Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct visualization of lipid phase segregation in single lipid bilayers with coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy.

Lipid rafts, segregated domains with different lipid compositions, are thought to play crucial roles in processes such as protein sorting and signaling on cell membranes. Despite their postulated importance in membrane biology, direct observation of lipid rafts in cells remains a challenge. To deepen the understanding of the chemical and physical characteristics of segregated lipid phase domains, model membrane systems have been extensively used. Supported monoand bilayers of binary mixtures of phospatidylcholines have segregated phase domains varying from tens of nanometers to several microns in size, which were revealed by atomic force microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. To eliminate the effects of geometrical constraints on domain formation, free-standing bilayers in the form of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) have been used as models for the cell membrane. Micrometer-sized domain structures have been seen in mixed bilayers of various phospholipids and in mixtures of phospholipids with sphingolipids. 10] Using the GUV model system, membrane phase diagrams have been obtained for ternary mixtures of saturated lipids, unsaturated lipids and cholesterol. The vesicle system has also proven suitable for membrane fluidity measurements and the determination of membrane tension and curvature at phase domain boundaries. Lipid phase separation in free-standing bilayers, however, has not been directly observed. Visualization of the different phases requires the addition of fluorescent compounds that have either a different affinity for the distinct lipid domains or a lipid environment-dependent fluorescence response. Variations in probe partitioning or photophysical changes not directly related to lipid phase domains can obscure a correct assignment of membrane morphology. In addition, it is generally assumed that interactions of the probes with the lipids are minor and not affecting the formation of segregated domains. Nevertheless, at concentrations up to a few mole percent, perturbing interactions cannot be completely ruled out. In a multicomponent system such as that of lipid membranes, small traces of charged or polar foreign molecules may distort the thermodynamics and kinetics of lipid phase segregation in bilayers. To rule out any artifacts, a clear visualization of lipid domains in free-standing bilayers without the addition of fluorescent labels is required for an unambiguous observation of phase-segregated lipid domains.
Investigation on Inter-Limb Coordination and Motion Stability, Intensity and Complexity of Trunk and Limbs during Hands-Knees Crawling in Human Adults

This study aimed to investigate the inter-limb coordination pattern and the stability, intensity, and complexity of the trunk and limbs motions in human crawling under different speeds. Thirty healthy human adults finished hands-knees crawling trials on a treadmill at six different speeds (from 1 km/h to 2.5 km/h). A home-made multi-channel acquisition system consisting of five 3-axis accelerometers (ACC) and four force sensors was used for the data collection. Ipsilateral phase lag was used to represent inter-limb coordination pattern during crawling and power, harmonic ratio, and sample entropy of acceleration signals were adopted to depict the motion intensity, stability, and complexity of trunk and limbs respectively. Our results revealed some relationships between inter-limb coordination patterns and the stability and complexity of trunk movement. Trot-like crawling pattern was found to be the most stable and regular one at low speed in the view of trunk movement, and no-limb-pairing pattern showed the lowest stability and the greatest complexity at high speed. These relationships could be used to explain why subjects tended to avoid no-limb-pairing pattern when speed was over 2 km/h no matter which coordination type they used at low speeds. This also provided the evidence that the central nervous system (CNS) chose a stable inter-limb coordination pattern to keep the body safe and avoid tumbling. Although considerable progress has been made in the study of four-limb locomotion, much less is known about the reasons for the variety of inter-limb coordination. The research results of the exploration on the inter-limb coordination pattern choice during crawling from the standpoint of the motion stability, intensity, and complexity of trunk and limbs sheds light on the underlying motor control strategy of the human CNS and has important significance in the fields of clinical diagnosis, rehabilitation engineering, and kinematics research.
Conceptual fundamentals of a theory of mathematical interpretation

The main purpose of this paper is to show some conceptual fundamentals for a new theory of mathematical interpretation TMI, which can be used for solving the non-formalised and heavy-formalised tasks in different areas of science. This theory has all principal factors, which are inherent to any theory. Foremost, this theory has the historical, theoretical, mathematical and simulation fundamentals. In addition, it has the mathematical description as a set of the postulates. Thus, this theory will be able to expand a sphere of using of an existing mathematical tool in other specific areas of science and some possibilities for their further application. This everything is confirming the uniformity and comprehensiveness of the existing mathematical tool, and it is showing some possibilities of a mutual penetration of different areas to each other.
Fatal exacerbation of fibrosing alveolitis associated with systemic sclerosis in a patient treated with adalimumab

Several cases of fatal exacerbations of fibrosing alveolitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis after infliximab treatment have recently been reported.1 We report here a case of fatal exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis after adalimumab treatment in a patient with polyarthritis related to systemic sclerosis (SSc). The patient, a 74 year old woman, had been diagnosed 5 years previously with severe Raynaud’s syndrome, sclerodactyly, pulmonary fibrosis, abnormal oesophageal peristalsis, and non-specific antinuclear antibodies (1/100; indirect immunofluorescence on Hep 2 cells). She also had severe distal polyarthritis affecting the wrists, metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, with demineralisation but no erosion on x ray examination. She tested negative for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. Successive treatments with low dose prednisone associated with methotrexate, leflunomide or azathioprine were ineffective. In February 2004 she had a 28 joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) score of 7.8, a …
Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal disorders occur frequently in dialysis patients. Few data are available on the prevalence of symptoms originating from the gastrointestinal tract in this group of patients. Our aim was to obtain data on the prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS All 109 patients of our dialysis unit were given a questionnaire to complete which was previously validated and designed to measure the occurrence of gastrointestinal, and some general symptoms during the preceding year. 105 subjects responded (96% response rate). RESULTS 79% of dialysis patients had at least one of the following chronic gastrointestinal symptoms: Esophageal symptoms were reported in 21% abdominal pain in 28% and dyspeptic symptoms in 48%. The irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed in 12 patients (11%), 40% had chronic constipation and 24% had chronic diarrhoea. Colonic pain was described in 20% of patients. Frequent general symptoms (such as weakness, headaches, insomnia and fatigue) were described in up to 51%, and patients were severely bothered by symptoms in up to 33% of cases. CONCLUSION Although patients on hemodialysis generally report a good quality of life, the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and of general symptoms is high and many dialysis patients consider these symptoms to cause major impairment of daily life.
Phased Protein Synthesis at Several Circadian Times Does Not Change Protein Levels in Gonyaulax

The synthesis rates of 13 individual proteins in Gonyaulax polyedra, resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, were estimated from the amount of 35S methionine incorporated during in vivo pulse labeling at 2-h intervals over one circadian period. The synthesis rates of three proteins, taken as controls, varied 2-3 fold, and no systematic pattern to these variations was apparent. In contrast, the synthesis rates of 10 other proteins varied at least tenfold and in a smooth and systematic pattern. The patterns of protein synthesis were placed into three different groups, the first occurring during the late day/early night phase, the second during the middle of the night phase, and the third during the late night/early day phase. The length of time that individual proteins within each group could incorporate radiolabel was variable, raising the possibility that additional groups might be present. However, both a replicate experiment in continuous light and a light:dark experiment confirmed the presence of at least three different groups of protein synthesis patterns. Unlike the circadian changes in the synthesis rate of the luciferin binding protein, which produces variations in protein levels that correlate with the bioluminescence rhythm, no substantial changes were found in the levels of any other rhythmically synthesized proteins examined.
The Influence of Static Effort on the Respiration and on the Respiratory Exchange

(1) The energy cost of static effort. From previous work it appears that the metabolic cost of maintaining a given tension varies directly as the load, provided no new muscles are brought into play as the result of fatigue or local strain. There is conflict of opinion as to the relation of cost to tension; some workers find a linear relation, while others find a non-linear one. In the present observations contractions, which were virtually isometric, were made against a powerful spring, while in a standing position. With constant tension the oxygen cost per contraction varied directly as the duration of the contraction. With constant time and increasing tension the oxygen cost increased more rapidly than the tension. The duration of contraction varied from ½ to 30 sec. , and the tension from 30 to 165 Ib. Over the whole range the oxygen cost per contraction is adequately described by the equation Q = T1·37 (0·0117 + 0·01090t), where Q is the oxygen cost per contraction, T is the tension, and t is the duration of contraction. (2) The effect of static effort on the respiration. As a measure of hyper-ventilation the ratio of ventilation to oxygen intake is used. It is shown that in dynamic work this ratio falls below the resting value, whereas in static effort of whatever severity the ratio increases considerably above the resting value if the effort is sufficiently prolonged. The rise in the ventilation ratio runs parallel with the feelings of strain which are associated with static effort. Pain causes such a rise in the ratio, and the rise which occurs in static effort is ascribed to the influence of painful sensations of strain. Observations were made in which the posture alternated between sitting and standing every 40 sec. The change of posture altered the distribution of the strain, and thus the subjective sensations were not so marked as in the experiments with posture unchanged. In consequence of the postural change the ventilation ratio did not rise sensibly above the resting value, and the maximum strength of pull was increased by 6–16 per cent.
Isomaltulose Synthase from Klebsiella sp. Strain LX3: Gene Cloning and Characterization and Engineering of Thermostability

ABSTRACT The gene (palI) encoding isomaltulose synthase (PalI) from a soil bacterial isolate, Klebsiella sp. strain LX3, was cloned and characterized. PalI converts sucrose into isomaltulose, trehalulose, and trace amounts of glucose and fructose. Sequence domain analysis showed that PalI contains an α-amylase domain and (β/α)8-barrel structures, suggesting that it belongs to the α-amylase family. Sequence alignment indicated that the five amino acid residues of catalytic importance in α-amylases and glucosyltransferases (Asp241, Glu295, Asp369, His145, and His368) are conserved in PalI. Purified recombinant PalI displayed high catalytic efficiency, with a Km of 54.6 ± 1.7 mM for sucrose, and maximum activity (approximately 328.0 ± 2.5 U/mg) at pH 6.0 and 35°C. PalI activity was strongly inhibited by Fe3+ and Hg2+ and was enhanced by Mn2+ and Mg2+. The half-life of PalI was 1.8 min at 50°C. Replacement of selected amino acid residues by proline significantly increased the thermostability of PalI. Simultaneous replacement of Glu498 and Arg310 with proline resulted in an 11-fold increase in the half-life of PalI at 50°C.
Isolation and Characterization of NaCl-Sensitive Mutants of Caulobacter crescentus

ABSTRACT An attempt to characterize Caulobacter crescentus genes important for the response to high concentrations of NaCl was initiated by the isolation of mutants defective in survival in the presence of 85 mM NaCl. A transposon Tn5 library was screened, and five strains which contained different genes disrupted by the transposon were isolated. Three of the mutants had the Tn5 in genes involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, one had the Tn5 in the nhaA gene, which encodes a Na+/H+ antiporter, and one had the Tn5 in the ppiD gene, which encodes a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase. All the mutant strains showed severe growth arrest in the presence of 85 mM NaCl, but only the nhaA mutant showed decreased viability under these conditions. All the mutants except the nhaA mutant showed a slightly reduced viability in the presence of 40 mM KCl, but all the strains showed a more severe reduction in viability in the presence of 150 mM sucrose, suggesting that they are defective in responding to osmotic shock. The promoter regions of each disrupted gene were cloned in lacZ reporter vectors, and the pattern of expression in response to NaCl and sucrose was determined; this showed that both agents induced ppiD and nhaA gene expression but did not induce the other genes. Furthermore, the ppiD gene was not induced by heat shock, indicating that it does not belong to the σ32 regulon, as opposed to what was observed for its Escherichia coli homolog.
Efficient Empirical Bayes Variable Selection and Estimation in Linear Models

We propose an empirical Bayes method for variable selection and coefficient estimation in linear regression models. The method is based on a particular hierarchical Bayes formulation, and the empirical Bayes estimator is shown to be closely related to the LASSO estimator. Such a connection allows us to take advantage of the recently developed quick LASSO algorithm to compute the empirical Bayes estimate, and provides a new way to select the tuning parameter in the LASSO method. Unlike previous empirical Bayes variable selection methods, which in most practical situations can be implemented only through a greedy stepwise algorithm, our method gives a global solution efficiently. Simulations and real examples show that the proposed method is very competitive in terms of variable selection, estimation accuracy, and computation speed compared with other variable selection and estimation methods.
Assessment of the prevailing handling and quality of eggs from scavenging indigenous chickens reared in different agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia -

A survey based experiment was conducted from November 2010 to April 2011 in 196 households to assess egg handling and qualities of scavenging chickens reared in highland, midland and lowland agro-ecological zones of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. For egg quality determination, among 196 households, 30 of them who keep only local chickens were identified from each agro-ecology from which 588 eggs (196 eggs from each agro-ecology) were collected. The flock size in highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies was 8.5, 7.4 and 8.4 chickens, respectively. The results indicated that about 95% and 70% of the respondents fumigate day old chicks with smoke and clip tail feathers, respectively. The average age at first egg lay was 6.94, 6.43 and 6.57 months for highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies, respectively. The survivability of chickens in highland, midland and lowland agro-ecological zones was 55.0%, 61.4% and 55.1%, respectively. On the average 79.1% hatchability, 58.3% chick survivability was found in the study area. The observed values of egg weight, egg length, egg width, yolk height, albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly (p< 0.05) different between the investigated agro-ecologies. Accordingly, all these traits were (p< 0.05) higher in midland than those of highland and lowland agro-ecological zones. Agro-ecology did not affect shape index, shell thickness, yolk width and yolk index values. The respective average egg weight, shell thickness and shape index values were 39.6 g, 0.296 mm and 73.2%. The average values of yolk height, yolk width and Haugh unit were 16.1 mm, 36.8 mm and 73.2, respectively. In conclusion, the midland agro-ecological system appears to favor the survivability and expression of external and internal egg quality traits of scavenging rural chickens.
Spinal loading when lifting from industrial storage bins

The study documented three-dimensional spinal loading during lifting from an industrial bin. Two lifting styles and two bin design factors were examined in Phase I. The lifting style measures in Phase I were one hand versus two hand and standing on one foot versus two feet. The bin design variables were region of load in the bin and bin height. The Phase II study examined one-handed lifting styles with and without supporting body weight with the free hand on the bin as well as region and the number of feet. Twelve male and 12 female subjects lifted an 11.3 kg box from the bin. Spinal compression, lateral shear and anterior - posterior shear forces were estimated using a validated EMG-assisted biomechanical model. Phase I results indicated that the bin design factor of region had the greatest impact on spinal loading. The upper front region minimized spinal loading for all lifting styles. Furthermore, the lifting style of two hands and two feet minimized spinal loading. However, comparing Phase I two-handed lifting with Phase II one-handed supported lifting, the one-handed supported lifting techniques had lower compressive and anterior - posterior shear loads in the lower regions as well as the upper back region of the bin. A bin design that facilitates lifting from the upper front region of the bin reduces spinal loading more effectively than specific lifting styles. Furthermore, a bin design with a hand hold may facilitate workers using a supported lifting style that reduces spinal loading.
Mycobacterium liflandii Outbreak in a Research Colony of Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis Frogs

A research colony of Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis frogs presented with nodular and ulcerative skin lesions. Additional consistent gross findings included splenomegaly with multiple tan-yellow nodular foci in the spleen and liver of diseased frogs. Copious acid-fast positive bacteria were present in touch impression smears of spleen, skin, and livers of diseased frogs. Histologically, necrotizing and granulomatous dermatitis, splenitis, and hepatitis with numerous acid-fast bacilli were consistently present, indicative of systemic mycobacteriosis. Infrequently, granulomatous inflammation was noted in the lungs, pancreas, coelomic membranes, and rarely reproductive organs. Ultrastructurally, both extracellular bacilli and intracellular bacilli within macrophages were identified. Frogs in the affected room were systematically depopulated, and control measures were initiated. Cultured mycobacteria from affected organs were identified and genetically characterized as Mycobacterium liflandii by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the enoyl reductase domain and specific variable numbers of tandem repeats. In recent years, M. liflandii has had a devastating impact on research frog colonies throughout the United States. This detailed report with ultrastructural description of M. liflandii aids in further understanding of this serious disease in frogs.
Chemical Characterization of the Smallest S-Nitrosothiol, HSNO; Cellular Cross-talk of H2S and S-Nitrosothiols

Dihydrogen sulfide recently emerged as a biological signaling molecule with important physiological roles and significant pharmacological potential. Chemically plausible explanations for its mechanisms of action have remained elusive, however. Here, we report that H2S reacts with S-nitrosothiols to form thionitrous acid (HSNO), the smallest S-nitrosothiol. These results demonstrate that, at the cellular level, HSNO can be metabolized to afford NO+, NO, and NO– species, all of which have distinct physiological consequences of their own. We further show that HSNO can freely diffuse through membranes, facilitating transnitrosation of proteins such as hemoglobin. The data presented in this study explain some of the physiological effects ascribed to H2S, but, more broadly, introduce a new signaling molecule, HSNO, and suggest that it may play a key role in cellular redox regulation.
Natural Variation in Petal Color in Lycoris longituba Revealed by Anthocyanin Components

Lycoris longituba is one of the species belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. Despite its limited distribution, endemic to central eastern China, this species displays an exceptionally wide diversity of flower colors from purple, red, orange, to yellow, in nature. We study the natural variation of floral color in L. longituba by testing the components of water-soluble vacuolar pigments – anthocyanins – in its petals using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Four anthocyanins were identified, cyanidin-3-sophoroside (Cy3So), cyanidin-3-xylosylglucoside (Cy3XyGlc), cyanidin-3-sambubioside (Cy3Sa), and pelargonidin-3-xylosylglucoside (Pg3XyGlc), which occur at various amounts in L. longituba petals of different colors. A multivariate analysis was used to explore the relationship between pigments and flower color. Anthocyanins have been thought to play a major role in acting as a UV screen that protects the plant's DNA from sunlight damage and attracting insects for the purpose of pollination. Thus, knowledge about the content and type of anthocyanins determining the petal coloration of Lycoris longituba will help to study the adaptive evolution of flowers and provide useful information for the ornamental breeding of this species.