Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1 Effector Proteins SipA, SopB, SopE, and SopE2 in Salmonella enterica Subspecies 1 Serovar Typhimurium Colitis in Streptomycin-Pretreated Mice

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica subspecies 1 serovar Typhimurium (serovar Typhimurium) induces enterocolitis in humans and cattle. The mechanisms of enteric salmonellosis have been studied most extensively in calf infection models. The previous studies established that effector protein translocation into host cells via the Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) type III secretion system (TTSS) is of central importance in serovar Typhimurium enterocolitis. We recently found that orally streptomycin-pretreated mice provide an alternative model for serovar Typhimurium colitis. In this model the SPI-1 TTSS also plays a key role in the elicitation of intestinal inflammation. However, whether intestinal inflammation in calves and intestinal inflammation in streptomycin-pretreated mice are induced by the same SPI-1 effector proteins is still unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the role of the SPI-1 effector proteins SopB/SigD, SopE, SopE2, and SipA/SspA in elicitation of intestinal inflammation in the murine model. We found that sipA, sopE, and, to a lesser degree, sopE2 contribute to murine colitis, but we could not assign an inflammation phenotype to sopB. These findings are in line with previous studies performed with orally infected calves. Extending these observations, we demonstrated that in addition to SipA, SopE and SopE2 can induce intestinal inflammation independent of each other and in the absence of SopB. In conclusion, our data corroborate the finding that streptomycin-pretreated mice provide a useful model for studying the molecular mechanisms of serovar Typhimurium colitis and are an important starting point for analysis of the molecular events triggered by SopE, SopE2, and SipA in vivo.
Altered cobalamin metabolism in Escherichia coli btuR mutants affects btuB gene regulation

Synthesis of the Escherichia coli outer membrane protein BtuB, which mediates the binding and transport of vitamin B12, is repressed when cells are grown in the presence of vitamin B12. Expression of btuB-lacZ fusions was also found to be repressed, and selection for constitutive production of beta-galactosidase in the presence of vitamin B12 yielded mutations at btuR. The btuR locus, at 27.9 min on the chromosome map, was isolated on a 952-base-pair EcoRV fragment, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The BtuR protein was identified in maxicells as a 22,000-dalton polypeptide, as predicted from the nucleotide sequence. Strains mutant at btuR had negligible pools of adenosylcobalamin but did convert vitamin B12 into other derivatives. Although btuB expression in a btuR strain could not be repressed by cyano- or methylcobalamin, it was repressed by adenosylcobalamin. Growth on ethanolamine as the sole nitrogen source requires adenosylcobalamin. btuR mutants grew on ethanolamine but were affected in the length of the lag period before initiation of growth, which suggested that an alternative route for adenosylcobalamin synthesis might exist. No mutations were found that conferred constitutive btuB expression in the presence of adenosylcobalamin. Other genes near btuR may also be involved in cobalamin metabolism, as suggested from the complementation behavior of strains generated by excision of the Tn10 element in btuR. These results indicated that the btuR product is involved in the metabolism of adenosylcobalamin and that this cofactor, or some derivative, controls btuB expression.
Telomerase expression as a predictive marker of radiotherapy response in rectal cancer

Aims: To investigate telomerase as a predictive marker of radiotherapy response in rectal cancer. Methods: Expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT was quantified with reverse transcription PCR in the radioresistant colorectal cancer cell line SW620 following exposure to 5Gy of radiation. Additionally, 52 rectal cancer cases were pre-operatively treated with either the short (n = 19) or long (n = 33) course radiotherapy (SCR, LCR, respectively) regimes, before and after which their hTERT expressions were semi-quantified with immunohistochemistry (IHC). This was correlated with the histological tumour regression in the resected bowel, dichotomised into good and poor responses. Results: SW620 cells expressed gradually increasing levels of hTERT after radiation. hTERT IHC positivity of ⩽75% tumour cells in pre-radiotherapied cancer was the optimal negative cut-off level [sensitivity 63.2%, specificity 45.8%, area under curve (AUC) 0.5362] in predicting good tumour response. As significantly more LCR cases showed good tumour response (p<0.0001), the SCR cases were excluded and AUC re-analysed, which still remained low (0.5357). Conclusions: While our in vitro results suggest that hTERT up-regulation may contribute to radiation resistance of colorectal cancer cells, our in vivo results demonstrated poor ability of hTERT IHC in predicting histological tumour regression in rectal cancer.
A novel apolipoprotein E mutation, E2 (Arg25Cys), in lipoprotein glomerulopathy.

BACKGROUND Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is characterized by intraglomerular lipoprotein thrombosis and high plasma concentrations of apolipoprotein (apo) E. An apo E variant, apo E2 (Arg145Pro) Sendai, was recently identified in three patients with LPG. We detected a novel point mutation in the apo E gene in a patient with LPG, and we characterized the mutant apo E. METHODS The propositus was a 32-year-old male patient on maintenance hemodialysis because of LPG. The mutation was detected by sequencing of genomic DNA from the patient and was confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with Aor51HI. Recombinant apo E2 (Arg25Cys) Kyoto and normal apo E3 were expressed from COS-1 cells. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-binding activities of the variants were determined in an in vitro competition assay. RESULTS The propositus had the apo E phenotype E2/E4, as determined by isoelectric focusing, and the genotype epsilon3/epsilon4, as determined by RFLP with HhaI. Sequence analysis of amplified DNA showed a C to T transition, changing the codon for residue 25 from arginine to cysteine. The proband was a heterozygous carrier for apo E2 (Arg25Cys) Kyoto. A family study showed that the mother was a heterozygous carrier of apo E2 Kyoto and had dysbetalipoproteinemia, but no LPG. The pathophysiological effect of this mutation was investigated in vitro by binding studies of recombinant apo E2 Kyoto to LDL receptors on human fibroblasts. The ability of recombinant apo E2 Kyoto to displace LDL was reduced to 10% compared with recombinant apo E3. CONCLUSIONS Apo E2 (Arg25Cys) Kyoto is a novel mutation of apo E that is etiologically related to LPG. However, our case indicates that the development of LPG may involve other genetic or environmental factors. Furthermore, our data suggest that arginine-25 of apo E plays an important functional role by influencing the receptor-binding ability of apo E.
Bioactive Lupane and Hopane Triterpenes from Lepisanthes senegalensis

Abstract Two lupane and hopane caffeates (1 and 4) and two hopane coumarates (2 and 3) along with eight known compounds (5–12) were isolated from stems and roots of Lepisanthes senegalensis. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. The structure of compound 2 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Triterpenes 1 and 4–6 showed cytotoxicity against the NCI-H187 cell line with IC50 values of 31.5, 28.5, 16.2, and 4.0 µM, respectively. However, these compounds also showed cytotoxicity against Vero cells, with IC50 values of 75.5, 16.6, 8.9, and 5.0 µM, respectively. In addition, compound 6 exhibited a moderate antimalarial activity with an IC50 value of 4.5 µM.
Silver nanorod arrays can distinguish virus strains

There is a critical need for a rapid and reliable means of diagnosing many infectious diseases, including viruses. The current state of the art for viral diagnostics involves one of three methods: immunofluorescent testing of isolated viral preparations; or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a method that uses antibodies linked to an enzyme whose activity can be used for quantitative determination of the antigen with which it reacts; or polymerase chain reaction, a method of amplifying fragments of genetic material so that they can be detected. These viral diagnostic methods are cumbersome, time-consuming, and have limited sensitivity. Nanotechnology-based biosensors, however, may be able to provide direct, rapid, and sensitive detection of infectious agents. Among the biosensing methods being explored in virus research, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has received interest over the past few years due to its ability to detect even single molecules1, 2 at the same time as providing structural and quantitative information about the analytes. It has been used to detect bacteria3 and viruses using either direct spectroscopic characterization or reporter-molecule-sandwich assemblies.4 This remarkable analytical sensitivity has, however, for the most part not translated into the development of practical in situ diagnostic probes.5, 6 The technology has lacked a robust, simple, and reproducible procedure for preparing SERS-active substrates. Many different substrate fabrication methods, such as laser ablation,7 chemical abrasion,8 and deposition of metal colloid hydrosols,9, 10 have been developed, but none solves the problem completely. We recently showed that a silver nanorod array fabricated using oblique-angle deposition (OAD) acts as an extremely sensitive SERS substrate, with enhancement factors greater than 108.11, 12 OAD is a simple physical-vapor-deposition technique that overcomessomeof thedifficultiesanddisadvantagesof thepreviously Figure 1. Two scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) of silver nanorod arrays show (a) a top view of the density of the rods, and (b) a crosssectional view of the uniform slant of the rods.
The Comparative Method Revisited

C studies in biology use an investigative philosophy that many scientists identify as the “comparative method. ” In one sense, for those concerned with evolutionary history, the comparative method provides insights into adaptation by correlating differences among species with ecological factors (Futuyma 1986). In another sense, biologists often study the particular features of one species to learn about some aspect of a second species. C. Barker Jørgensen (2001) reviewed the historical development of a fundamental tenet of the comparative method known as the “August Krogh principle” (AKP) and discussed the influences that both Claude Bernard and August Krogh had on the basic investigative principles of comparative physiology. Many have recognized Bernard as the father of modern physiology (e.g., Fox 2002). His articulation of rigorous research methods and the concept of an “internal environment” ushered in the modern area of experimental physiology. Krogh was a brilliant researcher who specialized in comparative physiology, particularly areas relating to respiration. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1920 for his discovery of the mechanism regulating capillaries in skeletal muscle. Krogh’s (1929a, p. 247, 1929b, p. 202) statement,“For a large number of problems, there will be some animal of choice on which it can be most conveniently studied,” eloquently captured a longstanding postulate of comparative biology. Specifically, Krogh encapsulated the idea, present long before Darwin, that parts or processes that are difficult or impossible to study in one species may be much more accessible in an alternate species. Hans Krebs (1975) formulated the August Krogh principle as “for many problems there is an animal on which it can be most conveniently studied. ” As Jørgensen in his review (2001) pointed out, Krogh did not formulate his principle from scratch, but rather offered an explicit statement of a principle that was already generally accepted within comparative biology. Jørgensen presents an excellent argument for the historical role of Claude Bernard in the formulation of this principle: There are also experiments in which it is proper to choose certain animals which offer favorable arrangements or special susceptibility to certain influences. This is so important that the solution of a physiological problem often depends solely on the appropriate choice of the animal for the experiment so as to make the result clear and searching (Bernard [1865] 1957, p. 123).
Enhanced Hot-Carrier Effects in InAlAs/InGaAs Quantum Wells

Hot-carrier solar cells require absorber materials with restricted carrier thermalization pathways, in order to slow the rate of heat energy dissipation from the carrier population to the lattice, relative to the rate of carrier extraction. Absorber suitability can be characterized in terms of carrier thermalization coefficient (Q). Materials with lower Q generate steady-state hot-carrier populations at lower levels of incident solar power and, therefore, are better able to perform as hot-carrier absorbers. In this study, we evaluate Q = 2.5±0.2 W·K-1 · cm-2 for a In0.52 AlAs/In0.53 GaAs single-quantum-well(QW) heterostructure using photoluminescence spectroscopy. This is the lowest experimentally determined Q value for any material system studied to date. Hot-carrier solar cell simulations, using this material as an absorber yield efficiency ~39% at 2000X, which corresponds to a >5% enhancement over an equivalent single-junction thermal equilibrium device.
Use of the rapid antigen detection test for streptococcus in Primary Care

Introducción: la faringoamigdalitis aguda por Streptococcus pyogenes es uno de los diagnósticos más frecuentes en Pediatría. Para identificarla clínicamente se han propuesto varias escalas de predicción clínica (Centor y Centor modificada por McIsaac), pero para el diagnóstico etiológico se recomienda el uso del test rápido de detección antigénica de estreptococo. Este test tiene una alta sensibilidad y especificidad y es de fácil aplicación. Nuestro estudio tiene como objetivo conocer el uso de este test en la consulta de Pediatría de Atención Primaria de nuestra área de influencia.
A 13.5-mW 5-GHz frequency synthesizer with dynamic-logic frequency divider

The adoption of dynamic dividers in CMOS phase-locked loops for multigigahertz applications allows to reduce the power consumption substantially without impairing the phase noise and the power supply sensitivity of the phase-locked loop (PLL). A 5-GHz frequency synthesizer integrated in a 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS technology demonstrates a total power consumption of 13.5 mW. The frequency divider combines the conventional and the extended true-single-phase-clock logics. The oscillator employs a rail-to-rail topology in order to ensure a proper divider function. This PLL intended for wireless LAN applications can synthesize frequencies between 5.14 and 5.70 GHz in steps of 20 MHz. The reference spurs at 10-MHz offset are as low as -70 dBc and the phase noise is lower than -116 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz over the whole tuning range.
Protective Effects of Isorhamnetin on Cardiomyocytes Against Anoxia/Reoxygenation-induced Injury Is Mediated by SIRT1

Abstract: It has been reported that apoptosis plays a very important role on anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R)-induced injury, and human silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1) can inhibit the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. It has been proved that isorhamnetin (IsoRN), 3′-O-methyl-quecetin, can protect the cardiomyocytes, but the mechanism is still not clear. The aim of the study was to explore whether the protective effects of IsoRN on the cardiomyocytes against the A/R-induced injury are mediated by SIRT1. The effects of IsoRN on cardioprotection against A/R injury in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were monitored by cell viability, the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (&Dgr;&psgr;m), apoptosis, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTP). The effects on protein expression were measured by western blot assay. The results showed that IsoRN can reduce A/R-induced injury by decreasing the level of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase release from the cardiomyocytes, increasing cell viability and expression of SIRT1, reducing the generation of reactive oxygen species, inhibiting opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores and loss of &Dgr;&psgr;m and activation of caspase-3, and decreasing the release of cytochrome c, and reducing apoptosis. In addition, sirtinol, a SIRT1 inhibitor, drastically reduced the protective effects of IsoRN on cardioprotective effects in cardiomocytes. In conclusion, we firstly demonstrated that SIRT1 may be involved in the protective effects of IsoRN on cardiomocytes against the A/R-induced injury.
Research on geometry-based stochastic model for MIMO V2V in cross-junction scenario

In this paper, a Geometry Based Stochastic Model (GBSM) for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) in cross-j unction scenario is presented. A new approach to the problem of the corner scattering is proposed, which makes the model become more random and close to the real channel. Furthermore, the statistical properties of the MIMO V2V channel simulation model, such as the space-time-frequency cross-correlation function (STF-CCF), the two-dimensional spatial cross-correlation function (2D spatial CCF) and the temporal auto-correlation function (ACF) are studied.
Probabilistic Optimal Power Dispatch in Multi-Carrier Networked Microgrids under Uncertainties

A microgrid (MG) is a small-scale version of the power system which makes possible the integration of renewable resources as well as achieving maximum demand side management (DSM) utilization. The future power system will be faced with severe uncertainties owing to penetration of renewable resources. Consequently, the uncertainty assessment of system performance is essential. The conventional energy scheduling in an MG may not be suitable for active distribution networks. Hence, this study focuses on the probabilistic analysis of optimal power dispatch considering economic aspects in a multi-carrier networked microgrid. The aim is to study the impact of uncertain behavior of loads, renewable resources, and electricity market on the optimal management of a multi-carrier networked microgrid. Furthermore, a novel time-based demand side management is proposed in order to reshape the load curve, as well as preventing the excessive use of energy in peak hours. The optimization model is formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear program (MINLP) and is solved using MATLAB and GAMS software. Results show that the energy sharing capability between MCMGs and MCMGs and the main grids as well as utilization of demand side management can decrease operating costs for smart distribution grids.
The pathophysiologic and prognostic significance of acidosis in severe adult malaria

Objective To investigate the pathophysiology and prognostic significance of acidosis in severe adult malaria. Design Cohort study. Setting The intensive care unit of an infectious diseases hospital in southern Vietnam. Patients Three hundred forty-six consecutive adult patients with severe falciparum malaria. Interventions Measurements of baseline venous lactate and pyruvate concentrations and an extensive range of clinical and laboratory variables were made, and patients were followed up carefully until death or discharge from the hospital. Admission arterial blood pH and gas tensions were recorded in 296 patients, and hepatic venous sampling was done in 12 patients. Measurements and Main Results Overall, 198 (67%) patients were acidotic (standard base deficit [SBD], >3.3 mmol/L [n = 196], or arterial Pco2, >45 torr [6 kPa] [n = 3]). Hyperlactatemia (plasma lactate, >4 mmol/L) occurred in 120 (35%) of the 346 patients and was associated significantly with acidosis (p < .0001). The hepatosplanchnic lactate extraction ratio was negatively correlated with mixed venous plasma lactate (r2 = .50;p = .006). Hyperlactatemia, metabolic acidosis (SBD, >3.3), and acidemia (pH <7.35) were strongly positively associated with a fatal outcome (relative risks [95% confidence interval], 4.3 [range, 1.8–10.6], 5.0 [range, 3.0–8.1], and 2.7 [range, 1.8–4.1], respectively). The SBD was the single best clinical or laboratory predictor of fatal outcome. The overall median lactate/pyruvate ratio was raised at 30.6 (range, 20.6–62.3; normal range, <15), suggesting hypoxia and anaerobic glycolysis, and was significantly higher in fatal cases (p < .0001). In an additive multivariate model, the two main independent contributors to metabolic acidosis were plasma creatinine, as a measure of renal dysfunction, and venous plasma lactate, together accounting for 63% of the variance in SBD. In univariate analyses, they contributed 29% and 38%, respectively. Conclusions These results confirm the importance of acidosis in the pathophysiology of severe adult malaria and suggest a multifactorial origin involving tissue hypoxia, liver dysfunction, and impaired renal handling of bicarbonate.
Enhanced expression of IL‐8 in normal human keratinocytes and human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT in vitro after stimulation with contact sensitizers., tolerogens and irritants

Abstract To investigate the interleukin‐8 production of keratinocytes after stimulation in vitro we have used various agents: (i) contact sensi‐tizer (2,4‐dinitrofiuorobenzene, 3‐n‐penladecylcatechol); (ii) tolerogen (5‐methyl‐3‐n‐pentadecylcatechol); (iii) irritant (sodium lauryl sulfate). Interleukin‐8 gene expression was assessed by northern blot hybridization of the total cytoplasmic RNA extracted from subconfluent normal human keratinocyte cultures and the keratinocyte cell line HaCaT using a radiolabeled DNA probe specific for human interleukin‐8. Intcrleukin‐8 gene expression was markedly increased upon in vitro stimulation after 1‐6 h with contact sensitizers, tolerogen and the irritant. In contrast, in‐terlcukin‐8 production was not detectable in unstimulatcd normal human keratinocytes or the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. These results suggest that the induction and production of interleukin‐8 is a response to nonspecific stimuli and may play a critical role in the early response to immuno‐genic or inflammatory signals in man.
Molecular dynamics simulations of concentrated aqueous electrolyte solutions

Transport properties of concentrated electrolytes have been analysed using classical molecular dynamics simulations with the algorithms and parameters typical of simulations describing complex electrokinetic phenomena. The electrical conductivity and transport numbers of electrolytes containing monovalent (KCl), divalent (MgCl2), a mixture of both (KCl+MgCl2) and trivalent (LaCl3) cations have been obtained from simulations of the electrolytes in electric fields of different magnitude. The results obtained for different simulation parameters have been discussed and compared with experimental measurements of our own and from the literature. The electroosmotic flow of water molecules induced by the ionic current in different cases has been calculated and interpreted with the help of the hydration properties extracted from the simulations.