Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient Transport as Affected by Rate of Overland Flow

Little information is currently available concerning the effects of varying flow rate on nutrient transport by overland flow. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of overland flow rate on nutrient transport following the application of beef cattle or swine manure to plots containing 0, 2, 4, or 8 Mg ha -1 of corn residue. After addition of residue materials to 0.75 m wide by 2.0 m long plots, beef cattle or swine manure was added and the plots were then either disked or maintained in a no-till condition. Three 30 min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24 h intervals, were applied at an intensity of approximately 70 mm h -1 . The transport of dissolved phosphorus (DP), particulate P (PP), total phosphorus (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), and soil loss was measured. Nutrient load from the plots on which manure was applied was not significantly affected by the amount of corn residue on the soil surface. Transport of DP in runoff was greater under no-till than till conditions. Rate of overland flow significantly affected PP and TP load. The transport of NO3-N and TN was affected by runoff rate but was not significantly influenced by tillage. Both tillage and runoff rate were found to affect the transport of NH4-N in runoff. Soil loss was significantly influenced by the amount of residue on the soil surface and runoff rate. Tillage condition and runoff rate should be considered when nutrient transport from land application areas is estimated. Keywords. Crop residue, Land application, Manure management, Manure runoff, Nitrogen movement, Nutrient losses, Phosphorus, Runoff, Tillage, Water quality.
Restricted replication of simian immunodeficiency virus strain 239 in macrophages is determined by env but is not due to restricted entry

Virus derived from the infectious, pathogenic, molecular clone of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) called SIVmac239 replicates poorly in primary rhesus monkey alveolar macrophage cultures. Variants with three to nine amino acid changes in the envelope replicate 100 to 1,000 times more efficiently in these macrophage cultures than parental SIVmac239. Early events, including virus entry into cells, were analyzed by measuring the amounts of newly synthesized viral DNA 14 to 16 h after infection of macrophages by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. SIVmac239 ws found to enter macrophages with an efficiency similar to that of the macrophage-tropic derivatives. The assay indeed measured newly synthesized viral DNA since detection was inhibited by the reverse transcriptase inhibitors azidothymidine and foscarnet and by heat inactivation of the virus stock prior to infection. Furthermore, entry of SIVmac239 and macrophage-tropic variant into macrophages was inhibited by monoclonal antibody against CD4. Analysis of the time course of viral DNA accumulation showed that although initial entry of SIVmac239 into cells occurred normally, subsequent logarithmic increases in the amounts of viral DNA associated with spread of virus through the macrophage cultures was blocked. Increasing the amount of SIVmac239 incubated with macrophages increased the amount of virus entering the cell, but this could not overcome the block to replication. Thus, restricted replication of SIVmac239 in macrophages is determined by the envelope, but surprisingly it is not due to restricted virus entry.
Activity Propagation in an Avian Basal Ganglia-Thalamocortical Circuit Essential for Vocal Learning

In mammalian basal ganglia–thalamocortical circuits, GABAergic pallidal neurons are thought to “gate” or modulate excitation in thalamus with their strong inhibitory inputs and thus signal to cortex by pausing and permitting thalamic neurons to fire in response to excitatory drive. In contrast, in a homologous circuit specialized for vocal learning in songbirds, evidence suggests that pallidal neurons signal by eliciting postinhibitory rebound spikes in thalamus, which could occur even without any excitatory drive to thalamic neurons. To test whether songbird pallidal neurons can also communicate with thalamus by gating excitatory drive, as well as by postinhibitory rebound, we examined the activity of thalamic relay neurons in response to acute inactivation of the basal ganglia structure Area X; Area X contains the pallidal neurons that project to thalamus. Although inactivation of Area X should eliminate rebound-mediated spiking in thalamus, this manipulation tonically increased the firing rate of thalamic relay neurons, providing evidence that songbird pallidal neurons can gate tonic thalamic excitatory drive. We also found that the increased thalamic activity was fed forward to its target in the avian equivalent of cortex, which includes neurons that project to the vocal premotor area. These data raise the possibility that basal ganglia circuits can signal to cortex through thalamus both by generating postinhibitory rebound and by gating excitatory drive and may switch between these modes depending on the statistics of pallidal firing. Moreover, these findings provide insight into the strikingly different disruptive effects of basal ganglia and cortical lesions on songbird vocal learning.
Current challenges in dedifferentiated fat cells research

ABSTRACT Dedifferentiated fat cells show great promises as a novel cell source for stem cell research. It has many advantages when used for cell–based therapeutics including abundance, pluripotency, and safety. However, there are many obstacles researchers need to overcome to make the next big move in DFAT cells research. In this review, we summarize the current main challenges in DFAT cells research including cell culture purity, phenotypic properties, and dedifferentiation mechanisms. The common methods to produce DFAT cells as well as the cell purity issue during DFAT cell production have been introduced. Current approaches to improve DFAT cell purity have been discussed. The phenotypic profile of DFAT cells have been listed and compared with other stem cells. Further studies on elucidating the underlying dedifferentiation mechanisms will dramatically advance DFAT cell research.
Position paper on imatinib mesylate in chronic myeloid leukaemia *

This document summarizes the position of the British Society for Haematology, representing haematologists in the UK, on the use of the new ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). It is not our intention to review comprehensively all clinical data on the use of imatinib as such data are available from other sources (Druker et al, 2001a,b, 2002; Kantarjian et al, 2002; Ottmann et al, 2002; Sawyers et al, 2002; Talpaz et al, 2002). We are not recommending guidelines for the overall management of CML – such a document will be produced by the BCSH later this year. We do summarize the new data on imatinib that were presented at the recent meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology on 20 May 2002. It should be emphasized that allografting remains the only known ‘curative’ therapy for CML and this should be considered in all younger patients with a suitable donor. The BSH believes that imatinib should be broadly available for prescription by UK Haematologists as it is a highly effective agent in the treatment of CML. It is easy to administer in an outpatient setting, offers patients improved quality of life and has fewer side-effects than the current standard treatment for non-transplanted patients, interferon alpha (IFN) (+ ⁄ – cytarabine, Ara-C). Given the outstanding cytogenetic responses achieved, it seems reasonable to expect that imatinib will improve survival. In light of current evidence, imatinib is indicated in the treatment of CML in the following settings: 1. At presentation. Haematologists in the UK should have the option to treat any newly diagnosed patient with imatinib. Ideally, all appropriate ⁄ eligible patients should be entered into the multinational SPIRIT (STI571 Prospective International Randomized Trial) protocol (section 4) or other suitable prospective study. The MRC declined funding for SPIRIT on 24 July 2002 due to insufficient funds. Alternative funding possibilities are currently being explored to allow SPIRIT to proceed in the UK. 2. Patients currently treated with IFN who are intolerant of this treatment should be offered imatinib. Any definitions of intolerance would be arbitrary but clinician and patient should make reasonable attempts to deliver IFN therapy. 3. Patients currently treated with IFN who achieve haematological control but without a major cytogenetic response after 1 year on treatment should be offered imatinib. 4. Patients currently treated with IFN who have a major cytogenetic response (< 35% Ph-positive by G-banding or fluorescence in situ hybridization) on IFN and are tolerating this treatment should not be offered imatinib unless or until an increase in Ph-positive metaphases is observed. 5. Patients who enter accelerated phase or blast transformation should be offered imatinib until further progression.
Numerical Simulation of Frequency Selective Surfaces Perforated with Arbitrarily Shaped Apertures

We have proposed a method for the electromagnetic analysis of FSS perforated with arbitrary shaped apertures. It is based on the boundary integral equation method, mode matching technique and S- matrix method and has been implemented in a computer code. The data calculated by the code is in accordance with published ones. Furthermore, we have shown the influence of possible fabrication inaccuracies on transmission properties of the FSS.
Open source stack for Structure from Motion 3D reconstruction: A geometric overview

Given a series of overlapped images, it is possible to reconstruct camera position and orientation, as well as 3D coordinates of object in the images. Such method is known as Structure from Motion (SfM), which is currently implemented in various commercial and open source software. The first software commonly don't provide Sfm algorithm. While the latter software are commonly developed partially. This research aims to perform a SfM reconstruction using a stack of open source SfM software, with each software serves different purposes in producing 3D models from images. A python script were employed to produce seamless integration of the software. Geometric evaluations were performed to the result of SfM reconstruction on three datasets obtained using mobile handheld camera. The deliverables of the stack were compared to result of commercial software using cloud-to-cloud comparison to obtain geometric closeness of both the results. Ground truth measurement were conducted to assess the positional consistency in SfM reconstruction on different dataset. The test showed that 3D models resulted from the open source stack perform on pair with the result of Agisoft Photoscan as indicated by the small RMSE value obtained from cloud-to-cloud comparison (0.019818 m and 0.350701 m for two datasets, respectively). The result of ground-truth evaluation indicates large error possibly due to the homogeneity in the dataset used, as indicated by the camera pose graph.
Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy Following Routine Versus Difficult Deliveries

Previous bio-engineering studies showed that intrapartum peak forces applied by the clinician were lower in routine deliveries than difficult deliveries. A total of 751 cases of obstetric brachial plexus palsy were included and divided into two groups: group I (248 patients) were born following routine deliveries and group II (503 patients) were born following difficult deliveries. Both groups were compared regarding the type of palsy and the rate of good/poor spontaneous motor recovery from the palsy. Group I subjects were more likely to have upper Erb palsy whereas those in group II were more likely to develop total palsy (P < .0001). The percentage of newborns with poor functional recovery was significantly higher (P < .05) in group II with regards to shoulder, wrist, and hand function. It was concluded that higher peak forces applied by the clinician in difficult deliveries affect the type of obstetric brachial plexus palsy.
Opposite-sex relationship questionnaire for female adolescents: development and psychometric evaluation

Abstract Aim The goal of the present study is to adopt state-of-the-art techniques and standards to develop and evaluate a measure, called the opposite-sex relationship questionnaire for female adolescents (OSRQFA), to assess the reasons why adolescent girls would or would not develop, a relationship with an adolescent boy. Methods A mixed-method, sequential, exploratory design was adopted. In the qualitative phase, an in-depth interview approach was used to identify the properties and dimensions to be included in the OSRQFA. In the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties of the OSRQFA were evaluated according to face, content and construct validity. Reliability and stability were assessed with Cronbach’s α and test–retest analysis, respectively. Results A preliminary questionnaire including 86 items which emerged from the qualitative phase of the study was designed. Based on the impact scores for face validity and the cutoff points for the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI), the preliminary questionnaire was reduced to 57 items. The Kaiser criteria (eigenvalues >1) and scree plot tests demonstrated that 21 items forming six factors, which were labeled ‘innate predilection’, ‘abstinence’, ‘peer pressure’, ‘fear of the relationship consequences’, ‘family atmosphere’ and ‘risk taking’, that accounted for an estimated 66.19% of variance provided an optimal fit with the data. These scales had acceptable levels of internal consistency (α = 0.822) and stability (r = 0.871, p < 0.001). Conclusion The OSRQFA with 21 items and 6 factors demonstrated suitable validity and reliability in a sample of Iranian female adolescents. The OSRQFA’s has good psychometric properties, and can be used by other researchers in future studies.
Central Nervous System Expression and PET Imaging of the Translocator Protein in Relapsing–Remitting Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Glial neuroinflammation is associated with the development and progression of multiple sclerosis. PET imaging offers a unique opportunity to evaluate neuroinflammatory processes longitudinally in a noninvasive and clinically translational manner. 18F-PBR111 is a newly developed PET radiopharmaceutical with high affinity and selectivity for the translocator protein (TSPO), expressed on activated glia. This study aimed to investigate neuroinflammation at different phases of relapsing–remitting (RR) experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the brains of SJL/J mice by postmortem histologic analysis and in vivo by PET imaging with 18F-PBR111. Methods: RR EAE was induced by immunization with PLP139–151 peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant. Naive female SJL/J mice and mice immunized with saline–complete Freund's adjuvant were used as controls. The biodistribution of 18F-PBR111 was measured in 13 areas of the central nervous system and compared with PET imaging results during different phases of RR EAE. The extents of TSPO expression and glial activation were assessed with immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: There was significant TSPO expression in all of the central nervous system areas studied at the peak of the first clinical episode and, importantly, at the preclinical stage. In contrast, only a few TSPO-positive cells were observed at the second episode. At the third episode, there was again an increase in TSPO expression. TSPO expression was associated with microglial cells or macrophages without obvious astrocyte labeling. The dynamics of 18F-PBR111 uptake in the brain, as measured by in vivo PET imaging and biodistribution, followed the pattern of TSPO expression during RR EAE. Conclusion: PET imaging with the TSPO ligand 18F-PBR111 clearly reflected the dynamics of microglial activation in the SJL/J mouse model of RR EAE. The results are the first to highlight the discrepancy between the clinical symptoms of EAE and TSPO expression in the brain, as measured by PET imaging at the peaks of various EAE episodes. The results suggest a significant role for PET imaging investigations of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis and allow for in vivo follow-up of antiinflammatory treatment strategies.
Antibacterial Surface Properties of Various Fluoride-Releasing Restorative Materials in Vitro

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial surface properties of high-viscosity glass ionomers (Fuji IX GP, Ketac Molar), a resin-modified nano-ionomer (Ketac N100), resin-modified glass ionomers (Fuji II LC, Vitremer), a compomer (Compoglass F) and a resin-based composite (Filtek Z250). Methods ISO-standardized specimens 6 mm in diameter were prepared for each restorative material. The antibacterial properties of the materials were tested in an agar diffusion assay using Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175) for 24 and 48 hours. An inhibition zone greater than 6 mm was defined as diffuse inhibition, whereas zones ≤6 mm were described as contact inhibition. Results All tested materials exhibited a contact antibacterial effect against S. mutans. Vitremer showed the most remarkable antibacterial diffuse inhibition. Conclusions These materials might cause antibacterial effects against S. mutans when placed on cavity surfaces in both enamel and dentine, thereby preventing secondary caries formation.
Conformational inactivation induces immunogenicity of the receptor-binding pocket of a bacterial adhesin

Significance Antibodies targeting the receptor-binding pocket of viral and bacterial adhesins are highly protective against infection. However, functional site epitopes in the antigens are not always highly immunogenic, possibly because of the binding epitope-masking effects of natural ligand–receptor interactions. By using the mannose-specific fimbrial adhesin of Escherichia coli, FimH, we demonstrate that locking the adhesin in a low-binding conformation abrogates its capability to interact with mannose but, at the same time, facilitates the immune response against binding-pocket epitopes and production of adhesion-inhibitory antibodies. We believe our findings provide insight into strategies to elicit neutralizing and functional antibodies against a broad spectrum of receptor-binding proteins. Inhibiting antibodies targeting receptor-binding pockets in proteins is a major focus in the development of vaccines and in antibody-based therapeutic strategies. Here, by using a common mannose-specific fimbrial adhesin of Escherichia coli, FimH, we demonstrate that locking the adhesin in a low-binding conformation induces the production of binding pocket-specific, adhesion-inhibiting antibodies. A di-sulfide bridge was introduced into the conformationally dynamic FimH lectin domain, away from the mannose-binding pocket but rendering it defective with regard to mannose binding. Unlike the native, functionally active lectin domain, the functionally defective domain was potent in inducing inhibitory monoclonal antibodies that blocked FimH-mediated bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells and urinary bladder infection in mice. Inhibition of adhesion involved direct competition between the antibodies and mannose for the binding pocket. Binding pocket-specific inhibitory antibodies also were abundant in polyclonal immune serum raised against the functionally defective lectin domain. The monoclonal antibodies elicited against the binding-defective protein bound to the high-affinity conformation of the adhesin more avidly than to the low-affinity form. However, both soluble mannose and blood plasma more strongly inhibited antibody recognition of the high-affinity FimH conformation than the low-affinity form. We propose that in the functionally active conformation the binding-pocket epitopes are shielded from targeted antibody development by ligand masking and that strong immunogenicity of the binding pocket is unblocked when the adhesive domain is in the nonbinding conformation.
Pregnancy outcome in women with repaired versus unrepaired isolated ventricular septal defect

Please cite this paper as: Yap S‐C, Drenthen W, Pieper P, Moons P, Mulder B, Vliegen H, van Dijk A, Meijboom F, Jaddoe V, Steegers E, Boersma E, Roos‐Hesselink J on behalf of the ZAHARA investigators. Pregnancy outcome in women with repaired versus unrepaired isolated ventricular septal defect. BJOG 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471‐0528.2010. 02512.x.
ICAM-1-Induced Expression of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Astrocytes: Involvement of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways1

ICAM-1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein of the Ig superfamily involved in cell adhesion. ICAM-1 is aberrantly expressed by astrocytes in CNS pathologies such as multiple sclerosis, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, and Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a possible role for ICAM-1 in these disorders. ICAM-1 has been shown to be important for leukocyte diapedesis through brain microvessels and subsequent binding to astrocytes. However, other functional roles for ICAM-1 expression on astrocytes have not been well elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the intracellular signals generated upon ICAM-1 engagement on astrocytes. ICAM-1 ligation by a mAb to rat ICAM-1 induced mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Examination of cytokine protein production revealed that ICAM-1 ligation results in IL-6 secretion by astrocytes, whereas IL-1β and IL-1α protein is expressed intracellularly in astrocytes. The involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in ICAM-1-mediated cytokine expression in astrocytes was tested, as the MAPK extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was previously shown to be activated upon ICAM-1 engagement. Our results indicate that ERK1/ERK2, as well as p38 MAPK, are activated upon ligation of ICAM-1. Studies using pharmacological inhibitors demonstrate that both p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 are involved in ICAM-1-induced IL-6 expression, whereas only ERK1/2 is important for IL-1α and IL-1β expression. Our data support the role of ICAM-1 on astrocytes as an inflammatory mediator in the CNS and also uncover a novel signal transduction pathway through p38 MAPK upon ICAM-1 ligation.
Comparison of Proton and Neutron Carrier Removal Rates

Displacement damage induced carrier removal rates for proton irradiations in the energy range 10-175 MeV were compared to 1 MeV equivalent neutrons using power MOSFETs as a test vehicle. The results showed that, within experimental error, the degradation mechanisms were qualitatively similar and the ratio of proton to neutron carrier removal rates as a function of proton energy correlate with a calculation based on nonionization energy loss in silicon. For exposures under junction bias, p-type silicon was found to have a smaller carrier removal rate for both proton and neutron irradiations, whereas, for n-type silicon, junction bias had little effect on the carrier removal rate.