Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mucilaginibacter litoreus sp. nov., isolated from marine sand.

A Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain BR-18(T), was isolated from marine sand collected on the western coast of South Korea. The taxonomic position of the novel strain was determined using a polyphasic approach. Strain BR-18(T) grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 6.5-7.0 and in the absence of NaCl. In phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the novel strain fell within a clade comprising members of the genus Mucilaginibacter and appeared most closely related to Mucilaginibacter lutimaris BR-3(T) (96.6 % sequence similarity) and Mucilaginibacter rigui WPCB133(T) (95.9 %). The novel strain showed lower levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of other members of the genus Mucilaginibacter (93.4-95.5 %) and those of other species included in the phylogenetic analyses (<91.6 %). Strain BR-18(T) contained MK-7 as its predominant menaquinone, summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH) and iso-C(15 : 0) as its major fatty acids, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminophospholipid as its major polar lipids, and sphingolipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the novel strain was 42.4 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic data, strain BR-18(T) represents a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter, for which the name Mucilaginibacter litoreus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BR-18(T) ( = KCTC 23697(T) = CCUG 61484(T)).
Actin-mediated movement of chloroplasts

ABSTRACT Plants are sessile and require diverse strategies to adapt to fluctuations in the surrounding light conditions. Consequently, the photorelocation movement of chloroplasts is essential to prevent damages that are induced by intense light (avoidance response) and to ensure efficient photosynthetic activities under weak light conditions (accumulation response). The mechanisms that underlie chloroplast movements have been revealed through analysis of the behavior of individual chloroplasts and it has been found that these organelles can move in any direction without turning. This implies that any part of the chloroplast periphery can function as the leading or trailing edge during movement. This ability is mediated by a special structure, which consists of short actin filaments that are polymerized at the leading edge of moving chloroplasts and are specifically localized in the space between the chloroplast and the plasma membrane, and is called chloroplast-actin. In addition, several of the genes that encode proteins that are involved in chloroplast-actin polymerization or maintenance have been identified. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms that regulate chloroplast movements through polymerization of the chloroplast-actin and propose a model for actin-driven chloroplast photorelocation movement. Summary: A review of the photo-relocation movement of chloroplasts, which is mediated by newly discovered chloroplast actin filaments that are localized at the leading edge of moving chloroplasts.
Violence Against Girls Provokes Girls' Violence

Young women adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court report suffering inordinate amounts of emotional, physical, and sexual trauma in early childhood and adolescence. In addition, adolescent girls' arrests for violent crimes rose dramatically in the 1990s. This article explores the relationship between those two factors. Drawing from interviews with court-involved girls, this article highlights two contexts in which girls committed aggressive offenses: an incidence of intimate violence in a lesbian relationship and a stabbing in self-defense against sexual assault. I argue that the trauma witnessed and experienced from prior childhood and adolescent injuries—much of it experienced in private—contributed to girls' coming to the attention of public authorities.
Conduction Failures in Rabbit Saphenous Nerve Unmyelinated Fibers

Recent experimental and theoretical data indicate that the functional capabilities of axons with specialized structures are much more diverse than traditionally thought. However, few observations were concerned with the main axons without arborization. In the present study, electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve at different frequencies (2, 5, 10, 20 Hz) was used to test the role of activity-dependent effects on the pattern of action potentials that propagate along individual unmyelinated fibers (C fibers) within the trunk of the saphenous nerve in rabbits. Three basic types of C fiber responses to repetitive stimulation were observed: type-1 fibers showed an entrained response without conduction failure; type-2 fibers discharged with intermittent conduction failures; while only sporadic conduction failures happened in type 3. The failure modality in type-2 and type-3 fibers is closely related to the conductive distance as well as the frequency and duration of stimuli which lead to a critical level of conduction velocity slowing. A novel fluctuation in interspike intervals was always observed immediately before the occurrence of the failures, implying that the fluctuation of conduction velocity is correlated with imminent failures. Both the 4-aminopyridine-sensitive potassium current and hyperpolarization-activated cation current were recognized to be involved in the regulation of conduction failure patterns. The results confirmed, at least in part, the existence of conduction failures in the main axon of C fibers, suggesting that axonal operations may also be determinants for adaptation phenomenon and information processing in peripheral nervous system.
Lycium barbarum Reduces Abdominal Fat and Improves Lipid Profile and Antioxidant Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Natural antioxidants present in fruits have attracted considerable interest due to their presumed safety and potential nutritional value. Even though antioxidant activities of many fruits have been reported, the effects of phytochemicals of goji berry (GB) in patients with metabolic syndrome have not been investigated. In this study, we examined anthropometric and biochemical parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome after the consumption of GB. The patients were divided into two groups, control (C) and supplemented (S), and followed up for 45 days. Participants were individually instructed to carry out a healthy diet, but additionally, an inclusion of 14 g of the natural form of goji berry in the diet during 45 days for the S group was proposed. After 45 days of study, a significant reduction in transaminases as well as an improvement in lipid profile in the S group was observed. Likewise, a significant reduction in the waist circumference of the S group was observed when compared with that of the C group, and increased glutathione and catalase levels associated with a reduction of lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that this is an effective dietary supplement for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostate pathology.

PURPOSE Previous studies suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) circulating levels might improve identification of patients with prostate cancer but results are conflicting. Our aim was to compare serum VEGF levels across different prostate pathologies (including benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, high grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer) in patients at high risk of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS We consecutively enrolled 186 subjects with abnormal digital rectal examination and/or total PSA (tPSA) > or = 2.5 ng/mL. Blood was collected before diagnostic ultrasound guided trans-rectal prostate biopsy, or any prostate oncology treatment, to measure PSA isoforms and VEGF. Unconditional logistic regression was used to compute age-, tPSA- and free/total PSA-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association between serum VEGF and different prostatic pathologies. RESULTS Prostate biopsy main diagnoses were normal or benign prostatic hyperplasia (27.3%), prostatitis (16.6%), and prostatic cancer (55.0%). The median VEGF levels (ng/mL) in these groups were 178.2, 261.3 and 266.4 (p = 0.029), respectively, but no significant differences were observed for benign vs. malignant pathologies (215.2 vs. 266.4, p = 0.551). No independent association was observed between VEGF (3rd vs. 1st third) and prostate cancer, when compared to benign conditions (adjusted OR = 1.44; CI 95%: 0.64-3.26). CONCLUSIONS In patients at high risk of prostate cancer, circulating VEGF levels have no clinical role in deciding which patients should be submitted to prostate biopsy. Prostatitis patients, often with higher PSA levels, also present high serum levels of VEGF, and their inclusion in control groups might explain the heterogeneous results in previous studies.
Novel Balanced Dual-Band Bandpass Filter Using Coupled Stepped-Impedance Resonators

A novel balanced dual-band bandpass filter, using coupled stepped-impedance resonators (SIRs), is proposed in this letter. The differential- and common-mode equivalent half circuits are given. By properly designing the resonators, associated with the filter composed of eight SIRs, dual-band differential-mode bandpass response can be obtained. To improve the common-mode suppression level, two open stubs with different lengths are added to the connection point of two resonators. A prototype balanced filter operating at 2.4 and 5 GHz has been realized to validate the proposed concept and theory.
Laparoscopically-assisted palliative total gastrectomy in patients with stage IV or metastatic gastric cancer: is it worthwhile?

BACKGROUND/AIMS Conventional open total gastrectomy in patients with IV stage or metastatic gastric carcinoma in the middle or upper third of the stomach is under controversy due to its poor prognosis and its surgical complexity. Based on advances in laparoscopic equipment, techniques, and ongoing experience in laparoscopically- assisted D2 total gastrectomy, laparoscopically-assisted noncurative total gastrectomy was performed in patients with stage IV or metastatic gastric carcinoma in the middle or upper third of the stomach who suffered from local gastric bleeding, pain, obstruction symptoms refractory to other therapies at our institution. The purpose of the current study was to determine feasibility of laparoscopically-assisted noncurative total gastrectomy in patients with stage IV disease or metastatic gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY Between July 2005 and Sep 2007 in our institution, 43 patients with stage IV disease or metastatic gastric carcinoma in the middle or upper third of the stomach who suffered from local gastric bleeding, pain, obstruction refractory to other therapies underwent laparoscopically-assisted noncurative total gastrectomy. Stomach was dissected and the first part of the duodenum was transected laparoscopically. Because of extensive involvement of adjacent tissues, final dissection was performed extracorporeally by a small laparotomy incision under the xyphoid (5-7 cm) for removal of specimen and anastomosis. Clinical data of the procedure was analyzed. RESULTS None of 43 patients was converted to laparotomy and no operative mortality was observed. Final dissection of involvement was extracorporeally performed by a small laparotomy incision in 18 patients with extensive involvement of adjacent tissues. Postoperative complication occurred in 4 cases (9%), 1 minor duodenal stump leak, 3 wound infection. The mean operative time was 245 +/- 81 min, operative blood loss was 163 +/- 131 mL. Time of ambulation and first flatus were 2.6 +/- 1.3 and 3.3 +/- 1.0 days after surgery respectively. All patients uneventfully recovered after surgery. Mean hospital stay was 8.8 +/- 3.5 days. All preoperative symptoms resolved. Mean survival time was 8.9 +/- 3.2 months, 5 patients still are alive to present within fellow-up of 6-15 months. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopically-assisted noncurative total gastrectomy in patients with stage IV or metastatic gastric cancer is considered to be a safe and feasible approach. Laparoscopically-assisted palliative total gastrectomy can be performed to obtain better quality of life in patients with gastric cancer who suffered from local gastric bleeding, pain, obstruction symptoms refractory to other therapies.
Prevalence and Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in Western Greece: A 23-Year Survey

Background: The frequency of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Greece remains speculative, as data from many parts are still lacking. Objective: To estimate trends in MS prevalence and annual incidence in western Greece from January 1, 1984 to December 31, 2006. Methods: Patients were identified from the patient records of the Department of Neurology at Patras University Hospital in Rion-Patras. Only patients with a definite MS diagnosis according to Poser’s criteria and retrospective application of the McDonald’s criteria were included. We calculated age- and sex-specific prevalence rates for patients living in the study area on December 31, 2006. Annual incidence rates were calculated for the period 1984–2006. Results: The crude prevalence rate of definite MS cases increased significantly in 23 years from 10.1/100,000 recorded in northeastern Greece in 1984 to 119.61/100,000 on December 31, 2006 in western Greece for the 780 cases still alive. The mean annual incidence rate increased from 2.71/100,000 recorded during the period 1984–1989 to 10.73/100,000 in the 5-year period of 2002–2006. Conclusion: The prevalence rates were higher than expected, but closer than in previous surveys conducted in Greece to those reported recently in Sicily and Istanbul. These findings place the area in the high-risk zone.
Consumer Perspectives on Access to Direct‐to‐Consumer Genetic Testing: Role of Demographic Factors and the Testing Experience

Policy Points: The policy context of direct-to-consumer personal genomic testing (DTC-PGT) has been evolving over the last decade, with little empirical data available about consumers’ perspectives. A majority of consumers of DTC-PGT supported expanded access to services and their integration into the medical context and opposed more governmental regulation. Consumers’ attitudes about access to services and regulation did not vary based on the specific genetic risk information they received from companies, but may vary based on whether consumers perceived their DTC experience negatively. Context While policymakers have been considering the appropriateness of direct-to-consumer personal genomic testing (DTC-PGT) for more than a decade, there is little empirical data on consumers’ views regarding the regulation of these products. No research has assessed whether consumers’ personal experience with testing is related to their views about access to and regulation of DTC tests. Methods Data were analyzed from the PGen Study, a longitudinal prospective cohort of DTC-PGT customers of 23andMe (n = 564) and Pathway Genomics (n = 377; total N = 941). Consumers were sent an electronic survey before receiving genetic test results and again 6 months after receipt of results. Findings At the 6-month follow-up, more than 80% of participants believed that people have a right to access genetic information directly, that parents should be able to get DTC-PGT testing for their children, and that genetic information should be kept private. Participants supported health insurance coverage of PGT (60%), wider availability of PGT (68%), and inclusion of genetic information in medical records (63%). Participants were less supportive of government regulation (28%) and restricting testing to clinical settings (14%). Conservative political ideology was associated with less support for government regulation (P < 0.001), as was feeling more confident in one's genetic knowledge (P < 0.05). Participants’ level of computed genetic risk for common diseases, as indicated by their actual test results received from companies, showed no relationship with attitudes. However, those who perceived that they had received elevated risk results expressed lower support for expanded availability and incorporation of PGT into health care (P < 0.01). Those who reported being upset by their genetic test results were less likely to endorse access to DTC products without a medical professional (P < 0.01). Conclusions PGT consumers supported expanded access to these services and opposed additional regulation. Users who had a negative personal experience with PGT testing were less supportive of expanded availability without a medical professional.
Dual-LFSR Reseeding for Low Power Testing

Large test data volume and excessive test power are two strict challenges for VLSI testing. This paper presents a BIST scheme adopting dual-LFSR reseeding method to effectively reduce the amount of test data while keeping the scan-in power as low. Experimental results show that, compared with the similar work, test data volume can be significantly reduced with a roughly equal scan-in power reduction.
Subsistence Change at Konam-RI: Implications for the Advent of Rice Agriculture in Korea

Attempts at reconstructing subsistence strategies in prehistoric Korea, particularly during the Neolithic and Bronze Age, are few. Research directed towards explaining change in subsistence patterns in this part of East Asia are even fewer. This article addresses the latter question through analysis of vertebrate faunal remains from Konam-ri, a Neolithic/Bronze Age shell midden site located off the central west coast of Korea. Significant distinctions in subsistence strategies are evident between the Neolithic and Bronze Age deposits at Konam-ri: Neolithic Koreans relied heavily on wild game and fish resources, but by the advent of the Bronze Age, subsistence shifted towards a heavier dependence on agricultural products, particularly rice and millet. It is argued here that increasing population pressure during the Neolithic may have been the causal factor leading to intensified procurement of the Konam-ri inhabitants' primary resource: fish. This intensification, in turn, could have caused overexploitation and a subsequent heavier dependence on previously secondary and tertiary resources (i.e., rice and millet agriculture). This evidence may have further implications for other regions of Korea.
P1.23 CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AS A PROXY FOR NOWCASTS OF VIL AND ECHO TOPS

Air Traffic planning is primarily split between two methodologies: strategic (2-6+ hour forecast lead time) and tactical (0-2 hour forecast lead time). Strategic planning occurs daily and is most useful when the weather is highly predictable out to 6-8 hrs in the future. When unanticipated convective weather causes airspace capacity to drop below a sustainable threshold, traffic flow planning becomes less strategic and more tactical. In this case, it is critical that reliable and accurate short-term 0-2 hour forecasts of precipitation and storm tops be available. The Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS) was developed to respond to the 0-2 hour forecast needs of the FAA decision makers. The CIWS system produces forecasts of vertically-integrated-liquid water (VIL) and echo tops (ET) over the northeast US at 5minute increments out to 2 hours (Wolfson & Clark, 2007). The CIWS system makes extensive use of radar input (NEXRAD, TDWR, and Canadian) for its storm identification and tracking routines. These radars provide nearly complete coverage over the eastern two-thirds of the CONUS (Figure 1a), but areas of degraded coverage exist over the mountain West and off the coasts. In these regions the radar data and CIWS forecasts produced from these data can be adversely affected. On the other hand, the National Lightning Data Network (NLDN) provides nearly continuous coverage of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning over the CONUS in addition to coverage off the coasts (Figure 1b; Cummins et al. 1998b).
The influence of race, ethnicity, and individual socioeconomic factors on breast cancer stage at diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES Previous research has generally found that racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer stage at diagnosis attenuate when measures of socioeconomic status are included in the analysis, although most previous research measured socioeconomic status at the contextual level. This study investigated the relation between race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic status, and breast cancer stage at diagnosis. METHODS Women with stage 0 to III breast cancer were identified from population-based data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results tumor registries in the Detroit and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. These data were combined with data from a mailed survey in a sample of White, Black, and Hispanic women (n=1700). Logistic regression identified factors associated with early-stage diagnosis. RESULTS Black and Hispanic women were less likely to be diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer than were White women (P< .001). After control for study site, age, and individual socioeconomic factors, the odds of early detection were still significantly less for Hispanic women (odds ratio [OR]=0.45) and Black women (OR = 0.72) than for White women. After control for the method of disease detection, the White/Black disparity attenuated to insignificance; the decreased likelihood of early detection among Hispanic women remained significant (OR=0.59). CONCLUSION The way in which racial/ethnic minority status and socioeconomic characteristics produce disparities in women's experiences with breast cancer deserves further research and policy attention.
Recovery of adhesion to chondroitin‐4‐sulphate in Plasmodium falciparum var CSA disruption mutants by antigenically similar PfEMP1 variants

Protection against maternal malaria has been associated with the acquisition of a specific antibody response that prevents adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum‐infected erythrocytes to the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin‐4‐sulphate (CSA), which is present in the placental intervillous space. These antibodies are directed against variant forms of the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) that mediate binding to CSA. We have generated insertional disruption mutants of the gene encoding the CSA‐binding phenotype in the P. falciparum clone FCR3 (var CSA) to test the hypothesis that strategies targeting the parasite's determinant for this adhesive phenotype may prevent sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the placenta and hence the development of maternal malaria. The var CSA‐disruption mutants were initially unable to adhere to CSA; however, they could recover the phenotype after repeated selection over CSA. We show that recovery of CSA binding is var CSA independent and mediated by the activation of a novel var variant. Importantly, the corresponding PfEMP1 protein reacts with a monoclonal antibody recognizing the DBL3γ domain of the var CSA gene product, indicating that the DBL3γ CSA‐binding domains are conserved between these PfEMP1‐binding variants. Our data support strategies exploring these conserved epitopes as vaccine candidates against maternal malaria.