Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DICAM, a novel dual immunoglobulin domain containing cell adhesion molecule interacts with αvβ3 integrin

Immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily members are abundant with diverse functions including cell adhesion in various tissues. Here, we identified and characterized a novel adhesion molecule that belongs to the CTX protein family and named as DICAM (Dual Ig domain containing cell adhesion molecule). DICAM is a type I transmembrane protein with two V‐type Ig domains in the extracellular region and a short cytoplasmic tail of 442 amino acids. DICAM is found to be expressed ubiquitously in various organs and cell lines. Subcellular localization of DICAM was observed in the cell–cell contact region and nucleus of cultured epithelial cells. Cell–cell contact region was colocalized with tight junction protein, ZO‐1. The DICAM increased MDCK cell adhesion to 60% levels of fibronectin. DICAM mediated cell adhesion was specific for the αvβ3 integrin; other integrins, α2, α5, β1, α2β1, α5β1, were not involved in cell adhesion. In identifying the interacting domain of DICAM with αvβ3, the Ig domain 2 showed higher cell adhesion activity than that of Ig domain 1. Although RGD motif in Ig domain 2 was engaged in cell adhesion, it was not participated in DICAM‐αvβ3 mediated cell adhesion. Furthermore, differentially expressing DICAM stable cells showed well correlated cell to cell adhesion capability with integrin β3‐overexpressing cells. Collectively, these results indicate that DICAM, a novel dual Ig domain containing adhesion molecule, mediates cell adhesion via αvβ3 integrin. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 603–614, 2008, © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epidemiologic Determinants for Modeling Pneumonic Plague Outbreaks

Pneumonic plague poses a potentially increasing risk to humans in plague nonendemic regions either as a consequence of an aerosolized release or through importation of the disease. Pneumonic plague is person-to-person transmissible. We provide a quantitative assessment of transmissibility based on past outbreaks that shows that the average number of secondary cases per primary case (R0) was 1.3 (variance = 3.1), assuming a geometric probability distribution, prior to outbreak control measures. We also show that the latent and infectious periods can be approximated by using lognormal distributions with means (SD) of 4.3 (1.8) and 2.5 (1.2) days. Based on this parameter estimation, we construct a Markov-chain epidemic model to demonstrate the potential impact of delays in implementing outbreak control measures and increasing numbers of index cases on the incidence of cases in simulated outbreaks.
Structure of the Calmodulin αII-Spectrin Complex Provides Insight into the Regulation of Cell Plasticity*

αII-spectrin is a major cortical cytoskeletal protein contributing to membrane organization and integrity. The Ca2+-activated binding of calmodulin to an unstructured insert in the 11th repeat unit of αII-spectrin enhances the susceptibility of spectrin to calpain cleavage but abolishes its sensitivity to several caspases and to at least one bacterially derived pathologic protease. Other regulatory inputs including phosphorylation by c-Src also modulate the proteolytic susceptibility of αII-spectrin. These pathways, acting through spectrin, appear to control membrane plasticity and integrity in several cell types. To provide a structural basis for understanding these crucial biological events, we have solved the crystal structure of a complex between bovine calmodulin and the calmodulin-binding domain of human αII-spectrin (Protein Data Bank ID code 2FOT). The structure revealed that the entire calmodulin-spectrin-binding interface is hydrophobic in nature. The spectrin domain is also unique in folding into an amphiphilic helix once positioned within the calmodulin-binding groove. The structure of this complex provides insight into the mechanisms by which calmodulin, calpain, caspase, and tyrosine phosphorylation act on spectrin to regulate essential cellular processes.
Analysis of time-lapse changes of d- and l-enantiomers of racemic ethylamphetamine and stereoselective metabolism in rat urine by HPLC determination.

The analysis of time-lapse changes of d- and l-enantiomers after administration of racemic dl-ethylamphetamine (EAMP) to rats was performed by a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a chiral activity column. After oral administration of dl-EAMP to five rats (dose, 15 mg/kg), the rat urine specimens were collected at four time intervals, 0-4, 4-12, 12-20, and 20-24 h. The two enantiomers of nonmetabolized EAMP and the two enantiomers of metabolized amphetamine (AMP) in urine were simultaneously detected within 20 min. The rate of urinary excretion during 24 h was 3.67% for d-EAMP, 1.03% for l-EAMP, 2.14% for d-AMP, and 1.92% for l-AMP. The total percent of the excreted doses of EAMP and AMP was approximately 8.8% of the administered dosage of dl-EAMP (5.81% for the d-enantiomers and 2.95% for the l-enantiomers). The l/d ratio was 0.51, which was significantly smaller than that (1.01) of the original dl-EAMP powder used (p < .01). The percentages of the doses of l-EAMP in each collection time were significantly less than those of d-EAMP (p < .01), and the l/d ratios of nonmetabolized EAMP decreased to 0.17 within 24 h. For the AMP metabolites, there was a somewhat greater percentage of l-AMP in urine collected up to 4 h than d-AMP (p < .05). Thereafter, it decreased more slowly than d-AMP with time. The l/d ratios of AMP changed from 1.57 to 0.76 within 24 h. The greater decrease of l-EAMP as compared with d-EAMP suggested the stereoselective metabolism of dl-EAMP in rats.
Patients' expectations and intention to self-medicate.

I studied patients' expectations of receiving a prescription after a consultation with their general practitioner and their intention to buy a remedy from the chemist after leaving the surgery.Of a group of 368 patients, 56 per cent expected to receive a prescription and 24 per cent intended to self-medicate. A striking variation was found among patients attending each of the five doctors participating in the study. Patient expectation closely agreed with the prescribing rate per partner. No consistent relationship was found between a low prescribing rate and high self-medication rates. I suggest that by reducing prescribing and encouraging patients to be self-reliant in the management of minor ailments, it might be possible to reduce a general practitioner's workload and the amount of money spent on prescribing in general practice.
Oxidation-Reduction Potential as a Biomarker for Severity and Acute Outcome in Traumatic Brain Injury

There are few reliable markers for assessing traumatic brain injury (TBI). Elevated levels of oxidative stress have been observed in TBI patients. We hypothesized that oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) could be a potent biomarker in TBI. Two types of ORP were measured in patient plasma samples: the static state of oxidative stress (sORP) and capacity for induced oxidative stress (icORP). Differences in ORP values as a function of time after injury, severity, and hospital discharge were compared using ANOVAs with significance at p ≤ 0.05. Logit regression analyses were used to predict acute outcome comparing ORP, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Antioxidant capacity (icORP) on day 4 was prognostic for acute outcomes (p < 0.05). An odds ratio of 4.08 was associated with poor acute outcome when icORP > 7.25 μC. IcORP was a better predictor than ISS, AIS, or GCS scores. sORP increased in those with the highest ISS values (p < 0.05). Based on these findings ORP is useful biomarker for severity and acute outcome in TBI patients. Changes in ORP values on day 4 after injury were the most prognostic, suggesting that patients' response to brain injury over time is a factor that determines outcome.
Conducting polymer-silver composites

Preparations of hybrid composites composed of two conducting components, a conducting polymer and silver, are reviewed. They are produced mainly by the oxidation of aniline or pyrrole with silver ions. In another approach, polyaniline or polypyrrole are used for the reduction of silver ions to metallic silver. Other synthetic approaches are also reviewed. Products of oxidation of aniline derivatives, including phenylenediamines, are considered. Morphology of both the conducting polymers and the silver in composites displays a rich variety. Conductivity of the composites seldom exceeds 1000 S cm−1 and seems to be controlled by percolation. Interfacial effects are also discussed. Potential applications of hybrid composites are outlined; they are likely to extend especially to conducting inks, printed electronics, noble-metal recovery, antimicrobial materials, catalysts, and sensors.
RESCUE-ESE identifies candidate exonic splicing enhancers in vertebrate exons

A typical gene contains two levels of information: a sequence that encodes a particular protein and a host of other signals that are necessary for the correct expression of the transcript. While much attention has been focused on the effects of sequence variation on the amino acid sequence, variations that disrupt gene processing signals can dramatically impact gene function. A variation that disrupts an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE), for example, could cause exon skipping which would result in the exclusion of an entire exon from the mRNA transcript. RESCUE-ESE, a computational approach used in conjunction with experimental validation, previously identified 238 candidate ESE hexamers in human genes. The RESCUE-ESE method has recently been implemented in three additional species: mouse, zebrafish and pufferfish. Here we describe an online ESE analysis tool (http://genes.mit.edu/burgelab/rescue-ese/) that annotates RESCUE-ESE hexamers in vertebrate exons and can be used to predict splicing phenotypes by identifying sequence changes that disrupt or alter predicted ESEs.
Soybean Protein Hydrolysate Improves Plasma and Liver Lipid Profiles in Rats Fed High-Cholesterol Diet

Objective: This investigation attempted to clarify the hypolipidemic effects of non-dialyzed soybean protein hydrolysate (NSPH), which is hydrolyzed by pepsin from soybean acid-precipitated protein (APP), in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups as the control group (19.7% casein), the APP group (14.7% casein + 5% APP), the NSPH group (14.7% casein + 5% NSPH), and the ISO group (19.7% casein + 0.0013% soy isoflavone). Results: After 12-week experimental period, the APP and NSPH groups had a significant lower plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol concentrations compared with the control group. Additionally, the atherosclerosis index in APP and NSPH group had also markedly decreased. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride contents of the APP and NSPH group were significantly lower than those of the control group. There were no different in plasma LDL-C, liver cholesterol and triglycerides between the ISO group and control group. Fecal excretion of neutral steroids and nitrogen compounds was significantly higher in the APP and NSPH groups than that in the control group. An in vitro study also showed that NSPH, compared with casein, obviously decreased cholesterol micellar solubility. Conclusion: These results suggested that NSPH may decrease lipid accumulation in the liver and have a hypolipidemic effect by enhancing excretion and inhibiting absorption of lipids.
Neuropsychological impairment correlates with hypoperfusion and hypometabolism but not with severity of white matter lesions on MRI in patients with cerebral microangiopathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cerebral microangiopathy, indicated on MRI by lacunar infarctions (LI) and deep white matter lesions (DWML), is said to lead to vascular dementia. METHODS Fifty-seven patients with proven cerebral microangiopathy were assessed for changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and glucose metabolism (rMRGlu) and compared with 19 age-matched controls. The findings were correlated with results of extensive neuropsychological testing, as well as with MRI findings. A special head holder ensured reproducibility of positioning during rCBF (single-photon emission CT [SPECT]), rMRGlu (positron emission tomography [PET]), and MR imaging. White matter and cortex were quantified with regions of interest defined on MRI and superimposed to corresponding PET/SPECT slices. LI and DWML were graded by number and extent. RESULTS Even with severe DWML and multiple LI, rCBF and rMRGlu values were not reduced. ANOVAs identified brain atrophy and neuropsychological deficits as the main determinants for reduced rCBF and rMRGlu values in both cortex and white matter. Neuropsychological deficits correlated well with decreased rCBF and rMRGlu, whereas MRI patterns such as LI and DWML did not. Factor analysis revealed no correlation of LI and DWML with rCBF, rMRGlu, atrophy, and neuropsychological deficits, showing instead positive correlations between rCBF, rMRGlu, and neuropsychological performance and negative correlations of the latter 3 with brain atrophy. CONCLUSIONS From these data, we conclude that LI and DWML are epiphenomena that may morphologically characterize cerebral microangiopathy but do not in themselves indicate cognitive impairment. Dementia or neuropsychological deficits, by contrast, are reflected exclusively by functional imaging parameters (rCBF, rMRGlu) and cerebral atrophy.
CONTROL CAPABILITY OF ELECTROLYTIC CONCENTRATION ON REFRACTIVE INDEX AND DIELECTRIC CONSTANT OF POROUS SILICON LAYERS

Porous Silicon (PS) samples have been prepared by electrochemical anodization of p-type silicon wafer by varying HF concentrations in the electrolytic solution. The structural, surface morphological, optical and surface composition analysis of the prepared samples were done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies respectively. The grain sizes of PS were determined by XRD study. The porosity of PS samples was estimated by using the parameters obtained from the SEM images by the geometrical method. The porosity of the samples was found to vary between 11% and 84% due to the variation in HF concentration in the electrolytic solution. The refractive index and dielectric constant values of PS as a function of porosity were determined by Effective Medium Approximation methods. Strong visible emission peak at 498 nm, with no apparent shift with respect to variation in etching parameter, is observed in Photoluminescence study. The surface bonding and their vibration modes of the PS were determined by transmission FTIR spectroscopy.
Lidar Observations of Tropospheric Aerosols Over Northeastern South Africa During the Arrex and Safari-2000 Dry Season Experiments

[1] During the Aerosol Recirculation and Rainfall Experiment (ARREX 1999) and Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000) dry season experiments, a micropulse lidar (523 nm) instrument was operated at the Skukuza Airport in northeastern South Africa. The lidar was colocated with a diverse array of passive radiometric equipment. For SAFARI 2000, a daytime time series of layer mean aerosol optical properties, including layer mean extinction-to-backscatter ratios and vertical extinction cross-section profiles are derived from the synthesis of the lidar data and aerosol optical depths from available AERONET Sun photometer data. Combined with derived spectral Angstrom exponents, normalized broadband flux measurements, and calculated air mass back-trajectories, the temporal evolution of the surface aerosol layer optical properties is analyzed for climatological trends. For dense biomass smoke events the extinction-to-backscatter ratio is between 50 and 90 sr, and corresponding spectral Angstrom exponent values are between 1.50 and 2.00. Observations of an advecting smoke event during SAFARI 2000 are shown. The smoke was embedded within two distinct stratified thermodynamic layers causing the particulate mass to advect over the instrument array in an incoherent manner on the afternoon of 1 September 2000. Significant surface broadband flux forcing of over −50 W/m2 was measured in this event. The evolution of the vertical aerosol extinction profile is profiled using the lidar data. Finally, observations of persistent elevated aerosol layers during ARREX 1999 are presented and discussed. Back-trajectory analyses combined with lidar and Sun photometer measurements indicate the likelihood for these aerosols being the result of long-range particulate transport from the southern and central South America.
Linguistic cues in the acquisition of number words

Previous research has shown that children go through a stage in which they know that the number words each refer to a distinct numerosity, yet do not know WHICH numerosity each number word picks out (Wynn, 1992). How do children attain this level of knowledge? We explore the possibility that particular properties of how number words are used within sentences inform children of the semantic class to which they belong. An analysis of transcripts of the spontaneous speech of three one- and two-year-old children and their parents (from the CHILDES database; MacWhinney & Snow, 1990) suggests that the relevant cues are available as input in parents' speech to children, and that children generally honour these properties of number words in their own speech. Implications of this proposal for word learning more generally are discussed.
Bacterial degradation of m-nitrobenzoic acid

Pseudomonas sp. strain JS51 grows on m-nitrobenzoate (m-NBA) with stoichiometric release of nitrite. m-NBA-grown cells oxidized m-NBA and protocatechuate but not 3-hydroxybenzoate, 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzoate, 4-nitrocatechol, and 1,2,4-benzenetriol. Protocatechuate accumulated transiently when succinate-grown cells were transferred to media containing m-NBA. Respirometric experiments indicated that the conversion of m-NBA to protocatechuate required 1 mol of oxygen per mol of substrate. Conversions conducted in the presence of 18O2 showed the incorporation of both atoms of molecular oxygen into protocatechuate. Extracts of m-NBA-grown cells cleaved protocatechuate to 2-hydroxy-4-carboxymuconic semialdehyde. These results provide rigorous proof that m-NBA is initially oxidized by a dioxygenase to produce protocatechuate which is further degraded by a 4,5-dioxygenase.
Myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) activity-dependent cell adhesion is correlated to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity

The regulation of cell-substrate adhesion is tightly linked to the malignant phenotype of tumor cells and plays a role in their migration, invasion, and metastasis. Focal adhesions (FAs) are dynamic adhesion structures that anchor the cell to the extracellular matrix. Myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs), co-regulators of the serum response factor (SRF), regulate expression of a set of genes encoding actin cytoskeletal/FA-related proteins. Here we demonstrated that the forced expression of a constitutively active MRTF-A (CA-MRTF-A) in B16F10 melanoma cells induced the up-regulation of actin cytoskeletal and FA proteins, resulting in FA reorganization and the suppression of cell migration. Expression of CA-MRTF-A markedly increased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, which are important components for FA dynamics. Notably, FAK activation was triggered by the clustering of up-regulated integrins. Our results revealed that the MRTF-SRF-dependent regulation of cell migration requires both the up-regulation of actin cytoskeletal/FA proteins and the integrin-mediated regulation of FA components via the FAK/Src pathway. We also demonstrated that activation of the MRTF-dependent transcription correlates FAK activation in various tumor cells. The elucidation of the correlation between MRTF and FAK activities would be an effective therapeutic target in focus of tumor cell migration.
Reasons Persons with COPD Do Not Walk and Relationship with Daily Step Count

Abstract Background: Physical activity (PA) is significantly reduced in persons with COPD. Assessing reasons why persons with COPD do not engage in PA can guide development of effective interventions to promote PA. Methods: We queried 102 participants with stable COPD about disease-related and general reasons why they do not walk more. The StepWatch Activity Monitor (Orthocare Innovations, Mountlake Terrace, WA, USA) assessed daily step count, a direct measure of PA. Regression models assessed daily step count by response categories, adjusting for age and FEV1 % predicted. Results: Subjects had mean age 72 ± 8 years and mean FEV1 1.48 ± 0.55 L (52 ± 19% predicted). COPD-related worries of becoming short of breath (SOB), needing to use inhalers, or oxygen level becoming low were endorsed by 31, 14, and 12 subjects, respectively. Controlling for age and FEV1% predicted, those who worried about becoming SOB walked an average of 1,329 fewer steps per day than those who did not worry (p = 0.020). Those who worried about needing to use inhalers walked an average of 1,806 fewer steps per day than those who did not worry (p = 0.016). Subjects who were the most motivated and confident walked significantly more than those who were the least motivated and confident. Conclusions: Presence of COPD-related reasons and lower motivation and confidence are associated with lower daily step count. Management of dyspnea and education about medication use during exercise, and strategies to increase motivation and confidence could facilitate walking in COPD.
Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in middle-aged Saudi males in primary care.

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea OSA has not been assessed in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to assess the prevalence of individuals who were at risk of OSA in a sample of middle-aged Saudi males, using the Berlin questionnaire at primary care settings. METHODS The study was conducted at King Khalid University and King Fahd National Guard primary health care clinics in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between December 2005 and March 2006. Berlin Questionnaire was administered by trained medical students to consecutive Saudi male patients in the age group 30-65 years attending the primary health care clinics, after explaining the procedure of the study. Based on the data collected and defined criteria, patients were stratified into high risk and low risk according to responses. RESULTS Five hundred and seventy-eight middle-aged Saudi males with a mean age of 45.02 +/- 9.3 year were surveyed in this study. Snoring was present in 52.3%, and breathing pauses more than once per week was noticed in 11.3%. Based on the Berlin questionnaire stratification for risk of OSA, 33.3% were considered as high risk patients for OSA. The occurrence of daytime tiredness >once/week was reported by 35.5%. The prevalence of snoring and risk for OSA is similar to that reported in the US. CONCLUSION In primary care setting, one in 3 middle-aged Saudi males is at risk for OSA.
High Temperature Oxidation Behaviour of AlCuTiFeNiCr High-Entropy Alloy

The oxidation behaviour of AlCuTiFeNiCr high-entropy alloy with was studied at 850 oC in atmosphere. The oxide layer of long-term oxidation behavior were examined using optical, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The oxidation kinetics follows a parabolic rate law. The oxidation rate decreases gradually as the oxidation proceeds.