Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reducing Salinity by Flooding an Extremely Alkaline and Saline Soil Changes the Bacterial Community but Its Effect on the Archaeal Community Is Limited

Regular flooding of the soil to reduce salinity will change soil characteristics, but also the microbial community structure. Soil of the former lake Texcoco with electrolytic conductivity (EC) 157.4 dS m-1 and pH 10.3 was flooded monthly in the laboratory under controlled conditions for 10 months while soil characteristics were determined and the archaeal and bacterial community structure monitored by means of 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The EC of the soil dropped from 157.8 to 1.7 dS m-1 and the clay content decreased from 430 to 270 g kg-1 after ten floodings, but the pH (10.3) did not change significantly over time. Flooding the soil had a limited effect on the archaeal community structure and only the relative abundance of Haloferax-like 16S rRNA phylotypes changed significantly. Differences in archaeal population structure were more defined by the initial physicochemical properties of the soil sample than by a reduction in salinity. Flooding, however, had a stronger effect on bacterial community structure than on the archaeal community structure. A wide range of bacterial taxa was affected significantly by changes in the soil characteristics, i.e., four phyla, nine classes, 17 orders, and 28 families. The most marked change occurred after only one flooding characterized by a sharp decrease in the relative abundance of bacterial groups belonging to the Gammaproteobacteria, e.g., Halomonadaceae (Oceanospirillales), Pseudomonadaceae, and Xanthomonadaceae and an increase in that of the [Rhodothermales] (Bacteroidetes), Nitriliruptorales (Actinobacteria), and unassigned Bacteria. It was found that flooding the soil sharply reduced the EC, but also the soil clay content. Flooding the soil had a limited effect on the archaeal community structure, but altered the bacterial community structure significantly.
Multiple Roles for Chemokines in the Pathogenesis of SIV Infection

Chemokines are small chemoattractant cytokines involved in homeostatic and inflammatory immune cell migration. These small proteins have multiple functional properties that extend beyond their most recognized role in controlling cellular migration. The complex immunobiology of chemokines, coupled with the use of subsets of chemokine receptors as HIV-1 and SIV entry co-receptors, suggests that these immunomodulators could play important roles in the pathogenesis associated with infection by HIV-1 or SIV. This review provides an overview of the effects of pathogenic infection on chemokine expression in the SIV/macaque model system, and outlines potential mechanisms by which changes in these expression profiles could contribute to development of disease. Key challenges faced in studying chemokine function in vivo and new opportunities for further study and development of therapeutic interventions are discussed. Continued growth in our understanding of the effects of pathogenic SIV infection on chemokine expression and function and the continuing development of chemokine receptor targeted therapeutics will provide the tools and the systems necessary for future studies of the roles of chemokines in HIV-1 pathogenesis.
Claudin 10 Is a Glandular Epithelial Marker in the Chicken Model as Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profiles of claudin (CLDN) gene family members between normal and cancerous ovaries of White Leghorn hens. Methods: For the detection of ovarian cancer, 120-week-old White Leghorn hens (n = 40) that could not produce eggs for at least 2 months were humanely killed, and candidate cancerous ovaries were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The existence of CLDN genes in normal and cancerous ovaries was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to investigate the fold change in CLDN1, CLDN5, and CLDN10 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels. In situ hybridization was performed to further confirm the localization of CLDN10 mRNA in normal and cancerous ovaries. Results: In total, we obtained 3 normal and 5 cancerous ovaries from the experimental hens. Among the claudin family genes, CLDN1, CLDN5, and CLDN10 were detected in normal and/or cancerous ovaries by RT-PCR analysis. According to quantitative real-time PCR analysis, CLDN1 and CLDN5 mRNA expression levels were not significantly different between normal and cancerous ovaries, whereas the CLDN10 mRNA expression level significantly increased in cancerous ovaries compared with normal ovaries. CLDN10 mRNA was specifically detected in cancerous ovaries. Conclusions: Our study indicates that CLDN10 is a novel biomarker for detecting ovarian cancer in the chicken. We provide new insight into using the chicken as a suitable animal model for investigating the effect and function of CLDN in human ovarian cancer.
Spontaneous Physical Activity Downregulates Pax7 in Cancer Cachexia

Emerging evidence suggests that the muscle microenvironment plays a prominent role in cancer cachexia. We recently showed that NF-kB-induced Pax7 overexpression impairs the myogenic potential of muscle precursors in cachectic mice, suggesting that lowering Pax7 expression may be beneficial in cancer cachexia. We evaluated the muscle regenerative potential after acute injury in C26 colon carcinoma tumor-bearing mice and healthy controls. Our analyses confirmed that the delayed muscle regeneration observed in muscles form tumor-bearing mice was associated with a persistent local inflammation and Pax7 overexpression. Physical activity is known to exert positive effects on cachectic muscles. However, the mechanism by which a moderate voluntary exercise ameliorates muscle wasting is not fully elucidated. To verify if physical activity affects Pax7 expression, we hosted control and C26-bearing mice in wheel-equipped cages and we found that voluntary wheel running downregulated Pax7 expression in muscles from tumor-bearing mice. As expected, downregulation of Pax7 expression was associated with a rescue of muscle mass and fiber size. Our findings shed light on the molecular basis of the beneficial effect exerted by a moderate physical exercise on muscle stem cells in cancer cachexia. Furthermore, we propose voluntary exercise as a physiological tool to counteract the overexpression of Pax7 observed in cancer cachexia.
Addressing SMTP-Based Mass-Mailing Activity within Enterprise Networks

Malicious mass-mailing activity on the Internet is a serious and continuing threat that includes mass-mailing worms, spam, and phishing. A mechanism commonly used to deliver such malicious mass mail is an SMTP-engine, which turns an infected system into a malicious mail server. We present a technique that enables, within a single mailing attempt in many popular network environments, detection and containment of (even zero-day) SMTP-engine based mass-mailing activity. Contrary to other mass-mailing detection techniques our approach is content independent and requires no attachment processing, network traffic correlation, statistical measures, or system behavioral analysis. It relies instead on the observation of DNS MX queries within the enterprise network. This stateless detection technique requires minimal computational resources making it ideally suited for real-time wire-speed deployment.
A 1-V 99-to-75dB SNDR, 256Hz–16kHz bandwidth, 8.6-to-39µW reconfigurable SC ΔΣ Modulator for autonomous biomedical applications

The paper presents a reconfigurable Delta-Sigma Modulator (ΔΣM) suitable for three operation modes, whose application ranges from bio-potential signal monitoring to hearing aids. A feed-forward 2nd-order SC ΔΣM architecture with 4-bit quantizer is selected according to an analytic power optimization procedure. The ΔΣM features programmable sampling capacitors in the first integrator and novel reconfigurable power-gated OTAs to adjust power consumption in each operation mode. An asynchronous embedded SAR converter implements low-power quantization and passive addition in the feed-forward topology. The prototype is implemented in a 0. 18μm CMOS technology and operates from a supply voltage of 1V. Measurements show peak SNDRs from 99 to 75dB for signal bandwidths spanning from 256Hz to 16kHz, achieving figures of merit which are almost constant in the different modes, and range from 0.20 to 0.27pJ/c.s.
Do women with recurrent miscarriage constitute a high-risk obstetric population?

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine if women with history of recurrent miscarriage have a higher risk of maternal and foetal complications in future pregnancies. This was a retrospective case control study that analysed data collected prospectively between 2001 and 2007 from 400 women with history of recurrent miscarriage who achieved pregnancies progressing beyond 24 weeks gestation compared to 39,860 deliveries from the general obstetric database within the same time period. Results showed that women with recurrent miscarriage had significantly increased odds of low Apgar scores at one (odds ratios (OR) 1.57, 95% CI 1.20–2.05) and five minutes (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.23–3.27), small for gestational age (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.12–3.43), preterm delivery (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.22–2.19) and antepartum haemorrhage (OR 7.67, 95% CI 4.23–13.91). The risks were increased in the presence of a male foetus but no difference was observed between primary and secondary miscarriage patients. In conclusion, women with recurrent miscarriage have an increased risk of several maternal and foetal complications and therefore may require closer monitoring during the antenatal period particularly when pregnant with a male foetus.
Memory-Load Interference in Syntactic Processing

Participants remembered a short set of words while reading syntactically complex sentences (object-extracted clefts) and syntactically simpler sentences (subject-extracted clefts) in a memory-load study. The study also manipulated whether the words in the set and the words in the sentence were of matched or unmatched types (common nouns vs. proper names). Performance in sentence comprehension was worse for complex sentences than for simpler sentences, and this effect was greater when the type of words in the memory load matched the type of words in the sentence. These results indicate that syntactic processing is not modular, instead suggesting that it relies on working memory resources that are used for other nonsyntactic processes. Further, the results indicate that similarity-based interference is an important constraint on information processing that can be overcome to some degree during language comprehension by using the coherence of language to construct integrated representations of meaning.
G Protein-Coupled Receptor Dimerization: Function and Ligand Pharmacology

It is now generally accepted that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can exist as dimers or as part of larger oligomeric complexes. Increasing evidence suggests that a dimer is the minimal functional structure, but considerable variation exists between reports of the effects of agonist ligands on quaternary structure. Many studies have intimated the existence of heterodimeric GPCR pairings. Key questions that remain to be addressed effectively include the prevalence and relevance of these in native tissues and the implications of heterodimerization for pharmacology and, potentially, for drug design.
Red blood cell distribution width as a simple negative prognostic factor in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a retrospective study

Aim To determine the prognostic value of baseline red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Methods Data from 81 DLBCL patients diagnosed from 2006 to 2013 at the University Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia, were reviewed. We evaluated disease outcome, overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS), and demographic, clinical and laboratory factors affecting outcome. Univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis were used. Results Median age of patients was 64 years, 29 were men (35.8%). Higher RDW levels (%) were found in patients with advanced Ann Arbor clinical stage (14.94 ± 1.82 vs 13.55 ± 1.54, P = 0.001) and in those with poor response to therapy (14.94 ± 1.82 vs 13.55 ± 1.54, P = 0.001). Patients with RDW>15% (cut-off was calculated by receiver operating characteristics) had significantly worse OS (median [range], 33 months [20-46] vs 74 months [65-82], P < 0.001) and EFS (27 months [15-40] vs 68 months [59-77], P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that RDW>15% was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR 3.654, 95% CI 1.128-11.836) and EFS (HR 2.611, 95% CI 1.012-6-739). Conclusion High baseline RDW is an independent prognostic marker of poor outcome in patients with DLBCL. RDW could be an easily available and inexpensive marker for the risk stratification in patients with DLBCL.
Time-space tradeoffs for nondeterministic computation

We show new tradeoffs for satisfiability and nondeterministic linear time. Satisfiability cannot be solved on general purpose random-access Turing machines in time n/sup 1.618/ and space n/sup o(1)/. This improves recent results of Fortnow and of Lipton and Viglas. In general, for any constant a less than the golden ratio, we prove that satisfiability cannot be solved in time n/sup a/ and space n/sup /spl delta// for some positive constant b. Our techniques allow us to establish this result for b< 1/2 (/spl alpha/+2/a(2)-a). We can do better for a close to the golden ratio, for example, satisfiability cannot be solved by a random-access Turing machine using n/sup 1.46/ time and n/sup . 11/ space. We also show tradeoffs for nondeterministic linear time computations using sublinear space. For example, there exists a language computable in nondeterministic linear time and n/sup 619/ space that cannot be computed in deterministic n/sup 1.618/ time and n/sup o(1)/ space. Higher up the polynomial-time hierarchy we can get better bounds. We show that linear-time /spl Sigma//sub l/-computations require essentially n/sup l/ time on deterministic machines that use only n/sup o(1)/ space. We also show new lower bounds on conondeterministic versus nondeterministic computation.
"GeoAnalytics" - Exploring spatio-temporal and multivariate data

The voluminous nature of social scientific, spatial-temporal statistical databases calls for high interactive performance and creative integrated information and geo-visualization tools. A solution to this challenge can be found in the emerging visual analytics (VA), a science of analytical reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces and innovative visualization and is now actively pursued by research groups worldwide. In this paper, we present a tool called "GeoAnalytics", based on the principles behind VA. Our objective is to define new suitable approaches and tools for exploring time variant and multivariate attributes simultaneous including a spatial dimension. We introduce parallel coordinates integrated with time series and trend graph that serves as the visual control panel for the application. Multivariate attribute dynamic queries can express simultaneously queries involving time varying spatial data. VA encourages the need to build a bridge between the advantages of both human perception and computer science technologies. The sense of immediacy and speed-of-thought interaction is achieved in our dynamically linked components and maximum allocation of screen area for visual displays that helps users stay focused on their work and shortens their time to enlightenment
Effect of Chronic Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibition on Striatal Dopamine Content in the MPTP‐Treated Mouse

Abstract: We have previously shown that chronic treatment with the angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril increased striatal dopamine levels by 2.5‐fold in normal Sprague—Dawley rats, possibly via modulation of the striatal opioid or tachykinin levels. In the present study, we investigated if this effect of perindopril persists in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease, the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐treated mouse. C57BL/6 mice were treated with the neurotoxin (30 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally) for 4 days and then left for 3 weeks to allow the degeneration of striatal dopaminergic terminals. At this time, the mice exhibited a 40% decrease in striatal dopamine content and an accompanying 46% increase in dopamine D2 receptor levels compared with control untreated mice. The dopamine content returned to control levels, and the increase in dopamine D2 receptor levels was attenuated in mice treated with perindopril (5 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days) 2 weeks after the last dose of MPTP. When the angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor was administered (5 mg/kg/day for 7 days) immediately after the cessation of the MPTP treatment, there was no reversal of the effect of the neurotoxin in decreasing striatal dopamine content. Our results demonstrate that perindopril is an effective agent in increasing striatal dopamine content in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease.
Sexual Function and Depression Outcomes Among Breast Hypertrophy Patients Undergoing Reduction Mammaplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PurposeThe breasts are important symbols of femininity and sensuality. Alterations such as breast hypertrophy can affect several aspects of women’s quality of life. Breast hypertrophy is a prevalent health condition, which is treated by reduction mammaplasty. The aim of the present study was to assess sexual function and depression outcomes among breast hypertrophy patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. MethodsSixty breast hypertrophy patients were randomly allocated to a control group (CG) (n = 30) or a breast reduction group (BRG) (n = 30). The patients in the CG were assessed at the first appointment as well as 3 and 6 months later. The patients in the BRG were assessed preoperatively as well as 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Validated instruments, the Female Sexual Function Index and the Beck Depression Inventory, were used to assess sexual function and depression among the subjects. The results of these assessments were compared within and between groups. ResultsTwenty-seven and 29 patients in the CG and the BRG, respectively, completed the 6-month follow-up period. At baseline, the groups did not differ significantly with regard to the main demographic data. In the initial assessment, the groups did not differ significantly with regard to Female Sexual Function Index or Beck Depression Inventory scores. Compared with the CG, the BRG reported better sexual function 3 (P = 0.015) and 6 (P = 0.009) months postoperatively. Regarding depression scores, the reduction mammaplasty group had better results 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.014). ConclusionsReduction mammaplasty positively affected sexual function and depression levels in breast hypertrophy patients.
EMI Reduction via Spread Spectrum in DC/DC Converters: State of the Art, Optimization, and Tradeoffs

Spread spectrum is a technique introduced for mitigating electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems in many class of circuits. In this paper, with particular emphasis on switching DC/DC converters, we consider the most common and most efficient known spreading techniques, looking for spreading parameters that ensure the highest EMI reduction and the lowest performance reduction in the circuit where the spreading is applied. The result is an interesting tradeoff not only between EMI reduction and performance drop, but also on the EMI reduction itself when considering different EMI victim models. The proposed analysis is supported by measurements on two switching DC/DC converters: 1) based on pulse-width modulation and 2) based on the resonant converter class.
Helicobacter pylori infection and age on the development of intestinal metaplasia--a multiple logistic regression analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Both intestinal metaplasia (IM) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection have been linked to gastric carcinogenesis in an age-dependent manner. However, their relationship remains ill defined, especially with respect to age. METHODOLOGY Three hundred and two asymptomatic subjects (167 males and 135 females; mean age 44.3+/-11.1 years) underwent complete endoscopic examination and biopsy at the antrum and the corpus. H. pylori infection was diagnosed according to histopathology and serology, while IM was determined by histopathology. RESULTS Eighty-four patients (27.8%) had IM, while 185 patients (61.3%) were seropositive to H. pylori. The frequency of IM was higher in patients with gastric ulcer (9/14, 64.3%) than in those with minimal change (68/229, 29.7%) or duodenal ulcer (7/59, 11.9%), both p<0.01. Patients with IM had a higher mean age (49.5+/-14.1 vs. 42.3+/-9.0, p<0.01) and a higher H. pylori prevalence than those without IM (61/84, 72.6% vs. 124/218, 56.9%, p<0.01). The concordance rate of H. pylori infection between histopathologic and serologic diagnosis was lower in patients with IM (67/84, 79.8%) than those without (196/218, 89.9%, p<0.05). Using logistic regression analyses, the development of IM was noted to be independently related to both H. pylori infection (odds ratio=1.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.1(3.53)) and age (odds ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval: 1.51(2.47)). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that age and H. pylori infection are independent risk factors for the development of IM. Furthermore, H. pylori infection may have been underestimated in patients with IM because of the use of a single method of detection.
Percutaneous Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation of Lung VX2 Tumors in a Rabbit Model Using a Cooled Tip-Electrode: Feasibility, Safety, and Effectiveness

Lee JM,Jin GY, Li CA, et al. Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation of lung VX2 tumors in a rabbit model using a cooled tip-electrode: Feasibility, safety, and effectiveness. Invest Radiol 2003;38:129–139. Rationale and Objective.To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of percutaneous CT-guided transthoracic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of lung VX2 tumors implanted in rabbits. Materials and Methods.Thirty-five rabbits with implanted lung VX2 tumors were divided into two groups, an RFA group (n = 28) and a control group (n = 7). In the RFA group, RFA was performed on VX2 tumors using a 17-gauge internally cooled-tip electrode. Contrast-enhanced CT was performed before the RFA and on the same day, day 3, weeks 1, 2, 3, and months 1, 2, 6, and 9, after the RFA. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by CT and pathologic findings. Results.RFA of lung tumors was technically successful in each instance. Complete tumor ablation was achieved in 19 of the 28 rabbits (67.9%) in the RFA group. Nine rabbits (32.1%) showed local tumor relapse and mediastinal lymph nodal or pleural metastasis. The animals in the control group died of end-stage malignancies with diffuse tumor spread and malignant pleural effusion (mean 26 ± 2.7 days). There were 17 (60.7%) complications related to the procedure, ie, pneumothorax (n = 12), obstructive pneumonia (n = 3), hemothorax (n = 1), and burn (n = 1). RFA of centrally located VX2 tumors (in inner 2/3 of the lung) was more frequently associated with complications than RFA of peripherally located VX2 tumors (P = 0.02). Conclusion.This experimental study demonstrates the feasibility of RFA therapy for treating lung VX2 tumors in rabbits, although RFA for central tumors carries the potential for major complications, including large pneumothorax or obstructive pneumonia.