Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants for glycophospholipid anchoring of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAS1 protein to the plasma membrane

A 125-kDa glycoprotein exposed on the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells belongs to a class of eucaryotic membrane proteins anchored to the lipid bilayer by covalent linkage to an inositol-containing glycophospholipid. We have cloned the gene (GAS1) encoding the 125-kDa protein (Gas1p) and found that the function of Gas1p is not essential for cell viability. The nucleotide sequence of GAS1 predicts a 60-kDa polypeptide with a cleavable N-terminal signal sequence, potential sites for N- and O-linked glycosylation, and a C-terminal hydrophobic domain. Determination of the anchor attachment site revealed that the C-terminal hydrophobic domain of Gas1p is removed during anchor addition. However, this domain is essential for addition of the glycophospholipid anchor, since a truncated form of the protein failed to become attached to the membrane. Anchor addition was also abolished by a point mutation affecting the hydrophobic character of the C-terminal sequence. We conclude that glycophospholipid anchoring of Gas1p depends on the integrity of the C-terminal hydrophobic domain that is removed during anchor attachment.
Anatomical and physiological development of the Xenopus embryonic motor system in the absence of neural activity

Embryos of Xenopus laevis were continually immobilized by immersion in solutions of either chloretone or lidocaine, from the late neural-fold stage to the approximate time of hatching. Such treatment has been shown to result in only transient quantitative effects on swimming behavior. Chronic immobilization was without either immediate or long- term effect on the ventral root output exhibited during “fictive” swimming episodes. Development under these conditions of diminished or absent neural activity similarly had no effects on a number of measures of the size and complexity of motoneuron dendritic arborizations. These results support the premise that the early development of specific neuronal morphology and connectivity may be largely independent of functional activity.
Regulation of Ca 2 release through inositol 1 , 4 , 5-trisphosphate receptors by adenine nucleotides in parotid acinar cells

Park HS, Betzenhauser MJ, Zhang Y, Yule DI. Regulation of Ca release through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors by adenine nucleotides in parotid acinar cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 302: G97–G104, 2012. First published September 29, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00328. 2011. —Secretagogue-stimulated intracellular Ca signals are fundamentally important for initiating the secretion of the fluid and ion component of saliva from parotid acinar cells. The Ca signals have characteristic spatial and temporal characteristics, which are defined by the specific properties of Ca release mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3R). In this study we have investigated the role of adenine nucleotides in modulating Ca release in mouse parotid acinar cells. In permeabilized cells, the Ca release rate induced by submaximal [InsP3] was increased by 5 mM ATP. Enhanced Ca release was not observed at saturating [InsP3]. The EC50 for the augmented Ca release was 8 M ATP. The effect was mimicked by nonhydrolysable ATP analogs. ADP and AMP also potentiated Ca release but were less potent than ATP. In acini isolated from InsP3R-2-null transgenic animals, the rate of Ca release was decreased under all conditions but now enhanced by ATP at all [InsP3]. In addition the EC50 for ATP potentiation increased to 500 M. These characteristics are consistent with the properties of the InsP3R-2 dominating the overall features of InsP3Rinduced Ca release despite the expression of all isoforms. Finally, Ca signals were measured in intact parotid lobules by multiphoton microscopy. Consistent with the release data, carbachol-stimulated Ca signals were reduced in lobules exposed to experimental hypoxia compared with control lobules only at submaximal concentrations. Adenine nucleotide modulation of InsP3R in parotid acinar cells likely contributes to the properties of Ca signals in physiological and pathological conditions.
Genotypic distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among acute cases of HBV infection, selected United States counties, 1999-2005.

BACKGROUND Knowledge of the genotypic distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) facilitates epidemiologic tracking and surveillance of HBV infection as well as prediction of its disease burden. In the United States, HBV genotyping studies have been conducted for chronic but not acute hepatitis B. METHODS Serum samples were collected from patients with acute hepatitis B cases reported from the 6 counties that participated in the Sentinel Counties Study of Acute Viral Hepatitis from 1999 through 2005. Polymerase chain reaction followed by nucleotide sequencing of a 435-base pair segment of the HBV S gene was performed, and the sequences were phylogenetically analyzed. RESULTS Of 614 patients identified with available serum samples, 75% were infected with genotype A HBV and 18% were infected with genotype D HBV. Thirty-two percent of genotype A sequences constituted a single subgenotype A2 cluster. The odds of infection with genotype A (vs with genotype D) were 5 times greater among black individuals than among Hispanic individuals (odds ratio [OR], 5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-10.7). The odds of infection with genotype A were 49, 8, and 4 times greater among patients from Jefferson County (Alabama), Pinellas County (Florida), and San Francisco (California), respectively, than among those living in Denver County (Colorado). Genotype A was less common among recent injection drug users than it was among non-injection drug users (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.4). CONCLUSIONS HBV genotype distribution was significantly associated with ethnicity, place of residence, and risk behavior.
Measuring total and domain-specific sitting: a study of reliability and validity.

PURPOSE Although independent relationships between sitting behaviors (mainly television viewing) and health outcomes have been reported, few studies have examined the measurement properties of self-report sitting questions. This study assessed gender-specific test-retest reliability and validity of a questionnaire that assessed time spent sitting on weekdays and weekend days: 1) traveling to and from places, 2) at work, 3) watching television, 4) using a computer at home, and 5) for leisure, not including television. METHODS Test-retest reliability of domain-specific sitting time (min x d(-1)) on weekdays and weekend days was assessed using data collected on two occasions (median = 11 d apart). Validity of domain-specific self-reported sitting time on weekdays and weekend days was assessed against log data and sedentary accelerometer data. RESULTS Complete repeat questionnaire and log data were obtained from 157 women (aged 51-59 yr) and 96 men (aged 45-63 yr). Reliability coefficients were high for weekday sitting time at work, watching television, and using a computer at home (r = 0.84-0.78) but lower for weekend days across all domains (r = 0.23-0.74). Validity coefficients were highest for weekday sitting time at work and using a computer at home (r = 0.69-0.74). With the exception of computer use and watching television for women, validity of the weekend-day sitting time items was low. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the importance of measuring domain- and day-specific sitting time. The measurement properties of questions that assess structured domain-specific and weekday sitting time were acceptable and may be used in future studies that aim to elucidate associations between domain-specific sitting and health outcomes.
Transdisciplinary working: Evaluating the development of health and social care provision in mental health

The NHS Plan (DoH, 2000), consistent with earlier policy documents, emphasises the need for integrated working between health and social care. However, the path to achieving integration appears to be littered with as many failures of teamworking as successes. This paper reports on an evaluation of the development of a team of practitioners working with clients with severe enduring mental health problems. Soft systems methodology enabled the researchers to inform service development rather than merely describing its process and outcomes. Care management was proactive rather than crisis orientated, with prompt response to subtle changes in clients' needs, facilitated by the employment of Community Support Workers. New care processes and structures enabled client and professional knowledge to be used as a resource to inform decisions about care. The practitioners managed this knowledge through informal trans-disciplinary exchange, promoting access to the fine detail of the relationship between user need and service provision.
Hypoglycemia and the decision to drive a motor vehicle by persons with diabetes.

CONTEXT Laboratory studies have shown impairments in driving performance among subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus when their blood glucose (BG) level is between 2.6 and 3.6 mmol/L (47-65 mg/dL). However, to our knowledge, no data exist examining subjects' decisions to drive at various BG levels during their daily routine. OBJECTIVE To examine type 1 diabetic subjects' decisions to drive during their daily routine based on perception of BG levels compared with actual measured BG levels. DESIGN AND SETTING Two separate groups of patients were recruited 2 years apart from 4 academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS All subjects were adults with type 1 diabetes who were drivers and who performed at least 2 BG tests per day. Group 1 (initial) subjects (n = 65) had a mean (SD) age of 38.6 (8.9) years with a mean (SD) diabetes duration of 20.5 (10.6) years, were taking 38.8 (16.8) U/d of insulin, and had a mean (SD) glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) level of 10.0% (1.9%). Group 2 (replication) subjects (n = 93) were 35.8 (8.0) years old with a mean diabetes duration of 17.0 (10.6) years, were taking 40.0 (15.5) U/d of insulin, and had a mean (SD) HbA1 level of 8.5% (1.6%). Each subject used a handheld computer to record data on symptoms, cognitive function, insulin dosage, food, activity, estimated and actual BG levels, and whether he/she would drive. Data were entered 3 to 6 times per day for a total of 50 to 70 collections per subject during a 3- to 4-week period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Decisions to drive when subjects estimated their BG level to be less than 2.2 mmol/L (40 mg/dL), 2.2 to 2.8 mmol/L (40-50 mg/dL), 2.8 to 3.3 mmol/L (50-60 mg/dL), 3.3 to 3.9 mmol/L (60-70 mg/dL), 3.9 to 10 mmol/L (70-180 mg/dL), and more than 10 mmol/L (>180 mg/dL), and driving decisions when actual BG levels were in these ranges. RESULTS Subjects stated they would drive 43% to 44% of the time when they estimated their BG level to be 3.3 to 3.9 mmol/L (60-70 mg/dL), and 38% to 47% of the time when their actual BG level was less than 2.2 mmol/L (40 mg/dL). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that number of autonomic symptoms, degree of impairment on cognitive function tests, and BG level estimate predicted 76% to 80% of decisions to drive (P<.01 for all). Approximately 50% of subjects in each group decided to drive at least 50% of the time when their BG level was less than 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that persons with type 1 diabetes may not judge correctly when their BG level is too low to permit safe driving and may consider driving with a low BG level even when they are aware of the low level. Health care professionals should counsel their patients about the risk of driving with hypoglycemia and the importance of measuring BG level before driving.
Noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure in neutropenic patients with acute respiratory failure requiring intensive care unit admission

ObjectiveTo evaluate the tolerance and the efficacy of noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in severe acute respiratory failure occurring in intensive care unit (ICU) neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies, and to establish predictive variables of efficacy of this method. DesignProspective study over a 5-yr period. SettingHematologic and medical intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. MethodsAmong 129 neutropenic patients admitted to the ICU, 64 patients presented with febrile acute hypoxemic normocapnic respiratory failure (Pao2/Fio2 ratio <200) and were enrolled. In addition to standard therapy, patients received CPAP with a facial mask. The initial settings of the CPAP were 6 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure and Fio2 0.8 (80%). Physiologic measurements were performed at the end of 45 mins of ventilation with first adjustments. CPAP was used with a sequential mode (45 mins/3 hrs). CPAP was efficient if intubation was avoided. ResultsThe setting of CPAP, after adjustments, was as follows: positive end-expiratory pressure 7 ± 1 cm H2O and Fio2 0.7 ± 0.1 (70% ± 10%). For the 64 patients, CPAP was administered for a total of 6 ± 2 hrs during the first 24 hrs. The mean duration of CPAP was 7 ± 3 days. A reduction in respiratory rate to less than 25 breaths/min was achieved in 53% of patients. Pao2/Fio2 ratio increased from 128 ± 32 to 218 ± 28. CPAP was successful in avoiding endotracheal intubation in 16/64 patients. A total of 16 responders and four nonresponders survived. Hepatic failure was a criterion indicating the failure of CPAP1/16 vs. 26/48 (p = .001). In multivariate analysis, two variables were predictive of failure of CPAPSimplified Acute Physiology Score II (58 ± 14 vs. 41 ± 11) and a hepatic failure at the entry into the study. ConclusionCPAP was efficient in 25% of cases. All the responders survived. This noninvasive method was used as a way to avoid mechanical ventilation, which is well correlated with a poor prognosis in neutropenic ICU patients. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of noninvasive CPAP and to evaluate the most appropriate selection of immunocompromised patients.
Immunocytochemical characteristics of elbow, knee and ankle muscles of the five‐toed jerboa (Allactaga elater)

Biochemical adaptations of limb myofibres to intensive bipedal hopping were investigated using the five‐toed jerboa Allactaga elater as a model in comparison with the rat. Immunofluorescence methods included immunoreactivity to anti‐fast and anti‐slow MHC and troponin I. There is no specialization of triceps caput mediale for postural function in the minute non‐locomotor forelimbs, unlike quadruped mammals. The various elbow extensor heads and the flexor muscles are alike with regard to fibre type population and cross‐sectional areas of each type of fibre. The extensor muscle in the elongated hindlimbs of the five‐toed jerboa, at both the knee and the ankle joints, differ from each other extensively. One head, made up of an extremely high percentage of type I, fatigue‐resistant fibres, is suited to postural function. Two extensor heads at each joint contain a very high percentage of type IIB fibres (having the greatest maximal velocity of contraction) and are able to produce the powerful acceleration needed to trigger the leap. The relative cross‐sectional areas of the myofibres are characteristic of hopping locomotion: predominance in number of one type of myofibre in a muscle accompanies greater cross‐sectional area, which increases muscle efficiency in either postural or accelerative function of the muscle.
FIELD COMPARISON OF BERMUDA-HAY INFUSION TO INFUSIONS OF EMERGENT AQUATIC VEGETATION FOR COLLECTING FEMALE MOSQUITOES

ABSTRACT Field experiments were conducted in east-central Alabama in 2003 and 2004 to compare the attractiveness of selected gravid-trap infusions to ovipositing female mosquitoes. Comparisons were made among infusions of the following plants: Bermuda hay, Cynodon dactylon, and 3 species of emergent aquatic plants typical of Culex larval habitats, i.e., soft rush, Juncus effusus; a common sedge, Rhynchospora corniculata; and broad-leaf cattail, Typha latifolia. Experiments were conducted at a site in Lee County, AL, with an abundance of common nuisance mosquitoes, including Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus. Carbon dioxide–baited miniature light traps were operated concurrently with gravid traps to provide an activity index of mosquito species at the site. Gravid traps with hay infusion collected the greatest numbers of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Culex restuans females (2003). The results indicate that hay infusion is highly attractive to Cx. quinquefasciatus and is the infusion of choice for collecting females of this species in gravid traps. In the case of Ae. albopictus, infusions were not determined to be significantly different from one another in their attractiveness to gravid females. In general, females of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. restuans demonstrated selectivity when choosing an oviposition site, whereas Ae. albopictus females did not. Factors associated with the oviposition biology of the latter species most likely account for their lack of preference for any single infusion type.
Tuning graphene/silicon Schottky barrier height by chemical doping

We demonstrate that the Schottky barrier height of graphene/silicon heterojunction can be efficiently tuned by chemical methods. The accurate value of Schottky barrier height can be extracted by measuring the temperature-dependent IV curve of graphene/silicon heterojunction. The height value is calculated from the slope of Richardson plot (logI/T2 vs. 1/T) of the reverse current region dominated by thermionic emission. Chemical dopants like AuCl3 and NH4F are employed to tune the Fermi level of graphene, and the doping effect is verified by gate-dependent transfer characteristics. Further experiments investigate the influence of doping time and dopant concentration on graphene's doping level. The results show that the doping level gradually increases as the doping time or concentration increase, indicating the possibility to precisely control doping level. In our experiments, the Schottky barrier height of graphene/silicon junction can be tuned between 0.38 to 0.6 eV after doping treatment.
Method of delivery and intraventricular haemorrhage in extremely preterm infants

Objectives. It has been reported that caesarean delivery (CD) protects against intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in the extremely preterm infant, but it is not known whether this effect involve the more severe grades of IVH. Thus, our aim was to confirm the correlation between the occurrence of IVH and the mode of delivery, and to evaluate this correlation for each grade of IVH. Methods. All infants with gestational age (GA) ≤ 28 weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital were studied for each grade IVH and major complications rate. Results. We found that vaginally born infants had a higher rate of each grade of IVH, but the increase was statistically significant only for grade 3 IVH (18% vs. 2%, p < 0.0001) and all grades IVH (45% vs. 20%, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CD (RR: 0.42, 95% CI 0.28–0.63), birth weight ≥ 800 g (RR: 0.48, 95% CI 0.32–0.73), 27–28 weeks of GA (RR: 0.38, 95% CI 0.25–0.60) and antenatal steroids (0.66, 95% CI 0.22–0.46) decrease independently the risk of developing IVH. Conclusions. Our study demonstrates that CD decreases the risk of developing IVH in extremely preterm infants including the most severe grades of IVH.
Outcome of unrelated donor stem cell transplantation for children with severe aplastic anemia

For children with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) who fail immunosuppressive therapy and lack a human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched sibling donor, unrelated donors provide a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Data from 195 children with acquired SAA who underwent unrelated donor transplantation between 1989 and 2003 were analyzed. Neutrophil recovery (86% at day‐28) was higher with total body irradiation‐containing conditioning regimen and in younger recipients (aged ≤16 years) receiving grafts from older donors (aged >40 years). Recovery was lower after mismatched transplants and transplantations prior to 1997. Mortality rates were higher after mismatched transplants, in recipients with a poor performance score, and when the interval between diagnosis and transplantation was longer than 4 years. When restricted to donor‐recipient pairs with allele‐level HLA typing (8‐loci; n = 118), mortality rates were also higher after mismatched transplants and older recipients receiving grafts from older donors; 5‐year probabilities of overall survival after HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, ‐DRB1 matched and mismatched transplants adjusted for donor and recipient age were 57% and 39%, respectively (P = 0·008). The data suggest that unrelated donor transplantation is an acceptable alternative for children; early referral for transplantation and identification of an HLA‐matched (allele‐level) donor offers the best outcome.
Acid anion profiles in dental plaque following consumption of cereal-based foods and fruits.

The aim of this study was to investigate the acid anions produced in plaque after chewing various cereal-based foods and fruits for one minute. Test foods were oranges, apples, bananas, Cornflakes, Branflakes, Weetabix, Alpen, white bread, wholemeal bread, rice and spaghetti, plus positive and negative controls of 10% sucrose and 10% sorbitol. 4 males and 3 females, aged 22-37 years, participated in the study . 7 min from the start of chewing, 48-h plaque was collected from all accessible smooth surfaces, with no attempt to collect interproximal plaque, and centrifuged. Plaque fluid was withdrawn and analyzed by isotachophoresis for formate, succinate, lactate, acetate and propionate. At rest, acetate was the major anion present in plaque fluid, whereas following carbohydrate consumption, highest levels of lactate were detected followed by acetate. The amount of lactate only, detected in plaque fluid, was significantly correlated to the carbohydrate present in the food. It was concluded that important information regarding the acidogenicity of test foods is gained by studying the acid anion profile of plaque fluid.
Application of Hydrogels in Ocular Tissue Engineering

Vipuil Kishore***, Yunus Alapan, Ranjani Iyer, Ryan Mclay* and Umut A. Gurkan║ Department of Chemical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA Case Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Laboratory, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA Department of Orthopedics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA ║Biomedical Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA **vkishore@fi t.edu umut@case.edu