Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of the uvrD mutation on excision repair

A pair of related Escherichia coli K-12 strains, one of which contains the uvrD101 mutation, were constructed and compared for ability to perform various steps in the excision repair of deoxyribonucleic acid damage inflicted by ultraviolet radiation. The results of this study indicated: (i) ultraviolet sensitivity in the uvrD101 mutant was greater than that of wild type but less than that measured in an incision-deficient uvrA mutant; (ii) host cell reactivation paralleled the survival data; (iii) postirradiation deoxyribonucleic acid degradation was virtually identical in the two strains; (iv) incision, presumably at the sites of pyrimidine dimers, proceeded normally in the uvrD101 strain; (v) excision of pyrimidine dimers was markedly reduced in both rate and extent in the uvrD101 mutant; (vi) the amount of repair resynthesis was the same in both strains, and there was no evidence of abnormally long repair patches in the uvrD mutant; and (vii) rejoining of incision breaks was slow and incomplete in the uvrD strain. These data suggest that the ultraviolet sensitivity conferred by the uvrD mutation arises from inefficient removal of pyrimidine dimers or from failure to close incision breaks. The data are compatible with the notion that the uvrD+ gene produce affects the conformation of incised deoxyribonucleic acid molecules.
Barometric Process Separation: New Method for Quantifying Nitrification, Denitrification, and Nitrous Oxide Sources in Soils

A method, Barometric Process Separation (BaPS), was developed for the quantification of gross nitrification rates and denitrification rates in oxic soil using intact soil cores incubated in an isothermal gas tight system. Gross nitrification rates and denitrification rates are derived from measurements of changes (i) in air pressure within the closed system, which are primarily the result of the activities of nitrification, denitrification, and respiration, and (2) of O{sub 2} and CO{sub 2} concentrations in the system. Besides these biological processes, the contribution of physicochemical dissolution of produced CO{sub 2} in soil water to the pressure changes observed is to be considered. The method allows collection of additional information about the contribution of nitrification and denitrification to N{sub 2}O emission from soil, provided simultaneous measurements of N{sub 2}O emission are performed. Furthermore, BaPS can be used to quantify the percentage of N{sub 2}O lost from nitrification. The advantage of BaPS is that disturbance of the soil system is minimized compared with other methods such as the use of gaseous inhibitors (e.g., acetylene) or application of {sup 15}N compounds to the soil. The authors present the theoretical considerations of BaPS, results for nitrification rates, denitrification rates, and identification of soil N{submore » 2}O sources in a well-aerated coniferous forest soil using BaPS. The suitability of BaPS as a method for determination of gross nitrification is demonstrated by validation experiments using the {sup 15}N-pool dilution technique. « less
Facilitation of Spinal NMDA Receptor Currents by Spillover of Synaptically Released Glycine

In the mammalian CNS, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors serve prominent roles in many physiological and pathophysiological processes including pain transmission. For full activation, NMDA receptors require the binding of glycine. It is not known whether the brain uses changes in extracellular glycine to modulate synaptic NMDA responses. Here, we show that synaptically released glycine facilitates NMDA receptor currents in the superficial dorsal horn, an area critically involved in pain processing. During high presynaptic activity, glycine released from inhibitory interneurons escapes the synaptic cleft and reaches nearby NMDA receptors by so-called spillover. In vivo, this process may contribute to the development ofinflammatory hyperalgesia.
Clark’s Nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) Flexibly Adapt Caching Behavior to a Cooperative Context

Corvids recognize when their caches are at risk of being stolen by others and have developed strategies to protect these caches from pilferage. For instance, Clark’s nutcrackers will suppress the number of caches they make if being observed by a potential thief. However, cache protection has most often been studied using competitive contexts, so it is unclear whether corvids can adjust their caching in beneficial ways to accommodate non-competitive situations. Therefore, we examined whether Clark’s nutcrackers, a non-social corvid, would flexibly adapt their caching behaviors to a cooperative context. To do so, birds were given a caching task during which caches made by one individual were reciprocally exchanged for the caches of a partner bird over repeated trials. In this scenario, if caching behaviors can be flexibly deployed, then the birds should recognize the cooperative nature of the task and maintain or increase caching levels over time. However, if cache protection strategies are applied independent of social context and simply in response to cache theft, then cache suppression should occur. In the current experiment, we found that the birds maintained caching throughout the experiment. We report that males increased caching in response to a manipulation in which caches were artificially added, suggesting the birds could adapt to the cooperative nature of the task. Additionally, we show that caching decisions were not solely due to motivational factors, instead showing an additional influence attributed to the behavior of the partner bird.
Bacterial Populations (First Record) at Two Shallow Hydrothermal Vents of the Mexican Pacific West Coast

Thermophilic and metal-oxidizing bacteria were identified in shallow hydrothermal vents on the western Mexican coast. The role of these bacteria in biomineralization processes observed in the vents is explained, and the effect of the vents on biodiversity of prokaryotes is discussed. Research was done at two shallow hydrothermal vent sites: Bahía Concepción (BC) in the Baja California Peninsula and Punta Mita (PM), on the central Pacific coast. Temperature at the sediments proximal to the vents was similar, but the redox potentials (0.5 V in BC and −0.3 V in PM) and pH (6.2 in BC and as low as 4.5 in PM) differed. The composition of the discharged water ranged from nearly seawater to lower-salinity fluids, and the gas phase was mainly CO2 at BC and N2 and CH4 at PM. The study focuses on the biogeochemical processes related to the different species of bacteria present in the studied sites, which are involved in the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), seawater sulfate reduction, and metal oxidation. The detected bacterial lineages represented typical deep vent species, which disproves a previous hypothesis that proposed that different consortia were populating deep and shallow hydrothermal vents. The results obtained here show that the main parameter affecting the bacterial groups present in shallow vents was the redox potential: gamma-, delta-, and epsilon proteobacteria as well as Bacteriodetes are present under the oxidizing conditions of BC, and Thermotogae, Aquificae, and Planctomycetes are present in PM. Sunlight abundance favored the prevalence of halophilic and Chlorofleaxae bacteria in both areas.
El contexto geográfico de los lagomorfos de México

Mexican lagomorphs (15 species) represent part of Mexico´s natural heritage which invoke contrasting perceptions. On the one side, some species are granted as threatening of ecological disturbances due to its versatility and adaptation to man-made changes. On the other, a number of species are highly threatened and some at the verge of extinction. The present paper analyses conjointly, biogeographic and ecological distribution patterns in connection with potential strategic local stakeholders who may turn allies to implement manipulation and conservation of lagomorph´s populations. The geographic approach allowed simultaneous use of geospatial, social and ecological data bases. These were needed to delineate critical territories for this Mexican mammalian order. Results pinpoint eight critical territories covering over one million hectares to ensure long term survival of these 15 lagomorph´s species. The immediate challenge is to guide the performance of these critical territories into sustainable practices. This task has to be conducted under the legitimate local communal governance schemes; which are the underlying social forces that have ensure the persistence of the present Mexican lagomorphs.
Purpuric clothing dermatitis due to Disperse Yellow 27

Comment Contact sensitization to bufexamac is not rare, though often unknown or forgotten by the patient, but seems to be less frequent in our series than in previous reports (2, 3). Bufexamac (4-butoxy-N-hydroxy-benzeneacetamide) and diclofenac (2[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino]-benzeneacetic acid) both have a benzene ring, with an acetamide (bufexamac) or an acetic acid group (diclofenac) on the alkyl chain. This difference might explain the absence
COMPARING X-RAY AND DYNAMICAL MASS PROFILES IN THE EARLY-TYPE GALAXY NGC 4636

We present the results of an X-ray mass analysis of the early-type galaxy NGC 4636, using Chandra data. We have compared the X-ray mass density profile with that derived from a dynamical analysis of the system's globular clusters (GCs). Given the observed interaction between the central active galactic nucleus and the X-ray emitting gas in NGC 4636, we would expect to see a discrepancy in the masses recovered by the two methods. Such a discrepancy exists within the central ∼10 kpc, which we interpret as the result of non-thermal pressure support or a local inflow. However, over the radial range ∼10–30 kpc, the mass profiles agree within the 1σ errors, indicating that even in this highly disturbed system, agreement can be sought at an acceptable level of significance over intermediate radii, with both methods also indicating the need for a dark matter halo. However, at radii larger than 30 kpc, the X-ray mass exceeds the dynamical mass, by a factor of 4–5 at the largest disagreement. A Fully Bayesian Significance Test finds no statistical reason to reject our assumption of velocity isotropy, and an analysis of X-ray mass profiles in different directions from the galaxy center suggests that local disturbances at large radius are not the cause of the discrepancy. We instead attribute the discrepancy to the paucity of GC kinematics at large radius, coupled with not knowing the overall state of the gas at the radius where we are reaching the group regime (>30 kpc), or a combination of the two.
Responsive management of early resistance in cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

OBJECTIVE Client resistance limits the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), rendering it an important process marker for clinicians. Yet, little is known about how CBT therapists' responsively navigate resistance. This study examined whether differences in therapists' behavior during moments of early resistance in CBT predict distal (posttreatment worry) and proximal (subsequent resistance) therapy outcomes. We hypothesized that clinicians' use of supportive, motivational interviewing (MI)-consistent strategies versus directive CBT methods during resistance episodes would relate to more favorable outcomes. METHOD Clients (N = 30) with severe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were treated with CBT (without MI) in the context of a randomized controlled trial. An adapted version of the Client Resistance Code was used to identify moments of client disagreement with therapist direction, and these episodes were rated for therapist behavior using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI). Context-specific variations in therapists' MITI ratings during disagreement were compared with variations in ratings during randomly selected moments to examine whether the timing of therapist use of theoretically indicated MI skills differentially impacted outcomes. RESULTS Clients whose therapists displayed greater MI-consistent responses during disagreement had lower levels of posttreatment worry, t = -2.84, p = . 009, and subsequent resistance, t = -2.96, p = . 013. Additionally, MI-consistent behavior during disagreement was substantially related to treatment outcomes, but MI-like behavior during randomly selected therapy segments was not (t = -.15, p = .886 for posttreatment worry, and t = -.09, p = .934 for subsequent resistance). CONCLUSIONS Findings support the importance of context-responsivity to resistance markers, suggesting that systematic incorporation of MI for managing resistance holds promise for improving CBT for GAD. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Sonic Hedgehog Pathway Mediates Carbamylated Erythropoietin-enhanced Proliferation and Differentiation of Adult Neural Progenitor Cells*

Carbamylated erythropoietin (CEPO), a well characterized erythropoietin (EPO) derivative, does not bind to the classical EPO receptor and does not stimulate erythropoiesis. Using neural progenitor cells derived from the subventricular zone of the adult mouse, we investigated the effect of CEPO on neurogenesis and the associated signaling pathways in vitro. We found that CEPO significantly increased neural progenitor cell proliferation and promoted neural progenitor cell differentiation into neurons, which was associated with up-regulation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), its receptor ptc, and mammalian achaete-scute homolog 1 (Mash1), a pro-neuron basic helix-loop-helix protein transcription factor. Blockage of the Shh signaling pathway with a pharmacological inhibitor, cyclopamine, abolished the CEPO-induced neurogenesis. Attenuation of endogenous Mash1 expression by short-interfering RNA blocked CEPO-promoted neuronal differentiation. In addition, recombinant mouse Shh up-regulated Mash1 expression in neural progenitor cells. These results demonstrate that the Shh signaling pathway mediates CEPO-enhanced neurogenesis and Mash1 is a downstream target of the Shh signaling pathway that regulates CEPO-enhanced neuronal differentiation.
Direct optimal growth analysis for timesteppers

Methods are described for transient growth analysis of flows with arbitrary geometric complexity, where in particular the flow is not required to vary slowly in the streamwise direction. Emphasis is on capturing the global effects arising from localized convective stability in streamwise‐varying flows. The methods employ the ‘timestepper's approach’ in which a nonlinear Navier–Stokes code is modified to provide evolution operators for both the forward and adjoint linearized equations. First, the underlying mathematical treatment in primitive flow variables is presented. Then, details are given for the inner level code modifications and outer level eigenvalue and SVD algorithms in the timestepper's approach. Finally, some examples are shown and guidance provided on practical aspects of this type of large‐scale stability analysis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biomechanical Analysis of Transpedicular Screw Fixation in the Subaxial Cervical Spine

Study Design. An in vitro biomechanical study to compare 2 different dorsal screw fixation techniques in the cervical spine with respect to primary stability and stability after cyclic loading. Objectives. To investigate if the biomechanical stability is better in pedicle screw or in lateral mass fixation. Summary of Background Data. In patients with poor bone quality who require multisegmental fixations, the current dorsal stabilization procedures in the subaxial cervical spine using lateral mass screws are often insufficient. Cervical pedicle screw fixation has been suggested as an alternative procedure, but there are still limited data available on the biomechanical differences between pedicle screw and lateral mass fixation. Methods. A severe multilevel discoligamentous instability was created in 8 human cervical spine specimens (C2–C7). Dorsal stabilization was performed with the assistance of computer navigation (SurgiGate, Medivison, Switzerland) using either lateral mass or pedicle screw fixation. In the first part of the study, primary stability was measured by means of a multidirectional flexibility test. Then, specimens were divided into 2 groups, randomized for bone mineral density. Cyclic loading was applied with sinusoidal loads in flexion/extension (1000 cycles, ±1.5 Nm, 0.1 Hz). Mechanical behavior of the specimens was determined by a flexibility test before and after the application of cyclic loads. Data analysis was performed by calculating the ranges of motion, and statistical differences were determined with the t test for group comparison. Results. Pedicle screw fixation showed a significantly higher stability in lateral bending (pedicle screw range of motion 0.86 ± 0.31°; lateral mass range of motion 1.43 ± 0.62°; P = 0.037). No significant differences were seen in flexion/extension and axial rotation. After cyclic loading, the decrease in stability was less with pedicle screw fixation in all load directions. Differences in the decrease of stability were statistically significant in flexion/extension (pedicle screw 95.4 ± 9.4%; lateral mass 70.5 ± 9.8%; P = 0.010) and lateral bending (pedicle screw 105.3 ± 5.0%; lateral mass 84.2 ± 13.6%; P = 0.046), whereas there was no significant difference in axial rotation. Conclusions. The major finding of the current study was the higher stability of pedicle screws over lateral mass fixation with respect to primary stability and stability after cyclic loading. From a biomechanical point of view the use of pedicle screws in the subaxial cervical spine seems justified in patients with poor bone quality and need for multisegmental fixation.
Surface characteristics of a novel hydroxyapatite-coated dental implant

Purpose This study evaluated the surface characteristics and bond strength produced using a novel technique for coating hydroxyapatite (HA) onto titanium implants. Methods HA was coated on the titanium implant surface using a super-high-speed (SHS) blasting method with highly purified HA. The coating was performed at a low temperature, unlike conventional HA coating methods. Coating thickness was measured. The novel HA-coated disc was fabricated. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed directly on the disc to evaluate crystallinity. Four novel HA-coated discs and four resorbable blast medium (RBM) discs were prepared. Their surface roughnesses and areas were measured. Five puretitanium, RBM-treated, and novel HA-coated discs were prepared. Contact angle was measured. Two-way analysis of variance and the post-hoc Scheffe's test were used to analyze differences between the groups, with those with a probability of P<0.05 considered to be statistically significant. To evaluate exfoliation of the coating layer, 7 sites on the mandibles from 7 mongrel dogs were used. Other sites were used for another research project. In total, seven novel HA-coated implants were placed 2 months after extraction of premolars according to the manufacturer's instructions. The dogs were sacrificed 8 weeks after implant surgery. Implants were removed using a ratchet driver. The surface of the retrieved implants was evaluated microscopically. Results A uniform HA coating layer was formed on the titanium implants with no deformation of the RBM titanium surface microtexture when an SHS blasting method was used. Conclusions These HA-coated implants exhibited increased roughness, crystallinity, and wettability when compared with RBM implants.
Protective efficacy of Psidium cattleianum and Myracrodruon urundeuva aqueous extracts against caries development in rats

This study evaluated the influence of Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Myrtaceae) and Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (Anacardiaceae) aqueous extracts on S. mutans counts and dental enamel micro-hardness of rats submitted to a cariogenic challenge. Sixty Wistar rats were distributed in three groups and received water (control) or aqueous extracts of Psidium cattleianum or Myracrodruon urundeuva as hydration solution. Initially the animals had their sublingual and submandibular salivary glands surgically removed and the parotid ducts ligated. Then the rats were inoculated with 106 CFU of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 35668 and were fed with a cariogenic diet. To detect and quantify the presence of S. mutans, oral biofilms were sampled and microbial DNA was extracted and submitted to amplification by means of real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). After seven weeks the animals were sacrificed and enamel demineralization was analyzed by cross-sectional micro-hardness. Both extracts produced a significant reduction on S. mutans counts and decreased the enamel demineralization. It can be concluded that the extracts tested had a significant effect on S. mutans in oral biofilm of the rats, decreasing S. mutans accumulation and enamel demineralization.
Percutaneous atrial septal defect closure by using jugular venous access in a case with interrupted inferior vena cava

Femoral venous approach is the classical route of percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. But in certain circumstances alternative routes are used. In this report percutaneous ASD closure in a case with interrupted vena cava by jugular venous approach is discussed. Percutaneous closure through femoral venous route was planned in a 6-year-old girl with ASD. Because of interrupted vena cava the jugular venous route was used. Having knowledge of this anatomical variation is important for interventionalists before performing femoral venous approach. Percutaneous transjugular venous access is a feasible alternative route in paediatric population for ASD closure.
Particulate iron formation dynamics in surface waters of the eastern Caribbean

Both the ability of membrane filters to retain iron added (as both Fe(II) and Fe(III)) to surface waters from various sources, and the ability of near ultraviolet light to induce dissolution of colloidal iron oxides suspended in waters from different locations are examined here. In brief, the presence of naturally occurring organic matter exerts a dominating effect on the tendency of iron oxide particles to interact with each other (both in suspension and on or within the membrane matrix). In coastal waters in the vicinity of the Orinoco River, growth of iron oxide particles initiated on addition of either Fe(II) or Fe(III) to the sample of interest, is significantly retarded in comparison to iron particle growth in open ocean waters. Near-UV light appears to retard particle growth following both Fe(II) and Fe(III) addition to a coastal sample but does little to induce the dissolution of colloidal oxides.