Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of a gene coding for a novel aspartate aminotransferase from Rhizobium meliloti

Aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) is an important enzyme in aspartate catabolism and biosynthesis and, by converting tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates to amino acids, AAT is also significant in linking carbon metabolism with nitrogen metabolism. To examine the role of AAT in symbiotic nitrogen fixation further, plasmids encoding three different aminotransferases from Rhizobium meliloti 104A14 were isolated by complementation of an Escherichia coli auxotroph that lacks three aminotransferases. pJA10 contained a gene, aatB, that coded for a previously undescribed AAT, AatB. pJA30 encoded an aromatic aminotransferase, TatA, that had significant AAT activity, and pJA20 encoded a branched-chain aminotransferase designated BatA. Genes for the latter two enzymes, tatA and batA, were previously isolated from R. meliloti. aatB is distinct from but hybridizes to aatA, which codes for AatA, a protein required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The DNA sequence of aatB contained an open reading frame that could encode a protein 410 amino acids long and with a monomer molecular mass of 45,100 Da. The amino acid sequence of aatB is unusual, and AatB appears to be a member of a newly described class of AATs. AatB expressed in E. coli has a Km for aspartate of 5.3 mM and a Km for 2-oxoglutarate of 0.87 mM. Its pH optimum is between 8.0 and 8.5. Mutations were constructed in aatB and tatA and transferred to the genome of R. meliloti 104A14. Both mutants were prototrophs and were able to carry out symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
EXPRESSION OF TIGHT AND GAP JUNCTIONAL PROTEINS IN THE PERINEURIAL WINDOW MODEL OF THE RAT SCIATIC NERVE

Limited perineurial injury, known as a perineurial window, can lead to neuropathic pain. This article hypothesizes that the recovery of the perineurium is associated with the intercellular junctional proteins. It analyzes the expressions of occludin, ZO-1, and connexin 43 by immunoconfocal microscopy. Seven days after injury, immunoreactivities for occludin and ZO-1 were observed, although there was no connexin 43 detected. Then, 21 days after injury, immunoreactivity for connexin 43 were observed. These results indicate that recovery of the perineurium is associated with the intercellular junctional proteins and that the recovery of gap junctions is delayed compared with that of tight junctions.
Protective effect of Amaranthus lividus L. on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats / Karbon tetraklorür ile sıçanlarda oluşturulan karaciğer toksisitesi üzerine Amaranthus lividus L. bitkisinin koruyucu etkisi

Abstract Objective: Amaranthus lividus is consumed as popular vegetable in West Black Sea Region of Turkey. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the protective and antioxidant effects of A. lividus on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced oxidative stress and acute liver injury in rats. Methods: Male albino Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups: Normal control, A. lividus control, silymarin control, CCl4, A. lividus (250 mg/kg)+CCl4, A. lividus (500 mg/kg)+CCl4, silymarin+CCl4. Rats were orally pretreated with A. lividus (250 and 500 mg/kg) or silymarin (25 mg/kg) daily for 9 days before administration of CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg, 1:1 in olive oil, i.p.). Results: Pretreatment of rats with A. lividus, significantly prevented the CCl4 induced elevation in the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin and hepatic lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase. In addition, pretreatment with A. lividus significantly prevented the CCl4 induced depletion in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione level in liver. It has been observed that the hepatoprotective effect of A. lividus was comparable to that of silymarin, a standard drug. Histopathological evaluation of the liver also revealed that A. lividus at 250 mg/kg dose partially suppressed the CCl4 induced liver damage in rats. Conclusion: Our results indicated that A. lividus has a protective effect against CCl4 induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats, and this effect might be related to its antioxidant activity.
Longitudinal Development of Explosive Leg Power from Childhood to Adulthood in Soccer Players

Abstract The aim of the this study was to investigate the development of explosive leg power by using 2 similar jumping protocols (countermovement jump and standing broad jump) in 555 Belgian, high-level young soccer players, aged between 7 and 20 years. The total sample was divided into 3 longitudinal samples related to growth and maturation (pre-teenchildhood: (6–10 years;), early adolescence: (11–16 years;) and late adolescence: (17–20 years)), and 6 multilevel regression models were obtained. Generally, both jumping protocols emphasized that chronological age, body size dimensions (by means of fat mass in the late childhood and early adolescence groups, fat-free mass in the late adolescence group and stature – (not for CMJ in late childhood group) and fat mass in the late childhood and early adolescence groups, and fat-free mass in the late adolescence group) and motor coordination (one item of a 3-component test battery) are longitudinal predictors of explosive leg power from childhood to young adulthood. The contribution of maturational status was not investigated in this study. The present findings highlight the importance of including non-specific motor coordination in soccer talent development programs.
Polynomial Functors and Trees

We explore the relationship between polynomial functors and trees. In the first part we characterise trees as certain polynomial functors and obtain a completely formal but at the same time conceptual and explicit construction of two categories of rooted trees, whose main properties we describe in terms of some factorisation systems. The second category is the category Ω of Moerdijk and Weiss. Although the constructions are motivated and explained in terms of polynomial functors, they all amount to elementary manipulations with finite sets. Included in Part 1 is also an explicit construction of the free monad on a polynomial endofunctor, given in terms of trees. In the second part we describe polynomial endofunctors and monads as structures built from trees, characterising the images of several nerve functors from polynomial endofunctors and monads into presheaves on categories of trees. Polynomial endofunctors and monads over a base are characterised by a sheaf condition on categories of decorated trees. In the absolute case, one further condition is needed, a projectivity condition, which serves also to characterise polynomial endofunctors and monads among (coloured) collections and operads.
The Chromatin-binding Protein HMGN1 Regulates the Expression of Methyl CpG-binding Protein 2 (MECP2) and Affects the Behavior of Mice*

Background: HMGN1 is a chromatin-binding protein that modulates the cellular transcription profile. Results: Mice that either overexpress or lack HMGN1 have altered behavioral phenotypes. HMGN1 is a negative regulator of MeCP2, a protein involved in neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusion: Misregulation of HMGN1 protein levels lead to behavioral changes in mice. Significance: HMGN1 is an epigenetic factor that contributes to the development of neurodevelopmental disorders. High mobility group N1 protein (HMGN1), a nucleosomal-binding protein that affects the structure and function of chromatin, is encoded by a gene located on chromosome 21 and is overexpressed in Down syndrome, one of the most prevalent genomic disorders. Misexpression of HMGN1 affects the cellular transcription profile; however, the biological function of this protein is still not fully understood. We report that HMGN1 modulates the expression of methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a DNA-binding protein known to affect neurological functions including autism spectrum disorders, and whose alterations in HMGN1 levels affect the behavior of mice. Quantitative PCR and Western analyses of cell lines and brain tissues from mice that either overexpress or lack HMGN1 indicate that HMGN1 is a negative regulator of MeCP2 expression. Alterations in HMGN1 levels lead to changes in chromatin structure and histone modifications in the MeCP2 promoter. Behavior analyses by open field test, elevated plus maze, Reciprocal Social Interaction, and automated sociability test link changes in HMGN1 levels to abnormalities in activity and anxiety and to social deficits in mice. Targeted analysis of the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange genotype collection reveals a non-random distribution of genotypes within 500 kbp of HMGN1 in a region affecting its expression in families predisposed to autism spectrum disorders. Our results reveal that HMGN1 affects the behavior of mice and suggest that epigenetic changes resulting from altered HMGN1 levels could play a role in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Assembly of Exogenous Fibronectin by Fibronectin-null Cells Is Dependent on the Adhesive Substrate*

The role of endogenously synthesized fibronectin (FN) in assembly was studied with cells lacking or expressing FN. Cells were cultured as homogeneous or mixed populations on surfaces coated with different matrix proteins. Compared with FN-expressing cells, FN-null cells poorly assembled exogenous plasma FN (pFN) when adhered to vitronectin or the recombinant cell-binding domain (III7–10) of FN. Vitronectin had a suppressive effect that was overcome by co-adsorbed pFN or laminin-1 but not by soluble FN. In co-cultures of FN-expressing cells and FN-null cells, endogenous FN was preferentially assembled around FN-expressing cells regardless of the adhesive ligand. If the adhesive ligand was vitronectin, exogenous pFN assembled preferentially around cells expressing cellular FN or recombinant EDa- or EDa+ FN. In co-cultures on vitronectin of FN-null cells and β1 integrin subunit-null cells, fibrils of cellular FN and pFN were preferentially deposited by FN-null (β1-expressing) cells immediately adjacent to (FN-secreting) β1-null cells. In co-cultures on vitronectin of FN-null cells and β1-null cells expressing a chimera with the extracellular domain of β1 and the cytoplasmic domain of β3, preferential assembly was by the chimera-expressing cells. These results indicate that the adhesive ligand is a determinant of FN assembly by cells not secreting endogenous FN (suppressive if vitronectin, non-suppressive but non-supportive if III7–10, supportive if pFN or laminin-1) and suggest that efficient interaction of freshly secreted cellular FN with a β1 integrin, presumably α5β1, substitutes for integrin-mediated adherence to a preformed matrix of laminin-1 or pFN to support assembly of FN.
Chaotic particle dynamics in viscous flows: the three-particle stokeslet problem

It is well known, that the dynamics of small particles moving in a viscous fluid is strongly influenced by the long-range hydrodynamical interaction between them. Motion at high viscosity is usually treated by means of the Stokes equations, which are linear and instantaneous. Nevertheless, the hydrodynamical interaction mediated by the liquid is nonlinear; therefore the dynamics of more than two particles can be rather complex. Here we present a high resolution numerical analysis of the classical three-particle Stokeslet problem in a vertical plane. We show that a chaotic saddle in the phase space is responsible for the extreme sensitivity to initial configurations, which has been mentioned several times in the literature without an explanation. A detailed analysis of the transiently chaotic dynamics and the underlying fractal patterns is given. @S1063-651X~97! 10408-1#
The advantage of circulating tumor cells over serum carcinoembryonic antigen for predicting treatment responses in rectal cancer.

AIM The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) on the evaluation and prediction of treatment responses in rectal cancer patients compared with serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). MATERIALS & METHODS Both CTCs and CEA levels of 103 rectal cancer patients (66 with stage II-III and 37 with recurrence or metastasis) were analyzed before and after chemoradiotherapy. CTCs were detected using EpCAM magnetic bead-based enrichment combined with cytometric identification. RESULTS CTCs were detected in all patients while no tumor cells were found in healthy controls. CTC levels in metastatic patients were significantly higher than those with recurrence or stage II-III rectal cancer. There is a close relationship between CTC levels and treatment outcomes but serum CEA did not have any correlation. CONCLUSION CTCs are promising markers for the evaluation and prediction of treatment responses in rectal cancer patients, superior to the conventional tumor marker CEA.
Development of an ASAS-endorsed recommendation for the early referral of patients with a suspicion of axial spondyloarthritis

The aim of this work was to develop a consensual recommendation under the auspices of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) for early referral of patients with a suspicion of axial spondyloarthritis by non-rheumatologists. The development of a referral recommendation consisted of four phases: (1) systematic literature review, (2) the first Delphi round aiming at identification of unmet needs and development of a candidate list of referral parameters, (3) the second Delphi round aiming at identification of the most useful combination of referral parameters and (4) final discussion and formal endorsement by ASAS membership. The following consensus on a referral recommendation was achieved as a result of the Delphi processes and final voting: “Patients with chronic back pain (duration ≥3 months) and back pain onset before 45 years of age should be referred to a rheumatologist if at least one of the following parameters is present: Inflammatory back pain; human leucocyte antigen-B27; Sacroiliitis on imaging if available (X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging); Peripheral manifestations (arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis); Extra-articular manifestations (psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, uveitis); Positive family history for spondyloarthritis; Good response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Elevated acute phase reactant. ” A consensual ASAS-endorsed referral recommendation for patients suspected of having axial spondyloarthritis was developed as a flexible and universal strategy to be used in clinical practice by primary care physicians or non-rheumatology specialists. The practical value of this strategy applied in different settings should be determined in future studies.
Genetic differentiation after founder events: an evaluation of F ST estimators with empirical and simulated data

Question: Given a model of speciation by host shift, how do different marker types and measures of genetic differentiation compare in detecting reproductive isolation between a small, recently founded population and its large source population? Data incorporated: We used empirical data from brood parasitic indigobirds (Vidua spp.) as well as simulated mitochondrial and microsatellite data for a founding event with immediate cessation of gene flow and subsequent population growth. Method of analysis: We evaluated the performance of different estimators (θ ST, RST, and ΦST) in detecting population differentiation and compared our simulation results with previously collected empirical data. Conclusions: With much greater variance, RST was less reliable than θ ST in detecting incipient differentiation in microsatellite data. Negative RST values for individual loci in both the empirical data and up to 20% of simulation replicates occurred when genetic drift changed allele frequencies but not allele size variance. Both ΦST and θ ST reliably detected genetic isolation from simulated sequence data. As bottlenecked populations regained variability, however, θ ST values decreased due to a negative correlation with polymorphism, an effect also observed in the empirical data. Given this effect, the standardization of differentiation estimates relative to population heterozygosity is recommended for both types of markers, although this approach does not correct for the reduction of θ ST due to allele size homoplasy in microsatellites. In contrast, ΦST values gradually increased over time as novel mutations increased the divergence between haplotypes. Our analyses suggest that for microsatellite data, θ ST outperforms RST in detecting recently established reproductive isolation, whereas ΦST is preferable for sequence data regardless of divergence time.
Targeted treatment for functional constipation.

Idiopathic or functional constipation is a common medical problem. In the West, among elderly subjects it has a reported prevalence as high as 24%, and is more common in women. Our survey in Hong Kong showed a prevalence of 14% based on the Rome II criteria. Despite being such a common problem, only a minority seek medical advice and receive the proper treatment. The article by Lau et al reported in this issue describes a multidisciplinary approach for constipated patients with pelvic floor dyssynergy, an approach that may be worth developing by other centres treating this disorder.
Long‐Term Quantitative Benefits of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Treatment of Axillary Hyperhidrosis

BACKGROUND Although axillary hyperhidrosis is readily treated with botulinum toxin, the time course of benefits is not well established. OBJECTIVE To quantify the long-term effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. METHODS This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eighteen patients received intradermal injections of either 100 U BTX-A (50 U/ml/axilla) or placebo. Sweating per surface area was quantified monthly for 5 months. RESULTS The BTX-A group had an average reduction in sweat production of 91.6% at 2 weeks (from 5.03 ml/min/m2 to 0.42 ml/min/m2, P < .05). The average reduction over 5 months was 88.2%. At the end of the study, only 1 of 12 BTX-A-treated patients had returned to baseline sweat production. CONCLUSION These quantitative results demonstrate that BTX-A is a safe and effective treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis and that the benefits last for at least 5 months.
Certain effects of pulmonary gas embolism

DUNN [1920], working with Barcroft, showed that a considerable proportion of the pulmonary vessels could be blocked without diminution in the blood flow through the lungs. Torracca [1922] briefly described the morbid anatomical findings after the intravenous injection of considerable quantities of oxygen to guinea-pigs. Binger, Brow and Branch [1924a, b] studied the cause of the respiratory disturbances produced during pulmonary embolism, while Barry [1929] investigated the electrocardiographic and respiratory changes in pulmonary gas embolism. The present experiments are in continuation of work on the intravenous injection of oxygen [Singh, 1935], certain of the effects of pulmonary gas embolism being studied in detail.
Overcoming the Crowding-Out Effect of Monetary Incentive on Pro-Social Behavior

Monetary incentives are often used to motivate individuals' pro-social behavior. However, incentives are known to result in the crowding-out effect, which dampens individuals' intrinsic motivation and leads to lower contribution quality. In this paper, we conduct randomized experiments to investigate ways to overcome the crowding-out effect of monetary incentives. Specifically, we identify goal-setting and challengeseeking as potential intervention strategies based on the psychology literature. Our results suggest that monetary incentives, when combined with appropriate intervention strategies, can motivate users to increase contribution quantity without sacrificing quality. Additional experimental results suggest that the moderating effect of these intervention strategies is heterogeneous, with low-altruistic individuals benefiting the most from the intervention. Our research contributes to the study of incentive provision and pro-social behaviors and have profound theoretical and practical implications.
Age influences chemotherapy response in astrocytomas

Objective In patients with cerebral astrocytomas treated with nitrosourea-based chemotherapy, to determine whether age is predictive of response, time to progression, survival, or rate of complications. Design Retrospective analysis of neuroimaging studies and clinical data. Setting University hospital with a busy neuro-oncology service. Patients One hundred forty-eight patients with pathologically confirmed malignant astrocytomas or recurrent astrocytomas. Results Partial response occurred in 39% of patients aged <40 years, in 17% of those aged 40 to 59, and in only 5% of those aged ≤60 (p < 0.001). Median time to progression after chemotherapy was 23 weeks in patients aged <60 and 6 weeks in patients aged ≤60 (p < 0.001). Median survival after chemotherapy was 43 weeks in patients aged <60 but only 24 weeks in patients aged ≤60 (p < 0.001). Differences between age groups in response rate, time to progression, and survival persisted with adjustment for tumor grade. The risk of myelosuppressive complications requiring hospitalization was significantly related to age (p = 0.03); such complications occurred in 35% of patients aged ≤60 and 16% of patients under 60 years. Conclusion Age is strongly predictive of the likelihood of a response to chemotherapy, time to progression, survival, and risk of myelosuppressive complications. Patients aged ≤60 have a lower chance of benefit and an increased risk of myelosuppressive complications from chemotherapy for astrocytomas compared with younger patients.
Effects of ethanol consumption on the morphology of the rat seminiferous epithelium.

The effects of ethanol consumption on the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium, with particular emphasis on Sertoli cell ultrastructure, were examined during and following pubertal development. Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on chronically high levels of ethanol for 7 weeks beginning at 29 days of age. Animals in Group 1 were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (36% ethanol-derived calories) ad libitum. Group 2 animals were paired with animals in Group 1 and fed a liquid control diet in the amount consumed by their ethanol partners (g/kg body wt/day). Animals in Group 3 were fed Purina rodent chow ad libitum. Blood samples were collected at 60 days for determination of plasma testosterone levels. On day 79, each epididymis, the adrenals and the right testis were removed from anesthetized animals and weighed; the left testis was removed and processed for light and electron microscopy. Blood alcohol levels were consistently high throughout the feeding period, averaging 272.6 +/- 9.7 mg/100 ml at 1900 hours (1 hour after lights off) and 178.8 +/- 20.8 mg/100 ml at 1330 hours. Testosterone levels were lower in ethanol-consuming animals than in pair-fed or control subjects. Testis weight was also somewhat reduced in ethanol-consuming animals; however, when adjusted for body weight, relative testis weights were found to be increased in ethanol and pair-fed animals. Epididymal weights were reduced in both ethanol and pair-fed animals. Relative adrenal weights were increased by ethanol. The most dramatic effect of ethanol consumption was on the morphology of the seminiferous tubules. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)