Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toll-Like Receptor 4 Contributes to Small Intestine Allograft Rejection

Background. Although outcomes for small intestine transplantation (SIT) have improved in recent years, allograft rejection rates remain among the highest of solid organ grafts. The high load of commensal bacteria in the small intestine may contribute through activation of the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway. In this study, we examine the participation of TLR4 in acute allograft rejection in an orthotopic mouse model of SIT. Methods. Wild-type C57Bl/6 (H-2b) or TLR4−/− (H-2b) mice were transplanted with syngeneic (C57Bl/6), allogeneic (BALB/c; H-2d), or F1 (BALB/c×C57Bl/6; H-2d/b) vascularized, orthotopic small intestine grafts. Graft recipients were killed on days 2 to 6 posttransplant. Serum cytokines were measured by Luminex, and tissue was obtained for histology and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results. BALB/c grafts transplanted into C57Bl/6 recipients exhibited mixed inflammatory infiltrates, destruction of the mucosa, and significant apoptosis. TLR2 and TLR4 transcripts were modestly increased in syngeneic grafts on days 2 and 6 compared with native bowel, whereas TLR2 and TLR4 were significantly increased on days 2 and 6 in allogeneic grafts. Although fully mismatched and F1 grafts were rejected by C57Bl/6 recipients (mean survival time=8.2 and 9.3 days, respectively), graft survival was significantly prolonged in TLR4−/− recipients (mean survival time=10.6 and 14.3 days, respectively). Proinflammatory cytokines were markedly reduced in TLR4−/− graft recipients. Conclusions. Small intestine graft survival is prolonged in the absence of TLR4, suggesting that gut flora associated with the graft may augment alloimmune responses through TLR4. Thus, the TLR pathway may be a novel therapeutic target for improving SIT allograft survival.
Minimizing Scanning Errors in Piezoelectric Stack-Actuated Nanopositioning Platforms

Piezoelectric stack-actuated parallel-kinematic nanopositioning platforms are widely used in nanopositioning applications. These platforms have a dominant first resonant mode at relatively low frequencies, typically in the hundreds of hertz. Furthermore, piezoelectric stacks used for actuation have inherent nonlinearities such as hysteresis and creep. These problems result in a typically low-grade positioning performance. Closed-loop control algorithms have shown the potential to eliminate these problems and achieve robust, repeatable nanopositioning. Using closed-loop noise profile as a performance criterion, three commonly used damping controllers, positive position feedback, polynomial-based pole placement, and resonant control are compared for their suitability in nanopositioning applications. The polynomial-based pole placement controller is chosen as the most suitable of the three. Consequently, the polynomial-based control design to damp the resonant mode of the platform is combined with an integrator to produce raster scans of large areas. A scanning resolution of approximately 8 nm, over a 100 mum times 100 mum area is achieved.
Pseudomonad Swarming Motility Is Restricted to a Narrow Range of High Matric Water Potentials

ABSTRACT Using a novel experimental system that allows control of the matric potential of an agar slab, we explored the hydration conditions under which swarming motility is possible. If there is recognition that this physical parameter is a key determinant of swarming, it is usually neither controlled nor measured rigorously but only manipulated through proxies, namely, the agar concentration and the drying time of “soft” agar plates (swarming plates). We contend that this not only obscures the biophysical mechanisms underlying swarming but also impedes a full assessment of its clinical and environmental significances. Our results indicate that swarming motility is restricted to a narrow range of high matric water potentials in the three pseudomonads tested (Pseudomonas sp. DSS73, Pseudomonas syringae B728a, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14). The threshold below which no swarming was observed was about −0.45 kPa for the first and about −0.1 kPa for the latter two. Above the threshold, the expansion rate of DSS73 swarms increased exponentially with the matric potential. Mutants deficient in surfactant production were totally or partially unable to expand rapidly on the surface of the agar slab. Our results thus suggest that swarming motility in pseudomonads is restricted to (micro)sites where ambient humidity is very high (relative humidity of >99.99%). The spatiotemporal occurrence of such sites is limited in many types of terrestrial environments.
An efficient simulator for pinhole imaging of PET isotopes

Today, small-animal multi-pinhole single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can reach sub-half-millimeter image resolution. Recently we have shown that dedicated multi-pinhole collimators can also image PET tracers at sub-mm level. Simulations play a vital role in the design and optimization of such collimators. Here we propose and validate an efficient simulator that models the whole imaging chain from emitted positron to detector signal. This analytical simulator for pinhole positron emission computed tomography (ASPECT) combines analytical models for pinhole and detector response with Monte Carlo (MC)-generated kernels for positron range. Accuracy of ASPECT was validated by means of a MC simulator (MCS) that uses a kernel-based step for detector response with an angle-dependent detector kernel based on experiments. Digital phantom simulations with ASPECT and MCS converge to almost identical images. However, ASPECT converges to an equal image noise level three to four orders of magnitude faster than MCS. We conclude that ASPECT could serve as a practical tool in collimator design and iterative image reconstruction for novel multi-pinhole PET.
Global environmental change : understanding the human dimensions

Global environmental change often seems to be the most carefully examined issue of our time. Yet understanding the human side--human causes of and responses to environmental change--has not yet received sustained attention. Global Environmental Change offers a strategy for combining the efforts of natural and social scientists to better understand how our actions influence global change and how global change influences us. The volume is accessible to the nonscientist and provides a wide range of examples and case studies. It explores how the attitudes and actions of individuals, governments, and organizations intertwine to leave their mark on the health of the planet. The book focuses on establishing a framework for this new field of study, identifying problems that must be overcome if we are to deepen our understanding of the human dimensions of global change, presenting conclusions and recommendations.
A Coupled Model for the Indegree and Outdegree Analysis of the Web

Abstract We introduce a mixed model for the Web graph that simultaneously describes the inlink and outlink distributions by taking into account the interconnection of the two processes. We derive an expression for the steady-state distribution of indegrees (outdegrees) among vertices with fixed outdegree (indegree) in terms of sums of beta functions. Experimentation on subsets of the real Web shows that the proposed distributions well reproduce the behavior of the observed data.
Controlling Blood Glucose Levels in Diabetics By Neural Network Predictor

In this study we develop a system that uses some variables such as, level of exercise, stress, food intake, injected insulin and blood glucose level in previous intervals, as input and accurately predicts the blood glucose level in the next interval. The system is split up to make separate prediction of blood glucose level in the morning, afternoon, evening and night, using data from one patient covering a period of 77 days. We have used RBF neural network, and compared our result with MLP neural network that was implemented by the others. The assessment of the analysis resulted in a root mean square error of (0.04plusmn0.0004) mmol/l.
Anti-inflammatory activity of the active components from the roots of Cosmos bipinnatus in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages

We isolated a sesquiterpene lactone from the methanol extract of the roots of Cosmos bipinnatus, namely, MDI (a mixture of dihydrocallitrisin and isohelenin). The anti-inflammatory activity of MDI was evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. MDI significantly inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Consistent with these results, the production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was suggested to be suppressed by MDI in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 value was 0.94 and 2.88 µg mL−1 for NO and PGE2, respectively). In addition, MDI significantly inhibited the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α. Furthermore, MDI attenuated DNA-binding activity of NF-κB by inhibiting the phosphorylation of IκB. These results indicate that MDI isolated from the roots of C. bipinnatus shows anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages by modulating the NF-κB pathway.
A prospective cohort study of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in elite Norwegian team handball

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in a population of highlevel team handball players. We also wanted to examine injury mechanisms and possible risk factors for ACL injuries, including menstrual status. The study was done prospectively during the 1993‐94, 1994‐95, and 1995–96 seasons. We found 28 ACL injuries, 23 among women (incidence: 0.31 ± 0.06 injuries per 1000 player hours) and 5 among men (0.06 ± 0.03 inj./1000 h; P < 0.001 vs women; risk ratio: 5.0). Of the 28 injuries, 24 occurred during competiton (0.91 ± 0.19 inj./1000 h; women: 1.60 ± 0.35 inj./1000 h; men: 0.23 ± 0.13 inj./1000 h; P±0.001 vs. women; risk ratio: 7.0) and 4 during training (0.03 ± 0.02 inj./1000 h; P±0.001 vs. competition; risk ratio: 29.9). Nearly all the injuries (n= 25) occurred in noncontact situations when the players performed high‐speed plant‐and‐cut movements which they were well accustomed to. A reliable menstrual history could be obtained in 17 of the 23 cases among females. Five of the injuries occurred in the menstrual phase, 2 in the follicular phase, 1 in the early luteal phase and 9 in the late luteal phase (chi‐square3 d.f.= 13.2; P±0.01). The results suggest that there may be an increased risk of ACL injury during the week prior to or after the start of the menstrual period.
RBP-J (Rbpsuh) is essential to maintain muscle progenitor cells and to generate satellite cells

In the developing muscle, a pool of myogenic progenitor cells is formed and maintained. These resident progenitors provide a source of cells for muscle growth in development and generate satellite cells in the perinatal period. By the use of conditional mutagenesis in mice, we demonstrate here that the major mediator of Notch signaling, the transcription factor RBP-J, is essential to maintain this pool of progenitor cells in an undifferentiated state. In the absence of RBP-J, these cells undergo uncontrolled myogenic differentiation, leading to a depletion of the progenitor pool. This results in a lack of muscle growth in development and severe muscle hypotrophy. In addition, satellite cells are not formed late in fetal development in conditional RBP-J mutant mice. We conclude that RBP-J is required in the developing muscle to set aside proliferating progenitors and satellite cells.
Behavioral and psychiatric manifestations in Cornelia de Lange syndrome

Purpose of review Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetic syndrome with clinical manifestations due to multiple affected organ systems including limbs, gastrointestinal, skin, and central nervous systems. Although the genetic basis of CdLS is now uncovered, how behavioral manifestations are associated with genetic and brain differences are less well understood. The current focused review systematically describes the main behavioral observations to date in individuals with CdLS, which have a significant impact on quality of life and adaptive functioning. Recent findings The CdLS behavioral phenotype includes autistic traits as a prominent feature; however, brain imaging studies, required to understand gene–brain–behavior connections in CdLS, are scarce. Moreover, autistic features in CdLS have a greater emphasis on repetitive behaviors, including self-injurious behaviors (SIB) and expressive communication deficits, different that the core social deficit seen in idiopathic autism. Current data strongly support the use of CdLS as a model disease for repetitive behaviors and associated developmental delay manifestations. Summary Behavioral phenotype characteristics in CdLS point to a preponderance of repetitive clinical phenomena as well as expressive verbal deficits that ought to inform specific treatment approaches in CdLS. In particular, repetitive behaviors associated with self-injury are of high negative impact on the quality of life for individuals with CdLS and their families. Treatment approaches geared to manage repetitive behaviors and self-injurious behaviors in CdLS are required in this developmental condition.
The role of Broad in the development of Tribolium castaneum: implications for the evolution of the holometabolous insect pupa

The evolution of complete metamorphosis in insects is a key innovation that has led to the successful diversification of holometabolous insects, yet the origin of the pupa remains an enigma. Here, we analyzed the expression of the pupal specifier gene broad (br), and the effect on br of isoform-specific, double-stranded RNA-mediated silencing, in a basal holometabolous insect, the beetle Tribolium castaneum. All five isoforms are weakly expressed during the penultimate instar and highly expressed during the prepupal period of the final instar. Application of hydroprene, a juvenile hormone analog, during the penultimate instar caused a repeat of the penultimate br expression patterns, and the formation of supernumerary larvae. Use of dsRNA against the br core region, or against a pair of either the br-Z2 or br-Z3 isoform with the br-Z1 or br-Z4 isoform, produced mobile animals with well-differentiated adult-like appendages, but which retained larval-like urogomphi and epidermis. Disruption of either the br-Z2 or the br-Z3 isoform caused the formation of shorter wings. Disruption of both br-Z1 and br-Z4 caused the appearance of pupal traits in the adults, but disruption of br-Z5 had no morphological effect. Our findings show that the br isoform functions are broadly conserved within the Holometabola and suggest that evolution of br isoform expression may have played an important role in the evolution of the pupa in holometabolous insects.
Echocardiographic Risk Stratification of Fetuses with Sacrococcygeal Teratoma and Twin-Reversed Arterial Perfusion

Objective: To evaluate pre-intervention echocardiographic parameters of cardiac function in fetuses who survive without hydrops as compared to fetuses who develop hydrops or perinatal death in the setting of sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) and twin-reversed arterial perfusion sequence (TRAP). Methods: Clinical, echocardiographic and sonographic data of fetuses with SCT or TRAP during 1999–2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Measurements of cardiothoracic ratio (CTR), cardiac dimension Z-scores, combined ventricular output (CVO), valvular regurgitation, and cardiovascular profile scores (CVPS) were obtained. Results: In total, 19 fetuses (11 SCT, 8 TRAP) met the inclusion criteria and 26 detailed fetal echocardiographic studies were reviewed. Outcome was poor in 7 pregnancies (group A) and good in 12 (group B). Group A had worse CVPS (8.5 vs. 10, p < 0.01) and higher CTR (0.37 vs. 0.30, p = 0.04). At least one of the following was present in each group A fetus: CTR >0.5, CVO >550 ml/min/kg, tricuspid or mitral regurgitation, or mitral valve Z-score >2. No group B fetus had any of these abnormalities. No fetus in either group had abnormal venous Doppler waveforms at presentation. Conclusions: Fetal echocardiography can identify abnormalities of cardiac size and systolic, but not diastolic, function in all fetuses who subsequently died or developed hydrops.
A high-fat diet elicits differential responses in genes coordinating oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle of lean and obese individuals.

CONTEXT In lean individuals, increasing dietary lipid can elicit an increase in whole body lipid oxidation; however, with obesity the capacity to respond to changes in substrate availability appears to be compromised. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the responses of genes regulating lipid oxidation in skeletal muscle differed between lean and insulin resistant obese humans upon exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD). DESIGN AND SETTING A 5-d prospective study conducted in the research unit of an academic center. PARTICIPANTS Healthy, lean (n = 12; body mass index = 22.1 ± 0.6 kg/m(2)), and obese (n=10; body mass index = 39.6 ± 1.7 kg/m(2)) males and females, between ages 18 and 30. INTERVENTION Participants were studied before and after a 5-d HFD (65% fat). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Skeletal muscle biopsies (vastus lateralis) were obtained in the fasted and fed states before and after the HFD and mRNA content for genes involved with lipid oxidation determined. Skeletal muscle acylcarnitine content was determined in the fed states before and after the HFD. RESULTS Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) α mRNA content increased in lean, but not obese, subjects after a single high-fat meal. From Pre- to Post-HFD, mRNA content exhibited a body size × HFD interaction, where the lean individuals increased while the obese individuals decreased mRNA content for pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4, uncoupling protein 3, PPARα, and PPARγ coactivator-1α (P ≤ 0.05). In the obese subjects medium-chain acylcarnitine species tended to accumulate, whereas no change or a reduction was evident in the lean individuals. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate a differential response to a lipid stimulus in the skeletal muscle of lean and insulin resistant obese humans.
A Mac-1 antibody reduces liver and lung injury but not neutrophil sequestration after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.

BACKGROUND Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) result in leukosequestration and injury to the liver and lungs. The adherence-dependent oxidative burst of neutrophils requires cell adhesion through the Mac-1 integrin. Neutrophil-mediated tissue injury may depend on this specific cell adhesion event. This study tests the effect of a Mac-1 (CD 11b) monoclonal antibody (MAb) (R17) on liver and lung injury after intestinal I/R. METHODS After collaterals were ligated in anesthetized rats, the superior mesenteric artery was clamped for 60 minutes followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. Animals were treated with saline solution, R17, or nonspecific immunoglobulin M. Another nonischemic group of rats were sham controls. Lung and intestinal polymorphonuclear leukocyte sequestration was assessed by measurement of myeloperoxidase and lung permeability by bronchoalveolar lavage blood concentration ratio of 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin. RESULTS At 3 hours of reperfusion lung and intestinal myeloperoxidase and lung permeability were increased. Treatment with R17 MAb did not reduce intestinal or lung myeloperoxidase but prevented increased lung permeability. Similarly, after treatment with saline solution, liver polymorphonuclear leukocyte sequestration increased after 3 hours of reperfusion, and serum alanine aminotransferase level rose eightfold. R17 MAb did not significantly reduce liver neutrophil sequestration; however, it reduced alanine aminotransferase level more than 50% when compared to saline solution controls. At 3 hours of reperfusion there was a leukocytosis (white blood cell count, 14.9 +/- 1.0 x 10(3)/mm3 vs 6.0 +/- 0.8 in sham [p less than 0.05]). The white blood cell count was unaffected by R17 MAb. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that a MAb to the neutrophil Mac-1 integrin reduces lung and liver injury after intestinal I/R but does not reduce lung or intestinal leukosequestration.
Role of angiotensin II in diabetic nephropathy.

Considerable evidence suggests that the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in diabetic nephropathy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blockers (ARBs) can attenuate progressive glomerulosclerosis in disease models and can slow disease progression in humans. Because agents that interfere with Ang II action may decrease glomerular injury without altering glomerular pressures, it has been suggested that Ang II has direct effects on glomerular cells to induce sclerosis independent of its hemodynamic actions. To study nonhemodynamic effects of Ang II on matrix metabolism, many investigators have used cell culture systems. Glucose and Ang II have been shown to produce similar effects on renal cells in culture. For instance, incubation of mesangial cells in high-glucose media or in the presence of Ang II stimulates matrix protein synthesis and inhibits degradative enzyme (e.g., collagenase, plasmin) activity. Glucose and Ang II also can inhibit proximal tubule proteinases. Glucose increases expression of the angiotensinogen gene in proximal tubule cells and Ang II production in primary mesangial cell culture, which indicates that high glucose itself can activate the renin-angiotensin system. The effects of glucose and Ang II on mesangial matrix metabolism may be mediated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Exposure of mesangial cells to glucose or Ang II increases TGF-beta expression and secretion. Their effects on matrix metabolism can be blocked by anti-TGF-beta antibody or ARBs such as losartan, which also prevents the glucose-induced increment in TGF-beta secretion. Taken together, these findings support the hypothesis that the high-glucose milieu of diabetes increases Ang II production by renal, and especially, mesangial cells, which results in stimulation of TGF-beta secretion, leading to increased synthesis and decreased degradation of matrix proteins, thus producing matrix accumulation. This may be an important mechanism linking hyperglycemia and Ang II in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Crude Oil Biodegradation in the Marine Environments

Petroleum is a viscous liquid mixture that contains thousands of compounds mainly consisting of carbon and hydrogen. Oil fields are not uniformly distributed around the globe, but being in limited areas such as the Persian Gulf region. The world production of crude oil is more than three billion tons per year, and about the half of this is transported by sea. Consequently, the international transport of petroleum by tankers is frequent. All tankers take on ballast water which contaminates the marine environment when it is subsequently discharged. More importantly, tanker accidents exemplified by that of the Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska, severely affect the local marine environment. Off-shore drilling is now common to explore new oil resources and this constitutes another source of petroleum pollution. However, the largest source of marine contamination by petroleum seems to be the runoff from land. Annually, more than two million tons of petroleum is estimated to end up in the sea. Fortunately, petroleum introduced to the sea seems to be degraded either biologically or abiotically.
Mast cells trigger epithelial barrier dysfunction, bacterial translocation and postoperative ileus in a mouse model

Background Abdominal surgery involving bowel manipulation commonly results in inflammation of the bowel wall, which leads to impaired intestinal motility and postoperative ileus (POI). Mast cells have shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of POI in mouse models and human studies. We studied whether mast cells contribute to the pathogenesis of POI by eliciting intestinal barrier dysfunction.