Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathogen Specific, IRF3-Dependent Signaling and Innate Resistance to Human Kidney Infection

The mucosal immune system identifies and fights invading pathogens, while allowing non-pathogenic organisms to persist. Mechanisms of pathogen/non-pathogen discrimination are poorly understood, as is the contribution of human genetic variation in disease susceptibility. We describe here a new, IRF3-dependent signaling pathway that is critical for distinguishing pathogens from normal flora at the mucosal barrier. Following uropathogenic E. coli infection, Irf3−/− mice showed a pathogen-specific increase in acute mortality, bacterial burden, abscess formation and renal damage compared to wild type mice. TLR4 signaling was initiated after ceramide release from glycosphingolipid receptors, through TRAM, CREB, Fos and Jun phosphorylation and p38 MAPK-dependent mechanisms, resulting in nuclear translocation of IRF3 and activation of IRF3/IFNβ-dependent antibacterial effector mechanisms. This TLR4/IRF3 pathway of pathogen discrimination was activated by ceramide and by P-fimbriated E. coli, which use ceramide-anchored glycosphingolipid receptors. Relevance of this pathway for human disease was supported by polymorphic IRF3 promoter sequences, differing between children with severe, symptomatic kidney infection and children who were asymptomatic bacterial carriers. IRF3 promoter activity was reduced by the disease-associated genotype, consistent with the pathology in Irf3−/− mice. Host susceptibility to common infections like UTI may thus be strongly influenced by single gene modifications affecting the innate immune response.
Acid-base transport in isolated rabbit duodenal villus and crypt cells.

BACKGROUND Duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion is an important first line of defense against gastric acid. Studies in the ileum indicate that the secretion originates from the crypt cells, whereas villus cells are mainly absorptive. Data on acid/base transporters along the crypt-villus axis in duodenal epithelia are not available. It was our purpose to identify and compare acid/base transporters in isolated mammalian duodenal villus and crypt cells. METHODS The proximal duodenum of rabbits was excised, and duodenal epithelial cells were isolated in five fractions by a modified calcium chelation technique. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured with a pH-sensitive dye and dynamic fluorescence ratio imaging. RESULTS In both villus and crypt cells incubated in Hepes buffer, removal of Na+ or addition of amiloride decreased basal pHi and pHi recovery after intracellular acidification, indicating an Na+/H+ exchanger in both cell types. In both cell types acid extrusion rates in bicarbonate-buffered Ringer's solution were significantly higher than in Hepes buffer. The bicarbonate-dependent acid extruder was unaffected by removal of Cl- or addition of amiloride but was blocked by removal of Na+, indicating the presence of a NaHCO3 cotransporter in both villus and crypt cells. Removal of external Cl induced a reversible increase in pHi (inhibited by H2DIDS) in both villus and crypt cells, indicating a Cl-/HCO3- exchanger in both. CONCLUSIONS Mammalian duodenal villus and crypt cells have identical acid-base transporters. These findings tend to negate the theory of a functional difference in acid-base transporters between duodenal villus and crypt cells and instead imply alkaline secretion by both cell fractions. However, as these experiments were performed in unpolarized, single cells, additional studies with either membrane vesicles or polarized cells are needed.
The JNK pathway as a therapeutic target for diabetes

The hallmark of Type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. Under diabetic conditions, the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is activated in various tissues, which is involved in both insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Activation of the JNK pathway interferes with insulin action and reduces insulin biosynthesis, and suppression of the JNK pathway in diabetic mice improves insulin resistance and β-cell function, leading to amelioration of glucose tolerance. Taken together, the JNK pathway is likely to play a central role in the progression of insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunc-tion and, thus, could be a potential therapeutic target for diabe-tes.
Overriding syntactic islands with prosodically marked wh-scope in South Kyŏngsang Korean and two dialects of Japanese

This article explores the effect of discourse context and prosody on the resolution of wh-scope ambiguity in Tokyo Japanese, Fukuoka Japanese, and South Kyŏngsang Korean. It focuses on wh-islands in particular. There is little consensus in the literature as to whether wh-island effects are present in Japanese or Korean (Huang 1982, Nishigauchi 1990, Lee 1982, Suh 1987, among others). A production study, in which a scope-ambiguous wh-interrogative was preceded by a disambiguating discourse context, demonstrates that speakers’ scope interpretation is consistent with the preceding discourse context. An additional comprehension study reveals that prosodic wh-scope marking observed in the languages studied improves the acceptability of the matrix scope readings in violation of wh-islands. The experimental results support the view that wh-island effects can be overridden by plausible discourse contexts as well as the appropriate prosodic marking of wh-scope. These results highlight the interaction of grammatical knowledge, contextual factors, and prosody.
Causes and effects of wine tourism development in organizational context: The case of Alentejo, Portugal

Companies with innovative behavior seek differentiation and are constantly reconciling needs and internal objectives with new market opportunities and restrictions imposed by the institutional framework. The involvement of the wineries with the service sector, by adapting to wine tourism, raises an innovative process which requires some organizational change. This study deals with this issue, arguing that the wineries’ change process toward wine tourism development may occur as a result of internal drivers and external pressures. In this sense, the wineries are analyzed through two different points of view: an intraorganizational perspective with the dynamic capability approach, and an interorganizational perspective with the institutional theory. Structural equation modeling methodology is used to estimate and validate the model, which aims to explain the causes and effects of wine tourism development. Results support the propositions that through wine tourism development, the wineries create, extend, and modify their processes, building and using dynamic capabilities, whereas institutional factors shape firms’ behavior and ensure social legitimacy, besides improving their organizational performance.
Microbial Decomposition of Synthetic 14C-Labeled Lignins in Nature: Lignin Biodegradation in a Variety of Natural Materials

Lignin biodegradation in a variety of natural materials was examined using specifically labeled synthetic 14C-lignins. Natural materials included soils, sediments, silage, steer bedding, and rumen contents. Both aerobic and anaerobic incubations were used. No 14C-labeled lignin biodegradation to labeled gaseous products under anaerobic conditions was observed. Aerobic 14C-labeled lignin mineralization varied with respect to type of natural material used, site, soil type and horizon, and temperature. The greatest observed degradation occurred in a soil from Yellowstone National Park and amounted to over 42% conversion of total radioactivity to 14CO2 during 78 days of incubation. Amounts of 14C-labeled lignin mineralization in Wisconsin soils and sediments were significantly correlated with organic carbon, organic nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, exchangeable calcium, and exchangeable potassium.
Physicochemical Characteristics of Larval Habitat Waters of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Qom Province, Central Iran

Background: Mosquitoes lay eggs in a wide range of habitats with different physicochemical parameters. Ecological data, including physicochemical factors of oviposition sites, play an important role in integrated vector management. Those data help the managers to make the best decision in controlling the aquatic stages of vectors especially using source reduction. Methods: To study some physicochemical characteristics of larval habitat waters, an investigation was carried out in Qom Province, central Iran, during spring and summer 2008 and 2009. Water samples were collected during larval collection from ten localities. The chemical parameters of water samples were analyzed based on mg/l using standard methods. Water temperature (°C), turbidity (NTU), total dissolved solids (ppm), electrical conductivity (μS/cm), and acidity (pH) were measured using digital testers. Thermotolerant coliforms of water samples were analyzed based on MPN/100ml. Data were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman Correlation analysis. Results: In total, 371 mosquito larvae were collected including 14 species representing four genera. Some physicochemical parameters of water in Emamzadeh Esmail, Qomrood, Qom City, and Rahjerd showed significant differences among localities (P< 0.05). The physicochemical and microbial parameters did not show any significant differences among different species (P> 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the abundance of larvae and the different physicochemical and microbial parameters (P> 0.05). Conclusion: The means of EC, TDS, and phosphate of localities and species were remarkably higher than those of the previous studies. Other parameters seem to be in the range of other investigations.
Nuptiality patterns in developing countries : implications for fertility

This report, based on World Fertility Survey data from 15 selected Asian and Latin American countries, examines patterns in the formation and dissolution of marital unions and the relationship of these patterns to fertility. In brief, the data indicate that: a. In Asia age at first marriage varies widely among countries, but nearly every country considered shows evidence of a trend toward later marriage for women.
Social Printers: A Physical Social Network for Political Debates

Social Printers are physical devices that create a pseudonymous social network between households during televised political debates. Through studies conducted around the Scottish Parliamentary Election and EU Referendum in 2016, we aimed to understand how physical devices could be used to engage viewers with televised political debates. By displacing the interaction from conventional social media and second screens we observed that the printers were successful in encouraging the participants to share their thoughts and create a personal social experience. Based on the results we discuss potential implications for conventional social media and second screens in the context of political television programs.
Nitrogenase in the archaebacterium Methanosarcina barkeri 227

The discovery of nitrogen fixation in the archaebacterium Methanosarcina barkeri 227 raises questions concerning the similarity of archaebacterial nitrogenases to Mo and alternative nitrogenases in eubacteria. A scheme for achieving a 20- to 40-fold partial purification of nitrogenase components from strain 227 was developed by using protamine sulfate precipitation, followed by using a fast protein liquid chromatography apparatus operated inside an anaerobic glove box. As in eubacteria, the nitrogenase activity was resolved into two components. The component 1 analog had a molecular size of approximately 250 kDa, as estimated by gel filtration, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels revealed two predominant bands with molecular sizes near 57 and 62 kDa, consistent with an alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer as in eubacterial component 1 proteins. For the component 2 analog, a molecular size of approximately 120 kDa was estimated by gel filtration, with a subunit molecular size near 31 kDa, indicating that the component 2 protein is a tetramer, in contrast to eubacterial component 2 proteins, which are dimers. Rates of C2H2 reduction by the nearly pure subunits were 1,000 nmol h-1 mg of protein-1, considerably lower than those for conventional Mo nitrogenases but similar to that of the non-Mo non-V nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii. Strain 227 nitrogenase reduced N2 at a higher rate per electron than it reduced C2H2, also resembling the non-Mo non-V nitrogenase of A. vinelandii. Ethane was not produced from C2H2. NH4+ concentrations as low as 10 microM caused a transient inhibition of C2H2 reduction by strain 227 cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reverse genetics in the tide pool: knock‐down of target gene expression via RNA interference in the copepod Tigriopus californicus

Reverse genetic tools are essential for characterizing phenotypes of novel genes and testing functional hypotheses generated from next‐generation sequencing studies. RNA interference (RNAi) has been a widely used technique for describing or quantifying physiological, developmental or behavioural roles of target genes by suppressing their expression. The marine intertidal copepod Tigriopus californicus has become an emerging model for evolutionary and physiological studies, but this species is not amenable to most genetic manipulation approaches. As crustaceans are susceptible to RNAi‐mediated gene knock‐down, we developed a simple method for delivery of gene‐specific double‐stranded RNA that results in significant suppression of target gene transcription levels. The protocol was examined on five genes of interest, and for each, at least 50% knock‐down in expression was achieved. While knock‐down levels did not reach 100% in any trial, a well‐controlled experiment with one heat‐shock gene showed unambiguously that such partial gene suppression may cause dramatic changes in phenotype. Copepods with suppressed expression of heat‐shock protein beta 1 (hspb1) exhibited dramatically decreased tolerance to high temperatures, validating the importance of this gene during thermal stress, as proposed by a previous study. The application of this RNAi protocol in T. californicus will be invaluable for examining the role of genes putatively involved in reproductive isolation, mitochondrial function and local adaptation.
Effect of entacapone, a COMT inhibitor, on clinical disability and levodopa metabolism in parkinsonian patients

We studied the effect of entacapone, a selective catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, on the bioavailability and clinical effect of levodopa in Parkinson's disease (PD). On day 1 (control day), nine patients received their own levodopa (plus benserazide) medication only; for the next 7 days they received 200 mg of entacapone with each dose of levodopa (tid or qid). We evaluated disability in the morning (8 AM) before drug administration and then at 1-hour intervals until 6 PM on days 1, 2, and 8, using a modified motor part of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Repeated blood samples were taken before and during the 4 hours after the morning drugs for pharmacokinetic evaluation of entacapone and of levodopa and its metabolites. Added to the levodopa treatment, entacapone decreased clinical disability by about 16% (p < 0.05) from day 1 to day 8. The area under the curve (AUC) of levodopa increased by 38% (p < 0.01) after administration of a single dose of entacapone and by 40% (p < 0.05) after 7 days of multiple dosing with entacapone. Entacapone did not change the Tmax and Cmax values of levodopa. After 7 days of treatment with entacapone, the AUC of 3-O-methyldopa had decreased by 44% (p < 0.01) and of homovanillic acid by 26% (p < 0.05) as compared with treatment with levodopa alone. Four patients became slightly more dyskinetic during entacapone treatment than before it. The combination of entacapone and levodopa was well tolerated, judged by the lack of significant changes in hemodynamic and safety variables. We conclude that entacapone may be a helpful adjunct to levodopa in the treatment of PD.
Evidence of Cerebellar Dysfunction in Children with Myelomeningocele

Structural differences in the development of the cerebellum in children with spina bifida myelomeningocele are associated with functional deficits in movement, timing, and attention. Furthermore, these structural and functional deficits contribute to uneven development of perception and cognition. Studies are reviewed that provide some understanding of the reason such a mixed pattern of assets and deficits within the same area is seen in these children. Motor learning and adaptation are relative strengths while predictive motor control is not. Upper limb function and visual perception are problematic as is timing and attention. In utero damage to the cerebellum may provide an explanation for this mixed pattern. Early damage can negatively impact the development of cerebellar circuits which could interfere with learning. Clinicians need to be aware of the relative strengths and weaknesses in children with spina bifida myelomeningocele in order to individualize early intervention treatment plans, optimize motor learning, and promote maximal participation in daily life.
Galectin-9 Significantly Prolongs the Survival of Fully Mismatched Cardiac Allografts in Mice

Background. The involvement of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) in the regulation of solid organ transplantation rejection is largely unknown. We used galectin-9 (Tim-3 ligand) to evaluate the effect and mechanisms of Tim-3/galectin-9 pathway in an allogeneic heart transplant model. Methods. The murine cardiac transplant model from BALB/c (H-2d) to C57BL/6 (H-2b) was built. The recipients were administered with galectin-9 for 7 days from day 1 or day 3 posttransplant. The complete cessation of cardiac contractility was defined as the observation endpoint. The effect of galectin-9 on cell proliferation was assessed by mixed lymphocyte reaction. Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to estimate the severity of rejection. The phenotype and cytokine profile of lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results. In vitro, galectin-9 suppressed the proliferation of lymphocytes mixed lymphocyte reactions in a dose- and &bgr;-galactoside-dependent manner. In vivo, galectin-9 treatment from day 1 to day 3 posttransplant achieved similar survival time of grafts (median survival time, 22.7±1.2 vs. 23.0±1.0 days). The prolonged survival time was associated with reduced infiltration of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes in allografts. Furthermore, the intragraft transcriptional profiling in galectin-9-treated group showed reduction of IFN-&ggr; and IL-17 mRNA but elevation of Ebi-3 and galectin-9 mRNA. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that galectin-9 treatment reduced the ratio of T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells in the draining lymph nodes and peripheral blood. Conclusions. A short-course administration of galectin-9 significantly prolonged the survival of fully allogeneic cardiac allografts, which was associated with the suppression of Th1 and Th17 immune responses.
Extremely correlated Fermi liquids: The formalism

We present the detailed formalism of the extremely correlated Fermi liquid theory, developed for treating the physics of the t-J model. We start from the exact Schwinger equation of motion for the Green’s function for projected electrons, and develop a systematic expansion in a parameter ! , relating to the double occupancy. The resulting Green’s function has a canonical part arising from an effective Hamiltonian of the auxiliary electrons, and a caparison part playing the role of a frequency-dependent adaptive spectral weight. This adaptive weight balances the requirement at low " of the invariance of the Fermi volume, and at high " of decaying as c 0 i" , with a correlation-depleted c0 < 1. The effective Hamiltonian Heff describing the auxiliary fermions is given a natural interpretation with an effective interaction Veff containing both the exchange Jij and the hopping parameters tij. It is made Hermitian by adding suitable terms that ultimately vanish, in the symmetrized theory developed in this paper. Simple but important shift invariances of the t-J model are noted with respect to translating its parameters uniformly.Theseplay a crucial roleinconstraining theformofVeff and alsoprovide checks forfurther approximations. The auxiliary and physical Green’s function satisfy two sum rules, and the Lagrange multipliers for these are identified. A complete set of expressions for the Green’s functions to second order in ! is given, satisfying various invariances. A systematic iterative procedure for higher order approximations is detailed. A superconducting instability of the theory is noted at the simplest level with a high transition temperature.
Low dose intravenous immunoglobulin for acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children.

Acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a self-limited autoimmune disorder to platelets. The disease responds well to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. We studied the efficacy of low dose (1 g/kg) IVIG to treat acute ITP in children. Of 17 children with ITP and platelet counts < 20,000/microl, 13 (76%) had rapid platelet count recovery, reaching safe level (> 50,000/microl) within 4 days after 1 g/kg IVIG. Four children needed a second dose. In 5 of 15 patients, platelet counts recovered to normal without recurrence, while in 10 patients, platelet counts declined again 2-3 weeks after the initial treatment; 6 of whom (40%) needed re-treatment. All but one patient had complete recovery of the platelet count by 6 months. Adverse effects of low dose IVIG were minimal. We recommend that for childhood ITP, 1 g/kg IVIG should be tried initially. If inadequate response is seen (platelet count < 30,000/microl) by 48 hours, a second dose is needed.
Does Australia Need an Annual Wealth Tax? (And Why Do We Now Apply One Only to Pensioners)

This paper argues that given the current hybrid income-expenditure tax system in Australia (hybrid IT/ET) a wealth tax could make sense as a way of ironing out disparities in the tax treatment of different assets. A wealth tax could be designed to approximate a comprehensive income tax (CIT) outcome by combining a wage tax with imputed asset income (deeming), or it could fall more lightly. We already have a harsh wealth tax in the welfare system, the asset test; the issue arises as to why we would confine wealth taxation to the not-so-well-off. If we move the income tax to an ET of, e.g., a consumption tax (CT) type a wealth tax might still make good sense, although the implied rate may be lower than under the wage tax as the CT taxes some part of economic rents. However if we move towards explicit taxation of economic rents using, say, the rate of return allowance (RRA) or its cash-flow counterpart, the Z-tax, a wealth tax may be less needed, as such rents comprise two-thirds the total return on capital.
Effect of plantinggeometry and nitrogen on yield, economics and nitrogen uptake of sweet corn (Zea mays)

A field experiment was conducted during rainy seasons of 2002 and 2003 at Central Research Station, OUAT, Bhubaneshwar to study the effect of planting geometry and nitrogen on sweet corn (Zea mays L.) cv 'Madhuri'. Twenty treatment combinations, comprising four spacings (45 cm x 30 cm, 45 cm x 20 cm, 60 cm x 30 cm and 60 cm x 20 cm) allotted to the main plots and five nitrogen levels (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kglha) to the sub- plots, were tested in split-plot design with three replications. The spacing of 60 cm x 20 cm significantly in- creased the number of prime cobs (54,108/ha), green-cob yield (9.21 t o ~ e d h a ) , nitrogen uptake (53.62 kglha), protein yield (174.35 kglha) and accrued highest net return (Rs 48,5711ha) and benefit : cost ratio (3.55), fol- lowed by 45 cm x 30 crn spacing. Application of 80 kg Nlha produced significantly highest number of prime cobs (62,328/ha), green-cob yield (9.80 tonneslha), length (17.5 cm) and girth (16.7 cm) of cobs, green-forage yield (17.35 tlha), total N uptake (91.2 kglha) and protein yield (280.8 kglha). Significantly highest net returns (Rs 61,5321ha) and benefit : cost ratio (3.76) were realized with 80 kg Nlha, followed by 60 and 40 kg Nlha.