Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The magnetosome membrane protein, MmsF, is a major regulator of magnetite biomineralization in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB‐1

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) use magnetosomes, membrane‐bound crystals of magnetite or greigite, for navigation along geomagnetic fields. In Magnetospirillum magneticum sp. AMB‐1, and other MTB, a magnetosome gene island (MAI) is essential for every step of magnetosome formation. An 8‐gene region of the MAI encodes several factors implicated in control of crystal size and morphology in previous genetic and proteomic studies. We show that these factors play a minor role in magnetite biomineralization in vivo. In contrast, MmsF, a previously uncharacterized magnetosome membrane protein encoded within the same region plays a dominant role in defining crystal size and morphology and is sufficient for restoring magnetite synthesis in the absence of the other major biomineralization candidates. In addition, we show that the 18 genes of the mamAB gene cluster of the MAI are sufficient for the formation of an immature magnetosome organelle. Addition of MmsF to these 18 genes leads to a significant enhancement of magnetite biomineralization and an increase in the cellular magnetic response. These results define a new biomineralization protein and lay down the foundation for the design of autonomous gene cassettes for the transfer of the magnetic phenotype in other bacteria.
Effect of Nitrogen Doping Level on the Performance of N-Doped Carbon Quantum Dot/TiO2 Composites for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have attracted widespread interest for photocatalytic applications, owing to their low cost and excellent electron donor/acceptor properties. However, their advancement as visible-light photosensitizers in CQDs/semiconductor nanocomposites is currently impaired by their poor quantum yields (QYs). Herein, we describe the successful fabrication of a series of nitrogen-doped CQDs (NCDs) with N/C atomic ratios ranging from 0.14-0.30. NCDs with the highest N-doping level afforded a remarkable external QY of 66.8 % at 360 nm, and outstanding electron transfer properties and photosensitization efficiencies when physically adsorbed on P25 TiO2 . A NCDs/P25-TiO2 hybrid demonstrated excellent performance for hydrogen evolution in aqueous methanol under both UV and visible-light illumination relative to pristine P25 TiO2 . Controlled nitrogen doping of CQDs therefore represents a very effective strategy for optimizing the performance of CQDs/semiconductor hybrid photocatalysts.
Elevation of serum Krebs von den Lunge-6 levels in patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome.

BACKGROUND Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome is characterized by a combination of idiopathic acute tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis. Krebs von den Lunge-6 (KL-6) is a human glycoprotein secreted by type II alveolar cells in the lung, and its serum levels increase in patients with pneumonia of various causes, as well as ocular sarcoidosis. The aim of the present study is to quantify serum KL-6 levels in patients with TINU syndrome, which has no pulmonary and sarcoid lesions, and elucidate the usefulness of KL-6 for the diagnosis and follow-up of this syndrome. METHODS Serum and urinary samples were obtained from 17 patients with TINU syndrome and 36 age-matched patients with uveitis from other causes. Sarcoidosis was eliminated because serum KL-6 levels increased during their lung lesion. Serum KL-6 level was determined by using a human KL-6 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded renal tissue sections were incubated with anti-KL-6 monoclonal antibody, then examined immunohistochemically. RESULTS Mean serum KL-6 levels for patients with TINU syndrome and those with uveitis from other causes were 363.35 +/- 51.06 and 213.19 +/- 10.28 U/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). Urinary beta(2)-microglobulin levels of patients with TINU syndrome and uveitis from other causes were 4.06 +/- 1.31 and 0.16 +/- 0.20 mg/L, respectively (P < 0.001). All patients with TINU syndrome showed a simultaneous decrease in serum KL-6 and urinary beta(2)-microglobulin levels after the beginning of treatment. Strong immunoreactivity for KL-6 was observed in renal distal tubules in biopsy tissue of patients with TINU syndrome. CONCLUSION We show a significant increase in serum KL-6 levels in patients with TINU syndrome, whereas levels were normal in patients with other causes of uveitis without nephritis. Renal distal tubules stained strongly with anti-KL-6 antibody, suggesting that high KL-6 levels may reflect the renal lesion of TINU syndrome. Serum KL-6 may be a potential laboratory parameter for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with TINU syndrome that could complement urinary beta(2)-microglobulin measurements.
Increased Precision Using Countermatching in Nested Case‐Control Studies

Nested case‐control studies in occupational cohorts are often used to estimate exposure effects when development of detailed exposure estimates for all cohort members is too costly. Duration of exposure, which can act as a surrogate for cumulative exposure, is often readily available for all cohort members. Langholz and others have recently proposed a method of control selection called countermatching, which uses data on the surrogate to determine which controls are selected from the risk set for a given case. This method may increase precision relative to the usual random sampling of the risk set. We compare countermatching with random sampling in a nested case‐control study of silicosis among miners. Data on cumulative exposure were in fact available for all cohort members, enabling estimation of the parameter of interest in the full cohort. We conducted nested case‐control analyses using 100, 20, 10, and 3 controls per case using random sampling and additional analyses using 3 controls per case with two different methods of countermatching. All analyses were replicated 50 times to explore the statistical properties of the estimated exposure parameter. We found that one of the countermatching methods markedly increased efficiency compared with random sampling. Countermatching using 3 controls per case yielded an approximate 25% increase in relative efficiency compared with random sampling; it was approximately equivalent to random sampling using 10 controls.
Validation and inter‐examiner agreement of mutans streptococci levels in plaque and saliva of 10‐year‐old children using simple chair‐side tests

Since there are few validation studies of chair‐side tests of oral mutans streptococci, we compared a commercially available strip test with the conventional laboratory assay. Two plaque samples obtained from the mesial surfaces of the upper right and lower left permanent molars of sixty‐five 10‐year‐old children (boys = 38, girls = 27) were cultured and incubated using chair‐side site strip tests (Dentocult SM, Orion Diagnostica). Two plaque sampling tools, namely dental floss and micro‐brush, were compared, and inter‐examiner agreement between recordings of three examiners was assessed. Paraffin‐stimulated saliva was then collected for laboratory and chair‐side assays. The plaque and saliva chair‐side tests correlated well with each other (Spearman rho, r=0.72) and with the laboratory method, showing coefficients of 0.76 and 0.80 for saliva and plaque, respectively. Compared to the laboratory method, the sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), accuracy (A), and kappa (K) values of the salivary and plaque chair‐side tests were 0.63, 0.75 (Sn), 0.93, 0.90 (Sp), 0.82, 0.85 (A), and 0.58, 0.66 (K), respectively. Agreement between the two plaque sampling techniques was good (0.91). Inter‐examiner agreement of plaque scores ranged between 0.65 and 0.86 when all density categories were analysed separately; when dichotomized into low and high categories, complete agreement was found. Agreement between the plaque and saliva chair‐side tests and the laboratory salivary assay was good, and in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, and kappa values, the site strip plaque test surpassed the salivary chair‐side test.
Experimental Intestinal Endometriosis Is Characterized by Increased Levels of Soluble TNFRSF1B and Downregulation of Tnfrsf1a and Tnfrsf1b Gene Expression1

Abstract Endometriosis is commonly associated with symptoms similar to those of gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leading to erroneous diagnosis and inappropriate management. The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in IBD is well established, but its role in endometriosis—also characterized by the activation of inflammatory mechanisms—is still under study. Furthermore, little is known about the involvement of TNF receptors. Intestinal endometriosis was surgically induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10). Control rats (n = 10) received sutures with no implants. Samples of tissue and fluids were collected 60 days after surgery. Endometriotic implants were classified in grades, and the gastrointestinal tract was examined for damage. A significant increase was observed in protein levels of TNF and soluble TNFRSF1B in the peritoneal fluid of experimental rats compared to controls. Expression of Tnf mRNA was significantly increased both in peritoneal leukocytes and in intestinal segments associated with implants in experimental animals. Bioactivity of TNF in tissues was confirmed by overexpression of Icam1, Sele, Vegfa, Flt1 and Kdr. Gene expression of Tnfrsf1a and Tnfrsf1b was downregulated in colon and small intestine of experimental animals, possibly as a mechanism of protection against TNF cytotoxicity. Significant overexpression of genes encoding TNF receptor-associated factors that have been linked to activation of antiapoptotic pathways also was observed. Overexpression of TNF and target genes, underexpression of TNF-receptor genes, and increased shedding of TNFRSF1B in this animal model provide further evidence for involvement of the TNF system in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Neurotrophins are not required for normal embryonic development of olfactory neurons.

Neurons of the vertebrate olfactory epithelium (OE) regenerate continuously throughout life. The capacity of these neurons to regenerate and make new and precise synaptic connections in the olfactory bulb provides a useful model to study factors that may control or mediate neuronal regeneration. Expression and in vitro studies have suggested potential roles for the neurotrophins in the olfactory system. To directly examine whether neurotrophins are required for olfactory neuron development, we characterized in vivo the role of the neurotrophins in the primary olfactory system. For this, we generated mutant mice for TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, and also for BDNF and NT3 together with P2-IRES-tau-LacZ trangenic mice. Histochemical staining for beta-galactosidase at birth allowed in vivo analysis of the P2 subpopulation of olfactory neurons as well as their projections to the olfactory bulb. Our data indicate that Trk signaling is not required for normal embryonic development of the olfactory system.
Structure of gene coding for the fruit body-specific hydrophobin Fbh1 of the edible basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus

Two fruit body-specific hydrophobins (Fbh1 and POH1) have been identified in two different strains of the edible basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus. Comparison of their nucleotide and amino acid sequences yielded similarity values (59% and 66%, respectively) smaller than those found for alleles of the same hydrophobin gene but higher than those found for different hydrophobin genes in P. ostreatus var. florida (Peñas et al 2002<$REFLINK>). In this paper, we have addressed the question of Fbh1 and POH1 allelism by studying the structure of the gene fbh1 and by a classical genetic analysis to compare it with that of POH1. The structure of both genes is similar, as revealed by the similarity of their promoters and leader peptide sequences and by the conserved position of their introns. Furthermore, the allelism analysis revealed that both genes segregated as alleles when present in the same hybrid. These results suggest an allelic condition for POH1 and fbh1 and stress the importance of the similarity of fbh1/POH1 promoter and leader sequences. Furthermore, we have identified various microsatellite-like regions in this gene that can be used for strain and species typing in the future.
The extracellular matrix coordinately modulates liver transcription factors and hepatocyte morphology

The extracellular matrix (ECM) promotes tissue morphogenesis, cell migration, and the differentiation of a variety of cell types. However, the mechanisms by which ECM causes differentiated gene expression have been unknown. In this report, we show that culturing the hepatocyte-derived cell line H2.35 on an ECM gel changes cell morphology and selectively stimulates the transcription of a subset of liver-specific genes, including serum albumin. Transcriptional activation by ECM also occurs with transfected plasmids bearing the transcriptional enhancer of the albumin gene. ECM substrates of different composition activated the albumin enhancer only when the ECM promoted a cuboidal, differentiated cell morphology. Enhancer activation by the ECM was mediated by two liver transcription factors, HNF3 alpha and eH-TF, which appear to be regulated differently by matrix. Specifically, we found that a collagen gel substratum caused a selective increase in the factor HNF3 alpha at the levels of mRNA accumulation and DNA-binding activity in nuclear extracts, both in H2.35 cells and in the hepatoma cell line HepG2. We conclude that the ECM can stimulate cell differentiation by selectively activating transcriptional regulatory factors and that such regulation occurs coordinately with ECM-promoted changes in cell shape.
Biocontrol of Grey Mould Disease on Grape Caused by Botrytis cinerea with Autochthonous Wine Yeasts

Summary Biocontrol activities of different yeast species and strains isolated from grape/must/ wine environments have been compared to those of commercially available antagonistic yeast species of Candida oleophila. A total of 591 yeast isolates were tested in a preliminary screening on agar to select isolates showing inhibitory effect against Botrytis cinerea, the plant pathogen causing grey mould disease on grape. Yeast species Aureobasidium pullulans, Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Pichia guilliermondii showed, on average, higher biocontrol activity than commercially used yeast Candida oleophila. Furthermore, these three species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is potentially interesting biocontrol agent against grey mould of grapes, were selected for their inhibitory effects and assayed in vitro on different solid synthetic media for their antagonistic capacity towards B. cinerea. The results indicate that the composition of the medium had an impact on the biocontrol activity of yeast species and strains, as Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed the highest antagonistic activity against B. cinerea when tested on media with increased concentrations of glucose. The antagonistic activity of selected yeast strains was finally determined on wounded and sound grape berries of cultivars Rebula and Chardonnay for their ability to inhibit infection by B. cinerea moulds. Results suggest that antagonist yeasts with the potential to control B. cinerea on grape can be found among the microflora associated with the berries.
Work-Life Balance and Intention to Leave among Academics in Malaysian Public Higher Education Institutions

This study examined the relationship between perceived work-life balance satisfaction of academics in Malaysian public higher education institutions and their intentions to leave the organisation. The study used an on-line survey of academics from three public universities in Malaysia. A total of 1078 usable responses were received for a response rate of 37.2 per cent. The responses from the sample are used to test the hypotheses that job satisfaction and organisational commitment will mediate the relationship between worklife balance and intention to leave. The results indicated that perceived work-life balance satisfaction was correlated negatively with intention to leave the organisation among academics. The results of the simple mediation analysis indicate that job satisfaction and organisational commitment are partial mediators for the relationship between work-life balance and intention to leave. The implications of the findings for management- particularly those in public higher education institutions- are discussed. The findings of this study will help in terms of understanding the state of work-life balance of academics and its relationship with their intentions to leave. It was hoped that the findings of this study would add to a larger body of studies of work-life balance and intention to leave, especially studies among Malaysian higher education academics.
Theoretical and experimental investigation of the VASO contrast mechanism

Vascular space occupancy (VASO)‐dependent functional MRI (fMRI) is a blood‐nulling technique capable of generating microvascular cerebral blood volume (CBV)‐weighted images. It is shown that at high magnetic field (3.0T) and high spatial resolution (1.89 × 1.89 × 3 mm3), the VASO signal changes are too large (6–7%) to originate from CBV effects alone. Additional contributions are investigated theoretically and experimentally as a function of MRI parameters (TR and TE), as well as the signal‐to‐noise ratio, (SNR) and spatial resolution. First, it is found that an arterial spin labeling (ASL) contribution causes large negative VASO signal changes at short TR. Second, even at high fMRI spatial resolution, CSF volume contributions (7–13%) cause VASO signal changes to become more negative, most noticeably at long TR and TE. Third, white matter (WM) effects reduce signal changes at lower spatial resolution. The VASO technique has been tested using different stimulus paradigms and field strengths ( 1–3 ), giving results consistent with comparable tasks investigated using BOLD and cerebral blood flow (CBF)‐based techniques. Finally, simulations show that a mixture of fresh and steady‐state blood may significantly alter signal changes at short TR (≤3 s), permitting larger VASO signal changes than expected under pure steady‐state conditions. Thus, many competing effects contribute to VASO contrast and care should be taken during interpretation. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treatment of Hypertensive Urgencies with Oral Nifedipine, Nicardipine, and Captopril

Sixty-five patients with unclomplicated hypertenive urgencies were treated in the emergency and cardiology departments with 20 mg nifedipine, 20 mg nicardipine, or 25 mg captopril in a randomized study. The study population consisted of 65 patients ranging in age from forty-one to seventy-one. Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed for six hours after intake of the antihyper tensive agents. Within sixty minutes nifedipine reduced blood pressure by an average of 74.7 mmHg for the systolic and 35.4 mmHg for the diastolic. Average heart rate increased significantly by 11.6 beats/min at within thirty minutes. Nicardipine and captopril produced equivalent falls in systolic (-81.6 and -79.4 mmHg) and diastolic (-37.3 and -33 mmHg) blood pressure respectively, but did not increase heart rate significantly. The antihypertensive effect of each drug was maintained until six hours after medication. In conclusion, nifedipine, nicardipine, and captopril show similar efficacy in the treatment of hypertensive urgencies. The authors believe that these drugs can be used as first-line therapy in the treatment of hypertensive urgencies safely and effectively.
HPV related VIN: Highly proliferative and diminished responsiveness to extracellular signals

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a premalignant disorder caused by human papillomaviruses. Basic knowledge about the molecular pathogenesis of VIN is sparse. Therefore, we have analyzed the gene expression profile of 9 VIN samples in comparison to 10 control samples by using genome wide Affymetrix Human U133A plus2 GeneChips. Results were validated by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR analysis and immunostaining of a few representative genes (TACSTD1, CCNE2, AR and ESR1). Significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) showed that 1,497 genes were differentially expressed in VIN compared to controls. By analyzing the biological processes affected by the observed differences, we found that VIN appears to be a highly proliferative disease; many cyclins (CCNA, CCNB and CCNE) and almost all prereplication complex proteins are upregulated. Thereby, VIN does not seem to depend for its proliferation on paracrine or endocrine signals. Many receptors (for example ESR1 and AR) and ligands are downregulated. Furthermore, although VIN is not an invasive disease, the inhibition of expression of a marked number of cell–cell adhesion molecules seems to indicate development towards invasion. Upon reviewing apoptosis and angiogenesis, it was observed that these processes have not become significantly disregulated in VIN. In conclusion: although VIN is still a premalignant disease, it already displays several hallmarks of cancer. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of diabetes on vascular smooth muscle function in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat mesenteric artery.

We have examined the functional responses to alpha-adrenoceptor agonists (alpha 1-selective: methoxamine and phenylephrine; alpha 2-selective: clonidine and B-HT 920; non-selective: norepinephrine, serotonin and K+ in ring segments of mesenteric artery of control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Systolic blood pressure and contractile responses were examined after 12 weeks of diabetes. There was no significant change in the diabetic WKY rats as compared with the control WKY rats. However, diabetic SHR had significantly less hypertension than control SHR. Responses to serotonin and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists were augmented significantly in arteries from control SHR animals as compared with vessels from WKY animals. There was no significant difference in the force of contraction generated by other agonists in both nondiabetic groups. Responses to all agonists in WKY diabetic and to methoxamine and K+ in SHR diabetic arteries were increased as compared with their respective controls. ED50 values for each agonist were similar in all groups. Indomethacin (5 microM) shifted the dose-response curve to norepinephrine to the right in arteries from all groups of animals. However, in the diabetic SHR and WKY, there was a significant reduction in norepinephrine maximum response. Nifedipine was more potent in inhibiting the contraction to K+ and serotonin in WKY diabetic arteries as compared with WKY controls. However, nifedipine inhibited the responses to all agonists with equal potency in the control and diabetic SHR vessels. These results suggest the involvement of alpha 2-adrenoceptors and serotonin receptors in the development and (or) the maintenance of hypertension. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Follow-up of 2000 Second-Trimester Amniocenteses

The authors analyzed the outcome of 2000 consecutive second- trimester amniocenteses. Seventy-three percent were performed for maternal age of 34 years or more. The risk of spontaneous abortion before 28 weeks' gestation was 1.3% and for stillbirth or neonatal death, 1.4%. Total fetal loss was 2.7%, compared with 2.2% in a control population. Congenital malformations were found in 1.6% of the study group and in 1.9% of controls; no increase in skeletal problems was observed. Prematurity, defined as a birth weight of less than 2500 g, was noted in 3.6%, compared with 3.7% and 3.9% in 2 control populations. Respiratory difficulties persisting for more than 24 hours were observed in 0.8% of patients, compared with 0.7% of controls. Analyses of the outcome of amniocenteses performed at a single large center do not show an increase in perinatal complications or malformations.