Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acidosis induced by lactate, pyruvate, or HCl increases blood viscosity.

PURPOSE Serum lactate correlates with the severity of disease and the mortality in shock. It is not clear if lactate is only a marker or a mediator of disease. We tested the hypothesis that acidosis induced by lactate and pyruvate affects blood flow properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human blood was incubated with additional lactate (0-50 mmol/L) or pyruvate (0-25 mmol/L) for 1 hour at 37 degrees C. Blood viscosity was measured at high (94.5 s(-1)) and low (0.1 s(-1)) shear rate. Hematocrit was measured with an electronic particle counter as well as centrifugation. RESULTS A total of 50 mmol/L additional lactate produced acidosis (pH 6.4) and increased whole-blood viscosity at high shear rate (94.5 s(-1): 6.53 +/- 0.51 mPa.s vs 4.94 +/- 0.18 mPa.s for control, n = 5, P <. 001) and low shear rate (0.1 s(-1): 93.9 +/- 18.6 mPa.s vs 53.5 +/- 7.7 mPa.s, n = 5, P <. 001). Simultaneously, an increased centrifuged hematocrit was observed (about 7% with 50 mmol/L lactate, P <.001), indicating eryth-rocyte swelling. These changes were reversible on removal of lactate. The addition of 25 mmol/L pyruvate also induced acidosis and increased blood viscosity and centrifuged hematocrit. When HCl was used to induce a comparable pH level decrease, a similar increase in blood viscosity and hematocrit were observed. CONCLUSIONS Pronounced acidosis induced by either lactate, pyruvate, or HCl impairs blood flow properties, which may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of critical illness.
Glycosylation, Disulfide Bond Formation, and the Presence of a WSXWS-Like Motif in the Orf Virus GIF Protein Are Critical for Maintaining the Integrity of Binding to Ovine Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor and Interleukin-2

ABSTRACT Orf virus (ORFV), the type species of the family Parapoxviridae, encodes a protein (GIF) that binds and inhibits the ovine cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). There is no obvious sequence homology between the ORFV protein and any known mammalian GM-CSF- or IL-2-binding proteins. We demonstrate here that many of the biochemical properties of mammalian GM-CSF receptors that are required for efficient binding of GM-CSF are also critical to the GIF protein for binding to ovine GM-CSF (ovGM-CSF). Site-directed mutagenesis of the GIF protein demonstrated, first, the importance of disulfide bonds, and second, that a sequence motif (WDPWV), related to the WSXWS motif of the type 1 cytokine receptor superfamily, was necessary for biological activity. Finally, glycosylation of the GIF protein was also critical for binding to GM-CSF.
How many flowering plants are pollinated by animals

It is clear that the majority of fl owering plants are pollinated by insects and other animals, with a minority utilising abiotic pollen vectors, mainly wind. However there is no accurate published calculation of the proportion of the ca 352 000 species of angiosperms that interact with pollinators. Widely cited fi gures range from 67% to 96% but these have not been based on fi rm data. We estimated the number and proportion of fl owering plants that are pollinated by animals using published and unpublished community-level surveys of plant pollination systems that recorded whether each species present was pollinated by animals or wind. Th e proportion of animal-pollinated species rises from a mean of 78% in temperate-zone communities to 94% in tropical communities. By correcting for the latitudinal diversity trend in fl owering plants, we estimate the global number and proportion of animal pollinated angiosperms as 308 006, which is 87.5% of the estimated species-level diversity of fl owering plants. Given current concerns about the decline in pollinators and the possible resulting impacts on both natural communities and agricultural crops, such estimates are vital to both ecologists and policy makers. Further research is required to assess in detail the absolute dependency of these plants on their pollinators, and how this varies with latitude and community type, but there is no doubt that plant – pollinator interactions play a signifi cant role in maintaining the functional integrity of most terrestrial ecosystems. Plant – pollinator relationships may be one of the most ecologically important classes of animal – plant interaction: without pollinators, many plants could not set seed and reproduce; and without plants to provide pollen, nectar and other rewards, many animal populations would decline, with consequent knock-on eff ects for other species (Kearns et al.
The heat shock protein inhibitor Quercetin attenuates hepatitis C virus production

The hepatitis C viral (HCV) genome is translated through an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) as a single polyprotein precursor that is subsequently cleaved into individual mature viral proteins. Nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) is one of these proteins that has been implicated in regulation of viral genome replication, translation from the viral IRES and viral packaging. We sought to identify cellular proteins that interact with NS5A and determine whether these interactions may play a role in viral production. Mass spectrometric analysis of coimmunoprecipitated NS5A complexes from cell extracts identified heat shock proteins (HSPs) 40 and 70. We confirmed an NS5A/HSP interaction by confocal microscopy demonstrating colocalization of NS5A with HSP40 and with HSP70. Western analysis of coimmunoprecipitated NS5A complexes further confirmed interaction of HSP40 and HSP70 with NS5A. A transient transfection, luciferase‐based, tissue culture IRES assay demonstrated NS5A augmentation of HCV IRES‐mediated translation, and small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐mediated knockdown of HSP70 reduced this augmentation. Treatment with an inhibitor of HSP synthesis, Quercetin, markedly reduced baseline IRES activity and its augmentation by NS5A. HSP70 knockdown also modestly reduced viral protein accumulation, whereas HSP40 and HSP70 knockdown both reduced infectious viral particle production in an HCV cell culture system using the J6/JFH virus fused to the Renilla luciferase reporter. Treatment with Quercetin reduced infectious particle production at nontoxic concentrations. The marked inhibition of virus production by Quercetin may partially be related to reduction of HSP40 and HSP70 and their potential involvement in IRES translation, as well as viral morphogenesis or secretion. Conclusion: Quercetin may allow for dissection of the viral life cycle and has potential therapeutic use to reduce virus production with low associated toxicity. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)
Reliability and validity of conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence measurement

Background Conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (UVAF) photography was developed to detect and characterise pre-clinical sunlight-induced UV damage. The reliability of this measurement and its relationship to outdoor activity are currently unknown. Methods 599 people aged 16–85 years in the cross-sectional Norfolk Island Eye Study were included in the validation study. 196 UVAF individual photographs (49 people) and 60 UVAF photographs (15 people) of Norfolk Island Eye Study participants were used for intra- and inter-observer reliability assessment, respectively. Conjunctival UVAF was measured using UV photography. UVAF area was calculated using computerised methods by one grader on two occasions (intra-observer analysis) or two graders (inter-observer analysis). Outdoor activity category, during summer and winter separately, was determined with a UV questionnaire. Total UVAF equalled the area measured in four conjunctival areas (nasal/temporal conjunctiva of right and left eyes). Results Intra-observer (ρ_c=0.988, 95% CI 0.967 to 0.996, p<0.001), and inter-observer concordance correlation coefficients (ρ_c=0.924, 95% CI 0.870 to 0.956, p<0.001) of total UVAF exceeded 0.900. When grouped according to 10 mm2 total UVAF increments, intra- and inter-observer reliability was very good (κ=0.81) and good (κ=0.71), respectively. Increasing time outdoors was strongly with increasing total UVAF in summer and winter (ptrend <0.001). Conclusion Intra- and inter-observer reliability of conjunctival UVAF is high. In this population, UVAF correlates strongly with the authors' survey-based assessment of time spent outdoors.
Human placental sulphate transport: studies on chorionic trophoblast brush border membrane vesicles.

SO4(2‐) transport by microvillous brush border membrane vesicles prepared from normal‐term human placenta has been studied using an ion‐exchange column assay. The uptake of this anion is time dependent and at 20 degrees C reaches a point of equilibrium by 60 min. 4,4'‐Diisothiocyanostilbene‐2,2'‐disulphonate (DIDS) and 4‐acetamido‐4'‐isothiocyanostilbene‐2‐2'‐disulphonate (SITS) (at 10(‐4) M) were found to inhibit approximately 80% of uptake. The concentration of DIDS producing half‐maximal inhibition was approximately 10(‐5) M. In contrast furosemide and probenecid were weak inhibitors of SO4(2‐) influx. The anions Cl‐, I‐, thiocyanate (SCN‐) and gluconate (cis‐side) caused minimal inhibition of SO4(2‐) influx. Salicylate (10 mM) produced 47% inhibition. The divalent anions thiosulphate, tungstate and unlabelled SO4(2‐) (10 mM) inhibited the uptake of SO4(2‐) (at 1 mM) to the same extent as DIDS. The vesicle membrane potential was altered by varying external K+ concentration using valinomycin. The DIDS‐sensitive SO4(2‐) influx was not affected by changes in membrane potential. A novel method has been developed for studying solute efflux from pre‐loaded vesicles. Both DIDS and a reduction in temperature were effective inhibitors of SO4(2‐) efflux. These results are discussed.
Computer-generated physician and patient reminders. Tools to improve population adherence to selected preventive services.

Despite an emerging consensus on appropriate preventive services, a minority of patients receive them. A study was undertaken to assess the impact of computer-generated reminders to adult patients, their physicians, or both patients and physicians on adherence to five recommended preventive services: cholesterol measurements, fecal occult blood testing, mammography, Papanicolaou smears, and tetanus immunization. During the academic year 1988-1989, all 7397 adult patients and their 49 physicians in a university family medicine clinical practice were randomized by practice group into one of four study groups: control, physician reminders, patient reminders, and both physician and patient reminders. Adherence was defined in community-oriented terms: the percentage of patients within each group who had received the preventive service in the recommended interval. During the study period, adherence to four of the five preventive services increased significantly, with the largest increases in the physician and patient reminder group: cholesterol measurements increased from 19.5% to 38.1%, fecal occult blood testing 9.3% to 27.0%, mammography 11.4% to 27.1%, and tetanus immunization 23.4% to 35.4% (for each increase, P less than .0001, McNemar's chi-square test). In general, increases were greater in blacks and in patients with any form of insurance coverage. Computer-based physician and patient reminder systems have great promise of improving adherence to preventive services in primary care settings.
Glucocorticoid and Other Hormonal Substrates of Conditioned Taste Aversion a

Results of research reported in this paper show that lithium chloride (LiCl) injection causes a marked and prolonged elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone. Peak elevations occur within 30 min after injection and continue for 60 to 120 min depending upon the molarity of the LiCl solution. CS preexposures do not alter the pituitary-adrenal response to LiCl. Although this response occurs, evidence argues that pituitary-adrenal activity is neither a sufficient nor essential condition for CTA to occur. It is possible that this prolonged ACTH secretion, which would be essential to maintain corticosterone levels elevated for one to two hours, is acting as a component of the unconditioned response associated with LiCl injections. Under certain types of extinction (forced extinction) the P-A system is activated. Thus, when an animal drinks an aversive solution following deprivation, intake of the solution causes a conditioned elevation of plasma corticosterone. Two measures of CTA, behavioral and hormonal, do not always coincide with one another. Preexposure to the CS alters both behavioral and corticosterone indices of CTA. These two systems will show either a coupling (e.g., parallel change) or a dissociation depending on the number of preexposures prior to conditioning. Manipulating the hormones associated with the pituitary-adrenal system also affects the acquisition of CTA and influences extinction. Thus, if one pretests with dexamethasone phosphate (DEX) prior to the administration of LiCl, CTA is attenuated. It would appear that ACTH is involved in the acquisition of CTA since a central block of ACTH also affects the magnitude of the aversion. If ACTH is injected during recovery, animals show a prolonged suppression of drinking. These data appear to be best explained using a memory-retrieval model. The manipulation of hormones and their effects on CTA appear to follow the effects observed endogenously. Thus, ACTH administered to rats during the conditioning phase does not appear to have any effect upon the learning of the aversion. Since LiCl markedly elevates ACTH, as indicated by prolonged elevations of corticosterone, the additional ACTH given exogenously at the time of conditioning does not appear to add to the effects already attributable to endogenous ACTH. Conversely, DEX given during recovery appears to have no effect upon the recovery function. Because endogenous levels of ACTH are already low during the free extinction procedure, DEX treatment does not appear to further reduce ACTH and has no effect upon recovery. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-dependent energy depletion occurs through inhibition of glycolysis

Significance Excessive activation of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase (PARP) is intimately linked to cell death in a variety of organ systems. It has long been thought that the cell death caused by excessive activation of PARP occurs through the catalytic consumption of NAD+ followed by reduction of ATP and bioenergetic collapse. This study shows that the bioenergetic collapse is caused not by the consumption of NAD+ but by PAR-dependent inhibition of hexokinase activity leading to defects in glycolysis. These results are consistent with the notion that cell death induced by excessive PARP activity (parthanatos) is an active cell-death program that is initiated by PAR signaling. Excessive poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) activation kills cells via a cell-death process designated “parthanatos” in which PAR induces the mitochondrial release and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor to initiate chromatinolysis and cell death. Accompanying the formation of PAR are the reduction of cellular NAD+ and energetic collapse, which have been thought to be caused by the consumption of cellular NAD+ by PARP-1. Here we show that the bioenergetic collapse following PARP-1 activation is not dependent on NAD+ depletion. Instead PARP-1 activation initiates glycolytic defects via PAR-dependent inhibition of hexokinase, which precedes the NAD+ depletion in N-methyl-N-nitroso-N-nitroguanidine (MNNG)-treated cortical neurons. Mitochondrial defects are observed shortly after PARP-1 activation and are mediated largely through defective glycolysis, because supplementation of the mitochondrial substrates pyruvate and glutamine reverse the PARP-1–mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. Depleting neurons of NAD+ with FK866, a highly specific noncompetitive inhibitor of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, does not alter glycolysis or mitochondrial function. Hexokinase, the first regulatory enzyme to initiate glycolysis by converting glucose to glucose-6-phosphate, contains a strong PAR-binding motif. PAR binds to hexokinase and inhibits hexokinase activity in MNNG-treated cortical neurons. Preventing PAR formation with PAR glycohydrolase prevents the PAR-dependent inhibition of hexokinase. These results indicate that bioenergetic collapse induced by overactivation of PARP-1 is caused by PAR-dependent inhibition of glycolysis through inhibition of hexokinase.
Over-expression of angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene induces cell death in lung adenocarcinoma cells

The endogenous angiotensin II (Ang II) type 2 receptor (AT2) has been shown to mediate apoptosis in cardiovascular tissues. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the anti-cancer effect of AT2 over-expression on lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro using adenoviral (Ad), FuGENE, and nanoparticle vectors. All three gene transfection methods efficiently transfected AT2 cDNA into lung cancer cells but caused minimal gene transfection in normal lung epithelial cells. Ad-AT2 significantly attenuated multiple human lung cancer cell growth (A549 and H358) as compared to the control viral vector, Ad-LacZ, when cell viability was examined by direct cell count. Examination of annexin V by flow cytometry revealed the activation of the apoptotic pathway via AT2 over-expression. Western Blot analysis confirmed the activation of caspase-3. Similarly, poly (lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) biodegradable nanoparticles encapsulated AT2 plasmid DNA were shown to be effectively taken up into the lung cancer cell. Nanoparticle-based AT2 gene transfection markedly increased AT2 expression and resultant cell death in A549 cells. These results indicate that AT2 over-expression effectively attenuates growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells through intrinsic apoptosis. Our results also suggest that PLGA nanoparticles can be used as an efficient gene delivery vector for lung adenocarcinoma targeted therapy.
Disambiguated linear word translation in medium European languages

An earlier paper used triangulated word translations as seed in linear translation between medium European languages. The present work improves upon it by handling word ambiguity both in the main (i.e. source and target) languages and in the pivot by training a multi-prototype vector space model in the former, filtering triangles based on scores computed by a linear model trained with direct (non-triangulated) translations, and finally translating the whole vocabulary with a linear translation trained on filtered triangles (in addition to direct ones).
Hsp90α Mediates BMI1 Expression in Breast Cancer Stem/Progenitor Cells through Facilitating Nuclear Translocation of c-Myc and EZH2

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that facilitates the correct folding and functionality of its client protein. Numerous Hsp90-client proteins are involved in cancer development. Thus, Hsp90 inhibitors have potential applications as anti-cancer drugs. We previously discovered that Hsp90α expression increased in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), which can initiate tumorigenesis and metastasis and resist treatment. In the present study, we further demonstrated that 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG), an inhibitor of Hsp90, could suppress the self-renewal of BCSCs by downregulating B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog (BMI1), a polycomb family member with oncogenic activity in breast cancer. Through immunoprecipitation analysis, we found that BMI1 did not interact with Hsp90α and that the downregulation of BMI1 by 17-DMAG was mediated by the inhibition of c-Myc and enhancement of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression. The transcriptional and BMI1 promoter-binding activities of c-Myc in BCSCs were inhibited by 17-DMAG treatment. The overexpression of EZH2 attenuated the inhibitory effect of 17-DMAG on BMI1 and c-Myc expression. Furthermore, Hsp90α could be co-immunoprecipitated with c-Myc and EZH2 and bind to the BMI1 promoter. Treatment with 17-DMAG decreased the nuclear expression of EZH2 and c-Myc but not that of Hsp90α. In conclusion, our data suggested that Hsp90α could positively regulate the self-renewal of BCSCs by facilitating the nuclear translocation of c-Myc and EZH2 to maintain BMI1 expression.
The Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) schizotypy scale in psychiatry

Schizotypal personality can be perceived as a personality trait and considered as a dimension. In recent decades, this way of thinking has been promoted by a British psychologist Gordon Claridge, the main author of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) schizotypy scale, which is the subject of this article. In such dimensional model, schizotypy represents a continuum, including the characteristics predisposing to psychosis. Thus, schizotypal features are observed in the general population,
Routine evening naps and night‐time sleep patterns in junior high and high school students

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between napping and night‐time sleep patterns in junior high and high school students. A questionnaire concerning sleep‐related lifestyle was given to about 10 000 junior high and high school students. Approximately 50% of the junior high and high school students take at least one nap per week. More than 30% of students take naps later than 17.00 hours. The late naps delayed students’ bedtime; that is, onset of night‐time sleep. The bedtime of students of university‐bound high schools was later than that of students of vocation‐bound high schools. The more frequently students took naps, the later they went to bed. Frequent late naps delayed bedtime and, hence, shortened the length of night‐time sleep.
Entwicklung und Evaluierung einer Notenwender-App für Klaviernoten

Das ständige Umblättern von Noten ist für Musiker ein wiederkehrendes Problem. Dieses wird häufig durch einen Assistenten des Musikers, den sogenannten Notenwender, gelöst. Diese Unterstützung haben Musiker allerdings nur selten während des Übens. In diesem Artikel stellen wir eine Anwendung für mobile Geräte vor, die auf verschiedene Arten das Umblättern von Klavierpartituren unterstützt: Durch Gestenerkennung, durch Erkennung des Spielfortschritts, oder durch eine Kombination aus beidem. In einer Studie mit professionellen Musikern und Klavierschülern wurden diese Arten gegeneinander abgewogen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen auf, dass computer-unterstütztes (insbesondere automatisches) Blättern Vorteile gegenüber herkömmlichem Blättern hat.
Design Study of SMES System Cooled by Thermo-Siphon With Liquid Hydrogen for Effective use of Renewable Energy

In order to use effectively renewable energy sources, we propose a new system, called Advanced Superconducting Power Conditioning System (ASPCS), that is composed of SMES and Fuel Cell-Electrolyzer (FC-EL) in connection with a liquid hydrogen station for vehicles. The new system will compensate the fluctuating renewable energy sources with SMES having characteristics of quick response and large I/O power, and with FC-EL having characteristics of moderate response and large storage capacity. The SMES coil with an MgB2 conductor operated at 20 K is cooled with a thermo-siphon cooling system by using cryogen from the liquid hydrogen station. The necessary minimum storage capacity of SMES is estimated as 50 MJ for compensating output power of 1 MW. A four-pole SMES coil is designed by using stranded cable concept. The design study of the SMES coil composed of the MgB2 conductor and the thermo-siphon cooling system is reported.