Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective and Nonprotective Human Immunoglobulin M Monoclonal Antibodies to Cryptococcus neoformans Glucuronoxylomannan Manifest Different Specificities and Gene Use Profiles

ABSTRACT The features of protective murine antibodies to the Cryptococcus neoformans capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) have been rigorously investigated; however, the characteristics of protective human antibodies to GXM have not been defined. We produced monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from XenoMouse mice (transgenic mice that express human immunoglobulin M [IgM], IgG2, and κ) which were immunized with a C. neoformans serotype D strain 24067 GXM-diphtheria toxoid conjugate. This study reports the specificity and efficacy of three human IgM MAbs, G14, G15, and G19, generated from these mice. Each MAb was specific for GXM, but G14 and G19 had different specificity based on their binding to serotype A strain H99 and SB4 GXMs, to which G15 did not bind. Nucleic acid sequence analysis revealed that G15 uses VH3-64 in the germ line configuration. G14 and G19 use VH6-1, which has somatic mutations. All of the MAbs use Vκ DPK22/A27. Studies of MAb efficacy in BALB/c mice showed that administration of 0.1 mg, but not 1 or 0.01 mg, of G15 prolonged survival against lethal C. neoformans strain 24067 challenge, whereas G14 and G19 were not protective at any dose. This panel of MAbs illustrates that serotype D GXM has epitopes that elicit human antibodies that can be either protective or nonprotective. Our findings suggest that VH gene use may influence GXM specificity and efficacy, and they provide insights into the possible contribution that VH gene use may have in resistance and susceptibility to cryptococcosis.
Drilling-in and Chewing-out of Hosts by the Parasitoid Wasp Spalangia endius (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) When Parasitizing Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

ABSTRACT Many organisms are protected from natural enemies by a tough exterior. Such protection is particularly important for immobile stages, such as pupae. The pupa of some insects is protected by a puparium, which is a shell formed from the exoskeleton of the last larval instar. However, the puparium of certain fly species is drilled through by adult females of the wasp Spalangia endiusWalker. The female wasp then deposits an egg on the fly pupa within the puparium. After the wasp offspring finishes feeding on the fly pupa, it chews through the puparium to complete emergence. Despite the apparent toughness of the puparium, there was no detectable wear on the ovipositor of S. endius females even when females had been encountering fly pupae (Musca domestica L.) for weeks, and regardless of whether the pupae were large or old or both. Energy dispersive spectroscopy did not reveal any metal ions in the ovipositor's cuticle to account for this resistance against wear. Offspring of S. endius that chewed their way out of pupae also showed no detectable wear on their mandibles. Tests with a penetrometer showed that the force required to penetrate the center of a puparium was greater for larger and for older pupae; and an index of overall thickness was greater for large old pupae than for small old pupae. The lack of an effect of pupal size or age on wear may result from wasps choosing locations on the puparium that are easier to get through.
Effect of blood pH on peripheral and central signals of perceived exertion.

Ten male subjects underwent exercise testing in three modes, arms (A), legs (L), and arms + legs (A + L), after ingesting 0.3 g X kg-1 body weight of either NaHCO3 to induce alkalosis or CaCO3 as a placebo (i.e., six exercise trials). Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE: Borg, 15-pt scale) for the arms (RPE-A), legs (RPE-L), chest (REP-C), and overall body (RPE-O) did not differ between acid-base conditions at 20, 40, or 60% VO2max for all three exercise modes. At 80% VO2max, 1) RPE-A was lower (P less than 0.01) during A; 2) RPE-L was lower (P less than 0.01) during L; and 3) RPE-A and RPE-L were lower (P less than 0.01) during A + L under the NaHCO3 as compared to the CaCO3 condition. Differences were not found for RPE-L during A or for RPE-A during L. RPE-C and RPE-O were lower (P less than 0.01) under NaHCO3 during A, L, and A + L. Blood acid-base, VO2, and cardiorespiratory responses were not differentially influenced by exercise mode. Blood pH was significantly higher under NaHCO3 than CaCO3 at pre-exercise and 80% VO2max. VO2, heart rate, and tidal volume did not differ between acid-base conditions at any exercise intensity. VE and respiratory rate did not differ between acid-base conditions at 20, 40, or 60% VO2max but were significantly lower under NaHCO3 at 80% VO2max. RPE-A and L were positively related to blood [H+], and RPE-C was positively related to VE for all exercise modes.
Distribution and stability of aflatoxin M1 during processing, ripening and storage of Telemes cheese

Telemes cheeses were produced using milk that was artificially-contaminated with aflatoxin M1 at the levels of 0.050 and 0.100 microg/l. The cheeses produced in the two cheese-making trials were allowed to ripen for 2 months and stored for an additional 4 months to simulate commercial production of Telemes cheese. Concentrations of aflatoxin M1 in whey, curd, brine, and the produced cheeses were determined at intervals by liquid chromatography and fluorometric detection coupled with immunoaffinity column extraction. Concentrations of aflatoxin M1 in the produced curds were found to be 3.9 and 4.4 times higher than those in milk, whereas concentrations in whey were lower than those in curd and milk. Aflatoxin M1 was present in cheese at higher concentrations at the beginning than at the end of the ripening/storage period, and it declined to concentrations 2.7 and 3.4 times higher than those initially present in milk by the end of the sixth month of storage. Concentrations of aflatoxin M1 in brine started low and increased by the end of the ripening/storage period but only a portion of the amounts of aflatoxin M1 lost from cheese was found in the brine. Results showed that Telemes cheeses produced from milk containing aflatoxin M1 at a concentration close to either the maximum acceptable level of 0.05 microg/l set by the European union (EU) or at double this value, will contain the toxin at a level that is much lower or slightly higher, respectively, than the maximum acceptable level of 0.250 microg of aflatoxin M1/kg cheese set by some countries.
Automatic Single Event Effects Sensitivity Analysis of a 13-Bit Successive Approximation ADC

This paper presents Analog Fault Tolerant University of Seville Debugging System (AFTU), a tool to evaluate the Single-Event Effect (SEE) sensitivity of analog/mixed signal microelectronic circuits at transistor level. As analog cells can behave in an unpredictable way when critical areas interact with the particle hitting, there is a need for designers to have a software tool that allows an automatic and exhaustive analysis of Single-Event Effects influence. AFTU takes the test-bench SPECTRE design, emulates radiation conditions and automatically evaluates vulnerabilities using user-defined heuristics. To illustrate the utility of the tool, the SEE sensitivity of a 13-bits Successive Approximation Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) has been analysed. This circuit was selected not only because it was designed for space applications, but also due to the fact that a manual SEE sensitivity analysis would be too time-consuming. After a user-defined test campaign, it was detected that some voltage transients were propagated to a node where a parasitic diode was activated, affecting the offset cancelation, and therefore the whole resolution of the ADC. A simple modification of the scheme solved the problem, as it was verified with another automatic SEE sensitivity analysis.
Loss of lamin B1 results in prolongation of S phase and decondensation of chromosome territories

Nuclear lamin B1 (LMNB1) constitutes one of the major structural proteins in the lamina mesh. We silenced the expression of LMNB1 by RNA interference in the colon cancer cell line DLD‐1 and showed a dramatic redistribution of H3K27me3 from the periphery to a more homogeneous nuclear dispersion. In addition, we observed telomere attrition and an increased frequency of micronuclei and nuclear blebs. By 3D‐FISH analyses, we demonstrated that the volume and surface of chromosome territories were significantly larger in LMNB1‐depleted cells, suggesting that LMNB1 is required to maintain chromatin condensation in interphase nuclei. These changes led to a prolonged S phase due to activation of Chk1. Finally, silencing of LMNB1 resulted in extensive changes in alternative splicing of multiple genes and in a higher number of enlarged nuclear speckles. Taken together, our results suggest a mechanistic role of the nuclear lamina in the organization of chromosome territories, maintenance of genome integrity and proper gene splicing. —Camps, J., Wangsa, D. , Falke, M. , Brown, M. , Case, C. M. , Erdos, M. R. , Ried, T. Loss of lamin B1 results in prolongation of S phase and decondensation of chromosome territories. FASEB J. 28, 3423–3434 (2014). www.fasebj. org
Liver fibrosis and therapeutic strategies: the goal for improving metabolism.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver fibrosis, and provides insight into the role of dysmetabolism in hepatic fibrogenesis. Clinical relevance of drugs correcting these metabolic disturbances in the reversion of liver fibrosis will also be discussed. RECENT FINDINGS Liver fibrosis affects more than ten millions of people worldwide and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and death. Recent epidemiological data indicate that the incidence of liver fibrosis is expected to triple during the next 10 to 15 years as a result of the HCV infection and NAFLD escalation. In accordance with the modern view of liver fibrogenesis, the pathways involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis appear to be broadly similar regardless of the etiology. SUMMARY Some features of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes represent a strong risk factor in development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. However, whatever the cause, fibrosis culminates in cirrhosis and results in liver failure, thus, a potent anti-fibrotic therapy is urgently needed to reverse scarring and eliminate progression to cirrhosis.
Persistence of Forest Birds in the Costa Rican Agricultural Countryside

Abstract: Understanding the persistence mechanisms of tropical forest species in human‐dominated landscapes is a fundamental challenge of tropical ecology and conservation. Many species, including more than half of Costa Rica's native land birds, use mostly deforested agricultural countryside, but how they do so is poorly known. Do they commute regularly to forest or can some species survive in this human‐dominated landscape year‐round? Using radiotelemetry, we detailed the habitat use, movement, foraging, and nesting patterns of three bird species, Catharus aurantiirostris, Tangara icterocephala, and Turdus assimilis, by obtaining 8101 locations from 156 individuals. We chose forest birds that varied in their vulnerability to deforestation and were representative of the species found both in forest and human‐dominated landscapes. Our study species did not commute from extensive forest; rather, they fed and bred in the agricultural countryside. Nevertheless, T. icterocephala and T. assimilis, which are more habitat sensitive, were highly dependent on the remaining trees. Although trees constituted only 11% of land cover, these birds spent 69% to 85% of their time in them. Breeding success of C. aurantiirostris and T. icterocephala in deforested habitats was not different than in forest remnants, where T. assimilis experienced reduced breeding success. Although this suggests an ecological trap for T. assimilis, higher fledgling survival in forest remnants may make up for lower productivity. Tropical countryside has high potential conservation value, which can be enhanced with even modest increases in tree cover. Our findings have applicability to many human‐dominated tropical areas that have the potential to conserve substantial biodiversity if appropriate restoration measures are taken.
Dynamics of Plant Growth; A Theory Based on Riemannian Geometry

In this work, a new model for macroscopic plant tissue growth based on dynamical Riemannian geometry is presented. We treat 1D and 2D tissues as continuous, deformable, growing geometries for sizes larger than 1mm. The dynamics of the growing tissue are described by a set of coupled tensor equations in non-Euclidean (curved) space. These coupled equations represent a novel feedback mechanism between growth and curvature dynamics. For 1D growth, numerical simulations are compared to two measures of root growth. First, modular growth along the simulated root shows an elongation zone common to many species of plant roots. Second, the relative elemental growth rate (REGR) calculated in silico exhibits temporal dynamics recently characterized in high-resolution root growth studies but which thus far lack a biological hypothesis to explain them. Namely, the REGR can evolve from a single peak localized near the root tip to a double-peak structure. In our model, this is a direct consequence of considering growth as both a geometric reaction-diffusion process and expansion due to a distributed source of new materials. In 2D, we study a circularly symmetric growing disk with emergent negative curvatures. These results are compared against thin disk experiments, which are a proxy model for plant leaves. These results also apply to the curvature evolution and the inhomogeneous growth pattern of the Acetabularia cap. Lastly, we extend the model to anisotropic disks and predict the growth dynamics for a 2D curved surface which develops an elongated shape with localized ruffling. Our model also provides several measures of the dynamics of tissue growth. These include the time evolution of the metric and velocity field, which are dynamical variables in the model, as well as expansion, shear and rotation which are deformation tensors characterizing the growth of the tissue.
Evidence for the existence of satellite DNA‐containing connection between metaphase chromosomes

Physical connections between mitotic chromosomes have been reported previously. It was assumed that the interchromosome connection was based on the DNA‐protein thread. However, the data about DNA sequences and protein component in the thread is fragmentary. We demonstrated on the mouse cultured cell line and prematurely condensed chromosomes that: (a) all four mouse satellite DNA fragments (major and minor satellite, mouse satellite 3 (MS3) and mouse satellite 4 (MS4)) were involved in the thread formation; (b) MS4 was involved in the thread to the least extent among all the other fragments; (c) telomere was never a member of the thread; (d) the thread was synthesized at a late G2 phase; (e) RNA helicase p68 and CENP‐B were among the protein components of the interchromosome connection. It was shown by FACS analysis that in mouse and human cell lines: (1) the flow karyotype spectrums were never free from chromosome aggregates; (2) chromosome association did not depend on the chromosome length and each chromosome was free to associate with the other. J. Cell. Biochem. 101: 1046–1061, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Faecal lactoferrin, capsule endoscopy and Crohn's disease. Is there a three way relationship? A pilot study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Capsule endoscopy has been shown to be useful in diagnosing small bowel Crohn's disease. Faecal lactoferrin has been shown to have a high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating between inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. There have been no studies on the use of faecal lactoferrin in the setting of suspected Crohn's disease using capsule endoscopy. Our aim was to investigate the clinical utility of lactoferrin in patients with suspected Crohn's disease using capsule endoscopy. METHODS Data was collected prospectively on patient symptoms, family history and blood parameters. Patients were requested to return a stool sample and quantitative analysis using sandwich ELISA was performed for faecal lactoferrin. RESULTS Seventeen patients were recruited with all patients having had more than one criterion for referral. The diagnostic yield for capsule endoscopy was 41%, of which 71% of patients had an elevated faecal lactoferrin (correlation coefficient 0.56, p=0.01). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of faecal lactoferrin were 71%, 100%, 100% and 83%, respectively. CONCLUSION Faecal lactoferrin has a high positive and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of small bowel Crohn's disease, detected by capsule endoscopy. Faecal lactoferrin is a useful marker (in conjunction with clinical parameters) to determine which patients should be referred for capsule endoscopy.
MONOPHASIC BUT NOT BIPHASIC PULSES INDUCE BRAIN TISSUE DAMAGE DURING MONOPOLAR HIGH‐FREQUENCY DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

OBJECTIVEElectrical high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of deep brain structures has been successfully used as a treatment for patients with movement disorders. The mechanisms of HFS allowing therapeutic clinical effects remain unclear, which justifies experimental studies to address these questions. These experiments require an external stimulator, which may offer the possibility to deliver a current with monophasic or biphasic pulses. The aim of the present study was to quantify the evolution of a potentially deleterious effect of HFS according to the duration and/or intensity in monophasic and biphasic conditions. METHODSIn all rats, HFS was performed with monophasic pulses in deep brain structures of 1 hemisphere and with biphasic pulses symmetrically in the other hemisphere. The effect of HFS was tested, first for various durations of HFS at a constant intensity (100 μA) and, second, for measuring the effect of various current intensities of HFS at constant duration (10 minutes). At the end of each stimulation test, the volume of lesion was determined and analyzed. RESULTSIn all hemispheres in which stimulation using biphasic pulses was delivered, we never found any relevant lesions. Conversely, monophasic electrical stimulation always created a lesion: at 100μA, a minimal duration of HFS of 5 minutes induced a tissue damage volume of 0.0055 ± 0.0015 mm3. For 10 minutes of HFS, a minimal intensity of 100 μA induced a tissue damage volume of 0.0062 ± 0.0017 mm3. Regression analysis showed that the extent of lesion increased linearly with the intensity and duration. CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, this study proved that HFS using monophasic pulses systematically created tissue damage after 5 minutes of stimulation at 100 μA. HFS is safe when biphasic pulses are used for intensities as high as 2 mA and durations as long as 120 minutes. Monophasic pulses can be safely used only during short stimulation and at low intensities.
PUTUSAN MK NO. 46/2010 TENTANG HUBUNGAN KEPERDATAAN ANTARA ANAK LUAR NIKAH DENGAN AYAH BIOLOGIS (ANALISIS DALAM PERSPEKTIF HUKUM ISLAM, HUKUM POSITIF, UIDHR, Dan UDHR)

The Constitutional Court is a legal institution where the judicial review of the law in Indonesia. In 2010, there was a judicial review of the article on marriage registration and the rights of children outside marriage or the marriage of Sirri. Although not all lawsuits were granted by the Constitutional Court judge, but the decision that was born raised its own polemic. The article of the Marriage Law of article 43 takes place in the provision of point content where an illegitimate child occupies a state-recognized status with proof of technology. Therefore, the interpretation of UDHR, UIDHR, Islamic Law, Positive Law, and Child Protection Law and MUI's Fatwa on the decision strongly contributed in interpreting the Constitutional Court's decision and the word "civil relationship" with biological father
Comparison of fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system and routine care with morphine intravenous patient-controlled analgesia in the management of early postoperative mobilisation: results from a randomised study

Introduction: Fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system (ITS) (IONSYS®, The Medicines Company, Parsippany, NJ, USA) and morphine intravenous (IV) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) have demonstrated equivalent pain control in several published studies. The primary objective of the current study was to compare fentanyl ITS with morphine IV PCA with regard to the patient’s ability to mobilise with acute postoperative pain. Methods: In this multicentre, open-label, randomised, active-controlled, prospective phase IV study, postoperative patients initially received IV morphine and were titrated to pain score ⩽ 4out of 10 on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and then received fentanyl ITS (up to 240 µg (6 doses)/hour; up to a maximum of 3.2 mg (80 doses)/24 hours) or morphine IV PCA (doses up to 20 mg morphine/2 hours, up to 240 mg/24 hours). The primary efficacy measure was ability to mobilise, assessed using patient responses to three validated questions regarding mobility on a 6-point Likert scale (0 = no difficulty to mobilise to 5 = a very great deal of difficulty to mobilise). The study was originally planned to include ~200 patients. However, following the early suspension and termination of the study, a total of 108 patients were randomised to study treatment. Results: One hundred and eight patients were recruited prior to undergoing surgical procedures (orthopaedic surgical procedures (72%) or underwent major abdominal procedures (28%)). Postoperatively, 58 were randomised to receive fentanyl ITS, and 50 to morphine IV PCA. Fentanyl ITS patients had a greater ability to mobilise at the time of stopping study drug, with an adjusted mean ability to mobilise score (95% confidence interval (CI)) of 0.14 (−0.19, 0.47) for fentanyl ITS patients and 2.37 (1.98, 2.76) for morphine IV PCA patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients treated with fentanyl ITS reported that they were better able to mobilise than patients treated with morphine IV PCA, at all time-points following surgery out to 24 hours.
Effects of smoking on the ex vivo cytokine production in periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Smoking is associated with increased severity of periodontitis. The underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon are not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to compare the monocyte-derived T cell directing (Th1/Th2) response and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in ex vivo whole blood cell cultures (WBCC) of smoking and non-smoking chronic periodontitis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Venous blood was collected from 29 periodontitis patients (18 non-smokers and 11 smokers) receiving supportive periodontal treatment, and diluted 10-fold for WBCC. The WBCC were stimulated for 18 h with Neisseria meningitidis lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) or Porphyromonas gingivalis sonic extract (Pg-SE). The production of the T cell directing cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 p40 and IL-10, as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8, was measured in the culture supernatants. RESULTS After LOS stimulation of WBCC, smokers showed a lower IL-12 p40/IL-10 ratio than non-smokers (P < 0.05). Interleukin-1beta production was significantly lower in smokers compared with non-smokers after stimulation with either LOS or Pg-SE (P < 0.05). Interleukin-6 and IL-8 production was similar in WBCC from both smokers and non-smokers, for both LOS and Pg-SE. CONCLUSION A more pronounced Th2 response in smoking periodontitis patients may be related to increased severity of the disease.