Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal wall motion of the common carotid artery can be assessed by velocity vector imaging

Velocity vector imaging (VVI) is novel ultrasound image analysis software, enabling simultaneous evaluation of longitudinal and radial tissue motion. This study aimed to investigate the possible usefulness of VVI in evaluating the longitudinal vessel wall movement of the common carotid artery (CCA). Sixteen healthy volunteers and 16 patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) were included in the study. CCA was scanned and standard B‐mode ultrasound images were analysed off‐line with VVI. In healthy volunteers, total longitudinal displacements (tLoD) of the right and left CCA were similar, as were the movements of the near‐ and far wall of the right CCA. The CAD group showed significantly lower tLoD compared to the healthy volunteers (0·543 ± 0·394 versus 0·112 ± 0·074, P<0·0001). VVI is a highly feasible technique in assessing longitudinal CCA wall motion, which may be of potential relevance as a novel vascular biomarker.
Tropospheric profiles of NOx

Profiles of the mixing ratio of NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) for the clean troposphere are presented. The NOx mixing ratio increases from 10 pptv in surface air to values of about 200 pptv at the tropopause. The profile of NOx is governed by intrusion of odd nitrogen from the stratosphere into the troposphere. Anthropogenically produced NOx from ground level sources influences the NOx profile only in the lower troposphere.
Classification of full-thickness rotator cuff lesions: a review

Rotator cuff lesions (RCL) have considerable variability in location, tear pattern, functional impairment, and repairability. Historical classifications for differentiating these lesions have been based upon factors such as the size and shape of the tear, and the degree of atrophy and fatty infiltration. Additional recent descriptions include bipolar rotator cuff insufficiency, ‘Fosbury flop tears’, and musculotendinous lesions. Recommended treatment is based on the location of the lesion, patient factors and associated pathology, and often includes personal experience and data from case series. Development of a more comprehensive classification which integrates historical and newer descriptions of RCLs may help to guide treatment further. Cite this article: Lädermann A, Burkhart SS, Hoffmeyer P, et al. Classification of full thickness rotator cuff lesions: a review. EFORT Open Rev 2016;1:420-430. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.1. 160005.
Impact of the Improved Patsari Biomass Stove on Urinary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Biomarkers and Carbon Monoxide Exposures in Rural Mexican Women

Background: Cooking with biomass fuels on open fires results in exposure to health-damaging pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and particulate matter. Objective: We compared CO exposures and urinary PAH biomarkers pre- and postintervention with an improved biomass stove, the Patsari stove. Methods: In a subsample of 63 women participating in a randomized controlled trial in central Mexico, we measured personal CO exposure for 8 hr during the day using continuous monitors and passive samplers. In addition, first-morning urine samples obtained the next day were analyzed for monohydroxylated PAH metabolites by gas chromatography/isotope dilution/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Exposure data were collected during the use of an open fire (preintervention) and after installation of the improved stove (postintervention) for 47 women, enabling paired comparisons. Results: Median pre- and postintervention values were 4 and 1 ppm for continuous personal CO and 3 and 1 ppm for passive sampler CO, respectively. Postintervention measurements indicated an average reduction of 42% for hydroxylated metabolites of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene on a whole-weight concentration basis (micrograms per liter of urine), and a 34% reduction on a creatinine-adjusted basis (micrograms per gram of creatinine). Pre- and postintervention geometric mean values for 1-hydroxypyrene were 3.2 and 2.0 μg/g creatinine, respectively. Conclusion: Use of the Patsari stove significantly reduced CO and PAH exposures in women. However, levels of many PAH biomarkers remained higher than those reported among smokers.
A Uniform Semantic Web Framework for Co-authorship Networks

Modeling co-authorship networks merely in FOAF, as is common with social networks, suffers the inability to capture semantics which are specific to collaboration schemes in the scientific community. For instance, the weight of the co-author relation which expresses the magnitude of that relation between two co-authors is subject to change dynamically as new publications are assigned to the co-authorship graph. They require mechanisms like rules in Semantic Web to calculate them. We introduce here a framework of (1) extending the FOAF ontology, and (2) implementing SWRL rules to construct weighted co-authorship networks which will contain metrics like exclusivity, frequency, or weight, as suggested in the literature. It makes it easy for the extended FOAF to integrate it with the native SWRL rules, and provide thus a uniform framework based solely on the Semantic Web for the representation and analysis of weighted co-authorship networks. An evaluation of our framework run on real data is provided.
Hydrodynamic models of viscous coupling between motile myosin and endoplasm in characean algae

Cytoplasmic streaming in characean algae is thought to be driven by interaction between stationary subcortical actin bundles and motile endoplasmic myosin. Implicit in this mechanism is a requirement for some form of coupling to transfer motive force from the moving myosin to the endoplasm. Three models of viscous coupling between myosin and endoplasm are presented here, and the hydrodynamic feasibility of each model is analyzed. The results show that individual myosinlike molecules moving along the actin bundles at reasonable velocities cannot exert enough viscous pull on the endoplasm to account for the observed streaming. Attachment of myosin to small spherical organelles improves viscous coupling to the endoplasm, but results for this model show that streaming can be generated only if the myosin-spheres move along the actin bundles in a virtual solid line at about twice the streaming velocity. In the third model, myosin is incorporated into a fibrous or membranous network or gel extending into the endoplasm. This network is pulled forward as the attached myosin slides along the actin bundles. Using network dimensions estimated from published micrographs of characean endoplasm, the results show that this system can easily generate the observed cytoplasmic streaming.
Genetic Analysis of Atherosclerosis and Glucose Homeostasis in an Intercross Between C57BL/6 and BALB/cJ Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Background— Diabetic patients have an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis and related complications compared with nondiabetic individuals. The increased cardiovascular risk associated with diabetes is due in part to genetic variations that influence both glucose homeostasis and atherosclerotic lesion growth. Mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and BALB/cJ (BALB) exhibit distinct differences in fasting plasma glucose and atherosclerotic lesion size when deficient in apolipoprotein E (Apoe −/−). Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed to determine genetic factors influencing the 2 phenotypes. Methods and Results— Female F2 mice (n=266) were generated from an intercross between B6.Apoe −/− and BALB.Apoe −/− mice and fed a Western diet for 12 weeks. Atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic root, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight were measured. 130 microsatellite markers across the entire genome were genotyped. Four significant QTLs, Ath1 on chromosome (Chr) 1, Ath41 on Chr2, Ath42 on Chr5, and Ath29 on Chr9, and 1 suggestive QTL on Chr4, were identified for atherosclerotic lesion size. Four significant QTLs, Bglu3 and Bglu12 on Chr1, Bglu13 on Chr5, Bglu15 on Chr12, and 2 suggestive QTLs on Chr9 and Chr15 were identified for fasting glucose levels on the chow diet. Two significant QTLs, Bglu3 and Bglu13, and 1 suggestive locus on Chr8 were identified for fasting glucose on the Western diet. One significant locus on Chr1 and 2 suggestive loci on Chr9 and Chr19 were identified for body weight. Ath1 and Ath42 coincided with Bglu3 and Bglu13, respectively, in the confidence interval. Conclusions— We have identified novel QTLs that have major influences on atherosclerotic lesion size and glucose homeostasis. The colocalization of QTLs for atherosclerosis and diabetes suggests possible genetic connections between the 2 diseases.
Nesprin-2 interacts with meckelin and mediates ciliogenesis via remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton

Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS) is a severe autosomal recessively inherited disorder caused by mutations in genes that encode components of the primary cilium and basal body. Here we show that two MKS proteins, MKS1 and meckelin, that are required for centrosome migration and ciliogenesis interact with actin-binding isoforms of nesprin-2 (nuclear envelope spectrin repeat protein 2, also known as Syne-2 and NUANCE). Nesprins are important scaffold proteins for maintenance of the actin cytoskeleton, nuclear positioning and nuclear-envelope architecture. However, in ciliated-cell models, meckelin and nesprin-2 isoforms colocalized at filopodia prior to the establishment of cell polarity and ciliogenesis. Loss of nesprin-2 and nesprin-1 shows that both mediate centrosome migration and are then essential for ciliogenesis, but do not otherwise affect apical-basal polarity. Loss of meckelin (by siRNA and in a patient cell-line) caused a dramatic remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton, aberrant localization of nesprin-2 isoforms to actin stress-fibres and activation of RhoA signalling. These findings further highlight the important roles of the nesprins during cellular and developmental processes, particularly in general organelle positioning, and suggest that a mechanistic link between centrosome positioning, cell polarity and the actin cytoskeleton is required for centrosomal migration and is essential for early ciliogenesis.
First Imported Case of Zika Virus Infection into Korea

Since Zika virus has been spreading rapidly in the Americas from 2015, the outbreak of Zika virus infection becomes a global health emergency because it can cause neurological complications and adverse fetal outcome including microcephaly. Here, we report clinical manifestations and virus isolation findings from a case of Zika virus infection imported from Brazil. The patient, 43-year-old Korean man, developed fever, myalgia, eyeball pain, and maculopapular rash, but not neurological manifestations. Zika virus was isolated from his semen, and reverse-transcriptase PCR was positive for the virus in the blood, urine, and saliva on the 7th day of the illness but was negative on the 21st day. He recovered spontaneously without any neurological complications. He is the first case of Zika virus infection in Korea imported from Brazil.
What Makes Usage of Mobile Data Service Increase or Decrease: Perspective of Two-Factor Theory

This study is to investigate factors that affect usage change in mobile data service (MDS). The central claim of this paper is that influencing forces of usage increase in MDS are different from those of usage decrease. We propose that information quality as the motivator (forces of usage increase) and system quality as the de-motivator (forces of usage decrease) of MDS. A research model is proposed and subsequent hypotheses are empirically tested with partial least square (PLS) based on 478 responses from the users of mobile data service. We have found that information quality (as a motivator) is positively associated with usage increase in mobile data service, but system quality (as a de-motivator) is not. Also, system quality is negatively associated with usage decrease, but information quality is not. Despite the recognized limitations, our study highlights the potential value of the two-factor theory in explaining user behaviors associated with mobile data services.
La autoantigen enhances and corrects aberrant translation of poliovirus RNA in reticulocyte lysate

Translation initiation on poliovirus RNA occurs by internal binding of ribosomes to a sequence within the 5' untranslated region. We have previously characterized a HeLa cell protein, p52, that binds to a fragment of the poliovirus 5' untranslated region (K. Meerovitch, J. Pelletier, and N. Sonenberg, Genes Dev. 3:1026-1034, 1989). Here we report the purification of the HeLa p52. Protein microsequencing identified p52 as La autoantigen. The La protein is a human antigen that is recognized by antibodies from patients with autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. We show that the La protein stimulates translation of poliovirus RNA, but not brome mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and alfalfa mosaic virus 4 RNA, translation in a reticulocyte lysate. In addition, La corrects aberrant translation of poliovirus RNA in a reticulocyte lysate. Subcellular immunolocalization showed that La protein is mainly nuclear, but after poliovirus infection, La is redistributed to the cytoplasm. Our results suggest that La protein is involved in poliovirus internal initiation of translation and might function through a similar mechanism in the translation of cellular mRNAs.
Global MicroRNA Profiling of the Mouse Ventricles during Development of Severe Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate post-transcriptional gene expression during development and disease. We have determined the miRNA expression levels of early- and end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a severe, transgenic mouse model of the disease. Five miRNAs were differentially expressed at an early stage of HCM development. Time-course analysis revealed that decreased expression of miR-1 and miR-133a commences at a pre-disease stage, and precedes upregulation of target genes causal of cardiac hypertrophy and extracellular matrix remodelling, suggesting a role for miR-1 and miR-133a in early disease development. At end-stage HCM, 16 miRNA are dysregulated to form an expression profile resembling that of other forms of cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting common responses. Analysis of the mRNA transcriptome revealed that miRNAs potentially target 15.7% upregulated and 4.8% downregulated mRNAs at end-stage HCM, and regulate mRNAs associated with cardiac hypertrophy and electrophysiology, calcium signalling, fibrosis, and the TGF-β signalling pathway. Collectively, these results define the miRNA expression signatures during development and progression of severe HCM and highlight critical miRNA regulated gene networks that are involved in disease pathogenesis.
Isolation and serotyping of porcine rotaviruses and antigenic comparison with other rotaviruses

Seven rotavirus strains were isolated in cell cultures from the intestinal contents of piglets with diarrhea. MA104 cells with pancreatin in the cell culture medium was the host system of choice for virus isolation and replication. A cell culture immunofluorescence test in which MA104 cells were used in microtiter plates was very effective for detecting and assaying rotaviruses. A plaque reduction neutralization test, cross-protection studies in gnotobiotic pigs, and electrophoresis of rotaviral double-stranded RNA were used for comparing viruses. Three strains produced plaques on initial isolation attempts, replicated well in cell cultures, and were antigenically very similar. We suggest that these three strains be considered porcine rotavirus serotype 1, with The Ohio State University (OSU) strain serving as the prototype. The OSU strain was distinct from bovine, simian, canine, and human (Wa and M) rotaviruses by plaque reduction neutralization. Four strains did not produce plaques on initial isolation attempts, were difficult to adapt to cell cultures, and were related to each other but were distinct from the serotype 1 strains. We suggest that the Gottfried (G) strain be tentatively considered as a prototype for porcine rotavirus serotype 2. The G strain was antigenically closely related to canine and simian rotaviruses and less so to human M rotavirus (human rotavirus serotype 3). Canine, simian, and human M rotaviruses were closely related. All seven porcine rotavirus strains caused diarrhea in gnotobiotic pigs. Cell-cultured vaccines of the OSU and G strains caused only mild or no diarrhea in gnotobiotic pigs, and protection occurred when such pigs were challenged with homologous, bur not heterologous, virulent viruses. A survey indicated that 94% of 274 porcine serum samples and 100% of 75 herds were serologically positive to the porcine OSU rotavirus.
Spontaneous Seizures and Altered Gene Expression in GABA Signaling Pathways in a mind bomb Mutant Zebrafish

Disruption of E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in immature zebrafish mind bomb mutants leads to a failure in Notch signaling, excessive numbers of neurons, and depletion of neural progenitor cells. This neurogenic phenotype is associated with defects in neural patterning and brain development. Because developmental brain abnormalities are recognized as an important feature of childhood neurological disorders such as epilepsy and autism, we determined whether zebrafish mutants with grossly abnormal brain structure exhibit spontaneous electrical activity that resembles the long-duration, high-amplitude multispike discharges reported in immature zebrafish exposed to convulsant drugs. Electrophysiological recordings from agar immobilized mind bomb mutants at 3 d postfertilization confirmed the occurrence of electrographic seizure activity; seizure-like behaviors were also noted during locomotion video tracking of freely behaving mutants. To identify genes differentially expressed in the mind bomb mutant and provide insight into molecular pathways that may mediate these epileptic phenotypes, a transcriptome analysis was performed using microarray. Interesting candidate genes were further analyzed using conventional reverse transcriptase-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, as well as whole-mount in situ hybridization. Approximately 150 genes, some implicated in development, transcription, cell metabolism, and signal transduction, are differentially regulated, including downregulation of several genes necessary for GABA-mediated signaling. These findings identify a collection of gene transcripts that may be responsible for the abnormal electrical discharge and epileptic activities observed in a mind bomb zebrafish mutant. This work may have important implications for neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mutations in ubiquitin ligase activity.
An Amyloid Peptide, βA4 25–35, Mimics the Function of Substance P on Modulation of Nicotine‐Evoked Secretion and Desensitization in Cultured Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Abstract: The amyloid protein (βA4) is found in the CNS of patients with Alzheimer's disease; however, the pathogenic role of this protein is not known. In the present study, a peptide fragment of βA4βA4 25–35; Gly‐Ser‐Asn‐Lys‐Gly‐Ala‐Ile‐Ile‐Gly‐Leu‐Met‐NH2), which contains the conserved C‐terminal sequence of substance P (X‐Gly‐Leu‐Met‐NH2), and the neuropeptide substance P (SP) were examined for their ability to modulate nicotine‐evoked secretion from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Secretion of the released endogenous catecholamines was monitored by electrochemical detection after separation by HPLC. Secretion induced by 10−5M nicotine was inhibited by SP and βA4 25–35. The IC50 of SP and βA4 25–35 was 3 × 10−6 and 3 × 10−5M, respectively. SP and βA4 25–35 both protected against nicotinic receptor desensitization. However, βA4 25–35 was ∼ 10‐fold less effective than SP in its protective effect. The present work shows that βA4 25–35 can mimic the modulatory actions of SP on the nicotinic response of cultured bovine chromaffin cells, i.e., inhibition of the nicotinic response and protection against nicotinic desensitization. These modulatory actions may be associated with changes in nicotinic receptor levels reported to occur in Alzheimer's disease.
An explicit approach to microphysics in MC2

Abstract An explicit microphysics scheme, including warm rain and ice‐phase processes, has been incorporated into the Canadian Mesoscale Compressible Community Model (MC2). Three equations for cloud water mixing ratio, rain water mixing ratio, and ice or snow mixing ratio are solved explicitly. The hydrometeor mass loading term is also included. For the single ice category, a generalized gamma size distribution is assumed and a new formulation by Meyers et al. (1992) is used to predict the ice concentration. A numerical simulation of the ERICA IOP2 cyclone shows that the scheme is efficient. Despite running at a relatively large time step, the scheme succeeded in capturing the deepening rates and the mesoscale features of the cyclone. The distribution of cloud and precipitation is in good agreement with satellite observations. Comparison with other implicit schemes available in MC2 show comparable performance in terms of deepening rate and precipitation rate. However, the explicit scheme generates mesosca.
Heritability and Repeatability Estimates of Some Measurable Traits in Meat Type Chickens Reared for Ten Weeks in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract—A total of 150 meat type chickens comprising 50 each of Arbor Acre, Marshall and Ross were used for this study which lasted for 10 weeks at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Growth performance data were collected from the third week through week 10 and data obtained were analysed using the Generalized Linear Model Procedure. Heritability estimates (h) for body dimensions carried out on the chicken strains ranged from low to high. Marshall broiler chicken strain had the highest h for body weight 0.46±0.04, followed by Arbor Acre and Ross with h being 0.38±0.12 and 0.26±0.06, respectively. The repeatability estimates for body weight in the three broiler strains were high, and it ranged from 0.70 at week 4 to 0.88 at week 10. Relationships between the body weight and linear body measurements in the broiler chicken strains were positive and highly significant (p > 0.05).
Physiological pathways and molecular mechanisms regulating uterine contractility.

BACKGROUND Uterine contractile activity plays an important role in many and varied reproductive functions including sperm and embryo transport, implantation, menstruation, gestation and parturition. Abnormal contractility might underlie common and important disorders such as infertility, implantation failure, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, spontaneous miscarriage or preterm birth. METHODS A systematic review of the US National Library of Medicine was performed linking 'uterus' or 'uterine myocyte' with 'calcium ion' (Ca(2+)), 'myosin light chain kinase' and 'myosin light chain phosphatase'. This led to many cross-references involving non-uterine myocytes and, where relevant, these data have been incorporated into the following synthesis. RESULTS We have grouped the data according to three main components that determine uterine contractility: the contractile apparatus; electrophysiology of the myocyte including excitation-contraction coupling; and regulation of the sensitivity of the contractile apparatus to Ca(2+). We also have included information regarding potential therapeutic methods for regulating uterine contractility. CONCLUSIONS More research is necessary to understand the mechanisms that generate the frequency, amplitude, duration and direction of propagation of uterine contractile activity. On the basis of current knowledge of the molecular control of uterine myocyte function, there are opportunities for systematic testing of the efficacy of a variety of available potential pharmacological agents and for the development of new agents. Taking advantage of these opportunities could result in an overall improvement in reproductive health.