Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Heavy Chain and β2-Microglobulin Synthesis as a Mechanism of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Downregulation during Epstein-Barr Virus Replication

ABSTRACT The mechanisms of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I downregulation during Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) replication are not well characterized. Here we show that in several cell lines infected with a recombinant EBV strain encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), the virus lytic cycle coincides with GFP expression, which thus can be used as a marker of virus replication. EBV replication resulted in downregulation of MHC class II and all classical MHC class I alleles independently of viral DNA synthesis or late gene expression. Although assembled MHC class I complexes, the total pool of heavy chains, and β2-microglobulin (β2m) were significantly downregulated, free class I heavy chains were stabilized at the surface of cells replicating EBV. Calnexin expression was increased in GFP+ cells, and calnexin and calreticulin accumulated at the cell surface that could contribute to the stabilization of class I heavy chains. Decreased expression levels of another chaperone, ERp57, and TAP2, a transporter associated with antigen processing and presentation, correlated with delayed kinetics of MHC class I maturation. Levels of both class I heavy chain and β2m mRNA were reduced, and metabolic labeling experiments demonstrated a very low rate of class I heavy chain synthesis in lytically infected cells. MHC class I and MHC class II downregulation was mimicked by pharmacological inhibition of protein synthesis in latently infected cells. Our data suggest that although several mechanisms may contribute to MHC class I downregulation in the course of EBV replication, inhibition of MHC class I synthesis plays the primary role in the process.
Outcomes of Posterior Component Separation With Transversus Abdominis Muscle Release and Synthetic Mesh Sublay Reinforcement

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transversus abdominis muscle release (TAR) with retrorectus synthetic mesh reinforcement in a large series of complex hernia patients. Background: Posterior component separation via TAR during abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) continues to gain popularity. Although our early experience with TAR has been promising, long-term outcomes have not been reported. Methods: From December 2006 to December 2014, consecutive patients undergoing open AWR utilizing TAR were identified in our prospectively maintained database and reviewed retrospectively. Main outcome measures included demographics, perioperative details, wound complications, and recurrences. Results: During the study period, 428 consecutive TAR procedures were analyzed. Mean age was 58, with mean body mass index 34.4 kg/m2 (range 20–65). Major comorbidities included diabetes (21%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (12%), and immunosuppression (3%). Mean hernia defect area was 606 cm2 (range 180–1280) and average mesh size was 1220 cm2 (range 600–4500). The majority of cases (66%) were clean, 26% were clean-contaminated, and 8% were contaminated. Eighty (18.7%) surgical-site events occurred, of which 39 (9.1%) were surgical-site infections. Three patients required mesh debridement; however, no instances of mesh explantation occurred. Of the 347 (81%) patients with at least 1-year follow-up (mean 31.5 mo), there were 13 (3.7%) recurrences. Conclusions: Complex AWR represents a formidable surgical challenge. In this large series, we demonstrated that posterior component separation via TAR with wide synthetic mesh sublay provides a very durable repair with low morbidity, even in comorbid patients with large defects. We strongly advocate TAR as a robust addition to the armamentarium of reconstructive surgeons.
Pliocene benthonic foraminifera from homogeneous and laminated marls on Crete

In the Pliocene, the paleogeography of central Crete consisted of a number of basins which were filled by predominantly marly sediments. In the sedimentary sequence numerous laminated sapropelic intercalations can be observed. At a higher stratigraphic level diatomaceous laminites appear. From field data and sediment analyses we have inferred a shallowing for this sequence. Correlation of the individual strata shows that sapropelic laminites and diatomites were formed simultaneously. Turbidity-controlled differences in primary production are considered to be responsible for the simultaneous formation of both lithology types. Thickness of the sapropels is determined primarily by the amount of clastic input; in diatomites thickness depends on different rates of production of siliceous micro-organisms. The benthonic foraminifera from the sediment successions were subjected to a quantitative study. On the basis of R-mode statistical analyses we can divide the benthonic fauna into a group with preference for the homogeneous sediments, a laminite-bound group and a group with an intermediate position. The statistical analyses suggest the existence of a stagnation gradient for the depositional environments of the successive laminites. At the extreme end of this gradient the autochthonous fauna is replaced by allochthonous benthonic elements. It can be demonstrated that the degree of stagnation during each period of laminite formation differed from basin to basin and was at its maximum in relatively shallow environments. A stagnation gradient seems to be of little value for the homogeneous sediments. Here, minor faunal changes can be attributed to shallowing and the development of better nutrient conditions. From distributional, sedimen,tary and faunistic evidence it is concluded that the Pliocene periods of stagnation are best expressed in a marginal setting. Periodically increased run-off seems to provide the most likely explanation for the origin of the Pliocene laminated sediments. Low saline land-derived waters caused the termination of the vertical circulation. In addition, such waters brought nutrients into the marine realm, giving rise to enhanced production in surface waters.
The SaeR/S Gene Regulatory System Induces a Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Response during Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus accounts for a large portion of the increased staphylococcal disease incidence and can cause illness ranging from mild skin infections to rapidly fatal sepsis syndromes. Currently, we have limited understanding of S. aureus-derived mechanisms contributing to bacterial pathogenesis and host inflammation during staphylococcal disease. Herein, we characterize an influential role for the saeR/S two-component gene regulatory system in mediating cytokine induction using mouse models of S. aureus pathogenesis. Invasive S. aureus infection induced the production of localized and systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-2. In contrast, mice infected with an isogenic saeR/S deletion mutant demonstrated significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Additionally, secreted factors influenced by saeR/S elicited pro-inflammatory cytokines in human blood ex vivo. Our study further demonstrated robust saeR/S-mediated IFN-γproduction during both invasive and subcutaneous skin infections. Results also indicated a critical role for saeR/S in promoting bacterial survival and enhancing host mortality during S. aureus peritonitis. Taken together, this study provides insight into specific mechanisms used by S. aureus during staphylococcal disease and characterizes a relationship between a bacterial global regulator of virulence and the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.
The Largest Hydrocarbon Field Discovered to Date in Hungary: Algyo

The Algyo field is currently one of the largest oil- and gas-producing fields in the Pannonian Basin, Central Europe. Located in the southern part of Hungary, it was discovered in 1965, and it has produced 31 million t of oil and 70 billion m3 (2.47 tcf) of gas. Today, it provides more than half of Hungary's oil production and also holds the largest reserves. The areal extent of the field is about 80 km2 (31 mi2), and it comprises several dozens of sandstone reservoir beds with 5–30 m (16–100 ft) of gross thickness each. The reservoir sands as well as the probable source rocks were deposited in Lake Pannon and in adjacent deltaic and fluvial environments during the late Miocene and earliest Pliocene. Lake Pannon was a huge, long-lived, brackish lake, similar to the modern Caspian Sea. The hydrocarbon traps formed in a compaction anticline above a northwest–southeast-trending metamorphic core complex. A recently shot three-dimensional seismic survey was a milestone for further development and opened new ways for exploration effort, including the use of direct hydrocarbon indicators, to find additional satellite fields in the vicinity of this significant field. Complex interpretation of all available data and using sequence stratigraphy and its chronostratigraphical framework have been tremendously improving our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the reservoir characteristics, facies development, and the oil- and gas-trapping mechanism.
Inorganic soil and groundwater chemistry near Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Paducah, Kentucky

Near-surface soils, boreholes, and sediments near the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) were sampled in 1989-91 as were monitoring wells, TVA wells, and privately-owned wells. Most wells were sampled two or three times. The resulting chemical analyses have been published in previous reports and have been previously described (CH2M HILL 1991, 1992; Clausen et al. 1992). The two reports by CH2M HILL are controversial, however, because, the concentrations of some constituents were reported to exceed background levels or drinking water standards and because both on-site (within the perimeter fence at PGDP) and off-site pollution was reported to have occurred. The groundwater samples upon which these interpretations were based may not be representative, however. The CH2M HILL findings are discussed in the report. The purpose of this report is to characterize the inorganic chemistry of groundwater and soils near PGDP, using data from the CH2M HILL reports (1991, 1992), and to determine whether or not any contamination has occurred. The scope is limited to analysis and interpretation of data in the CH2M HILL reports because previous interpretations of these data may not be valid, because samples were collected in a relatively short period of time at several hundred locations, and because the chemical analyses are nearly complete. Recent water samples from the same wells were not considered because the characterization of inorganic chemistry for groundwater and soil requirements only one representative sample and an accurate analysis from each location.
Model-Based Predictive Direct Power Control of Doubly Fed Induction Generators

This paper presents a predictive direct power control strategy for doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs). The method predicts the DFIG's stator active and reactive power variations within a fixed sampling period, which is used to directly calculate the required rotor voltage to eliminate the power errors at the end of the following sampling period. Space vector modulation is then used to generate the required switching pulses within the fixed sampling period that results in a constant switching frequency. The impact of sampling delay on the accuracy of the sampled active and reactive powers is analyzed, and detailed compensation methods are proposed to improve the power control accuracy and system stability. Experimental results for a 1.5-kW DFIG system demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control strategy during power steps, and variations of rotating speed and machine parameters. System performance for tracking varying stator power references further illustrates the dynamic performance of the proposed method.
Electrophysiological Potentials Reveal Cortical Mechanisms for Mental Imagery, Mental Simulation, and Grounded (Embodied) Cognition

Grounded cognition theory proposes that cognition, including meaning, is grounded in sensorimotor processing. The mechanism for grounding cognition is mental simulation, which is a type of mental imagery that re-enacts modal processing. To reveal top-down, cortical mechanisms for mental simulation of shape, event-related potentials were recorded to face and object pictures preceded by mental imagery. Mental imagery of the identical face or object picture (congruous condition) facilitated not only categorical perception (VPP/N170) but also later visual knowledge [N3(00) complex] and linguistic knowledge (N400) for faces more than objects, and strategic semantic analysis (late positive complex) between 200 and 700 ms. The later effects resembled semantic congruity effects with pictures. Mental imagery also facilitated category decisions, as a P3 peaked earlier for congruous than incongruous (other category) pictures, resembling the case when identical pictures repeat immediately. Thus mental imagery mimics semantic congruity and immediate repetition priming processes with pictures. Perception control results showed the opposite for faces and were in the same direction for objects: Perceptual repetition adapts (and so impairs) processing of perceived faces from categorical perception onward, but primes processing of objects during categorical perception, visual knowledge processes, and strategic semantic analysis. For both imagery and perception, differences between faces and objects support domain-specificity and indicate that cognition is grounded in modal processing. Altogether, this direct neural evidence reveals that top-down processes of mental imagery sustain an imagistic representation that mimics perception well enough to prime subsequent perception and cognition. Findings also suggest that automatic mental simulation of the visual shape of faces and objects operates between 200 and 400 ms, and strategic mental simulation operates between 400 and 700 ms.
Posterior fossa magnetic resonance imaging in autism.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the sizes and volumes of the posterior fossa structures are abnormal in non-mentally retarded autistic adolescents and adults. METHOD Volume measurements of the cerebellum, vermis, and brainstem were obtained from coronal magnetic resonance imaging scans in 16 autistic subjects and 19 group-matched healthy controls. For the purpose of comparison with previous studies, area measurements of the midbrain, pons, medulla, total cerebellar vermis, and its three subregions were also obtained from a larger sample of 22 autistic males (mean age: 22.4 years; range: 12.2-51.8 years) and 22 individually matched controls (mean age 22.4 years; range: 12.9-52.2 years). RESULTS The total volume of the cerebellum and the cerebellar hemispheres were significantly larger in the autistic subjects with and without correcting for total brain volume. Volumes of the vermis and the brainstem and all area measurements did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS There is an increase in the volume of the cerebellum in people with autism consistent with the increase in regional and total brain size reported in this developmental disorder. This finding is also concordant with evidence of cerebellar abnormalities from neuropathological and neuropsychological studies that point to the role of this structure, as part of a complex neural system, in the pathophysiology of autism.
Effect of Single Preoperative Dose of Tranexamic Acid on Blood Loss and Transfusion in Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a single intravenous dose of tranexamic acid administered before surgery in patients undergoing total cementless hip arthroplasty on: intra-, post-, and perioperative blood lost, the number of patients requiring transfusion, the incidence of thromboembolic complications Material and methods. The study enrolled 124 patients, who were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (61 patients) received an intravenous dose of 15 mg/kg of tranexamic acid 20 minutes before the skin incision, while the control group (63 patients) did not receive this drug. We analysed intraoperative blood loss (volume of blood in the aspirator), postoperative blood loss (volume of blood drained), total perioperative blood loss, and the number of patients requiring transfusion as well as the number of thromboembolic complications in both groups. RESULTS In the experimental group, mean intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower at 216 ml compared to 408.5 ml in the control group (p=0.00421). Postoperative blood loss on the first postoperative day was also lower in the experimental group (246.3 ml) as compared with the control group (358 ml, p=0.000097). Estimated perioperative blood loss in the experimental group was lower as well, reaching 779 ml, vs. 1315.5 ml in the control group (p=0.00567). The percentage of patients requiring transfusion in the experimental group (3.27%) was significantly lower than in the control group (22.22%) (p=0.00166). The use of tranexamic acid did not influence the number of thromboembolic complications (p=0.3075). CONCLUSIONS 1. The administration of 15 mg/kg of tranexamic acid 20 minutes before surgery decreases the need for postoperative transfusion of allogeneic blood due to a significant reduction in intra-, post-, and perioperative blood loss. 2. Seeing that this method does not increase the number of thromboembolic complications and is simple and inexpensive, it should be considered worthy of recommendation in total cementless hip arthroplasty.
MAMÍFEROS DE MÉDIO E GRANDE PORTE ATROPELADOS POR TRENS EM ÁREAS SERRANAS DO EXTREMO SUL DO BRASIL.

Os principais impactos ambientais provenientes de malhas ferroviarias nao diferem significativamente dos gerados por estradas. A mortalidade de vertebrados terrestres decorrente de colisoes com trens podem ser expressivas, onde mamiferos e aves sao particularmente os grupos mais impactados. Trabalhos inventariando a mastofauna atropelada em ferrovias sao inexistentes na America do Sul. O Rio Grande do Sul e detentor da mais densa malha ferroviaria do sul do Brasil e futuras ampliacoes das linhas ferreas adicionarao mais de 500 km a malha do Estado. Neste cenario de desenvolvimento, a diversidade de mamiferos torna-se cada vez mais ameacada por estes empreendimentos e os esforcos para conservacao devem ser potencializados no sentido de mitigar e reduzir ao maximo os impactos advindos destas atividades. Identificar locais prioritarios para reducao de atropelamentos e indispensavel para maximizar o efeito das medidas mitigatorias. Nesse estudo identificamos a mastofauna atropelada em ferrovias que atravessam seis municipios da regiao serrana do Rio Grande do Sul, relatamos a abundância relativa, a categoria de ameaca e indicamos os trechos com maiores indices de atropelamento. A coleta de dados se deu entre os anos de 2008 e 2011 mediante realizacao de transectos nao-lineares coincidentes com o tracado da linha ferrea. Os percursos foram feitos a pe, totalizando 27 km divididos em seis trechos municipais: Muitos Capoes; Bom Jesus; Veranopolis; Bento Goncalves; Mucum; e Guapore. Todos os transectos sao predominantemente marginais a rios, atravessando tres regioes fitoecologicas distintas, Floresta Ombrofila Mista, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual e Estepe de altitude. A topografia da ferrovia foi categorizada em relacao ao entorno como “relevo alto”, “nivelado” e “relevo baixo”. Reconhecemos 49 especimes de mamiferos categorizados em 14 especies e 11 familias. Dez especies foram classificadas como de medio porte e quatro de grande porte, sendo Didelphis albiventris a que apresentou mais registros de atropelamento (n=17), representando 34,69% do total de individuos encontrados. Quatro especies registradas, Eira barbara, Nasua nasua, Cuniculus paca e Tamandua tetradactyla, figuram na categoria de vulneravel e uma , Tayassu peccari na categoria criticamente em perigo. A taxa de mortalidade de especies foi de 1,8/km. Todos os registros ocorreram em areas definidas como “relevo baixo”. Dentro desta categoria, 69,38% dos registros ocorreram em locais onde houve alteracoes do perfil das encostas. Dentre estes, cortes de coxilhas e tuneis representaram 48% e 6,1% dos registros respectivamente. Este trabalho contribui de forma inedita para o conhecimento do impacto causado na fase de operacao de ferrovias sobre a mastofauna terrestre e aponta trechos criticos para travessia deste grupo. Estes resultados, sobretudo indicam locais prioritarios para implantacao de medidas mitigadoras no sentido de reduzir as taxas de atropelamento de fauna.
On the throughput-delay trade-off in georouting networks

We study the scaling properties of a georouting scheme in a wireless multi-hop network of n mobile nodes. Our aim is to increase the network capacity quasi linearly with n while keeping the average delay bounded. In our model, mobile nodes move according to an i.i. d. random walk with velocity v and transmit packets to randomly chosen destinations. The average packet delivery delay of our scheme is of order 1/v and it achieves the network capacity of order n/(log n log log n). This shows a practical throughput-delay trade-off, in particular when compared with the seminal result of Gupta and Kumar which shows network capacity of order √(n/log n) and negligible delay and the groundbreaking result of Grossglauser and Tse which achieves network capacity of order n but with an average delay of order √n/v. The foundation of our improved capacity and delay trade-off relies on the fact that we use a mobility model that contains free space motion, a model that we consider more realistic than classic brownian motions. We confirm the generality of our analytical results using simulations under various interference models.
The Tooth of Time: Charlie Roots

Charlie Roots is a 56 year old field geologist with the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) who lives in Whitehorse and is based at the Yukon Geological Survey, a territorial government organization. This is the story of my three brief encounters with Charlie, each separated by an hiatus of more than 15 years. Our most important and recent encounter was wordless—no meeting, no phone call, no email—the perfect crime. Now, I must admit at the outset that when I learned in school that much of the Yukon had ‘escaped’ Pleistocene glaciation, I wrote it off for my purposes as an area of good soil and bad outcrop. I was mistaken. In January 1977, I was in a bit of a jam. The previous summer, with a crew of six, I had mapped the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, NWT, a system of deep channels and bays extending 240 km into the Precambrian Shield (Fig. 1). Christie Bay, the third deepest column of freshwater in the world after lakes Baikal and Victoria, owes its existence to erosion by ice streams within the Laurentide Ice Sheet, guided by a canoe-shaped synclinorium of soft, nearly unmetamorphosed, sedimentary and associated igneous rocks of Orosirian (late Paleoproterozoic, 2.05-1.80 Ga) age. As mapped by Cliff Stockwell (Stockwell 1932, 1936), the synclinorium is a doubly-plunging upright structure, more tightly folded on its southeastern side, where it is broken by faults. One of them, the McDonald Fault, presents a linear escarpment that parallels the east arm and puts granitoid basement rocks against the soft sedimentary succession. Stockwell’s map accurately portrays the geology that he saw on the shorelines of the East Arm and accessible waterways to the south (Stark Lake, Murky Channel), but without aircraft support he was unable to map all the rocks as far south as the McDonald Fault. My thesis project on the sedimentary succession revealed only one flaw in Stockwell’s map: a major carbonate platform and ramp, the Pethei Group, had a demonstrably-isochronous basinal facies (Hoffman 1974) that he mistakenly assigned to the stratigraphically overlying Stark Formation. Following C hr is t ie Bay Monald ault