Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relative influence of meteorological conditions and aerosols on the lifetime of mesoscale convective systems

Significance Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are the primary source of precipitation over the tropics and midlatitudes, and their lifetime can have a large influence on the variability of rainfall, especially extreme rainfall that causes flooding. The hypothesis that aerosols can increase the lifetime of the MCSs by weakening or delaying precipitation has long been proposed, but we have not known whether that increase is significant on global and regional scales, and, if so, how it compares with the influence of meteorological conditions. We use multiyear collocated geostationary and polar-orbital satellite datasets to provide, to our knowledge, the first observational assessment of such an aerosol effect and its relative importance compared with other meteorological conditions in determining the variability of MCSs’ lifetime. Using collocated measurements from geostationary and polar-orbital satellites over tropical continents, we provide a large-scale statistical assessment of the relative influence of aerosols and meteorological conditions on the lifetime of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Our results show that MCSs’ lifetime increases by 3–24 h when vertical wind shear (VWS) and convective available potential energy (CAPE) are moderate to high and ambient aerosol optical depth (AOD) increases by 1 SD (1σ). However, this influence is not as strong as that of CAPE, relative humidity, and VWS, which increase MCSs’ lifetime by 3–30 h, 3–27 h, and 3–30 h per 1σ of these variables and explain up to 36%, 45%, and 34%, respectively, of the variance of the MCSs’ lifetime. AOD explains up to 24% of the total variance of MCSs’ lifetime during the decay phase. This result is physically consistent with that of the variation of the MCSs’ ice water content (IWC) with aerosols, which accounts for 35% and 27% of the total variance of the IWC in convective cores and anvil, respectively, during the decay phase. The effect of aerosols on MCSs’ lifetime varies between different continents. AOD appears to explain up to 20–22% of the total variance of MCSs’ lifetime over equatorial South America compared with 8% over equatorial Africa. Aerosols over the Indian Ocean can explain 20% of total variance of MCSs’ lifetime over South Asia because such MCSs form and develop over the ocean. These regional differences of aerosol impacts may be linked to different meteorological conditions.
Characterization of the first European isolate of Neospora caninum (Dubey, Carpenter, Speer, Topper and Uggla)

SUMMARY Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan, protozoan parasite, which causes severe disease in dogs and cattle. It has previously been isolated only in the United States. A 5-week-old Boxer pup with a progressive hindlimb paresis was diagnosed as suffering from neosporosis on the basis of clinical signs and the presence of anti-Neospora antibodies in it, 2 litter-mates and its darn. Despite treatment with sulphonamides, the pup was euthanased 3 days later. The diagnosis of neosporosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical examination of muscle and CNS tissue sections from the pup. Parasites were isolated into Vero cell culture from the cerebrum, and confirmed as Neospora caninum by immunofluorescence with specific antibody, tachyzoite ultrastructure and 16S-like ribosomal RNA sequences. This isolate (designated NC-Liverpool) has been continuously passaged every 7–10 days. Its growth characteristics, ultrastructure and antigenic profile, as revealed by immunoblotting, have revealed no major differences from the American NC-1 isolate. Furthermore, no difference was seen when comparing the sequences of 16S-like ribosomal RNA and the ITS1 region of the two isolates.
Improved vision-related function after ranibizumab treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: results of a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of ranibizumab on patient-reported visual function using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN In MARINA, a randomized, double-masked clinical trial, 716 patients with AMD with recent disease progression and minimally classic or occult with no classic lesion component were randomized 1:1:1 to monthly intravitreal ranibizumab (0.3 or 0.5 mg) or sham injections. The NEI VFQ-25 was administered at 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. Main Outcome Measure Mean change from baseline in NEI VFQ-25 scores at 12 and 24 months. RESULTS At 12 months, ranibizumab-treated patients (0.3 mg [n = 238] and 0.5 mg [n = 240]) had mean improvements in NEI VFQ-25 composite scores of +5.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5 to 6.9) and +5.6 (95% CI, 3.9 to 7.4), respectively; sham-injected patients (n = 238) had a mean decline of -2.8 (95% CI, -4.6 to -1.1; P < .001 vs each dose). Ranibizumab-treated patients were more likely to improve in near activities, distance activities, and vision-specific dependency through 24 months. CONCLUSIONS In MARINA, ranibizumab-treated patients were more likely than sham-treated patients to report visual function improvements at 12 and 24 months. APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Treatment of neovascular AMD with ranibizumab can improve patient-reported visual function in a meaningful way compared with sham treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00056836.
Ca2+/Calmodulin‐Mediated Regulation of the Desensitizing
 
Process in Gq Protein‐Coupled Histamine H1
 
Receptor‐Mediated Ca2+ Responses in Human U373 MG Astrocytoma Cells

We investigated Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)‐mediated regulation of the desensitizing process of the histamine H1 receptor‐mediated increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in human U373 MG astrocytoma cells. The desensitizing process was evaluated by measuring the histamine‐induced Ca2+ responses in cells pretreated with histamine for 15 s‐30 min under various conditions. Under normal physiological conditions, desensitization developed with three successive phases : a fast desensitization within 15 s, a transient resensitization at 45 s, and a prompt and sustained redesensitization from 1 to 30 min. Similar processes of desensitization/resensitization occurred even under hypertonic conditions, where histamine‐mediated internalization of the histamine H1 receptor is inhibited. The transient resensitization phase was selectively prevented by deprivation of extracellular Ca2+ and, even more strikingly, by the presence of W‐7 (a CaM antagonist). FK506 and cyclosporin A, Ca2+/CaM‐dependent protein phosphatase (PP2B) inhibitors, mimicked such effects. In the presence of KN‐62, a Ca2+/CaM‐dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) inhibitor, the early development of desensitization disappeared, allowing a slow and simple development of desensitization. The early processes of desensitization and resensitization were unaffected by W‐5, okadaic acid, and KN‐04 (less potent inhibitors against CaM, PP2B, and CaM kinase II, respectively) or by GF109203X and chelerythrine (protein kinase C inhibitors). The high‐affinity site for histamine was converted to a lower‐affinity site by histamine treatment, which also showed a transient restoration phase at 45 s in a manner sensitive to KN‐62 and FK506. These results provide the first evidence that Ca2+/CaM plays a crucial role in determining the early phase of the desensitizing process via activation of CaM kinase II and PP2B, by regulating agonist affinity for histamine H1 receptors.
Potential role of CC chemokine receptor 6 in prediction of late‐onset cytomegalovirus infection following solid organ transplant

CCR6 is a chemokine receptor involved in homing memory T cells, particularly Th17 cells, to sites of mucosal inflammation. Despite the critical role of memory T cells in long‐term protective immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that reactivates at multiple mucosal sites, the ability of CCR6 or other Th17 marker expression to predict CMV reactivation following transplantation is not clear. Using 11‐color flow cytometry, in this prospective single‐center pilot study, we measured the expression of CCR6 and other markers of T‐cell function in peripheral blood samples obtained from 21 SOT recipients at the time of discontinuation of anti‐CMV prophylaxis. CMV viremia was monitored on a monthly basis after discontinuation of prophylaxis. Eleven patients (52%) developed CMV viremia during the six‐month follow‐up period. Late‐onset CMV infection was preceded by an immune phenotype characterized by increased CCR6 expression on bulk CD4+ T cells and a reduced number of circulating CMV IE‐1‐specific Th1 (CD4+ IFN‐γ+) cells. Among the markers evaluated, CCR6 was the best single predictor of late‐onset CMV infection. Our results suggest that CCR6 expression at the time of discontinuation of antiviral prophylaxis might be a useful predictor of late‐onset CMV reactivation and provide the basis for future larger prospective studies.
Mini-radar system for flying platforms

Surveillance of maritime areas attracts huge interest, because of the different activities that impact the security, safety, economy, or environment in sea domain. These activities require both the identification of areas of interest and the deployment of suitable assets. The types of assets to be deployed depend on different aspects such as their endurance, coverage and cost. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) together with the Department of Aeronautic and Space Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino, have developed two complementary low-cost radar systems on board of an aerostat and of a drone. A Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar has been identified as the technical solution, whereas an integrated IMU/GPS platform has been used as navigation engine. The synchronization between units is fundamental, therefore various solutions have been investigated. The selected approach exploits the time-referenced matching between radar and navigation datasets. To evaluate the performance of the assembled system, several tests have been carried out in pre-operational conditions with the radar performing several azimuthal scans with fixed elevation angle. From the results, no drift nor bias in the attitude parameters have been observed. Moreover the adopted integration strategy allows reconstructing the polar radar picture, exploiting the synergy between the radar and the navigation units. The obtained radar pictures are consistent from scan to scan and correctly characterize the actual scenario.
Regulation of fungal gene expression via short open reading frames in the mRNA 5′untranslated region

We review how the expression of fungal mRNAs can be controlled by ribosome interactions with short upstream open reading frames (uORFs) within the 5′untranslated region. The efficiency of uAUG recognition modulates the impact of a uORF but steps during and after translation of the uORF also influence uORF function. The post‐termination behaviour of ribosomes, therefore, plays a major role in determining the expression level of these main ORFs. Translation of a uORF can produce a cis‐acting peptide that causes effector molecule‐dependent stalling of the ribosomes at the end of the uORF. In other cases it is the length or position, or other features of the uORF, rather than the peptide it encodes, that determine the efficiency with which ribosomes reinitiate translation downstream of it. Whether the form of the ribosome that resumes scanning after termination is the 40S subunit alone or the entire 80S ribosome is not known. Translation of the uORF can also control gene expression by affecting the stability of the mRNA. Finally, trans‐acting factors may participate in the regulatory mechanisms. Future work will need not only to provide more information on the mechanisms underlying the known cases of uORF‐mediated control but also to define the full complement of uORF‐containing mRNAs in at least one fungal organism.
Primary Care Practice Transformation is Hard Work: Insights From a 15-year Developmental Program of Research

BackgroundSerious shortcomings remain in clinical care in the United States despite widespread use of improvement strategies for enhancing clinical performance based on knowledge transfer approaches. Recent calls to transform primary care practice to a patient-centered medical home present even greater challenges and require more effective approaches. MethodsOur research team conducted a series of National Institutes of Health funded descriptive and intervention projects to understand organizational change in primary care practice settings, emphasizing a complexity science perspective. The result was a developmental research effort that enabled the identification of critical lessons relevant to enabling practice change. ResultsA summary of findings from a 15-year program of research highlights the limitations of viewing primary care practices in the mechanistic terms that underlie current or traditional approaches to quality improvement. A theoretical perspective that views primary care practices as dynamic complex adaptive systems with “agents” who have the capacity to learn, and the freedom to act in unpredictable ways provides a better framework for grounding quality improvement strategies. This framework strongly emphasizes that quality improvement interventions should not only use a complexity systems perspective, but also there is a need for continual reflection, careful tailoring of interventions, and ongoing attention to the quality of interactions among agents in the practice. ConclusionsIt is unlikely that current strategies for quality improvement will be successful in transforming current primary care practice to a patient-centered medical home without a stronger guiding theoretical foundation. Our work suggests that a theoretical framework guided by complexity science can help in the development of quality improvement strategies that will more effectively facilitate practice change.
Indirect estimation of age-related reference limits of thyroid parameters: A cross-sectional study of outpatients’ results

Abstract Objectives. Defining adequate reference limits (RLs) for thyroid hormones is an important task for support monitoring and the treatment of subclinical thyroid disease. We determined whether there are age-related RLs for thyroid parameters in male and female outpatients free of overt thyroid disease. Design. We analyzed 22,860 results (11,440 male and 11,420 female outpatients above the age of 18) for thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4) and total triiodothyronine (T3) that were stored in our laboratory information system between 2008 and 2011. We calculated the 2.5th and 97.5th centiles for the analyzed thyroid parameters. Results. Our results indicate higher TSH levels with ageing, with a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the 97.5th centiles for males and females older than 70 (5.07 mIU/L and 4.10 mIU/L), but also a significant difference between male and female fT4 from 31 to 40 and from 41 to 50 years old (18.4 vs 14.9 pmol/L and 19.0 vs 15.9 pmol/L, p < 0.05), respectively. Overall indirect estimates of the 97.5th centiles for TSH for males and females were not significantly different and were below the generally recommended upper limit (4.01 mIU/L and 4.20 mIU/L, respectively). In addition, we found no statistically significant change in mean T3 values in the analyzed population. Conclusions. This cross-sectional study indicates change in TSH and fT4 levels with ageing and gender-related upper limits. This suggests that by using indirect estimation a laboratory could provide clinicians with more accurate gender- and age-specific RLs for thyroid parameters.
Chemoembolization and percutaneous ethanol injection for intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Management of 36 patients who developed intrahepatic recurrence (IHR) after curative hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS IHRs were classified into type I with a solitary lesion (n = 16), type II with 2-4 lesions (n = 11), and type III with > or = 5 lesions (n = 11). RESULTS Periodic angiography and Lipiodol CT first detected IHRs in six patients. Most IHRs in type I and II were smaller than 20 mm. Thirty-three patients underwent regional treatments including transarterial infusion of Lipiodol containing anticancer drugs (TAIL) (n = 19), combined TAIL and percutaneous ethanol injection PEI (n = 12), surgery (n = 3), and PEI (n = 1). Post-recurrence 5-yr survival rate of type I (51%) was higher than that of type II (0%) or III (0%) (p < 0.01). Of the 27 patients with type I and II recurrences, seven became tumor-free for 11-67 months after regional treatments including TAIL + PEI (n = 5), TAIL (n = 1), and surgery (n = 1); 13 developed multiple IHRs. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative close follow-up with qualified imaging and vigorous treatments prolong the survival of the patients with HCC who developed IHRs. Type I or type II IHR can be curable with the combination of TAIL and PEI or repeated surgery.
The Motility Symbiont of the Termite Gut Flagellate Caduceia versatilis Is a Member of the “Synergistes” Group

ABSTRACT The flagellate Caduceia versatilis in the gut of the termite Cryptotermes cavifrons reportedly propels itself not by its own flagella but solely by the flagella of ectosymbiotic bacteria. Previous microscopic observations have revealed that the motility symbionts are flagellated rods partially embedded in the host cell surface and that, together with a fusiform type of ectosymbiotic bacteria without flagella, they cover almost the entire surface. To identify these ectosymbionts, we conducted 16S rRNA clone analyses of bacteria physically associated with the Caduceia cells. Two phylotypes were found to predominate in the clone library and were phylogenetically affiliated with the “Synergistes” phylum and the order Bacteroidales in the Bacteroidetes phylum. Probes specifically targeting 16S rRNAs of the respective phylotypes were designed, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed. As a result, the “Synergistes” phylotype was identified as the motility symbiont; the Bacteroidales phylotype was the fusiform ectobiont. The “Synergistes” phylotype was a member of a cluster comprising exclusively uncultured clones from the guts of various termite species. Interestingly, four other phylotypes in this cluster, including the one sharing 95% sequence identity with the motility symbiont, were identified as nonectosymbiotic, or free-living, gut bacteria by FISH. We thus suggest that the motility ectosymbiont has evolved from a free-living gut bacterium within this termite-specific cluster. Based on these molecular and previous morphological data, we here propose a novel genus and species, “Candidatus Tammella caduceiae,” for this unique motility ectosymbiont of Caducaia versatilis.
CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ANTIGEN PRESENT ON TESTICULAR CELLS AND PRE‐IMPLANTATION EMBRYOS WHOSE EXPRESSION IS MODIFIED BY THE t12 HAPLOTYPE

In attempts to identify cell surface molecules specified by lethal genes in the T/t‐complex, we prepared a rabbit antiserum that has cytotoxic activity against testicular cells from males heterozygous for t12, but not against wild type cells. However, anti‐t12 serum immunoprecipitates the same major component, a glycoprotein of mol. wt. 87,000 daltons, from galactose‐labelled C3H. +/t12 testicular cell lysate and from congenic C3H. +/+ lysate, although the gp87 molecule precipitated from +/t12 cells appears to be more highly galactosylated than the +/+ form. The antigen is heavily glycosylated in both genotypes, since when testicular cells are treated with tunicamycin before immunoprecipitation, a protein of 40,000‐42,000 daltons is obtained.Gp87 is also present on pre‐implantation embryos, and on teratocarcinoma cells, but is barely detectable on any adult somatic cells examined. Its expression is developmentally regulated during pre‐implantation stages, but the temporal pattern of its expression appears to be different between wild type and t12 embryos. Thus, we believe we have identified a molecule that may play a role in the differentiation of testicular cells and pre‐implantation embryos, and that is either specified by genes in the t12 haplotype, or responsive in some way to the effects of t12.
Spatial, temporal and spectral pre-processing for colour vision

Fourier transforms of the spectral radiance of natural objects were investigated. The average spectral power spectrum Sc(fc) is well described by Sc(fc = exp ( —ᵝfc), with fc the spectral frequency (cycles μm-1), and β = 0.419 ± 0.097 pm. Average spectral contrast {Cc = [ Ʃfc ≠ 0 Sc(fc)/Sc(0)]1/2} was 0.224 ± 0.127. Optimal filters for colour pre-processing were derived using a recently developed theory of early vision (van Hateren (J. comp. Physiol. A 171, 157 (1992))). The theory assumes that the surrounding world is first sampled spatially, temporally and spectrally by an array of pre-filters, and subsequently filtered by an array of neural filters that maximize the information delivered to an array of noisy information channels. These optimal filters show lateral inhibition and spectral opponency for high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and low temporal frequencies (ft). Decreasing SNR or increasing ft eventually produce filters that are spatially and spectrally low-pass, resulting in a visual system lacking lateral inhibition and spectral opponency. The optimal filters for high SNR lead to responses in the spectral channels approximately independent of the spectrum of the illumination, which is a first step towards colour constancy. Finally, the optimal spectral pre-filter has a half-width of about 100 nm; this is close to that of the common rhodopsins.
Atrial and Brain Natriuretic Peptide Secretion After Percutaneous Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage With the Watchman Device.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) with the Watchman device on the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). BACKGROUND The LAA plays an important role in the regulation of intravascular volume via release of ANP and BNP. To date, there are no data suggesting substantial effects of hormonal interaction after percutaneous LAA closure for prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. METHODS From October 2009 until May 2010, transcatheter LAA closure using the Watchman device was performed in 31 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Venous blood samples were obtained before, immediately after device implantation, and prior to discharge for ANP and BNP measurements. RESULTS LAA closure resulted in a significant increase in ANP and BNP levels immediately after the procedure compared with baseline measurements (ANP: from 241 ± 34 pg/mL to 329 ± 30 pg/mL, P<.05; BNP: from 579 ± 196 pg/mL to 698 ± 211 pg/mL, P<.05), and a significant decrease prior to discharge compared with baseline values (ANP: from 241 ± 34 pg/mL to 149 ± 30 pg/mL, P<.001; BNP: from 579 ± 196 pg/mL to 429 ± 147 pg/mL, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that percutaneous closure of the LAA results in an intermittent distribution of the vasoactive hormones ANP and BNP followed by a significant attenuation of ANP and BNP secretion in the early postprocedural period. The clinical impacts of these findings need to be evaluated in further studies.