Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of Acetylated, Tetrahalogenated Benzimidazole d-Ribonucleosides with Enhanced Activity against Human Cytomegalovirus

ABSTRACT DNA packaging is the key step in viral maturation and involves binding and cleavage of viral DNA containing specific DNA-packaging motifs. This process is mediated by a group of specific enzymes called terminases. We previously demonstrated that the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) terminase is composed of the large subunit pUL56 and the small subunit pUL89. While the large subunit mediates sequence-specific DNA binding and ATP hydrolysis, pUL89 is required only for duplex nicking. An excellent inhibitor targeting HCMV terminase is 2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole (BDCRB), but it was not developed as an antiviral drug due to its metabolic cleavage in experimental animals. We now have tested several new benzimidazole d-ribonucleosides in order to determine whether these compounds represent new, potent inhibitors. Analysis by bioluminometric ATPase activity assays identified two of the new compounds with a high inhibitory effect, 2-bromo-4,5,6-trichloro-1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-ribofuranosyl) benzimidazole (BTCRB) and 2,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole (Cl4RB). By using viral plaque formation, viral yield, and viral growth kinetics, we demonstrated that the two compounds BTCRB and Cl4RB had antiviral activities similar to that of BDCRB. Interestingly, BTCRB retained its inhibitory activity after preincubation with HFF cells. By use of electron microscopy, we observed an increase of B capsids and a lack of cytoplasmic capsids in the presence of the compounds that correlated with the virus yield. Furthermore, cleavage of concatenated DNA was inhibited by both compounds, and inhibition by BTCRB was shown to be dose dependent. These results demonstrate that the new compounds are highly active against HCMV and act by mechanisms similar but not identical to those of BDCRB.
The effect of unilateral amygdala removals on detecting fear from briefly presented backward-masked faces

Facial expressions convey information about the moods and intentions of other people and provide important clues about environmental threats. Previous research has shown that patients with unilateral amygdala removals have difficulties rating the intensity of fearful facial expressions. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether patients with amygdala lesions would also be impaired at detecting fear from briefly presented, backward-masked faces. We found that patients with either left or right temporal lobe excisions were impaired at rating fear intensity in faces, whereas fear detection difficulties were predominantly seen in those who had undergone a left temporal lobectomy. Intriguingly, patients with amygdala damage found it more difficult to recognize fear from faces shown for unlimited durations than to detect fear from briefly presented faces. Moreover, there was little overlap between impairments of fear detection and fear-rating, indicating that task demands are crucially important in determining fear-processing deficits.
Elimination of plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate is required for exocytosis from mast cells

The inositol lipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] is involved in a myriad of cellular processes, including the regulation of exocytosis and endocytosis. In this paper, we address the role of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in compound exocytosis from rat peritoneal mast cells. This process involves granule-plasma membrane fusion as well as homotypic granule membrane fusion and occurs without any immediate compensatory endocytosis. Using a novel quantitative immunofluorescence technique, we report that plasma membrane PtdIns(4,5)P2 becomes transiently depleted upon activation of exocytosis, and is not detected on the membranes of fusing granules. Depletion is caused by phospholipase C activity, and is mandatory for exocytosis. Although phospholipase C is required for Ca2+ release from internal stores, the majority of the requirement for PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis occurs downstream of Ca2+ signalling - as shown in permeabilised cells, where the inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate-Ca2+ pathway is bypassed. Neither generation of the PtdIns(4,5)P2 metabolite, diacylglycerol (DAG) or simple removal and/or sequestration of PtdIns(4,5)P2 are sufficient for exocytosis to occur. However, treatment of permeabilised cells with DAG induces a small potentiation of exocytosis, indicating that it may be required. We propose that a cycle of PtdIns(4,5)P2 synthesis and breakdown is crucial for exocytosis to occur in mast cells, and may have a more general role in all professional secretory cells.
Milnesium berladnicorum sp. n. (Eutardigrada, Apochela, Milnesiidae), a new species of water bear from Romania

Abstract In a lichen sample collected from a tree in Bârlad town (Vaslui County, Romania), a new tardigrade species belonging to the genus Milnesium (granulatum group) was found. Milnesium berladnicorum sp. n. is most similar (in the type of dorsal sculpture) to Milnesium beasleyi Kaczmarek et al., 2012 but differs from it mainly by having a different claw configuration and some morphometric characters. Additionally, the new species differs from other congeners of the granulatum group by the different type of dorsal sculpture, claw configuration and some morphometric characters.
Evidence of AIDS mortality from an alternative source: A Swaziland case study

This paper explores a way of measuring AIDS mortality in the absence of vital registration. It looks at the death notices in the major daily newspaper in Swaziland, The Times of Swaziland, and asks if these can be analysed to give a picture of changing mortality. It shows how clear trends can be discerned.
Three new Phaeoacremonium species on grapevines in New Zealand

Three new species of Phaeoacremonium (Pm.) found in discoloured wood of grapevine are described and named Pm. armeniacum, Pm. globosum and Pm. occidentale. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora was isolated from the same vines, but no other Phaeoacremonium spp. were present. Phaeoacremonium spp. have been associated with Petri and esca diseases in grapevine. In pathogenicity trials, the new Phaeoacremonium spp. consistently caused brown discolouration in the inoculated wood. All species caused mortality of cv. 101–14 rootstock cuttings, 22–60% of cuttings surviving 10 weeks after inoculation. Rootstock cv. 5C was less susceptible, with 80–100% of cuttings surviving. The three new species of Phaeoacremonium are genetically distinct from all those previously described and also show subtle morphological differences in the structure and size of the phialides and conidia. Phylogenetic analysis of b-tubulin and actin genes showed that the new species Pm. globosum and Pm. armeniacum are closely related to Pm. argentinense from Argentina, while Pm. occidentale is more closely related to Pm. mortoniae from vineyards in the northern hemisphere. The new species were isolated from rootstock imported into New Zealand ∼25 years ago from California. They are not closely related to species known from grape in California, and no conclusion can be made about whether they were imported in the recent past on infected plants, or if they are indigenous to New Zealand. Many Phaeoacremonium species have a broad host range, and more intensive surveys of the native New Zealand flora and vineyards are needed before their origin can be determined. Additional keywords: Togninia, Vitis vinifera.
Total mesoesophageal esophagectomy

S resection remains the standard treatment for potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma, despite recent advances in multidisciplinary approaches (e.g., radiotherapy and chemotherapy). 1,2 Postoperative outcomes for patients with esophageal carcinoma are determined by the extent of the primary tumor and the lymphatic spread of the disease. Lymph node status is a particularly strong predictor of survival and recurrent disease. 3 Some patients can be cured by removal of the regional disease with lymph node metastases, and removal of all potentially involved regional lymph nodes is essential to achieve cure in these patients. 4
Apoptosis induction in MV4-11 and K562 human leukemic cells by Pereskia sacharosa (Cactaceae) leaf crude extract.

BACKGROUND Pereskia sacharosa is a genus of cacti widely used in folk medicine for cancer-related treatment. Anti-proliferative effects have been studied in recent years against colon, breast, cervical and lung cancer cell lines, with promising results. We here extended study of anti-proliferative effects to a blood malignancy, leukemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two leukemic cell lines, MV4-11 (acute myeloid leukemia) and K562 (chronic myeloid leukemia), were studied. IC50 concentrations were determined and apoptosis and cell cycle regulation were studied by flow cytometric analysis. The expression of apoptosis and cell-cycle related regulatory proteins was assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS P sacharosa inhibited growth of MV4-11 and K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mode of cell death was via induction of intrinsic apoptotic pathways and cell cycle arrest. There was profound up-regulation of cytochrome c, caspases, p21 and p53 expression and repression of Akt and Bcl-2 expression in treated cells. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that P sacharosa induces leukemic cell death via apoptosis induction and changes in cell cycle checkpoint, thus deserves further study for anti-leukemic potential.
Comparative gastroprotective effect of post‐treatment with low doses of rutin and cimetidine in rats

The anti‐ulcerogenic potentials of low doses of rutin and cimetidine in ethanol‐, acetic acid‐, and stress‐induced ulcers in rats have been evaluated and compared in this study. In each model, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (I–VI). Groups II–VI were administered 1 mL/100 g ethanol orally, 0.05 mL of 20% acetic acid submucosally or kept in a cold chamber for 6 h to induce ulcer in the ethanol‐, acetic acid‐, and stress‐induced ulceration model, respectively. Thereafter, group III was post‐treated with 300 mg/kg cimetidine and groups IV–VI with 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg rutin, respectively, while the control (group I) received distilled water in Tween 20. One hour after post‐treatment, all groups were killed and the gastric ulcer index was calculated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level, vitamin C content, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were evaluated in the gastric mucosa of animals. Post‐treatment with rutin significantly reduced ulcerogen‐induced gastric damage in all models. This effect was significant at all dose levels compared with the ulcer‐induced groups. Rutin significantly reduced the MDA levels but increased the vitamin C content and GPx activity. Ulcer index and MDA level were highest in the ethanol‐induced ulcer model while vitamin C content and GPx activity were lowest in the stress‐induced ulcer model. The study showed that all three models of ulceration appeared to be linked to oxidative stress and also ascribed significant anti‐ulcerogenic potential to rutin especially at lower doses of 20–80 mg/kg.
A Study of Low-Temperature CO Oxidation over Mesoporous CuO-TiO 2 Nanotube Catalysts

Supported copper oxide nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention as active and non-precious catalysts for many catalytic oxidation reactions. Herein, mesoporous xCuO-TiO2 nanotube catalysts were fabricated, and their activity and kinetics toward CO oxidation were studied. The morphology and structure of the prepared catalysts were systematically studied using SEM, TEM, EDS, EDX, XRD, TGA, BET, XPS, H2-TPR, and Raman techniques. The BET surface area study revealed the effect of the large surface area of the mesoporous TiO2 nanotubes on promoting the catalytic activity of prepared catalysts. The results also revealed the existence of strong metal-support interactions in the CuO-TiO2 nanotube catalyst, as indicated by the up-shift of the E2g vibrational mode of TiO2 from 144 cm−1 to 145 cm−1 and the down-shift of the binding energy (BE) of Ti 2p3/2 from 458.3 eV to 458.1 eV. The active phase of the catalyst consists of fine CuO nanoparticles dispersed on a mesoporous anatase TiO2 nanotube support. The 50-CuO-TiO2 nanotube catalyst demonstrated the highest catalytic activity with 100% CO conversion at T100 = 155 ◦C and a reaction rate of 36 μmole s−1 g−1. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated excellent long-term stability with complete CO conversion that was stable for 60 h under a continuous stream. The enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the interplay at the interface between the active CuO phase and the TiO2 nanotubes support.
Natural Diet of Juvenile Abalone Haliotis fulgens and H. corrugata (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in Bahia Tortugas, Mexico

Diet of juvenile (10Ð100 mm in length) abalone (Haliotis fulgens and H. corrugata) in their natural environment was examined in specimens collected at Bahia Tortugas, Baja California Sur. Nine macroalgae species, one polychaete worm, one amphipod, one hydrozoan, and one sea grass were identified. A high percentage of stomachs analyzed were empty. In those with contents, Phyllospadix torreyi (Anthophyta), Laurencia sp. , Gelidiales (Rhodophyta), and Phaeophyta (Dictyotales) were the most common items. Most specimens with macroalgal material came from depths in which H. fulgens (shallow) and H. corrugata (>6 m) are more abundant. Benthic diatoms were almost absent from ingested material.
ERp57 Is a Multifunctional Thiol-Disulfide Oxidoreductase*

The thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase ERp57 is a soluble protein of the endoplasmic reticulum and the closest known homologue of protein disulfide isomerase. The protein interacts with the two lectin chaperones calnexin and calreticulin and thereby promotes the oxidative folding of newly synthesized glycoproteins. Here we have characterized several fundamental structural and functional properties of ERp57 in vitro, such as the domain organization, shape, redox potential, and the ability to catalyze different thiol-disulfide exchange reactions. Like protein disulfide isomerase, we find ERp57 to be comprised of four structural domains. The protein has an elongated shape of 3.4 ± 0.1 nm in diameter and 16.8 ± 0.5 nm in length. The two redox-active a and a′ domains were determined to have redox potentials of –0.167 and –0.156 V, respectively. Furthermore, ERp57 was shown to efficiently catalyze disulfide reduction, disulfide isomerization, and dithiol oxidation in substrate proteins. The implications of these findings for the function of the protein in vivo are discussed.
Nitrate and N‐nitrosoproline excretion in two italian regions with contrasting rates of gastric cancer: The role of nitrate and other factors in endogenous nitrosation

Exposure to nitrate and propensity for endogenous nitrosation were examined in 80 healthy males, aged 25–40 years, residing in areas of Italy with long‐standing high (Florence) and low (Cagliari) rates of gastric cancer. Nitrate exposure was assessed by measurement of urinary nitrate excretion over 12 hr, and endogenous nitrosation was assessed using the N‐nitrosoproline test (NPRO‐test). Our hypothesis was whether the geographic variation in cancer rate correlated with nitrate exposure or nitrosating ability. Exposure to background sources of NPRO was significantly higher in the high‐risk subjects (p = 0.04) whereas no differences were found in exposure to nitrate or in urinary NPRO levels after L‐proline loading (test NPRO levels). The regional difference in test NPRO was almost completely accounted for by background NPRO exposure. Examination of individual rather than grouped data revealed that exposure to nitrate was a major factor in NPRO formation. No other factors studied (age, dietary‐questionnaire‐assessed intake of anti‐oxidant vitamins) had a significant effect. Geographical variation in gastric cancer risk did not, therefore, correlate with either nitrate exposure or propensity for endogenous nitrosation of L‐proline.
Computed temperature distributions around ectatic capillaries exposed to yellow (578 nm) laser light.

We have numerically modelled the thermal effects of yellow (577 or 578 nm) light illumination on the ectatic blood vessels of port wine stains. We investigated the effect of the laser treatment parameters of light irradiance and illumination time on the extent of coagulation (coagulation thickness) of the endothelial cells of the ectatic vessels. We assumed that this coagulation is dependent on heating the cells to a critical temperature (coagulation temperature). We iteratively adjusted the treatment parameters so that the model vessels had a maximum temperature that did not exceed the boiling point of blood. Given the likely range of variation of coagulation temperature, coagulation thickness and vessel size, coagulation temperature was found to have the greatest effect on the treatment parameters. Variations in coagulation thickness had less influence, and the diameter of the ectatic vessel (typically in the 30-80 microns diameter range) had the least effect. The treatment parameters that have been shown clinically to cause purpura (e.g. 6-7 cm-2 in 360 microseconds) were also studied. The purpura seen by some workers using pulsed dye lasers is most likely to be the result of vaporisation of blood leading to the rupture of the vessel. We conclude that, in order to achieve coagulation with these short laser pulses, the choice of irradiance is critical.
Wild and Captive Wolf ( Canis lupus ) Aggression In Relation to Pack Size and Territory Availability

3 Introduction 4 Wild Wolf Social Organization 5 Captive Wolves and Hybrids 7 Intraspecific Aggression 8 Materials and Methods 10 Locations 10 Figure 1 – Mission:Wolf Map 11 Figure 2 – Wolf Territories Map 11 The Canids 13 Behavioral Descriptions 14 Table 1 – Ethogram 14 Captive Observations 15 Figure 3 – Picture 15 Wild Observations 17 Figure 4 – Rendezvous Map 18 Figure 5 – Rendezvous Picture 18 Statistical Analysis 20
Construction of Lyapunov Functions for Interconnected Parabolic Systems: An iISS Approach

This paper is devoted to two issues. One is to provide Lyapunov-based tools to establish integral input-to-state stability (iISS) and input-to-state stability (ISS) for some classes of nonlinear parabolic equations. The other is to provide a stability criterion for interconnections of iISS parabolic systems. The results addressing the former problem allow us to overcome obstacles arising in tackling the latter one. The results for the latter problem are a small-gain condition and a formula of Lyapunov functions which can be constructed for interconnections whenever the small-gain condition holds. It is demonstrated that for interconnections of partial differential equations, the choice of a right state and input spaces is crucial, in particular for iISS subsystems which are not ISS. As illustrative examples, stability of two highly nonlinear reaction-diffusion systems is established by the the proposed small-gain criterion.
Bacteroides spp. and diarrhea

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to describe recent progress in the understanding of the role of Bacteroides spp. in human diarrheal diseases and newer murine studies implicating certain Bacteroides spp. in colorectal cancer. Recent findings Bacteroides fragilis is the only strain of Bacteroides spp. associated with diarrheal disease. Toxin-producing strains of B. fragilis, termed enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), are an established cause of diarrheal disease in people. The clinical syndrome associated with ETBF diarrheal disease encompasses abdominal pain, tenesmus and inflammatory diarrhea. Two new studies conducted in mice have further defined the chronic inflammatory response associated with ETBF infection and observed that in the multiple intestinal neoplasia mouse strain, heterozygotes for the adenomatous polyposis coli gene, ETBF infection enhances development of colonic tumors. Separate murine studies have begun to define the role of nontoxin-producing B. fragilis as a symbiont, serving possibly to protect the host from colonic inflammation. Summary B. fragilis remains the leading anaerobe in human disease. ETBF is emerging as an important cause of human diarrheal disease but additional epidemiologic studies are needed to better understand the role of ETBF human disease.
Semigroups of Relations and Subdifferentials of the Minimal Time Function and of the Geodesic Distance

Given a closed subset $S$ of a Banach space $X$, we study the minimal time function to reach a point $x$ of $X$ starting from $S$. We relate this problem to the study of the geodesic distance from $x$ to $S$ associated with a Riemannian metric or a Finsler metric. It appears that both cases can be treated simultaneously and yield solutions to a Hamilton--Jacobi equation. We detect simple links between the general framework we propose and multivalued semigroups. New concepts of infinitesimal generators of such semigroups are considered.
Creating beauty: creativity compensates for low physical attractiveness when individuals assess the attractiveness of social and romantic partners

Although creativity is attractive in a potential mate, it is unclear (i) whether the effects of creativity on attractiveness generalize to other social contexts and (ii) whether creativity has equivalent effects on men's and women's attractiveness. As social knowledge of creativity may either enhance or ‘offset’ the appeal of social partners who differ in physical attractiveness, three repeated measures experiments were conducted to directly address these issues. Here, participants rated a series of face–text pairs for attractiveness on trials that differed in one of four combinations of facial attractiveness (attractive and less attractive) and creativity (creative and less creative), rating story-tellers in two experiments (short interpretations of an identical painting) and creative ideas in a further experiment (alternative uses for an everyday object). Regardless of the sex of the judge, creativity and facial attractiveness had independent effects on men's overall attractiveness (initial experiment) and, in further experiments, more substantial effects on the attractiveness of men with less attractive faces than men with attractive faces (when using a different measure of creativity) and specific effects on the attractiveness of individuals with less attractive faces (when using different face stimuli). Collectively, across three experiments, these findings suggest that creativity may compensate for putative cues to lower biological ‘quality’ and that the benefits of creativity to social groups more generally enhance attraction to creative men (in two experiments) and creative men and women (one experiment). More broadly, the data suggest that species can integrate knowledge of cognitive intelligence with visual cues to biological ‘quality’ to facilitate mate and/or ally choice.