Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN BACTERIOLOGY PART II

This is not a proper place for a detailed discussion of the theory of indicators. ,3 For adequate treatment of the manifold aspects of the subject the special literature must be consulted. In the papers of Noyes (1910) and Bjerrum (1915) will be found discussions and references to the literature bearing upon many of the theoretical aspects of the present discussion. The treatment in these papers has been developed chiefly with reference to the theory of titration, and it may therefore be profitable to review very briefly a few of the more important principles involved in this other use of indicators in order that those not familiar with the subject may gain an orderly and concise view of the logic of the colorimetric method, and in order that certain methods of expressing ideas which we wish to emphasize in a later discussion may be clear. According to the theory of electrolytic dissociation an acid of the type HA dissociates as follows:
DC-SIGN Neck Domain Is a pH-sensor Controlling Oligomerization

DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin receptor of dendritic cells and is involved in the early stages of numerous infectious diseases. DC-SIGN is organized into a tetramer enabling multivalent interaction with pathogens. Once formed, the DC-SIGN-pathogen complex can be internalized into compartments of increasing acidity. We have studied the pH dependence of the oligomerization state and conformation of the entire extracellular domain and neck region. We present evidence for equilibrium between the monomeric and tetrameric states of the extracellular domain, which exhibits a marked dependence with respect to both pH and ionic strength. Using solution x-ray scattering we have obtained a molecular envelope of the extracellular domain in which a model has been built. Our results highlight the central role of the neck domain in the pH-sensitive control of the oligomerization state, in the extended conformation of the protein, and in carbohydrate recognition domain organization and presentation. This work opens new insight into the molecular mechanism of ligand release and points to new avenues to block the first step of this important infection pathway.
Spontaneous growth in Chinese patients with Turner's syndrome and influence of karyotype

The pretreatment mixed cross‐sectional and longitudinal height measurements of 203 patients with Turner's syndrome (TS) were analysed. Only one observation was included per year per child and a total of 858 observations formed the basis of the growth study. The mean and SD values were fitted separately by a second‐degree polynomial function, giving smoothed growth curves. The spontaneous growth pattern of Chinese girls with TS runs parallel to published Caucasian TS growth curves. The mean final height of Chinese patients with TS was 142 cm compared to 147 cm and 139 cm observed in Northern European and Japanese patients, respectively. Patients with the 46, X, i(Xq) karyotype were found to be significantly shorter, whereas children with the 45, X/46, XY and 46, X, del(Xq) karyotypes were significantly taller among this group of patients. Patients with TS who were disomic for Xp are significantly taller than patients who were monosomic for Xp. Our results suggest that karyotype can have a significant effect on the growth of children with TS.
Author ' s personal copy Attention trades off spatial acuity

Covertly attending to a stimulus location increases spatial acuity. Is such increased spatial acuity coupled with a decreased acuity at unattended locations? We measured the effects of exogenous (transient and involuntary) and endogenous (sustained and voluntary) attention on observers’ acuity thresholds for a Landolt gap resolution task at both attended and unattended locations. Both types of attention increased acuity at the attended and decreased it at unattended locations relative to a neutral baseline condition. These trade-off findings support the idea that limited processing resources affect early vision, even when the display is impoverished and there is no location uncertainty. There was no benefit without a cost. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Green fluorescent protein as indicator of nonviral transient transfection efficiency in endometrial and testicular biopsies

In the last years, physical and chemical methods of plasmid delivery have revolutionized the efficiency of nonviral gene transfer, and the success of gene therapy is largely dependent upon the development of gene‐delivery methods. The nonviral techniques that lead to a direct transfer of DNA into tissue fragments, like electroporation (EP) and lipofection delivery systems are still insufficiently investigated. Our aim was to test the efficiency of EP and lipofection protocols in endometrial and testicular tissue fragments, using a naked plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). Because the transfection efficiency depends upon several factors, we tried to optimize the transfection conditions by testing different lipofectamine 2000 and plasmid ratios, electrical parameters, and culture after transfection. Our results show that these two nonviral methods of gene delivery are feasible and efficient in gene transfection of endometrial and testicular tissue biopsies. We found that the most performing ratio of plasmid:lipofectamine was 10:50 for transient lipofection, whereas two pulses for 10 s at 960 μF of capacitance, 200 V of voltage were the most favorable electrical parameters for EP efficiency in the presence of 5 μL of phMGFP plasmid. After lipofection and EP, the highest GFP intensity was observed respectively after 48 and 72 h of tissue fragment culturing. In conclusion, nonviral methods are attractive for an improvement of the gene therapy and our protocol could provide useful indications for in vivo gene therapy applications. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Delayed axonal pruning in the ant brain: A study of developmental trajectories

The coordination of neuronal maturation and behavioral development is a vital component of survival. The degradation of excessive axonal processes and neuronal networks is a ubiquitous developmental process. In Drosophila, a great portion of axonal pruning occurs during metamorphosis and transpires within hours after pupation. In contrast, we show, using EM‐serial sectioning and 3D‐reconstructions, that axonal pruning occurs after eclosion and over the course of 60 days in Cataglyphis albicans. Using the mushroom bodies of the brains of Cataglyphis, which have well‐developed lip (olfactory integrator) and collar (visual integrator) regions, we show that axonal pruning is dependent upon the differences in the developmental trajectory of the lip and the collar brain regions and happens after eclosion. The elimination of the axonal boutons is most delayed in the collar region, where it is postponed until the ant has had extensive visual experience. We found that individual brain components within a single neuropil can develop at different rates that correlate with the behavioral ecology of these ants and suggest that glia may be mediating the axonal pruning. Our study provides evidence that adult ants may have relatively neotenous brains, and thus more flexibility, allowing them to neuronally adapt to the environment. This neoteny may, in part, explain the neural basis for age‐dependent division of labor and the amazing behavioral flexibility exhibited by ants. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2009
A Longitudinal Study of the Factor VII Rise during Pregnancy

Summary A longitudinal study of 21 pregnant women has been undertaken using a variety of factor VII assays, including factor VIIa, to investigate the increase of factor VIIc. All assays demonstrated significant rises (p <0.001), most marked for factor VIIa (82%) and factor VIIc rabbit (81%). Smaller rises were seen for factor VIIc bovine (50%) and VII antigen (40%). Three indirect measures of activity state, factor VIIc rabbit:antigen, bovine:antigen and bovine:rabbit, provided conflicting data. Factor VIIa:antigen showed a significant increase of 36% (p <0.001). Within individual pregnancies the change in factor VIIc rabbit and antigen correlated with maternal weight gain (p <0.05). Two activity state measures, bovine:rabbit and bovine:antigen, showed negative correlation with birthweight. The increases in both zymogen and in activity state appear to contribute to the factor VIIc rise. The extent of this rise appears to be influenced by maternal weight gain. Increased factor VII activation is associated with reduced foetal growth.
Lung collagen: more than scaffolding.

Collagens of various types are the major group of proteins in the lung. They are present in all major structures, including airways, blood vessels, the interstitium of the lung parenchyma, and the basement membranes of epithelial and endothelial cells. Any alterations in quantity, structure, or the geometry of their distribution would be likely to alter lung function. Changes would have particularly dramatic effects if they occurred in the interstitium, where the distance between air and blood may be as little as 50 nm.1 A collagen molecule typically has a rod like structure, 300 nm in length and 3 nm in diameter, forming tightly packed fibrils with diameters up to about 100 nm. Any large deposits of collagen or collagen deposition with incorrect orientation within the interstitium may severely impede gas exchange; while loss of collagen from the interstitium would lead to disruption of the normal alveolar network, and loss from basement membranes would compromise their role controlling entry of materials to and from cells in the lung. Not surprisingly perhaps against this background, lung diseases occur in which imbalances in collagen structure or metabolism appear to play a part. This editorial review describes some of the developments in our understanding of lung collagen and its role in pulmonary disease. Particular attention will
Extragonadal distribution of primordial germ cells in the early chick embryo

Chick primordial germ cells (PGCs), after separation from the endoderm in early embryonic development, temporarily circulate via the blood vascular system and finally migrate into the gonadal anlagen. It has been noted by some authors that some PGCs are present in extragonadal sites in some vertebrates. In the present study, we examined the distribution and localization of PGCs in extragonadal sites in the chick embryo. PGCs were identified by periodic acid‐Schiff staining with light microscopy. In embryos at stages 20–24 (PGCs are in the settlement stage in the gonadal primordium), approximately 20% of the total number of PGCs were observed in extragonadal regions. Approximately 90% of these ectopic PGCs were found in the head, mainly in the mesenchyme surrounding the neural tube. Even at stage 14 when PGCs were usually circulating in the blood vessels, some of the PGCs had emerged from the blood vessels and were detected in the extragonadal site. The pattern of distribution of ectopic PGCs in the head area is probably attributed to the earlier, dominant development of the capillay network, and to the sluggish capillary blood flow in that region, which allows intravascular PGCs to escape into the tissue.
Remaining useful life prediction of individual units subject to hard failure

To develop a cost-effective condition-based maintenance strategy, accurate prediction of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) is the key. It is known that many failure mechanisms in engineering can be traced back to some underlying degradation processes. This article proposes a two-stage prognostic framework for individual units subject to hard failure, based on joint modeling of degradation signals and time-to-event data. The proposed algorithm features a low computational load, online prediction, and dynamic updating. Its application to automotive battery RUL prediction is discussed in this article as an example. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through a simulation study and real data.
Role of Cognition and Priming in Interlimb Generalization of Adaptive Control of Gait Stability

ABSTRACT The authors examined the impact of (a) awareness of impending slip and (b) priming (to accelerate learning) on interlimb transfer of acquired stability control. Among the participants, 12 of 24 young individuals were not informed of 2 impending slips on the nontrained left-side (UNWARN), whereas the other 12 knew the exact timing and location of the 1st left slip (WARN) following 24 right-side slips, given to all participants while walking. Both groups reduced the backward loss of balance (BLOB) incidence from 100% on the first slip to 0% on 24th slip. The authors found significantly better transfer of the improved stability control in WARN than in UNWARN, resulting in a greater reduction in BLOB on the 1st left slip (55% vs. 92%, respectively). The priming was evident with no BLOB on the 2nd left slip versus 50% on the 2nd right slip. Thus, the interlimb generalization can be improved by cognition and evidenced in priming.
Single and multi-gene phylogeny of Hepatospora (Microsporidia) – a generalist pathogen of farmed and wild crustacean hosts

SUMMARY Almost half of all known microsporidian taxa infect aquatic animals. Of these, many cause disease in arthropods. Hepatospora, a recently erected genus, infects epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas of wild and farmed decapod crustaceans. We isolated Hepatospora spp. from three different crustacean hosts, inhabiting different habitats and niches; marine edible crab (Cancer pagurus), estuarine and freshwater Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and the marine mussel symbiont pea crab (Pinnotheres pisum). Isolates were initially compared using histology and electron microscopy revealing variation in size, polar filament arrangement and nuclear development. However, sequence analysis of the partial SSU rDNA gene could not distinguish between the isolates (~99% similarity). In an attempt to resolve the relationship between Hepatospora isolated from E. sinensis and C. pagurus, six additional gene sequences were mined from on-going unpublished genome projects (RNA polymerase, arginyl tRNA synthetase, prolyl tRNA synthetase, chitin synthase, beta tubulin and heat shock protein 70). Primers were designed based on the above gene sequences to analyse Hepatospora isolated from pea crab. Despite application of gene sequences to concatenated phylogenies, we were unable to discriminate Hepatospora isolates obtained from these hosts and concluded that they likely represent a single species or, at least subspecies thereof. In this instance, concatenated phylogenetic analysis supported the SSU-based phylogeny, and further, demonstrated that microsporidian taxonomies based upon morphology alone are unreliable, even at the level of the species. Our data, together with description of H. eriocheir in Asian crab farms, reveal a preponderance for microvariants of this parasite to infect the gut of a wide array of decapods crustacean hosts and the potential for Hepatospora to exist as a cline across wide geographies and habitats.
Genetics of antibiotic production

INTRODUCTION . 596 INCIDENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION . 596 General. 596 Fungi. 597 Actinomycetes . 597 Eubacteria . 598 GENETIC SYSTEMS AVAILABLE IN ANTIBIOTIC-PRODUCING MICROORGANISMS . 598 General. 598 Fungi. 599 Actinomycetes . 601 Transformation in Thermoactinomyces . 601 Conjugation in other genera . 601 Conjugation and its consequences in Streptomyces . 602 Linkage analysis in Streptomyces . 602 Heteroclones in Streptomyces . 604 Heterokaryons in Streptomyces . 604 Plasmids in Streptomyces . 605 Interspecific recombination in Streptomyces . 605 Recombination in N. mediterranei . 605 Recombination in Micromonospora . 605 Recombination by protoplast fusion. 605 Eubacteria. 605 SOME REMARKS ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION . 606 Primary and Secondary Metabolites . 606 Regulation of Secondary Metabolic Pathways . 606 Pleiotropic Effects of Mutations on Antibiotic Production . 607 The Adaptive Significance of Antibiotics . 607 "Low Specificity" of Secondary Metabolic Enzymes . 607 Chemical Classes of Antibiotics . 608 Why "Biogenesis"? 608 MUTATIONAL STUDIES OF ANTIBIOTIC SYNTHESIS . 608 Fungi. 608 P. chrysogenum . 608 A. nidulans . 610 C. acremonium . 611 P. griseofulvum . 613 P. patulum . 614 0. mucida . 614 Actinomycetes . 614 Tetracyclines. 614 Macrolides . 615 Aminocyclitols (aminoglycosides). 615 Novobiocin . 616 Rifamycins . 616 Actinorhodin . 616 Zorbamycin, etc . 617 Plasmid involvement in antibiotic synthesis . 617 Eubacteria . 619 Peptide antibiotics of bacilli . 619 Butirosin. 619 Nisin. 619 Prodigiosin . 620 QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION . 620 General Principles of Polygenic Control of Quantitative Characters . 620
Comparison of the Cost of Hospitalization for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Versus Palivizumab Prophylaxis in Canadian Inuit Infants

Background: The objectives were to compare actual respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization rates and costs in a cohort of Inuit infants to hypothetical palivizumab prophylaxis strategies for infants of all gestational ages in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Methods: Incidence and costs of RSV hospitalization were collected for infants admitted to the Baffin Regional Hospital in 2002, before the initiation of palivizumab. There was a comparison of the actual costs to the costs associated with 8 palivizumab strategies stratified by age (<6 months, <1 year) and location (overall, town [Iqaluit], rural communities). It was assumed that each category would receive universal palivizumab prophylaxis resulting in a 78% decrease in RSV admissions. The net costs incurred, number needed to treat (NNT), and incremental costs per hospitalization avoided were calculated for each comparison. Results: There was a great variation in the rates and costs associated with RSV admissions between Iqaluit and the communities. For infants <1 year of age residing in Iqaluit, the mean admission cost was $3915, and palivizumab prophylaxis had an NNT of 20.4 and cost of $162,551 per admission avoided. For rural infants <6 months, the mean cost of admission was $23,030, and palivizumab prophylaxis resulted in an NNT of 3.9 to 2.5 and cost savings of up to $8118 per admission avoided. Conclusions: Due to the high rates and costs associated with RSV admissions, administration of palivizumab in rural communities in the Canadian Arctic to infants less than 6 months of age could result in net cost savings.
DNA Polymerase ζ Accounts for the Reduced Cytotoxicity and Enhanced Mutagenicity of Cisplatin in Human Colon Carcinoma Cells That Have Lost DNA Mismatch Repair

The mutagenicity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP; cisplatin) and the rate at which resistance develops with repeated exposure to DDP are dependent on mutagenic translesional replication across DDP DNA adducts, mediated in part by DNA polymerase ζ, and on the integrity of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. The aim of this study was to determine whether disabling Pol ζ by suppressing expression of its hREV3 subunit in human cancer cells can reduce the mutagenicity of DDP and whether loss of MMR facilitates mutagenic Pol ζ-dependent translesional bypass. The HCT116+ch3 (MMR+/REV3+) and HCT116 (MMR−/REV3+) human colon carcinoma cell lines were engineered to suppress hREV3 mRNA by stable expression of a short hairpin interfering RNA targeted to hREV3. The effect of knocking down REV3 expression was to completely offset the DDP resistance mediated by loss of MMR. Knockdown of REV3 also reduced the mutagenicity of DDP and eliminated the enhanced mutagenicity of DDP observed in the MMR−/REV3+ cells. Similar results were obtained when the ability of the cells to express luciferase from a platinated plasmid was measured. We conclude that Pol ζ plays a central role in the mutagenic bypass of DDP adducts and that the DDP resistance, enhanced mutagenicity, and the increased capacity of MMR−/REV3+ cells to express a gene burdened by DDP adducts are all dependent on the Pol ζ pathway.
Why IQ is not a covariate in cognitive studies of neurodevelopmental disorders

Abstract IQ scores are volatile indices of global functional outcome, the final common path of an individual’s genes, biology, cognition, education, and experiences. In studying neurocognitive outcomes in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, it is commonly assumed that IQ can and should be partialed out of statistical relations or used as a covariate for specific measures of cognitive outcome. We propose that it is misguided and generally unjustified to attempt to control for IQ differences by matching procedures or, more commonly, by using IQ scores as covariates. We offer logical, statistical, and methodological arguments, with examples from three neurodevelopmental disorders (spina bifida meningomyelocele, learning disabilities, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) that: (1) a historical reification of general intelligence, g, as a causal construct that measures aptitude and potential rather than achievement and performance has fostered the idea that IQ has special status and that in studying neurocognitive function in neurodevelopmental disorders; (2) IQ does not meet the requirements for a covariate; and (3) using IQ as a matching variable or covariate has produced overcorrected, anomalous, and counterintuitive findings about neurocognitive function. (JINS, 2009, 15, 331–343.)
VersaJet Hydrosurgery System: An Effective Device for Flap Deepithelialization

Abstract Many instruments and techniques to reduce time and effort for deepithelialization have been described, but they are time-consuming and labor-intensive. The VersaJet Hydrosurgery System (Smith Nephew, Hull, United Kingdom) has gained widespread acceptance and use for fast, selective, and easy soft tissue debridement. The authors described the use of the VersaJet Hydrosurgery System for flap deepithelialization. Operative techniques, overall time, and histology are reviewed. Six gluteus maximus myocutaneous V-Y advancement flaps were used in 3 patients who underwent flap insetting with partial deepithelialization by VersaJet. The mean time savings was 12 minutes (range, 10–15 min). The flap deepithelialized by VersaJet shows significantly even and regular surface in gross view. In the histologic study, the thickness of preserved papillary dermis was thicker using the Versajet because it contains much skin appendages when compared with conventional scalpel debridement. No patients developed infection, epidermal cyst, or hematoma. The VersaJet provides safe, effective, and tissue-preserving deepithelialization compared with using scalpel.