Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abstract 26: CD4+T Cells Play a Critical Role in Mediating Hypertension in Response to Placental Ischemia

Similar to preeclamptic women, hypertension in the chronic reduced uterine perfusion pressure rat model of preeclampsia (RUPP) is associated with increased CD4+ T cell activation, cytokines, sFlt-1 and agonistic autoantibodies to the AngII receptor (AT1-AA). Although we have shown that adoptive transfer of RUPP CD4+ Tcells into normal pregnant (NP) recipients rats causes hypertension and the release of above mentioned factors, the role of endogenous CD4+T cells in mediating the pathophysiology of preeclampsia was unknown. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that activation of CD4+ T cells causes hypertension and increased sFlt-1, TNF-alpha and AT1-AA. We first examined the effect CD4+ T cell blockade in NP and RUPP rats treated with Orencia, (abatecept, 250mg/kg, infused iv at gestation day 13), clinically used to inhibit T cell activation. RUPP surgical procedure was performed on day 14. On day 19 MAP increased from 94+/-2 mmHg in NP to 123+/-3 mmHg in RUPP control rats. This response was attenuated by CD4+ Tcell blockade, MAP was 104+/-2 mmHg in Orencia treated RUPPs, and 96 +/-2 mmHg Orencia treated NPs. Circulating CD4+ T cells were 66+/-3 in RUPPs compared to 55+/-3 NP rats (p<0.04) but were normalized in Orencia treated RUPP rats (54+/-3). The twofold increase in TNF alpha seen in RUPPs (277+/-47 pg/ml) was decreased to 80 +/-18 pg/ml in Orencia treated RUPPs. Placental sFlt-1 was reduced 70 % to 151+/-28 in Orencia treated RUPP compared 488+/-61 pg/ml in RUPP (P<0.001). AT1-AA decreased from 20+/-0.8 bpm in control RUPP to 6+/-0.7 bpm in Orencia treated RUPPs. We next determined the effect of RUPP in causing hypertension in pregnant T cell deficient rats by examining MAP in NP (121 mmHg) and RUPP athymic nude rats (126 mmHg). In the absence of T cells, hypertension in response to placental ischemia was completely abolished. Collectively these data indicate that activation of CD4+ Tcells in response to placental ischemia plays an important role in the pathophysiology of hypertension associated with preeclampsia.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SCS2 Gene Product, a Homolog of a Synaptobrevin-Associated Protein, Is an Integral Membrane Protein of the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Is Required for Inositol Metabolism

ABSTRACT The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SCS2 gene has been cloned as a suppressor of inositol auxotrophy of CSE1 andhac1/ire15 mutants (J. Nikawa, A. Murakami, E. Esumi, and K. Hosaka, J. Biochem. 118:39–45, 1995) and has homology with a synaptobrevin/VAMP-associated protein, VAP-33, cloned fromAplysia californica (P. A. Skehel, K. C. Martin, E. R. Kandel, and D. Bartsch, Science 269:1580–1583, 1995). In this study we have characterized an SCS2 gene product (Scs2p). The product has a molecular mass of 35 kDa and is C-terminally anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum, with the bulk of the protein located in the cytosol. The disruption of the SCS2 gene causes yeast cells to exhibit inositol auxotrophy at temperatures of above 34°C. Genetic studies reveal that the overexpression of theINO1 gene rescues the inositol auxotrophy of theSCS2 disruption strain. The significant primary structural feature of Scs2p is that the protein contains the 16-amino-acid sequence conserved in yeast and mammalian cells. The sequence is required for normal Scs2p function, because a mutant Scs2p that lacks the sequence does not complement the inositol auxotrophy of theSCS2 disruption strain. Therefore, the Scs2p function might be conserved among eukaryotic cells.
Object oriented grid computing for computational electromagnetics

We present WiCommGrid Java library that enables grid computing for heterogeneous hardware and software environment. Designed flexible data exchange mechanism can be easily incorporated to the extended program class hierarchy with no special treatment. Developed library is strongly encapsulated and almost transparent to wide range of program types. The application of the library in computational electromagnetics is illustrated on a ray tracing algorithm for indoor propagation simulation.
Multispecific Vaccine-Induced Mucosal Cytotoxic TLymphocytes Reduce Acute-Phase Viral Replication but Fail inLong-Term Control of Simian Immunodeficiency VirusSIVmac239

ABSTRACT Given the current difficulties generating vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the focus of the vaccine community has shifted toward creating cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL)-based vaccines. Recent reports of CTL-based vaccine trials in macaques challenged with simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIV-89.6P have supported the notion that such vaccines can ameliorate the course of disease. However, almost all of these studies included Env as an immunogen and since SHIV-89.6P is sensitive to neutralizing antibodies it is difficult to determine the mechanism(s) of protection. Consequently, SHIV-89.6P challenge of macaques may be a poor model for determining vaccine efficacy in humans. To ascertain the effect of vaccine-induced multispecific mucosal CTL, in the absence of Env-specific antibody, on the control of an immunodeficiency virus challenge, we vaccinated Mamu-A*01+ macaques with constructs encoding a combination of CTL epitopes and full-length proteins (Tat, Rev, and Nef) by using a DNA prime/recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA) boost regimen. The vaccination induced virus-specific CTL and CD4+ helper T lymphocytes with CTL frequencies as high as 20,000/million peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The final rMVA vaccination, delivered intravenously, engendered long-lived mucosal CTL. At 16 weeks after the final rMVA vaccination, the vaccinees and naive, Mamu-A*01+ controls were challenged intrarectally with SIVmac239. Massive early anamnestic cellular immune responses controlled acute-phase viral replication; however, the three vaccinees were unable to control virus replication in the chronic phase. The present study suggests that multispecific mucosal CTL, in the absence of neutralizing antibodies, can achieve a modicum of control over early viral replication but are unable to control chronic-phase viral replication after a high-dose mucosal challenge with a pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus.
No evidence that elevated CO2 gives tropical lianas an advantage over tropical trees

Recent studies indicate that lianas are increasing in size and abundance relative to trees in neotropical forests. As a result, forest dynamics and carbon balance may be altered through liana‐induced suppression of tree growth and increases in tree mortality. Increasing atmospheric CO2 is hypothesized to be responsible for the increase in neotropical lianas, yet no study has directly compared the relative response of tropical lianas and trees to elevated CO2. We explicitly tested whether tropical lianas had a larger response to elevated CO2 than co‐occurring tropical trees and whether seasonal drought alters the response of either growth form. In two experiments conducted in central Panama, one spanning both wet and dry seasons and one restricted to the dry season, we grew liana (n = 12) and tree (n = 10) species in open‐top growth chambers maintained at ambient or twice‐ambient CO2 levels. Seedlings of eight individuals (four lianas, four trees) were grown in the ground in each chamber for at least 3 months during each season. We found that both liana and tree seedlings had a significant and positive response to elevated CO2 (in biomass, leaf area, leaf mass per area, and photosynthesis), but that the relative response to elevated CO2 for all variables was not significantly greater for lianas than trees regardless of the season. The lack of differences in the relative response between growth forms does not support the hypothesis that elevated CO2 is responsible for increasing liana size and abundance across the neotropics.
Murine pluripotent hematopoietic progenitors constitutively expressing a normal erythropoietin receptor proliferate in response to erythropoietin without preferential erythroid cell differentiation

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a prime regulator of the growth and differentiation of erythroid blood cells. The EPO receptor (EPO-R) is expressed in late erythroid progenitors (mature BFU-E and CFU-E), and EPO induces proliferation and differentiation of these cells. By introducing, with a retroviral vector, a normal EPO-R cDNA into murine adult bone marrow cells, we showed that EPO is also able to induce proliferation in pluripotent progenitor cells. After 7 days of coculture with virus-producing cells, bone marrow cells were plated in methylcellulose culture in the presence of EPO, interleukin-3, or Steel factor alone or in combination. In the presence of EPO alone, EPO-R virus-infected bone marrow cells gave rise to mixed colonies comprising erythrocytes, granulocytes, macrophages and megakaryocytes. The addition of interleukin-3 or Steel factor to methylcellulose cultures containing EPO did not significantly modify the number of mixed colonies. The cells which generate these mixed colonies have a high proliferative potential as shown by the size and the ability of the mixed colonies to give rise to secondary colonies. Thus, it appears that EPO has the same effect on EPO-R-expressing multipotent cell proliferation as would a combination of several growth factors. Finally, our results demonstrate that inducing pluripotent progenitor cells to proliferate via the EPO signaling pathway has no major influence on their commitment.
Selective effects of natural and synthetic insecticides on mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its predator Eriopis connexa (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of corn in several American countries. It is mainly controlled with synthetic insecticides. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of the natural products, neem oil and pyroligneous extract, and the synthetic insecticide, lufenuron, at 2.50mL water (0.25 %) on the mortality of 2-, 4- and 6-day-old caterpillars of S. frugiperda, and their selectivities against fourth instar larvae of Eriopis connnexa Germar (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Four- and 6-day-old S. frugiperda caterpillars showed higher mortality after exposure to neem oil (83.33 ± 0.83 and 89.58 ± 0.90 %, respectively) and lufenuron (95.83 ± 0.96 and 85.41 ± 0.83 %), compared to pyroligneous extract (68.75 ± 0.69 and 31.25 ± 0.31 %). The deleterious effect of pyroligneous extract was higher in 2- (83.33 ± 0.83 % mortality) and 4-day-old (68.75 ± 0.69 %) S. frugiperda caterpillars than in 6-day-old caterpillars (31.25 ± 0.31 %). Larval mortality of the predator E. connexa was lower with neem oil and pyroligneous extract (25.00 ± 0.33 %) than with lufenuron (91.66 ± 1.22 %). Neem oil is thus recommended for control of S. frugiperda because of its high toxicity, combined with its relatively low toxicity to larvae of the natural enemy E. connexa.
Unwanted facial hair removal with laser treatment improves quality of life of patients

Abstract Background: Unwanted facial hair can have adverse psychological effects on women and reduce their quality of life. Objective: To assess the effects of unwanted facial hair removal with laser on improving quality of life. Methods: In this study, 70 patients treated for unwanted facial hair by laser were assessed by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire on admission and 3 months later after three sessions of laser treatment. Results: The DLQI score before treatment was 9.42 ± 5.99, which was reduced to 3.12 ± 3.40 after laser treatment (p <0.05). Conclusion: Unwanted facial hair removal with laser can improve the quality of life of patients.
Understanding The Factors That Affect Foreign Direct Investment in Turkey By Using MARS Method

Increasing foreign direct investment amount is very significant especially for developing countries in order to improve economy. Because of this situation, defining the factors that affect foreign direct investment is essential. Within this context, the main purpose of this study is to identify the influencing factors of foreign direct investment in Turkey. Within this scope, annual data for the periods between 1988 and 2015 was analyzed in this study. In addition to this situation, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) method was used so as to achieve this objective. According to the results of the analysis, it was determined that current account deficit problem of Turkey affects foreign direct invest negatively. It was identified that if the ratio of current account deficit to total GDP is higher than “3.57”, foreign direct investment goes down. This result shows that foreign investors do not prefer to make investment since current account deficit increases fragility in the economy and it is considered as the leading indicator of the economic crisis. While considering the results of this study, it was recommended that current account deficit problem should be minimized to attract foreign investors make investment in Turkey.
Predictive analytics for litigation case management

This paper describes a framework for litigation case outcome prediction (time to settle and cost overruns) based on the application of machine learning algorithms. Vast amounts of legal data represented in historical cases facilitate the application of pattern discovery algorithms. The specific algorithms presented in this paper learn a set of rule based patterns (expressed overlapping and/or disjunctive rules) and can subsequently apply them to explain the likely outcome of a new litigation case. The paper further describes the bill review process (as implemented at Bottomline Technologies (Bottomline) by the Legal Spend Management business unit), the data used for learning outcome prediction patterns, the specific modeling approach geared towards the ranking of case outcomes rather than their classification, and finally discusses the obtained results and the benefits of the overall approach as compared to other commercially available litigation case outcome prediction systems.
Biodegradable Piezoelectric Force Sensor

Significance Measuring physiological pressures such as lung pressure, brain pressure, eye pressure, etc. is important for monitoring health status, preventing the buildup of dangerous internal forces in impaired organs, and enabling novel approaches of using mechanical stimulation for tissue regeneration. Pressure sensors are often implanted and directly integrated with soft biological systems. Therefore, the devices should be flexible and at the same time biodegradable to avoid invasive removal surgery. Here, we present the study and processing of a biodegradable polymer which can convert mechanical force to electricity, and employ the polymer to develop a biocompatible implanted force sensor. The sensor, relying solely on common medical materials, can monitor important biological forces and eventually self-vanish, causing no harm to the body. Measuring vital physiological pressures is important for monitoring health status, preventing the buildup of dangerous internal forces in impaired organs, and enabling novel approaches of using mechanical stimulation for tissue regeneration. Pressure sensors are often required to be implanted and directly integrated with native soft biological systems. Therefore, the devices should be flexible and at the same time biodegradable to avoid invasive removal surgery that can damage directly interfaced tissues. Despite recent achievements in degradable electronic devices, there is still a tremendous need to develop a force sensor which only relies on safe medical materials and requires no complex fabrication process to provide accurate information on important biophysiological forces. Here, we present a strategy for material processing, electromechanical analysis, device fabrication, and assessment of a piezoelectric Poly-l-lactide (PLLA) polymer to create a biodegradable, biocompatible piezoelectric force sensor, which only employs medical materials used commonly in Food and Drug Administration-approved implants, for the monitoring of biological forces. We show the sensor can precisely measure pressures in a wide range of 0–18 kPa and sustain a reliable performance for a period of 4 d in an aqueous environment. We also demonstrate this PLLA piezoelectric sensor can be implanted inside the abdominal cavity of a mouse to monitor the pressure of diaphragmatic contraction. This piezoelectric sensor offers an appealing alternative to present biodegradable electronic devices for the monitoring of intraorgan pressures. The sensor can be integrated with tissues and organs, forming self-sensing bionic systems to enable many exciting applications in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and medical devices.
Advances in the Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms

Vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy are both common menopausal symptoms. Hormone therapy is currently the only FDA-approved treatment for hot flashes. Current recommendations are to use the lowest dose of hormone therapy for the shortest period that will allow treatment goals to be met. Although the reanalysis of the WHI in 2007 by Roussow et al. provided evidence of coronary heart safety for users of hormone therapy under the age of 60 years and within 10 years of the onset of menopause, not all women desire or are candidates for hormone therapy. In this review we present an evidence-based discussion considering the effectiveness of hormonal and nonhormonal therapies for the relief of vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy. Concern exists regarding systemic absorption of vaginal estrogen and possible adverse effects on the breast and uterus. Selective estrogen receptor modulators and estrogen agonists offer benefits through targeted estrogen agonist/antagonistic effects and are being evaluated with and without estrogen for symptomatic menopausal women. Centrally acting nonhormonal therapies that are effective for the relief of vasomotor symptoms include various antidepressants, gabapentin and clonidine. A limited number of clinical trials have been conducted with nonprescription remedies, including paced respiration, yoga, acupuncture, exercise, homeopathy and magnet therapy, and some, but not all of these, have been found to be more effective than placebo. Dietary herbal supplements, such as soy and black cohosh, have demonstrated mixed and inconclusive results in placebo-controlled trials. Potential therapies for vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy require randomized, placebo-controlled trials of sufficient duration to establish efficacy and safety. Agents under investigation for vasomotor symptoms relief include neuroactive agents, such as gabapentin and desvenlafaxine; an estrogen receptor-β-targeted herbal therapy, MF-101; and the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene, paired with estrogen.
Can Cultural Affinity Promote Trade? HSK Test Data from the Belt and Road Countries

As Chinese culture is â€œgoing out,â€ more and more nonâ€ native Chinese speakers are beginning to study Mandarin and are taking the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) test. Mandarin has become a very important trade language for the Belt and Road countries. This paper uses the differenceâ€ inâ€ difference model and the Mahalanobis distance and the nearest neighbor distance matching methods to study the internal relationship between culture â€œgoing outâ€ and foreign trade. We find that cultural affinity is an important factor in promoting trade, and that the HSK project has expanded China's exports to the Belt and Road countries. Culture's promotion effect in Asia is stronger than that in Europe. Culture's promotion effect shows the characteristics of regional differences, a timeâ€ lag and a fluctuating upward trend. Therefore, further enhancing the international influence of its culture would help China to find a new source of export growth.
Genomic instability and mobile genetic elements in regions surrounding two discoidin I genes of Dictyostelium discoideum

We have found that the genomic regions surrounding the linked discoidin I genes of various Dictyostelium discoideum strains have undergone rapid changes. Wild-type strain NC-4 has three complete discoidin I genes; its axenic derivative strain Ax-3L has duplicated a region starting approximately 1 kilobase upstream from the two linked genes and extending for at least 8 kilobases past the genes. A separately maintained stock, strain Ax-3K, does not have this duplication but has undergone a different rearrangement approximately 3 kilobases farther upstream. We show that there are repeat elements in these rapidly changing regions. At least two of these elements, Tdd-2 and Tdd-3, have characteristics associated with mobile genetic elements. The Tdd-3 element is found in different locations in related strains and causes a 9- to 10-base-pair duplication of the target site DNA. The Tdd-2 and Tdd-3 elements do not cross-hybridize, but they share a 22-base-pair homology near one end. At two separate sites, the Tdd-3 element has transposed into the Tdd-2 element, directly adjacent to the 22-base-pair homology. The Tdd-3 element may use this 22-base-pair region as a preferential site of insertion.
CD4+CD25+ T Regulatory Cells Suppress NK Cell-Mediated Immunotherapy of Cancer1

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) that suppress T cell-mediated immune responses may also regulate other arms of an effective immune response. In particular, in this study we show that Treg directly inhibit NKG2D-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo, effectively suppressing NK cell-mediated tumor rejection. In vitro, Treg were shown to inhibit NKG2D-mediated cytolysis largely by a TGF-β-dependent mechanism and independently of IL-10. Adoptively transferred Treg suppressed NK cell antimetastatic function in RAG-1-deficient mice. Depletion of Treg before NK cell activation via NKG2D and the activating IL-12 cytokine, dramatically enhanced NK cell-mediated suppression of tumor growth and metastases. Our data illustrate at least one mechanism by which Treg can suppress NK cell antitumor activity and highlight the effectiveness of combining Treg inhibition with subsequent NK cell activation to promote strong innate antitumor immunity.