Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chelator-Induced Dispersal and Killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cells in a Biofilm

ABSTRACT Biofilms consist of groups of bacteria attached to surfaces and encased in a hydrated polymeric matrix. Bacteria in biofilms are more resistant to the immune system and to antibiotics than their free-living planktonic counterparts. Thus, biofilm-related infections are persistent and often show recurrent symptoms. The metal chelator EDTA is known to have activity against biofilms of gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. EDTA can also kill planktonic cells of Proteobacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study we demonstrate that EDTA is a potent P. aeruginosa biofilm disrupter. In Tris buffer, EDTA treatment of P. aeruginosa biofilms results in 1,000-fold greater killing than treatment with the P. aeruginosa antibiotic gentamicin. Furthermore, a combination of EDTA and gentamicin results in complete killing of biofilm cells. P. aeruginosa biofilms can form structured mushroom-like entities when grown under flow on a glass surface. Time lapse confocal scanning laser microscopy shows that EDTA causes a dispersal of P. aeruginosa cells from biofilms and killing of biofilm cells within the mushroom-like structures. An examination of the influence of several divalent cations on the antibiofilm activity of EDTA indicates that magnesium, calcium, and iron protect P. aeruginosa biofilms against EDTA treatment. Our results are consistent with a mechanism whereby EDTA causes detachment and killing of biofilm cells.
New Family of Allomorphic Jellyfishes, Drymonematidae (Scyphozoa, Discomedusae), Emphasizes Evolution in the Functional Morphology and Trophic Ecology of Gelatinous Zooplankton

Molecular analyses have revealed many cryptic species in the oceans, often permitting small morphological differences to be recognized as diagnosing species, but less commonly leading to consideration of cryptic ecology. Here, based on analyses of three nuclear DNA sequence markers (ribosomal 18S, 28S, and internal transcribed spacer 1 [ITS1]), two mitochondrial DNA markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI] and ribosomal 16S), and 55 morphological features, we revise the classification of the enigmatic jellyfish genus Drymonema. We describe a new scyphozoan family, Drymonematidae, elevating the previous subfamily Drymonemidae to accommodate three species: the type species D. dalmatinum from the Mediterranean region, for which we identify a neotype; the western South Atlantic species D. gorgo; and a new species, D. larsoni from the western Atlantic and Caribbean, which also is described here. This revision emphasizes the remarkable morphological disparity of Drymonematidae from all other scyphomedusae, including allometric growth of the bell margin distal of the rhopalia, an annular zone of tentacles on the subumbrella, and ontogenetic loss of gastric filaments. Anatomical innovations are likely functionally related to predatory specialization on large gelatinous zooplankton, most notably the phylogenetically younger moon jellyfish Aurelia, indicating evolution of the feeding niche in Drymonematidae. This family-level revision contributes to the growing body of evidence that scyphomedusae are far more taxonomically rich, their biogeography is a more detailed mosaic, and their phenotypes are more nuanced than traditionally thought. Ecological and evolutionary responses to environmental change, past or future, are likely to be commensurately diverse.
MDM2 SNP309 genotype influences survival of metastatic but not of localized neuroblastoma

MDM2 is a major negative regulator of p53 function and is directly regulated by MYCN in neuroblastoma (NB) cells. MDM2 SNP309, a T‐to‐G substitution in the MDM2 promoter associated with higher gene expression compared to wild‐type, may attenuate the p53 pathway in NB, in which p53 mutations are rare. We investigated its impact on NB development and survival in relation with major clinical and biological characteristics.
Super-junction power MOSFET in half bridge DC-DC zero-voltage converter for energy conversion management

The aim of this paper is to explore the switching capability of an improved high-voltage Super Junction MOSFET in half bridge resonant LLC converter. Due to suitable technological process, a considerable reduction in silicon conduction losses per area unit has been observed. Moreover, a reduction in the parasitic capacitance (i.e. gate charge) with an improved switching behavior has been obtained. In this paper, LLC resonant converter is selected because it operates at high switching frequency allowing to work with small size of the power transformer. The main benefit of this converter consists in zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of the MOSFETs. The converter is well suitable for applications such as PV systems. In this work the design procedure of LLC Resonant Converter is presented. Laboratory prototype was built to evaluate the performances of SJ MOSFET. Experimental results show an efficiency up to 94%.
Reduced ability to recover from spindle disruption and loss of kinetochore spindle assembly checkpoint proteins in oocytes from aged mice

Currently, maternal aging in women, based on mouse models, is thought to raise oocyte aneuploidy rates, because chromosome cohesion deteriorates during prophase arrest, and Sgo2, a protector of centromeric cohesion, is lost. Here we show that the most common mouse strain, C57Bl6/J, is resistant to maternal aging, showing little increase in aneuploidy or Sgo2 loss. Instead it demonstrates significant kinetochore-associated loss in the spindle assembly checkpoint protein Mad2 and phosphorylated Aurora C, which is involved in microtubule–kinetochore error correction. Their loss affects the fidelity of bivalent segregation but only when spindle organization is impaired during oocyte maturation. These findings have an impact clinically regarding the handling of human oocytes ex vivo during assisted reproductive techniques and suggest there is a genetic basis to aneuploidy susceptibility.
Optimization of doubly Q-switched lasers with both an acoustic-optic Modulator and a Cr/sup 4+/-doped saturable absorber

By considering the Gaussian spatial distributions of the intracavity photon density and the initial population-inversion density as well as the influence of the acoustic-optic (AO) Q-switch, we provide the coupled rate equations for a doubly Q-switched laser with both an AO modulator and a Cr /sup 4+/ -doped saturable absorber (SA). These coupled rate equations are solved numerically. The key parameters of an optimally coupled doubly Q-switched laser are determined,and a group of general curves are generated for the first time. These key parameters include the optimal normalized coupling parameter, the optimal normalized SA parameters and the normalized parameters of the AO Q-switch, which can maximize the output energy. Meanwhile, the corresponding normalized energy, the normalized peak power and the normalized pulsewidth are given. The curves clearly show the dependence of the optimal key parameters on the parameters of the gain medium, the SA, the AO Q-switch,the resonator and the spatial distributions of the intracavity photon density. Sample calculations for a diode-pumped Nd/sup 3/+:YVO/sub 4/ laser with both an AO modulator and a Cr/sup 4+/ :YAG SA are presented to demonstrate the use of the curves and the related formulas.
An isobolographic analysis of the effects of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate and NK1 tachykinin receptor antagonists on inflammatory hyperalgesia in the rat

1 The interaction between N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) and NK1 tachykinin receptors was analyzed isobolographically in rats with inflammatory hyperalgesia induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant‐saline emulsion (CFA, 100 μg Mycobacterium tuberculosis). 2 Thermal hyperalgesia of the inflamed paw, determined by paw withdrawal response to a heat stimulus, was dose‐dependently attenuated by intrathecal administration of an NMDA receptor antagonist, dextrorphan (2.5–40 μg, ED50 = 7.2 μg), and two NK1 tachykinin receptor antagonists, WIN 51,708 (0.01–200 μg, ED50=10.4 μg) or CP‐96,345 (5–200 μg, ED50 = 82.1 μg). There was no effect of these agents on the nociceptive threshold of the non‐inflamed paw. CP‐96,344, an enantiomer of CP‐ 96,345 that is inactive as an NK1 tachykinin receptor antagonist, slightly attenuated hyperalgesia at a dose of 200 μg. 3 Combinations of dextrorphan and WIN 51,708 were administered at fixed ratios (10%: 90%; 41%: 59%; 90%: 10%). Isobolographic analysis revealed that the ED50s obtained from the three combination ratios were not significantly different from those that were expected from a simple additive effect. 4 Thus, an additive interaction was demonstrated between NMDA and NK1 tachykinin receptor systems at the spinal level. These results suggest that both NMDA and NK1 tachykinin receptors are activated in response to peripheral inflammation, but that they may contribute independently to development of hyperalgesia.
Measuring mechanical properties of the vastus lateralis tendon‐aponeurosis complex in vivo by ultrasound imaging

The mechanical properties of the human vastus lateralis (VL) tendon‐aponeurosis complex were investigated in eight male subjects. Knee extensor force, knee joint angle, and corresponding longitudinal VL aponeurosis displacement were monitored synchronously during graded (10‐s) maximal isometric knee extension contractions. Displacement observed during isometric conditions may be regarded as an expression of deformation in the tissues distal to the measurement site. Furthermore, aponeurosis displacement was measured during passive knee extension (90–75°°), and used to correct displacement values obtained during active contraction for joint angular motion. The passive trial yielded a highly linear relationship between aponeurosis displacement and joint angular motion (r2 = 0.998 ± 0.002) with a mean correction factor of 0.41 ± 0.10 mm/degree. Maximal knee extensor force was 5834 ± 1341 N with a corresponding VL aponeurosis displacement of 12.7 ± 2.5 mm, while correcting for joint angular motion reduced maximal displacement ∼9% (to 11.6 ± 2.5 mm, P < 0.005) (data presented as means ± SD). Two separate graded contraction trials were performed, and no between‐trial differences were observed in either maximal force or maximal displacement. Between trial coefficient of determination and CV for maximal force and maximal displacement were r2 = 0.97, CV = 2.9% and r2 = 0.92, CV = 4.6%, respectively, indicating intra‐day reproducibility of measurements. These data demonstrate that when applying the newly established ultrasound‐based method of investigating quadriceps connective tissue mechanical properties, maximal isometric contraction is inevitably associated with some joint angular motion that significantly influences the calculations.
Distribution pattern of urine albumin creatinine ratio and the prevalence of high-normal levels in untreated asymptomatic non-diabetic hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND Even high-normal albuminuria is reportedly associated with cardiovascular events. OBJECTIVE We determined the urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) in spot urine samples and analyzed the UACR distribution and the prevalence of high-normal levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS The UACR was determined using immunoturbidimetry in 332 untreated asymptomatic non-diabetic Japanese patients with hypertension and in 69 control subjects. The microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria levels were defined as a UCAR ≥30 and <300 µg/mg·creatinine and a UCAR ≥300 µg/mg·creatinine, respectively. RESULTS The distribution patterns showed a highly skewed distribution for the lower levels, and a common logarithmic transformation produced a close fit to a Gaussian distribution with median, 25th and 75th percentile values of 22.6, 13.5 and 48.2 µg/mg·creatinine, respectively. When a high-normal UACR was set at >20 to <30 µg/mg·creatinine, 19.9% (66/332) of the hypertensive patients exhibited a high-normal UACR. Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were observed in 36.1% (120/336) and 2.1% (7/332) of the patients, respectively. UACR was significantly correlated with the systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the pulse pressure. A stepwise multivariate analysis revealed that these pressures as well as age were independent factors that increased UACR. CONCLUSION The UACR distribution exhibited a highly skewed pattern, with approximately 60% of untreated, non-diabetic hypertensive patients exhibiting a high-normal or larger UACR. Both hypertension and age are independent risk factors that increase the UACR. The present study indicated that a considerable percentage of patients require anti-hypertensive drugs with antiproteinuric effects at the start of treatment.
8-Bromo-Cyclic AMP Induces Phosphorylation of Two Sites in SRC-1 That Facilitate Ligand-Independent Activation of the Chicken Progesterone Receptor and Are Critical for Functional Cooperation between SRC-1 and CREB Binding Protein

ABSTRACT Elevation of intracellular 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (cAMP) can activate certain steroid receptors and enhance the ligand-dependent activation of most receptors. During ligand-independent activation of the chicken progesterone receptor (cPRA) with the protein kinase A (PKA) activator, 8-bromo-cAMP, we found no alteration in cPRA phosphorylation (W. Bai, B. G. Rowan, V. E. Allgood, B. W. O'Malley, and N. L. Weigel, J. Biol. Chem. 272:10457–10463, 1997). To determine if other receptor-associated cofactors were targets of cAMP-dependent signaling pathways, we examined the phosphorylation of steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1). We detected a 1.8-fold increase in SRC-1 phosphorylation in transfected COS-1 cells incubated with 8-bromo-cAMP. Phosphorylation was increased on two mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) sites, threonine 1179 and serine 1185. PKA did not phosphorylate these sites in vitro. However, blockage of PKA activity in COS-1 cells with the PKA inhibitor (PKI) prevented the 8-bromo-cAMP-mediated phosphorylation of these sites. Incubation of COS-1 cells with 8-bromo-cAMP resulted in activation of the MAPK pathway, as determined by Western blotting with antibodies to the phosphorylated (active) form of Erk-1/2, suggesting an indirect pathway to SRC-1 phosphorylation. Mutation of threonine 1179 and serine 1185 to alanine in COS-1 cells coexpressing cPRA and the GRE2E1bCAT reporter resulted in up to a 50% decrease in coactivation during both ligand-independent activation and ligand-dependent activation. This was due, in part, to loss of functional cooperation between SRC-1 and CREB binding protein for coactivation of cPRA. This is the first demonstration of cross talk between a signaling pathway and specific phosphorylation sites in a nuclear receptor coactivator that can regulate steroid receptor activation.
MHC composition and enzyme-histochemical and physiological properties of a novel fast-twitch motor unit type.

Determinations of fatigue ratio, twitch and tetanus tension, and contraction and half-relaxation times of the isometric twitch were made in 21 single fast-twitch motor units from the rat tibialis anterior muscle. Single motor units were functionally isolated by microdissection of the ventral root, and the glycogen depletion technique was used to demonstrate the muscle fibers in the unit. Morphological and immuno- and enzyme-histochemical methods were applied to serial muscle cross sections to characterize the muscle fibers in the unit. Three of the units had muscle fibers of the IIa type according to staining both for myofibrillar adenosinetriphosphatase after acid preincubation and with the use of monoclonal antibodies specific for myosin heavy chains (MHCs), i.e., the IIa-MHC isoform. The other 18 units were of the IIb type according to enzyme-histochemistry, but immunohistochemistry showed that in six of these units the muscle fibers exhibited the novel type IIx-MHC isoform and in the other 12 units the IIb-MHC isoform. It was found that the IIx motor units have contraction and half-relaxation times similar to those of types IIa and IIb units but have morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties that distinguish them from the latter two types.
Bis[(4-bromobenzoylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium] di-μ-bromido-bis[dibromidomercurate(IV)]

Colourless needle-shaped crystals of the title compound, (C26H21BrOP)2[Hg2Br6], have been prepared by addition of a solution of HgBr2 in methanol to a solution of (4-bromobenzoylmethyl)triphenylphosphorane in dry methanol. The compound features Hg2Br6 2− dianions, whose site symmetry is .
Human Promoter Recognition using Kullback-Leibler Divergence

Human gene expression can be regulated at four levels: differential gene transcription, selective nuclear RNA (nRNA) processing, selective messenger RNA (mRNA) translation, and differential protein modification. In the transcription level, the promoter region plays an important role in binding of RNA polymerase for the subsequent initiation of transcription. In this paper, we use the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence to select the most informative and discriminative word-based features to differentiate the promoter and non-promoter regions in large genomic sequences. First, we assume that the nucleotide sequence is composed of random "words" with the same length. Second, based on promoter and non-promoter training samples, we have two discrete distributions over the same random word, and the KL divergence is a measure of the distance between these distributions. Finally, we select two groups of words, one for the class "promoter" and the other for the class "non-promoter", which have the maximum KL divergence in training samples. The gene recognition proceeds by comparing the number of word matches between the two groups of informative words. Encouraging results are obtained in experiments on the human promoter recognition in DBTSS database. The recognition rate is comparable with those of the state-of-the-art promoter recognizers. Future works about the combination of words with different lengths are also discussed.
Relationship Between QRS Duration and Left Ventricular Dyssynchrony in Patients with End‐Stage Heart Failure

Introduction: Patients with end‐stage heart failure and a wide QRS complex are considered candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, 20% to 30% of patients do not respond to CRT. Lack of left ventricular dyssynchrony may explain the nonresponse. Accordingly, we evaluated the presence of left ventricular dyssynchrony using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in 90 consecutive patients with heart failure.
Phase II trial of murine (131)I-labeled antitenascin monoclonal antibody 81C6 administered into surgically created resection cavities of patients with newly diagnosed malignant gliomas.

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy and toxicity of intraresection cavity (131)I-labeled murine antitenascin monoclonal antibody 81C6 and determine its true response rate among patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this phase II trial, 120 mCi of (131)I-labeled murine 81C6 was injected directly into the surgically created resection cavity of 33 patients with previously untreated malignant glioma (glioblastoma multiforme [GBM], n = 27; anaplastic astrocytoma, n = 4; anaplastic oligodendroglioma, n = 2). Patients then received conventional external-beam radiotherapy followed by a year of alkylator-based chemotherapy. RESULTS Median survival for all patients and those with GBM was 86.7 and 79.4 weeks, respectively. Eleven patients remain alive at a median follow-up of 93 weeks (range, 49 to 220 weeks). Nine patients (27%) developed reversible hematologic toxicity, and histologically confirmed, treatment-related neurologic toxicity occurred in five patients (15%). One patient (3%) required reoperation for radionecrosis. CONCLUSION Median survival achieved with (131)I-labeled 81C6 exceeds that of historical controls treated with conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, even after accounting for established prognostic factors including age and Karnofsky performance status. The median survival achieved with (131)I-labeled 81C6 compares favorably with either (125)I interstitial brachy-therapy or stereotactic radiosurgery and is associated with a significantly lower rate of reoperation for radionecrosis. Our results confirm the efficacy of (131)I-labeled 81C6 for patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma and suggest that a randomized phase III study is indicated.
Cholecystokinin and enkephalin in brain stem pain modulating circuits

NEURONS in rostral ventromedial medulla and the periaqueductal gray modulate dorsal horn nociceptive transmission. Endogenous peptides implicated in this modulation include enkephalin (ENK), which is antinociceptive, and cholecystokinin (CCK), which has anti-opioid effects. In this study double-label fluorescence immunocytochemistry demonstrated somata and terminals with ENKor CCK-like immunoreactivity in these regions. Although the distribution of CCKand ENK-immunoreactive terminal fields overlapped significantly, co-localization was rare. Furthermore, CCK- and ENK-immunoreactive somata had different morphologies and distinct distributions. The overlap of CCKand ENKimmunoreactive terminals arbors provides a morphological substrate for an antagonistic interaction of CCK and ENK within brainstem pain modulating circuits, as has been demonstrated in the spinal cord.
Role of culture conditions and immunization in experimental nutritionally variant streptococcal endocarditis

The nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) are usually isolated from patients with NVS endocarditis and recently have been serotyped into three groups. In the past, studies on microbial endocarditis have not analyzed the effect of the growth medium or growth phase on the bacteria used to induce the disease in the experimental rabbit model. Therefore, in this study various bacterial growth parameters were examined, including growth in semisynthetic or complex medium to the exponential or stationary phase of growth. The 50% infective dose ranged from 3.7 X 10(5) to 8.5 X 10(6) CFU for representative strains from each of the three serotypes grown under these conditions, indicating that there was no significant difference. The role of immunization was also examined in this model using organisms grown to the exponential phase in semisynthetic medium. Rabbits were immunized with heat-killed whole cells, high titres of specific antibody were produced as demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and then the rabbits were challenged with 20- to 100-fold 50% infective dose of the homologous strain. A total of 90 to 100% of the rabbits were protected from the disease process, as shown by the absence of the organisms from the heart valve 3 days after the challenge. Rabbits immunized with the amphiphile that replaces lipoteichoic acid in these organisms were not protected from challenge, demonstrating that another surface component is responsible for adherence or colonization or both. Finally NVS were incubated with radioiodinated fibronectin, fibrinogen, or laminin to determine whether these molecules aided in the adherence of the organisms to the heart valve. Only minor amounts of these components were bound to NVS as compared with controls. Therefore, NVS bind directly to the damaged heart valve or through an unknown mechanism.