Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexible transnasal endoscopy: is local anaesthetic necessary?

Abstract Prior to flexible transnasal endoscopy (FTE) topical intranasal agents such as cocaine or combinations of a local anaesthetic and vasoconstrictor agent are generally recommended for local anaesthesia, easier access, and better examination of the interior of the nose, especially the middle meatus. This double-blind study involved 60 patients. Each had five per cent cocaine sprayed in one nostril and normal saline in the other. The pain/discomfort and gag scores showed no statistical difference. Forty-two (70 per cent) patients had a moderate/marked deviation of the nasal septum. A significant pain score (3–5) was obtained in 33.3 per cent of cases with the deviation towards the cocaine side and in 37 per cent of cases with the deviation towards the saline side. Ease of procedure scores for both sides were also comparable, when deviation of the nasal septum was taken into account.
Tick-Borne Zoonotic Bacteria in Wild and Domestic Small Mammals in Northern Spain

ABSTRACT The prevalence and diversity of tick-borne zoonotic bacteria (Borrelia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, and spotted fever group rickettsiae) infecting 253 small mammals captured in the Basque Country (Spain) were assessed using PCR and reverse line blot hybridization. Trapping sites were selected around sheep farms (study 1, 2000 to 2002) and recreational parks (study 2, 2003 to 2005). The majority of the studied mammals (162) were wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), but six other different species were also analyzed: yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), shrews (Crocidura russula and Sorex coronatus), bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), domestic mice (Mus domesticus), and moles (Talpa europaea). The results showed an infection rate ranging from 10.7% to 68.8%, depending on the small mammal species. One C. russula shrew and one A. sylvaticus mouse gave positive reactions for A. phagocytophilum, and C. burnetii was detected in two domestic mice and one A. sylvaticus mouse in a farm. The DNA of Borrelia spp. was detected in 67 animals (26.5%), most of them presenting positive hybridization with the probe for Borrelia sp. strain R57, the new Borrelia species previously detected in small mammals in our region. Furthermore, a second PCR and reverse line blot hybridization specific for B. burgdorferi sensu lato revealed the presence of Borrelia afzelii in 6.3% of C. glareolus voles and 14.3% of S. coronatus shrews. All small mammals were negative for spotted fever group rickettsiae. These results highlight the relevance of small mammals as reservoirs of some zoonotic bacteria.
Novel Cofactors and TFIIA Mediate Functional Core Promoter Selectivity by the Human TAFII150-Containing TFIID Complex

ABSTRACT TATA-binding protein-associated factors (TAFIIs) within TFIID control differential gene transcription through interactions with both activators and core promoter elements. In particular, TAFII150 contributes to initiator-dependent transcription through an unknown mechanism. Here, we address whether TAFIIs within TFIID are sufficient, in conjunction with highly purified general transcription factors (GTFs), for differential core promoter-dependent transcription by RNA polymerase II and whether additional cofactors are required. We identify the human homologue ofDrosophila TAFII150 through cognate cDNA cloning and show that it is a tightly associated component of human TFIID. More importantly, we demonstrate that the human TAFII150-containing TFIID complex is not sufficient, in the context of all purified GTFs and RNA polymerase II, to mediate transcription synergism between TATA and initiator elements and initiator-directed transcription from a TAFII-dependent TATA-less promoter. Therefore, TAFII-promoter interactions are not sufficient for the productive core promoter-selective functions of TFIID. Consistent with this finding, we have partially purified novel cofactor activities (TICs) that potentiate the TAFII-mediated synergism between TATA and initiator elements (TIC-1) and TAFII-dependent transcription from TATA-less promoters (TIC-2 and -3). Furthermore, we demonstrate an essential function for TFIIA in TIC- and TAFII-dependent basal transcription from a TATA-less promoter. Our results reveal a parallel between the basal transcription activity of TAFIIs through core promoter elements and TAFII-dependent activator function.
Capacitive-SAR ADC input offset reduction by stray capacitance compensation

A 10-bit, 80-kS/s charge-redistribution successive approximation analog-to-digital converter is presented, which incorporates a novel stray capacitance compensation technique that is appropriate for low-power design in order to accomplish input voltage offset reduction. Three different versions of the ADC were fabricated in 0.35 mum, 4M2P standard CMOS process. The compensation mechanism implemented in one of the ADC versions proved its effectiveness by showing an input voltage offset that is circa 60 times smaller than what was measured in the other two uncompensated versions. Also from fabricated samples of the compensated ADC, measured values for INL and DNL are 0.47 LSB and 0.58 LSB, respectively. Operating at 3.3V at the nominal speed, the offset-compensated ADC consumes 122 muW.
λν, a calculus of explicit substitutions which preserves strong normalisation

Abstract Explicit substitutions were proposed by Abadi, Cardelli, Curien, Hardin and Lévy to internalise substitutions into λ-calculus and to propose a mechanism for computing on substitutions. λν is another view of the same concept which aims to explain the process of substitution and to decompose it in small steps. It favours simplicity and preservation of strong normalisation. This way, another important property is missed, namely confluence on open terms. In spirit, λν is closely related to another calculus of explicit substitutions proposed by de Bruijn and called CλξΦ. In this paper, we introduce λν, we present CλξΦ in the same framework as λν and we compare both calculi. Moreover, we prove properties of λν; namely λν correctly implements β reduction, λν is confluent on closed terms, i.e. on terms of classical λ-calculus and on all terms that are derived from those terms, and finally λν preserves strong normalisation in the following sense: strongly β normalising terms are strongly λν normalising.
Cell-cycle-regulated control of VSG expression site silencing by histones and histone chaperones ASF1A and CAF-1b in Trypanosoma brucei

Antigenic variation in African trypanosomes involves monoallelic expression and reversible silencing of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes found adjacent to telomeres in polycistronic expression sites (ESs). We assessed the impact on ES silencing of five candidate essential chromatin-associated factors that emerged from a genome-wide RNA interference viability screen. Using this approach, we demonstrate roles in VSG ES silencing for two histone chaperones. Defects in S-phase progression in cells depleted for histone H3, or either chaperone, highlight in particular the link between chromatin assembly and DNA replication control. S-phase checkpoint arrest was incomplete, however, allowing G2/M-specific VSG ES derepression following knockdown of histone H3. In striking contrast, knockdown of anti-silencing factor 1A (ASF1A) allowed for derepression at all cell cycle stages, whereas knockdown of chromatin assembly factor 1b (CAF-1b) revealed derepression predominantly in S-phase and G2/M. Our results support a central role for chromatin in maintaining VSG ES silencing. ASF1A and CAF-1b appear to play constitutive and DNA replication-dependent roles, respectively, in the recycling and assembly of chromatin. Defects in these functions typically lead to arrest in S-phase but defective cells can also progress through the cell cycle leading to nucleosome depletion and derepression of telomeric VSG ESs.
Habitat modification and seasonality influence avian haemosporidian parasite distributions in southeastern Brazil

Habitat modification may change vertebrate and vector-borne disease distributions. However, natural forest regeneration through secondary succession may mitigate these effects. Here we tested the hypothesis that secondary succession influences the distribution of birds and their haemosporidian parasites (genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) in a seasonally dry tropical forest, a globally threatened ecosystem, in Brazil. Moreover, we assessed seasonal fluctuations in parasite prevalence and distribution. We sampled birds in four different successional stages at the peak and end of the rainy season, as well as in the middle and at the end of the dry season. A non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that bird communities in the pasture (i.e., highly modified) areas were different from those in the early, intermediate, and late successional areas (secondary forests). Among 461 individual birds, haemosporidian prevalence was higher in pasture areas than in the more advanced successional stages, but parasite communities were homogeneous across these areas. Parasite prevalence was higher in pasture-specialists birds (resilient species) than in forest-specialists species, suggesting that pasture-specialists may increase infection risk for co-occurring hosts. We found an increase in prevalence between the middle and end of the dry season, a period associated with the beginning of the breeding season (early spring) in southeastern Brazil. We also found effects of seasonality in the relative prevalence of specific parasite lineages. Our results show that natural forest recovery through secondary succession in SDTFs is associated with compositional differences in avian communities, and that advanced successional stages are associated with lower prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites.
Lower Intermediate Readers and Their Use of Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies

Despite much research done on strategy, there still exist several questions unanswered. Not much research is done to examine lower intermediate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ performance on the reading section of the First Certificate of English exam (FCER) in the post strategy instruction period. The results indicate that learners vary not only in terms of their performance on the FCER, but also on the employed metacognitive strategy. Furthermore, metacognitive strategies are the only predictors that positively predict learners’ performance in the FCER.
Analysis of functional domains of Rts1 RepA by means of a series of hybrid proteins with P1 RepA

The RepA protein of the plasmid Rts1, consisting of 288 amino acids, is a trans-acting protein essential for initiation of plasmid replication. To study the functional domains of RepA, hybrid proteins of Rts1 RepA with the RepA initiator protein of plasmid P1 were constructed such that the N-terminal portion was from Rts1 RepA and the C-terminal portion was from P1 RepA. Six hybrid proteins were examined for function. The N-terminal region of Rts1 RepA between amino acid residues 113 and 129 was found to be important for Rts1 ori binding in vitro. For activation of the origin in vivo, an Rts1 RepA subregion between residues 177 and 206 as well as the DNA binding domain was required. None of the hybrid initiator proteins activated the P1 origin. Both in vivo and in vitro studies showed, in addition, that a C-terminal portion of Rts1 RepA was required along with the DNA binding and ori activating domains to achieve autorepression, suggesting that the C-terminal region of Rts1 RepA is involved in dimer formation. A hybrid protein consisting of the N-terminal 145 amino acids of Rts1 and the C-terminal 142 amino acids from P1 showed strong interference with both Rts1 and P1 replication, whereas other hybrid proteins showed no or little effect on P1 replication.
La Crosse Bunyavirus Nonstructural Protein NSs Serves To Suppress the Type I Interferon System of Mammalian Hosts

ABSTRACT La Crosse virus (LACV) is a mosquito-transmitted member of the Bunyaviridae family that causes severe encephalitis in children. For the LACV nonstructural protein NSs, previous overexpression studies with mammalian cells had suggested two different functions, namely induction of apoptosis and inhibition of RNA interference (RNAi). Here, we demonstrate that mosquito cells persistently infected with LACV do not undergo apoptosis and mount a specific RNAi response. Recombinant viruses that either express (rLACV) or lack (rLACVdelNSs) the NSs gene similarly persisted and were prone to the RNAi-mediated resistance to superinfection. Furthermore, in mosquito cells overexpressed LACV NSs was unable to inhibit RNAi against Semliki Forest virus. In mammalian cells, however, the rLACVdelNSs mutant virus strongly activated the antiviral type I interferon (IFN) system, whereas rLACV as well as overexpressed NSs suppressed IFN induction. Consequently, rLACVdelNSs was attenuated in IFN-competent mouse embryo fibroblasts and animals but not in systems lacking the type I IFN receptor. In situ analyses of mouse brains demonstrated that wild-type and mutant LACV mainly infect neuronal cells and that NSs is able to suppress IFN induction in the central nervous system. Thus, our data suggest little relevance of the NSs-induced apoptosis or RNAi inhibition for growth or pathogenesis of LACV in the mammalian host and indicate that NSs has no function in the insect vector. Since deletion of the viral NSs gene can be fully complemented by inactivation of the host's IFN system, we propose that the major biological function of NSs is suppression of the mammalian innate immune response.
Assessing Problem-Based Learning in a Software Engineering Curriculum Using Bloom’s Taxonomy and the IEEE Software Engineering Body of Knowledge

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) has often been seen as an all-or-nothing approach, difficult to apply in traditional curricula based on traditional lectured courses with exercise and lab sessions. Aalborg University has since its creation in 1974 practiced PBL in all subjects, including computer science and software engineering, following a model that has become known as the Aalborg Model. Following a strategic decision in 2009, the Aalborg Model has been reshaped. We first report on the software engineering program as it was in the old Aalborg Model. We analyze the programme wrt competence levels according to Bloom’s taxonomy and compare it with the expected skills and competencies for an engineer passing a general software engineering 4-year program with an additional 4 years of experience as defined in the IEEE Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) [Abran et al. 2004]. We also compare with the Graduate Software Engineering 2009 Curriculum Guidelines for Graduate Degree Programmes in Software Engineering (GSwE2009) [Pyster 2009]. We then describe the new curriculum and draw some preliminary conclusions based on analyzing the curriculum according to Bloom’s taxonomy and the results of running the program for 2 years. As the new program is structured to be compliant with the Bologna Process and thus presents all activities in multipla of 5 European Credit Transfer System points, we envision that elements of the program could be used in more traditional curricula. This should be especially easy for programs also complying with the Bologna Process.
A Dimer as a Building Block in Assembling RNA

Six RNA (pRNA) molecules form a hexamer, via hand-in-hand interaction, to gear bacterial virus phi29 DNA translocation machinery. Here we report the pathway and the conditions for the hexamer formation. Stable pRNA dimers and trimers were assembled in solution, isolated from native gels, and separated by sedimentation, providing a model system for the study of RNA dimers and trimers in a protein-free environment. Cryo-atomic force microscopy revealed that monomers displayed a ✓ outline, dimers exhibited an elongated shape, and trimers formed a triangle. Dimerization of pRNA was promoted by a variety of cations including spermidine, whereas procapsid binding and DNA packaging required specific divalent cations, including Mg2+, Ca2+, and Mn2+. Both the tandem and fused pRNA dimers with complementary loops designed to form even-numbered rings were active in DNA packaging, whereas those without complementary loops were inactive. We conclude that dimers are the building blocks of the hexamer, and the pathway of building a hexamer is: dimer → tetramer → hexamer. The Hill coefficient of 2.5 suggests that there are three binding sites with cooperative binding on the surface of the procapsid. The two interacting loops played a key role in recruiting the incoming dimer, whereas the procapsid served as the foundation for hexamer assembly.
First evidence of DNA methylation in insect Tribolium castaneum

DNA methylation has been studied in many eukaryotic organisms, in particular vertebrates, and was implicated in developmental and phenotypic variations. Little is known about the role of DNA methylation in invertebrates, although insects are considered as excellent models for studying the evolution of DNA methylation. In the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Tenebrionidae, Coleoptera), no evidence of DNA methylation has been found till now. In this paper, a cytosine methylation in Tribolium castaneum embryos was detected by methylation sensitive restriction endonucleases and immuno-dot blot assay. DNA methylation in embryos is followed by a global demethylation in larvae, pupae and adults. DNA demethylation seems to proceed actively through 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, most probably by the action of TET enzyme. Bisulfite sequencing of a highly abundant satellite DNA located in pericentromeric heterochromatin revealed similar profile of cytosine methylation in adults and embryos. Cytosine methylation was not only restricted to CpG sites but was found at CpA, CpT and CpC sites. In addition, complete cytosine demethylation of heterochromatic satellite DNA was induced by heat stress. The results reveal existence of DNA methylation cycling in T. castaneum ranging from strong overall cytosine methylation in embryos to a weak DNA methylation in other developmental stages. Nevertheless, DNA methylation is preserved within heterochromatin during development, indicating its role in heterochromatin formation and maintenance. It is, however, strongly affected by heat stress, suggesting a role for DNA methylation in heterochromatin structure modulation during heat stress response.
Awareness and Attitude towards Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine among Medical Students in a Premier Medical School in India

Background As preventing cancer with the help of a vaccine is a comparatively new concept, awareness and education about it will have important implication in the implementation of this strategy. Materials and Methods Present explorative questionnaire based survey included 618 MBBS students for final analysis. Results Majority of participants (89.6%) were well aware of the preventable nature of cervical cancer. Most of them (89.2%) knew that necessary factor responsible for cervical cancer is infection with high risk HPV. Awareness regarding the availability of vaccine against cervical cancer was 75.6%. Females had a better awareness regarding availability of vaccine, target population for vaccination and about the catch up program. Overall acceptance of HPV vaccine among the population studied was 67.8%. Medical teaching had a definitive impact on the understanding of this important public health issue. Females seemed to be more ready to accept the vaccine and recommend it to others. For our study population the most common source of information was medical school teaching. Majority of participants agreed that the most important obstacle in implementation of HPV vaccination program in our country is inadequate information and 86.2% wanted to be educated by experts in this regard. Conclusion HPV vaccine for primary prevention of cervical cancer is a relatively new concept. Health professional will be able to play a pivotal role in popularizing this strategy.
Spatial Memory Disturbance after Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

We investigated the impairment of retention of spatial memory in rats with chronic focal cerebral ischemia, and examined the correlation between this impairment and pathological outcomes. A preoperative acquisition trial of the Morris water-maze task was performed twice a day for 14 successive days, and then the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded. A retention trial was performed 8 weeks after MCA occlusion. Escape latency and swimming path length to the platform were significantly increased in MCA-occluded rats compared with those of sham-operated rats, and these deficits significantly correlated with massive shrinkage of the brain. Retention latency of a passive avoidance task, which was trained preoperatively, was also significantly shortened in MCA-occluded rats compared with that in sham-operated rats. These results suggest that chronic focal cerebral ischemia causes prolonged spatial memory disturbance in rats and is associated with pathological changes, and that this rat model may be useful for assessing not only anterograde but also retrograde amnesia caused by focal cerebral ischemia.
A Family of Plasmodesmal Proteins with Receptor-Like Properties for Plant Viral Movement Proteins

Plasmodesmata (PD) are essential but poorly understood structures in plant cell walls that provide symplastic continuity and intercellular communication pathways between adjacent cells and thus play fundamental roles in development and pathogenesis. Viruses encode movement proteins (MPs) that modify these tightly regulated pores to facilitate their spread from cell to cell. The most striking of these modifications is observed for groups of viruses whose MPs form tubules that assemble in PDs and through which virions are transported to neighbouring cells. The nature of the molecular interactions between viral MPs and PD components and their role in viral movement has remained essentially unknown. Here, we show that the family of PD-located proteins (PDLPs) promotes the movement of viruses that use tubule-guided movement by interacting redundantly with tubule-forming MPs within PDs. Genetic disruption of this interaction leads to reduced tubule formation, delayed infection and attenuated symptoms. Our results implicate PDLPs as PD proteins with receptor-like properties involved the assembly of viral MPs into tubules to promote viral movement.
Radiofrequency radiation does not significantly affect ornithine decarboxylase activity, proliferation, or caspase-3 activity of fibroblasts in different physiological conditions

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that variations in the physiological state of cells explain inconsistent results from in vitro studies on biological effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Materials and methods: Murine L929 fibroblasts stimulated with fresh medium, stressed with serum deprivation or not subjected to stimulation or stress were exposed in a waveguide exposure chamber to 872 MHz continuous wave or pulse modulated (217 pulses per second) RF radiation at specific absorption rate of 5 W/kg. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity after 1-and 24-h exposures, proliferation during 48 h after 24 h exposure, and caspase-3 activity (a measure of apoptosis) after 1 h exposure were measured. Results: The cells responded to fresh medium and serum deprivation, but no consistent effects of RF radiation were found. One statistically significant (p = 0.03) RF radiation-related difference was observed in ODC activity, but this is most likely a chance finding, as many statistical comparisons were performed, and the finding was not supported by any other data. Conclusions: The results did not support effects on the endpoints studied. Furthermore, stressed and stimulated cells were not more sensitive than normal cells to possible RF radiation-induced effects.