Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of Microsatellite Molecular Markers in Studies of Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Plant Species of Cerrado

Advances in molecular biology in recent decades and the growing interest of the scientific community in assessing the genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation on species have allowed the creation of new perspectives for research on population genetics, where biodiversity is investigated by means of molecular diversity. The initiatives for conservation genomics have been invaluable to delineate effective strategies for genetic conservation in the short and long term. In this paper we discuss the use of microsatellite molecular markers in studies of genetic diversity focused on species of Cerrado. Markers are highly informative and occur profusely in the genome of plants. Despite the high costs involved in developing microsatellites, their use has grown exponentially in reproductive ecology, conservation and population management. This tool allows the identification of the reproductive system of species and possible hybridizations, as well as the estimation of genetic risks of extinction, detection of vulnerable populations and determination of the minimum viable area of conservation, among others.
Etiology and treatment of pneumonia

Background. Lower respiratory tract infections are a common cause of morbidity among children. Among these infections pneumonia is the most serious illness and can be difficult to diagnose. The etiology of pneumonia is still partly unknown, primarily because of difficulty in obtaining adequate samples and lack of reliable diagnostic methods. Etiology of pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae is recognized as an important cause of pediatric pneumonia regardless of age in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. In developed countries S. pneumoniae probably accounts for 25 to 30% of cases of pediatric community‐acquired pneumonia. Viruses (mostly respiratory syncytial virus) are responsible for ˜20% of cases, and Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae occur commonly in older children. Future challenges. Despite the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapy, the emergence of resistant bacterial pathogens has resulted in increased interest in developing more effective vaccines. If conjugate pneumococcal vaccines prove effective at eradicating carriage of pneumococci in the nasopharynx, immunization may be an important tool against the spread of pneumococcal disease. Future challenges include implementation of effective intervention strategies, production of simple diagnostic tools and development of effective vaccines.
Object detection with passive acoustic graphene nanosensor

The scheme of passive acoustic device and the data processing of passive acoustic radar are presented. The development of passive acoustic nanosensor using the microcontroller ATmega2560 is proposed. Construction of passive acoustic graphene nanosensor for determination the spatial position of detectable object is proposed. Subject of research is construction of the passive acoustic radar.
Chemorepellents in Paramecium and Tetrahymena

Although Paramecium has been widely used as a model sensory cell to study the cellular responses to thermal, mechanical and chemoattractant stimuli, little is known about their responses to chemorepellents. We have used a convenient capillary tube repellent bioassay to describe 4 different compounds that are chemorepellents for Paramecium and compared their response with those of Tetrahymena. The classical Paramecium t‐maze chemokinesis test was also used to verify that this is a reliable chemorepellent assay. The first two compounds, GTP and the oxidant NBT, are known to be depolarizing chemorepellents in Paramecium but this is the first report of them as repellents in Tetrahymena. The second two compounds, the secretagogue alcian blue and the dye cibacron blue, have not previously been described as chemorepellents in either of these ciliates. Two other compounds, the secretagogue AED and the oxidant cytochrome c, were found to be repellents to Paramecium but not to Tetrahymena. The repellent nature of each of these compounds is not related to toxicity because cells are completely viable in all of them. More importantly, all of these repellents are effective at micromolar to nanomolar concentrations, providing an opportunity to use them as excitatory ligands in future works concerning their membrane receptors and possible receptor operated ion channels.
Terrorist Incidents in India, 1998–2004: A Quantitative Analysis of Fatality Rates

Using data from the University of Maryland's Global Terrorism Database II, this paper first provides information on the nature of terrorist incidents in India in the period 1998-2004: the Indian states that were worst affected by terrorist incidents and fatalities; the terrorist groups responsible for such incidents and their modus operandi. Next, the paper focuses on the issue of fatalities from terrorist incidents. It inquires into the extent to which the number of fatalities following an incident was influenced by the type of attack (bombings, armed assault, etc.) and the extent to which it was influenced by the type of terrorist group. By examining the number of fatalities resulting from terrorist attacks in India, the paper disentangles the influence on this number of attack type and attack group. Lastly, the paper applies Atkinson's concept of equality-adjusted income to terrorism to arrive at the concept of equality-adjusted deaths from terrorist incidents: in order to avoid spectacular incidents resulting in the loss of a large number of lives—as in New York on September 11, 2001 and in Mumbai 26–29 November 2008—“society” might be prepared to tolerate “low-grade” terrorism which resulted in a larger number of deaths in total but avoided a large number of deaths from a single iconic incident.
Comments on Pinched Hysteresis Loops of Memristive Elements

The hysteresis loops pinched in the v-i origin belong to well-known fingerprints of memristive elements driven by bipolar periodical signals. Some element properties follow from the loop behavior in the close neighborhood of the origin. The paper analyzes this behavior of the memristive elements that produce steady-state hysteresis loops under harmonic excitation. It is shown that there is a connection between the frequency content of the state variable waveform and the type of the loop being pinched.
Deformation structures and an alteration zone linked to deposition of volcanogenic sulphate in an ancient playa (Oligocene of Nebraska, USA)

Historic, sulphur‐rich volcanic eruptions have altered global climate for as much as five years, and much larger events are known from the geologic record. At Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, Early Oligocene strata of the lower Arikaree Group contain a tephra bed with abundant calcite pseudomorphs after gypsum. Previous work has shown sulphate from the pseudomorphs in this tephra bears a high 17O anomaly indicative of oxidation of sulphur gases by ozone or hydrogen peroxide in the atmosphere. Possible sources of the tephra were caldera eruptions at about 28 Ma in the San Juan volcanic field of south‐western Colorado (∼500 km SW of the study site) and the eastern Great Basin (∼1000 km WSW). The present sedimentological study shows that tephra and volcanogenic sulphate were deposited and preserved within a small, surface‐discharging playa that developed on the irregular upper surface of aeolian siltstones of the subjacent White River Group. Sulphate solutions (including perhaps sulphuric acid) percolated downward within the vadose zone, dissolving early formed smectite cement within underlying volcaniclastic sandstones, reddening these rocks along an irregular alteration front. Preserved fine‐scale stratification within the sandstones precludes the possibility that reddening took place during pedogenesis. Displacive growth of gypsum at the playa centre folded tephra beds and forced tephra into underlying sandstones, forming elongate cones. The large mass fraction of gypsum (now replaced by calcite) in the playa sediments suggests a huge, long‐distance delivery of sulphate aerosols. Some of the sulphate and tephra may have come from the same eruption, or the fine‐grained tephra may simply have aided preservation of dry‐fog sulphate derived from an unrelated, effusive eruption of lava.
Self-concept and introversion in adolescents with cleft lip and palate

The purpose of this study was to investigate if adolescents with cleft lip, or palate, or both (CLP), have an altered self-concept, and to assess their degree of introversion, compared with a control group. The CLP group consisted of 55 adolescents (aged 17-20 years) and the control group consisted of 31 adolescents (16-19 years). The Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS) was used to measure the subjects' self-concept, while the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Inventory (EPQ-I) was used to measure introversion. The results indicate that those with CLP have a normal or even a high self-concept, and no signs of introversion.
Actions of cocaine on rat dopaminergic neurones in vitro

1 Intracellular recordings were made from neurones in vitro in the rat substantia nigra zona compacta and ventral tegmental area; the neurones had the characteristic properties of dopamine‐containing cells, and fired action potentials spontaneously. 2 Cocaine (1–10μm) inhibited spontaneous firing, hyperpolarized the membrane and (in neurones voltage‐clamped at −60 mV) caused an outward membrane current; the minimally effective concentration was 1 μm. These effects were blocked by sulpiride (30 nm–1 μm). 3 Dopamine (3–100 μm) also inhibited firing, hyperpolarized and caused an outward current. These effects of dopamine were potentiated about five fold by cocaine (10 μm). 4 It is concluded that cocaine (1–10 μm) inhibits the firing and hyperpolarizes substantia nigra zona compacta neurones in vitro by blocking the uptake of dopamine which the cells continuously release.
Confocal laser scanning microscopy and ultrastructural study of VGLUT2 thalamic input to striatal projection neurons in rats

We examined thalamic input to striatum in rats using immunolabeling for the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2). Double immunofluorescence viewed with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that VGLUT2+ terminals are distinct from VGLUT1+ terminals. CLSM of Phaseolus vulgaris‐leucoagglutinin (PHAL)‐labeled cortical or thalamic terminals revealed that VGLUT2 is rare in corticostriatal terminals but nearly always present in thalamostriatal terminals. Electron microscopy revealed that VGLUT2+ terminals made up 39.4% of excitatory terminals in striatum (with VGLUT1+ corticostriatal terminals constituting the rest), and 66.8% of VGLUT2+ terminals synapsed on spines and the remainder on dendrites. VGLUT2+ axospinous terminals had a mean diameter of 0.624 μm, while VGLUT2+ axodendritic terminals a mean diameter of 0.698 μm. In tissue in which we simultaneously immunolabeled thalamostriatal terminals for VGLUT2 and striatal neurons for D1 (with about half of spines immunolabeled for D1), 54.6% of VGLUT2+ terminals targeted D1+ spines (i.e., direct pathway striatal neurons), and 37.3% of D1+ spines received VGLUT2+ synaptic contacts. By contrast, 45.4% of VGLUT2+ terminals targeted D1‐negative spines (i.e., indirect pathway striatal neurons), and only 25.8% of D1‐negative spines received VGLUT2+ synaptic contacts. Similarly, among VGLUT2+ axodendritic synaptic terminals, 59.1% contacted D1+ dendrites, and 40.9% contacted D1‐negative dendrites. VGLUT2+ terminals on D1+ spines and dendrites tended to be slightly smaller than those on D1‐negative spines and dendrites. Thus, thalamostriatal terminals contact both direct and indirect pathway striatal neurons, with a slight preference for direct. These results are consistent with physiological studies indicating slightly different effects of thalamic input on the two types of striatal projection neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. , 521:1354–1377, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polymorphisms of the genes encoding apoproteins A-I, B, C-III, and E and LDL receptor, and cholesterol and LDL metabolism during increased cholesterol intake. Common alleles of the apoprotein E gene show the greatest regulatory impact.

Genetic and dietary factors regulate serum cholesterol level, but detailed investigations into their interactions have not been established. We assessed the effects of apoprotein (apo) E phenotype and polymorphic alleles of the apo A-I, apo B, apo C-III, and LDL receptor genes, separately and together, on regulation of serum LDL cholesterol level. The study group consisted of 29 middle-aged men, and cholesterol absorption, bile acid, and cholesterol synthesis and LDL apo B kinetics were studied in these men during low- and high-cholesterol diets. The six apo B alleles were identified on the basis of Xba I, EcoRI, and Msp I restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), the apo A-I alleles with the Msp I RFLP, and the apo C-III and LDL receptor alleles corresponded to the Sst I and PvuII RPLPs of these genes, respectively. During low cholesterol intake, LDL cholesterol levels were similar in all of the genetic groups except for men with apo E2 phenotype. They had significantly (P < .05) lower levels of LDL apo B and cholesterol than men without the epsilon 2 allele. The low values were caused by a significantly higher removal of LDL apo B (apo E2, 0.453 +/- 0.03 versus apo E3, 0.312 +/- 0.01 pools per day, P < .05). High cholesterol intake increased LDL cholesterol levels in all genetic categories except in the apo E2 phenotype irrespective of the combinations with other polymorphisms. Carriers of the apo B R+ allele (EcoRI site present) presented with the most prominent LDL cholesterol rise (from 2.71 +/- 0.14 to 3.37 +/- 0.29 mmol/L). In multiple stepwise regression analysis, apo B EcoRI RFLP and apo E phenotypes were the only variables that explained the variability of high cholesterol intake-induced change in LDL cholesterol levels. In summary, in any genetic combination, individuals with the epsilon 2 allele had the lowest LDL cholesterol values and were nonresponders to dietary cholesterol, whereas subjects with the apo B R+ allele had marked LDL elevations, especially in combination with the epsilon 4.
Persistence and Fitness of Multidrug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Acquired in Primary Infection

ABSTRACT This study examines the persistence and fitness of multidrug-resistant (MDR) viruses acquired during primary human immunodeficiency virus infection (PHI). In four individuals, MDR infections persisted over the entire study period, ranging from 36 weeks to 5 years, in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. In stark contrast, identified source partners in two cases showed expected outgrowth of wild-type (WT) virus within 12 weeks of treatment interruption. In the first PHI case, triple-class MDR resulted in low plasma viremia (1.6 to 3 log copies/ml) over time compared with mean values obtained for an untreated PHI group harboring WT infections (4.1 to 4.3 log copies/ml). Increasing viremia in PHI patient 1 at week 52 was associated with the de novo emergence of a protease inhibitor-resistant variant through a recombination event involving the original MDR virus. MDR infections in two other untreated PHI patients yielded viremia levels typical of the untreated WT group. A fourth patient's MDR infection yielded low viremia (<50 to 500 copies/ml) for 5 years despite his having phenotypic resistance to all antiretroviral drugs in his treatment regimen. In two of these PHI cases, a rebound to higher levels of plasma viremia only occurred when the M184V mutation in reverse transcriptase could no longer be detected and, in a third case, nondetection of M184V was associated with an inability to isolate virus. To further evaluate the fitness of MDR variants acquired in PHI, MDR and corresponding WT viruses were isolated from index and source partners, respectively. Although MDR viral infectivity (50% tissue culture infective dose) was comparable to that observed for WT viruses, MDR infections in each case demonstrated 2-fold and 13- to 23-fold reductions in p24 antigen and reverse transcriptase enzymatic activity, respectively. In dual-infection competition assays, MDR viruses consistently demonstrated a marked replicative disadvantage compared with WT virus. These results indicate that MDR viruses that are generated following PHI can establish persistent infections as dominant quasispecies despite their impaired replicative competence.
Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of Proteins

changes upon e.g. unfolding, substrate binding or Optical absorption of proteins in the region of 250other catalytical processes. Furthermore, single Trp 300 nm (near-UV) is governed by the aromatic mutants provide the possibility to examine protein amino acid residues phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine dynamic at individual sites of the protein with time(Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp) [1]. Compared with Tyr resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In this and Trp the absorbance of Phe in the near-UV as application note we demonstrate the potential of well as its quantum yield is negligible (Fig. 1A). nowadays commercially available lifetime Consequently, the observed protein fluorescence is spectrometers and mention the limitations of such a mainly caused by Trp and Tyr residues. When spectrometer with sub-nanosecond resolution for excited between 290-295 nm the emission of determining dynamic processes in proteins. proteins is generally dominated by the Trp
Design of Orthogonal Uplink Pilot Sequences for TDD Massive MIMO under Pilot Contamination

—Massive MIMO has been acknowledged as a promising technology to counter the demand for higher data capacity for wireless networks in 2020 and beyond. However, each Base Station (BS) requires good enough knowledge of Channel State Information (CSI) on both the uplink and the downlink as massive MIMO relies on spatial multiplexing. In Time Division Duplex (TDD) massive MIMO systems, this CSI is acquired using channel reciprocity. However, the use of nonorthogonal uplink pilot sequence due to limited coherence time leads to pilot contamination in TDD massive MIMO systems that results in inter-cell interference in the downlink data transmission. This paper proposes a design of orthogonal uplink pilot sequences for multi-cell TDD massive MIMO systems. We propose to use Zadoff-Chu Pilot Sequences (ZCPS) and eliminate pilot contamination during channel estimation process. In the proposed design, each BS is assigned with a specific orthogonal code and the set of ZCPS is multiplied element-wise at each BS with BS-specific orthogonal code to generate orthogonality among pilot sequences across neighboring cells. The proposed design eliminates pilot contamination during channel estimation process thus achieves significant sum-rate gains as verified by the simulation results.
Pulse Transit Time Variability on a Range of Heart Rates between Resting and Elevated States

This study investigated pulse transit time (PTT) variability and trends for a wide range of heart rates (HR). PTT is considered as a significant index for estimating vital signs such as blood pressure (BP) and arteriosclerosis. However, PTT is still not an accurate indicator of these vital parameters, because PTT changes over time and is influenced by several factors, such as BP, HR, and other cardiovascular variables. Previous research indicated a correlation between HR and PTT, but only under limited experimental conditions in which HR was adjusted through decreased respiration in a supine position, resulting in a relatively low HR. Hence, it is not clear whether correlations between PTT and vital parameters are maintained if HR increases. In this study, HR was increased before and after exercise, allowing analysis of PTT variability over a wide range of HRs. Results obtained from PTT and HR measurements indicated a high degree of correlation between these factors, with correlation coefficients ranging from -0.836 to -0.967. Moreover, the correlation trend between PTT and HR variability held even through changes in applied gravity achieved by shifting body positions.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Various Imaging Modalities for Suspected Lower Extremity Stress Fractures

Background: The literature is filled with conflicting findings regarding diagnostic accuracy and protocols for imaging suspected lower extremity stress fractures. The absence of systematic reviews on this topic has limited the development of evidence-based recommendations for appropriate imaging protocols in cases of suspected lower extremity stress fractures. Purpose: To determine the diagnostic accuracy statistics of imaging modalities used to diagnose lower extremity stress fractures and to synthesize evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: A generic search strategy for published studies was performed using multiple databases. A study was eligible for inclusion if it met all of the following criteria: (1) at least 1 diagnostic imaging modality was studied, (2) at least 1 radiological reference standard was used, (3) the study reported or allowed computation of diagnostic accuracy statistics (sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio), (4) a full-text version was available, (5) the article was written in English, and (6) the study included lower extremity stress fractures. Studies that examined asymptomatic individuals or patients with fractures due to disease or pharmacologic intervention were excluded. Results: Reported sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) were as follows: For conventional radiography, sensitivity ranged from 12% (0%-29%) to 56% (39%-72%) and specificity ranged from 88% (55%-100%) to 96% (87%-100%). For nuclear scintigraphy (NS), sensitivity ranged from 50% (23%-77%) to 97% (90%-100%) and specificity from 33% (12%-53%) to 98% (93%-100%). For magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), sensitivity ranged from 68% (45%-90%) to 99% (95%-100%) and specificity from 4% (0%-11%) to 97% (88%-100%). For computed tomography, sensitivity ranged from 32% (8%-57%) to 38% (16%-59%) and specificity from 88% (55%-100%) to 98% (91%-100%). For ultrasound, sensitivity ranged from 43% (26%-61%) to 99% (95%-100%) and specificity from 13% (0%-45%) to 79% (61%-96%). Conclusion: MRI was identified as the most sensitive and specific imaging test for diagnosing stress fractures of the lower extremity. When MRI is available, NS is not recommended because of its low specificity, high dosage of ionizing radiation, and other limitations. Conventional radiographs are likely to result in false negatives upon initial presentation, particularly in the early stages of stress fracture, and in some cases may not reveal an existing stress fracture at any time. A diagnostic imaging algorithm was developed with specific recommendations for cost-efficient imaging of low-risk and high-risk suspected stress fractures.
Tim-1 Signaling Substitutes for Conventional Signal 1 and Requires Costimulation to Induce T Cell Proliferation1

Differentiation and clonal expansion of Ag-activated naive T cells play a pivotal role in the adaptive immune response. T cell Ig mucin (Tim) proteins influence the activation and differentiation of T cells. Tim-3 and Tim-2 clearly regulate Th1 and Th2 responses, respectively, but the precise influence of Tim-1 on T cell activation remains to be determined. We now show that Tim-1 stimulation in vivo and in vitro induces polyclonal activation of T cells despite absence of a conventional TCR-dependent signal 1. In this model, Tim-1-induced proliferation is dependent on strong signal 2 costimulation provided by mature dendritic cells. Ligation of Tim-1 upon CD4+ T cells with an agonist anti-Tim-1 mAb elicits a rise in free cytosolic calcium, calcineurin-dependent nuclear translocation of NF-AT, and transcription of IL-2. Because Tim-4, the Tim-1 ligand, is expressed by mature dendritic cells, we propose that interaction between Tim-1+ T cells and Tim-4+ dendritic cells might ensure optimal stimulation of T cells, when TCR-derived signals originating within an inflamed environment are weak or waning.