Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DiSUMO-like DSUL is required for nuclei positioning, cell specification and viability during female gametophyte maturation in maize

Reversible post-translational modification of numerous proteins by small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMOs) represents a major regulatory process in various eukaryotic cellular and developmental processes. To study the role of sumoylation during female gametophyte (FG) development in maize, we identified Zea mays genes encoding SUMO (ZmSUMO1a and ZmSUMO1b) and a diSUMO-like protein called ZmDSUL that contains two head-to-tail SUMO-like domains. Whereas ZmSUMO1a and ZmSUMO1b are almost ubiquitously expressed, ZmDSUL transcripts were detected exclusively in the egg apparatus and zygote. ZmDSUL was selected for detailed studies. ZmDSUL is processed close to the C-terminus, generating a dimeric protein that is similar to animal FAT10 and ISG15, which contain two ubiquitin-like domains. Whereas GFP fused to the ZmDSUL N-terminus was located in the cytoplasm and predominately in the nucleoplasm of some transiently transformed maize suspension cells, C-terminal GFP fusions exclusively accumulated at the nuclear surface. GFP or ZmDSUL-GFP under control of the ZmDSUL promoter first displayed GFP signals in the micropylar-most position of the FG at stage 5/6, when migration of polar nuclei and cellularization occurs. Mature FGs displayed GFP signals exclusively in the egg cell, but the strongest signals were observed shortly after fertilization and disappeared during the first asymmetric zygotic division. RNAi silencing of ZmDSUL showed that it is required for FG viability. Moreover, nuclei segregation and positioning defects occurred at stage FG 5 after mitotic nuclear divisions were completed. In summary, we report a diSUMO-like protein that appears to be essential for nuclei segregation and positioning, the prerequisite for cell specification during FG maturation.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Experience of an Emergency Surgery Department

Background/aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a rare group of neoplasias of the gastrointestinal tract that have not yet been fully investigated. In this article the authors present the experience of an emergency surgery department in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with such neoplasms and discuss the approaches to these ‘strange’ tumors. Methods: A review of our 4-year experience in emergency surgery was performed and 9 patients were found with the diagnosis of GIST. The median follow-up was 32.3 (range 18–45) months. Results: 7 patients had evidence of gastrointestinal blood loss, 1 patient had abdominal pain, and the last patient had anorexia, vomiting and fever. Five tumors were located in the stomach and 4 in the small bowel. All the patients underwent complete resection. On histological examination 5 tumors were of myogenic origin, 1 was a gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor and 1 was a mixed neural-myoid tumor. The remaining 2 could not be differentiated. Of the 9 patients who underwent curative resections, 1 had a recurrence and died. Conclusion: GIST treatment mainly involves surgical resection with the goal of complete removal which can be curative. The histologic grade and tumor size are the most important prognostic factors.
Two-Dimensional Nanosheets Produced by Liquid Exfoliation of Layered Materials

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides, such as tungsten disulfide, are exfoliated into atomically thin flakes. If they could be easily exfoliated, layered materials would become a diverse source of two-dimensional crystals whose properties would be useful in applications ranging from electronics to energy storage. We show that layered compounds such as MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, MoTe2, TaSe2, NbSe2, NiTe2, BN, and Bi2Te3 can be efficiently dispersed in common solvents and can be deposited as individual flakes or formed into films. Electron microscopy strongly suggests that the material is exfoliated into individual layers. By blending this material with suspensions of other nanomaterials or polymer solutions, we can prepare hybrid dispersions or composites, which can be cast into films. We show that WS2 and MoS2 effectively reinforce polymers, whereas WS2/carbon nanotube hybrid films have high conductivity, leading to promising thermoelectric properties.
Surgical outcomes of lung cancer measuring less than 1 cm in diameter.

OBJECTIVES The increased use of computed tomography has led to an increasing proportion of lung cancers that are identified when still less than 1 cm in diameter. However, there is no defined treatment strategy for such cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the surgical outcomes of small lung cancers. METHODS A total of 143 patients were retrospectively evaluated, who had undergone a complete surgical resection for lung cancer less than 1 cm in diameter between January 1995 and December 2011. RESULTS The 143 study subjects included 62 male and 81 female patients. The mean age was 64.0 years (43-82 years). The mean tumour size was 0.8 cm (0.3-1.0 cm). Seventy-seven patients (53.8%) underwent lobectomy. Thirty-two patients (22.4%) underwent segmentectomy and 34 patients (23.8%) underwent wedge resection. The 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 95.7, 92.2 and 85.7%, respectively, after resection for sub-centimetre lung cancer. There were no significant differences between sub-lobar resection and lobectomy. However, two patients (1.4%) had recurrent cancer and seven (4.9%) had lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS The selection of the surgical procedure is important and a long-term follow-up is mandatory, because lung cancer of only 1 cm or less can be associated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastatic recurrence.
SUBSTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE MICROTUBULE AND ITS POLYMORPHIC FORMS *

Microtubules are composed of 13 protofilaments which are aligned parallel to the long axis of the tubule, as can be seen in thin sections of material fixed in the presence of tannic acid. Evidence is presented based upon Markham rotations of the isolated flagellar axoneme that the bridges (spoke, nexin, dynein) must connect to certain specified protofilaments. By means of geometric considerations it is concluded that the bridges in a Centrohelida and Raphidiophrys also connect certain specified protofilaments. Two polymorphic forms of microtubules were also examined using tannic acid in the fixative, a 320 A tubule produced in Echinosphaerium by treatment with low temperature, and a vinblastine-induced microtubule crystal. In both forms, the arrangement of the subunits is not in the form of linear protofilaments. The vinblastine crystal in transverse section is made up of hexagonally packed tubules approximately 320 A in diameter. The wall of each tubule in turn is composed of two parallel protofilaments which spiral upwards, giving the appearance of a barber pole. The center-to-center separation of adjacent protofilaments is 180 A. We conclude that the tubulin heterodimer lies parallel to the axis of the protofilaments, exposing the colchicine binding site.
Association Between Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors and a Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease Outbreak: Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND The use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been implicated as a potential contributor to the development of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) because of the ability of these drugs to substantially reduce the bactericidal effect of gastric acid. This study focused on the impact of PPIs, among other known risk factors, during an outbreak of CDAD in a hospital setting. OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to determine whether there was an association between current use of a PPI and the CDAD outbreak. Secondary objectives were to evaluate any correlations between the CDAD outbreak and past use of PPIs, use of antibiotics, diabetes mellitus, enteral feeding, cancer, gastrointestinal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, and previous care or residence in an institutional setting. METHODS A retrospective case-control study was conducted. One hundred and fifty cases of hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile were identified. Patients were individually matched to controls for age, sex, date of admission to hospital, and hospital unit. The groups were compared with respect to each exposure. RESULTS Eight case patients could not be matched with suitable controls. Therefore, data from 142 cases and 142 controls were analyzed. There was no association between current use of a PPI and the CDAD outbreak (odds ratio [OR] 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-1.01). Similarly, there was no correlation between the CDAD outbreak and diabetes, enteral feeding, cancer, gastrointestinal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, or previous care or residence in an institution. However, the development of CDAD was positively associated with use of antibiotics within the 30 days preceding the infection (OR 12.0, 95% CI 4.0-35.7) and with past use of a PPI (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-4.3). CONCLUSIONS The development of CDAD during a hospital outbreak was associated with use of antibiotics and with past, not current, use of PPIs.
Genetic, Transcriptomic, and Epigenetic Studies of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder

Abstract:The Human Genome Project, coupled with rapidly evolving high-throughput technologies, has opened the possibility of identifying heretofore unknown biological processes underlying human disease. Because of the opaque nature of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) neuropathogenesis, the utility of such methods has gained notice among NeuroAIDS researchers. Furthermore, the merging of genetics with other research areas has also allowed for application of relatively nascent fields, such as neuroimaging genomics, and pharmacogenetics, to the context of HAND. In this review, we detail the development of genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic studies of HAND, beginning with early candidate gene association studies and culminating in current “omics” approaches that incorporate methods from systems biology to interpret data from multiple levels of biological functioning. Challenges with this line of investigation are discussed, including the difficulty of defining a valid phenotype for HAND. We propose that leveraging known associations between biology and pathology across multiple levels will lead to a more reliable and valid phenotype. We also discuss the difficulties of interpreting the massive and multitiered mountains of data produced by current high-throughput omics assays and explore the utility of systems biology approaches in this regard.
Adaptive identification of the commensurate order in fractional processes by means of variable-order operators

A gradient-based algorithm for the on-line continuous estimation of the commensurate order in linear fractional order processes is presented. A key aspect of the proposed methodology is the use of appropriate variable-order fractional filters, and linear Laplace operators of logarithmic type, within the estimation mechanism. A Lyapunov based analysis will be provided for deriving appropriate sufficient conditions guaranteeing the parameter convergence property. Realization issues associated to the involved variable order operators are discussed, and a fully developed analysis and design example, accompanied by relevant simulation results, is provided to support the presented theory.
Comparison of Marginal Periosteal Pedicle Graft and Bioactive Glass with Platelet-rich Fibrin and Bioactive Glass in the Treatment of Intrabony Defects – A Clinicoradiographic Study

Introduction and Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare clinically and radiographically the regenerative potential of marginal periosteal pedicle graft (MPPG) or platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with a bioactive glass in the treatment of two- and three-wall intrabony defects. Methods: A total of 28 sites (bilateral or contralateral infrabony defects) from 14 patient were treated with MPPG (Experimental site A) and the other site was treated with PRF (Experimental site B). The clinical parameters, such as full-mouth plaque index (PI) and site PI, were recorded at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months' postsurgery while sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and gingival recession were recorded at baseline, 6, and 9 months. Radiographic evaluation was carried out to evaluate the defect fill, change in alveolar crest height, and percent defect fill at 6 and 9 months. Results: Results showed that both the experimental groups showed clinically and statistically significant reduction in mean PI, SBI, PD, radiographic defect depth, and gain in CAL. The percentage of defect fill at 6 months (70.55 ± 15.99 vs. 55.30 ± 11.87) and 9 months (84.55 ± 11.74 vs. 72.2 ± 9.91) was significantly greater in Site A compared to Site B. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that both the treatment modalities showed the potential of enhancing bone regeneration. However, the use of marginal periosteal pedicle flap showed better improvement in clinical and radiographic parameters.
One-year safety and efficacy results of a hydrogel inlay to improve near vision in patients with emmetropic presbyopia.

PURPOSE To conduct a feasibility study of the safety and efficacy of a corneal contouring inlay as a treatment for emmetropic presbyopia. METHODS The Raindrop corneal inlay (ReVision Optics, Inc., Lake Forest, CA) was implanted on the corneal stromal bed beneath a keratotomy flap in 20 nondominant eyes of 20 patients. The implant is designed to cause a change in the curvature of the overlying cornea, with a subsequent multifocal change in refractive power. Efficacy outcome was defined as at least 75% of eyes with uncorrected near visual acuity of 0.3 logMAR (20/40 Snellen) or better at 6 months. Main safety outcomes were retention of preoperative best-corrected distance visual acuity and reports of adverse events. Other outcome measures included contrast sensitivity; near, intermediate, and distance visual acuities; patient satisfaction; spectacle use; and complications. RESULTS All implanted eyes achieved uncorrected near visual acuity of 0.3 logMAR (20/40 Snellen) or better by the 1-week postoperative examination and remained so throughout the 1-year follow-up period, also averaging less than 0.1 logMAR (20/25 Snellen) monocularly and binocularly throughout that period. Mean binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity remained within 0.02 logMAR of the preoperative mean throughout the study. One patient who was dissatisfied with the resulting vision underwent explantation. At 1 year, 16 of 19 patients seldom or never wore glasses and all 19 were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall vision. CONCLUSIONS The hydrogel corneal inlay improved uncorrected near and intermediate visual acuity in patients with emmetropic presbyopia, with high patient satisfaction and little effect on distance visual acuity.
Clinical Significance of an Increased Cochlear 3D Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Signal Intensity on an MR Imaging Examination in Patients with Acoustic Neuroma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The increased cochlear signal on FLAIR images in patients with acoustic neuroma is explained by an increased concentration of protein in the perilymphatic space. However, there is still debate whether there is a correlation between the increased cochlear FLAIR signal and the degree of hearing disturbance in patients with acoustic neuroma. Our aim was to investigate the clinical significance of an increased cochlear 3D FLAIR signal in patients with acoustic neuroma according to acoustic neuroma extent in a large patient cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 102 patients with acoustic neuroma, who were divided into 2 groups based on tumor location; 22 tumors were confined to the internal auditory canal and 80 extended to the cerebellopontine angle cistern. Pure tone audiometry results and hearing symptoms were obtained from medical records. The relative signal intensity of the entire cochlea to the corresponding brain stem was calculated by placing regions of interest on 3D FLAIR images. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the cochlear relative signal intensity between the internal auditory canal acoustic neuroma and the cerebellopontine angle acoustic neuroma. The correlation between the cochlear relative signal intensity and the presence of hearing symptoms or the pure tone audiometry results was investigated. RESULTS: The internal auditory canal acoustic neuroma cochlea had a significantly lower relative signal intensity than the cerebellopontine angle acoustic neuroma cochlea (0.42 ± 0.15 versus 0.60 ± 0.17, P < .001). The relative signal intensity correlated with the audiometric findings in patients with internal auditory canal acoustic neuroma (r = 0.471, P = .027) but not in patients with cerebellopontine angle acoustic neuroma (P = .427). Neither internal auditory canal acoustic neuroma nor cerebellopontine angle acoustic neuroma showed significant relative signal intensity differences, regardless of the presence of hearing symptoms (P > .5). CONCLUSIONS: The cochlear signal on FLAIR images may be an additional parameter to use when monitoring the degree of functional impairment during follow-up of patients with small acoustic neuromas confined to the internal auditory canals.
Measures of herd health and productivity in Ontario cow-calf herds.

A cohort of cows and heifers in 180 separate breeding herds from 170 randomly sampled farms was followed from the 1986 breeding season through to the weaning of their calves in 1987. Data were collected from farm records, survey information collected during farm visits, and provincial government weaning-weight records. "Kilograms of calf weaned per female-exposed-to-breeding" was calculated as a summary measure of herd productivity. The lowest 25% of cow-herds produced less than 160 kg of calf weaned per cow-exposed-to-breeding, while the highest 25% exceeded 205 kg.Overall calf crop was 78.1% for cows and 78.5% for heifers. The 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile estimates for rates, which were components of calf crop (e.g. calving rate), were estimated. The component rates that most influenced calf crop were culling rate for cows and stillbirth rate for heifers.
Abnormal papillary muscle morphology is independently associated with increased left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background: Abnormal papillary muscles (PM) are often found in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Objective: To assess the relationship between morphological alterations of PM in patients with HCM and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography. Methods: Fifty-six patients with HCM (mean age 42 years (interquartile range 27, 51), 70% male) and 30 controls (mean age (42 (30, 53) years, 80% male) underwent MRI on a 1.5 T scanner (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Standard cine images were obtained in short-axis (base to apex), along with two-, three- and four-chamber views. The presence of bifid PM (none, one or both) and anteroapical displacement of anterolateral PM was recorded by MRI and correlated with resting LVOT gradients obtained by echocardiography. Results: Double bifid PM (70% vs 17%) and anteroapical displacement of anterolateral PM (77% vs 17%) were more prevalent in patients with HCM than in controls (p<0.001). Subjects with anteroapically displaced PM and double bifid PM had higher resting LVOT gradients than controls (45 (6, 81) vs 12 (0, 12) mm Hg (p<0.01) and 42 (6, 64) vs 11 (0, 17) mm Hg (p = 0.02), respectively. In patients with HCM, the odds ratio of having significant (⩾30 mm Hg) peak resting gradient was 7.1 (95% CI 1.4 to 36.7) for anteroapically displaced anterolateral PM and 10.4 (95% CI 1.2 to 91.2) for double bifid PM (both p = 0.005), independent of septal thickness, use of β-blockers and/or calcium blockers and resting heart rate. Conclusions: Patients with HCM with abnormal PM have a higher degree of resting LVOT gradient, which is independent of septal thickness.
MAGE expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma primary tumors, lymph node metastases and respective recurrences-implications for immunotherapy

Melanoma associated antigens (MAGE) are potential targets for immunotherapy and have been associated with poor overall survival (OS) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, little is known about MAGE in lymph node metastases (LNM) and recurrent disease (RD) of HNSCC. To assess whether MAGE expression increases with metastasis or recurrence, a tissue microarray (TMA) of 552 primary tumors (PT), 219 LNM and 75 RD was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for MAGE antigens using three monoclonal antibodies to multiple MAGE family members. Mean expression intensity (MEI) was obtained from triplicates of each tumor specimen. The median MEI compared between PT, LNM and RD was significantly higher in LNM and RD. In paired samples, MEI was comparable in PT to respective LNM, but significantly different from RD. Up to 25% of patients were negative for pan-MAGE or MAGE-A3/A4 in PT, but positive in RD. The prognostic impact of MAGE expression was validated in the TMA cohort and also in TCGA data (mRNA). OS was significantly lower for patients expressing pan-MAGE or MAGE-A3/A4 in both independent cohorts. MAGE expression was confirmed as a prognostic marker in HNSCC and may be important for immunotherapeutic strategies as a shared antigen.
Globalization and household saving: is there a link?

ABSTRACT This article proposes that globalization can affect household saving in the long run in a number of ways. Social interactions between different cultures can induce value changes, which can result in shifts in consumption and saving behaviour. International trade allows consumers to have easier access to status goods, stimulating consumption and dampening saving. Extending from Veblen’s conspicuous consumption theory, saving may also decrease when globalization leads to greater population mobility and fosters urbanization, thus enhancing the importance of consumption as a way to display wealth. In addition, financial globalization reduces credit constraints and allows households to save less. Using cross-country data from the United Nations (UN), the OECD, and other sources, this article finds evidence that household saving declines as globalization deepens, especially in the social and cultural dimensions.
Effect of Platelet Activating Factor and its Antagonist on the Mucociliary Clearance of the Eustachian Tube in Guinea Pigs

The purpose of this study was to test whether platelet activating factor (PAF) impairs the mucociliary clearance function of the eustachian tube (ET) in a dose-dependent manner and whether PAF antagonist can prevent the impairment of mucociliary function of the ET induced by PAF. Coomassie brilliant blue dye transport time (DTT) in normal guinea pigs was 69 seconds. The DTTs after the application of normal saline and PAF at 1 and 2 μg/mL into bullae were 66, 74, and 157 seconds. The time was over 15 minutes when 4, 8, and 16 μg/mL of PAF were applied. The DTT was 62 seconds when the animals were pretreated with PAF antagonist (WEB 2170). There were significant delays of the DTTs after treatment with 2, 4, 8, and 16 μg/mL of PAF. Histopathologic examination of ETs from groups with a significant delay in DTTs showed intact cilia, mucous plugs, increased inflammatory cells, and exfoliation of cells. This study demonstrated that PAF impaired the mucociliary clearance function of the ET in a dose-dependent manner. This impairment of mucociliary clearance function was prevented by pretreatment with PAF antagonist. The findings of the study suggest that PAF plays an important role in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion by impairing the ET clearance function.