Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A9C sensitive Cl− - accumulation in A. thaliana root cells during salt stress is controlled by internal and external calcium

The involvement of chloride in salt stress symptoms and salt tolerance mechanisms in plants has been less investigated in the past. Therefore, we studied the salt-induced chloride influx in Arabidopsis expressing the GFP-based anion indicator Clomeleon. High salt concentrations induce two phases of chloride influx. The fast kinetic phase is likely caused by membrane depolarization, and is assumed to be mediated by channels. This is followed by a slower "saturation" phase, where chloride is accumulated in the cytoplasm. Both phases of chloride uptake are dependent on the presence of external calcium. In general: with high [Ca2+] less chloride is accumulated in the cytoplasm. Surprisingly, also the internal calcium availability has an impact on chloride transport. A complete block of the second phase of chloride influx is achieved by the anion channel blocker A9C and trivalent cations (La3+, Gd3+, and Al3+). Other channel blockers and diuretics were found to inhibit the process partially. The results suggest that several transporter species are involved here, including electroneutral cation-chloride-cotransporters, and a part of chloride possibly enters the cells through cation channels after salt application.
Receptor-mediated endocytosis and endosomal acidification is impaired in proximal tubule epithelial cells of Dent disease patients

Receptor-mediated endocytosis, involving megalin and cubilin, mediates renal proximal-tubular reabsorption and is decreased in Dent disease because of mutations of the chloride/proton antiporter, chloride channel-5 (CLC-5), resulting in low-molecular-weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrolithiasis, and renal failure. To facilitate studies of receptor-mediated endocytosis and the role of CLC-5, we established conditionally immortalized proximal-tubular epithelial cell lines (ciPTECs) from three patients with CLC-5 mutations (30:insH, R637X, and del132-241) and a normal male. Confocal microscopy using the tight junction marker zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) and end-binding protein-1 (EB-1), which is specific for the plus end of microtubules demonstrated that the ciPTECs polarized. Receptor-mediated endocytic uptake of fluorescent albumin and transferrin in 30:insH and R637X ciPTECs was significantly decreased, compared with normal ciPTECs, and could be further reduced by competition with 10-fold excess of unlabeled albumin and transferrin, whereas in the del132-241 ciPTEC, receptor-mediated endocytic uptake was abolished. Investigation of endosomal acidification by live-cell imaging of pHluorin-VAMP2 (vesicle-associated membrane protein-2), a pH-sensitive-GFP construct, revealed that the endosomal pH in normal and 30:insH ciPTECs was similar, whereas in del132-241 and R637X ciPTECs, it was significantly more alkaline, indicating defective acidification in these ciPTECs. The addition of bafilomycin-A1, a V-ATPase inhibitor, raised the pH significantly in all ciPTECs, demonstrating that the differences in acidification were not due to alterations in the V-ATPase, but instead to abnormalities of CLC-5. Thus, our studies, which have established human Dent disease ciPTECs that will facilitate studies of mechanisms in renal reabsorption, demonstrate that Dent disease-causing CLC-5 mutations have differing effects on endosomal acidification and receptor-mediated endocytosis that may not be coupled.
Enhancing accuracy and security of ADS-B via MLAT assisted-flight information system

Existing traditional radar techniques are not suitable for precise positioning of the aircraft. Recently, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) has used to accurately determine the aircraft's position. Unfortunately, ADS-B technique suffers from cybersecurity issues like jamming and spoofing. In order to validate the ADS-B signal and enhance the aircraft's position, ADS-B/MLAT data fusion is used which uses the dynamic flight model of aircraft. In contrast, this paper presents reliable and high precise ADS-B/MLAT data fusion surveillance framework that uses the dynamic flight model of aircraft and flight information system. Our results show that the accuracy of the proposed framework is 49%, 49% and 13.8% better than ADS-B, multilateration and surveillance techniques that use the dynamic flight model of aircraft only for aircraft near the airport.
Simultaneous quantification of nucleoproteins and comparison of methyl green-pyronin Y and Feulgen staining in sections of oral squamous cell carcinoma, dysplastic lesions and normal mucosa

Abstract A fundamental difference between normal cells and tumor cells is the proliferative activity of the nucleus and nucleolus, which increases progressively from normal to oral dysplastic mucosa to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This activity is evaluated routinely using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining, but in some cases, inter-observer variability occurs among pathologists. We evaluated cellular proliferation by staining sections with the methyl green-pyronin Y procedure and the Feulgen reaction. We also compared the efficacy of methyl green-pyronin Y and Feulgen staining for studying nuclear and nucleolar features in oral dysplastic mucosa and in different grades of OSCC. Sections cut from formalin fixed, paraffin embedded blocks of five normal mucosa, 15 dysplastic mucosa, 10 well-differentiated OSCC, 10 moderately differentiated OSCC and five poorly differentiated OSCC cases were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, methyl green-pyronin Y and the Feulgen reaction. The mean diameters of the nuclei and number of nucleoli showed significant differences. A progressive increase in diameter of the nucleus and number of nucleoli was observed from normal mucosa through poorly differentiated OSCC. We observed that methyl green-pyronin Y stain is more useful than Feulgen and hematoxylin and eosin for simultaneous quantitative assessment of both RNA and DNA. The simplicity of this technique makes it a valuable tool even for daily routine examination.
Challenges in Nursing Practice: Nurses’ Perceptions in Caring for Hospitalized Medical-Surgical Patients With Substance Abuse/Dependence

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate nurses’ perceptions of caring for hospitalized medical-surgical patients with comorbid conditions of substance abuse/dependence. BACKGROUND: Critical to this issue of quality patient care is the rising incidence of comorbid drug and alcohol abuse among hospitalized patients. Little research exists on the perceptions of nurses providing care to substance abuse/dependent medical-surgical hospitalized patients. There exists the need to further explore nurses’ perceptions regarding caring for this challenging population. METHODS: Using a qualitative inductive approach, a convenience sample of 24 nurses completed research questions regarding their perceptions of caring for hospitalized patients with substance abuse/dependence. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed ethical duty to care, negative perceptions toward patients with substance abuse/dependence, need for further education, sympathy, and issues with pain management. Providing quality nursing care for the hospitalized medical-surgical patient with concomitant alcohol and/or drug dependence is challenging for nursing. Nurses need additional education and professional support in caring for these individuals.
Dynamic Ecological Risk Assessment and Management of Land Use in the Middle Reaches of the Heihe River Based on Landscape Patterns and Spatial Statistics

Land use profoundly changes the terrestrial ecosystem and landscape patterns, and these changes reveal the extent and scope of the ecological influence of land use on the terrestrial ecosystem. The study area selected for this research was the middle reaches of the Heihe River. Based on land use data (1986, 2000, and 2014), we proposed an ecological risk index of land use by combining a landscape disturbance index with a landscape fragility index. An exponential model was selected to perform kriging interpolation, as well as spatial autocorrelations and semivariance analyses which could reveal the spatial aggregation patterns. The results indicated that the ecological risk of the middle reaches of the Heihe River was generally high, and higher in the northwest. The high values of the ecological risk index (ERI) tended to decrease, and the low ERI values tended to increase. Positive spatial autocorrelations and a prominent scale-dependence were observed among the ERI values. The main hot areas with High-High local autocorrelations were located in the north, and the cold areas with low-low local autocorrelations were primarily located in the middle corridor plain and Qilian Mountains. From 1986 to 2014, low and relatively low ecological risk areas decreased while relatively high risk areas expanded. A middle level of ecological risk was observed in Ganzhou and Minle counties. Shandan County presented a serious polarization, with high ecological risk areas observed in the north and low ecological risk areas observed in the southern Shandan horse farm. In order to lower the eco-risk and achieve the sustainability of land use, these results suggest policies to strictly control the oasis expansion and the occupation of farmland for urbanization. Some inefficient farmland should transform into grassland in appropriate cases.
A pathway for targeting soluble misfolded proteins to the yeast vacuole

We have evaluated the fate of misfolded protein domains in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae secretory pathway by fusing mutant forms of the NH2-terminal domain of lambda repressor protein to the secreted protein invertase. The hybrid protein carrying the wild-type repressor domain is mostly secreted to the cell surface, whereas hybrid proteins with amino acid substitutions that cause the repressor domain to be thermodynamically unstable are retained intracellularly. Surprisingly, the retained hybrids are found in the vacuole, where the repressor moiety is degraded by vacuolar proteases. The following observations indicate that receptor-mediated recognition of the mutant repressor domain in the Golgi lumen targets these hybrid fusions to the vacuole. (a) The invertase-repressor fusions, like wild-type invertase, behave as soluble proteins in the ER lumen. (b) Targeting to the vacuole is saturable since overexpression of the hybrids carrying mutant repressor increases the fraction of fusion protein that appears at the cell surface. (c) Finally, deletion of the VPS10 gene, which encodes the transmembrane Golgi receptor responsible for targeting carboxypeptidase Y to the vacuole, causes the mutant hybrids to be diverted to the cell surface. Together these findings suggest that yeast have a salvage pathway for degradation of nonnative luminal proteins by receptor- mediated transport to the vacuole.
Biosorption of lead and nickel by biomass of marine algae

Screening tests of different marine algae biomas types revealed a high passive biosorptive uptake of lead up to 270 mg Pb/g of biomass in some brown marine algae. Members of the order Fucales perfomed particularly well in this descending sequence: Fucus > Ascophyllum > Sargassum. Although decreasing the swelling of wetted biomass particles, their reinforcement by crosslinking may significantly affect the biosorption performance. Lead uptakes up to 370 mg Pb/g were observed in crosslinked Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum. At low equilibrium residual concentrations of lead in solution, however, ion exchange resin Amberlite IR‐120 had a higher lead uptake than the biosorbent materials. An order‐of‐magnitude lower uptake of nickel was observed in all of the sorbent materials examined. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A comparison of diagnostic tests to determine Helicobacter pylori infection

Twenty‐five Helicobacter pylori positive and 25 H. pylori negative subjects as defined by culture and phase contrast microscopy of antral biopsy specimens obtained from routine upper endoscopy were studied. Antral biopsies were examined by rapid urease test, phase contrast microscopy, culture and histology. Venous blood was tested for H. pylori specific IgG antibodies by an ELISA technique. Within 7 days of endoscopy the patients also had a [14C]‐urea breath test. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid urease test was 92%, the breath test 96% and 100%, histopathology 96% and 91% and serology 96% and 88%, respectively. The [14C]‐urea breath test performed over 1 h with sampling of subjects at 0, 0.5 and 1 h was an accurate and reliable method. Results expressed as counts per minute of the expired 14CO2 proved to be a simple method of assessing H. pylori status. A significant correlation between severity of histological antral gastritis and the amount of 14CO2 expired was observed. This study has shown that the non‐invasive 14C‐urea breath test and serology are highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.
Sensitivity-Based Modeling of Evaluating Surface Runoff and Sediment Load using Digital and Analog Mechanisms

Analyses of runoffsediment measurement and evaluation using automated and convectional runoff-meters was carried out at Meteorological and Hydrological Station of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi using two runoff plots (ABCDa and EFGHm) of area 2m2 each, depth 0.26 m and driven into the soil to the depth of 0.13m. Runoff depths and intensities were measured from each of the positioned runoff plot. Automated runoff-meter has a measuring accuracy of ±0.001l/±0.025 mm and rainfall depth-intensity was measured using tipping-bucket rainguage during the period of 14-month of experimentation. Minimum and maximum rainfall depths of 1.2 and 190.3 mm correspond to measured runoff depths (MRo) of 0.0 mm for both measurement approaches and 60.4 mm and 48.9 mm respectively. Automated runoff-meter provides precise, accurate and instantaneous result over the convectional measurement of surface runoff. Runoff measuring accuracy for automated runoff-meter from the plot (ABCDa) produces R2 = 0.99; while R2 = 0.96 for manual evaluation in plot (EFGHm). WEPP and SWAT models were used to simulate the obtained hydrological variables from the applied measurement mechanisms. The outputs of sensitivity simulation analysis indicate that data from automated measuring systems gives a better modelling index and such could be used for running robust runoff-sediment predictive modelling technique under different reservoir sedimentation and water management scenarios.
The computational complexity of integer programming with alternations

We prove that integer programming with three quantifier alternations is $NP$-complete, even for a fixed number of variables. This complements earlier results by Lenstra and Kannan, which together say that integer programming with at most two quantifier alternations can be done in polynomial time for a fixed number of variables. As a byproduct of the proof, we show that for two polytopes $P,Q \subset \mathbb{R}^4$ , counting the projection of integer points in $Q \backslash P$ is $\#P$-complete. This contrasts the 2003 result by Barvinok and Woods, which allows counting in polynomial time the projection of integer points in $P$ and $Q$ separately.
Consequences of Social Conflict on Plasma Testosterone Levels in Rhesus Monkeys

&NA; Four adult male rhesus monkeys formed a new social group with 13 adult females. The male who became dominant [alpha] showed a progressive increase in plasma testosterone. The male who became subordinate to the other three males showed an 80% fall in testosterone from baseline levels. After 7 weeks, this group was introduced to a well‐established breeding group, and all four males became subordinate to all members of the breeding group. All four males evidenced a fall in testosterone during the first week after introduction, and within 6 weeks their levels were approximately—80% of pre‐introduction values. The alpha male of the breeding group showed a large increase in testosterone [238%] 24 hr after he successfully defended his group and became the dominant animal of the larger, newly‐formed group. Thus, plasma testosterone levels appear to be significantly influenced by the outcome of conflict attendant to alterations in status of rhesus monkeys living in social groups.
Differences in cue use and spatial memory in men and women

Men and women differ in their ability to solve spatial problems. There are two possible proximate explanations for this: (i) men and women differ in the kind (and value) of information they use and/or (ii) their cognitive abilities differ with respect to spatial problems. Using a simple computerized task which could be solved either by choosing an object based on what it looked like, or by its location, we found that the women relied on the object's visual features to solve the task, while the men used both visual and location information. There were no differences between the sexes in memory for the visual features of the objects, but women were poorer than men at remembering the locations of objects.
Lymphoma presenting as Henoch–Schönlein purpura

Henoch–Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic vasculitis affecting the small blood vessels of the skin, the gastrointestinal tract and the kidneys. HSP typically affects children and is self-limiting. Less commonly it presents in adults. Several triggers for HSP have been recognized, including infections, medications and malignancy. This report describes a patient presenting with HSP who was found to have an underlying malignancy and highlights that in adults presenting with HSP a careful search for an underlying cause should be undertaken.
Asymptotic behaviour for a semilinear nonlocal equation

We study the semilinear nonlocal equation ut = J ∗ u − u − u p in the whole R N. First, we prove the global well-posedness for initial conditions u(x ,0 )= u0(x) ∈ L 1 (R N ) ∩ L ∞ (R N ). Next, we obtain the long time behaviour of the solutions. We show that different behaviours are possible depending on the exponent p and the kernel J: finite time extinction for p< 1, faster than exponential decay for the linear case p = 1, a weakly nonlinear behaviour for p large enough and a decay governed by the nonlinear term when p is greater than one but not so large.
Long Term Outcomes of Aortic Root Replacement: 18 Years' Experience

Background We reviewed the long-term outcomes of aortic root replacement at Asan Medical Center and investigated the predictors affecting mortality. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 225 consecutive adult patients undergoing aortic root replacement with mechanical conduits (n=169), porcine aortic root prosthesis (n=23), or aortic homografts (n=33) from January 1992 to September 2009. The median follow-up duration was 6.1 years (range, 0 to 18.0 years). Results The porcine root group was older than the other groups (freestyle 55.9±14.3 years vs. mechanical 46.3±14.6 years, homograft 48.1±14.7 years; p=0.02). The mechanical group had the highest incidence of the Marfan syndrome (mechanical 22%, freestyle 4%, homograft 3%; p=0.01). Surgery performed for infective endocarditis was more frequent in the homograft group (mechanical 10%, freestyle 10%, homograft 40%; p<0.001). The overall 30-day mortality was 5.3% (12/225). Actuarial survival rates in the mechanical, porcine root, and homograft groups were 79.4%, 81.5%, and 83.5% at 5 years and 67%, 61.9%, and 61.1% at 10 years, respectively (p=0.73). By multivariate analysis, preoperative diabetes mellitus, older age, and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time were independent predictors of mortality. Incidence of postoperative complications, including infective endocarditis and thromboembolism were comparable in all of the groups. Conclusion Aortic root replacement can be safely performed with different types of prostheses as the outcome was not affected by the choice of prosthesis. Further studies are required to assess the long-term durability of biological prostheses.
Delivery of Echinococcus granulosus antigen EG95 to mice and sheep using recombinant vaccinia virus

The tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of hydatid disease and affects sheep, cattle, dogs and humans worldwide. It has a two‐stage life cycle existing as worms in the gut of infected dogs (definitive host) and as cysts in herbivores and humans (intermediate host). The disease is debilitating and can be life threatening where the cysts interfere with organ function. Interruption of the hydatid life cycle in the intermediate host by vaccination may be a way to control the disease, and a protective oncosphere antigen EG95 has been shown to protect animals against challenge with E. granulosus eggs. We explored the use of recombinant vaccinia virus as a delivery vehicle for EG95. Mice and sheep were immunized with the recombinant vector, and the result monitored at the circulating antibody level. In addition, sera from immunized mice were assayed for the ability to kill E. granulosus oncospheres in vitro. Mice immunized once intranasally developed effective oncosphere‐killing antibody by day 42 post‐infection. Antibody responses and oncosphere killing were correlated and were significantly enhanced by boosting mice with either EG95 protein or recombinant vector. Sheep antibody responses to the recombinant vector or to EG95 protein mirrored those in mice.
The Relationship Between Organizational Factors and Resident Satisfaction with Nursing Home Care and Life

Abstract We examined the relationships between nursing home (NH) resident satisfaction and NH organizational characteristics, while controlling for the effect of resident characteristics within facilities. We used a stratified, random sample of NHs (N=72) from two states and a prescreened and randomized sample of 1496 residents. Data sources included resident interviews, an administrator survey, the Minimum Data Set (MDS), and the Online Survey, Certification and Reporting System (OSCAR). Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) techniques, we found that non-chain affiliation, certified nursing assistant staffing, and provision of a family council had significant positive effects on total resident satisfaction. The presence of a special care unit was associated with lower levels of satisfaction.
Chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil from Thymus lanceolatus

Abstract Thymus lanceolatus is a rare species, which grows wild in Algeria and Tunis. It is used traditionally as a drink and to flavor and preserve meat and poultry. The composition of the essential oil was determined by GLC/FID and GLC/MS. Forty-nine components were identified and quantified, accounting for 96.75% of the total detected components in the oil. The oxygenated monoterpenes (74.85%) constitute the major class of volatile secondary metabolites in the oil. Thymol was the most abundant constituent (69.61%) followed by γ-terpinene (8.38%). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using both diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH˙) reduction and 2-deoxyribose (2-DR) degradation prevention methods. The oil showed a very potent antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 0.20 ± 0.07 and 4.96 ± 0.39 μg/mL for the DPPH˙ and 2-DR methods, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was assessed using the agar diffusion method, and the in vitro cytotoxicity on five different cancer cells was examined using the MTT assay. The oil revealed promising inhibitory activity against Gram positive bacteria, especially Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pyogenes with an MIC value of 62.5 μg/mL. Additionally, the highest cytotoxic activity was observed against the HL-60 cells with an IC50 of 113.5 μg/mL. These results validate some of their traditional uses in food preservation.