Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infection with an intestinal helminth parasite reduces Freund's complete adjuvant-induced monoarthritis in mice.

OBJECTIVE Assessment of infection with helminth parasites in murine models of disease could identify antiinflammatory mechanisms that translate into treatments for arthritic disease. The aim of this study was to test the ability of infection with the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta to ameliorate Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA)-induced monoarthritis in mice. METHODS Mice received CFA with or without H diminuta, and knee swelling, pain, and measures of inflammation were assessed. RESULTS Injection of CFA resulted in rapid (within 24 hours) and sustained (lasting 20 days) knee swelling, a decreased pain threshold, increased blood flow to the knee, and increased production of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40). In mice that were infected with H diminuta 8 days prior to receiving CFA, the severity of arthritis was reduced as assessed by these indices of inflammation and infection 2 days after CFA injection and resulted in more rapid resolution of knee swelling. This antiarthritic effect required a viable infection and was dependent on adaptive immunity, because infection with H diminuta did not protect mice lacking T cells and B cells or the IL-4 receptor α chain from CFA-induced inflammation. Interleukin-10 was of prime importance in the antiarthritic effect, because IL-10-knockout mice were not protected by infection, the antiarthritic effect was ablated by use of neutralizing IL-10 antibodies, and transfer of CD4+ cells from infected wild-type mice but not IL-10-knockout mice significantly reduced CFA-induced knee swelling. CONCLUSION In mice, the adaptive immune response to infection with H diminuta involves mobilization of IL-10, which has the concomitant advantage of dampening the innate immune responses that drive CFA-induced joint inflammation.
Genetic Transformation of Transcription Factor (35S-oshox4) Gene into Rice Genome and Transformant Analysis of hpt Gene by PCR and Hygromycin Resistance Test

Global warming, climate change and crop extensification in marginal dryland areas are related to long dry season and waterdeficit. The water availability is an important factor in improving plant production. Application of drought tolerant rice cultivars is one of several options that might be used. Genetic engineering at the level of transcription factors is particularly promising strategy to develop drought tolerant rice varieties. Transcription factors regulate a wide range of target genes in which of them contribute to stress tolerance. HD Zip genes are transcription factor that potential in the adaptation of plants to some environment stresses including water deficit. HD-ZIP oshox4 (oryza sativa homeobox) gene controlled by 35S promotor is inserted into pCAMBIA 1300 vector with hpt (hygromycin) gene as a selectable marker. The aim of this research is to obtain transgenic rice plant from transformation with 35S-oshox4 plasmid, segregation analysis of marker gene (hpt) by PCR method at T0 and T1 generation, and hygromycin resistance analysis of seeds. Recombinant plasmid was transformed into rice genome of IRAT 112 and rojolele cultivars using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The results showed thattransformation efficiency of IRAT 112 was 5.7-13.6% and 26-66,7% for rojolele. While regeneration efficiency for IRAT 112 is 4.7-43.7% and 23-44.1% for rojolele. The result of hygromycin resistance test at T1 seeds were obtained 14 lines cv. rojolele segregation Mendelian for hpt gene. The PCR analysis using specific primers for hpt gene at the parent (T0) from 14 lines showed that 7 lines contain the gene. At the second generation (T1), PCR analysis using hpt primers showed that 3 from 4 lines were followed Mendelian segregation pattern by the presence of specific band.Key words: HD-Zip oshox (oryza sativa homeobox), 35S-oshox4, hpt, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, PCR.
On the choice of checkpoint interval using memory usage profile and adaptive time series analysis

This paper presents a new checkpoint scheme that utilizes the memory usage profile and time series analysis for low-overhead checkpoint. The proposed checkpoint scheme checks current and future checkpoint overhead based on the on the changes of the memory size and the expected checkpoint overhead using memory profile and adaptive time series analysis when it decides whether or not to take a checkpoint. Unlike the previous works that do not utilize the memory usage profile, it is possible to reduce the total overhead of the execution time. We also present experimental results which show that the checkpoint overhead of the proposed scheme is reduced compared with the previously developed checkpoint scheme.
Synchronization of flashing electronic oscillators

A system of flashing electronic oscillators exhibiting highly nontrivial synchronization is built and studied. The electronic oscillators are capable of detecting the ambient light intensity and for emitting light pulses in various modes. A simple optimization rule drives the system. Whenever the light intensity detected by an oscillator is lower than a critical f∗ value, the oscillator chooses an operation mode that increases the ambient light intensity. In contrary, when the light intensity detected by the oscillator is smaller than f∗ the oscillators operate in a mode that decreases the ambient light intensity. As a result of this simple optimization rule an unexpected synchronization of the emitted pulses appears for a given f∗ interval. Our experimental results confirm the earlier computer simulation predictions.
A Kalman filter for the navigation of remotely operated vehicles

A Kalman based asynchronous data fusion algorithm for the navigation of a tethered remotely operated underwater vehicle is presented. Using a non-linear dynamic simulation of the tethered ROV system, the performance of the Kalman filter is measured for various motion sensor combinations. The sensor suite tested includes a Doppler velocity log, fiber-optic gyrocompass, depth sensor and an ultra-short baseline position system. Provided the gyrocompass functions properly, the study shows that an extended Kalman filter which uses a complete model of the ROV, including, drag, tether and thruster effects, does outperform a constant velocity model in instances of sensor drop out. The positioning error is reduced by 20% in these instances. It is found that the ultra-short baseline system is the driving factor in the smoothness of the results.
Prevalence of food insecurity and associated factors in households covered by the Family Health Strategy in Teresina-PI , Brazil , 2012-2013

Objective: to analyze food insecurity prevalence and associated factors with socioeconomic and demographic factors among families assisted by the Family Health Strategy in Teresina-PI, Brazil. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2012-2013, with 323 families, whose heads answered the questionnaires. Results: the prevalence of low food insecurity was 35.6% low, 16.1% moderate and 13.3% severe; association was found with (i) low food insecurity and masonry-built houses (OR=0.57; 95%CI=0.32;0.99); (ii) moderate food insecurity and lower per capita income (OR=6.17; 95%CI=1.79;21.21), masonry-built house (OR=0.34; 95%CI=0.16;0.72) and the father not being the household head (OR=0.027; 95%CI=0.09;0.81); and (iii) severe food insecurity and lower per capita income (OR=3.52; 95%CI=1.02;12.74), household with greater number of rooms (OR=3.65; 95%CI=1.31;10.15), the father not being the household head (OR=0.19; 95%CI=0.06;0.57) and being a beneficiary of the income transfer Programme (OR=4.10; 95%CI=1.13; 14.90). Conclusion: food insecurity prevalence was high and showed association with socioeconomic and demographic factors.
Nucleotide sequence-based identification of a novel circovirus of canaries

Circovirus-like, spherical particles measuring 16 to 18 nm in diameter were detected in organ homogenates from adult canaries that had died after a short illness characterized by dullness, anorexia, lethargy and feather disorder. A polymerase chain reaction method, based on degenerate primers specific to conserved amino acid sequences in the circovirus replication-associated protein, was used to amplify DNA specific to a novel circovirus, tentatively named canary circovirus (CCV). Sequence analysis of a 510 nucleotide genomic fragment indicated that CCV exhibited 67.4, 64.9, 53.7 and 53.9% nucleotide identities and 70.0, 61.8, 40.4 and 40.1% amino acid identities with columbid (pigeon) circovirus (CoCV), beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), porcine circovirus type 1 and porcine circovirus type 2, respectively. CCV therefore represents a new avian virus of the genus Circovirus of the family Circoviridae, and is more closely related to CoCV than BFDV.The availability of nucleotide sequence data will facilitate the development of DNA-detecting diagnostics with which the prevalence of CCV infections can be assessed.
Lidocaine and Octanol Have Different Modes of Action at Tetrodotoxin-Resistant Na+ Channels of Peripheral Nerves

Local anesthetics and alcohols block impulse conduction in peripheral nerves by inhibiting Na+ currents. In small peripheral nerve fibers, tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-r) Na+ channels play an important role in impulse generation. We investigated the effects of lidocaine and the alcohol octanol on TTX-r Na+ channels. Currents were recorded with the whole-cell patch-clamp method from enzymatically isolated rat dorsal root ganglion cells (data evaluation: nonlinear least-squares fitting). Lidocaine and octanol blocked the TTX-r Na+ current in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner (50% inhibitory concentration values: 177 ± 25 and 455 ± 25 &mgr;M, respectively). Lidocaine additionally produced a strong use-dependent block. Both drugs showed a strong dynamic block (i.e., block developed during the time course of current activation and inactivation). Double-pulse protocols showed a slow dissociation of lidocaine from the channel during repolarization (time constant: 1763 ± 63 ms; 300 &mgr;M). The dissociation of octanol was too quick to be distinguished from normal current repriming kinetics of 2.2 ms. Lidocaine and octanol acted noncompetitively in the Na+ channel. Lidocaine and octanol have different blocking properties on the TTX-r Na+ current and bind to different channel sites.
Regulation of immunoglobulin D synthesis in murine neonatal B lymphocytes

We analyzed the regulatory basis for the lower expression of immunoglobulin D (IgD) in lymphocytes from neonatal mice of various ages. The results indicate that the relative transcriptional rate of RNA for delta chains is similar to adult levels even in cells which have not started to express IgD. These results suggest that very early after the initiation of mu gene transcription, a defined fraction of polymerases is programmed to progress through the termination site to the delta exons regardless of the developmental stage of the cell. Similar results were obtained from adult CBA/N mice whose spleens contain a large fraction of cells expressing low levels of IgD. On the other hand, the relative steady state level of mRNA in neonatal lymphocytes is approximately half of that in adults, suggesting that there may be differences in the processing or stability of the nascent transcript. In addition, measurements of the in vivo translation rate show that an inefficient delta polypeptide chain processing machinery in neonatal lymphocytes is also an important factor contributing to the reduced expression of IgD.
Chiral separations in capillary electrophoresis using proteins as stereoselective binding agents

Proteins are receiving increased attention in capillary electrophoresis (CE) for use as ligands in chiral separations. This review examines the types of proteins that have been employed in CE for the analysis of chiral compounds and provides a summary of applications for such an approach. Several formats for this type of analysis are discussed, including methods that use immobilized proteins (i.e., affinity capillary electrochromatography and capillary gel affinity electrophoresis) or techniques that use proteins as running buffer additives (i.e., affinity capillary electrophoresis). The role of various experimental factors in these separations are considered, and a comparison is made between the general analytical properties of CE systems that use immobilized versus solution‐phase proteins.
Design of wide-area SVC controller with H∞ loop-shaping technique for low frequency oscillation damping

Low frequency oscillations with growing amplitude can be a threat to secure operation of power system. Such oscillatory behaviour can be dealt with proper design of supplementary controller with the best input signal. This paper presents a design of supplementary controller for static Var compensator (SVC) using H∞ loop-shaping technique to damp low frequency, in particular inter-area oscillations. This design technique uses a normalised coprime factor approach for robust stabilization of the system. Proper feedback signal from the available measurements across the system plays vital role on the damping performance of the designed controller. The residue analysis is used to select the best feedback signal. Effect of local as well as global signal on the performance of the designed controller is compared. Eigenvalue analysis and time-domain simulations are used to demonstrate the effect of decentralized and centralized SVC controller on dynamic behaviour of an IEEE benchmark two-area power system.
Applying IFRS in Germany: Determinants and Consequences

We address three research questions motivated by the recent ascent of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Europe. First, analyzing the determinants of voluntary IFRS adoption by publicly traded German firms during the period 1998-2004, we find that size, international exposure, dispersion of ownership, and recent IPOs are important drivers. Second, using the results from this determinant model to construct propensity score-matched samples of IFRS and German-GAAP (HGB) firms, we document significant differences in terms of earnings quality: IFRS firms have more persistent, less predictable and more conditionally conservative earnings. Third, analyzing information asymmetry differences between IFRS and HGB firms, we show that IFRS adopters experience a decline in bid-ask spread of 70 base points and an average of 17 more days with price changes per year. On the other hand, IFRS adopter's stock prices seem to be more volatile. In the light of some important limitations of our study, we discuss IFRS-related research opportunities in post-2005 Europe.
Performance of UWB systems in the presence of severe multipath and narrowband interference

This paper is a companion to D. Gupta et al. (2008). The primary objective is to motivate the need for interference rejection by analyzing the bit-error-rate performance of the frequency-shifted reference UWB system by D. Goeckel (2007) in the presence of a single sinusoidal interferer. Numerical simulations are then carried out to validate the interference rejection mechanism proposed by D. Gupta et al (2008).
Constitutive Mutations of the Salmonella entericaSerovar Typhimurium Transcriptional Virulence RegulatorphoP

ABSTRACT The PhoP-PhoQ two-component system is necessary for the virulence of Salmonella spp. and is responsible for regulating several modifications of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mutagenesis of the transcriptional regulator phoP resulted in the identification of a mutant able to activate transcription of regulated genes ∼100-fold in the absence of PhoQ. Sequence analysis showed two single-base alterations resulting in amino acid changes at positions 93 (S93N) and 203 (Q203R). These mutations were individually created, and although each resulted in a constitutive phenotype, the double mutant displayed a synergistic effect both in the induction of PhoP-activated gene expression and in resistance to antimicrobial peptides. The constitutive phoP gene was placed under the control of an arabinose-inducible promoter to examine the kinetics of PhoP-activated gene induction and the resultant modifications of LPS. Gene induction and 2-hydroxymyristate modification of the lipid A were shown to occur within minutes of the addition of arabinose and to peak at 4 h. As the first constitutive mutant of phoP identified, this allele will be invaluable to future genetic and biochemical studies of this and likely other regulatory systems.
Increased Corticospinal Excitability and Muscular Activity in a Lower Limb Reaction Task under Psychological Pressure

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of psychological pressure on corticospinal excitability, the spinal reflex, lower limb muscular activity, and reaction times during a task involving dominant leg movements. Ten healthy participants performed a simple reaction time task by raising the heel of their dominant foot from a switch. After 20 practice trials, participants performed 20 non-pressure and 20 pressure trials in a counterbalanced order. A combination of pressure manipulations, including reward and penalty by monetary incentives, was used in the pressure trials. Stress responses were successfully induced, as indexed by significant increases in state anxiety, mental effort, and heart rates under pressure. Significant increases in motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude of the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) occurred under pressure. In terms of task-related electromyography (EMG) amplitude, the co-contraction rate between the soleus (SOL) and TA muscles significantly increased along with SOL and TA EMG amplitudes under pressure. Hoffmann reflexes for SOL and reaction times did not change under pressure. These results indicate that corticospinal excitability and leg muscle-related EMG activity increase homogeneously during lower limb movements that are performed under psychological pressure.
Development of singular solutions to the axisymmetric Euler equations

A variety of initially smooth axisymmetric flows with swirl are simulated with a variable mesh, finite‐difference code with particular attention paid to the production of large (divergent) vorticity. Away from the symmetry axis, the evolution is entirely consistent with expectations based on the isomorphism with two‐dimensional convection. Vortex sheets form on the leading face of ‘‘plumes’’ and their trailing edges roll up. When a ‘‘plume’’ begins to fission, a cusp develops at the cleavage point via a Rayleigh–Taylor‐like instability and the maximum (three‐dimensional) vorticity diverges, approximately, as inverse time squared. For technical reasons, the Boussinesq approximation was employed for this part of the simulation which observed, overall, a 106 increase in vorticity. The diverging strain was generated progressively more locally, justifying the approximation. Analytic estimates are provided which significantly constrain the singular solutions.
CYP21 gene mutations in Brazilian patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency from the Amazon region

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (P450c21, CYP21) accounts for about 95% of all CAH cases. The incidence of CYP21 gene mutations has been extensively studied in the last years, but in Brazil it has been investigated only in Southeast Brazilian patients. This study is the first report on the distribution of CYP21 mutations in patients from the Amazon region. Direct sequencing of the CYP21 gene identified at least one mutation in 96% of the studied chromosomes. The most common mutations found were IVS2-13A/C > G (36%), Q318X (12%), V281L (12%), 1760_1761insT (9%), Cluster E6 (7%), and P30L (7%). The worldwide most common mutations were identified among patients from the Amazon region at frequencies that may be expected for a population resulting from the admixture of Europeans (predominantly Portuguese), African Blacks and Amerindians, in proportions that differ from those estimated for South Brazilian populations. Interethnic mixture may explain the differences in the frequencies of some mutations between Brazilian patients from the Amazon and from the Southeast of the country. However, the differences found may also be due to variation in the number of patients with the different clinical forms of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in the studies carried out so far.
Effects of alendronate on the removal torque of implants in rats with induced osteoporosis.

PURPOSE In this study, the removal torques of commercially pure titanium Implants that had been implanted simultaneously with the start of treatment for osteoporosis were compared to those of a group without treatment and a healthy group. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rats treated by ovariectomy or sham surgery at the age of 12 weeks were used. Twenty-eight days after surgery, the rats treated by ovariectomy were divided into an alendronate-treated group and an untreated (ovariectomy-control) group. At the start of administration of alendronate, a titanium implant was placed in the distal metaphysis of the femur. After 1 month of administration of alendronate and a vehicle, removal torque, the percentage of bone-implant contact (BIC), and parameters of treatment using alendronate were measured. RESULTS The removal torque values were 10.1 +/- 1.6 Ncm for the group of osteoporotic rats that had been administered alendronate and 6.4 +/- 1.0 Ncm for the group of osteoporotic rats that did not receive alendronate, indicating that the removal torque was significantly higher in the former group than in the latter group. However, there was no significant difference between the alendronate-treated group and the healthy control group (ie, sham surgery) (9.3 +/- 1.3 Ncm). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION These results suggested that implant placement together with treatment of osteoporosis is possible in the ovariectomized rat model.
Basolateral Localization of Fiber Receptors Limits Adenovirus Infection from the Apical Surface of Airway Epithelia*

Recent identification of two receptors for the adenovirus fiber protein, coxsackie B and adenovirus type 2 and 5 receptor (CAR), and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I α-2 domain allows the molecular basis of adenoviral infection to be investigated. Earlier work has shown that human airway epithelia are resistant to infection by adenovirus. Therefore, we examined the expression and localization of CAR and MHC Class I in an in vitro model of well differentiated, ciliated human airway epithelia. We found that airway epithelia express CAR and MHC Class I. However, neither receptor was present in the apical membrane; instead, both were polarized to the basolateral membrane. These findings explain the relative resistance to adenovirus infection from the apical surface. In contrast, when the virus was applied to the basolateral surface, gene transfer was much more efficient because of an interaction of adenovirus fiber with its receptors. In addition, when the integrity of the tight junctions was transiently disrupted, apically applied adenovirus gained access to the basolateral surface and enhanced gene transfer. These data suggest that the receptors required for efficient infection are not available on the apical surface, and interventions that allow access to the basolateral space where fiber receptors are located increase gene transfer efficiency.