Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cold shock stress-induced proteins in Bacillus subtilis

Bacteria respond to a decrease in temperature with the induction of proteins that are classified as cold-induced proteins (CIPs). Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we analyzed the cold shock response in Bacillus subtilis. After a shift from 37 to 15 degrees C the synthesis of a majority of proteins was repressed; in contrast, 37 proteins were synthesized at rates higher than preshift rates. One hour after cold shock, the induction of CIPs decreased, and after 2 h, general protein synthesis resumed. The identified main CIPs were excised from two-dimensional gels and were subjected to microsequencing. Three small acidic proteins that showed the highest relative induction after cold shock were highly homologous and belonged to a protein family of which one member, the major cold shock protein, CspB, has previously been characterized. Two-dimensional gel analyses of a cspB null mutant revealed that CspB affects the level of induction of several CIPs. Other identified CIPs function at various levels of cellular physiology, such as chemotaxis (CheY), sugar uptake (Hpr), translation (ribosomal proteins S6 and L7/L12), protein folding (PPiB), and general metabolism (CysK, Ilvc, Gap, and triosephosphate isomerase).
Testosterone therapy prevents gain in visceral adipose tissue and loss of skeletal muscle in nonobese aging men.

BACKGROUND Trials of testosterone therapy in aging men have demonstrated increases in fat-free mass (FFM) and skeletal muscle and decreases in fat mass (FM) but have not reported the impact of baseline body composition. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the effect, in nonobese aging men with symptoms of androgen deficiency and low-normal serum testosterone levels, of testosterone therapy on total and regional body composition and hormonal and metabolic indices. METHODS Sixty healthy but symptomatic, nonobese men aged 55 yr or older with total testosterone (TT) levels less than 15 nm were randomized to transdermal testosterone patches or placebo for 52 wk. Body composition, by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (FM, FFM, skeletal muscle) and magnetic resonance imaging (abdominal sc and visceral adipose tissue, thigh skeletal muscle, and intermuscular fat) and hormonal and metabolic parameters were measured at wk 0 and 52. RESULTS Serum TT increased by 30% (P = 0.01), and LH decreased by 50% (P < 0.001). Relative to placebo, total body FFM (P = 0.03) and skeletal muscle (P = 0.008) were increased and thigh skeletal muscle loss was prevented (P = 0.045) with testosterone therapy and visceral fat accumulation decreased (P = 0.001) without change in total body or abdominal sc FM; change in visceral fat was correlated with change in TT levels (r2 = 0.36; P = 0.014). There was a trend to increasing total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with placebo. CONCLUSION Testosterone therapy, relative to placebo, selectively lessened visceral fat accumulation without change in total body FM and increased total body FFM and total body and thigh skeletal muscle mass. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of these body compositional changes on markers of metabolic and cardiovascular risk.
Toxicity resulting from exposure to oven cleaners as reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) from 2009 to 2015

Abstract Introduction: Oven cleaning products contain corrosive substances, typically sodium or potassium hydroxide. Objective: To determine the reported toxicity from exposure to oven cleaning products. Methods: Telephone enquiries to the UK National Poisons Information Service regarding oven cleaning products were analysed retrospectively for the period January 2009 to December 2015. Results: There were 796 enquiries relating to 780 patients. Ninety-six percent of the products involved in the reported exposures contained sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide. Ingestion alone (n = 285) or skin contact alone (n = 208) accounted for the majority of cases; inhalation alone (n = 101), eye contact alone (n = 97), and multiple routes of exposure (n = 89) accounted for the remainder. Ninety-five percent of patients exposed by inhalation, 94% exposed dermally and 85% reporting eye exposure, developed features of toxicity. Patients exposed by multiple routes developed symptoms in 70% of cases. Only 103 of the 285 patients ingested oven cleaner directly, whereas 182 patients ingested food they considered to have been contaminated with oven cleaner. In 100 of the 103 direct ingestions where the features and World Health Organisation/International Programme on Chemical Safety/European Commission/European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists Poisoning Severity Score were known, 56 reported symptoms which were minor in 51 cases. The most common features following ingestion were vomiting (n = 26), abdominal pain (n = 22) or pharyngitis (n = 15). Skin burns (n = 91) predominantly involving the hands or arms, occurred in 44% of dermal exposures. Following inhalation, patients frequently developed respiratory features (n = 52) including coughing and chest pain/tightness. Eye pain (n = 43) and conjunctivitis (n = 33) commonly occurred following ocular exposure. Conclusions: Most (71%) patients exposed to an oven cleaner irrespective of the route of exposure developed features of toxicity, though in most cases only minor features developed; moderate or severe features ensued in ∼4%. Those patients exposed dermally, ophthalmically or by inhalation developed features more frequently (≥85%) than those who ingested a product directly (56%).
Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia Published, JLR Papers in Press, March 16, 2003. DOI 10.1194/jlr.R300002-JLR200

We review the genetics and pathophysiology of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL), a mildly symptomatic genetically heterogeneous autosomal trait. The minority of human FHBL is caused by truncation-specifying mutations of the APOB gene on chromosome 2. In seven families, linkage to chromosome 2 is absent, linkage is instead to chromosome 3 (3p21). In others, linkage is absent to both APOB and to 3p21. Apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) levels are ∼25% of normal, instead of the 50% expected based on the presence of one normal allele due to reduced rates of production. The presence of the truncating mutation seems to have a “dominant recessive” effect on apoB-100 secretion. Concentrations of apoB truncations in plasma differ by truncation but average at ∼10% of normal levels. Lipoproteins bearing truncated forms of apoB are cleared more rapidly than apoB-100 particles. In contrast with apoB-100 particles cleared primarily in liver via the LDL receptor, most apoB truncation particles are cleared in renal proximal tubular cells via megalin. Since apoB defects cause a dysfunctional VLDL-triglyceride transport system, livers accumulate fat. Hepatic synthesis of fatty acids is reduced in compensation. Informational lacunae remain about genes affecting fat accumulation in liver, and the modulation of liver fat in the presence apoB truncation defects.
Assessment of the electric field generated by multilayered coils during MS

The technique of magnetic stimulation (MS) of nerve fibers represents a common technique in modern medicine. One of the most important issues regarding the MS of the nervous tissue is represented by the lack of precision concerning the stimulated region. In order to obtain stimulation results as good as possible, the optimization necessity for both the stimulation coil and the electric circuit arises. The place and the placement method analysis of the turns within the coil, the number of necessary turns in order to produce nervous activity, are extremely important. For that purpose, this work frames the modeling of the stimulation coil in a manner as close to the reality as possible, by designing new geometrical configurations, based on the number and the distribution mode of the turns within the “multilayered” coil. Once the coil configuration established, we address other issues that need to be solved: computing the coil inductivity related to the turns' configuration inside the coil, calculation of the electric field induced in the nervous tissue and the evaluation of the focalization ratio, in order to increase it.
Development of a Novel In Vitro Assay (ALS Assay) for Evaluation of Vaccine-Induced Antibody Secretion from Circulating Mucosal Lymphocytes

ABSTRACT We describe here a novel method for measuring in vitro antibody secretion from the tissue culture of human B lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after oral vaccination with a killed cholera vaccine. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titers of the antibody secreted in the cell supernatant were determined. The validation results demonstrated that human PBMC remained viable and continued to secrete antibodies (total immunoglobulin A [IgA] and IgG) for up to 4 days of incubation at 37°C with 5% CO2in cell cultures. The secreted antibody concentration correlated positively with the PBMC concentration and incubation time in the tissue culture and correlated negatively with the storage time of the whole blood at room temperature. In vitro assay of secreting antibody in the lymphocyte supernatant (i.e., the ALS assay) is capable of the detecting specific antibody response after oral vaccination with a killed whole-cell-plus-B-subunit cholera vaccine (WC-B) in healthy adults in a phase I clinical trial. Postimmunization PBMC secreted antibodies to cholera toxin in the cell supernatants. Antibody production did not require any in vitro antigen stimulation. In the ALS assay, antigen-specific antibody titers of prevaccination samples were barely detectable, whereas serum antitoxin ELISA titers in background of prevaccine samples were significantly higher than the ALS titers. We conclude that, without any in vitro antigen stimulation after vaccination, PBMC secrete antibodies into the supernatants in the ALS assay. This assay can quantitatively measure the antigen-specific antibody production from the PBMC culture in postvaccination blood samples.
Biochemical and Structural Insights into Bacterial Organelle Form and Biogenesis*

Many heterotrophic bacteria have the ability to make polyhedral structures containing metabolic enzymes that are bounded by a unilamellar protein shell (metabolosomes or enterosomes). These bacterial organelles contain enzymes associated with a specific metabolic process (e.g. 1,2-propanediol or ethanolamine utilization). We show that the 21 gene regulon specifying the pdu organelle and propanediol utilization enzymes from Citrobacter freundii is fully functional when cloned in Escherichia coli, both producing metabolosomes and allowing propanediol utilization. Genetic manipulation of the level of specific shell proteins resulted in the formation of aberrantly shaped metabolosomes, providing evidence for their involvement as delimiting entities in the organelle. This is the first demonstration of complete recombinant metabolosome activity transferred in a single step and supports phylogenetic evidence that the pdu genes are readily horizontally transmissible. One of the predicted shell proteins (PduT) was found to have a novel Fe-S center formed between four protein subunits. The recombinant model will facilitate future experiments establishing the structure and assembly of these multiprotein assemblages and their fate when the specific metabolic function is no longer required.
Three-dimensional mapping by direct estimation of a small motion using range images and optical flow of color images

In this paper, a method that directly estimates motion parameters of a range image sensor using range images and optical flow of color images is proposed. Linear equations for motion parameters are introduced by utilizing optical flow. A three-dimensional (3D) map is constructed by registration of range images between frames using the estimated motion parameters. Experiments to construct a 3D map using the proposed method are given. In the experiments, the accuracy of the constructed map and the time of estimating the motion parameters are evaluated. It is shown that the proposed method can construct an accurate 3D map for several scenes and estimation time of motion parameters is less than 30 ms.
Diabetes and End-Stage Renal Disease Synergistically Contribute to Increased Incidence of Cardiovascular Events: A Nationwide Follow-up Study During 1998–2009

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effect of interaction of diabetes and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on the risks of cardiovascular (CV) events. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS By using two representative national cohorts, we determined the age- and sex-specific incidences and 20-year risks of incident CV events, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, and congestive heart failure (CHF), stratified by the presence of diabetes, de novo diabetes after ESRD, or ESRD. Individuals were excluded if age <18 years or if previous CV events or malignancies were present before enrollment. Cox proportional hazards models were also constructed with adjustments for competing risk of mortality. RESULTS A total 648,851 non-ESRD individuals and 71,397 ESRD patients, including 53,342 and 34,754 diabetic patients, respectively, were followed up during 1998–2009. A monotonic risk pattern of CV-related incidences was noted with the presence of diabetes, ESRD, or both, respectively, after stratification by age and sex. De novo diabetes showed similar increased risks for CV incidences, especially AMI and stroke. There is a multiplicatively synergistic effect of diabetes and ESRD for CV-related risks, especially for AMI and stroke, of which the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were 5.24 (95% CI 4.83–5.68) and 2.43 (2.32–2.55), respectively, in comparison with people without diabetes or ESRD; de novo diabetes after ESRD had similar effects with aHRs of 4.12 (3.49–4.87) and 1.75 (1.57–1.95), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes and ESRD synergistically increase risks of CV events. Proactive screening and control for diabetes in patients with ESRD should be built into our daily practice.
PENDEKATAN PEMBELAJARAN SAINTIFIK

Buku ini menekankan pada pengayaan wawasan dan pengetahuan tentang konsep dan langkah pembelajaran dengan pendekatan scientific. Buku ini terdiri dari enam bab dengan penekanan yang berbeda-beda setiap babnya. Setiap bab juga telah disusun secara sistematis sesuai urutan materi dan tahapan pemahaman tentang pengembangan kurikulum. Sasaran pembaca buku ini adalah seluruh pengamat pendidikan dan pemegang kebijakan pendidikan serta para kepala sekolah, guru dan yang memiliki motivasi untuk menulis. Buku ini memberikan bekal pemahaman dan keterampilan untuk pelaksanaan pembelajaran dengan pendekatan scientific. Melalui buku ini diharapkan dapat memberikan modal pengetahuan bagi para pengamat pendidikan serta para pimpinan satuan pendidikan. Selain itu, juga diperuntukkan bagi para mahasiswa untuk mengembangkan buku ini dan menjadi rujukan referensi.
Generator maintenance scheduling with hybrid evolutionary algorithm

This paper proposes a hybrid evolutionary algorithm to solve the maintenance-scheduling problem for thermal generating units. The proposed approach uses a hybrid Fuzzy-Genetic Algorithm that implements Fuzzy Knowledge Based System to emulate the power plant personnel's experience, and uncertainties in the constraints, while a Genetic Algorithm optimizes the total generating cost and the maintenance cost as the objective functions. Two other effective and practical methods based on Evolution Strategy and Particle Swarm Optimization were also applied for the same problem. Simulations were carried out on a practical thermal power plant consisting of 19 generating units, over a six-month planning horizon.
Glucose assay systems: evaluation of a colorimetric hexokinase procedure.

A colorimetric enzymatic assay system for glucose was evaluated. The system uses hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phospho-transferase; EC 2.7.1.1) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate:NADP oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.1.49) coupled with a PMS-INT reaction (phenazine methosulfate; 2- p -iodophenyl-3- p -nitrophenyl-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride). The precision, range of linearity, reproducibility of standard curve, and stability of reagents after reconstitution are excellent. The method is specific for glucose in the presence of mannose, fructose, galactose, xylose, and ribose. Uric acid, urea, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, or creatinine at abnormally high concentrations do not interfere. Good correlations (with unselected hospital sera) were obtained in parallel assays by ferricyanide (AutoAnalyzer), o -toluidine (manual), and hexokinase (manual) procedures. Results obtained by the neocuproine (SMA-12/30) method in the parallel assays were significantly different from results obtained by the other three procedures.
An evolutionary genetic neural networks for problems without prior knowledge

Many problems are now being solved using a version of a neural network (NN). These NN are usually constructed using genetic neural networks (GNNs) for optimizing variables in the NN using a fixed structure or neural evolution (NE) to optimize the structure of the NN using fixed values for the variables in the NN. Thus, previous methods need experienced knowledge of the problem such that either the structure or variables are known to construct a meaningful NN. This paper presents a method called leap evolution adopted neural network (LEANN) that optimizes the NN without prior knowledge such as the values of the variables and the structure of the NN for a given problem. Our method in this paper finds an optimal structure and variables of the NN successfully for the XOR gate problem.
Quantitative Evaluation of Perfusion and Permeability of Peripheral Tumors Using Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography

Rationale and Objectives:Our purpose was to validate contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT)-derived quantitative measures of perfusion and permeability against gold standard techniques of fluorescent microspheres and Evan's Blue dye, respectively. Materials and Methods:Normal and tumor-bearing (R3230AC) Fischer 344 rats were used. CECT perfusion measurements of normal and tumor tissue were compared with quantitative fluorescent microsphere perfusion measures. CECT permeability measurements from tumors were compared with semiquantitative Evan's Blue Dye permeability estimates. CT images were obtained precontrast and an imaging plane was selected. Serial, stationary images were obtained every 2 seconds for 2 minutes after intravenous bolus of iodinated contrast. Permeability and perfusion were measured by applying Patlak analysis to time-density data from normal tissue or tumor and femoral artery. Results:There was good correlation between fluorescent microsphere and CECT measurements of perfusion (r2 = 0.681, P ≪ 0.001) and between Evan's Blue Dye and CECT measurements of permeability (r2 = 0.873, P = 0.0007). Conclusions:CECT provides useful, quantifiable measures of perfusion and permeability in peripheral tumors.
CHAPTERR 4 CLINICALL AND MICROBIOLOGICA L EFFECTS OF INITIAL PERIODONTALL THERAPY IN CONJUNCTION WITH AMOXICIL-LINN AND CLAVULANI C ACID IN PATIENTS WITH ADULT PERIODONTITIS

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Tissue-specific enhancer of the human glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene: dependence on cyclic AMP-inducible elements

We identified and characterized elements which confer tissue specificity and cyclic AMP (cAMP) responsiveness to the human glycoprotein alpha-subunit gene. An enhancer containing an 18-base-pair repeat conferred cAMP responsiveness in a non-tissue-specific fashion. DNase I protection assays revealed DNA-binding factors that bound to this element in both placental and nonplacental cells. It also enhanced the alpha-subunit promoter in a tissue-specific manner but had a negligible effect on a heterologous promoter. A unique element found upstream of this enhancer had no independent activity but, in combination with the cAMP-responsive enhancer, distinctly increased the tissue-specific activity of both the alpha-subunit promoter and a heterologous promoter. A factor that bound to this upstream element was found in placental but not nonplacental cells. We conclude that this novel element acts, perhaps through a specific trans-acting factor, in concert with a cAMP-responsive enhancer to confer tissue specificity to the alpha-subunit gene.
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Osteoarthritis of the Knee – a Systematic Review

Objective To determine the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for pain and function of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods A systematic review of randomised controlled trials was performed, including a meta-analysis which combined the results of trials that used adequate acupuncture treatment and used WOMAC scores to measure the effect. The internal validity (quality) and heterogeneity of studies were taken into account. Results Thirteen studies were available, of which eight, involving 2362 patients, could be combined. For both reduction of pain and improvement of function, acupuncture was significantly superior to sham acupuncture (P<0.05 for all comparisons) in both the short term and the long term. Compared with no additional intervention (usual care), acupuncture was again significantly superior for pain and function. The treatment effects were maintained after taking account of quality and heterogeneity in sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Acupuncture is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. Its overall effect size is 0.8, and it can be considered instead of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for patients whose symptoms are not controlled by education, exercise, weight loss if appropriate and simple analgesics. Further research is necessary into the most efficient way of delivering acupuncture, and its longer term benefits.
Trophic Factor Withdrawal: p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activates NHE1, Which Induces Intracellular Alkalinization

ABSTRACT Trophic factor withdrawal induces cell death by mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Previously we reported that withdrawal of interleukin-7 (IL-7) or IL-3 produced a rapid intracellular alkalinization, disrupting mitochondrial metabolism and activating the death protein Bax. We now observe that this novel alkalinization pathway is mediated by the pH regulator NHE1, as shown by the requirement for sodium, blocking by pharmacological inhibitors or use of an NHE1-deficient cell line, and the altered phosphorylation of NHE1. Alkalinization also required the stress-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Inhibition of p38 MAPK activity with pharmacological inhibitors or expression of a dominant negative kinase prevented alkalinization. Activated p38 MAPK directly phosphorylated the C terminus of NHE1 within a 40-amino-acid region. Analysis by mass spectroscopy identified four phosphorylation sites on NHE1, Thr 717, Ser 722, Ser 725, and Ser 728. Thus, loss of trophic cytokine signaling induced the p38 MAPK pathway, which phosphorylated NHE1 at specific sites, inducing intracellular alkalinization.