Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gut Bacteria May Be Involved in Interactions between Plants, Herbivores and Their Predators: Microbial Biosynthesis of N-Acylglutamine Surfactants as Elicitors of Plant Volatiles

Abstract N-Acylamino acids are dominant and widespread constituents of insect oral secretions (regurgitants), serving the insect as biosurfactants in the digestive process. During feeding the conjugates may be introduced into damaged leaves and contribute there to the elicitation of plant defenses such as the induction of volatile biosynthesis. From gut segments of Spodoptera exigua, Mamestra brassicae and Agrotis segetum 23 bacterial strains were isolated, ten of which were able to synthesise typical lepidopteran N-acylamino acids from externally added precursors. Four strains, Providencia rettgeri, Ochrobactrum spec. , Myroides odoratus and Acinetobacter sp. genospecies 11 were identified on the basis of their 16 S rDNA. The organisms displayed a very broad substrate tolerance, since fatty acids of different chain length and different degree of saturation were converted into N-acylamino acids. Moreover, most of the proteinogenic amino acids, but not glutamic and aspartic acid, were used as substrates. The dominant occurrence of fatty acids conjugated with glutamine may result from a preferred transport of glutamine from the hemolymph into the gut of the insects. The involvement of bacteria in the biosynthesis of compounds which play a pivotal role in the interaction of plants, herbivores and their predators adds a new trophic level to this complex network of interactions. Due to their short generation cycle and the ease of adaptation endosymbiontic bacteria may have an outstanding importance for the coevolution of plant-insect interactions.
Neuro Fuzzy Approach for Predicting Sales Performance of Movies Considering Sentiments in Online Reviews

These “Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul. — Edward “ An organization has to make the right decisions in a constantly fluctuating business environment. Therefore, predicting the future quantity for the next period most likely appears to be crucial. This work presents a comparative forecasting methodology regarding uncertain customer likings in a movie domain via regression and neuro fuzzy techniques. The main objective is to propose a new future predicting mechanism which is modelled by artificial intelligence approaches including the comparison of both auto regressive method and adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) techniques to manage the fuzzy demand with incomplete information. The effectiveness of the proposed approach to the demand forecasting issue will be demonstrated using real-world data from a different movie related websites. Here we are going to extract the information from web and utilizing it for the purpose of sales prediction for movies (like sentiment rating of customer’s reviews, box office revenue of movie, budget of the movie and type of the movie) There are many sales prediction methods but the use of history data will be most efficient way to predict the quality future.
Paradoxical effects of short-term antidepressant treatment in fMRI emotional processing models in volunteers with high neuroticism

Background Short-term antidepressant administration has been reported to decrease amygdala response to threat in healthy volunteers and depressed patients. Neuroticism (N) is a risk factor for depression but has also been associated with slow or incomplete remission with antidepressant drug treatment. Our aim was to investigate early selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) administration neural effects on implicit processing of fearful facial expressions in volunteers with high levels of N. Method Highly neurotic subjects received 20 mg/day citalopram versus placebo for 7 days in a double-blind, between-groups design. On the last day haemoperfusion and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data during a gender discrimination task with fearful and happy faces were acquired. A control group of non-neurotic volunteers was also tested. Results High-N volunteers had reduced responses to threatening facial expressions across key neural circuits compared to low-N volunteers. SSRI treatment was found to elevate resting perfusion in the right amygdala, increase bilateral amygdalae activation to positive and negative facial expressions and increase activation to fearful versus happy facial expressions in occipital, parietal, temporal and prefrontal cortical areas. Conclusions These results suggest that 7 days of SSRI administration can increase neural markers of fear reactivity in subjects at the high end of the N dimension and may be related to early increases in anxiety and agitation seen early in treatment. Such processes may be involved in the later therapeutic effects through decreased avoidance and increased learning about social ‘threat’ cues.
Levosimendan in severe right ventricular failure following mitral valve replacement.

w v V e n v p EVOSIMENDAN (Simdax; Abbott, North Chicago, IL) is a novel calcium-sensitizing agent that increases cardiac utput without increasing oxygen demand. Significant hemoynamic and clinical benefits have been reported in both acute nd chronic cardiac failure,1,2 although its use in other clinical ettings is still being evaluated. The author reports levosimenan used successfully in the emergency surgical management f a patient with acutely decompensated critical mitral stenosis nd severe pulmonary hypertension.
Associations of depression with the transition to menopause

Objectives:The aims of this study were to identify the risk of depression in the transition to menopause in women with and without a history of depression and to consider that the changing hormonal milieu is one of multiple risk factors for perimenopausal depression. Method:A review of epidemiologic studies of depressed mood in the menopausal transition since the State-of-Science Report of the National Institutes of Health in 2005 was conducted. Results:Recent longitudinal cohort studies indicate that the likelihood of depressed mood in the menopausal transition is approximately 30% to three times greater compared with that during premenopause. Women with a history of depression are nearly five times more likely to have a diagnosis of major depression in the menopausal transition, whereas women with no history of depression are two to four times more likely to report depressed mood compared with premenopausal women. In some studies, the changing hormonal milieu is significantlyassociated with depressive symptoms in the menopausal transition. Other risk factors for depressed mood in perimenopausal women include poor sleep, hot flashes, stressful or negative life events, employment status, age, and race. Conclusions:The findings support the concept that the menopausal transition is a "window of vulnerability" for some women and is framed by the changing hormonal milieu of ovarian aging.
The risk of acute pancreatitis associated with acid-suppressing drugs.

AIMS To assess the risk of acute pancreatitis associated with use of acid-suppressing drugs. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study with a nested case-control design within the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) in the United Kingdom. The cohort included 180 178 persons aged 20-74 years, who had received at least one prescription of cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, ranitidine, lansoprazole, or omeprazole from January 1992 to September 1997 and who did not have major risk factors for pancreatic diseases. Patients with a computerized medical history compatible with idiopathic acute pancreatitis were validated through review of medical records. For the nested case-control analysis 1000 controls were randomly selected from the study population. RESULTS We identified 88 potential cases of idiopathic acute pancreatitis. Medical records were available for 86. After review of these records 36 cases of acute pancreatitis were confirmed. Seven cases occurred during nonuse, corresponding to a background incidence rate (IR) of 4.4/100 000 person-years (PY). Six cases occurred during current use of ranitidine (IR 10.5/100 000 PY), five patients were current users of cimetidine (IR 13.9/100 000 PY), and three were current users of omeprazole (IR 7.8/100 000 PY). There were no cases among current users of famotidine, lansoprazole, or nizatidine. Relative risk (RR) compared with nonuse and corrected for age, gender, calendar year and use of medication known to be associated with acute pancreatitis was 1.3 (95% CI: 0.4,4.1) for ranitidine, 2.1 (95% CI: 0.6,7.2) for cimetidine, and 1.1 (95% CI: 0.3,4.6) for omeprazole. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study do not support an association between acute pancreatitis and the use of acid-suppressing drugs, although a substantial increase in risk cannot be excluded with confidence.
Breakthrough Technologies Gene Targeting by Homologous Recombination as a Biotechnological Tool for Rice Functional Genomics 1 [ W ] [ OA ]

The modification of an endogenous gene into a designed sequence by homologous recombination, termed gene targeting (GT), has broad implications for basic and applied research. Rice (Oryza sativa), with a sequenced genome of 389 Mb, is one of the most important crops and a model plant for cereals, and the single-copy gene Waxy on chromosome 6 has been modified with a frequency of 1% per surviving callus by GT using a strong positive-negative selection. Because the strategy is independent of gene-specific selection or screening, it is in principle applicable to any gene. However, a gene in the multigene family or a gene carrying repetitive sequences may preclude efficient homologous recombination-promoted GT due to the occurrence of ectopic recombination. Here, we describe an improved GT procedure whereby we obtained nine independent transformed calli having the alcohol dehydrogenase2 (Adh2) gene modified with a frequency of approximately 2% per surviving callus and subsequently isolated eight fertile transgenic plants without the concomitant occurrence of undesirable ectopic events, even though the rice genome carries four Adh genes, including a newly characterized Adh3 gene, and a copy of highly repetitive retroelements is present adjacent to the Adh2 gene. The results indicate that GT using a strong positive-negative selection can be widely applicable to functional genomics in rice and presumably in other higher plants.
Comparison of the Effects of Angiotensin Receptor Antagonist, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor, and their Combination on Regression of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy of Diabetes Type 2 Patients on Recent Onset Hemodialysis Therapy

Abstract: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is frequently found at the initiation of dialysis therapy of diabetic and hypertensive patients, and is highly predictive of future cardiac morbidity and mortality. In patients with hypertension and LVH, both an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and an angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist regress LVH. However, it remains controversial whether dual blockade of the renin–angiotensin system will regress LVH in these patients using a combination of ACE inhibitor and AT1 antagonist. Thirty‐three type II diabetic patients with end‐stage renal disease who had just entered into hemodialysis therapy and were diagnosed as having LVH evaluated by echocardiography were selected from three dialysis units staffed by the faculty of Saitama Medical School, Saitama, Japan between 1999 and 2001. The study was carried out for 1 year. All patients were assigned randomly to three groups with equal number: group I, an ACE inhibitor, enalapril 10 mg daily; group II, an AT1 antagonist, losartan 100 mg daily; group III, combination of enalapril 10 mg and losartan 100 mg daily. All antihypertensive drugs were given 30 min after the cessation of dialysis therapy. LVH was evaluated by echocardiography before the start of administration of drugs, at 6 months and 12 months after the start of drug therapy. Systolic blood pressure levels less than 140 mmHg were the target for the three groups. Using repeated measures analysis of variance, applied to those with four echocardiograms, there were progressive decreases over time in left ventricular mass index, posterior wall thickness and interventricular septum thickness. There were no significant differences in regression of LVH as well as blood pressure control between enalapril and losartan groups; however, dual blockade induced an additional 28% reduction in left ventricular mass index compared with any type of monotherapy. Both ACE inhibitors and AT1 antagonists benefit the regression of LVH in diabetic patients who start dialysis therapy. Moreover, combination therapy with ACE inhibitors and AT1 antagonists would provide more beneficial effects on LVH in these patients than monotherapy.
Characterization of field-aged 400 kV silicone rubber composite insulators

A number of silicone rubber composite insulators have been removed after 15 years of service on a coastal 400 kV transmission line in the UK. Extensive analysis of their surface degradation is provided along with a description of their appearance. Material analysis shows cracking and oxidation of the surface. Ageing effects were far from uniform over each shed, the greatest oxidation being on the top surfaces of the sheds on the south side. Microscopy, EDX and FTIR were found to be the most useful and effective tools for analysis of these polymeric insulators.
NF-kappaB activation is required for adaptive cardiac hypertrophy.

AIMS We have previously shown that cardiac-specific inhibition of NF-kappaB attenuates angiotensin II (AngII)-induced left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in vivo. We now tested whether NF-kappaB inhibition is able to block LV remodelling upon chronic pressure overload and chronic AngII stimulation. METHODS AND RESULTS Cardiac-restricted NF-kappaB inhibition was achieved by expression of a stabilized IkappaBalpha mutant (IkappaBalphaDeltaN) in cells with an active alpha-myosin heavy chain (alphaMHC) promoter employing the Cre/lox technique. Upon low-gradient trans-aortic constriction (TAC, gradient 21 +/- 3 mmHg), hypertrophy was induced in both male and female control mice after 4 weeks. At this time, LV hypertrophy was blocked in transgenic (TG) male but not female mice with NF-kappaB inhibition. Amelioration of LV hypertrophy was associated with activation of NF-kappaB by dihydrotestosterone in isolated neonatal cardiomyocytes. LV remodelling was not attenuated by NF-kappaB inhibition after 8 weeks TAC, demonstrated by decreased fractional shortening (FS) in both control and TG mice irrespective of gender. Similar results were obtained when TAC was performed with higher gradients (48 +/- 4 mmHg). In TG mice, FS dropped to similar low levels over the same time course [FS sham, 29 +/- 1% (mean +/- SEM); FS control + 14 days TAC, 13 +/- 3%; FS TG + 14 days TAC, 9 +/- 5%]. Similarly, LV remodelling was accelerated by NF-kappaB inhibition in an AngII-dependent genetic heart failure model (AT1-R(alphaMHC)) associated with significantly increased cardiac fibrosis in double AT1-R(alphaMHC)/TG mice. CONCLUSION NF-kappaB inhibition attenuates cardiac hypertrophy in a gender-specific manner but does not alter the course of stress-induced LV remodelling, indicating NF-kappaB to be required for adaptive cardiac hypertrophy.
RADIO INTERFEROMETRIC PLANET SEARCH. II. CONSTRAINTS ON SUB-JUPITER-MASS COMPANIONS TO GJ 896A

We present results from the Radio Interferometric Planet search for companions to the nearby star GJ 896A. We present 11 observations over 4.9 yr. Fitting astrometric parameters to the data reveals a residual with peak-to-peak amplitude of ∼3 mas in right ascension. This residual is well fit by an acceleration term of 0.458 ± 0.032 mas yr−2. The parallax is fit to an accuracy of 0.2 mas and the proper motion terms are fit to accuracies of 0.01 mas yr−1. After fitting astrometric and acceleration terms, residuals are 0.26 mas in each coordinate, demonstrating that stellar jitter does not limit the ability to carry out radio astrometric planet detection and characterization. The acceleration term originates in part from the companion GJ 896B, but the amplitude of the acceleration in declination is not accurately predicted by the orbital model. The acceleration sets a mass upper limit of 0.15 MJ at a semimajor axis of 2 AU for a planetary companion to GJ 896A. For semimajor axes between 0.3 and 2 AU upper limits are determined by the maximum angular separation; the upper limits scale from the minimum value in proportion to the inverse of the radius. Upper limits at larger radii are set by the acceleration and scale as the radius squared. An improved solution for the stellar binary system could improve the exoplanet mass sensitivity by an order of magnitude.
Combined Wide-Narrow Double Modulation of Spin-Torque Oscillators for Improved Linewidth During Communication

Spin-torque oscillators (STOs) offer the advantage of high modulation rates. However the existence of regions with high-frequency nonlinearity, accompanied by increased signal linewidth, limits both the usable STO frequency range and the minimum frequency of modulation. On the other hand, use of a large modulation frequency increases the frequency modulation (FM) bandwidth. In order to overcome these problems, we propose to simultaneously modulate the STO with two signals having different frequencies. We use a high-frequency, “wide” (fW=500 MHz), modulation signal to improve the STO linewidth. At the same time we use a low-frequency, “narrow” (fN=40 MHz), modulation signal to show successful narrow bandwidth modulation of the improved STO signal. The proposed method of combined wide-narrow double modulation can significantly improve the usable operating frequency range of the STOs for communication applications.
Ripple voltage suppression method for DC/DC boost converter of the grid-connected renewable power generation system

In this paper, a new control method is proposed for the DC/DC boost converter of the grid-connected renewable power generation system. The proposed control method can suppress the ripple voltage with double fundamental frequency of the utility superimposed on the output voltage of renewable energy source. Hence, the power efficiency of the renewable power generation system is increased. Only a voltage detector detecting the output voltage of DC/DC boost converter is used in the proposed control method, so that the control circuit is simplified evidently. Experimental results of the developed prototype show that the performance of the proposed method is as expected.
Feeder Layer- and Serum-Free Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells1

Abstract In addition to their contribution to the research on early human development, human embryonic stem (hES) cells may also be used for cell-based therapies. Traditionally, these cells have been cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers, which allow their continuous growth in an undifferentiated state. However, the use of hES cells in human therapy requires an animal-free culture system, in which exposure to mouse retroviruses is avoided. In this study we present a novel feeder layer-free culture system for hES cells, based on medium supplemented with 15% serum replacement, a combination of growth factors including transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), leukemia inhibitory factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and fibronectin matrix. Human ES cells grown in these conditions maintain all ES cell features after prolonged culture, including the developmental potential to differentiate into representative tissues of the three embryonic germ layers, unlimited and undifferentiated proliferative ability, and maintenance of normal karyotype. The culture system presented here has two major advantages: 1) application of a well-defined culture system for hES cells and 2) reduced exposure of hES cells to animal pathogens. The feeder layer-free culture system reported here aims at facilitating research practices and providing a safer alternative for future clinical applications of hES cells.
Elderly patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: disease presentation, response to treatment, and survival--a Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte study on 453 patients older than 69 years.

PURPOSE To clarify disease characteristics and optimal treatment for elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), we performed a randomized trial in 453 patients older than 69 years with aggressive lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred twenty patients received cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, teniposide (VM-26) 75 mg/m2, and prednisone 40 mg/m2/d for 5 days (CVP) and 233 patients received CVP plus pirarubicin (THP-doxorubicin) 50 mg/m2 (CTVP), each for six courses every 3 weeks. RESULTS The median age was 75 years. Most patients had clinically aggressive disease; 30% had one and 53% two or three adverse prognostic parameters as defined by the International Prognostic Index. More patients on the CTVP arm had an elevated lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level, but the two groups were otherwise well balanced. CTVP treatment was more frequently associated with leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and infectious complications. Death during chemotherapy occurred in 16% and 21% of patients on the CVP and CTVP arms, respectively (not significant). Forty percent of patients achieved a complete response (CR): 47% on CTVP and 32% on CVP (chi2 = 20.98, P = .0001). The median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 7 months for CTVP versus 5 months for CVP (log-rank test, P < .05). The median survival time was 13 months in both groups; however, the 5-year survival rate was 26% with CTVP versus 19% with CVP (chi2 = 4.68, P < .05). Lymphoma progression was the primary cause of death. CONCLUSION Elderly patients with aggressive lymphoma have an aggressive disease with adverse prognostic parameters at the time of diagnosis. Slightly longer survival was observed for patients treated with an anthracycline-containing regimen.
Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in European Adolescents

The authors’ aim in this cross-sectional study was to characterize levels of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in adolescents from 9 European countries. The study comprised 2,200 European adolescents (1,184 girls) participating in the HELENA cross-sectional study (2006–2008). Physical activity was measured by accelerometry and was expressed as average intensity (counts/minute) and amount of time (minutes/day) spent engaging in moderateto vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). Time spent in sedentary behaviors was also objectively measured. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by means of the 20-m shuttle run test. Level of maternal education was reported by the adolescents. A higher proportion of boys (56.8% of boys vs. 27.5% of girls) met the physical activity recommendations of at least 60 minutes/day of MVPA. Adolescents spent most of the registered time in sedentary behaviors (9 hours/day, or 71% of the registered time). Both average intensity and MVPA were higher in adolescents with high cardiorespiratory fitness, and sedentary time was lower in the highfitness group. There were no physical activity or sedentary time differences between maternal education categories. These data provide an objective measure of physical activity and amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors in a relatively large number of European adolescents.