Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in CD4+CD25+ Tregs in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice

The goal of this study was to observe the pathological characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic walls of ApoE−/− and C57BL/6J mice and the changes of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in atherosclerotic mice. Twenty ApoE−/− mice were split into high-fat diet (AH) and normal diet (AN) groups and 10 C57BL/6J male mice were designated as the control group (BN). The serum concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; paraffin sections of the aorta were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, and morphometric parameters were measured using the Image Pro Plus 6.0 system. Verhoeff stain was used to observe the distribution of elastic fibers, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to verify the phenotype of the forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3+) CD25+ cells in the atherosclerotic tissue. The proportion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in the spleen was calculated by flow cytometry. The thickness of the intima, the intima/media ratio, the plaque area, and the plaque/lumen ratio of mice in AN group were significantly larger than those of mice in BN group. The thickness of the intima, the plaque area, and the plaque/lumen ratio of the mice in AH group were significantly increased compared with those of the AN group mice. The serum concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β1 and the percentage of splenic CD4+CD25+ Tregs in AN group mice were significantly decreased compared with the control group. The serum concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β1 and the percentage of splenic CD4+CD25+ Tregs in the mice in AH group were significantly decreased compared with those in AN group. The proportions of Foxp3+ and CD25+ cells within the total lymphocyte population were significantly decreased in AH group mice compared with those in AN group mice. Atherosclerosis in an experimental mouse model was correlated with Treg depletion in the lymphoid tissues and plaques, indicating the important antiatherosclerotic role of CD4+CD25+ Tregs. Impact statement In this article, we conclude that Tregs decreased with atherosclerosis (AS) as determined in ApoE knockout mice fed a high fat diet. It is an important matter for understanding the AS pathology.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of bovines: an insight into infectious disease resistance

Received: 24/10/2013 Revised: 02/12/2013 Accepted: 03/12/2013 Abstract The MHC complex of cattle called as bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA), is located on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 23. BoLA is a complex of several genes acting together to play a vital role in antigen presentation and processing for eliciting immune response against invading pathogens. This region of the genome is fairly studied due to its importance and prospects of using in the breeding programs. Basic structure of the BoLA is similar to MHC in other mammals, comprising class I, II and III genes. Advent in the molecular genomic tools has helped to find out numerous variants of BoLA genes, out of which many have significant association with the disease resistance and susceptibility. The BoLA class I and II genes are involved in presentation of processed peptide antigens to T lymphocytes by holding them in the peptide binding groove. Conformation of the groove dependent on presence of particular amino acid(s) has a predictive and determinant role in deciding the fate of antigen and thus immune response in the animal. MHC of cattle function similar to the MHC of human, and therefore several genes of BoLA which are not studied and has importance in HLA should be investigated thoroughly for generating detailed knowledge regarding antigen presentation in cattle. Research on BoLA has yielded a few markers for disease, which can be used in the breeding programs, however more efforts on allele mining in this part of the bovine genome is required.
Calculation of core losses in magnetic materials under nonsinusoidal excitation

Magnetic materials are typically used in the construction of inductors and transformers for power electronic applications. Their selection (material and size) is a critical task that demands good knowledge of the topology under study. An incorrect design may lead into a low-level saturation flux density, additional losses, and negatively affect the overall performance of the power converter. Traditionally, the Steinmetz equation is used to evaluate the core losses of magnetic materials under sinusoidal excitation; nevertheless, in modern power electronic converters the current and voltage waveforms across inductors and transformers are far from sinusoidal, thus, other methods must be considered. The core losses estimation for three different magnetic materials under different waveform conditions is the main aim of this paper. Analytical and experimental results on a 5 kVA three-level half-bridge power converter are compared to evaluate material losses under rectangular-voltage waveform with different duty cycles (D) and switching frequencies (fsw).
Influence of Circadian Typology on Drug Consumption, Hazardous Alcohol use, and Hangover Symptoms

Few studies have focused on the influence of circadian typology on drug use, and none has considered the use of illegal drugs and hazardous alcohol consumption. This study analyzes the influence of circadian typology on several types of drug consumption (habitual or sporadic), hangover symptoms (past 12 mos), and, more specifically, hazardous alcohol consumption of young adults. Five hundred seventeen university students (173 males), between 17 and 30 yrs of age, answered the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and a self-referred questionnaire on drug consumption during the previous month and on the prevalence of different hangover symptoms during the previous year. Our results confirm a higher prevalence of consumption of addictive substances, both legal (nicotine and cola drinks) and illegal (cannabis and ecstasy), in evening- compared to morning- and neither-type subjects (p < .001 in all cases). Evening-type subjects also obtained a higher total score on the AUDIT (p < .001) and showed a greater prevalence in the subscales of potential alcohol problems (p < .02), as well as more frequent different hangover symptoms (learning difficulties, thirst, tiredness, headaches, sensorial hypersensitivity, anxiety, and irritability; p < .04 in all cases) compared with morning- and neither-type subjects, except for sensorial hypersensitivity and anxiety, for which the evening-type did not differ from the neither-type. Our results provide substantial evidence that the evening circadian typology is a risk factor for the development of drug consumption and that it should be taken into account both in preventive and treatment approaches. Moreover, the data regarding hazardous alcohol use and hangover symptoms emphasize the need to include circadian typology in future studies on the pattern of heavy episodic drinking. (Author correspondence: gprat@ub.edu)
Substrate Specificities and Expression Patterns Reflect the Evolutionary Divergence of Maltose ABC Transporters in Thermotoga maritima

ABSTRACT Duplication of transporter genes is apparent in the genome sequence of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima. The physiological impacts of these duplications are not well understood, so we used the bacterium's two putative maltose transporters to begin a study of the evolutionary relationship between a transporter's function and the control of expression of its genes. We show that the substrate binding proteins encoded by these operons, MalE1 and MalE2, have different substrate specificities and affinities and that they are expressed under different growth conditions. MalE1 binds maltose (dissociation constant [KD], 24 ± 1 μM), maltotriose (KD, 8 ± 0.5 nM), and β-(1→4)-mannotetraose (KD, 38 ± 1 μM). In contrast, MalE2 binds maltose (KD, 8.4 ± 1 μM), maltotriose (KD, 11.5 ± 1.5 μM), and trehalose (KD, 9.5 ± 1.0 μM) confirming the findings of Wassenberg et al. (J. Mol. Biol. 295:279-288, 2000). Neither protein binds lactose. We examined the expression of these operons at both the transcriptional and translational levels and found that MalE1 is expressed in cells grown on lactose or guar gum and that MalE2 is highly expressed in starch- and trehalose-grown cells. Evidence is provided that malE1, malF1, and perhaps malG1 are cotranscribed and so constitute an operon. An open reading frame encoding a putative transcriptional regulatory protein adjacent to this operon (TM1200) is also up-regulated in response to growth on lactose. These evolutionarily related transporter operons have diverged both in function and expression to assume apparently different physiological roles.
Predictors for Outcome and Treatment Delay in Patients With Tuberculous Meningitis

Background:Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a challenge for clinicians because of the difficulty in making an early diagnosis and the severe consequences of delaying treatment. The objective of this study was to assess predictors of outcome and to evaluate factors critical to treatment delay of TBM. Methods:One hundred and five adult patients with TBM, between 1997 and 2006, were retrospectively studied. Treatment delay was defined as progression of stage and physician delay between the initial presentation and the start of antituberculosis therapy. Factors contributing to the outcome, progression of stage, and prolonged physician delay were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results:Fifty patients (47.6%) experienced prolonged physician delay, and 38 (36.2%) had progression of stage. Thirty-four patients (32.4%) had an acute clinical course, and 76 (72.4%) received initial antibacterial therapy. Prolonged physician delay and progression of stage were important prognostic factors for poor outcome. Stage I at admission and prolonged physician delay were important factors contributing to progression of stage. An acute clinical course and an initial antibacterial therapy were important factors contributing to prolonged physician delay. Conclusions:Rapid diagnosis and early treatment before the occurrence of progression of stage are crucial for the outcome of TBM. TBM may present with an acute course, and when discrimination from bacterial meningitis is difficult, it is mandatory to start antituberculosis and antibacterial therapy simultaneously or lower the threshold for early antituberculosis therapy when persistent fever, deteriorated consciousness status, or progression of stage occurs during antibacterial therapy.
An overview of research in distributed attitude coordination control

This paper provides an overview of attitude coordination problems of multi-rigid-body with the goal of promoting research in this area. Theoretical results regarding consensus seeking with different system models, different communication topologies, different control goals and different techniques are summarized. And applications of consensus protocols to multirigid-body coordination are investigated. Finally, some future research directions and open problems are also proposed.
Protection against human and porcine enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli in rats immunized with a cross-linked toxoid vaccine

To compare their relative immunogenicities, we used synthetically produced Escherichia coli heat-stable toxin coupled to a protein carrier and the B subunit of porcine heat-labile toxin separately in graded dosages to immunize rats. Equivalent antigen unit dosages of each toxin raised approximately the same level of mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) antitoxin response and degree of protection against a challenge with respective heat-stable- or heat-labile-toxin-producing viable bacteria. Conjugation conditions were identified, therefore, which yielded a vaccine of these toxins, cross-linked by the carbodiimide reaction, that consisted of equal antigenic proportions of each toxin component as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and expressed in antigen units. The dose-related response to immunization with this vaccine was the same as the response to its components given separately. The toxicity of the heat-stable toxin component was reduced greater than 600-fold. Immunization with optimal antigen unit dosages of the vaccine gave greater than or equal to sixfold increases in mucosal IgA antitoxin titers and provided significant (P less than 0.001) protection against challenge with heterologous serotypes of viable strains, of either human or porcine origin, that produce heat-stable or heat-labile toxin or both.
Consumption of the sewing thread of jean pant using taguchi design analysis

Abstract This work deals with the evaluation of sewing thread consumption in jeans and classic pants clothing. Six different input parameters are chosen and used for investigation. To objectively evaluate their contributions, a Taguchi design analysis was applied. Based on the comparison between each input parameter effect, this experimental analysis helped us to classify the overall tested factors. Indeed, our findings show that the sewing yarn affects widely the thread consumption during stitching of the pant. In spite of their non negligible impact, the number of stitches per cm and the needle type can be considered as influential input factors on thread consumption. In our experimental design the other tested factors were kept constant.
Prospective study of subclinical atherosclerosis as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism

Summary. Background: Whether atherosclerotic disease predisposes to venous thrombosis is uncertain. Objective: To determine whether subclinical atherosclerosis, manifested as increased carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) or presence of carotid plaque, is associated with increased incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Patients and methods: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study is a prospective cohort of adults aged 45–64 years, examined at baseline (1987–89) and followed for cardiovascular events. Bilateral carotid ultrasound for IMT measurements was done at baseline for portions of the common and internal carotid arteries, and carotid bifurcation and also to detect the presence of carotid plaque. Exclusion criteria included baseline anticoagulant use, history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or VTE, and incomplete data. First VTE during follow‐up was validated using abstracted medical records. Results: Among 13 081 individuals followed for a mean of 12.5 years, 225 first VTE events were identified. Unadjusted hazard ratios (HR) (95% CI) of VTE across quartiles of baseline IMT were 1.0, 1.16 (0.77–1.75), 1.64 (1.12–2.40), and 1.52 (1.03–2.25). However, this association disappeared after adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity (HRs: 1.0, 1.06, 1.40, and 1.18). Further adjustment for body mass index and diabetes weakened the relative risks even further. Presence of carotid plaque at baseline also was not associated with VTE occurrence; adjusted HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.72–1.29. Conclusion: Increased carotid IMT or presence of carotid plaque was not associated with an increased incidence of VTE in this middle‐aged cohort, suggesting subclinical atherosclerosis itself is not a VTE risk factor.
Patterns of Treatment Failure and Postrecurrence Outcomes Among Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Chemoradiotherapy Using Modern Radiation Techniques

Importance Even though 15% to 50% of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) experience recurrence, relatively little is known regarding patterns of treatment failure and postrecurrence outcomes after chemoradiotherapy using modern radiation techniques (intensity-modulated radiotherapy [IMRT]). Recurrence patterns are significantly affected by variations in the quality of radiotherapy, which may confound findings from multicenter trials. Objective To assess patterns of treatment failure and postrecurrence outcomes for patients with HNSCC treated with contemporary radiotherapy techniques. Design, Setting, and Participants This large single-institution cohort study reviewed the outcomes of 1000 consecutive patients with stage III to IVB oropharyngeal carcinoma (n = 703), laryngeal carcinoma (n = 126), or hypopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 46) treated with definitive IMRT with or without concurrent chemotherapy, as well as patients with oral cavity carcinoma (n = 125) treated with postoperative IMRT with or without concurrent systemic therapy, from December 1, 2001, to December 31, 2013, with a median follow-up of 65.1 months among surviving patients. Data analysis was performed from January 31, 2016, to February 17, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Patterns of treatment failure and overall survival following locoregional failure or distant metastasis. Results Among the 1000 patients (186 women and 814 men; mean [SD] age, 59.3 [10.8] years), there were no marginal or isolated out-of-radiation-field failures. Among subsites, the cumulative incidence of local failure was highest among patients with oral cavity carcinoma vs those with oropharyngeal carcinoma (hazard ratio, 5.2; 95% CI, 3.1-8.6; P < .001). Furthermore, patients with oral cavity carcinoma experienced significantly shorter survival following distant metastasis (hazard ratio, 3.66; 95% CI, 1.98-6.80; P < .001). Patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma positive for human papillomavirus or p16 lived longer after locoregional failure compared with patents with oropharyngeal carcinoma negative for human papillomavirus or p16 (median survival, 36.5 vs 13.6 months; P = .007) but not after distant metastasis. Salvage surgery was associated with improved overall survival following locoregional failure (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.34-0.77; P = .001); oligometastatic disease (1 vs ≥2 lesions: hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.63; P = .001) was associated with improved overall survival following distant metastasis. Conclusions and Relevance Overall survival after recurrence of HNSCC is influenced by the HNSCC subsite and human papillomavirus or p16 status, as well surgical and systemic interventions. An oligometastatic phenotype characterizes patients with solitary metastasis after chemoradiotherapy. These findings have important implications for clinical trial designs for HNSCC in the recurrent and oligometastatic setting.
[Intravenously stimulated insulin reserve of the pancreas following experimental pancreatic duct ligation in the swine--studies 2, 4 and about 60 days following ligation].

After pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) intravenous glucose tolerance tests (i.v. GTT) were performed in 12 pigs. The release of insulin and the corresponding blood sugar levels were controlled, the pancreata were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. In spite of a reduced number of beta-cells no reduction of glucose tolerance could be shown 60 days after PDL. Two days after the i.v. GTT showed an increased release of insulin corresponding with lowered blood sugar levels. This phenomenon is explained as a stimulated state of the beta-cell in the phase of interstitial edema.
Reassessment of Protein Stability, DNA Binding, and Protection of Mycobacterium smegmatis Dps*

The structure and function of Mycobacterium smegmatis Dps (DNA-binding proteins from starved cells) and of the protein studied by Gupta and Chatterji (Gupta, S., and Chatterji, D. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 5235-5241), in which the C terminus that is used for binding DNA contains a histidine tag, have been characterized in parallel. The native dodecamer dissociated reversibly into dimers above pH 7.5 and below pH 6.0, with apparent pKa values of ∼7.65 and 4.75; at pH ∼4.0, dimers formed monomers. Based on structural analysis, the two dissociation steps have been attributed to breakage of the salt bridges between Glu157 and Arg99 located at the 3-fold symmetry axes and to protonation of Asp66 hydrogen-bonded to Lys36 across the dimer interface, respectively. The C-terminal tag did not affect subunit dissociation, but altered DNA binding dramatically. At neutral pH, protonation of the histidine tag promoted DNA condensation, whereas in the native C terminus, compensation of negative and positive charges led to DNA binding without condensation. This different mode of interaction with DNA has important functional consequences as indicated by the failure of the native protein to protect DNA from DNase-mediated cleavage and by the efficiency of the tagged protein in doing so as a result of DNA sequestration in the condensates. Chemical protection of DNA from oxidative damage is realized by Dps proteins in a multistep iron oxidation/uptake/mineralization process. Dimers have a decreased protection efficiency due to disruption of the dodecamer internal cavity, where iron is deposited and mineralized after oxidation at the ferroxidase center.
Protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase and glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β regulate foam cell formation[S]

Evidence suggests a causative role for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the development of atherosclerosis. This study investigated the potential role of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3α/β in proatherogenic ER stress signaling. Thp1-derived macrophages were treated with the ER stress-inducing agents, glucosamine, thapsigargin, or palmitate. Using small-molecule inhibitors of specific unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathways, we found that protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK), but not inositol requiring enzyme 1 or activating transcription factor 6, is required for the activation of GSK3α/β by ER stress. GSK3α/β inhibition or siRNA-directed knockdown attenuated ER stress-induced expression of distal components of the PERK pathway. Macrophage foam cells within atherosclerotic plaques and isolated macrophages from ApoE−/− mice fed a diet supplemented with the GSK3α/β inhibitor valproate had reduced levels of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). GSK3α/β inhibition blocked ER stress-induced lipid accumulation and the upregulation of genes associated with lipid metabolism. In primary mouse macrophages, PERK inhibition blocked ER stress-induced lipid accumulation, whereas constitutively active S9A-GSK3β promoted foam cell formation and CHOP expression, even in cells treated with a PERK inhibitor. These findings suggest that ER stress-PERK-GSK3α/β signaling promotes proatherogenic macrophage lipid accumulation.
Effect of egg weight on hatchability and chick hatch-weight of Cobb 500 broiler chickens

This study was conducted to determine the effect of egg weight on hatchability and chick hatch-weight of Cobb 500 broiler chickens. A total of 396 Cobb 500 hatchable eggs classified according to three different egg weight groups as small: (<49 g) medium: (50-59 g) and large: (60-69 g) were used in the experiment. A complete randomized design of three treatments with three replicates and each replicate having” 44 eggs was used for the experiment. Simultaneously a linear type equation was used to determine the relationship between egg size and responses in hatchability values and chick hatch-weight. Results indicated that large-sized eggs produced chicks with higher (P<0.05) hatch-weight than medium and small-sized eggs. However, no differences were detected with fertility rate percentage, hatchability percentage and percentage hatch of fertile. It was therefore concluded from the result of the present study that sorting of Cobb 500 broiler chicken breeder eggs by weight prior to incubation might be advantageous in producing uniform size Cobb 500 broiler chicken hatchlings to meet specific market demands with improved efficiency.