Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occurrence of thermoregulation of genes involved in coronatine biosynthesis among various Pseudomonas syringae strains

Several pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae produce the polyketide phytotoxin coronatine (COR). In the bacterial blight pathogen of soybean, P. syringae pv. glycinea PG4180, COR is produced at high levels at 18 °C whereas no toxin is synthesized at 28 °C. Previously, activation of three promoters inside the COR biosynthetic gene cluster by a modified two‐component regulatory system was shown to influence thermoregulation of COR biosynthesis. Using phenotypic determination of COR synthesis, a transcriptional reporter gene fusion, and Western blot analysis, we screened a representative number of natural isolates of P. syringae for effects of temperature on expression of cmaA, cmaB, and cmaT, which encode enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of COR. Thermoregulation of cmaABT expression was frequent among the tested strains. However, intensities of the temperature effects varied widely. Coronatine sysnthesis was found to differ at up to six‐fold among COR producing strains. There was no strain which synthesized COR at 28 °C although some of them showed increased basal cmaABT promoter activities at this temperature. Transcriptional fusions between the cmaABT promoter and a promoterless reporter gene were found to be down regulated at 28 °C only in COR producing strains but not in the non‐producing strains tested. The geographic origin of the bacterial strains did not influence the occurrence of temperature‐dependent gene expression.
Temporomandibular disorders and oral health-related quality of life. A systematic review

Abstract Objective. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is considered an important aspect of different oral conditions. It has also gained increased attention in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in recent years. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature on OHRQoL and TMDs. Material and methods. A systematic search of the dental literature was performed using the Medline and Cochrane Library databases, supplemented by a hand search. Various combinations of search terms related to OHRQoL and TMDs were used. Among numerous titles found in Medline, abstracts and eventually full papers of potential interest were reviewed. Twelve papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Results. Most studies used the Oral Health Impact Profile, an instrument with good psychometric properties, for evaluation. All articles described a substantial impact on OHRQoL in TMD patients. Only a small proportion of all patients, a few percent, reported no impact at all. The difference between men and women was small and not significant. The impact appeared to be more pronounced in patients with more signs and symptoms. The perceived impact of pain on OHRQoL seems to be substantial. Two studies found that the impact increased with age among TMD patients. Conclusions. The reviewed studies convincingly demonstrated that OHRQoL was negatively affected among TMD patients.
Effects of Switched-bias Annealing on Charge Trapping in HfO$_{2}$ Gate Dielectrics

Charge trapping characteristics are investigated for MOS capacitors with 6.8 nm HfO2 layers and 1.0 nm interfacial silicon oxynitrides; the effective oxide thickness of the high-kappa gate dielectric layers is 2.1 nm. These devices were irradiated with 10-keV X-rays or subjected to constant voltage stress, and then annealed for ten minute intervals of alternating positive and negative gate bias at temperatures between 25 and 150degC. The resulting oxide-trap and interface-trap charge densities exhibit reversible buildup and annealing that depend strongly on bias and temperature. Additional defect-density growth with time was observed as a result of charge injection into the gate stack during the annealing process. This defect-density growth increases with increasing annealing time and temperature. After irradiation, the most of the reversibility in the charge trapping is due to metastable electron traps in the near-interfacial dielectric layers. After constant voltage stress, the motion, reactions, and trapping of protons at or near the Si/oxynitride interface are more important to the observed device response than are metastable electron traps. This is a result of reduced electron-hole pair creation during low-energy constant-voltage stress, as compared to high-energy X-ray irradiation. These results illustrate the importance of both electron traps and protons to the ionizing radiation response and long-term reliability of MOS devices with high-kappa gate dielectrics
Temporal Divergence in the Pattern of Messenger RNA Expression in Bovine Embryos Cultured from the Zygote to Blastocyst Stage In Vitro or In Vivo1

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the time during the postfertilization period that gene expression patterns in in vitro-cultured bovine embryos diverge from those of their in vivo-cultured counterparts. Presumptive bovine zygotes were produced by in vitro maturation and fertilization of immature oocytes collected from the ovaries of slaughtered animals. Approximately 20 h post insemination (hpi), zygotes were denuded and randomly divided into two groups for culture either in vitro, in synthetic oviduct fluid medium, or in vivo, in the ewe oviduct. Embryos were recovered from both systems at approximately 30 hpi (2-cell), 2 (4-cell), 3 (8-cell), 4 (16-cell), 5 (early morula), 6 (compact morula), or 7 (blastocyst) days post insemination. On recovery, they were examined for stage of development and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen for the analysis of transcript abundance using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The transcripts studied were glucose transporter 5, sarcosine oxidase, mitochondrial Mn-superoxide dismutase, connexin 43, interferon tau, insulin-like growth factor II, apoptosis regulator box-α and insulin-like growth factor-I receptor, most of which are known from our previous work to differ in terms of transcript abundance in blastocysts derived from culture in vitro or in vivo. The results demonstrate that the relative abundance of the transcripts studied varies throughout the preimplantation period and is strongly influenced by the culture environment. In addition, the data demonstrate that changes in transcript abundance in blastocyst stage embryos are in many cases a consequence of perturbed transcription earlier in development. Depending on the transcript, these differences may be evident by as little as 10 h of initiation of culture. Such information has implications not only for basic biology but also for human assisted reproduction in which there is a move toward culturing embryos to the blastocyst stage, necessitating prolonged culture in vitro under potentially deleterious conditions.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome Prevention Strategies: Cryopreservation of All Embryos

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic potentially life-threatening condition resulting from excessive ovarian stimulation. The crucial event in the development of OHSS is the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The early onset of OHSS typically presents in the luteal phase as a consequence of ovulatory hCG. The late onset of OHSS presents in early gestation when endogenous hCG further stimulates the ovary. Many strategies have been proposed for OHSS prevention, but they may reduce but not eliminate the risk. This article reviews the evidence related to the elective cryopreservation of all embryos and their subsequent transfer in women at risk of OHSS. More research is needed to determine whether using elective cryopreservation of embryos can reduce the rate of severe OHSS in in vitro insemination (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Results from many retrospective studies are encouraging, but prevention in terms of (1) identification of the high-risk population using new biochemical markers of ovarian response such as anti-Müllerian hormone, (2) tailoring ovarian stimulation and using less aggressive protocols (gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists or mild IVF), and (3) blastocyst culture to allow clinical monitoring of early-onset OHSS, with eventual blastocyst cryopreservation, might represent a multistep approach worth further investigation.
Impact of Growth Hormone Resistance on Female Reproductive Function: New Insights from Growth Hormone Receptor Knockout Mice1

Abstract We examined multiple aspects of reproductive function in growth hormone receptor gene knockout (GHR-KO) and normal mice to clarify the role of growth hormone in female reproduction. In adult animals, estrous cycle duration was comparable in all mice housed individually but was significantly longer in group-housed GHR-KO females. Histological evaluation of ovaries of adult females at estrus showed that the numbers of preovulatory follicles and corpora lutea were significantly reduced in GHR-KO mice, as was the plasma estradiol level. The number of atretic preovulatory follicles was reduced in GHR gene-ablated animals. Although reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed reduced ovarian insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA expression in GHR-KO females, the expression of several steroidogenic enzyme mRNAs did not differ between groups. The numbers of active corpora lutea and uterine implantation sites were reduced in GHR-KO females at Day 7 of gestation. When young females were mated to normal males, latency to first mating and age of the female at first mating were significantly delayed in GHR-KO females, but maternal age at first conception was similar between groups. Significantly fewer virgin GHR-KO females exhibited pseudopregnancies when initially placed with vasectomized normal males than did normal female counterparts. Growth hormone resistance and IGF-I insufficiency negatively impacted 1) follicular development/ovulation rate, 2) sexual maturation, 3) production of and responsiveness to pheromonal signals, and 4) the ability of virgin females to respond to coitus by activation of luteal function. Although GHR-KO female mice are fertile, they exhibit quantitative deficits in various parameters of reproductive function.
Trypsin‐like proteolytic contamination of commercially available psa purified from human seminal fluid

Prostate‐Specific Antigen (PSA) is a serine protease whose expression is maintained in all stages of prostate cancer. A role for PSA in the pathobiology for prostate cancer has not been firmly established. Experimental studies to date support a role for PSA through mechanisms such as release or processing of growth factors and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Exposure of prostate cancer cells to exogenous PSA also results in gene expression changes. These in vitro and biochemical assays rely on the use of commercially available PSA. Contamination of these commercial preparations can significantly impact the results of these in vitro studies.
The Quantity of Autocrine IL-2 Governs the Expansion Potential of CD8+ T Cells

Adequate responsiveness of CD8+ T cell populations is of utmost importance for the efficacy of many vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies against intracellular pathogens and cancer. In this study, we show in mouse models that the relative number of IL-2–producing cells within Ag-specific CD8+ T cell populations predicts the population expansion capacity upon challenge. We further demonstrate that IL-2 producers constitute the best responding subset. Notably, we show that elevated production of IL-2 by CD8+ T cells results in concomitant improved population expansion capacity and immunity. The amount of IL-2 produced on a per-cell basis essentially connects directly to the superior CD8+ T cell population expansion. Together, our findings identified that autocrine IL-2 production operates in a dose-dependent fashion to facilitate the expansion potential of Ag-specific CD8+ T cell populations, which may instigate ways to augment therapies depending on fit CD8+ T cells.
[Vaccine storage cold chain at primary care centers in one area of Madrid: keeping the chain intact and degree of knowledge].

BACKGROUND Vaccines are heat-labile medications, and to guarantee their immunogenicity and safeguarding effectiveness as part of immunization programs, it is absolutely essential that the "Cold Chain" go unbroken. Fundamental thereto is the personnel responsible for the vaccines, who must know the stability-related characteristics of each preparation so as to prevent handling errors. The purpose of this study was that of ascertaining how the cold chain is kept intact in primary care systems in one healthcare area of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, as well as determining the degree of information possessed by those responsible for vaccines as far as their heat-stability is concerned. METHODS A cross-sectional study has been made at 46 primary care vaccination points. The data was gathered by means of a personal interview by one single researcher. RESULTS The participation rate was 93.5% (43/46). In all cases, there was a maximum and minimum thermometer and monthly temperature record. An unsuitable temperature was found in three cases (6.97%). The percentage of professionals who were aware of the effect freezing has on vaccines varied greatly: 53.5%, 51.2%, 44.2% and 53.5% for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), hepatitis B (HBV), oral polio (OPV) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) respectively. And only 32% were familiar with the shake test. CONCLUSION The professionals were found to be properly trained regarding the effect which high temperatures have on vaccines, but it is necessary for their training with regard to the instability of adsorbed preparations when frozen must be further strengthened.
Pathological Role of Serum- and Glucocorticoid-Regulated Kinase 1 in Adverse Ventricular Remodeling

Background— Heart failure is a growing cause of morbidity and mortality. Cardiac phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling promotes cardiomyocyte survival and function, but it is paradoxically activated in heart failure, suggesting that chronic activation of this pathway may become maladaptive. Here, we investigated the downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase effector, serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK1), in heart failure and its complications. Methods and Results— We found that cardiac SGK1 is activated in human and murine heart failure. We investigated the role of SGK1 in the heart by using cardiac-specific expression of constitutively active or dominant-negative SGK1. Cardiac-specific activation of SGK1 in mice increased mortality, cardiac dysfunction, and ventricular arrhythmias. The proarrhythmic effects of SGK1 were linked to biochemical and functional changes in the cardiac sodium channel and could be reversed by treatment with ranolazine, a blocker of the late sodium current. Conversely, cardiac-specific inhibition of SGK1 protected mice after hemodynamic stress from fibrosis, heart failure, and sodium channel alterations. Conclusions— SGK1 appears both necessary and sufficient for key features of adverse ventricular remodeling and may provide a novel therapeutic target in cardiac disease.
Self-balanced bicycle rental systems under dynamic demand forecasting

In this paper we develop a dynamic pricing framework for bicycle rental system to help achieve self-balance and apply this model to a simple two stations case. The first part is short-time demand forecasting for Origin-Destination (OD) pairs, using an Adaptive Difference Method. Such method integrates the information from both historical and real-time data to improve the precision of demand forecasting and estimation. Based on given OD demand, the second part illustrates a dynamic pricing model for self-balanced bicycle rental systems. We develop an optimum programming whose object is to achieve the self-balance of rental system under minimized society cost. We also employ discrete choice models to model the equilibrium between different travel modes. Lastly, this OD demand forecasting method and the dynamic pricing model are simulated in a two stations case.
Alternative Immunomodulatory Strategies for Xenotransplantation: CD40/154 Pathway‐Sparing Regimens Promote Xenograft Survival

Immunosuppressive therapies that block the CD40/CD154 costimulatory pathway have proven to be uniquely effective in preclinical xenotransplant models. Given the challenges facing clinical translation of CD40/CD154 pathway blockade, we examined the efficacy and tolerability of CD40/CD154 pathway‐sparing immunomodulatory strategies in a pig‐to‐nonhuman primate islet xenotransplant model. Rhesus macaques were rendered diabetic with streptozocin and given an intraportal infusion of ∼50 000 islet equivalents/kg wild‐type neonatal porcine islets. Base immunosuppression for all recipients included maintenance therapy with belatacept and mycophenolate mofetil plus induction with basiliximab and LFA‐1 blockade. Cohort 1 recipients (n = 3) were treated with the base regimen alone; cohort 2 recipients (n = 5) were additionally treated with tacrolimus induction and cohort 3 recipients (n = 5) were treated with alefacept in place of basiliximab, and more intense LFA‐1 blockade. Three of five recipients in both cohorts 2 and 3 achieved sustained insulin‐independent normoglycemia (median rejection‐free survivals 60 and 111 days, respectively), compared to zero of three recipients in cohort 1. These data show that CD40/CD154 pathway‐sparing regimens can promote xenoislet survival. Further optimization of these strategies is warranted to aid the clinical translation of islet xenotransplantation.
New receptor for human plasminogen on gram positive cocci

180 bacterial strains representing 17 different species of gram positive cocci were tested for the ability to interact with human plasminogen. Receptors for plasminogen could be detected on 23/24 strains of S. pyogenes, 15/15 strains of S. equisimilis, 14/16 strains of human group G streptococci and 14/14 strains of S. pneumoniae. Eight of nineteen strains representing five species of alpha‐hemolytic streptococci were also positive. S. equisimilis demonstrated the highest uptake with a median value of 58 per cent (20%‐67%). On the other hand, all strains of S. agalactiae, the majority of S. faecalis and all S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus strains tested were negative. The concentration of unlabelled plasminogen causing a 50 per cent reduction of bound tracer was between 50 and 150 nM. These estimates of the dissociation constant confirmed the specific nature of the interaction. Binding of plasminogen could be blocked by addition of plasmin‐aprotinin complex, suggesting that plasminogen and plasmin bind to the same receptor. Binding was also blocked by the plasminogen fragment kringle 1–3, but not by miniplasminogen, a fragment containing kringle 5 and the B‐chain region. As streptokinase interacts mainly with the B‐chain of plasmin it is clear that the bacterial receptor for plasminogen is not identical to streptokinase.
MCVdb: A database for knowledge discovery in Merkel cell polyomavirus with applications in T cell immunology and vaccinology

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCV) is associated with more than 80% of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but highly lethal form of skin cancer. We made use of the immunological data on MCV available through publications and databases and constructed MCV T cell Antigen Database (MCVdb). MCVdb contains 734 curated antigen entries of MCV antigenic proteins and 30 experimentally verified T cell epitopes. The data were subject to extensive quality control (redundancy elimination, error detection, and vocabulary consolidation). A set of computational tools for in-depth analysis, such as sequence comparison using BLAST search, multiple alignments of antigens, and T cell epitope conservation analysis have been integrated within the MCVdb. Predicted Class I and Class II HLA-binding peptides for 15 common HLA alleles are included in this database as putative targets. MCVdb is a unique data source providing a comprehensive list of MCV antigens and peptides. MCVdb is publicly available at http://projects.met-hilab.org/mcv/.
Reconstruction of three-dimensional dielectric objects through integral equation method

Reconstruction of unknown dielectric objects by integral equation approach requires efficient numerical solutions for volume integral equations (VIEs) based on the Born iterative method (BIM) or its variations. Traditionally, the VIEs are solved by the method of moments (MoM) in which the flux density is represented with the Schaubert-Wilton-Glisson (SWG) basis function. However, the MoM with the SWG basis function may not be convenient for solving inverse scattering problems because of the unknown profiles of objects. In this work, we propose a Nyström scheme to solve the forward scattering VIE (FSVIE) for reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) unknown dielectric objects. The merits of the scheme include simple mechanism of implementation and lower requirement on mesh quality. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the scheme.
Clinical features and treatment outcome for children with CD30+ large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE To determine the frequency of CD30 expression and its relationship to clinical features, immunophenotype, histotype, and outcome in childhood large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed 45 cases of large-cell NHL in children treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital from 1975 to 1990 for whom there was sufficient tissue to perform immunophenotypic studies. All 45 were screened with a panel of antibodies to detect the presence of CD30 and T-cell and B-cell antigens. Cases were classified according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Working Formulation and the Kiel classification system. Clinical features, immunophenotype, pathologic classification, and treatment outcome were compared for CD30+ and CD30- cases. RESULTS CD30 expression was documented in 18 cases (40%). These 13 boys and five girls had a median age of 13 years at diagnosis. Most (n = 14) had advanced-stage (III and IV) disease. Nodal disease was equally common in CD30+ and CD30- cases, whereas skin involvement was significantly more frequent in CD30+ cases (P = .007). There was no significant association of CD30 expression with histologic subtype according to the NCI Working Formulation, but CD30+ cases were more likely to be anaplastic by the Kiel classification (P < .001). All CD30+ cases had either T-cell or null-cell phenotype, while the majority of CD30- cases were B-cell phenotype (P < .001). Among patients with limited-stage disease, the mean +/- SE estimated 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 75% +/- 22% for CD30+ cases and 92% +/- 9% for CD30- cases (P = .10); estimates for advanced-stage disease were 57% +/- 17% and 29% +/- 17%, respectively (P = .096). For patients with advanced-stage disease, CD30 expression was associated with a significantly better overall 5-year survival probability (84% +/- 12% v 27% +/- 16%, P = .0016). CONCLUSION CD30 is frequently expressed in pediatric large-cell NHL and is significantly associated with T-cell or null-cell phenotype, anaplastic morphology, skin involvement, and better overall survival among advanced-stage patients.