Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response to acute lung infection with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis mice.

RATIONALE Cystic fibrosis is caused by defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene, which codes for a chloride channel, but the role of this chloride channel in inflammation induced by lung infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains to be defined. OBJECTIVES We tested the hypothesis that loss of this chloride channel alone is sufficient to cause excessive inflammation in response to inflammatory stimuli. METHODS We investigated the response of cystic fibrosis and wild-type mice to mucoid P. aeruginosa administered by insufflation. MEASUREMENTS The host responses measured included survival, weight change, lung morphometry, bacterial clearance, and inflammatory mediators, and cell counts were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. MAIN RESULTS Depending on the dose administered and frequency of dosing, cystic fibrosis mice experienced significantly higher mortality rates, greater weight loss, higher lung pathology scores, and higher inflammatory mediator and neutrophil levels compared with wild-type mice, even after the bacteria had been cleared. Surprisingly, bacteria were cleared just as rapidly in cystic fibrosis mice as in wild-type mice, and sepsis was not observed. Chronic lung infections could not be established with mucoid P. aeruginosa in either cystic fibrosis or wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS Absence of this chloride channel alone appears sufficient for exaggerated inflammation and excess mortality compared with wild-type controls in the face of mucoid P. aeruginosa lung infection. To establish chronic infection, additional factors such as bacterial trapping or poor clearance may be required.
High-efficiency variable-speed electric motor drive technologies for energy savings in the US residential sector

Electric motors account for a substantial proportion of the electricity consumed in American homes. In order to maximize energy efficiency, the US appliance industry has increasingly adopted, over the last decade, variable speed motor technology. State of the art solutions employing high-efficiency brushless (BL) permanent magnet (PM) motors and power-electronics drives are described. These include a variety of types, such as scalar voltage-regulated BLDC and vector controlled current-regulated BLAC. The motors comprise surface PM or interior PM (IPM) rotors and 3-phase stators with distributed or concentrated windings. Single-phase low power applications are also discussed. The review covers a wide range of power between 0.002hp and 5hp at relatively low speeds suitable for fans and blowers and higher speeds specific to pumps and compressors. A discussion of the trends and anticipated developments is also included.
Imaging of aortic lesions with color coded duplex sonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound versus multislice computed tomography (MS-CT) angiography.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare color coded duplex sonography (CCDS), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and multislice computed tomography (MS-CT) angiography in pathological aortic lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS 36 patients with a mean age of 71 years (range 51-87 yrs) with known or suspected treated and untreated aortic lesions detected by CTA were included in this prospective study. Standardized MS-CTA using a 16 or 64 row scanner (Somatom Sensation 16 or 64, Siemens Medical Systems, Forchheim, Germany) served as reference standard. The patients were examined with CCDS and CEUS (Logiq 9, General Electrics, Milwaukee, WI) using the low MI technique with intravenous injection of 1.6-2.4 ml SonoVue (Bracco, Italy). Contrast enhanced ultrasound was performed in the arterial, venous and late venous phase. RESULTS In all patients CEUS resulted in a relevant diagnosis of an aortic pathology. In total, two covered ruptures, nine aortic dissections and five aortic aneurysms were detected. In the routine follow-up of 20 patients following endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), one type 3 and three type 2 endoleaks after y-stent graft were detected. For presurgical planning, in addition to the perfused true and false lumen after dissection the perfusion of the renal arteries was examined. CONCLUSION CEUS with SonoVue allows the evaluation of aortic lesions. It is an additional examination to CTA. It may allow a more rapid and noninvasive diagnosis, especially in critical patients from intensive care units because of its bedside availability. As the examination is dynamic, additional information about blood flow in the true and false lumen and about renal perfusion after dissections can be evaluated. Especially in patients with contraindications to CT contrast agents (e.g. due to renal failure or severe allergy), CEUS provides a good alternative to MS-CT.
X‐ray crystal structures of the pheromone‐binding domains of two quorum‐hindered transcription factors, YenR of Yersinia enterocolitica and CepR2 of Burkholderia cenocepacia

The ability of LuxR‐type proteins to regulate transcription is controlled by bacterial pheromones, N‐acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). Most LuxR‐family proteins require their cognate AHLs for activity, and some of them require AHLs for folding and stability, and for protease‐resistance. However, a few members of this family are able to fold, dimerize, bind DNA, and regulate transcription in the absence of AHLs; moreover, these proteins are antagonized by their cognate AHLs. One such protein is YenR of Yersinia enterocolitica, which is antagonized by N‐3‐oxohexanoyl‐l‐homoserine lactone (OHHL). This pheromone is produced by the OHHL synthase, a product of the adjacent yenI gene. Another example is CepR2 of Burkholderia cenocepacia, which is antagonized by N‐octanoyl‐l‐homoserine lactone (OHL), whose synthesis is directed by the cepI gene of the same bacterium. Here, we describe the high‐resolution crystal structures of the AHL binding domains of YenR and CepR2. YenR was crystallized in the presence and absence of OHHL. While this ligand does not cause large scale changes in the YenR structure, it does alter the orientation of several highly conserved YenR residues within and near the pheromone‐binding pocket, which in turn caused a significant movement of a surface‐exposed loop.
A Validated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet Method for Quantification of the CCR5 Inhibitor Maraviroc in Plasma of HIV-Infected Patients

Maraviroc is the first commercialized CCR5 inhibitor for HIV therapy. A new high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method to quantify maraviroc concentrations in human plasma was developed and validated. The method is based on a protein precipitation procedure, with an acidic solution of acetonitrile (trifluoroacetic acid 0.1%) and quinoxaline as internal standard. The analytes were eluted using a gradient run in 15 minutes on an analytical C18 Luna column (150 mm × 4.6 mm ID) with a particle size of 5 μm. Maraviroc and internal standard were detected by UV at 193 nm and 352 nm, respectively. The calibration curve was linear up to 2500 ng/mL. The mean recovery of maraviroc was 96%. All validation data were in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements. The new high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method reported here could be used routinely to monitor plasma concentrations of maraviroc in healthy volunteers and HIV-infected patients.
Synaptic‐ and agonist‐induced excitatory currents of Purkinje cells in rat cerebellar slices.

1. Postsynaptic currents originating from activation of the two major excitatory inputs to Purkinje cells were studied in thin slices of rat cerebellum, using the tight‐seal whole‐cell recording technique. Two types of excitatory postsynaptic currents were analysed: those evoked by stimulation of the granule cell‐parallel fibre system (PF‐EPSC) and those elicited by stimulation of the climbing fibres (CF‐EPSC). 2. Both types of postsynaptic currents had a linear current‐voltage relation, reversing at membrane potentials close to 0 mV. Their time course of activation was independent of the membrane potential. 3. For both types of postsynaptic currents, the time course of decay was well described by a single exponential function, with a time constant which increased as the membrane potential was made more positive. 4. Postsynaptic currents arising from stimulation of the climbing fibre generally had a slightly faster time course of onset and decay than those associated with stimulation of the granule cell‐parallel fibre system. The average values of the 10‐90% rise time were 1.8 +/‐ 0.4 ms (means +/‐ S.D., n = 7) for PF‐EPSCs and 0.8 +/‐ 0.3 ms (n = 9) for CF‐EPSCs. Time constants of decay, at a holding potential of ‐60 mV, had values of 8.3 +/‐ 1.6 ms (n = 7) and 6.4 +/‐ 1.1 ms (n = 9) for PF‐EPSCs and CF‐EPSCs respectively. 5. CF‐EPSCs and PF‐EPSCs had the characteristics described above in slices derived from animals aged 9‐22 days old and 9‐15 days old, respectively. The PF‐EPSCs in animals older than 15 days had very slow time courses and positive apparent reversal potentials, suggesting that they originated from distal locations, not under accurate voltage control. 6. In order to assess the quality of the voltage clamp, responses to hyperpolarizing pulses from ‐70 mV were analysed. The capacitive currents could be fitted by the sum of two exponentials, and were interpreted with an equivalent electrical circuit comprising two main compartments (soma and proximal dendrites on one hand, distal dendrites on the other). Analysis of synaptic currents in terms of this model suggested that the recorded time course of decay was approximately correct. 7. CF‐EPSCs as well as PF‐EPSCs were insensitive to the NMDA receptor antagonist 3‐3(2‐carboxypiperazine‐4‐yl)propyl‐1‐phosphonate (CPP), but were blocked in a dose‐dependent reversible manner by the non‐NMDA antagonist 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Nonlinear Modeling of Temporal Wind Power Variations

Modeling wind speed time series (WSTS) is an essential part of network planning studies in order to generate synthetic wind power time series (WPTS). Hence, this paper proposes a methodology to equip planners with accurate simulation of wind speed and power variations as well as complete temporal dependence structure based on the copula theory. Unlike traditional autoregressive and Markov chain methods, the suggested technique is well-prepared to deal with “nonlinear long-memory temporal dependence” and “non-Gaussian empirical probability distributions” of the WSTS. Meanwhile, the proposed statistical modeling framework is compatible with the scenario-based analysis of active networks as well. Furthermore, a case study for optimal sizing of an autonomous wind/photovoltaic/battery system is presented. The purpose of the presented study is to fully examine the accuracy and effectiveness of the copula-based model of wind generation for planning nonmemoryless power systems. Among a list of commercially available system devices, the optimal number and type of units are calculated ensuring both a minimum 20-year round total system cost and a perfect reliability. The genetic algorithm is used in four wind generation scenarios consisting of real and simulated WPTS. Then, considering the corresponding optimal solutions, the autoregressive moving average (ARMA), nonparametric Markov and proposed copula-based simulations are compared against real data.
Insularity effects on the assemblage of the blood parasite community of the birds from the Gulf of Guinea

Lower species diversity, increased population densities and ecological niche enlargement are common characteristics of island faunas. However, it remains to be determined if they extend to the parasite community. We tested if Haemosporidia parasite pressure varies between islands and the mainland with two different levels of analysis: (1) at the host community level and (2) with paired‐species comparisons between islands and the mainland.
Screening for Bipolar Disorder with the Mood Disorders Questionnaire: A Review

Background: Several research reports have suggested that bipolar disorder is underrecognized. Recommendations for improving the detection of bipolar disorder include the use of screening questionnaires. The Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ) has been the most widely studied screening instrument for bipolar disorder, with nearly two dozen published reports on its performance. We reviewed the literature on the MDQ's performance to assess its utility as a screening instrument. Methods: We conducted a Medline search on the terms Mood Disorders Questionnaire, MDQ, screening AND bipolar disorder, and recognition AND bipolar disorder. Only studies of adults were included. Results: Across all studies the sensitivity of the MDQ was 61.3%; specificity, 87.5%; positive predictive value, 58.0%; and negative predictive value, 88.9%. Compared to the studies using the MDQ for psychiatric outpatients, studies using it in the general population found it to have much lower sensitivity and positive predictive value, and higher specificity and negative predictive value. The MDQ's sensitivity was higher in detecting bipolar I disorder than bipolar II disorder (66.3% vs. 38.6%). Lowering the threshold to identify cases markedly improved the MDQ's sensitivity, with only a modest reduction in specificity. Studies of the best symptom cutoff to identify cases have produced inconsistent findings. Conclusions: The MDQ's performance depends upon the setting in which it is used, the threshold to identify caseness, and the subtype of bipolar disorder examined. Conceptual issues in the use of a bipolar disorder screening questionnaire are discussed, and questions are raised about the clinical value of a self‐report screening scale for bipolar disorder. Based on current available evidence, routine clinical use of the MDQ cannot be recommended because of the absence of studies simultaneously examining both the potential benefits (e.g., improved detection) and costs (e.g., overdiagnosis) of screening.
Resistance training with vascular occlusion: metabolic adaptations in human muscle.

UNLABELLED Two recent studies have reported increases in strength and whole muscle cross-sectional area after low-intensity resistance training (LIT) with vascular occlusion (OCC) that are greater than LIT alone (e.g., 22, 25). The OCC stress might be expected to induce metabolic alterations that are consistent with compromised oxygen delivery rather than an increase in strength per se, but this has not been studied. PURPOSE We examined the effect of LIT and LIT+OCC on resting metabolites in m. biceps brachii and elbow flexor strength. METHODS Eight men (19.5 +/- 0.4 yr) performed 8 wk of LIT at approximately 50% of one-repetition maximum (2 sessions per week; 3-6 sets, 8-10 repetitions, final set to failure); one arm trained with OCC and the other without (CON). :Biopsies obtained before and 72 h after the final training bout revealed that resting [glycogen] was higher (P <or= 0.05) in both arms after LIT (CON: 452 +/- 20 vs 325 +/- 28, OCC: 501 +/- 12 vs 332 +/- 28 mmol.kg-1 dry weight) and the increase was larger in the OCC arm (P <or= 0.05). Resting [ATP] was lower (P <or= 0.05) after LIT in both arms (CON: 20.5 +/- 0.5 vs 22.8 +/- 0.7, OCC: 18.2 +/- 0.6 vs 23.1 +/- 0.5 mmol.kg-1 dry weight), and the decrease was larger in the OCC arm (P <or= 0.05). Maximal isotonic and isokinetic elbow flexor strength increased (P <or= 0.05) after training to a similar extent in both arms. CONCLUSION We conclude that [glycogen] was increased and [ATP] was decreased in resting human muscle, 72 h after an 8-wk LIT protocol. OCC potentiated the metabolic changes, perhaps by inducing an ischemic stimulus that enhanced muscle glucose transport and adenine nucleotide catabolism after LIT, but did not augment the increases in strength.
Early Inflammatory Reactions in Atherosclerosis Are Induced by Proline-Rich Tyrosine Kinase/Reactive Oxygen Species–Mediated Release of Tumor Necrosis Factor-&agr; and Subsequent Activation of the p21Cip1/Ets-1/p300 System

Objective—Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the initial process of atherosclerosis, whereas it remains to be determined how atherogenic stimulus causes ROS-mediated proinflammatory reactions. Here, we focused on proline-rich tyrosine kinase (PYK2)–mediated ROS generation and examined how atherogenic stimulus causes early proinflammatory reactions. Methods and Results—PYK2-deficient (knockout [KO]) (PYK2-KO) mice were crossbred with apolipoprotein E (ApoE)–deficient (PYK2-KO/ApoE-KO) mice. PYK2-KO/ApoE-KO mice and endothelial cells (EC) were used for the study. Aortic atherogenic lesions in PYK2-KO/ApoE-KO mice were markedly decreased (55% versus ApoE-KO) after 8 weeks of a Western diet. Aortic PYK2 was activated as early as 7 days after the Western diet, when inflammatory cells were not yet activated. Addition of the proatherogenic oxidized phospholipid lysophosphatidylcholine caused activation of endothelial PYK2. Lysophosphatidylcholine-activated PYK2 induced NADPH oxidase–mediated ROS generation and ROS-mediated synthesis of tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF&agr;), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and p21Cip1/Ets-1. Neutralizing anti-TNF&agr; antibody or knockdown of p21Cip1/Ets-1 system blocked the induction of VCAM-1 and MCP-1. PYK2 deficiency abolished these ROS-mediated proinflammatory reactions. Further analysis revealed that PYK2/ROS-mediated p21Cip1/Ets-1 activation upregulated the transcription of the MCP-1 gene in collaboration with p300 transcription coactivator. Conclusion—PYK2 is a key tyrosine kinase activated by high cholesterol exposure, which causes ROS-mediated TNF&agr; release and induces TNF&agr;-dependent expression of proinflammatory molecules via the p21Cip1/Ets-1/p300 transcription system.
Dynamic Optimization of Nitrogen in Plateau Cotton Yield Functions with Nitrogen Carryover Considerations

Abstract This study utilizes a dynamic programming decision model, considering an intertemporal nitrogen carryover function, combined with both linear stochastic and deterministic plateau response functions to evaluate optimal nitrogen fertilizer decision rules and net present values (NPVs) in Texas High Plains cotton production. Nitrogen recommendations and NPVs are influenced by response function choice and nitrogen-to-cotton price ratios. Results indicate the stochastic plateau function better describes the data; the optimum nitrogen recommendation is to apply approximately 40 lb. of nitrogen for each bale of cotton production when considering nitrogen carryover information.
Staphylococcus aureus AgrA Binding to the RNAIII-agr Regulatory Region

ABSTRACT The control of virulence gene expression in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is under the partial control of the two-component quorum-sensing system encoded by genes of the agr locus. The product of the agrA gene has been shown by amino acid sequence similarity to be the putative response regulator; however, binding of AgrA to promoters under its control has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we isolated and purified soluble AgrA by expression under osmotic shock conditions and ion-exchange chromatography. Purified AgrA showed high-affinity binding to the RNAIII-agr intergenic region by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Binding was localized by DNase I protection assays to a pair of direct repeats in the P2 and P3 promoter regions of the agr locus. We found that this binding was enhanced by the addition of the small phosphoryl donor, acetyl phosphate. The difference in binding affinity between these two promoters was found to result from a 2-bp difference between the downstream direct repeats of the P2 and P3 sites. Mutation of these base pairs in the P3 site to match those found in the P2 site increased the affinity of AgrA for the P3 site relative to that for the P2 site. These results are consistent with the function of AgrA as a response regulator with recognition sites in the promoter regions of RNAIII and the agr locus.
Role of JC Virus Agnoprotein in DNA Repair

ABSTRACT The late region of human neurotropic JC virus encodes a small 71-amino-acid agnoprotein that is also found in the polyomaviruses simian virus 40 and BK virus. Several functions of agnoprotein have been identified, including roles in regulating viral transcription and virion maturation. Earlier studies showed that agnoprotein expressed alone induced p21/WAF-1 expression and caused cells to accumulate in the G2/M stage of the cell cycle. Here we report that agnoprotein expression sensitized cells to the cytotoxic effects of the DNA-damaging agent cisplatin. Agnoprotein reduced the viability of cisplatin-treated cells and increased chromosome fragmentation and micronucleus formation. Whereas cisplatin-treated control cells accumulated in S phase, cells expressing agnoprotein did not, instead becoming aneuploid. Agnoprotein expression correlated with impaired double-strand-break repair activity in cellular extracts and reduced expression of the Ku70 and Ku80 DNA repair proteins. After agnoprotein expression, much of the Ku70 protein was located in the perinuclear space, where agnoprotein was also found. Results from binding studies showed an interaction of agnoprotein with Ku70 which was mediated by the N terminus. The ability of agnoprotein to inhibit double-strand break repair activity when it was added to cellular extracts was also mediated by the N terminus. We conclude that agnoprotein inhibits DNA repair after DNA damage and interferes with DNA damage-induced cell cycle regulation. Since Ku70 is a subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase that is responsible both for double-strand break repair and for signaling damage-induced cell cycle arrest, the modulation of Ku70 and/or Ku80 by agnoprotein may represent an important event in the polyomavirus life cycle and in cell transformation.
Heat Stress in the Intertidal: Comparing Survival and Growth of an Invasive and Native Mussel Under a Variety of Thermal Conditions

In the rocky intertidal, organisms frequently experience a wide range of daily body temperatures depending on the stage of the tide and the time of day. In the intertidal, the thermal adaption of a species and its ability to invade a new region may be closely linked. In this research, the physiological effects of thermal stress in both low tide and high tide conditions are compared between Mytilus galloprovincialis, a worldwide mussel invader, and M. trossulus, a sibling species. In a seawater tank, mussels were exposed to one of three aerial temperature treatments (20, 25, 30 °C) in a cycle with one of two water temperatures (18, 12 °C). In 18 °C water, there was no effect of the aerial treatments on growth or survival in either species. In contrast, in 12 °C water, aerial exposure affected the survival and growth of both species. Growth and survival rates of M. galloprovincialis were higher in all conditions than the rates of M. trossulus, especially in the 18 °C water experiments and in the aerial exposure treatments of the winter 12 °C water experiment. M. galloprovincialis appears to be warm-adapted with regard to both low tide and high tide thermal stress. These results when paired with previous research suggest that as climates shift due to global warming, the temperatures favorable to M. galloprovincialis will become more common.