Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extract of Prunella Vulgaris Spikes Inhibits HIV Replication at Reverse Transcription in vitro and can Be Absorbed from Intestine in vivo

It has been reported that extracts of the spike of Prunella vulgaris (PS) exhibit anti-HIV activity at the adsorption and reverse transcription stages. In this study, the actual activity of PS in cells, kinetic analysis of the inhibitory activity of PS against HIV reverse transcriptase and the feasibility of oral administration were examined. First, to clarify whether this extract shows anti-HIV activity in cells in vitro, the number of copies of proviral DNA in HIV-exposed cells was calculated. The number of copies was significantly decreased in cells cultured in the presence of PS extract, but not in the presence of dextran sulphate. The activity of PS extract in the cells was also assessed by the drug addition test, during and after HIV adsorption. PS extract and dextran sulphate suppressed HIV production to similar levels when added after HIV adsorption. However, only PS extract suppressed HIV production at the same concentration when the drugs were added during HIV adsorption. Presumably, the penetration of the PS extract into the cells was required for this activity. Secondly, fractionated PS inhibited HIV reverse transcription in a non-competitive manner. This fractionated PS kept anti-HIV activity, but inhibited HIV replication and adsorption to a lesser extent compared to dextran sulphate. Lastly, an active component(s) was detected in plasma in vivo, after injection into the intestine, which demonstrates the feasibility of oral administration dosing.
An Exploration of Daily Routine Modeling Based on Bluetooth and GSM-Data

We explore GSM & Bluetooth (BT) data to capture daily routines and social environments. With focus on the individual, non-networked user, showing the complementarity of these modalities. We present a realistic real-life dataset over 22 weeks and analyze probabilistic topic models to automatically discover typical situations of everyday life.
The Importance of Males: Larval Diet and Adult Sugar Feeding Influences Reproduction in Culex molestus

Abstract Culex molestus is an obligatory autogenous mosquito that is closely associated with subterranean habitats in urban areas. The objective of our study was to investigate the influence of larval and adult nutrition on the role of males in determining the expression of autogeny in Cx. molestus. Mosquitoes raised at low and high larval diets had sex ratio, wing length, mating rates, autogenous egg raft size, and hatching rates recorded. There was a higher ratio of males to females when raised at a low larval diet. Mean wing lengths of both males and females were significantly greater when raised at the high larval diet regime. Regardless of larval or adult diet, males mated with only a single female. Mosquitoes raised at the higher larval diet regimes developed significantly more autogenous eggs. However, the egg raft size was reduced when adult females were denied access to sugar. The results of this study indicate that the performance of males in the reproductive process is influenced by both larval diet and adult sugar feeding.
[Clinical validity of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical validity of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TgAb). METHOD Serum levels of anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb were assayed using chemiluminescence immunoassay in 434 subjects, including 51 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 58 with Graves' disease, 68 with nodular goiter, 56 with thyroid adenoma and carcinoma, 56 with subacute thyroiditis, 65 with euthyroid non-thyroid endocrine disease, 35 with euthyroid non-thyroid autoimmune diseases, and 45 euthyroid controls. RESULTS The highest level and most positive results of serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were observed in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (median 373 and 6 974 U/ml, positive rate 84.3% and 86.3%), followed by patients with Graves' disease (median 84 and 1 369 U/ml, positive rate 44.8% and 72.4%). Serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were also more common in patients with subacute thyroiditis and other autoimmune diseases than in the controls. CONCLUSION The assay of serum anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb by chemiluminescence immunoassy are useful in the differential diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease.
The nitric oxide radical scavenger carboxy-PTIO reduces the immunosuppressive activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and potentiates the antitumor activity of adoptive cytotoxic T lymphocyte immunotherapy

Adoptive immunotherapy with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can result in robust and durable antitumor responses. Tumor-infiltrating CTLs produce IFNγ and mediate antitumor activity, but they simultaneously induce counter-regulatory immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor by recruiting monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that limit their proliferation and effector function. Using a murine model of adoptive immunotherapy for B16 melanoma, we developed a strategy to augment CTL activity by downregulating immunosuppression by MDSCs. Intravenous injection of transgenic pmel-1 CTLs into tumor-bearing mice, resulted in their infiltration into the tumor, but this was accompanied by the accumulation of large numbers of monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs). These cells hampered CTL function and reduced their numbers in the tumor. We determined that one mechanism responsible for this immunosuppression was the production of nitric oxide (NO) by MDSCs in the tumor. Therefore, mice were given the NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO (C-PTIO) on the day after CTL transfer. This led to the restoration of impaired proliferative capacity and function of the CTLs, resulting in sustained suppression of tumor growth. Thus, we conclude that CTL therapy can be improved by counter-acting immunosuppression. Targeting NO, one mediator of the immunosuppressive activity of M-MDSCs, may be an appropriate strategy to restore impaired CTL function and improve the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Meta-analysis of genetic polymorphisms in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) reveals shared susceptibility loci with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association of previously identified autoimmune disease susceptibility loci with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA), and to determine whether the genetic susceptibility profiles of other autoimmune diseases are associated with those of GPA. METHODS Genetic data from 2 cohorts were meta-analyzed. Genotypes for 168 previously identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with susceptibility to different autoimmune diseases were ascertained in a total of 880 patients with GPA and 1,969 control subjects of European descent. Single-marker associations were identified using additive logistic regression models. Associations of multiple SNPs with GPA were assessed using genetic risk scores based on susceptibility loci for Crohn's disease, type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis. Adjustment for population substructure was performed in all analyses, using ancestry-informative markers and principal components analysis. RESULTS Genetic polymorphisms in CTLA4 were significantly associated with GPA in the single-marker meta-analysis (odds ratio [OR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.70-0.89, P = 9.8 × 10(-5) ). The genetic risk score for RA susceptibility markers was significantly associated with GPA (OR 1.05 per 1-unit increase in genetic risk score, 95% CI 1.02-1.08, P = 5.1 × 10(-5) ). CONCLUSION RA and GPA may arise from a similar genetic predisposition. Aside from CTLA4, other loci previously found to be associated with common autoimmune diseases were not statistically significantly associated with GPA in this study.
Chitosan-coated anisotropic silver nanoparticles as a SERS substrate for single-molecule detection

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a technique that has become widely used for identifying and providing structural information about molecular species in low concentration. There is an ongoing interest in finding optimum particle size, shape and spatial distribution for optimizing the SERS substrates and pushing the sensitivity toward the single-molecule detection limit. This work reports the design of a novel, biocompatible SERS substrate based on small clusters of anisotropic silver nanoparticles embedded in a film of chitosan biopolymer. The SERS efficiency of the biocompatible film is assessed by employing Raman imaging and spectroscopy of adenine, a significant biological molecule. By combining atomic force microscopy with SERS imaging we find that the chitosan matrix enables the formation of small clusters of silver nanoparticles, with junctions and gaps that greatly enhance the Raman intensities of the adsorbed molecules. The study demonstrates that chitosan-coated anisotropic silver nanoparticle clusters are sensitive enough to be implemented as effective plasmonic substrates for SERS detection of nonresonant analytes at the single-molecule level.
Lung function outcome at school age in very low birth weight children

The aim of this study was to assess pulmonary function and its predictors in very low birth weight (birth weight ≤1,500 g) children (VLBWc) with or without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), born at gestational age ≤32 weeks at a single tertiary center during 1996–1999, after the introduction of surfactant therapy.
Use of hypnotic imagery for self-diagnosis.

Abstract Following hypnotic induction, an imagery exercise was used with groups and individuals. This exercise is designed to contact a person's internal body wisdom in order to provide information about physical problems and their solution. Information from the exercise came in auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and symbolic forms. Case examples with follow-up medical validation are provided from student, alcoholic, neurological, and cancer populations.
Association between polymorphisms of interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F genes and silicosis susceptibility in Chinese Han people.

BACKGROUND To explore the relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin17 (IL-17) gene(A-832G 7488A/G) and the susceptibility to silicosis, a risk factor for lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 113 silicosis patients and 116 workers without silicosis were enrolled in the case-control study. IL-17A A-832G and IL-17F 7488A/G polymorphisms were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS The frequencies of AA,GG and AG of IL-17A A-832G locus in the case and control groups were 46.9%, 8.0%, 45.1%, and 49.2%, 7.6%, 43.2%, respectively, with no significant differences (p>0.05). The GG genotype in the IL-17F (7488A/G) locus was not found. The frequencies of AA and GA of IL-17F 7488A/G locus in the case and control groups were 84.1%, 15.9% and 66.4%, 33.6%, respectively (p<0.05). Analysis of combined effects showed that the individuals with GG+AG genotype of IL-17A and GG+GA genotype of IL-17F are protected against silicosis (OR=0.469). CONCLUSIONS IL-17F 7488A/G is associated with susceptibility to silicosis, and G allele may have a protective effect. No relationship was found between IL-17A gene polymorphisms at A-832G and silicosis.
ALOS/PALSAR Data Evaluation for Land Use and Land Cover Mapping in the Amazon Region

In tropical biomes such as the Amazon, the cloud cover is frequent. The use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor systems is important to monitor and study these biomes because they can acquire data under cloud coverage. In this paper, an advanced land observing system phased array L-band synthetic aperture radar fine-beam dual (ALOS/PALSAR-FBD) image was evaluated for land use and land cover (LULC) classification of an Amazon test site. The features extracted from this image were also evaluated. To perform this task, a method for feature selection, considering the desired classes, was proposed. In order to better understand the applicability of this type of data in Brazilian Government projects (such as DETER-B and TerraClass), the results obtained with SAR images were compared with those from LANDSAT5/TM. The results show that the PALSAR-FBD image and the features selected are not suitable for the discrimination of densely forested classes. They presented, however, a good discrimination among the group of forested and agropastoral classes, as well as among nondensely forested classes (i.e., pastures, bare soil, and new regeneration). Therefore, these data present good applicability for mapping and monitoring of both deforestation and LULC and they can be used in the above mentioned projects. The classification of selected features, with eight classes of interest, achieved an increase of about 133% and 69% in the Kappa index (0.32) and an Overall Accuracy (0.54) regarding the PALSAR-FBD classification (0.136 and 0.322, respectively). This result shows the applicability of the proposed method. It is also expected that the features selected in this paper will improve the classification of similar study sites.
Pathogenesis of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection in Mice and Hamsters

The pathogenesis of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus infection was compared in intraperitoneally inoculated mice (n = 24, 6 to 8 weeks old) and hamsters (n = 9, 90–110 g) using histopathology and immunohistochemical localization of VEE virus antigen. Infected mice developed paralysis, and the majority died by 9 days after inoculation. In contrast, hamsters did not survive beyond 3 days after inoculation, and they did not develop any neurologic signs. VEE virus antigen, demonstrated by immunoperoxidase staining, and pathologic changes were present in extrancural organs of both mice and hamsters. There was more severe involvement in hamsters, particularly in Peyer's patches of the distal small intestine. There was a severe encephalomyelitis in mice, but pathologic changes were not well established in the brains of hamsters before death. VEE virus antigen was widespread in the central nervous system of both mice and hamsters. VEE virus was found to be highly neurotropic in hamsters and had a similar distribution in the brain as in mice, but hamsters died from their extrancural disease before major central nervous system disease developed.
A new couple inductor based 9-level inverter with reduced number of switches for standalone /grid connected solar PV systems

In this paper, a single phase coupled inductor based 9 level diode clamped inverter is proposed for stand alone and grid connected solar PV applications. The proposed inverter is capable of generating 9 voltage levels with one DC source. It has a lower part count compared to the conventional nine level inverter topologies. The presence of the high frequency coupled inductor in the output power path provides natural protection against shoot through problems. Hence dead band requirements in the power switches are eliminated. Because of lesser components in the power circuit, the system size is considerably reduced. The proposed inverter topology contains less number of input capacitors and voltage stress on the devices is less. Due to the presence of fewer components, the overall efficiency of the system is high. Due to 9 levels in the inverter output voltage, the waveforms are of high quality with a THD of only 0.27%. The proposed topology is simulated for a 1200W system and all the simulation results of this work are presented.
Creak as a Feature of Lexical Stress in Estonian

In addition to typological, turn-taking or sociolinguistic factors, presence of creaky voice in spontaneous interaction is also influenced by the syntactic and phonological properties of speech. For example, creaky voice is reportedly more frequent in function words than content words, has been observed to accompany unstressed syllables and ends of phrases, and is associated with relaxation and reduced speech. In Estonian, creaky voice is frequently used by all speakers. In this paper, we observe the use of creaky voice in spontaneous Estonian in connection to syllabic properties of words, lexical stress, word class, lengthening, and timing in phrases. The results indicate that creak occurs less in syllables with primary stress than in unstressed syllables. However, syllables with secondary stress are most frequently creaky. In content words, the primary stressed syllables creak less frequently and unstressed syllables more frequently compared to function words. The stress-related pattern is similar in both function and content words, but more contrastive in content words. The probability of creakiness increases considerably with non-final lengthening within words, and for all syllables towards the end of the intonational phrase.
Eelgrass Zostera marina loss in temperate estuaries: relationship to land-derived nitrogen loads and effect of light limitation imposed by algae

In this paper, we explicitly link changes in community structure of estuarine primary pro- ducers to measured nitrogen loading rates from watersheds to estuaries, and quantify the relationship between nitrogen load, annual dynamics of algal growth and Zostera marina L. productivity, and over- all eelgrass decline at the watershed-estuarine scale in estuaries of Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts, USA. Substantial eelgrass loss (80 to 96% of bed area lost in the last decade) was found at loads of ~30 kgN ha -1 yr -1 , and total disappearance at loads ≥ 60 kg N ha -1 yr -1 . Rather than decreased eelgrass growth rates, we observed an exponential decrease in shoot densities and bed area (and subsequently, areal pro- duction) as nitrogen loads increased, suggesting that eelgrass decline in higher-nitrogen estuaries of the Waquoit system occurred largely via lack of recruitment or enhanced mortality of established shoots. Similar to the patterns observed in many other systems and the experimental results obtained in labo- ratories or mesocosms, the relationship we observed between nitrogen loads and eelgrass health within the Waquoit system was indirect: increased nitrogen stimulated growth and standing stocks of algal pro- ducers, that may have caused severe light limitation of eelgrass. From light budgets that considered water column, epiphyte, and macroalgal shading, we estimated chronic, severe light limitation to newly recruiting shoots in higher-nitrogen estuaries, due mainly to shading by a coexisting ≤15 cm macro- algal canopy. Two management recommendations aimed at eelgrass preservation emerge from this work. First, development and management of watersheds must be conducted such that land-derived nitrogen loading to estuaries is restricted. In the Waquoit Bay estuaries, for example, eelgrass is absent or rapidly disappearing from all but those receiving the lowest (≤15th percentile) loads. Second, shoot density and meadow area, rather than growth rates per shoot, seem to be adequate variables for routine monitoring of eelgrass health. We also show that the shift from eelgrass- to algae-dominated commu- nities has important consequences for total system primary production and carbon and nitrogen cycling. Estimated total primary production by coastal assemblages in the Waquoit Bay system was 135% higher in estuaries receiving relatively high versus low loads of land-derived nitrogen, suggesting important trophic and biogeochemical alterations to temperate estuarine ecosystems as a result of eutrophication.
Regional mu-opioid receptor binding in insular cortex is decreased in bulimia nervosa and correlates inversely with fasting behavior.

UNLABELLED The endogenous opioid system of the brain has been implicated in feeding behavior. Abnormal repeated activation of this system may constitute a neural substrate for the compulsive eating behavior observed in bulimia nervosa. This study examined the binding potential of the brain mu-opioid receptor (mu-OR) in bulimia nervosa. METHODS Eight women with bulimia nervosa and 8 female controls underwent brain MRI followed by (11)C-carfentanil PET. Voxel-based methods were used to assess group differences in mu-OR binding between controls and bulimic subjects and to correlate mu-OR binding with the frequency of recent self-reported abnormal eating behaviors in bulimic subjects. RESULTS mu-OR binding in the left insular cortex was less in bulimic subjects than in controls and correlated negatively with recent fasting behavior. CONCLUSION Changes in mu-OR binding in the insula may be important in the pathogenesis or maintenance of the self-perpetuating behavioral cycle of bulimic subjects because the insula is the primary gustatory cortex and has repeatedly been implicated in the processing of the reward value of food.
ATP Regulation of Type 1 Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Channel Gating by Allosteric Tuning of Ca2+ Activation*

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ by binding to its receptor (InsP3R), an endoplasmic reticulum-localized Ca2+ release channel. Patch clamp electrophysiology of Xenopus oocyte nuclei was used to study the effects of cytoplasmic ATP concentration on the cytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+] i ) dependence of single type 1 InsP3R channels in native endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Cytoplasmic ATP free-acid ([ATP] i ), but not the MgATP complex, activated gating of the InsP3-liganded InsP3R, by stabilizing open channel state(s) and destabilizing the closed state(s). Activation was associated with a reduction of the half-maximal activating [Ca2+] i from 500 ± 50 nm in 0 [ATP] i to 29 ± 4 nm in 9.5 mm [ATP] i , with apparent ATP affinity = 0.27 ± 0.04 mm, similar to in vivo concentrations. In contrast, ATP was without effect on maximum open probability or the Hill coefficient for Ca2+activation. Thus, ATP enhances gating of the InsP3R by allosteric regulation of the Ca2+ sensitivity of the Ca2+ activation sites of the channel. By regulating the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release properties of the InsP3R, ATP may play an important role in shaping cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals, possibly linking cell metabolic state to important Ca2+-dependent processes.
Multiple scattering on coral skeletons enhances light absorption by symbiotic algae

The success of symbiotic reef‐building corals is largely determined by the efficiency with which they collect solar energy. Using thin coral laminae from the Caribbean scleractinian Porites branneri, we characterize the absorption spectra of intact coral surfaces. Comparisons of absorption spectra from corals with a broad range of photosynthetic pigment densities, collected during a natural bleaching event, indicate that they are capable of collecting more than 85% of solar radiation with one order of magnitude less pigment density than terrestrial leaves. Measurements of the light‐absorption efficiency as a function of pigment density reveal that symbiotic algae in intact P. branneri absorb between two and five times more light than freshly isolated symbionts. A theoretical model shows that multiple scattering by the skeleton can enhance the local light field, thus increasing absorption. As a result of this phenomenon, corals inhabiting high light environments can maximize their absorption capacity with low pigment investment while reducing self‐shading in low‐light environments. Local light field enhancements may have negative effects when corals are exposed to stressful conditions. During coral bleaching, increases in local irradiance associated with reductions in pigment density could exacerbate the negative effect of elevated temperatures. Symbiotic scleractinian corals are one of the most efficient solar energy collectors in nature, and the modulation of the internal light field by the coral skeleton may be an important driving force in the evolution of this group.