Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-time single-cell response to stiffness

Living cells adapt to the stiffness of their environment. However, cell response to stiffness is mainly thought to be initiated by the deformation of adhesion complexes under applied force. In order to determine whether cell response was triggered by stiffness or force, we have developed a unique method allowing us to tune, in real time, the effective stiffness experienced by a single living cell in a uniaxial traction geometry. In these conditions, the rate of traction force buildup dF/dt was adapted to stiffness in less than 0.1 s. This integrated fast response was unambiguously triggered by stiffness, and not by force. It suggests that early cell response could be mechanical in nature. In fact, local force-dependent signaling through adhesion complexes could be triggered and coordinated by the instantaneous cell-scale adaptation of dF/dt to stiffness. Remarkably, the effective stiffness method presented here can be implemented on any mechanical setup. Thus, beyond single-cell mechanosensing, this method should be useful to determine the role of rigidity in many fundamental phenomena such as morphogenesis and development.
The Role of Dialogue in the Monitoring Process of the Framework Convention

In this article, the author examines how the Advisory Committee, under the leadership of Rainer Hofmann, gradually expanded its role as a dialogic partner, a role that was not explicit in the Framework Convention. He largely concentrates on dialogue with the States, keeping in mind that other contributions to this volume examine such issues as interaction with civil society. He also discusses what is implied by the references to dialogue, how it differs from, say, consultations or negotiations, and what are the perceived limits of such a strong emphasis on dialogue, bearing in mind that the Advisory Committee pursues a monitoring task rooted in a legally binding treaty. The Advisory Committee has invoked and expanded dialogue as a key component of its work, and it is today a valuable example of human rights treaty body that engages directly with governments and others concerned in various stages of the monitoring cycle. Keywords:Advisory Committee; Framework Convention; human rights treaty; Rainer Hofmann
Self-Transmissible Mercury Resistance Plasmids with Gene-Mobilizing Capacity in Soil Bacterial Populations: Influence of Wheat Roots and Mercury Addition

ABSTRACT A set of mercury resistance plasmids was obtained from wheat rhizosphere soil amended or not amended with mercuric chloride via exogenous plasmid isolation by using Pseudomonas fluorescens R2f, Pseudomonas putida UWC1, andEnterobacter cloacae BE1 as recipient strains. The isolation frequencies were highest from soil amended with high levels of mercury, and the isolation frequencies from unamended soil were low. With P. putida UWC1 as the recipient, the isolation frequency was significantly enhanced in wheat rhizosphere compared to bulk soil. Twenty transconjugants were analyzed per recipient strain. All of the transconjugants contained plasmids which were between 40 and 50 kb long. Eight selected plasmids were distributed among five groups, as shown by restriction digestion coupled with a similarity matrix analysis. However, all of the plasmids formed a tight group, as judged by hybridization with two whole-plasmid probes and comparisons with other plasmids in dot blot hybridization analyses. The results of replicon typing and broad-host-range incompatibility (Inc) group-specific PCR suggested that the plasmid isolates were not related to any previously described Inc group. Although resistance to copper, resistance to streptomycin, and/or resistance to chloramphenicol was found in several plasmids, catabolic sequences were generally not identified. One plasmid, pEC10, transferred into a variety of bacteria belonging to the β and γ subdivisions of the class Proteobacteria and mobilized as well as retromobilized the IncQ plasmid pSUP104. A PCR method for detection of pEC10-like replicons was used, in conjunction with other methods, to monitor pEC10-homologous sequences in mercury-polluted and unpolluted soils. The presence of mercury enhanced the prevalence of pEC10-like replicons in soil and rhizosphere bacterial populations.
Determination of protein-derived epitopes by mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry has evolved as a technique suitable for the characterization of peptides and proteins beyond their linear sequence. The advantages of mass spectrometric sample analysis are high sensitivity, high mass accuracy, rapid analysis time and low sample consumption. In epitope mapping, the molecular structure of an antigen (the epitope or antigenic determinant) that interacts with the paratope (recognition surface) of the antibody is identified. To obtain information on linear, conformational and/or discontinuous epitopes, various approaches have been developed in conjunction with mass spectrometry. These methods include limited proteolysis and epitope footprinting, epitope excision and epitope extraction for linear epitopes and probing the surface accessibility of residues by differential chemical modifications of specific amino acid side chains or by differential hydrogen/deuterium exchange of the protein backbone amides for conformational and discontinuous epitopes. Epitope mapping by mass spectrometry is applicable in basic biochemical research and, with increasing robustness, should soon find its implementation in routine clinical diagnosis.
Compressive sensing using approximated total variant transform to reduce the required number of antennas in radar-based medical imaging

Compressive sensing (CS) technique is usually used to reconstruct the original signal (full-sampled signal) from using under-sampled signal. Based on the CS theory, the original signal can be reconstructed by using fewer signal samples which is obtained from a random measurement matrix. In this work, a CS algorithm using approximated total variant transform is used to reconstruct clear images in radar-based microwave imaging aimed at medical applications using only small number of antennas. The proposed approach is successfully tested via numerical simulations on a head imaging environment.
Mutual Coupling Reduction in Millimeter-Wave MIMO Antenna Array Using a Metamaterial Polarization-Rotator Wall

An effective technique for reducing the mutual coupling between millimeter-wave dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) using a novel metamaterial polarization-rotator (MPR) wall is investigated and presented. The mutual coupling is reduced by embedding an MPR wall between two DRAs, which are placed in the H-plane. Using this MPR wall, the TE modes of the antennas become orthogonal, which reduces the mutual coupling between the two DRAs. The proposed MPR wall is composed of 1 × 7 unit cells along the E-plane. The mutual coupling is reduced by more than 16 dB on average (8 dB at 57 GHz, 22 dB at 60 GHz, 14 dB at 62 GHz) when the MPR wall is placed between the antennas. The proposed MPR wall nearly has no effect on the antenna characteristics in terms of input impedance and radiation pattern. The radiation pattern is almost unchanged compared to a DRA multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array without MPR wall. The MIMO antenna array with MPR wall is fabricated and measured. The results give a low correlation coefficient (<0.1e-6). This is due to the fact that the MPR wall makes the two antennas orthogonal in terms of mutual coupling. The measured and simulated results show a good agreement.
An essential role for Gαi2 in Smoothened-stimulated epithelial cell proliferation in the mammary gland

Gαi2 mediates proliferation stimulated by Smoothened in the mammary gland. Smoothened signals through G proteins The Hedgehog signaling pathway promotes the expression of genes that are critical during development through regulation of the Gli family of transcription factors. Because this pathway is subverted by cancer cells, and because the gene encoding the Hedgehog effector Smoothened (SMO) is aberrantly expressed in some types of breast cancers, various chemotherapeutics have been developed to target SMO. Villanueva et al. (see also the Focus by Ogden) showed that SMO promoted cell proliferation in the mammary glands of mice through the G protein Gαi2, rather than through Gli-mediated changes in gene expression. These results confirm that SMO can act as a G protein–coupled receptor in mammals and suggest that SMO-targeting drugs should also be screened for their ability to inhibit Gαi2 activation. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is critical for organogenesis, tissue homeostasis, and stem cell maintenance. The gene encoding Smoothened (SMO), the primary effector of Hh signaling, is expressed aberrantly in human breast cancer, as well as in other cancers. In mice that express a constitutively active form of SMO that does not require Hh stimulation in mammary glands, the cells near the transgenic cells proliferate and participate in hyperplasia formation. Although SMO is a seven-transmembrane receptor like G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), SMO-mediated activation of the Gli family of transcription factors is not known to involve G proteins. However, data from Drosophila and mammalian cell lines indicate that SMO functions as a GPCR that couples to heterotrimeric G proteins of the pertussis toxin (PTX)–sensitive Gαi class. Using genetically modified mice, we demonstrated that SMO signaling through G proteins occurred in the mammary gland in vivo. SMO-induced stimulation of proliferation was PTX-sensitive and required Gαi2, but not Gαi1, Gαi3, or activation of Gli1 or Gli2. Our findings show that activated SMO functions as a GPCR to stimulate proliferation in vivo, a finding that may have clinical importance because most SMO-targeted agents have been selected based largely on their ability to block Gli-mediated transcription.
Fifteen-year changes in body mass index and waist circumference in Finnish adults

Background Obesity is an increasing health problem. Data on long-term obesity trends are most often based on the measurement of body mass index (BMI). Abdominal obesity, assessed by waist circumference may, however, be more closely related to health risks than overall obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate 15-year changes in general and abdominal obesity among adults in Finland, and furthermore, to assess whether obesity trends differ between educational groups. Design Four cross-sectional population surveys conducted at 5-year intervals between 1987 and 2002. Methods Altogether, 9025 men and 9950 women aged 25-64 years participated in these surveys. The weight, height, and waist circumferences of the participants were measured using a standardized protocol. Results Mean waist circumference increased by 2.7 cm in men and 4.3 cm in women in 15 years. Whereas the distribution of BMI values did not change much, a remarkable shift towards higher waist circumference values was observed in 15 years. In both sexes, mean and high values of waist circumference increased in all educational groups. However, the values remained highest among the subjects with the lowest education. Conclusions These results indicate that adverse changes in body shape have taken place from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Given that one in five Finnish adults is defined as obese based on BMI, there is an even larger group of individuals at risk of obesity-related metabolic disorders because of abdominal obesity, particularly among low-educated individuals.
Safety and Efficacy of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention via Transradial Versus Transfemoral Approach in Bypass Grafts

We compared the efficacy and safety of the transradial approach percutaneous coronary intervention (TRA-PCI) and transfemoral approach percutaneous coronary intervention (TFA-PCI) for bypass grafts lesions. Patients (n = 184) were retrospectively enrolled. Less contrast was used during the procedure in the TRA group than in the TFA group, 201.5 (45.5) mL versus 221.5 (49.1) mL, P = . 004, although fluoroscopy time was longer in the TRA group, 22.5 (6.3) minutes versus 20.3 (6.1) minutes; P = . 017. The incidence of net adverse clinical events (NACEs) was lower in the TRA group than in the TFA group (3.1% vs 8.8%, respectively, P = .111). The incidence of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 and 5 bleeding (0% vs 5.5%, respectively, P = .022) was significantly lower in the TRA group than in the TFA group. For 1-year outcomes, there was no difference in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (7.5% vs 9.9%, respectively, P = .569). In conclusion, TRA-PCI was associated with a lower rate of in-hospital NACEs mainly attributed to lower rates of major bleeding. The TRA-PCI showed comparable feasibility and efficacy in bypass grafts as compared with TFA-PCI when carried out by experienced operators.
Pollen‐food syndromes associated with weed pollinosis: an update from the molecular point of view

Pollinosis patients often display adverse reactions upon the ingestion of plant‐derived foods as a result of immunoglobulin E (IgE) cross‐reactive structures shared by pollen and food allergen sources. The symptoms of such pollen‐food syndromes (PFS) or class 2 food allergies range from local oral allergy syndrome to severe systemic anaphylaxis. Two clinical syndromes, the celery‐mugwort‐spice syndrome and the mugwort‐mustard‐allergy syndrome have been described in association with weed pollinosis. However, other associations between weed pollinosis and hypersensitivity to certain kinds of food have also been observed, like the mugwort–peach, the ragweed–melon–banana, the plantain–melon, the pellitory–pistachio, the goosefoot–fruit, the Russian thistle–saffron, and the hop–celery association. The number of allergen sources involved, the allergens, and influencing factors including geography, diet, and food preparation contribute to the high clinical complexity of PFS. So far, known causative cross‐reactive allergens include profilins, lipid transfer proteins, and high‐molecular weight allergens and/or glycoallergens. The current usage of nonstandardized allergen extracts poses additional problems for both diagnosis and therapy of PFS patients. Further identification and characterization of involved allergens is inescapable for better understanding of PFS and vaccine development. Panels of recombinant allergens and/or hypo‐allergens are promising tools to improve both PFS diagnostics and therapy.
The Enhancer I Core Region Contributes to the Replication Level of Hepatitis B Virus In Vivo and In Vitro

ABSTRACT Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Long-term interaction of the immune system with the virus results in the selection of escape mutants and viral persistence. In this work we characterize mutations in the enhancer I region isolated prior to liver transplantation from the HBV genomes of 10 patients with chronic HBV infection. The HBV-genomes were sequenced, and the enhancer I region was cloned into luciferase reporter constructs to determine the transcriptional activity. Functional studies were performed by transfecting HBV replication-competent plasmids into hepatoma cells. Analyses of the replication fitness of the mutant strains were conducted by biochemical analysis. In all HBV genomes the enhancer I region was mutated. Most of these mutations resulted in decreased transcriptional activity. The strongest effects were detectable in strains with mutations in the hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 and 4 (HNF3 and HNF4) binding sites of the enhancer I core domain. Replication-competent HBV constructs containing these mutations demonstrated up to 10-fold-reduced levels of virus replication. Before liver transplantation, when the mutant strains were detected in the patients' sera, low HBV DNA levels were found. After transplantation and reinfection with a wild-type virus, the levels of replication were up to 240-fold higher. Our results show that mutations in the enhancer I region of HBV have a major impact on HBV replication. These mutations may also determine the switch from high to low levels of viral replication which is frequently observed during chronic HBV infection.
The association between television viewing and childhood obesity: a national survey in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between television viewing and obesity among Thai children. DESIGN A one-stage cross-sectional national survey. SETTING National communities in Thailand. SUBJECTS Four thousand one hundred and ninety-seven children aged 6 to 12 years old. RESULTS By using the new national growth reference as a normative data, 262 (6.2%) children in this survey were obese. According to the caregivers, 62 per cent of children watched television I to 3 hours per day. Children who spent more than 3 hours per day watching television were more likely to be obese than the children who watched television less with the odd ratio of 1.8 (95% confidence interval = 1.2-2.8). CONCLUSION With a one-stage design for determining the association between television viewing and childhood obesity, Thai school age children who watched television more than 3 hours per day were more likely to be obese with statistical significance.
Cefotaxime Acts Synergistically with Levofloxacin in Experimental Meningitis Due to Penicillin-Resistant Pneumococci and Prevents Selection of Levofloxacin-Resistant Mutants In Vitro

ABSTRACT Cefotaxime, given in two doses (each 100 mg/kg of body weight), produced a good bactericidal activity (−0.47 Δlog10 CFU/ml · h) which was comparable to that of levofloxacin (−0.49 Δlog10 CFU/ml · h) against a penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strain WB4 in experimental meningitis. Cefotaxime combined with levofloxacin acted synergistically (−1.04 Δlog10 CFU/ml · h). Synergy between cefotaxime and levofloxacin was also demonstrated in vitro in time killing assays and with the checkerboard method for two penicillin-resistant strains (WB4 and KR4). Using in vitro cycling experiments, the addition of cefotaxime in sub-MIC concentrations (one-eighth of the MIC) drastically reduced levofloxacin-induced resistance in the same two strains (64-fold increase of the MIC of levofloxacin after 12 cycles versus 2-fold increase of the MIC of levofloxacin combined with cefotaxime). Mutations detected in the genes encoding topoisomerase IV (parC and parE) and gyrase (gyrA and gyrB) confirmed the levofloxacin-induced resistance in both strains. Addition of cefotaxime in low doses was able to suppress levofloxacin-induced resistance.
4/spl times/2.5 GHz repetitive photonic sampler for high-speed analog-to-digital signal conversion

This letter presents a 10-gigasample/s (GS/s) photonic analog-to-digital converter (ADC) system constructed using a four-wavelength picosecond pulsed source. The lasing-to-nonlasing modes suppression ratio of the optical source is over 24 dB. By using the 10-GHz optical source, a 10-GS/s photonic ADC has been demonstrated and was used to sample an arbitrary radio-frequency signal. The system was further investigated by sampling a 2.4-GHz sinusoidal signal. Important parameters including the signal-to-noise and distortion ratio and the spurious-free dynamic range have been determined.
Short Days and Exogenous Melatonin Increase Aggression of Male Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Many nontropical rodent species rely on photoperiod as a primary cue to coordinate seasonally appropriate changes in physiology and behavior. Among these changes, some species of rodents demonstrate increased aggression in short, "winter-like" compared with long "summer-like" day lengths. The precise neuroendocrine mechanisms mediating changes in aggression, however, remain largely unknown. The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of photoperiod and exogenous melatonin on resident-intruder aggression in male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). In Experiment 1, male Syrian hamsters were housed in long (LD 14:10) or short (LD 10:14) days for 10 weeks. In Experiment 2, hamsters were housed in long days and half of the animals were given daily subcutaneous melatonin injections (15 microg/day in 0.1 ml saline) 2 h before lights out for 10 consecutive days to simulate a short-day pattern of melatonin secretion, while the remaining animals received injections of the vehicle alone. Animals in both experiments were then tested using a resident-intruder model of aggression and the number of attacks, duration of attacks, and latency to initial attack were recorded. In Experiment 1, short-day hamsters underwent gonadal regression and displayed increased aggression compared with long-day animals. In Experiment 2, melatonin treatment also increased aggression compared with control hamsters without affecting circulating testosterone. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrate that exposure to short days or short day-like patterns of melatonin increase aggression in male Syrian hamsters. In addition, these results suggest that photoperiodic changes in aggression provide an important, ecologically relevant model with which to study the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying aggression in rodents.
Mechanisms that impact microRNA stability in plants

microRNAs (miRNAs) are 20–24 nucleotide RNAs that regulate a variety of developmental and metabolic processes. The accumulation of miRNAs in vivo can be controlled at multiple levels. In addition to miRNA biogenesis, mechanisms that lead to RNA degradation, such as 3′ uridylation and 3′ truncation, also affect the steady-state levels of miRNAs. On the other hand, 2’-O-methylation in plant miRNAs protects their 3′ ends from truncation and uridylation. The recent identification of HESO1 as the key enzyme responsible for miRNA uridylation in Arabidopsis was a first step toward a full understanding of the mechanisms underlying miRNA turnover. Analyses of the heso1 mutant predicted the existence of another uridylation activity and a previously unknown nuclease that act on miRNAs. The future identification of these enzymes will enrich our understanding of miRNA turnover.
Multidrug-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Poland: Identification of Emerging Clones

ABSTRACT Penicillin resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniaeisolates has rapidly emerged in Poland during the last decade and has reached prevalence levels of up to 14.4% in 1997. In order to investigate the nature of this increase, a molecular epidemiological analysis of non-penicillin-susceptible multidrug-resistant pneumococci isolated in 1995 and 1996 was conducted. Thirty-seven patients who suffered mainly from upper respiratory tract infections and pneumococcal pneumonia were enrolled in this study. The medical centers to which the patients were admitted were located in 16 Polish towns across the country. Eight distinct BOX PCR types were observed, representing 14 subtypes. Restriction fragment end labeling (RFEL) analysis divided the pneumococcal strains into 16 distinct types. By combining the BOX PCR and RFEL data, four genetically distinct clusters of strains were identified. Two clusters represented the genetic clones 23F and 9V, which have recently emerged all over the world. The two other genetic clusters, which represented serotypes 23F and 6B, clearly predominated in the analyzed collection of Polish non-penicillin-susceptible pneumococcal strains. Since the latter clusters did not match any of the 133 RFEL types of non-penicillin-susceptible pneumococci collected in 15 other countries, their Polish clonal origin is most likely.