Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using ovarian development stages in the determination of the physiological age in the females of Anopheles gambiae s.l, south-eastern Benin

Background: The physiological age of vectors is an indicator often used in the evaluation of the efficacy of malaria vector means. The purpose is to study the ovarian development stage for the determination of the physiological age of mosquitoes. Methods: Mosquitoes were collected using human landing catch at night in the district of Itassoumba and Abomey-takplikpo, south-eastern Benin. Females An. gambiae s.l were identified morphologically using the determination keys. The ovaries were dissected in distilled water. Additionally, one ovary is cut and transferred into Natrichlorid physiological liquid for the reading of ovarian development stage. Mosquitoes, which are between the stages I and II-young are nulliparous and those which are between IImean and III are parous. After drying, the tracheoles of ovary left in distilled water were examined with the usual Detinova method. Results: Among 271 An. gambiae s.l examined at Itassoumba, 72 were nulliparous with the reading of ovarian tracheoles against 66 with the reading of the ovarian development stages (P=0.61). With the 199 remaining identified mosquitoes as parous with the examination of tracheoles, the reading of the ovarian development stages has recognized 173 as parous (P=0.18). At Abomey-takplikpo, on 197 specimens examined, 52 and 49 were nulliparous respectively with the reading of tracheoles and the examination of the ovarian development stages (P=0.71). Among the 145 remaining mosquitoes identified as parous with the tracheoles method, 119 were parous with the examination of the ovarian development stages (P=0.12). Conclusion: The development stages of ovaries are usable for the determination of the physiological age of mosquitoes. Nulliparous mosquitoes are between the stages I and II-young. However, parous are between the stages II-mean and III.
Autoregulation of Npl3, a Yeast SR Protein, Requires a Novel Downstream Region and Serine Phosphorylation

ABSTRACT Npl3 is an SR-like protein with documented roles in mRNA export and transcription termination. Maintaining appropriate levels of Npl3 protein is critical for cell survival. Here we show that Npl3 negatively regulates its own expression via modulation of its mRNA levels. By creating gene chimeras, we demonstrate that the region downstream of the coding sequence of Npl3 is necessary and sufficient to confer regulation. The use of different polyadenylation sites in this region results in at least two stable RNAs; read-through of these sites causes the formation of 3′-extended RNAs that are highly unstable and therefore largely unproductive. Increasing the amount of Npl3 protein promotes read-through. Notably, the loss of Npl3 phosphorylation promotes the use of the productive polyadenylation sites, resulting in elevated levels of Npl3 protein. We propose that proper levels of Npl3 protein are achieved by a negative feedback loop in which phosphorylated Npl3 suppresses efficient recognition of the productive processing signals in its own transcript.
Development of Bacillus thuringiensis CryIC Resistance by Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Selection of resistance in Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) to an HD-1 spore-crystal mixture, CryIC (HD-133) inclusion bodies, and trypsinized toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai and B. thuringiensis subsp. entomocidus was attempted by using laboratory bioassays. No resistance to the HD-1 spore-crystal mixture could be achieved after 20 generations of selection. Significant levels of resistance (11-fold) to CryIC inclusion bodies expressed in Escherichia coli were observed after seven generations. Subsequent selection of the CryIC-resistant population with trypsinized CryIC toxin resulted, after 21 generations of CryIC selection, in a population of S. exigua that exhibited only 8% mortality at the highest toxin concentration tested (320 (mu)g/g), whereas the 50% lethal concentration was 4.30 (mu)g/g for the susceptible colony. Insects resistant to CryIC toxin from HD-133 also were resistant to trypsinized CryIA(b), CryIC from B. thuringiensis subsp. entomocidus, CryIE-CryIC fusion protein (G27), CryIH, and CryIIA. In vitro binding experiments with brush border membrane vesicles showed a twofold decrease in maximum CryIC binding, a fivefold difference in K(infd), and no difference in the concentration of binding sites for the CryIC-resistant insects compared with those for the susceptible insects. Resistance to CryIC was significantly reduced by the addition of HD-1 spores. Resistance to the CryIC toxin was still observed 12 generations after CryIC selection was removed. These results suggest that, in S. exigua, resistance to a single protein is more likely to occur than resistance to spore-crystal mixtures and that once resistance occurs, insects will be resistant to many other Cry proteins. These results have important implications for devising S. exigua resistance management strategies in the field.
Comment on " 'Stemness': Transcriptional Profiling of Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells" and "A Stem Cell Molecular Signature" (II)

Two recent reports ([ 1 ][1], [ 2 ][2]) have compared transcription profiles of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), neural stem cells (NSCs), and hematopoeitic stem cells (HSCs). Both identified a set of genes common to all three types of stem cells and proposed that these genes “reveal core stem
Effect of bupivacaine and bupivacaine-clonidine combination in supraclavicular brachial plexus block – A comparative study

Addition of clonidine to local anesthetics improves peripheral nerve blocks by reducing the onset time, improving the efficacy and extending postoperative analgesia. This study evaluated the effect of Bupivacaine clonidine combination in supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper limb surgeries. A randomized double-blind controlled trial was performed in 60 patients. Group B (n=30) patients received 25 mL 0.5% Bupivacaine and 0.2 mL of Saline, whereas group C (n = 30) received 25 mL 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.2 mL (30 mcg) clonidine through supraclavicular brachial plexus block. In both groups, differences between age, sex, ASA grades, weight, vital parameters were statistically insignificant. Time of onset of sensory blockade and motor blockade were reduced in group C compared to Group B and were statistically significant. Duration of sensory and motor blockade were prolonged in group C compared to Group B and were statistically significant. Duration of post operative analgesia was prolonged in group C compared to Group B and were statistically significant. Sedation score of patients in group C were higher than those in group C intra-operatively and postoperatively. No clinically significant differences were observed in pulse rate, mean blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Due to its sedative properties, it can reduce patient anxiety and provide optimal intra-operative and postoperative patient comfort. Sirohiya P, Mantan K, Rehman H, Kumari M, Devra V, Singh R. Effect of bupivacaine and bupivacaine-clonidine combination in supraclavicular brachial plexus block – A comparative study. IAIM, 2016; 3(5): 29-37.
Impact of intraventricular conduction delay on coronary haemodynamics: a study with intracoronary Doppler in patients with bundle branch blocks and normal coronary arteries.

AIMS The impact of right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left bundle branch block (LBBB) on myocardial perfusion is not completely understood as data are often blurred by underlying cardiac disease. The present study investigates whether conduction delays per se affect coronary perfusion-an indirect measure of myocardial oxygen demand. METHODS AND RESULTS Intracoronary Doppler and ultrasound were performed in 8 patients with RBBB, 10 patients with LBBB, and 10 control subjects. All patients had angiographically normal coronary arteries and normal left ventricular function. Baseline (bAPV) and adenosine-induced hyperaemic average flow velocity and coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) were measured in left anterior descending arteries. Intravascular ultrasound showed no difference in lumen cross-sectional area and plaque burden between groups. Patients with RBBB and LBBB had higher bAPV values than controls (19.0 +/- 4.9, 21.9 +/- 5.1, and 14.6 +/- 2.4 cm/s, respectively; ANOVA P = 0.003). There was no difference between patients with LBBB and RBBB compared with controls in CFVR (2.8 +/- 0.5, 3.0 +/- 1.0, and 3.4 +/- 0.7, respectively; ANOVA P = 0.21). CONCLUSION Bundle branch blocks, in particular LBBB, are associated with an increased coronary flow velocity, which indicates enhanced myocardial oxygen demand on the basis of mechanoenergetic disturbance. This may contribute to the unfavourable outcome of patients with intraventricular conduction delay.
Clinical experience with 13C MRS in vivo

13C MRS was installed on a clinical scanner at 1.5 T in order to facilitate integrated MR examinations of human brain disorders. Using a simplified protocol, (1‐13C) glucose and/or (1‐13C) acetate were administered orally or by intravenous infusion. 13C spectra of diagnostic quality were acquired in more than 100 consecutive studies. Novel 13C neurochemical data contributed to the understanding of Alzheimer's, Canavan's, mitochondrial and hepatic encephalopathy, epilepsy and normal brain development. 13C MRS uncovered hitherto unknown disorders of NAA‐synthesis, glutamate neurotransmission, TCA‐cycle and glycolysis. Despite low inherent signal‐to‐noise, natural abundance 13C MRS showed diagnostic promise. 13C MRS is feasible in a clinical setting, at reasonable cost in neonates, children, adults and elderly patients. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

As a result of progresses in surveillance programs and improvements in diagnosis, an increased number of hepatocellular carcinomas are diagnosed in early stage, when effective treatment options are available. Surgical resection, liver transplantation and radiofrequency ablation are considered potentially curative treatments and may be successfully applied when the disease is limited. In intermediate and advanced stages only palliative therapies can be employed and chemoembolization and the oral dual inhibitor sorafenib are considered the treatments of choice. Future directions will explore the role of sorafenib in the adjuvant setting, the addition of sorafenib to chemoembolization procedures and the combination of sorafenib with chemotherapeutic agents or other biological drugs in advanced stages of disease.
Early gastric cancer: feasibility of CT lymphography with ethiodized oil for sentinel node mapping.

PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility of CT lymphography with ethiodized oil for sentinel node mapping in porcine stomachs and in patients with early gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Approval for the animal study was obtained from the authors' institutional animal use and care administrative advisory committee, the clinical study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from each participant. Five pigs underwent CT lymphography 1 hour after gastric subserosal injection of 1 mL ethiodized oil and sentinel node mapping with injection of 1 mL methylene blue. Ethiodized oil retention nodes were identified on the radiographic images of the gastric specimen and removed for histopathologic examination. In addition, 10 patients with early gastric cancer underwent CT lymphography with peritumoral injection of 1 mL ethiodized oil, followed by sentinel basin extirpation with CT and routine nodal dissection. The removed sentinel basins were examined by radiography. Histopathologic examination was performed for dissected nodes, including sentinel nodes. RESULTS In each of the five pigs, CT showed one perigastric ethiodized oil retention node. After harvesting the ethiodized oil retention node, blue-stained areas were identified in the five removed nodes and intranodal ethiodized oil was detected on histopathologic examination. In all 10 patients, CT lymphography with ethiodized oil successfully defined the sentinel basin with ethiodized oil retention nodes. CT lymphography revealed 20 ethiodized oil retention nodes. After basin extirpation, 28 and 46 nodes were detected on radiographic and histopathologic examinations. Histopathologic examination revealed that one patient had micrometastases at two sentinel nodes and another patient had isolated tumor cells at one sentinel node. No patient had metastasis in nonsentinel nodes. CONCLUSION CT lymphography with ethiodized oil may be a feasible method for sentinel node mapping in patients with early gastric cancer.
Protein Stability and Transcription Factor Complex Assembly Determined by the SCL-LMO2 Interaction*

Gene expression programs are established by networks of interacting transcription factors. The basic helix-loop-helix factor SCL and the LIM-only protein LMO2 are components of transcription factor complexes that are essential for hematopoiesis. Here we show that LMO2 and SCL are predominant interaction partners in hematopoietic cells and that this interaction occurs through a conserved interface residing in the loop and helix 2 of SCL. This interaction nucleates the assembly of SCL complexes on DNA and is required for target gene induction and for the stimulation of erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation. We also demonstrate that SCL determines LMO2 protein levels in hematopoietic cells and reveal that interaction with SCL prevents LMO2 degradation by the proteasome. We propose that the SCL-LMO2 interaction couples protein stabilization with higher order protein complex assembly, thus providing a powerful means of modulating the stoichiometry and spatiotemporal activity of SCL complexes. This interaction likely provides a rate-limiting step in the transcriptional control of hematopoiesis and leukemia, and similar mechanisms may operate to control the assembly of diverse protein modules.
Optical position detection to measure tyre carcass deflections

Active safety systems would benefit from tyre force and friction potential information. Different sensor concepts, including, among others, the EU–funded Apollo–project developed tyre sensor based on optical position detection, are being studied. The sensor can measure tyre carcass deflections with respect to the rim. The carcass deflections can be used to calculate tyre forces and they may be exploited in the estimation of friction potential. The waveforms of the sensor signal are illustrated. The vertical and lateral force estimations are presented with unavoidable compensation parts. The tyre sensor measurements were compared to the measurement–vehicle results and good correlations achieved. Continuing activities are concerned with the estimation of friction potential and the detection of aquaplaning.
EFFECT OF INTERNAL CAPABILITIES ON SUCCESS OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Original scientific paper Increasing competition triggered innovation and technology transfer to be the key drivers of success for companies. In this study, a construction company’s success was indicated by its innovation and technology transfer performance defined with factors such as "perceived value", "project time and budget", "competitive advantage", "reputation", "productivity", "finance", "learning and development" and "customer satisfaction". Then, it was aimed to measure the effect of internal capabilities of a company such as "resources and capabilities", "project management competencies", and "strategic decisions" on success. In this context, Structural Equation Modelling method was used to analyse data collected from 52 construction companies and construct a model representing the interrelationships between the factors. According to the resulting model, it was found out that "project management competencies" have a direct relationship with "company innovation and technology transfer success" whereas, "Resources and Capabilities" and "Strategic Decisions" have both an indirect relationship with success through "project management competencies".
Simultaneous TCR and CD244 Signals Induce Dynamic Downmodulation of CD244 on Human Antiviral T Cells

Various cosignaling molecules on T cells can contribute to activation, inhibition, or exhaustion, depending on context. The surface receptor signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) family receptor CD244 (2B4/SLAMf4) has been shown to be capable of either inhibitory or enhancing effects upon engagement of its ligand CD48 (SLAMf2). We examined phenotypes of CD8 T cells from HIV+ and HIVneg human donors, specific for HIV and/or respiratory syncytial virus. Cultured and ex vivo CD8 T cells expressed PD-1, CD244, and TIM-3. We found that ex vivo CD8 T cells downregulated CD244 in response to superantigen. Furthermore, cognate peptide induced rapid downregulation of both CD244 and TIM-3, but not PD-1, on CD8 T cell clones. CD244 downmodulation required simultaneous signaling via both TCR and CD244 itself. Using a pH-sensitive fluorophore conjugated to avidin–Ab tetramers, we found that CD244 crosslinking in the presence of TCR signaling resulted in rapid transport of CD244 to an acidic intracellular compartment. Downregulation was not induced by PMA–ionomycin, or prevented by PI3K inhibition, implicating a TCR-proximal signaling mechanism. CD244 internalization occurred within hours of TCR stimulation and required less peptide than was required to induce IFN-γ production. The degree of CD244 internalization varied among cultured CD8 T cell lines of different specificities, and correlated with the enhancement of IFN-γ production in response to CD48 blockade in HIV+, but not HIVneg, subjects. Our results indicate that rapid CD244 internalization is induced by a two-signal mechanism and plays a role in modulation of antiviral CD8 T cell responses by CD48–CD244 signaling.
Factors Influencing Prognosis after Neo-Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Rectal Carcinoma

Abstract Background: Neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRTx) has become a standard therapeutic regimen for rectal carcinoma. This therapeutic option allows more sphincter preserving surgical procedures and seems to improve prognosis in patients with rectal carcinoma. The aim of this study is to analyse factors influencing prognosis in terms of disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) after CRTx. Material and methods: We have reviewed the clinical and morphological data of 39 patients after neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy, including immunohistochemistry for p53, cyclin D1, MIB-1 (Ki67) and bcl-2 protein in paraffin-embedded tissue. Results: In our series, 12 patients did not respond to neo-adjuvant therapy, 12 showed a complete response and 15 a partial response. When we analysed the factors influencing DFS we found a significant influence of neural, vascular and lymphatic invasion, pre-operative and postoperative CEA, TNM staging, smoking and histological response to CRXT in the univariate analysis. As for OS, we found a significant influence of TNM staging, histological grade, peritumoral inflammatory reaction and vascular and neural invasion. No multivariate analysis was performed due to the small sample size. Conclusion: In our series of patients with rectal carcinoma receiving pre-operative chemoradiation therapy, histopatho-logical response has influenced prognosis.
Decision and action planning signals in human posterior parietal cortex during delayed perceptual choices

During simple perceptual decisions, sensorimotor neurons in monkey fronto‐parietal cortex represent a decision variable that guides the transformation of sensory evidence into a motor response, supporting the view that mechanisms for decision‐making are closely embedded within sensorimotor structures. Within these structures, however, decision signals can be dissociated from motor signals, thus indicating that sensorimotor neurons can play multiple and independent roles in decision‐making and action selection/planning. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine whether response‐selective human brain areas encode signals for decision‐making or action planning during a task requiring an arbitrary association between face pictures (male vs. female) and specific actions (saccadic eye vs. hand pointing movements). The stimuli were gradually unmasked to stretch the time necessary for decision, thus maximising the temporal separation between decision and action planning. Decision‐related signals were measured in parietal and motor/premotor regions showing a preference for the planning/execution of saccadic or pointing movements. In a parietal reach region, decision‐related signals were specific for the stimulus category associated with its preferred pointing response. By contrast, a saccade‐selective posterior intraparietal sulcus region carried decision‐related signals even when the task required a pointing response. Consistent signals were observed in the motor/premotor cortex. Whole‐brain analyses indicated that, in our task, the most reliable decision signals were found in the same neural regions involved in response selection. However, decision‐ and action‐related signals within these regions can be dissociated. Differences between the parietal reach region and posterior intraparietal sulcus plausibly depend on their functional specificity rather than on the task structure.
Simulation Modeling for Speed Scaling Designs

This paper introduces an extensible simulation tool for the study of speed scaling designs for a single server with variable service rates. This simulator facilitates detailed performance analysis of scheduling and speed scaling policies under different background settings. Our component-based design separates the system configuration, like the power consumption model and the incoming workload, from the policy components for scheduling and speed scaling. Furthermore, the simulator allows for custom implementations of the data logger, so the instrumentation could be fine tuned to the desired level of detail for each run of the simulation. We present the design of the main components of our simulator. We then show example results to highlight the versatility of the simulator for studying different speed scaling configurations.
Oral administration of Ag suppresses Ag-induced allergic conjunctivitis in mice: critical timing and dose of Ag

Background/aims To investigate the effect of Ag doses and administration time points on oral tolerance induction in experimental allergic conjunctivitis (EAC). Methods BALB/c mice were actively sensitised twice with ovalbumin (OVA) in alum, and then challenged twice with OVA in eye drops. Twenty minutes after the last challenge, the clinical appearance was evaluated. Twenty-four hours later, the conjunctivas, spleens and blood were collected for histological analyses, cytokine production assays, and measurement of serum Ig levels, respectively. The mice were fed with a high or low dose of OVA before sensitisation (prophylactic treatment). To assess the effect of therapeutic treatment, the high-dose Ag was administered after sensitisation. Control groups received phosphate-buffered saline without OVA. To determine the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in prophylactic low-dose oral tolerance, mice were injected intraperitoneally with neutralising antibodies during the entire experimental period. To assess the role of regulatory T cells, neonatally thymectomised mice were injected with depleting anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies before the low-dose prophylactic treatment. Results OVA-feeding was suppressive even when the mice were treated soon after Ag sensitisation. Both the low and high doses of oral OVA suppressed EAC. High-dose treatment significantly suppressed EAC-related cytokine production and serum Ig levels. IL-10 and TGF-β were less likely to be involved in prophylactic low-dose oral tolerance induction but regulatory T cells played a role. Conclusions Prophylactic and early therapeutic treatment of OVA feeding suppressed EAC. Both high and low doses of oral OVA induced oral tolerance but with different mechanisms.