Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial Progenitor Cells Possess Monocyte-like Antigen-presenting and T-cell-Co-stimulatory Capacity

Background. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) home to sites of vascular repair and therefore have potential implications in allogenic transplantation settings and in various vascular diseases. This study was performed to investigate the antigen-presenting capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells-derived EPC and their T-cell co-stimulatory capacity compared with human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) or monocytes. Methods. EPC were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by adhesion to fibronectin. Antigen presentation and co-culture assays of EPC, HUVEC, monocytes, and dendritic cells with allogenic CD4 T cells were quantified by thymidine incorporation (cpm) and by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (LightCycler) for cytokine production. Results. Flow cytometric analyses revealed an expression of endothelial antigens (e.g., KDR) as well as monocytic antigens (e.g., CD14) in EPC. EPC effectively presented Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen MTB 85B to DB3 hybridoma, a cell line specifically recognizing MTB 85B presented by means of human leukocyte antigen-DR3. In phytohemaglutinin-based CD4 T-cell co-stimulation assays, EPC-induced proliferation and cytokine production was comparable with monocytes and dendritic cells, whereas HUVEC-induced T-cell co-stimulation was markedly weaker. In contrast to HUVEC, EPC as well as monocytes activated naïve CD4/CD45RA T cells. Blocking experiments using CTLA-4-IgG fusion protein identified the CD28/CD80/86 system as a major co-stimulatory pathway for EPC-dependent T-cell activation. Conclusions. Although EPC exhibit endothelial-like surface markers, functional characteristics place these cells in a monocytic lineage. EPC also display antigen-presenting capacity similar to monocytes and much stronger than human vascular EC. Significant T-cell-activating potential will have to be expected from EPC when potentially used therapeutically, especially in allogenic transplant settings.
Comparison of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates from United Kingdom Hospitals with Predominant Northern European Genotypes by Amplified-Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii isolates collected between 1999 and 2001 from 46 United Kingdom hospitals were compared with previously identified northern European genotypes by amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. Two predominant northern European genotypes associated with outbreaks in the mid-1980s had been superseded by new outbreak-associated genotypes.
Maintenance of Olfactory Neurogenesis Requires HSF1, a Major Heat Shock Transcription Factor in Mice*

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) play roles not only in heat shock response but also in development of the reproductive organs, brain, and lens. Here, we analyzed sensory organs and found abnormalities of the olfactory epithelium in adult HSF1-null mice, which is developmentally related to the lens. The olfactory epithelium was normal until postnatal 3 weeks but was not maintained later than 4 weeks in HSF1-null mice. The olfactory epithelium was atrophied with increased cell death of olfactory sensory neurons. Analysis of the epithelium revealed that induction of HSP expression and reduction of LIF expression are lacking in adult HSF1-null mice. We found that DNA binding activity of HSF1 is induced in the olfactory epithelium later than 4 weeks and that HSF1 binds directly to Lif gene and inhibits its expression. HSF4 has opposing effects on LIF expression and olfactory neurogenesis. These data indicate that HSF1 is required for the precise expression of Hsp and cytokine genes that is obligatory for maintenance of olfactory neurogenesis in adult mice and suggest that stress-related processes are involved in its maintenance.
Dual roles of glycosyl torsion angle conformation and stereochemical configuration in butadiene oxide-derived N1 beta-hydroxyalkyl deoxyinosine adducts: a structural perspective.

The solution structure of the N1-[1-hydroxy-3-buten-2(R)-yl]-2'-deoxyinosine adduct arising from the alkylation of adenine N1 by butadiene epoxide (BDO), followed by deamination to deoxyinosine, was determined in the oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-d(CGGACXAGAAG)-3'. 5'-d(CTTCTTGTCCG)-3'. This oligodeoxynucleotide contained the BDO adduct at the second position of codon 61 of the human N-ras protooncogene (underlined) and was named the ras61 R-N1-BDO-(61,2) adduct. 1H NMR revealed a weak C5 H1' to X6 H8 nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE), followed by an intense X6 H8 to X6 H1' NOE. Simultaneously, the X6 H8 to X6 H3' NOE was weak. The resonances arising from the T16 and T17 imino protons were not observed. 1H NOEs between the butadiene moiety and the DNA positioned the adduct in the major groove. Structural refinement based upon a total of 394 NOE-derived distance restraints and 151 torsion angle restraints yielded a structure in which the modified deoxyinosine was in the syn conformation about the glycosyl bond, with a glycosyl bond angle of 83 degrees , and T17, the complementary nucleotide, was stacked into the helix but not hydrogen bonded with the adducted inosine. The refined structure provides a plausible hypothesis as to why these N1 deoxyinosine adducts strongly code for the incorporation of dCTP during trans lesion DNA replication, irrespective of stereochemistry, both in Escherichia coli [Rodriguez, D. A. , Kowalczyk, A. , Ward, J. B. J., Harris, C. M. , Harris, T. M. , and Lloyd, R. S. (2001) Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 38, 292-296] and in mammalian cells [Kanuri, M. , Nechev, L. N. , Tamura, P. J., Harris, C. M. , Harris, T. M. , and Lloyd, R. S. (2002) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 15, 1572-1580]. Rotation of the N1 deoxyinosine adduct into the syn conformation may facilitate incorporation of dCTP via Hoogsteen type templating with deoxyinosine, generating A to G mutations. However, conformational differences between the R- and the S-N1-BDO-(61,2) adducts, involving the positioning of the butenyl moiety in the major groove of DNA, suggest that adduct stereochemistry plays a secondary role in modulating the biological response to these adducts.
Regiospecific Methylation of a Dietary Flavonoid Scaffold Selectively Enhances IL-1β Production following Toll-like Receptor 2 Stimulation in THP-1 Monocytes

Background: Plant natural products typically contain regiospecific modifications in their side chains that lead to different bioactivities. Results: Only 3-O-methylated flavonols enhance IL-1β production in THP-1 cells costimulated with the Toll-like receptor 2 agonist Pam3CSK4. Conclusion: Regiospecific methylation of flavonols controls their bioactivity as immunomodulators. Significance: This study provides a platform to explore the use of regiospecific-modified natural products as novel immunomodulators. It is now recognized that innate immunity to intestinal microflora plays a significant role in mediating immune health, and modulation of microbial sensing may underpin the impact of plant natural products in the diet or when used as nutraceuticals. In this context, we have examined five classes of plant-derived flavonoids (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, catechins, and cyanidin) for their ability to regulate cytokine release induced by the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) agonist Pam3CSK4. We found that the flavonols selectively co-stimulated IL-1β secretion but had no impact on the secretion of IL-6. Importantly, this costimulation of TLR2-induced cytokine secretion was dependent on regiospecific methylation of the flavonol scaffold with a rank order of quercetin-3,4′-dimethylether > quercetin-3-methylether > casticin. The mechanism underpinning this costimulation did not involve enhanced inflammasome activation. In contrast, the methylated flavonols enhanced IL-1β gene expression through transcriptional regulation, involving mechanisms that operate downstream of the initial NF-κB and STAT1 activation events. These studies demonstrate an exquisite level of control of scaffold bioactivity by regiospecific methylation, with important implications for understanding how natural products affect innate immunity and for their development as novel immunomodulators for clinical use.
Pulmonary Genomics, Proteomics, and PLUNCs.

Over the past decade Pulmonary Medicine, like many biomedical research fields, has benefited enormously from the major advances that have occurred in genomic and proteomic techniques. The relative abundance of potential samples including lung tissue and cells, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and sputum make pulmonary conditions attractive for many profiling studies, which are ultimately aimed at identifying novel diagnostic and prognostic disease markers. Thankfully, these studies have largely confirmed the presence of many expected proteins as well as the identification of novel genes and proteins. These studies do, however, lend themselves to the development (in researchers) of one of two conditions named and identified by Naftali Kaminski as AGLSS (Acute Gene List Staring Syndrome) and CGLSS (Chronic Gene List Staring Syndrome). Both conditions are characterized by sleep deprivation, refusal to return to the bench, and excitement about funny gene names, but the chronic condition may also involve paralysis of career (what is now called Kaminski's tetrad). Notwithstanding the above concerns, it is beyond doubt that the use of unbiased proteomic and genomic analyses have led to the identification of many novel molecules which by the very means of their identification are likely to play roles in the biology of the respiratory tract. In these studies there is often a selection of proteins that are consistently observed to be present and/or differentially expressed. In this short overview we will focus on members of a novel family of proteins, the PLUNCs, which may be considered as a paradigm for such gene/protein identification.
On the gain in recognition performance due to the addition of polarisation in an X-band High Range Resolution radar evaluated for F-18 and F-35 targets using asymptotic EM techniques

This paper addresses the prediction of the maximum gain in recognition performance of a High Range Resolution (HRR) X-band radar when use is made of the full polarisation matrix, as compared to the linear polarisations. The study was conducted for the F-35 and FA-18F. Use is made of the information theoretic concept of mutual information (MI) to perform this analysis. Returns from the targets were simulated using an asymptotic RCS prediction code. The information content of the two targets is compared for various polarisations.
Advances in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer : fluorescence-guided surgery

Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) has been thoroughly investigated in a multitude of studies and has proved to have equivalent oncologic outcomes to open surgery, yet with the advantages of minimal tissue trauma, shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery. Recent advances in laparoscopic surgical treatment of CRC have been introduced in attempt to enhance the technique and improve the clinical outcome. One of such advances was the fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) which has already been examined in other surgical specialties. Fluorescenceguided laparoscopic surgery for CRC appeared to be a promising tool to improve the outcome of laparoscopic colorectal surgery on the technical and oncologic levels. On the technical level, FGS can help prevent major complications such as anastomotic leakage and ureteral injury through real-time assessment of bowel perfusion and clear identification of the ureter along its entire course. On the oncologic aspect, FGS can help detect metastatic tumor deposits in the draining lymph nodes, peritoneum, or the liver. Detection of metastatic disease contributes to more accurate staging and enables fluorescence-guided resection of any metastatic lesions which can help increase the overall and disease-free survival rates. The present article aimed to review the current literature for the clinical utility of FGS in the laparoscopic management of colon and rectal cancer, illustrating how FGS can become the next frontier in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.
Comparison of IL10 and IL2 genotypes of Turkish population with other populations

The human genome has been shaped by evolutionary and historical forces. Therefore, genetic polymorphisms are useful tools not only to understand the susceptibility to disease in modern populations, but the history of ancestral populations as well. For this purpose, data on genetic polymorphisms such as human leucocyte antigen, mitochondrial DNA sequence variability and the frequencies of TAP1 and TAP2 gene variants in Turkey have been reported previously. Here we have used interleukin (IL)‐10 (−592C/A, −819T/C, −1082G/A) and IL‐2 (−330T/G) as genetic markers to study the relationship between Turkish population and other populations.
The effect of dropout on the efficiency of D‐optimal designs of linear mixed models

Dropout is often encountered in longitudinal data. Optimal designs will usually not remain optimal in the presence of dropout. In this paper, we study D‐optimal designs for linear mixed models where dropout is encountered. Moreover, we estimate the efficiency loss in cases where a D‐optimal design for complete data is chosen instead of that for data with dropout. Two types of monotonically decreasing response probability functions are investigated to describe dropout. Our results show that the location of D‐optimal design points for the dropout case will shift with respect to that for the complete and uncorrelated data case. Owing to this shift, the information collected at the D‐optimal design points for the complete data case does not correspond to the smallest variance. We show that the size of the displacement of the time points depends on the linear mixed model and that the efficiency loss is moderate. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Control for unstable nonminimum phase uncertain dynamic vehicle

A control algorithm for control of linear uncertain systems is presented. This algorithm is applied to the control of an unstable nonminimum phase uncertain dynamic vehicle. The algorithm is based on the state and parameters observability canonical (SPOC) form and a certainty equivalence pole placement controller. The algorithm provides single controller for the problem of the uncertain dynamic vehicle that approaches the performance of a controller designed for perfectly known parameters within the whole range of the plant's parameters uncertainty. The algorithm is globally bounded input bounded output stable and needs only the knowledge of the order of the plant. The algorithm is presented and its performance is demonstrated by simulations.
Epigenetic control of the expression of fertility-restoring genes for the '9E' CMS-inducing cytoplasm of sorghum.

In sorghum, male fertility restoration in some new CMS-inducing cytoplasms (A4, '9E', 'M35-1A') exhibits an abnormal pattern of inheritance: it is stably inherited in self-pollinated progenies of the F 1 hybrids but is infrequently transmitted in test-cross of F 1 hybrids with CMS lines with original cytoplasm type. We found that in the '9E' cytoplasm an epigenetic regulation of fertility-restoring genes expression seems to be the cause of this unexpected pattern of inheritance. When the F 1 hybrids and their test crosses to CMS-lines in the '9E' cytoplasm were grown under high level of water availability at panicle development stage, fertility-restoring genes behave as dominant or co-dominant while in conditions of drought they behave as recessives. In the F 2 generation a level of water availability at panicle development stage affected male fertility to a lesser extent, and the progeny of the F 1 hybrids, which were grown under high water regime, was fertile even under drought conditions. After transferring male-sterile F 1 hybrids from drought conditions to increased water availability conditions they developed fertile panicles, and their progeny (F 2 ) was male fertile in drought conditions. It was also found that a reduced day length at photoperiod-sensitive stage of ontogenesis increased percentage of fertile plants among F 1 hybrids. In their progeny (F 2 ) the proportion of fertile plants was significantly higher than in the progeny of F 1 hybrids, which were not subjected to such "induction". These data prove that dominant status of some fertility-restoring genes might be epigenetically regulated, being established in "inductive" conditions, inherited in sexual generations and expressed in "non-inductive conditions.
Prvi nalaz vodencvijeta Ametropus fragilis Albarda, 1878 (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) u Hrvatskoj

Cuk, R. , Cmrlec, K. & Belfiore, C. : Prvi nalaz vodencvijeta Ametropus fragilis Albarda, 1878 (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) u Hrvatskoj. Nat. Croat. , Vol. 24, No. 1, 151–157, 2015, Zagreb. U rijeci Dravi kod Donjeg Miholjca u sijecnju 2014. godine po prvi puta je na podrucju Republike Hrvatske utvrđena vrsta Ametropus fragilis Albarda, 1878.
The Bactericidal Activity of Pediocin PA-1 Is Specifically Inhibited by a 15-mer Fragment That Spans the Bacteriocin from the Center toward the C Terminus

ABSTRACT A 15-mer peptide fragment derived from pediocin PA-1 (from residue 20 to residue 34) specifically inhibited the bactericidal activity of pediocin PA-1. The fragment did not inhibit the pediocin-like bacteriocins sakacin P, leucocin A, and curvacin A to nearly the same extent as it inhibited pediocin PA-1. Enterocin A, however, was also significantly inhibited by this fragment, although not as greatly as pediocin PA-1. This is consistent with the fact that enterocin A contains the longest continuous sequence identical to that of pediocin PA-1 in the region spanned by the fragment. The fragment inhibited pediocin PA-1 to a much greater extent than did the other 29 possible 15-mer fragments that span pediocin PA-1. The results suggest that the fragment—by interacting with the target cells and/or pediocin PA-1—interferes specifically with pediocin-target cell interaction.
Well elderly perceptions of the meaning of health and their health promotion practices.

In Canada, life expectancy is increasing (Health and Welfare, 1989; Pal-more, 1986). According to the 1986 Census, 10.6% (2.7 million) of the Canadian population was 65 years and over (Statistics Canada, 1989), but, a predicted shift in demographics projects that, by the year 2020, 20% of the population will be 65 years of age and older (Health & Welfare, 1989). Consequently, a primary interest among health care planners and health professionals is the identification of strategies to optimize the health of the elderly (Ploeg & Faux, 1989). In the past, studies of the aged population have been directed toward negative factors of decline, deterioration and disease (van Mannen, 1988). However, this study was founded on the positive aspects of the aging process. The underlying belief being that many elderly are independent and active, and enjoy positive gains during this maturational period despite adjustments required by chronic illnesses. We hypothesized that well elderly persons who live and function independently practise health promotion behaviours to maintain and optimize their health status and well-being. They therefore have valuable information to share with nurses about their health-related perceptions.
Pequeña y mediana minería de carbón del interior del país: alternativa de comercialización y financiación a partir de la conformación de alianzas estratégicas

"Objetivos. Caracterizacion de la pequena y mediana mineria de carbon que se desarrolla en el interior del pais, tanto de la actividad en sus diferentes fases, como de la poblacion involucrada directamente en ella Revision de los actuales esquemas y arreglos de comercializacion con miras a proponer soluciones que permitan una balanceada distribucion de la rentabilidad del negocio a lo largo de la cadena y un mayor bienestar para quienes desarrollan la actividad Revision de los actuales esquemas de financiacion con el objetivo de proponer mecanismos alternativos para sustentar mayores niveles de inversion y una mejora de las condiciones tecnicas, ambientales y de seguridad industrial en las que se desarrolla la actividad. "
Carnitine: An Overview

Carnitine, a small dialyzable molecule of molecular weight 162 daltons, has been used to treat the cardiovascular and neuromuscular symptoms of dialysis patients. To most nephrologists, however, the subject of carnitine remains terra incognita. A brief review is therefore in order. Carnitine (beta hydroxy-gamma-trimethylamino butyric acid) is, by definition, not a vitamin because it can be synthesized endogenously as well as ingested. It exists in the body either in the free form or bound to acyl groups of short or long chains. It is found mainly in cardiac or skeletal muscle, less than 2% being present in liver, kidneys, and extracellular fluid. Normal plasma levels are 30 to 90 jlmol/I, of which 83% is free and the rest bound in long or short chains. Most of the exogenous carnitine come from red meat but some is synthesized in the liver, kidney, and brain, from lysine and methionine. Carnitine is filtered at the glomerulus and largely reabsorbed. It transports long chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane for beta oxidation and ATP production, stimulates ketone formation, plays a role in protein metabolism, and has vasodilator and inotropic properties (1, 2). Carnitine was first described in Russia as a meat extract some 80 years ago. Its correct formula was established later, and it was studied in the 1940's in connection with acetylcholine and found to be essential to the growth of a variety of beetles that live in grain and flour, the tenebrionidae (3). In 1973 Engel and Angelini and in 1975 Kaparti first described several inherited diseases of infancy characterized by recurrent coma, hypoglycemia, and chronic weakness. Low plasma carnitine levels occur in an autosomal recessive disorder of infants who have recurrent hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, weakness, and hepatic encephalopathy, leading to an early death. A less severe muscle disease that may merge into polymyositis has normal plasma carnitine levels but reduced amounts of carnitine and excess lipid The International Journal of Artificial Organs / Vol. 13/ no. 11, 1990/ pp. 720-722
Comparative study of effectiveness of oral acyclovir with oral erythromycin in the treatment of Pityriasis rosea.

BACKGROUND Pityriasis rosea is an acute, self-limiting disease, probably infective in origin, affecting mainly children and young adults, characterized by distinctive skin eruptions and minimal constitutional symptoms. Both oral Erythromycin and oral Acyclovir have been used in its management. OBJECTIVES To compare the effectiveness of oral Erythromycin and oral Acyclovir in the treatment of Pityriasis rosea. METHOD Forty two patients with clinical diagnosis of Pityriasis rosea were enrolled. They were randomized into two groups. One group was given high-dose oral Acyclovir and another group oral Erythromycin in standard dose. The participants were evaluated one, two, four, six and eight weeks and six months after commencement of the study. RESULTS Forty two patients including 26 males and 16 females completed the study. After 8th week, all patients showed complete response in both the groups. The response to oral Acyclovir compared with that to oral Erythromycin was better and was statistically significant in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks. CONCLUSION Although it is a self-limiting disease which resolves within three weeks to three months, this study reveals that both oral Acyclovir and oral Erythromycin are helpful in decreasing the severity and duration of Pityriasis rosea. Moreover, the study also indicates that oral Acyclovir is more effective than oral Erythromycin in reducing the severity and duration of Pityriasis rosea.