Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A zinc-containing intraruminal device for prevention of the sporidesmin-induced cholangiopathy of facial eczema in calves

Abstract Aim: To develop and evaluate a zinc-containing intraruminal controlled-release bolus for protection of calves (175 – 250 kg bodyweight) against facial eczema (FE). Methods: Boluses releasing zinc, in the form of zinc oxide, at rates ranging from 1.67 to 4.25 g/day were administered to calves which were challenged 4 weeks later with the FE toxin, sporidesmin. The efficacy of the boluses in protecting against sporidesmin-induced cholangiopathy was determined by measuring serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Results: A bolus releasing zinc at approximately 4.25 g/day gave excellent protection against sporidesmin toxicity for periods of up to 5 weeks duration. Conclusions: This zinc-containing intraruminal controlled-release bolus has the potential to markedly reduce the incidence and severity of FE in calves within a 175 – 250 kg bodyweight range.
Diagnosis of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in AIDS Patients in Brazil: Importance of Molecular and Immunological Methods Using Peripheral Blood Samples

ABSTRACT Cerebral toxoplasmosis is the most common cerebral focal lesion in AIDS and still accounts for high morbidity and mortality in Brazil. Its occurrence is more frequent in patients with low CD4+ T-cell counts. It is directly related to the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in the population. Therefore, it is important to evaluate sensitive, less invasive, and rapid diagnostic tests. We evaluated the value of PCR using peripheral blood samples on the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis and whether its association with immunological assays can contribute to a timely diagnosis. We prospectively analyzed blood samples from 192 AIDS patients divided into two groups. The first group was composed of samples from 64 patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis diagnosed by clinical and radiological features. The second group was composed of samples from 128 patients with other opportunistic diseases. Blood collection from patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis was done before or on the third day of anti-toxoplasma therapy. PCR for T. gondii, indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and an avidity test for toxoplasmosis were performed on all samples. The PCR sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis in blood were 80% and 98%, respectively. Patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis (89%) presented higher titers of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies than patients with other diseases (57%) (P < 0.001). These findings suggest the clinical value of the use of both PCR and high titers of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies for the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis. This strategy may prevent more invasive approaches.
SOS-like induction in Bacillus subtilis: induction of the RecA protein analog and a damage-inducible operon by DNA damage in Rec+ and DNA repair-deficient strains

We quantitated the induction of the Bacillus subtilis Rec protein (the analog of Escherichia coli RecA protein) and the B. subtilis din-22 operon (representative of a set of DNA damage-inducible operons in B. subtilis) following DNA damage in Rec+ and DNA repair-deficient strains. After exposure to mitomycin C or UV irradiation, each of four distinct rec (recA1, recB2, recE4, and recM13) mutations reduced to the same extent the rates of both Rec protein induction (determined by densitometric scanning of immunoblot transfers) and din-22 operon induction (determined by assaying beta-galactosidase activity in din-22::Tn917-lacZ fusion strains). The induction deficiencies in recA1 and recE4 strains were partially complemented by the E. coli RecA protein, which was expressed on a plasmid in B. subtilis; the E. coli RecA protein had no effect on either induction event in Rec+, recB2, or recM13 strains. These results suggest that (i) the expression of both the B. subtilis Rec protein and the din-22 operon share a common regulatory component, (ii) the recA1 and recE4 mutations affect the regulation and/or activity of the B. subtilis Rec protein, and (iii) an SOS regulatory system like the E. coli system is highly conserved in B. subtilis. We also showed that the basal level of B. subtilis Rec protein is about 4,500 molecules per cell and that maximum induction by DNA damage causes an approximately fivefold increase in the rate of Rec protein accumulation.
A sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor type 1 agonist, ASP4058, suppresses intracranial aneurysm through promoting endothelial integrity and blocking macrophage transmigration

Intracranial aneurysm (IA), common in the general public, causes lethal subarachnoid haemorrhage on rupture. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to prevent the IA from rupturing. However, there is currently no medical treatment. Recent studies suggest that IA is the result of chronic inflammation in the arterial wall caused by endothelial dysfunction and infiltrating macrophages. The sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor type 1 (S1P1 receptor) is present on the endothelium and promotes its barrier function. Here we have tested the potential of an S1P1 agonist, ASP4058, to prevent IA in an animal model.
Animation Using Temporal Constraints: an Overview of the Animus System

Algorithm animation has a growing role in computer aided algorithm design, documentation and debugging, since interactive graphics is a richer channel than text for communication. Most animation is currently done laboriously by hand, and it often has the character of canned demonstrations with restricted user interaction. Animus is a system that allows easy construction of an animation with minimal concern for lower level graphics programming. Constraints are used to describe the appearance and structure of a picture as well as how those pictures evolve in time. The implementation and support of temporal constraints is a substantive extension to previous constraint languages which had only allowed specification of static state. Use of the Animus system is demonstrated in the creation of animations of dynamic mechanical and electrical circuit simulations, sorting algorithms, problems in operating systems, and geometric curve drawing algorithms.
A Conserved Gammaherpesvirus Protein Kinase Targets Histone Deacetylases 1 and 2 To Facilitate Viral Replication in Primary Macrophages

ABSTRACT Gammaherpesviruses are ubiquitious pathogens that establish lifelong infection and are associated with several malignancies. All gammaherpesviruses encode a conserved protein kinase that facilitates viral replication and chronic infection and thus represents an attractive therapeutic target. In this study, we identify a novel function of gammaherpesvirus protein kinase as a regulator of class I histone deacetylases (HDAC). Mouse gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68)-encoded protein kinase orf36 interacted with HDAC1 and 2 and prevented association of these HDACs with the viral promoter driving expression of RTA, a critical immediate early transcriptional activator. Furthermore, the ability to interact with HDAC1 and 2 was not limited to the MHV68 orf36, as BGLF4, a related viral protein kinase encoded by Epstein-Barr virus, interacted with HDAC1 in vitro. Importantly, targeting of HDAC1 and 2 by orf36 was independent of the kinase's enzymatic activity. Additionally, orf36 expression, but not its enzymatic activity, induced changes in the global deacetylase activity observed in infected primary macrophages. Combined deficiency of HDAC1 and 2 rescued attenuated replication and viral DNA synthesis of the orf36 null MHV68 mutant, indicating that the regulation of HDAC1 and 2 by orf36 was relevant for viral replication. Understanding the mechanism by which orf36 facilitates viral replication, including through HDAC targeting, will facilitate the development of improved therapeutics against gammaherpesvirus kinases.
Genetic variation of the human ACE and ACTN3 genes and their association with functional muscle properties in Lithuanian elite athletes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Based on the results of many studies, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) genes are considered strong candidate genes associated with human physical performance. On the other hand, the data regarding the association of the ACE I/D and ACTN3 R/X polymorphisms with human physical performance in different populations have been conflicting. The objective of our research was to evaluate the significance of these genetic variants on muscle performance phenotype in Lithuanian athletes. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 193 Lithuanian elite athletes and 250 controls from the general Lithuanian population. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction and/or restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Anthropometric measurements and muscle strength (grip strength and vertical jump) were measured. RESULTS It was determined that ACE I/I and I/D genotypes were more frequent in the athlete group compared with the general Lithuanian population. The results of grip strength and vertical jump were better in the athletes with the ACE I/I and ACTN3 X/X genotype compared with the athletes with ACE D/D and ACTN3 R/R, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The ACE I and ACTN3 X alleles determine speed and power for Lithuanian athletes. In line with other researchers, it can be confirmed that the absence of a functional ACTN3 in fast-twitch muscle fibers is compensated. Lithuanian athletes who are carriers of the ACE I/I and I/D as well as ACTN3 X/X and R/X genotypes have the potential to achieve better results in power-requiring sports; therefore, the analyzed polymorphisms of these genes might be used as the criteria for the sport type selection.
A new method for evaluation of motor injury after acute brain ischemic damage

Purpose: Motor impairment is an important index for assessing the extent of brain injury. The present study uses a new method, the movement capture analysis (MOCA) system, for assessing motor damage after acute ischemia. Materials and Methods: Forty rats were divided into four groups: standard ischemia, sham-operated, Dizocilpine (MK-801), and Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) groups. Brain ischemia was induced using the temporary right middle cerebral artery occlusion model. Longa score and MOCA were used to assess motor injury one day after ischemia. Infarct volume was delineated with 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The correlation of infarct volume with Longa score and MOCA data was calculated. Results: Compared with the sham-operated group (0.10 ± 0.31), Longa scores of MK-801 (2.33 ± 0.73), GBE (1.80 ± 0.58), and standard (2.88 ± 0.83) groups showed a statistical difference (p < 0.05); however, it was unable to discern the difference between MK-801 and standard groups. MOCA was able to clearly discern the differences in motor disparity among the four groups, standard (1.00 ± 0.19), sham-operated group (0.17 ± 0.02), MK-801 (0.79 ± 0.08), GBE (0.38 ± 0.05) (p < 0.05). Both MK-801 (18.03 ± 0.96%) and GBE (10.82 ± 1.93%) treatment reduced infarct size compared with the standard ischemia group (25.88 ± 1.16%) (p < 0.05). The MOCA data showed a more significant correlation with infarct size than Longa score (r = 0.85:0.53). Conclusions: MOCA system proved to be more sensitive than the Longa score. It may potentially be more accurate method for behavioral evaluation in clinical trials.
Patterns and predictors of disclosure of HIV positive status among youth living with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract Background Information on disclosure of HIV status among youth is sparse in spite of the fact that they bear a significant burden of the HIV epidemic. Our objective was to determine the predictors of HIV disclosure among youth aged 18–35 years in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among youth with HIV attending two HIV support groups and one ARV clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria. Information was obtained with the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and analytic statistics were conducted. Results There were 170 clients with a mean age of 29.6 ± 3.9 years; 140 (82.4%) were female and 139 (81.8%) had disclosed their status. Common people first informed included respondents’ mother 49 (35.3%), spouse 39 (28.1%) or father, 38 (27.3%). Disclosure to an unmarried sexual partner was low as only six (12.0%) of the 50 single youth who had a current sexual partner had disclosed their status to him/her. Youth who were aware that their spouse/partner was HIV positive (OR = 9.87; CI = 1.09–88.83) or negative (OR = 9.98; CI = 1.18–84.70) were more likely to have disclosed their status than those unaware of their spouse/partners’ status. Disclosure was also higher among members of an HIV support group (OR = 3.32; CI = 1.03–10.72). Conclusions Many respondents had disclosed their status although disclosure to an unmarried sexual partner was low. Interventions to improve HIV disclosure especially among unmarried sexually active youth could improve disclosure and overall management of HIV in our study area.
Technical note: a simplified procedure for vitamin E determination in beef muscle.

A simplified method for the determination of alpha-tocopherol concentration in beef muscle was developed and evaluated. The method consists of a saponification step applied to 1-g samples of intact, fresh muscle, followed by a single isooctane extraction of the saponified samples. alpha-Tocopherol in the extract was separated by normal phase chromatography and quantified by fluorescence detection. A single extraction with the simplified method accounted for 95% of the total muscle alpha-tocopherol concentration obtained by two extractions with the Arnold et al. (J. Food Sci. 58:28, 1993) method. Recovery of added alpha-tocopherol standard after two extractions of a saponified muscle sample was 91% for the simplified method, which was not different (alpha = .78) from recovery using the Arnold method, and the efficiency of the single extraction in the simplified method was 89%. The coefficients of variation for the simplified and Arnold methods were both 3.1%. This method should permit the duplicate analysis of 100 fresh muscle samples within 24 h.
An application of hamiltonian neurodynamics using pontryagin's maximum (minimum) principle

Classical optimal control methods, notably Pontryagin's Maximum (Minimum) Principle (PMP) can be employed, together with Hamiltonians, to determine optimal system weights in Artificial Neural dynamical systems. A new learning rule based on weight equations derived using PMP is shown to be suitable for both discrete- and continuous-time systems, and moreover, can also be applied to feedback networks. Preliminary testing shows that this PMP learning rule compares favorably with Standard BackPropagations (SBP) on the XOR problem.
Target dyspnea ratings predict expected oxygen consumption as well as target heart rate values.

A target heart rate (THR) is the traditional method to prescribe and monitor exercise training intensity in healthy individuals. However, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are limited by ventilatory impairment and dyspnea rather than cardiovascular factors. An alternative approach is to use dyspnea ratings as a target for exercise training in patients with respiratory disease just as ratings of perceived exertion have been used in healthy individuals. The study was a randomized, parallel group trial comparing the ability of patients with COPD to accurately and reliably produce an exercise intensity using a target dyspnea rating (TDR) versus a THR. At Visit 1 patients performed an incremental exercise test on the cycle ergometer, and target values were calculated at approximately 75% of maximal oxygen consumption (V O2). At Visits 2 (3 to 5 d later) and 3 (2 wk later) each patient was instructed to produce a TDR or a THR for 10 min of submaximal exertion. Anthropometric characteristics, lung function, and exercise performance were similar for the 22 patients in each group at Visit 1. For the TDR group the dyspnea target was 2.5 +/- 1.5 at an expected V O2 of 0.88 +/- 0.28 L/min; for the THR group the heart rate (HR) target was 114 +/- 15 beats/min at an expected V O2 of 0.76 +/- 0.29 L/min (p = 0.18 for V O2 between groups). Compared with the expected V O2 from Visit 1, the individual percent differences in V O2 at Visit 2 were -3.9 +/- 18.1% (TDR) and -0.5 +/- 23.2% (THR) (p = 0.58); at Visit 3 the individual percent differences in V O2 were -2.3 +/- 17.0% (TDR) and 2.6 +/- 30.6% (THR) (p = 0.52). The number of patients < 10% and >/= 10% of the expected V O2 were similar for the two groups at Visits 2 (p = 0.38) and 3 (p = 0.27). There were no significant differences for V O2 values (absolute or individual percent) at Visits 2 and 3 for each group and between the groups (p = 0.79). In conclusion, patients with symptomatic COPD demonstrated a comparable ability to use dyspnea ratings and HR as a target to accurately and reliably produce an expected exercise intensity (approximately 75% of V O2max) for 10 min of submaximal exertion.
Single-molecule dissection of the high-affinity cohesin–dockerin complex

Cellulose-degrading enzyme systems are of significant interest from both a scientific and technological perspective due to the diversity of cellulase families, their unique assembly and substrate binding mechanisms, and their potential applications in several key industrial sectors, notably cellulose hydrolysis for second-generation biofuel production. Particularly fascinating are cellulosomes, the multimodular extracellular complexes produced by numerous anaerobic bacteria. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy, we analyzed the mechanical stability of the intermolecular interfaces between the cohesin and the dockerin modules responsible for self-assembly of the cellulosomal components into the multienzyme complex. The observed cohesin–dockerin rupture forces (>120 pN) are among the highest reported for a receptor–ligand system to date. Using an atomic force microscope protocol that quantified single-molecule binding activity, we observed force-induced dissociation of calcium ions from the duplicated loop–helix F-hand motif located within the dockerin module, which in the presence of EDTA resulted in loss of affinity to the cohesin partner. A cohesin amino acid mutation (D39A) that eliminated hydrogen bonding with the dockerin’s critically conserved serine residues reduced the observed rupture forces. Consequently, no calcium loss occurred and dockerin activity was maintained throughout multiple forced dissociation events. These results offer insights at the single-molecule level into the stability and folding of an exquisite class of high-affinity protein–protein interactions that dictate fabrication and architecture of cellulose-degrading molecular machines.
Acute hepatic steatosis in mice by blocking beta-oxidation does not reduce insulin sensitivity of very-low-density lipoprotein production.

Accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in the liver is generally associated with hepatic insulin resistance. We questioned whether acute hepatic steatosis induced by pharmacological blockade of beta-oxidation affects hepatic insulin sensitivity, i.e., insulin-mediated suppression of VLDL production and insulin-induced activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and PKB. Tetradecylglycidic acid (TDGA), an inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT1), was used for this purpose. Male C57BL/6J mice received 30 mg/kg TDGA or its solvent intraperitoneally and were subsequently fasted for 12 h. CPT1 inhibition resulted in severe microvesicular hepatic steatosis (19.9 +/- 8.3 vs. 112.4 +/- 25.2 nmol TG/mg liver, control vs. treated, P < 0.05) with elevated plasma nonesterified fatty acid (0.68 +/- 0.25 vs. 1.21 +/- 0.41 mM, P < 0.05) and plasma TG (0.39 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.60 +/- 0.10 mM, P < 0.05) concentrations. VLDL-TG production rate was not affected on CPT1 inhibition (74.9 +/- 15.2 vs. 79.1 +/- 12.8 mumol TG.kg(-1). min(-1), control vs. treated) although treated mice secreted larger VLDL particles (59.3 +/- 3.6 vs. 66.6 +/- 4.5 nm diameter, P < 0.05). Infusion of insulin under euglycemic conditions suppressed VLDL production rate in control and treated mice by 43 and 54%, respectively, with formation of smaller VLDL particles (51.2 +/- 2.5 and 53.2 +/- 2.8 nm diameter). Insulin-induced insulin receptor substrate (IRS)1- and IRS2-associated PI3-kinase activity and PKB-phosphorylation were not affected on TDGA treatment. In conclusion, acute hepatic steatosis caused by pharmacological inhibition of beta-oxidation is not associated with reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity, indicating that hepatocellular fat content per se is not causally related to insulin resistance.
Intravenous immunoglobulin replacement prevents severe and lower respiratory tract infections, but not upper respiratory tract and non‐respiratory infections in common variable immune deficiency

Background: Although the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) every 3–4 weeks is now standard for treating patients with common variable immune deficiency, studies demonstrating its long‐term benefits over low 200 mg/kg dose and its effects on infectious subsets (upper vs lower respiratory vs non‐respiratory infections) are rare.
Optimizing the joint transmit and receive MMSE design using mode selection

To approach the potential multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capacity while optimizing the system bit-error rate (BER) performance, the joint transmit and receive minimum mean squared error (joint Tx/Rx MMSE) design has been proposed. It is the optimal linear scheme for spatial multiplexing MIMO systems, assuming a fixed number of spatial streams p as well as fixed modulation and coding across these spatial streams. However, the number of spatial streams has been arbitrarily chosen and fixed, which may lead to an inefficient power allocation strategy and a poor BER performance. In this paper, we relax the constraint of fixed number of streams p and optimize this value for the current channel realization, under the constraints of fixed average total transmit power P/sub T/ and fixed rate R, what we refer to as mode selection . Based on the observation of the existence of a dominant optimal number of streams value for the considered Rayleigh flat-fading MIMO channel model, we further propose an "average" mode selection that avoids the per-channel adaptation through using the latter dominant value for all channel realizations. Finally, we exhibit the significant BER improvement provided by our mode selection over the conventional joint Tx/Rx MMSE design. Such significant improvement is due to the better exploitation of the MIMO spatial diversity and the more efficient power allocation enabled by our mode selection.