Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rationally designed helix‐turn‐helix proteins and their conformational changes upon DNA binding.

Circular dichroism and electrophoretic mobility shift studies were performed to confirm that dimerized N‐terminal domains of bacterial repressors containing helix‐turn‐helix motifs are capable of high‐affinity and specific DNA recognition as opposed to the monomeric N‐terminal domains. Specific, high‐affinity DNA binding proteins were designed and produced in which two copies of the N‐terminal 1‐62 domain of the bacteriophage 434 repressor are connected either in a dyad‐symmetric fashion, with a synthetic linker attached to the C‐termini, or as direct sequence repeats. Both molecules bound to their presumptive cognate nearly as tightly as does the natural (full‐length and non‐covalently dimerized) 434 repressor, showing that covalent dimerization can be used to greatly enhance the binding activity of individual protein segments. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed a pronounced increase in the alpha‐helix content when these new proteins interacted with their cognate DNA and a similar, although 30% lower, increase was also seen upon their interaction with non‐cognate DNA. These results imply that a gradual conformational change may occur when helix‐turn‐helix motifs bind to DNA, and that a scanning mechanism is just as plausible for this motif class as that which is proposed for the more flexible basic‐leucine zipper and basic‐helix‐loop‐helix motifs.
Toll‐like receptor‐dependent activation of several human blood cell types by protamine‐condensed mRNA

We reported that RNA condensed on protamine is protected from RNase‐mediated degradation and can be used for vaccination. Here, we show that such complexes are also danger signals that activate mouse cells through a MyD88‐dependent pathway. Moreover, mRNA‐protamine complexes stimulate human blood cells. They strongly activate DC and monocytes, leading to TNF‐α and IFN‐α secretion. In addition, protamine‐RNA complexes directly activate B cells, NK cells and granulocytes. The detailed analysis of the activated cell types, the study of the cytokines released from PBMC cultured with protamine‐RNA complexes and recently published results suggest that TLR‐7 and TLR‐8 may be involved in the recognition of protamine‐stabilized RNA. Our data indicate that protamine‐stabilized RNA, which may be similar to RNA condensed in the nucleocapsids of RNA viruses, is a strong danger signal. Thus, similarly to plasmid DNA, protamine‐RNA combines antigen production and non‐specific immunostimulation. The studies presented here explain the capacity of protamine‐RNA to act as a vaccine, and pave the way towards the development of safe and efficient mRNA‐based immunotherapies.
se of amendments in a peat soil to reduce phosphorus losses rom forestry operations

Forestry harvesting on peats is known to result in significant losses of soil phosphorus (P) to adjacent waters, and the issue is becoming an increasingly serious concern as peatland forest stocks mature and reach harvestable age. One potential solution could be the use of low-cost P recovery techniques based on the chemical precipitation and/or adsorption of the dissolved fraction of soil P, which would otherwise be lost. Such recovery techniques have shown promise in similar applications on mineral soils. However, the interaction of peat with P adsorbing materials can significantly alter their adsorptive characteristics, and it is consequentially not known what materials might be suitable for this application. This study compared the performance of six potential soil amendments (aluminum water treatment residual (AlWTR), crushed concrete, gypsum, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, and steel wool) in removing P from aqueous solution in the presence of a typical forest peat soil. Comparison of adsorption isotherms plotted from these batch adsorption studies showed that the observed P adsorption maxima of Al-WTR and steel wool were increased by the presence of peat, from 10.6 mg g−1 and 20.4 mg g−1, to 11.8 mg g−1 and 52.5 mg g−1, respectively. In contrast, the observed P adsorption maxima of crushed concrete, gypsum, and magnesium oxide were reduced in the presence of peat, by 44%, 87%, and 37%, respectively. The maximum P adsorption achieved by magnesium hydroxide was increased from 29.8 mg g−1 to 59 mg g−1 at an amendment to peat–solid ratio of 1:4, but decreased from 73.9 mg g−1 to 23.6 mg g−1 at an amendment to peat–solid ratio of 1:10. It was concluded that Al-WTR, in particular, shows considerable promise for use as a soil amendment for P immobilization in a peat environment. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Contrasting Characteristics of Atmospheric Pressure Cold Plasma Jets With Different Tube Materials

The effect of the tube materials on the characteristics of an argon atmospheric pressure cold plasma jet is investigated through a single-electrode configuration driven by ac power supply. Two kinds of tube materials, Pyrex glass and 95% alumina ceramic, are applied in the experiments. Results show that, with the change of tube material, both the discharge current and the plume length are barely affected, whereas the plume volume exhibits an enormous distinction. In comparison with the results obtained in the ceramic tube, the peak volume can increase by 65% in the glass tube, while the increment of the peak length is only 2%. Through the analysis, the difference in the thermal conductivity between the glass and the ceramic is regarded as the main reason.
Improved innovation-based adaptive estimation for measurement noise uncertainty in SINS/GNSS integration system

The Kalman filter (KF) is the most common method for the estimation problems of the integrated SINS/GNSS system, but its performance depends on the correct a priori knowledge of model dynamics and noise statistics. The GNSS measurement noise uncertainties will degrade the performance of the KF for the fixed measurement noise covariance matrix. To fulfill the accuracy requirements of the dynamic system, an improved innovation-based adaptive estimation (IAE) algorithm is proposed. Based on the IAE principle, a regulatory factor is introduced into the calculation of the gain matrix to solve the singular value problem during the matrix inverse operation, and cut down the estimation errors caused by measurement noise uncertainties. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by the Monte-Carlo simulations in the SINS/GNSS integration system and significant improvements on the filter performance have been achieved.
Visual evoked potentials monitoring in a case of transient post-operative visual loss

Post-operative visual loss (POVL) is a rare, albeit potentially serious complication of general anaesthesia. This report describes the case of a 54-year-old woman who developed transient POVL after general anaesthesia following a left posterior parietal meningioma surgery in the prone position and discusses the usefulness of visual evoked potentials monitoring in such situations.
Simulation study on lightning protection of distribution transformer with zinc oxide arrester

Currently, few researches related to lightning protection of distribution transformer with zinc oxide arrester are reported on both home and abroad. This paper establishes a model of zinc oxide arrester and distribution transformer under lightning stroke. In order to verify the lightning protection of zinc oxide arrester to distribution transformer, two distribution network simulations are carried out by using PSCAD. One is the condition without zinc oxide arrester, another one is with zinc oxide arrester to be installed in distribution transformer's high voltage side. Besides, this paper also carries out a distribution network simulation with zinc oxide arrester installed in both high voltage side and low voltage side of a distribution transformer. The importance of zinc oxide arrester for preventing distribution transformer from damage of lighting is shown by comparison of different simulation results.
Role of Haptoglobin Phenotype in End-Stage Kidney Disease

Background: We recently reported that haptoglobin (Hp) phenotype 1-1 is protective against the development of nephropathy in normal creatinine diabetics. In the present study, we sought to determine if Hp phenotype also plays a role in renal deterioration by determining Hp phenotypes in a consecutive series of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) in hemodialysis (HD) and predialysis clinics. Methods: Three hundred and ninety-two patients on HD for less than 2 years and 182 predialysis patients (creatinine clearance time [CCT] <35 ml/min) were subjected to Hp phenotyping. Age, gender and presence of diabetes or hypertension were recorded. Patients were stratified according to age (above and below 60 years) and severity of renal dysfunction (CRF or HD). Results: We observed a markedly lower prevalence of the Hp 1-1 phenotype in HD patients under 60 years of age compared to patients with CRF or compared to the general population. This was not due to differences in the threshold for dialysis initiation among patients with different Hp types or to decreased survival of patients with Hp 1-1 prior to entering HD. In HD patients 60 years and over, Hp 1-1 prevalence was increased, as observed with other diseases in this age group. Conclusions: The prevalence of Hp 1-1 is decreased in HD patients less than 60 years of age. This may be due to a fundamental difference in the rate of renal deterioration in patients with different Hp types. In addition, Hp 1-1 may provide a protective effect against mortality in elderly patients.
Research on a Tubular Primary Permanent-Magnet Linear Generator for Wave Energy Conversions

A tubular primary-permanent magnet linear generator (TPPMLG), where both the magnets and armature windings are placed in the primary, is proposed for the sea-wave energy conversion. There is a simple structure on the secondary of the generator. Based on the model of proposed TPPMLG, the operation principle is analyzed. To investigate the electromagnetic characteristics and the unique advantages of the proposed generator, an optimized tubular secondary permanent-magnet linear generator (TSPMLG) is compared with the TPPMLG. Axisymmetrical dimensional finite-element method (FEM) is implemented to calculate the magnetic fields of the two generators and obtain the nonload and load performance. The results of finite-element analysis (FEA) indicate that the proposed generator has the advantages of sinusoidal voltage, minor detent force, high generating efficiency, and good performance at lower speed. Two prototypes are used to validate the results of FEA.
Improved Image Quality in Head and Neck CT Using a 3D Iterative Approach to Reduce Metal Artifact

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Metal artifacts from dental fillings and other devices degrade image quality and may compromise the detection and evaluation of lesions in the oral cavity and oropharynx by CT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of iterative metal artifact reduction on CT of the oral cavity and oropharynx. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 50 consecutive patients with metal artifacts from dental hardware were reconstructed with standard filtered back-projection, linear interpolation metal artifact reduction (LIMAR), and iterative metal artifact reduction. The image quality of sections that contained metal was analyzed for the severity of artifacts and diagnostic value. RESULTS: A total of 455 sections (mean ± standard deviation, 9.1 ± 4.1 sections per patient) contained metal and were evaluated with each reconstruction method. Sections without metal were not affected by the algorithms and demonstrated image quality identical to each other. Of these sections, 38% were considered nondiagnostic with filtered back-projection, 31% with LIMAR, and only 7% with iterative metal artifact reduction. Thirty-three percent of the sections had poor image quality with filtered back-projection, 46% with LIMAR, and 10% with iterative metal artifact reduction. Thirteen percent of the sections with filtered back-projection, 17% with LIMAR, and 22% with iterative metal artifact reduction were of moderate image quality, 16% of the sections with filtered back-projection, 5% with LIMAR, and 30% with iterative metal artifact reduction were of good image quality, and 1% of the sections with LIMAR and 31% with iterative metal artifact reduction were of excellent image quality. CONCLUSIONS: Iterative metal artifact reduction yields the highest image quality in comparison with filtered back-projection and linear interpolation metal artifact reduction in patients with metal hardware in the head and neck area.
Electronic dispersion compensation by signal predistortion using digital Processing and a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder Modulator

We propose and investigate a novel electronic dispersion compensation technique, in which signal precompensation is achieved using a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator, driven by adaptive nonlinear digital filters. The results demonstrate effective compensation of over 13600 ps/nm, equivalent to 800 km of standard single-mode fiber, at 10 Gb/s.
[Immunohistochemistry for pituitary hormones and Ki-67 in growth hormone producing pituitary adenomas].

BACKGROUND Growth hormone (GH) producing adenomas, frequently express several hormones. This condition could confer them a higher proliferative capacity. Ki-67 is a nuclear protein antigen that is a marker for proliferative activity. AIM To measure the immunohistochemical hormone expression in pituitary adenomas, excised from patients with acromegaly. To determine if the plurihormonal condition of these adenomas is associated with a higher proliferative capacity, assessed through the expression of Ki-67. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty one paraffin embedded surgical samples of pituitary adenomas from patients with acromegalia were studied. Immunohistochemistry for GH, prolactin (PRL), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and for the expression of Ki-67 was carried out. RESULTS All samples were positive for GH. Twenty seven had positive staining for PRL, 12 had positive staining for glycoproteic hormones and 11 for PRL and one or more glycoproteic hormones. Mean staining for Ki-67 was Z.6+/-3.3%. There were no differences in the expression of this marker between mono or plurihormonal tumors. The expression was neither associated with extrasellar extension. CONCLUSIONS Half of GH producing pituitary adenomas are plurihormonal. There are no differences in the expression of Ki-67 between mono and plurihormonal adenomas.
Dexamethasone impairs pulmonary defence against Pseudomonas aeruginosa through suppressing iNOS gene expression and peroxynitrite production in mice

To elucidate the in vivo mechanisms involved in the impairment in pulmonary defence as the result of treatment with glucocorticoids, we established fatal pneumonia with bacteraemia in dexamethasone (DEX)‐treated mice by means of an intratracheal challenge of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An increased neutrophil influx was observed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from both untreated and DEX‐treated mice. The complete suppression of an inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) production during the early phase of pneumonia, but not CXC chemokine production, were found in the case of the DEX‐treated mice. An immunohistochemical study with a specific antibody also revealed negative staining for nitrotyrosine in the lung tissue of DEX‐treated mice, while the formation of nitrotyrosine, which indirectly indicates the generation of peroxynitrite with a potent bactericidal activity, was detected clearly in the bronchial epithelium as well as alveolar phagocytic cells of lung tissue from untreated mice. Furthermore, an intraperitoneal administration of S‐methyl‐isothiourea (SMT), a potent inhibitor of NOS, significantly decreased the survival and increased bacterial density in the case of untreated mice. In contrast, no significant effects on the survival and bacterial density in the lung and blood were found as the result of treatment with SMT in DEX‐treated mice.
Both pain and fatigue are important possible determinants of disability in patients with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type

Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a group of inherited connective tissue disorders, often complain about pain. Until recently, almost no research was done on this symptom and its consequences in patients with EDS. In their interesting study, Rombaut et al. [1] showed that for patients with EDS of the hypermobility type (HT) ‘moderate to severe pain is an everyday occurrence’. They also found a reduced quality of life and high level of disability in patients with EDS. The authors state that the HT probably is the most debilitating form of EDS with respect to musculoskeletal function, but as they only included HT patients a direct comparison with other subtypes with respect to the prevalence and severity of pain was not possible. Our recently published study on pain in EDS [2] replicated the findings of Rombaut et al. and also provided some new insights in the role of pain in the different subtypes of EDS. We also found a high prevalence of pain in a group of 162 patients with HT. Further analysis showed that pain severity was a possible determinant of the level of disability. A comparison of different subtypes of EDS showed, as suggested by Rombaut et al., that both the prevalence and severity of pain is higher in patients with HT than in patients with the classic and vascular type EDS. Next, chronic pain is in EDS is associated with regular use of analgesics sleep disturbances, and pain severity is related to hypermobility, dislocations and previous operations [2]. A remarkable discrepancy with the study of Rombaut et al. is the high frequency of severe fatigue in the group of 273 patients with EDS in our study on fatigue in EDS [3]. More than threequarters of the total group of patients with EDS and 84% of the patients with HT suffered from severe fatigue. Severely fatigued patients were more impaired than non-severely fatigued patients and reported a higher level of psychological distress. Our findings are in accordance with the results of another recent study on the natural history and manifestations in the hypermobility type EDS by Castori et al. [4], in which chronic asthenia and/or fatigue was reported by 86% of the patients. In the sample of 27 patients in the study of Rombaut et al., only about 25% complained about fatigue. A
INCREASED NUMBER OF FORCED REPETITIONS DOES NOT ENHANCE STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT WITH RESISTANCE TRAINING

Some research suggests that strength improvements are greater when resistance training continues to the point at which the individual cannot perform additional repetitions (i.e., repetition failure). Performing additional forced repetitions after the point of repetition failure and thus further increasing the set volume is a common resistance training practice. However, whether short-term use of this practice increases the magnitude of strength development with resistance training is unknown and was investigated here. Twelve basketball and 10 volleyball players trained 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks, completing either 4 X 6, 8 X 3, or 12 X 3 (sets X repetitions) of bench press per training session. Compared with the 8 X 3 group, the 4 X 6 protocol involved a longer work interval and the 12 X 3 protocol involved higher training volume, so each group was purposefully designed to elicit a different number of forced repetitions per training session. Subjects were tested on 3- and 6-repetition maximum (RM) bench press (81.5 ± 9.8 and 75.9 ± 9.0 kg, respectively, mean ± SD), and 40-kg Smith Machine bench press throw power (589 ± 100 W). The 4 X 6 and 12 X 3 groups had more forced repetitions per session (p > 0.01) than did the 8 X 3 group (4.1 ± 2.6, 3.1 ± 3.5, and 1.2 ± 1.8 repetitions, respectively), whereas the 12 X 3 group performed approximately 40% greater work and had 30% greater concentric time. As expected, all groups improved 3RM (4.5 kg, 95% confidence limits, 3.1–6.0), 6RM (4.7 kg, 3.1–6.3), bench press throw peak power (57 W, 22–92), and mean power (23 W, 4–42) (all p ≤ 0.02). There were no significant differences in strength or power gains between groups. In conclusion, when repetition failure was reached, neither additional forced repetitions nor additional set volume further improved the magnitude of strength gains. This finding questions the efficacy of adding additional volume by use of forced repetitions in young athletes with moderate strength training experience.
Combination aquatic and land physical therapy program improved function and reduced spasticity after acute illness and exacerbation of multiple sclerosis: A case report

Background and purpose: This case report provides retrospective review of an outpatient physical therapy program for a female client with primary progressive multiple sclerosis after acute illness requiring hospitalization that contributed to decline in function and deconditioning. This patient was prescribed a multi-modal intervention that included education and training to restore physical impairments and loss of function with a combination of aquatic and land-based interventions, and introduction to the functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycle. Case description: 48-year old female with twenty-year history of primary progressive multiple sclerosis seeking conservative management treatment options for spasticity reduction and functional decline post-hospitalization for infection and cellulitis. The client was deconditioned following hospitalization with increased generalized joint pain and weakness, increased spasticity, and increased assistance with daily activities required. At discharge she continued independently with a home program for one-year before re-entering physical therapy for progression of a home program regimen. The client used the FES cycle for a total of twentymonths, including a combination of physical therapy and independent use, as well as multi-modal options including gym and aquatic exercise programs. Extensive training and education was incorporated in all aspects of her therapy program to ensure safety and interval training to ensure patient did not get overheated with exercise. Outcomes: Subjective reports included improved stamina, increased lower extremity strength, and decreased spasticity with a reduction in pharmacologic management. Bed mobility and sit to stand transfers were modified independent. Emerging stepping strategies were demonstrated with pick-up walker. Able to demonstrate independent set-up of FES cycle and accurately perform gym and aquatic exercise programs by discharge. Discussion: Compliance with multi-modal interventions demonstrated improved function and allowed client to return to prior level of function. Additional benefits included reduction of pharmacological management for spasticity and emerging gait skills. Correspondence to: Jennifer Roos, Department of Physical Therapy, California State University, Fresno, USA, E-mail: jroos@csufresno.edu