Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Mg2+ on Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle fibres from yabby (crustacean) and rat

1 The role of myoplasmic [Mg2+] on Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was examined in the two major types of crustacean muscle fibres, the tonic, long sarcomere fibres and the phasic, short sarcomere fibres of the fresh water decapod crustacean Cherax destructor (yabby) and in the fast‐twitch rat muscle fibres using the mechanically skinned muscle fibre preparation. 2 A robust Ca2+‐induced Ca2+‐release (CICR) mechanism was present in both long and short sarcomere fibres and 1 mm Mg2+ exerted a strong inhibitory action on the SR Ca2+ release in both fibre types. 3 The SR displayed different properties with respect to Ca2+ loading in the long and the short sarcomere fibres and marked functional differences were identified with respect to Mg2+ inhibition between the two crustacean fibre types. Thus, in long sarcomere fibres, the submaximally loaded SR was able to release Ca2+ when [Mg2+] was lowered from 1 to 0.01 mm in the presence of 8 mm ATPtotal and in the virtual absence of Ca2+ (< 5 nM) even when the CICR was suppressed. In contrast, negligible Ca2+ was released from the submaximally loaded SR of short sarcomere yabby fibres when [Mg2+] was lowered from 1 to 0.01 mm under the same conditions as for the long sarcomere fibres. Nevertheless, the rate of SR Ca2+ release in short sarcomere fibres increased markedly when [Mg2+] was lowered in the presence of [Ca2+] approaching the normal resting levels (50‐100 nM). 4 Rat fibres were able to release SR Ca2+ at a faster rate than the long sarcomere yabby fibres when [Mg2+] was lowered from 1 to 0.01 mm in the virtual absence of Ca2+ but, unlike with yabby fibres, the net rate of Ca2+ release was actually increased for conditions that were considerably less favourable to CICR. 5 In summary, it is concluded that crustacean skeletal muscles have more that one functional type of Ca2+‐release channels, that these channels display properties that are intermediate between those of mammalian skeletal and cardiac isoforms, that the inhibition exerted by Mg2+ at rest on the crustacean SR Ca2+‐release channels must be removed during excitation‐contraction coupling and that, unlike in crustacean fibres, CICR cannot play the major role in the activation of SR Ca2+‐release channels in the rat skeletal muscle.
Intersections in Australian research: Older workers, women's labour supply and paid work in aged care

This paper compares an extended Meaning of Work framework with findings from a qualitative research project of employment retention among older women working in aged care. While there are majors areas of commonality there are also some specific points of contrast. This suggests that there are important issues relevant to the aged care sector needing particular consideration in the design of future research.
Microbial and physico-chemical analysis of composting process of wheat straw

Composting is a method of solid waste management to convert organic matter into agriculturally useful humus like substance to enhance nutritional and physical quality of soil. In an attempt to produce quality compost, studies were conducted for six months to investigate the physiological and biochemical changes during the composting of wheat straw. To monitor the composting process a consortium of bacterial isolates (Bacillus subtilis D3L/1, B. subtilis B1U/1 and Pseudomonas sp. RAT/5) (10 7 CFU/mL) was used. After 60 d of incubation, the wheat straw turned black, showed distinct physical changes and emitted odour. Periodical analysis of C/N ratio revealed that ratio of final product was 17:1. Other parameters like NO3 - (1.5%) and NH4 + ion (0.3%) concentration along with pH (7.0±0.2), K + (44%) and PO4 -3 (15.46-33.18 mg/Kg) concentration were also recorded. Maximum activity of amylase together with protease and cellulase were recorded after 60 d of incubation and found to be 44.9-54, 62.28-193.02 and 29.1 U/g, respectively; whereas dehydrogenase activity reached its maximum (4168 U/g) at 30 th d. Salmonella population did not appear throughout the study period. The load of fastidious organisms was 5.3-5.7 U log10 CFU/g up to 30 d that disappeared thereafter, but the coliform population was predominating. Certain fungal strains were detected with potato dextrose agar medium. Physiological, biochemical and morphological character of the final product revealed that aerated static pilling is suitable for compositing of wheat straw.
Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes Diversity Study by Utilization of Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) Markers

Analysis of the extent and distribution of genetic diversity in crop plants is essential for optimizing sampling and breeding strategies. Several methods were identified for the existence of diversity in maize for the aim of perfect selection based on great diversity among maize genotypes. In this study, Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to assess genetic diversity in a selected group of maize inbred ( Zea mays L.) genotypes. A high level of polymorphism of 69% was detected among these genotypes. The ISSR primers showed 10 fingerprints for six genotypes out of 9 studied which are Frantic, Huediba-1, Balady, Huediba-2, Giza 2 and Mogtamaa 45-2. The maximum genetic distance of 0.48% was detected between Huediba-2 and Mogtama- 45-2. While, the minimum genetic distance of 0.16 percent was observed between Giza-2 and Var.113. The results indicated that variation can be attributed to use of ISSR.
An unusual "penicillinase plasmid" in staphylococcus aureus; evidence for its transfer under natural conditions.

SUMMARY A plasmid (PF) has been identified in 18 strains of Staphylococcus aureus that belong to phage-groups I, II, and III or are non-typable. This plasmid is characterised by: (a) carrying the genes for resistance to fusidic acid and cadmium ions, but not to arsenate or mercury ions, and for the production of D-serotype penicillinase, (b) sl molecular weight of 16 million daltons, (c) the ability to exist with a “penicillinase plasmid” of compatibility-group I, and (d) a tendency to fragment. The PF plasmid has probably spread among the natural population of staphylococci.
T-Cell Responses Directed against Multiple HLA-A*0201-Restricted Epitopes Derived from Wilms' Tumor 1 Protein in Patients with Leukemia and Healthy Donors: Identification, Quantification, and Characterization

Purpose: Antigens derived from the Wilms' tumor (WT1) protein, which is overexpressed in leukemias, are attractive targets for immunotherapy. Four HLA-A*0201-restricted WT1-derived epitopes have been identified: WT37, WT126, WT187, and WT235. We determined the natural immunogenecity of these antigens in patients with hematologic malignancies and healthy donor. Experimental Design: To detect very low frequencies of WT1-specific CD8+ T cells, we used quantitative reverse transcription-PCR to measure IFN-γ mRNA production by WT1 peptide–pulsed CD8+ T cells from 12 healthy donors, 8 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, 6 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, and 8 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Results: Responses were detected in 5 of 8 chronic myelogenous leukemia patients, 4 of 6 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, and 7 of 12 healthy donors. No responses were detected in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The magnitude and extent of these CD8+ T-cell responses was greater in patients with myeloid leukemias than in healthy donors. Clonotypic analysis of WT1-specific CD8+ T cells directly ex vivo in one case showed that this naturally occurring population was oligoclonal. Using fluorescent peptide-MHC class I tetramers incorporating mutations in the α3 domain (D227K/T228A) that abrogate binding to the CD8 coreceptor, we were able to confirm the presence of high-avidity T-cell clones within the antigen-specific repertoire. Conclusion: The natural occurrence of high-avidity WT1-specific CD8+ T cells in the periphery could facilitate vaccination strategies to expand immune responses against myeloid leukemias.
Fish vaccination against infections by Streptococcal species and the particular case of Lactococcosis Vacinação em peixes contra infecções por espécies de Streptococcus e o caso particular da Lactococcose

Lactococcus garvieae, a species of the Streptococose-ceae family, is the etiological agent of lactococose. Lactococose has become a worldwide disseminated infection reported in a large number of fish specimens, including salmonids. The increased seriousness of the outbreaks after a first contact is well recognized, being the pathology accompanied by intraocular haemorrhage, anorexia, acute meningitis as well as "oculo-splanchnic dissociation". Treatment is in most cases unsatisfactory and the overall recommendation is to destroy the diseased stock. Immunoprophylaxis seems to be a promising field in the prevention of lactococcosis, especially in freshwater fish, which are the ones experiencing the highest water temperatures, during summer months. Moreover, vaccination has been proved to be a highly effective method controlling diseases in salmonid industry, mainly located in Europe, America and Japan. Although there has been a development of studies on vaccination against lactococcosis, its future still seems to be uncertain, because major efforts need to be done to achieve an effective and long prophylactic method against this disease.
Source of resistance to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) in tomato cultivars

Nine tomato cultivars Redstone, Karoon, Falat CH, Falat 111, Efialto, Rutgers, Gina VF, Calj and Mobile were tested for their resistance to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica) at inoculum levels of 0, 1000, 3000, 5000 juveniles (J2) per pot. Six cultivars found to be susceptible to varying degrees as egg masses were present in all with Rutgers being the most susceptible and also Falat CH, Redstone, Karoon, Mobile, Calj were susceptible while Efialto, Falat 111, Gina VF showed resistant reaction. The inoculums levels had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the number of galls, egg mass, reproduction factor and plant weight. This factors and plant weight was negatively correlated with the highest gall numbers, egg mass, reproduction factor and lowest plant weights recorded at the highest inoculums level in all cultivars except in Efialto, Gina VF, Falat 111 in which there were little variation in gall numbers, egg mass, reproduction factor and plant weights. These cultivars can be used as source of resistance.
Intake rates and the functional response in shorebirds (Charadriiformes) eating macro‐invertebrates

As field determinations take much effort, it would be useful to be able to predict easily the coefficients describing the functional response of free‐living predators, the function relating food intake rate to the abundance of food organisms in the environment. As a means easily to parameterise an individual‐based model of shorebird Charadriiformes populations, we attempted this for shorebirds eating macro‐invertebrates. Intake rate is measured as the ash‐free dry mass (AFDM) per second of active foraging; i.e. excluding time spent on digestive pauses and other activities, such as preening. The present and previous studies show that the general shape of the functional response in shorebirds eating approximately the same size of prey across the full range of prey density is a decelerating rise to a plateau, thus approximating the Holling type II (‘disc equation’) formulation. But field studies confirmed that the asymptote was not set by handling time, as assumed by the disc equation, because only about half the foraging time was spent in successfully or unsuccessfully attacking and handling prey, the rest being devoted to searching.
How to diagnose IgG4-related disease

We read with great interest the editorial by Fox and Fox1 describing the use of serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) concentrations as a marker for IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). IgG4-RD is a fascinating clinical entity including a wide variety of diseases, formerly diagnosed as Mikulicz’s disease, autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), interstitial nephritis, prostatitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis.2 ,3 However, universal criteria for IgG4-RD have not yet been established at present, making its diagnosis in some patients ambiguous leading to many IgG4-RD mimickers. A 3-year investigation by the Japanese IgG4 team, organised by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan, has reached a consensus, in that IgG4-RD can occur in various organs, with clinical symptoms depending on lesion location. Characteristics common to all forms of IgG4-RD include elevated serum IgG4 concentration and tissue infiltration by IgG4-positive plasma cells, accompanied by tissue fibrosis and sclerosis.2 In 2011, the Japanese IgG4 team published comprehensive diagnostic (CD) criteria for IgG4-RD,4 with the major characteristics being serum IgG4 concentration >135 mg/dL, the infiltration of >10 IgG4+ cells …
Anti-Inflammatory Entrapment in Polycaprolactone/Silica Hybrid Material Prepared by Sol-Gel Route, Characterization, Bioactivity and in Vitro Release Behavior

Aim A novel organic/inorganic hybrid material, based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and silica (SiO2), were synthesized by the sol-gel method. An anti-inflammatory agent (indomethacin) was incorporated into the hybrid material to verify its local controlled drug delivery system. Methods The structure of the interpenetrating network was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of the materials was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The structure of a molecular level dispersion was disclosed by atomic force microscopy. The bioactivity of the synthesized hybrid materials was revealed by the formation of a layer of hydroxyapatite on the surface of samples soaked in a simulated body fluid (sBF). Release kinetics in SBF were subsequently investigated. The amount of drug released was detected by UV-VIS spectroscopy. Results Pure anti-inflammatory agent exhibited linear release with time; in contrast, sol-gel silica entrapped drugs were released with a logarithmic time dependence starting with an initial burst effect followed by a gradual decrease. Conclusions SiO2/PCL (3, 6, 9 and 12 %wt) materials, prepared via sol-gel process, are organic/inorganic hybrid and bioactive materials. All the materials showed a good release and therefore could be used as drug delivery system.
Convergent Habitat Segregation of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Southeastern Brazil and Florida

Abstract During the rainy season of 2001, the incidence of the dengue vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus was examined in different habitats of two cities (Rio de Janeiro and Nova Iguaçu) in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and in two cities (Palm Beach and Boca Raton) in Florida. Oviposition trap collections were performed in urban, suburban, and rural habitats in both areas. Our hypothesis that the abundances and frequencies of occurrence of Ae. aegypti and Ae albopictus are affected in opposite ways by increasing urbanization was only partially supported. City, habitat, and their interaction significantly affected the abundance of both species. Cities with high abundance of Ae. aegypti also had a high abundance of Ae. albopictus. The two species were most abundant in the cities of Rio de Janeiro state and the lowest in Boca Raton. Habitat had a significant but opposite effect on the abundances of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. In general, Ae. aegypti was most prevalent in highly urbanized areas and Ae. albopictus in rural, suburban, and vegetated urban areas in Rio de Janeiro state and Florida. However, abundances of the two species were similar in most suburban areas. Analyses of frequencies of occurrence showed an unexpected high level of co-occurrence of both species in the same oviposition trap. Despite the different geographical origins of Ae. albopictus in Brazil and the United States, the habitats used by this recent invader are remarkably similar in the two countries.
Influence of lactate accumulation of EMG frequency spectrum during repeated concentric contractions.

One hundred and twenty consecutive maximal leg extensions at a constant angular velocity of 1.5 radians . s-1 were performed by nine physical education students. Integrated electromyographic (IEMG) activity and power spectrum density function (PSDF) of the EMG were recorded from m. vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and m. rectus femoris using bipolar surface electrodes. Muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis before and after exercise. Tissue samples were analyzed for muscle fiber type distribution and lactate and glycogen concentration. Muscle force and IEMG decreased in parallel over the exercise period. Thus, the IEMG/force ratio was unchanged. Mean power frequency (MPF) of PSDF of the three nucleus decreased by 10% (p less than 0.001) during the initial 25 contractions with no further decline during the latter part of exercise. The relative contribution of the highest bandwidth (130-500 Hz) of the PSDF decreased (p less than 0.001) between the first and final contractions. Muscle glycogen concentration decreased from 85 +/- 23 to 68 +/- 22 mmol . kg-1 w.w. during the exercise. Muscle and blood lactate concentration averaged 12.1 +/- 8.8 mmol . kg-1 w.w. and 3.8 +/- 0.8 mmol . l-1, respectively. The relative changes in MPF and in the highest bandwidth were correlated with muscle lactate concentration and fiber type distribution: in individuals with a high proportion of fast twitch muscle fibres and/or the greatest lactate accumulation, MPF and high frequency components of EMG PSDF decreased most markedly. Reductions in muscle force and IEMG are suggested to be partly due to a decreased motor neuron firing rate. It is discussed whether lactate or associated metabolic changes are influencing the motor unit action potential through feedback processes.
Molecular Forms of Acetylcholinesterase in Pineal Cell and Sympathetic Neuronal Cultures

Abstract The activities of the various molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were measured in monolayer cultures of neonatal rat pineal cells grown alone and in co‐culture with sympathetic neurons. AChE forms characterized by sedimentation coefficients of 4S, 6.5S, and 10S were found in the neuronal and pineal cultures, as well as in the co‐cultures. The 16S AChE form was found only in the neuronal cultures. Total AChE activity increased with culture age in the co‐cultures, but it decreased in pineal cells cultured alone. The low level of activity present in the neuronal cultures did not change markedly over the 27‐day culture period. These results, which show bidirectional neuron‐pineal cell effects, suggest that AChE molecular forms may be important markers to study the mechanisms underlying neuron‐target cell interaction in the developing sympathetic nervous system.
Separation of individual‐level and cluster‐level covariate effects in regression analysis of correlated data

The focus of this paper is regression analysis of clustered data. Although the presence of intracluster correlation (the tendency for items within a cluster to respond alike) is typically viewed as an obstacle to good inference, the complex structure of clustered data offers significant analytic advantages over independent data. One key advantage is the ability to separate effects at the individual (or item‐specific) level and the group (or cluster‐specific) level. We review different approaches for the separation of individual‐level and cluster‐level effects on response, their appropriate interpretation and give recommendations for model fitting based on the intent of the data analyst. Unlike many earlier papers on this topic, we place particular emphasis on the interpretation of the cluster‐level covariate effect. The main ideas of the paper are highlighted in an analysis of the relationship between birth weight and IQ using sibling data from a large birth cohort study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rational design of peptide vaccines for autoimmune disease: harnessing molecular recognition to fix a broken network

Autoreactive T-cells and antibodies are found at low levels in normal individuals and are thought to be kept at bay by regulatory T-cells and a network of idiotypic and anti-idiotype-bearing antigen receptors on lymphocytes as well as idiotypic anti-idiotypic antibodies. Disruption of this network by genetic, environmental and unknown factors is thought to result in autoimmune diseases. An obvious, ideal and specific therapy for such disorders would be to harness this regulatory network to re-establish immunologic homeostasis. In practice, however, this is not an easy task as most autoimmune diseases involve polyclonal responses to self antigen. Thus, we are faced with the conundrum of not knowing which autoreactive idiotype-bearing antibody or antigen receptor(s) to target in order to restore or induce network regulatory function. The thesis of this review is that understanding a fundamental property governing peptide/protein shape can be used in part to circumvent the problems of self reactivity and polyclonality in autoimmune disorders. More specifically, an algorithm has been developed to design peptide vaccines with shapes that are thought to be complementary in contour to self epitopes which seem to be the focus of autoimmunity. In theory, such complementary shapes should be engendered in certain autoreactive antigen receptors – these complementary constructs consequently represent receptor mimetics. By targeting an immune response against such mimetics, one generates a polyclonal anti-idiotype response that matches the complexity of the autoimmune response itself. This article will describe the algorithm for vaccine design, summarize the in vitro and in vivo evidence for its efficacy and discuss possible therapeutic utility in human autoimmune diseases.
Assessment of a 90nm PMOS NBTI in the form of products failure rate

NBTI is known to be the most critical MOS reliability issue for ppb-level product failures in giga-transistor integrated systems. A new assessment on 90 nm PMOS NBTI is presented. The new metric is based on product failure rate, which takes into account product integration. In a 90 nm technology, the product level failure rate (hazard rate) is estimated to be 3E-3 FIT @ worst case environmental conditions of 125/spl deg/C and +10% Vdd. The 1 FIT lifetime is estimated to be 15 years. Degradation during burn-in test is less important since the failure rate saturates for long stress times. The assumed lognormal distribution of NBTI lifetime remains as a discussion issue.