Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Suppression by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense of the capacities of human T lymphocytes to express interleukin-2 receptors and proliferate after mitogenic stimulation

We studied the suppressive effects induced in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by purified blood forms of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. The parasite was found to markedly impair lymphocyte proliferation (measured in terms of [3H]thymidine incorporation). The extent of this effect increased with parasite concentration and was not due to mitogen absorption, depletion of medium nutrients, or PBMC killing by the parasite. Significant reductions in interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression, determined by flow cytometric analysis, were also observed in PHA-stimulated PBMC cultured in the presence of T. b. rhodesiense as evidenced by marked decreases in the surface density of the receptor. Concomitant decreases in the percentage of IL-2R+ cells were recorded in approximately half of the experiments. A discrete, dimly stained subpopulation of IL-2R+ cells were consistently demonstrable whether or not a reduction in the percentage of IL-2R+ cells occurred. Living, but not glutaraldehyde-fixed, parasites suppressed IL-2R expression. In kinetic studies, a low but reproducible level of suppression of IL-2R was demonstrable as early as 6 h after PHA stimulation; the extent of this effect became considerably more pronounced as additional culture time elapsed. Levels of IL-2 biological activity in cocultures of T. b. rhodesiense with PHA-stimulated PBMC were comparable with or higher than those present in control cultures lacking the parasite. Therefore, insufficient levels of this cytokine would be an unlikely explanation for the noted suppression of IL-2R expression and lymphoproliferation. These effects of T. b. rhodesiense could represent an important component of the mechanism by which immunosuppression develops in African sleeping sickness.
The Current State of and Possible Future Avenues for IT Value Research: A Review of the past 10 Years

Since the ongoing proliferation of information technology (IT) in our private and professional lives, researchers have been concerned with the conceptualization and measurement of the value that technology brings us. To this end, researchers have based their assumptions and theories on the technological achievements and perceptions of technology at that time. Ever since the introduction of smart phones, broadband Internet, and social networks, much has changed in the way we perceive and appropriate IT value. In order to identify possible white spots for future research, we present a systematic literature review of the past 10 years of research in this area. In doing so, we develop a taxonomy for analyzing the IT value literature. The results of our analysis indicate that the majority of current work focuses on ex post measurement of the monetary value of IT for businesses. Only a few articles were found that employed an alternative lens in defining IT value. With the blurring boundaries between private and professional life, these approaches become increasingly more important. We discuss the general implications of our findings with a view to possible new themes for the next years of research.
Postnatal development of Mongolian gerbil female prostate: An immunohistochemical and 3D modeling study

The development of the prostate in male rodents, which involves complex epithelial–mesenchymal interactions between the urogenital sinus epithelium (UGE) and the urogenital sinus mesenchyme (UGM), has been deeply studied. In females, however, this process is not very clear. In this study, the postnatal development of the prostate in female Mongolian gerbils employing three‐dimensional (3D) reconstructions, histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques was characterized. It was observed that prostatic branching and differentiation in females was induced by a single mesenchyme localized at a ventrolateral position, which was named as ventrolateral mesenchyme (VLM); furthermore, the canalization of solid buds began on the third postnatal day (P3) and the branching morphogenesis on P5. We observed secretions in the acini at the end of the first month, and, on P45, the acini were completely differentiated. The strong cell proliferation phase in the first week coincided with the mesenchymal expression of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1). The expression of androgen receptor (AR) paralleled cell differentiation, and, on P30, immunolabelling with p63 was restricted to basal cells. This study serves as a baseline parameter for future research on disruptions that could affect the development of the female prostate. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:438–446, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A systematic review of Interventions for anxiety in people with HIV

People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) show elevated anxiety levels compared to the general population. Anxiety can predate HIV infection or be triggered by HIV diagnosis and the many stresses that emerge during the course of HIV disease. Many psychological and pharmacological therapies have been shown to treat anxiety in the general population but a systematic understanding of which interventions have been tested in and are effective with HIV-seropositive individuals is needed. This review examines all published intervention studies onanxiety and HIV from 1980 to 2009 covered by the databases MedLine (1980–2009) and PsycINFO (1980–2009) for a definitive account of effectiveness of interventions and an indication of prevalence of HIV-related anxiety and measurement within studies. Standard systematic research methods were used to gather quality published papers on HIV and anxiety, searching published data bases according to quality inclusion criteria. From the search, 492 papers were generated and hand searched resulting in 39 studies meeting adequacy inclusion criteria for analysis. Of these, 30 (76.9%) were implemented in North America (the USA and Canada), with little representation from developing countries. Thirty-three (84.6%) studies recruited only men or mostlymen. A total of 50 interventions were investigated by the 39 studies; 13 targeted HIV, symptoms or associated outcomes/conditions, 20 directly targeted anxiety and another 17 indirectly targeted anxiety. Twenty-four (48%) interventions were effective in reducing anxiety (including 11 indirect interventions), 16 (32%) were ineffective and 10 (20%) had an unknown effect on anxiety. Sixty-five percent of interventions directly targeting anxiety were effective. Psychological interventions (especially cognitive behavioural stress management interventions and cognitive behavioural therapy) were generally more effective than pharmacological interventions. Only three studies provided prevalence rates – these ranged from 13% to 80%. Anxiety was measured using16 different instruments. Our detailed data suggest that interventions are both effective and available, although further research into enhancing efficacy would be valuable. Also, the vast majority of studies were Western-based, no studies looked at children or adolescents and few looked specifically at women. An international effort to harmonise measurement of anxiety is also missing. There is a need to routinely log anxiety in those with HIV infection during thecourse of their disease, to provide specific data on women, young people andthose in diverse geographic areas and incorporate management into care protocols.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Acinetobacter baumannii Sequence Type 2 Isolate from Puerto Rico

ABSTRACT We report here the draft genome sequence of Acinetobacter baumannii strain M3AC14-8, sequence type 2 (ST2), carrying a chromosomally carried blaKPC-2 gene. The draft genome consists of a total length of 4.11 Mbp and a G+C content of 39.25%.
Life histories predict coral community disassembly under multiple stressors

Climate change is reshaping biological communities against a background of existing human pressure. Evaluating the impacts of multiple stressors on community dynamics can be particularly challenging in species‐rich ecosystems, such as coral reefs. Here, we investigate whether life‐history strategies and cotolerance to different stressors can predict community responses to fishing and temperature‐driven bleaching using a 20‐year time series of coral assemblages in Kenya. We found that the initial life‐history composition of coral taxa largely determined the impacts of bleaching and coral loss. Prior to the 1998 bleaching event, coral assemblages within no‐take marine reserves were composed of three distinct life histories – competitive, stress‐tolerant and weedy– and exhibited strong declines following bleaching with limited subsequent recovery. In contrast, fished reefs had lower coral cover, fewer genera and were composed of stress‐tolerant and weedy corals that were less affected by bleaching over the long term. Despite these general patterns, we found limited evidence for cotolerance as coral genera and life histories were variable in their sensitivities to fishing and bleaching. Overall, fishing and bleaching have reduced coral diversity and led to altered coral communities of ‘survivor’ species with stress‐tolerant and weedy life histories. Our findings are consistent with expectations that climate change interacting with existing human pressure will result in the loss of coral diversity and critical reef habitat.
Diversity and Divergence Among the Tribal Populations of India

Tribal populations of the Indian subcontinent have been of longstanding interest to anthropologists and human geneticists. To investigate the relationship of Indian tribes to Indian castes and continental populations, we analyzed 45 unlinked autosomal STR loci in 9 tribal groups, 8 castes, and 18 populations from Africa, Europe and East Asia. South Indian tribal populations demonstrate low within‐population heterozygosity (range: 0.54 – 0.69), while tribal populations sampled further north and east have higher heterozygosity (range: 0.69 – 0.74). Genetic distance estimates show that tribal Indians are more closely related to caste Indians than to other major groups. Between‐tribe differentiation is high and exceeds that for eight sub‐Saharan African populations (4.8% vs. 3.7%). Telugu‐speaking populations are less differentiated than non‐Telugu speakers (FST: 0.029 vs. 0.079), but geographic distance was not predictive of genetic affinity between tribes. South Indian tribes show significant population structure, and individuals can be clustered statistically into groups that correspond with their tribal affiliation. These results are consistent with high levels of genetic drift and isolation in Indian tribal populations, particularly those of South India, and they imply that these populations may be potential candidates for linkage disequilibrium and association mapping.
Prolegomenon to a history of paleoanthropology: The study of human origins as a scientific enterprise. Part 1. Antiquity to the eighteenth century

Interest in the history of paleoanthropology and the other disciplines related to human origins studies has grown considerably over the last several decades. Some very informative historical surveys have been written by prominent scientists reflecting on the major developments in their fields. Some well‐known early examples include Glyn Daniel's The Idea of Prehistory (1962) and The Origins and Growth of Archaeology (1967), which focus primarily on the history of archaeology, Kenneth Oakley's “The problem of man's antiquity: an historical survey” published in the Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) [Geology] (1964), and L. S. B. Leakey's Unveiling Man's Origins; Ten Decades of Thought about Human Evolution (1969), with the latter two focusing on the contributions of geology, paleontology, and biology to the problem of human evolution.
Roles of ExoI and SbcCD Nucleases in “Reckless” DNA Degradation in recA Mutants of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Exponentially growing recA mutant cells of Escherichia coli display pronounced DNA degradation that starts at the sites of DNA damage and depends on RecBCD nuclease (ExoV) activity. As a consequence of this “reckless” DNA degradation, populations of recA mutants contain a large proportion of anucleate cells. We have found that both DNA degradation and anucleate-cell production are efficiently suppressed by mutations in the xonA (sbcB) and sbcD genes. The suppressive effects of these mutations were observed in normally grown, as well as in UV-irradiated, recA cells. The products of the xonA and sbcD genes are known to code for the ExoI and SbcCD nucleases, respectively. Since both xonA and sbcD mutations are required for strong suppression of DNA degradation while individual mutations have only a weak suppressive effect, we infer that ExoI and SbcCD play partially redundant roles in regulating DNA degradation in recA cells. We suggest that their roles might be in processing (blunting) DNA ends, thereby producing suitable substrates for RecBCD binding.
MACROCALYX and JOINTLESS Interact in the Transcriptional Regulation of Tomato Fruit Abscission Zone Development1[C][W]

Abscission in plants is a crucial process used to shed organs such as leaves, flowers, and fruits when they are senescent, damaged, or mature. Abscission occurs at predetermined positions called abscission zones (AZs). Although the regulation of fruit abscission is essential for agriculture, the developmental mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we describe a novel transcription factor regulating the development of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) pedicel AZs. We found that the development of tomato pedicel AZs requires the gene MACROCALYX (MC), which was previously identified as a sepal size regulator and encodes a MADS-box transcription factor. MC has significant sequence similarity to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) FRUITFULL, which is involved in the regulation of fruit dehiscent zone development. The MC protein interacted physically with another MADS-box protein, JOINTLESS, which is known as a regulator of fruit abscission; the resulting heterodimer acquired a specific DNA-binding activity. Transcriptome analyses of pedicels at the preabscission stage revealed that the expression of the genes involved in phytohormone-related functions, cell wall modifications, fatty acid metabolism, and transcription factors is regulated by MC and JOINTLESS. The regulated genes include homologs of Arabidopsis WUSCHEL, REGULATOR OF AXILLARY MERISTEMS, CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON, and LATERAL SUPPRESSOR. These Arabidopsis genes encode well-characterized transcription factors regulating meristem maintenance, axillary meristem development, and boundary formation in plant tissues. The tomato homologs were specifically expressed in AZs but not in other pedicel tissues, suggesting that these transcription factors may play key roles in pedicel AZ development.
Effect of herbal medicine achillea millefolium on plasma nitrite and nitrate levels in patients with chronic kidney disease: a preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION Increased plasma nitric oxide concentration has been supposed as one of the possible mechanisms of bleeding tendency in patients who suffer chronic kidney disease. Nitric oxide-scavenging properties have been reported with some Achillea species. This study was designed to find any possible effect of Achillea millefolium on plasma nitric oxide concentration in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-one chronic kidney disease patients were included in this randomized controlled trial, of whom16 received 1.5 g of powdered A millefolium flower 3 days a week for 2 months, and 15 received placebo for the same period. Plasma samples were collected before and after the study period to estimate the effect of A millefolium on plasma nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite and nitrate). RESULTS Although not statistically significant, plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations decreased after 2 months' administration of A millefolium (0.82 ± 0.51 µmol/L to 0.63 ± 0.42 µmol/L and 50.55 ± 17.92 µmol/L to 44.09 ± 17.49 µmole/L, respectively). These concentrations were slightly increased in the placebo group after the study period. CONCLUSIONS Countercurrent to the placebo group, plasma nitric oxide metabolites were marginally decreased after A millefolium administration in chronic kidney disease patients. Higher doses or longer duration of plant administration may make these changes more significant.
Constraint on the time scale of biotite-grade metamorphism during Acadian orogeny from a natural garnet-garnet diffusion couple

Abstract We have determined the concentration profiles across the interface of a natural garnetgarnet couple in a biotite-grade rock from eastern Vermont. The couple consists of a grossular-spessartine garnet that had formed during regional metamorphism associated with the Acadian orogeny on an almandine core, which had crystallized during an earlier episode of metamorphism related to the intrusion of Fairlee granite at 411 ± 5 Ma. The concentration profiles were measured by both electron microprobe and analytical transmission electron microscope, and they were modeled to retrieve the value of ∫D(t)dt through the time that diffusion was effective but without recourse to any diffusion data. The length of the concentration profiles measured in microprobe is barely resolvable from that resulting from a convolution effect from the spatial averaging in the spot analyses. Deconvolution of the microprobe profiles yields a value of ∫D(t)dt = 0-3.4 × 10-11 cm2, suggesting very little or no diffusion. TEM analyses of the concentration profiles, which are not subject to any significant convolution effect, show a very small but definitive diffusion zone across the interface of the garnet-garnet couple, which yields a value of ∫D(t)dt = 7.6 × 10-12 cm2. Because D is a function of time through its dependence on temperature, this value of ∫D(t)dt provides an important constraint on the thermal history during the regional metamorphism. As an example, we used it in conjunction with the available diffusion data for garnet to derive ∼40-50 Ma as the probable time scale for the biotite-grade metamorphism, taking into account the effects of the off-diagonal terms and thermodynamic nonideality on the diffusion process.
Morphogenesis of the optic tectum in the medaka (Oryzias latipes): A morphological and molecular study, with special emphasis on cell proliferation

We analyzed the medaka optic tectum (OT) morphogenesis by using 5‐bromo‐2'‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry (with a new method we developed for pulse‐labeling embryos) and in situ hybridization with three probes, two for recently cloned homeobox genes (Ol‐Prx3 [Paired‐Related‐Homeobox3] and Ol‐Gsh1 [Genetic‐Screen‐Homeobox1]) and one for Ol‐tailless. The tectal anlage first appears as a sheet of proliferating cells expressing Ol‐Gsh1 and Ol‐tailless but not Ol‐Prx3. Cells subsequently cease to proliferate in a superficial and rostral zone and begin to express Ol‐Prx3. When tectal lamination begins, the proliferative zone (mpz) becomes restricted to a crescent at the OT medial, caudal, and lateral margin. This mpz functions throughout the fish's entire life. It produces cells that are added at the OT's edge as radial rows, spanning every layer of the OT. The cells of the mpz continue to express Ol‐tailless in the adult, whereas Ol‐Gsh1 expression is turned off. When superficial layers form, Ol‐Prx3 expression becomes restricted to the underlying deep layer, where it persists in the adult. Ol‐Prx3 seems to be a marker for the differentiation of a subset of deep cells and allows analysis of tectal lamination, whereas Ol‐tailless and Ol‐Gsh1 could be involved in the control of tectal cell proliferation. This study constitutes a first step toward molecular approach to OT development in anamniotes. We compare and discuss the expression patterns of the homologs of the genes studied, and more generally the morphogenetic patterns of the medaka tectum, with those encountered in other cortical structures and in other vertebrate groups. J. Comp. Neurol. 413:385–404, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enabling Python to execute efficiently in heterogeneous distributed infrastructures with PyCOMPSs

Python has been adopted as programming language by a large number of scientific communities. Additionally to the easy programming interface, the large number of libraries and modules that have been made available by a large number of contributors, have taken this language to the top of the list of the most popular programming languages in scientific applications. However, one main drawback of Python is the lack of support for concurrency or parallelism. PyCOMPSs is a proved approach to support task-based parallelism in Python that enables applications to be executed in parallel in distributed computing platforms. This paper presents PyCOMPSs and how it has been tailored to execute tasks in heterogeneous and multi-threaded environments. We present an approach to combine the task-level parallelism provided by PyCOMPSs with the thread-level parallelism provided by MKL. Performance and behavioral results in distributed computing heterogeneous clusters show the benefits and capabilities of PyCOMPSs in both HPC and Big Data infrastructures.
Young people's and professionals' views about ways to reduce teenage pregnancy rates: To agree or not agree

Context We know little about young people's views of the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the frequency of teenage pregnancy. Objective To compare the views of young people and professionals about ways to reduce the frequency of teenage pregnancy. Design Comparison of consensus emerging from adult and teenagers' workshop discussions and subsequent modified two-round Delphi questionnaires for each subject group. Setting North Staffordshire community. Participants Fifty-six professionals from health, education, social care, youth and community and other sectors and 55 young people. Main outcome measures Views with which at least 70% of participants agreed. Results Young people emphasised the importance of interventions being young person-centred, whereas professionals stressed that re-organisation of sexual health and education services was key. Young people suggested more creative ways of communicating health and education messages than did professionals. Both groups advocated peer education and recognised the need for developing help and services for young men. Both suggested that staff should be educated to be more sensitive in relating to young people. Professionals and young people advocated the locating of sexual health services for teenagers in youth settings. Conclusion In the main, professionals favoured dedicated young people's services whilst young people emphasised the need for young person-centred services. Those working in the health and education sectors should seek and listen to young people's views and preferences when planning and providing sexual health education and services.