Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of galectin-3 dynamically mediates multisite self-association of the protein through fuzzy interactions

Galectins are a family of lectins that bind β-galactosides through their conserved carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and can induce aggregation with glycoproteins or glycolipids on the cell surface and thereby regulate cell activation, migration, adhesion, and signaling. Galectin-3 has an intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain and a canonical CRD. Unlike the other 14 known galectins in mammalian cells, which have dimeric or tandem-repeated CRDs enabling multivalency for various functions, galectin-3 is monomeric, and its functional multivalency therefore is somewhat of a mystery. Here, we used NMR spectroscopy, mutagenesis, small-angle X-ray scattering, and computational modeling to study the self-association–related multivalency of galectin-3 at the residue-specific level. We show that the disordered N-terminal domain (residues ∼20–100) interacts with itself and with a part of the CRD not involved in carbohydrate recognition (β-strands 7–9; residues ∼200–220), forming a fuzzy complex via inter- and intramolecular interactions, mainly through hydrophobicity. These fuzzy interactions are characteristic of intrinsically disordered proteins to achieve liquid–liquid phase separation, and we demonstrated that galectin-3 can also undergo liquid–liquid phase separation. We propose that galectin-3 may achieve multivalency through this multisite self-association mechanism facilitated by fuzzy interactions.
CO-LOCALISATION OF NOS- AND ChAT-IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE SPINAL AUTONOMIC NUCLEI OF THE PIG. AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Our previous studies revealed an overlap of cholinergic and NO-ergic preganglionic neurons in the autonomic sympathetic and parasympathetic spinal cord nuclei of the pig. A close topographical as well as morphological relationship between both neuronal populations suggests a possible co-expression of the ChAT and NOS in the same autonomic neurons. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to determine the correlation between the ChAT- and neuronal NOS-immunoreactivity in the thoracic intermediolateral and sacral intermediolateral and intermediomedial nuclei. Double immunocytochemical staining revealed that many of the ChAT positive cell bodies demonstrated immunoreactivity to NOS. The number of the double stained cell bodies depended on the cross-section level. In the intermediolateral nucleus of the thoracic spinal cord about 60% of the ChAT-positive cells coexpressed also NOS, while in the intermediolateral nucleus of the S2 spinal segment constituted approximately 52%. The colocalisation of both substances in the intermediomedial nucleus varied from 39% at S1 level until 58% at S2 spinal plane. Our data provide morphological evidence confirming the co-expression of NOS in the spinal sympathetic and parasympathetic cholinergic neurons and suggest that NO may play a role in the modulation of the spinal cholinergic transmission.
Buckle removal in retinal detachment surgery: a consecutive case series.

PURPOSE To evaluate the outcome after buckle removal in a consecutive series of treated detachments. METHODS Segmental and/or encircling buckles were removed in 46 consecutive patients operated upon for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, showing buckle extrusion, recurrent pain, and diplopia. Patients underwent a preoperative retinal examination, and a six- months postoperative follow-up. RESULTS Cryopexy of retinal breaks was performed in all 46 patients during the primary surgery. At the time of buckle removal none of the patients underwent argon-laser treatment. The removed buckling material was made of MIRAGEL in 32 cases (74%), silicone sponge in 7 (17%), and silicone band in 4 (9%). The time between the first surgery and buckle removal ranged from 1 to 17 years (8 +/- 7.5, M +/- SD). Neither postoperative complications, nor recurrences of retinal detachment developed. Best corrected visual acuity remained unchanged during the follow-up. Diplopia resolved in all 4 eyes after buckle removal with no need for a strabismus operation, prismatic lenses were required in one case only. CONCLUSIONS Although the absence of a control group, the adequately applied retinopexy during primary surgery could probably prevent the recurrence of retinal detachment.
Incremental Graph Regulated Nonnegative Matrix Factorization for Face Recognition

In a real world application, we seldom get all images at one time. Considering this case, if a company hired an employee, all his images information needs to be recorded into the system; if we rerun the face recognition algorithm, it will be time consuming. To address this problem, In this paper, firstly, we proposed a novel subspace incremental method called incremental graph regularized nonnegative matrix factorization (IGNMF) algorithm which imposes manifold into incremental nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm (INMF); thus, our new algorithm is able to preserve the geometric structure in the data under incremental study framework; secondly, considering we always get many face images belonging to one person or many different people as a batch, we improved our IGNMF algorithms to Batch-IGNMF algorithms (B-IGNMF), which implements incremental study in batches. Experiments show that (1) the recognition rate of our IGNMF and B-IGNMF algorithms is close to GNMF algorithm while it runs faster than GNMF. (2) The running times of our IGNMF and B-IGNMF algorithms are close to INMF while the recognition rate outperforms INMF. (3) Comparing with other popular NMF-based face recognition incremental algorithms, our IGNMF and B-IGNMF also outperform then both the recognition rate and the running time.
B7‐H1 up‐regulation impairs myeloid DC and correlates with disease progression in chronic HIV‐1 infection

Impaired myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) fail to elicit host antiviral immune responses, leading to disease progression in HIV‐1 infection. However, mechanisms underlying mDC suppression remain elusive. In this study, we found that the T‐cell co‐stimulatory molecule programmed death‐1 ligand‐1 (B7‐H1) is significantly up‐regulated on peripheral mDC in HIV‐1‐infected typical progressors and AIDS patients, but is maintained at a relatively low level in long‐term non‐progressors. Successful immune reconstitution after highly active antiretroviral therapy, indicated by full suppression of HIV‐1 replication and substantial increases of CD4 T‐cell counts, correlated with a decrease in B7‐H1 expression. Importantly, we also found that X4 HIV‐1 isolates directly induced B7‐H1 expression on mDC in vitro, while adding antiviral agents hampered this B7‐H1 up‐regulation. Blockade of B7‐H1 in vitro strongly enhanced mDC‐mediated allostimulatory capacity and IL‐12 production. In contrast, B7‐H1 ligation with soluble programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) reduced mDC maturation and IL‐12 production but increased mDC apoptosis and IL‐10 production. Thus, B7‐H1 up‐regulation may inhibit mDC‐mediated immune response, thereby facilitating viral persistence and disease progression in HIV‐1‐infected patients. This study provides new evidence that B7‐H1 inhibitory signaling may reversely mediate functional impairment of mDC in HIV‐1 infection, which further supports the notion that B7‐H1 blockade represents a novel therapeutic approach to this disease.
Impact of the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum on deep-ocean microbenthic community structure: Using rank-abundance curves to quantify paleoecological response

Global climate change has often resulted in extinction events that can be quantitatively measured by taxonomic loss but are more diffi cult to assess in terms of ecological restructuring. We use a commonly applied ecological tool, rank-abundance curves (RACs), to evaluate the ecological response of benthic foraminiferal and ostracode communities to the PaleoceneEocene thermal maximum, which may be seen as an analog for current and future global warming. RACs are proxies for community structure, and therefore changes in the shape of RACs allow inferences to be drawn about and quantifi cation of ecological responses. Benthic foraminiferal communities became increasingly stressed during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, and community reorganization occurred before the taxonomically defi ned extinction horizon. In contrast, ostracode communities became less stressed during the same interval, reinforcing the idea that different groups of organisms respond differently to extinction events and global warming. The decoupling of ecologic impact from taxonomic impact during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum reaffi rms the fact that future climate change could have far-reaching effects on taxa and ecosystems and proves the importance of examining both the taxonomic and ecologic responses of communities during extinction events.
IMMEDIATE INDOCYANINE GREEN ANGIOGRAPHY AND OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY EVALUATION AFTER PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR SUBFOVEAL CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION

Purpose To better understand the mechanisms of action of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV), the authors evaluated the retinal and choroidal response immediately after treatment with serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Methods This study was a prospective, noncomparative case series. PDT was performed on nine eyes of nine consecutive patients who presented with subfoveal CNV due to age-related macular degeneration, and serial evaluation with OCT as well as ICGA was performed at 20-minute intervals for the first 2 hours and then at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Results In the first 2 hours after PDT, OCT showed an increase in the thickness of the retina in the treatment area due to fluid leakage from the neovascular complex as confirmed by ICGA. At 1 week, marked reduction of intraretinal/subretinal fluid was observed in all patients. Neovascular complex nonperfusion by ICGA was associated with some degree of choroidal hypoperfusion in the treatment area. Return of the foveal contour by OCT was optimal after 1 month of treatment. At 3 months, choroidal reperfusion by ICGA and recurrent intraretinal/subretinal fluid by OCT were observed. Conclusions Serial OCT and ICGA evaluation after PDT suggests that the initial successful CNV nonperfusion as shown by fluorescein angiography at 1 week occurs by means of selective PDT damage to the lesion and/or reduced choroidal blood flow in the treatment area, thereby decreasing intraretinal/subretinal fluid and facilitating restoration of the retinal architecture.
Biomarkers of necrotizing enterocolitis: a review of literature

Abstract Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is among the most serious gastrointestinal emergency in very low birth weight (VLBW), extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGAN), affecting 7–14% of these neonates. Despite extensive research, the underlying aetiology of NEC still remains blurred. Due to high mortality, morbidity and its delayed presentation, early detection of NEC is considered to be lifesaving. A number of biomarkers have been studied for early detection and prediction of severity of NEC but till date, no ideal marker has been discovered. Molecular techniques like proteomic and metabolomic have recently emerged in the field for the development of biomarkers for early detection and understanding the pathophysiology of NEC. We did literature search for identifying all biomarkers that have been used for the detection of NEC and, in this review article, we discuss these biomarkers along with the available current evidence.
Epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory features of Coxsackie B1-B5 infections in the United States, 1970-79.

In the period 1970 through 1979, the Coxsackie B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5 viruses constituted 24 percent of more than 18,000 enteroviruses isolated and reported through national surveillance. Young children, especially males, were most frequently affected: 48 percent of the national surveillance population were less than 5 years of age, including 30 percent who were less than 1 year old. Among the most frequently reported clinical syndromes associated with B infection were meningitis (in 56 percent of patients with B1-B5 infections), encephalitis (in 15 percent), and respiratory tract disease (in 14 percent). Carditis, a well-known B syndrome, was reported with only 2 percent of B1-B5 infections. Like most enteroviral agents, Group B viruses were isolated primarily during the summer: 87 percent of all these isolations were made during the 5 months from June through October. Although B2, B3, and B4 viruses were isolated at relatively uniform levels each year, B1 and B5 viral illnesses occurred nationwide as explosive epidemics only in certain years. A separate population of B-infected patients, identified by the Nassau County Medical Center (NCMC) Virus Laboratory, East Meadow, N.Y. , during the same 10-year period, was studied to compare epidemiologic characteristics and to evaluate in greater detail clinical and laboratory features of B infections. Because of more active solicitation of specimens for testing, ascertainment in the NCMC system was more complete. The most frequently reported clinical findings at NCMC included fever (97 percent of cases), which was biphasic in 27 percent; pharyngitis (85 percent); vomiting (56 percent); headache (49 percent); other respiratory signs and symptoms (44 percent); diarrhea (40 percent); abdominal pain (33 percent); rash (31 percent); and otitis (28 percent). Rash was more frequently associated with younger than with older age groups (P < .01) for all B agents. Overall, throat (T) and rectal (R) swabs had the highest B-positivity rates among known infected patients(83 percent for T and 78 percent for R). Only for T was the positivity rate correlated with the interval between onset of illness and obtaining the specimen (P < .05). B agents grew most quickly from T specimens, but most reliably from R specimens. On the basis of these data,the authors recommend that both T and R specimens be obtained from every patient for whom prompt and reliable laboratory diagnosis of B infection is sought.To the authors' knowledge, these results from 10 years of national surveillance represent the largest surveillance summary of Coxsackie B viruses to date in the literature. Comparison of these results with those reported over the same 10 years by NCMC reflects differences that arise mostly because of differences in ascertainment systems.
Agonist‐induced activation of histamine H3 receptor signals to extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 through PKC‐, PLD‐, and EGFR‐dependent mechanisms

The histamine H3 receptor (H3R), abundantly expressed in the central and the peripheral nervous system, has been recognized as a promising target for the treatment of various important CNS diseases including narcolepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The H3R acts via Gi/o‐proteins to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity and modulate MAPK activity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for H3R mediation of the activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) remain to be elucidated. In this study, using HEK293 cells stably expressing human H3R and mouse primary cortical neurons endogenously expressing mouse H3R, we found that the H3R‐mediated activation of ERK1/2 was significantly blocked by both the pertussis toxin and the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. Upon stimulation by H3R agonist histamine or imetit, H3R was shown to rapidly induce ERK1/2 phosphorylation via PLC/PKC‐, PLDs‐, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation‐dependent pathways. Furthermore, it was also indicated that while the βγ‐subunits play a key role in H3R‐activated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, β‐arrestins were not required for ERK1/2 activation. In addition, when the cultured mouse cortical neurons were exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation conditions (OGD), imetit exhibited neuroprotective properties through the H3R. Treatment of cells with the inhibitor UO126 abolished these protective effects. This suggests a possible neuroprotective role of the H3R‐mediated ERK1/2 pathway under hypoxia conditions. These observations may provide new insights into the pharmacological effects and the physiological functions modulated by the H3R‐mediated activation of ERK1/2.
Research on method of analytical wing preliminary weight estimation for light weight UAV

Wing weight estimation is one of the most important functions of the aircraft design process. For optimization process, the weight of the wing may have to be calculated thousands of time specially if it is a part of multidisciplinary optimization. For light weight UAV, four different models are used to calculate the weight of ribs, skin, spar and carry through structure respectively. Ingenuity is captured in weight estimation of spar and an iterative method to calculate weight of spar is presented. The weight of each individual item is added to get the approximate total weight of the wing. High level computational structural analysis is not possible in optimization phase due to computational time cost. The current weight estimation method is a part of high level multidisciplinary optimization thus robust results are desired. The wing weight estimation code is verified against analytical results and total weight is compared with an available light weight UAV. The results of wing comparison show good approximation and validate the weight estimation code. Thus the method proposed for wing weight estimation for light weight UAV is validated and the desired output of a robust method to calculate weight of the wing is achieved.
Investigating the effects of a sensorimotor rhythm-based BCI training on the cortical activity elicited by mental imagery

Objective. It is well known that to acquire sensorimotor (SMR)-based brain–computer interface (BCI) control requires a training period before users can achieve their best possible performances. Nevertheless, the effect of this training procedure on the cortical activity related to the mental imagery ability still requires investigation to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the effects of SMR-based BCI training on the cortical spectral activity associated with the performance of different mental imagery tasks. Approach. Linear cortical estimation and statistical brain mapping techniques were applied on high-density EEG data acquired from 18 healthy participants performing three different mental imagery tasks. Subjects were divided in two groups, one of BCI trained subjects, according to their previous exposure (at least six months before this study) to motor imagery-based BCI training, and one of subjects who were naive to any BCI paradigms. Main results. Cortical activation maps obtained for trained and naive subjects indicated different spectral and spatial activity patterns in response to the mental imagery tasks. Long-term effects of the previous SMR-based BCI training were observed on the motor cortical spectral activity specific to the BCI trained motor imagery task (simple hand movements) and partially generalized to more complex motor imagery task (playing tennis). Differently, mental imagery with spatial attention and memory content could elicit recognizable cortical spectral activity even in subjects completely naive to (BCI) training. Significance. The present findings contribute to our understanding of BCI technology usage and might be of relevance in those clinical conditions when training to master a BCI application is challenging or even not possible.
Genetic variation of morphological traits in Drosophila melanogaster under poor nutrition: isofemale lines and offspring–parent regression

Variation of three morphological traits (thorax length, wing length and sternopleural bristle number) was examined in Drosophila melanogaster reared on a medium with low yeast content and on a standard medium using the isofemale line analysis and offspring–parent regression. The aim was to test whether these experimental approaches give different patterns of changes in genetic variability estimates when stressful and nonstressful environments are compared. Heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic variances were generally higher in the isofemale line design than in the offspring–parent regression design under both standard and poor nutritional conditions. For each trait, the response of heritability to stress was similar in both designs: wing length exhibited lower heritability under poor nutrition, whereas heritabilities of thorax length and sternopleural bristle number did not differ between nutritional regimes. Statistically significant differences in the genetic variances and the environmental variances between stressful and nonstressful environments were recorded only in isofemale lines: the genetic variance of thorax length and the environmental variances of thorax length and wing length were higher under poor nutrition. The results are compared to literature data and possible reasons of increased genetic variability estimates in isofemale lines are briefly discussed.
Broiler breeders do not respond positively to photoperiodic increments given during the laying period

1. Broiler breeders were given a 3-h increase in photoperiod to 11 h at 20 week and then a series of increases to reach 16 or 17 h either immediately after the initial increment or in 30-min, 1- or 2-h increments starting at various ages after peak rate of lay. Controls were maintained on 11 h from 20 weeks. Changes in plasma LH concentration (after 7 d) were measured in birds that had been transferred to 11 or 16 h at 20 weeks and given further increases in photoperiod at 41 or 61 weeks of age. 2. Birds that were transferred to 16- or 17-h photoperiods, irrespective of when and how the maximum photoperiod was reached, had inferior rates of lay between 52 and 60 weeks of age to birds maintained on 11 h from 20 weeks. However, the 11-h birds laid more eggs on the floor and produced a larger number of cracked and dirty eggs, resulting in similar numbers of settable eggs. 3. Although transferring birds from 11- to 16-h photoperiods at 41 weeks of age significantly increased plasma LH concentration, there was no effect on egg production during the ensuing 12 d. None of the other increases in photoperiod significantly increased plasma LH, whether given at 41 or 61 weeks. 4. It is concluded in broiler breeders, that increases in photoperiod applied during the laying period, from 11 or 16 h, have little or no effect on LH secretion, do not compensate for age-related declines in egg production, and adversely affect rate of lay.
The Origin and Functions of Multiple Human Glucocorticoid Receptor Isoforms

Abstract: Glucocorticoid hormones are necessary for life and are essential in all aspects of human health and disease. The actions of glucocorticoids are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which binds glucocorticoid hormones and regulates gene expression, cell signaling, and homeostasis. Decades of research have focused on the mechanisms of action of one isoform of GR, GRa. However, in recent years, increasing numbers of human GR (hGR) isoforms have been reported. Evidence obtained from this and other laboratories indicates that multiple hGR isoforms are generated from one single hGR gene via mutations and/or polymorphisms, transcript alternative splicing, and alternative translation initiation. Each hGR protein, in turn, is subject to a variety of posttranslational modifications, and the nature and degree of posttranslational modification affect receptor function. We summarize here the processes that generate and modify various hGR isoforms with a focus on those that impact the ability of hGR to regulate target genes. We speculate that unique receptor compositions and relative receptor proportions within a cell determine the specific response to glucocorticoids. Unchecked expression of some isoforms, for example hGRβ, has been implicated in various diseases.