Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversity and composition of rhizospheric soil and root endogenous bacteria in Panax notoginseng during continuous cropping practices

Rhizobacteria and endophytic bacteria play important roles in protecting host plants from infection by phytopathogens, which cause soil‐borne diseases and severely impair plant health. Panax notoginseng is negatively affected by continuous cropping and becomes vulnerable to attack by microbial pathogens. In the present study, culture‐independent Illumina MiSeq was used to investigate root‐endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria in response to continuous cropping of P. notoginseng. Numbers of rhizospheric bacteria decreased with continuous P. notoginseng cropping, while the effects of continuous cropping on endophytic bacteria were not statistically significant. Bacterial diversity was higher in healthy P. notoginseng rhizospheric soils and roots than in those of diseased P. notoginseng. The most dominant phyla detected during continuous cropping were Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. The genera Pseudomonas, Rhodoplanes, Candidatus Solibacter, and Streptomyces were dominant in P. notoginseng rhizospheric soils and roots. Erwinia, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Sphingobium were specifically detected in relatively high proportions among root‐rot rhizospheric bacteria and endogenous root bacteria in plants under continuous cropping, suggesting that they may be the pathogens responsible for the negative effects of continuous cropping on P. notoginseng. Based on canonical correspondence analysis of the bacterial communities that were identified from healthy plants and fallow soils, total phosphorus (P), pH, and organic soil matter exerted the greatest impacts upon bacterial community composition during continuous cropping. In general, continuous cropping practices for P. notoginseng and severe root‐rot disease notably affected the community structure and the diversity of rhizospheric and root endophytic bacteria. Our study elucidated the ecological significance of microbial communities in healthy plant maintenance, and our results may inform biological control strategies during the continuous cropping of P. notoginseng.
Lasting Antibody Responses Are Mediated by a Combination of Newly Formed and Established Bone Marrow Plasma Cells Drawn from Clonally Distinct Precursors

Current models hold that serum Ab titers are maintained chiefly by long-lived bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PCs). In this study, we characterize the role of subpopulations of BM PCs in long-term humoral responses to T cell–dependent Ag. Surprisingly, our results indicate that 40–50% of BM PCs are recently formed cells, defined, in part, by rapid steady-state turnover kinetics and secretion of low-affinity IgM Abs. Further, for months after immunization with a hapten–protein conjugate, newly formed Ag-induced, IgM-secreting BM PCs were detected in parallel with longer-lived IgG-secreting cells, suggesting ongoing and parallel input to the BM PC pool from two distinct pools of activated B cells. Consistent with this interpretation, IgM and IgG Abs secreted by cells within distinct PC subsets exhibited distinct L chain usage. We conclude that long-term Ab responses are maintained by a dynamic BM PC pool composed of both recently formed and long-lived PCs drawn from clonally disparate precursors.
Transforming growth factor β recruits persistent MAPK signaling to regulate long-term memory consolidation in Aplysia californica

In this study, we explore the mechanistic relationship between growth factor signaling and kinase activity that supports the protein synthesis-dependent phase of long-term memory (LTM) consolidation for sensitization of Aplysia. Specifically, we examine LTM for tail shock-induced sensitization of the tail-elicited siphon withdrawal (T-SW) reflex, a form of memory that requires both (i) extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2; MAPK) activity within identified sensory neurons (SNs) that mediate the T-SW and (ii) the activation of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling. We now report that repeated tail shocks that induce intermediate-term (ITM) and LTM for sensitization, also induce a sustained post-training phase of MAPK activity in SNs (lasting at least 1 h). We identified two mechanistically distinct phases of post-training MAPK: (i) an immediate phase that does not require ongoing protein synthesis or TGFβ signaling, and (ii) a sustained phase that requires both protein synthesis and extracellular TGFβ signaling. We find that LTM consolidation requires sustained MAPK, and is disrupted by inhibitors of protein synthesis and TGFβ signaling during the consolidation window. These results provide strong evidence that TGFβ signaling sustains MAPK activity as an essential mechanistic step for LTM consolidation.
Light and scanning electron microscopic study on the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores of the Cape hyrax Procavia capensis

We examined the epithelial surface and connective tissue cores (CTCs) of each lingual papilla on the Paenungulata, Cape hyrax (Procavia capensis), by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. The tongue consisted of a lingual apex, lingual body and lingual root. Filiform, fungiform and foliate papillae were observed on the dorsal surface of the tongue; however, fungiform papillae were quite diminished on the lingual prominence. Moreover, no clearly distinguishable vallate papillae were found on the tongue. Instead of vallate papillae, numerous dome‐like large fungiform papillae were arranged in a row just in front of the rather large foliate papillae. Foliate papillae were situated in the one‐third postero‐lateral margin of the lingual body. The epithelium of filiform papillae was covered by a keratinized layer with kerato‐hyaline granules, whereas weak keratinization was observed on the interpapillary epithelium. The external surface of the filiform papillae was conical in shape. CTCs of the filiform papillae were seen as a hood‐like core with a semicircular concavity in the anterior portion of each core. Large filiform papillae were distributed on the lingual prominence. The CTCs of large filiform papillae after exfoliation of their epithelium consisted of a concave primary core and were associated with several small protrusions. The surface of fungiform papillae was smooth and dome‐like. After removal of the epithelium, CTCs appeared as a flower bud‐like primary core and were associated with several protrusions that were arranged on the rim of the primary core. Several taste buds were found on the top of the dorsal part of the epithelium of both fungiform and large fungiform papillae. Well‐developed foliate papillae were seen and numerous taste buds could be observed in the lateral wall of the epithelium in a slit‐like groove. The morphological characteristics of the tongue of the Cape hyrax had similarities with other Paenungulata such as Sirenia. However, three‐dimensional characteristics, especially CTCs of lingual papillae, exhibited multiple similarities with rodents, insectivores and artiodactyls.
Glycolipid depletion in antimicrobial therapy

Mucosal pathogens target sites of infection through specific adherence to host glycoconjugate receptors. As a consequence, depletion of such receptors from the cell surface may be expected to inhibit attachment, impair bacterial colonization and reduce the activation of mucosal inflammation. We have used the glucose analogue and glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthesis inhibitor N‐butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB‐DNJ) to deplete human uroepithelial cells and the murine urinary tract mucosa of receptors for P‐fimbriated Escherichia coli. NB‐DNJ blocks the ceramide‐specific glucosyltransferase, which catalyses the formation of glucosyl ceramide (GlcCer), the precursor for GSLs. The inhibitor was shown to decrease the GSL content in a dose‐dependent way, and depletion markedly inhibited P‐fimbriated bacterial attachment in vitro. NB‐DNJ‐fed C3H/HeN mice were depleted of GSLs in vivo and showed reduced susceptibility to experimental urinary tract infection with P‐fimbriated E. coli. The mucosal inflammatory response was impaired, as shown by reduced chemokine secretion and lower neutrophil recruitment, and the bacteria colonized the urinary tract less efficiently than in normal mice. These results confirmed the role of P fimbriae‐mediated adherence for colonization and inflammation and point to an interesting alternative to antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infection.
Anterior excision and vertebral body fusion operation for intervertebral disk syndromes of the lower lumbar spine: three-to five-year results in 244 cases.

Fig. 10 Halftone drawings, demonstrating a transvertebral grafting procedure on the anterior aspect of the lumbosacral joint. The lower right-hand figure shows insertion of full -thickness iliac graft, ‘‘coin’’ type. Two such grafts per level are preferred. If the most superficial (ventral) graft cannot be countersunk to more than one-eighth inch below the vertebral margin, screw fixation, oblique at a 45-degree angle through graft and into sacral body is recommended. (Reprinted with permission and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, from Harmon, PH. Anterior excision and vertebral body fusion operation for intervertebral disk syndromes of the lower lumbar spine: three to five year results in 244 cases. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1963;26:107–127.) Fig. 11 An alternative technique of preparation of graft bed and insertion of 2 rectangular grafts illustrated for the L-4 level: (A) incision in the anterior ligament; (B) preparation of graft bed; (C) completed grafting procedure. (Reprinted with permission and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, from Harmon, PH. Anterior excision and vertebral body fusion operation for intervertebral disk syndromes of the lower lumbar spine: three to five year results in 244 cases. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1963;26:107–127.) Published online: 31 March 2012 The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons1 2012
Original research article Evaluation of a volunteer community-based health worker program for providing contraceptive services in Madagascar ☆

Background: Madagascar recently scaled up their volunteer community health worker (CHW) program in maternal health and family planning to reach remote and underserved communities. Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional evaluation using a systematic sample of 100 CHWs trained to provide contraceptive counseling and short-acting contraceptive services at the community level. CHWs were interviewed on demographics, recruitment, training, supervision, commodity supply, and other measures of program functionality; tested on knowledge of injectable contraception; and observed by an expert while completing five simulated client encounters with uninstructed volunteers. We developed a CHW performance score (0– 100%) based on the number of counseling activities adequately met during the client encounters and used multivariable linear regression to identify correlates of the score. Results: CHWs had a mean performance score of 73.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 70.3–77.6%). More education, more weekly volunteer hours, and receiving a refresher training correlated with a higher performance score. We found no other associations between measures of the components previously identified as essential for effective CHW programs and performance score. Conclusions: Although areas of deficiency were identified, CHWs proved capable of providing high-quality contraception services. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells Express CD38 in Response to Th1 Cell–Derived IFN-γ by a T-bet–Dependent Mechanism

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B cell malignancy associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. Similarly, expression of CD38 on CLL cells correlates with CLL cell survival and proliferation, but the mechanisms that regulate CD38 expression and inflammatory cytokines remain unclear. We have recently demonstrated that patients have CLL-specific Th cells that support CLL proliferation. In this article, we show that CLL cells attract such Th cells, thereby establishing an Ag-dependent collaboration. Blocking experiments performed in vitro as wells as in vivo, using a xenograft model, revealed that secretion of IFN-γ was a major mechanism by which CLL-specific Th cells increased CD38 on CLL cells. The expression of the transcription factor T-bet in peripheral blood CLL cells significantly correlated with CD38 expression, and transient transfection of CLL cells with T-bet resulted in T-bethiCD38hi cells. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that T-bet can bind to regulatory regions of the CD38 gene. These data suggest that CLL cells attract CLL-specific Th cells and initiate a positive feedback loop with upregulation of T-bet, CD38, and type 1 chemokines allowing further recruitment of Th cells and increased type 1 cytokine secretion. This insight provides a cellular and molecular mechanism that links the inflammatory signature observed in CLL pathogenesis with CD38 expression and aggressive disease and suggests that targeting the IFN-γ/IFN-γR/JAK/STAT/T-bet/CD38 pathway could play a role in the therapy of CLL.
Monotonic Optimization in Communication and Networking Systems

Optimization has been widely used in recent design of communication and networking systems. One major hurdle in this endeavor lies in the nonconvexity of many optimization problems that arise from practical systems. To address this issue, we observe that most nonconvex problems encountered in communication and networking systems exhibit monotonicity or hidden monotonicity structures. A systematic use of the monotonicity properties would substantially alleviate the difficulty in obtaining the global optimal solutions of the problems. This monograph provides a succinct and accessible introduction to monotonic optimization, including the formulation skills and solution algorithms. Through several application examples, we will illustrate modeling techniques and algorithm details of monotonic optimization in various scenarios. With this promising technique, many previously difficult problems can now be solved with great efficiency. With this monograph, we wish to spur new research activities in broadening the scope of application of monotonic optimization in communication and networking systems.
Duckneglect: video-games based neglect rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND Video-games are becoming a common tool to guide patients through rehabilitation because of their power of motivating and engaging their users. Video-games may also be integrated into an infrastructure that allows patients, discharged from the hospital, to continue intensive rehabilitation at home under remote monitoring by the hospital itself, as suggested by the recently funded Rewire project. OBJECTIVE Goal of this work is to describe a novel low cost platform, based on video-games, targeted to neglect rehabilitation. METHODS The patient is guided to explore his neglected hemispace by a set of specifically designed games that ask him to reach targets, with an increasing level of difficulties. Visual and auditory cues helped the patient in the task and are progressively removed. A controlled randomization of scenarios, targets and distractors, a balanced reward system and music played in the background, all contribute to make rehabilitation more attractive, thus enabling intensive prolonged treatment. RESULTS Results from our first patient, who underwent rehabilitation for half an hour, for five days a week for one month, showed on one side a very positive attitude of the patient towards the platform for the whole period, on the other side a significant improvement was obtained. Importantly, this amelioration was confirmed at a follow up evaluation five months after the last rehabilitation session and generalized to everyday life activities. CONCLUSIONS Such a system could well be integrated into a home based rehabilitation system.
An outbreak of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in northern Québec.

An ongoing screening program for toxoplasmosis identified a cluster of four women from northern Québec who, over a 4-month period, seroconverted during their pregnancy. An epidemiologic investigation was carried out in an attempt to identify the source of this infection. All potential risk factors were assessed by a questionnaire administered to 22 Inuit women who had delivered babies in the previous year. Seroconversion was significantly associated with skinning of animals for fur (P = .015) and frequent consumption of caribou meat (P = .034). Compared to seronegative women, women who were seropositive were more than four times more likely to have eaten dried seal meat (P = .067), more than six times more likely to have eaten seal liver (P = .064), and more than eight times more likely to have consumed raw caribou meat more than once per week (P = .054). These observations have contributed to the development of guidelines for the prevention of toxoplasmosis in seronegative pregnant women in this arctic region.
A Retrospective Cohort Study on the Influence of Comorbidity on Soft Tissue Reactions, Revision Surgery, and Implant Loss in Bone-anchored Hearing Implants

Objective To identify risk factors for complications after bone-anchored hearing implant (BAHI) surgery. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients All adult patients who received titanium bone-anchored hearing implants at our clinic between September 1, 1988 and December 31, 2007 were approached to fill out a questionnaire on comorbidity factors. A total of 581 patients with 669 implants were included in the analysis. Main Outcome Measures Implant loss, soft tissue reactions, and revision surgery after BAHI implantation. Results Skin disease and profound learning difficulties were risk factors for time to first soft tissue reaction, hazard rate ratio of 3.41 (95% CI 1.45–8.01) and 3.42 (1.03–11.39), respectively. Female gender showed a trend toward a negative risk for time to first soft tissue reaction, hazard rate ratio 0.60 (0.35–1.03). In multivariable analysis, skin disease and female gender were observed as independent associative factors, adjusted hazard ratio 3.08 (1.32–7.16) and 0.56 (0.33–0.94). For revision surgery, female gender and cardiovascular disease were identified as negative risk factors in univariable analysis, and smoking showed a trend toward a negative risk, with hazard ratios of 0.15 (0.07–0.32), 0.07 (0.03–0.20), and 0.51 (0.24–1.07), respectively. In multivariable analysis, smoking and female gender were observed as independent associative factors, adjusted hazard ratio 0.45 (0.22–0.95) and 0.14 (0.06–0.30). Smoking could be identified as a risk factor for implant loss with a hazard ratio of 3.32 (1.36–8.09). Conclusion Retrospective analysis of comorbidity factors and clinical outcomes revealed risk factors for postoperative complications after BAHI surgery.
BACTERIA FROM PALEOZOIC SALT DEPOSITS

Stimulated by the bacteriological findings in the mineral springs of Bad Nauheim, which carry salts from Permian deposits, I investigated from a bacteriological point of view the Zechstein salts, obtained by means of mining and drilling. Muller and Schwartz (1953), Rippel (1945), and Strong (1956) only achieved the isolation of dead bacteria from Zechstein salts. Reiser and Tasch (1960) reported the living isolation of a diplococcus from Permian salts. We now succeeded in isolating living bacteria. Yet, thisachievement seemed rather improbable; for if we had actually extracted living bacteria from Zechstein salts, then we have to assume that we found creatures of the highest individual age ever registered. The following is a description of the isolating technique we used. In bacteriological work it is obviously very easy to get unwanted secondary infection. To be sure that this secondary effect would not spoil our results, we used extraordinary precautions. (1) We chose a small research laboratory in which an ultraviolet sterilization lamp was kept burning for four days before the experiment. (2) The two researchers entered the laboratory in sterile clothes and sterile rubber gloves after thorough disinfection of their hands and arms. ( 3 ) The table and necessary tripods were covered with sterile towels. (4) All necessary instruments, glassware, and apparatus were thoroughly sterilized. (5) The research material, ie . , the piece of salt under consideration, was suspended on thin, sterilized wire from the tripod. (6) This suspended piece of salt was then flamed for one minute with a hot bunsen flame. (7) Immediately afterwards a glass with a culture solution was brought under the piece of salt, so that it was suspended in the solution. (8) The supporting wire was then cut and the glass was closed after sterilizing the rim and the stopper also with the bunsen flame. (9) The cultivation was carried out a t a temperature of 40' C. (10) As soon as the culture began to grow, the elaboration to the pure culture proceeded in the usual bacteriological manner. To working procedure 6, I must add that the necessary time for the surface treatment of the salt with the bunsen flame was ascertained in preliminary experiments. Salt-pieces, which were brought into a fresh suspension of living Pyocyaneus-about 80,000 per ~m. ~-could be sterilized in 45 seconds. Because salt is a poor heat conductor, the temperature fell rapidly toward the center of the crystal. We heated the surface for 45 seconds. Then 3 cm. from the surface, the temperature rose only by 6.2" C. Thus, we achieved a sterility of the surface and regions close to the surface without producing sterilizing temperatures in deeper layers. Of course, the crystals must be large enough; they must have a diameter of at least 6 cm. Such specimens have a weight of about 250 to 300 gm. A crystal this large saturates about 1 liter of culture solution; a saturated solution is necessary for the cultivation of halophil and halotolerant organisms.
The effects of socio-technical enablers on knowledge sharing: an exploratory examination

Recently, the need for knowledge management has been drastically increasing so organizations may meet the high level of dynamic, complex business change and uncertainty. In particular, knowledge sharing has been recognized as a critical process through which organizational knowledge can be utilized. For successful knowledge sharing, companies need to capitalize on various socio-technical enablers. The primary objective of this paper is to provide a better understanding of how these enablers can affect knowledge sharing intention and behavior, and explore practical implications for knowledge sharing. For this purpose, the paper proposes a theoretical model to investigate these enablers from a socio-technical perspective. PLS (Partial Least Square) analysis was employed to validate the model. This field study involves 164 users. Furthermore, interviews with experts were investigated for practical implications. Our analysis reveals that social enablers such as trust and reward mechanisms are more important than technical support in isolation for facilitating knowledge sharing.