Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple Copies of flhDC in Paraburkholderia unamae Regulate Flagellar Gene Expression, Motility, and Biofilm Formation

Motility is important in the colonization of plant roots by beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, with flagella playing essential roles in host cell adhesion, entrance, and biofilm formation. Flagellar biosynthesis is energetically expensive. ABSTRACT FlhDC is a heterohexameric complex that acts as a master regulator of flagellar biosynthesis genes in numerous bacteria. Previous studies have identified a single flhDC operon encoding this complex. However, we found that two flhDC loci are present throughout Paraburkholderia, and two additional flhC copies are also present in Paraburkholderia unamae. Systematic deletion analysis in P. unamae of the different flhDC copies showed that one of the operons, flhDC1, plays the predominant role, with deletion of its genes resulting in a severe inhibition of motility and biofilm formation. Expression analysis using promoter-lacZ fusions and real-time quantitative PCR support the primary role of flhDC1 in flagellar gene regulation, with flhDC2 a secondary contributor. Phylogenetic analysis shows the presence of the flhDC1 and flhDC2 operons throughout Paraburkholderia. In contrast, Burkholderia and other bacteria only carry the copy syntenous with flhDC2. The variations in impact each copy of flhDC has on downstream processes indicate that regulation of FlhDC in P. unamae, and likely other Paraburkholderia species, is regulated at least in part by the presence of multiple copies of these genes. IMPORTANCE Motility is important in the colonization of plant roots by beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, with flagella playing essential roles in host cell adhesion, entrance, and biofilm formation. Flagellar biosynthesis is energetically expensive. Its complex regulation by the FlhDC master regulator is well studied in peritrichous flagella expressing enterics. We report the unique presence throughout Paraburkholderia of multiple copies of flhDC. In P. unamae, the flhDC1 copy showed higher expression and a greater effect on swim motility, flagellar development, and regulation of downstream genes, than the flhDC2 copy that is syntenous to flhDC in Escherichia coli and pathogenic Burkholderia spp. The flhDC genes have evolved differently in these plant-growth-promoting bacteria, giving an additional layer of complexity in gene regulation by FlhDC.
Growth and characterization of Ca 2− x Ae x Al 2 SiO 7 ( Ae = Sr, Ba) piezoelectric single crystals

We report the e ﬀ ects of Sr or Ba substitution on the crystal growth and electrical and mechanical properties of Ca 2 Al 2 SiO 7 (CAS) piezoelectric single crystals, which are suitable for use in high-temperature pressure sensors. Ba was scarcely incorporated in the crystal lattice of CAS. Strontium-substituted CAS single crystal with a nominal chemical composition Ca 0.75 Sr 1.25 Al 2 SiO 7 (CSAS125) was grown by the Czochralski method. Although the piezoelectric modulus d ¤ 31 of CSAS125 is a bit lower than that of the CAS crystal, the rupture strength of the ( XYt )45° rotation cut substrate of CSAS125 crystal was 170 MPa, which was 1.2 times higher than that of CAS crystal. By considering the rupture strength and the apparent piezoelectric d (cid:1) 31 coe ﬃ cient calculated for the crystal rotation cut of CAS crystal, the CSAS125 crystal substrate with a rotation cut of ( XYt )25° was found to indicate a rupture strength of 220 MPa and a piezoelectric d ¤ 31 coe ﬃ cient of approximately 2 pC / N.
Phase 1/2 study of uproleselan added to chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

Uproleselan (GMI-1271) is a novel E-selectin antagonist that disrupts cell survival pathways, enhances chemotherapy response, improves survival in mouse xenograft and syngeneic models, and decreases chemotherapy toxicity in vivo. A phase 1/2 study (NCT02306291) evaluated the safety, tolerability, and anti-leukemic activity of uproleselan (5-20 mg/kg) with MEC (mitoxantrone, etoposide, cytarabine) among patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Among the first 19 patients, no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. The recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) was 10 mg/kg twice daily. An additional 47 patients with R/R AML were treated with uproleselan at the RP2D plus MEC. At the RP2D, the remission rate (complete response [CR]/complete response with incomplete count recovery [CRi]) was 41% (CR 35%) and the median overall survival (OS) was 8.8 months. In a separate cohort, 25 newly diagnosed patients aged ≥60 years received uproleselan at the RP2D plus cytarabine and idarubicin (7+3). In these front-line patients, the CR/CRi rate was 72% (CR 52%) and the median OS was 12.6 months. The addition of uproleselan was associated with low rates of oral mucositis. E‑selectin ligand expression on leukemic blasts was higher in patients with relapsed vs primary refractory AML, and with high-risk cytogenetics and secondary AML in newly diagnosed older patients. In the R/R cohort, E‑selectin expression above 10% was associated with a higher response rate and improved survival. The addition of uproleselan to chemotherapy was well tolerated with high remission rates, low-induction mortality, and low rates of mucositis, providing strong rationale for phase 3 randomized confirmatory studies.
A Contextual Approach to the Psychological Study of Identity Concealment: Examining Direct, Interactive, and Indirect Effects of Structural Stigma on Concealment Motivation Across Proximal and Distal Geographic Levels

Psychological theories of identity concealment locate the ultimate source of concealment decisions within the social environment, yet most studies have not explicitly assessed stigmatizing environments beyond the immediate situation. We advanced the identity-concealment literature by objectively measuring structural forms of stigma related to sexual orientation (e.g., social policies) at proximal and distal geographic levels. We linked these measures to a new, population-based data set of 502 gay and bisexual men (residing in 44 states and Washington, DC; 269 counties; and 354 cities) who completed survey items about stigma, including identity-concealment motivation. Among gay men, the association between structural stigma and concealment motivation was (a) observed across three levels (city, county, and state), (b) conditional on one’s exposure at another geographic level (participants reported the least motivations to conceal their identity if they resided in both cities and states that were lowest in structural stigma), and (c) mediated by subjective perceptions of greater structural stigma.
Organosulphur phosphorus acid compounds. I: m-sulphophenyl-phosphonic acid

m-Sulphophenylphosphonic acid (2) is a high-temperature-melting (164 o C) and stable solid which has been synthesized from phenylphosphonic acid (1) and sulphur trioxide in the absence of solvent. Fractional precipitation of barium salts followed by ion exchange is a suitable procedure to isolate (2) from the reaction medium. The product has been characterized by i.r. and 31 P, 1 H, and 13 C n.m. r. spectroscopy
Heightened among‐individual variation in life history but not morphology is related to developmental temperature in reptiles

Increases in phenotypic variation under extreme (e.g. novel or stressful) environmental conditions are emerging as a crucial process through which evolutionary adaptation can occur. Lack of prior stabilizing selection, as well as potential instability of developmental processes in these environments, may lead to a release of phenotypic variation that can have important evolutionary consequences. Although such patterns have been shown in model study organisms, we know little about the generality of trait variance across environments for non‐model organisms. Here, we test whether extreme developmental temperatures increase the phenotypic variation across diverse reptile taxa. We find that the among‐individual variation in a key life‐history trait (post‐hatching growth) increases at extreme cold and hot temperatures. However, variations in two measures of hatchling morphology and in hatchling performance were not related to developmental temperature. Although extreme developmental temperatures may increase the variation in growth, our results suggest that plastic responses to stressful incubation conditions do not generally make more extreme phenotypes available to selection. We discuss the reasons for the general lack of increased variability at extreme incubation temperatures and the implications this has for local adaptation in hatchling morphology and physiology.
Confirmation of Rickettsia conorii Subspecies indica Infection by Next-Generation Sequencing, Shandong, China

We describe 3 similar cases of rickettsial disease that occurred after tick bites in a mountainous rural area of Shandong Province, China. Next-generation sequencing indicated the etiologic agent of 1 patient was Rickettsia conorii subspecies indica. This agent may be more widely distributed across China than previously thought.
Cigarette smokers' perceptions of smoking cessation and associated factors in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES The study explored the perceptions of adult smokers with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases regarding cigarette smoking cessation. We also explored factors that may hinder or facilitate smoking cessation process. DESIGN Qualitative descriptive exploratory design SAMPLE: Purposive sample of 13 adult smokers with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases visiting outpatient cardiac and respiratory clinics at a private tertiary care hospital MEASUREMENTS: In-depth, face-to-face, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim followed by a six steps process of manual thematic analysis of data. RESULTS Meaningful statements were assigned codes and grouped into categories. Categories were clustered under three themes representing individual factors, socio-cultural factors, and institutional factors. CONCLUSIONS Smoking cessation is influenced by personal, cultural, as well as social aspects. Institutionally, there is a need to recognize that smoking is a learned behavior; hence, prohibiting public smoking will potentially contribute to non-smoking behaviors. Although the nature of misconceptions varies, this is imperative to ensure consistency in messaging, programming, and supports led by healthcare professionals.
Alternative splicing regulation of cell-cycle genes by SPF45/SR140/CHERP complex controls cell proliferation

The regulation of pre-mRNA processing has important consequences for cell division and the control of cancer cell proliferation, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. We report that three splicing factors, SPF45, SR140, and CHERP, form a tight physical and functionally coherent complex that regulates a variety of alternative splicing events, frequently by repressing short exons flanked by suboptimal 3′ splice sites. These comprise alternative exons embedded in genes with important functions in cell-cycle progression, including the G2/M key regulator FOXM1 and the spindle regulator SPDL1. Knockdown of either of the three factors leads to G2/M arrest and to enhanced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Promoting the changes in FOXM1 or SPDL1 splicing induced by SPF45/SR140/CHERP knockdown partially recapitulates the effects on cell growth, arguing that the complex orchestrates a program of alternative splicing necessary for efficient cell proliferation.
A simplified frailty score predicts survival and can aid treatment-intensity decisions in older patients with DLBCL

Key Points A simplified frailty score predicts survival and toxicity in older patients with DLBCL and can inform treatment-intensity decisions. Full-dose R-CHOP is not superior to R-miniCHOP in older unfit DLBCL patients, whereas older fit patients likely benefit from full-dose R-CHOP.
Anesthetic choice for arteriovenous access creation: A National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry analysis

Background: We sought to evaluate differences in primary anesthetic type used in arteriovenous access creation with the hypothesis that administration of regional anesthesia and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with local anesthesia as the primary anesthetic has increased over time. Methods: National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry data were retrospectively evaluated. Covariates were selected a priori within multivariate models to determine predictors of anesthetic type in adults who underwent elective arteriovenous access creation between 2010 and 2018. Results: A total of 144,392 patients met criteria; 90,741 (62.8%) received general anesthesia. The use of regional anesthesia and MAC decreased over time (8.0%–6.8%, 36.8%–27.8%, respectively; both p < 0.0001). Patients who underwent regional anesthesia were more likely to have ASA physical status >III and to reside in rural areas (52.3% and 12.9%, respectively; both p < 0.0001). Patients who underwent MAC were more likely to be older, male, receive care outside the South, and reside in urban areas (median age 65, 56.8%, 68.1%, and 70.8%, respectively; all p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that being male, having an ASA physical status >III, and each 5-year increase in age resulted in increased odds of receiving alternatives to general anesthesia (regional anesthesia adjusted odds ratios (AORs) 1.06, 1.12, and 1.26, MAC AORs 1.09, 1.2, and 1.1, respectively; all p < 0.0001). Treatment in the Midwest, South, or West was associated with decreased odds of receiving alternatives to general anesthesia compared to the Northeast (regional anesthesia AORs 0.28, 0.38, and 0.03, all p < 0.0001; MAC 0.76, 0.13, and 0.43, respectively; all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Use of regional anesthesia and MAC with local anesthesia for arteriovenous access creation has decreased over time with general anesthesia remaining the primary anesthetic type. Anesthetic choice, however, varies with patient characteristics and geography.
To Cope or Not to Cope? Characterizing Biology Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Coping with Teaching and Research Anxieties

Recent evidence suggests a mental health crisis among graduate students, particularly with regard to anxiety. To manage anxieties, graduate students can employ coping strategies. Coping is an individual’s response(s) to external stressors, often with the goal of reducing or tolerating the stress; these strategies are generally considered adaptive or maladaptive. Adaptive coping strategies advance individuals through problems, while maladaptive strategies prevent stressors from being resolved. We previously identified differences between teaching and research anxieties in a sample of biology graduate teaching assistants (GTAs). This study investigated whether coping with these anxieties differed in this population as well. We interviewed 23 biology GTAs twice over one year. Interview data were qualitatively analyzed using Skinner and colleagues’ major coping families as categories. Biology GTAs most often used adaptive coping strategies, such as problem solving and information seeking, to manage both teaching and research anxieties. However, other coping strategies were preferentially employed for either teaching or research, suggesting differences in these aspects of graduate student life. Over one year, GTAs reduced the number of coping strategies they employed. Understanding how GTAs cope with teaching and research anxieties may inform the types of support faculty and professional development leaders can provide to graduate students.
Venous networks in the upper airways of bats: A histological and diceCT study

Our knowledge of nasal cavity anatomy has grown considerably with the advent of micro‐computed tomography (CT). More recently, a technique called diffusible iodine‐based contrast‐enhanced CT (diceCT) has rendered it possible to study nasal soft tissues. Using diceCT and histology, we aim to (a) explore the utility of these techniques for inferring the presence of venous sinuses that typify respiratory mucosa and (b) inquire whether distribution of vascular mucosa may relate to specialization for derived functions of the nasal cavity (i.e., nasal‐emission of echolocation sounds) in bats. Matching histology and diceCT data indicate that diceCT can detect venous sinuses as either darkened, “empty” spaces, or radio‐opaque islands when blood cells are present. Thus, we show that diceCT provides reliable information on vascular distribution in the mucosa of the nasal airways. Among the bats studied, a nonecholocating pteropodid (Cynopterus sphinx) and an oral‐emitter of echolocation sounds (Eptesicus fuscus) possess venous sinus networks that drain into the sphenopalatine vein rostral to the nasopharynx. In contrast, nasopharyngeal passageways of nasal‐emitting hipposiderids are notably packed with venous sinuses. The mucosae of the nasopharyngeal passageways are far less vascular in nasal‐emitting phyllostomids, in which vascular mucosae are more widely distributed in the nasal cavity, and in some nectar‐feeding species, a particularly large venous sinus is adjacent to the vomeronasal organ. Therefore, we do not find a common pattern of venous sinus distribution associated with nasal emission of sounds in phyllostomids and hipposiderids. Instead, vascular mucosa is more likely critical for air‐conditioning and sometimes vomeronasal function in all bats.
CaMKII Modulates Diacylglycerol Lipase-α Activity in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens after Incubation of Cocaine Craving

Abstract Relapse is a major challenge to the treatment of substance use disorders. A progressive increase in cue-induced drug craving, termed incubation of craving, is observed after withdrawal from multiple drugs of abuse in humans and rodents. Incubation of cocaine craving involves the strengthening of excitatory synapses onto nucleus accumbens (NAc) medium spiny neurons via postsynaptic accumulation of high-conductance Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors. This enhances reactivity to drug-associated cues and is required for the expression of incubation. Additionally, incubation of cocaine craving is associated with loss of the synaptic depression normally triggered by stimulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5), leading to endocannabinoid production, and expressed presynaptically via cannabinoid receptor 1 activation. Previous studies have found alterations in mGlu5 and Homer proteins associated with the loss of this synaptic depression. Here we conducted coimmunoprecipitation studies to investigate associations of diacylglycerol lipase-α (DGL), which catalyzes formation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), with mGlu5 and Homer proteins. Although these interactions were unchanged in the NAc core at incubation-relevant withdrawal times, the association of DGL with total and phosphorylated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) and CaMKIIβ was increased. This would be predicted, based on other studies, to inhibit DGL activity and therefore 2-AG production. This was confirmed by measuring DGL enzymatic activity. However, the magnitude of DGL inhibition did not correlate with the magnitude of incubation of craving for individual rats. These results suggest that CaMKII contributes to the loss of mGlu5-dependent synaptic depression after incubation, but the functional significance of this loss remains unclear.
A Comprehensive Study of 3-D Vision-Based Robot Manipulation

Robot manipulation, for example, pick-and-place manipulation, is broadly used for intelligent manufacturing with industrial robots, ocean engineering with underwater robots, service robots, or even healthcare with medical robots. Most traditional robot manipulations adopt 2-D vision systems with plane hypotheses and can only generate 3-DOF (degrees of freedom) pose accordingly. To mimic human intelligence and endow the robot with more flexible working capabilities, 3-D vision-based robot manipulation has been studied. However, this task is still challenging in the open world especially for general object recognition and pose estimation with occlusion in cluttered backgrounds and human-like flexible manipulation. In this article, we propose a comprehensive analysis of recent progress about the 3-D vision for robot manipulation, including 3-D data acquisition and representation, robot-vision calibration, 3-D object detection/recognition, 6-DOF pose estimation, grasping estimation, and motion planning. We then present some public datasets, evaluation criteria, comparisons, and challenges. Finally, the related application domains of robot manipulation are given, and some future directions and open problems are studied as well.
The technology of CO2 sequestration by mineral carbonation: current status and future prospects

ABSTRACT Mineral carbonation (MC) has been extensively researched all over the world since it was found as a naturally exothermic process to permanently sequester CO2. In order to accelerate the natural process, various methods for carbonation of Mg-/Ca- silicate minerals have been studied. It has been found that the MC efficiency will increase with an increase in CO2 pressure, retention time, temperature, mass ratio of Mg/Ca to Si in minerals, specific surface area, and the slurry concentration in a specific range, and with the introduction of NaCl and NaHCO3 or carbonic anhydrase. However, there is still no successful industrial application because of high economic costs and slow reaction rate. It is not economic to exploit Mg-/Ca- silicate minerals deposits or tailings to sequester CO2 by the MC due to the cost of grinding and heat pre-treatment. In some cases, the whole sequestration process may result in more CO2 emissions than the sequestered CO2 due to the requirements of energy inputs. The process, however, may be profitable as a whole (with carbon credits). It is suggested to combine the MC with valuable metals recovery from ore deposits in order to reduce the cost of the MC by cost sharing for mineral recovery.
New Perspective on the Geographic Distribution and Evolution of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus, Central Europe

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is an Old World mammarenavirus found worldwide because of its association with the house mouse. When LCMV spills over to immunocompetent humans, the virus can cause aseptic meningitis; in immunocompromised persons, systemic infection and death can occur. Central Europe is a strategic location for the study of LCMV evolutionary history and host specificity because of the presence of a hybrid zone (genetic barrier) between 2 house mouse subspecies, Mus musculus musculus and M. musculus domesticus. We report LCMV prevalence in natural mouse populations from a Czech Republic–Germany transect and genomic characterization of 2 new LCMV variants from the Czech Republic. We demonstrate that the main division in the LCMV phylogenetic tree corresponds to mouse host subspecies and, when the virus is found in human hosts, the mouse subspecies found at the spillover location. Therefore, LCMV strains infecting humans can be predicted by the genetic structure of house mice.