Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological and molecular characterization of Trophurus wuhuensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Telotylenchinae) from soil associated with Cinnamomum camphora in China

Abstract A new plant nematode species, Trophurus wuhuensis n. sp. , was collected from the soil associated with Cinnamomum camphora in Wuhu, Anhui Province, China. The new species is characterized by having a female with a slender body 660.5–801.5 μm in length, stylet 12–14 μm long, knobs directed laterad, lateral field marked by short and scattered grooves, post-vulval uterine sac shorter than vulval body diameter, post-rectal intestinal sac absent, tail cylindroid, terminus with deep wrinkles; and male with a pointed tail terminus and spicules 16–18 μm long. The internal transcribed spacer sequences of ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) and partial 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) from T. wuhuensis n. sp. were amplified and sequenced. A phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of 18S rDNA fragments is given in this study.
Live-action Virtual Reality Games

This paper proposes the concept of "live-action virtual reality games" as a new genre of digital games based on an innovative combination of live-action, mixed-reality, context-awareness, and interaction paradigms that comprise tangible objects, context-aware input devices, and embedded/embodied interactions. Live-action virtual reality games are "live-action games" because a player physically acts out (using his/her real body and senses) his/her "avatar" (his/her virtual representation) in the game stage, which is the mixed-reality environment where the game happens. The game stage is a kind of "augmented virtuality"; a mixed-reality where the virtual world is augmented with real-world information. In live-action virtual reality games, players wear HMD devices and see a virtual world that is constructed using the physical world architecture as the basic geometry and context information. Physical objects that reside in the physical world are also mapped to virtual elements. Live-action virtual reality games keeps the virtual and real-worlds superimposed, requiring players to physically move in the environment and to use different interaction paradigms (such as tangible and embodied interaction) to complete game activities. This setup enables the players to touch physical architectural elements (such as walls) and other objects, "feeling" the game stage. Players have free movement and may interact with physical objects placed in the game stage, implicitly and explicitly. Live-action virtual reality games differ from similar game concepts because they sense and use contextual information to create unpredictable game experiences, giving rise to emergent gameplay.
The Handbook of Stress Science: Biology, Psychology, and Health

The fields of health psychology and behavioural medicine attempt to understand the non-biological factors that in some way influence our physical health. Chief among these factors is stress: a psychological construct that has real, physical effects on the immune and nervous systems, and has been implicated in a wide variety of illnesses. Drs. Baum and Contrada, two of the leading health psychologists in the US, present in this edited volume state-of-the-art overviews of key topics in stress and health psychology. With chapters contributed by leading scholars from such fields as health psychology, neurobiology, neuroscience, genetics, medicine, and public health, this book discusses the most important issues and conflicts that contribute to stress, and offers insight on the management of different types of stress. As the only comprehensive, cross-disciplinary handbook on stress and health, this book provides expanded coverage of areas such as tress biology, environmental and social contributors to stress, stress research methods, and theoretical advances.
Correlation of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with neuropathology in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

BACKGROUND Although the diagnosis of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD) is straightforward in fully developed cases, a definitive diagnosis can be difficult early in the course of the illness. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal abnormalities, and recently, diffusion-weighted MRI abnormalities, have been described in patients with CJD, suggesting the utility of MRI in the early recognition of CJD. OBJECTIVE To correlate diffusion-weighted MRI signal abnormalities with neuropathologic changes in CJD. MATERIALS AND METHODS Diffusion-weighted MRI and neuropathologic changes of 2 patients with autopsy-proven CJD were examined in a blinded fashion by a neuroradiologist and a neuropathologist. RESULTS Areas of bright signal on diffusion-weighted MRI correlated with a higher degree of spongiform changes. CONCLUSION Diffusion-weighted MRI in CJD demonstrates specific-signal abnormalities that correlate well with areas of the most severe and characteristic neuropathologic changes.
Ranking Valid Topologies of the Secondary Structure Elements Using a Constraint Graph

Electron cryo-microscopy is a fast advancing biophysical technique to derive three-dimensional structures of large protein complexes. Using this technique, many density maps have been generated at intermediate resolution such as 6-10 Å resolution. Although it is challenging to derive the backbone of the protein directly from such density maps, secondary structure elements such as helices and β-sheets can be computationally detected. Our work in this paper provides an approach to enumerate the top-ranked possible topologies instead of enumerating the entire population of the topologies. This approach is particularly practical for large proteins. We developed a directed weighted graph, the topology graph, to represent the secondary structure assignment problem. We prove that the problem of finding the valid topology with the minimum cost is NP hard. We developed an O(N(2)2(N)) dynamic programming algorithm to identify the topology with the minimum cost. The test of 15 proteins suggests that our dynamic programming approach is feasible to work with proteins of much larger size than we could before. The largest protein in the test contains 18 helical sticks detected from the density map out of 33 helices in the protein.
Chemotherapy for herpes simplex virus infections.

Introducing a new hobby for other people may inspire them to join with you. Reading, as one of mutual hobby, is considered as the very easy hobby to do. But, many people are not interested in this hobby. Why? Boring is the reason of why. However, this feel actually can deal with the book and time of you reading. Yeah, one that we will refer to break the boredom in reading is choosing chemotherapy of herpes simplex virus infections as the reading material.
Establishment of Pluripotent Cell Lines from Vertebrate Species – Present Status and Future Prospects

Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated cell lines derived from early embryos and are capable of unlimited undifferentiated proliferation in vitro. They retain the ability to differentiate into all cell types including germ cells in chimeric animals in vivo, and can be induced to form derivatives of all three germ layers in vitro. Mouse ES cells represent one of the most important tools in genetic research. Major applications include the targeted mutation of specific genes by homologous recombination and the discovery of new genes by gene trap strategies. These applications would be of high interest for other model organisms and also for livestock species. However, in spite of tremendous research activities, no proven ES cells colonizing the germ line have been established for vertebrate species other than mouse and chicken thus far. This review summarizes the current status of deriving pluripotent embryonic stem cell lines from vertebrates and recent developments in nuclear transfer technology, which may provide an alternative tool for genetic modification of livestock animals.
Could you guess an interesting movie from the posters?: An evaluation of vision-based features on movie poster database

In this paper, we aim to estimate the Winner of world-wide film festival from the exhibited movie poster. The task is an extremely challenging because the estimation must be done with only an exhibited movie poster, without any film ratings and box-office takings. In order to tackle this problem, we have created a new database which is consist of all movie posters included in the four biggest film festivals. The movie poster database (MPDB) contains historic movies over 80 years which are nominated a movie award at each year. We apply a couple of feature types, namely hand-craft, mid-level and deep feature to extract various information from a movie poster. Our experiments showed suggestive knowledge, for example, the Academy award estimation can be better rate with a color feature and a facial emotion feature generally performs good rate on the MPDB. The paper may suggest a possibility of modeling human taste for a movie recommendation.
A preliminary study on developing computer games for information literacy education

To educate undergraduate students with information literacy (IL) and help them become lifelong learners is one of the crucial missions for higher education. Traditional IL education approach is low in efficiency. Computer games have become an influential force in people's life, and have great potentials in education. How to design and develop computer games to implement more efficient IL education is still not fully studied. This study reviews the previous literature in the field of game studies, educational function of games, game-based learning and IL education, and identifies the key issues of computer games-based IL education. Based upon the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education of the US, a model of the design and development of computer games for IL education is proposed, which includes 10 instructional modules and 6 difficulty levels.
Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Resistance to Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Maize

Abstract Transgenic maize, Zea mays L. , expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ab toxin has been planted to extensive areas across the United States and several other countries, but no resistance has been documented in field populations of lepidopteran target pests. This article describes the first report of resistance alleles to commercially available Cry1Ab Bt maize in a Louisiana population of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Two hundred thirteen two-parent isolines of D. saccharalis were screened for Cry1Ab resistance on Bt maize leaf tissue using an F2 screening technique. Larvae representing three isolines survived >15 d on Bt tissue in the F2 generation. The second generation backcross progeny (B1F2) derived from isoline 52 completed larval development on Bt maize in the greenhouse. Segregation and resistance frequency analysis associated with isoline 52 suggested that Bt resistance is probably determined by a nearly completely recessive allele at a single locus. With this assumption, the estimated resistance allele frequency in this population is 0.0023, within a 95% confidence interval of 0.0003–0.0064.
The XMAP215 homologue Stu2 at yeast spindle pole bodies regulates microtubule dynamics and anchorage

The yeast protein Stu2 belongs to the XMAP215 family of conserved microtubule‐binding proteins which regulate microtubule plus end dynamics. XMAP215‐related proteins also bind to centrosomes and spindle pole bodies (SPBs) through proteins like the mammalian transforming acidic coiled coil protein TACC or the yeast Spc72. We show that yeast Spc72 has two distinct domains involved in microtubule organization. The essential 100 N‐terminal amino acids of Spc72 interact directly with the γ‐tubulin complex, and an adjacent non‐essential domain of Spc72 mediates binding to Stu2. Through these domains, Spc72 brings Stu2 and the γ‐tubulin complex together into a single complex. Manipulation of Spc72–Stu2 interaction at SPBs compromises the anchorage of astral microtubules at the SPB and surprisingly also influences the dynamics of microtubule plus ends. Permanently tethering Stu2 to SPBs by fusing it to a version of Spc72 that lacks the Stu2‐binding site in part complements these defects in a manner which is dependent upon the microtubule‐binding domain of Stu2. Thus, the SPB‐associated Spc72–Stu2 complex plays a key role in regulating microtubule properties.
Laparoscopic Esophagomyotomy for Achalasia: Does Anterior Hemifundoplication Affect Clinical Outcome?

Objective:To determine whether the addition of anterior hemifundoplication to laparoscopic esophagomyotomy for achalasia yields better clinical outcomes than laparoscopic esophagomyotomy alone. Summary Background Data:Although hemifundoplication may prevent gastroesophageal reflux after esophagomyotomy for achalasia, it may also lead to persistent dysphagia in these patients with esophageal aperistalsis. Methods:This is a retrospective study of 51 consecutive patients (mean age 47.5 ± 12.6 years) who had laparoscopic esophagomyotomy for achalasia by our group between August 1995 and January 2001. In 29 patients (57%) an anterior hemifundoplication was added to the esophagomyotomy. In 22 patients (43%), no wrap was added. Patients scored (0 = none; 1 = mild; 2 = moderate; 3 = severe) symptom severity (dysphagia, regurgitation, heartburn, chest pain) preoperatively and postoperatively. Weight gain, use of gastrointestinal (GI) medication, tolerance to food, and patient satisfaction were also assessed. Results:Mean patient follow-up was 33 months, and there were no operative deaths. Four patients were converted to open operation (8%). The wrap and no wrap groups were similar in terms of esophageal dilation, preoperative symptom severity and duration (5.7 ± 7.1 versus 6.1 ± 7.0 years), and preoperative weight loss (18 ± 15 versus 20 ± 20 pounds). Both groups had similar improvement in symptom grade postoperatively and equivalent satisfaction rates (86%). Postoperative weight gain, GI medication use, and food intolerance was also similar. Postoperatively, patients in the wrap group did not have higher dysphagia scores or lower heartburn scores than the no wrap group. Conclusion:The addition of anterior hemifundoplication to esophagomyotomy for achalasia does not improve or worsen clinical results.
Glutamatergic Receptor Activation in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Mediates the Sympathoexcitatory Response to Hyperinsulinemia

Hyperinsulinemia increases sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and has been linked to cardiovascular morbidity in obesity. The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) plays a key role in the regulation of SNA and arterial blood pressure (ABP). Many sympathoexcitatory responses are mediated by glutamatergic receptor activation within the RVLM, and both the central renin–angiotensin and melanocortin systems are implicated in the sympathoexcitatory response to hyperinsulinemia. Therefore, we hypothesized that one or more of these neurotransmitters in the RVLM mediate the sympathoexcitatory response to insulin. Hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamps were performed in &agr;-chloralose anesthetized, male Sprague–Dawley rats by infusion of insulin (3.75 mU/kg per minute, IV) and 50% dextrose solution for 120 minutes. Physiological increases in plasma insulin elevated lumbar SNA, with no change in renal SNA, ABP, or blood glucose. Microinjection of the ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid into the RVLM significantly reduced lumbar SNA and ABP. Selective blockade of NMDA but not non-NMDA glutamate receptors resulted in similar reductions of lumbar SNA. In marked contrast, microinjection of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan or the melanocortin 3/4 antagonist SHU9119 had no effect on lumbar SNA or ABP. Western blot analysis showed that insulin receptor expression is significantly lower in the RVLM than the hypothalamus, and direct microinjection of insulin into the RVLM did not significantly increase lumbar SNA. These findings suggest that hyperinsulinemia increases lumbar SNA by activation of a glutamatergic NMDA-dependent projection to the RVLM.
TP53 codon 72 Gene Polymorphism Paradox in Associated with Various Carcinoma Incidences, Invasiveness and Chemotherapy Responses

TP53 is the most common mutated gene in human cancers. Approximately half of all human malignancies exhibit TP53 mutations. The TP53 codon 72 polymorphism is a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 4, resulting in the expression of either arginine (CGC) or proline (CCC) residues. In this article, we review literatures published in MEDLINE, and attempt to describe how these two polymorphic variants of TP53 are functionally distinct, and how they influence cancer vulnerability and response to chemotherapy. The Arg72 variant has been shown to be more likely to induce apoptosis than the Pro72 variant, due to its ability to localize itself to mitochondria and trigger the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. However, the influence of the TP53 codon 72 polymorphism on the risk of developing various cancers, and their progression remains inconclusive because there has been no sustained evidence supporting a crucial role for the codon 72 variant in cancer therapy till now. We hypothesize that TP53 gene might not only be involved in cell cycle control and the apoptosis induction response to DNA damage, but may also modulate individual cancer risk, and that this may correlate with the biofunctions of the two codon 72 variants. Additionally, latent factors might function synergistically with codon 72 variants to confer susceptibility to cancer development, progression, prognosis, and therapeutic responsiveness. Further etiological investigations are essential to reveal the association of and interaction between genetic and environmental factors in relation to carcinogenesis.
Characterization of the biofouling and cleaning efficiency of nanofiltration membranes

The nanofiltration (NF) drinking water production unit of the Méry-sur-Oise plant (Val d'Oise, France) consists of eight identical filtration trains composed of three stages positioned in steps for a production capacity of 140,000 m3 day−1. To gain a better understanding of the irreversible fouling of the NF membranes, spiral wound modules in operation for 8 years from each of the three stages of the plant were autopsied before and after chemical cleaning and analysis by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Inductive Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry, contact angles, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content measurements, and rheometry. The fouled membranes from the three stages had similar contact angles of approximately 60°. Relative infrared signals typical of biofilms were classified in descending order from stage 1 to stage 3. The foulant matter of stages 1 and 2 contained similar but weaker ATP concentrations than stage 3. During rheometry experiments, rotation and oscillation analyses demonstrated that the biofilm of stage 3 was less viscous and less elastic than the biofilms of stages 1 and 2. After cleaning, all the parameters analyzed demonstrated a quantitative decrease in the fouling matter at the NF membrane surface, but a biofilm with intact viscoelastic properties (unchanged G′ and G″ values) remained at the membrane surface for the three stages. The persistence of biofilm material with intact mechanical properties at the NF membrane surface after chemical cleaning may result in permanent permeability decreases.
Host plant and population determine the fitness costs of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis

Novel adaptations often cause pleiotropic reductions in fitness. Under optimal conditions individual organisms may be able to compensate for, or reduce, these fitness costs. Declining environmental quality may therefore lead to larger costs. We investigated whether reduced plant quality would increase the fitness costs associated with resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in two populations of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella. We also measured the rate of decline in resistance on two host-plant (Brassica) species for one insect population (Karak). Population×plant species interactions determined the fitness costs in this study. Poor plant quality increased the fitness costs in terms of development time for both populations. However, fitness costs seen in larval survival did not always increase as plant quality declined. Both the fitness and the stability experiment indicated that fitness costs were higher on the most suitable plant for one population. Theoretically, if the fitness cost of a mutation interacts additively with environmental factors, the relative fitness of resistant insects will decrease with environmental quality. However, multiplicative costs do not necessarily increase with declining quality and may be harder to detect when fitness parameters are more subject to variation in poorer environments.
MODEL BASED PREDICTIVE CONTROL FOR WASTEWATER APPLICATIONS

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate dissolved oxygen and nitrate control in a wastewater treatment-plant, and an integrated wastewater system, using model predictive control. This control is of importance in maintaining the conditions required for aquatic organisms and so, the entire dynamics must be considered: the urban sewer system, water treatment plant, and river itself. The integrated system is highly nonlinear and therefore the control is implemented using multiple models. Using this method, nonlinear control is obtained based on local linearisations, which are scheduled using Takagi-Sugeno-Kang methods. Results demonstrate the advantages of predictive control in water treatment control.
An attempt to control schistosomiasis mansoni in an endemic area by the use of Hycanthone as chemotherapeutic agent

Hycanthone in a single dose of 3.3 mg/kg of body weight was used to treal mansoni schistosomiasis in 597 persons (83%) of the population of the endemic vilage of Canabrava. Ninety two patients received a 2nd course 14 months later. There was one death em the 2nd treatment. The cure rate after one stool examination was smaller after the 2ni treatment in comparison with the first one. Re-infections did not occur imediately after the treatment. Three years later the prevalence of persons passing eggs through one stool examination was 19% compared to the 46.3% before the treatment. Adults are more resistant to the re-infections than younger.
[Construction and activity analysis of a recombinant immunotoxin composed of PE38 and a disulfide stable single-chain antibody].

AIM To construct the expression vector of a recombinant toxin composed of a disulfide stable single-chain antibody from mAb B3 and PE38 and examine the binding ability and cytotoxicity of the purified renatured products against the B3 positive carcinoma cells. METHODS The V(H) and V(L) fragments of the mAb B3 were ligated by overlaping PCR and the resulting product was cloned to the pET22b expression vector. The PE38 fragment was inserted into the B3dsscFv-pET22b expression vector which was digested by EcoR I and Hind III. The identified expression plasmid was tansformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) followed by IPTG induction. The inclusion body was purified through Q-Sepharose anion exchange column after denaturing and refolding. The binding and cytotoxic ability of the purified products were examined by cell-ELISA and Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay seperately. The stability assay was performed by incubating the protein sample at 37degrees Celsius. RESULTS The expression vector B3dsscFv-PE38-pET was constructed successfully and the expression product existed mainly in the form of inclusion body, accounting for 45% of the totle protein. The refolding product remained the binding ability of the single-chain antibody and exerted cytotoxic effect on HT-29 colon carcinoma cells. The stability assay showed that the resulting protein was stable at 37degrees Celsius. CONCLUSION This genetically engineered B3dsscFv-PE38 fusion protein was stable and bifunctional, tumor targeting and tumor cell killing, supporting that it would be a promising candidate for tumor targeted immunotherapy.