Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD47-Fc fusion proteins as putative immunotherapeutic agents for the treatment of immunological and inflammatory diseases

The human cell-surface molecule CD47 is a widely expressed transmembrane glycoprotein that modulates the activity of neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells by interacting via its extracellular domain with several endogenous ligands, including thrombospondin-1, signal regulatory protein (SIRP)-α and SIRP-β2. Homologs of CD47 also exist in certain viruses, helping them to elude host immune responses. Therefore, CD47 and its ligands appear to play important roles in the regulation of immune responses and may serve as targets for development of novel immunotherapeutic agents. Accordingly, this patent application describes soluble recombinant CD47-Fc fusion proteins that are made up of the extracellular domain of native or mutated human CD47 or viral CD47 linked to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G. One example of human CD47-Fc is shown to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human DCs. Moreover, a murine CD47-Fc construct is shown to alleviate inflammation in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. It is thus claimed that CD47-Fc proteins may have potential for the treatment of immune and inflammatory disorders. However, further characterization of the biochemical and biological activities of these reagents will be needed to fully appraise their putative therapeutic utility.
Interpretation and comprehension of linguistic humour by adolescents with head injury: a group analysis

The aim of the present study was to determine the ability of adolescents with a head injury to interpret and comprehend linguistic humour. Nine adolescents with head injury aged between 12 years 1 month and 15 years 4 months, and nine individually matched adolescents aged between 12 years 1 month and 16 years 1 month were administered ahumour test, astandard language battery, the CELF-3, and the Self-Esteem Index. The test of humour abilities required each subject to recognize and select an explanation from a group of three, as to what made each item funny. Items were based on morphological, semantic and syntactic humour elements. Comparison at a group level demonstrated that adolescents with head injury performed significantly poorer in the interpretation and comprehension of linguistic humour than a group of individually matched peers. Contrary to expectations, a relationship between the level of self-esteem and humour comprehension did not exist. The findings of the present study suggest that further research into the effects of head injury on linguistic humour in adolescents is warranted, particularly from a case-by-case perspective.
MDM2 SNP309 (rs2279744) and p53 Codon Arg72Pro (rs1042522) SNP in Cervical Carcinogenesis

To investigate the association between polymorphisms (SNP) in the p53 and murine double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) promoter 309 in cervical carcinogenesis. SNP at p53 codon 72 polymorphisms and MDM2 promoter 309 (T/G) together with human papillomavirus (HPV) types were examined in a total of 187 cervical smear samples using real time PCR. 27 cases with HPV types 16 and/or 18 had significantly higher frequency of the TG + GG genotype and G allele than 56 with other types of high-risk HPV (P = 0.0136). 48 cases with HPV types 52 and/or 58 had significantly higher frequency of the TG + GG genotype and G allele than 56 with other types of high-risk HPV (P = 0.001). Our studies have demonstrated that the frequency of G allele in MDM2 promoter 309 increased from LSIL to HSIL and that there was an increased OR for G allele in HSIL cases with high-risk HPV types including 52 and 58. It is known that geographically different oncogenic HPV types 52 and 58 are more prevalent than 16 and 18 in a Japanese population.
PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS OF THE PHYTOPLANKTON OF SOME CORAL REEF WATERS1

Phytoplankton pigments in reef waters of Princess Charlotte Bay, North Queensland, Australia, were studied by spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. The chlorophyll concentration of reef waters was extremely low: 0.1–0.35 µg of chlorophyll (a + c)/ liter. Chlorophyll a in most samples was 1–2 times as abundant as chlorophyll c. The phytoplankton consisted mostly of pennate diatoms and coccolithophores, with only small numbers of free-swimming dinoflagellates. This was reflected in the presence of carotenes, chlorophylls a and c, yellow xanthophylls, and fucoxanthin in each sample. The absence of dinoflagellate pigments from most samples of reef water contrasted strongly with the abundant growth of symbiotic dinoflagellates within the reef corals.
Effects of soil crust and crop on runoff and erosion in Loess Plateau

Soil crust formed after rainfall has a strong influence on soil erosion, water use, and crop growth on sloping farmland. To study the effect of soil crust on sloping farmland on runoff amount and erosion sediment yield, the soil crust on sloping farmland has been studied in this paper for plantings of corn, soybeans, millet, and winter wheat. Using an outdoor rainfall simulator, the influence of soil crust on runoff rate and sediment yield on sloping farmland covered by crops has been observed. The results revealed that soil crust thickness was increased after rainfall and soil crust coverage showed little change after rainfall. Soil crust had a significant impact on runoff and sediment yield on sloping farmland. Slopes with soil crust showed higher runoff rate and less soil loss than slopes without soil crust. On slopes planted with four crops (corn, soybeans, millet, and winter wheat), runoff rates on slopes with soil crust were respectively 20%, 25%, 25%, and 21% higher than on slopes without soil crust; sediment yield on slopes with soil crust was respectively 15%, 14%, 14%, and 8% lower than on slopes without soil crust. Crops enlarged the runoff difference between the two kinds of slope and decreased the sediment yield difference between them. Crop growth enhanced these differences in runoff and sediment yield between slopes with and without soil crust.
Antipredator behaviour of naïve Arctic charr young in the presence of predator odours and conspecific alarm cues

– We investigated how Arctic charr young respond behaviourally to olfactory cues from skin-damaged conspecifics, charr-fed pikeperch, and the combination of food-deprived pikeperch and skin-damaged conspecific cues in a two-channel Y-maze fluviarium test arena. Significant antipredator responses were found to skin-damaged conspecifics in three behavioural traits, to charr-fed pikeperch in two traits and to the combination of pikeperch and skin-damaged conspecific cues in all six behaviours investigated. The combination of predator and conspecific cues significantly increased spatial avoidance and cautiousness to approach the source of scent compared with odours from charr-fed predators. The results suggest that damage-released alarm cues exist in charr, and they strengthen the antipredator responses in conspecifics. As the charr used different behaviours and levels of response in the presence of different cues, they seem to have sophisticated skills to distinguish between different odour combinations and be able to adjust their behaviour according to the current predation risk level.
The influence of molar occlusal surface area on the voluntary intake, digestion, chewing behaviour and diet selection of red deer (Cervus elaphus)

The loss of tooth effectiveness due to molar wear has been proposed as an important cause of mortality in ungulate populations. Voluntary intakes, digestibility, mean retention times, chewing behaviour (during eating and rumination), and diet selection (physical selection: short vs long particles in hay; and botanical selection: leaf is stem) were compared in two groups of female red deer (Cervus elaphus) which differed in molar occlusal surface area, in order to test the hypothesis that behavioural and physiological mechanisms can be used to maintain assimilation efficiency in the presence of low functional tooth effectiveness. The group with lower values for first lower molar occlusal surface area (OSA) corrected for body weight had lower voluntary food intakes (P = 0.0126). The low OSA group had a greater number of chews per g DM of food ingested (P = 0.0167), a greater time spent chewing (P = 0.0476) but a lower number of chews per min than did those with a high OSA (P = 0.0484). The total number of chews per day was similar for both groups (P = 0.2011). The number of ruminating chews per day was less for the low OSA group (P = 0.0377). The group with low OSA values had a larger average particle size in their faeces (P = 0.0346). No differences were detected between groups in the physical or botanical composition of the diet selected (P = 0.3030, P = 0.3056, respectively) or in total digestibility and mean retention times (P = 0.1357, P = 0.3464, respectively). As a consequence of the lower voluntary intake the low OSA group had a lower digestible dry matter intake (P = 0.0170). This study supports the view that intake modification and the time invested in chewing during eating are the main mechanisms used to compensate for reduced chewing effectiveness associated with changes in tooth morphology, although the compensation is not total.
Diversity of fungi on six species of Gramineae and one species of Cyperaceae in Hong Kong

Samples of standing senescent culms of Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, Phragmites australis, Miscanthus floridulus, Saccharum arundinaceum and Thysanolaena maxima (Gramineae), and Schoenoplectus litoralis (Cyperaceae) were collected in Hong Kong between 1997 to 1999. A total of 205 fungal taxa were identified on these samples, including 61 ascomycetes, and 144 mitosporic taxa. Common fungal genera included Diaporthe, Leptosphaeria, Massarina, Ophiobolus and Ophioceras (ascomycetes), and Monodictys, Phaeoisaria, Periconia, Phoma, Phomopsis, Rhinocladiella, Septoria and Sporidesmium (mitosporic taxa). Different grass species were host to different fungal communities and diversities of taxa. Diversity indices for fungi on the hosts varied from 3.3 to 8.7, the highest index being from Pennisetum purpureum, and were overall higher from species offering more durable, strongly sclerenchymatic substrates. No single saprobic fungus collected in this study is thought to be specific to any one grass, however, certain fungi tended to reoccur on single grass species, but not on adjacent grasses. A ‘core fungal group’ was commonly associated with the decaying grasses and this ‘core’ was thought to be important in nutrient cycling in the grasses. A comparison of the fungi occurring on grasses with those on other monocotyledonous hosts is made. The numbers of fungi known to occur on Juncus roemerianus and Phragmites australis are briefly summarised.
Safety and side effects of the acne drug, oral isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is a very effective medication for the treatment of severe recalcitrant acne. However, its use is associated with many side effects, some of which can be very serious. The most important issue is its teratogenicity, which has resulted in new pregnancy prevention policies and programmes implemented by the manufacturer. Recently, the association of isotretinoin with depression has been recognised and new guidelines have been adopted for this possible side effect. The most common adverse events, observed during treatment, are mucocutaneous and ophthalmological. In addition, laboratory abnormalities and effects in the nervous, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, pulmonary and other systems have been described.
Intestinal absorption, metabolism and effects of bacterial chemotactic peptides in rat intestine

N‐formylated chemotactic peptides are produced by intestinal bacteria in vitro and Can be detected in intestinal luminal fluids. The healthy intestine must have mechanisms for preventing absorption of such peptides which can induce an inflammatory response when introduced systemically. Synthetic formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (F‐met‐leu‐3H‐phe) has been used as a model bacterial chemotactic peptide to investigate intestinal absorption and metabolism of such peptides in the rat. Disappearance of tritium‐activity was rapid from jejunal and ileal loops and substantial hydrolysis of peptide occurred with only labelled metabolites appearing in portal blood. Less absorption and less metabolism occurred in the colon. Degradation of F‐met‐leu‐phe was due to a mucosal carboxypeptidase and was inhibited by benzylsuccinate, a potent inhibitor of the enzyme. In the presence of inhibitor, luminal disappearance from ileal loops was abolished and F‐met‐leu‐3H‐phe was not detected in portal blood indicating that healthy gut mucosa is ‘impermeable’ to intact peptide. The intestinal ‘barrier’ preventing mucosal penetration and the inflammatory effects of luminal bacterial peptides have two components: restricted mucosal permeability and a carboxypeptidase capable of hydrolysing such peptides with loss of their bioactivity.
Analysis of electrophoretic patterns of soluble proteins and trypsin inhibitors associated with the morphological changes of silk gland of Bombyx mori

近年, カイコの絹蛋白質の加工による医療用品の開発や合成困難な蛋白質をカイコにつくらせ, 絹糸腺から採取するなどの試みがなされており, 絹糸腺の可溶性蛋白質の動態解析は, 益々重要になってきている. 当該研究において, 我々は, カイコの絹糸腺の成熟に伴う可溶性蛋白質とトリプシンインヒビターの動態について, ポリアクリルアミドゲル電気泳動法と抗トリプシンインヒビター・ウサギ抗体を用いたイムノブロッティング法で解析した. 後部絹糸腺では, 数kDaから数百kDaに渡る多数のバンドが全ステージで同様に認められたが, 中部絹糸腺では, これらのバンドのうち, 中程度の分子量を持つバンドが, 吐糸期に消失し, 分子量370kDa (I) と22. 5kDaのバンド (IV) が残った. 特にバンドIVは吐糸期にも存在した. トリプシンインヒビターも, 絹糸腺の成熟に伴って増加し, 特に中部絹糸腺前区の絹糸蛋白層に多く存在した. 絹糸腺の成熟に伴って, 多数の絹糸蛋白質のバンドが出現, 消失することから, トリプシン様蛋白分解酵素とトリプシンインヒビターが, 中部絹糸腺における絹糸蛋白質の相転移に関して重要な役割を果たしている可能性が示唆された.
Deoxynivalenol levels and chemotype frequency in barley cultivars inoculated with two chemotypes of Fusarium graminearum

Abstract Corn kernels colonized by Fusarium graminearum were spread between lines of barley (Hordeum vulgare) in an irrigated Fusarium head blight (FHB) nursery at a 2 : 1 ratio of isolates producing 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15 ADON) to isolates producing 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3 ADON) (in 2008) or 1 : 1 ratio (in 2009, 2010). In 2008, it was the first use in this field of a 3 ADON isolate after 9 years of artificial inoculation with exclusively 15 ADON isolates. Sets of three 2-row and three 6-row cultivars were used as checks throughout the nursery, representing a range of susceptibility to FHB. Composites of these cultivars were prepared and analysed for per cent F. graminearum infection, chemotype frequency and levels of deoxynivalenol (DON), 3 ADON and 15 ADON. Seed infection by F. graminearum ranged from 83.5% (2009) to 98.5% (2010), with little difference across the nursery. In 2008, the chemotype distribution of F. graminearum and DON levels on infected kernels showed a several-fold difference from the eastern side (67% 3 ADON isolates and 46 ppm DON) to the western end of the field (16% 3 ADON isolates and 13 ppm DON), but not in the subsequent 2 years. In both 2009 and 2010, the 3 ADON chemotype was recovered from only 18% and 13% of the seeds, and overall average DON levels were 18 ppm and 24 ppm, respectively. In 2008, the highest DON and 3 ADON levels were associated with the highest frequency of the 3 ADON chemotype. In all years, the recovery of isolates did not reflect the ratio of the initial inoculum, suggesting that other factors influenced the ultimate infection of the seed. However, the relative relationship among the barley cultivars was consistent throughout all 3 years: DON levels were much lower in the most resistant cultivars compared with the most susceptible cultivars in all years and composites. Genotypic response to DON accumulation did not show strong interaction with 3 ADON frequency, suggesting that the underlying genetic resistance of the barley cultivars is cross-applicable between chemotypes.
Polymyxin-metal complexes and their biological use

Polymyxins are cyclic peptide antibiotics isolated from Bacillus colistinus. These generally readily form salts with acids. Polymyxin A, B, C, D and E have also been isolated, but only polymyxin B and polymyxin E (colistin) are used clinically. They have bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria, especially, Psudomonas.
Dry Matter Accumulation and Silage Moisture Changes after Silking in Leafy and Dual‐Purpose Corn Hybrids

The increasing use of new silage-specific corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids, including Leafy types, has created a need for more information on the decision of hybrid choice and time of harvest. A field experiment including dual-purpose and Leafy silage-specific hybrids was conducted for 4 yr (1999–2002) at Ottawa, ON, Canada. Specific objectives were to determine (i) differences in whole plant moisture and dry matter (DM) accumulation after silking, and (ii) the optimum harvest windows of the contrasting corn types. Samples of whole plant moisture and DM accumulation were taken and analyzed at 3- to 7-d intervals from approximately 3 wk after silking to physiological maturity. Our results showed that the rate of decline in silage moisture content varied among the years and hybrid types. On average, 85% of total DM accumulation was achieved when the whole plant moisture was about 65% for all hybrids. Compared to dual-purpose hybrids, the whole plant moisture of Leafy silage-specific hybrids declined more slowly, especially for hybrid ‘Mycogen TMF94’. We concluded that 65% whole plant moisture normally corresponded to the 50% kernel milk line (ML), and occurred between 50 and 60 d after silking under the northeast climate conditions. Silage-specific hybrids had larger windows for harvest than dual-purpose hybrids. However, ML progression was irregular for Leafy hybrids and changed more rapidly for dual-purpose hybrids. Under extreme weather conditions, kernel ML does not correspond to silage moisture content in the same way as under normal conditions, therefore, silage harvest should be based on actual moisture content.
Outcomes from milieu-based neurorehabilitation at up to 11 years post-discharge

Outcome in patients with brain injury after milieu-based day treatment neurorehabilitation was examined at up to 11 years post-discharge. Follow-up data in this cross-sectional study were sought from all admissions since May 1986 to May 1998 at 3 months, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 year intervals. The 164 participants who responded had heterogeneous brain injury aetiologies and represented 73.9% of all patients who were successfully discharged from the programme. Rates of productivity (defined as gainful employment, school, and/or volunteer work) and employment (defined as work for pay) were examined in this follow-up sample. The results demonstrate that 83.5% of patients were productive up to 11 years post-discharge, with 67.1% engaged in work or school, and no decline in productivity was seen over time from discharge. Better vocational/school outcomes were associated with younger age, male gender, and higher staff working alliance ratings of patients and their families.
Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) Is a Modulator of Human Luteal Cell Steroidogenesis: Localization of the IL Type I System in the Corpus Luteum1

The present investigation examined the effect of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on progesterone production by human luteal cells and the expression and localization of the IL-1 system in the human corpus luteum (CL). Luteal cells were isolated from corpora lutea collected throughout the luteal phase. After dispersion, luteal cells were treated with a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed to leukocyte-specific molecules. The leukocytes were isolated with immunomagnetic beads. Leukocyte-free luteal cells exhibited greater steroidogenic responsiveness to hCG toward the end of the luteal phase. The treatment of mixed luteal cells (total luteal cells) with IL-1β inhibited by 60% hCG-stimulated progesterone production. Interestingly, the treatment of leukocyte-free luteal cells with IL-1β did not affect progesterone production. In addition, the treatment of mixed luteal cells with monoclonal antibodies against IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1RtI) resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in the hCG-supported progesterone production.
Feeding dietary oils with tocopherols : Effects on internal qualities of eggs during storage

The effects of feeding menhaden, flax, palm, or sunflower oils with to-copherols to laying hens on the internal quality of eggs during 40-days storage were examined. Dietary tocopherols increased (P < 0.05) the tocopherol content of eggs. Addition of tocopherols increased (P < 0.05) the Haugh unit at 40-days storage in menhaden, flax, and palm oil eggs. Dietary tocopherols increased (P < 0.05) the content of 20:5 n-3 and 22:6 n-3 in menhaden oil eggs. At 40-days storage, the TBA values in menhaden oil eggs were reduced (P < 0.05) by dietary tocopherols. Storage decreased (P < 0.05) 8-tocopherol in the flax and sunflower oil eggs. Yolk pH increased during storage (P < 0.05).
Interactions between oral chemical irritation, taste and temperature

The oral chemical irritant, capsaicin, at 2, 4 and 8 p.p.m. , was combined in mixtures with sucrose (Experiment 1), sodium chloride (Experiment 2) and soup (Experiment 3), each evaluated at two temperatures. These mixtures were rated for their sweetness and/or saltiness, intensity of burning sensation and total mixture intensity. In both solution and soup, sweetness was suppressed, whereas saltiness showed only minor suppression in low NaCl, high capsaicin mixtures. The burning sensation produced by capsaicin was uninfluenced by sucrose, while NaCl increased the burning sensation. Total mixture intensity was entirely determined by capsaicin concentration in mixtures with sucrose, although NaCl contributed in NaCl/capsaicin mixtures. Varying temperature influenced the burning sensation and total intensity of sucrose/capsaicin mixtures, but did not modulate the effects of capsaicin on taste. Explanations of taste suppression in terms of cognitive and structural models are examined. The differential effect of capsaicin on sweetness and saltiness is also considered in terms of the irritant properties of NaCl.
Spatial and temporal variation of community composition and species cover following dune restoration in the Devesa de Albufera (Valencia, Spain).

Plant populations were reintroduced to the coastal dune bar of the Devesa de Albufera from 1988 to 2004; different coastline sections received different species composition and cover. With the aim to detect spatial and temporal variation of floristic diversity, we compared current species composition and cover across the length of the Devesa and across the dune bar with those imposed at the time of restoration. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) detected significant differences both across the dune faces and across the coast sections. Differences across the dune faces reflect the sea-inland ecological gradient and resulted from a spatial rearrangement of plant populations: Calystegia soldanella, Achillea maritima and Polygonum maritimum prefer the windward face; Malcolmia littorea and Lagurus ovatus the leeward. Differences across coast sections are related to those at restoration time, with a slow trend towards the homogenization of plant communities. At the current level of anthropic pressure, the plant cover is likely to evolve following the trends pointed out in this research.
Habitat suitability modelling of an invasive plant with advanced remote sensing data

Aim Lepidium latifolium (Brassicaceae; perennial pepperweed) is a noxious Eurasian weed invading riparian and wetland areas of the western USA. Understanding which sites are most susceptible to invasion by L. latifolium will allow more efficient management of this weed. We assessed the ability of advanced remote sensing techniques to develop habitat suitability models for L. latifolium.