Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulatory T Cell Properties of Chicken CD4+CD25+ Cells

Chicken CD4+CD25+ cells were characterized for mammalian regulatory T cells’ suppressive and cytokine production properties. Anti-chicken CD25 mAb was produced in mice and conjugated with a fluorescent tag. The specificity of the Ab against chicken CD25 was confirmed by evaluating Con A-induced CD25 upregulation in thymocytes and by quantifying the CD25 mRNA content of positive and negative cells identified by anti-chicken CD25 Ab. The percentage of CD4+CD25+ cells, expressed as a percentage of CD4+ cells, in thymus and blood was ∼3–7%, in spleen was 10%, and in cecal tonsil, lung, and bone marrow was ∼15%. Bursa had no detectable CD4+CD25+ cells. CD25+ cells were mostly CD4+ in the thymus, whereas in every other organ studied, CD25+ cells were distributed between CD4+ and CD4− cells. Chicken thymic CD4+CD25+ cells did not proliferate in vitro in the absence of recombinant chicken IL-2 (rCIL-2). In the presence of rCIL-2, PMA plus ionomycin or Con A stimulated CD4+CD25+ cell proliferation, whereas anti-CD3 plus CD28 did not stimulate CD4+CD25+ cell proliferation. Naive CD4+CD25+ cells had 29-fold more IL-10 mRNA and 15-fold more TGF-β mRNA than the naive CD4+CD25− cells. Naive CD4+CD25+ had no detectable IL-2 mRNA. Both naive and PMA plus ionomycin-stimulated thymic CD4+CD25+ cells suppressed naive T cell proliferation. The suppressive properties were partially contact dependent. Supplementing CD4+CD25+ cell coculture with rCIL-2 reversed the suppressive properties of CD4+CD25+ cells. Chicken CD4+CD25+ cells have suppressive properties similar to that of mammalian regulatory T cells.
Randomized controlled clinical trial of fractional doses of inactivated poliovirus vaccine administered intradermally by needle-free device in Cuba.

BACKGROUND As part of an evaluation of strategies to make inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) affordable for developing countries, we conducted a clinical trial of fractional doses of IPV in Cuba. METHODS We compared the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of fractional-dose IPV (0.1 mL, or 1/5 of a full dose) given intradermally using a needle-free jet injector device compared with full doses given intramuscularly. Subjects were randomized at birth to receive IPV at 6, 10, and 14 weeks. RESULTS A total of 471 subjects were randomized to the 2 study groups, and 364 subjects fulfilled the study requirements. No significant differences at baseline were detected. Thirty days after completing the 3-dose schedule of IPV, 52.9%, 85.0%, and 69.0% of subjects in the fractional-dose IPV arm seroconverted for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively, whereas 89.3%, 95.5%, and 98.9% of subjects in the full-dose IPV arm seroconverted for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively (all comparisons, P < .001). The median titers of each poliovirus serotype were significantly lower in the intradermal arm than in the intramuscular arm (P < .001). Only minor local adverse effects and no moderate or serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale evaluation demonstrates the feasibility of fractional doses of IPV given intradermally as an antigen-sparing strategy but also shows that IPV given to infants at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age results in suboptimal immunogenicity (especially for the fractional-dose arm).
Suppression of autophagy precipitates neuronal cell death following low doses of methamphetamine

Methamphetamine abuse is toxic to dopaminergic neurons, causing nigrostriatal denervation and striatal dopamine loss. Following methamphetamine exposure, the number of nigral cell bodies is generally preserved, but their cytoplasm features autophagic‐like vacuolization and cytoplasmic accumulation of α‐synuclein‐, ubiquitin‐ and parkin‐positive inclusion‐like bodies. Whether autophagy is epiphenomenal or it plays a role in the mechanism of methamphetamine toxicity and, in the latter case, whether its role consists of counteracting or promoting the neurotoxic effect remains obscure. We investigated the signaling pathway and the significance (protective vs. toxic) of autophagy activation and the convergence of the autophagic and the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathways at the level of the same intracellular bodies in a simple cell model of methamphetamine toxicity. We show that autophagy is rapidly up‐regulated in response to methamphetamine. Confocal fluorescence microscopy and immuno‐electron microscopy studies demonstrated the presence of α‐synuclein aggregates in autophagy‐lysosomal structures in cells exposed to methamphetamine, a condition compatible with cell survival. Inhibition of autophagy either by pharmacologic or genetic manipulation of the class III Phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase‐mediated signaling prevented the removal of α‐synuclein aggregates and precipitated a bax‐mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.
Assessing groundwater quality in peri-urban localities of Kumasi, Ghana

ABSTRACT This study examined groundwater quality in nine peri-urban communities of Kumasi, Ghana. These communities rely heavily on groundwater for domestic consumption amidst various sanitation concerns. The potential for groundwater contamination is high. Our study involved: (1) in-situ examination of physico-chemical characteristics of well water (2) laboratory analyses of groundwater samples for bacteria and heavy metals; (3) questionnaire surveys to obtain water use demographics. Results indicate groundwater contamination in all study communities. The questionnaire survey also reveal that the majority households in the communities consume their groundwater untreated. Thus, the study communities may be vulnerable to water-borne diseases.
Molecular interactions between the specialist herbivore Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) and its natural host Nicotiana attenuata. IV. Insect-Induced ethylene reduces jasmonate-induced nicotine accumulation by regulating putrescine N-methyltransferase transcripts.

Attack by the specialist herbivore, Manduca sexta, on its native host Nicotiana attenuata Torr. ex Wats. produces a dramatic ethylene release, a jasmonate burst, and a suppression of the nicotine accumulation that results from careful simulations of the herbivore's damage. Methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) treatment induces nicotine biosynthesis. However, this induction can be suppressed by ethylene as pretreatment of plants with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a competitive inhibitor of ethylene receptors, restores the full MeJA-induced nicotine response in herbivore attacked plants (J. Kahl, D.H. Siemens, R.J. Aerts, R. Gäbler, F. Kühnemann, C.A. Preston, I.T. Baldwin [2000] Planta 210: 336-342). To understand whether this herbivore-induced signal cross-talk occurs at the level of transcript accumulation, we cloned the putrescine methyltransferase genes (NaPMT1 and NaPMT2) of N. attenuata, which are thought to represent the rate limiting step in nicotine biosynthesis, and measured transcript accumulations by northern analysis after various jasmonate, 1-MCP, ethephon, and herbivory treatments. Transcripts of both root putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) genes and nicotine accumulation increased dramatically within 10 h of shoot MeJA treatment and immediately after root treatments. Root ethephon treatments suppressed this response, which could be reversed by 1-MCP pretreatment. Moreover, 1-MCP pretreatment dramatically amplified the transcript accumulation resulting from both wounding and M. sexta herbivory. We conclude that attack from this nicotine-tolerant specialist insect causes N. attenuata to produce ethylene, which directly suppresses the nitrogen-intensive biosynthesis of nicotine.
Community dynamics and the lower airway microbiota in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smokers and healthy non-smokers

Rationale The role bacteria play in the progression of COPD has increasingly been highlighted in recent years. However, the microbial community complexity in the lower airways of patients with COPD is poorly characterised. Objectives To compare the lower airway microbiota in patients with COPD, smokers and non-smokers. Methods Bronchial wash samples from adults with COPD (n=18), smokers with no airways disease (n=8) and healthy individuals (n=11) were analysed by extended-culture and culture-independent Illumina MiSeq sequencing. We determined aerobic and anaerobic microbiota load and evaluated differences in bacteria associated with the three cohorts. Culture-independent analysis was used to determine differences in microbiota between comparison groups including taxonomic richness, diversity, relative abundance, ‘core’ microbiota and co-occurrence. Measurement and main results Extended-culture showed no difference in total load of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria between the three cohorts. Culture-independent analysis revealed that the prevalence of members of Pseudomonas spp. was greater in the lower airways of patients with COPD; however, the majority of the sequence reads for this taxa were attributed to three patients. Furthermore, members of Bacteroidetes, such as Prevotella spp. , were observed to be greater in the ‘healthy’ comparison groups. Community diversity (α and β) was significantly less in COPD compared with healthy groups. Co-occurrence of bacterial taxa and the observation of a putative ‘core’ community within the lower airways were also observed. Conclusions Microbial community composition in the lower airways of patients with COPD is significantly different to that found in smokers and non-smokers, indicating that a component of the disease is associated with changes in microbiological status.
Structured control for a satellites platoon formation in low Earth orbit using Youla-parametrization

The paper presents the design and analysis of a control strategy appropriate in the case of two or more space-crafts in low Earth orbit and in close along-track configuration. The well known dynamics of the relative motion are briefly recalled and their decoupling properties allow to restrict the multivariable control design to an in-plane problem. An H∞ synthesis is used to obtain a control law for a formation of two satellites. The control of a formation of four satellites, in the case of local measurements between each satellite and the preceding one, falls in the framework of structured control. A Youla-parameter based technique allows to use convex optimization to improve the initial block-diagonal structure derived from the two-satellites controllers, with a great flexibility to take into account frequency and time constraints.
Time-kill kinetics of slowly growing mycobacteria common in pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to provide basic pharmacodynamic information for key antibiotics used to treat Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium xenopi pulmonary disease. METHODS M. avium subspecies hominissuis IWGMT49 and M. xenopi ATCC 19250 type strains were used; the MICs of clarithromycin, amikacin and moxifloxacin were determined by broth microdilution. Time-kill assays were performed, exposing bacteria to 2-fold concentrations from 0.062× to 32× the MIC at 37°C for 240 h for M. avium or 42 days for M. xenopi. The sigmoid maximum effect (Emax) model was fitted to the time-kill curve data. RESULTS Maximum killing of M. avium by amikacin was obtained between 24 and 120 h (0.0180 h(-1)) and was faster and higher than with clarithromycin (0.0109 h(-1)); however, regrowth and amikacin-resistant mutants were observed. Killing rates for M. xenopi were higher, 0.1533 h(-1) for clarithromycin and 0.1385 h(-1) for moxifloxacin, yet required 42 days. There were no significant differences between the Hill's slopes determined for all of the antibiotics tested against M. avium or M. xenopi (P = 0.9663 and P = 0.0844, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The killing effect of amikacin and clarithromycin on M. avium subspecies hominissuis was low, although amikacin activity was higher than that of clarithromycin, supporting its role in a combined therapy. Clarithromycin and moxifloxacin may have similar activity within treatment regimens for M. xenopi disease. Future studies of in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interactions are needed to improve the current regimens to treat these two important slowly growing mycobacteria in pulmonary disease.
Interstitial-lymphatic mechanisms in the control of extracellular fluid volume.

While the study of the physiochemical composition and structure of the interstitium on a molecular level is a large and important field in itself, the present review centered mainly on the functional consequences for the control of extracellular fluid volume. As pointed out in section I, a biological monitoring system for the total extracellular volume seems very unlikely because a major part of that volume is made up of multiple, separate, and functionally heterogeneous interstitial compartments. Even less likely is a selective volume control of each of these compartments by the nervous system. Instead, as shown by many studies cited in this review, a local autoregulation of interstitial volume is provided by automatic adjustment of the transcapillary Starling forces and lymph flow. Local vascular control of capillary pressure and surface area, of special importance in orthostasis, has been discussed in several recent reviews and was mentioned only briefly in this article. The gel-like consistency of the interstitium is attributed to glycosaminoglycans, in soft connective tissues mainly hyaluronan. However, the concept of a gel phase and a free fluid phase now seems to be replaced by the quantitatively more well-defined distribution spaces for glycosaminoglycans and plasma protein, apparently in osmotic equilibrium with each other. The protein-excluded space, determined mainly by the content of glycosaminoglycans and collagen, has been measured in vivo in many tissues, and the effect of exclusion on the oncotic buffering has been clarified. The effect of protein charge on its excluded volume and on interstitial hydraulic conductivity has been studied only in lungs and is only partly clarified. Of unknown functional importance is also the recent finding of a free interstitial hyaluronan pool with relatively rapid removal by lymph. The postulated preferential channels from capillaries to lymphatics have received little direct support. Thus the variation of plasma-to-lymph passage times for proteins may probably be ascribed to heterogeneity with respect to path length, linear velocity, and distribution volumes. Techniques for measuring interstitial fluid pressure have been refined and reevaluated, approaching some concensus on slightly negative control pressures in soft connective tissues (0 to -4 mmHg), zero, or slightly positive pressure in other tissues. Interstitial pressure-volume curves have been recorded in several tissues, and progress has been made in clarifying the dependency of interstitial compliance on glycosaminoglycan-osmotic pressure, collagen, and microfibrils. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Carotid Artery Plaques, Carotid Intima–Media Thickness, and Risk of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Death in Older Adults: A 5-Year Prospective, Community-Based Study

We assessed the effect of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) on the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in a community-based population aged ≥55 years in China. A total of 1376 residents underwent CAS assessment by ultrasonography in July 2009. New CVD events, including stroke and coronary heart events, were collected at the follow-up survey at the end of 2014. After adjusting for baseline demographic characteristics and traditional CVD risk factors, the risk of CVD in patients with minimal CAS (mean common carotid artery intima–media thickness [CCA-IMT] ≥1 mm and no plaques), nonstenotic plaques (carotid stenosis <50%), and stenotic plaques (carotid stenosis ≥50%) was 0.8 (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33-1.69), 2.0 (HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.24-3.25), and 3.1 (HR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.62-5.74) times greater, respectively, than that of patients without CAS (CCA-IMT <1 mm and no plaques). Our findings provide direct evidence of the independent predictive value of the severity of asymptomatic CAS for the development of CVD in older Chinese adults.
An optimal dietary zinc level of broiler chicks fed a corn-soybean meal diet.

An experiment was conducted to estimate the optimal dietary zinc level for broiler chicks fed a corn-soybean meal diet. A total of 384 one-day-old male broiler chicks were assigned randomly to dietary treatments for 21 d. These treatments included a basal corn-soybean meal diet (28.32 mg of Zn/kg) supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, or 140 mg of Zn/kg in the form of reagent-grade ZnSO(4). 7H(2)O. All treatments were replicated 6 times using 8 chicks per pen. Tissue Zn concentration, Zn metalloenzyme activity, metallothionein (MT) concentration, MT mRNA level, and Zn transporter-2 (ZnT-2) mRNA level were analyzed for choosing suitable criterion to determine the optimal dietary Zn level for broilers. Regression analysis was performed to estimate optimal dietary Zn level in the presence of quadratic or asymptotic responses. Results showed that weight gain and feed intake were increased with dietary Zn level (P < 0.05), and the maximum weight gain and feed intake were observed in the diet supplemented with 20 mg of Zn/kg (48.37 mg/kg, total dietary Zn). Pancreas MT and MT mRNA increased linearly with Zn supplementation. According to the asymptotic model, the optimal Zn requirement of chicks from hatch to 21 d of age was 59.15 mg/kg for pancreas Zn and 61.70 mg/kg for bone Zn respectively. Quadratic responses were exhibited by serum 5'-nucleotidase activity and pancreas Zn transporter-2 mRNA level, resulting in total optimal dietary levels of 80.50 and 84.09 mg/kg, respectively. Based on results from this study, the optimal dietary Zn level of chicks from hatch to 21 d of age is 84 mg/kg.
Distribution of Mast Cells and Eosinophils in Nasal Polyps from Atopic and Nonatopic Subjects: A Morphometric Study

The pathogenetic mechanism of nasal polyps remains unknown, although polyps seem to be an expression of chronic nasal inflammation of both allergic and nonallergic origin. The goal of our study was to compare the distribution mast cells and eosinophils (cells traditionally associated with allergic inflammation) in nasal polyps from well defined atopic and nonatopic patients, using advanced morphometric analysis system. Nasal polyps were removed during routine nasal polypectomy performed in 17 atopic and 19 nonatopic patients. Parrafin sections of nasal polyps were stained with haematoxilin/eosin, chromotrope R2 or toluidine blue, and light microscopy, assisted with computerized picture analysis system, was used to count the number of cells in the superficial and stromal layer of the mucosa. Regardless of the presence or absence of atopy, eosinophils were predominant cells in the polyps, and both eosinophils and mast cells were more abundant in the superficial layer than in the stromal layer of the mucosa. The density of eosinophils in both layers and mast cells in the stromal layer was similar in atopic and nonatopic patients. Only the density of mast cells in the superficial layer of the mucosa was slightly higher (p < 0.005 in atopic compared to nonatopic patients). In both groups of patients a significant correlation between the number of mast cells and eosinophils in the superficial layer of the polyp mucosa was found (r = 0.84; p < 0.001). Our study demonstrates that eosinophils and mast cells are abundant in nasal polyps from both atopic and nonatopic patients and that mast cells seem to be more superficially distributed in atopic compared to nonatopic patients.
A Comparison of Microscopy and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in Human Faecal Specimens.

BACKGROUND Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoa, is a common causative agent of parasitic diarrhoeal diseases of humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoite and cysts of Giardia. However, due to intermittent faecal excretion of parasite, the case may be miss diagnosed and the patient may continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other mode of diagnosis should be looked for, which overcome the above drawbacks of microscopy used alone for diagnosis. OBJECTIVES The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of RIDASCREEN Giardia (ELISA) test in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1680 patients were included in the study and three faecal specimens were taken from each patient which was divided into two parts. One part was used for direct wet mount examination and second part was used to put ELISA by using RIDASCREEN Giardia test. RESULTS Out of 1680 stool samples, 380 specimens (22.6%) were found to be positive for Giardia lamblia. Maximum cases were detected by RIDASCREEN Giardia (ELISA) test with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 91.5%. Maximum cases of giardiasis were detected in children less than 10 y of age (12.8%). CONCLUSION RIDASCREEN Giardia test is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity and detects Giardia antigens in stool specimens even when the count of parasite is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even the asymptomatic cases.
A Class-D output bridge with dynamic dead-time, small delay and reduced EMI

Power efficient Class-D audio amplifiers are very popular in mobile applications, despite the potential electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by their output stage. Going to higher power levels, more effort has to be put into the reduction of EMI without sacrificing audio performance and efficiency. This work presents a Class-D output stage with an adaptive driver concept. The proposed driver monitors each output transition and dynamically adjusts dead-time and driver strength to reduce EMI while maintaining high audio fidelity. The presented concept is implemented in a 180nm CMOS technology and verified by measurement.
A Study on Sound Feedback in a Virtual Environment for Gait Rehabilitation

For the rehabilitation of stroke and spinal cord injured patients, actuated gait orthoses are used to automate treadmill training. To increase motivation and provide task-specific feedback for these patients, virtual environments are developed and evaluated by many research groups. This paper describes the design, implementation and preliminary evaluation of sound feedback strategies for the actuated gait orthosis LOKOMAT. In the context of an obstacle scenario, the scenario parameters distance and foot height are displayed by sound. An evaluation study with 17 healthy subjects compared no sound feedback (control condition), distance feedback, height feedback, and combined feedback. Visual feedback was present in all conditions. Results indicate that subjects walk faster and hit fewer obstacles when acoustic feedback is present. The findings suggest that acoustic feedback is helpful as a complementary modality and can be applied to a variety of virtual, task-oriented rehabilitation environments.