Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of the benthos on growth of planktonic estuarine bacteria

Estuarine planktonic bacteria were incubated (bacterial bioassays) in water previously held in close contact with benthic sediments to assess the potential importance of benthic dissolved organic matter for planktonic bacterial production. The study was conducted using water and sediments collected from along a fresh to salt water gradient in the Parker River and Plum Island Sound Estuary in northern Massachusetts, USA. Initial concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients were elevated relative to ambient estuarine water while initial concentrations of dissolved organic carbon were higher during a June bioassay and lower during a December bioassay relative to ambient water. Specific growth rates of planktonic bacteria were calculated from changes in cell numbers during the exponential growth phase. Growth rates were very high, ranging from about 3.6 to 6.5 d-'. Rates at individual sites were generally higher in June than in December and higher in low salinity waters than in high salinity waters. These rates are substantially higher than bacterial growth rates typically found in the water column of Plum Island Sound (1.5 to 65x, depending on method) but had the same spatial pattern as is commonly found in the estuary. Growth rates were comparable to those observed during experimental additions of marsh macrophyte leachate to incubations. Growth rates were linearly related to initial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in the bioassays, suggesting that substrate may limit bacterial growth. Stable isotopic compositions (6I3C and 6I5N) of microbes grown in the bioassay indicated utilization of benthic derived DOC even during times when the net f l u of DOC was from overlying water into sediments. Further, the 6I5N of bioassay microbes suggested that microbes utilized benthic derived inorganic N to supplement an organic diet deficient in organic nitrogen. It appears that growth rates were elevated as a result of dissolved organic matter exchange with bottom sediments. These results suggest that there were gross fluxes of organic matter across the sedimentwater interface that were not apparent from net changes in DOC concentration in the overlying water pool. This study indicates that benthic systems must be seen not only as sites of inorganic nutrient remineralization important in support of planktonic primary producers, but also as sltes of dissolved organic matter generation and nutrient remineralization important in support of bacterioplankton production.
Behavioral phenotypes of amyloid‐based genetically modified mouse models of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative affliction of the elderly, presenting with progressive memory loss and dementia and terminating with death. There have been significant advances in understanding the biology and subsequent diagnosis of AD; however, the furious pace of research has not yet translated into a disease‐modifying treatment. While scientific inquiry in AD is largely centered on identifying biological players and pathological mechanisms, the day‐to‐day realities of AD patients and their caregivers revolve around their steady and heartbreaking cognitive decline. In the past decade, AD research has been fundamentally transformed by the development of genetically modified animal models of amyloid‐driven neurodegeneration. These important in vivo models not only replicate some of the hallmark pathology of the disease, such as plaque‐like amyloid accumulations and astrocytic inflammation, but also some of the cognitive impairments relevant to AD. In this article, we will provide a detailed review of the behavioral and cognitive deficits present in several transgenic mouse models of AD and discuss their functional changes in response to experimental treatments.
Simultaneous Administration of Vitamin A and DTP Vaccine Modulates the Immune Response in a Murine Cerebral Malaria Model

The World Health Organisation recommends vitamin A supplementation (VAS) to children aged 6 months to 5 years in low‐income countries, and for logistic reasons, this has been linked to routine childhood immunizations. Observational studies suggest that VAS given with diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP) vaccine may increase mortality from non‐targeted diseases. We investigated the non‐targeted effect of pretreatment with VAS and DTP vaccine in a murine model of experimental cerebral malaria. Our a priori hypothesis was that VAS/DTP would aggravate the infection. We found that the effect of VAS and DTP depended on pathogenesis; VAS/DTP tended to increase parasitaemia and significantly depressed cytokine responses in mice, which developed cerebral malaria, but this was not seen in mice dying of anaemia. The divergent effect according to pathogenesis may help elucidate why VAS has divergent effects on different diseases in humans. Our results support the hypothesis that immunological effects of VAS/DTP may have detrimental implications for disease outcomes.
An eh1-Like Motif in Odd-skipped Mediates Recruitment of Groucho and Repression In Vivo

ABSTRACT Drosophila Groucho, like its vertebrate Transducin-like Enhancer-of-split homologues, is a corepressor that silences gene expression in numerous developmental settings. Groucho itself does not bind DNA but is recruited to target promoters by associating with a large number of DNA-binding negative transcriptional regulators. These repressors tether Groucho via short conserved polypeptide sequences, of which two have been defined. First, WRPW and related tetrapeptide motifs have been well characterized in several repressors. Second, a motif termed Engrailed homology 1 (eh1) has been found predominantly in homeodomain-containing transcription factors. Here we describe a yeast two-hybrid screen that uncovered physical interactions between Groucho and transcription factors, containing eh1 motifs, with different types of DNA-binding domains. We show that one of these, the zinc finger protein Odd-skipped, requires its eh1-like sequence for repressing specific target genes in segmentation. Comparison between diverse eh1 motifs reveals a bias for the phosphoacceptor amino acids serine and threonine at a fixed position, and a mutational analysis of Odd-skipped indicates that these residues are critical for efficient interactions with Groucho and for repression in vivo. Our data suggest that phosphorylation of these phosphomeric residues, if it occurs, will down-regulate Groucho binding and therefore repression, providing a mechanism for posttranslational control of Groucho-mediated repression.
An Energy-dependent Maturation Step Is Required for Release of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator from Early Endoplasmic Reticulum Biosynthetic Machinery*

Polytopic proteins are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by ribosomes docked at the Sec61 translocation channel. It is generally assumed that, upon termination of translation, polypeptides are spontaneously released into the ER membrane where final stages of folding and assembly are completed. Here we investigate early interactions between the ribosome-translocon complex and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a multidomain ABC transporter, and demonstrate that this is not always the case. Using in vitro and Xenopus oocyte expression systems we show that, during and immediately following synthesis, nascent CFTR polypeptides associate with large, heterogeneous, and dynamic protein complexes. Partial-length precursors were quantitatively isolated in a non-covalent, puromycin-sensitive complex (>3,500 kDa) that contained the Sec61 ER translocation machinery and the cytosolic chaperone Hsc70. Following the completion of synthesis, CFTR was gradually released into a smaller (600–800 kDa) ATP-sensitive complex. Surprisingly, release of full-length CFTR from the ribosome and translocon was significantly delayed after translation was completed. Moreover, this step required both nucleotide triphosphates and cytosol. Release of control proteins varied depending on their size and domain complexity. These studies thus identify a novel energy-dependent step early in the CFTR maturation pathway that is required to disengage nascent CFTR from ER biosynthetic machinery. We propose that, contrary to current models, the final stage of membrane integration is a regulated process that can be influenced by the state of nascent chain folding, and we speculate that this step is influenced by the complex multidomain structure of CFTR.
Advances in Brief Induction of Uterine Adenocarcinoma in CD1 Mice by Catechol Estrogens 1

Catechol estrogens may mediate estrogen-induced carcinogenesis because 4-hydroxyestradiol induces DNA damage and renal tumors in hamsters, and this metabolite is formed in the kidney and estrogen target tissues by a specific estrogen 4-hydroxylase. We examined the carcinogenic potential of catechol estrogen in an experimental model previously reported to result in a high incidence of uterine adenocarcinoma after neonatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol. Outbred female CD-1 mice were treated with 2or 4-hydroxyestradiol, 17b-estradiol, or 17a-ethinyl estradiol on days 1–5 of neonatal life (2mg/pup/day) and sacrificed at 12 or 18 months of age. Mice treated with 17b-estradiol or 17a-ethinyl estradiol had a total uterine tumor incidence of 7% or 43%, respectively. 2-Hydroxyestradiol induced tumors in 12% of the mice, but 4-hydroxyestradiol was the most carcinogenic estrogen, with a 66% incidence of uterine adenocarcinoma. Both 2and 4-hydroxylated catechols were estrogenic and increased uterine wet weights in these neonates. These data demonstrate that both 2and 4-hydroxyestradiol are carcinogenic metabolites. The high tumor incidence induced by 4-hydroxyestradiol supports the postulated role of this metabolite in hormone-associated cancers.
Compact wide-band multimode antennas for MIMO and diversity

This paper presents broadband multimode antennas for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and diversity applications. The antenna system is not based on spatial diversity, as usual MIMO systems, but on a combination of pattern and polarization diversity. Different modes of self-complementary, thus extremely broadband, spiral and sinuous antennas are used to decorrelate the signals. It is shown that only one antenna is necessary to receive three uncorrelated signals, thus the space required to place the MIMO antenna is very small. Simulation results and measurements of a typical indoor scenario are given.
Comparing the intraoperative complication rate of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery to traditional phacoemulsification.

AIM To compare the complication rate of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and traditional phacoemulsification for the first 18mo of FLACS use at a private surgical center in Hawaii. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2012 to June 2013. The first 273 consecutive eyes receiving FLACS and 553 eyes receiving traditional phacoemulsification were examined. All surgeries were performed at a single surgical center in Hawaii. The presence of intraoperative complications was used as the main outcome measure. Approval was obtained from the institutional review board of the University of Hawaii. RESULTS The overall complication rate for FLACS was 1.8%, while that of the traditional procedure was 5.8% (P<0.05). A majority of the surgeons (80%) had a lower complication rate while using FLACS. CONCLUSION FLACS is comparable in safety, if not safer, than traditional cataract surgery when performed by qualified cataract surgeons on carefully selected patients.
The ENABLE-AGE Project: Multi-dimensional methodology for European housing research

The main aim of the ENABLE-AGE Project was to explore the home environment as a determinant for autonomy, participation, and well-being in very old age within a follow-up perspective. More specifically, the project aimed to explore country specific housing-related societal support as represented in personal situations; to provide an update of housing policies and legislation; to provide methodological guidelines for home assessments; and to provide policy recommendations in housing issues across Europe. The novel scope was to explicitly consider subjective and objective person-environment relationships as determinants for healthy ageing. A macro level update of housing policies (the ENABLE-AGE Update Review) supported the project process, integrated with the knowledge generated by the ENABLE-AGE Survey Study and the ENABLE-AGE In-Depth Study. In the survey a wide range of well-proven measurements was administered at home-visits with very old people, randomly sampled in five European countries. In particular, housing accessibility was assessed in detail, using the Housing Enabler instrument. The design of the ENABLE-AGE Survey Study was longitudinal, comprising two measurement points (T1, T2) with a one-year interval. For the ENABLE-AGE In-depth Studies, qualitative interviews followed by consultation interviews with a sub-sample were conducted. The ENABLE-AGE consortium has experienced a range of challenges successively and successfully overcome by intensive
Immunochemical studies and complete amino acid sequence of the streptokinase from Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) M type 12 strain A374

The complete amino acid sequence of the streptokinase (SKase) of Streptococcus pyogenes M type 12 strain A374, isolated from a patient with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), was determined. The epitope domain for the monoclonal antibody N-59, which cross-reacts with SKases of both the PSGN-associated strain and S. equisimilis H46A (a non-PSGN-associated strain), was predicted to be localized in residues 370 to 374. The epitope domain specific for monoclonal antibody RU-1, which reacts only with the PSGN-associated SKase, was localized to residues 164 to 236.
Identification of promoter region methylation patterns of MGMT, CDKN2A, GSTP1, and THBS1 genes in intracranial meningioma patients.

BACKGROUND Cytogenetic, molecular and epigenetic changes are all known to take place in the pathogenesis of meningiomas. In this study, we aimed at investing methylation of MGMT (DNA repair), CDKN2A (cell cycle control), GSTP1 (detoxification), and THBS1 (angiogenesis inhibitor) genes, which are known to be unmethylated in normal tissue, in meningioma samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction was used to study promoter regions methylation of genes in 36 patient samples. RESULTS Methylation in promoter regions of MGMT, CDKN2A, GSTP1, and THBS1 genes were found in 11.1%, 8.3%, 2.8%, and 0% of the cases, respectively. About 19.4% of cases revealed promoter methylation of at least a single gene, whereas only 2.8% of cases revealed methylation of more than one gene. Based on their World Health Organization 2007 grade; 6.3% of grade I cases, 35.3% of grade II cases, and 33.3% of grade III cases showed hypermethylation in the promoter regions of the genes studied. No statistically significant relation was found between promoter zone methylation and factors such as age, sex, histopathology, grade, or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Further research on promoter zone methylation will help expose the methylation profile and pathogenesis of meningiomas, which will consequently guide to a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, thus ensuring a better understanding of the prognosis and considering novel treatment options.
Manual Liquid Based Cytology in Diagnosis of Gynecologic Pathology

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a commonly encountered complaint in gynecology department. Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women and the most frequent gynecological cancer in developed countries. With 5,28, 000 new cases every year, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide, after breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. Though the cytological examination has been the mainstay for early detection of cervical cancer, and found to be useful in detection of endometrial cancer, its widespread use has not been possible in the developing countries due to paucity of resources, man power and other facilities Its sensitivity reduces to less than 50% when there is presence of obscuring blood, inflammation or thick areas of overlapping epithelial cells. Manual Liquid Based Cytology (MLBC) is a cost effective technique that enables cells to be suspended in a monolayer and thus improve detection of precursor lesions and specimen adequacy. The residual sample can be used for other tests like Cell block and immunocytochemistry. Objectives : 1. To improve the diagnosis of gynecological cancers by a method called as Manual Liquid Based Cytology (MLBC). 2. To study a cost effective method of studying both endometrial and cervical cancer with help of ancillary techniques like cellblock, immunocytochemistry 3To compare the findings between conventional pap smear (CPS) and MLBC in detection of gynecological conditions of endometrium and cervix. Methodology : Samples were collected using Ayres spatula by split sample technique from transformation zone of cervix which included outpatients of gynecology dept. The women were aged between 20-60 years, 82 cases with bleeding history were taken to study endometrial pathology, while 100 cases of white discharge per vagina were selected to study the cervix. 60 cases were later subjected to ancillary studies like cellblock with Immunocytochemistry. Histopathological correlation was done for cases wherever possible. Results : The study on endometruim showed MLBC is more sensitive and specific than CPS in diagnosis of malignant lesions. The contingency coefficient for LBC/Histopathology V/s CPS/Histopathology was 0.572 V/s 0.556. It was observed for cervical lesion that increased detection rate was 150% for low grade intraepithelial lesion. The Positive predictive value for diagnosing neoplastic lesions on cell blocks was 75%, while Concordance Rate of CB/HistopathologyVs CPS/Histopathology was 74% vs. 54%. Conclusion : MLBC is a cost effective method for detections of cancerous lesions of endometruim and cervix.
A General Framework for Incorporating Time—Frequency Domain Sparsity in Multichannel Speech Dereverberation

Blind multichannel speech dereverberation methods based on multichannel linear prediction (MCLP) estimate the dereverberated speech component without any knowledge of the room acoustics by estimating and subtracting the undesired reverberant component from the reference microphone signal. In this paper we present a general framework for incorporating sparsity in the time-frequency domain into MCLP-based speech dereverberation. The presented framework enables to use either a wideband or a narrowband signal model with either an analysis or a synthesis sparsity prior for the desired speech component and generalizes stateof-the-art MCLP-based speech dereverberation methods, which is shown both analytically as well as using simulations.
Attitudes Toward Older Adults: A Reexamination of Two Major Scales

ABSTRACT Two studies were conducted to reexamine the psychometric properties of two major scales measuring attitudes toward older adults. The Kogan Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (Kogan OP Scale; Kogan, 1961b) was administered to a sample of 512 college students in Study One. The refined version (Polizzi & Millikin, 2002) of the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD; Rosencranz & McNeivin, 1969) using an attitudinal target, older adults, was evaluated in Study Two with a sample of 785 college students. Overall, the refined ASD using a nongender and age-specific attitudinal target, older adults, was found to be more psychometrically promising than the Kogan OP Scale. Much refinement is needed for the Kogan OP Scale because of a major flaw associated with OP+ and OP– subscales. The refined ASD using older adults as the attitudinal target is a potentially practical tool in gerontological and geriatric fields with future clarification of its factor structure. Strengths and shortcomings of these scales are discussed based on psychometric features. Implications for future studies are discussed.
Learning Set Spatial Navigation Performance in Three Mouse Strains

Swiss Webster (SW), Dilute Brown Agouti (DBA), and Deer Mice (DM) were tested for acquisition and retention of a learning set place task in the Morris water maze. The learning set consisted of daily placing the hidden platform sequentially at 1 of 4 separate locations in the pool. All animals swam for 63 days in this version of the water task. SW animals were unable to find the platform reliably. The time taken by DBA and DM animals in escaping the pool declined rapidly, reaching asymptote within 21 days. The DM animals reached the platform significantly faster than either SW or DBA mice. Analyses of swim path selection used by the 3 strains indicated clearly that DM mice were the most systematic in the selecting and sequencing from a variety of potential strategies the appropriate methods necessary for the most efficient solution of the problem. The present results suggest that in light of the differences between strains observed in swimming behaviors, investigation of strain differences in the neuroanatomic structures believed to be related to the solving of spatial problems might be useful.
The prospective natural history of cerebral venous malformations.

OBJECTIVE A 10-year prospective clinical and magnetic resonance imaging study was undertaken to determine the natural history of venous malformations. We assessed the hemorrhage rate and morbidity associated with venous malformations of the brain. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1986 to 1996, 80 patients with venous malformations were referred to the University of Pittsburgh multidisciplinary vascular malformation study group for evaluation. Observation was recommended for all patients. Follow-up clinical information was obtained from patients or their referring physicians through questionnaire or phone conversation. RESULTS Twenty-two patients presented with neurological signs or symptoms that were thought to be related to the malformations (nine with headaches, four with seizures, three with sensory symptoms, three with motor deficits, two with trigeminal neuralgia, and one with an extrapyramidal disorder). Twenty-three patients presented with headaches that were not considered to be related to the malformations. The retrospective hemorrhage rate (from birth to study entry) was 0.61% (18 bleeds in 2,949 patient-years). Sixteen patients had sustained previous brain hemorrhage in the region of the venous malformations, two of whom had suffered subsequent hemorrhage. During the prospective follow-up period totaling 298 patient-years of clinical observation, two patients suffered hemorrhage (0.68% per year), but only one had a symptomatic bleed (0.34% per year). This patient had not hemorrhaged previously. One of these patients remained asymptomatic, whereas the second developed temporary worsening of facial paresthesias. No patient died as a result of the venous malformations. CONCLUSION The hemorrhage rate of a patient with venous malformations is similar to the rates presented in previous reports for patients with cavernous malformations without previous symptomatic hemorrhage. We think that hemorrhage in a patient with venous malformations may be related to an underlying but not yet documented cavernous malformation. Because of the low risk for new neurological events, we advocate conservative management. The risks associated with surgical intervention greatly exceed the low risk of morbidity related to venous malformation hemorrhage.