Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mtsym 6 , a Gene Conditioning Sinorhizobium Strain-Specific Nitrogen Fixation in Medicago truncatula 1

The availability of a wide range of independent lines for the annual medic Medicago truncatula led us to search for natural variants in the symbiotic association with Sinorhizobium meliloti. Two homozygous lines, Jemalong 6 and DZA315.16, originating from an Australian cultivar and a natural Algerian population, respectively, were inoculated with two wild-type strains of S. meliloti, RCR2011 and A145. Both plant lines formed nitrogen-fixing (effective) nodules with the RCR2011 strain. However, the A145 strain revealed a nitrogen fixation polymorphism, establishing an effective symbiosis (NodFix) with DZA315.16, whereas only small, white, non-nitrogen fixing nodules (NodFix) were elicited on Jemalong 6. Cytological studies demonstrated that these non-fixing nodules are encircled by an endodermis at late stages of development, with no visible meristem, and contain hypertrophied and autofluorescent infection threads, suggesting the induction of plant defense reactions. The non-fixing phenotype is independent of growth conditions and determined by a single recessive allele (Mtsym6), which is located on linkage group 8.
Rhinitis of Swine. VII. Production of Lesions in Pigs and Rabbits with a Pure Culture of Pasteurella Multocida.

Earlier attempts to produce rhinitis in baby pigs by the use of bacterial cultures, singly and in combination, were unsuccessful (1, 2, 3) except that subcutaneous injection of Pasteurella multocida in the frontal area of mice produced penetration of the bone in one case and a thinning of that tissue in an-other. The injections killed the majority of the infected mice. When isolated from the two affected mice the culture did not reproduce the condition.
Laparoscopic ovarian diathermy in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a retrospective study on the influence of the amount of energy used on the outcome.

BACKGROUND Currently, there is an uncertainty about the optimum number of punctures to be applied at laparoscopic ovarian diathermy (LOD). This retrospective study was undertaken to investigate the dose-response relationship of LOD. METHODS The hospital records of 161 women with polycystic ovarian syndrome who underwent LOD were reviewed and the clinical data before and after LOD were documented. Subjects were divided into six groups according to the number of punctures made in their ovaries as follows: group 1, two punctures per ovary; group 2, three punctures; group 3, four punctures; group 4, five punctures; group 5, six punctures and group 6, seven to 10 punctures. Contingency table analysis and analysis of variance were used to compare the outcomes of the different groups. RESULTS The rates of ovulation, conception and restoration of menstrual regularity after LOD were significantly lower in group 1 compared with other groups. There were no significant differences in the success rates between the other groups. CONCLUSION Two punctures per ovary are associated with poor results. Three punctures per ovary seem to represent the plateau dose. The application of seven or more punctures per ovary may result in excessive destruction to the ovary without any improvement of the results and should therefore be discouraged.
Mortality and economic development over the course of modernization: An analysis of short-run fluctuations in Spain, 1850-1990

Distributed lag models are used to explore the issue of the importance of economic factors for demographic performance over the course of the demographic and economic modernization of Spain. Mortality indicators are generated by age, sex, and cause and are assessed in terms of shifts in Gross Domestic Product. During the pre-transitional period, links between mortality and economic performance were simultaneous and rather weak but in the expected direction, declining to near 0 by the beginning of the twentieth century. Afterwards the importance of economic shifts for mortality fluctuations increased dramatically and delayed effects began to predominate, only disappearing after 1950. The paper explains the increase in the importance of economic factors and the change in the lag structure in terms of the greater economic volatility of the 1915-1950 period, the progressive implantation of more efficient public health systems and their sensitivity to economic fluctuations, and improving levels of nutrition and general health.
Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of Cotton and Cotton Trash

The application of Fourier Transform (FT) spectroscopy instruments has broadened the knowledge and capabilities of textile researchers to study a host of projects including surface modifications of cotton fibers to impart flame retardant capabilities, monitoring aging effects on ancient cellulosic artifacts (Kavkler et al., 2011; Lojewski et al., 2010), determining the amount of dye fixation to fabrics (Choi, H-M, et al., 1994), and characterization of cotton byproducts during the processing of cotton (Cheng and Biswas, 2011), to name a few. As can be observed from the above examples, the power and versatility of analyzing textiles with FT spectroscopy is proven.
"Pain elsewhere" and the impact of knee pain in older people.

OBJECTIVE To investigate how often knee pain is accompanied by pain elsewhere and to determine whether the presence of "pain elsewhere" than the knee influences either knee-related disability or the impact of knee pain on health and psychological status. METHODS A survey was mailed to 8,995 individuals (age > or =50 years) registered with 3 general practices in North Staffordshire in the UK. Patients recorded pain on a manikin and completed the Short-Form 36 health survey, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Responders were categorized as having no pain, knee pain with or without pain elsewhere, or other pain (no knee pain, but pain elsewhere). Those with knee pain or other pain were subdivided by the extent of pain elsewhere. RESULTS The adjusted survey response rate was 70%. Fifty-seven percent of responders with knee pain had pain in at least 2 other joint areas. Pain elsewhere was associated with lower physical function and with anxiety and depression both in the knee-pain group and in the other-pain group (associations were stronger in the knee-pain group). Knee pain and disability were less severe in those with knee pain alone than in those with knee pain and pain elsewhere, even after adjusting for age, sex, obesity, laterality of pain, and depression. CONCLUSION Most people with knee pain have multiple joint site pain. The importance of this to clinicians and researchers is that the severity of knee pain and related disability is worse in the presence of pain elsewhere. This finding has implications for the management and treatment of older people with knee pain.
Single Amino Acid Substitution (G456A) in the Vicinity of the GTP Binding Domain of Human Housekeeping Glutamate Dehydrogenase Markedly Attenuates GTP Inhibition and Abolishes the Cooperative Behavior of the Enzyme*

Human glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) exists in two isoforms encoded by the GLUD1 and GLUD2 genes, respectively. Although the two enzymes share in their mature form all but 15 of their 505 amino acids, they differ markedly in their allosteric regulation. To identify the structural basis for these allosteric characteristics, we performed site-directed mutagenesis on the human GLUD1 gene at sites that differ from theGLUD2 gene using a cloned GLUD1 cDNA. Results showed that substitution of Ala for Gly-456, but not substitution of His for Arg-470 or Ser for Asn-498, renders the enzyme markedly resistant to GTP inhibition (IC50 = 2.80 μm) as compared with the wild typeGLUD1-derived GDH (IC50 = 0.19 μm). The G456A mutation abolished the cooperative behavior of the enzyme, as revealed by the GTP inhibitory curves. The catalytic and kinetic properties of the G456A mutant and its activation by ADP were comparable with those of the wild type GDH. Gly-456 lies in a very tightly packed region of the GDH molecule, and its replacement by Ala may lead to steric clashes with neighboring amino acids. These, in turn, may affect the conformational state of the protein that is essential for the allosteric regulation of the enzyme by GTP.
Nested PCR for Rapid Detection of Mumps Virus in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Patients with Neurological Diseases

ABSTRACT In this study, we have developed a reverse transcription (RT)-nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) for the detection of mumps virus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with neurological infections. A specific 112-bp fragment was amplified by this method with primers from the nucleoprotein of the mumps virus genome. The mumps virus RT–n-PCR was capable of detecting 0.001 PFU/ml and 0.005 50% tissue culture infective dose/ml. This method was found to be specific, since no PCR product was detected in each of the CSF samples from patients with proven non-mumps virus-related meningitis or encephalitis. Mumps virus RNA was detected in all 18 CSF samples confirmed by culture to be infected with mumps virus. Positive PCR results were obtained for the CSF of 26 of 28 patients that were positive for signs of mumps virus infection (i.e., cultivable virus from urine or oropharyngeal samples or positivity for anti-mumps virus immunoglobulin M) but without cultivable virus in their CSF. Overall, mumps virus RNA was detected in CSF of 96% of the patients with a clinical diagnosis of viral central nervous system (CNS) disease and confirmed mumps virus infection, while mumps virus was isolated in CSF of only 39% of the patients. Furthermore, in a retrospective study, we were able to detect mumps virus RNA in 25 of 55 (46%) CSF samples from patients with a clinical diagnosis of viral CNS disease and negative laboratory evidence of viral infection including mumps virus infection. The 25 patients represent 12% of the 236 patients who had a clinical diagnosis of viral CNS infections and whose CSF was examined at our laboratory for a 2-year period. The findings confirm the importance of mumps virus as a causative agent of CNS infections in countries with low vaccine coverage rates. In summary, our study demonstrates the usefulness of the mumps virus RT–n-PCR for the diagnosis of mumps virus CNS disease and suggests that this assay may soon become the “gold standard” test for the diagnosis of mumps virus CNS infection.
Anabolic androgenic steroids induce micronuclei in buccal mucosa cells of bodybuilders

Objective: To evaluate genotoxicity of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in male bodybuilders by a micronucleus assay in buccal mucosa cells. Methods: 11 male bodybuilders volunteered to participate in this study and two groups were formed: group 1 (n = 6), without AAS consumption and group 2 (n = 5), with AAS consumption. A sample of buccal epithelium was taken from each participant once a week for 6 weeks. Samples were fixed, stained and analysed by a light microscope, and 2000 cells were counted from each slide. Results are expressed as micronucleated cells (MNC) per 1000 cells and were analysed by the Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon’s test. Results: A marked increased in MNC was seen in bodybuilders with AAS consumption compared with those without AAS consumption (mean (SD) 4.1 (2.4) MNC/1000 cells vs 0.4 (0.4) MNC/1000 cells, respectively; p<0.004). Intragroup comparisons showed no differences in the MNC frequencies during the sampling time in group 1, whereas the MNC frequency in group 2 varied significantly, reaching the highest MNC frequencies in the third and fourth week of sampling (5.9 (2.4) MNC/1000 cells; 5.8 (1.8) MNC/1000 cells, respectively); frequency in the first sampled week was 1.1 (0.1) MNC/1000 cells. Significant differences in all sampled weeks were found between the two groups. Conclusion: AAS consumption increased the frequency of MNC from buccal mucosa in bodybuilders.
Investigation of aldosterone-synthase inhibition in rats

Background In-vivo investigation of aldosterone-synthase inhibitors requires experimental models to characterize the biological effects of these compounds. Methods Seven successive experiments were performed in groups of 2-month-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats. Urinary free aldosterone was the main end-point measured during two contrasted diets: low sodium–high potassium (LS), inducing high urinary aldosterone (839 pmol/24 h, 95% confidence interval 654–1077), and high sodium–normal potassium (HS), inducing low urinary aldosterone (38.1 pmol/24 h; 95% confidence interval, 32.4–44.9). Results FAD 286 A (10 and 30 mg/kg) decreased urinary free aldosterone by 53 and 87% on the LS diet, and 50 and 75% on the HS. Plasma renin concentration increased three-fold after a 4-week treatment of 30 mg/kg FAD 286 A on the LS diet and did not change on the HS. The combination of FAD 286 A (30 mg/kg) and spironolactone (30 mg/kg) on the LS diet induced a biological picture of severe hypoaldosteronism and was not tolerated, whereas the HS diet prevented these abnormalities. The combination of FAD 286 A (30 mg/kg) and furosemide (30 mg/kg) on the HS diet corrected the diuretic-induced hypokalemia (4.1 ± 0.2 versus 3.7 ± 2.2 mEq/l, P < 0.033). Conclusion This experimental model will be useful to screen future aldosterone-synthase inhibitors and study their biological effects in various experimental conditions.
Características culturales nacionales, burnout y accidentabilidad laboral

En el ambito laboral, el burnout y la accidentabilidad han sido bastante estudiados, sin embargo, apenas hay estudios que consideren estos fenomenos comparando resultados de multiples paises conjuntamente y que analicen la influencia de las caracteristicas culturales nacionales de cada pais sobre ellos. Los estudios que componen esta tesis contribuyen a llenar este vacio y van encaminados a esclarecer las relaciones entre estas variables. A lo largo de seis capitulos, se comparan, por un lado, resultados del burnout de mas de 30 paises estimando una medida media de su intensidad (tamano de efecto), y se analizan las diferencias (heterogeneidad de resultados) y las variables que explican estas diferencias. Entre estas variables se incluyen las personales (sexo, edad, experiencia), las organizacionales (ocupacion) y las culturales (dimensiones culturales, lengua). Por otro lado, se estudia de que manera la cultura nacional puede influir en las diferencias de intensidad del burnout y en las diferencias en el uso de estrategias de afrontamiento. Por ultimo, se examina como la cultura nacional puede influir en la cantidad y gravedad de los accidentes laborales de los trabajadores extranjeros (mas de 30 nacionalidades) que trabajan en Espana. La metodologia utilizada ha sido muy variada y va desde los analisis descriptivos y correlacionales, pasando por analisis de regresion lineal y no lineal, hasta analisis multinivel y meta analisis. Entre los principales hallazgos se encuentran que la intensidad media del burnout se estima entre baja y moderada y que hay variabilidad entre los paises. Las variables contextuales tienen mayor poder predictivo que las personales, de forma que las dimensiones culturales pueden predecir el burnout. Tambien se encontraron diferencias en el numero de accidentes segun el pais de origen del trabajador y estas se pueden predecir con las dimensiones culturales. Por ultimo, se destaca la importancia y necesidad de incluir variables contextuales (organizacionales y culturales) en los programas de intervencion sobre el burnout y sobre los accidentes laborales. Este trabajo contribuye con la literatura sobre el burnout, el afrontamiento y los accidentes laborales y su relacion con las dimensiones culturales nacionales. Aunque los logros alcanzados son interesantes, sin embargo, el campo de investigacion que se abre ofrece grandes oportunidades para futuras investigaciones.
Evaluation of long-term effects in patients treated with Fränkel-2 appliance.

AIM To evaluate the dentoskeletal effects produced by Fränkel-2 (FR-2) appliance during the treatment of patients with Class II malocclusion by mandibular retrusion and to verify the long-term stability of these changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pre-treatment, post-treatment and long-term serial cephalograms (at least 10 years after the end of treatment) of patients treated with FR-2 were compared with data obtained from untreated controls. To be included in the study, patients and controls had to exhibit Class II malocclusion caused by short mandibular body. Lateral cephalograms were analysed with a specific tracing regimen in both groups. Summary measures for the initial cephalometric values and increments of changes between visits were calculated. RESULTS Compared to controls, the FR-2 treatment produced a significant decrease in the ANB angle that improved the skeletal intermaxillary and occlusal relationship. At long-term follow- up, the FR-2 group showed further improvements of skeletal intermaxillary and occlusal relationship, therefore the changes observed during treatment showed no compensatory decline or rebound. CONCLUSION FR-2 treatment, in conjunction with a period of post-functional fixed appliance therapy designed to perfect the occlusion, can produce a long-lasting improvement of the skeletal Class II malocclusions with little skeletal correction and significant incisor compensation.
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase does not impair spatial learning

Nitric oxide (NO), a putative intercellular messenger in the CNS, may be involved in certain forms of synaptic plasticity and learning. This article reports a series of experiments investigating the effects of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) upon various forms of learning and memory in the watermaze. L-NAME (75 mg/kg, i.p., sufficient to bring about > 90% inhibition of NO synthesis in brain) produced an apparent impairment in spatial learning when given to naive rats during acquisition (3 d, six training trials per day). This impairment was dose related, stereoselective, and attenuated by coadministration of L-arginine. A second study showed that L-NAME did not affect the retention of a previously learned spatial task. In addition, in a visual discrimination task, the rate at which criterion levels of performance were reached was unaffected by L-NAME. Thus, inhibition of NO synthase may cause a selective impairment of spatial learning without effect upon retention. However, analysis of the early training trials of the visual discrimination task revealed significantly elevated escape latencies in the L-NAME-treated rats, suggesting that inhibition of NO synthase may have more general effects. As normal rats learn the spatial task very rapidly, the possibility arises that the apparent deficit in learning is due to a disruption of some process other than learning per se. A further series of experiments investigated this possibility. L-NAME was found not to impair the learning of a new platform position in the same spatial environment. Surprisingly, L-NAME also had no effect on spatial learning in a second watermaze located in a novel spatial environment by rats well practiced with all aspects of watermaze training. Finally, L-NAME had no effect on spatial learning in naive rats trained with just one trial per day. Thus, systemic injection of an NO synthase inhibitor impairs behavioral performance in two tasks during their initial acquisition, but the basis of this functional disruption is unlikely to be due to any direct effect upon the mechanisms of spatial learning.
FRAGSTATS: spatial pattern analysis program for quantifying landscape structure.

McGarigal, Kevin; Marks, Barbara J. 1995. FRAGSTATS: spatial pattern analysis program for quantifying landscape structure. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-351. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 122 p. This report describes a program, FRAGSTATS, developed to quantify landscape structure. FRAGSTATS offers a comprehensive choice of landscape metrics and was designed to be as versatile as possible. The program is almost completely automated and thus requires little technical training. Two separate versions of FRAGSTATS exist: one for vector images and one for raster images. The vector version is an Arc/Info AML that accepts Arc/Info polygon coverages. The raster version is a C program that accepts ASCII image files, 8or 16-bit binary image files, Arc/Info SVF files, Erdas image files, and IDRISI image files. Both versions of FRAGSTATS generate the same array of metrics, including a variety of area metrics, patch density, size and variability metrics, edge metrics, shape metrics, core area metrics, diversity metrics, and contagion and interspersion metrics. The raster version also computes several nearest neighbor metrics. In this report, each metric calculated by FRAGSTATS is described in terms of its ecological application and limitations. Example landscapes are included, and a discussion is provided of each metric as it relates to the sample landscapes. Several important concepts and definitions critical to the assessment of landscape structure are discussed. The appendices include a complete list of algorithms, the units and ranges of each metric, examples of the FRAGSTATS output files, and a users guide describing how to install and run FRAGSTATS.
CpG oligonucleotides: novel regulators of osteoclast differentiation

The macrophage capability to recognize bacterial DNA is mimicked by oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated CG dinucleotides (‘CpG’ motifs) in specific sequence contexts (CpG ODN). CpG ODN stimulates NF‐κB activation in murine macrophages. In light of the pivotal role played by NF‐κBin osteoclast differentiation, we examined the ability of CpG ODN to modulate osteoclastogenesis. CpG ODN alone induced TRAP‐positive cells in bone marrow macrophage (BMM) cultures, but not multinucleation or calcitonin receptor expression. CpG ODN inhibited RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis when present from the beginning of BMM culture, but strongly increased RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis in RANKL‐pre‐treated BMMs. CpG ODN enhanced the expression of interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α). Antibodies to TNF‐α and the TNF type 1 receptor, but not the addition of IL‐1 receptor antagonist, blocked CpG ODN‐induced osteoclastogenesis in RANKL‐pretreated cultures. On the other hand, CpG ODN reduced expression of the M‐CSF receptor, which is critical during the initiation of osteoclast differentiation. These results suggest that CpG ODN, via the induction of TNF‐α, support osteoclastogenesis in cells that are committed to the osteoclast differentiation pathway but, due to down‐modulation of M‐CSF receptor, inhibit early steps of osteoclast differentiation. Thus, CpG ODN represents a potential therapeutic tool for treating bone diseases. —Zou, W. , Schwartz, H. , Endres, S. , Hartmann, G. , Bar‐Shavit, Z. CpG oligonucleotides: novel regulators of osteoclast differentiation. FASEB J. 16, 274–282 (2002)