Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Purification of an oligo(dG).oligo(dC)-binding sea urchin nuclear protein, suGF1: a family of G-string factors involved in gene regulation during development

Contiguous deoxyguanosine residues (G strings) have been implicated in regulation of gene expression in several organisms via the binding of G-string factors. Regulation of expression of the chicken adult beta-globin gene may involve the interplay between binding of an erythrocyte-specific G-string factor, BGP1, and the stability of a positioned nucleosome (C. D. Lewis, S. P. Clark, G. Felsenfeld, and H. Gould, Genes Dev. 2:863-873, 1988). We have purified a 59.5-kDa nuclear protein (suGF1) from sea urchin embryos by DNA affinity chromatography. suGF1 has high binding affinity and specificity for oligo(dG). oligo(dC). The identity of the purified protein was confirmed by renaturation of sequence-specific DNA-binding activity from a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel slice and by Southwestern (DNA-protein) blotting. suGF1 binds in vitro to a G11 string present in the H1-H4 intergenic region of a sea urchin early histone gene battery. This suGF1 DNA recognition site occurs within a homopurine-homopyrimidine stretch previously shown to be incorporated into a positioned nucleosome core in vitro. DNase I footprinting shows that suGF1 protects the same base pairs on the promoter of the chicken beta A-globin gene as does BGP1. We show that a G-string cis-regulatory element of a sea urchin cell lineage-specific gene LpS1 (M. Xiang, S.-Y. Lu, M. Musso, G. Karsenty, and W. H. Klein, Development 113:1345-1355, 1991) also represents a high-affinity recognition site for suGF1. suGF1 may be a member of a family of G-string factors involved in the regulation of expression of unrelated genes during development of a number of different organisms.
EFFECT OF LONG-TERM KETAMINE ADMINISTRATION ON VOCALIZATION TO PAW PRESSURE AND ON SPINAL WIND-UP ACTIVITY IN MONOARTHRITIC RATS

The antinociceptive effect of long-lasting ketamine administration (mini-osmotic pump) was studied in monoarthritic rats by using hindpaw pressure testing and wind-up measurement in a C-fiber reflex paradigm. Chronic ketamine induced antinociception in the monoarthritic paw and significantly suppressed mechanical hyperalgesia during the 14-day treatment period. The treatment also reduced C-reflex wind-up in the monoarthritic hindpaw. After pump removal, vocalization thresholds and spinal wind-up scores from the monoarthritic paw returned to control values, while hyperalgesia developed in the normal paw. Results suggest that ketamine upregulates NMDA receptors upon long-term administration, resulting in hyperalgesic response in the normal paw after drug withdrawal.
Rheological foundations of the hydraulic transport of cement pastes

This study presents the rheological tests of cement pastes of various mass concentrations Cs, corresponding to various water to cement ratios W/C. The tests were conducted with use of Couette-Sarle rotational viscometer, for cement pastes prepared with use of two types of cement: CEM II/B-S 32.5 R i CEM II/B-S 42.5 N, at concentrations corresponding to water to cement ratio W/C fluctuating within the range from 0.35 to 0.70. The curves of flow were approximated with use of the tri-parametric, general rheological Herschel–Bulkley model. This model provides an optimal description of rheological properties of cement pastes that behave like viscoplastic mixtures, with a characteristic yield stress τ0. The conducted tests allow us to generalize the obtained results with use of the non-dimensional criterion λ(Regen), linking the Darcy friction factor λ of the pipe to the general Reynolds number Regen, describing the rheological properties of cement pastes. This constitutes a basis for the determination and analysis of the operation of pump-pipe systems used for the transportation of cement pastes for different application technologies, in the laminar zone of flow.
The dynamics and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration: a case study of "Cortical depth of Bench" in group proposal writing

This study contributes to a discussion on collaboration and technical/professional communication in indeterminate zones or less familiar sites for collaboration. The interdisciplinary group for this case study collaborated to write a project proposal to solicit funds from the US government for constructing a test bed for immune buildings as a tactic for combating potential biological and chemical terrorist incidents. Their approach to collaboration coincided with several approaches previously addressed in professional and technical communication research. Novel and creative approaches emerged as a result of this collaboration, but in some instances, disciplinary differences, as manifested by disputes over concepts and terminologies, posed obstacles to collaboration. Such challenges necessitated strong leadership, which was also critical for managing group process.
Detection of Mycoplasma gallinarum by real-time PCR.

Mycoplasma gallinarum colonizes poultry as well as mammals, but is considered to have a commensal relationship with its hosts. Though unable to cause poultry disease by its self, reports have been published suggesting a synergism during mixed infections between M. gallinarum and respiratory viruses or their vaccine strains that can precipitate airsacculitis. Currently, little research is being done on M. gallinarum and little is known about its carrier rate in chickens and other poultry. Two primer sets were tested for their ability to detect M. gallinarum using real-time PCR. One set published by Lauerman amplifies a fragment from the M. gallinarum 16S ribosomal DNA sequence. The other set (101-2) was developed in this laboratory and amplifies a short segment of DNA that appears to be unique to some strains of M. gallinarum. The Lauerman primer set is specific for M. gallinarum and has a detection limit of 100 genomes. The 101-2 primer set is specific for some strains of M. gallinarum, although, it is 100-fold less sensitive than the Lauerman primer set. The 101-2 primer set appears to be unsuited for M. gallinarum detection, but it does provide a method of differentiating M. gallinarum strains by PCR. These primer sets provide a means to rapidly determine the M. gallinarum carrier status of flocks by real-time PCR and will help in identifying M. gallinarum in mixed infections.
Hopelessness in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong: Demographic and family correlates

Chinese secondary school students (N = 3,017) responded to measures of adolescent hopelessness, perceived parental behavioral control (indexed by parental knowledge, expectation, monitoring, discipline, and demandingness, as well as Chinese parental control attributes), parental psychological control, and parent-child relational qualities (satisfaction with parental control, child's readiness to communicate with the parents and perceived mutual trust). Results showed that roughly one-fifth of Chinese adolescents displayed signs of hopelessness and adolescent hopelessness was related to adolescent age and gender as well as parental education and marital status. Although parental behavioral control was negatively related to adolescent hopelessness, parental psychological control was positively associated with adolescent hopelessness. Participants perceived parent-child relational qualities to be better showed lower levels of hopelessness.
Identification of an epigenetic signature of early mouse liver regeneration that is disrupted by Zn-HDAC inhibition

Liver regeneration has been well studied with hope of discovering strategies to improve liver disease outcomes. Nevertheless, the signals that initiate such regeneration remain incompletely defined, and translation of mechanism-based pro-regenerative interventions into new treatments for hepatic diseases has not yet been achieved. We previously reported the isoform-specific regulation and essential function of zinc-dependent histone deacetylases (Zn-HDACs) during mouse liver regeneration. Those data suggest that epigenetically regulated anti-proliferative genes are deacetylated and transcriptionally suppressed by Zn-HDAC activity or that pro-regenerative factors are acetylated and induced by such activity in response to partial hepatectomy (PH). To investigate these possibilities, we conducted genome-wide interrogation of the liver histone acetylome during early PH-induced liver regeneration in mice using acetyL-histone chromatin immunoprecipitation and next generation DNA sequencing. We also compared the findings of that study to those seen during the impaired regenerative response that occurs with Zn-HDAC inhibition. The results reveal an epigenetic signature of early liver regeneration that includes both hyperacetylation of pro-regenerative factors and deacetylation of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic genes. Our data also show that administration of an anti-regenerative regimen of the Zn-HDAC inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) not only disrupts gene-specific pro-regenerative changes in liver histone deacetylation but also reverses PH-induced effects on histone hyperacetylation. Taken together, these studies offer new insight into and suggest novel hypotheses about the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate liver regeneration.
Comparative role of neem seed extract, moringa leaf extract and imidacloprid in the management of wheat aphids in relation to yield losses in Pakistan

Wheat being staple food of Pakistan is constantly attacked by major wheat aphid species, Schizaphis graminum (R.), Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Sitobion avenae (F.). Due to concern on synthetic chemical use in wheat, it is imperative to search for alternative environment- and human- friendly control measures such as botanical pesticides. In the present study, we evaluated the comparative role of neem seed extract (NSE), moringa leaf extract (MLE) and imidacloprid (I) in the management of the aphid as well as the yield losses parameters in late planted wheat fields. Imidacloprid reduced significantly aphids infestation compared to the other treatments, hence resulting in higher yield, particularly when applied with MLE. The percentages of yield increase in I+MLE treated plots over the control were 19.15–81.89% for grains per spike, 5.33–37.62% for thousand grain weight and 27.59–61.12% for yield kg/ha. NSE was the second most effective control measure in suppressing aphid population, but the yield protected by NSE treatment over the control was comparable to that by imidacloprid. Population densities of coccinellids and syrphids in the plots treated with NSE-2 were higher than those treated with imidacloprid in two out of three experiments during 2013–14. Low predator density in imidacloprid-treated plots was attributed to the lower availability of prey aphids. The efficacy of NSE against aphids varied depending on degree of synchronization among the application timing, the activity of aphids, crop variety and environmental conditions. Despite that, we suggested NSE to be a promising alternative botanical insecticide compared to the most commonly recommended imidiacloprid. Further studies should consider the side effects of biopesticides on non-target organisms in order to provide better management practices in the field.
Diagnostic Utility of the Impact of Event Scale–Revised in Two Samples of Survivors of War

The study aimed at examining the diagnostic utility of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) as a screening tool for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors of war. The IES-R was completed by two independent samples that had survived the war in the Balkans: a sample of randomly selected people who had stayed in the area of former conflict (n = 3,313) and a sample of refugees to Western European countries (n = 854). PTSD was diagnosed using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Prevalence of PTSD was 20.1% in the Balkan sample and 33.1% in the refugee sample. Results revealed that when considering a minimum value of specificity of 0.80, the optimally sensitive cut-off score for screening for PTSD in the Balkan sample was 34. In both the Balkan sample and the refugee sample, this cut-off score provided good values on sensitivity (0.86 and 0.89, respectively) and overall efficiency (0.81 and 0.79, respectively). Further, the kappa coefficients for sensitivity for the cut-off of 34 were 0.80 in both samples. Findings of this study support the clinical utility of the IES-R as a screening tool for PTSD in large-scale research studies and intervention studies if structured diagnostic interviews are regarded as too labor-intensive and too costly.
Effects of wood flour and chitosan on mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties of polylactide

Composites of polylactide (PLA, 100–60 wt%) and wood flour (0–40 wt%) were prepared to assess the effects of wood filler content on the mechanical, chemical, thermal, and morphological properties of the composites. The polysaccharide chitosan (0–10 wt%) was added as a potential coupling agent for the PLA-wood flour composites. Addition of wood flour significantly increased the flexural modulus and the storage modulus of PLA-wood flour composite, but neither the wood flour nor chitosan had an effect on the glass transition temperature (Tg). Fourier transform infrared spectra did not show any evidence of covalent bonding, but chitosan at the interface between wood and PLA is thought to have formed hydrogen bonds to PLA-carbonyl groups. SEM images of fracture surfaces showed that fiber breakage was far more common than fiber pullout in the composites. No evidence of discrete chitosan domains was seen in SEM micrographs. When added at up to 10 wt% (based on wood flour mass), chitosan showed no significant effect on the mechanical, chemical, or thermal properties of the composites, with property changes depending on wood flour content only. POLYM. COMPOS. , 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Bedside diagnosis of pleural effusion with a latest generation hand-carried ultrasound device in intensive care patients

Background Further development established hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) imagers in daily clinical workflow providing several advantages such as fast bedside availability and prompt diagnosis. Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic yield of a latest generation HCU imager compared to chest radiography (CR) for the detection of pleural effusion (PE) in intensive care patients. Material and Methods Forty-eight hemithoraces of 24 patients on surgical intensive care units were enrolled in this study. All hemithoraces were evaluated using both HCU and CR. Definite diagnosis of PE was achieved using a high-end ultrasound system as standard of reference. Statistical analysis was performed using 2 × 2 tables and a McNemar test. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results PE was present in 35 of 48 hemithoraces (73%). The HCU examination was carried out technically successfully in all hemithoraces. Sensitivity and specificity of HCU for the diagnosis of PE was 91% and 100%, respectively, whereas sensitivity and specificity of CR was 74% and 31%, respectively. The difference between HCU and CR was statistically significant with respect to specificity but not sensitivity (P = 0.008 and P = 0.11, respectively). Conclusion Due to its ease of use and its high diagnostic yield HCU systems of the latest generation constitute a helpful technique for the primary assessment of PE.
Geometric approach for coupling enhancement of magnetically coupled coils

This paper presents a geometric approach for the enhancement of the coupling coefficient between two magnetically coupled coils. It is demonstrated that the coupling coefficient can be considerably enhanced, if the turns of the coils are not concentrated at the circumferences, but distributed across the diameters. For analysis, each of the two coils is assumed to be composed of concentric circular loops. The experimental results are in very good agreement with the theoretical results.
Sex-role reversal of a monogamous pipefish without higher potential reproductive rate in females

In monogamous animals, males are usually the predominant competitors for mates. However, a strictly monogamous pipefish Corythoichthys haematopterus exceptionally exhibits a reversed sex role. To understand why its sex role is reversed, we measured the adult sex ratio and the potential reproductive rate (PRR), two principal factors influencing the operational sex ratio (OSR), in a natural population of southern Japan. The adult sex ratio was biased towards females throughout the breeding season, but the PRR, which increased with water temperature, did not show sexual difference. We found that an alternative index of the OSR (Sf/Sm: sex ratio of ‘time in’) calculated from the monthly data was consistently biased towards females. The female-biased OSR associated with sex-role reversal has been reported in some polyandrous or promiscuous pipefish, but factors biasing the OSR differed between these pipefish and C. haematopterus. We concluded that the similar PRR between the sexes in C. haematopterus does not confer reproductive benefit of polygamous mating on either sex, resulting in strict monogamous mating, and its female-biased adult sex ratio promotes female–female competition for a mate, resulting in sex-role reversal.
Coronary computed tomography angiography for risk stratification before noncardiac surgery

Background: Currently, there are limited available data for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in the setting of the risk stratification before noncardiac surgery. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the role of CCTA in cardiac risk stratification before noncardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: Ninety-three patients underwent CCTA in the assessment of cardiac risk before noncardiac surgery. Patients with normal or mildly abnormal CCTA (<50% stenosis) underwent surgery without any further testing (Group 1). Patients with abnormal CCTA (17 patients) (more than 50% stenosis) and nondiagnostic CCTA (5%) underwent either stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy or conventional coronary angiography, Group 2. Results: Group one consists of 71 patients who went for surgery without any further testing. 59 of 71 (83%) patients had no complications in the postoperative period, 9 patients had noncardiac complications, 1 had a cardiac complication (new onset atrial fibrillation), and 2 patients died in the postoperative period due to noncardiac complications. Group 2 comprises 22 (26%) patients, 16 patients had no postoperative complications, 5 patients had noncardiac complications, and one patient developed postoperative acute heart failure. Conclusions: CCTA is diagnostic in up to 95% in the preoperative setting, and it provides a comprehensive cardiac examination in the risk stratification before intermediate and high-risk noncardiac surgery. Therefore, CCTA may be considered as an alternative test for already established imaging techniques for preoperative cardiac risk stratification before noncardiac surgery.
Postpartum depression among women with unintended pregnancy

OBJECTIVE To analyze the association between unintended pregnancy and postpartum depression. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study conducted with 1,121 pregnant aged 18 to 49 years, who attended the prenatal program devised by the Brazilian Family Health Strategy, Recife, PE, Northeastern Brazil, between July 2005 and December 2006. We interviewed 1,121 women during pregnancy and 1,057 after childbirth. Unintended pregnancy was evaluated during the first interview and postpartum depression symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening Scale. The crude and adjusted odds ratios for the studied association were estimated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The frequency for unintended pregnancy was 60.2%; 25.9% presented postpartum depression symptoms. Those who had unintended pregnancies had a higher likelihood of presenting this symptoms, even after adjusting for confounding variables (OR = 1.48; 95%CI 1.09;2.01). When the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) variable was included, the association decreased, however, remained statistically significant (OR = 1.42; 95%CI 1.03;1.97). CONCLUSIONS Unintended pregnancy showed association with subsequent postpartum depressive symptoms. This suggests that high values in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening Scale may result from unintended pregnancy.
Modification of retrograde degeneration in transected spinal axons of the lamprey by applied DC current

In the spinal cord of the lamprey, regeneration of giant reticulospinal axons occurs following transection. We show that partial degeneration of the proximal axonal segment, or “die-back,” also occurs following spinal transection and it precedes regenerative outgrowth. The die-back during the first 5 days post-transection is reduced significantly by application of a 10-microA DC current across the site of transection, with the cathode distal to the lesion. Reversing the polarity of the applied current (cathode proximal to the lesion) increases the extent of axonal die-back relative to the sham-treated controls. Following spinal transection, saline-filled wick electrodes were implanted in the body musculature on either side of the lesion. Electrically treated animals received current across the lesion for 5 days, while the sham- treated controls received no current. After 5 days, several giant axons in each preparation were injected intracellularly in the spinal cord with the dye Lucifer Yellow. The extent of axonal die-back in the proximal cord stump was determined in the filled fibers by measuring the distance of the axon end from the site of lesion. The mean distances of axonal die-back were as follows: controls, 1750 microns +/- 45 SEM; cathode-distal, 740 microns +/- 33 SEM; cathode-proximal, 2820 microns +/- 60 SEM. These differences between the treatment groups proved to be significant using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. We propose that die-back is caused by the entry of cations driven into the cut surface of the cord by the endogenous injury current. The applied DC current interacts with the endogenous current of injury to either decrease or increase the flow of cations into the cord, depending on the direction of applied current flow across the lesion. This in turn causes a corresponding reduction or enhancement of the axonal die-back.
β-Glucans (Saccharomyces cereviseae) Reduce Glucose Levels and Attenuate Alveolar Bone Loss in Diabetic Rats with Periodontal Disease

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of oral ingestion of β-glucans isolated from Saccharomyces cereviseae on the metabolic profile, expression of gingival inflammatory markers and amount of alveolar bone loss in diabetic rats with periodontal disease. Diabetes mellitus was induced in 48 Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (80 mg/kg). After confirming the diabetes diagnosis, the animals were treated with β-glucans (by gavage) for 28 days. On the 14th day of this period, periodontal disease was induced using a ligature protocol. β-glucans reduced the amount of alveolar bone loss in animals with periodontal disease in both the diabetic and non-diabetic groups (p < 0.05). β-glucans reduced blood glucose, cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels in diabetic animals, both with and without periodontal disease (p < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with β-glucans reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand and increased osteoprotegerin expression in animals with diabetes and periodontal disease (p < 0.05). It was concluded that treatment with β-glucans has beneficial metabolic and periodontal effects in diabetic rats with periodontal disease.