Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Other transgenic mutation assays: Parameters affecting the use of the lac repressor system in eukaryotic cells and transgenic animals

Elements of the lactose operon were used to study parameters affecting gene expression in cultured cells and transgenic animals. A Lac repressor protein containing a nuclear transport signal was shown to inhibit expression of a reporter gene by interacting with lac operator sequences. In cultured cells, operator sequence, operator placement and induction parameters were all shown to be important for obtaining tight repression of a reporter gene followed by high level expression upon induction. Induction levels were also dependent on the reporter gene, with the luciferase gene yielding higher induction levels than the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. In transgenic animals, the lacl mRNA was not detected in the C57BL/6 mouse strain until the animal was exposed to a demethylating agent. After 5‐azacytidine treatment, expression of lacl mRNA was detected in the brain, heart, kidney, lung and ovary. In the FVB transgenic mouse strain, expression of lacl mRNA was detected without 5‐azacytidine treatment in the kidney, liver, lung, and testes. Preliminary experiments with double transgenic animals containing both lacl and operator/luciferase transgenes showed a decrease in luciferase expression compared to the luciferase‐only animals in both tissue extracts and transgenic fetal primary cultures, although IPTG induction was not achieved in these animals or primary cultures. The applicability and challenges of the system for regulation of gene expression are discussed. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GLENOID FRACTURES SCAPULAR NECK FRACTURE THE SUPERIOR SHOULDER SUSPENSORY COMPLEX THE FLOATING SHOULDER SCAPULAR BODY FRACTURE ACROMIAL FRACTURE CORACOID FRACTURE SCAPULOTHORACIC DISSOCIATION COMPLICATIONS FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME CONTROVERSIES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The scapula is an integral part of the connection between the upper extremity and the axial skeleton. This highly mobile, thin sheet of bone articulates in three different joints: with the humerus in the glenohumeral joint, with the clavicle in the acromioclavicular joint, and with the thorax in the scapulothoracic joint. To accomplish a full range of shoulder motion, a smooth coordination is required of motion in all three articulations. Therefore, a complex interaction of several muscles that envelope the scapula is necessary. Besides its assistance in the movements of the arm in the shoulder joint, the scapula has two other functions. It is a mobile platform for the humeral head and upper extremity to work against, and it serves as a point of attachment for muscles, tendons, and ligaments. No less than 18 different muscles insert on or originate from the scapula allowing six basic movements of the shoulder blade over the posterior chest wall: elevation, depression, upward rotation, downward rotation, protraction, and retraction.63 Scapular fractures are generally the result of a high-energy trauma with a high incidence of significant associated (local and
Analysis of human ocular mucus: effects of neuraminidase and chitinase enzymes.

PURPOSE Our goal was to establish the characteristic migration pattern on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of high molecular weight mucins from human ocular mucus and the effects of treatment with exo- and endoglycosidases. METHODS Chromatography by gel filtration with Sepharose CL-4B was performed on samples collected from normal subjects. Human ocular mucins from the high molecular weight fraction were digested with exoglycosidases (neuraminidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, beta-D-glucosidase) and endoglycosidases (chitinase, lysozyme); and the resulting products were analyzed by electrophoresis. Carbohydrate identification was performed using lectin probes. RESULTS The migration of the ocular mucins on SDS-PAGE stopped after treatment with neuraminidase, which removes the terminal negatively charged sialic acid residues from mucin. Chitinase (beta(1-4)N-acetylglucosaminidase) treatment increased the electrophoretic migration of mucins. Staining with wheat germ agglutinin and Maackia amurensis agglutinin lectins showed that these mucins contain beta(1-4)NAcGlc and SAa(2-3)Gal linkages. CONCLUSIONS These studies demonstrate that the mobility of human ocular mucins on SDS-PAGE is determined by their intrinsic total negative charge and is not dependent on SDS treatment. It is interesting to note that human ocular mucus contains chitinous material resistant to lacrimal lysozyme, which is accessible to chitinase, an enzyme now found to degrade human ocular mucins. These chitinous linkages could be in part responsible for the mucus resistance.
Tiotropium bromide, a new, once-daily inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator for chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease

Tiotropium bromide is a quaternary ammonium compound structurally related to ipratropium and has recently been approved in the US for the long-term, once-daily, maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is available in a dry powder form, where 18 mg of the drug is inhaled once-daily through a device, the HandiHaler®. The potency and long duration of effect of this anticholinergic bronchodilator result primarily from a prolonged blockade of the M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors in the airways and a relatively more rapid dissociation from the M2 receptor (which provides inhibitory feedback). Multiple studies of up to a duration of 1 year have demonstrated its effectiveness as a bronchodilator for COPD, with a trough increase (measured ∼ 24 h after administration of the drug) in forced expiratory volume in 1 s of ∼ 0.12 l and a peak increase of ∼ 0.25 l. Tiotropium inhalation also leads to a significant reduction in static lung volumes in hyperinflated patients with COPD; this probably contributes to the reduction in dyspnoea that is associated with long-term use of this maintenance bronchodilator. Regular use of the drug was associated with clinically meaningful increases in the Transitional Dyspnoea Index, which indicate reductions in dyspnoea associated with daily activities. Improvement in the respiratory-specific health status questionnaire, the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire component and total scores was also documented. Finally, pooled data from two 1-year studies and two 6-month studies documented 20 and 28% reductions in the number of exacerbations per patient per year. Side effects have been relatively minimal, with dry mouth the most common symptom, ranging 6 – 16% of patients and rarely leading to discontinuation of the study drug. Limited comparisons of efficacy with other bronchodilators are available. Once-daily tiotropium has been demonstrated to be clearly superior to ipratropium four times daily as a bronchodilator for COPD. Combined results from two studies comparing once-daily tiotropium to twice-daily inhalation of standard doses of salmeterol, indicate a magnitude of the bronchodilator response similar in the two drugs early in the study. However, by 6 months, the bronchodilator effect of tiotropium was somewhat greater than that of the long-acting β-agonist. Preliminary data suggest that combining tiotropium with long-acting β-agonists may produce additional bronchodilator action in COPD.
New Polymer Tensiometers: Measuring Matric Pressures Down to the Wilting Point

Tensiometers are commonly used for measuring soil water matric pressures. Unfortunately, the water‐filled reservoir of conventional tensiometers limits their applicability to soil water matric pressures above approximately −0.085 MPa. Tensiometers filled with a polymer solution instead of water are able to measure a larger range of soil water matric pressures. We designed and constructed six prototype polymer tensiometers (previously called osmotic tensiometers) consisting of a wide‐range pressure transducer with a temperature sensor, a stainless steel casing, and a ceramic plate with a membrane preventing polymer leakage. A polymer chamber (0.1–2.2 cm3) was located between the pressure transducer and the plate. We tested the polymer tensiometers for long‐term operation, the effects of temperature, response times, and performance in a repacked sandy loam under laboratory conditions. Several months of continuous operation caused a gradual drop in the osmotic pressure, for which we developed a suitable correction. The osmotic potential of polymer solutions is temperature dependent, and requires calibration before installation. The response times to sudden and gradual changes in ambient temperature were found to be affected by polymer chamber height and polymer type. Practically useful response times (<0.2 d) are feasible, particularly for chambers shorter than 0.20 cm. We demonstrated the ability of the instrument to measure the range of soil water pressures in which plant roots are able to take up water (from 0 to −1.6 MPa), to regain pressure without user interference and to function properly for time periods of up to 1 yr.
Competition between lymphocyte function‐associated antigen 1 (CD11a/CD18) and Mac‐1 (CD11b/CD18) for binding to intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (CD54)

Both human integrin receptors Mac‐1 (CD11b/CD18, CR3) and lymphocyte function‐associated antigen (LFA)‐1 (CD11a/CD18) have been demonstrated to bind human intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) (CD54). Here we show that LFA‐1 and Mac‐1 can bind to ICAM‐1 in the mouse as well. Interestingly, we observed that binding of murine LFA‐1 dominates over Mac‐1 for binding to ICAM‐1. Using three different murine macrophage cell lines that express distinct levels of LFA‐1 and Mac‐1 on their cell surface, we could only detect Mac‐1‐dependent adhesion to ICAM‐1 when little or no LFA‐1 is expressed on the cell surface. When LFA‐1 and Mac‐1 are expressed at similar levels, the LFA‐1/ICAM‐1 interaction dominates over Mac‐1/ICAM‐l interaction, indicating that there is a competition of LFA‐1 and Mac‐1 for ICAM‐1 binding.
Efficiency of Interfacial Electron Transfer from Zn-Porphyrin Dyes into TiO2 Correlated to the Linker Single Molecule Conductance

High performance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) rely upon molecular linkers that allow efficient electron transport from the photoexcited dye into the conduction band of the semiconductor host substrate. We have studied photoinduced electron injection efficiencies from modular assemblies of a Zn-porphyrin dye and a series of linker molecules which are axially bound to the Zn-porphyrin complex and covalently bound to TiO2 nanoparticles. Experimental measurements based on terahertz spectroscopy are compared to the calculated molecular conductance of the linker molecules. We find a linear relationship between measured electron injection efficiency and calculated single-molecule conductance of the linker employed. Since the same chromophore is used in all cases, variations in the absorptivities of the adsorbate complexes are quite small and cannot account for the large variations in observed injection efficiencies. These results suggest that the linker single-molecule conductance is a key factor that shou.
Gap Layer Effect on Performances of Differential Dual Spin Valve

Several materials (Ta, Cu, Al, Ru) are investigated for the gap layer (GL) in a differential dual spin valve (DDSV) as a function of GL thickness in terms of the differential effect and interlayer coupling. High field measurements in current in the plane geometry show that similar GMR effect can be obtained for two spin valves (SVs) with Ta, Ru, and Cu GLs, while for Al GL, GMR ratio of the upper SV decreases as Al thickness increases. For Ta GL, the two free layers (FLs) may switch either simultaneously or separately, depending on which FL switches first due to the weak ferromagnetic (FM) Neel coupling between the FLs. For Ru GL, the switching behavior depends on the thickness of Ru, due to the oscillation of interlayer exchange coupling. Cu GL causes additional GMR resulted from the FL/GL/FL structure. Detailed investigation on thickness dependence of Ru GL shows that FM interlayer coupling is achieved with Ru thickness of 1.6, 2.4, and 4 nm. The good differential effect can be obtained till Ru = 8 nm, above which MR of the upper SV decreases. Patterned DDSV sensors with Ru GL = 2.4 nm shows an overall FM coupling between the FLs, implying FM exchange coupling is larger than the antiferromagnetic magnetostatic coupling at edges.
Perceptions of Supervision Among Injured and Non-Injured Teens Working in the Retail or Service Industry

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a teen is injured every 9 minutes at work. Workplace supervision may affect whether teens are injured on the job. Because research on workplace supervision among teens is limited, the objectives of this study were to characterize the perceptions of supervision among injured and non-injured teen workers and assess the characteristics and perceptions of supervisors that may be associated with work-related injuries. In 2011, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among high school students. Teens who worked in retail or service industries (n = 270) were included in the sample. Non-injured teens were more likely to have reported that their supervisors cared about their safety, were helpful, listened well, and ensured that teen workers understood workplace safety. Most teens (70%) did not feel comfortable talking about safety issues with their supervisors. The importance of supervision and how supervisors are perceived in the workplace may be significant in creating a safety culture that leaves a lasting impression.
Can a virtual reality cognitive training application fulfill a dual role? Using the virtual supermarket cognitive training application as a screening tool for mild cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND Recent research advocates the potential of virtual reality (VR) applications in assessing cognitive functions highlighting the possibility of using a VR application for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) screening. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate whether a VR cognitive training application, the virtual supermarket (VSM), can be used as a screening tool for MCI. METHODS Two groups, one of healthy older adults (n = 21) and one of MCI patients (n = 34), were recruited from day centers for cognitive disorders and administered the VSM and a neuropsychological test battery. The performance of the two groups in the VSM was compared and correlated with performance in established neuropsychological tests. At the same time, the effectiveness of a combination of traditional neuropsychological tests and the VSM was examined. RESULTS VSM displayed a correct classification rate (CCR) of 87.30% when differentiating between MCI patients and healthy older adults, while it was unable to differentiate between MCI subtypes. At the same time, the VSM correlates with various established neuropsychological tests. A limited number of tests were able to improve the CCR of the VSM when combined with the VSM for screening purposes. DISCUSSION VSM appears to be a valid method of screening for MCI in an older adult population though it cannot be used for MCI subtype assessment. VSM's concurrent validity is supported by the large number of correlations between the VSM and established tests. It is considered a robust test on its own as the inclusion of other tests failed to improve its CCR significantly.
Atazanavir and lopinavir profile in pregnant women with HIV: tolerability, activity and pregnancy outcomes in an observational national study.

BACKGROUND Atazanavir and lopinavir represent the main HIV protease inhibitors recommended in pregnancy, but comparative data in pregnant women are limited. METHODS Women from a national observational study, exposed in pregnancy to either atazanavir or lopinavir, were compared for glucose and lipid profiles, liver function tests, CD4 count, HIV RNA and main pregnancy outcomes. Statistical methods included univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS The study population included 428 pregnancies (lopinavir, 322; atazanavir, 106). The lopinavir group was characterized by higher rates of HIV diagnosis in pregnancy and treatment indication for maternal health, lower CD4 counts, higher HIV RNA levels, less frequent antiretroviral treatment at conception and shorter duration of drug exposure during pregnancy. No differences in pregnancy outcomes, glucose metabolism and weight gain were observed. The two groups also showed in a multivariable analysis similar odds for detectable HIV RNA in the third trimester (adjusted OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.35-2.10, P = 0.730). Total lipid levels were significantly higher in the lopinavir group (median values in the third trimester 239 versus 221 mg/dL for total cholesterol and 226 versus 181 mg/dL for triglycerides; P < 0.001 for both comparisons) and bilirubin levels were significantly higher in the atazanavir group (1.53 versus 0.46 mg/dL, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In this observational study atazanavir and lopinavir showed similar safety and activity in pregnancy, with no differences in the main pregnancy outcomes. Atazanavir use was associated with a better lipid profile and with higher bilirubin levels. Overall, the study findings confirm that these two HIV protease inhibitors represent equally valid alternative options.
Analysis of genes encoding D-alanine-D-alanine ligase-related enzymes in Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus flavescens

Using degenerate oligonucleotides complementary to sequences encoding conserved amino acid motifs in D-alanine-D-alanine (Ddl) ligases, we have amplified ca. 600-bp fragments from Enterococcus casseliflavus ATCC 25788 and Enterococcus flavescens CCM439. Sequence analysis of the amplification products indicated that each strain possessed two genes, ddlE. cass. and vanC-2, and ddlE. flav. and vanC-3, respectively, encoding Ddl-related enzymes. The fragments internal to the vanC genes were 98.3% identical. The vanC-2 gene was cloned into Escherichia coli and sequenced. Extensive similarity (66% nucleotide identity) was detected between this gene and vanC-1 from Enterococcus gallinarum (S. Dutka-Malen, C. Molinas, M. Arthur, and P. Courvalin, Gene 112:53-58, 1992), suggesting that the vanC genes are required for intrinsic low-level resistance to vancomycin. The partial deduced amino acid sequences of ddlE. cass. and ddlE. flav. were identical and closely related to that of the Ddl ligase of Enterococcus faecalis (79% identity). In Southern hybridization experiments, only DNA from E. casseliflavus and E. flavescens hybridized to probes internal to the vanC-2 and ddlE. cass. genes.
“Parking-garage” structures in nuclear astrophysics and cellular biophysics

A striking shape was recently observed for the endoplasmic reticulum, a cellular organelle consisting of stacked sheets connected by helical ramps [Terasaki et al., Cell 154, 285 (2013)]. This shape is interesting both for its biological function, to synthesize proteins using an increased surface area for ribosome factories, and its geometric properties that may be insensitive to details of the microscopic interactions. In the present work, we find very similar shapes in our molecular dynamics simulations of the nuclear pasta phases of dense nuclear matter that are expected deep in the crust of neutron stars. There are dramatic differences between nuclear pasta and terrestrial cell biology. Nuclear pasta is 14 orders of magnitude denser than the aqueous environs of the cell nucleus and involves strong interactions between protons and neutrons, while cellular-scale biology is dominated by the entropy of water and complex assemblies of biomolecules. Nonetheless, the very similar geometry suggests both systems may have similar coarse-grained dynamics and that the shapes are indeed determined by geometrical considerations, independent of microscopic details. Many of our simulations self-assemble into flat sheets connected by helical ramps. These ramps may impact the thermal and electrical conductivities, viscosity, shear modulus, and breaking strain of neutron star crust. The interaction we use, with Coulomb frustration, may provide a simple model system that reproduces many biologically important shapes.
Recognition of emotions in audio signals

Les travaux de recherche realises dans le cadre de cette these de doctorat portent sur la reconnaissance automatique de l’emotion et de l’humeur au sein de signaux sonores. En effet, l’emotion portee par les signaux audio constitue une information semantique particulierement importante dont l’analyse automatique offre de nombreuses possibilites en termes d’applications, telles que les interactions homme-machine intelligentes et l’indexation multimedia. L’objectif de cette these est ainsi d’etudier des solutions informatique d’analyse de l’emotion audio tant pour la parole que pour les signaux musicaux. Nous utilisons dans notre travail un modele emotionnel discret combine a un modele dimensionnel, en nous appuyant sur des etudes existantes sur les correlations entre les proprietes acoustiques et l’emotion dans la parole ainsi que l’humeur dans les signaux de musique. Les principales contributions de nos travaux sont les suivantes. Tout d’abord, nous avons propose, en complement des caracteristiques audio basees sur les proprietes frequentielles et d’energie, de nouvelles caracteristiques harmoniques et Zipf, afin d’ameliorer la caracterisation des proprietes des signaux de parole en terme de timbre et de prosodie. Deuxiemement, dans la mesure ou tres peu de ressources pour l’etude de l’emotion dans la parole et dans la musique sont disponibles par rapport au nombre important de caracteristiques audio qu’il est envisageable d’extraire, une methode de selection de caracteristiques nommeeESFS, basee sur la theorie de l’evidence est proposee afin de simplifier le modele de classification et d’en ameliorer les performances. De plus, nous avons montre que l’utilisation d’un classifieur hierarchique base sur un modele dimensionnel de l’emotion, permet d’obtenir de meilleurs resultats de classification qu’un unique classifieur global, souvent utilise dans la litterature. Par ailleurs, puisqu’il n’existe pas d’accord universel sur la definition des emotions de base, et parce que les etats emotionnels consideres sont tres dependant des applications, nous avons egalement propose un algorithme bases sur ESFS et permettant de construire automatiquement un classifieur hierarchique adapte a un ensemble specifique d’etats emotionnels dans le cadre d’une application particuliere. Cette classification hierarchique procede en divisant un probleme de classification complexe en un ensemble de problemes plus petits et plus simples grâce a la combinaison d’un ensemble de sous-classifieurs binaires organises sous forme d’un arbre binaire. Enfin, les emotions etant par nature des notions subjectives, nous avons egalement propose un classifieur ambigu, base sur la theorie de l’evidence, permettant l’association d’un signal audio a de multiples emotions, comme le font souvent les etres humains.