Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interferon induction by viruses. XIV. Development of interferon inducibility and its inhibition in chick embryo cells "aged" in vitro.

Studies with a number of viruses revealed a time-dependent acquisition of interferon (IFN) inducibility in primary chick embryo cells as they "aged" in vitro for 2-12 days at a confluent cell density without a medium change. The time-course for the development of IFN inducibility was established by generating and analyzing a family of dose (multiplicity)-response (IFN yield) curves, using Newcastle disease virus (NDV, strain LaSota) as the inducer. Cells produced little or no IFN for the first 4-5 days. Between 5 and 6 days the cells gradually developed the capacity to respond to NDV (and other viruses). Maximal yields of IFN were inducible by day 10. This time-dependent development of IFN inducibility was abrogated almost completely when "aging" was carried out in the presence of drugs that inhibited the synthesis of cyclic derivatives of C20 oxygenated unsaturated fatty acids, i.e., inhibitors of prostaglandin/leukotriene synthesis and the arachidonic acid cascade. Of the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, indomethacin was particularly effective. Cells treated on day 0 with 10 micrograms/ml of indomethacin produced 100- to 1000-fold less IFN than controls when induced on day 8. To prevent maximally the development of IFN inducibility, indomethacin must be added within the first 2 days of seeding. After about 2 days, the cells begin to escape the action of the drug. Indomethacin added at the time of induction had no effect on the yield of IFN. IFN inducibility was partially restored when indomethacin was removed during the aging process. "Aging" chick cells in low concentrations of cycloheximide (0.5 micrograms/ml) produced results comparable to incubation with indomethacin. Neither reagent had any marked effect on the rate of total protein or RNA synthesis, nor did their action prevent the induction of stress (heat shock) proteins. Cells "aged" in indomethacin were threefold less efficient in responding to the action of IFN, whereas aging in cycloheximide had no effect on IFN's action. Plaque formation on drug-treated cells was normal for viruses that were poor inducers of IFN. However, both the plaquing efficiency and plaque size of Sindbis virus (an excellent IFN inducer) were enhanced markedly on cells treated with indomethacin or low concentrations of cycloheximide during the aging process. These data implicate a family of fatty acid derivatives of arachadonic acid, including prostaglandins and leukotrienes, in the development of IFN inducibility in primary chick embryo cells "aged" in vitro.
Identification and characterization of App: an immunogenic autotransporter protein of Neisseria meningitidis

In a search for immunogenic virulence factors in Neisseria meningitidis, we have identified a gene encoding a predicted 160 kDa protein with homology to the autotransporter family of proteins. Members of this family are secreted or surface exposed and are often associated with virulence in Gram‐negative bacterial pathogens. We named the gene adhesion and penetration protein (app), because of its extensive homology to the hap gene of Haemophilus influenzae. We reconstructed the gene with reference to genomic sequence data and cloned and expressed the protein in Escherichia coli. Rabbit antiserum raised against recombinant App reacted with proteins in all meningococcal isolates examined, which represented clonal groups responsible for the majority of meningococcal invasive disease. Antibodies to the protein were detected in the sera of patients convalescing from meningococcal infection. Purified App had strong stimulating activity for T cells isolated from a number of healthy donors and from one convalescent patient. We confirmed that App is surface localized, cleaved and secreted by N. meningitidis. Importantly, the rabbit anti‐App serum killed the organism in the presence of complement. Thus, App is conserved among meningococci, immunogenic in humans and potentially involved in virulence. It therefore merits further investigation as a component of a future multivalent vaccine.
Characterization of dicarboxylate stimulation of ammonia, glutamine, and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent o(2) evolution in isolated pea chloroplasts.

Intact isolated chloroplasts from pea (Pisum sativum) leaves carried out light-dependent (NH(3), 2-oxoglutarate) and (glutamine, 2-oxoglutarate)-dependent O(2) evolution at rates of 3.3 +/- 0.7 (n = 7) and 6.0 +/- 0.4 (n = 5) micromoles per milligram chlorophyll per hour, respectively. Malate stimulated the rate of (NH(3), 2-oxoglutarate)-dependent O(2) evolution 2.1 +/- 0.5 (n = 7)-fold in the absence of glutamine, and 3.3 +/- 0.4 (n = 11)-fold in the presence of glutamine. Malate also stimulated (glutamine, 2-oxoglutarate)-dependent O(2) evolution in the presence of high concentrations of glutamine. The affinity (K(1/2)) of (NH(3), glutamine, 2-oxoglutarate)-dependent O(2) evolution for 2-oxoglutarate was estimated at 200 to 250 micromolar in the absence of malate and 50 to 80 micromolar when malate (0.5 millimolar) was present. In contrast to malate and various other dicarboxylates, aspartate, glutarate, and glutamate did not stimulate (NH(3), glutamine, 2-oxoglutarate)-dependent O(2) evolution in isolated pea chloroplasts. Using both in vitro assays and reconstituted chloroplast systems, malate was shown to have no effect on the activities of either glutamine synthetase or glutamate synthase.The concentration of malate required for maximal stimulation of O(2) evolution was dependent on the concentration of 2-oxoglutarate present. However, the small extent of the competition between malate and 2-oxoglutarate for uptake was not consistent with that predicted by the current ;single carrier' model proposed for the uptake of dicarboxylates into chloroplasts.
Particle filter for mobile station Positioning in a cellular network

Global Positioning System is the most commonly employed localization technique to localize mobile devices in outdoor environments. However, this cannot be operating when the line-of-sight visibility to the satellites is lost, as in indoor, dense environments or bad weather conditions. This motivates the growing network or hybrid based positioning techniques that use signal strength and network topology. Our methodology uses TEMS Investigation software to retrieve network information including signal strength and cell-identities of various network transmitters, and a nonlinear estimation like technique to estimate the mobile position. Typically, under linearity and Gaussian additive noise constraint, the conventional Kalman filters yields optimal estimation solution, provided the noise statistics is known. However, when such constraint is violated, e.g., either the measurement or state model is non-linear, the convergence of the filter cannot be granted. In this paper, we present a suboptimal estimation method using the particle filter where the cellular network data are combined to yield a close to optimal solution. The algorithm is tested on synthetic and real word dataset, where the results are compared with conventional Kalman filtering and unscented transform, where the superiority of the particle filtering like approach is demonstrated.
Incremental burden of cardiovascular comorbidity and psoriatic arthritis among adults with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis in five European countries

Moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis is associated with reduced health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Individuals with psoriasis are at increased risk for other medical conditions, but little information quantifies the incremental burden of psoriasis‐associated comorbidity among European adults, and data have generally been limited to clinical samples.
Coamplification of HIV-1 Proviral DNA and Viral RNA in Assays Used for Quantification of HIV-1 RNA

ABSTRACT Elevated HIV-1 viral load (VL) observed in specimens frozen in situ in plasma preparation tubes (PPTs) compared to EDTA plasma specimens may affect therapeutic monitoring of HIV-infected patients. The increase in viral load is cell associated and minimized when plasma from the PPT is aspirated or recentrifuged prior to freezing. This study investigates the contribution of integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA to elevated VL in the quantification of HIV-1 RNA in plasma. Fifty paired specimens collected in EDTA tubes and PPTs frozen in situ were used for analysis. HIV-1 VL was measured using the COBAS Amplicor Monitor ultrasensitive test version 1.5. Contaminating proviral DNA was detected using a nested PCR targeting the Alu repeat in human genomic DNA and HIV pol gene simultaneously. Treatment of the specimen with DNase resulted in significantly lower quantifiable HIV-1 RNA in specimens from PPTs compared to the corresponding EDTA tubes (P = 0.004). After the RNA was destroyed by heat treatment, the mean HIV-1 RNA VL decreased by 79% in the EDTA tube compared to 65% in the PPT. The nested PCR amplified integrated proviral DNA in nucleic acid extracted from plasma in PPT and EDTA specimens with high viral load values. Likewise, a semiquantitative densitometric analysis revealed that the total amount of genomic DNA in the PPT was higher than that in the EDTA tube. Our investigation clearly shows that both proviral DNA and intracellular RNA are amplified simultaneously in the COBAS Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor assay and that proviral DNA contributes to the elevated VL in plasma frozen in PPTs.
A irracionalidade das bolhas

Tradicionalmente, a teoria economica pressupoe que os individuos seguem os principios da racionalidade e tomam decisoes levando sempre em conta o conceito de maximizacao do valor. Contudo, cabe questionar se os investidores se comportam de forma perfeitamente racional. Este artigo examina um dos exemplos mais marcantes de uma possivel irracionalidade dos mercados financeiros: a ocorrencia das chamadas bolhas especulativas.
Colorectal cancer: towards new challenges and concepts of preventive healthcare

Colorectal cancer (CRC) holds the woeful record of being the most preventable but least prevented type of cancer. Although healthy lifestyles and screening programs associated to early polyp removal greatly reduce CRC incidence and CRC-related death, the overall lack of information and of effective preventive policies is promoting an overwhelming global escalation of this disease. Moreover, new challenges such as the increasing occurrence of aggressive CRC in young adults highlight underlying changes not only in the incidence but also in the nature of this disease. In this scenario, CRC prevention should also undergo a significant transformation, embracing not only individual initiatives but also issues of social and international relevance. The nascent network of countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin (COLOMED, the COLOrectal cancer MEDiterranean network) serves as a paradigm of international cooperation aimed at broadening scientific collaboration and promoting effective health policies in CRC research and prevention.
Thrombopoietin is a major limiting factor for selective outgrowth of human umbilical cord blood cells in non‐obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient recipient mice

Summary. A single dose (0·3 µg) of recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO) was injected into sublethal irradiated non‐obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice immediately after transplantation of 1·5 × 105 purified CD34+ umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells. Bone marrow (BM) was analysed for human cells by immunophenotyping and colony culture at d 35. TPO treatment produced a two‐ to sixfold increase in the frequency and number of human CD45+ cells. The lineage distributions among the human cells were similar irrespective of TPO treatment; however, a prominent increase was observed in CD71+GpA– cells, reflecting the proliferative stimulus provided by TPO. The frequency of immature CD34+ cells and human granulocyte–macrophage colony‐forming units and erythroid burst‐forming units in TPO‐treated mice was similar to that of untreated mice, but their absolute numbers had increased proportionally to the increase in human cells. The results demonstrate that human TPO is a major limiting factor for multilineage outgrowth of human UCB cells in NOD/SCID mice and can be conveniently supplemented by single‐dose treatment immediately after transplantation. TPO did not affect the survival of mice after transplantation and did not significantly increase the number of immature CD34+CD38– cells; secondary transplantation revealed that TPO administration also had no significant effect on long‐term repopulation. The findings demonstrate that human TPO is required for proper outgrowth of human haematopoietic stem cells after transplantation. In addition, a single administration of TPO may improve the efficiency and reproducibility of the NOD/SCID mouse assay for human immature transplantable progenitor cells.
Pathologic observations of mouse liver infected with Tyzzer's organisms using immunoperoxidase method.

Using immunoperoxidase method the production of liver lesions and propagation of organisms were observed in mice intravenously inoculated with MSK strain of Tyzzer's organisms and treated with cortisone. Microbial antigen was first detected on Day 2 postinoculation (p.i.) within very small necrotized foci. On Day 3 p.i. or later when necrotic foci with neutrophil infiltration increased in size and number, many immunoperoxidase-positive bacteria were present within seemingly living hepatocytes at the periphery of lesions but not within the necrotized foci. Apart from large-sized necrotized foci some hepatocytes carrying abundant bacterial antigen were singly present without inducing any mesenchymal response. At the moribund stage, neutrophils as well as Kupffer cells were found to carry bacterial antigen in the sinusoidal spaces without showing morphologic evidence of bacterial growth. Electron microscopy revealed that antibody specifically combined with the flagella and bacterial surface.
Interactions of Tetrahymena pyriformis, Escherichia coli, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Glucose in a Minimal Medium

A study was made of the food web formed from a protozoon, two bacteria, and a glucose minimal medium in chemostat culture. The system was also divided into simpler parts, first by omitting the protozoon to obtain a competition system, and then by omitting one or the other of the bacteria to obtain two food chains. In the competition studies, one bacterium was displaced by the other at all holding times used. In the food chain studies, sustained oscillations of the population densities of predator and prey developed at short holding times, and then changed to damped oscillations at longer holding times. In addition, the level of residual glucose remained high at long holding times. A new model of microbial growth is necessary to explain these results. In the food web studies, predation of the protozoon on the two bacteria stabilized the competition between the latter and allowed their coexistence in the same habitat. Thus, Gause's principle was circumvented.
Characterization of B lymphocytes rescued from apoptosis by platelet-activating factor.

B lymphocyte development is characterized by deletion via apoptosis of immature cells that are insufficiently stimulated. We have previously demonstrated that crosslinking of the B cell receptor (BCR) using anti-IgM antibodies (alphaIgM) (2 microg/ml) in Ramos B lymphoblastoid cells causes deletion of 30-40% of cells by apoptosis in 24 h. Addition of the potent lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (10(-7) M) to alphaIgM stimulated Ramos cells significantly decreases the number of apoptotic cells as measured by annexin V labeling. We have characterized the phenotype of Ramos cells that have not become apoptotic following BCR stimulation. In these cells, there is a significant decrease in the surface expression of the VLA-4 adhesion molecule (31% of control expression) and surface IgM expression (sIgM) (53% of control expression). Significantly fewer cells co-incubated with platelet-activating factor (PAF) underwent apoptosis, and the remaining cells maintained control levels of VLA-4 (104% of control expression) and sIgM expression (104% of control). All of these protective effects were inhibited by the specific PAF receptor antagonist, WEB 2170. The action of PAF on alphaIgM induced apoptosis was not inhibited by either cycloheximide or cytochalasin B, suggesting that de novo protein synthesis and F-actin polymerization were not implicated in the rescue of Ramos cells by PAF. In contrast, the ability of PAF to maintain sIgM and VLA-4 expression at control levels was inhibited by cycloheximide (7. 5 microg/ml). Cytochalasin B (5 microg/ml) had no effect on sIgM expression but blocked the decrease in VLA-4 expression mediated by alphaIgM. These data indicate that PAF's effect on rescuing and maintaining alphaIgM stimulated Ramos B cells is mediated via at least two pathways. Abrogation of apoptosis does not require de novo protein synthesis, while maintenance of sIgM and VLA-4 expression requires protein synthesis.
Manifestações intratorácicas das doenças do colágeno na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax

As manifestacoes intratoracicas das doencas do colageno sao bastante comuns. O padrao e a frequencia de comprometimento dependem do tipo especifico de doenca do colageno, que pode envolver um ou varios compartimentos simultaneamente, tais como parenquima, vias aereas, arterias pulmonares, pleura, e pericardio. As manifestacoes mais importantes incluem as pneumonias intersticiais difusas e a hipertensao pulmonar, que em conjunto representam as principais causas de mortalidade e morbidade nesses pacientes. O acometimento pulmonar, pleural e de via aerea pode ser tambem secundario a terapeutica instituida ou ser decorrente de processos infecciosos bacterianos ou por germes oportunistas, por causa da imunossupressao. Nesta revisao os autores sumarizam as manifestacoes intratoracicas e o diagnostico diferencial das principais doencas do colageno na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolucao do torax.
Investigation of the relationship between class-1 integrons and per-1 enzyme in ceftazidime resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, especially multidrug resistant, have great of importance among nosocomial infection isolates. Production of beta lactamase is an important mechanism in gram-negative bacteria for resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. PER-1 enzyme is derived from an extended spectrum beta-lactamase that is non-TEM, non-SHV-derived in class A and especially causes ceftazidime resistance. In this study, our aim was to investigate the relationship between CLASS-1 integrons and PER-1 enzyme in ceftazidime-resistance Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The PER-1 type beta lactamase enzyme that causes ceftazidime-resistance, determines the frequency, and detects the relationship between the enzyme and CLASS-1 integrons by PCR in 100 (one hundred) ceftazidime-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolated at Ondokuz May? s University Hospital (Turkey) between 2007 and 2008. In this study, blaPER-1 was detected in 40% (40/100) of the isolates. Four principal clones, which were detected in P. aeruginosa strains were responsible for high prevalence using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) methods. CLASS-1 integron was detected in 62.5% (25/40) of the PER-1 enzyme bearing strains and association between blaPER-1 and CLASS-1 integrons were shown in 2 (two) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain. Also resistance rates of PRL antibiotic in blaPER-1 negative group was found to be significantly higher against blaPER-1 positive group, resistance rates of other antibiotics were no different between these two groups. We concluded that PER-1 enzyme is common in our hospital and their clonal diversity indicates horizontal dissemination, the association between bla PER-1 and CLASS-1 integrons can accelerate dissemination of this gene.
Mutual intelligibility of Chinese dialects: Predicting cross-dialect word intelligibility from lexical and phonological similarity

This paper aims to predict mutual intelligibility (defined here as cross-dialectal word recognition) between 15 Chinese dialects from lexical and phonological distance measures. Distances were measured on the stimulus materials used in the experiment. Their predictive power was compared with earlier similar distance measures based on large word lists. Predictors based on just the stimulus materials used afford the better prediction. Segmental Levenshtein distance was the strongest predictor, outperforming both lexical and tonal similarity measures.
Type synthesis and preliminary design of devices supporting lower limb's rehabilitation.

PURPOSE Based on the analysis of existing solutions, biomechanics of human lower limbs and anticipated applications, results of con- siderations concerning the necessary number of degrees of freedom for the designed device supporting rehabilitation of lower extremities are presented. An analysis was carried out in order to determine the innovative kinematic structure of the device, ensuring sufficient mobility and functionality while minimizing the number of degrees of freedom. METHODS With the aid of appropriate formalised meth- ods, for instance, type synthesis, a complete variety of solutions for leg joints were obtained in the form of basic and kinematic schemes, having the potential to find application in devices supporting lower limb rehabilitation. RESULTS A 3D model of ankle joint module was built in Autodesk Inventor System, then imported to Adams and assembled into a moving numerical model of a mechanism. Several conducted simulations resulted in finding the required maximum stroke of the cylinders. CONCLUSIONS A comparison of the angular ranges of ankle joint and similar devices with the ones achieved by the designed device indicated a sufficient reserve allowing not only movements typical of gait, but approximately achieving the passive range of motion for the ankle joint.
Text2Quit: Results From a Pilot Test of a Personalized, Interactive Mobile Health Smoking Cessation Program

Text messaging programs on mobile phones have shown some promise in helping people quit smoking. Text2Quit is an automated, personalized, and interactive mobile health program that sends text messages and e-mails timed around a participant's quit date over the course of 3 months. The text messages include pre- and post-quit educational messages, peer ex-smoker messages, medication reminders and relapse messages, and multiple opportunities for interaction. Study participants were university students (N = ;23) enrolled in the Text2Quit program. Participants were surveyed at baseline and at 2 and 4 weeks after enrollment. The majority of participants agreed that they liked the program at 2 and 4 weeks after enrollment (90.5% and 82.3%, respectively). Support for text messages was found to be moderate and higher than that of the e-mail and web components. Of participants, 75% reported reading most or all of the texts. On average, users made 11.8 responses to the texts over a 4-week period, although responses declined after the quit date. The interactive feature for tracking cigarettes was the most used interactive feature, followed by the craving trivia game. This pilot test provides some support for the Text2Quit program. A future iteration of the program will include additional tracking features in both the pre-quit and post-quit protocols and an easier entry into the not-quit protocol. Future studies are recommended that identify the value of the interactive and personalized features that characterize this program.