Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction of CheY with the C-Terminal Peptide of CheZ

ABSTRACT Chemotaxis, a means for motile bacteria to sense the environment and achieve directed swimming, is controlled by flagellar rotation. The primary output of the chemotaxis machinery is the phosphorylated form of the response regulator CheY (P∼CheY). The steady-state level of P∼CheY dictates the direction of rotation of the flagellar motor. The chemotaxis signal in the form of P∼CheY is terminated by the phosphatase CheZ. Efficient dephosphorylation of CheY by CheZ requires two distinct protein-protein interfaces: one involving the strongly conserved C-terminal helix of CheZ (CheZC) tethering the two proteins together and the other constituting an active site for catalytic dephosphorylation. In a previous work (J. Guhaniyogi, V. L. Robinson, and A. M. Stock, J. Mol. Biol. 359:624-645, 2006), we presented high-resolution crystal structures of CheY in complex with the CheZC peptide that revealed alternate binding modes subject to the conformational state of CheY. In this study, we report biochemical and structural data that support the alternate-binding-mode hypothesis and identify key recognition elements in the CheY-CheZC interaction. In addition, we present kinetic studies of the CheZC-associated effect on CheY phosphorylation with its physiologically relevant phosphodonor, the histidine kinase CheA. Our results indicate mechanistic differences in phosphotransfer from the kinase CheA versus that from small-molecule phosphodonors, explaining a modest twofold increase of CheY phosphorylation with the former, observed in this study, relative to a 10-fold increase previously documented with the latter.
Natural infection of small mammal species in Minnesota with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis

The natural reservoirs for the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) are suspected to be the small mammals that host immature stages of Ixodes scapularis ticks. To determine if such small mammals are naturally infected, we collected blood and serum samples from small mammal species in rural and suburban areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. Samples were collected from white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus), southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi), and insectivorous shrews (Blarina brevicauda and Sorex cinereus). Blood samples were tested by PCR for active infection with the HGE agent, and sera from P. leucopus mice were tested for serologic evidence of infection by indirect immunofluorescence. PCR analyses revealed the presence of HGE agent DNA in 20 of the 190 samples (10.5%) tested. Of the 119 P. leucopus mouse serum samples that were analyzed, 12 (10.1%) contained Ehrlichia equi antibodies. In 3 of 119 (2.5%) P. leucopus mice from which both blood and serum were collected. HGE agent DNA and antibodies against E. equi were present. Animals with evidence of infection with the HGE agent are widely distributed around the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in regions with known I. scapularis tick activity. Small mammals that are frequent hosts for larval I. scapularis ticks and that are found in areas where HGE occurs are likely to be a major reservoir from which infected ticks that bite humans are derived.
OPTIMIZATION OF KERF WIDTH OBTAINED IN WEDM OF ALUMINUM HYBRID COMPOSITE USING TAGUCHI METHOD

In this paper, an experiment is conducted to optimize the kerf width of wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) on Aluminum hybrid composite with Zinc coated brass wire using Taguchi method. Aluminum metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with silicon carbide particulate (SiCp) find several applications due to their improved mechanical properties for a wide variety of aerospace and automotive applications. The hybrid composite (Al6061/SiC/Graphite) is prepared by stir casting route. Parameters considered for this study is pulse on time, pulse off time ,peak current, gap set voltage, wire feed and wire tension. Taguchi orthogonal method is used to design the experiment (L27). In this analysis of results shows that kerf width is mostly influenced by the peak current.
Cross talk between germ cells and gonadal somatic cells is critical for sex differentiation of the gonads in the teleost fish, medaka (Oryzias latipes)

To evaluate the possible role of germ cells on sex differentiation of the gonads in vertebrates, the teleost fish, medaka (Oryzias latipes), was used to generate a gonad without germ cells. The germ cell‐deficient medaka reveals multiple effects of germ cells on the process of sex differentiation. The previously isolated mutant medaka, hotei, with the excessive number of germ cells may support the contention that the proliferation of germ cells is related to feminization of the gonad. Futhermore, we show that two modes of proliferation for either maintenance of germ cells or commitment to gametogenesis are important components of the sex differentiation of medaka developing gonads. An intimate cross talk between germ cells and gonadal somatic cells during the sex differentiation will be discussed.
Spatial Properties of Perceived Pitch

We present three experiments that show a clear influence of pitch on reaching movements. The first experiment shows that when there are incompatibilities between the spatial representations of target coordinates and perceived pitches, response times are longer than when spatial representations are congruous. The second experiment shows that pitch can influence motor responses, biasing their direction. The third experiment shows that in the absence of any other spatial cues, tones are assigned spatial coordinates based on frequency. Our results suggest that pitch may indeed have inherent spatial properties, and that these properties may affect movement planning and execution.
Bone Graft from the Distal Medial Tibia in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Autogenous bone graft is the ideal substrate for primary and revisional foot and ankle surgery. The distal medial tibia is an easily accessible site that provides both cancellous and corticocancellous autograft. Thirty cases of distal tibial bone graft with a minimum follow-up of 1 year are presented. There was an 86% union rate, and there were no stress fractures, persistent pain, or reported nerve injuries at the donor site. An efficient and versatile technique for harvesting both cancellous bone graft and corticocancellous graft is described. The use of distal tibial bone graft eliminates the need for a second surgeon and more lengthy harvest procedure and offers sufficient autograft material for foot and ankle applications with a low rate of complications. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV
EFFECTS OF TEA AND TEA FLAVONOIDS ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION AND BLOOD PRESSURE: A BRIEF REVIEW

1 The consumption of tea worldwide is second only to water. Thus, any physiological effects of tea could have a significant impact on population health. 2 Tea is the major contributor to total flavonoid intake in many populations. Flavonoids in tea have been shown to have a range of activities and effects that could contribute to improved health. Tea intake and the intake of flavonoids found in tea have been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in several cross‐sectional and prospective population studies. A variety of possible mechanisms have been investigated. The focus of the present review is on the mounting evidence that tea flavonoids can improve endothelial function and lower blood pressure. 3 In vitro studies using isolated vessels have shown that tea flavonoids possess vasodilator activity. Results of human intervention trials have shown that increased flavonoid intake from tea, as well as other dietary sources, can improve endothelial function. Emerging data also suggest that the degree of benefit may be related to flavonoid metabolism. 4 The effects of tea flavonoids on blood pressure are less consistent. Results of animal studies and population studies are consistent with a blood pressure‐lowering effect of tea. However, short‐term intervention trials, mainly in normotensive individuals, have not demonstrated any blood pressure reduction with tea. 5 Overall, the available data suggest that the effects of tea flavonoids on endothelial function and, perhaps, blood pressure may be responsible, at least in part, for any benefits of drinking tea on the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Microstructural differences in the human posterior sclera as a function of age and race.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to quantify the age and race-related differences in the microstructural organization of the human posterior sclera. Such differences may contribute to the predisposition of primary open-angle glaucoma in various high-risk populations. METHODS Posterior-temporal scleras from 75 right eyes were procured at an average distance of 3.5 mm from the center of the optic nerve head (ONH). A light-scattering device was used to investigate the matrix organization of posterior scleral fibers around the ONH. In addition to the degree of alignment (via eccentricity), the percentage occurrence of fiber angles within equatorial and meridionally aligned bins was quantified as a function of depth, sex, age, and race. There were 20 African Americans, 55 Caucasians, 49 males, 26 females, in this study, all falling within three age groups (<30, n = 8; 30-60, n = 33; and >60 years, n = 34). Three scleral layers, normalized for depth, were examined. RESULTS For all ages and both races, fibers were preferentially oriented equatorially at all layers (P < 0.001). The African Americans had a significantly higher percentage of occurrence of meridional fibers than did the Caucasians (P < 0.001). The percentage occurrence of meridional fibers decreased significantly from the inner to the outer layers of the posterior sclera (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Statistically significant microstructural differences were found in the posterior sclera between African American and Caucasian donors. Ongoing work is focused on identifying whether such microstructural differences play a role in the higher prevalence of glaucoma in African American populations.
Difficulty in the diagnosis of bone and joint pain associated with pediatric acute leukemia; comparison with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Abstract Objectives: Acute leukemia often causes osteoarthralgia. The aim of this study is characterization of leukemia-associated osteoarthralgia in comparison with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 31 patients with acute leukemia and 13 patients with articular JIA diagnosed between January 2008 and March 2013. Clinical and laboratory findings at the initial examination were compared among the three groups; 10 leukemia with and 21 leukemia without osteoarthralgia and 13 JIA groups. Results: Eleven of the 31 leukemic patients (35%) had osteoarthralgia before the diagnosis of leukemia. Peripheral leukemic cells were initially absent in 10 of the 31 leukemia patients including three with osteoarthralgia. Platelet counts over 300 × 109/L were common in JIA, but not in osteoarthralgia group. Mean serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were higher in both of the leukemia groups than JIA group but often within normal or near-normal levels in the leukemia groups. Magnetic resonance imaging was examined in three leukemic patients and demonstrated osteomyelitis-like bone marrow edema in two and periarticular infiltration similar to synovitis in one patient. Three leukemic patients with osteoarthralgia showed partial and transient responses to antibiotic therapy. Conclusions: Leukemia-associated osteoarthralgia is often indistinguishable from rheumatic diseases by imaging and laboratory findings and should be confirmed by bone marrow examination.
Lifetime Enhancement of Wireless Sensor Networks by Differentiable Node Density Deployment

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is composed of wireless sensors using batteries with energy constraints, which limits the network lifetime. How to maximize the network lifetime is an important issue in the design of WSNs. We establish a relationship between node density and network lifetime in a periodically data delivery scenario of WSNs with sensors transmitting data to the sink node periodically. Based on our analysis, we propose a sensor node density deployment method that could implement a differential node density in WSNs so that the lifetime of the network could be maximized. Both theoretic analysis and simulation results show that our method outperforms the uniform node distribution method in terms of the network lifetime
Epidemiology, Prognosis, and Treatment of Resistant Hypertension

Resistant hypertension is a common clinical problem, which, until recently, has received little attention in the medical literature. With this increased attention has come a considerably better understanding of disease epidemiology, prognosis, and treatment, yet much remains unknown. Current data suggest that the prevalence of resistant hypertension has been increasing in recent decades, a concerning finding given that resistant hypertension appears to be associated with a poorer prognosis than nonresistant hypertension. The most appropriate management for these patients has not been fully elucidated, but a multifaceted approach incorporating accurate diagnosis, identification, and removal of substances that interfere with blood pressure, dietary and lifestyle management, and treatment with rational drug combination therapy can be quite effective in controlling blood pressure in these patients. Newer therapies, both pharmacologic and interventional procedures, are under study and may hold promise in the future treatment of resistant hypertension. This review highlights recent research on disease epidemiology and prognosis, and it describes the current body of literature on the treatment of this increasingly common condition.
Body Image Coping Strategies among University Students and Variations in Terms of Gender in a Developing Country

Abstract The transition to adolescence is accompanied by rapid, unexpected and novel experiences in social, cognitive, physical, emotional and psychological domains. The issue of body image and perceptions of fatness and slenderness have also become central to western culture and values. The current study examines cognitive and behavioural body image coping strategies among university students, and variations in terms of gender. A quantitative research approach was used to collect data from a sample of 639 undergraduate and post graduate students from a university. The Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI) was used to measure coping strategies. The findings indicated that for university students, both genders rely on appearance fixing and positive rational acceptance as their coping strategy, whereas female students rely to a greater extent than male students on these two coping strategies. Perception of body image can influence students’ body image and students should be aware of how day-to-day events and situations can activate thoughts, interpretations and conclusions that often trigger positive or negative cognitive and behavioural reactions to their body image experiences and ensuing coping strategies and behaviours.
Fibroblast PER2 Circadian Rhythmicity Depends on Cell Density

Like neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master circadian pacemaker in the brain, single fibroblasts can function as independent oscillators. In the SCN, synaptic and paracrine signaling among cells creates a robust, synchronized circadian oscillation, whereas there is no evidence for such integration in fibroblast cultures. However, interactions among single-cell fibroblast oscillators cannot be completely excluded, because fibroblasts were not isolated in previous work. In this study, we tested the autonomy of fibroblasts as single-cell circadian oscillators in high- and low-density culture, by single-cell imaging of cells from PER2::LUC circadian reporter mice. We found greatly reduced PER2::LUC rhythmicity in low-density cultures, which could result from lack of either constitutive or rhythmic paracrine signals from neighboring fibroblasts. To discriminate between these 2 possibilities, we mixed PER2::LUC wild-type (WT) cells with nonluminescent, nonrhythmic Bmal1–/– cells, so that density of rhythmic cells was low but overall cell density remained high. In this condition, WT cells showed clear rhythmicity similar to high-density cultures. We also mixed PER2::LUC WT cells with nonluminescent, long period Cry2–/– cells. In this condition, WT cells showed a period no different from cells cultured with rhythmic WT cells or nonrhythmic Bmal1–/– cells. In previous work, we found that low K+ suppresses fibroblast rhythmicity, and we and others have found that either low K+ or low Ca2+ suppresses SCN rhythmicity. Therefore, we attempted to rescue rhythmicity of low-density fibroblasts with high K+ (21 mM), high Ca2+ (3.6 mM), or conditioned medium. Conditioned medium from high-density fibroblast cultures rescued rhythmicity of low-density cultures, whereas high K+ or Ca2+ medium did not consistently rescue rhythmicity. These data suggest that fibroblasts require paracrine signals from adjacent cells for normal expression of rhythmicity, but that these signals do not have to be rhythmic, and that rhythmic signals from other cells do not affect the intrinsic periods of fibroblasts.
Differences between young and older women in maximal force, force fluctuations, and surface emg during isometric knee extension and elbow flexion

The loss of muscle strength with aging appears to be greater in the lower than upper limbs, but strength and its neural control have never been compared in the same population of individuals in both upper and lower limbs. The aim of this study was to investigate differences between eight young (20–31 years) and eight older (68–76 years) healthy women in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), force fluctuations, median frequency (MDF) of the surface electromyogram (sEMG), and muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) during sustained isometric elbow flexion (EF) and knee extension (KE), performed at moderate to high force intensity. Older women showed larger fluctuations of force with endurance and changes in sEMG pointing to less fatigue, especially at high level of force, with no differences between upper and lower extremities. This may have significant implications in the design of rehabilitation programs directed to this population. Muscle Nerve, 2004
Is waist-to-hip ratio a better marker of cardiovascular risk than body mass index?

Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, et al. Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27 000 participants from 52 countries: a case–control study. Lancet 2005;366(9497):1640-9. Background: It has been unclear which measure of obesity — body mass index (BMI), waist or hip circumference, or waist
Incorporating Dwell Time in Session-Based Recommendations with Recurrent Neural Networks

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) is a frequently used technique for sequence data predictions. Recently, it gains popularity in the Recommender Systems domain, especially for session-based recommendations where naturally, each session is defined as a sequence of clicks, and timestamped data per click is available. In our research, in its early stages, we explore the value of incorporating dwell time into existing RNN framework for sessionbased recommendations by boosting items above the predefined dwell time threshold. We show improvement in recall@20 and MRR@20 by evaluating the proposed approach on e-commerce RecSys’15 challenge dataset.
Diagnostic disclosure: a tale in two cultures

SYNOPSIS Diagnostic communication between doctors and patients is thought to differ radically between Japan and Western countries. To understand diagnostic disclosure to psychiatric patients, a questionnaire with six case vignettes was sent to practising psychiatrists in Japan (N = 166) and North America (N = 112). While over 90% of both groups would inform patients with affective and anxiety disorders of their diagnoses, only 70% of North Americans and less than 30% of Japanese would similarly inform patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorders. The Japanese preferred alternative was to give a vague alternative diagnosis such as neurasthenia. North Americans would discuss differential diagnoses with the patient instead. Nearly all in both groups would inform the family, but North Americans would do so only with patient consent. For disorders for which there are effective treatments, diagnostic disclosure is common to both cultures; when prognosis is uncertain or the diagnosis is feared, as in schizophrenia, culturally constructed views of patienthood govern disclosure practice.
Calcium salicylate‐mediated apoptosis in human HT‐1080 fibrosarcoma cells

Abstract. Salicylates are novel biologically active compounds that exhibit multiple therapeutic activities. The anti‐cancer effectiveness of calcium salicylate has been investigated on human HT‐1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines at relatively low concentrations (predominantly 0.4 mm) compared to those previously reported. Although low calcium salicylate concentrations did not retard tumour growth progression significantly, as measured by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and time‐lapse assays, its cytotoxic characteristics were proven to be prominent by various morphological and immunocytological techniques. The results here demonstrate evidence for approximately 25% apoptosis after treatment with calcium salicylate, which up‐regulatd the expression of p53, p21 and Bax, and down‐regulated Bcl‐2 in HT‐1080 cells.
Whole-body-averaged SAR from 50 MHz to 4 GHz in the University of Florida child voxel phantoms

The University of Florida (UF) Series B paediatric phantoms were developed for medical and radiation protection photon dosimetry. The series includes a 9 month male, a 4 year female, an 8 year female, an 11 year male and a 14 year male. In this paper they have been adapted to calculate the whole-body-averaged specific energy absorption rate (SAR) in children for plane wave exposure from 50 MHz to 4 GHz. The consideration of children is important in the application of the ICNIRP public exposure reference levels above ∼1 GHz. The uniformly scaled models of NORMAN and NAOMI suggest that the ICNIRP reference level does not provide a conservative estimate of the whole-body-averaged SAR restriction for 5 year and 1 year old models. Comparison is made with the previous linearly scaled versions of NORMAN and NAOMI for calculations at 2 mm resolution. Further FDTD calculations were performed at resolutions of 1 and 0.7 mm above 900 MHz to elucidate the effects of grid resolution on SAR. A comparison is made between the calculated external electric fields required to produce the basic restriction on the whole-body-averaged SAR and the ICNIRP reference levels for public exposure.