Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thymidine kinase from herpes simplex virus phosphorylates the new antiviral compound, 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine.

9-(2-Hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (acyclo-Guo), is an effective and selective inhibitor of herpes simplex virus replication. This purine nucleoside analogue was found to be phosphorylated at a 30to 120-fold faster rate with extracts of Vero cells infected with herpes simplex virus than with extracts of uninfected cells. The enzyme responsible for this reaction was identified as the virus-coded thymidine (dThd) kinase (EC 2.7.1.75). Evidence for this included: 1) the proportionate increase in the rates of phosphorylation of dThd (measured at pH 6) and acyclo-Guo after infection of Vero cells, 2) the concomitant loss of both activities in mutant strains of viruses deficient in dThd kinase, 3) the co-migration of the two activities on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 4) the co-purification of the two activities with an affinity chromatography procedure that separates viral from host cell dThd kinase, and 5) the similar inhibitor specificities when either compound was used as the radioactive substrate. The amount of extractable kinase has been calculated to be sufficient to account for the amount of phosphorylated acyclo-Guo found in treated infected cells in tissue culture. Low acyclo-Guo phosphorylating levels in cells infected with either of two herpes simplex virus mutants or with vaccinia virus correlated with low effectiveness of the compound against the virus in tissue culture. Relative rates of phosphorylation with nonradioactive nucleoside analogues were determined by a method employing [14C]phosphoenolpyruvate. AcycloGuo was phosphorylated at a faster rate than any other purine derivative tested. Other effective antiviral purine derivatives were not phosphorylated by the kinase and thus must be activated by a different mechanism.
Nonoperative management of functional hallux limitus in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Functional hallux limitus (FHL) is a condition that affects motion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint and may lead to abnormal forefoot plantar pressures, pain, and difficulty with ambulation. The purpose of this case report is to describe a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and FHL who was managed with foot orthoses, footwear, shoe modifications, and patient education. CASE DESCRIPTION The patient was a 55-year-old woman diagnosed with seropositive RA 10 years previously. Her chief complaint was bilateral foot pain, particularly under the left great toe. Her foot pain had been present for several years, but during the past 5 months it had intensified and interfered with her work performance, activities of daily living, and social life. OUTCOMES Following 4 sessions of physical therapy over a 6-week time period, the patient reported complete relief of forefoot pain despite no change in medication use or RA disease pathophysiology. She was able to continuously walk for up to 4 hours. Left hallux peak plantar pressures were reduced from 43 N/cm2 to 18 N/cm2 with the foot orthoses. DISCUSSION Patients with RA who develop FHL may benefit from physical therapist management using semirigid foot orthoses, footwear, shoe modifications, and patient education.
Regulation of Normal and Adaptive Pancreatic Growth

It is now established that almost all vertebrate organs show dynamic replacement or turnover at the level of individual proteins, organelles and cells. This allows replacement of damaged components and also regulation of functional mass (151). Regulatory loops where the expression of a mitogen is modulated by a feedback mechanism are common to many tissues. This is consistent with the observation that many tissues show both autonomous and regulated growth (122). Furthermore, in vertebrates, cell division and cell size are independent processes.
A Single Low Dose of RGTA®, a New Healing Agent, Hastens Wound Maturation and Enhances Bone Deposition in Rat Craniotomy Defects

RGTA®, a new family of dextran-derived healing agents, promotes the repair of various tissues, including bone. In this study, we examined whether a dose of RGTA lower than in our previous studies could still modify the healing pattern in craniotomy defects. In 24 rats, two defects (3 mm diameter) were drilled on either side of the calvaria sagittal suture. The right defect was filled with a piece of collagen soaked with RGTA in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; 4 μg/ml), and the left one with collagen soaked in PBS only. After 7, 14 and 21 days, the calvaria were removed and processed for histometry. On day 7, in contrast with the control defects, the treated sites were inflammation-free and centripetal bone plates had started to grow. By day 14, the bone filling was significantly enhanced in the treated defects (+ 290%, p < 0.05), and isolated bone nodules had formed within the fibrous connective tissue (= fibrous hammock) joining the defect edges. The hammock had already differentiated by day 7 in all the RGTA-treated defects, and it was significantly thicker on days 14 (+ 190%, p < 0.05) and 21 (+ 139%, p < 0.05). The colonization of the hammock by mast cells was increased in the treated sites (+ 320%, p < 0.05 on day 21). On day 7, most of the bony edges of the treated defects had been resorbed by osteoclasts, while the process only started in the controls. These data indicate that a low dose of RGTA modified the cascade of events occurring at the initial stages of repair, so that the tissular maturation of the treated defects was more rapid. In fact the use of RGTA in the wounds provoked a shift from a fibrous repair as seen in the controls, to a bone reconstruction favoring defect closure.
Valproic acid treatment in six patients with spinal muscular atrophy

Sir, Currently, no curative treatment is available for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Valproic acid (VPA) increased spinal motor neuron (SMN) protein levels in cells derived from SMA patients [1,2]. SMA mice also showed less degeneration of spinal motor neurons with preservation of motor function after VPA treatment [3]. Until now, little information is available regarding the therapeutic effects of VPA in SMA patients. We reviewed the clinical course of six SMA patients (Table 1) treated with VPA. They all had homozygous deletion of SMN1 gene. Muscle power in four limbs was assessed by Medical Research Council (MRC) score (0–5). Patient’s global muscle power is represented as a sum (0–100) of individual MRC score assessed from 20 muscles, including bilateral shoulder abductors, elbow/wrist/knee flexor/ extensors, finger/hip flexors and ankle extensors.
Infection of cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived 1-day-old piglets with Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, and Arcobacter skirrowii

Neonatal piglets have been used as models to study human campylobacteriosis and helicobacteriosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative pathogenicities, on the basis of the duration of fecal shedding and colonization of tissues, of three Arcobacter species in 1-day-old cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived piglets. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, two piglets each were infected per os with either Arcobacter butzleri ATCC 49616, Arcobacter cryaerophilus 1B ATCC 43159, Arcobacter skirrowii CCUG 10374, or the three field strains of A. butzleri (approximately 5 X 10(9) CFU per piglet). Rectal swab samples were taken prior to infection and daily thereafter for up to 7 days. Arcobacter spp. were detected at least once in rectal swab samples of all but one of the experimentally infected piglets but not in the control. At necropsy, A. butzleri was recovered from the lung, kidney, ileum, or brain tissues of the four infected piglets which had received either the field strain or the ATCC type strain of A. butzleri. A. cryaerophilus 1B was detected in rectal swab samples for up to 7 days postinfection but was not cultured from tissues at necropsy. Arcobacters were detected in the rectal swab sample of the A. skirrowii-infected piglet only on day 3 postinfection; no isolates were obtained from tissues at necropsy. No gross pathological lesions were consistently noted in the experimentally infected piglets. In experiment 2, two piglets each were infected per os with A. butzleri ATCC 49616, A. cryaerophilus 1A ATCC 43158, A. skirrowii CCUG 10374, or the single A. butzleri field strain Yard J/c (approximately 5 X 10(9) CFU per piglet). Arcobacter spp. were cultured from rectal swab samples of all but one of the experimentally infected piglets at least once. At necropsy Arcobacter spp. were cultured from the liver, kidney, ileum, or brain tissues of two of the four A. butzleri-infected piglets. However, no severe gross pathology was noted. These data suggest that Arcobacter spp. , especially A. butzleri, can colonize neonatal pigs.
Diurnal Variation in Blood Sugar and Serum Insulin in Response to Glucose and/or Glucagon in Healthy Subjects*

The role of insulin secretion in the diurnal variation of glucose tolerance has been investigated. In ten healthy subjects, at 08.00 and at 18.00 after 10 hrs of fasting, a combination test of glucose and glucagon was performed. 1 mg glucagon was injected intravenously 40 min after the intravenous infusion of glucose (0.5 g/kg b.w.). Samples for blood sugar (BS) and serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) were taken before and 2-5 min following the glucose and glucagon loads, and thereafter at 10 min intervals up to 85 min. In the afternoon test, the mean blood sugar values were higher, the differences in the 20-85 min values being statistically significant: the IRI values were statistically lower after glucose, while after glucagon, the increase of serum IRI was apparently similar in both morning and afternoon tests. However, the insulin/glucose ratio (I/G) was significantly lower at 18.00 at 55-85 men. Corresponding results were obtained in six additional healthy subjects when only glucagon (1 mg i.v.) was injected. In this case also, the mean insulin levels were lower in the afternoon after 5 min, while the BS values during the maximal insulin release (2-30 min) were comparable in both the morning and afternoon tests. In the 40-60 min interval, the BS levels were significantly higher in the afternoon. The existence of a diurnal variation in the blood sugar after intravenous glucose load, as well as after glucagon, seems to be correlated to a simultaneous diurnal variation in the insulin response, suggesting decreased pancreatic beta-cell activity in the afternoon.
An Evaluation of Exponential and Weibull Test Plans

MIL-STD-781B gives sampling plans (sequential and fixed length) for reliability tests under the assumption of a constant failure rate. Using Monte Carlo techniques, the authors compare s-expected time to a decision and producer and consumer risks for some of these plans. It is shown that plans which assume an exponential distribution are not robust to departures from that assumption. A simple modification of these plans for use when life has a Weibull distribution with known shape parameter not equal to one, and an adaptive test procedure for use when life has a Weibull distribution with unknown shape parameter are proposed. The modified plans for a Weibull distribution with known shape parameter have the same designated producer and consumer risks, but different s-expected time to a decision than the corresponding exponential plans. Using Monte Carlo techniques, the authors determine s-expected time to a decision and producer and consumer risks for various forms of the adaptive procedure.
Geographic and seasonal variation of blue whale calls in the North Pacific

The call characteristics and distribution of blue whales in the North Pacific were examined by use of acoustic surveys. Two distinct vocalisation types have been previously attributed to blue whales from limited regions in the North Pacific (cf. Thompson and Friedl, 1982; Rivers, 1997). Hydrophone data from sixteen sites in the North Pacific were examined for these blue whale vocalisations. There were distinct geographic and seasonal differences between the occurrence of the two vocalisation types. The hydrophones that were more westerly recorded the ‘northwestern’ Pacific vocalisation, those in the eastern Pacific recorded the ‘northeastern’ Pacific vocalisation and those in the central Pacific recorded both types. Northeastern vocalisations were recorded from July-December in the northeast Pacific and February-May in the eastern tropical Pacific. Northwestern vocalisations were recorded most often from July-December, and were essentially absent from March-May in the northwestern Pacific. These results suggest that the different vocalisation types may represent at least two distinct groups of blue whales in the North Pacific.
Effect of Corn Substitution by Sorghum Grain with Low Tannin Content on Broilers Production: Animal Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Characteristics

3 Abstract: The effect of substituting corn with sorghum grains with low tannin content (LTC) on broiler s performances was investigated in a 6-week feeding trial. Seven hundred fifty 1-day old chicks and not sexed Coob 500 were used in this test. These animals were separated into five groups with three replicates of 50 birds for each one. A control diet with 50% of corn was used in the control group. Three other diets where corn was substituted by conventional sorghum in 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 were given respectively to the G1/3, G2/3 and G3/3 groups. The GLTC groups received diets with total substitution of maize by sorghum with LTC. No significant difference was shown for the body weight between the control and the GLTC groups (respectively 1303 and 1418 g). But the use of conventional sorghum decreases significantly the broilers weight live (p>0.05) with the lower weight performances (1128 to 1225 g). Mortalities were similar for the different groups. It's always results to climatic environment which was identical for the different group. No difference has been observed for the carcass dressing percentage (68 to 76%). For the nutrients digestibility, except the fat matter which was difference and higher (more than 92%), dry matter, ash and then metabolizable energy were similar (p>0.05) in the starting and growing diets.
The Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. has Antibacterial Activity on Multi-drug Resistant Bacteria Isolates

The Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. has Antibacterial Activity on Multi-drug Resistant Bacteria Isolates Nima H. JAZANI1 Peyman MIKAILI2* Jalal SHAYEGH3 Negar HAGHIGHI4 Negar AGHAMOHAMMADI4 Minoo ZARTOSHTI5 1 Center for food sciences and nutrition, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IRAN 2 Department of Pharmacology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IRAN 3 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Shabestar branch, Islamic Azad University,
Induction and Competence

Induction—one cell or group of cells changes the behavior (fate, differentiation, shape, mitotic activity, etc.) of another cell or group of cells Two main types of interactions Instructive– tissue A provides information to cause a response in tissue B • if remove tissue A, or place B in another environment --> no response • if place tissue C with A, C responds (if competent—see below) • e.g. notochord induces neural tube cells to form floor plate (fig 12.14) o if remove notochord-->no floor plate differentiation o if transplant notochord to lateral position-->lateral neural tube cells differentiate as floor plate cells o Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is expressed in notochord o can induce floor plate differentiation with Shh Permissive – cells contain the information but require specific environment to express fate. (e.g. may require fibronectin substrate)
Prediction of Shear Wave Velocity in Underground Layers Using SASW and Artificial Neural Networks

This research aims at improving the methods of prediction of shear wave velocity in underground layers. We propose and showcase our methodology using a case study on the Mashhad plain in north eastern part of Iran. Geotechnical investigations had previously reported nine measurements of the SASW (Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves) method over this field and above wells which have DHT (Down Hole Test) result. Since SASW utilizes an analytical formula (which suffers from some simplicities and noise) for evaluating shear wave velocity, we use the results of SASW in a trained artificial neural network (ANN) to estimate the un- known nonlinear relationships between SASW results and those obtained by the method of DHT (treated here as real values). Our results show that an appropriately trained neural network can reliably predict the shear wave velocity between wells accurately.
Antibody Targeted Therapies in Meningiomas: A Critical Review

Surgical resection being the most successful approach for meningomas is not always possible pertaining to its inapproachable locations of tumors. Radiation therapy is sometimes restricted by neurotoxicity and tumor size, while chemotherapy regimens have been minimally effective as treatment option in meningiomas. Therefore, treatment of the remaining subset of aggressive, unapproachable or refractory meningiomas remains challenging. This makes it a topic of concern to explore more strategies for its management. Recent practices have shown increased interests in the utilization if monoclonal antibodies. Among the most prospective are TRAIL therapy followed by antibodies targeting receptors such as PDGFR, EDGF, VEGFR, PD-1. These therapies can be utilized to reduce the stability of meningiomas. There is a need for initiation of large scale Randomized controlled trials to improve outcomes in meningioma patients and formation of a more productive management strategy.
Keberkesanan hubungan antara pelajar dan penyelia dalam penyelidikan dan penyediaan projek akademik

Hubungan yang berkesan antara pelajar dan penyelia yang membimbing pelajar dalam penyelidikan dan penyediaan projek akademik, merupakan satu indikator penting dalam menentukan pelajar berjaya menghasilkan penyelidikan dan laporan projek akademik mereka. Oleh yang demikian, dalam menjalinkan perhubungan yang berkesan, setiap individu yang terlibat perlu memahami tanggungjawab masing-masing dan dapat melaksanakan tanggungjawab tersebut dengan baik. Aspek lain yang penting dan perlu diberi perhatian adalah amalan dan proses perjumpaan pelajar dan penyelia bagi mencapai objektif yang dinginkan. Kajian ini telah mengenalpasti langkah-langkah dan peranan yang perlu dimainkan oleh kedua-dua pihak dalam menghasilkan perjumpaan yang berkesan. Justeru itu, satu model perjumpaan pelajar dan penyelia yang berkesan telah dibentuk dan boleh dijadikan sebagai garis panduan oleh penyelia dan pelajar dalam penyelidikan dan penyediaan projek akademik pelajar.
Entropy analysis of the genetic sequence of six species

This paper studies the genetic sequence of six species and describes a formulation of quantifying scheme inspired in the state space representation. The information of each chromosome is translated into a two dimensional plot and converted into an histogram. The information is then analysed by two methods, namely with Shannon entropy and mutual information, or the Jensen-Shannon divergence and map visualization using multi-dimensional scaling. Some similarity of the information content shows that scale is relevant. Therefore, the consideration of each chromosome length helps in getting a more clear picture of the species characteristics.
Complete Genome Sequences of Methylophaga sp. Strain JAM1 and Methylophaga sp. Strain JAM7

ABSTRACT Methylophaga sp. strains JAM1 and JAM7 have been isolated from a denitrification system. Strain JAM1 was the first Methylophaga strain reported to be able to grow under denitrifying conditions. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of the two strains, which allowed prediction of gene clusters involved in denitrification in strain JAM1.
Selective treatment to reduce contamination of propolis by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) still preserving its active polyphenol component and antioxidant activity

Abstract The adverse effects on health and environment caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are critical problems. EFSA has defined 16 priority PAHs that are both genotoxic and carcinogenic, and identified eight (PAH8) priority PAHs as good indicators of the toxicity and occurrence in food. Food supplements containing propolis were also found to contain relatively high quantities of PAHs. We report about an extractive procedure which is able to purify propolis from a high content of PAHs using a balanced mixture of ethanol and water solvents. Extracts were characterised for total content of polyphenols, for in vitro antioxidant activity, and single classes of polyphenols evaluated by HPLC-ESI-MS. Obtained propolis extracts were found to have PAH8 and specific benzo[a]pyrene content below limits recommended by EFSA. The reported extractive procedure is easily applicable for possible industrial productions and may also be adopted to the purification of polyphenols from other plant extracts and natural sources.
Stability of Non-Foster Reactive Elements for Use in Active Metamaterials and Antennas

During the last couple years there have been lot of attempts to use negative non-Foster reactive elements for improving the bandwidth of electrically small antennas (ESAs) or metamaterial-based structures. However, negative non-Foster reactive elements are actually electronic circuits that are not absolutely stable, which could impose serious problems in practical applications. This communication studies the stability of several networks with non-Foster reactive elements by using a time domain approach. This will help to model more realistic situations for antenna and metamaterial technology.
Farming systems education: Case study of Swedish test pilots

Abstract We describe and analyze a pedagogical experiment that introduced a broad and holistic perspective on complete farming systems, systemic learning tools, and a participatory learning strategy at an early stage in agronomy education. The paper describes the adventure of three students, who came from a conventional agronomy program at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), who were frustrated with the lack of integrated approaches to the study of agricultural systems and a strong focus on molecular-level processes in their first year of education. They encountered a narrow focus in most courses and the overall curricula of agricultural education that is a function of specialization and university organization in unique departments that concentrate on small pieces of the large puzzle, that is the production milieu. In the current educational environment, it is difficult for students to make connections, integrate information and theories, and to create relevance to the challenges they observe in the practical world of farming and food systems. The three students agreed to put on pilots' costumes and climb into an experimental vehicle called experiential learning, one that provides just-in-time education and a very high degree of self-responsibility for the learning process. The paper describes, analyzes, and evaluates the comprehensive and exhausting pedagogical process they followed in one semester in Sweden and Viet Nam, with positive and negative aspects of the program. We provide reflective recommendations from students and advisors for future agronomic education programs with the focus on developing renewable agriculture, selecting students and evaluating performance, and designing practical programs that will motivate highly committed and action-oriented students.