Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flt3 Ligand Expands Lymphoid Progenitors Prior to Recovery of Thymopoiesis and Accelerates T Cell Reconstitution after Bone Marrow Transplantation1

Deficient thymopoiesis and retarded recovery of newly developed CD4+ T cells is one of the most important determinants of impaired immunocompetence after hemopoietic stem cell transplantation. Here we evaluated whether Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) ligand (FL) alone or combined with IL-7 affects T cell recovery, thymopoiesis, and lymphoid progenitor expansion following bone marrow transplantation in immunodeficient mice. FL strongly accelerated and enhanced the recovery of peripheral T cells after transplantation of a low number of bone marrow cells. An additive effect on T cell recovery was not observed after coadministration of IL-7. Lineage−sca-1+c-kit+flt3+ lymphoid progenitor cell numbers were significantly increased in bone marrow of FL-treated mice before recovery of thymopoiesis. Thymocyte differentiation was advanced to more mature stages after FL treatment. Improved T cell recovery resulted in better immunocompetence against a post-bone marrow transplantation murine CMV infection. Collectively, our data suggest that FL promotes T cell recovery by enhanced thymopoiesis and by expansion of lymphoid progenitors.
Improving antiplatelet therapy for atherothrombotic disease Preclinical and clinical results with SCH 530348 , the first oral thrombin receptor antagonist selective for PAR-1

Morbidity and mortality in patients with atherothrombotic disease remain high despite the use of antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and an ADP receptor antagonist. Selective inhibition of the principal protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 for thrombin, the most potent agonist for platelet activation, represents a promising novel strategy to reduce thrombosis and ischaemic events. SCH 530348, a potent thrombin receptor antagonist (TRA) selective for PAR-1, has been evaluated in preclinical studies, demonstrating complete and sustained inhibition of thrombin/TRAP-induced platelet aggregation without a concomitant increase in the risk of bleeding. Phase 2 studies in patients undergoing non-urgent or urgent PCI showed that treatment with SCH 530348 in addition to the standard of care (aspirin plus an ADP receptor antagonist) is not associated with an increased risk of TIMI bleeding and is well tolerated, with a rate of adverse events comparable to standard ther-
Diagnosis of neonatal calf diarrhoea

Les diarrhees neonatales du veau constituent la maladie la plus importante des veaux nouveau-nes, entrainant les pertes economiques les plus elevees dans cette classe d'âge, tant chez les veaux laitiers que chez les veaux allaitants. Les couts associes aux diarrhees neonatales du veau comprennent le temps devolu au traitement, l'impact possible sur les performances de croissance du veau et la mortalite. Les diarrhees neonatales du veau resultent de la combinaison de facteurs environnementaux defavorables, d'une immunite faible de l'hote et d'agents infectieux. Alors qu'un diagnostic etiologique des cas de diarrhees neonatales se revele peu important sur le plan du traitement individuel, en revanche il aide a determiner quelles sont les mesures adaptees a prendre au niveau du troupeau, surtout si des agents zoonotiques sont impliques. Le diagnostic clinique devrait etre fonde sur les donnees cliniques, comprenant l'âge des animaux atteints et les symptomes associes releves grâce a un examen clinique consciencieux, ainsi que des donnees epidemiologiques incluant la saison, et l'historique du troupeau. Dans la plupart des situations, le diagnostic clinique requiert une confirmation par des tests realisables dans la ferme ou avec l'aide du laboratoire.
Digital watermarking using combination of Ranklets and wavelets

Tine to the widespread use of multimedia data over the internet, it has become important to protect the data from unauthorized access and make the information secure. Digital watermarking is the solution to prevent unauthorized access and to protect the copyright. In this paper, a naive watermarking scheme has been proposed. The authors for the first time have introduced Ranklets which is a new domain for watermarking along with discrete wavelet transform (DWT). To achieve better robustness and imperceptibility, the proposed scheme makes use of the Ranklets to select the mid-rank coefficients for watermark embedding. The wilxon statistics have been used for dispersion in Rank transform. Extensive experiments have been carried out to prove the claim of better robustness and imperceptibility.
[One hundred years of cryptococcosis. Medical mycology in the 19th century in Greifswald].

Not later than 1842 medico-mycological investigations began at Greifswald in Germany following the appointment of Wilhelm Baum (1799-1883) to the chair of surgery at the university. This is indicated by some theses as well as by the discovery of the contagious characteristics of pityriasis versicolor by Carl Ferdinand Eichstedt (1816-1892) who found a fungus as the cause (1846), which was named Microsporon furfur later (C. Robin 1853). In 1868 the physician (Karl) Friedrich Mosler (1831-1911) published clinical-mycological studies and investigations on animal feeding with yeasts. Some time later (1870) Friedrich Grohé (1830-1886) and his assistants Alwin R. A. Block (1843-? ) and M. R. Roth of the Pathological Institute described results of transmission-studies with "Aspergillus glaucus, Penicillium glaucum and yeast". The successor to the chair, Paul Grawitz (1850-1932), also published results of his own mycological investigations. Finally, on 7 July, 1894, during the evening lecture of the Greifswald Medical Society Abraham Buschke (1868-1943) from the Hospital of Surgery gave a talk "on a peculiar disease caused by coccidia" followed by the talk of pathologist Otto Busse (1867-1922) on a "demonstration of a pathogenic coccidia species". Busse's subsequent publications are the first proper descriptions of cryptococcosis (1894 f). Nevertheless, Cryptococcus neoformans has been named in connection with F. Sanfelice, whose results were published later (1895).
Generation and Utilization of Phosphorylation State–Specific Antibodies to Investigate Signaling Pathways

Phosphorylation state‐specific antibodies can be of great use, for example, in studying individual steps within a given signal transduction pathway. This unit presents a general approach to the generation and purification of phosphorylation state‐specific antibodies. In addition to their ability to detect phosphorylation at a particular key site, these antibodies are often more sensitive for biochemical studies. Besides their application in immunoblotting procedures, activation state‐specific antibodies can be used as immunohistochemical reagents. Thus, critical changes in phosphorylation can be monitored as described on an individual cell basis or in fixed tissue sections. Such antibodies can be used to address fundamental questions about signal transduction pathways during physiologic events that cannot be resolved by more conventional methodologies.
Cochlear gene therapy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review highlights recent advances in cochlear gene therapy over the past several years. Cochlear gene therapy has undergone tremendous advances over the past decade. Beginning with some groundbreaking work in 2005 documenting hair cell regeneration using virally mediated delivery of the mouse atonal 1 gene, gene therapy is now being explored as a possible treatment for a variety of causes of hearing loss. RECENT FINDINGS Recent advances in cochlear gene therapy include improved methods of gene delivery with a better delineation of viral vectors that are suitable for this purpose, additional improvements in hair cell regeneration, and directed research toward autoimmune hearing loss, ototoxicity, spiral ganglion survival, and genetic forms of hearing loss. SUMMARY If successful, cochlear gene therapy will dramatically alter our ability to treat a variety of forms of acquired and genetic hearing loss.
Effect of reciprocating file motion on microcrack formation in root canals: an SEM study.

AIM To compare dentinal microcrack formation whilst using Ni-Ti hand K-files, ProTaper hand and rotary files and the WaveOne reciprocating file. METHODOLOGY One hundred and fifty mandibular first molars were selected. Thirty teeth were left unprepared and served as controls, and the remaining 120 teeth were divided into four groups. Ni-Ti hand K-files, ProTaper hand files, ProTaper rotary files and WaveOne Primary reciprocating files were used to prepare the mesial canals. Roots were then sectioned 3, 6 and 9 mm from the apex, and the cut surface was observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and checked for the presence of dentinal microcracks. RESULTS The control and Ni-Ti hand K-files groups were not associated with microcracks. In roots prepared with ProTaper hand files, ProTaper rotary files and WaveOne Primary reciprocating files, dentinal microcracks were present. There was a significant difference between control/Ni-Ti hand K-files group and ProTaper hand files/ProTaper rotary files/WaveOne Primary reciprocating file group (P < 0.001) with ProTaper rotary files producing the most microcracks. No significant difference was observed between teeth prepared with ProTaper hand files and WaveOne Primary reciprocating files. CONCLUSION ProTaper rotary files were associated with significantly more microcracks than ProTaper hand files and WaveOne Primary reciprocating files. Ni-Ti hand K-files did not produce microcracks at any levels inside the root canals.
Avoidance of early complications following radical neck dissection

Multiple factors are associated with the increased risk of postoperative complications following radical neck dissection. Most significant of these are preoperative radiation and entry into the pharynx. The most common of these complications are discussed, and following is a description of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative methods to reduce them.
Composite materials for low loss rotor construction

The use of concentrated windings in electrical machines leads to significant rotor losses due to severe space harmonics in the airgap. Metallic retaining sleeves and sintered magnets used in high speed rotor construction have low electrical resistivities, leading to larger associated eddy currents loss. Composite materials like carbon fiber and plastic bonded magnets are investigated, due to their relative low conductivity. Analysing eddy current loss in composites can be cumbersome as they are frequently anisotropic. By observing eddy currents induced in a sample material, the material resistivity may be derived for a given direction by reverse finite element modelling. Resistivity values may be further used to calculate rotor eddy current loss.
Pancreatoduodenectomy with Subtotal Stomach-Preserving and Uncut Roux Reconstruction

Background/Purpose: Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has become the therapy of choice for resectable tumors located in the head of the pancreas and periampullary region. In addition, a distal gastrectomy may still be required for tumors located in the dorsal part of the pancreatic head or when there is evidence of proximal duodenal invasion. This may lead to postoperative complications, including gastric dumping, marginal ulceration, and bile reflux gastritis. This study reports on the postoperative course following subtotal stomach-preserving PD with the uncut Roux reconstruction diverting biliary and pancreatic secretions from the gastric remnant. Methods: A technique combining subtotal stomach-preserving PD with the uncut Roux reconstruction was applied in 10 patients. The postoperative clinical follow-up data are reviewed, and clinical criteria of biliary gastric reflux and gastritis were evaluated. Results: The postoperative course was uneventful in 4 patients and complicated in 6 patients. Delayed gastric emptying occurred in 3 patients. No deaths occurred in the postoperative period. One patient suffered from occasional nausea with abdominal discomfort for which endoscopy and cholescintigraphy were performed. Endoscopy confirmed complete occlusion of the afferent jejunal limb and showed marginal ulceration within the gastrojejunal anastomosis. Cholescintigraphy showed signs of enterogastric reflux. The check-up endoscopy following typical antisecretory therapy revealed complete ulcer healing. Four patients died of tumor recurrence 6, 7, 8, and 12 months following surgery. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that the uncut Roux reconstruction may represent a good alternative to gastrointestinal reconstruction following PD. Further studies including the determination of intragastric bile acid concentration and radionuclide isotope scanning in a larger number of patients are warranted.
[Effect of 5-HT and postsynaptic 5-HT1 A on the mood and recogniztion of the repeated restraint stress in rats].

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of 5-HT and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors in the stress adaptation. METHODS p-PCA was used to deplete the 5-HT in rats. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT and antagonist WAY100635 were used to determine the effect of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors on the ratso behaviors in the Elevated Plus-Maze test, the Forced Swimming test, and the Morris Water Maze test. RESULTS Compared with the intact rats, the 5-HT depleted rats showed more seriously anxious behaviors in the Elevated Plus-Maze test and more obvious learned helplessness in the Forced Swimming test. After having been stressed the 5-HT depleted rats showed significantly impaired learning and memory compared with the intact rats according to Morris Water Maze test. Activation of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors by 8-OH-DPAT in the 5-HT depleted rats or the 5-HT depleted stress rats significantly decreased the symptoms of anxiety and learned helplessness behaviors which were prevented by the treatment of WAY100635. The 8-OH-DPAT and WAY100635 had no obvious effect on the 5-HT depletion or 5-HT depleted stress rats in the Morris Water Maze test. CONCLUSION Deficiency of 5-HT in rats may suppress its ability to stress adaptation. Activation of post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptors can attenuate the anxiety and depressive behavior symptoms, and facilitate rats to adapt stress.
Effect of mother's weight on infant's microbiota acquisition, composition, and activity during early infancy: a prospective follow-up study initiated in early pregnancy.

BACKGROUND It has been reported that deviations in gut microbiota composition may predispose toward obesity, and specific groups of commensal gut bacteria may harvest energy from food more efficiently than others. Alterations in microbiota compositions of mothers may be transferred to infants and lead to an increased risk of overweight. OBJECTIVE We analyzed the fecal microbiota composition of infants of overweight and normal-weight mothers and assessed the relations of weight and excessive weight gain of mothers during pregnancy on the microbiota of infants. DESIGN Mothers (n = 16) whose prepregnancy body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²) was ≥25 were selected with their infants from a prospective follow-up study of 256 women. Women with a BMI <25 (n = 26) and their infants served as control subjects. At the ages of 1 and 6 mo, infant stool samples were available for the analysis of microbiota composition by fluorescence in situ hybridization combined with flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Infants' fecal microbial composition was related to the weight and weight gain of their mothers during pregnancy. Fecal Bacteroides and Staphylococcus concentrations were significantly higher in infants of overweight mothers during the first 6 mo. Higher weights and BMIs of mothers were related to higher concentrations of Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Staphylococcus and lower concentrations of the Bifidobacterium group. Prevalences of Akkermansia muciniphila, Staphylococcus, and Clostridium difficile groups were lower in infants of normal-weight mothers and of mothers with normal weight gains during pregnancy. CONCLUSION The composition and development of infant gut microbiota are influenced by BMI, weight, and weight gain of mothers during pregnancy.
Extracellular respiration

Although it has long been known that microbes can generate energy using diverse strategies, only recently has it become clear that a growing number involve electron transfer to or from extracellular substrates. The best‐known example of what we will term ‘extracellular respiration’ is electron transfer between microbes and minerals, such as iron and manganese (hydr)oxides. This makes sense, given that these minerals are sparingly soluble. What is perhaps surprising, however, is that a number of substrates that might typically be classified as ‘soluble’ are also respired at the cell surface. There are several reasons why this might be the case: the substrate, in its ecological context, might be associated with a solid surface and thus effectively insoluble; the substrate, while soluble, might simply be too large to transport inside the cell; or the substrate, while benign in one redox state, might become toxic after it is metabolized. In this review, we discuss various examples of extracellular respiration, paying particular attention to what is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes. As will become clear, much remains to be learned about the biochemistry, cell biology and regulation of extracellular respiration, making it a rich field of study for molecular microbiologists.
Three-dimensional anthropometric analysis: Differences between elite Australian rowers and the general population

Abstract The aim of this study was to quantify the anthropometric differences between elite senior Australian rowers and the Australian adult population using three-dimensional (3D) whole-body scanning. The dimensions of senior rowers competing at the 2007–2008 Australian Rowing Championships were compared with those of an age-matched sample of Australian adults. Mass, height, and sitting height were measured before the participants underwent a 3D whole-body scan, with lengths, breadths, girths, cross-sectional and surface areas, and volumes extracted from each scan. Differences in means and variability between the two groups were expressed as standardized effect sizes and ratios of coefficients of variation. Heavyweight rowers were generally much larger than the general population in absolute size, with 3D dimensions and height and mass showing the largest effects. In contrast, lightweight rowers were generally similar or smaller in absolute and proportional size. The dimensions of rowers, especially the lightweights, were also generally less variable than those of the general population. The greatest differences between elite rowers and the general population were seen in dimensions that could not be captured without 3D scanning, such as segmental volumes and cross-sectional areas.
Ribonuclease activity and nucleic acid and protein metabolism in the testes of zinc-deficient rats.

The growth, feed consumption, feed efficiency, testicular weight, and com-position of the testes of young rats fed a zinc-deficient (1·4 p.p.m.) diet over a 10-week period were studied and compared with those of two groups of control rats fed this diet supplemented with zinc to provide 90 p.p.m. zinc. The feed intake of one of the control groups was restricted to that of the zinc-deficient group, so that the effects of inanition and of zinc deficiency per se could be separated.
Five-Year Outcome of Cholinergic Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: Early Response Predicts Prolonged Time until Nursing Home Placement, but Does Not Alter Life Expectancy

Fifty consecutive outpatients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) received treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine in an open longitudinal study. Assessments using Mini-Mental State Examination, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – cognitive subscale, and a global rating were made at baseline and at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. Three outcome groups were characterized: responders, unchanged and deteriorated. Additional outcome measures were time until nursing home placement, and mortality rate. At 6 months –75%, at 12 months –42%, at 24 months –20%, and after that 10% of the patients still on medication had improved or remained stable. The mortality rate did not differ between the outcome groups. Response to tacrine treatment at 6 or 12 months was found to predict a prolonged time until nursing home placement. No predictors for a positive treatment response could be identified at baseline.
Risk factors of endometrial polyps resected from postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen

Endometrial polyps are the most common endometrial pathology described in association with postmenopausal tamoxifen exposure. Up to 3% of these polyps may show malignant changes. However, to the authors' knowledge no one has described any risk factor for the development of this pathology in postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen.
A molecularly cloned, pathogenic, neutralization-resistant simian immunodeficiency virus, SIVsmE543-3

An infectious molecular clone of simian immunodeficiency virus SIVsm was derived from a biological isolate obtained late in disease from an immunodeficient rhesus macaque (E543) with SIV-induced encephalitis. The molecularly cloned virus, SIVsmE543-3, replicated well in macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocyte-derived macrophages and resisted neutralization by heterologous sera which broadly neutralized genetically diverse SIV variants in vitro. SIVsmE543-3 was infectious and induced AIDS when inoculated intravenously into pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). Two of four infected macaques developed no measurable SIV-specific antibody and succumbed to a wasting syndrome and SIV-induced meningoencephalitis by 14 and 33 weeks postinfection. The other two macaques developed antibodies reactive in Western blot and virus neutralization assays. One macaque was sacrificed at 1 year postinoculation, and the survivor has evidence of immunodeficiency, characterized by persistently low CD4 lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood. Plasma samples from these latter animals neutralized SIVsmE543-3 but with much lower efficiency than neutralization of other related SIV strains, confirming the difficulty by which this molecularly cloned virus is neutralized in vitro. SIVsmE543-3 will provide a valuable reagent for studying SIV-induced encephalitis, mapping determinants of neutralization, and determining the in vivo significance of resistance to neutralization in vitro.
Comparative Studies of Extracellular Fungal Laccases under Different Conditions

Various basidiomycetes and deuteromycetes, grown in liquid and solid culture media, were compared for their laccase-producing ability and for the inducing effect of soil and agricultural residues on laccase production. Laccase activity in extracts of all solid media was higher than that of the liquid media. In liquid cultures, fungal laccase activity in extracts of pea (Pisum sativum) straw-treated media compared with the other agricultural residue-treated media was significantly low. The laccase-producing ability of Polyporus sp. compared with the other fungi was significantly high whereas that of Trichoderma reesei was markedly low. Laccase activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium under liquid conditions was strikingly low, however, under solid conditions it increased more than that of the other fungi. With the addition of soil to wheat and rice straw-treated solid media, fungal laccase activity increased significantly.