internet in the face of faults or attacks which may cause node failures. However, the effect of link failure or a series of link failures has not been extensively examined, even though such a situation is more likely to occur in the current Internet environment. In this paper, we propose an attack-and-failure graph model and practical techniques for attacking strategies against nodes, edges or paths in order to reflect real-life attack scenarios. The resiliency of Internet topologies is examined under the attacking strategies, with various metrics including path-failure ratio and "attack power," which is defined as the ratio of the failure to attack. The experiments reveal that "path-based" attacks can result in greater damage to the connectivity of a network than the other types of attack. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of an attack depends on the objective that the attacker wants to achieve through the attack. The proposed simple but formalized approach can be a springboard for developing more resilient Internet topologies in a variety of aspects.
Channel capacity of dual-element modified PIFA array on small mobile terminal

A study on the MIMO channel capacity of a modified dual-element planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) array is presented. The dual-element PIFA array consists of two modified PIFAs which are mounted on a small mobile terminal operating at 2.5 GHz. The relationship between mutual coupling and channel capacity is analysed by comparing the modified dual-element PIFA array with a conventional dual-element PIFA array and two ideal dipoles.
Sustained Impairments in Brain Insulin/IGF Signaling in Adolescent Rats Subjected to Binge Alcohol Exposures during Development

Background Chronic or binge ethanol exposures during development can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) which consists of an array of neurobehavioral deficits, together with structural, molecular, biochemical, and neurotransmitter abnormalities in the brain. Previous studies showed that perinatal neurodevelopmental defects in FASD are associated with inhibition of brain insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling. However, it is not known whether sustained abnormalities in adolescent brain structure and function are mediated by the same phenomena. Aims Using an early postnatal (3rd trimester equivalent) binge ethanol exposure model, we assessed neurobehavioral function, structure, and the integrity of insulin/IGF signaling in young adolescent cerebella. Methods Long Evans male rats were treated with 50 µl of saline (vehicle) or 2 mg/kg of ethanol by i.p. injection on postnatal days (P) 2, 4, 6, and 8. On P19–20, rats were subjected to rotarod testing of motor function, and on P30, they were sacrificed to harvest cerebella for histological, molecular, and biochemical studies. Results Binge ethanol exposures impaired motor function, caused sustained cerebellar hypocellularity, and reduced neuronal and oligodendrocyte gene expression. These effects were associated with significant deficits in insulin and IGF signaling, including impaired receptor binding, reduced Akt, and increased GSK-3β activation. Conclusions FASD-associated neurobehavioral, structural, and functional abnormalities in young adolescent brains may be mediated by sustained inhibition of insulin/IGF-1 signaling needed for cell survival, neuronal plasticity, and myelin maintenance.
A Stochastic Model for Competing Growth on R^d

A stochastic model, describing the growth of two competing infections on R d , is introduced. The growth is driven by outbursts in the infected region, an outburst in the type 1 (2) infected region transmitting the type 1 (2) infection to the previously uninfected parts of a ball with stochastic radius around the outburst point. The main result is that with the growth rate for one of the infection types flxed, mutual unbounded growth has probability zero for all but at most countably many values of the other
Development and validation of a simulation model for blowfly strike of sheep

Abstract A comprehensive simulation model for sheep blowfly strike due to Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), which builds on previously published versions but also incorporates important new empirical data, is used to explain patterns of lamb and ewe strike recorded on 370 farms in south‐west, south‐east and central England and Wales. The model is able to explain a significant percentage of the variance in lamb strike incidence in all four regions, and ewe strike in three of the four regions. The model is able to predict the start of seasonal blowfly strike within one week in three of the four regions for both ewes and lambs, and within 3 weeks in the fourth region. It is concluded that the accuracy of the model will allow it to be used to assess the likely efficacy of new control techniques and the effects of changes in existing husbandry practices on strike incidence. The model could also be used to give sheep farmers advance warning of approaching strike problems. However, the ability to forecast future strike patterns is dependent on the accuracy of the weather projections; the more long‐term the forecast, the more approximate the prediction is likely to be. When applied on a regional basis, model forecasts indicate expected average patterns of strike incidence and may not therefore be appropriate for individual farmers whose husbandry practices differ substantially from the average.
Effect of Sympathetic Nerve Stimulation on Cerebral and Cephalic Blood Flow in Dogs

The effect of sympathetic stimulation (stellate ganglion) on dog cerebral and cephalic blood flows was studied via a cervical or a thoracic approach to the stellate ganglion under sodium pentobarbital or' chloralose anesthesia. Two different stimulation voltages (3v and 5v) of monophasic pulses were applied for 1 minute. Venous outflow was measured at the confluence of the sagittal, straight and lateral sinuses with the lateral sinuses occluded and with them patent. When the lateral sinuses were occluded, stellate ganglion stimulation resulted in a marked decrease in common carotid blood flow to 38 ± 2.5% (SE) of control and dilation of the ipsilateral pupil, but cerebral blood flow did not change. Similar effects were observed with each of the anatomic approaches, anesthetics, and voltages used and in dogs with low cerebral vascular tone induced by hypercapnia. When the lateral sinuses were kept patent, sympathetic nerve stimulation decreased the venous outflow to 89 ± 2.9% of control and clamping both of the external jugular veins increased venous outflow to 120 ± 2.7% of control. When the lateral sinuses were kept patent and the extracranial venous pressure was increased by clamping both of the external jugular veins, the decrease in venous outflow in response to sympathetic stimulation was even larger: venous outflow was only 65 ± 4.9% of control. We conclude that stimulation of the stellate ganglion has no effect on the cerebral vasculature. Sympathetic stimulation significantly decreases venous blood flow measured at the confluence of the sinuses only when communications between the intracranial and extracranial venous vasculatures are present.
Abrogating G2/M checkpoint through WEE1 inhibition in combination with chemotherapy as a promising therapeutic approach for mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a very aggressive asbestos-related neoplasm of the serous membranes, whose incidence is increasing worldwide. Although the introduction of new drug combinations, such as cisplatin plus pemetrexed/gemcitabine, has determined an improvement in the patient quality of life, MM remains a universally fatal disease. The observation that key G1/S checkpoint regulators are often functionally inactivated in MM prompted us to test whether the use of G2/M checkpoint inhibitors, able to sensitize G1/S checkpoint-defective cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents, could be successful in MM. We treated six MM cell lines, representative of different histotypes (epithelioid, biphasic, and sarcomatoid), with cisplatin in combination with MK-1775, an inhibitor of the G2/M checkpoint kinase WEE1. We observed that MK-1775 enhanced the cisplatin cytotoxic effect in all MM cell lines, except the sarcomatoid cell line, which is representative of the most aggressive histotype. As expected, the enhancement in cisplatin toxicity was accompanied by a decrease in the inactive phosphorylated form of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), a key substrate of WEE1, which is indicative of G2/M checkpoint inactivation. Consistently, we also observed a decrease in G2/M accumulation and an increase in mitotic entry of DNA-damaged cells and apoptosis, probably due to the loss of the cell ability to arrest cell cycle in response to DNA damage, irrespectively of p53 mutational status. Notably, this treatment did not increase cisplatin cytotoxicity on normal cells, thus suggesting a possible use of MK-1775 in combination with cisplatin for a safe and efficient treatment of epithelioid and biphasic MM.
FDG‐PET/CT–guided intensity modulated head and neck radiotherapy: A pilot investigation

2‐deoxy‐2[18F]fluoro‐d‐glucose–positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) imaging can be registered with CT images and can potentially improve neck staging sensitivity and specificity in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer. The intent of this study was to examine the use of registered FDG‐PET/CT imaging to guide head and neck intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) planning.
Development and validation of a five-factor sexual satisfaction and distress scale for women: the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W).

INTRODUCTION This article presents data based on the responses of over 800 women who contributed to the development of the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W). AIM The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive, multifaceted, valid, and reliable self-report measure of women's sexual satisfaction and distress. METHODS Phase I involved the initial selection of items based on past literature and on interviews of women diagnosed with sexual dysfunction and an exploratory factor analysis. Phase II involved an additional administration of the questionnaire, factor analyses, and refinement of the questionnaire items. Phase III involved administration of the final questionnaire to a sample of women with clinically diagnosed sexual dysfunction and controls. RESULTS Psychometric evaluation of the SSS-W conducted in a sample of women meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for female sexual dysfunction and in a control sample provided preliminary evidence of reliability and validity. The ability of the SSS-W to discriminate between sexually functional and dysfunctional women was demonstrated for each of the SSS-W domain scores and total score. CONCLUSION The SSS-W is a brief, 30-item measure of sexual satisfaction and sexual distress, composed of five domains supported by factor analyses: contentment, communication, compatibility, relational concern, and personal concern. It exhibits sound psychometric properties and has a demonstrated ability to discriminate between clinical and nonclinical samples.
Attributional Style in the Eating Disorders

Previous research has shown that patients with eating disorders have a characteristic cognitive bias, making internal attributions when evaluating negative events. However, there is less clarity about their attributions for positive events. There are suggestions that this cognitive style might be influenced by depressed mood. This study examines attributional style in the eating disorders for positive and negative events, independent of covariant effects of depression. Twenty-five eating-disordered women and 26 nonclinical women each completed measures of attributional style, depressed mood, and eating pathology. They also completed a measure of verbal intelligence (to ensure comparability of groups). Women with an eating disorder had a greater tendency to attribute negative situations to the self when compared with nonclinical women, even when differences in depressed mood were controlled for. There were no comparable differences in positive attributional biases. Women with an eating disorder adopt a self-blaming style when evaluating negative events, and such self-blame is likely to contribute to the maintenance of an eating disorder. This suggests that therapy for the eating disorders should include an element that focuses on highlighting and re-evaluating such interpretations.
Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 1: A Hair Cell Transduction Channel Candidate

Sound and head movements are perceived through sensory hair cells in the inner ear. Mounting evidence indicates that this process is initiated by the opening of mechanically sensitive calcium-permeable channels, also referred to as the mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) channels, reported to be around the tips of all but the tallest stereocilia. However, the identity of MET channel remains elusive. Literature suggests that the MET channel is a non-selective cation channel with a high Ca2+ permeability and ∼100 picosiemens conductance. These characteristics make members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily likely candidates for this role. One of these candidates is the transient receptor potential melastatin 1 protein (TRPM1), which is expressed in various cells types within the cochlea of the mouse including the hair cells. Recent studies demonstrate that mutations in the TRPM1 gene underlie the inherited retinal disease complete congenital stationary night blindness in humans and depolarizing bipolar cell dysfunction in the mouse retina, but auditory function was not assessed. Here we investigate the role of Trpm1 in hearing and as a possible hair cell MET channel using mice homozygous for the null allele of Trpm1 (Trpm1−/−) or a missense mutation in the pore domain of TRPM1 (Trpm1tvrm27/tvrm27). Hearing thresholds were evaluated in adult (4–5 months old) mice with auditory-evoked brain stem responses. Our data shows no statistically significant difference in hearing thresholds in Trpm1−/− or Trpm1tvrm27/tvrm27 mutants compared to littermate controls. Further, none of the mutant mice showed any sign of balance disorder, such as head bobbing or circling. These data suggest that TRPM1 is not essential for development of hearing or balance and it is unlikely that TRPM1 is a component of the hair cell MET channel.
Network meta‐analysis including treatment by covariate interactions: Consistency can vary across covariate values

Many reviews aim to compare numerous treatments and report results stratified by subgroups (eg, by disease severity). In such cases, a network meta‐analysis model including treatment by covariate interactions can estimate the relative effects of all treatment pairings for each subgroup of patients. Two key assumptions underlie such models: consistency of treatment effects and consistency of the regression coefficients for the interactions. Consistency may differ depending on the covariate value at which consistency is assessed. For valid inference, we need to be confident of consistency for the relevant range of covariate values. In this paper, we demonstrate how to assess consistency of treatment effects from direct and indirect evidence at various covariate values.
Copaiba Oil Suppresses Inflammatory Cytokines in Splenocytes of C57Bl/6 Mice Induced with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a murine autoimmune disease used to study multiple sclerosis. We have investigated the immunomodulatory effects of copaiba oil (100, 50 and 25 µg/mL) on NO, H2O2, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 production in cultured cells from EAE-mice. Copaiba oil (100 µg/mL) inhibited H2O2, NO, IFN-γ TNF-α and IL-17 production spontaneously or after ConA and MOG35–55 stimulation. It is suggested that copaiba oil acts on the mechanism of development of EAE by IFN-γ, IL-17 and TNF-α inhibition, modulating the immune response on both Th1 and Th17 cells.
Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori: lessons from China

Antimicrobial resistance has continued to undermine many popular anti-Helicobacter pylori therapies. Antibiotic resistance to commonly used anti-H. pylori drugs in China has increased markedly, making China an ideal site to identify regimens that remain effective despite widespread antimicrobial resistance. Bismuth is one of the few antimicrobials to which resistance does not develop. Factors contributing to H. pylori treatment success include host factors (e.g. genetic differences in the metabolism of the drugs used), bacterial factors (e.g. susceptibility), and details of the regimen (e.g. doses, dosing interval, dosing in relation to meals, formulation, etc.). We reviewed the recent experience in China with bismuth-containing quadruple therapies. The experience consists of 16 studies with 25 arms involving 1971 patients to identify successful regimens (defined as reliably obtaining 90% or greater eradication per protocol) deserving further study. Despite high rates of resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, several regimens could achieve high success. These were characteristically 14-day regimens containing a proton pump inhibitor and either tetracycline and metronidazole or furazolidone and amoxicillin. We propose approaches for further development including for optimization and simplification related to convenience and side effects (e.g. twice rather than three or four times daily or administration at the noon and evening meal instead of at breakfast and evening) while maintaining effectiveness of at least 90%. Studies in China identified regimens that were highly effective despite the high prevalence of resistance to metronidazole, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides. Multicenter randomized studies will be required to confirm which is the best.
Intersensor Calibration Between F-13 SSM/I and F-17 SSMIS Near-Real-Time Sea Ice Estimates

An intercalibration has been conducted for near-real-time sea ice concentration products from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Team algorithm distributed by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This represents the first time that an intercalibration has been conducted with near-real-time sea ice data and allowed the NSIDC to provide updates to a parameter of high interest with only limited interruption. The intercalibration follows a similar procedure that has been used for the previous Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) transitions of sea ice products but develops a new method to minimize discontinuities in sea ice extent and area estimates over the transition. In addition, a full year of overlap data was used for the intercalibration, far longer than for the previous SSM/I sensor transitions. A sensitivity study indicated that the consistency of the sea ice products is dependent on the timing (season of the year) and length of the transition and that a full year provides a more consistent time series.
Striking Denervation of Neuromuscular Junctions without Lumbar Motoneuron Loss in Geriatric Mouse Muscle

Reasons for the progressive age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, namely sarcopenia, are complex. Few studies describe sarcopenia in mice, although this species is the mammalian model of choice for genetic intervention and development of pharmaceutical interventions for muscle degeneration. One factor, important to sarcopenia-associated neuromuscular change, is myofibre denervation. Here we describe the morphology of the neuromuscular compartment in young (3 month) compared to geriatric (29 month) old female C57Bl/6J mice. There was no significant difference in the size or number of motoneuron cell bodies at the lumbar level (L1–L5) of the spinal cord at 3 and 29 months. However, in geriatric mice, there was a striking increase (by ∼2.5 fold) in the percentage of fully denervated neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and associated deterioration of Schwann cells in fast extensor digitorum longus (EDL), but not in slow soleus muscles. There were also distinct changes in myofibre composition of lower limb muscles (tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus) with a shift at 29 months to a faster phenotype in fast TA muscle and to a slower phenotype in slow soleus muscle. Overall, we demonstrate complex changes at the NMJ and muscle levels in geriatric mice that occur despite the maintenance of motoneuron cell bodies in the spinal cord. The challenge is to identify which components of the neuromuscular system are primarily responsible for the marked changes within the NMJ and muscle, in order to selectively target future interventions to reduce sarcopenia.
Oncostatic-Cytoprotective Effect of Melatonin and Other Bioactive Molecules: A Common Target in Mitochondrial Respiration

For several years, oncostatic and antiproliferative properties, as well as thoses of cell death induction through 5-methoxy-N-acetiltryptamine or melatonin treatment, have been known. Paradoxically, its remarkable scavenger, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic characteristics in neurodegeneration models, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are known too. Analogous results have been confirmed by a large literature to be associated to the use of many other bioactive molecules such as resveratrol, tocopherol derivatives or vitamin E and others. It is interesting to note that the two opposite situations, namely the neoplastic pathology and the neurodegeneration, are characterized by deep alterations of the metabolome, of mitochondrial function and of oxygen consumption, so that the oncostatic and cytoprotective action can find a potential rationalization because of the different metabolic and mitochondrial situations, and in the effect that these molecules exercise on the mitochondrial function. In this review we discuss historical and general aspects of melatonin, relations between cancers and the metabolome and between neurodegeneration and the metabolome, and the possible effects of melatonin and of other bioactive molecules on metabolic and mitochondrial dynamics. Finally, we suggest a common general mechanism as responsible for the oncostatic/cytoprotective effect of melatonin and of other molecules examined.