Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recognition of N-Glycoforms in Human Chorionic Gonadotropin by Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Interaction Motifs*

Background: The N-linked oligosaccharides of human chorionic gonadotropin become more complicated in cancer. Results: MCA1024 alters its binding affinity against different human chorionic gonadotropin glycoforms. Conclusion: The N-glycosylations at Asn-13 and Asn-30 on the β subunit are crucial to the binding affinity of MCA1024. Significance: The aberrant glycosylation of cancer biomarkers might potentially be monitored by specific antibodies. The glycosylation of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) plays an important role in reproductive tumors. Detecting hCG N-glycosylation alteration may significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of related cancers. However, developing an immunoassay directly against the N-linked oligosaccharides is unlikely because of the heterogeneity and low immunogenicity of carbohydrates. Here, we report a hydrogen/deuterium exchange and MS approach to investigate the effect of N-glycosylation on the binding of antibodies against different hCG glycoforms. Hyperglycosylated hCG was purified from the urine of invasive mole patients, and the structure of its N-linked oligosaccharides was confirmed to be more branched by MS. The binding kinetics of the anti-hCG antibodies MCA329 and MCA1024 against hCG and hyperglycosylated hCG were compared using biolayer interferometry. The binding affinity of MCA1024 changed significantly in response to the alteration of hCG N-linked oligosaccharides. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange-MS reveals that the peptide β65–83 of the hCG β subunit is the epitope for MCA1024. Site-specific N-glycosylation analysis suggests that N-linked oligosaccharides at Asn-13 and Asn-30 on the β subunit affect the binding affinity of MCA1024. These results prove that some antibodies are sensitive to the structural change of N-linked oligosaccharides, whereas others are not affected by N-glycosylation. It is promising to improve glycoprotein biomarker-based cancer diagnostics by developing combined immunoassays that can determine the level of protein and measure the degree of N-glycosylation simultaneously.
Malformations of cranial base structures and pituitary gland in prenatal Meckel syndrome

The sella turcica region, including the clivus and the pituitary gland, was studied histologically in five human fetuses with Meckel syndrome (MS). All cases had malformed sella turcica and malformed clivus with irregularly shaped notochordal remnants. We consider that these three characteristics are constant phenotypic traits in MS. The adenohypophysis was present in three cases. In one of these, ectopia of the gland occurred with adenopituitary tissue overlying the dorsum sella, and in another remnants were found in the pharyngeal submucosa. In two fetuses the neurohypophysis was not found. The findings in the region were compared to normal findings and to findings in trisomy 18, where cranial base structures radiographically appeared similar to those in MS. We conclude that in MS specific characteristics are found in the cranial base region and that radiographic analysis needs to be supplemented by histological analysis when studying this specific region.
Biochemical and Biophysical Characterization of Photosystem I from Phytoene Desaturase and ζ-Carotene Desaturase Deletion Mutants of Synechocystis Sp. PCC 6803

In photosystem I, oxidation of reduced acceptor A1– through iron-sulfur cluster FX is biphasic with half-times of ∼5–30 ns (“fast” phase) and ∼150–300 ns (“slow” phase). Whether these biphasic kinetics reflect unidirectional electron transfer, involving only the PsaA-side phylloquinone or bi-directional electron transfer, involving both the PsaA- and PsaB-side phylloquinones, has been the source of some controversy. Brettel (Brettel, K. (1988) FEBS Lett. 239, 93–98) and Joliot and Joliot (Joliot, P., and Joliot, A. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 11130–11136) have attributed to nearby carotenoids electrochromic band shifts, accompanying A1 reduction, centered at ∼450 and 500–510 nm. As a test of these assignments, we separately deleted in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 the genes that encode phytoene desaturase (encoded by crtP (pds)) and ζ-carotene desaturase (encoded by crtQ (zds)). The pds– and zds– strains synthesize phytoene and ζ-carotene, respectively, both of which absorb to shorter wavelength than β-carotene. Compared with wild type, the mutant A1– (FeS) – A1(FeS)– difference spectra, measured in cells and photosystem I complexes, retain the electrochromic band shift centered at 450 nm but show a complete loss of the electrochromic band shifts centered at 500–510 nm. Thus, the latter clearly arise from β-carotene. In the wild type, the electrochromic band shift of the slow phase (centered at 500 nm) is shifted by 6 nm to the blue compared with the fast phase (centered at 506 nm). Thus, the carotenoid pigments acting as electrochromic markers during the fast and slow phases of A1– oxidation are different, indicating the involvement of both the PsaA- and the PsaB-side phylloquinones in photosystem I electron transport.
Trapping of a Spiral-Like Intermediate of the Bacterial Cytokinetic Protein FtsZ

ABSTRACT The earliest stage in bacterial cell division is the formation of a ring, composed of the tubulin-like protein FtsZ, at the division site. Tight spatial and temporal regulation of Z-ring formation is required to ensure that division occurs precisely at midcell between two replicated chromosomes. However, the mechanism of Z-ring formation and its regulation in vivo remain unresolved. Here we identify the defect of an interesting temperature-sensitive ftsZ mutant (ts1) of Bacillus subtilis. At the nonpermissive temperature, the mutant protein, FtsZ(Ts1), assembles into spiral-like structures between chromosomes. When shifted back down to the permissive temperature, functional Z rings form and division resumes. Our observations support a model in which Z-ring formation at the division site arises from reorganization of a long cytoskeletal spiral form of FtsZ and suggest that the FtsZ(Ts1) protein is captured as a shorter spiral-forming intermediate that is unable to complete this reorganization step. The ts1 mutant is likely to be very valuable in revealing how FtsZ assembles into a ring and how this occurs precisely at the division site.
Climate and On-Farm Risk Factors Associated with Giardia duodenalis Cysts in Storm Runoff from California Coastal Dairies

ABSTRACT Climatic factors and on-farm management practices were evaluated for their association with the concentrations (cyst/liter) and instantaneous loads (cysts/second) of Giardia duodenalis in storm-based runoff from dairy lots and other high-cattle-use areas on five coastal California farms over two storm seasons. Direct fluorescent antibody analysis was used to quantitate cysts in 350 storm runoff samples. G. duodenalis was detected on all five dairy farms, with fluxes of 1 to 14,000 cysts/liter observed in 16% of samples. Cysts were detected in 41% of runoff samples collected near cattle less than 2 months old, compared to 10% of runoff samples collected near cattle over 6 months old. Furthermore, the concentrations and instantaneous loads of cysts were ≥65 and ≥79 times greater, respectively, in runoff from sites housing young calves than in sites housing other age classes of animals. Factors associated with environmental loading of G. duodenalis included cattle age, cattle stocking number, and precipitation but not lot area, land slope, or cattle density. Vegetated buffer strips were found to significantly reduce waterborne cysts in storm runoff: each additional meter of vegetated buffer placed below high-cattle-use areas was associated with reductions in the concentration and instantaneous load of cysts by factors of 0.86 and 0.79 (−0.07 and −0.10 log10/m), respectively. Straw mulch, seed application, scraping of manure, and cattle exclusion did not significantly affect the concentration or load of G. duodenalis cysts. The study findings suggest that vegetated buffer strips, especially when placed near dairy calf areas, should help reduce the environmental loading of these fecal protozoa discharging from dairy farms.
Effect of antidepressants on the course of disability following stroke.

OBJECTIVE Stroke often produces marked physical and cognitive impairments leading to functional dependence, caregiver burden, and poor quality of life. We examined the course of disability during a 1-year follow-up period after stroke among patients who were administered antidepressants for 3 months compared to patients given placebo for 3 months. METHODS A total of 83 patients entered a double-blind randomized study of the efficacy of antidepressants to treat depressive disorders and reduce disability after stroke. Patients were assigned to either fluoxetine (N = 32), nortriptyline (N = 22) or placebo (N = 29). Psychiatric assessment included administration of the Present State Examination modified to identify DSM-IV symptoms of depression. The severity of depression was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the disability of patients at initial evaluation and at quarterly follow-up visits for 1 year. Impairment in activities of daily living was assessed by Functional Independence Measure at the same time. RESULTS During the 1-year follow-up period, and after adjusting for critical confounders including age, intensity of rehabilitation therapy, baseline stroke severity, and baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, patients who received fluoxetine or nortriptyline had significantly greater improvement in modified Rankin Scale scores compared to patients who received placebo (t [156] = -3.17, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Patients treated with antidepressants had better recovery from disability by 1-year post stroke (i.e., 9 months after antidepressants were stopped) than patients who did not receive antidepressant therapy. This effect was independent of depression suggesting that antidepressants may facilitate the neural mechanisms of recovery in patients with stroke.
Effective Site for the Application of Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Therapy on Spasticity in Chronic Stroke: Muscle Belly or Myotendinous Junction

Objective To compare the effect of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) applied at the muscle belly and myotendinous junction on spasticity in the upper and lower limbs of chronic stroke patients. Methods Of the 151 patients, a total of 80 patients with stroke-induced spasticity on the elbow flexor and 44 patients on the knee flexor were enrolled for a prospective, randomized clinical trial. The patients were divided into control, muscle belly, and myotendinous junction groups, and a total of three ESWT sessions (0.068–0.093 mJ/mm2, 1,500 shots) were conducted at one per week. A Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) were collected at the baseline and at 1 week after each session. Results After interventions, the MAS and MTS of both the belly and the junction groups showed positive effects from the ESWT on spasticity in the elbow and knee flexors, but the control group did not. The results also tended to improve after each session until the entire intervention was completed. However, there was no significant difference between the belly and junction groups. Conclusion ESWT could be effective for treating chronic spasticity after stroke when applied to muscle belly or myotendinous junction.
Jenseits der schrillen Töne

Lars P. Feld and ChristophM. Schmidt take stock of the distribution of income and wealth in Germany. Income inequality increased until 2005 along with the deterioration of the labor market. Since 2005 inequality has not increased further, by some measures it has even declined. In both phases, the system of taxation and benefits has redistributed income to a considerable extent. The wealth distribution appears to be much more unequal, but the data are heavily biased, in particular because public pension systems are not taken into account. An analysis of intergenerational social mobility shows that this is where political action is most strongly needed. JEL-Klassifikationen:D31, D63, H23, I24 Schlüsselwörter:Einkommens-undVermögensverteilung, Umverteilung, sozialeMobilität 1 Schrille Töne im Frühling 2016 Eine emotional aufgeheizte Debatte über die Ungleichheit von Einkommen und Vermögen überzieht Deutschland. Es ist wohl kaum übertrieben, von einer regelrechten Skandalisierungskampagne zu sprechen, deren schrille Töne die Medien noch verstärken, anders als früher. So geistern öffentlichkeitswirksame, aber handwerklich mangelhaft begründete Alarmrufe durch den Äther und das Netz, die Mittelschicht schrumpfe dramatisch und es stehe ein massiver Anstieg der Altersarmut bevor. Ihren unrühmlichen Höhepunkt haben diese Warnungen in der steilen These gefunden, die Soziale Marktwirtschaft existiere nicht mehr. Dabei bereiten die nüchternen Fakten hinreichend den Boden für eine informierte – und ergebnisoffen zu führende – Debatte. So lässt sich in der Tat über Jahre hinweg in den entwickelten Volkswirtschaften eine Tendenz zu einer teilweise deutlich zunehmenden Ungleichheit von Löhnen, Einkommen und Vermögen beobachten. Dies gilt vor allem für die Vereinigten Staaten, in denen sich dies mittlerweile zu einer ernsthaften gesellschaftlichen Zerreißprobe ausgewachsen hat. Die Hintergründe für diesenWandel sind empirisch nur schwer zu fassen, da die Einflüsse einander stark überlagern. Zu den am meisten erörterten Einflüssen zählen die weltumspannende Integration der Faktorund Gütermärkte (Globalisierung) *Kontaktpersonen: Lars P. Feld,Walter Eucken Institut, Goethestraße 10, 79100 Freiburg i.Br. , E ˗ Mail: feld@eucken.de ChristophM. Schmidt, RWI – Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Hohenzollernstraße 1–3, 45128 Essen, E ˗ Mail: praesident@rwi-essen.de 1 Den Titelgeschichten über eine dramatisch schrumpfende Mittelschicht in den Zeitschriften „Der Spiegel“ und „Wirtschaftswoche“, welche die Publikation von Grabka et al. (2016) begleiteten, folgten im Nachgang nur knappe Notizen über die erwiesene Fehlerhaftigkeit der Berechnungen und über die Ergebnisse der deshalb notwendigen Korrekturen. 2 Eine kompakte Kritik der hanebüchenen Berechnungen des WDR zum künftig zu erwartenden Ausmaß an Altersarmut findet sich in Börsch-Supan und Bucher-Koenen (2016). 3 Der Kontext dieser Aussagen von Fratzscher (2016) suggeriert dem Empfänger der Botschaft ohne jeden Zweifel, dass es dabei vor allem am „Sozialen“mangele. Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik 2016; 17(2): 188–205
A packaged 86 W GaN transmitter with SiC varactor-based dynamic load modulation

Output power scaling based on class-J dynamic load modulation (DLM) theory is used to design an unprecedentedly high power microwave transmitter with varactor-based DLM functionality. Matching networks are realized on high dielectric constant substrates in order to reduce the form factor. The fully matched DLM PA incorporates a 24-mm GaN HEMT powerbar and a stack of four SiC varactors, all fit into a CuW package (40 mm × 20 mm). Peak output power is reconfigurable by changing the drain voltage, while retaining the DLMeffect. Under pulsed conditions at 40 V the PA delivers a peak power of 86 W at 2.14 GHz. Efficiency enhancement by DLM is 10-15 percentage-units at 6 dB output power back-off (OPBO). Employing digital predistortion (DPD) with a vector switched generalized memory polynomial (VS-GMP) the ACLR is -46 dBc at an average output power of 17 W and a drain efficiency of 34%. These results prove the potential for high output power levels in varactor-based DLM transmitters.
Risk factors of thyroid cancer in Babol, Northern Iran.

UNLABELLED Background : Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Several risk factors were found to play a role in thyroid cancer. The purpose of the study was to determine the risk factors for thyroid cancer, in Babol, north of Iran. METHOD Eighty patients with thyroid cancer were selected as case group and 160 people living in the neighborhood of the patients as control group. Risk factors in both groups were collected and compared. The odds ratio (OR) as well as the marginal logistic regression model were used to estimate the possible risk factors. Result : X-ray exposure, radioactive exposure, family history of thyroid cancer, history of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid resection were found to be the risk factors of thyroid cancer (p<0.05). Passion exposure, OCP user, history of hysterectomy, history of thyroid nodule were not correlated to thyroid cancer (p>0.05). CONCLUSION History of goiter or other benign thyroid diseases are among the thyroid cancer risk factors in some community-based interventions to prevent or treat the disease in early stages are recommended in our region.
Ethnic Differences in the Assessment and Treatment of Disease

The Baltimore Eye Survey was concerned with differences in the prevalence of primary openangle glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness in the United States in black and white persons ranging in age from 40 to over 85 years. ' Some 5300 participants, about 2400 blacks and 2900 whites, were screened for ophthalmologic abnormalities. In both populations the prevalence of glaucoma increased with age. Rates among blacks ranged from 1.2% in those age 40 to 49 years to 11.3% in those 80 years and older. Among whites, those in their forties had a prevalence rate of 0.9% and those in their eighties and nineties had a rate of 2.2%. The data on blacks 70 years or older showed that many, up to 10%, are walking around with undiagnosed glaucoma, compared with 2-3% of the aging white population. The investigators concluded, "Black Americans are at higher risk of primary open-angle glaucoma than their white neighbors. This may reflect an underlying genetic susceptibility to this disease and indicates that additional efforts are needed to identify and treat this sight-threatening disorder in high-risk comrnunities. " An editorial accompanying this report made the following observations. "The medical community
Detection of virulence genes, phylogenetic group and antibiotic resistance of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Mongolia.

INTRODUCTION The severity of urinary tract infection (UTI) produced by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is due to the expression of a wide spectrum of virulence genes. E. coli strains were divided into four phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) based on their virulence genes. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between virulence genes, phylogenetic groups, and antibiotic resistance of UPEC. METHODOLOGY A total of 148 E. coli were tested for antimicrobial resistance against 10 drugs using the disk diffusion method. The isolates were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of virulence genes and categorized into the four major phylogenetic groups. RESULTS Phylogenetic group B2 was predominant (33.8%), followed by D (28.4%), A (19.6), and B1 (18.2%). A higher prevalence of fimH (89.9%), fyuA (70.3%), traT (66.2%), iutA (62.2%), kpsMTII (58.8%), and aer (56.1%) genes were found in UPEC, indicating a putative role of adhesins, iron acquisition systems, and protectins that are main cause of UTIs. The most common antibiotic resistance was to cephalotin (85.1%), ampicillin (78.4%) and the least to nitrofurantoin (5.4%) and imipenem (2%). In total, 93.9% of isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that group B2 and D were the predominant phylogenetic groups and virulence-associated genes were mostly distributed in these groups. The virulence genes encoding components of adhesins, iron acquisition systems, and protectins were highly prevalent among antibiotic-resistant UPEC. Although the majority of strains are MDR, nitrofurantoin is the drug of choice for treatment of UTI patients in Ulaanbaatar.
Reply to Mitteroecker and Fischer: Developmental solutions to the obstetrical dilemma are not Gouldian spandrels

In our study on human pelvic development (1), we propose two hypotheses explaining the narrowing of the female pelvis during postreproductive life. Hypothesis 1 proposes ultimate, evolutionary causes, reflecting selective pressures acting on postreproductive life. Hypothesis 2 proposes proximate, developmental causes, reflecting reduced estrogen levels during postreproductive life. Mitteroecker and Fischer (2) replicate one part of our study—that concerning adult pelvic development—with an independent dataset, taking into account age effects on pelvic shape variation not considered in their earlier study (3). (Note that the smoothing functions used in our study only serve for visual guidance, not for statistical testing.) Rather than testing our hypotheses (1) with new … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: marcia{at}aim.uzh. ch. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Elemental mapping of Neuromelanin organelles of human Substantia Nigra: correlative ultrastructural and chemical analysis by analytical transmission electron microscopy and nano‐secondary ion mass spectrometry

Neuromelanin (NM) is a compound which highly accumulates mainly in catecholamine neurons of the substantia nigra (SN), and is contained in organelles (NM‐containing organelles) with lipid bodies and proteins. These neurons selectively degenerate in Parkinson's disease and NM can play either a protective or toxic role. NM‐containing organelles of SN were investigated by Analytical Electron Microscopy (AEM) and Nano‐Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) within human tissue sections with respect to ultrastructure and elemental composition. Within the NM‐containing organelle, the single NM granules and lipid bodies had sizes of about 200–600 nm. Energy‐Dispersive X‐ray microanalysis spectra of the NM granules and lipid bodies were acquired with 100 nm beam diameter in AEM, NanoSIMS yielded elemental maps with a lateral resolution of about 150 nm. AEM yielded the quantitative elemental composition of NM granules and bound metals, e.g., iron with a mole fraction of about 0.15 atomic percent. Chemical analyses by AEM and NanoSIMS were consistent at the subcellular level so that nanoSIMS measurements have been quantitated. In NM granules of SN from healthy subjects, a significant amount of S, Fe, and Cu was found. In lipid bodies an amount of P consistent with the presence of phospholipids was measured. The improved detection limits of nanoSIMS offer new possibilities for chemical mapping, high‐sensitivity trace element detection, and reduced acquisition times. Variations between individual NM granules can now be investigated effectively and quantitatively by NanoSIMS mapping Cu and Fe. This should yield new insight into the changes in chemical composition of NM pigments during healthy aging and disease.