Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bovine γδ T-Cell Responses to the Intracellular Protozoan Parasite Theileria parva

ABSTRACT T cells bearing the γδ antigen receptor (γδ T cells) can constitute up to 50% of T cells in the peripheral blood and lymphoid organs of young cattle. We present data showing that γδ T cells are involved in immune responses against Theileria parva. γδ T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of T. parva-naive and -immune cattle proliferated in the presence of fixed or unfixed autologous T. parva-infected lymphoblasts (TpL) and heat-stressed concanavalin A (ConA)-induced blasts (ConA blasts) but not untreated ConA blasts. The specificity of response was further evaluated with a panel of γδ T-cell lines and clones. T-cell reactivity was blocked by GB21A, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for the γδ T-cell receptor, but not by MAbs specific for class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. In addition, TpL but not ConA blasts from a variety of MHC-mismatched animals induced proliferation of the γδ T-cell lines and clones. These γδ T cells were found to respond to TpL infected with several different parasite stocks and failed to recognize TpL after elimination of the parasite by the theilericidal drug BW 720C. Assays for cytotoxic activity of γδ T cells sorted from bulk cultures of immune PBMC restimulated several times with autologous TpL demonstrated that effector cells whose specificity is similar to that of proliferating cells are generated. These results suggest that bovine γδ T cells are activated by and lyse T. parva-infected cells by recognizing conserved parasite-induced or parasite-derived antigens in an MHC-unrestricted fashion.
A collaborative BCI system based on P300 signals as a new tool for life log indexing

Analyses on single-trial ElectroEncephaloGram (EEG) have been investigated toward realizing real-time Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). In general, the information transfer rates of current BCI systems with single-trial EEG are generally lower than those with averaging EEG. In recent years, the concept of collaborative EEG analyses has been proposed with the purpose of improving the BCI performances with collaborative single-trial EEGs of individuals. In this paper, a collaborative BCI system is developed based on P300 evoked potentials. The collaborative BCI system with Global Positioning System (GPS) can be operated with three subjects by using three wearable EEG recording devices and wireless communications. As the results, the P300 waveforms could be observed and it was found that the collaborative P300 analyses could improve the BCI performances than individual P300 analyses. The result of this study is to be applied to P300-based big data mining and life log indexing, in particular, in outdoor environment.
BIOMASS CHAR SULFONIC ACIDS (BC-SO3H)-CATALYZED HYDROLYSIS OF BAMBOO UNDER MICROWAVE IRRADIATION

A heterogeneous process for the hydrolysis of bamboo into reducing sugars, a process catalyzed by biomass char sulfonic acids (BC-SO3Hs), was carried out under microwave irradiation. This transformation technology was nearly ineffective with regards to the hydrolysis of fresh bamboo because of the impeding lignin that was wrapped around the cellulose, but the hydrolysis proceeded efficiently when the hemicellulose, and especially the lignin in bamboo, were partly removed through pretreatment with an aqueous ZnCl2 solution under microwave irradiation. The BC-SO3H catalyst bearing –SO3H, OH, and COOH groups showed much higher turnover numbers (TON, 0.64 to 1.07) for the hydrolysis of the pretreated bamboo than did the dilute H2SO4 solution (TON, 0.08). This is likely due to its strong affinity for Beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds of cellulose. The microwave irradiation resulted in much higher hydrolytic efficiency than did conventional heating. This likely resulted from the microwave irradiation’s unique role in activating the cellulose molecules and heightening particle collisions, effects that can remarkably accelerate this process of heterogeneous catalysis.
Biphasic Elimination of Tenofovir Diphosphate and Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics of Zidovudine Triphosphate in a Microdosing Study

Objective:Phase 0 studies can provide initial pharmacokinetics (PKs) data in humans and help to facilitate early drug development, but their predictive value for standard dosing is controversial. To evaluate the prediction of microdosing for active intracellular drug metabolites, we compared the PK profile of 2 antiretroviral drugs, zidovudine (ZDV) and tenofovir (TFV), in microdose and standard dosing regimens. Study Design:We administered a microdose (100 &mgr;g) of 14C-labeled drug (ZDV or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) with or without a standard unlabelled dose (300 mg) to healthy volunteers. Both the parent drug in plasma and the active metabolite, ZDV-triphosphate (ZDV-TP) or TFV-diphosphate (TFV-DP) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4+ cells were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry. Results:The intracellular ZDV-TP concentration increased less than proportionally over the dose range studied (100 &mgr;g–300 mg), whereas the intracellular TFV-DP PKs were linear over the same dose range. ZDV-TP concentrations were lower in CD4+ cells versus total PBMCs, whereas TFV-DP concentrations were not different in CD4+ cells and PBMCs. Conclusions:Our data were consistent with a rate-limiting step in the intracellular phosphorylation of ZDV but not TFV. Accelerator mass spectrometry shows promise for predicting the PK of active intracellular metabolites of nucleosides, but nonlinearity of PK may be seen with some drugs.
Modeling of S‐Nitrosothiol–Thiol Reactions of Biological Significance: HNO Production by S‐Thiolation Requires a Proton Shuttle and Stabilization of Polar Intermediates

Nitroxyl (HNO), a reduced form of the important gasotransmitter nitric oxide, exhibits its own unique biological activity. A possible biological pathway of HNO formation is the S‐thiolation reaction between thiols and S‐nitrosothiols (RSNOs). Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested that S‐thiolation proceeds through a proton transfer from the thiol to the RSNO nitrogen atom, which increases electrophilicity of the RSNO sulfur, followed by nucleophilic attack by thiol, yielding a charge‐separated zwitterionic intermediate structure RSS+(R)N(H)O− (Zi), which decomposes to yield HNO and disulfide RSSR. In the gas phase, the proton transfer and the S−S bond formation are asynchronous, resulting in a high activation barrier (>40 kcal mol−1), making the reaction infeasible. However, the barrier can decrease below the S−N bond dissociation energy in RSNOs (≈30 kcal mol−1) upon transition into an aqueous environment that stabilizes Zi and provides a proton shuttle to synchronize the proton transfer and the S−S bond formation. These mechanistic features suggest that S‐thiolation can easily lend itself to enzymatic catalysis and thus can be a possible route of endogenous HNO production.
Analysis of unstructured text data for a person social profile

The greatest scientific interest for analysts are Internet open social data, because it has a direct link with all kinds of human activity. However, these data are not suitable for the application in its original form. Information should be presented in a structured, convenient, human-readable form which is called a social profile. The social profile building is carried out through the analysis of the filtered Internet open source data. Analysis of personal profile data is achieved through the use of mathematical set theory, Big Data software, NoSQL data stores and analytic tools for social media. This article discusses methods of unstructured textual data analysis in relation to a social profile. Special attention is given to the search of implicit dependences in texts using visual analysis and natural language processing means. Phase of the textual data analysis is the most important in terms of results and complicated to implement. There is the possibility to partially automate the process of information analyzing through the use of visual analysis, natural language processing (NLP), neural networks and specialized algorithms. Resulted data provide a detailed in-depth review of the social profile entities and relations. It can be used in further deeper social researches.
The Influence of Light on Microtubule Dynamics and Alignment in the Arabidopsis Hypocotyl[W]

This article used mutants in the light/gibberellin pathway to examine microtubules under dark-like conditions and found that light inhibits the polymerization and reorientation of microtubules at the onset of growth. Light and dark have antagonistic effects on shoot elongation, but little is known about how these effects are translated into changes of shape. Here we provide genetic evidence that the light/gibberellin–signaling pathway affects the properties of microtubules required to reorient growth. To follow microtubule dynamics for hours without triggering photomorphogenic inhibition of growth, we used Arabidopsis thaliana light mutants in the gibberellic acid/DELLA pathway. Particle velocimetry was used to map the mass movement of microtubule plus ends, providing new insight into the way that microtubules switch between orthogonal axes upon the onset of growth. Longitudinal microtubules are known to signal growth cessation, but we observed that cells also self-organize a strikingly bipolarized longitudinal array before bursts of growth. This gives way to a radial microtubule star that, far from being a random array, seems to be a key transitional step to the transverse array, forecasting the faster elongation that follows. Computational modeling provides mechanistic insight into these transitions. In the faster-growing mutants, the microtubules were found to have faster polymerization rates and to undergo faster reorientations. This suggests a mechanism in which the light-signaling pathway modifies the dynamics of microtubules and their ability to switch between orthogonal axes.
Atg8 family LC3/GABARAP proteins are crucial for autophagosome–lysosome fusion but not autophagosome formation during PINK1/Parkin mitophagy and starvation

Current autophagy models suggest that Atg8 family LC3/GABARAP proteins are essential mediators of autophagosome biogenesis. Nguyen et al. exploit CRISPR/Cas9-generated knockouts of the LC3 or GABARAP subfamilies, or both subfamilies, to show that Atg8s are dispensable for autophagosome biogenesis but essential for autophagosome–lysosome fusion.
Perioperative and Delayed Major Complications Following Surgical Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Background: Reporting accurate surgical complication rates to patients and their families is important in the management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). In this study, we report the rate of major complications following the surgical treatment of AIS both in the perioperative period and among patients with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. Methods: We reviewed the prospectively collected data of a multicenter registry of patients who underwent surgical treatment of AIS during the period of 1995 to 2014 in order to identify all complications. A complication was defined as “major” if it resulted in reoperation or in spinal cord or nerve root injury, or was life-threatening. A total of 3,582 patients with preoperative and early postoperative data (4 to 6 weeks of follow-up) were included. A subset of 2,220 patients with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up comprised the cohort for delayed complications. Overall complication rates were calculated, as was the percentage of complications according to the year of the index surgery and type of surgical approach. Results: The mean age of the 3,582 patients at the time of surgery was 14.8 ± 2.2 years. The average major curve magnitude was 56° ± 13° for thoracic curves and 51° ± 11° for lumbar. In 365 patients, anterior spinal fusion (ASF) with instrumentation was performed, and in 3,217 patients, posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with instrumentation was performed; 142 patients in the PSF group underwent concomitant anterior release. There were 192 major complications, with 93 (2.6%) occurring perioperatively. Perioperative complications included wound-related (1.0% of the patients), neurologic (0.5%), pulmonary (0.4%), instrumentation-related (0.4%), and gastrointestinal (0.2%) complications. One patient died. The mean annual perioperative major complication rate based on the year of surgery ranged from 0% to 10.5%. The complication rate by surgical approach was 3.0% for ASF and 2.6% for PSF (2.4% for PSF only and 5.6% for PSF with anterior release). The major complication rate for the 2,220 patients with at least 2 years of follow-up was 4.1%; all but 1 had a reoperation (4.1%). The majority of these major complications were wound and instrumentation-related (1.9% and 0.8%, respectively). Conclusions: After surgery for AIS, a 2.6% rate of perioperative major complications and a 4.1% rate of major complications at 2 or more years after surgery can be anticipated. The complication rate decreased over the period of study. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
In isolated skeletal muscle, excitation may increase extracellular K+ 10‐fold; how can contractility be maintained?

During excitation, isolated rat muscles undergo a net loss of cellular K+, which cannot be cleared via capillaries and can only be cleared to a small extent via diffusion into the surrounding buffer. Therefore, K+ accumulates in the extracellular space and can be quantified using flame photometry and compared with contractile performance in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles. During electrical stimulation, extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o) shows a rapid early rise, followed by a slower increase, reflecting progressive loss of excitability. Thus, after 30 s of 60 Hz stimulation in EDL, where [K+]o reaches 50 mm, increasing the pulse duration from 0.2 to 1.0 ms augments force by 172%. Excitation‐induced cellular loss of K+ coincides with an equivalent gain of Na+, in keeping with the one‐for‐one exchange of Na+ and K+. This Na+–K+ exchange is completely reversible and is not accompanied by changes in the 14C‐sucrose space or release of intracellular enzyme activity, indicating that it is not due to unspecific cellular leakage. In EDL, 60 s of 20 Hz stimulation induced force elevation and increased [K+]o to 43–47 mm. The force elevation was suppressed by ouabain (10−5m), indicating that the Na+–K+ pump contributes to maintenance of excitability. After 15 s of 60 Hz stimulation, resting net re‐extrusion of Na+ was 7.3‐fold faster than basal Na+ efflux. Bumetanide, which blocks Na+–K+–2Cl– cotransport, caused no change in force and K+ contents, excitation‐induced loss of K+ or postexcitatory reaccumulation of K+. Omission of Cl− increased the rate of force decline 14‐fold. In conclusion, during repeated excitation, isolated rat muscles undergo a much greater increase in [K+]o than previously reported, sufficient to explain loss of force. This K+ is not cleared via Na+–K+–2Cl– cotransport, but rather via Na+–K+ pumps and by processes depending on Cl− exchange. These mechanisms are essential for the maintenance of force during intense contractions in vivo, where the clearance of K+ via the capillaries may be suppressed.
Consistency of Generalized Finite Difference Schemes for the Stochastic HJB Equation

We analyze a class of numerical schemes for solving the HJB equation for stochastic control problems, which enters the framework of Markov chain approximations and generalizes the usual finite difference method. The latter is known to be monotonic, and hence valid, only if the scaled covariance matrix is dominant diagonal. We generalize this result by, given the set of neighboring points allowed to enter the scheme, showing how to compute effectively the class of covariance matrices that is consistent with this set of points. We perform this computation for several cases in dimensions 2, 3, and 4.
Heparin Cofactor II, Antithrombin and Protein C in Plasma from Term and Preterm Infants

ABSTRACT. The coagulation inhibitors heparin cofactor II (HCII), antithrombin (AT) and protein C (PC) were measured in healthy term and preterm infants in order to establish reference standards. The mean value for HCII in term infants was found to be about half of the adult values. Values below 25% in healthy infants may suggest hereditary deficiency states. One girl with congenital HC II deficiency was detected. Mean AT and PC levels were somewhat higher than HC II. Healthy preterm infants have significantly lower HC II and AT values than healthy term infants. Serial AT measurements have been used in monitoring seriously ill infants and used as a prognostic indicator. In a small number of unhealthy neonates HC II was reduced to an even greater extent than AT, and on recovery normalized more rapidly than AT.
Informative priors or noninformative priors? A Bayesian re-analysis of binary data from Macugen phase III clinical trials

ABSTRACT It has became more popular in the recent statistical literature to see Bayesian approaches for clinical trials, such as assurance calculations for study designs and the use of posterior probability for data analyses. When applying Bayesian analysis to clinical trial data, one common question is to use informative priors or noninformative priors. In order to explore this question, we looked for existing clinical trial data with a simple structure and a simple clinical endpoint so that the Bayesian re-analyses can be easily performed. We came across the published Phase III Macugen® data that were suitable for this exploration. In this manuscript, the Macugen Phase III development program was described, the primary data for the two Phase III pivotal studies were re-analyzed using Bayesian applications with informative priors and noninformative priors. These re-analysis results were summarized, compared, and discussed.
The irritable bowel syndrome: diagnostic strategies.

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain, abdominal distension and altered bowel habits. The diagnosis is usually made by excluding other diseases. The diagnosis of IBS must be based on a) medical history (i.e. symptoms, bowel habits, normal physical examination, absence of intestinal infections or parasites) b) physiopathological evaluation (hyperactivity of the distal colon, hypersensitivity to stimuli, stress), and c) physiological evaluation of the patient. The diagnosis of IBS can be supposed in patients with typical symptoms in the absence of other diseases that were excluded by complementary examinations.
Effects of biofilter media depth and moisture content on removal of gases from a swine barn

ABSTRACT Media depth (MD) and moisture content (MC) are two important factors that greatly influence biofilter performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effect of MC and MD on removing ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and nitrous oxide (N2O) from swine barns. Biofiltration performance of different MDs and MCs in combination based on a mixed medium of wood chips and compost was monitored. A 3 × 3 factorial design was adopted, which included three levels of the two factors (MC: 45%, 55%, and 67% [wet basis]; MD: 0.17, 0.33, and 0.50 m). Results indicated that high MC and MD could improve NH3 removal efficiency, but increase outlet N2O concentration. When MC was 67%, the average NH3 removal efficiency of three MDs (0.17, 0.33, and, 0.50 m) ranged from 77.4% to 78.7%; the range of average H2S removal efficiency dropped from 68.1–90.0% (1–34 days of the test period) to 36.8–63.7% (35–58 days of the test period); and the average outlet N2O concentration increased by 25.5–60.1%. When MC was 55%, the average removal efficiency of NH3, H2S, and N2O for treatment with 0.33 m MD was 72.8 ± 5.9%, 70.9 ± 13.3%, and –18.9 ± 8.1%, respectively; and the average removal efficiency of NH3, H2S, and N2O for treatment with 0.50 m MD was 77.7 ± 4.2%, 65.8 ± 13.7%, and –24.5 ±12.1%, respectively. When MC was 45%, the highest average NH3 reduction efficiency among three MDs was 60.7% for 0.5 m MD, and the average N2O removal efficiency for three MDs ranged from –18.8% to –12.7%. In addition, the pressure drop of 0.33 m MD was significantly lower than that of 0.50 m MD (p < 0.05). To obtain high mitigation of NH3 and H2S and avoid elevated emission of N2O and large pressure drop, 0.33 m MD at 55% MC is recommended. Implications: The performances of biofilters with three different media depths (0.17, 0.33, and 0.50 m) and three different media moisture contents (45%, 55%, and 67% [wet basis]) were compared to remove gases from a swine barn. Using wood chips and compost mixture as the biofilters media, the combination of 0.33 m media depth and 55% media moisture content is recommended to obtain good reduction of NH3 and H2S, and to simultaneously prevent elevated emission of N2O and large pressure drop across the media.
Roles and Strategies of Diabetes Support Group Facilitators

Purpose The purpose of the study was to explore the roles and strategies implemented by diabetes support group facilitators. Methods A descriptive exploratory design that included 2 in-depth interviews and 1 group interview of 6 diabetes support group facilitators was implemented over a 2-month period. Results The participants described the role of facilitator as involving 4 major aspects: (1) a philosophy of shared authority and group ownership; (2) a conception of diabetes as a highly complex disease interconnected with all aspects of one’s life; (3) a focus on quality of life; and (4) recognition of perfectionism as neither possible nor desirable in self-management. These role aspects formed the context for facilitator strategies in working with support groups. Four strategies were identified based on the individual and group interviews: (1) connecting, (2) exchanging information, (3) managing group dynamics, and (4) promoting problem solving. A facilitator support group model was developed from the study results. Conclusions A clear need exists to develop and teach best practices for support group facilitation. Education in this area should occur systematically at the baccalaureate and master’s levels as the role of health providers increasingly expands to include populations living with chronic diseases. Health care providers who are functioning in this role need continuing education to provide proficient care in this area of practice.
Layered magnetic structures: Evidence for antiferromagnetic coupling of Fe layers across Cr interlayers.

We investigated exchange coupling of Fe layers across Au and Cr interlayers by means of light scattering from spin waves. For Au interlayers we find a continuous decrease of this coupling to zero as the Au thickness is increased from 0 to \ensuremath{\cong}20 \AA{}. For Cr interlayers of proper thickness we find antiferromagnetic coupling of the Fe layers. In small external fields such double layers order antiparallel with their magnetization perpendicular to the external field, in analogy to the spin-flop phase of antiferromagnets.
RNA-seq – Revealing Biological Insights in Bacteria

New technologies are constantly being released and the improvements therein bring ad‐ vances not only to transcriptome, the focus of this chapter, but also to diverse areas of biological research. Since the announcement and application of the RNA-seq approach, discoveries are being made in this field, but when we consider bacterial species, this progress proceeded a few years behind. However, with the application of RNA-seq de‐ rivative approaches, we can gain biological insights into the bacterial world and aspire to uncover the mysteries involving gene expression, organization and other functional ge‐ nomic features.