Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alternate promoter selection within a human cytomegalovirus immediate-early and early transcription unit (UL119-115) defines true late transcripts containing open reading frames for putative viral glycoproteins

The human cytomegalovirus open reading frames (ORFs) UL119 through UL115 (UL119-115) are located downstream of the immediate-early 1 and 2 transcription units. The promoter upstream of UL119 is active at all times after infection and drives the synthesis of a spliced 3.1-kb mRNA. The viral mRNA initiates in UL119, contains UL119-117 and UL116, and terminates just downstream of UL115. True late transcripts that are detected only after viral DNA synthesis originate from this transcription unit. True late mRNAs of 2.1 kb, containing ORFs UL116 and UL115, and 1.2 kb, containing ORF UL115 only, are synthesized. The true late viral mRNAs are 3' coterminal with the 3.1-kb mRNA. This transcription unit is an example of late promoters nested within an immediate-early-early transcription unit. The gene products of UL119-117, UL116, and UL115 are predicted to be glycoproteins. Efficient expression of the downstream ORFs at late times after infection may be related to alternate promoter usage and downstream cap site selection.
Immune regulatory cells in umbilical cord blood: T regulatory cells and mesenchymal stromal cells

A major goal in haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is to retain the lymphohaematopoietic potential of the cell transfer without its side effects. In addition to the physical injury caused by the conditioning regimen, donor T cells can react to alloantigens of the recipient and cause graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), which accounts for the largest share of morbidity and mortality after HCT. Immune modulator cells, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown promise in their ability to control GVHD and yet, in preclinical models, preserve the graft‐versus‐malignancy effect. Initially, MSCs and Tregs have been isolated from adult sources, such as bone marrow or peripheral blood, respectively. More recent studies have indicated that umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a rich source of both cell types. We will review the current data on UCB‐derived Tregs and MSCs and their therapeutic implications.
The Random Telegraph Signal Behavior of Intermittently Stuck Bits in SDRAMs

This paper reports behavior analogous to the Random Telegraph Signal (RTS) seen in the leakage currents from radiation induced hot pixels in Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs), but in the context of stuck bits in Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memories (SDRAMs). Our analysis suggests that pseudo-random sticking and unsticking of the SDRAM bits is due to thermally induced fluctuations in leakage current through displacement damage complexes in depletion regions that were created by high-energy neutron and proton interactions. It is shown that the number of observed stuck bits increases exponentially with temperature, due to the general increase in the leakage currents through the damage centers with temperature. Nevertheless, some stuck bits are seen to pseudo-randomly stick and unstick in the context of a continuously rising trend of temperature, thus demonstrating that their damage centers can exist in multiple widely spaced, discrete levels of leakage current, which is highly consistent with RTS. This implies that these intermittently stuck bits (ISBs) are a displacement damage phenomenon and are unrelated to microdose issues, which is confirmed by the observation that they also occur in unbiased irradiation. Finally, we note that observed variations in the periodicity of the sticking and unsticking behavior on several timescales is most readily explained by multiple leakage current pathways through displacement damage complexes spontaneously and independently opening and closing under the influence of thermal vibrations.
Harnessing the "ambience" of the mobile-phone lockscreen for ultra-lite logging

Increasingly people use mobile phones many times daily. This makes the phone's lockscreen almost ambient, part of everyday life. This work explores how to use that valuable ambience of the lock-screen to help people maintain awareness of, and to track an important goal, such as improving nutrition. We describe the design of FIT, a lockscreen app for ultra-lite logging of vegetable serves consumed each day. Our 4-week field study of FIT, with 19 young adults indicates it is quick and easy to use. The 973 log events took an average of 1.03 seconds, compared with 0.72 seconds for the 25,530 unlocks. The study demonstrated that most people found FIT to be an ambient reminder to eat vegetables and track intake. Our contributions are the definition of lock-screen ambience and the design and evaluation of FIT, an app that harnesses lockscreen ambience to raise awareness of, and support ultra-lite logging of, an important nutrition goal.
Modeling of visuospatial perspectives processing and modulation of the fronto-parietal network activity during action imitation

It has been suggested that the human mirror neuron system (MNS) plays a critical role in action observation and imitation. However, the transformation of perspective between the observed (allocentric) and the imitated (egocentric) actions has received little attention. We expand a previously proposed biologically plausible MNS model by incorporating general spatial transformation capabilities that are assumed to be encoded by the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and the superior parietal lobule (SPL) as well as investigating their interactions with the inferior frontal gyrus and the inferior parietal lobule. The results reveal that the IPS/SPL could process the frame of reference and the viewpoint transformations, and provide invariant visual representations for the temporo-parieto-frontal circuit. This allows the imitator to imitate the action performed by a demonstrator under various perspectives while replicating results from the literatures. Our results confirm and extend the importance of perspective transformation processing during action observation and imitation.
Seed dormancy cycling and the regulation of dormancy mechanisms to time germination in variable field environments

Abstract Many molecular mechanisms that regulate dormancy have been identified individually in controlled laboratory studies. However, little is known about how the seed employs this complex suite of mechanisms during dormancy cycling in the variable environment of the soil seed bank. Nevertheless, this behaviour is essential to ensure germination takes place in a favourable habitat and climate space, and in the correct season for the resulting plant to complete its life cycle. During their time in the soil seed bank, seeds continually adjust their dormancy status by sensing a range of environmental signals. Those related to slow seasonal change (e.g. temperature) are used for temporal sensing to determine the time of year and depth of dormancy. This alters their sensitivity to signals related to their spatial environment (e.g. light, nitrate, and water potential) that indicate that conditions are suitable for germination, and so trigger the termination of dormancy. We review work on the physiological, molecular, and ecological aspects of seed dormancy in Arabidopsis and interpret it in the context of dormancy cycling in the soil seed bank. This approach has provided new insight into the co‐ordination of mechanisms and signalling networks, and the multidimensional sensing that regulates dormancy cycling in a variable environment.
Linkage between prostate cancer occurrence and Y-chromosomal DYS loci in Malaysian subjects.

PURPOSE Prostate cancer differs markedly in incidence across ethnic groups. Since this disease is influenced by complex genetics, it is many genetic factors may affect the level of susceptibility to development of the disease. In this study, four Y-linked short tandem repeats (STRs), DYS388, DYS435, DYS437, and DYS439, were genotyped to compare Malaysian prostate cancer patients and normal control males. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 175 subjects comprising 84 patients and 91 healthy individuals were recruited. Multiplex PCR was optimized to co-amplify DYS388, DYS435, DYS437, and DYS439 loci. All samples were genotyped for alleles of four DYS loci using a Genetic Analysis System. RESULTS Of all DYS loci, allele 10 (A) of DYS388 had a significantly lower incidence of disease in compare with other alleles of this locus, while a higher incidence of disease was found among males who had either allele 12 (C) of DYS388 or allele 14 (E) of DYS439. Moreover, a total of 47 different haplotypes comprising different alleles of four DYS loci were found among the whole study samples, of which haplotypes AABC and CAAA showed a lower and higher frequency among cases than controls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS It is likely that Malaysian males who belong to Y-lineages with either allele 12 of DYS388, allele 14 of DYS439, or haplotype CAAA are more susceptible to develop prostate cancer, while those belonging to lineages with allele 10 of DYS388 or haplotype AABC are more resistant to the disease.
Radioimmunoassay for N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide in human plasma

Measurement of plasma levels of natriuretic peptides has been used to assess left ventricular dysfunction and prognosis. Recently levels of the N-terminal peptide fragment of the precursor of brain natriuretic peptide have been reported to be present in peripheral plasma and to be increased in chronic heart failure patients. Our aim in this study was to develop a radioimmunoassay for N-terminal proBNP, to compare its plasma concentrations in control subjects and in patients with end-stage heart failure and to define its relation to brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). A polyclonal antibody was raised in rabbits against human N-terminal proBNP fragment (amino acid 1-21). The plasma N-terminal proBNP concentrations were assayed directly without extraction. No detectable cross-reactivity existed with other natriuretic peptides: BNP, ANP or N-terminal proANP. The assay had a detection limit (2 SD from zero) of 9.7 pmol/L. Plasma N-terminal proBNP was 29 (13-75) (median (range)) pmol/L in the control group. There were no gender difference, male: 28 (13-61) vs. female 33 (13-75) pmol/L, p= NS, but there was a positive correlation to age (r=0.52, p<0.0001). In patients with end-stage heart failure the median N-terminal proBNP levels were increased significantly 616 (114-2781) pmol/L (p<0.001) and in pooled data N-terminal proBNP showed a close correlation to BNP (r=0.96, p<0.0001). Size exclusion of plasma extracts indicated that proBNP (1-108) may circulate both as intact prohormone and as split products, N-terminal proBNP (1-76) and BNP (77-108). Our results support the concept that N-terminal proBNP measurement could be a valuable tool in the biochemical indication of increased cardiac wall stress.
SALINIDADE E pH DE UM ARGISSOLO IRRIGADO COM ÁGUA SALINA SOB ESTRATÉGIAS DE MANEJO - DOI: 10.7127/rbai.v11n300560

com melao sob estrategias de manejo de agua salina. O estudo consistiu de dois experimentos conduzidos na fazenda Pedra Preta, Mossoro, RN. Nos experimentos I (cv. Sancho) e II (cv. Sancho e Medellin), as aguas de baixa e de alta salinidade (CEa = 0,5 e 4,3 dS m-1, respectivamente) foram utilizadas na irrigacao do melao (Cucumis melo L.) durante todo o ciclo (testemunhas) e, sequencialmente, em intervalos definidos entre as fases fenologicas de crescimento, florescimento, maturacao + colheita ou alternando a CEa durante 2 dias + 1 dia desde o inicio ao final do ciclo cultural. Adicionalmente, no experimento II, utilizou-se a mistura de 37% da agua S1 e 63% da agua S2 aplicada em todo o ciclo – tratamento controle. Os resultados indicam que ao final dos ciclos, os dois manejos com maior acumulo de sais na zona radicular do solo foram obtidos das estrategias de manejo da irrigacao com uso das aguas de baixa e alta salinidade aplicadas, respectivamente, aos 12 ate 30 e 31 ate 75 dias apos a semeadura e, ainda, a estrategia irrigacao de aguas de baixa e alta salinidade aplicadas, respectivamente, aos 12 ate 46 e 47 ate 75 dias apos a semeadura.
Associations of tumour necrosis factor alpha promoter polymorphisms at position −308 and −238 with clinical characteristics of chronic hepatitis C

Summary. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between G vs A transitions in the promoter region of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha at positions −308 (TNF308.2) and −238 (TNF238.2) and clinical features of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). These two promoter TNF‐alpha variants were determined in 250 biopsy‐proven CHC patients by polymerase chain reaction amplification, followed by the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method. The distribution of −308 and −238 TNF‐alpha promoter genotypes were TNF308.1/TNF308.1: 187 (74.8%), TNF308.1/TNF308.2: 57 (22.8%) and TNF308.2/TNF308.2: 6 (2.4%), respectively, and TNF238.1/TNF238.1: 247 (98.8%) and TNF238.1/TNF238.2: 3 (1.2%). The frequencies of the TNF308.2 and TNF238.2 promoter alleles were 13.8% and 0.6%. Increased TNF308.2 allele copy numbers were significantly associated with increased frequency of lower pretreatment hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (<800 000 IU/mL; P = 0.031) and severe fibrosis stage (F3‐F4; P = 0.006) and higher mean fibrosis score (P = 0.007). The higher cytokine production (with one or two TNF308.2 alleles) was correlated significantly with lower pretreatment HCV RNA levels with a lower mean HCV RNA level (P = 0.024) and increased frequency of lower pretreatment HCV RNA levels (<800 000 IU/mL; P = 0.017). Stepwise logistic regression showed that higher fibrosis score and low HCV RNA levels were independently related to the TNF308.2 allele [odds ratio (95% CI): 1.385 (1.127–1.702) and 0.698 (0.488–0.990)]. We conclude that inheritance of the TNF‐alpha promoter genotype at the position −308 appears to be associated with variability in severity of fibrosis and viral load in chronic HCV infection.
Documenting effects of urbanization on flora using herbarium records

1. As human populations increasingly live in cities, urban floras and the ecosystem services they provide are under increasing threat. Understanding the effects of urbanization on plants can help to predict future changes and identify ways to preserve biological diversity. Relatively few studies document changes through time in the flora of a focal region and those that do primarily address European floras. They often rely on contemporary spatial gradient studies as surrogates for changes with time.
Long-term functional outcome and quality of life after stapled restorative proctocolectomy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate prospectively long-term quality of life and functional outcome after restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, and to evaluate and validate a novel quality-of-life indicator in this group of patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is now the preferred option when total proctocolectomy is required for ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis, but long-term data on functional outcome and quality of life after the procedure are lacking. METHODS Patients (n = 977) who underwent RPC with stapled anastomosis for colitis or polyposis coli and who were followed for > or =12 months were included. Quality of life, fecal incontinence, and satisfaction with surgery were prospectively evaluated by structured interview or questionnaire for 1 to 12 years after surgery (median 5.0). Quality of life was scored using the Cleveland Global Quality of Life (CGQL) instrument (Fazio Score). This is a novel score developed over the past 15 years by the senior author. Quality of life was also evaluated in a subgroup of patients with the Short Form 36 (SF-36). The CGQL was validated by determining its reliability, responsiveness, and validity as well as its correlation with the SF-36 score. RESULTS Postoperative quality of life as measured by SF-36 was excellent and compared well with published norms for the general U.S. population. The CGQL was found to be reliable, responsive, and valid, and there was a high correlation with the SF-36 scores. Using the CGQL, quality of life was shown to increase after the first 2 years after surgery, and there was no deterioration thereafter. The prevalence of perfect continence increased from 75.5% before surgery to 82.4% after surgery, and although this deteriorated somewhat >2 years after surgery, it was no worse than preoperative values. Ninety-eight percent of patients would recommend the surgery to others. CONCLUSIONS Long-term quality of life after ileal pouch surgery is excellent and the level of continence is satisfactory. This surgery is an excellent long-term option in patients requiring total proctocolectomy. The CGQL is a simple, valid, and reliable measure of quality of life after pelvic pouch surgery and may well be applicable in many other clinical conditions.
Subcellular organization of camkii in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons

Calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) plays a key role in N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor‐dependent long‐term synaptic plasticity; its location is critical for signal transduction, and may provide clues that further elucidate its function. We therefore examined the subcellular localization of CaMKII in CA1 stratum radiatum of adult rat hippocampus, by using immuno‐electron microscopy after chemical fixation. When tissue was fixed quickly, the concentration of CaMKIIα (assessed by pre‐embedding immunogold) was significantly higher in dendritic shafts than in spine heads. However, when tissue was fixed 5 minutes after perfusion with normal saline, the density of labeling decreased in dendritic shaft while increasing in spine heads, implying rapid translocation into the spine during brief perimortem stress. Likewise, in quickly fixed tissue, CaMKII within spine heads was found at comparable concentrations in the “proximal” half (adjacent to the spine neck) and the “distal” half (containing the postsynaptic density [PSD]), whereas after delayed fixation, label density increased in the distal side of the spine head, suggesting that CaMKII within the spine head moves toward the PSD during this interval. To estimate its distribution at the synapse in vivo, we performed postembedding immunogold staining for CaMKII in quick‐fixed tissue, and found that the enzyme did not concentrate primarily within the central matrix of the PSD. Instead, labeling density peaked ∼40 nm inside the postsynaptic membrane, at the cytoplasmic fringe of the PSD. Labeling within 25 nm of the postsynaptic membrane concentrated at the lateral edge of the synapse. This lateral “PSD core” pool of CaMKII may play a special role in synaptic plasticity. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:3570‐3583, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activity of Cefazolin Against Dense Populations of Enterobacteria

The in vitro activity of cefazolin was assessed by continuous turbidimetric monitoring of cultures of gram-negative bacilli and the results were compared with those previously obtained with other beta-lactam agents using the same strains and methods. Cefazolin was found to induce rapid lysis of ampicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Escherichia coli at a lower concentration than any other beta-lactam agent tested; its stability to beta-lactamase, as judged by regrowth studies, was generally considerably greater than that of other antibiotics of this group. Tested against 103 ampicillin-resistant enterobacteria, cefazolin was found to be more active than cephalothin against E. coli, but no systematic increase in susceptibility to cefazolin was seen with other species. A study of cefazolin in an in vitro model which simulates the hydrokinetic features of the urinary bladder showed it to be as active as ampicillin against ampicillin-susceptible E. coli and as active as cephalothin against ampicillin-resistant E. coli.
Maternal perception of their overweight children.

OBJECTIVES To assess maternal perception of their preschool child's overweight at an urban Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) serving primarily Hispanic families. To compare the mothers' perceptions with selected demographic variables of the sample and compare the results with a similar study conducted previously. DESIGN Replication descriptive survey. SAMPLE Mothers of overweight 2-5-year-old children enrolled in 2 Southern Nevada WIC programs (n = 38). MEASUREMENTS Face-to-face interviews where 5 survey questions and 4 demographic questions were read to mothers by the investigator. RESULTS Sixty-one percent of mothers did not recognize their children as being overweight. The perception of their child's overweight was independent of age as well as educational level of the mother. Half of the mothers (50%) had taken no steps to control what their child ate. CONCLUSIONS Hispanic mothers of overweight children may not perceive their children as being overweight. Nursing intervention is not likely to be effective if it is assumed that a mother recognizes her child's weight as a problem. Nurses must be aware of the impact of social and cultural beliefs on childhood overweight and make adjustments in their educational approaches based on the client's belief system and cultural background.
Democracy and Prosperity in Two Decades of Transition

This paper revisits the relation between democracy, liberalization, and prosperity in transition countries, using a panel of 25 countries over 19 years. Earlier investigations found political and economic liberalization to be positively correlated whereas the relation between political liberalization and prosperity remained unclear. In this paper, a hump-shaped relationship between political liberalization and growth is found, such that a rise in democracy levels promotes growth only under initially low democracy levels. Furthermore, economic and political liberalization turn out to be positively related, but with surprisingly small coefficients.
Vector lyapunov function based stability for a class of impulsive systems

This paper contributes to the exponential stability analysis for impulsive dynamical systems based on a vector Lyapunov function and its divergence operator. The method relies on a 2D time domain representation. The results are applied to analyze the exponential stability of linear impulsive systems based on LMIs. Some examples illustrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.