Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy number detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization associates with increased sensitivity to gefitinib in patients with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma subtypes: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and adenocarcinomas with BAC features seem to be increasing in incidence, particularly in younger, never-smoking women. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors demonstrated response rates of 20% to 30% in patients with advanced BAC subtypes, but selection methods for patient therapy are not established. PATIENTS AND METHODS EGFR and HER2 gene copy numbers were assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 81 patients treated with gefitinib 500 mg/d (Southwest Oncology Group protocol S0126) and were correlated to treatment outcome. Tumors were classified into two main strata: FISH-positive (high polysomy/gene amplification) and FISH-negative (disomy/low polysomy). RESULTS In 81 patients, the median survival time for EGFR/FISH-negative patients was 8 months and not yet reached for FISH-positive patients (but approaching 18 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.02; P = .042). Median progression-free survival time for EGFR/FISH-positive patients was 9 months versus 4 months for the FISH-negative patients (HR = 1.67; P = .072). In multivariate analysis, EGFR copy number by FISH remained a significant predictive factor for survival after accounting for smoking status, sex, histology, and performance status. Fifty-five patients were evaluated for response using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group, and 12 of 19 EGFR/FISH-positive patients (63%) demonstrated disease control versus 14 (39%) of 36 patients in the FISH-negative group (P = .087). No association was found between HER2 gene copy number and response (n = 39 patients) or survival (n = 56 patients; P > .10). CONCLUSION Increased EGFR gene copy number detected by FISH is associated with improved survival after gefitinib therapy in patients with advanced BAC, suggesting FISH methodology can be used to assess survival potential in patients treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
PRECISION BEEKEEPING ( PRECISION APICULTURE

Application of information and communication technologies in various agricultural branches is done by using the Precision Agriculture methods and approaches. Beekeeping is old and traditional branch of agriculture where still many manual operations are done to care bee colonies and observe the apiary state and conditions. Information technologies can be used in the beekeeping to partly support the beekeepers by implementation of automatic or semi-automatic solutions for bee colony monitoring. Similar to Precision Agriculture also Precision Beekeeping (Precision Apiculture) is recently defined as an apiary management strategy based on the monitoring of individual bee colonies to minimize resource consumption and maximize the productivity of bees. International scientists and practical beekeepers started to support its development by implementation of various technical systems for automatic and real time bee apiary and colony monitoring. Aim of this paper is to make summary of application of information technologies within beekeepers in Latvia, summarizing Precision Beekeeping development status and conclude about research needs and potential of its future development. To achieve above mentioned aim in cooperation with Latvian Beekeepers Association beekeepers survey is conducted. More than 400 beekeepers shared their thoughts and opinions about possible application of information and communication technologies for monitoring the bee colonies and upgrading the apiary management approach. Summary of conducted survey is described in the paper.
Cross Talk between Expression of the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Tax Transactivator and the Oncogenic bHLH Transcription Factor TAL1

ABSTRACT The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax transactivator is known to induce or repress various cellular genes, several of them encoding transcription factors. As Tax is known to deregulate various basic bHLH factors, we looked more specifically at its effect on TAL1 (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia 1), also known as SCL (stem cell leukemia). Indeed, TAL1 is deregulated in a high percentage of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells, and its oncogenic properties are well-established. Here we show that Tax induces transcription of this proto-oncogene by stimulating the activity of the TAL1 gene promoter 1b, through both the CREB and NF-κB pathways. It was also observed that TAL1 upregulates HTLV-1 promoter activity, in either the presence or the absence of Tax. The viral promoter is inhibited in trans by expression of the E2A protein E47, and TAL1 is able to abrogate this inhibition. These data show the existence of a positive feedback loop between Tax and TAL1 expression and support the notion that this proto-oncogene participates in generation of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma by increasing the amount of the Tax oncoprotein but also possibly by its own transforming activities.
Role of Hypercytokinemia in NF-κB p50-Deficient Mice after H5N1 Influenza A Virus Infection

ABSTRACT During H5N1 influenza virus infection, proinflammatory cytokines are markedly elevated in the lungs of infected hosts. The significance of this dysregulated cytokine response in H5N1-mediated pathogenesis remains to be determined. To investigate the influence of hypercytokinemia, or “cytokine storm,” a transgenic mouse technology was used. The classical NF-κB pathway regulates the induction of most proinflammatory cytokines. Deletion of the p50 subunit leads to a markedly reduced expression of the NF-κB-regulated cytokines and chemokines. Here we show that H5N1 influenza virus infection of this transgenic mouse model resulted in a lack of hypercytokinemia but not in altered pathogenesis.
Evolution of Sensory Development – Lessons from the Lateral Line

evolved at least twice independently in various teleosts [Bullock et al., 1983]. Recently published insights into lateral line development [Modrell et al., 2011] now provide important new clues for reconstructing the developmental changes underlying some of these evolutionary modifications. Embryonically, the receptor organs of the lateral line are thought to originate from a group of lateral line placodes, which also give rise to the sensory neurons innervating the receptors. Grafting and ablation experiments in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) demonstrated that lateral line placodes give rise to both neuromasts and ampullary organs [Northcutt et al., 1995]. However, it has so far remained unresolved whether embryonic development in other vertebrates follows a similar pattern. A new study now describes development of the lateral line system in the paddlefish Polyodon spathula [Modrell et al., 2011]. This chondrostean fish, closely related to sturgeons, has the largest number of ampullary organs among all living vertebrates, covering extensive regions of the head. Combined evidence from histological sections, scanning electron microscopy, Eya and Six family gene expression patterns, and DiI labelling of lateral line placodes strongly suggests that in Polyodon, as With our five senses, we humans and fellow amniotes live in a relatively impoverished sensory world. Most other vertebrates possess two additional senses mediated by their lateral line system. This lateral line consists of multiple receptor organs distributed in lines along the body surface, each comprising a cluster of secondary sensory cells (hair cells) and their supporting cells [Northcutt, 1997; Schlosser, 2002a; Ghysen and Dambly-Chaudiere, 2007]. Mechanoreceptive sensory organs (neuromasts) detect water movements along the body surface, while electroreceptive sensory organs (ampullary organs) allow the perception of electric fields. A lateral line system with both types of receptor organs is found in most vertebrate taxa and, thus, appears to be a primitive character of vertebrates. However, several vertebrate groups such as amniotes and some direct developing amphibians have secondarily lost the entire lateral line system. Other groups retain the lateral line system but have lost some of its components [Northcutt, 1997; Schlosser, 2002b]. Mechanoreceptive lateral line organs were, for example, lost in some caecilians (limbless amphibians), whereas electroreceptive lateral line organs were lost in anurans and in the neopterygian fishes (teleosts, gars and bowfin). Electroreceptors then rePublished online: February 8, 2012
Is the clinical history a satisfactory means of diagnosing occupational asthma?

In some countries a diagnosis of occupational asthma for medicolegal purposes is made when a questionnaire is suggestive and the individual is exposed to a product known to be a sensitizer. The value of an open questionnaire administered by physicians with experience in occupational asthma is unknown, however. We prospectively assessed all subjects (162) referred to our clinic because their physicians thought their asthma might be work related. The medical questionnaire included questions about the nature of the symptoms (dyspnea, wheezing, cough, and chest tightness) and the timing (worse at work or after a shift at work or improved during weekends or holidays). An initial clinical assessment was set by the physician on a scale that ranged from highly probable to probable, uncertain, unlikely, or absent. Subjects then underwent objective assessment with specific inhalation challenges (n = 72), serial monitoring of peak expiratory flow rates for periods at work and away from work (n = 29), or both (n = 61), to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of occupational asthma. A total of 75 subjects (46%) were shown to have occupational asthma. Symptoms alone (type and timing) did not provide a satisfactory differentiation between those subjects with and those without occupational asthma. For example, 66 of 75 (88%) subjects with occupational asthma said that their symptoms improved during holidays, but 66 of 87 (76%) subjects without occupational asthma experienced a similar improvement. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Elevated levels of polyamines and trypanothione resulting from overexpression of the ornithine decarboxylase gene in arsenite‐resistant Leishmania

The levels of trypanothione, a glutathione–spermidine conjugate, are increased in the protozoan parasite Leishmania selected for resistance to the heavy metal arsenite. The levels of putrescine and spermidine were increased in resistant mutants. This increase is mediated by overexpression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate‐limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. Gene overexpression is generally mediated by gene amplification in Leishmania but, here, the mRNA and the enzymatic activity of ODC are increased without gene amplification. This RNA overexpression is stable when cells are grown in the absence of the drug and does not result from gene rearrangements or from an increased rate of RNA synthesis. Transient transfections suggest that mutations in the revertant cells contribute to these elevated levels of RNA. Stable transfection of the ODC gene increases the level of trypanothione, which can contribute to arsenite resistance. In addition to ODC overexpression, the gene for the ABC transporter PGPA is amplified in the mutants. The co‐transfection of the ODC and PGPA genes confers resistance in a synergistic fashion in partial revertants, also suggesting that PGPA recognizes metals conjugated to trypanothione.
Contrasting effects of climate change in continental vs. oceanic environments on population persistence and microevolution of Atlantic salmon

Facing climate change (CC), species are prone to multiple modifications in their environment that can lead to extinction, migration or adaptation. Identifying the role and interplay of different potential stressors becomes a key question. Anadromous fishes will be exposed to both river and oceanic habitat changes. For Atlantic salmon, the river water temperature, river flow and oceanic growth conditions appear as three main stressing factors. They could act on population dynamics or as selective forces on life‐history pathways. Using an individual‐based demo‐genetic model, we assessed the effects of these factors (1) to compare risks of extinction resulting from CC in river and ocean, and (2) to assess CC effects on life‐history pathways including the evolution of underlying genetic control of phenotypic plasticity. We focused on Atlantic salmon populations from Southern Europe for a time horizon of three decades. We showed that CC in river alone should not lead to extinction of Southern European salmon populations. In contrast, the reduced oceanic growth appeared as a significant threat for population persistence. An increase in river flow amplitude increased the risk of local extinction in synergy with the oceanic effects, but river temperature rise reduced this risk. In terms of life‐history modifications, the reduced oceanic growth increased the age of return of individuals through plastic and genetic responses. The river temperature rise increased the proportion of sexually mature parr, but the genetic evolution of the maturation threshold lowered the maturation rate of male parr. This was identified as a case of environmentally driven plastic response that masked an underlying evolutionary response of plasticity going in the opposite direction. We concluded that to counteract oceanic effects, river flow management represented the sole potential force to reduce the extinction probability of Atlantic salmon populations in Southern Europe, although this might not impede changes in migration life history.
Resonant Coupling of a Passive Inductance-Capacitance-Resistor Loop in Coil-Based Sensing Systems

An inductance-capacitance-resistor (LCR) loop is composed, by connecting an inductive coil with a capacitance element end by end. Without any electric connection with other circuits, higher quality factor can be easily obtained. The loop is inserted into the electromagnetic coupling path of coil-based sensing system, such as the case of eddy-current sensor. When the system is working at the natural resonant frequency of the loop, the coupling efficiency and, therefore, the sensing performance could be improved significantly. Protocol systems, simulating the operation cases of wireless passive sensor and eddy current proximity sensor, are constructed and tested experimentally. The results indicate that, in case of coil-coupled wireless passive sensing system, the received signal's amplitude is enlarged remarkably with a coaxially inserted LCR loop. Moreover, when the loop is coaxially placed on top of the sensing coil of eddy current sensor, not only higher sensitivity and resolution, but also larger monotonic detection range could be achieved.
In vivo tracking and protective properties of Yersinia‐specific intestinal T cells

After invasion via M cells enteropathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica subsequently establish an infection at three different sites: (i) Peyer's patches (PP), (ii) mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and after systemic dissemination in (iii) spleen, liver and lung. In order to characterize protective properties of intestinal T cells at the different sites of Y. enterocolitica infection, PP and MLN T cells were isolated from Y. enterocolitica‐infected C57Bl/6 mice and Yersinia‐specific T cell lines were generated. These T cells exhibited the phenotype of CD4 Th1 cells. The adoptive transfer of Yersinia‐specific Th1 cells from PP and MLN conferred protection against a lethal orogastric inoculum with Y. enterocolitica as revealed by survival post‐infection. However, determination of bacterial counts in infected organs revealed that the transfer of PP T cells conferred protection in spleen but not in MLN and PP, whereas the transfer of T cells from MLN reduced bacterial counts in both spleen and MLN but not in PP. To elucidate the different protection pattern we wanted to track the transferred cells in vivo. For this purpose the cells were labelled with the stable green fluorescent cell linker PKH2‐GL prior to the adoptive transfer. In vivo tracking of these cells revealed that the distribution pattern of transferred T cells in spleen, MLN and PP correlated closely with the protection pattern observed after Yersinia infection. Thus, most cells were recovered from the spleen, while only few cells were recovered from MLN and PP. In keeping with these results a rapid and significant increase in interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production in the spleen of mice after adoptive transfer of T cell lines was observed. Taken together, the present results demonstrate that intestinal CD4 Th1 cells from PP and MLN may be involved in the defence against Y. enterocolitica at different sites of the infection, and that PKH2‐GL labelling is a suitable tool to characterize T cell functions in vivo.
Maize Brittle stalk 2 Encodes a COBRA-Like Protein Expressed in Early Organ Development But Required for Tissue Flexibility at Maturity 1 [ C ] [ OA ]

The maize (Zea mays) brittle stalk2 (bk2) is a recessive mutant, the aerial parts of which are easily broken. The bk2 phenotype is developmentally regulated and appears 4 weeks after planting, at about the fifth-leaf stage. Before this time, mutants are indistinguishable from wild-type siblings. Afterward, all organs of the bk2 mutants turn brittle, even the preexisting ones, and they remain brittle throughout the life of the plant. Leaf tension assays and bend tests of the internodes show that the brittle phenotype does not result from loss of tensile strength but from loss in flexibility that causes the tissues to snap instead of bend. The Bk2 gene was cloned by a combination of transposon tagging and a candidate gene approach and found to encode a COBRA-like protein similar to rice (Oryza sativa) BC1 and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) COBRA-LIKE4. The outer periphery of the stalk has fewer vascular bundles, and the sclerids underlying the epidermis possess thinner secondary walls. Relative cellulose content is not strictly correlated with the brittle phenotype. Cellulose content in mature zones of bk2 mature stems is lowered by 40% but is about the same as wild type in developing stems. Although relative cellulose content is lowered in leaves after the onset of the brittle phenotype, total wall mass as a proportion of dry mass is either unchanged or slightly increased, indicating a compensatory increase in noncellulosic carbohydrate mass. Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated an increase in phenolic ester content in the walls of bk2 leaves and stems. Total content of lignin is unaffected in bk2 juvenile leaves before or after appearance of the brittle phenotype, but bk2 mature and developing stems are markedly enriched in lignin compared to wild-type stems. Despite increased lignin in bk2 stems, loss of staining with phloroglucinol and ultraviolet autofluorescence is observed in vascular bundles and sclerid layers. Consistent with the infrared analyses, levels of saponifiable hydroxycinnamates are elevated in bk2 leaves and stems. As Bk2 is highly expressed during early development, well before the onset of the brittle phenotype, we propose that Bk2 functions in a patterning of lignin-cellulosic interactions that maintain organ flexibility rather than having a direct role in cellulose biosynthesis.
Wafer-level microfluidic cooling interconnects for GSI

We present a novel CMOS compatible approach to fabricate on-chip microfluidic cooling channels using a spin-on sacrificial polymer material at wafer level. Deep trenches (>100 /spl mu/m) etched into the backside of an IC wafer were successfully filled up by a single spin coating step with a high viscosity sacrificial polymer. A porous overcoat material allows the decomposition of the polymer to form enclosed microchannels. Through chip holes and polymer pipes are used as the inlet/outlet interconnects. Different channel array designs were described and the pressure drop was estimated for a heat flux of 100 W/cm/sup 2/ with DI water flow rate. The resulting cooling scheme offers a simple and compact solution to transfer cooling liquid directly into a GSI chip and is fully compatible with flip-chip packaging.
Vitellogenin in black turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii): Purification, partial characterization, and validation of an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for its detection

Black turtle plasmatic vitellogenin (VTG) was purified fom 177β‐estradiol–induced males using ion‐exchange chromatography. The isolated protein was identified as VTG by its glycolipoprotein nature and amino acid sequence homology with other vertebrate VTG. It was characterized as a 500‐kDa dimer composed of two identical, 200‐ to 240‐kDa monomers. Polyclonal antibodies raised against black turtle VTG showed high titer and specificity, as demonstrated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. The range of the assay was estimated to be between 15 ng/ml and 2 μg/ml, and the inter‐ and intra‐assay coefficients of variation were 9.4 and 7.3%, respectively. Black turtle antibody cross‐reacted with VTG of two other sea turtle species, Caretta caretta (loggerhead) and Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill), extending the applicability of the assay as part of a sea turtle health assessment program.
Corticosteroid nasal irrigations after endoscopic sinus surgery in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis

Inflammatory dysfunction is considered an important part of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Corticosteroid therapy has been widely used in CRS. Effective topical delivery has been previously problematic. The post–endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) corridor is essential for adequate topical drug access. Devices delivering large volume with positive pressure allow better distribution to sinus mucosa. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative topical sinonasal steroid irrigations for CRS.
Mispatterning in the ommatidia of Apis mellifera pupae treated with a juvenile hormone analogue

To further understand the function of morphogenetic hormones in honeybee eye differentiation, the alterations in ommatidial patterning induced by pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone (JH) analogue, were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Prepupae of prospective honeybee workers were treated with pyriproxyfen and the effects on ommatidial differentiation were described at the end of the pupal development. The results show that the entire ommatidia, i.e., the dioptric as well as the receptor systems, were affected by the JH analogue. The wave of ommatidial differentiation, which progresses from the posterior to the anterior region of the pupal eyes, was arrested. In treated pupae, the rhabdomeres only differentiated at the apical axis of the retinula, the secondary and tertiary pigment cells did not develop their cytoplasm protrusions, and the cone cell quartet did not pattern correctly. Simultaneously, an intense vacuolization was observed in cells forming ommatidia. In a previous study we showed that pyriproxyfen exerts an inhibition on pupal ecdysteroid secretion. In this sense, the arrested ommatidial differentiation in pyriproxyfen‐treated pupae could be due to a secondary effect resulting from an alteration in pupal ecdysteroid titers. J. Morphol. 249:89–99, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Double-Blind Comparison of Captopril with Nifedipine in Hypertension Complicated by Intermittent Claudication

In a double-blind, crossover trial 12 patients with hypertension and peripheral arterial disease were randomized to three months' treatment with captopril 25-50 mg twice daily or nifedipine SR 20-40 mg twice daily. While both treatments were equally effective at lowering blood pressure, postexercise calf blood flow availability was greater during treatment with captopril (P < 0.04). This was not reflected in walking capacity assessed by treadmill exercise. The results sug gest that both captopril and nifedipine are appropriate antihypertensive agents in patients with peripheral arterial disease.