Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antigenic specificities of the cellular immune response of C57BL/6 mice to the Moloney leukemia/sarcoma virus complex.

The antigenic specificities of the cellular immune response against MoLV-MSV-induced tumors in C57BL/6 mice were studied by using a variety of purified MoLV virion proteins. Cellular reactivity, as assessed by the ability of purified proteins to induce T cell proliferation, was primarily directed against the virion envelope glycoprotein and to a lesser extent against p12. No blastogenesis was detectable with the viral p10, p15, or p30 proteins. The optimal gp71 and p12 antigen concentrations required for 50% of maximal responses were 0.036 and 0.013 nmoles per 5 × 105 cells per 0.2 ml, respectively. Blastogenesis was dependent upon the presence of T cells, but was apparently independent of the presence of macrophages. The antigenic specificity of cellular cytotoxicity was assessed by microcytotoxicity assays by using transformed nonproducer and producer cell lines with a various virus serotypes. The results demonstrated that cytotoxicity was immunologically type-specific for MoLV serotype of virus and is dependent upon the expression of the MoLV viral envelope glycoprotein gp71. The requirement for gp71 cytotoxicity was further assessed by antigen-blocking experiments. These results demonstrate that only MoLV gp71 could significantly block cytotoxicity (τ80%), whereas no blocking was seen with RLV gp71, MoLV p30, p15, p12, or p10, suggesting that the major cytotoxic response is directed against MoLV gp71. The temporal relationships of the cellular as well as the humoral immune responses related to tumor development and regression are also described.
Very low food security predicts obesity predominantly in California Hispanic men and women

Abstract Objective A high prevalence of food insecurity has persisted in the USA for the past two decades. Previous studies suggest that the association between food insecurity and obesity may vary by gender and race/ethnicity. We examined whether food insecurity was associated with BMI and obesity within gender and racial/ethnic groups in a large, diverse sample of low-income adults. Design A cross-sectional analysis of a large population-based health survey. We compared the distribution of BMI and obesity by food security levels within gender and racial/ethnic categories. Setting Data were derived from the 2003–2009 waves of the California Health Interview Survey. Subjects The study sample included 35 747 non-elderly adults with households ≤200 % of the federal poverty level. Results Among Hispanic men, very low food security was associated with a 1·0 kg/m2 higher BMI (95 % CI 0·3, 1·7 kg/m2) and a 36 % higher prevalence of obesity (95 % CI 17, 58 %) after multivariate adjustment. Among Hispanic women, very low food security was associated with a 1·1 kg/m2 higher BMI (95 % CI 0·4, 1·9 kg/m2) and a 22 % higher prevalence of obesity (95 % CI 8, 38 %). Positive associations were also observed for Asian women and multi-racial men. No significant associations were observed for non-Hispanic whites, African Americans, Asian men or multi-racial women. Conclusions Our results suggest that the association of food insecurity and obesity is limited to individuals of certain low-income, minority racial/ethnic groups. Whether targeted interventions to address food insecurity in these individuals may also decrease obesity risk deserves further investigation.
Reliability investigation of 0.07-μm InGaAs-InAlAs-InP HEMT MMICs with pseudomorphic In0.75Ga0.25As channel

The authors have investigated the reliability performance of G-band (183 GHz) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifiers fabricated using 0.07-/spl mu/m T-gate InGaAs-InAlAs-InP HEMTs with pseudomorphic In/sub 0.75/Ga/sub 0.25/As channel on 3-in wafers. Life test was performed at two temperatures (T/sub 1/ = 200 /spl deg/C and T/sub 2/ = 215 /spl deg/C), and the amplifiers were stressed at V/sub ds/ of 1 V and I/sub ds/ of 250 mA/mm in a N/sub 2/ ambient. The activation energy is as high as 1.7 eV, achieving a projected median-time-to-failure (MTTF) /spl ap/ 2 /spl times/ 10/sup 6/ h at a junction temperature of 125 /spl deg/C. MTTF was determined by 2-temperature constant current stress using /spl Delta/G/sub mp/ = -20% as the failure criteria. The difference of reliability performance between 0.07-/spl mu/m InGaAs-InAlAs-InP HEMT MMICs with pseudomorphic In/sub 0.75/Ga/sub 0.25/As channel and 0.1-/spl mu/m InGaAs-InAlAs-InP HEMT MMICs with In/sub 0.6/Ga/sub 0.4/As channel is also discussed. The achieved high-reliability result demonstrates a robust 0.07-/spl mu/m pseudomorphic InGaAs-InAlAs-InP HEMT MMICs production technology for G-band applications.
Interaction between duck hepatitis B virus and a 170-kilodalton cellular protein is mediated through a neutralizing epitope of the pre-S region and occurs during viral infection

Identification of cell surface viral binding proteins is important for understanding viral attachment and internalization. We have fused the pre-S domain of the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) large envelope protein to glutathione S-transferase and demonstrated a 170-kDa binding protein (p170) in [35S]methionine-labeled duck hepatocyte lysates. This glycoprotein was found abundantly in all extrahepatic tissues infectible with DHBV and in some noninfectible tissues, though it is not secreted into the blood. The interaction of pre-S fusion protein with p170 was competitively inhibited by wild-type DHBV in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, infection of hepatocytes with DHBV blocked the binding of pre-S fusion protein to p170, which suggests a biological role for p170 during natural infection. The p170 binding site was mapped to a conserved sequence of 16 amino acid residues (positions 87 to 102) by using 24 pre-S deletion mutants; this binding domain coincides with a major virus-neutralizing antibody epitope. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis revealed that an arginine residue at position 97 is critical for p170 binding. p170 was purified by a combination of ion-exchange and affinity chromatographies, and four peptide sequences were obtained. Two peptides showed significant similarities to human and animal carboxypeptides H, M, and N. Taken together, these results raise the possibility that the p170 binding protein is important during the replication cycle of DHBV.
The role of endothelin‐1 and endothelin receptor antagonists in prostate cancer

At current rates of diagnosis, a man in the USA has a one-in-®ve chance that he will develop invasive prostate cancer in his lifetime [1]. This rate is nearly twice that of lung cancer and three times that of colorectal cancer. Death from prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men in the USA. Almost every man with advanced prostate cancer will undergo androgen ablation therapy and, in time, most will progress. The central characteristic of lethal prostate cancer is androgen independence. These two facts were true in 1941, when therapeutic castration was ®rst described [2,3] and unfortunately are true now. Historically, there has been an inverse relationship between efforts to maximize the ef®cacy of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer and the outcomes of those efforts; thousands of patients studied and billions of dollars spent show repeatedly that hormonal therapy has dramatic yet ultimately ineffective therapeutic effects [4]. Although several growth and survival factors have been implicated in the androgenindependent phenotype of prostate cancer, there has been no translation of these ®ndings to effective therapy [5].
Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma localized in lymph nodes: Is it a different clinical entity?

Background. Extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas (EPSCC) can clinically progress differently depending on the primary site of disease involvement. This review is focused on patients with small cell carcinoma (SmCC) exclusively localized in a lymph node or in multiple lymph nodes without any evidence of a primary tumor in any other organ. Methods. We searched the period 1980 to 2007 in the PubMed database and idendified 11 publications in the English language presenting at least one case of SmCC. In total 28 individual patients were included in the present study. They were scrutinized in terms of epidemiology, clinical presentation, staging, pathology, etiology, treatment and prognosis. Results. Characteristics such as age, gender and smoking were similar to those seen in other EPSCCs. Median survival was not reached (42+, range, 9.1 to 100 months). The survival rate was found to be 79% at 3 years. Seventy-seven percent of the patients had limited stage disease. These patients completely responded to surgical therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or to a combination of these treatments. Seventy-one percent of the patients with limited stage SmCC localized in lymph nodes were recurrence-free during the study periods. Discussion. Our review patient group with SmCC localized in lymph nodes exhibited an excellent clinical behavior and survival results when compared to other patients with pulmonary and non-pulmonary SmCCs. SmCCs localized in lymph nodes may be a separate clinical entity.
Randomized greedy algorithms for finding small k‐dominating sets of regular graphs

A k‐dominating set of a graph G is a subset 𝒟 of the vertices of G such that every vertex of G is either in 𝒟 or at distance at most k from a vertex in 𝒟. It is of interest to find k‐dominating sets of small cardinality. In this paper we consider simple randomized greedy algorithms for finding small k‐dominating sets of regular graphs. We analyze the average‐case performance of the most efficient of these simple heuristics showing that it performs surprisingly well on average. The analysis is performed on random regular graphs using differential equations. This, in turn, proves upper bounds on the size of a minimum k‐dominating set of random regular graphs. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg. , 22, 2005
Donation Patterns in Four European Countries: Data From the Donor Action Database

Background. To analyze heart-beating organ donation patterns in four countries using the Donor Action (DA) Program nationally and to identify areas for improvement. Methods. Medical Record Review (MRR) of 18,118 critical care deaths between January 2006 and December 2007 in Belgium, Finland, France, and Switzerland. Data were entered to the DA System Database for analysis. Results. Of 6561 patients without contraindications to donation, 45.3% met preconditions for brain death (BD) diagnosis, 31.4% had signs of severe brain damage and 28.8% met criteria for formal BD diagnosis. Belgium had the highest number of patients with formal BD diagnosis (75.7%) and Switzerland (57.4%, P<0.0001) the lowest. Although donor identification rates were uppermost in France (93.6%) and lowest in Finland (47.7%, P<0.0001); Finland excelled in donor referral (93.9% of identified cases) versus only 63.8% in Switzerland (P<0.0001), and excelled in family approach rates (92.7%) versus only 70.2% in France (P<0.0001). Consent rates were superior in Belgium and Finland and lowest in France (P<0.0001). Conversion rates (percent of potential donors vs. actual donors) were higher in France and Belgium and significantly lower in Finland and Switzerland (P=0.0187). Only Belgium had a non–heart-beating donation policy during the study period, resulting in 11.2% more donors added to the country’s donor pool. Conclusions. The DA MRR proved to be an excellent tool to identify areas of improvement within certain steps of the donation process. Moreover, DA’s MRR has shown to be applicable in different countries and environments and should be considered as a unique tool for comparing countries’ donation performance.
First Insight into Genetic Diversity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Albania Obtained by Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis and Spoligotyping Reveals the Presence of Beijing Multidrug-Resistant Isolates

ABSTRACT We characterized a set of 100 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex clinical isolates from tuberculosis (TB) patients in Albania, typing them with a 24-locus variable-number tandem-repeat-spoligotyping scheme. Depending on the cluster definition, 43 to 49 patients were distributed into 15 to 16 clusters which were likely to be epidemiologically linked, indicative of a recent transmission rate of 28 to 34%. This result suggests that TB is under control in Albania. However, two multidrug-resistant (MDR) Beijing genotypes harboring the same S531A mutation on the rpoB gene were also found, suggesting a potential recent transmission of MDR TB. Three brand new genotypes, Albania-1 to Albania-3, are also described.
First Comparison of Sentinel-1 and TerraSAR-X Data in the Framework of Maritime Targets Detection: South Italy Case

The Sentinel-1A is the first of two satellites that composes the Sentinel-1 radar mission. Both satellites operate a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system to give continuity to the European SAR program. SAR is a flexible sensor able to fulfil users/applications requirements in terms of resolution and coverage thanks to different operational modes and polarizations. With the in-orbit availability of very-high-resolution X-band SAR sensors, the Sentinel-1 satellites have been designed to achieve wide coverage at medium to high resolution. The interferometric wide swath (IWS) mode implemented with the terrain observation with progressive scan (TOPS) technique is the standard acquisition mode over European waters and land masses. IWS in dual-polarization (VV/VH) combination offers 250-km swath at 5 m × 20 m (range × azimuth) spatial resolution. These specifications are in line with the needs of the European Maritime and Security Agency (EMSA) for oil spill and ship detection applications included in the CleanSeaNet program. The main goals of this paper are: assessment of medium-to-high-resolution C-band Sentinel-1 data with very-high-resolution X-band TerraSAR-X data for maritime targets detection; synergetic use of multiplatforms satellite SAR data for target features extraction; evaluation of polarimetric target detectors for the available co-polarization and cross-polarization Sentinel-1A IWS VV/VH products. The objectives are achieved by means of real, almost coincident C-band and X-band SAR data acquired by Sentinel-1A and TerraSAR-X satellites over Gulf of Naples and Catania (South Italy). Furthermore, the obtained results are supported by recorded ground truth vessel reports via terrestrial automatic identification system (AIS) stations located in the area.
Hypothalamic Regulation of Cortical Bone Mass: Opposing Activity of Y2 Receptor and Leptin Pathways

NeuropeptideY–, Y2 receptor (Y2)‐, and leptin‐deficient mice show similar anabolic action in cancellous bone but have not been assessed in cortical bone. Cortical bone mass is elevated in Y2−/− mice through greater osteoblast activity. In contrast, leptin deficiency results in reduced bone mass. We show opposing central regulation of cortical bone.
N-Acetylcysteine improves the disturbed thiol redox balance after methionine loading.

Methionine loading seems to be accompanied by increased oxidative stress and damage. However, it is not known how this oxidative stress is generated. We performed the present crossover study to further elucidate the effects of methionine loading on oxidative stress in the blood of healthy volunteers, and to examine possible preventative effects of N -acetylcysteine (NAC) administration. A total of 18 healthy subjects were given two oral methionine loads of 100 mg/kg body weight, 4 weeks apart, one without NAC (Met group), and one in combination with supplementation with 2x900 mg doses of NAC (Met+NAC group). Blood samples were collected before and 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after methionine loading for measurements of thiol levels, protein carbonyls, lipid peroxidation, cellular fibronectin and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP; i.e. antioxidant capacity). After methionine loading, whole-blood levels of free and oxidized cysteine and homocysteine were increased in both groups. Furthermore, the total plasma levels of homocysteine were higher, whereas those of cysteine were lower, after methionine loading in both groups. Lower levels of oxidized homocysteine and a higher free/oxidized ratio were found in the Met+NAC group compared with the Met group. Although the antioxidant capacity decreased after methionine loading, no major changes over time were found for protein carbonyls or cellular fibronectin in either group. Our results suggest that methionine loading may initiate the generation of reactive oxygen species by the (auto)-oxidation of homocysteine. In addition, supplementation with NAC seems to be able to partially prevent excessive increases in the levels of homocysteine in plasma and of oxidized homocysteine in whole blood, and might thereby contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress.
EphrinBs/EphBs Signaling Is Involved in Modulation of Spinal Nociceptive Processing through a Mitogen-activated Protein Kinases-dependent Mechanism

Background:Our previous studies have demonstrated that EphBs receptors and ephrinBs ligands were involved in modulation of spinal nociceptive information. However, the downstream mechanisms that control this process are not well understood. The aim of this study was to further investigate whether mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), as the downstream effectors, participate in modulation of spinal nociceptive information related to ephrinBs/EphBs. Methods:Thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were measured using radiant heat and von Frey filaments test. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of p-MAPKs and of p-MAPKs/neuronal nuclei, or p-MAPKs/glial fibrillary acidic protein double label. C-Fos expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of p-MAPKs was also determined by Western blot assay. Results:Intrathecal injection of ephrinB1-Fc produced a dose- and time-dependent thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, accompanied by the increase of spinal p-MAPKs and c-Fos expression. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that p-MAPKs colocalized with the neuronal marker (neuronal nuclei) and the astrocyte marker (glial fibrillary acidic protein). Inhibition of MAPKs prevented and reversed pain behaviors and the increase of spinal c-Fos expression induced by intrathecal injection of ephrinB1-Fc. Inhibition of EphBs receptors by intrathecal injection of EphB1-Fc reduced formalin-induced inflammation and chronic constrictive injury-induced neuropathic pain behaviors accompanied by decreased expression of spinal p-MAPKs and c-Fos protein. Furthermore, pretreatment with MK-801, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, prevented behavioral hyperalgesia and activation of spinal MAPKs induced by intrathecal injection of ephrinB1-Fc. Conclusions:These results demonstrated that activation of MAPKs contributed to modulation of spinal nociceptive information related to ephrinBs/EphBs.
Myoglobin expression: early induction and subsequent modulation of myoglobin and myoglobin mRNA during myogenesis

We showed that myoglobin gene transcription and the appearance of myoglobin occur very early in myogenesis, in both humans and mice. In contrast to the contractile protein genes, there is a subsequent increase of 50- to 100-fold in myoglobin mRNA and protein levels during later muscle development. Myoglobin and myoglobin mRNA are present at elevated levels in fetal heart and are also detectable at low levels in adult smooth muscle. The absolute level of myoglobin mRNA in highly myoglobinized seal muscle is very high [2.8% of the total population of poly(A)+ RNAs]. Levels of myoglobin in seal skeletal muscle and in various human muscle types appear to be determined by the size of the myoglobin mRNA pool. In contrast, low levels of myoglobin in mouse skeletal muscle are not apparently correlated with low levels of myoglobin mRNA. As expected from the early appearance of myoglobin mRNA in embryonic skeletal muscle, both rat and mouse embryonic myoblasts accumulate myoglobin mRNA on fusion and differentiation in vitro.
Early Growth Response-1 Is Required for CD154 Transcription1

CD154 (CD40 ligand) expression on CD4 T cells is normally tightly controlled, but abnormal or dysregulated expression of CD154 has been well documented in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Beyond regulation by NFAT proteins, little is known about the transcriptional activation of the CD154 promoter. We identified a species-conserved purine-rich sequence located adjacent to the CD154 transcriptional promoter proximal NFAT site, which binds early growth response (Egr) transcription factors. Gel shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays reveal that Egr-1, Egr-3, and NFAT1 present in primary human CD4 T cells are capable of binding this combinatorial site in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Multimerization of this NFAT/Egr sequence in the context of a reporter gene demonstrates this sequence is transcriptionally active upon T cell activation in primary human CD4 T cells. Overexpression of Egr-1, but not Egr-3, is capable of augmenting transcription of this reporter gene as well as that of an intact CD154 promoter. Conversely, overexpression of small interfering RNA specific for Egr-1 in primary human CD4 T cells inhibits CD154 expression. Similarly, upon activation, CD154 message is notably decreased in splenic CD4 T cells from Egr-1-deficient mice compared with wild-type controls. Our data demonstrate that Egr-1 is required for CD154 transcription in primary CD4 T cells. This has implications for selective targeting of Egr family members to control abnormal expression of CD154 in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
Endonasal geometry changes in elderly people: acoustic rhinometry measurements.

BACKGROUND Skeletal nasal changes in elderly people have been extensively investigated, but data on variation of the endonasal architecture with age do not exist. We evaluated endonasal parameters in an elderly population as compared with those in a young group. METHODS Acoustic rhinometry measurements were performed on 165 participants in the age range of 20-93 years. The rhinograms provided the endonasal volume from the nostril entrance to a 7.0 cm cephalic point (V0-7) and the minimal cross-sectional areas (MCA1 and MCA2). Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson correlation and one-way analysis of variance, using age as a continuous or categorical variable. RESULTS There was no statistical difference in gender distribution within each age group. The results obtained for the left and right nostrils were similar. Endonasal volume V0-7 and the narrowing areas MCA1 and MCA2 significantly increase with age, except for men over 80 years in which a relative decrease was observed. CONCLUSION Acoustic rhinometry examination of the endonasal architecture in a healthy young and elderly population demonstrated a gradual increase of endonasal volumes and minimal cross-sectional areas with age.