Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NLRP3 inflammasome-activating arginine-based liposomes promote antigen presentations in dendritic cells

Purpose: The NLRP3 inflammasome activation has been proposed as a common mechanism for some adjuvants to boost the immune system, and cationic liposomes were reported to potentially activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Herein, we questioned whether the NLRP3 inflammasome-activating cationic liposomes could promote antigen presentation and be applied as an immune adjuvant. In addition, we aimed to investigate the structure effect of lipid on triggering these immune responses. Materials and methods: A series of structurally similar lipids, consisting of arginine (Arg) head group and varied lengths of alkyl chains or spacers in between were used to prepare cationic liposomes. Lipopolysaccharide-primed human or murine macrophages or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-primed THP-1 cells were treated with these liposomes, and interleukin (IL)-1β secretion was measured to quantify the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Lysosome rupture was examined in THP-1 cells by the fluorescence loss of acridine orange, a lysosome dye. Further, chicken ovalbumin (OVA) was loaded on the liposome surface and applied to murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), which activate OT-I and OT-II lymphocytes upon major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I- and class II-mediated antigen presentation, respectively. OT-I and OT-II cell division and IL-2 secretion were measured to evaluate the antigen presentation efficiency. The expressions of MHC molecules and co-stimulatory molecules ie, CD80, CD86, and CD40 on BMDCs were investigated by flow cytometry. Results: All the liposomes showed size distributions of 80–200 nm and zeta potentials of around 50 mV. A3C14 liposomes, consisting of Arg-C3-Glu2C14 lipids induced the most potent lysosome rupture and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. OVA-A3C14 also exhibited the most potent MHC class I- and class II-mediated antigen presentation in BMDCs without interfering MHC and co-stimulatory molecules. Conclusion: The hydrophobic moieties of arginine-based liposomes are crucial in stimulating innate immune cells. A3C14 liposomes were non-immunogenic but strongly activated innate immune cells and promoted antigen presentation, and therefore can be applied as immune adjuvants.
Pharsalia as Rome's "Day of Doom" in Lucan

Lucan adopts the topos of the "day of doom" from epic predecessors such as Homer and Vergil and employs it on a grand scale, across his poem, for the day of Pharsalia. Lucan makes Pharsalia an all-consuming and collective doomsday, with cosmic forebodings and repercussions. The appreciation of this motif in the poem illuminates our understanding of the disputed phrase Pharsalia nostra / uiuet (9.985–6), which acts as both a polemical gesture towards Julius Caesar's radically different account of that day in Book 3 of his De Bello Civili and a commemorative gesture towards the imperial Roman readers who have suffered as a result of the day of Pharsalia.
Interference Protection on Legacy Devices with Cognitive Radio using Smart Antennas

The scarcity of the radio spectrum now encourages the use of cognitive radios so that highly sought frequency bands could be shared between a secondary and a primary (legacy) network. This paper presents a new interference estimation technique for a smart antenna equipped MANET (Mobile Ad hoc NETwork), acting as a secondary network, to estimate its interference to fixed primary network devices by means of uncertainty ellipses surrounding the coarse probabilistically estimated location of those devices. The MANET can thus assess by simulation the impact of its future spectrum sharing with the primary network and takes countermeasures accordingly. Simulation results demonstrate the advantage of using this new technique compared to our previous technique that uses uncertainty circles.
El Neolítico en el sur de Córdoba: análisis sistemático de las primeras culturas productoras

La zona sur de Cordoba, la Subbetica, puede definirse como una comarca homogenea con caracteristicas geograficas afines en la que se da una importante concentracion de yacimientos neoliticos. Todo el volumen de material analizado ha sido dividido en seis grupos basicos: silex, piedra trabajada, hueso trabajado, adorno, ceramica y varios que proceden de un total de 15 cuevas repartidas en los terminos municipales de Priego de Cordoba; Carcabuey, Rute, Cabra y Zuheros. Se ha empleado el sistema estadistico para el estudio del material por considerarlo el mas objetivo utilizando asi mismo un ordenador para los listadosy fichado de los materiales que se analizan. La comparacion de los materiales que hemos estudiado con los de otras cuevas de Andalucia nos han puesto de manifiesto la existencia de un posible y escaso Neolitico antiguo, un Neolitico medio muy rico y variado y finalmente un Neolitico reciente. Igualmente se ha podido constatar la presencia de grupos o areas bien determinadas y definidas durante el Neolitico en esta zona de la provincia de Cordoba. La principal aportacion de esta tesis doctoral reside en la constatacion de la existencia de la tres fases del periodo, una economia de produccion que se basa desde el principio en el cultivo de diferentes tipos de cereales y la cria de animales domesticos, asi como la caracterizacion y determinacion de las distintas fases del periodo presentes en el sur de nuestra provincia.
Effect of dietary copper levels on the growth performance and nutrient utilization in fattening pigs

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary copper supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and copper metabolism in fattening pigs. A total of 24 pigs (Landrace X Large White X Duroc) with an average initial BW of 30±1.05 kg, the pigs were divided into four treatment groups, with three replicates per treatment and two pigs per replicate, in accordance with a completely randomized design based on the BW. The results indicated that dietary copper supplementation increased the growth performance, CP and EE digestibility. However, there was no significant increase in the DM and OM digestibility. In addition, copper deposition increased with the increase in dietary copper supplementation, while copper absorption, increased with the decrease in dietary copper levels. In conclusion, fattening pigs with 30-60 kg BW can utilize 45-135 mg/kg Cu and porkers at BW of 60-120 kg can also utilize 10-45 mg/kg Cu as CuSO4 for an increased copper utilization and a decreased in copper deposition.
Sistema e custo de produção de gado de corte no Estado do Pará - região de Paragominas.

A pecuaria de corte no Estado do Para. Descricao do sistema de producao de gado de corte do Para.Sintese do sistema. Pastagens. Benfeitorias, maquinas e equipamentos. Composicao do rebanho e desempenho zootecnico. Controle sanitario. Mao-de-obra. Sistema gerencial e contabil. Resultado economicos do sistema tipico. Estrutrua de custos. Receita e sua composicao. Custo de producao e margens economicas. Custo de producao variando a capacidade de suporte dos pastos e a taxa de natalidade. Consideracoes finais.
Loose Coupling Between Ca2+ Channels and Release Sensors at a Plastic Hippocampal Synapse

From Channel to Sensor The coupling between voltage-activated calcium channels and calcium sensors of exocytosis on synaptic vesicles is a key factor that determines the timing and efficiency of transmitter release. It is still largely unclear how tight this coupling is at mature synapses in the central nervous system. Vyleta and Jonas (p. 665) found that mossy fiber boutons contain high concentrations of endogenous calcium buffers that normally limit the amount of calcium that reaches the calcium sensor responsible for neurotransmitter release. As a consequence, the calcium signal available to trigger release is small for the initial action potential. However, after high-frequency stimulation, the endogenous calcium buffer binds calcium and is less able to buffer calcium entry, which allows more calcium to reach the calcium sensor, increasing neurotransmitter release and synaptic facilitation. The mossy fiber to the CA3 synapse operates via loose calcium microdomains established by local calcium buffering. The distance between Ca2+ channels and release sensors determines the speed and efficacy of synaptic transmission. Tight “nanodomain” channel-sensor coupling initiates transmitter release at synapses in the mature brain, whereas loose “microdomain” coupling appears restricted to early developmental stages. To probe the coupling configuration at a plastic synapse in the mature central nervous system, we performed paired recordings between mossy fiber terminals and CA3 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampus. Millimolar concentrations of both the fast Ca2+ chelator BAPTA [1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid] and the slow chelator EGTA efficiently suppressed transmitter release, indicating loose coupling between Ca2+ channels and release sensors. Loose coupling enabled the control of initial release probability by fast endogenous Ca2+ buffers and the generation of facilitation by buffer saturation. Thus, loose coupling provides the molecular framework for presynaptic plasticity.
The influence of sample collection methodology and sample preprocessing on the blood metabolic profile.

AIM Blood serum and plasma have intrinsic differences in their composition and the preprocessing, such as clotting temperature in serum, and storage at room temperature may have further effect on metabolite concentrations. METHODS The influence of sampling preprocessing on the metabolic profiles in serum and different types of plasma was investigated using liquid chromatography and comprehensive 2D gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. RESULTS The profiles of polar metabolites were significantly dependent on the type of the sample, while lipid profiles were similar in serum and different types of plasma. Extended storage of plasma at room temperature resulted in degradation of lipids already after 1 day. Serum clotting at room temperature generally resulted in higher metabolite concentration compared with serum clotting on ice.
The Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Oncoprotein Tax Inhibits the Transcriptional Activity of c-Myb through Competition for the CREB Binding Protein

ABSTRACT Tax, the transforming protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), is required for strong activation of HTLV-1 transcription. This activation is mediated through interaction with the KIX domain of the cellular coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP). In this study we examined the possibility that the Tax-KIX interaction may mediate effects on cellular gene transcription in vivo, as a growing number of cellular transcription factors have been shown to utilize CBP as a coactivator. We tested the ability of Tax to deregulate the activity of the cellular transcription factor, c-Myb, since both Tax and c-Myb interact with the KIX domain of CBP. Our results show that in vivo, Tax antagonizes the transcriptional activity of c-Myb and, reciprocally, c-Myb antagonizes the transcriptional activity of Tax. Furthermore, c-Myb competes for KIX binding to Tax in vitro, indicating that these two transcription factors bind CBP in a mutually exclusive manner. This novel mechanism of transcriptional interference by Tax may promote globally deregulated cellular gene expression in the HTLV-1-infected cell, possibly leading to leukemogenesis.
Popular on YouTube: a critical appraisal of the educational quality of information regarding asthma.

BACKGROUND Asthma affects >300 million people globally, including 25 million in the United States. Patients with asthma frequently use the Internet as a source of information. YouTube is one of the three most popular Web sites. OBJECTIVE To determine the educational quality of YouTube videos for asthma. METHODS We performed a YouTube search by using the keyword "asthma. " The 200 most frequently viewed relevant videos were included in the study. Asthma videos were analyzed for characteristics, source, and content. Source was further classified as asthma health care provider, other health care provider, patient, pharmaceutical company, and professional society and/or media. A scoring system was created to evaluate quality (-10 to 30 points). Negative points were assigned for misleading information. RESULTS Two hundred videos were analyzed, with a median of 18,073.5 views, 31.5 likes, and 2 dislikes, which spanned a median of 172 seconds. More video presenters were male (60.5%). The most common type of video source was other health care providers (34.5%). The most common video content was alternative treatments (38.0%), including live-fish ingestion; reflexology; acupressure and/or acupuncture; Ayurveda; yoga; raw food, vegan, gluten-free diets; marijuana; Buteyko breathing; and salt therapy. Scores for videos supplied by asthma health care providers were statistically significantly different from other sources (p < 0.001) and had the highest average score (9.91). CONCLUSION YouTube videos of asthma were frequently viewed but were a poor source of accurate health care information. Videos by asthma health care providers were rated highest in quality. The allergy/immunology community has a clear opportunity to enhance the value of educational material on YouTube.
Long-Term Temporal Stability of Measured Inattention and Impulsivity in Typical and Referred Children

Objective: This study investigates the stability of measured inattention and impulsivity in children. Method: The Gordon Diagnostic System (GDS) assesses inattention and impulsivity and has been administered in the same manner since its 1983 publication. GDS scores were compared between the 1983 standardization sample and a recent typical sample of 445 children, 562 children with ADHD-Combined (ADHD-C) type, 235 with ADHD-Inattentive (ADHD-I) type, and 231 with autism. Results: Typical children earned a GDS composite standard score of 100, consistent with the normal mean of 100 in the 1983 standardization sample. Means for children with ADHD-C, ADHD-I, and autism were 70, 78, and 76, respectively, approximately two standard deviations below the normal mean. Conclusion: As measured by the GDS, children are no more or less inattentive and impulsive today than in 1983, suggesting that inattention and impulsivity are stable neurobiological traits largely unaffected by cultural, educational, and environmental factors.
The integration of a hurricane wind hazard model with deep-water and nearshore wave models

Along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions of the United States, the main source of economic losses from natural hazards are produced by hurricanes. As hotels and other structures continue to be built on small islands and along the coastline of the continental USA, the value of exposed property continues to increase as does the need for a risk model to deal with the design and insurance issues for both flood and wind. A hurricane hazard model was developed for modeling the hurricane risk along the US coastline, and included the effects of changing sea surface roughness and the air-sea temperatures difference on the estimated surface-level wind speeds. This model has been extensively validated by comparing time histories of predicted wind speed and direction with the corresponding measured data from over 200 marine and land based anemometers during twenty different hurricanes. The model forms the basis of the design wind speeds given in the US National wind loading standard, ASCE-7. Under the support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a research is undergoing at ARA to develop an advanced severe storm coastal risk assessment methodology in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's HAZUS-MH model. This paper described one part of the research - the integration of the hurricane hazard model designed above with wave models to enhance coastal flood modeling. The model results were compared with real-time buoy data at National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) during several major hurricanes. The evaluation showed that the linked models could provide a good representation of the hurricane wave fields, provided that good estimates of hurricane generated wind fields were available.
A quantitative study of vestibular adaptation in humans.

A mathematical model for short-term adaptation to vestibular stimuli is presented. A transfer function is derived relating slow phase angular velocity of resulting nystagmus to the angular velocity of head rotation. The resulting model has been tested by comparing its responses to controlled step and ramp angular velocity stimuli with those of 8 human subjects, and in all cases a close match was obtained. The mean time constant of the adaptive term was 82 sec (S.E.±6.5) and the mean cupular restoration time constant (Tc) was 21 sec (S.E.±1.5). It is suggested that previous values quoted for Tc represent underestimates of the true value owing to superposition of the adaptive term here described. The adaptive term accounts well for the phenomenon of secondary nystagmus, especially during either strong stimuli or prolonged rotations. Some implications of the findings in relation to clinical and aviation medicine are discussed.
The incidence of subsequent endometrial carcinoma with tamoxifen use in patients with primary breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Tamoxifen commonly is used as adjuvant therapy for all stages of breast carcinoma. However, several studies have suggested an association between the use of tamoxifen in breast carcinoma patients and the subsequent development of endometrial carcinoma. The objective of this study was to determine the relation between long term tamoxifen usage and the risk of endometrial carcinoma in patients with breast carcinoma and to determine whether the increase in the cumulative incidence of endometrial carcinoma observed in previous studies is a true increase. METHODS Eight hundred and twenty-five patients with primary breast carcinoma who underwent annual gynecologic examination and cancer screening were reviewed. None of the patients had undergone hysterectomy or received any prior estrogen replacement therapy. These patients underwent a pelvic examination and cytologic and/or histologic screening of the cervix and endometrium every year even if they had no gynecologic symptoms. The dose of tamoxifen, length of tamoxifen treatment, and potential confounding variables were recorded. The relative risk of subsequent endometrial carcinoma in patients with primary breast carcinoma was analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Thirteen of the 825 patients developed a subsequent endometrial carcinoma. The cumulative incidence of endometrial carcinoma was 1.58%. Four of 13 patients who subsequently developed endometrial carcinoma received tamoxifen and 9 had not received tamoxifen. The relative risk of endometrial carcinoma by total dose of tamoxifen exposure was 1.0001 (P = 0.0145). There was no statistically significant correlation between the cumulative dose of tamoxifen or the length of tamoxifen treatment and the histologic type and grade of endometrial carcinoma. In addition, there was no statistical difference in the prognosis of endometrial carcinoma between the patients who received tamoxifen and patients who did not. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study show that tamoxifen use does not appear to increase the incidence of subsequent endometrial carcinoma in patients with primary breast carcinoma who underwent annual screening for gynecologic carcinoma.
Rotavirus-associated medical visits and hospitalizations in South America: a prospective study at three large sentinel hospitals

Background. Knowledge of the impact of rotavirus-associated disease on the health care systems of South America can aid in defining strategies for diagnosis, management and prevention. Up to date information on the impact of rotavirus disease in South America is scarce. Aim. To determine prospectively the impact of rotavirus disease as a cause of medical visits and hospitalizations at three large sentinel pediatric hospitals in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. Methods. A 2-year prospective surveillance for rotavirus-associated medical visits and hospitalizations was conducted during 1997 through 1998 at three large sentinel public hospitals, one each in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. A common surveillance protocol was implemented at the three sites, and a representative number of nonbloody diarrhea stool samples from children <36 months of age were tested for rotavirus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. For our target age group, acute diarrhea-associated medical visits/hospitalizations represented 4%/2%, 5%/6% and 9%/13% of all medical visits/all hospitalizations at the Argentinean, Chilean and Venezuelan sites, respectively (P < 0.001 for difference among the three sites). Rotavirus detection rates among a total of 5801/1256 medical visit/hospitalization diarrhea stool samples tested were 39%/71% in Argentina, 34%/47% in Chile and 29%/38% in Venezuela (P < 0.01 by chi square for difference among the three sites). Rotavirus was associated with a mean of 1.5, 1.8 and 3% of total medical visits and 1.6, 2.8 and 5% of hospitalizations among children <36 months of age at the Argentinean, Chilean and Venezuelan sites, respectively. Seasonality was evident for medical visits at all three sites (although less striking in Chile) with peak activity occurring between November and May. Rotavirus-associated hospitalizations had a marked peak in Venezuela, represented largely by short stays, but not in Argentina and Chile. Conclusions. Rotavirus was a significant cause of medical visits at all three sentinel sites. Rotavirus caused less hospitalizations than previously reported in Argentina and Chile. On the basis of our findings we estimate that ∼106 000/21 000, 48 000/8000 and 98 000/31 000 rotavirus-associated medical visits/hospitalizations occur yearly in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela, respectively.
Assessment of Physiotherapists’ Occupational Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Shortwave and Microwave Diathermy Devices: A Literature Review

We reviewed studies reporting the strength of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) in physiotherapists’ occupational environment. Studies from academic journals published from January 1990 to June 2010 were identified in nine online bibliographic databases. EMF strength was compared with occupational exposure limits (OELs) recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). In the reviewed studies, EMFs were measured at different distances (range 0.2 m to 6 m) from the console of diathermy devices, electrodes, and cables. For continuous shortwave diathermy (CSWD) (27.12 megahertz, MHz), measurements of EMFs at < 1 m, 1 m, 1.1–1.5 m, and 2 m reported the maximum E field strength as 8197%, 1639%, 295%, and 69%, respectively, and the maximum H field strength as 6250%, 681%, 213%, and 56%, respectively, of the ICNIRP limits for E and H fields for occupational exposure. For pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD) (27.12 MHz), EMF measurements at < 1 m, 1 m, and, 1.1–1.5 m showed the maximum E field intensity as 1639%, 175%, and 32%, and the maximum H field strength as 1175%, 968%, and 28%, respectively, of the ICNIRP limits for E and H fields for occupational exposure. For microwave diathermy (MWD) (2.45 gigahertz, GHz), the maximum power density measured at < 1 m, 1 m, 1.1–1.5 m, and 2 m was 200%, <30%, 0.76%, and 0.82%, respectively, of the ICNIRP limit for occupational exposure. RF EMF emissions measured from continuous and pulsed electrotherapeutic diathermy devices may well be higher than OELs at specific distances, i.e., at 1 m, which is currently designated to be a safe distance for physiotherapists. The minimum safe distance for physiotherapists should be revised to at least 2 m for CSWD and 1.5 m for PSWD. The reviewed studies did not provide evidence of exceeding the ICNIRP's reference levels for occupational exposure at 1 m from MWD devices.