Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salmonella infections in the absence of the major histocompatibility complex II

We examined the pathogenesis of the facultative intracellular bacterium, Salmonella typhimurium in MHCII‐/‐, C2D knock‐out mice, and wild‐type C57BL/6J mice. The MHCII knock‐out shortened the kinetics of animal death and reduced the dose of S. typhimurium needed to kill mice. We measured the physiological and cytokine responses of both mouse strains after S. typhimurium injection. Animal weight loss, spleen weights, liver weights, thymus weights, and serum corticosterone concentrations were comparable after injection with several doses of bacteria. The only physiological differences observed between the two strains were observed 3 days after injection of the highest dose of bacteria tested. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin‐2, and interleukin‐6 increased in a dose‐dependent fashion irrespective of mouse MHCII expression. Therefore, even in the absence of MHCII, mice are able to mount relatively normal physiological and immunological responses. Consistent with these normal responses, an increased percentage of MHCII‐/‐mice, primed with a low dose of bacteria 13 days earlier, were able to survive a lethal challenge of Salmonella compared with unprimed controls. Lastly, C2D mice had significantly higher serum interleukin‐10 concentrations than C57BL/6J mice 48 h after infection with all doses of S. typhimurium. C2D macrophages also secreted significantly more IL‐10 and less NO and O2 –after lipopolysaccharide or phorbol ester stimulation in vitro than wild‐type macrophages. J. Leukoc. Biol. 63: 297–304; 1998.
Treatment efficacy and superinfection rates in complicated urinarytract infections treated with ertapenem or piperacillin tazobactam.

BACKGROUND/AIM In this retrospective study, the efficacy of ertapenem and piperacillin tazobactam was compared in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs). Treatment responses were also evaluated for both antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 230 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 170 received ertapenem and 60 received piperacillin-tazobactam. RESULTS In both groups, urine cultures after 48 h were negative for the initial uropathogen. The frequency of superinfection was 29.4% in the ertapenem group and 8.3% in the piperacillin-tazobactam group over the duration of treatment (P < 0.05). Urinary catheterization increased the superinfection risk 2.88-fold in the ertapenem group and diabetes mellitus increased the risk 8.50-fold in the piperacillin-tazobactam group (CI: 1.44-5.76 and 1.16-62.09, respectively, P < 0.05). The main pathogen isolated from superinfection in the ertapenem group after 48 h was Enterococcus spp. (71.4%). CONCLUSION Both ertapenem and piperacillin-tazobactam were effective in the treatment of cUTIs caused by ESBL-producing microorganisms. A high frequency of superinfection in the ertapenem group was the result of Enterococcus and Pseudomonas spp. , against which ertapenem is not active. In the presence of urinary catheterization, diabetes mellitus, and urological intervention, patients should be closely monitored for the development of a superinfection, especially patients receiving ertapenem.
Heme Oxygenase-1 Alleviates Mouse Hepatic Failure through Suppression of Adaptive Immune Responses

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has protective effects on liver damage induced by noxious stimuli. The mechanism of action of HO-1 is not well understood. In the present study, we investigate the effect of HO-1 in a model of fulminant hepatic failure induced by Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein in the liver was increased after repeated administration of the HO-1 inducer cobalt protoporphyrin IX. We found that HO-1 protected mice from acute liver damage induced by P. acnes/LPS and prolonged survival. On the contrary, administration of the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX increased liver damage induced by P. acnes/LPS. Subsequently, to investigate the underlying mechanisms of HO-1 in the acute liver injury model, we primed mice with P. acnes only. We found that the expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein in dendritic cells (DCs) was increased after the administration of cobalt protoporphyrin IX. HO-1 decreased the mature markers major histocompatibility complex II and CD80 on liver DCs. The expression of CCR7, CCL2, and CCL22 mRNA, which are expressed by mature DCs, was also reduced. These liver DCs could not efficiently stimulate CD4+ T cell activation and proliferation. Consequently, HO-1 inhibited the activation, proliferation, and T helper 1 polarization of liver-infiltrating CD4+ T cells and reduced the production of serum alanine aminotransferase and proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α. Taken together, our data suggest that HO-1 alleviates P. acnes/LPS-induced fulminant hepatic failure, probably by inhibiting DC-induced adaptive responses.
Long-term durability, tissue regeneration and neo-organ growth during skeletal maturation with a neo-bladder augmentation construct.

AIMS To comparatively evaluate bladder regeneration following 80% cystectomy and augmentation using a synthetic biopolymer with autologous urothelial and smooth muscle cells (autologous neo-bladder augmentation construct [construct]) or autotransplantation of native bladder (reimplanted native urinary bladder [reimplant]) in canines. MATERIALS & METHODS Voiding function, urodynamic assessment and neo-organ capacity-to-body-weight ratio (C:BW) were assessed longitudinally for a total of 24 months following trigone-sparing augmentation cystoplasty in juvenile canines. RESULTS Within 30 days postimplantation, hematology and urinalysis returned to baseline. Constructs and reimplants yielded neo-organs with statistically equivalent urodynamics and histology. Linear regression analysis of C:BW showed that constructs regained baseline slope and continued to adapt with animal growth. CONCLUSIONS Constructs and reimplants regained and maintained native bladder histology by 3 months, capacity at 3-6 months and compliance by 12-24 months. Furthermore, construct C:BW demonstrated the ability of regenerated bladder to respond to growth regulation.
acuity in eyes with CSME HD-OCT shows a weak correlation with visual Central retinal thickness measured with

2,3,4,5ABSTRACTAims To investigate the correlation between increasedretinal thickness (RT) measured with spectral domainhigh-deﬁnition optical coherence tomography (OCT)(Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California,USA)) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in eyeswith clinically signiﬁcant macular oedema (CSME) andtype 2 diabetes.Methods Seventy eyes with CSME were included in thisobservational study. Sixty-two eyes were considered foranalysis and were classiﬁed as having/not having retinalthickening in the central fovea (central 500-
ATP-induced P2X7-associated uptake of large molecules involves distinct mechanisms for cations and anions in macrophages

Macrophages express the P2X7 receptor and other nucleotide (P2) receptors, and display the phenomenon of extracellular ATP (ATPe)-induced P2X7-dependent membrane permeabilization, which occurs through a poorly understood mechanism. We used patch-clamp recordings, cytoplasmic Ca2+ measurements and fluorescent dye uptake assays to compare P2X7-associated transport phenomena of macrophages and HEK-293 cells transfected with P2X7 receptors (HEK-P2X7 cells). Both cell types showed inward currents, increase of free cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and the uptake of cationic dyes upon exposure to ATPe, as previously described. However, in contrast to the macrophages, HEK-P2X7 cells did not take up anionic dyes and did not display the 440 pS channels (Z pores) under cell-attached patch-clamping conditions. In addition, the transport mechanism of anionic dyes displayed by macrophages was also able to support dye efflux and, once activated at 37°C, it remained active at 4°C, whereas uptake of cationic dyes was temperature-dependent and unidirectional. Our results indicate that the mechanism of ATPe-induced dye uptake, usually called a `permeabilization phenomenon' and associated with a `permeabilization pore' can be ascribed to at least two distinct mechanisms in macrophages: a diffusional pathway, possibly associated with the 440 pS Z pores, and a cation uptake mechanism that is not diffusional and should be ascribed to an, as yet, unidentified transport mechanism.
An Improved k-Nearest Neighbor Algorithm for Text Categorization

k is the most important parameter in a text categorization system based on k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm (kNN). In the classification process, k nearest documents to the test one in the training set are determined firstly. Then, the predication can be made according to the category distribution among these k nearest neighbors. Generally speaking, the class distribution in the training set is uneven. Some classes may have more samples than others. Therefore, the system performance is very sensitive to the choice of the parameter k. And it is very likely that a fixed k value will result in a bias on large categories. To deal with these problems, we propose an improved kNN algorithm, which uses different numbers of nearest neighbors for different categories, rather than a fixed number across all categories. More samples (nearest neighbors) will be used for deciding whether a test document should be classified to a category, which has more samples in the training set. Preliminary experiments on Chinese text categorization show that our method is less sensitive to the parameter k than the traditional one, and it can properly classify documents belonging to smaller classes with a large k. The method is promising for some cases, where estimating the parameter k via cross-validation is not allowed.
THE QUANTUM CORRECTION IN THE RADIATION BY ENERGETIC ACCELERATED ELECTRONS.

* Most of the work discussed in this note was supported by the Office of Naval Research. Sieger, B. , Ann. d. Physik, 27, 622 (1908). Wien, W. , Jahresbericht d. deutsch Math. Verein, 15, 42 (1906). Schwarzschild, K. , Math. Ann., 55, 177 (1902). Morse, P. M. , and Rubinstein, P. J., Phys. Rev., 54, 895 (1938). Lord Rayleigh, Phil. Mag. , (5) 43, 259 (1897); 44, 28 (1897). Epstein, P. S. , Encyklopddie fur die Mathematischen Wissenschafften, Vol. 5, III. 2 Miles, J. W. , J. of Math. and Phys., 28, 223 (1950). Groschwitz and Honl, H. , Z. Physik, 131, 305 (1952). Sommerfeld, A. , Vorlesungen fiber theoretische Physik, Bd. IV, Optik, 39. Muller, Rolf and Westpfahl, Konrad, Z. fur Physik, 134, 245 (1953). 3 Moullin, E. B. , and Phillips, F. M. , Proc. Inst. Elec. Engr8. , Part IV, 99, 137 (1952). Morse and Rubinstein, loc. cit. (ref. 1). 4Levine, H. , and Schwinger, J., Comm. Pure and App. Math., 3, 355 (1950). See also Baker B. B. , and Copson, E. T. , The Mathematical Theory of Huygens' Principle, 2nd ed., Oxford (1950), Chapter V, § 6.2; Marcuvitz, N. , in the New York University Seminar Notes, "Recent Developments in the Theory of Wave Propagation," § III D, New York (1953); and Erddlyi, A. , Acc. d. Sci. Torino, Atti, 87 (1952-53) for the scalar case. 6 Fock, V. , J. ofPhys. of U.S.S.R. , 10, 130 (1946). 6 Bouwkamp, C. J., Physica, 12, 467 (1946). Meixner, J., Ann. d. Phys., (6)6,2 (1949). 7 Papas, C. H. , J. App. Phys., 21, 318 (1950). 8 Twersky, V. , Research Report No. EM-54, Math. Res. Group, N. Y. U. 9 Brillouin, L. , J. App. Phys., 20, 1110 (1949). 10 Lowan and Abramowitz, J. Math. Phys., 22, 2 (1943). Watson, G. N. , Bessel Functions, Cambridge (1945). 11 Epstein, P. S. , loc. cit. ref. 1, p. 511. Baker, B. B. , and Copson, E. T. , loc. cit. ref. 4.
Dose-Dependent Effects of the Myosin Activator Omecamtiv Mecarbil on Cross-Bridge Behavior and Force Generation in Failing Human Myocardium

Background: Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) enhances systolic function in vivo by directly binding the myosin cross-bridges (XBs) in the sarcomere. However, the mechanistic details governing OM-induced modulation of XB behavior in failing human myocardium are unclear. Methods and Results: The effects of OM on steady state and dynamic XB behavior were measured in chemically skinned myocardial preparations isolated from human donor and heart failure (HF) left ventricle. HF myocardium exhibited impaired contractile function as evidenced by reduced maximal force, magnitude of XB recruitment (Pdf), and a slowed rate of XB detachment (krel) at submaximal Ca2+ activations. Ca2+ sensitivity of force generation (pCa50) was higher in HF myocardium when compared with donor myocardium, both prior to and after OM incubations. OM incubation (0.5 and 1.0 &mgr;mol/L) enhanced force generation at submaximal Ca2+ activations in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, OM induced a slowing in krel with 1.0 &mgr;mol/L OM but not with 0.5 &mgr;mol/L OM in HF myocardium. Additionally, OM exerted other differential effects on XB behavior in HF myocardium as evidenced by a greater enhancement in Pdf and slowing in the time course of cooperative XB recruitment (Trec), which collectively prolonged achievement of peak force development (Tpk), compared with donor myocardium. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that OM augments force generation but also prolongs the time course of XB transitions to force-bearing states in remodeled HF myocardium, which may extend the systolic ejection time in vivo. Optimal OM dosing is critical for eliciting enhanced systolic function without excessive prolongation of systolic ejection time, which may compromise diastolic filling.
Ambivalence Reduction and Polarization in the Campaign Information Environment

This study examines how the campaign information environment influences individuals’ ambivalence reduction and polarization. Based on the 2008 presidential television campaign advertising data and individuals’ electoral behavior data in 208 designated market areas nationwide, this study utilizes multilevel modeling to better understand the interactions between the effects of individual-level predispositions and that of the contextual-level campaign information environment. The findings of the study indicate that the campaign information environment does matter in ambivalence reduction and polarization. Individuals living in a media market where the volume of campaign advertising is relatively high are less ambivalent and more polarized in candidate evaluations. The patterns appear to be amplified among partisans, suggesting the campaign information environment functions as a “motivator. ” The partisan bias of the ads in a media market, however, exerts only limited influence. The implications for the functioning of democracy are discussed.
Phosphatidylserine in the outer leaflet of red blood cells from β‐thalassemia patients may explain the chronic hypercoagulable state and thrombotic episodes

Investigation of red blood cells from β‐thalassemia patients by means of prothrombinase assay reveals phosphatidylserine in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. This might explain their elevated susceptibility to phagocytosis by macrophages and the chronic hypercoagulable state, frequent thrombotic events, and life‐long platelet activation that are found in thalassemic patients. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Content-based data leakage detection using extended fingerprinting

Protecting sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure is a major concern of every organization. As an organizations employees need to access such information in order to carry out their daily work, data leakage detection is both an essential and challenging task. Whether caused by malicious intent or an inadvertent mistake, data loss can result in significant damage to the organization. Fingerprinting is a content-based method used for detecting data leakage. In fingerprinting, signatures of known confidential content are extracted and matched with outgoing content in order to detect leakage of sensitive content. Existing fingerprinting methods, however, suffer from two major limitations. First, fingerprinting can be bypassed by rephrasing (or minor modification) of the confidential content, and second, usually the whole content of document is fingerprinted (including non-confidential parts), resulting in false alarms. In this paper we propose an extension to the fingerprinting approach that is based on sorted k-skip-n-grams. The proposed method is able to produce a fingerprint of the core confidential content which ignores non-relevant (non-confidential) sections. In addition, the proposed fingerprint method is more robust to rephrasing and can also be used to detect a previously unseen confidential document and therefore provide better detection of intentional leakage incidents.
A novel method for generating highly extinctive optical pulse

A novel method for generating highly extinctive optical pulse is proposed in this paper. The continuous-wave (CW) light is modulated by an electrooptic phase modulator, and then modulated by a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator in which the nonlinear chirp and undesirable positive or negative chirp components are sufficiently restrained. The modulated light is compressed into pulse by an equivalent chirped fiber Bragg grating (ECFBG). The theory illustration and simulation are presented that ultra-short optical pulse with high extinction ratio larger than 30dB and tiny pedestal can be generated in this way, and an experiment based on fabricated ECFBG is shown.
The polygalacturonase gene BcMF2 from Brassica campestris is associated with intine development

Brassica campestris Male Fertility 2 (BcMF2) is a putative polygalacturonase (PG) gene previously isolated from the flower bud of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis Makino, syn. B. rapa ssp. chinensis). This gene was found to be expressed specifically in tapetum and pollen after the tetrad stage of anther development. Antisense RNA technology was used to study the function of BcMF2 in Chinese cabbage. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that there were deformities in the transgenic mature pollen grains such as abnormal location of germinal furrows. In addition, the homogeneous pectic exintine layer facing the exterior seemed to be overdeveloped and predominantly occupied the intine, thus reversing the normal proportional distribution of the internal endintine layer and the external exintine layer. Since it is a continuation of the intine layer, the pollen tube wall could not grow normally. This resulted in the formation of a balloon-like swelling structure in the pollen tube tip in nearly 80% of the transgenic pollen grains. Premature degradation of tapetum was also found in these transgenic plants, which displayed decreased expression of the BcMF2 gene. BcMF2 might therefore encode a new PG with an important role in pollen wall development, possibly via regulation of pectin's dynamic metabolism.
Antibacterial Effect of Different Concentration of Boric acid against Enterococcus Faecalis Biofilms in Root Canal

The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of different concentration of boric acid in root canals that were infected with Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. 104 single-canal premolar teeth were prepared and then disinfected and sterilized. E.faecalis were inoculated into the root canals and kept at 37°C for 24 hours. The re-inoculation procedure was repeated on the first, fourth, seventh and tenth days with fresh culture. The infected root canals were divided into one negative (saline), one positive (sodium hypochlorite) control group, and three experimental groups (boric acid; 2%, 4% and 6%) (n=20). Paper points were placed in root canals before and after irrigation to control and evaluate the biofilm formation. Biofilms were counted on blood agar plates, and the data were evaluated and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. There were statistically significant differences among three experimental group (boric acid; 2%, 4% and 6%). Although 6% concentration of boric acid indicated the highest antibacterial effect, it could not exhibit the same antibacterial effect as NaOCl. As a new product boric acid indicated considerable bactericidal effect against E.faecalis biofilms. However, the use of boric acid can be advisable with high concentrations and long irrigation time for root canals disinfection.
Inefficient Codon Usage Impairs mRNA Accumulation: the Case of the v-FLIP Gene of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

ABSTRACT Latent Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) genomes encode a homolog of cellular FLICE-inhibitory proteins (termed v-FLIP) that activates NF-κB and can trigger important proinflammatory and antiapoptotic changes in latently infected cells. The protein is present at very low levels in infection and has generally been difficult to efficiently express in recombinant vectors. Here we show that codon usage in the v-FLIP gene is strikingly suboptimal. Optimization of codon use in expression vectors, as expected, restores efficient protein expression. Surprisingly, however, it also dramatically increases the steady-state level of v-FLIP mRNA, at least in part by increasing mRNA stability. When codon-optimized v-FLIP sequences are reintroduced into intact KSHV genomes, the resulting virus expresses readily detectable monocistronic v-FLIP mRNAs that are undetectable in wild-type (WT) infection by blot hybridization, suggesting that such RNAs are in fact transcribed in WT infection but fail to accumulate. The overexpression of v-FLIP by codon-optimized latent genomes results in a 5- to 7-fold decrement in virus production following lytic induction, indicating that maximizing NF-κB signaling is deleterious to induction. These studies provide a clear explanation for the evolution of inefficient codon usage in this gene and point to a strong connection between translational efficiency and RNA accumulation in mammalian cells. IMPORTANCE This study reports that inefficient codon usage in a herpesviral gene is strikingly correlated with the inability of its mRNA to accumulate in cells; correction of efficient translatability restores RNA abundance. A similar correlation has been reported in yeast species, but the mechanisms operating in mammalian cells appear substantially different.