Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Xhairy2 functions in Xenopus lens development by regulating p27xic1 expression

Lens of vertebrate eyes is derived from competent pre‐placodal ectoderm in response to signal(s) from retinal lineage. We herein report that the Xenopus Hes gene Xhairy2, which is expressed in pre‐placodal ectoderm, is required for lens development from the initial stage. We show that Xhairy2 knockdown reduced the expression of lens marker genes at every step of lens determination, eventually resulting in ocular lens malformation. Interestingly, retina marker gene expression and retinal anlage morphology remained normal upon Xhairy2 knockdown. Furthermore, loss of lens field caused by Xhairy2 depletion was partially rescued by simultaneous knockdown of the cell cycle inhibitor gene p27xic1. These results suggest that Xhairy2 is required for lens development through the regulation of p27xic1 expression, independent of the known cascade of transcription factors. Based on these findings, we propose that Xhairy2 may maintain an intracellular environment in which inducing signal(s) can be accepted. Developmental Dynamics 238:2179–2192, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Contextualisation automatique de Tweets à partir de Wikipédia

Social networks are central in nowadays internet communication and community exchanges. The emergence of Twitter led to the creation of a new tool for sharing information, where messages are bound to 140 characters. Publications on this social network are short and straightforward and often sent in real time from mobile phones, which make it difficult to appre- hend without some kind of context. We propose in this paper a method allowing to automatically contextualize Tweets by using information coming from Wikipedia. We treat this problem as an automatic summarization task, where the text to resume is composed of Wikipedia articles that discuss the various pieces of information appearing in a Tweet. We explore the influence of var- ious Tweet-related articles retrieval methods as well as several features for sentence extraction. We evaluate our approach using the test collection from the INEX 2012 Tweet Contextualization track and provide some insights on what makes a contextually important sentence.
Rebelle van die Stormberge; Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, 1899-1902, A.V. Oosthuizen : boekbespreking

Ek het die voorreg gehad om in die laaste paar jaar 'n aantal boeke oor die Anglo-Boereoorlog (1899-1902), wat deur J.P. van der Walt en Seun uitgegee is, te resenseer. Ek was, uit die aard van die saak, krities in my beoordeling, miskien soms te krities, maar deurgaans het ek die waarde van hierdie publikasie deeglik besef. Trouens, ek wil van hierdie geleentheid gebruik maak om die voortreflikheid van hierdie reeks boeke te beklemtoon. In die lig van die naderende eeufees in 1999 van hierdie konflik behoort hierdie boeke se waarde toe te neem.
Allosteric Modulation of Ca2+ flux in Ligand-gated Cation Channel (P2X4) by Actions on Lateral Portals*

Background: Ca2+ currents of ligand-gated ion channels are essential to cell signaling. Results: We show that the Ca2+ currents of P2X4 channels are subject to allosteric modulation. Conclusion: The fixed negative charge of a single amino acid is required for the allosteric effects of ivermectin on permeability, flux, and current deactivation. Significance: Allosteric modulators may provide therapeutic relief from symptoms of diseases such as peripheral neuropathy and hypertension. Human P2X receptors are a family of seven ATP-gated ion channels that transport Na+, K+, and Ca2+ across cell surface membranes. The P2X4 receptor is unique among family members in its sensitivity to the macrocyclic lactone, ivermectin, which allosterically modulates both ion conduction and channel gating. In this paper we show that removing the fixed negative charge of a single acidic amino acid (Glu51) in the lateral entrance to the transmembrane pore markedly attenuates the effect of ivermectin on Ca2+ current and channel gating. Ca2+ entry through P2X4 receptors is known to trigger downstream signaling pathways in microglia. Our experiments show that the lateral portals could present a novel target for drugs in the treatment of microglia-associated disease including neuropathic pain.
CD4 T Cells Are the Only Lymphocytes Needed To Protect Mice against Rotavirus Shedding after Intranasal Immunization with a Chimeric VP6 Protein and the Adjuvant LT(R192G)

ABSTRACT Intranasal immunization of mice with a chimeric VP6 protein and the mucosal adjuvant Escherichia coli heat labile toxin LT(R192G) induces nearly complete protection against murine rotavirus (strain EDIM [epizootic diarrhea of infant mice virus]) shedding for at least 1 year. The aim of this study was to identify the protective lymphocytes elicited by this new vaccine candidate. Immunization of mouse strains lacking one or more lymphocyte populations revealed that protection was dependent on αβ T cells but mice lacking γδ T cells and B cells remained fully protected. Furthermore, depletion of CD8 T cells in immunized B-cell-deficient mice before challenge resulted in no loss of protection, while depletion of CD4 T cells caused complete loss of protection. Therefore, αβ CD4 T cells appeared to be the only lymphocytes required for protection. As confirmation, purified splenic T cells from immunized mice were intraperitoneally injected into Rag-2 mice chronically infected with EDIM. Transfer of 2 × 106 CD8 T cells had no effect on shedding, while transfer of 2 × 105 CD4 T cells fully resolved shedding in 7 days. Interestingly, transfer of naive splenic CD4 T cells also resolved shedding but more time and cells were required. Together, these results establish CD4 T cells as effectors of protection against rotavirus after intranasal immunization of mice with VP6 and LT(R192G).
Serial Recombination during Circulation of Type 1 Wild-Vaccine Recombinant Polioviruses in China

ABSTRACT Type 1 wild-vaccine recombinant polioviruses sharing a 367-nucleotide (nt) block of Sabin 1-derived sequence spanning the VP1 and 2A genes circulated widely in China from 1991 to 1993. We surveyed the sequence relationships among 34 wild-vaccine recombinants by comparing six genomic intervals: the conserved 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) (nt 186 to 639), the hypervariable portion of the 5′-UTR (nt 640 to 742), the VP4 and partial VP2 genes (nt 743 to 1176), the VP1 gene (nt 2480 to 3385), the 2A gene (nt 3386 to 3832), and the partial 3D gene (nt 6011 to 6544). The 5′-UTR, capsid (VP4-VP2 and VP1), and 2A sequence intervals had similar phylogenies. By contrast, the partial 3D sequences could be distributed into five divergent genetic classes. Most (25 of 34) of the wild-vaccine recombinant isolates showed no evidence of additional recombination beyond the initial wild-Sabin recombination event. Eight isolates from 1992 to 1993, however, appear to be derived from three independent additional recombination events, and one 1993 isolate was derived from two consecutive events. Complete genomic sequences of a representative isolate for each 3D sequence class demonstrated that these exchanges had occurred in the 2B, 2C, and 3D genes. The 3D gene sequences were not closely related to those of the Sabin strains or 53 diverse contemporary wild poliovirus isolates from China, but all were related to the 3D genes of species C enteroviruses. The appearance within approximately 2.5 years of five recombinant classes derived from a single ancestral infection illustrates the rapid emergence of new recombinants among circulating wild polioviruses.
Observations on ouabain binding and membrane phosphorylation by the sodium pump

A study has been made of ouabain binding and the formation of phosphoprotein from ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) with plasma membranes from rabbit and guinea-pig kidney cortex. The aim of the work was first to see whether apparently conflicting results in the literature arise from membranes being prepared by different methods and, secondly, to evaluate the results in relation to the Na pump mechanism. Three different methods were used to prepare membranes, types A, Au and B. The preparations differed markedly when ouabain binding was supported by Mg alone both in the amount bound and in the affinity. Mgdependent binding was influenced by 1 mM Pi but the extent of stimulation varied according to the preparations. The main effect of Pi was to decrease the equilibrium dissociation constant marginally for type A membranes but eightfold for type B membranes. In contrast, the maximum number of binding sites was little affected. The membrane affinity for ouabain in relation to Mg and Pi therefore depended on the method of preparation. In the reaction with Mg-ATP, type Au and B membranes were both phosphorylated to about the same extent. On the other hand, they reacted differently with Pi, type B membranes being phosphorylated (in the presence of Mg and ouabain) to the same extent as with ATP, whereas under the same conditions, type Au membranes gave only 15 % of the phosphorylation found with ATP. The phosphoprotein, however formed, whether from ATP or Pi, or type Au or type B membranes, migrated in the same way on gel electrophoresis to give a relative molecular mass of approximately 90000. With each preparation, over a tenfold range of ATPase activity, there was a constant value of 1.2 in the ratio of the maximum phosphorylation by ATP compared with the maximum number of ouabain-binding sites. These results show that membranes prepared in different ways exhibit some consistent properties of the Na pump but also striking anomalies. In view of likely morphological differences in the preparations, it is concluded that the inconsistent features, notably the responses to Mg and Pi, are an unreliable guide to the pump mechanism.
Framework for Understanding Intercultural Perspective Taking in Operational Settings

Abstract : Intercultural perspective taking (IPT) has been proposed as a critical component in cross-cultural competence models. Yet, virtually no research has examined IPT in operational settings. The research reviewed the extensive literature on perspective taking and the individual, relational, and situational variables that appear to influence it. The findings from the review guided the design of tailored cognitive interview protocols and a coding scheme. Interviews were conducted with U.S. Soldiers and the transcripts were analyzed both at the fragment level and holistically. The findings were synthesized into a framework that characterizes important aspects of IPT in operational settings. The framework has six components: Activation, IPT Processes, Targets Perspective, Application, Outcomes, and Reflection. The framework can help guide future efforts to facilitate understanding of IPT across the research community and can also serve as a common reference for the development community to direct training and assessment initiatives.
Primary biliary cirrhosis with additional features of autoimmune hepatitis: Response to therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid

Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may have additional features of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Corticosteroids usually contraindicated in PBC have been advocated for these patients. Patients with antimitochondrial antibody (AMA)‐positive PBC from two previous randomized, controlled trials were assessed for features of AIH. Their biochemical, immunologic, and histologic responses to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) versus placebo were compared with those without AIH features. The survival of patients testing positive or negative for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) was also examined. Features of AIH were defined by the presence of 2 or more of the following: 1) alanine transaminase (ALT) > 5× the upper limit of normal (ULN); 2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) > 2× ULN or positive anti‐smooth muscle antibody (ASMA); and 3) moderate to severe lobular inflammation on pretreatment liver biopsy. Testing for AMA, ASMA, and ANA was done by immunofluorescence. The change in serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), transaminases, IgM, and IgG from baseline to 2 years was compared. Of the 331 patients randomized, 16 (4.8%) had features of AIH (12 UDCA, 4 placebo). The median percent change in serum biochemistry and immunoglobulin values were similar in patients with PBC ± features of AIH after 2 years of therapy with UDCA. Over 2 years, little change in histologic features of AIH was observed. Survival was similar for patients with PBC with and without ANA. In conclusion, features of AIH in PBC may be transient and response to UDCA therapy similar to patients with PBC without features of AIH.
Incidence of childhood cancer in La Plata, Argentina, 1977–1987

Incidence data on malignant tumors in children aged 0–14 for the period 1977–87 were calculated in La Plata, Argentina. The number of children living in La Plata was 151,085. The overall incidence of malignant tumors was 106.5 per million (127.4 for males and 83.4 for females). Leukemia (30.5%), lymphoma (15.2%) and central nervous system (14.1%) comprised 60% of all tumors. The relative frequency of histologic types was similar to the pattern recognized in other countries of Latin America and different from that reported in North America and Europe where brain tumors rank second. A high incidence of orchioblastoma (infantile embryonal carcinoma) present in this survey can only be substantiated after a longer period of study.
Mitochondrial damage modulates alternative splicing in neuronal cells: implications for neurodegeneration

Mitochondrial damage is linked to many neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These diseases are associated with changes in the splicing pattern of individual mRNAs. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial damage modulates alternative splicing, not only of a few mRNAs, but in a general manner. We incubated cultured human neuroblastoma cells with the chemical agent paraquat (a neurotoxin that interferes with mitochondrial function, causing energy deficit and oxidative stress) and analysed the splicing pattern of 13 genes by RT‐PCR. For all mRNAs that are alternatively spliced, we observed a dose‐ and time‐dependent increase of the smaller isoforms. In contrast, splicing of all constitutive splicing exons that we monitored did not change. Using other drugs, we show that the modulation of alternative splicing correlates with ATP depletion, not with oxidative stress. Such drastic changes in alternative splicing are not observed in cell lines of non‐neuronal origin, suggesting a selective susceptibility of neuronal cells to modulation of splicing. As a significant percentage of all mammalian mRNAs undergo alternative splicing, we predict that mitochondrial failure will unbalance a vast number of isoform equilibriums, which would give an important contribution to neurodegeneration.
Sertraline in children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder: an open trial.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this open-label study was to assess the therapeutic benefits, response pattern, and safety of sertraline in children with social anxiety disorder. METHOD Fourteen outpatient subjects with a primary Axis I diagnosis of social anxiety disorder were treated in an 8-week open trial of sertraline. Diagnostic and primary outcome measures included the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children, Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI), Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children, and a standardized behavioral avoidance test. RESULTS As measured by the CGI (Improvement subscale), 36% (5/14) of subjects were classified as treatment responders and 29% (4/14) as partial responders by the end of the 8-week trial. A significant clinical response appeared by week 6. Self-report and behavioral measures showed significant clinical improvement into normal range across all domains measured. The mean dose of sertraline was 123.21+/-37.29 mg per day. Sertraline was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION In open treatment, sertraline resulted in significant improvement in symptoms of childhood social anxiety disorder. Absolute response rates varied depending on rating scales used. Findings from this study are sufficiently strong to warrant a future multisite, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sertraline for treatment of childhood social anxiety disorder.
IL-1 Receptor-Mediated Signal Is an Essential Component of MyD88-Dependent Innate Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

MyD88, the common adapter involved in TLR, IL-1, and IL-18 receptor signaling, is essential for the control of acute Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Although TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 have been implicated in the response to mycobacteria, gene disruption for these TLRs impairs only the long-term control of MTB infection. Here, we addressed the respective role of IL-1 and IL-18 receptor pathways in the MyD88-dependent control of acute MTB infection. Mice deficient for IL-1R1, IL-18R, or Toll-IL-1R domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) were compared with MyD88-deficient mice in an acute model of aerogenic MTB infection. Although primary MyD88-deficient macrophages and dendritic cells were defective in cytokine production in response to mycobacterial stimulation, IL-1R1-deficient macrophages exhibited only a reduced IL-12p40 secretion with unaffected TNF, IL-6, and NO production and up-regulation of costimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86. Aerogenic MTB infection of IL-1R1-deficient mice was lethal within 4 wk with 2-log higher bacterial load in the lung and necrotic pneumonia but efficient pulmonary CD4 and CD8 T cell responses, as seen in MyD88-deficient mice. Mice deficient for IL-18R or TIRAP controlled acute MTB infection. These data demonstrate that absence of IL-1R signal leads to a dramatic defect of early control of MTB infection similar to that seen in the absence of MyD88, whereas IL-18R and TIRAP are dispensable, and that IL-1, together with IL-1-induced innate response, might account for most of MyD88-dependent host response to control acute MTB infection.
VoIP Security

As new technology just has been developed, there may be many problems that we need to solve the problem over time by time. VoIP is the same.VoIP is good in every aspect though it only has one problem : VoIP security. Security is meant to define the many potential security threats to VoIP deployments, services, and end users. Part of the challenge of devising effective VoIP security protections requires identifying these threats in the first place.
RECTUS FEMORIS MUSCLE VOLUME ESTIMATE BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Imaging techniques allow in vivo measurement of parameters studied in vitro or ex vivo and thus greater reliability regarding muscle mechanics in real situations. Some muscle architecture parameters are directly related to force production, mainly the volume. It can be estimated by the sum of segmental volumes (product of the sum of crosssectional areas and the distance between them) of sequential images obtained from magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasound has also been used to obtain the volume utilizing regression equations or the same method as in magnetic resonance images. However, the prolonged time for acquisition and processing many images can be a limiting factor. Therefore, this paper presents a model based on the Cavalieri ́s principle to estimate the rectus femoris volume. Different estimations of a phantom volume were performed with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 cross-sectional images to define a protocol with the minimum number of images sufficient for a reliable estimate. The 4 slices prediction approached the experimental value with a mean error of 1.12%.
Design of an energy-efficient routing protocol for a corona-based wireless sensor network

An energy-efficient routing protocol with static clustering and dynamic structure (ERP-SCDS) is proposed in this paper by utilizing virtual points in a corona-based wireless sensor network. To avoid a deadlock when old cluster heads die, next-round cluster heads are selected in advance. Besides, a simple relay node selection mechanism is further designed for ERP-SCDS. Illustrated by simulation results, the superiority of ERP-SCDS over some closely related protocols in the literature is successfully shown.
Current status of salivary hormone analysis.

BACKGROUND Saliva, which offers a noninvasive and stress-free alternative to plasma and serum, is a widely accepted sample source for analysis of steroids and also of certain amines and peptides. In recent years, numerous publications have described the use of salivary hormone analysis in many fields of clinical and basic research. CONTENT This review provides an overview of the current applications of salivary hormone analysis. A description of the different modes of hormone entry into saliva is followed by a detailed description of analytical methods and approaches for reliable collection of saliva, including several interesting applications in diverse fields including psychiatry, stress research, clinical endocrinology, sports medicine, and veterinary medicine. SUMMARY Although saliva has not yet become a mainstream sample source for hormone analysis, it has proven to be reliable and, in some cases, even superior to other body fluids. Nevertheless much effort will be required for this approach to receive acceptance over the long term, especially by clinicians. Such effort includes the development of specific and standardized analytical tools, the establishment of defined reference intervals, and implementation of round-robin trials. One major problem, the lack of compliance sometimes seen in outpatient saliva donors, requires strict standardization of both collection and analysis methods to achieve better comparability and assessment of published salivary hormone data.
Resonant kink-impurity interactions in the phi4 model.

We study kink-impurity interactions in the O 4 model, extending our previous results [Zhang Fei, Y. Kivshar, and L. Vazquez, Phys. Rev. A 45, 6019 (1992)] to the case where the kink has an internal degree of freedom which may be excited due to scattering. We demonstrate numerically that the kink may be reflected by an attractive impurity when its velocity lies in some windows, and this effect is due to a resonant energy exchange betrveen the kink translational mode, its internal mode, and the impurity mode
Long-Term Treatment of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes by Continuous Insulin Minipump in the Syrian Hamster

It is difficult to normalize plasma glucose for a prolonged period of time by SC injection in experimental animals. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility and the dosage of insulin needed to maintain 24-h normoglycemia in streptozotocin-diabetic Syrian hamsters with a SC-implanted osmotic minipump. The pumps, which release insulin at a constant rate, were replaced every 14 days with fresh pumps for as long as 52 days. A high insulin dose (1 U/kg/h) was required to normalize plasma glucose and fatty acid concentrations, water and food consumption, urine output, and body weight.
Sleeping sickness diagnosis: use of buffy coats improves the sensitivity of the mini anion exchange centrifugation test

Objectives To evaluate a modification of the mini anion exchange centrifugation test (mAECT) for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). To increase its sensitivity, this test uses 350 μl of buffy coat withdrawn from 5 ml of blood instead of blood.
The antibody response to smallpox vaccination as measured by a tissue culture plaque method.

The measurement of neutralizing antibody response to smallpox vaccination by various test systems has been unsatisfactory because small amounts of residual, uncombined virus can multiply and obscure the result. This can be avoided by use of a tissue culture plaque technique which immobilizes the spread of residual active virus. It has been found that a successful primary vaccination elicits a uniformly good response as measured by both neutralization and hemagglutination-inhibition. In contrast, revaccination provokes a greater elevation in the neutralizing titer and this rise appears to be related to the circulating antibody level at the time of revaccination.