Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intravenous Administration of Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Induces Angiogenesis in the Ischemic Boundary Zone After Stroke in Rats

Abstract— We tested the hypothesis that intravenous infusion of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) promotes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expression and angiogenesis in the ischemic boundary zone (IBZ) after stroke. hMSCs (1×106) were intravenously injected into rats 24 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), immunohistochemistry and ELISA were performed to assay angiogenesis and levels of human and rat VEGF in the host brain, respectively. In addition, capillary-like tube formation was measured using mouse brain-derived endothelial cells (MBDECs). Morphological and three dimensional image analyses revealed significant (P <0.05) increases in numbers of enlarged and thin walled blood vessels and numbers of newly formed capillaries at the boundary of the ischemic lesion in rats (n=12) treated with hMSCs compared with numbers in rats (n=12) treated with PBS. ELISA measurements showed that treatment with hMSCs significantly (P <0.05) raised endogenous rat VEGF levels in the IBZ from 10.5±1.7 ng/mL in the control group to 17.5±1.6 ng/mL in the hMSC-treated group. In addition, treatment with hMSCs increased endogenous VEGFR2 immunoreactivity. In vitro, when MBDECs were incubated with the supernatant obtained from cultured hMSCs, capillary-like tube formation was significantly (P <0.01) induced. However, hMSC-induced capillary-like tube formation was significantly (P <0.01) inhibited when the endothelial cells were incubated with the supernatant from hMSCs in the presence of a neutralizing anti-VEGFR2. These data suggest that treatment of stroke with hMSCs enhances angiogenesis in the host brain and hMSC-enhanced angiogenesis is mediated by increases in levels of endogenous rat VEGF and VEGFR2.
Impact of gendered ingroup/outgroup ostracism on women’s academic performances

ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of ostracism (vs. inclusion) for women in a same-sex vs. opposite-sex group on their cognitive performances. Female participants played Cyberball with other women or men and were either included or excluded. Participants then had to engage in the performance tasks. Results showed that women’s performance was decreased by ostracism in a math task (but not a verbal task) yet only in the same-sex condition. Furthermore, this result was obtained only among participants who did the numeric task first. No effect was observed in the verbal task. Two replications of the initial study were conducted using the math task. The result of the first study has been replicated one time. A meta-analysis revealed a small effect of ostracism on performance in the ingroup condition, whereas the effect seems to be non-existent in the outgroup condition. Results are discussed and future perspectives are proposed.
Inhibition of the cell cycle is required for convergent extension of the paraxial mesoderm during Xenopus neurulation

Coordination of morphogenesis and cell proliferation is essential during development. In Xenopus, cell divisions are rapid and synchronous early in development but then slow and become spatially restricted during gastrulation and neurulation. One tissue that transiently stops dividing is the paraxial mesoderm, a dynamically mobile tissue that forms the somites and body musculature of the embryo. We have found that cessation of cell proliferation is required for the proper positioning and segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm as well as the complete elongation of the Xenopus embryo. Instrumental in this cell cycle arrest is Wee2, a Cdk inhibitory kinase that is expressed in the paraxial mesoderm from mid-gastrula stages onwards. Morpholino-mediated depletion of Wee2 increases the mitotic index of the paraxial mesoderm and this results in the failure of convergent extension and somitogenesis in this tissue. Similar defects are observed if the cell cycle is inappropriately advanced by other mechanisms. Thus, the low mitotic index of the paraxial mesoderm plays an essential function in the integrated cell movements and patterning of this tissue.
The Role of Semantic Clustering in Optimal Memory Foraging

Recent studies of semantic memory have investigated two theories of optimal search adopted from the animal foraging literature: Lévy flights and marginal value theorem. Each theory makes different simplifying assumptions and addresses different findings in search behaviors. In this study, an experiment is conducted to test whether clustering in semantic memory may play a role in evidence for both theories. Labeled magnets and a whiteboard were used to elicit spatial representations of semantic knowledge about animals. Category recall sequences from a separate experiment were used to trace search paths over the spatial representations of animal knowledge. Results showed that spatial distances between animal names arranged on the whiteboard were correlated with inter-response intervals (IRIs) during category recall, and distributions of both dependent measures approximated inverse power laws associated with Lévy flights. In addition, IRIs were relatively shorter when paths first entered animal clusters, and longer when they exited clusters, which is consistent with marginal value theorem. In conclusion, area-restricted searches over clustered semantic spaces may account for two different patterns of results interpreted as supporting two different theories of optimal memory foraging.
COMMD Proteins, a Novel Family of Structural and Functional Homologs of MURR1*

MURR1 is a multifunctional protein that inhibits nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), a transcription factor with pleiotropic functions affecting innate and adaptive immunity, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and oncogenesis. Here we report the discovery of a new family of proteins with homology to MURR1. These proteins form multimeric complexes and were identified in a biochemical screen for MURR1-associated factors. The family is defined by the presence of a conserved and unique motif termed the COMM (copper metabolism gene MURR1) domain, which functions as an interface for protein-protein interactions. Like MURR1, several of these factors also associate with and inhibit NF-κB. The proteins designated as COMMD or COMM domain containing 1–10 are extensively conserved in multicellular eukaryotic organisms and define a novel family of structural and functional homologs of MURR1. The prototype of this family, MURR1/COMMD1, suppresses NF-κB not by affecting nuclear translocation or binding of NF-κB to cognate motifs; rather, it functions in the nucleus by affecting the association of NF-κB with chromatin.
REPEATED EVOLUTION OF CROP THEFT IN FUNGUS‐FARMING AMBROSIA BEETLES

Ambrosia beetles, dominant wood degraders in the tropics, create tunnels in dead trees and employ gardens of symbiotic fungi to extract nutrients from wood. Specificity of the beetle–fungus relationship has rarely been examined, and simple vertical transmission of a specific fungal cultivar by each beetle species is often assumed in literature. We report repeated evolution of fungal crop stealing, termed mycocleptism, among ambrosia beetles. The mycocleptic species seek brood galleries of other species, and exploit their established fungal gardens by tunneling through the ambient mycelium‐laden wood. Instead of carrying their own fungal sybmbionts, mycocleptae depend on adopting the fungal assemblages of their host species, as shown by an analysis of fungal DNA from beetle galleries. The evidence for widespread horizontal exchange of fungi between beetles challenges the traditional concept of ambrosia fungi as species‐specific symbionts. Fungus stealing appears to be an evolutionarily successful strategy. It evolved independently in several beetle clades, two of which have radiated, and at least one case was accompanied by a loss of the beetles’ fungus‐transporting organs. We demonstrate this using the first robust phylogeny of one of the world's largest group of ambrosia beetles, Xyleborini.
Infants’ Motor Proficiency and Statistical Learning for Actions

Prior research has shown that infants learn statistical regularities in action sequences better than they learn non-action event sequences. This is consistent with current theories claiming that the same mechanism guides action observation and action execution. The current eye-tracking study tested the prediction, based on these theories, that infants’ ability to learn statistical regularities in action sequences is modulated by their own motor abilities. Eight- to eleven-month-old infants observed an action sequence containing two deterministic action pairs (i.e., action A always followed by action B) embedded within an otherwise random sequence. One pair was performed with a whole-hand grasp. The second pair was performed with a pincer grasp, a fine motor skill that emerges around 9 months of age. Infants were then categorized into groups according to which grasp was dominant in their motor repertoire. Predictive looks to correct upcoming actions during the deterministic pairs were analyzed to measure whether infants learned and anticipated the sequence regularities. Findings indicate that infants learned the statistical regularities: across motor groups, they made more correct than incorrect predictive fixations to upcoming actions. Overall, learning was not significantly modulated by their dominant grasping abilities. However, infants with a dominant pincer grasp showed an earlier increase in correct predictions for the pincer grasp pair and not the whole-hand grasp. Likewise, infants with a dominant whole-hand grasp showed an early increase in correct predictions for the pair performed with a whole-hand grasp, and not the pincer grasp. Together, these findings suggest that infants’ ability to learn action sequences is facilitated when the observed action matches their own action repertoire. However, findings cannot be explained entirely by motor accounts, as infants also learned the actions less congruent with their own abilities. Findings are discussed in terms of the interplay between the motor system and additional non-motor resources during the acquisition of new motor skills in infancy.
Antimicrobial Resistance of Sterile Site Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Abstract Sparse data exist from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A prior review of antimicrobial resistance in SSA from 1990 to 2013 showed a high prevalence of AMR to commonly used antibiotics in this setting. We reviewed the literature published since 2013. Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and African Journals Online) were searched for articles between February 2013 and March 2016 with a focus on sterile site infections (bacteremia, urinary tract infections [UTIs], and meningitis). We focused on the original World Health Organization–identified priority pathogens and antibiotics, prior to the release of the most recently updated and expanded list in 2017. There were 19 eligible studies: bacteremia (12), UTI (6), and meningitis (1). Eight studies were from Western and Central Africa, 8 from Eastern Africa, and 4 from Southern Africa. Prevalence of Escherichia coli resistance to third-generation cephalosporins ranged from 0% to 75%. No studies reported resistance to carbapenems among Klebsiella spp. Prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance ranged from 8.3% to 100% among E. coli and 0% to 15% among Salmonella spp. Prevalence of resistance to penicillin among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates ranged from 25% to 100%. Testing for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase was reported in 7 studies (range, 1.3–60% among tested isolates). Methods for evaluating AMR varied across studies; standardized approaches are needed in the region. Testing for mechanisms of resistance is low even in research settings, but important mechanisms of resistance such as ESBL production are present.
Amino acid changes within the Bunyamwera virus nucleocapsid protein differentially affect the mRNA transcription and RNA replication activities of assembled ribonucleoprotein templates

The genome of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) comprises three RNA segments that are encapsidated by the virus-encoded nucleocapsid (N) protein to form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. These RNPs are the functional templates for RNA synthesis by the virus-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). We investigated the roles of conserved positively charged N-protein amino acids in RNA binding, in oligomerization to form model RNPs and in generating RNP templates active for both RNA replication and mRNA transcription. We identified several residues that performed important roles in RNA binding, and furthermore showed that a single amino acid change can differentially affect the ability of the resulting RNP templates to regulate the transcription and replication activities of the RdRp. These results indicate that the BUNV N protein possesses functions outside of its primary role of RNA encapsidation.
Descriptions of groups using formal language theory

Descriptions of Groups using Formal Language Theory Gabriela Asli Rino Nesin This work treats word problems of finitely generated groups and variations thereof, such as word problems of pairs of groups and irreducible word problems of groups. These problems can be seen as formal languages on the generators of the group and as such they can be members of certain well-known language classes, such as the class of regular, one-counter, context-free, recursively enumerable or recursive languages, or less well known ones such as the class of terminal Petri net languages. We investigate what effect the class of these various problems has on the algebraic structure of the relevant group or groups. We first generalize some results on pairs of groups, which were previously proven for context-free pairs of groups only. We then proceed to look at irreducible word problems, where our main contribution is the fact that a group for which all irreducible word problems are recursively enumerable must necessarily have solvable word problem. We then investigate groups for which membership of the irreducible word problem in the class of recursively enumerable languages is not independent of generating set. Lastly, we prove that groups whose word problem is a terminal Petri net language are exactly the virtually abelian groups.
Influence of Uncertainties in the Material Properties of Brain Tissue on the Probabilistic Volume of Tissue Activated

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of uncertainty of the material properties of brain tissue on the probabilistic voltage response and the probabilistic volume of tissue activated (VTA) in a volume conductor model of deep brain stimulation. To quantify the uncertainties of the desired quantities without changing the deterministic model, a nonintrusive projection method was used by approximating these quantities by a polynomial expansion on a multidimensional basis known as polynomial chaos. The coefficients of this expansion were computed with a multidimensional quadrature on sparse Smolyak grids. The deterministic model combines a finite element model based on a digital brain atlas and a multicompartmental model of mammalian nerve fibers. The material properties of brain tissue were modeled as uniform random parameters using data from several experimental studies. Different magnitudes of uncertainty in the material properties were computed to allow predictions on the resulting uncertainties in the desired quantities. The results showed a major contribution of the uncertainties in the electrical conductivity values of brain tissue on the voltage response as well as on the predicted VTA, while the influence of the uncertainties in the relative permittivity was negligible.
RecD2 Helicase Limits Replication Fork Stress in Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT DNA helicases have important roles in genome maintenance. The RecD helicase has been well studied as a component of the heterotrimeric RecBCD helicase-nuclease enzyme important for double-strand break repair in Escherichia coli. Interestingly, many bacteria lack RecBC and instead contain a RecD2 helicase, which is not known to function as part of a larger complex. Depending on the organism studied, RecD2 has been shown to provide resistance to a broad range of DNA-damaging agents while also contributing to mismatch repair (MMR). Here we investigated the importance of Bacillus subtilis RecD2 helicase to genome integrity. We show that deletion of recD2 confers a modest increase in the spontaneous mutation rate and that the mutational signature in ΔrecD2 cells is not consistent with an MMR defect, indicating a new function for RecD2 in B. subtilis. To further characterize the role of RecD2, we tested the deletion strain for sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. We found that loss of RecD2 in B. subtilis sensitized cells to several DNA-damaging agents that can block or impair replication fork movement. Measurement of replication fork progression in vivo showed that forks collapse more frequently in ΔrecD2 cells, supporting the hypothesis that RecD2 is important for normal replication fork progression. Biochemical characterization of B. subtilis RecD2 showed that it is a 5′-3′ helicase and that it directly binds single-stranded DNA binding protein. Together, our results highlight novel roles for RecD2 in DNA replication which help to maintain replication fork integrity during normal growth and when forks encounter DNA damage.
There Are More Things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, Than Are Dreamt of in Our Philosophy.

e740 www.ccmjournal. org July 2017 • Volume 45 • Number 7 The authors reply: We want to thank Moser et al (1) for their valuable comments regarding our recent review article published in Critical Care Medicine. The authors clearly identify the dilemma: earlier detection and better implementation of best-care practices are transforming the natural history of sepsis and septic shock, increasing the number of patients who survive their early inflammatory challenge, but fail to fully recover, and experience chronic critical illness (2). The crux of their argument (1) is that the labeling of this newly described phenotype as a persistent inflammatory, immunosuppressive, protein catabolic syndrome (PICS) is unwelcome because the “dysregulated immune response” contained in the new definition of sepsis (3) also includes smoldering organ injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurohumeral dysfunction, endothelial responses, and programmed death of the organism. In their opinion, the acronym, PICS, limits or deemphasizes other important aspects of sepsis pathophysiology and hinders a broader understanding of the syndrome. The authors go on to conclude that host immunity is not central to recovery from sepsis by using the oft referred statement, “over 150 trials aimed at intervening with the immunological There Are More Things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, Than Are Dreamt of in Our Philosophy
Follow-up of venom immunotherapy (VIT) based on conventional techniques and monitoring of immunoglobulin E to individual venom allergens.

OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of venom immunotherapy (VIT) and monitor changes in in vivo and in vitro test results after 5 years of treatment and subsequent follow-up. To study the profile of immunoglobulin (Ig) E to individual allergens prior to treatment and 1 year afterwards. METHODS We studied 562 patients with hymenoptera venom allergy (438 to bee, 124 to wasp), all of whom underwent immunotherapy with Apis or Vespula extract. The patients were followed up using conventional in vivo and in vitro tests, and in 51 cases, specific IgE against the main hymenoptera allergens was measured before starting and after 1 year of treatment. RESULTS Of the 387 patients who completed VLT, 130 sensitized to Apis and 68 to Vespula suffered spontaneous re-stings during treatment. Of these, 123 (94.6%) did not suffer any reaction and 64 (94.1%) suffered only a local reaction. Sixty-two patients sensitized to Apis and 14 sensitized to Vespula suffered spontaneous re-stings after stopping treatment. Only 3 patients suffered a systemic reaction (grade I Müller). At the end of treatment, the results of skin tests and specific IgE to whole extract improved significantly. Reductions in IgE to the main allergens were observed after 1 year of treatment (median differences in Ves v 5, -238.0, P = .0425; and in Api m 1, -183.0, P = .0024). CONCLUSION The high rate of spontaneous re-stings shows that efficacy is maintained for years after completing treatment in a real-world setting. Determination of IgE to individual venom allergens may offer new perspectives in the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients.
Validating the Street Survival Skills Questionnaire

The utility of the Street Survival Skills Questionnaire was investigated using a sample of 18 trainable mentally retarded males attending public schools. Pearson product-moment correlations were computed among the total scores, four standard scores on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale—Survey Form, and three Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised IQs. The Street Skills scores correlated significantly with Vineland Daily Living scores and WISC—R Full Scale and Performance IQs; however, nonsignificant relationships were obtained with WISC—R Verbal IQs, Vineland Composite scores, Communication Domain scores, and Socialization Domain scores. The use of the questionnaire in assessment of adaptive behavior was supported but within a narrow scope, i.e., daily or functional living knowledge.
Disinfection of Bovine Enamel by Microwave Irradiation: Effect on the Surface Microhardness and Demineralization/Remineralization Processes

Enamel specimens need to be disinfected before being used in intraoral appliances and the disinfection method must not affect the integrity of the tooth. This study evaluated the effectiveness of microwave bovine enamel disinfection and its effect on the surface microhardness (SMH) and cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) of sound, demineralized and remineralized enamel. Forty enamel specimens were divided into two groups (n = 20): control (nonirradiated) and microwave. Microwave specimens were immersed in water and irradiated (650 W/3 min). Specimens were incubated at 37°C for 7 days under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. An aliquot was removed for counting, plated at serial dilutions on blood agar plates, which were incubated aerobically and anaerobically. The colony-forming units were calculated. Other 20 enamel specimens (4 × 4 mm) were embedded in acrylic resin, polished and sliced into two halves: one of the fragments was reserved as control while the other was microwaved. SMH and CSMH of sound enamel were analyzed for both groups. The CSMH was further evaluated after demineralization and remineralization cycles. The Knoop integral (ΔKI) was also calculated. Data were analyzed statistically by paired Student’s t test (α = 0.05). While control specimens showed microbial growth, those microwaved were disinfected. There were no significant differences in SMH, CSMH and ΔKI between the control and microwave groups. Microwave irradiation for 3 min at 650 W was effective for the complete disinfection of bovine enamel specimens without affecting the SMH and CSMH of sound, demineralized and remineralized enamel.