Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth patterns during segmentation in the two polychaete annelids, Capitella sp. I and Hydroides elegans: comparisons at distinct life history stages

Summary Many animals generate new body segments sequentially from a posterior growth zone, and this is generally thought to be the case for the annelids. Most annelids, including polychaetes, have an indirect life cycle and generate their earliest segments during larval life. We have characterized the nature of the growth zone in two polychaetes, Hydroides elegans and Capitella sp. I, during both larval and juvenile stages of segment formation by examining cell division patterns with 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine incorporation. Cell division patterns show commonalities between the two species, even though they have distinct body plans and life history characteristics. In both polychaetes, larval segments arise from a field of dividing cells located in lateral regions of the body, rather than from a localized posterior growth zone. Circumferential expansion of the forming segmental tissue is particularly pronounced in Capitella sp. I. Post‐metamorphic segments, in contrast, originate from a classical posterior growth zone, with the exception of four posterior thoracic segments of H. elegans, which appear to arise from an area in the middle of the body, indicating plasticity of segment‐generating mechanisms present in different annelid life histories. The distinct nature of larval versus juvenile growth zones in H. elegans and Capitella sp. I raises the question of the mechanistic relationship between these two growth zones. The results of this study increase our understanding of the cellular origins of segments in annelids, and serve as a basis for interpretation of molecular expression patterns associated with segment formation in polychaetes.
Using scotopic and photopic flicker to measure lens optical density

Many applications require knowledge of lens absorption. Measuring lens optical density (OD), however, is often difficult and time‐consuming. For example, psychophysical measurement typically requires a long period of dark adaptation (e.g. about 40 min) and assessment of absolute scotopic thresholds. In this study, we examined efficient scotopic and photopic methods for measuring lens OD. In Experiment 1, 30 subjects were tested using a Maxwellian‐view optical system. Relative scotopic thresholds were obtained after 15 min of dark adaptation using slow‐rate (2 Hz) flicker photometry. A 3° test stimulus, presented at 10° nasal, was used that alternated between measuring wavelengths (420 and 460 nm) and a reference field (540 nm). The results showed that the relative scotopic method produces values that are consistent with published lens spectral curves. In Experiment 2, relative photopic measures (i.e. no dark adaptation period) were also obtained at 406 nm in natural view and compared with lens data obtained in Maxwellian view at 407 nm using the absolute scotopic method. The photopic method compared well with the absolute scotopic values obtained on the same subjects. Taken together, the two experiments showed that a relative method can yield valid lens density estimates. Using a relative rather than an absolute method reduces the time needed for dark adaptation and is an easier task for subjects to perform and may therefore be preferable when expeditious measures are desirable.
Three-dimensional structure of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Synechococcus elongatus photosystem II complexes allows for comparison of their oxygen-evolving complex organization.

Electron microscopy and single-particle analyses have been carried out on negatively stained photosystem II (PSII) complexes isolated from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. The analyses have yielded three-dimensional structures at 30-A resolution. Biochemical analysis of the C. reinhardtii particle suggested it to be very similar to the light-harvesting complex II (LHCII). PSII supercomplex of spinach, a conclusion borne out by its three-dimensional structure. Not only was the C. reinhardtii LHCII.PSII supercomplex dimeric and of comparable size and shape to that of spinach, but the structural features for the extrinsic OEC subunits bound to the lumenal surface were also similar thus allowing identification of the PsbO, PsbP, and PsbQ OEC proteins. The particle isolated from S. elongatus was also dimeric and retained its OEC proteins, PsbO, PsbU, and PsbV (cytochrome c(550)), which were again visualized as protrusions on the lumenal surface of the complex. The overall size and shape of the cyanobacterial particle was similar to that of a PSII dimeric core complex isolated from spinach for which higher resolution structural data are known from electron crystallography. By building the higher resolution structural model into the projection maps it has been possible to relate the positioning of the OEC proteins of C. reinhardtii and S. elongatus with the underlying transmembrane helices of other major intrinsic subunits of the core complex, D1, D2, CP47, and CP43 proteins. It is concluded that the PsbO protein is located over the CP47 and D2 side of the reaction center core complex, whereas the PsbP/PsbQ and PsbV/PsbU are positioned over the lumenal surface of the N-terminal region of the D1 protein. However, the mass attributed to PsbV/PsbU seems to bridge across to the PsbO, whereas the PsbP/PsbQ proteins protrude out more from the lumenal surface. Nevertheless, within the resolution and quality of the data, the relative positions of the center of masses for OEC proteins of C. reinhardtii and S. elongatus are similar and consistent with those determined previously for the OEC proteins of spinach.
Mutations in the gene for the granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor receptor in patients with acute myeloid leukemia preceded by severe congenital neutropenia.

BACKGROUND In severe congenital neutropenia the maturation of myeloid progenitor cells is arrested. The myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia develop in some patients with severe congenital neutropenia. Abnormalities in the signal-transduction pathways for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may play a part in the progression to acute myeloid leukemia. METHODS We isolated genomic DNA and RNA from hematopoietic cells obtained from two patients with acute myeloid leukemia and histories of severe congenital neutropenia. The nucleotide sequences encoding the cytoplasmic domain of the G-CSF receptor were amplified by means of the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Murine myeloid 32D.C10 cells were transfected with complementary DNA encoding the wild-type or mutant G-CSF receptors and tested for their responses to G-CSF. RESULTS Point mutations in the gene for the G-CSF receptor were identified in both patients. The mutations, a substitution of thymine for cytosine at the codon for glutamine at position 718 (Gln718) in one patient and at the codon for glutamine at position 731(Gln731) in the other, caused a truncation of the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of the receptor. Both mutant and wild-type genes for the G-CSF receptor were present in leukemic cells from the two patients. In one patient, the mutation was also found in the neutropenic stage, before the progression to acute myeloid leukemia. The 32D.C10 cells expressing mutant receptors had abnormally high proliferative responses but failed to mature when cultured in G-CSF. The mutant G-CSF receptors also interfered with terminal maturation mediated by the wild-type G-CSF receptor in the 32D.C10 cells that coexpressed the wild-type and mutant receptors. CONCLUSIONS Mutations in the gene for the G-CSF receptor that interrupt signals required for the maturation of myeloid cells are involved in the pathogenesis of severe congenital neutropenia and associated with the progression to acute myeloid leukemia.
A Hidden Treasure: The Borneo Mistletoes

The European mistletoe, Viscum album, is the most common consumed adjuvant among cancer patients in Europe. Its success warrants a report on three most apparent mistletoes found in Borneo Island, namely Scurrula ferruginea, Macrosolen cochinchinensis, and Dendrophthoe curvata. The traditional and pharmacological uses of these mistletoes include antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral, antihypertensive, antioxidative, and cytotoxic effects. Phytochemicals such as flavonols, alkaloids, tannins, and gallic acid have been reported in one of these mistletoes. This review discusses the potential of these mistletoes as therapeutic agents.
Prevalence of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and invasive cervical cancer in patients with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) at cervical pap smear.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence and factors associated with a histologic diagnosis of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and invasive cervical cancer in patients with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) cervical pap smear findings. METHODS Medical records (including cytology reports, colposcopic impression, and pathologic results from cervical biopsy, endocervical curetting, cervical conization or hysterectomy) of 226 women with LSIL from conventional cervical pap smears during January 2001 to December 2005, who subsequently underwent colposcopic evaluation at our institution, were reviewed. RESULTS Mean age of the patients was 39.0 years. The incidences of LSIL, HSIL, microinvasive cervical cancer were 58.8%, 15.0%, 1.3% respectively. No associations were found between age, parity, contraception, anti-HIV or menstrual status and the detection of HSIL/invasive cervical cancer. CONCLUSION Approximately 16.3 % of LSIL pap smear cases turn out to be HSIL or invasive cervical cancer from histologic diagnosis.
Genetic Variability Analysis of Grains Fe , Zn and Beta-carotene Concentration of Prevalent Wheat Varieties in Iran

To improvement of grains quality of wheat and reduction of micronutrient malnutrition in human populations as a basic method, current wheat varieties in Iran were analyzed for diversity of micronutrients (Fe, Zn and Beta-carotene) concentrations in grain. Eighty two varieties including modern, landrace and durum wheat were grown in field condition across two years to determine the importance of genetic, environment and their interaction effects. Remarkable variation among 82 genotypes exhibited for all micronutrients concentration in grains. Based on the mean of two years, the concentration of grain Fe, Zn, protein and beta-carotene ranging from 41.36 to 67.67 mg Kg -1 , from 36.37 to 73.80 mg Kg -1 , from 7.5 to 15.6 percent and from 0.96 to 1.69 μg g -1 respectively. Significant differences for Fe, Zn and beta-carotene concentration of grains were existed among genotypes and years. The interaction of year by genotype was significant for Fe and Zn but not for beta-carotene. Landraces of wheat found to contain higher Zn concentration than modern and durum varieties. Highly positive correlations were revealed among Fe and Zn but not for beta-carotene. Both Fe and Zn were correlated positively with grains protein content (p< 0.001). No significant correlation was found for spike numbers and the numbers of kernels per spike and micronutrients. The results of this study showed a considerable variation for micronutrient concentration in grains between genotypes for breeding purposes such as promoting high quality cultivars with high grains micronutrient concentration or bifortification.
Toxic Effects of Butylated Triphenyl Phosphate-based Hydraulic Fluid and Tricresyl Phosphate in Female F344 Rats

Triaryl phosphates, including tricresyl phosphate (TCP) and butylated triphenyl phosphates (BTP), are used in the commercial manufacture of plastics, lubricants, and hydraulic fluids. Recent reports implicate these compounds as endocrine and reproductive toxicants that can cause cholesteryl lipidosis in adrenocortical (AC) and ovarian interstitial (OI) cells, suggesting altered metabolism of steroid hormones or cholesterol or of both. We investigated potential mechanisms of BTP and TCP toxicity to determine if there were functional abnormalities of the adrenal cortex or ovary. Groups of intact (nine or 12) and ovariectomized (six) female F344 rats, 10-12 weeks of age, received 0, 0.4 g/kg TCP, or 1.7 g/kg BTP in sesame oil vehicle or 1.7 g/kg neat BTP for 20, 40, or 60 days. All rats administered BTP and TCP developed cholesteryl lipidosis in AC and OI cells; the TCP-treated group was most severely affected. Serum concentrations of androstenedione and corticosterone were unchanged, but estradiol levels were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in BTP- and TCP-treated groups (14.5 times and 37.5 times greater than controls, respectively). Vaginal cytology revealed that BTP- but not TCP-treated females had abnormal reproductive cycles that were significantly prolonged in diestrus (3 times greater than control). There were significant elevations in serum total cholesterol (TCP-treated group was 1.3 times greater than controls), low-density lipoprotein (TCP-treated group was 1.8 times greater than controls), alanine transaminase (BTP-treated group was 2 times greater than controls), and albumin (a major serum estradiol-binding protein; BTP-treated group was 4.6 g/dl vs. 3.6 g/dl for controls). Liver weights (134% that of controls) and P-450 enzymes (3 times greater than controls) were significantly increased in BTP-treated rats. Abnormal reproductive cycles, elevated serum albumin, and increased hepatic P-450 concentration suggested fecundity could be affected in female rats exposed to BTP, most likely because of altered liver metabolism. Ovariectomized BTP-treated and control rats had similarly increased uterine weights after challenge with estradiol and estradiol benzoate, indicating that triaryl phosphate-induced esterase inhibition or other xenobiotic-induced block of hormone action in estradiol-responsive tissues was not responsible for the prolonged diestrus in rats with elevated serum estradiol. The pathogenesis of the cholesteryl lipidosis induced by TCP and BTP appeared to be separate from the reproductive effects because the lipidosis was most severe in TCP-treated rats, which had normal reproductive cycles and fertility.
Population dynamics of the symbiotic mushroom Hebeloma cylindrosporum: mycelial persistence and inbreeding

The pattern of colonization of a forest site by the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum Romagnesi was followed from 1993 until 1997. Fruit-bodies of this tetrapolar heterothallic species were mapped, collected and propagated as pure mycelial cultures. Isolates were analysed for their mating-types and molecular markers (rDNA polymorphism and RAPD). Dedikaryotization of the 26 isolates collected in 1993 and the separate analysis of each individual haploid nucleus established that two fully compatible genets, which occupied two nonoverlapping territories, were present. Isolates belonging to the same genet could nevertheless be distinguished from each other based on Southern hybridization using hyperpolymorphic DNA probes. A majority of the 143 isolates collected from 1994 to 1997 belonged to either of the two genets identified in 1993, whose territories extended at a rate of about 0.45–0.60 m per year. Selfing of the two 1993 genets, rather than outcrossing, was the most likely explanation for the origin of additional genotypes identified between 1995 and 1997. The spatial distribution of fruit-bodies and genets of H. cylindrosporum suggested that only a fraction of the sampled area was favourable to colonization and that genetic diversification through meiospore dispersal may be inhibited by the presence of resident genets, possibly via a somatic incompatibility system.
Induction of Interpretable Possibilistic Logic Theories from Relational Data

The field of Statistical Relational Learning (SRL) is concerned with learning probabilistic models from relational data. Learned SRL models are typically represented using some kind of weighted logical formulas, which make them considerably more interpretable than those obtained by e.g. neural networks. In practice, however, these models are often still difficult to interpret correctly, as they can contain many formulas that interact in non-trivial ways and weights do not always have an intuitive meaning. To address this, we propose a new SRL method which uses possibilistic logic to encode relational models. Learned models are then essentially stratified classical theories, which explicitly encode what can be derived with a given level of certainty. Compared to Markov Logic Networks (MLNs), our method is faster and produces considerably more interpretable models.
Insulin-like growth factor I stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of p130(Cas), focal adhesion kinase, and paxillin. Role of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase and formation of a p130(Cas).Crk complex.

Addition of insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I) to quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells rapidly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the p130Crk-associated substrate (p130(Cas)), a novel adaptor protein localized at focal adhesions. Half-maximal effect was obtained at 0. 6 nM. IGF-I also promoted the formation of a complex between p130(Cas) and c-Crk and elicited a parallel increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(Fak) and paxillin. IGF-I-induced p130(Cas), p125(Fak), and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation could be dissociated from mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, p70(S6K), and protein kinase C activation. In contrast, the structurally unrelated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 markedly attenuated the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of p130(Cas), p125(Fak), and paxillin induced by IGF-I. Cytochalasin D, which disrupts the network of actin microfilaments, completely prevented tyrosine phosphorylation of p130(Cas), p125(Fak), and paxillin and the formation of a p130(Cas). Crk complex in response to IGF-I. Thus, our results identified a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway that requires the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of p130(Cas), p125(Fak), and paxillin in response to IGF-I and suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of these focal adhesion proteins, together with the recruitment of c-Crk into a complex with p130(Cas), may play a novel role in IGF-I signal transduction.
Automatic Identification of Simultaneous and Non-Simultaneous Singers for Music Data Indexing

This study proposes a system to automatically identify multiple singers in a long audio stream that may have singing voices overlapping in time. The system is of great help in handling the rapid proliferation of music data. To achieve this, an audio stream is segmented into a sequence of consecutive, non-overlapping, fixed-length clips using a sliding window, and then undergoes solo/duet recognition, single singer identification, and duet singer identification. Furthermore, the authors propose a triangulation-based decision approach to improve the performance of singer identification. The results of the experiment conducted using a database of solo and duet a cappella demonstrate feasibility of the proposed system.
A Reb1p‐binding site is required for efficient activation of the yeast RAP1 gene, but multiple binding sites for Rap1p are not essential

The Saccharomyces cersvislae RAP1 protein (Rap1p) is a key multifunctional transcription factor. Using gel retardation analysis, four binding sites for RAP1p have been identified within the promoter of the RAP1 gene. These sites are located downstream of a binding site for the transcription factor Reb1p. The Reb1p site and an associated AT‐rich region are important for transcriptional activation, but deletion of three of the RAP1 p‐binding sites had little effect on promoter activity. The activity of the RAP1 promoter has been analysed in a yeast strain (YDS410) that contains a temperature‐sensitive mutation In the RAP1 gene. This mutation renders the DNA‐binding activity of Rapip temperature dependent. When YDS410 was grown at a semi‐permissive temperature (30°C), the activity of the RAP1 promoter increased by approximately 170%, compared with the same strain grown at the permissive temperature (25°C). A RAP1 promoter in which three of the four RAP1 p‐binding sites had been deleted, showed only a small increase in activity in the same experiment. These data confirm that Rap1p is not required for activation of the RAP1 gene, and suggest a role for Rap1p In negative auto‐regulation.
Reconsidering the Role of Private Persons in International Trade and Investment Disputes

Granting foreign investors the right of standing is usually regarded as particularly efficient means in order to reduce the risk premium required by foreign investors, which reduces the cost of capital for capital-importing states. For the realm of international trade, it has been suggested in the political economy literature, that governments reserve themselves the right to act as political filters in order to being able to exclude certain cases that private actors might otherwise bring. In this paper, we argue that the fact that governments act as a political filter when deciding what cases to bring to the WTO is a mere effect of the absence of private standing in international trade law, but not its underlying reason. Instead we identify capacity constraints at both the national and international level as central reason why private exporters are refused standing in international trade agreements. We argue that a situation with governments acting as political filters is suboptimal with respect to global welfare due to the increased amount of protectionism that it brings with it. We suggest that international trade dispute settlement remain intergovernmental, but that private exporters be given the right to have scenarios of alleged treaty violations examined by their governments who should be firmly obliged to bring all cases that appear to be sufficiently likely to succeed. This would create a situation where governments exercise their filter position in a way that would be beneficial for the entire system and serve objectives of long-term global welfare instead of short-term political utility. Obvious capacity constraints arising for WTO member states should be overcome by concerted efforts of the community of member states.