Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biofilm Formation and Sloughing in Serratia marcescens Are Controlled by Quorum Sensing and Nutrient Cues

ABSTRACT We describe here a role for quorum sensing in the detachment, or sloughing, of Serratia marcescens filamentous biofilms, and we show that nutrient conditions affect the biofilm morphotype. Under reduced carbon or nitrogen conditions, S. marcescens formed a classical biofilm consisting of microcolonies. The filamentous biofilm could be converted to a microcolony-type biofilm by switching the medium after establishment of the biofilm. Similarly, when initially grown as a microcolony biofilm, S. marcescens could be converted back to a filamentous biofilm by increasing the nutrient composition. Under high-nutrient conditions, an N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum-sensing mutant formed biofilms that were indistinguishable from the wild-type biofilms. Similarly, other quorum-sensing-dependent behaviors, such as swarming motility, could be rendered quorum sensing independent by manipulating the growth medium. Quorum sensing was also found to be involved in the sloughing of the filamentous biofilm. The biofilm formed by the bacterium consistently sloughed from the substratum after approximately 75 to 80 h of development. The quorum-sensing mutant, when supplemented with exogenous signal, formed a wild-type filamentous biofilm and sloughed at the same time as the wild type, and this was independent of surfactant production. When we removed the signal from the quorum-sensing mutant prior to the time of sloughing, the biofilm did not undergo significant detachment. Together, the data suggest that biofilm formation by S. marcescens is a dynamic process that is controlled by both nutrient cues and the quorum-sensing system.
Correlation Coefficient between Dynamic Single Valued Neutrosophic Multisets and Its Multiple Attribute Decision-Making Method

Based on dynamic information collected from different time intervals in some real situations, this paper firstly proposes a dynamic single valued neutrosophic multiset (DSVNM) to express dynamic information and operational relations of DSVNMs. Then, a correlation coefficient between DSVNMs and a weighted correlation coefficient between DSVNMs are presented to measure the correlation degrees between DSVNMs, and their properties are investigated. Based on the weighted correlation coefficient of DSVNMs, a multiple attribute decision-making method is established under a DSVNM environment, in which the evaluation values of alternatives with respect to attributes are collected from different time intervals and are represented by the form of DSVNMs. The ranking order of alternatives is performed through the weighted correlation coefficient between an alternative and the ideal alternative, which is considered by the attribute weights and the time weights, and thus the best one(s) can also be determined. Finally, a practical example shows the application of the proposed method.
Effect of Soursop Leaf And Royal Jelly on Brain Neuronal Edema And Apoptosis in Rat Cerebral Contusion Model Mediated by Bdnf/Il-1β Ratio

Brain injury causes disability and death. Soursop leaf extract has been widely studied as antiinflammatory and anti oxidant in non-trauma cases. The anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects of Royal Jelly has also been studied. The role of soursop leaf extract and Royal Jelly on cerebral contusion need to be studied. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of Soursop leaf extract and Royal Jelly in cerebral contusion rat model to cerebral edema and apoptosis mediated by BDNF/IL-1β ratio. Rat is grouped into 5 groups, with 5 rats as the member. Cerebral contusion model made by applying 1,6 Joule of energy. Control group (K) didn’t receive Soursop leaf neither Royal Jelly. P1 Group is given 100 mg/kg Soursop leaf extract, P2 Group is given 200 mg/kg Soursop leaf extract, P3 Group is given 400 mg/kg Soursop leaf extract, P4 Group is given 100 mg/kg Royal Jelly for 7 days. Cells underwent edema dan apoptosis were counted (TUNEL), BDNF and IL-1β were measured (ELISA). Soursop leaf extract decreased apoptosis (p-value<0,05), decreased IL-1β and increased BDNF (p-value<0,05). Royal Jelly decreased cerebral edema and apoptosis (p-value<0,05), decreased IL-1β and increased BDNF (pvalue<0,05. The increased BDNF/IL-1β ratio caused decreased cells underwent cerebral edema and apoptosis (p-value<0,05). Both administration of Soursop leaf extract and Royal Jelly significantly decrease cerebral neuronal edema and apoptosis, decrease IL-1β and increase BDNF. The decrease of edema and apoptosis are mediated by increment of BDNF/IL-1β ratio.
Effect of adrenergic agonists on coronary blood flow: a laboratory study in healthy volunteers

Myocardial oxygen supply and demand mismatch is fundamental to the pathophysiology of ischemia and infarction. The sympathetic nervous system, through α‐adrenergic receptors and β‐adrenergic receptors, influences both myocardial oxygen supply and demand. In animal models, mechanistic studies have established that adrenergic receptors contribute to coronary vascular tone. The purpose of this laboratory study was to noninvasively quantify coronary responses to adrenergic receptor stimulation in humans. Fourteen healthy volunteers (11 men and 3 women) performed isometric handgrip exercise to fatigue followed by intravenous infusion of isoproterenol. A subset of individuals also received infusions of phenylephrine (n = 6), terbutaline (n = 10), and epinephrine (n = 4); all dosages were based on fat‐free mass and were infused slowly to achieve steady‐state. The left anterior descending coronary artery was visualized using Doppler echocardiography. Beat‐by‐beat heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), peak diastolic coronary velocity (CBVpeak), and coronary velocity time integral were calculated. Data are presented as M ± SD. Isometric handgrip elicited significant increases in BP, HR, and CBVpeak (from 23.3 ± 5.3 to 34.5 ± 9.9 cm/sec). Isoproterenol raised HR and CBVpeak (from 22.6 ± 4.8 to 43.9 ± 12.4 cm/sec). Terbutaline and epinephrine evoked coronary hyperemia whereas phenylephrine did not significantly alter CBVpeak. Different indices of coronary hyperemia (changes in CBVpeak and velocity time integral) were significantly correlated (R = 0.803). The current data indicate that coronary hyperemia occurs in healthy humans in response to isometric handgrip exercise and low‐dose, steady‐state infusions of isoproterenol, terbutaline, and epinephrine. The contribution of β1 versus β2 receptors to coronary hyperemia remains to be determined. In this echocardiographic study, we demonstrate that coronary blood flow increases when β‐adrenergic receptors are stimulated (i.e., during exercise and different intravenous infusions). Our infusion paradigms and beat‐by‐beat imaging methodologies can be used in future studies to evaluate age‐, sex‐, and disease‐ differences in adrenergic control of coronary blood flow.
Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists exert motor and neuroprotective effects by distinct cellular mechanisms

To investigate whether the motor and neuroprotective effects of adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) antagonists are mediated by distinct cell types in the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of Parkinson's disease.
Effect of bisphosphonates on periprosthetic bone mineral density after total joint arthroplasty. A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Periprosthetic bone loss following total joint arthroplasty may threaten the survival of the implant. Bisphosphonates are effective in reducing bone loss in conditions associated with accelerated bone turnover. To determine the current understanding of the effect of bisphosphonates on periprosthetic bone mineral density after total joint arthroplasty, we conducted computerized searches for randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of bisphosphonates in patients treated with primary total joint arthroplasty. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the web site of the United Kingdom National Research Register, and the archives of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meetings (1989 through 2003), and we conducted hand searches of the bibliographies of relevant articles. We assessed methodological quality and abstracted relevant data. When necessary, we contacted authors to provide additional information. RESULTS Of 386 citations that were initially identified, six (five complete papers and one abstract), which included a total of 290 patients, met our inclusion criteria. Those papers showed that significantly less periprosthetic bone loss had occurred in the bisphosphonate-treated patients than in the control patients at three months (152 patients; weighted mean difference, 3.3%; 95% confidence interval, 1.9% to 4.7%; p < 0.01), six months (248 patients; weighted mean difference, 4.5%; 95% confidence interval, 1.6% to 7.4%; p < 0.001), and twelve months (197 patients; weighted mean difference, 4.2%; 95% confidence interval, 1.5% to 6.9%; p = 0.03). Bisphosphonates appeared to have a larger effect on bone loss following arthroplasties with cement than on bone loss following arthroplasties without cement (difference, 0.1%, 5%, and 5.4% at three, six, and twelve months; significant difference [p < 0.001] at one year only) and a larger effect on bone loss following total knee arthroplasties than on bone loss following total hip arthroplasties (difference, 4.1%, 11.5%, and 7.1% at three, six, and twelve months; significant difference [p < 0.001] at six months only). None of the studies related the effects of bisphosphonates on bone mineral density to clinically relevant outcomes. CONCLUSIONS A meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials suggested that bisphosphonates have a beneficial effect with regard to maintaining more periprosthetic bone mineral density than that in controls. However, the limitations of the available studies and the lack of analyses of clinically relevant outcomes (functional outcomes, revision rates, and quality of life) necessitate the planning and conduct of a sufficiently sized, methodologically sound study with clinically relevant end points. Until this has been done, the current evidence regarding the beneficial effects of bisphosphonates on periprosthetic bone after total joint arthroplasty should be interpreted with caution.
Avian Persistence in Fragmented Rainforest

What factors determine the persistence of species in fragmented habitats? To address this question, we studied the relative impacts of forest deterioration and fragmentation on bird species in 12 rainforest fragments in Kenya, combining 6 years of individual capture-recapture data with measurements of current captures and museum specimens. Species mobility, as estimated from species-specific dispersal rates, and tolerance to habitat deterioration, as estimated from change in fluctuating asymmetry with increasing habitat disturbance, explained 88% of the variation in patch occupancy among eight forest bird species. Occupancy increased with mobility and with tolerance to deterioration, where both variables contributed equally to this relationship. We conclude that individual-level study, such as of dispersal behavior and phenotypic development, can predict patterns of persistence at the species level. More generally, for conservation tactics to stand a high chance of success, they should include action both within sites, to minimize habitat deterioration, and across landscapes, to maximize dispersal.
OnabotulinumtoxinA improves quality of life and reduces impact of chronic migraine

Objective: To assess the effects of treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and headache impact in adults with chronic migraine (CM). Methods: The Phase III Research Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy (PREEMPT) clinical program (PREEMPT 1 and 2) included a 24-week, double-blind phase (2 12-week cycles) followed by a 32-week, open-label phase (3 cycles). Thirty-one injections of 5U each (155 U of onabotulinumtoxinA or placebo) were administered to fixed sites. An additional 40 U could be administered “following the pain. ” Prespecified analysis of headache impact (Headache Impact Test [HIT]–6) and HRQoL (Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire v2.1 [MSQ]) assessments were performed. Because the studies were similar in design and did not notably differ in outcome, pooled results are presented here. Results: A total of 1,384 subjects were included in the pooled analyses (onabotulinumtoxinA, n = 688; placebo, n = 696). Baseline mean total HIT-6 and MSQ v2.1 scores were comparable between groups; 93.1% were severely impacted based on HIT-6 scores ≥60. At 24 weeks, in comparison with placebo, onabotulinumtoxinA treatment significantly reduced HIT-6 scores and the proportion of patients with HIT-6 scores in the severe range at all timepoints including week 24 (p < 0.001). OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment significantly improved all domains of the MSQ v2.1 at 24 weeks (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Treatment of CM with onabotulinumtoxinA is associated with significant and clinically meaningful reductions in headache impact and improvements in HRQoL. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class 1A evidence that onabotulinumtoxinA treatment reduces headache impact and improves HRQoL.
Advances in Brief Modulation of Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1 a Expression by the Epidermal Growth Factor / Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / PTEN / AKT / FRAP Pathway in Human Prostate Cancer Cells : Implications for Tumor Angiogenesis and Therapeutics 1

Dysregulated signal transduction from receptor tyrosine kinases to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT (protein kinase B), and its effector FKBP-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP) occurs via autocrine stimulation or inactivation of the tumor suppressor PTEN in many cancers. Here we demonstrate that in human prostate cancer cells, basal-, growth factor-, and mitogen-induced expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) a, the regulated subunit of the transcription factor HIF-1, is blocked by LY294002 and rapamycin, inhibitors of PI3K and FRAP, respectively. HIF-1-dependent gene transcription is blocked by dominantnegative AKT or PI3K and by wild-type PTEN, whereas transcription is stimulated by constitutively active AKT or dominant-negative PTEN. LY294002 and rapamycin also inhibit growth factorand mitogeninduced secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor, the product of a known HIF-1 target gene, thus linking the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/FRAP pathway, HIF-1, and tumor angiogenesis. These data indicate that pharmacological agents that target PI3K, AKT, or FRAP in tumor cells inhibit HIF-1a expression and that such inhibition may contribute to therapeutic efficacy.
Microscale Inhomogeneity of Brain Tissue Distorts Electrical Signal Propagation

Interpretations of local field potentials (LFPs) are typically shaped on an assumption that the brain is a homogenous conductive milieu. However, microscale inhomogeneities including cell bodies, dendritic structures, axonal fiber bundles and blood vessels are unequivocally present and have different conductivities and permittivities than brain extracellular fluid. To determine the extent to which these obstructions affect electrical signal propagation on a microscale, we delivered electrical stimuli intracellularly to individual cells while simultaneously recording the extracellular potentials at different locations in a rat brain slice. As compared with relatively unobstructed paths, signals were attenuated across frequencies when fiber bundles were in between the stimulated cell and the extracellular electrode. Across group of cell bodies, signals were attenuated at low frequencies, but facilitated at high frequencies. These results show that LFPs do not reflect a democratic representation of neuronal contributions, as certain neurons may contribute to the LFP more than others based on the local extracellular environment surrounding them.
Nonlinear viscoelastic response of asphalt binders in transient tests

This paper presents the results of a set of transient experiments conducted on asphalt binders that serve to highlight the nonlinearity of the viscoelastic response of asphalt binders. Two grades of binders were used in this study. A transient test that combines both creep and stress relaxation tests was conducted using a dynamic shear rheometer at several loading conditions and at different temperatures. The acquired experimental data was satisfactorily fit using a nonlinear six-parameter viscoelastic model.
Design of a real-time performance feedback system for sprinter starts

In this paper, we report on the design of a portable set of starting blocks for personal training to provide immediate feedback on the quality of sprinters' starting performance. The prototype set features two portable starting blocks with embedded sensors and a microcontroller for data collection and analysis. Testing was conducted with sprinters to validate and gauge the overall functionality of the prototype. Our preliminary results show that the force-time data produced using the prototype system do correlate with qualitative coaches' scores of sprinter's performance, and that the prototype system does show considerable promise for performance feedback.
Impact of laser hole drilling on the breakage rate of multicrystalline silicon wafers

We have studied the effect of laser hole drilling on the breakage rate of multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers, with the objective of investigating the production cost of metal wrap-through (MWT) solar cells. Wafers were grouped according to the number of holes (0, 100, and 300), and the breakage force was measured by a plate-twist apparatus. Failure analysis shows that, while the wafers with holes are weaker after the laser drilling, the fracture strength is restored after a standard HF-HNO3 wet etch.
Human eosinophils. Purification and cytotoxic capability of eosinophils from patients with the hypereosinophilic syndrome.

The cytotoxic capability of eosinophils from patients with the hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) against a variety of target cells was studied utilizing a 5tCr release assay. A separation technique was developed that reproducibly gave eosinophil suspensions of >90% (in many instances >99%) purity from peripheral differential counts of > 10% eosinophils. The method employed density gradient centrifugation to remove mononuclear cells and a nylon wool column incubation to remove neutrophils. Yield was 30%60% of the eosinophils in the initial blood sample and viability was >98%. In ten patients with HES, 16% ± 4% of eosinophils had surface receptors for the Fc portion of lgG (significantly higher than eosinophils from non-HES patients, p < 0.01) and 13% ± 5% of the eosinophils had complement receptors. Eosinophils did not spontaneously lyse erythrocyte targets. However, in the presence of antitarget cell antibody, there was 33% ± 5% and 43% ± 5% cytotoxicity against human and chicken erythrocyte targets, respectively. Low levels of spontaneous cytotoxicity (6% ± 1% and 7% ± 1%) were noted against nucleated Chang liver cell and human heart cell targets, respectively; this killing could be significantly increased to 12% ± 1% and 15% ± 2%, respectively, by adding anti-target cell antibody. Eosinophil cytotoxicity was mediated by lgG but not 1gM anti-target cell antibody, and lysis of lgG(but not 1gM) coated targets was markedly increased by addition of complement on the target cell membrane. Thus this study has found a highly efficient methodology for obtaining purified suspensions of human eosinophils and has delineated certain characteristics and functional capabilities of these cells.
Effect of temperature on the shear strength of aluminium single lap bonded joints for high temperature applications

An experimental and numerical investigation into the shear strength behaviour of adhesive single lap joints (SLJs) was carried out in order to understand the effect of temperature on the joint strength. The adherend material used for the experimental tests was an aluminium alloy in the form of thin sheets, and the adhesive used was a high-strength high temperature epoxy. Tensile tests as a function of temperature were performed and numerical predictions based on the use of a bilinear cohesive damage model were obtained. It is shown that at temperatures below Tg, the lap shear strength of SLJs increased, while at temperatures above Tg, a drastic drop in the lap shear strength was observed. Comparison between the experimental and numerical maximum loads representing the strength of the joints shows a reasonably good agreement.
Changes in the character of stream water dissolved organic carbon during flushing in three small watersheds, Oregon

watershed. The specific UV absorbance (SUVA, 254 nm) of DOC in the three watersheds increased by 9 to 36% during the storm, suggesting that DOC mobilized from catchment soils during storms is more aromatic than DOC entering the stream during baseflow. The increase in SUVA was most pronounced in the previously harvested catchments. Chromatographic fractionation of DOC showed that the percentage of DOC composed of non-humic material decreasing by 9 to 22% during the storm. Shifts in the fluorescence properties of DOC suggest that there was not a pronounced change in the relative proportion of stream water DOC derived from allochthonous versus autochthonous precursor material. Taken together, these results suggest that spectroscopic and chemical characterization of DOC can be used as tools to investigate changing sources of DOC and water within forested watersheds.
Signatures of ERS–Envisat Interferometric SAR Coherence and Phase of Short Vegetation: An Analysis in the Case of Maize Fields

Interferometric observations between the European Remote Sensing, ERS-2, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and the Envisat Advanced SAR (ASAR) are unique since they are characterized by a short repeat-pass interval (28 min) and a perpendicular baseline of approximately 2 km. In vegetated areas, this configuration should preserve from strong temporal decorrelation and enhance the sensitivity of coherence and SAR interferometric (InSAR) phase to volumes with small heights. This assumption could be tested with the data acquired during the dedicated ERS-Envisat Tandem mission on October 15, 2007, over the Seeland region, Switzerland. Five maize fields and one sunflower field presented lower coherence and offsets of the interferometric phase, i.e. height, with respect to neighboring bare fields. To gain understanding on the interferometric signatures, the interferometric water cloud model was used to simulate coherence and InSAR height for the maize fields. Both the coherence and the InSAR height present clear dependence upon vegetation height and exhibit strong consistency. Simulations showed that the modeled coherence and InSAR height are most sensitive to the two-way attenuation and the temporal coherence of the vegetation. The best correspondence between the observed and modeled InSAR parameters was obtained with two-way attenuation values between 2 and 4 dB/m (corresponding to an extinction between 1 and 2 dB/m) and high temporal coherence of the vegetation (above 0.6), with this being due to the very stable conditions of the weather during the 28-min interval between image acquisitions.