Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Yops and Adhesins in Resistance of Yersinia enterocolitica to Phagocytosis

ABSTRACT Yersinia enterocolitica is a pathogen endowed with two adhesins, Inv and YadA, and with the Ysc type III secretion system, which allows extracellular adherent bacteria to inject Yop effectors into the cytosol of animal target cells. We tested the influence of all of these virulence determinants on opsonic and nonopsonic phagocytosis by PU5-1.8 and J774 mouse macrophages, as well as by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The adhesins contributed to phagocytosis in the absence of opsonins but not in the presence of opsonins. In agreement with previous results, YadA counteracted opsonization. In every instance, the Ysc-Yop system conferred a significant level of resistance to phagocytosis. Nonopsonized single-mutant bacteria lacking either YopE, -H, -T, or -O were phagocytosed significantly more by J774 cells and by PMNs. Opsonized bacteria were phagocytosed more than nonopsonized bacteria, and mutant bacteria lacking either YopH, -T, or -O were phagocytosed significantly more by J774 cells and by PMNs than were wild-type (WT) bacteria. Opsonized mutants lacking only YopE were phagocytosed significantly more than were WT bacteria by PMNs but not by J774 cells. Thus, YopH, -T, and -O were involved in all of the phagocytic processes studied here but YopE did not play a clear role in guarding against opsonic phagocytosis by J774. Mutants lacking YopP and YopM were, in every instance, as resistant as WT bacteria. Overexpression of YopE, -H, -T, or -O alone did not confer resistance to phagocytosis, although it affected the cytoskeleton. These results show that YopH, YopT, YopO, and, in some instances, YopE act synergistically to increase the resistance of Y. enterocolitica to phagocytosis by macrophages and PMNs.
[The current state of mental health surveillance in France].

UNLABELLED The purpose of health surveillance is to contribute to health planning, information and prevention. Surveillance involves repeated data collections based on epidemiological studies and follow-up of data collected from medical-administrative databases. This paper provides an overview of mental health surveillance in France and examines the relevance and limitations of the collected data. METHOD The prevalence of major depressive episodes (MDE) in the general population was recently examined in seven studies. Among these studies, the Health Barometers involved two data collections at a five-year interval using the same method. Mortality and hospitalization data are important for suicide and suicide attempt (SA) surveillance. Health insurance databases provide key information about psychotropic drug use and serious psychiatric illnesses defined as long-term. RESULTS The prevalence of 12‑month MDE remained stable at 7.8% between 2005 and 2010. Mortality data show a suicide rate of 16 per 100,000 inhabitants. Hospital data show that the rate of hospitalization for SAs is approximately ten times that of suicide. Data from emergency wards indicate that approximately 220,000 SAs are admitted to hospital emergency services every year. Currently, depressive disorders are the primary reason for new admissions under the ALD23. DISCUSSION A comparison of data from different sources is required to provide a basis for mental health surveillance in France and to help identify those populations that need to be targeted as a matter of priority by prevention measures.
Application of scanning probe microscopy to the characterization and fabrication of hybrid nanomaterials

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is a widely used experimental technique for characterizing and fabricating nanostructures on surfaces. In particular, due to its ability to spatially map variations in materials properties with nanometer spatial resolution, SPM is particularly well suited to probe the subcomponents and interfaces of hybrid nanomaterials, i.e., materials that are made up of distinct nanometer scale components with distinguishable properties. In addition, the interaction of the SPM tip with materials can be intentionally tuned such that local surface modification is achieved. In this manner, hybrid nanostructures can also be fabricated on solid substrates using SPM. This report reviews recent developments in the characterization and fabrication of hybrid nanomaterials with SPM. Specific attention is given to nanomaterials that consist of both organic and inorganic components including individual biomolecules mounted on inorganic substrates. SPM techniques that are particularly well suited for characterizing the mechanical and electrical properties of such hybrid systems in atmospheric pressure environments are highlighted, and specific illustrative examples are provided. This review concludes with a brief discussion of the remaining challenges and promising future prospects for this field. Microsc. Res. Tech. 64:415–434, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Burkholderia pseudomallei BpeAB-OprB Efflux Pump: Expression and Impact on Quorum Sensing and Virulence

ABSTRACT BpeAB-OprB is a multidrug efflux pump of the bacterial pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei and is responsible for conferring antimicrobial resistance to aminoglycosides and macrolides. Expression of bpeAB-oprB is inducible by its substrate erythromycin and upon entry into stationary phase. BpeR, a member of the TetR family, functions as a repressor of the bpeAB-oprB operon. bpeR expression was similarly induced at stationary phase but lagged behind the induction of bpeAB-oprB expression. The induction of bpeAB-oprB expression could be advanced to the early exponential phase by exogenous addition of the B. pseudomallei autoinducers N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone (C8HSL) and N-decanoyl-homoserine lactone (C10HSL), suggesting that the bpeAB-oprB operon may be quorum regulated. On the other hand, acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) production was undetectable in the bpeAB-null mutant and strains which overexpress bpeR. The failure of these strains to produce acyl-HSLs seemed to be at the level of synthesis of acyl-HSLs, as growth-phase-dependent expression of the autoinducer synthase BpsI was abolished in the bpeAB-null mutant. bpsI expression remained growth phase dependent in the bpeR mutant which had functional BpeAB-OprB. BpeAB-OprB function is likewise necessary for optimal production of quorum-sensing-controlled virulence factors such as siderophore and phospholipase C and for biofilm formation. Cell invasion and cytotoxicity towards human lung epithelial (A549) and human macrophage (THP-1) cells were also significantly attenuated in both the bpeAB mutant and bpeR-overexpressing strains, thus suggesting the possibility of attenuating B. pseudomallei virulence using inhibitors of the BpeAB-OprB efflux pump.
Mutations in domain a′ of protein disulfide isomerase affect the folding pathway of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI, EC 5.3.4.1), an enzyme and chaperone, catalyses disulfide bond formation and rearrangements in protein folding. It is also a subunit in two proteins, the enzyme collagen prolyl 4‐hydroxylase and the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. It consists of two catalytically active domains, a and a′, and two inactive ones, b and b′, all four domains having the thioredoxin fold. Domain b′ contains the primary peptide binding site, but a′ is also critical for several of the major PDI functions. Mass spectrometry was used here to follow the folding pathway of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) in the presence of three PDI mutants, F449R, Δ455–457, and abb′, and the individual domains a and a′. The first two mutants contained alterations in the last α helix of domain a′, while the third lacked the entire domain a′. All mutants produced genuine, correctly folded RNase A, but the appearance rate of 50% of the product, as compared to wild‐type PDI, was reduced 2.5‐fold in the case of PDI Δ455–457, 7.5‐fold to eightfold in the cases of PDI F449R and PDI abb′, and over 15‐fold in the cases of the individual domains a and a′. In addition, PDI F449R and PDI abb′ affected the distribution of folding intermediates. Domains a and a′ catalyzed the early steps in the folding but no disulfide rearrangements, and therefore the rate observed in the presence of these individual domains was similar to that of the spontaneous process.
Early Use of Beta-Blockers Is Associated with Attenuation of Serum C-Reactive Protein Elevation and Favorable Short-Term Prognosis after Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: We have reported that a marked elevation in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level is a predictor for infarct expansion and cardiac rupture after AMI. Although β-blockers prevent cardiac rupture after AMI, their effect on serum CRP elevation has not been determined. Methods: We studied a total of 154 patients with first Q-wave AMI. Patients complicated by pump failure were excluded from this study. Eighty-two patients received β-blocker treatment within 24 h of the onset of AMI, while 72 patients received no β-blocker treatment. Peak serum creatine kinase (CK) and CRP levels were determined by serial measurements. Results: There was no difference between the groups according to age, sex, coronary risk factors, pre-infarction angina, infarct site, prior use of cardiovascular drugs, use of revascularization therapy, and prevalence of multivessel disease. β-Blocker treatment was associated with a lower peak CRP level (6.9 ± 6.1 vs.10.8 ± 9.3 mg/dl, p = 0.002), a shorter duration from the onset to the peak CRP level (2 ± 1 vs. 3 ± 2 days, p < 0.0001), a lower incidence of cardiac rupture (p = 0.03) and lower in-hospital cardiac mortality (p = 0.02), despite similar peak CK levels. Conclusion: The early use of β-blockers is associated with decreased serum CRP level and a favorable clinical outcome after first Q-wave AMI, suggesting some beneficial effects of β-blockers on infarct healing after AMI.
Body Height Measurements in Images

Abstract: For any measurement of a person’s height in an image, a difference exists between the actual height of the person and the image measurement. In order to gain knowledge about statistical behavior of differences between actual and measured heights it is necessary to make reference recordings, e.g., of test persons under the same recording conditions. To test whether the differences are dependent on camera and further circumstances, an experiment was set up which involved the measurement of 22 test persons using three cameras of varying quality. Reproducibility of measurements per image appears to be strongly dependent on the camera (quality), whereas systematic bias differs with the view point of the camera. Operator dependency of the measurement process is found, so its repetition by different operators is recommended.
Chaotic transfer model of quality characteristics variation

It is very important to implement chaotic-fractal dynamic method in complex quality control processes because the transfer and control of quality characteristics variation of complex products can't be executed due to uncertainty and it's high coupling in the nonlinear quality systems. According to the complex product quality system's characteristics of multi-dimensional, multi-processes, nonlinear, coupling and so on, based on the analysis of chaotic evolution process of complex product quality characteristics variation, a chaotic transfer pattern is established. The chaotic characteristics of the quality characteristics variation are analyzed, such as the initial value sensitivity, density and fractal dimension. Furthermore, a new concept of quality system structure parameter, the parameter to determine whether the complex product quality system is in the stable control time domain or the chaos control time domain, is proposed. And deciding region of chaotic critical spot on structure parameters of complex quality system is discussed. Chaotic state-space mathematical model of quality characteristics variation transfer is developed, and an example for complex product assembly process is given. Finally, an instance related to direct-drive gear hobbing machine is given to demonstrate that the proposed model can solve quality characteristics variation transfer problems effectively.
Expression of chondrogenic potential of mouse trunk neural crest cells by FGF2 treatment

There is a significant difference between the developmental patterns of cranial and trunk neural crest cells in the amniote. Thus, whereas cranial neural crest cells generate bone and cartilage, trunk neural crest cells do not contribute to skeletal derivatives. We examined whether mouse trunk neural crest cells can undergo chondrogenesis to analyze how the difference between the developmental patterns of cranial and trunk neural crest cells arises. Our present data demonstrate that mouse trunk neural crest cells have chondrogenic potential and that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 is an inducing factor for their chondrogenesis in vitro. FGF2 altered the expression patterns of Hox9 genes and Id2, a cranial neural crest cell marker. These results suggest that environmental cues may play essential roles in generating the difference between developmental patterns of cranial and trunk neural crest cells. Developmental Dynamics 235:361–367, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Susceptibility of Leukemia Cells to Arsenic Trioxide-induced Apoptosis is Determined by Cellular Reactive Oxygen Species Level.

To explore the relationship between the susceptibility to arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3))-induced apoptosis of leukemia cells and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of cells, flow cytometry and electron microscopy were applied to identify apoptosis, and dihydrorhodamine123 was used to display the ROS level of cells. As(2)O(3) alone or in combination with 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ, 2.5 &mgr;mol/L for NB4 cells, 10 &mgr;mol/L for U937 cells) were used to induce cell apoptosis. The results showed that NB4 cells possessed higher level of ROS than U937 cells. DMNQ raised ROS levels of NB4 and U937 cells, sensitized U937 cells to As(2)O(3)-induced apoptosis, and enhanced the efficacy of As(2)O(3)-induced apoptosis of NB4 cells. Catalase reversed the effect of DMNQ on NB4 and U937 cells. It was concluded that the susceptibility of leukemia cells to arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis is determined by ROS level in the cells.
Proapoptotic activity of alemtuzumab alone and in combination with rituximab or purine nucleoside analogues in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Proapoptotic activity of anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, alemtuzumab (ALT) as well as ALT-affected apoptosis-regulatory mechanisms were assessed in tumor cells from 36 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Cells were treated in vitro for 24 - 48 h with ALT alone or in combination with rituximab (RTX), or purine nucleoside analogues (PNA), fludarabine and cladribine. Moreover, eight ALT-treated patients were examined in vivo. In 22/36 patients with the pre-treatment overexpression of Bax, Bak and Bid proteins, ALT induced a distinct (more than 50% from the baseline) increase in the incidence of apoptosis after 24 h of in vitro treatment. ALT-attributed CLL cell apoptosis was also detected after 24 h from in vivo ALT administration, with significantly downregulated Bcl-2 (P = 0.012) and Mcl-1 (P = 0.031). ALT combined with PNA or RTX exerted significantly higher proapoptotic effect in vitro than single agents, downregulating FLIP and Bcl-2 (ALT + PNA) or significantly increasing Bax expression (ALT + RTX; P = 0.007). In conclusion, the evidence of apoptotic CLL cells death in response to ALT, with deregulation of intrinsic apoptotic pathway, is presented. ALT and PNA or RTX trigger complementary changes in expression of proteins regulating cell propensity to undergo apoptosis, what provides molecular rationale for combining ALT with those agents.
Fluid condition monitoring sensors for diesel engine control

Online monitoring of liquid operating media is an essential new tool to increase engine efficiency and to meet increasingly stringent exhaust gas requirements (e.g. EU4/5). In this contribution, we present novel results on diesel applications of the prototype of an oil condition sensor. We demonstrate the advantages of simultaneous viscosity, permittivity, and temperature measurement for the efficient discrimination between different oil aging mechanisms. Besides permittivity and viscosity sensors, IR-spectroscopy is a new powerful tool for fluid condition monitoring. We present first results for a new prototype IR-sensor for engine fuels and show its capability to determine the concentration of alternative engine fuels like FAME (fatty acid methyl esther, "biodiesel") and ethanol as an example.
Myelodysplastic syndromes following therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMAs): development of acute erythroleukemia may not influence assessment of treatment response

Abstract This study followed 28 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who showed a rise of bone marrow (BM) erythroids to ≥ 50% following three cycles (1–60) of hypomethylating agent (HMA) therapy. If BM blasts were calculated as a percentage of non-erythroids, 12 (42.9%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for acute erythroleukemia, erythroid/myeloid (AEL). However, none of the patients showed clonal cytogenetic evolution or new mutations. When compared to 47 de novo AEL patients, these 12 patients were less anemic and thrombocytopenic, had less complex karyotypes (p = 0.044) and showed a longer survival, either calculated from diagnosis (p < 0.001) or from the time of AEL (p = 0.005). These findings illustrate that ≥ 50% erythroids may appear in BM post-HMA therapy, likely a combination of reduction of BM granulocytes (p < 0.001) and promotion of normal or abnormal erythroid proliferation. Enumeration of blasts as a percentage of non-erythroid cells may lead to a diagnosis of AEL and mis-interpretation as disease progression.
Attenuation and velocity measurement at GHz frequencies in thin film Carbon Doped Silicon Oxide

Acoustical attenuation and velocity parameters for Carbon Doped Oxide (CDO) thin films at GHz frequencies are needed to design Coupled Resonator Filters (CRF). CDO exhibits longitudinal acoustical impedance in the range of 2 to 11 MRayls, velocity of 2400 to 4000 m/s, and acoustical attenuation of 300 to 5000 dB/cm @ 1 GHz. A novel short loop acoustical technique is presented to make these measurements. An FBAR resonator, operating at the quarter wavelength (λ/4) frequency fcdo, excites a CDO thin film. The CDO is made λ/4 thick in order to de-couple the CDO film from the FBAR. From the measured thickness tCDO and λ/4 frequency of the CDO, the velocity v may be calculated: v=4tCDO fCDO. From the measured quality factor Q and wave number k=∞/v, the attenuation constant α ∼ k/(2Q) is calculated. By building matched λ/4 thick resonator/CDO film stacks at different frequencies, the CDO attenuation versus frequency is obtained. A linear (f1) attenuation, not the usual quadratic (f2), dependence on frequency is found. The measurement technique will be described in detail, as well as limitations on the range of validity. A series of CDO film compositions on FBARS were made. Synthesis of the CDO films was discussed previously [1]. A typical CDO film exhibited acoustical v=3250 m/s, impedance=4.7 MRayls, and α=2000 dB/cm @ 1 GHz, (f2) dependence. For well matched λ/4 FBAR resonators and CDO films, the short loop results were quite accurate. When the quarter wavelength condition of either the FBAR or CDO film was violated, there is a slight error in the velocity and attenuation measured. In either case the results are compared to those of values obtained by detailed analysis of the measured scattering parameters in a Mason equivalent circuit.
Up-regulation of the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor by the MAS Proto-oncogene Is Due to Constitutive Activation of Gq/G11 by MAS*

Coexpression of the MAS proto-oncogene with the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor in CHO-K1 cells has been reported to increase the number of [3H]angiotensin II-binding sites, although MAS does not bind [3H]angiotensin II. In HEK293 cells stably expressing AT1 receptor-cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), MAS-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) expression from an inducible locus caused strong up-regulation of AT1 receptor-CFP amounts and [3H]angiotensin II binding levels. The time course of AT1 receptor-CFP up-regulation was also markedly slower than that of induction of MAS expression. These effects were not mimicked by induced expression of I138D MAS-YFP, a mutant unable to cause constitutive loading of [35S]guanosine 5′-O-(thiotriphosphate) onto the phospholipase Cβ-linked G protein Gα11. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors and the selective Gαq/Gα11 inhibitor YM-254890 fully blocked MAS-induced up-regulation of AT1 receptor-CFP amounts, whereas the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate produced strong up-regulation of AT1 receptor-CFP without induction of MAS-YFP expression and in the presence of I138D MAS-YFP. The C-terminal tail of the AT1 receptor is a known target for PKC-mediated phosphorylation. In cells stably expressing a C-terminally truncated version of the AT receptor, induction of MAS expression did not up-regulate the truncated construct levels. These data demonstrate that the ability of MAS to up-regulate AT1 receptor levels reflects the constitutive capacity of MAS to activate Gαq/Gα11 and hence stimulate PKC-dependent phosphorylation of the AT1 receptor.
Impact des intrants organiques et des conduites culturales sur la biomasse microbienne et la diversité des bactéries telluriques

L'objectif de ce travail est d'analyser, au cours d'une cinetique de 24 mois, les effets de differents types de produits organiques (Boue de STEP, Fumier, Compost de fumier et Compost de boue) sur les communautes microbiennes telluriques, en tenant compte des conduites culturales. Les communautes ont ete analysees d'un point de vue quantitatif (denombrement des bacteries heterotrophes aerobies cultivables, quantification de l'ADN et du carbone microbien) et par un suivi de l'activite metabolique potentielle (Biolog) et de la diversite genetique (T-RFLP ADNr 16S). Nous avons mis en evidence un impact specifique transitoire au cours des trois premiers mois suivant l'epandage. L'evolution des communautes semble particulierement influencee par la proportion de carbone mineralisable et de lignine (Van Soest) dans les produits organiques. L'influence du labour et des vegetaux implantes est egalement revelee par l'evolution de la structure des communautes bacteriennes au cours de la cinetique.
Neurosteroids modulate the reaction of astroglia to high extracellular potassium levels

The extracellular concentration of potassium ([K+]0) in brain tissue is modified by neuronal activity and is increased under several pathological conditions. The influence of neurosteroids on the astroglia response to high [K+]0 was assessed on cultured slices from rat hippocampus. Exposure to [K+]0 above physiological (3 mM) levels resulted in the progressive appearance of cell processes immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The maximal effect was observed at 50 mM [K+]0, and further increases of [K+]0 did not increase the extension of GFAP‐immunoreactive processes. The effect was observed as early as 10 min after increasing [K+]0, was independent of new protein synthesis, and was reversible, reaching control conditions by 15 h after resetting [K+]0 to physiological levels. Gonadal hormones and neurosteroids had prominent and variable effects on the stimulatory influence of high [K+]0 on astroglia morphology. At physiological [K+]0, 17β‐estradiol and pregnenolone, as well as its sulfate derivative, increased the extension of GFAP‐immunoreactive processes. However, at high [K+]0, testosterone, pregnenolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate derivative decreased the extension of GFAP‐immunoreactive processes. Effects of gonadal hormones and neurosteroids were blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. These results suggest that non‐genomic effects of high [K+]0 on glial cells interact with genomic effects of steroids to modulate astroglia morphology. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.