Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Drosophila trithorax protein binds to specific chromosomal sites and is co‐localized with Polycomb at many sites.

trithorax is required to stably maintain homeotic gene expression patterns established during embryogenesis by the action of the transiently expressed products of the segmentation genes. The large trithorax proteins contain a number of highly conserved novel motifs, some of which have been hypothesized to interact directly with specific DNA sequences in their target genes. Using antibodies directed against trithorax proteins, we show that they are bound to 63 specific sites on the polytene chromosomes of the larval salivary gland. trithorax binding is detected at the sites of its known targets, the Bithorax and Antennapedia complexes, despite the transcriptionally repressed state of these loci in the salivary gland. A temperature‐sensitive trithorax mutation greatly reduces the number of binding sites. Simultaneous localization of trithorax and Polycomb indicates that many of their chromosomal binding sites coincide. We localized one trithorax binding site within a portion of the large 5′ regulatory region of the Ubx gene, to an interval which also contains binding sites for Polycomb group proteins. These results suggest that trithorax exerts its effects by binding directly or indirectly to specific DNA sequences in its target genes. Co‐localization with Polycomb also suggests that interactions between these activators and repressors of the homeotic genes may be a significant feature of their mode of action.
Synthetic peptides based on conserved Plasmodium falciparum antigens are immunogenic and protective against Plasmodium yoelii malaria

Two synthetic polypeptides containing multiple B‐ and T‐cell epitopes derived from the conserved regions of two vaccine candidate antigens namely MSA‐1 and RESA of human malarial parasite P. falciparum were studied for immunogenicity and protectivity. Both constructs elicited strong antibody and lymphocyte proliferation responses in BALB/c mice immunized with the carrier‐free peptides. In an ELISA, these peptides also bound antibodies present in the sera from the P. vivax infected humans as well as from the P. yoelii infected mice. Significantly, our data showed that immunization of mice with these P. falciparum peptide could impart partial protection against P. yoelii challenge infection. Our finding that synthetic peptides representing portions of P. falciparum antigens were capable of stimulating protective immune responses against rodent malaria suggests that murine malaria model P. yoelii may provide a suitable system for primary screening of potentially protective synthetic immunogens.
Extravascular contribution of blood oxygenation level‐dependent signal changes: A numerical analysis based on a vascular network model

In this study, the extravascular (EV) contribution to blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) signal changes was evaluated, based on a numerical analysis of the nondimensional Bloch‐Torrey equation for a vascular network model of randomly oriented paramagnetic vessels. From a statistical point of view, the susceptibility‐induced EV BOLD signal changes for both gradient‐ and spin‐echoes are shown to be proportional to cerebral blood volume (CBV). These changes can be expressed by a function of two nondimensional parameters: one represents the characteristic phase change of the signal induced by the deoxyhemoglobin‐containing vessels, and the other represents a diffusion effect relative to the vessel radius. The numerical results showed excellent agreement with the analytical solutions obtained previously for the regimes of small and large diffusion effects. Based on the numerical results for gradient‐ and spin‐echoes, it is possible to show the dependence of the EV BOLD contribution on the echo time, the static magnetic field strength, and the stimulation‐induced CBV change. This dependence can be demonstrated for vessels of small, intermediate, and large radii, which correspond respectively to the slow, intermediate, and fast diffusion regimes. A more realistic functional MRI (fMRI) simulation which includes an intravascular (IV) contribution is presented, with emphasis on the field strength dependence of the BOLD signal changes. Magn Reson Med 46:723–734, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Advanced 4H-SiC p-i-n Diode as Highly Sensitive High-Temperature Sensor Up To 460 °C

In this paper, a highly sensitive linear high-temperature sensor based on a 4H-SiC p-i-n diode is introduced. The sensor offers both a very high sensitivity up to 4.5 mV/°C and a high linearity (coefficient of determination <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}^{{2}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> up to 99.96%) for temperatures varying from room temperature up to 460 °C. Both parameters, linearity and sensitivity, are current density dependent. The best tradeoff between linearity (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}^{{2}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 99.96%) and sensitivity (4.3 mV/°C) was found for an applied current density of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.7~\mu \text{A}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>/cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{{2}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The proposed type of sensor is suitable for being integrated, e.g., into a smart high-voltage switch. Furthermore, the current transport mechanisms from room up to higher temperatures deduced from the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>–<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> characteristics are discussed, leading to the conclusion that recombination currents are predominant for a wide range of applied current densities. Thus, the increase in the intrinsic carrier concentration dominates the temperature dependence of the saturation current density. If required, applications at even higher temperatures are possible from the semiconductor point of view. But in this case, further optimizations of the manufacturing process for usability for this temperature range are recommended and discussed.
A Surgical Approach to Posterior Pilon Fractures

Posterior pilon fractures are injuries of the posterior tibial plafond that likely occur through a combined rotational and axial load mechanism and are often difficult to treat with standard surgical approaches to the ankle. We describe an alternative surgical approach to this injury using posteromedial, posterolateral, or combined approaches and present a series of patients with either radiographic or functional outcomes at a minimum of 1-year follow up that were treated by this method.
Targeting TGF-beta overexpression in renal disease: maximizing the antifibrotic action of angiotensin II blockade.

BACKGROUND Overproduction of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a key mediator of extracellular matrix accumulation in fibrotic diseases. We hypothesized that the degree of reduction of pathological TGF-beta expression can be used as a novel index of the antifibrotic potential of angiotensin II (Ang II) blockade in renal disease. METHODS One day after induction of Thy 1.1 glomerulonephritis, rats were treated with increasing doses of the Ang I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril and/or the Ang II receptor blocker losartan in the drinking water. Six days after disease induction the therapeutic effect on glomerular TGF-beta overexpression was evaluated. RESULTS Both enalapril and losartan reduced TGF-beta overproduction in a dose-dependent manner, showing a moderate reduction at doses known to control blood pressure in renal forms of hypertension. A maximal reduction in TGF-beta expression of approximately 45% was seen for both drugs starting at 100 mg/liter enalapril and 500 mg/liter losartan, with no further reduction at doses of enalapril up to 1000 mg/liter or losartan up to 2500 mg/liter. Co-treatment with both drugs was not superior to single therapy. Consistent with our hypothesis that reduction in TGF-beta expression is a valid target, other disease measures, including glomerular matrix accumulation, glomerular production and mRNA expression of the matrix protein fibronectin and the protease inhibitor plasminogen-activator-inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) closely followed TGF-beta expression. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that these therapies act through very similar pathways and that, in order to more effectively treat renal fibrosis, these drugs must be combined with other drugs that act by different mechanisms.
Deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A in German wheat and changes of level in relation to storage parameters

The occurrence of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in the winter wheat of 1997 and 1998 grown under organic farming conditions was investigated using ELISAs (R-Biopharm®) for quantification. The influence of delayed drying of the grain after harvest on the development of DON and OTA was determined in storage trials (moisture: 17% and 20%; temperature: 20°C; duration: four and six weeks). The Tox5 PCR assay was used both to detect Fusarium species with the potential to produce trichothecenes and as a measure of their relative DNA content during the storage trials. The intensity of the PCR signals was correlated with the DON concentration. Fusarium species were identified microscopically by standard methods. All the freshly harvested grain samples were contaminated with DON and showed further increases in the DON concentration during storage. OTA contamination was found in 14.3% of the 1997 samples and in 24.1% of the 1998 samples. OTA increased during storage trials of the 1997 samples but not in the 1998 samples.
Improving Opinion Aspect Extraction Using Semantic Similarity and Aspect Associations

Aspect extraction is a key task of fine-grained opinion mining. Although it has been studied by many researchers, it remains to be highly challenging. This paper proposes a novel unsupervised approach to make a major improvement. The approach is based on the framework of lifelong learning and is implemented with two forms of recommendations that are based on semantic similarity and aspect associations respectively. Experimental results using eight review datasets show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Antifungal Activity of Phenyllactic Acid against Molds Isolated from Bakery Products

ABSTRACT Phenyllactic acid (PLA) has recently been found in cultures of Lactobacillus plantarum that show antifungal activity in sourdough breads. The fungicidal activity of PLA and growth inhibition by PLA were evaluated by using a microdilution test and 23 fungal strains belonging to 14 species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium that were isolated from bakery products, flours, or cereals. Less than 7.5 mg of PLA ml−1 was required to obtain 90% growth inhibition for all strains, while fungicidal activity against 19 strains was shown by PLA at levels of ≤10 mg ml−1. Levels of growth inhibition of 50 to 92.4% were observed for all fungal strains after incubation for 3 days in the presence of 7.5 mg of PLA ml−1 in buffered medium at pH 4, which is a condition more similar to those in real food systems. Under these experimental conditions PLA caused an unpredictable delaying effect that was more than 2 days long for 12 strains, including some mycotoxigenic strains of Penicillium verrucosum and Penicillium citrinum and a strain of Penicillium roqueforti (the most widespread contaminant of bakery products); a growth delay of about 2 days was observed for seven other strains. The effect of pH on the inhibitory activity of PLA and the combined effects of the major organic acids produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from sourdough bread (PLA, lactic acid, and acetic acid) were also investigated. The ability of PLA to act as a fungicide and delay the growth of a variety of fungal contaminants provides new perspectives for possibly using this natural antimicrobial compound to control fungal contaminants and extend the shelf lives of foods and/or feedstuffs.
Adhesive Cementation of Direct Ceramic Restorations Using a Self-Etch Technique

The ability to develop a reliable bond between a ceramic restoration and the tooth is a key element in the clinical success with CAD/CAM direct ceramic restorations. Composite resin luting agents are currently the preferred material of choice for adhesively bonding ceramic restorations. They provide several advantages, such as a durable and strong bond to the tooth and ceramic, good color match, polishable marginal areas resulting in good margin adaptation, and convenient delivery systems.
Estimation of a groupwise additive multiple-index model and its applications

In this paper, we propose a simple linear least squares framework to deal with estimation and selection for a groupwise additive multiple-index model, of which the partially linear single-index model is a special case, and in which each component function has a single-index structure. We show that, somewhat unexpectedly, all index vectors can be recovered through a single least squares coefficient vector. As a direct application, for partially linear single-index models we develop a new two-stage estimation procedure that is iterative-free and easily implemented. This estimation approach can also be applied to develop, for the semi-parametric model under study, a penalized least squares estimation and establish its asymptotic behavior in sparse and high-dimensional settings without any nonparametric treatment. A simulation study and a real world data analysis are presented.
Comparison between glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient and normal individuals after eccentric exercise.

PURPOSE Theoretically, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient compared with nondeficient individuals may be less capable of performing physical activities and/or may be more vulnerable to muscle damage and oxidative stress. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a resistance muscle-damaging exercise bout on muscle function and damage, redox status in plasma, and erythrocytes and hemolysis. METHODS Nine males with established G6PD deficiency and nine males with normal G6PD activity performed an eccentric muscle-damaging exercise protocol. Isometric torque, range of motion, delayed onset muscle soreness, and creatine kinase were measured as indices of muscle function and damage. Reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, protein carbonyls, catalase, uric acid, and total antioxidant capacity were measured as indices of blood redox status. Plasma hemoglobin and bilirubin were measured as indices of hemolysis. All measurements conducted before, immediately after, and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 d after exercise. RESULTS All indices measured confirmed that eccentric exercise induced severe muscle damage, oxidative stress, and hemolysis, peaking at 2 and 3 d postexercise. Lower resting levels of reduced glutathione were detected in the G6PD-deficient group compared with the control group. Nevertheless, both the time course and the magnitude of the changes of the selected muscle performance, redox status (both in plasma and in erythrocytes), and hemolysis indices measured were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that G6PD-deficient individuals may participate in high-intensity muscle-damaging activities, without a negative impact on muscle function, blood redox status, and hemolysis.
Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS398 preserves neuronal function after hypoxia/ischemia in piglets

Anoxic stress attenuates NMDA-induced pial arteriolar dilation via a mechanism involving actions of cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS). We examined whether the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS398 would protect neuronal function after global hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) in piglets. Pial arteriolar responses to NMDA (10–100 μmol/l) were determined using intravital microscopy in anesthetized piglets before and 1 h after H/I. Study groups received vehicle, 0.3, 1, or 5 mg/kg NS398, or 0.3 mg/kg indomethacin (n = 7, 6, 6, 5 and 8, respectively) i.v. 20 min prior to H/I. H/I reduced NMDA- induced dilation to 44 ± 6% (100 μmol/l NMDA, mean ± s.e.m.) of the pre-ischemic response in vehicle animals (p < 0.05). However, NS398 dose-dependently protected arteriolar dilation to NMDA (77 ± 8, 81 ± 16, and 102 ± 10% preservation at 0.3, 1 and 5 mg/kg, respectively). Indomethacin caused similar preservation. However, indomethacin but not NS398 reduced serum thromboxane B2 levels to undetectable values. In conclusion, COX-2 appears to be a major source of ROS in the piglet cerebral cortex after H/I.
EFFECT OF CONDENSED TANNIN IN LOTUS CORNICULATUS AND LOTUS PEDUNCULATUS ON DIGESTION OF RUBISCO IN THE RUMEN

The in vitro precipitation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) by condensed tannin (CT) extracted from Lotus corniculatus and Lotus pedunculatus and the effect of these CT on the in vitro rumen degradation of Rubisco was used to compare the reactivity of these CT. The chemical structure of CT from Lotus corniculatus was homogenous with epicatechin stereochemistry and mostly procyanidin units. The CT from Lotus pedunculatus was heterogenous with mostly prodelphinidin units. The amount of CT required to precipitate all the Rubisco when total soluble leaf protein was incubated with CT from Lotus corniculatus and Lotus pedunculatus was similar. Although CT from both species were able to reduce the in vitro degradation of Rubisco, CT from Lotus corniculatus was less effective than CT from Lotus pedunculatus at reducing this degradation.
Modulation of the Cationic Amino Acid Transport System y+L by Surface Potential, Ouabain and Thrombin in Human Platelets: Effects of Uremia

Background: Nitric oxide (NO), a key endogenous mediator involved in the maintenance of platelet function, is synthesized from the amino acid L-arginine. We have shown that L-arginine transport in platelets is rate-limiting for NO synthesis. A disturbance in the L-arginine-NO pathway in platelets was previously described in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. Methods: Detailed kinetic studies were performed in platelets from controls (n = 60) and hemodialysis patients (n = 26). Results: The transport of L-arginine in platelets is mediated via system y+L, which is competitively inhibited by L-leucine in the presence of Na+ and by the irreversible inhibitor pCMB. In platelets, system y+L is markedly stimulated by an Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor, ouabain, and by changes in surface potential, while it is downregulated by intraplatelet amino acid depletion (zero-trans) and by thrombin. In CRF patients, activation of L-arginine transport was limited to well-nourished patients compared to malnourished patients and controls, where it was reduced and did not differ significantly among the groups under zero-trans conditions. Conclusion: Our results provide the first evidence that system y+L in platelets is modulated by zero-trans conditions, surface potential, thrombin and intraplatelet Na+ concentration. Our findings suggest that enhanced transport in CRF involves increased L-arginine exchange with intraplatelet neutral amino acids.
Estudio corneal y poblacional mediante tomografía con cámara rotacional de tipo Scheimpflug

espanolLa cornea es la capa mas anterior del ojo. Tiene una doble funcion estructural y optica, ya que presenta una rigidez suficiente para proteger el contenido intraocular y una transparencia y curvatura que le permiten actuar como la lente mas potente que dispone el ojo. El Pentacam es un topografo-tomografo que utiliza una camara rotacional de tipo scheimpflug para la evaluacion de la curvatura y paquimetria corneal. Nos permite conocer las dioptrias que tiene la cornea en cada punto, asi como su grosor. Esta informacion es muy importante tanto para planificaciones quirurgicas sobre la cornea como para el diagnostico de patologias de superficie ocular. El estudio propuesto consiste en la realizacion de una evaluacion de la cornea con el Pentacam a una amplia muestra de pacientes para estudiar los parametros de curvatura y paquimetria en la poblacion; describir su distribucion, su evolucion segun grupos de edad y el comportamiento de parametros para el screening de patologias corneales como las ectasias. EnglishThe cornea is the most outer layer of the eye. It has both structural and optical function, as its rigidity protects the intraocular content and its transparency and curvature make the cornea the most powerful natural lens of the eye. Pentacam is a Scheimpflug-based rotational camera topograph-tomograph, wich evaluates corneal curvature and pachymetry. These data are crucial on planning corneal surgery as well as screening corneal pathology. This study consist in evaluate the cornea of a big population with the Pentacam in order to study curvature and pachymetry data; describe its distribution and evolution by age groups. Also pretends to propose parameters for the screening of corenal diseases as ectasias.
Extended x-ray-absorption fine-structure studies of diamond and graphite.

We have recorded the extended x-ray-absorption fine structure (EXAFS) above the carbon K edge for diamond and highly oriented crystalline graphite using 250--800-eV synchrotron radiation. The spectra are used to test phase and amplitude transferability of the C-C EXAFS signal between the two bonding forms of carbon. We find excellent phaseshift transferability with errors in distances less than 0.01 A. Amplitude transferability is worse but better than 20%. Implications of our results for structural determinations of C-C bonds in molecules and solids are discussed.
The corticosterone stress response in Gentoo and King Penguins during the non-fasting period

formed by the Yellow-legged Gull which commonly prey on nests of Audouin’s Gull, especially in subcolonies with low densities (Oro and Martinez 1994, Gonzalez-Solis et al. 1995). However, Clode (1993) suggested that seabird aggregations have evolved to utilize a dispersed and unpredictable food supply; as such, she stated that colonial nesting leads to increased vulnerability to predation, rather than being a strategy selected to combat it.
A prospective study of exposure to rap music videos and African American female adolescents' health.

Rap music videos are a media genre that is attracting considerable attention. Rap music has evolved from African American music forms, with influences from rhythm and blues, fusion, contemporary gospel, and bebop.1–3 Although there is considerable concern regarding the themes and images expressed in rap music videos, limited empirical research has examined the effect of rap music videos on adolescents’ behavior.4 This investigation sought to determine whether exposure to rap music videos at baseline could predict the occurrence of health risk behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases among African American adolescent females over a 12-month follow-up period.