Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Amino Acid of Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 Nucleoprotein Is Critical for Template Function and Cytoplasmic Inclusion Body Formation

ABSTRACT The nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) interaction of nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses is essential for viral replication; this includes N0-P (N0, free of RNA) interaction and the interaction of N-RNA with P. The precise site(s) within N that mediates the N-P interaction and the detailed regulating mechanism, however, are less clear. Using a human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) minigenome assay, we found that an N mutant (NL478A) did not support reporter gene expression. Using in vivo and in vitro coimmunoprecipitation, we found that NL478A maintains the ability to form NL478A 0-P, to self-assemble, and to form NL478A-RNA but that NL478A-RNA does not interact with P. Using an immunofluorescence assay, we found that N-P interaction provides the minimal requirement for the formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, which contain viral RNA, N, P, and polymerase in HPIV3-infected cells. NL478A was unable to form inclusion bodies when coexpressed with P, but the presence of N rescued the ability of NL478A to form inclusion bodies and the transcriptional function of NL478A, thereby suggesting that hetero-oligomers formed by N and NL478A are functional and competent to form inclusion bodies. Furthermore, we found that NL478A is also defective in virus growth. To our knowledge, we are the first to use a paramyxovirus to identify a precise amino acid within N that is critical for N-RNA and P interaction but not for N0-P interaction for the formation of inclusion bodies, which appear to be bona fide sites of RNA synthesis.
Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Highly Myopic Eyes with Elongated Axial Length

Purpose: To retrospectively review the prevalence of myopia and elongated axial length in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and to evaluate treatment response of PCV in highly myopic eyes. PCV has rarely been reported in myopic eyes. Methods: A retrospective review of all eyes diagnosed with PCV at the clinics of Retina Consultants of Hawaii and the Hawaii Macula and Retina Institute was performed between February of 2007 and April of 2017 to evaluate for eyes with significant myopia and elongated axial length. Results: A total of 282 eyes were diagnosed with PCV by ICG angiography. There were 144 males (59%) and 99 females (41%). 204 patients had unilateral PCV and 39 patients had bilateral PCV. A total of 3 patients with PCV had significant myopia less than -6 diopters or confirmed elongated axial length. One of these patients had bilateral PCV so there were 4 eyes noted with significant myopia and elongated axial length out of 282 eyes with PCV (1.4%). All 3 patients were Asian and presented with active leakage or bleeding related to PCV diagnosed on indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography. Treatments typically used to treat PCV including intravitreal antiangiogenic medications and photodynamic therapy were utilized. Conclusion and Importance: High myopia is rare in eyes diagnosed with PCV, even though choroidal neovascularization is a common cause of vision loss in myopic macular degeneration. However, even in highly myopic eyes, PCV may show signs of resistance to antiangiogenic medications.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor suppresses tunicamycin‐induced upregulation of CHOP in neurons

The accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen triggers ER stress. ER stress initiates a number of specific compensatory signaling pathways including unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR is characterized by translational attenuation, synthesis of ER chaperone proteins such as glucose‐regulated protein of 78 kDa (GRP78, also known as Bip), and transcriptional induction, which includes the activation of transcription factors such as activating transcriptional factor 6 (ATF6) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP, also known as growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible gene 153 [GADD153]). Sustained ER stress ultimately leads to cell death. ER functions are believed to be impaired in various neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in some acute disorders of the brain. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, functions as a neuroprotective agent and rescues neurons from various insults. The molecular mechanisms underlying BDNF neuroprotection, however, remain to be elucidated. We showed that CHOP partially mediated ER stress‐induced neuronal death. BDNF suppressed ER stress‐induced upregulation/ nuclear translocation of CHOP. The transcription of CHOP is regulated by ATF4, ATF6, and XBP1; BDNF selectively blocked the ATF6/CHOP pathway. Furthermore, BDNF inhibited the induction of death receptor 5 (DR5), a transcriptional target of CHOP. Our study thus suggests that suppression of CHOP activation may contribute to BDNF‐mediated neuroprotection during ER stress responses. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Male group size, female distribution and changes in sexual segregation by Roosevelt elk

Sexual segregation, or the differential use of space by males and females, is hypothesized to be a function of body size dimorphism. Sexual segregation can also manifest at small (social segregation) and large (habitat segregation) spatial scales for a variety of reasons. Furthermore, the connection between small- and large-scale sexual segregation has rarely been addressed. We studied a population of Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) across 21 years in north coastal California, USA, to assess small- and large-scale sexual segregation in winter. We hypothesized that male group size would associate with small-scale segregation and that a change in female distribution would associate with large-scale segregation. Variation in forage biomass might also be coupled to small and large-scale sexual segregation. Our findings were consistent with male group size associating with small-scale segregation and a change in female distribution associating with large-scale segregation. Females appeared to avoid large groups comprised of socially dominant males. Males appeared to occupy a habitat vacated by females because of a wider forage niche, greater tolerance to lethal risks, and, perhaps, to reduce encounters with other elk. Sexual segregation at both spatial scales was a poor predictor of forage biomass. Size dimorphism was coupled to change in sexual segregation at small and large spatial scales. Small scale segregation can seemingly manifest when all forage habitat is occupied by females and large scale segregation might happen when some forage habitat is not occupied by females.
Design of integrated ZVS single-inductor synchronous buck converter for multiload applications

In order to suppress the cross regulation parameter which is the main problem faced by the single-inductor multi-output DC-DC converters, a new efficient converter is presented in this paper. The proposed converter includes two parameters, zero voltage switching (ZVS) and synchronization which makes the proposed converter to operate with less switching losses and switching frequency. Moreover the proposed converter reduces the coupling between the outputs obtained and the different outputs are controlled individually by using closed loop controller. This could reduce the cross regulation parameter effectively. This paper describes the theoretical aspects involved in the design procedure of the converter and the simulation results showed that this converter has better performance and highly efficient.
Microsatellite evidence for monogamy and sex‐biased recombination in the Western Australian seahorse Hippocampus angustus

Four polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to assess biological parentage of 453 offspring from 15 pregnant males from a natural population of the Western Australian seahorse Hippocampus angustus. Microsatellite genotypes in the progeny arrays were consistent with a monogamous mating system in which both females and males had a single mate during a male brooding period. Multilocus genotypes implicated four females in the adult population sample as contributors of eggs to the broods of collected males, but there was no evidence for multiple mating by females. Based on genotypic data from the progeny arrays, two loci were linked tightly and the recombination rate appeared to be ≈ 10‐fold higher in females than in males. The utility of linked loci for parentage analyses is discussed.
Survey on brain tumor segmentation methods

The segmentation of brain tumor using Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) plays an important role in the medical image process. This paper presents a comprehensive survey on brain tumor methods and technology using MRI images. Generally, brain tumor segmentation methods can divided into two main categories, spatial continuous and spatial discrete methods. Several methods, techniques, related advantage and weakness will be described and discussed. The evaluation measures are mentioned and the qualities of different method focus on the methods that were applied on the standard data sets. The efficient and stably brain tumor segmentation is still a challenging task for the unpredictable appearance and shape of the brain tumor.
The Use of Fair Value Measurement in Financial Reporting: A Literature Review

Desde hace unos cuarenta años, el valor razonable se ha venido utilizando cada vez más en las normas emitidas por el IASB y por el FASB. En este sentido, ha existido un gran debate con relación a la relevancia y a la fiabilidad del valor razonable como método de valoración. En principio, los marcos conceptuales del IASB y del FASB se basan en el Paradigma de la Utilidad, y el valor razonable debería aplicarse si ofrece información relevante a los inversores. En el presente artículo revisamos las investigaciones previas en torno al valor razonable (centrándonos en el área de instrumentos financieros y la relevancia del valor razonable). Hemos clasificado los artículos en líneas de investigación y hemos analizado principales conclusiones obtenidas en cada línea. Los autores concluyen que el valor razonable es el modelo que mejor refleja las actividades de gestión de riesgo. La información que ofrece el valor razonable es generalmente relevante para los inversores. La evidencia es mayor en los valores razonables clasificados en los Niveles 1 y 2.
The MHC-Specific Enhanceosome and Its Role in MHC Class I and β2-Microglobulin Gene Transactivation1

The promoter regions of MHC class I and β2-microglobulin (β2m) genes posses a regulatory module consisting of S, X, and Y boxes, which is shared by MHC class II and its accessory genes. In this study we show that, similar to MHC class II, the SXY module in MHC class I and β2m promoters is cooperatively bound by a multiprotein complex containing regulatory factor X, CREB/activating transcription factor, and nuclear factor Y. Together with the coactivator class II transactivator this multiprotein complex drives transactivation of these genes. In contrast to MHC class II, the multiprotein complex has an additional function in the constitutive transactivation of MHC class I and β2m genes. The requirement for all transcription factors in the complex and correct spacing of the binding sites within the SXY regulatory module for complex formation and functioning of this multiprotein complex strongly suggests that this complex can be regarded as a bona fide enhanceosome. The general coactivators CREB binding protein, p300, general control nonderepressible-5, and p300/CREB binding protein-associated factor exert an ancillary function in MHC class I and β2m transactivation, but exclusively through the class II transactivator component of this enhanceosome. Thus, the SXY module is the basis for a specific enhanceosome important for the constitutive and inducible transactivation of MHC class I and β2m genes.
Altered iron metabolism in lymphocytes from subjects with restless legs syndrome.

OBJECTIVE Studies using cerebrospinal fluid, magnetic resonance imaging, and autopsy tissue have implicated a primary role for brain iron insufficiency in restless legs syndrome (RLS). If the abnormalities of brain iron regulation reflect a basic disturbance of iron metabolism, then this might be expressed at least partially in some peripheral systems. Thus the study aim was to determine whether patients with RLS and control subjects show differences in lymphocyte iron regulator proteins. METHODS Fasting morning blood samples were used to obtain common serum measures of iron status and to determine lymphocyte iron management proteins. Twenty-four women with early-onset RLS and 25 control women without RLS symptoms were studied. RESULTS RLS and control subjects were matched for age, hemoglobin, and serum iron profile. However, transferrin receptor (TfR) and DMT1 (divalent metal transporter 1 protein) levels in lymphocytes were significantly higher for RLS patients than for controls. No significant differences in ferritin subtypes or transferrin levels were found. No significant correlations were found between lymphocyte and serum indices of iron status. INTERPRETATION RLS lymphocytes showed an increase in ferroportin, implying increased cellular iron excretion, in the face of increased iron need (increased TfR and DMT1). In the absence of changes in H-ferritin, the findings indicate a balance between input and output with no net iron change but probable overall increase in iron turnover. The lack of any significant correlation between serum and lymphocyte iron indices indicates that iron management proteins from lymphocytes are at a minimum an alternative and independent marker of cellular iron metabolism.
Implantation enhancement by selective assisted hatching using zona drilling of human embryos with poor prognosis.

Assisted hatching by zona drilling using acidic Tyrode's solution was performed during three randomized trials in 330 in-vitro fertilization patients. The trials were designed in order to study the overall effect of the procedure and whether characteristic patient [i.e. maternal age and basal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)] and embryonic features (i.e. zona pellucida thickness) are important for the decision to perform assisted hatching routinely. Couples (n = 137; Trial 1) in whom the female partner had normal basal FSH levels were randomized in a control group (without micromanipulation) and a zona drilling group (all embryos micromanipulated). The incidence of implantation (67/239; 28%) of zona-drilled embryos compared favourably with that of control embryos (49/229; 21%), but the difference was not significant. Retrospective analysis revealed that those embryos whose zonae were thicker than 15 microns were rescued. In order to test the validity of this finding, selective assisted hatching was performed on embryos with a poor prognosis in 163 other patients (Trial 2). The couples were randomized into a control group and a group in which embryos were selectively zona-drilled, based on zona thickness and other embryonic features. The rate of embryonic implantation in the selectively zona-drilled group was 25% (70/278), significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than that of control embryos (51/285; 18%). Although it was demonstrated retrospectively and prospectively that assisted hatching by zona drilling is effective in embryos with thick zonae (greater than or equal to 15 microns), patients whose embryos have thin (less than 13 microns) zonae may be jeopardized by the procedure. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Efficacy and implementation of an Internet psychoeducational program for teens with type 1 diabetes

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the participation and preliminary efficacy of an Internet psychoeducational program (Teens.Connect) shown to be efficacious under controlled conditions compared with an open‐access diabetes website for youth (Planet D) on the primary outcomes of A1C and quality of life (QoL), and secondary outcomes of psychosocial and behavioral factors.
Toward a definition of masked hypertension and white-coat hypertension among hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Among people with essential hypertension, ambulatory BP measurement is superior to BP obtained in the clinic in predicting cardiovascular outcomes. In part, this is because it can detect white-coat hypertension and masked hypertension. Whether the same is true for hemodialysis patients is not known. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Using a threshold of 140/80 mmHg for median midweek dialysis-unit BP and 135/85 mmHg for 44-hour ambulatory BP, we defined four categories of BP: sustained normotension (SN), white-coat hypertension (WCH), masked hypertension (MHTN), and sustained hypertension (SHTN). RESULTS Among 355 long-term hemodialysis patients, the prevalence of SN was 35%, WCH 15%, MHTN 15%, and SHTN 35%. Over a mean follow-up of 29.6 (SD 21.7) months, 102 patients died (29%), yielding a crude mortality rate of 121/1000 patient-years. Unadjusted and multivariate-adjusted analyses showed increasing all-cause mortality with increasing severity of hypertension (unadjusted hazard ratios from SN, WCH, MHTN, SHTN: 1, 1.12, 1.70, 1.80, respectively [P for trend < 0.01]; adjusted hazard ratios: 1, 1.30, 1.36, 1.87, respectively [P for trend 0.02]). When a predialysis BP threshold of 140/90 mmHg was used to classify patients into BP categories, the prevalence of SN was 24%, WCH 26%, MHTN 4%, and SHTN 47%. Hazard ratios for mortality were similar when compared with median midweek dialysis-unit BP. CONCLUSIONS As in the essential hypertension population, MHTN and WCH have prognostic significance. The prognostic value of BP obtained in the dialysis unit can be refined with ambulatory BP monitoring.
Asymmetric stereoscopic image resolution enhancement

Asymmetric stereoscopic imaging technique utilizes a pair of lower-resolution and full-resolution images to reduce the data storage requirement of stereoscopic images and videos, while maintaining fairly good quality in 3D perception. This paper proposes a super-resolution approach to reconstruct the original full-resolution image for this asymmetric stereoscopic system setup. The proposed approach exploits a dual regularization scheme: (i) a saliency-based regularization function is proposed to adjust the degree of regularization based on the local content of the image; and (ii) an occlusion-sensitive regularization function is proposed to exploit the correlation between the observed lower-resolution image and the observed full-resolution image in neighboring view. Experiments are conducted to justify that the proposed approach outperforms conventional approaches.
Improving cell encapsulation through size control

Capsules based on the polyelectrolyte complexation between the polyanions sodium alginate and sodium cellulose sulphate with the polycation poly(methylene-co-guanidine) hydrochloride in the presence of calcium chloride have previously shown important advantages for cell encapsulation. However, in vivo long-term applications require capsule features that are well suited for the functionality of encapsulated cells. These should be targeted to the site of implantation with an appropriate size, a relative stability, and suitable diffusion properties. This study shows the effect of capsule size reduction, from 1 mm to 400 μm, on capsule quality control, mechanical stability, diffusion properties, and in vitro activities of the encapsulated cells. Following a controlled preparation, it was determined that the capsule mechanical stability was largely dependent on the volume ratio of the capsule over the membrane. The molecule diffusion time was related to the surface/volume ratio of the capsule even for the capsules exhibiting an identical cut-off towards the proteins and the dextran molecules. Finally, the in vitro cellular activities, for both primary cultures of rat islets and murine hepatocytes, were improved for cells encapsulated into the 400 μm capsules compared with those in the 1 mm capsules. All of these findings suggest that the smaller capsules present better properties for future clinical applications, at the same time widening the choice of implantation site, and strengthen the notion that slight changes in the capsular morphological parameters can largely influence the graft function in vivo.
Clonidine Combined with Small-Dose Bupivacaine During Spinal Anesthesia for Inguinal Herniorrhaphy: A Randomized Double-Blinded Study

The aim of this randomized double-blinded study was to see whether the addition of small-dose clonidine to small-dose bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia and also provided a sufficient block duration that would be adequate for inguinal herniorrhaphy. We randomized 45 patients to 3 groups receiving intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine 6 mg combined with saline (Group B), clonidine 15 &mgr;g (Group BC15), or clonidine 30 &mgr;g (Group BC30); all solutions were diluted with saline to 3 mL. The sensory block level was insufficient for surgery in five patients in Group B, and these patients were given general anesthesia. Patients in Groups BC15 and BC30 had a significantly higher spread of analgesia (two to four dermatomes) than those in Group B. Two-segment regression, return of S1 sensation, and regression of motor block were significantly longer in Group BC30 than in Group B. The addition of clonidine 15 and 30 &mgr;g to bupivacaine prolonged time to first analgesic request and decreased postoperative pain with minimal risk of hypotension. We conclude that clonidine 15 &mgr;g with bupivacaine 6 mg produced an effective spinal anesthesia and recommend this dose for inguinal herniorrhaphy, because it did not prolong the motor block.
Bromobenzene 3,4-oxide alkylates histidine and lysine side chains of rat liver proteins in vivo.

The hepatotoxic effects of bromobenzene (BB) are correlated with and generally ascribed to the covalent modification of cellular proteins by chemically reactive metabolites, particularly BB-3,4-oxide. Previous studies revealed that quinone as well as epoxide metabolites of BB form adducts to protein sulfur nucleophiles, that the quinone-derived adducts are more abundant by a factor of ca. 7, and that collectively these sulfur adducts account for only about 10% of the total protein covalent binding [Slaughter, D. E. , and Hanzlik, R. P. (1991) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 4, 349-359]. To examine the possibility that metabolically-formed BB-3,4-oxide alkylates nitrogen nucleophiles on proteins under toxicologically relevant conditions in vivo, we synthesized standards of N tau-(p-bromophenyl)histidine (7) and N epsilon-(p-bromophenyl)lysine (8) as anticipated adduct structures and used them to guide a chromatographic search for their presence in hydrolysates of liver protein from BB-treated rats. While radio-LC chromatography and GC/MS provide unequivocal evidence for their presence, the amounts of 7 and 8 observed are very low ( < 1% of total covalent binding). The apparently small net contribution of epoxide metabolites to covalent binding of BB in vivo suggests the majority of binding may arise via quinone metabolites, but this should not be construed to imply that quinone adducts are necessarily more important toxicologically than epoxide adducts; in this context the identity of the protein targets is probably at least as important as the type of electrophilic metabolite involved.