Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Channel structures in aerobic biofilms of fixed-film reactors treating contaminated groundwater

Scanning electron microscopy, confocal scanning laser microscopy, and fatty acid methyl ester profiles were used to study the development, organization, and structure of aerobic multispecies biofilm communities in granular activated-carbon (GAC) fluidized-bed reactors treating petroleum-contaminated groundwaters. The sequential development of biofilm structure was studied in a laboratory reactor fed toluene-amended groundwater and colonized by the indigenous aquifer populations. During the early stages of colonization, microcolonies were observed primarily in crevices and other regions sheltered from hydraulic shear forces. Eventually, these microcolonies grew over the entire surface of the GAC. This growth led to the development of discrete discontinuous multilayer biofilm structures. Cell-free channel-like structures of variable sizes were observed to interconnect the surface film with the deep inner layers. These interconnections appeared to increase the biological surface area per unit volume ratio, which may facilitate transport of substrates into and waste products out of deep regions of the biofilm at rates greater than possible by diffusion alone. These architectural features were also observed in biofilms from four field-scale GAC reactors that were in commercial operation treating petroleum-contaminated groundwaters. These shared features suggest that formation of cell-free channel structures and their maintenance may be a general microbial strategy to deal with the problem of limiting diffusive transport in thick biofilms typical of fluidized-bed reactors.
Facts in artifacts

Examination of microscopic sections of animal tissues reveals facts which are not always related to its normal histology or pathology. Processing of tissue specimens consists of lengthy procedures from the stage of surgical removal to the stained and mounted microscopic sections. Defects are common in tissue sections as a result of faulty procedures. These defects are referred to as artifacts. They lead to misinterpretation of histopathological diagnosis but at times they throw limelight into diagnosis. This paper attempts to put together all the facts regarding the various artifacts that are encountered in histopathology.
Agents of alienation

I find myself holding a passionate opinion that almost nobody in the " Wired-stple " community agrees with and I'm wondering; What's gotten into all of you? I find that in the wide, though shrinking world away from computers most people find my position obvious, while infophiles find it impenetrable. I am trying to bridge a chasm of misunderstanding. Here is the opinion: that the idea of " intelligent agents " is both wrong and evil, I also an issue of real consequence to the near term future of culture and society. As the infobahn rears its gargantuan head, the agent question looms as a deciding factor in whether this new beast will be much better than W, or much worse. The idea of agents comes up in response to an obvious predicament of the new media revolution we find ourselves hurtling through. How do you make sense of a world of information available to you on demand? How do you find the grains of gold in the heaps of dirt that will be shipped to you on the infobahn every-day? The " off&l " answer is that autonomous " Artificial Intelligence " programs called agents will get to know you by hanging out with you, and they'll figure it all out, presenting you with a custom morning newspaper, or whatever. This is the idea of Microsoft's " Bob " program, and the pitch presented in the AT&T " You will " commercials, in Nicholas Negropontc's columns in VJired magazine (in which he has called intelligent agents the " unequivocal " l A version of " Agents of Alienation " also appeared in Jour
Inference of Distant Genetic Relations in Humans Using “1000 Genomes”

Nucleotide sequence differences on the whole-genome scale have been computed for 1,092 people from 14 populations publicly available by the 1000 Genomes Project. Total number of differences in genetic variants between 96,464 human pairs has been calculated. The distributions of these differences for individuals within European, Asian, or African origin were characterized by narrow unimodal peaks with mean values of 3.8, 3.5, and 5.1 million, respectively, and standard deviations of 0.1–0.03 million. The total numbers of genomic differences between pairs of all known relatives were found to be significantly lower than their respective population means and in reverse proportion to the distance of their consanguinity. By counting the total number of genomic differences it is possible to infer familial relations for people that share down to 6% of common loci identical-by-descent. Detection of familial relations can be radically improved when only very rare genetic variants are taken into account. Counting of total number of shared very rare single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from whole-genome sequences allows establishing distant familial relations for persons with eighth and ninth degrees of relationship. Using this analysis we predicted 271 distant familial pairwise relations among 1,092 individuals that have not been declared by 1000 Genomes Project. Particularly, among 89 British and 97 Chinese individuals we found three British–Chinese pairs with distant genetic relationships. Individuals from these pairs share identical-by-descent DNA fragments that represent 0.001%, 0.004%, and 0.01% of their genomes. With affordable whole-genome sequencing techniques, very rare SNPs should become important genetic markers for familial relationships and population stratification.
Endocrine Disruption Induced by Organochlorines (OCs): Field Studies And Experimental Models

Long-range transport of persistent organic compounds by air and ocean currents from industrialized areas resulted in high levels of these pollutants in food webs in the Svalbard area. With the aim to test if organochlorine (OC) exposure in free-living polar bears from Svalbard affected their plasma steroid hormone concentrations, it was found that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were associated with increased progesterone levels in females. The sum of pesticides (∑pesticides) and ∑PCBs contributed significantly negative to the variation of the plasma testosterone in males, and the overall contribution of the OCs to the plasma cortisol variation was negative. A second objective was to study the effects of selected OCs (i.e., PCB 153 and PCB 126) on animal health as a consequence of effects on endocrine-regulated functions such as reproduction and immunity in a goat model focusing on long-term and low-level exposure during the periods of fetal development and in the neonatal period. Additionally, acute exposure was studied in adult mice. The results indicated that exposure to low doses of PCB 153 in utero and in the suckling period influenced reproductive functions and both PCB 153 and PCB 126 exerted immunomodulatory effects on the offspring, whereas acute exposure of adult mice had minor effects on male reproductive function.
Wound Closure in Sheared Endothelial Cells is Enhanced by Modulation of Vascular Endothelial-Cadherin Expression and Localization

We previously demonstrated that laminar shear stress enhances human coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) wound closure via the mechanisms of cell spreading and migration. Because cell–cell junctional proteins such as vascular endothelial cell cadherin (VE–cadherin) are critical to cell–cell adhesion and motility, we tested the hypothesis that modulation of VE–cadherin expression under shear stress may be linked to this enhancement in wound closure. HCAEC monolayers were preconditioned to attain cellular alignment by shearing at 12 dynes/cm2 for 18 hr in a parallel-plate flow chamber. Subsequently, they were divided into the following three groups: (i) control; (ii) treated with anti-cadherin-5 antibody; or (iii) treated with the calcium chelating agent EGTA. Next, the monolayers were wounded with a metal spatula and resheared at 20 dynes/cm2 or left static. Time-lapse imaging was performed during the first 3 hr after imposition of these conditions, immunocytochemistry or Western blot analyses for VE–cadherin expression were performed on all wounded monolayers. Deconvolution microscopy, three-dimensional cell–cell junctional reconstruction images, and histogram analyses of interendothelial junction signal intensities were performed on cells at the wound edge of a monolayer. Under shear, HCAEC demonstrated increased VE–cadherin immunofluorescence and protein expression despite an enhancement in wound closure compared with static conditions. In separate experiments, application with anti-cadherin-5 antibody or treatment with EGTA attenuated VE–cadherin expression and further enhanced wound closure compared with control shear and all static conditions. In addition, the pattern of VE–cadherin localization with these treatments became more intracellular and nuclear in appearance. These findings of changes in this junctional adhesion protein expression and localization may further our understanding of laminar shear stress-induced endothelial repair in the coronary circulation.
in Vitro and in Vivo Inhibitory Effects of α-Mangostin on Cholangiocarcinoma Cells and Allografts

We investigated the anti-cholangiocarcinoma effect of α-mangostin from Garcinia mangostana pericarp extract (GM) in a human cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell line and a hamster CCA allograft model. In vitro, human CCA cells were treated with GM at various concentrations and for different time periods; then cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis were evaluated using flow cytometry, and metastatic potential with wound healing assays. In vivo, hamster allografts were treated with GM, gemcitabine (positive control) and a placebo (negative control) for 1 month; tumor weight and volume were then determined. Histopathological features and immunostaining (CK19 and PCNA) characteristics were examined by microscopy. The present study found that α-mangostin could: inhibit CCA cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway; induce G1 cell-cycle arrest; and inhibit metastasis. Moreover, α-mangostin could inhibit CCA growth, i.e. reduce tumor mass (weight and size) and alter CCA pathology, as evidenced by reduced positive staining for CK19 and PCNA. The present study thus suggested that α-mangostin is a promising anti-CCA compound whose ready availability in tropical countries might indicate use for prevention and treatment of CCA.
Age-Dependent Methamphetamine-Induced Alterations in Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 Function: Implications for Neurotoxicity

Tens of thousands of adolescents and young adults have used illicit methamphetamine. This is of concern since its high-dose administration causes persistent dopaminergic deficits in adult animal models. The effects in adolescents are less studied. In adult rodents, toxic effects of methamphetamine may result partly from aberrant cytosolic dopamine accumulation and subsequent reactive oxygen species formation. The vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT-2) sequesters cytoplasmic dopamine into synaptic vesicles for storage and perhaps protection against dopamine-associated oxidative consequences. Accordingly, aberrant VMAT-2 function may contribute to the methamphetamine-induced persistent dopaminergic deficits. Hence, this study examined effects of methamphetamine on VMAT-2 in adolescent (postnatal day 40) and young adult (postnatal day 90) rats. Results revealed that high-dose methamphetamine treatment caused greater acute (within 1 h) decreases in vesicular dopamine uptake in postnatal day 90 versus 40 rats, as determined in a nonmembrane-associated subcellular fraction. Greater basal levels of VMAT-2 at postnatal day 90 versus 40 in this purified fraction seemed to contribute to the larger effect. Basal tissue dopamine content was also greater in postnatal day 90 versus 40 rats. In addition, postnatal day 90 rats were more susceptible to methamphetamine-induced persistent dopaminergic deficits as assessed by measuring VMAT-2 activity and dopamine content 7 days after treatment, even if drug doses were adjusted for age-related pharmacokinetic differences. Together, these data demonstrate dynamic changes in VMAT-2 susceptibility to methamphetamine as a function of development. Implications with regard to methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic deficits, as well as dopamine-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, are discussed.
Expression of heat shock protein epitopes in tubular aggregates

Tubular aggregates may be found in a variety of conditions and have been associated with a wide range of chemical and ischemic insults. We report clinical and histological features in a case of myopathy with tubular aggregates. The structure of these tubular aggregates was examined using antibodies to cytoskeletal proteins and heat shock proteins. Epitopes of the 72 kD heat shock protein were expressed in the areas of abnormality in this case and in a case of hypokalemic periodic paralysis with tubular aggregates. Heat shock proteins have a role in the modulation of the tertiary structure of proteins and may be involved in the pathogenesis of tubular aggregates and other microtubular abnormalities in muscle.
La nodulation de l'arachide indicateur de l'acidité des sols au nord Cameroun

La nodulation de l'arachide (Arachis hypogaea L.) fixatrice d'azote atmospherique constitue l'une des alternatives utilisees pour determiner l'acidite du sol en zone cotonniere du Nord Cameroun. Cette etude avait pour objectif d'exploiter la capacite de l'arachide a produire des nodosites qui constitue un indicateur d'acidite d'un sol. Les essais etaient conduits en station(Djalingo) de l'IRAD de Garoua et en milieux paysans (Gaschiga, Guider et Ngong). En station, les parcelles experimentales d'arachides (variete ICGV) etaient fertilisees au superphosphate simple et non fertilisees en milieux paysans ou plusieurs varietes etaient utilisees. Toutes les varietes d'arachide rencontrees lors des observations portent des nodules dans la zone d'etude. Le comptage des nodosites a montre que le nombre moyen des nodules par plant d'arachide est variable et selon les jours apres semis. Suivant la date d'observation, le nombre moyen des nodules totaux par plant en station a varie de 29 a 55 et celui des nodules fonctionnels a varie de 06 a 32. En milieu paysan, lors des observations P1, le nombre moyen des nodules totaux par plant ont varie de 18 a 52 et le nombre moyen des nodules fonctionnels par plant a varie de 13 a 46. A la deuxieme observation P2, le comptage a montre une variation de 32 a 66 des nodules totaux et 03 a 09 des nodules fonctionnels. L'analyse des sols au pH-metre des differents sites d'etudes a montre que leur pH est egalement varie. Le sol de Djalingo a presente un pHeau 5,5 et un pH KCl 4,3. Celui de Kola a montre un pH eau 6,08 et un pH KCl 5,00. Douka-longo a presente en moyen un pH eau 5,94 et un pH KCl 4,86. Ensuite Ouro-kessoum a montre un pH eau 6,27 et un pH KCl 4,72 et en fin le sol de Nakong a presente en moyen un pHeau 5,54 et un pH KCl 5,28. La recolte de l'arachide en station a monte une biomasse moyenne totale de 4 085 Kg/ha, une biomasse moyenne aerienne de 3 943 Kg/ha et la biomasse racinaire obtenue est de 142 Kg/ha. Le rendement moyen des gousses de l'arachide est de 1053 Kg/ha, le rendement en grains d'arachide est de 519 Kg/ha avec un indice de recolte de 0,49. Les resultats de l'etude ont montre que la reduction du nombre des nodules chez l'arachide n'est pas une consequent de l'acidite du sol dans la zone cotonniere du Nord Cameroun. (Resume d'auteur)
Relationship between Alcohol Purchasing Time and Alcohol Use Disorder in South Korea

Objectives Currently, time of alcohol purchase is not part of the policies to regulate alcohol consumption in South Korea. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between alcohol purchasing time and alcohol use disorder. Methods The survey for this study was conducted in geographically diverse regions of South Korea in 2012. Respondents’ purchasing behaviors for both on-licensed (i.e., allows for consumption within the premises) and off-licensed (i.e., where alcohol is consumed off the premises) outlets and time of alcohol consumption were collected. Alcohol consumption patterns were examined using the Rapid Alcohol Problem Screen 4 (RAPS4). Data were also analyzed by age, gender and purchasing time. Results Results showed that among the off-licensed premises, supermarkets appear to be the most popular venue while for on-licensed premises; alcohol was generally consumed inside hotels/pubs regardless of age and gender of the purchaser. Purchasing of alcohol was highest during the day and early evening period (9:00 a.m. to 9:59 p.m.). Females are most likely to abuse alcohol than males during the early morning period and is that period after 12:00 midnight. Conclusion Analysis suggests that the survey instrument used in the International Alcohol Control Study is being used to collect data on alcohol purchasing time consumption; therefore, the potential is there to provide accurate results to contribute appropriate policy responses to reduce alcohol related-harm.
Clinical development in dendritic cell based immunotherapy

Immunotherapy using dendritic cells has emerged as a potent option for the treatment of the solid tumours. Over the past few decades, multiple clinical trials have been carried with the aim of increasing the efficacy of this therapy. Many protocols have been developed to generate large scale production of dendritic cell which have been used in clinical trials. Dendritic cell therapy has demonstrated high overall response rates, resulting in tumor regression and prolonged survival. Various factors, viz., number of dendritic cell administration, antigen source, mode of administration, combination strategy are still under clinical development. This review summarizes the results of clinical trials for multiple solid malignancies. As a sole review for oncologist, it can help improve understanding of the subject matter, with the aim of increasing the participation of patients at earlier stages of malignancies to participate in clinical trials or treatment plans using dendritic cell immunotherapy.
Neuronal-like differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells induced by striatal extracts from a rat model of Parkinson's disease

A rat model of Parkinson’s disease was established by 6-hydroxydopamine injection into the medial forebrain bundle. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated from the femur and tibia, and were co-cultured with 10% and 60% lesioned or intact striatal extracts. The results showed that when exposed to lesioned striatal extracts, BMSCs developed bipolar or multi-polar morphologies, and there was an increase in the percentage of cells that expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nestin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Moreover, the percentage of NSE-positive cells increased with increasing concentrations of lesioned striatal extracts. However, intact striatal extracts only increased the percentage of GFAP-positive cells. The findings suggest that striatal extracts from Parkinson’s disease rats induce BMSCs to differentiate into neuronal-like cells in vitro.
Ability of the Matrix Protein of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus To Suppress Beta Interferon Gene Expression Is Genetically Correlated with the Inhibition of Host RNA and Protein Synthesis

ABSTRACT The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix (M) protein plays a major role in the virus-induced inhibition of host gene expression. It has been proposed that the inhibition of host gene expression by M protein is responsible for suppressing activation of host interferon gene expression. Most wild-type (wt) strains of VSV induce little if any interferon gene expression. Interferon-inducing mutants of VSV have been isolated previously, many of which contain mutations in their M proteins. However, it was not known whether these M protein mutations were responsible for the interferon-inducing phenotype of these viruses. Alternatively, mutations in other genes besides the M gene may enhance the ability of VSV to induce interferons. These hypotheses were tested by transfecting cells with mRNA expressing wt and mutant M proteins in the absence of other viral components and determining their ability to inhibit interferon gene expression. The M protein mutations were the M51R mutation originally found in the tsO82 and T1026R1 mutant viruses, the double substitution V221F and S226R found in the TP3 mutant virus, and the triple substitution E213A, V221F, and S226R found in the TP2 mutant virus. wt M proteins suppressed expression of luciferase from the simian virus 40 promoter and from the beta interferon (IFN-β) promoter, while M proteins of interferon-inducing viruses were unable to inhibit luciferase expression from either promoter. The M genes of the interferon-inducing mutants of VSV were incorporated into the wt background of a recombinant VSV infectious cDNA clone. The resulting recombinant viruses were tested for their ability to activate interferon gene expression and for their ability to inhibit host RNA and protein synthesis. Each of the recombinant viruses containing M protein mutations induced expression of a luciferase reporter gene driven by the IFN-β promoter and induced production of interferon bioactivity more effectively than viruses containing wt M proteins. Furthermore, the M protein mutant viruses were defective in their ability to inhibit both host RNA synthesis and host protein synthesis. These data support the idea that wt M protein suppresses interferon gene expression through the general inhibition of host RNA and protein synthesis.
A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of 5 smoking cessation pharmacotherapies.

CONTEXT Little direct evidence exists on the relative efficacies of different smoking cessation pharmacotherapies, yet such evidence is needed to make informed decisions about their clinical use. OBJECTIVE To assess the relative efficacies of 5 smoking cessation pharmacotherapy interventions using placebo-controlled, head-to-head comparisons. DESIGN A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING Two urban research sites. PATIENTS One thousand five hundred four adults who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day during the past 6 months and reported being motivated to quit smoking. Participants were excluded if they reported using any form of tobacco other than cigarettes; current use of bupropion; having a current psychosis or schizophrenia diagnosis; or having medical contraindications for any of the study medications. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomized to 1 of 6 treatment conditions: nicotine lozenge, nicotine patch, sustained-release bupropion, nicotine patch plus nicotine lozenge, bupropion plus nicotine lozenge, or placebo. In addition, all participants received 6 individual counseling sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Biochemically confirmed 7-day point-prevalence abstinence assessed at 1 week after the quit date (postquit), end of treatment (8 weeks postquit), and 6 months postquit. Other outcomes were initial cessation, number of days to lapse, number of days to relapse, and latency to relapse after the first lapse. RESULTS All pharmacotherapies differed from placebo when examined without protection for multiple comparisons (odds ratios, 1.63-2.34). With such protection, only the nicotine patch plus nicotine lozenge (odds ratio, 2.34, P < .001) produced significantly higher abstinence rates at 6-month postquit than did placebo. CONCLUSION While the nicotine lozenge, bupropion, and bupropion plus lozenge produced effects that were comparable with those reported in previous research, the nicotine patch plus lozenge produced the greatest benefit relative to placebo for smoking cessation.