Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radiation-induced mitotic catastrophe in PARG-deficient cells

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a post-translational modification of proteins involved in the regulation of chromatin structure, DNA metabolism, cell division and cell death. Through the hydrolysis of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) has a crucial role in the control of life-and-death balance following DNA insult. Comprehension of PARG function has been hindered by the existence of many PARG isoforms encoded by a single gene and displaying various subcellular localizations. To gain insight into the function of PARG in response to irradiation, we constitutively and stably knocked down expression of PARG isoforms in HeLa cells. PARG depletion leading to PAR accumulation was not deleterious to undamaged cells and was in fact rather beneficial, because it protected cells from spontaneous single-strand breaks and telomeric abnormalities. By contrast, PARG-deficient cells showed increased radiosensitivity, caused by defects in the repair of single- and double-strand breaks and in mitotic spindle checkpoint, leading to alteration of progression of mitosis. Irradiated PARG-deficient cells displayed centrosome amplification leading to mitotic supernumerary spindle poles, and accumulated aberrant mitotic figures, which induced either polyploidy or cell death by mitotic catastrophe. Our results suggest that PARG could be a novel potential therapeutic target for radiotherapy.
A Meta Analysis of Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery Using Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and Autologous Iliac Crest Bone Graft

Background Bone morphogenetic protein (BMPs) as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) has been increasingly widely used in lumbar fusion. The purpose of this study is to systematically compare the effectiveness and safety of fusion with BMPs for the treatment of lumbar disease. Methods Cochrane review methods were used to analyze all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to nov 2013. Results 19 RCTs (1,852 patients) met the inclusion criteria. BMPs group significantly increased fusion rate (RR: 1.13; 95% CI 1.05–1.23, P = 0.001), while there was no statistical difference in overall success of clinical outcomes (RR: 1.04; 95% CI 0.95–1.13, P = 0.38) and complications (RR: 0.96; 95% CI 0.85–1.09, p = 0.54). A significant reduction of the reoperation rate was found in BMPs group (RR: 0.57; 95% CI 0.42–0.77, p = 0.0002). Significant difference was found in the operating time (MD−0.32; 95% CI−0.55, −0.08; P = 0.009), but no significant difference was found in the blood loss, the hospital stay, patient satisfaction, and work status. Conclusion Compared with ICBG, BMPs in lumbar fusion can increase the fusion rate, while reduce the reoperation rate and operating time. However, it doesn’t increase the complication rate, the amount of blood loss and hospital stay. No significant difference was found in the overall success of clinical outcome of the two groups.
Impact of a Personal Response System on Hospital Use by Low-Income African American and White Elders

In 1994, the American Red Cross initiated a subsidized personal response system program for low-income elders in the Detroit area to help these elders maintain their independence at home. Data were collected on 379 low-income, at-risk elderly clients from Detroit and surrounding Wayne County, Michigan. More than 80 percent of the sample were African American (n = 313), and the remainder were white (n = 66) elders. Statistically significant changes in number of emergency room visits only occurred among white subscribers, increasing on average by 1.4 annual visits. One year after the installation of the personal response system, white users were twice as likely as the African Americans to make an emergency room visit or to stay overnight in the hospital. Subsidized personal response system may be an appropriate third-party government-supported secondary intervention for home-based low-income and at-risk elders to prevent premature emergency room use, hospitalizations, and institutional placements.
Sepsis in the Neurologic Intensive Care Unit: Epidemiology and Outcome

Background Sepsis is a major contributor to mortality in patients admitted to a general intensive care unit (ICU). Early recognition and treatment of sepsis is key in improving outcomes. The epidemiology and outcome of sepsis in neurologic ICU (NeuroICU) has not been evaluated. Methods We retrospectively identified all patients admitted to our 16-bed NeuroICU between June 2009 and December 2013 using the acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) outcomes database. We excluded patients admitted with an infection, such as meningitis, encephalitis, brain or spinal abscess, or with any other infection. We compared NeuroICU patients who did to NeuroICU patients who did not develop sepsis after ICU admission. The diagnosis of sepsis was based on the SCCM/ACCP consensus conference definition. Results There were a total of 2,025 patients, out of which 29 patients (1.4%) developed sepsis. Patients who developed sepsis had a trend towards older age (67 ± 13 vs. 61 ± 11 years, P = 0.07), a trend towards more male gender (69.0% vs. 51.5%, P = 0.07), significantly higher APACHE III scores (58 ± 17 vs. 43 ± 21, P = 0.0001), and significantly higher acute physiologic scores (APS) (43 ± 16 vs. 32 ± 18, P = 0.001) than patients who did not develop sepsis. Patients who developed sepsis had higher ICU mortality (41.4% vs. 5.1%, odds ratio (OR) = 13.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 6.1 - 28.2, P < 0.0001), and higher hospital mortality (44.8% vs. 8.2%, OR = 9.0; 95% CI, 4.3 - 19.0, P < 0.0001). Conclusions Sepsis developed in 1.4% of patients admitted to a NeuroICU. Predictors of sepsis development were comorbidities and worsening acute physiologic variables. Patients who developed sepsis had significantly higher mortality. Vigilance to development of sepsis in NeuroICU is paramount, especially in this era when early recognition and intervention of sepsis significantly improves outcomes.
Number of axons in the right and left optic nerves of right-pawed and left-pawed rats: a stereologic study.

OBJECTIVE To compare the number of axons in the right and left optic nerves of right- and left-pawed rats. STUDY DESIGN In this study, optic nerve samples were obtained from right- and left-pawed rats and axon numbers of optic nerves and vice versa were stereologically and histologically evaluated. RESULTS In the right-pawed rats, more axons were found in the right optic nerve than in the left optic nerve, and left-pawed rats had more axons in the left optic nerve than in the right optic nerve. CONCLUSION The paw preference is associated with eye dominance and the number of axons in the ipsilateral optic nerve.
Metabolism of anandamide by COX‐2 is necessary for endocannabinoid‐induced cell death in tumorigenic keratinocytes

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the United States with ∼1.25 million new cases diagnosed each year. Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression is commonly elevated in these and other epithelial tumors. Cyclooxygenases metabolize arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, which promote growth and survival of tumor cells. COX‐2 also metabolizes endocannabinoids forming prostaglandin‐ethanolamides (PG‐EA); however, the role of these lipid molecules in tumor cell survival is unclear. The goal of this research is to determine if the metabolic products of COX‐2 contribute to endocannabinoid‐induced cell death. Anandamide [also known as arachidonyl ethanolamide (AEA)] induced cell death in the COX‐2 overexpressing squamous carcinoma cell line JWF2. In contrast, AEA did not initiate cell death in HaCaT keratinocytes, which express low basal levels of COX‐2. Resistance to AEA‐mediated cell death in HaCaT cells was reversed by overexpressing COX‐2 in these cells. Next, ELISA assays were carried out to identify prostaglandins involved in AEA‐mediated cell death. D‐type prostaglandins were predominantly formed in AEA‐exposed JWF2 cells although significant increases in E‐ and F‐type prostaglandins were also seen. Cells were then treated with various prostaglandins or PG‐EA to determine the contribution of each to AEA‐induced cell death. PGD2 and PGD2‐EA were found to be cytotoxic to JWF2 keratinocytes and the PGD2 dehydration products, PGJ2 and 15‐deoxy Δ12,14 PGJ2, were also potent inducers of cell death. These results suggest that AEA selectively induces cell death in tumorigenic keratinocytes due to COX‐2 overexpression and the resulting metabolism of AEA to cytotoxic prostaglandins. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
THE EFFECT OF PERSONAL INNOVATIVENESS IN THE DOMAIN OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF TECHNOLOGY : A WORKING PAPER

PIIT is defined as the willingness of an individual to try out any new information technology. Surprisingly, this stable-trait has not been used in many studies of technology acceptance. In this study, PIIT will be used as a main-effect variable to help explain behavioral intentions. The effect of PIIT on technology acceptance and use will be tested using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model as the framework. It is hypothesized that the inclusion of PIIT in the research model will better explain the process of individual level adoption and use.
Identification and characterization of a yeast homolog of U1 snRNP‐specific protein C

U1C is one of the three human U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP)‐specific proteins and is important for efficient complex formation between U1 snRNP and the pre‐mRNA 5′ splice site. We identified a hypothetical open reading frame in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the yeast homolog of the human U1C protein. The gene is essential, and its product, YU1C, is associated with U1 snRNP. YU1C depletion gives rise to normal levels of U1 snRNP and does not have any detectable effect on U1 snRNP assembly. YU1C depletion and YU1C ts mutants affect pre‐mRNA splicing in vivo, and extracts from these strains form low levels of commitment complexes and spliceosomes in vitro. These experiments indicate a role for YU1C in snRNP function. Structure probing with RNases shows that only the U1 snRNA 5′ arm is hypersensitive to RNase I digestion when YU1C is depleted. Similar results were obtained with YU1C ts mutants, indicating that U1C contributes to a proper 5′ arm structure prior to its base pairing interaction with the pre‐mRNA 5′ splice site.
Effects of Two and Five Days of Creatine Loading on Muscular Strength and Anaerobic Power in Trained Athletes

Law, YLL, Ong, WS, GillianYap, TL, Lim, SCJ, and Chia, EV. Effects of two and five days of creatine loading on muscular strength and anaerobic power in trained athletes. J Strength Cond Res 23(3): 906-914, 2009-The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of 2 and 5 days of creatine loading, coupled with resistance training, on muscular strength and anaerobic performance in trained athletes. Seventeen trained men were randomly assigned to a creatine or a placebo group. The creatine supplementation group consumed 20 g of creatine per day (4 doses of 5 g per day), whereas the placebo group was given a placebo similar in appearance and taste over the 5-day supplementation duration. Anaerobic power and strength performance measures, in addition to blood and urine analysis, were conducted in the morning before the supplementation began and on the third and sixth day to establish the effect of 2 and 5 days of creatine loading, respectively. The study found that a 5-day creatine loading regime coupled with resistance training resulted in significant improvements in both average anaerobic power, as measured by the 30-second Wingate test and back squat strength compared with just training alone. However, 2 days of supplementation was not sufficient to produce similar performance gains as that observed at the end of 5 days of loading in trained men, despite increases in creatine uptake in the body. The standard 5-day loading regime should hence be prescribed to individuals supplementing with creatine for enhanced strength and power.
Functionally Accepted Insertions of Proteins within Protein Domains*

Experiments were designed to explore the tolerance of protein structure and folding to very large insertions of folded protein within a structural domain. Dihydrofolate reductase and β-lactamase have been inserted in four different positions of phosphoglycerate kinase. The resultant chimeric proteins are all overexpressed, and the host as well as the inserted partners are functional. Although not explicitly designed, functional coupling between the two fused partners was observed in some of the chimeras. These results show that the tolerance of protein structures to very large structured insertions is more general than previously expected and supports the idea that the natural sequence continuity of a structural domain is not required for the folding process. These results directly suggest a new experimental approach to screen, for example, for folded protein in randomized polypeptide sequences.
Haemophilus parasuis Encodes Two Functional Cytolethal Distending Toxins: CdtC Contains an Atypical Cholesterol Recognition/Interaction Region

Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Glässer's disease of pigs, a disease associated with fibrinous polyserositis, polyarthritis and meningitis. We report here H. parasuis encodes two copies of cytolethal distending toxins (Cdts), which these two Cdts showed the uniform toxin activity in vitro. We demonstrate that three Cdt peptides can form an active tripartite holotoxin that exhibits maximum cellular toxicity, and CdtA and CdtB form a more active toxin than CdtB and CdtC. Moreover, the cellular toxicity is associated with the binding of Cdt subunits to cells. Further analysis indicates that CdtC subunit contains an atypical cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC) region. The mutation of CRAC site resulted in decreased cell toxicity. Finally, western blot analysis show all the 15 H. parasuis reference strains and 109 clinical isolates expressed CdtB subunit, indicating that Cdt is a conservative putative virulence factor for H. parasuis. This is the first report of the molecular and cellular basis of Cdt host interactions in H. parasuis.
Water Sloshing in Rectangular Tanks – An Experimental Investigation & Numerical Simulation

This paper presents the steps involved in designing a test rig to study water sloshing phenomenon in a 560 x 160 x 185 mm PVC rectangular container subjected to sudden (impulsive) impact. The design encompasses the construction of the testing facility and the development of a proper data acquisition system capable of capturing the behavior of preand post impact water motion inside the tank. Fluid motion was recorded using a video camera for flow visualization purpose. Two water levels of 50 and 75% full as well as two driving weights of 2.5 and 4.5 kg were used. The experimental study was supplemented by a computational fluid dynamics study to mimic the fluid motion inside the tank. Examination of CFD capability to predict the behavior of the free surface of the fluid during the container initial motion and after impact is the focus of this paper. The flow fields, obtained using the numerical code, are in reasonable agreement with those from experiments. Both experimental and numerical results indicated the presence of a single traveling wave before impact, contrary to what was observed in previous studies.
Intelligent management of virtualized resources for database systems in cloud environment

In a cloud computing environment, resources are shared among different clients. Intelligently managing and allocating resources among various clients is important for system providers, whose business model relies on managing the infrastructure resources in a cost-effective manner while satisfying the client service level agreements (SLAs). In this paper, we address the issue of how to intelligently manage the resources in a shared cloud database system and present SmartSLA, a cost-aware resource management system. SmartSLA consists of two main components: the system modeling module and the resource allocation decision module. The system modeling module uses machine learning techniques to learn a model that describes the potential profit margins for each client under different resource allocations. Based on the learned model, the resource allocation decision module dynamically adjusts the resource allocations in order to achieve the optimum profits. We evaluate SmartSLA by using the TPC-W benchmark with workload characteristics derived from real-life systems. The performance results indicate that SmartSLA can successfully compute predictive models under different hardware resource allocations, such as CPU and memory, as well as database specific resources, such as the number of replicas in the database systems. The experimental results also show that SmartSLA can provide intelligent service differentiation according to factors such as variable workloads, SLA levels, resource costs, and deliver improved profit margins.
Calculation of solar radiative fluxes in the atmosp here: the effect of updates in spectroscopic data

Line-by-line calculations in the spectral region 2 000–20 000 cm (0.5–5 μm) were made to assess the impact of a variety of water vapor spectral databases on the accuracy of solar flux calculation in the atmosphere. The CKD1 and CKD2.4 continuum models were also compared. The maximum disagreement in the calculated solar surface flux due to all the investigated factors can reach 5.9 W/m for midlatitude summer atmosphere and the solar zenith angle 30°. This is ∼ 0.8% of the total downward solar flux at the surface and ∼ 3.3% of the total atmospheric absorption. The dominant cause of this difference is the extra absorption caused by weak lines, which are not included on the HITRAN databases.
Effect of AROMAX® on performance, local and humoral immunity against vaccination of Newcastal disease in the low management level in broiler chicken

The present study was conducted to evaluate the adding of the commercial product (AROMAX) (Eucalyptus oil, Mint oil, L-Menthol, Thyme oil) essential oils as a protective product against respiratory diseases and respiratory problems due to low management level in the broiler during the period from December – Novemer 2016. Also, to determine its effect on some parameters such as: local and humoral immunity, body performance and levels of liver enzymes. A total of 210 one-dayold broilers Ross 308 mixed sex were divided into seven equal groups (30 chicks each group). The results of the final body weight showed that the differences were not significant among groups. The weight gain showed that G2 (576.60 gm) was significantly higher (P<0.05) as compared with other groups. Also the results of lesion score of air sac recorded the G7 was significantly differed (P<0.05) as compared with other groups. The results of local immunity (IgA) indicated that the groups G2, G3, G4 showed significant differences at (P<0.05) compared with other groups in all periods. The result of liver enzymes (ALT and AST) showed that the means in the G3, G4 ( ALT4.20, 4.22) (AST214.4 212.6) were significantly different (P<0.05) compared with other groups. In conclusion: The AROMAX® product reduced the respiratory signs resulted from the low management, and improved the local and humoral immune response in broiler.
Polarized neutron reflectivity from monolayers of self-assembled magnetic nanoparticles

We prepared monolayers of iron oxide nanoparticles via self-assembly on a bare silicon wafer and on a vanadium film sputter deposited onto a plane sapphire substrate. The magnetic configuration of nanoparticles in such a dense assembly was investigated by polarized neutron reflectivity. A theoretical model fit shows that the magnetic moments of nanoparticles form quasi domain-like configurations at remanence. This is attributed to the dipolar coupling amongst the nanoparticles.
Microhabitat use, population densities, and size distributions of sulfur cave-dwelling Poecilia mexicana

The Cueva del Azufre in Tabasco, Mexico, is a nutrient-rich cave and its inhabitants need to cope with high levels of dissolved hydrogen sulfide and extreme hypoxia. One of the successful colonizers of this cave is the poeciliid fish Poecilia mexicana, which has received considerable attention as a model organism to examine evolutionary adaptations to extreme environmental conditions. Nonetheless, basic ecological data on the endemic cave molly population are still missing; here we aim to provide data on population densities, size class compositions and use of different microhabitats. We found high overall densities in the cave and highest densities at the middle part of the cave with more than 200 individuals per square meter. These sites have lower H2S concentrations compared to the inner parts where most large sulfide sources are located, but they are annually exposed to a religious harvesting ceremony of local Zoque people called La Pesca. We found a marked shift in size/age compositions towards an overabundance of smaller, juvenile fish at those sites. We discuss these findings in relation to several environmental gradients within the cave (i.e., differences in toxicity and lighting conditions), but we also tentatively argue that the annual fish harvest during a religious ceremony (La Pesca) locally diminishes competition (and possibly, cannibalism by large adults), which is followed by a phase of overcompensation of fish densities.
Isolation and Characterization of Atrazine Mineralizing Bacillus subtilis Strain HB-6

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide with great environmental concern due to its high potential to contaminate soil and waters. An atrazine-degrading bacterial strain HB-6 was isolated from industrial wastewater and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified HB-6 as a Bacillus subtilis. PCR assays indicated that HB-6 contained atrazine-degrading genes trzN, atzB and atzC. The strain HB-6 was capable of utilizing atrazine and cyanuric acid as a sole nitrogen source for growth and even cleaved the s-triazine ring and mineralized atrazine. The strain demonstrated a very high efficiency of atrazine biodegradation with a broad optimum pH and temperature ranges and could be enhanced by cooperating with other bacteria, suggesting its huge potential for remediation of atrazine-contaminated sites. To our knowledge, there are few Bacillus subtilis strains reported that can mineralize atrazine, therefore, the present work might provide some new insights on atrazine remediation.
Genetic Diversity and Population History of the Endangered Killifish Aphanius baeticus

The secondary freshwater fish fauna of the western-Iberian Peninsula basin is primarily restricted to local coastal streams, and man-made salt evaporation ponds, etc., which are susceptible to periodical flood and drought events. Despite its uniqueness in ecological adaptation to high saltwater tolerance, very little is known about this fauna’s population dynamics and evolutionary history. The killifish, Aphanius baeticus (Cyprinodontidae) is an endemic species restricted to river basins on Spain’s southern Atlantic coastline, considered as “Endangered. ” In this study, the genetic structure, diversity and historical demography of A. baeticus were analyzed using mitochondrial (cytochrome b, N = 131) and nuclear (4 out of 19 microsatellites tested, N = 288) markers across its distribution range. The phylogenetic and networking reconstruction revealed subtle phylogeographic structuring. A scattered expansion at the beginning of the interglacial periods, coupled with posterior events of extinction and colonization caused by periodical cycles of flooding, could explain the absence of well-defined phylogenetic relationships among populations. Moreover, very low genetic diversity values and a weak population differentiation were detected. We proposed that dispersals allowed by periodic floods connecting river drainages may have promoted a wide genetic exchange among populations and could have contributed to the current genetic relatedness of these populations.