Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of nodulation gene expression by NodD in rhizobia

Strains of the soil bacteria Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Azorhizobium spp. can infect plants, leading to a symbiotic interaction in which root nodules, and in the case of Azorhizobium spp. sometimes stem nodules, are formed. In these nodules the bacteria live in a differentiated form, the bacteroid, inside the cells of the host plant, and they fix nitrogen by reducing atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. The ability of bacterial strains to form effective nodules is limited to certain host plants, usually restricted to plants belonging to the Leguminoseae. For instance, Vicia and Pisum spp. are host plants for Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar (bv.) viciae, Tnifolium spp. are hosts for R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii, Medicago spp. are hosts for Rhizobium meliloti, Glycine spp. are hosts for Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and the tropical legume Sesbania rostrata is the host for Azorhizobium caulinodans. A number of bacterial genes are important for the symbiosis. Among these are the nodulation genes, designated nod and nol. The organization of these genes in operons is very similar in Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium spp. (Fig. 1). In the fast-growing species of Rhizobium the nod genes are localized on a large socalled Sym (symbiosis) plasmid, whereas in Bradyrhizobium and Azorhizobium spp. the nod genes are located on the chromosome. Initially, the nod genes were classified as common or host-specific nodulation (hsn) genes, which are, respectively, those interchangeable for nodulation function between different species or those involved in the host specificity of nodulation. This strict dichotomy is not clear for all nod and nol genes, however. The common nod genes comprise nodA, -B, -C, -I, and -J, all located in one operon, of which nodABC are essential for nodulation. Another essential gene is nodD, of which one or more alleles are present, depending on the rhizobial species (see below). The nodD gene behaves as a common nod gene for nodulation on some host plants, while in other cases it represents an important determinant of host specificity (18, 57). Several hsn genes are common to all Rhizobium spp. , e.g., nodFE, nodL, and nodM. Many others, however, are present only in a particular set of rhizobial species or biovars, e.g., nodO in R. leguminosarum bv. viciae, nodH and nodPQ in R. meliloti, and nodZ in B. japonicum. In addition to these nod genes there are several recently characterized genes (designated nod or not) which are regu-
Use of antibodies against synthetic peptides for analysis of molecular multiplicity: Human deoxyribonuclease I polymorphism

Eight different antibodies were raised in rabbits and chickens by injecting them with two synthetic N‐ and C‐peptides, which corresponded to the N‐ and C‐terminal 15 residues of human deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I). These two peptides were used as immunogens, both free and conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). A rabbit antiserum against the C‐peptide conjugated with KLH (rabbit anti‐C/KLH) and two chicken antisera against the C‐peptide itself (chicken anti‐C) and conjugated with KLH (chicken anti‐C/KLH) reacted well with purified DNase I, blotted onto a transfer membrane after isoelectric focusing in a polyacrylamide gel. A clear isoenzyme pattern identical to that detected with a rabbit antiserum against the parent enzyme (rabbit anti‐DNase I) was observed. Surprisingly, the chicken anti‐C antiserum was found to be a powerful and highly specific tool for the determination of urinary DNase I phenotypes (Kishi et al., Hum. Genet. 1989, 81, 295–297) and was not inferior in any respect to the rabbit anti‐DNase I. These findings show that the selection of immune animal is one of the most important factors for producing an effective anti‐peptide antibody. Unfortunately, the anti‐peptide antisera obtained in this study neither blocked DNase I enzyme activity nor did it bind to the enzyme.
Economic analysis of feeding pasteurized nonsaleable milk versus conventional milk replacer to dairy calves.

OBJECTIVE To determine growth, morbidity, and mortality rates in dairy calves fed pasteurized nonsaleable milk versus commercial milk replacer and compare economics of feeding pasteurized nonsaleable milk versus commercial milk replacer in dairy calves. DESIGN Clinical trial. ANIMALS 438 dairy calves. PROCEDURE Calves were assigned at 1 to 2 days of age to be fed pasteurized nonsaleable milk or a commercial milk replacer until weaned. Body weight was measured at the time of study enrollment and at the time of weaning, and any medical treatments administered and deaths that occurred prior to weaning were recorded. A partial budget model was developed to examine the economics of feeding pasteurized nonsaleable milk versus commercial milk replacer. RESULTS Calves fed conventional milk replacer had significantly lower rates of gain (-0.12 kg/d [-0.26 lb/d]), lower weaning weights (-5.6 kg [-12.3 lb]), higher risk for treatment during the summer and winter months (odds ratio [OR], 3.99), and higher risk of death during the winter months (OR, 29.81) than did calves fed pasteurized nonsaleable milk. The estimated savings of feeding pasteurized nonsaleable milk, compared with milk replacer, was dollars 0.69/calf per day. The estimated number of calves needed to economically justify the nonsaleable milk pasteurization system was 23 calves/d. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that dairy calves fed pasteurized nonsaleable milk have a higher growth rate and lower morbidity and mortality rates than do calves fed conventional milk replacer. Feeding pasteurized nonsaleable milk could be an economically viable strategy for dairy calf producers.
Extradural Total Petrous Apex Resection With Trigeminal Translocation for Improved Exposure of the Posterior Cavernous Sinus and Petroclival Region

We have analyzed a strategy for improved exposure of the posterior cavernous sinus and petroclival region through an extradural subtemporal approach to be utilized in the removal of neoplastic processes with involvement of the apical petrous bone and posterior cavernous sinus. This surgical approach includes the following elements for improved exposure of the posterior cavernous sinus through the middle fossa corridor: (1) maximal extradural exposure and mobilization of the trigeminal nerve complex, allowing its elevation and anterior displacement, (2) complete extradural removal of the anterior petrous pyramid from the porus acousticus to the petrous apex under direct vision, (3) total exposure of the abducens nerve from the posterior fossa to its point of cross over the intracavernous carotid artery, and (4) wide extradural exposure of the cavernous carotid artery in the foramen lacerum region. This strategy can be combined with other related approaches; specifically, frontotemporal or posterior transpetrosal exposures for extensive lesions.Microsurgical dissection and morphometric analysis were performed in 20 fixed cadaver specimens for the purposes of validating the method for clinical application and determining the key elements to maximization of exposure. The trigeminal complex could be anteromedially retracted 4.8 mm +/- 1.3 (range = 3 to 6 mm) without skeletonization of V(2) and V(3). Liberating these two divisions from their bony canals to their first peripheral branch (10.4 mm +/- 2.5 and 5.4 mm +/- 1.1, respectively) resulted in increased mobilization an average of 9.1 mm +/- 1.7 (7 to 14 mm). Further mobilization is achieved by dividing the attachment between the trigeminal connective tissue sheath and the fibrous carotid ring at the foramen lacerum. An average of 13.0 mm +/- 3.1 (7 to 20 mm) of the posterior intracavernous carotid artery was exposed. Detailed microanatomic observations and a comprehensive morphometric analysis of the relevant anatomic relationships were made.
The pharmacokinetics of artemisinin after oral, intramuscular and rectal administration to volunteers

Abstract— The pharmacokinetics after oral, intramuscular and rectal administration of artemisinin, a new potent antimalarial drug, to healthy volunteers has been examined. The study was set‐up as a four‐way cross‐over design with a wash‐out period of one week between the test days. In ten volunteers artemisinin concentrations in serum were monitored using a reversed phase HPLC assay with UV detection after derivatization. After oral administration, artemisinin was rapidly but incompletely absorbed, the mean absorption time was 0.78 h and the bioavailability relative to the intramuscularly injected suspension in oil 32%. The mean residence time of the latter (10.6 h) was 3 times that of the oral formulation (3.4 h). This seems to enable a twice daily dosage regimen for the intramuscular oil injection, while the oral formulation necessitates a more frequent dosing interval. After intramuscular injection and rectal administration of an aqueous suspension, very low and variable artemisinin concentrations in serum were observed, probably indicating a poor and erratic absorption.
Sonographic assessment of the extra‐abdominal fetal small bowel in gastroschisis: a retrospective longitudinal study in relation to prenatal complications

An explorative retrospective study following a case‐series of fetuses with isolated gastroschisis, to evaluate if small‐bowel dilatation may be indicative for emerging obstetric complications. The secondary aim was to establish preliminary normative curves for the external diameter and wall thickness of eventerated fetal small bowel in gastroschisis during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
Phylogénomique des structures multiprotéiques eucaryotes impliquées dans le cycle cellulaire et contribution à la phylogénie des eucaryotes.

Retracer l'histoire evolutive des eucaryotes est une question majeure en evolution et fait l'objet de nombreux debats. Le developpement de techniques a haut debit, en particulier en proteomique et en genomique, a permis d'obtenir de nombreuses donnees pouvant etre exploitees lors d'analyses evolutives. Dans ce contexte, les structures multiproteiques eucaryotes (SME) constituent des objets d'interet. En effet, ces gros complexes proteiques sont impliques dans de nombreux processus fondamentaux de la cellule eucaryote, et n'ont pas d'homologues chez les procaryotes (meme si les fonctions dans lesquelles ils sont impliques peuvent exister). Ils ont donc certainement joue un role preponderant dans l'eucaryogenese. L'analyse phylogenomique de deux SME impliquees dans la division cellulaire (le midbody et l'APC/C) montre que ces systemes ont une origine evolutive ancienne et etaient deja presents chez le dernier ancetre commun des eucaryotes (LECA), tout en etant issus d'innovations eucaryotes. Ceci implique que l'emergence de ces deux SME s'est faite apres la divergence de la lignee eucaryote et avant la diversification ayant donne naissance aux lignees actuelles. Au-dela de ces considerations evolutives, l'analyse de ces SME ouvre des pistes sur certains aspects de la biologie de ces systemes. En effet, si ces systemes ont ete globalement bien conserves au cours de la diversification des eucaryotes, leur analyse revele une grande plasticite de composition dans certaines lignees de protistes. Ceci suggere des changements recents concernant certaines etapes du cycle cellulaire de ces organismes qu'il serait interessant d'explorerexperimentalement.En parallele, ce travail a montre que, bien qu'etant des proteines operationnelles, lescomposants de ces SME portent un signal phylogenetique exploitable pour inferer les relations de parentes entre lignees eucaryotes. La construction de supermatrices a partir de ces proteines a permis l'inference de phylogenies de qualite, meme si non totalement resolues, dans lesquelles, par exemple, la monophylie des Excavata ou encore le placement des microsporidies au sein des Fungi est bien supporte. La combinaison de ces donnees avec celles issues d'analyses basees sur des proteines informationnelles montrent des avancees significatives concernant la resolution des arbres inferes. Ces resultats ouvrent le champ des possibles quant a la recherche d'autres marqueurs encore inexploites parmi les proteines operationnelles. L'integration de ces nouveaux marqueurs associee a l'augmentation de l'echantillonnage taxonomique represente une piste prometteuse pour l'avenir.Ce travail illustre l'interet de generaliser les approches evolutives integrees des systemes biologiques pour l'etude de l'evolution et de la phylogenie des eucaryotes.
Variation in Tolerance and Resistance to the Leafhopper Empoasca fabae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Among Potato Cultivars: Implications for Action Thresholds

Abstract The potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is an emerging pest of potato and insecticide applications to control this insect have increased in recent years. Based on field observations of leafhopper–crop dynamics, however, currently recommended action thresholds seem to be overly conservative. As a result, we initiated two experiments designed to quantify the impact of leafhoppers on potato yield, and determine how the magnitude of this effect changes among cultivars. In experiment 1, leafhoppers were manipulated (control versus insecticide-treated plots) on 17 potato varieties. In experiment 2, three cultivars (Superior, Atlantic, and Snowden) were planted representing early-, mid-, and late-season maturing lines, and six insecticide spray regimes were imposed (early-, late-, and full-season applications at high and low rates). In both experiments, leafhopper abundance, plant damage, and potato yield were measured. Overall, leafhoppers reduced yield in control plots by 15.7% relative to insecticide-treated plots. Leafhopper impact, however, varied among cultivars; a significant effect of leafhoppers on yield was detected in 6, 12, and 59% of cultivars tested in each of three trials. Of the 44 cases in which leafhoppers exceeded action thresholds, yield loss was only documented in 13 cases. Data from these experiments provide evidence that such variable effects of leafhoppers on yield are explained by cultivar-specific resistance and tolerance traits. Our results suggest that potato growers can accept higher leafhopper densities than current thresholds recommend, particularly when cultivating resistant and/or tolerant varieties.
Evolution of Migration in a Periodically Changing Environment

The ability to migrate can evolve in response to various forces. In particular, when selection is heterogeneous in space but constant in time, local adaptation induces a fitness cost on immigrants and selects against migration. The evolutionary outcome, however, is less clear when selection also varies temporally. Here, we present a two-locus model analyzing the effects of spatial and temporal variability in selection on the evolution of migration. The first locus is under temporally varying selection (various periodic functions are considered, but a general nonparametric framework is used), and the second locus is a modifier controlling migration ability. First, we study the dynamics of local adaptation and derive the migration rate that maximizes local adaptation as a function of the speed and geometry of the fluctuations in the environment. Second, we derive an analytical expression for the evolutionarily stable migration rate. When there is no cost of migration, we show that higher migration rates are favored when selection changes fast. When migration is costly, however, the evolutionarily stable migration rate is maximal for an intermediate speed of the variation of selection. This model may help in understanding the evolution of migration in a broad range of scenarios and, in particular, in host-parasite systems, where selection is thought to vary quickly in both space and time.
Tolerance of Low Cerebral Intracellular pH in Rats During Hyperbaric Hypercapnia

Background and Purpose Brain addosis from cerebral ischemia is characterized by average intraceiiular pH levels of approximately 5.8-6.2, which appear in turn to worsen cellular injury. We report that the brain is not injured when hypercapnia is used to reduce intraceiiular pH to about 62 during adequate oxygenation. A hyperbaric chamber is needed to achieve intraceiiular pH values so low because inspired CO2 tensions must be increased to approximately 1 atm. Summary of Report Using in vivo phosphorus-31 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we measured brain intraceiiular pH and lactate concentration of rats inside a nonmagnetic polycarbonate chamber at a barometric pressure of 1,500 mm Hg. Intubated rats were ventilated with a 50% O2/50% CO2 gas mixture for specific times. All six rats ventilated for 15 minutes with CO2 tensions of approximately 750 mm Hg woke up without neurological impairment, despite a decrease in intraceiiular pH to about 6.2. Higher CO2 tensions and longer exposures resulted in cardiovascular collapse and sudden death, followed by the postmortem appearance of brain lactate. Conclusions Brain intraceiiular pH values near 62 can be induced briefly in vivo in ventilated rats without injury under hyperbaric hypercapnic conditions. If attempts are made to lower brain pH in vivo even further by increasing PCO2 beyond 750 mm Hg, mean arterial blood pressure and cerebral blood flow decrease to values incompatible with life.
Study on motion process of modular soft robot

This paper presents a novel modular soft robot, which can finish moving forwards. This intelligent system mainly consists of four deformable rubber cells, two friction feet, the solenoid valves, an air pump and the control systems. The size of each spherical cell and the shape of the soft robot can be changed, according to the appropriate inflating and deflating orders of the spherical cells. With two friction feet sticking with the ground in turn, the soft robot can make a peristaltic motion. Based on the geometric feature of the robot, the coordinates of cells' centers can be obtained. In this paper, in order to finish the motion, nine inflating and deflating orders are presented. Last, we present an experiment on four spherical rubber cells to test the peristaltic motion of the modular soft robot. According to the experiment, in a period the distance of the soft robot moving forward is 14cm, which is close to the theoretical distance 15cm.
The DNA Repair Endonuclease XPG Binds to Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) and Shares Sequence Elements with the PCNA-binding Regions of FEN-1 and Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21*

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a DNA polymerase accessory factor that is required for DNA replication during S phase of the cell cycle and for resynthesis during nucleotide excision repair of damaged DNA. PCNA binds to flap endonuclease 1 (FEN-1), a structure-specific endonuclease involved in DNA replication. Here we report the direct physical interaction of PCNA with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) G, a structure-specific repair endonuclease that is homologous to FEN-1. We have identified a 28-amino acid region of human FEN-1 (residues 328–355) and a 29-amino acid region of human XPG (residues 981–1009) that contains the PCNA binding activity. These regions share key hydrophobic residues with the PCNA-binding domain of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 Waf1/Cip1 , and all three competed with one another for binding to PCNA. A conserved arginine in FEN-1 (Arg339) and XPG (Arg992) was found to be crucial for PCNA binding activity. R992A and R992E mutant forms of XPG failed to fully reconstitute nucleotide excision repair in an in vivo complementation assay. These results raise the possibility of a mechanistic linkage between excision and repair synthesis that is mediated by PCNA.
Clinical Impact of Telemedicine Network System at Rural Hospitals Without On-Site Cardiac Surgery Backup.

BACKGROUND In Japan, catheterization laboratories are available in each medical service area. However, cardiovascular centers capable of surgical procedures are concentrated in urban areas. Critically ill patients with complex coronary lesions must be transferred to receive advanced medical care. Interhospital conferencing is necessary for an optimal patient transfer. We investigated the benefit and utility of a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) telemedicine network at a rural hospital without on-site cardiac surgery backup in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS AND RESULTS The Kumamoto telemedicine network consists of 2 high-volume centers and 12 rural low-volume hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery. Between January 2010 and December 2014, 293 teleconferences were conducted. At the Aso Medical Center, a low-volume hospital, teleconferences were carried out in 48 cases (30 coronary artery disease, 6 peripheral artery disease, 3 aortic aneurysm, 3 deep vein thrombosis, 2 inflammatory aortitis, 1 annuloaortic ectasia, 1 cardiac tamponade, 1 myocarditis, and 1 heart failure). After the conferences were initiated, 10 cases (20.8%) were transferred to the high-volume center. We investigated the prevalence of patient transfer before and after network system deployment. Telemedicine-based collaborative care significantly decreased the frequency of patient transfers from the Aso area. CONCLUSIONS The Kumamoto telemedicine network enabled open communication between distant hospitals. This collaboration has the potential to improve cardiac care in rural areas.
Generation and observation of radio frequency thermal lesion ablation for interventional magnetic resonance imaging.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Recently, there has been increased interest in interventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and minimally invasive cancer therapy via radio frequency (RF) thermal ablation. In this work, we examined RF thermal lesion generation in phantoms and ex vivo bovine liver and correlated them with MR images under a variety of conditions, which begins our assessment of the role of MR imaging in this new method for cancer treatment. METHODS Radio frequency lesions were created in gel phantoms and ex vivo bovine liver, using stationary (bovine liver) and variable speed (gel) moving electrodes to create lesions with shapes mimicking tumors. Ex vivo bovine liver lesions were made with the tissue held at room temperature (n = 4) and in a 37 degrees C saline bath (n = 3) using a 16-gauge electrode (tip temperature: 70 degrees C, 80 degrees C, and 90 degrees C; ablation time: 1-13 minutes). Electrical impedance and RF power were plotted during ablation. After ablation, RF-induced lesions were imaged with a 0.2-tesla (T) MR system using a variety of pulse sequences. RESULTS Complex shaped lesions were created successfully in phantoms. Averaged maximum ex vivo lesion volume made at 90 degrees C ablation experiments holding the tissue temperature at 37 degrees C and at room temperature were 1.58 +/- 0.35 cm3 and 1.0 +/- 0.26 cm3 respectively (confidence interval: 90%). The aspect ratios and RF power of the lesions decreased as ablations proceeded. Impedance dropped during the first 2 minutes of the ablation. Ex vivo lesions appeared as regions of low-signal amplitude in T2-weighted MR images. CONCLUSIONS Phantom ablation experience may be useful and applicable in thermotherapy planning. Lesions made in ex vivo bovine liver held at 37 degrees C via a saline bath are larger than those created at room temperature. Lesions shapes are ablation time dependent until thermal equilibrium is reached. Impedance reduction and lesion formation are related; 0.2-T MR systems can image RF energy-induced thermal lesions.
Phase III, randomized, open‐label, first‐line study in Asia of gefitinib versus carboplatin/paclitaxel in clinically selected patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer: evaluation of patients recruited from mainland China

Aim: In the IRESSA Pan‐Asia Study (IPASS), 1217 patients in East Asia with pulmonary adenocarcinoma who were never‐smokers or ex/light‐smokers received first‐line gefitinib (250 mg/day) or carboplatin/paclitaxel (area under the curve 5/6; 200 mg/m2). Efficacy analyses were pre‐planned in patients in China.