Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heat-stable antigen is a costimulatory molecule for CD4 T cell growth

Optimal induction of clonal expansion by normal CD4 T cells requires a ligand that can engage the T cell receptor as well as functionally defined costimulatory activity on the same antigen-presenting cell surface. While the presence of effective costimulation induces proliferation, T cell receptor ligation in its absence renders T cells inactive or anergic. The molecular basis of this costimulatory activity remains to be defined. Here we describe a monoclonal antibody that can block the costimulatory activity of splenic accessory cells. Treatment with this antibody not only blocks the proliferation of CD4 T cells to a T cell receptor ligand, but also induces T cell nonresponsiveness to subsequent stimulation. Sequence analysis of the antigen recognized by this antibody indicates that it recognizes a protein that is identical to heat-stable antigen. Gene transfer experiments directly demonstrate that this protein has costimulatory activity. Thus, heat-stable antigen meets the criteria for a costimulator of T cell clonal expansion.
Verification of RAP Model Soundings in Preconvective Environments

While mesoscale models have a strong utility in severe convective weather forecasting, errors or biases in these models can hinder their ability to resolve environments conducive to convection, and may alter forecasters’ perception of the probability of severe weather. During the 2012 spring convective season, a low bias in both low-level moisture and convective available potential energy (CAPE) forecasts were observed at six locations across the Great Plains in model forecasts from the Rapid Refresh (RAP). These errors may be attributed at least in part to the planetary boundary layer scheme and the assimilation of surface conditions of the RAP, and tend to occur in fairly dry, well-mixed environments. Forecasters should be aware of these errors when determining the likelihood of severe weather in such environments, and should compare RAP solutions to other model output with differing configurations, like the experimental RAP (RAPv2) run at the Earth System Research Laboratory, the High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR), and locally run mesoscale models.
Criteria for virtual fibering

We prove that an irreducible 3‐manifold with fundamental group that satisfies a certain group‐theoretic property called RFRS is virtually fibered. As a corollary, we show that 3‐dimensional reflection orbifolds and arithmetic hyperbolic orbifolds defined by a quadratic form virtually fiber. These include the Seifert Weber dodecahedral space and the Bianchi groups. Moreover, we show that a taut‐sutured compression body has a finite‐sheeted cover with a depth one taut‐oriented foliation.
Microwave-induced temperature, corticosterone, and thyrotropin interrelationships.

To delineate acute endocrine responses to microwave energy absorption, 142 unanesthetized male Long-Evans rats acclimated to experimental procedures were subjected to far-field 2.45-GHz microwave exposure for 1 h at 1-70 mW/cm/sup 2/, 4 h at 0.1-40 mw/cm/sup 2/, or sham exposure. Controls were sham exposed in a sham-exposure chamber beginning at 030 h and killed at 1230, 1330, 1530, and 1930 h. Microwave-exposed rats were equilibrated in an anechoic chamber for 3 h prior to the start of exposure. Microwave exposure was initiated at 1130 h. Exposed rats were killed at 1230 and 1530 h. Colonic temperature (T/sub col/) was measured and serum obtained for thyrotropin (TSH) and corticosterone (CS) determination immediately after exposure. Inverse relations of TSH to power density (PD) or R/sub col/ were noted in the microwave-exposed rats while CS increased with PD or T/sub col/. Similar relations of TSH and CS to T/sub col/ were also noted among ''shams. '' The increase of T/sub col/ by microwave exposure was dependent on PD but independent of an exposure duration greater than 1 h. The serum CS level increasd with PD but the effect decreased with duration of exposure. ''Low intensity'' 4-h microwave exposure inhibited normal circadian elevation ofmore » adrenocortical function in rats if the exposure was coincident with diurnal CS elevation.Inhibition of TSH became more pronounced with duration of exposure. Differences in the endocrine-body temperature relationships between sham- and microwave-exposed rats were also noted. It was concluded that endocrine control was dissociated from body temperature in the microwave-exposed rats. The endocrine control in microwave-exposed rats is different from shams. « less
Separating habit and recollection: memory slips, process dissociations, and probability matching.

Memory slips are errors in performance that result when an automatic basis for responding (e.g., habit) opposes the intention to perform a specific behavior. Prior research has focused on factors that influence the probability of a memory slip while neglecting factors that facilitate performance. Using L. L. Jacoby's (1991) process-dissociation procedure to examine performance in both a memory-slip and a facilitation condition, the authors separated the contribution of habit and recollection (intentional memory) in a cued-recall task. The authors found that manipulating the strength of habit affected its contribution to performance in a manner that produced probability matching, but recollection was unchanged. In contrast, manipulations of presentation rate and response time influenced recollection but did not affect habit. Such dissociations support a model of memory in which automatic and intentional influences make independent contributions to performance.
Diagnostic value of multidetector-row CT angiography in the evaluation of thrombosis of the cerebral venous sinuses.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The diagnosis of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) as a rare but important cause of stroke is challenging. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of multidetector-row CT angiography (MDCTA) as a fast and cost-effective imaging tool in diagnosing CVST. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nineteen patients who presented with clinical symptoms of a possible CVST were included. All patients had received both MDCTA and MR imaging with venous MR-angiography. Three blinded readers were asked to identify the cerebral sinuses and veins in MDCTA and to evaluate the presence of CVST in MDCTA. Consensus reading with interpretation of the MR imaging served to establish the definite diagnosis. RESULTS The consensus reading revealed CVST in 10 of the 19 patients. With MDCTA, the venous sinuses could be identified in 99.2% and the cerebral veins in 87.6% of cases. The sensitivity and specificity of MDCTA for the diagnosis of CVST were 100%. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that MDCTA provides excellent sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CVST. Further studies are needed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of MDCTA in specific subsets of the general entity of CVST such as cortical venous thrombosis, thrombosis of the cavernous sinus, and thrombosis of the internal cerebral veins.
Incorporating Students' Self-Efficacy and Subject Value in the Evaluation of Audience Response Systems

An audience response system (ARS) enables students to answer questions presented in class and thereby, it promotes active learning. For this reason, ARSs gained instructors' attention and a considerable amount of literature has been published on the benefits of ARSs. However, prior studies lack a suitable methodology. The current paper seeks to remedy this problem and develops a conceptual framework which proposes that besides the user-friendliness of an ARS, students self-efficacy, and subject value are key underlying forces that explain the perceived effects and benefits of ARS in enhancing students' learning performance and attitude towards using the system. The empirical test of the proposed framework attests to the importance of self-efficacy and subject value in the context of ARS and confirms the impact on learning, engagement, and enjoyment which in turn, promotes ARS usage and/or learning enhancement.
Multihost Tuberculosis: Insights from the Portuguese Control Program

This paper describes the current situation of animal tuberculosis in Portugal, reviewing the accomplishments and constraints of the 2001–2009 period. Notwithstanding the substantial progress achieved with the implementation of a comprehensive test and cull scheme, notification, postmortem inspection and surveillance at slaughterhouses, herd and animal prevalence have unexpectedly increased in 2009. In parallel, the recent awareness of tuberculosis in local free-ranging wildlife species causes concern regarding the final steps towards eradication, demanding new approaches to the existing disease control policies.
Quantitative Assessment of the Sensitivity of Various Commercial Reverse Transcriptases Based on Armored HIV RNA

Background The in-vitro reverse transcription of RNA to its complementary DNA, catalyzed by the enzyme reverse transcriptase, is the most fundamental step in the quantitative RNA detection in genomic studies. As such, this step should be as analytically sensitive, efficient and reproducible as possible, especially when dealing with degraded or low copy RNA samples. While there are many reverse transcriptases in the market, all claiming to be highly sensitive, there is need for a systematic independent comparison of their applicability in quantification of rare RNA transcripts or low copy RNA, such as those obtained from archival tissues. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed RT-qPCR to assess the sensitivity and reproducibility of 11 commercially available reverse transcriptases in cDNA synthesis from low copy number RNA levels. As target RNA, we used a serially known number of Armored HIV RNA molecules, and observed that 9 enzymes we tested were consistently sensitive to ∼1,000 copies, seven of which were sensitive to ∼100 copies, while only 5 were sensitive to ∼10 RNA template copies across all replicates tested. Despite their demonstrated sensitivity, these five best performing enzymes (Accuscript, HIV-RT, M-MLV, Superscript III and Thermoscript) showed considerable variation in their reproducibility as well as their overall amplification efficiency. Accuscript and Superscript III were the most sensitive and consistent within runs, with Accuscript and Superscript II ranking as the most reproducible enzymes between assays. Conclusions/Significance We therefore recommend the use of Accuscript or Superscript III when dealing with low copy number RNA levels, and suggest purification of the RT reactions prior to downstream applications (eg qPCR) to augment detection. Although the results presented in this study were based on a viral RNA surrogate, and applied to nucleic acid lysates derived from archival formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue, their relative performance on RNA obtained from other tissue types may vary, and needs future evaluation.
T Cell‐specific expression from Mo‐MLV retroviral vectors containing a CD4 mini‐promoter/enhancer

Gene therapy of various immunological disorders will greatly benefit from improved retroviral vectors (RVs) with T cell specificity. Such vectors can be designed by placing a gene of therapeutic interest under the control of tissue‐specific transcriptional elements. However, low titers and loss of specificity are frequently encountered with tissue‐specific vectors. The aim of the present study was to develop a T cell‐specific RV.
High-level synthesis scheduling and allocation using genetic algorithms based on constructive topological scheduling techniques

In this article co~fructivescheduling methods combined with geneticalgorithmsareused tosearchfor asuitableordertoschedule the operations. The method is extended with an encoding capable of allocating supplementary resources during scheduling. This makes it very suitable in high-level synthesis strategies bused on lower bound estimations techniques. Experiments and comparisons show high qualify results and fast run times that outperform results produced by other heuristic scheduling methods
Permutations with Ascending and Descending Blocks

We investigate permutations in terms of their cycle structure and descent set. To do this, we generalize the classical bijection of Gessel and Reutenauer to deal with permutations that have some ascending and some descending blocks. We then provide the first bijective proofs of some known results. We also extend the work of Eriksen, Freij, and Wastlund, who study derangements that descend in blocks of prescribed lengths. In particular, we solve some problems they posed and also obtain a new combinatorial sum for counting derangements with ascending and descending blocks.
Cholesterol Homeostasis in Two Commonly Used Human Prostate Cancer Cell-Lines, LNCaP and PC-3

Background Recently, there has been renewed interest in the link between cholesterol and prostate cancer. It has been previously reported that in vitro, prostate cancer cells lack sterol-mediated feedback regulation of the major transcription factor in cholesterol homeostasis, sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2). This could explain the accumulation of cholesterol observed in clinical prostate cancers. Consequently, perturbed feedback regulation to increased sterol levels has become a pervasive concept in the prostate cancer setting. Here, we aimed to explore this in greater depth. Methodology/Principal Findings After altering the cellular cholesterol status in LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cells, we examined SREBP-2 processing, downstream effects on promoter activity and expression of SREBP-2 target genes, and functional activity (low-density lipoprotein uptake, cholesterol synthesis). In doing so, we observed that LNCaP and PC-3 cells were sensitive to increased sterol levels. In contrast, lowering cholesterol levels via statin treatment generated a greater response in LNCaP cells than PC-3 cells. This highlighted an important difference between these cell-lines: basal SREBP-2 activity appeared to be higher in PC-3 cells, reducing sensitivity to decreased cholesterol levels. Conclusion/Significance Thus, prostate cancer cells are sensitive to changing sterol levels in vitro, but the extent of this regulation differs between prostate cancer cell-lines. These results shed new light on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in two commonly used prostate cancer cell-lines, and emphasize the importance of establishing whether or not cholesterol homeostasis is perturbed in prostate cancer in vivo.
[Effects of COPD on cognitive functions: a case control study].

INTRODUCTION Assessment of disease severity, effects of disease on health status and future events should be considered to direct treatment strategies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. Although extrapulmonary effects of COPD are well known, effects of COPD on cognitive functions have not been evaluated sufficiently. therefore we aimed to determine cognitive functions of copd patients in the present study. MATERIALS AND METHODS 112 COPD patients with moderate, severe and very severe irreversible airway obstruction and 44 age matched healthy subjects without COPD and systemic diseases as control group were enrolled to the study. Mini mental state examination (MMSE) was performed to evaluate cognitive functions. MMSE results were compared between patient and control groups. Moreover relationship between exacerbation frequency and cognitive functions was evaluated. RESULTS Total 156 subjects as 112 COPD patients and 44 healthy subjects were included to the study. Mean age of COPD patients was 65.03 ± 7.63 years, and mean age of control group was 63.63 ± 8.96 years (p= 0.364). Mean score of MMSE in COPD patients was 23.8 ± 4.39, and mean score of MMSE in control group was 26.7 ± 2.88. We determined a significant difference in terms of MMSE scores betweeen patient and control group (p< 0.0001). MMSE scores and FEV1 values were significantly different among patients with moderate, sevre and very severe airflow obstruction (p= 0.001; p< 0.0001 respectively). We found a significant negative correlation between MMSE results and exacerbation frequency during last year (p= 0.003; r= -0.239). CONCLUSION Lower MMSE scores of COPD patients than subjects in control group indicates the impairment of cognitive functions in COPD patients. Moreover a negative relationship between MMSE scores with exacerbation frequency during last year suggests that prevention from exacerbation can decrease cognitive impairment in COPD patients. We believe that assessment of cognitive functions and preventive strategies should be considered in COPD management.
The effects of maternal depression on speech to pre-school children: Implications for language development

We examined whether a past history of maternal depression affects the manner in which mothers speak to their children, and whether any differences relate to child language development. To do this, we measured acoustic, temporal and content-based speech/language characteristics of 40 preschool aged children and mothers with and without a history of depression. Results indicated that children of mothers with a past history of depression exhibited significantly lower vocabulary scores than children of mothers unaffected by depression. However, no maternal speech/language variables appeared to account for this difference. Maternal pitch variability and number of negative utterances both were found to correlate with child vocabulary scores; however, neither variable was found to relate to prior depression status. We discuss possible explanations for these findings and implications for child language development.
Comparison of Proteomics Profiles of Campylobacter jejuni Strain Bf under Microaerobic and Aerobic Conditions

Campylobacter jejuni accounts for one of the leading causes of foodborne bacterial enteritis in humans. Despite being considered an obligate microaerobic microorganism, C. jejuni is regularly exposed to oxidative stress. However, its adaptive strategies to survive the atmospheric oxygen level during transmission to humans remain unclear. Recently, the clinical C. jejuni strain Bf was singled out for its unexpected ability to grow under ambient atmosphere. Here, we aimed to understand better the biological mechanisms underlying its atypical aerotolerance trait using two-dimensional protein electrophoresis, gene expression, and enzymatic activities. Forty-seven proteins were identified with a significantly different abundance between cultivation under microaerobic and aerobic conditions. The over-expressed proteins in aerobiosis belonged mainly to the oxidative stress response, enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, iron uptake, and regulation, and amino acid uptake when compared to microaerobic conditions. The higher abundance of proteins related to oxidative stress was correlated to dramatically higher transcript levels of the corresponding encoding genes in aerobic conditions compared to microaerobic conditions. In addition, a higher catalase-equivalent activity in strain Bf was observed. Despite the restricted catabolic capacities of C. jejuni, this study reveals that strain Bf is equipped to withstand oxidative stress. This ability could contribute to emergence and persistence of particular strains of C. jejuni throughout food processing or macrophage attack during human infection.
Podophyllotoxin Derivatives Show Activity against Brontispa Longissima Larvae

In an attempt to find biorational insecticides, eleven podophyllotoxin analogues were tested for their insecticidal activity against the fifth-instar larvae of Brontispa longissima in vivo for the first time. Among all of the tested compounds, deoxypodophyllotoxin (3) and β-apopicropodophyllin (4) showed more promising and pronounced insecticidal activity than toosendanin, a commercial insecticide derived from Melia toosendan, and important SAR information has been revealed. Together, these preliminary results may be useful in guiding further modification of podophyllotoxins in the development of potential new insecticides.
Growth Hormone Mediates Pubertal Skeletal Development Independent of Hepatic IGF-1 Production

Deficiencies in either growth hormone (GH) or insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) are associated with reductions in bone size during growth in humans and animal models. Liver‐specific IGF‐1‐deficient (LID) mice, which have 75% reductions in serum IGF‐1, were created previously to separate the effects of endocrine (serum) IGF‐1 from autocrine/paracrine IGF‐1. However, LID mice also have two‐ to threefold increases in GH, and this may contribute to the observed pubertal skeletal phenotype. To clarify the role of GH in skeletal development under conditions of significantly reduced serum IGF‐1 levels (but normal tissue IGF‐1 levels), we studied the skeletal response of male LID and control mice to GH inhibition by pegvisomant from 4 to 8 weeks of age. Treatment of LID mice with pegvisomant resulted in significant reductions in body weight, femur length (Le), and femur total area (Tt.Ar), as well as further reductions in serum IGF‐1 levels by 8 weeks of age, compared with the mean values of vehicle‐treated LID mice. Reductions in both Tt.Ar and Le were proportional after treatment with pegvisomant. On the other hand, the relative amount of cortical tissue formed (RCA) in LID mice treated with pegvisomant was significantly less than that in both vehicle‐treated LID and control mice, indicating that antagonizing GH action, either directly (through GH receptor signaling inhibition) or indirectly (through further reductions in serum/tissue IGF‐1 levels), results in disproportionate reductions in the amount of cortical bone formed. This resulted in bones with significantly reduced mechanical properties (femoral whole‐bone stiffness and work to failure were markedly decreased), suggesting that compensatory increases of GH in states of IGF‐1 deficiency (LID mice) act to protect against a severe inhibition of bone modeling during growth, which otherwise would result in bones that are too weak for normal and/or extreme loading conditions. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The acute inflammatory response in CNS following injection of prion brain homogenate or normal brain homogenate

The neuropathological hallmarks of end‐stage prion disease are vacuolation, neuronal loss, astrocytosis and deposition of PrPSc amyloid. We have also shown that there is an inflammatory response in the brains of scrapie‐affected mice from 8 weeks post‐injection. In this study we have investigated the acute CNS response to the intracerebral injection of scrapie‐affected brain homogenate. The ME7 strain of scrapie (Neuropathogenesis Unit, Edinburgh) was used, and control mice were injected with brain homogenate derived from normal C57BL/6 J mice. One microlitre of 10% w/v ME7 (n=33) and normal brain homogenate (n=28) was injected stereotaxically into the right dorsal hippocampus. Cryostat sections of brains taken at 1, 2, 5, 7, 14 and 28 days post‐injection were examined histologically for neuronal loss, and immunocytochemically to study the inflammatory response. This study shows that ME7 is not acutely neurotoxic in vivo. There is also no difference (anova) in the inflammatory response, which peaked between 2 and 5 days and resolved by 4 weeks after intracerebral injection of either ME7 or normal brain homogenate. The well circumscribed inflammatory response seen previously at 8 weeks is therefore a consequence of a disease process rather than a surgical artefact. This disease process may be related to a localized accumulation of PrPSc sufficient to stimulate an inflammatory response which in turn may contribute to neuronal loss. The role of the inflammatory response in chronic neurodegeneration can be usefully studied using this mouse model of prion disease, and this will undoubtedly shed light on the pathogenic mechanisms underlying other chronic neurodegenerative diseases.