Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heterocyst Development and Diazotrophic Metabolism in Terminal Respiratory Oxidase Mutants of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120

ABSTRACT Heterocyst development was analyzed in mutants of the heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 bearing inactivated cox2 and/or cox3 genes, encoding heterocyst-specific terminal respiratory oxidases. At the morphological level, the cox2 cox3 double mutant (strain CSAV141) was impaired in membrane reorganization involving the so-called honeycomb system that in the wild-type strain is largely or exclusively devoted to respiration, accumulated glycogen granules at conspicuously higher levels than the wild type (in both vegetative cells and heterocysts), and showed a delay in carboxysome degradation upon combined nitrogen deprivation. Consistently, chemical analysis confirmed higher accumulation of glycogen in strain CSAV141 than in the wild type. No impairment was observed in the formation of the glycolipid or polysaccharide layers of the heterocyst envelope, consistent with the chemical detection of heterocyst-specific glycolipids, or in the expression of the heterocyst-specific genes nifHDK and fdxH. However, nitrogenase activity under oxic conditions was impaired in strain CSAV135 (cox3) and undetectable in strain CSAV141 (cox2 cox3). These results show that these dedicated oxidases are required for normal development and performance of the heterocysts and indicate a central role of Cox2 and, especially, of Cox3 in the respiratory activity of the heterocysts, decisively contributing to protection of the N2 fixation machinery against oxygen. However, in contrast to the case for other diazotrophic bacteria, expression of nif genes in Anabaena seems not to be affected by oxygen.
Meta-analysis and pooled analysis of GSTM1 and CYP1A1 polymorphisms and oral and pharyngeal cancers: a HuGE-GSEC review

The association of GSTM1 and CYP1A1 polymorphisms and oral and pharyngeal cancers was assessed through a meta-analysis of published case-control studies and a pooled analysis of both published and unpublished case-control studies from the Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens database (http://www.upci.upmc.edu/research/ccps/ccontrol/index.html). Thirty publications used in the meta-analysis included a total of 7783 subjects (3177 cases and 4606 controls); 21 datasets, 9397 subjects (3130 cases and 6267 controls) were included in the pooled analysis. The GSTM1 deletion was 2-fold more likely to occur in African American and African cases than controls (odds ratio: 1.7, 95% confidence interval: 0.9–3.3), although this was not observed among whites (odds ratio: 1.0, 95% confidence interval: 0.9–1.1). The meta-analysis and pooled analysis showed a significant association between oral and pharyngeal cancer and the CYP1A1 MspI homozygous variant (meta-ORm2/m2: 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–2.7; Pooled ORm2m2: 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–3.1; ORm1m2 or [infi]m2m2: 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–1.6). The association was present for the CYP1A1 (exon 7) polymorphism (ORVal/Val: 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–4.5) in ever smokers. A joint effect was observed for GSTM1 homozygous deletion and the CYP1A1 m1m2 variant on cancer risk. Our findings suggest that tobacco use and genetic factors play a significant role in oral and pharyngeal cancer.
Dissociable patterns of abnormal frontal cortical activation during anticipation of an uncertain reward or loss in bipolar versus major depression

Recent research has found abnormalities in reward‐related neural activation in bipolar disorder (BD), during both manic and euthymic phases. However, reward‐related neural activation in currently depressed individuals with BD and that in currently depressed individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) have yet to be directly compared. Here, we studied these groups, examining the neural activation elicited during a guessing task in fronto‐striatal regions identified by previous studies.
Trust with Social Network Learning in E-Commerce

Trust among Internet users and thus social networks plays an important role in e-commerce and other Internet applications. However, the precise mathematical model of trust and thus applications based on trust in e-commerce system has not been satisfactorily established yet. In this paper, we present a probability theoretic framework to quantitatively measure trust as mathematical reasoning and to model the behaviors of consumers and sellers in the e-commerce system based on trust measure. We first summarize properties of trust in Internet users and their social networking. Then we construct the topology of e-commerce system and apply the statistical inference to derive more reliable trust measure. A reliable algorithm, which is robust to malicious behaviors of the sellers, is therefore developed. Via social network learning, distributed decision is proposed to maintain the accuracy of trust estimation and to better against potential malicious behaviors. Simulations demonstrate that our proposed scheme shows good accuracy in estimation of confidence level and retains robust performance facing a number of malicious users in the e-commerce system.
How does the milk removal method affect teat tissue and teat recovery in dairy ewes?

The aim of this work was to study how machine milking (MM) carried out in suitable conditions affects teat wall thickness and teat canal length and their return after milking to pre-milking conditions, in comparison with other milk extraction methods considered biological referents: lamb suckling (LS), milk removal by catheter (RC) and hand milking (HM). Three Latin square experiments were designed, using 11 ewes in the first experiment (LS), 13 in the second (RC) and 12 in the third (HM). Each of the Latin squares was divided into two periods: in the first, the left gland of each animal was machine milked and the corresponding treatment (LS, RC and HM) was applied to the right gland. Subsequently, in the second period the extraction methods were interchanged. During the experimental period, 4 sampling days were carried out (2 in each experimental period), where ultrasound scans were taken before (B) and immediately after milking (A) and at 1 (1 h), 2 (2 h), 3 (3 h), 4 (4 h), 6 (6 h), 8 (8 h) and 10 (10 h) hours after milking finished. Teat wall thickness (TWT), teat wall area (TWA), teat end area (TEWA) and teat canal length (TCL) were measured in all the ultrasound images. MM increased TWT after milking compared with RC. TWT, TWA, TEWA and TCL were lower (P<0·05) in HM than in MM. No significant differences (P>0·05) were found between LS and MM for any variable. The extraction method affected the recovery time of the variables, with total teat recovery at 6 h after RC and 4 h after HM. In the case of LS, the TEWA and TCL values were recovered sooner, as of 3 h. Teat recovery time after MM was similar to the extraction method with which it was compared in each experiment. Thus, considering the similar increase in wall thickness and their recovery time compared with the reference methods, it was concluded that machine milking, carried out in optimum conditions and respecting the time interval between milkings usually applied on sheep farms (8–12 h), would not affect teat integrity. Moreover, given the variability observed in teat thickness recovery time between the different experiments, further research should be carried out to study which factors intrinsic and extrinsic to the animal may affect the teat wall thickness and recovery time after machine milking.
Therapeutic Potential of Hyporesponsive CD4+ T Cells in Autoimmunity

The interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells is crucial on immunity or tolerance induction. In an immature or semi-mature state, DCs induce tolerance through T-cell deletion, generation of regulatory T cells, and/or induction of T-cell anergy. Anergy is defined as an unresponsive state that retains T cells in an “off” mode under conditions in which immune activation is undesirable. This mechanism is crucial for the control of T-cell responses against self-antigens, thereby preventing autoimmunity. Tolerogenic DCs (tDCs), generated in vitro from peripheral blood monocytes of healthy donors or patients with autoimmune pathologies, were shown to modulate immune responses by inducing T-cell hyporesponsiveness. Animal models of autoimmune diseases confirmed the impact of T-cell anergy on disease development and progression in vivo. Thus, the induction of T-cell hyporesponsiveness by tDCs has become a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of T-cell-mediated autoimmune disorders. Here, we review recent findings in the area and discuss the potential of anergy induction for clinical purposes.
Role of optical extinction in holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

The origin of optical diffraction in holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) transmission gratings was investigated by optical two beam-coupling analysis based on the linear phase-shift technique. Gratings with the pitch of 1 micrometer and the thickness of 50 micrometers were fabricated from a UV curable mixture of commercially available constituents. Photopolymerization in the interference field of two laser beams produces not only a periodic variation of the refractive index, but also a periodic modulation of optical extinction due to light scattering. Both of them contribute to the diffraction efficiency of the gratings. The magnitudes and relative phases of the two contributions were measured as a function of a recording time of the grating and as a function of an applied external electric field. During the initial stage of the grating formation phase modulation is predominant, while at longer exposures both contributions have the same order of magnitude. They are phase shifted with respect to each other for around π/2. Application of an external electric field causes a strong decrease of the amplitude modulation, while phase modulation is much less perturbed.
Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate MRI‐identifiable injury, protect white matter, and improve long‐term functional outcomes after neonatal focal stroke in rats

Cell therapy has emerged as a potential treatment for many neurodegenerative diseases including stroke and neonatal ischemic brain injury. Delayed intranasal administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after experimental hypoxia‐ischemia and after a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in neonatal rats has shown improvement in long‐term functional outcomes, but the effects of MSCs on white matter injury (WMI) are insufficiently understood. In this study we used longitudinal T2‐weighted (T2W) and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to characterize chronic injury after tMCAO induced in postnatal day 10 (P10) rats and examined the effects of delayed MSC administration on WMI, axonal coverage, and long‐term somatosensory function. We show unilateral injury‐ and region‐dependent changes in diffusion fraction anisotropy 1 and 2 weeks after tMCAO that correspond to accumulation of degraded myelin basic protein, astrocytosis, and decreased axonal coverage. With the use of stringent T2W‐based injury criteria at 72 hr after tMCAO to randomize neonatal rats to receive intranasal MSCs or vehicle, we show that a single MSC administration attenuates WMI and enhances somatosensory function 28 days after stroke. A positive correlation was found between MSC‐enhanced white matter integrity and functional performance in injured neonatal rats. Collectively, these data indicate that the damage induced by tMCAO progresses over time and is halted by administration of MSCs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extension Variables in QBF Resolution

We investigate two QBF resolution systems that use extension variables: weak extended Q-resolution, where the extension variables are quantified at the innermost level, and extended Q-resolution, where the extension variables can be placed inside the quantifier prefix. These systems have been considered previously by (Jussila et al. 2007), who give experimental evidence that extended Q-resolution is stronger than weak extended Q-resolution. Here we prove an exponential separation between the two systems, thereby confirming the conjecture of (Jussila et al. 2007). Conceptually, this separation relies on showing strategy extraction for weak extended Q-resolution by boundeddepth circuits. In contrast, we show that this strong strategy extraction result fails in extended Q-resolution.
β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex to Improve Physicochemical Properties of Pipemidic Acid: Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation

The aptitude of cyclodextrins (CDs) to form host-guest complexes has prompted an increase in the development of new drug formulations. In this study, the inclusion complexes of pipemidic acid (HPPA), a therapeutic agent for urinary tract infections, with native β-CD were prepared in solid state by kneading method and confirmed by FT-IR and 1H NMR. The inclusion complex formation was also characterized in aqueous solution at different pH via UV-Vis titration and phase solubility studies obtaining the stability constant. The 1:1 stoichiometry was established by a Job plot and the inclusion mechanism was clarified using docking experiments. Finally, the antibacterial activity of HPPA and its inclusion complex was tested on P. aeruginosa, E. coli and S. aureus to determine the respective EC50s and EC90s. The results showed that the antibacterial activity of HPPA:β-CD against E. coli and S. aureus is higher than that of HPPA. Furthermore, HPPA and HPPA:β-CD, tested on human hepatoblastoma HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines by MTT assay, exhibited, for the first time, antitumor activities, and the complex revealed a higher activity than that of HPPA. The use of β-CD allows an increase in the aqueous solubility of the drug, its bioavailability and then its bioactivity.
Evaluation Of The Results Of Cordocentesis; 9 Years Experience

Objective: To evaluate of results of cordosentesis in an University Clinic. Methods: Adequate amount of cord blood was taken from 96.9% of the cases, the successful culture rate was 99.2%. In seven cases the procedure was repeated as the culture was unsuccessful in two of them and maternal contamination was observed in five of them. There was no fetal loss among the 251 cordocentesis cases, but it must be taken into account that 62.2% of these patients were referred to our clinic so that their pregnancy outcomes could not be obtained. The most common complications were intraamniotic bleeding in 6.8% and transient fetal bradycardia in 6.3% of the cases. According to cytogenetic evaluation reports, chromosomal abnormality was detected in 13 cases (5.17%). One case with short femur had a karyotype of 47,XX,t(8;14) (p22;q21),+der(14)(8;14) and one case with single umblical artery having a karyotype of 46,XX,del(3)(p25pter) was described for the first time in the literature. Results: Data including the indications, cytogenetic results and complications was obtained from 251 pregnancies who underwent cordocentesis in a University clinic. Conclusion: Cordocentesis is an invasive prenatal diagnostic and therapeutic procedure with high accuracy and safety if it is carried out by highly skilled physicians and when optimal culture conditions are provided.
Postmortem Imaging of Blunt Chest Trauma Using CT and MRI: Comparison With Autopsy

Objective Postmortem examination of chest trauma is an important domain in forensic medicine, which is today performed using autopsy. Since the implementation of cross-sectional imaging methods in forensic medicine such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a number of advantages in comparison with autopsy have been described. Within the scope of validation of cross-sectional radiology in forensic medicine, the comparison of findings of postmortem imaging and autopsy in chest trauma was performed. Methods This retrospective study includes 24 cases with chest trauma that underwent postmortem CT, MRI, and autopsy. Two board-certified radiologists, blind to the autopsy findings, evaluated the radiologic data independently. Each radiologist interpreted postmortem CT and MRI data together for every case. The comparison of the results of the radiologic assessment with the autopsy and a calculation of interobserver discrepancy was performed. Results Using combined CT and MRI, between 75% and 100% of the investigated findings, except for hemomediastinum (70%), diaphragmatic ruptures (50%; n=2) and heart injury (38%), were discovered. Although the sensitivity and specificity regarding pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and pericardial effusion were not calculated, as these findings were not mentioned at the autopsy, these findings were clearly seen radiologically. The averaged interobserver concordance was 90%. Conclusion The sensitivity and specificity of our results demonstrate that postmortem CT and MRI are useful diagnostic methods for assessing chest trauma in forensic medicine as a supplement to autopsy. Further radiologic-pathologic case studies are necessary to define the role of postmortem CT and MRI as a single examination modality.
Surgical complications of posterior lumbar interbody fusion with total facetectomy in 251 patients.

OBJECT Previous studies of surgical complications associated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) are of limited value due to intrastudy variation in instrumentation and fusion techniques. The purpose of the present study was to examine rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications of PLIF using a large number of cases with uniform instrumentation and a uniform fusion technique. METHODS The authors reviewed the hospital records of 251 patients who underwent PLIF for degenerative lumbar disorders between 1996 and 2002 and who could be followed for at least 2 years. Intraoperative, early postoperative, and late postoperative complications were investigated. Intraoperative complications occurred in 26 patients: dural tearing in 19 patients and pedicle screw malposition in seven patients. Intraoperative complications did not affect the postoperative clinical results. Early postoperative complications occurred in 19 patients: brain infarction occurred in one, infection in one, and neurological complications in 17. Of the 17 patients with neurological complications, nine showed severe motor loss such as foot drop; the remaining eight patients showed slight motor loss or radicular pain alone, and their symptoms improved within 6 weeks. Late postoperative complications occurred in 17 patients: hardware failure in three, nonunion in three, and adjacent-segment degeneration in 11. Postoperative progression of symptomatic adjacent-segment degeneration was defined as a condition that required additional surgery to treat neurological deterioration. CONCLUSIONS The most serious complications of PLIF were postoperative severe neurological deficits and adjacent-segment degeneration. Prevention and management of such complications are necessary to attain good long-term clinical results.
Preparation and properties of cotton stalk bundles and high-density polyethylene composites using hot-press molding

Compared to extrusion and injection, hot-press molding can produce natural fiber plastic composites with many advantages. In this study, large cotton stalk bundles and HDPE composites were fabricated using hot-press molding. The effects of fiber size and drying temperature on the mechanical properties and thickness swelling of these composites were investigated. Cotton stalk bundles of three different sizes were oven-dried at 100°C 120°C, 140°C, and 170°C for 24 h. MAPE (5%) and phenol formaldehyde resin (5%) were added to enhance the interfacial bonding between the bundles and HDPE. Results showed that the mechanical properties of composites increased with the size of the cotton stalk bundles. The best mechanical properties were created at drying temperatures of 100°C and 140°C, with an obvious drop at drying temperatures of 120°C and 170°C. Thickness swelling of the composites was greatly improved and below 5%. The composites showed the lowest thickness swelling at a drying temperature of 170°C, and the highest at 120°C. Good bonding was found between cotton stalk fibers and HDPE, due to the addition of MAPE.
Simplifying the synthesis of internet traffic matrices

A recent paper [8] presented methods for several steps along the road to synthesis of realistic traffic matrices. Such synthesis is needed because traffic matrices are a crucial input for testing many new networking algorithms, but traffic matrices themselves are generally kept secret by providers. Furthermore, even given traffic matrices from a real network, it is difficult to realistically adjust these to generate a range of scenarios (for instance for different network sizes). This note is concerned with the first step presented in [8]: generation of a matrix with similar statistics to that of a real traffic matrix. The method applied in [8] is based on fitting a large number of distributions, and finding that the log-normal distribution appears to fit most consistently. Best fits (without some intuitive explanation for the fit) are fraught with problems. How general are the results? How do the distribution parameters relate? This note presents a simpler approach based on a gravity model. Its simplicity provides us with a better understanding of the origins of the results of [8], and this insight is useful, particularly because it allows one to adapt the synthesis process to different scenarios in a more intuitive manner. Additionally, [8] measures the quality of its fit to the distribution's body. This note shows that the tails of the distributions are less heavy than the log-normal distribution (a counterintuitive result for Internet traffic), and that the gravity model replicates these tails more accurately.
DECAPAGE PROJECT : HYDROCARBON DEGRADATION IN COASTAL SEDIMENTS Substrates specialization in lipid compounds and hydrocarbons of Marinobacter genus

The impact of petroleum contamination and of burrowing macrofauna on abundances of Marinobacter and denitrifiers was tested in marine sediment mesocoms after 3 months incubation. Quantification of this genus by qPCR with a new primer set showed that the main factor favoring Marinobacter abundance was hydrocarbon amendment followed by macrofauna presence. In parallel, proportion of nosZ-harboring bacteria increased in the presence of marcrofauna. Quantitative finding were explained by physiological data from a set of 34 strains and by genomic analysis of 16 genomes spanning 15 different Marinobacter-validated species (Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus, Marinobacter daeopensis, Marinobacter santoriniensis, Marinobacter pelagius, Marinobacter flavimaris, Marinobacter adhaerens, Marinobacter xestospongiae, Marinobacter algicola, Marinobacter vinifirmus, Marinobacter maritimus, Marinobacter psychrophilus, Marinobacter lipoliticus, Marinobacter manganoxydans, Marinobacter excellens, Marinobacter nanhaiticus) and 4 potential novel ones. Among the 105 organic electron donors tested in physiological analysis, Marinobacter pattern appeared narrow for almost all kinds of organic compounds except lipid ones. Strains of this set could oxidize a very large spectrum of lipids belonging to glycerolipids, branched, fatty acyls, and aromatic hydrocarbon classes. Physiological data were comforted by genomic analysis, and genes of alkane 1monooxygenase, haloalkane dehalogenase, and flavinbinding monooxygenase were detected in most genomes. Denitrification was assessed for several strains belonging to M. hydrocarbonoclasticus, M. vinifirmus, Marinobacter maritinus, and M. pelagius species indicating the possibility to use nitrate as alternative electron acceptor. Higher occurrence of Marinobacter in the presence of petroleum appeared to be the result of a broader physiological trait allowing this genus to use lipids including hydrocarbon as principal electron donors.