Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The uptake of a variety of amino acids into nuclear proteins of tumors and other tissues.

In a recent report, (2) it was noted tha t Llysine-U-C 14 was incorporated to a greater extent into the nuclear proteins of t ransplantable ra t tumors than into the nuclear proteins of a variety of other tissues. The greater incorporation of the labeled lysine into the histones of the tumor was evidenced by (a) the high specific act ivi ty (S.A.) of the histones, as compared either with the specific activities of other proteins in the tumor or with the specific activities of histones of other tissues and (b) the higher percentage of the total isotope in the histones of the tumor than in histones of other tissues. As a result of these initial findings, two avenues of research have been pursued in this laboratory in recent months. In the first of these, which forms the subject mat te r of the present report, the findings obtained with lysine have been amplified and modified through the s tudy of the incorporation of seventeen radioactive amino acids into proteins of various fractions of the cells of liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, and Walker tumor. The tissues studied were selected because of the high specific act ivi ty of their proteins following the injection of L-lysine-U-C 14 (~). In the second approach, the histones of these tissues have been subjected to chromatographic separation as well as separation by differential precipitation (4). In the present series of experiments, 10 gc. of a given amino acid were injected into a tumorbearing rat, and 60 minutes later the tissues indicated above were excised and fractionated as indicated previously (~). I t was found tha t there was marked variat ion in the uptake and the distribution of the different amino acids. The relative
Neonatal Morbidity and Maternal Complication Rates in Women With a Delivery Body Mass Index of 60 or Higher.

OBJECTIVE To investigate neonatal morbidity and maternal complication rates with delivery body mass index (BMI) 60 or greater. METHODS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included singleton pregnancies between 23 and 42 weeks of gestation from January 2005 to April 2016. Women with BMI 60 or greater were compared with a random sample of women with BMI 30-59. The primary outcome, composite neonatal morbidity, was defined as 5-minute Apgar score less than 7, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, hospital stay greater than 5 days, neonatal intensive care unit admission, or neonatal death. Secondary outcomes included maternal labor and delivery characteristics and complication rates. Kruskal-Wallis tests and χ or Fisher exact tests were used to compare BMI categories. Multivariable logistic regression was used for adjusted analysis. RESULTS The study included 338 women, with 39 in the BMI 60 or greater group. An association between obesity and neonatal morbidity was found. Increasing BMI correlated with increasing neonatal morbidity, with the highest rates among those with BMI 60 or greater (BMI 30-39 [17%], 40-49 [19%], 50-59 [22%], 60 or greater [56%]; P<.001). After adjustment for confounders, obese women with BMI less than 60 had at least a 75% reduction in odds of neonatal morbidity compared with women with BMI 60 or greater (BMI 30-39 adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.22 [0.1-0.5], 40-49 adjusted OR 0.23 [0.1-0.6], 50-59 adjusted OR 0.25 [0.1-0.6]). Maternal complication rates including labor induction, cesarean delivery, wound complication, postpartum hemorrhage, and hospital stay greater than 5 days were also significantly increased with BMI 60 or greater. CONCLUSION A BMI 60 or greater at the time of delivery is significantly associated with increased neonatal morbidity and increased maternal complication rates. In addition, neonatal morbidity and maternal complication rates with BMI 60 or greater were significantly higher when compared with women in any lesser obese BMI cohort between 30 and 59.
A pilot study of the effects of a social-pragmatic intervention on the communication and symbolic play of children with autism

The acquisition of social communication skills is a major challenge faced by children with autism. This pilot study investigated the effects of the Stronger Families Project, a social-pragmatic intervention, on the communication and symbolic abilities of 16 children aged 2–4 years with autism. Standardized measures of the child's communication and symbolic behaviour were conducted by independent observers at a university clinic pre and post-intervention, and parents were interviewed to determine the impact of variables such as maternal stress and competence on the child's social communication. Changes in some communication and symbolic behaviours occurred following the Stronger Families Project intervention according to parent report. However, improvements based on ratings by independent observers were not significant. Results are discussed in relation to the assessment of changes in the social communication and symbolic play of children with autism following intervention using clinical observation and parent report.
Fitness costs of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella

Genetic changes in insects that result in insecticide resistance can also affect their fitness. Here, we report measurements of development time and survival of the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), to compare the relative fitness of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)‐susceptible and ‐resistant colonies. Measurements of larval development time and survival indicated that a fitness cost was associated with resistance to Bt in some Bt‐resistant colonies but not others. Comparisons of geographically different populations revealed inherent differences in development time and survival. In most cases, Bt‐resistant moths suffered no disadvantage when feeding on a Bt‐treated diet. In many cases, the development of Bt‐resistant moths on Bt‐treated diet was slower than the unselected moths on untreated diet, but it is unclear whether these differences would affect the successful mating of susceptible and resistant moths.
Discarded Consensus of Network of Agents With State Constraint

This note investigates the consensus problem of network of agents with state constraint, while few researchers consider such problem. A simple distributed algorithm named discarded consensus algorithm is presented for weighted directed network of agents. The proposed method ensures the network reaching a consensus while keeping the state estimate of each agent within its own constraint if the digraph is strongly connected. Both network of agents described as discrete-time system and as continuous-time system with fixed/switching communication topologies are investigated in this note. The convergence of the algorithms presented is analyzed theoretically and numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretic results.
Low degree of regionalization and high transfusion rates in very low birthweight infants: A survey in Germany

Although anemia is common in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants, widely accepted guidelines for red blood cell transfusions are lacking. Questionnaires regarding transfusion policy in VLBW infants in 1994 were sent to 391 German pediatric departments. 208 questionnaires were returned. 51 departments reported not to admit VLBW infants. Thus, results are based on 157 completed questionnaires. 54% of the respondents admitted less than 30 VLBW infants per year and 52% of the VLBW infants were admitted to departments with less than 50 VLBW infants per year. Overall transfusion rate ranged from 0 to 100% (median 65%). This range narrowed with the departments' size indicating stricter guidelines with less variation. Indication for transfusion varied considerably depending on the infants' postnatal age and need for ventilatory support. 34% of the respondents applied directed transfusions, most frequently from the infant's father. 70% used satellite packs. 51% stored the packs up to 7 days, 10% longer than 14 days. Red cells were irradiated in 35%, and washed in 23% of the departments. Median single transfusion volume was 12 ml/kg. We conclude that regionalization of VLBW infants in Germany is far from completeness and that hospital policies for transfusion show large variety especially in small departments.
Effects of Early Cerebral Malaria on Cognitive Ability in Senegalese Children

ABSTRACT. Twenty-nine Senegalese children with a history of cerebral malaria (CM) performed more poorly on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) Simultaneous Processing domain and on the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) attention capacity indicators in comparison with a matched control group. Thus, CM can disrupt neuropsychological integration during critical developmental periods, impacting on global neurological integrity, attentional vigilance, perceptual acuity, and subsequent development of visual-spatial processing and memory foundational to global cognitive ability. A subsequent structural equation model confirmed that rural children are at greater risk for CM, subsequent attention deficits, and other developmental risk factors in addition to the CM impact on K-ABC performance. We document CM as one of a host of developmental risk factors within the complex web of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, which limit children’s ability to achieve their full intellectual potential and, thus, extend the human cost of the disease beyond general measures of mortality and morbidity.
Assessment of brachial artery reactivity, carotid intima-media thickness, and adhesion molecules in pediatric solid tumor patients treated with anthracyclines

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial functional disturbance with measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), brachial artery reactivity (BAR), and levels of serum adhesion molecules in children with solid tumors who were treated with anthracyclines and are actually in complete remission. Fifty patients who were in remission and 30 healthy children were included in the study. Mean ages of patient and control groups were 13.5 ± 4.7 years (range: 3–23 years) and 12.00 ± 4.3 years (range: 4–21 years), respectively. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to cumulative doxorubicin dose: Group 1, ≤100 mg/m2; Group 2, 101–299 mg/m2; Group 3, ≥300 mg/m2. The BAR and carotid IMT were measured in order to determine the endothelial function. The serum adhesion molecule levels in our patients and controls were also measured. The BAR of the patients with cumulative anthracycline dose ≥300 mg/m2 was significantly lower than the patients with cumulative anthracycline dose ≤100 mg/m2 and healthy controls (P =.005 and P =.003, respectively). Also, there was a negative correlation between brachial artery reactivity and increasing cumulative anthracycline dose (r = −.287, P =.044). We also found significant difference between the mean carotid IMT of the patients and the healthy children (P =.041). No statistically significant difference was detected between the serum levels of sICAM-1 (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1), sVCAM-1 (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1), sE-selectin of the patients and controls. The use of anthracyclines in pediatric patients with cancer could result in increase of the carotid IMT and endothelial dysfunction.
Lower bounds on geometric Ramsey functions

We continue a sequence of recent works studying Ramsey functions for semialgebraic predicates in Rd. A k-ary semialgebraic predicate Φ(x1, …, xk) on Rd is a Boolean combination of polynomial equations and inequalities in the kd coordinates of k points x1, …, xk ∈ Rd. A sequence P = (p1, …, pn) of points in Rd is called Φ-homogeneous if either Φ(pi1, …,pik) holds for all choices 1 ≤ i1 < … < ik ≤ n, or it holds for no such choice. The Ramsey function RΦ (n) is the smallest N such that every point sequence of length N contains a Φ-homogeneous subsequence of length n. Conlon, Fox, Pach, Sudakov, and Suk constructed the first examples of semialgebraic predicates with the Ramsey function bounded from below by a tower function of arbitrary height: for every k ≥ 4, they exhibit a k-ary Φ in dimension 2k−4 with RΦ bounded below by a tower of height k − 1. We reduce the dimension in their construction, obtaining a k-ary semialgebraic predicate Φ on Rk−3 with RΦ bounded below by a tower of height k − 1. We also provide a natural geometric Ramsey-type theorem with a large Ramsey function. We call a point sequence P in Rd order-type homogeneous if all (d + 1)-tuples in P have the same orientation. Every sufficiently long point sequence in general position in Rd contains an order-type homogeneous subsequence of length n, and the corresponding Ramsey function has recently been studied in several papers. Together with a recent work of Bárány, Matoušek, and Pór, our results imply a tower function of Ω(n) of height d as a lower bound, matching an upper bound by Suk up to the constant in front of n.
In vitro fatigue and fracture resistance of one- and two-piece CAD/CAM zirconia implant abutments.

PURPOSE All-ceramic abutments are employed increasingly often in implant dentistry for esthetic reasons. In vitro stress testing is required to evaluate the suitability of these constructions, especially in load-bearing posterior regions. The purpose of the study was to assess and compare the fatigue and fracture resistance of one- and two-piece computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacture (CAD/CAM) zirconia implant abutments with an internal-hex connection and prefabricated commercially available zirconia stock abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one abutment-crown specimens were prepared for three test groups. Control group 1 (SZ) included specimens with unprepared stock zirconia abutments, test group 2 (OP) included one-piece CAD/CAM zirconia abutments, and test group 3 (TP) included two-piece CAD/CAM zirconia abutments. All 21 specimens underwent thermocycling and fatigue testing. Finally, all specimens were tested for fracture resistance with a universal testing machine. The maximum load was applied to the tapered occlusal area of each crown at a 30-degree angle and a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min until the implant-abutment connection failed. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, and post-hoc Scheffé tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS All abutments in groups SZ and OP fractured into two or more pieces after fracture resistance testing. None of the TP abutments displayed apparent disintegration, but failure was evidenced by bending of the retention screw. OP abutments (232.1 ± 29.8 N) and SZ abutments (251.8 ± 23.2 N) showed lower fracture loads than the TP abutments (291.4 ± 27.8 N). However, only the difference between the OP and TP groups was statistically significant. Further load-displacement analyses corroborated the higher mechanical stability of the TP abutments. CONCLUSION Superior resistance was achieved for two-piece hybrid CAD/CAM zirconia abutments. These abutments might be clinically beneficial in high-load areas, such as premolar and molar regions.
Structural study of ExsA, the regulator of Type III Secretion System of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The Type III secretion system (T3SS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses a needle-like protein apparatus to detect eukaryotic host cells and translocate effectors directly into the host cell. The effectors are also known as cytotoxins, which cause disruption of a series of signaling events in the host cell, facilitating the infection by P. aeruginosa. As the T3SS is antigenic and the expression of T3SS is energy-consuming, it is highly regulated where several regulatory proteins interact with each other and control the expression of T3SS genes. Among these proteins, ExsA, the master regulator of T3SS in P. aeruginosa, is of great importance as it is a transcriptional activator that activates the expression of all T3SS genes. Also, as ExsA belongs to the AraC protein family which only exists in bacteria and fungi, it makes an excellent potential target for drugs against P. aeruginosa related infections. With a combination of molecular biology tools and structural biology methods, we solved the N-terminal domain structure of the ExsA protein in P. aeruginosa. The model of the ExsA N-terminal domain has enriched our knowledge about ExsA dimerization and can serve as the base for mapping the interaction interfaces on ExsA and ExsD. Further, we have found two homologues of ExsA by structural alignment, which share a lot of similarities and have conserved amino acid residues that are important for ligand binding. The fact that both of these two proteins are regulated by small ligands rather than proteins also raises the possibility that ExsA may have a second regulatory mechanism under which ExsA is regulated by a small ligand, which so far has not been observed or reported by researchers. In order to map the binding site of ExsA on its anti-activator ExsD, we removed the coiled-coil region (amino acid residue 138-202, the potential binding site) of ExsD, based on the
A novel Bcl-XL inhibitor Z36 that induces autophagic cell death in Hela cells

Inhibition of Bcl2 family proteins Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 represents a promising drug development strategy for cancer treatment by triggering apoptosis in cancer cells. Here we report a novel Bcl-XL inhibitor, Z36, which unexpectedly induces only autophagic cell death, but not apoptosis. This special property distinguishes Z36 from other previously reported Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 inhibitors that induce cancer cell death mainly through apoptosis, and makes Z36 an attractive molecular tool for studying the cellular regulation of autophagic cell death and apoptosis.
Steroids and gunshot wounds to the spine.

OBJECTIVE The second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study demonstrated that there were neurological benefits from "spinal cord injury" doses of methylprednisolone for blunt spinal cord injuries. In this review, we examined the relative risk/benefit ratio of intravenously treating spinal gunshot wound victims with steroids. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of 254 consecutive patients who were treated between 1979 and 1994 for gunshot wounds to the spine (C1-L1) and a spinal cord injury. Three subgroups were established based on the administration of the steroids methylprednisolone (National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study 2 protocol), dexamethasone (initial dose, 10-100 mg), and no steroids. All patients who received steroids were initially treated at another hospital and then transferred. No patients received steroids at our institution. The data analyzed included neurological outcome and infectious and noninfectious complications. RESULTS No statistically significant neurological benefits were demonstrable from the use of steroids (methylprednisolone, dexamethasone). Infectious complications were increased in both groups receiving steroids (not statistically significant). Gastrointestinal complications were significantly increased in the dexamethasone group (P = 0.021), and pancreatitis was significantly increased in the methylprednisolone group (P = 0.040). The mean duration of follow-up was 56.3 months. CONCLUSION In this retrospective, nonrandomized review, no neurological benefits were detectable from intravenously administered steroids after a gunshot wound to the spine. Both infectious and noninfectious complication rates were higher in the groups receiving steroids. Patients who sustain a spinal cord injury secondary to a gunshot wound to the spine should not be treated with steroids until the efficacy of such treatment is proven in a controlled study.
Frequent Intrapatient Recombination between Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 R5 and X4 Envelopes: Implications for Coreceptor Switch

ABSTRACT Emergence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) populations that switch or broaden coreceptor usage from CCR5 to CXCR4 is intimately coupled to CD4+ cell depletion and disease progression toward AIDS. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the coreceptor switch, we determined the nucleotide sequences of 253 V1 to V3 env clones from 27 sequential HIV-1 subtype B isolates from four patients with virus populations that switch coreceptor usage. Coreceptor usage of clones from dualtropic R5X4 isolates was characterized experimentally. Sequence analysis revealed that 9% of the clones from CXCR4-using isolates had originated by recombination events between R5 and X4 viruses. The majority (73%) of the recombinants used CXCR4. Furthermore, coreceptor usage of the recombinants was determined by a small region of the envelope, including V3. This is the first report demonstrating that intrapatient recombination between viruses with distinct coreceptor usage occurs frequently. It has been proposed that X4 viruses are more easily suppressed by the immune system than R5 viruses. We hypothesize that recombination between circulating R5 viruses and X4 viruses can result in chimeric viruses with the potential to both evade the immune system and infect CXCR4-expressing cells. The broadening in cell tropism of the viral population to include CXCR4-expressing cells would gradually impair the immune system and eventually allow the X4 population to expand. In conclusion, intrapatient recombination between viruses with distinct coreceptor usage may contribute to the emergence of X4 viruses in later stages of infection.
Alpha‐lipoic acid and N‐acetylcysteine protects intensive swimming exercise‐mediated germ‐cell depletion, pro‐oxidant generation, and alteration of steroidogenesis in rat testis

Prolonged and strenuous exercise has been proposed as a possible source of male‐factor infertility. Forced intensive swimming has also been identified as one source of a dysfunctional male reproduction system. The present study evaluated the possible protective role of α‐lipoic acid and N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) on intensive swimming‐induced germ‐cell depletion in adult male rats. Forced exhaustive swimming of 1 hr/day, 6 days/week for 8 consecutive weeks resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in epididymal sperm; testicular androgenic enzyme activities; and plasma and intra‐testicular testosterone; and produced different types of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium cycle. Conversely, plasma corticosterone levels and sperm‐head abnormalities increased. Western‐blot analysis showed a considerable decrease in testicular StAR protein expression whereas reverse‐transcriptase PCR analysis showed no significant change in cytochrome P450scc (Cyp11a1) gene expression. Significant (P < 0.05) elevation in testicular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content versus reduction in glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S‐transferase, and caspase‐3 activities along with a depletion in the glutathione pool, mitochondrial membrane potential (▵ψm), and intracellular ATP generation. A considerable level of DNA damage in testicular spermatogenic cells were also noted following forced extensive swimming. Alpha‐lipoic acid and NAC supplementation prevented the swimming‐induced testicular spermatogenic and steroidogenic disorders by lowering ROS generation. We therefore conclude that intensive forced swimming causes germ‐cell depletion through the generation of ROS and depletion of steroidogenesis in the testis, which can be protected by the co‐administration of α‐lipoic acid and NAC. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 833–850, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.