Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unstable resistance of G mouse fibroblasts to ecotropic murine leukemia virus infection

G mouse cells were resistant to N- and NB-tropic Friend leukemia viruses and to B-tropic WN 1802B. Though the cells were resistant to focus formation by the Moloney isolate of murine sarcoma virus, they were relatively sensitive to helper component murine leukemia virus. To amphotropic murine leukemia virus and to focus formation by amphotropic murine sarcoma virus, G mouse cells were fully permissive. When the cell lines were established starting from the individual embryos, most cell lines were not resistant to the murine leukemia viruses. Only one resistant line was established. Cloning of this cell line indicated that the resistant cells constantly segregated sensitive cells during the culture; i.e., the G mouse cell cultures were probably always mixtures of sensitive and resistant cells. Among the sensitive cell clones, some were devoid of Fv-1 restriction. Such dually permissive cells, and also feral mouse-derived SC-1 cells, retained glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-1 and apparently normal number 4 chromosomes. The loss of Fv-1 restriction in these mouse cells was not brought about by any gross structural changes in the vicinity of Fv-1 on number 4 chromosomes.
Area‐specific migration and recruitment of new neurons in the adult songbird brain

Neuron recruitment has been implicated in morphological and functional plasticity in the adult brain. Whereas mammals restrict neuron recruitment specifically to two regions of known plasticity, the hippocampus and olfactory bulb, newborn neurons are found throughout the forebrain of adult songbirds. In order to study the area‐specificity of the widespread proliferation and recruitment in the songbird brain, six adult male canaries received repetitive intraperitoneal injections of the mitotic marker BrdU (5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine) and were sacrificed after 24 hours to study proliferation or after 38 days to study recruitment. Migration and incorporation of new neurons was apparent throughout many but not all parts of the canary forebrain and was quantitatively related to mitotic levels in the most closely associated proliferative zones. Surprisingly, some areas of the vocal control system sensitive to plastic changes, such as nucleus higher vocal center (HVC) and area X, recruited similar numbers of new neurons as their surrounding brain tissues, employing no specific directional mechanisms. The distribution pattern in and around HVC could best be described by a random displacement model, where cells originating from the overlying lateral ventricle can move independently in any direction. Other plastic song control areas, such as the medial magnocellular nucleus of anterior nidopallium and the robust nucleus of arcopallium, were specifically avoided by migrating neurons, while migration toward the olfactory bulb showed high specificity, similar to the mammalian rostral migratory stream. Thus, different mechanisms appear to organize area‐specific neuron recruitment in different recipients of the adult songbird brain, unrelated to global plasticity of brain regions. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1442–1459, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A review on application of hydrocolloids in meat and poultry products

Hydrocolloids are used in meat products to improve functional properties and compensate undesirable effects of fat reduction, salt reduction and freeze/thaw process. In poultry products, such as nugget, hydrocolloids are added to coating batter to reduce oil adsorption and increase moisture retention during frying. In this review, application of different hydrocolloids (starch, gum and fiber) in meat products (especially sausage, freeze/thawed sausage, and low salt sausage) and poultry products (chicken breast, chicken sausage and nugget) are discussed.
Trace Generation and Deterministic Execution for Concurrent Programs

This paper proposes new algorithms for generation of trace ﬁles and deterministic execution of concurrent programs under test. The proposed algorithms are essential to automate the coverage testing of concurrent programs and allow to execute new synchronizations automatically, increasing the source code coverage with focus on non-determinism, and edges of communication and synchronization. Our algorithms consider programs with multiple paradigms of communication and synchronization (collective, blocking and non-blocking point-to-point message passing, and shared memory). We validate our algorithms by means of experiments based on nine representative benchmarks, which exercise non-trivial aspects of synchronization found in real applications. Our algorithms have a robust behaviour and meet their objectives. We also highlight the overhead generated with the algorithms.
Extended k-Q product formulas for capacitive- and inductive-coupling wireless power transfer schemes

This paper presents versatile formulas that characterize wireless power transfer schemes in arbitrary coupling topologies. Maximum available coupling efficiency is formulated in two-port immittance matrix domain invariant to source and load conditions. Key performance index k-Q product is extended to general cases even where resonance or filtering model is inapplicable. Typical capacitiveand inductive-coupling schemes are shown with their k-Q product instances.
Sequential Triplex Real-Time PCR Assay for Detecting 21 Pneumococcal Capsular Serotypes That Account for a High Global Disease Burden

ABSTRACT We developed and validated a real-time PCR assay consisting of 7 triplexed reactions to identify 11 individual serotypes plus 10 small serogroups representing the majority of disease-causing isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae. This assay targets the 13 serotypes included within the 13-valent conjugate vaccine and 8 additional key serotypes or serogroups. Advantages over other serotyping assays are described. The assay will be expanded to 40 serotypes/serogroups. We will provide periodic updates at our protocol website.
Exposure to tobacco smoke before and after a partial smoking ban in prison: indoor air quality measures

Although exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is reportedly high in prison, few studies have measured this in the prison environment, and none have done so in Europe. We measured two indicators of SHS exposure (particulate matter PM10 and nicotine) in fixed locations before (2009) and after (2010) introduction of a partial smoking ban in a Swiss prison. Access to smoking cessation support was available to detainees throughout the study. Objectives To measure SHS before and after the introduction of a partial smoking ban. Methods Assessment of particulate matter PM10 (suspended microparticles of 10 μm) and nicotine in ambient air, collected by real-time aerosol monitor and nicotine monitoring devices. Results The authors observed a significant improvement of nicotine concentrations in the air after the introduction of the smoking ban (before: 7.0 μg/m3, after: 2.1 μg/m3, difference 4.9 μg/m3, 95% CI for difference: 0.52 to 9.8, p=0.03) but not in particulate matter PM10 (before: 0.11 mg/m3, after: 0.06 mg/m3, difference 0.06 mg/m3, 95% CI for difference of means: −0.07 to 0.19, p=0.30). Conclusions The partial smoking ban was followed by a decrease in nicotine concentrations in ambient air. These improvements can be attributed to the introduction of the smoking ban since no other policy change occurred during this period. Although this shows that concentrations of SHS decreased significantly, protection was still incomplete and further action is necessary to improve indoor air quality.
Collective cell migration patterns: Follow the leader

Wound healing is essential to the survival of an organism. A breach in tissue composed of a continuous layer of cells provokes a very complex response intended to close, and eventually heal, the wound. In epithelial tissue, the opening of a gap induces the proliferation and movement of the surrounding intact cells, which eventually closes the gap. A multitude of chemical signals are produced when a wound occurs, and thereafter, which leads to proliferation and motility in the surrounding intact layer (1). In this issue of PNAS, Poujade et al. (2) demonstrate that cell motility that closes an open gap in a cell culture (a “wound”) can be triggered even in the absence of cell damage. A unique experimental setup allows the authors to follow the behavior of a continuous and undisturbed monolayer of cells that suddenly finds itself with a free boundary as a model of an open wound. The authors observe that the subsequent cell motility is highly nonuniform and develops distinct morphological patterns and collective motion.
Homocysteine and Cognitive Decline in Healthy Elderly

Serum homocysteine is increased, and correlates inversely with cognitive scores, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia and ‘age-associated memory impairment’. Elevated levels might signal accelerated cognitive decline, although this remains to be established. We therefore repeated Mini-Mental State Examinations, together with additional ADAS-Cog assessments, in 32 healthy elderly individuals to determine whether prior homocysteine levels predicted cognitive changes over a 5-year period. Homocysteine predicted follow-up cognitive scores and rate of decline in cognitive performance independently of age, sex, education, renal function, vitamin B status, smoking and hypertension (p < 0.001). Homocysteine predicted word recall (p = 0.01), orientation (p = 0.02) and constructional praxis scores (p < 0.0001). One subject, with the second highest initial homocysteine, had developed probable AD at follow-up. Fasting total serum homocysteine appears to be an independent predictor of cognitive decline in healthy elderly and exerts a maximal effect on spatial copying skills.
Etiologies and Outcomes of Pleural Effusions in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

BackgroundPleuritis is the most common pulmonary manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In Thailand, the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is high; moreover, treatment with immunosuppressive agents increases the risk for TB infection. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the clinical manifestations, etiology, management, and outcomes of patients with SLE and pleural effusion in an area for TB. MethodsWe studied adults satisfying the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE who presented with pleuritis between 2002 and 2010. Pleuritis was defined as having 1 of 3 of the following criteria: typical pleuritic chest pain, pleural rub, and clinical or radiological evidence of pleural effusion. ResultsA total of 119 patients with 127 episodes of pleuritis/pleural effusion were included. Pleuritis was the first presentation in 47 episodes (37%) and was found accompanied with pericarditis for 16%. Most patients (81%) had active SLE in other systems. The causes of pleural effusion included lupus pleuritis (52%), tuberculous pleuritis (9%), parapneumonic effusion (7%), and transudate (15%). The diagnosis was inconclusive in 17%. The diagnosis of lupus pleuritis was made by a clinical diagnosis (47%) and by excluding other causes from pleural fluid analysis or biopsy (53%). Most patients with lupus pleuritic responded well to corticosteroid therapy. ConclusionsLupus pleuritis is still the most common cause of pleural effusion in SLE and often reflects its disease activity. The diagnosis of lupus pleuritis is a clinical diagnosis or is performed by excluding other conditions. The treatment outcomes of lupus pleuritis are generally good.
Synapse formation in the mouse olfactory bulb. II. Morphogenesis

Serial thin sections of the mouse olfactory bulb from the fourteenth day of gestation (E14) to postnatal day 44 (P44) have been examined in order to study morphogenesis of individual synaptic junctions. At the initiation of synapse formation structures are found that resemble postsynaptic densities but are facing extracellular space or unmodified processes. Transition forms between these isolated postsynaptic densities and undoubted synapses have been found. These observations as well as quantitative studies support the hypothesis that isolated postsynaptic densities can form independently and be converted to synapses when a presynaptic specialization develops opposite them.
Genetics of Drosophila embryogenesis.

MATERNAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO EMBRyOGENESIS 1 53 Molecular Preparation . 1 53 Mutations Affecting Egg Pattern . 154 Maternal Effects on Posterior Development. 1 57 Maternal Eff ects on Anterior Development . 158 Estimates of Number of Female Sterile Loci 159 ZYGOTIC LOCI AFFECTING SEGMENT DETERMINATION . 160 Bithorax Complex (BX·C) . 160 Antennapedia Complex (ANT-C) . 163 LOCI INTERACTING WITH THE HOMEOTIC COMPLEXES . 1 64
Description logic approach for query processing over distributed learning metadata repositories

As more and more learning information resources have been developed independently and operated in autonomous ways, integrated access to learning metadata repositories which are used to manage heterogeneous learning information resources is attracting ever more attention. Information integration has to solve the differences in data structures as well as semantic heterogeneity. Meanwhile, explicit and formal definition of semantics of the terms has urged the use of ontologies as a potential solution of semantic heterogeneity. Motivated by the emerging need for effective query processing strategies in E-learning systems, we propose a knowledge-based approach in which ontology knowledge formalized with Description Logics plays a central role to define query processing steps in a semantic manner, one of the most challenging issues in relation to information integration. As a result, the proposed approach can be applied to handle semantic heterogeneity of information retrieved from multiple heterogeneous, distributed learning information resources.
Biology and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in man and animals

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian parasite which utilizes felids as definitive hosts, and which has an unusually wide intermediate host range. The parasite was initially described by Nicolle and Manceaux in 1908 from the rodent, Ctenodactylus gundi. Infection with T. gondii is one of the most common parasitic infections of man and other warm-blooded animals. It has been found worldwide from Alaska to Australia. Nearly one-third of humanity has been exposed to this parasite; serologic surveys indicate that T. gondii infections are common in wild carnivores, including pigs, bears, felids, fox, raccoons, and skunks. Clinical and subclinical toxoplasmosis has been reported from wild cervids, ungulates, marsupials, monkeys, and marine mammals. Southern sea otter populations have been severely impacted by Toxoplasma infections.
Bayesian semiparametric analysis of semicompeting risks data: investigating hospital readmission after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis

In the USA, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services use 30‐day readmission, following hospitalization, as a proxy outcome to monitor quality of care. These efforts generally focus on treatable health conditions, such as pneumonia and heart failure. Expanding quality‐of‐care systems to monitor conditions for which treatment options are limited or non‐existent, such as pancreatic cancer, is challenging because of the non‐trivial force of mortality; 30‐day mortality for pancreatic cancer is approximately 30%. In the statistical literature, data that arise when the observation of the time to some non‐terminal event is subject to some terminal event are referred to as ‘semicompeting risks data’. Given such data, scientific interest may lie in at least one of three areas: estimation or inference for regression parameters, characterization of dependence between the two events and prediction given a covariate profile. Existing statistical methods focus almost exclusively on the first of these; methods are sparse or non‐existent, however, when interest lies with understanding dependence and performing prediction. We propose a Bayesian semiparametric regression framework for analysing semicompeting risks data that permits the simultaneous investigation of all three of the aforementioned scientific goals. Characterization of the induced posterior and posterior predictive distributions is achieved via an efficient Metropolis–Hastings–Green algorithm, which has been implemented in an R package. The framework proposed is applied to data on 16051 individuals who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 2005 and 2008, obtained from Medicare part A. We found that increased risk for readmission is associated with a high comorbidity index, a long hospital stay at initial hospitalization, non‐white race, being male and discharge to home care.
Alterations of the 5 ’ untranslated leader region of SLC 16 A 12 lead to age-related cataract

PURPOSE. Knowledge of genetic factors predisposing to age-related cataract is very limited. We aimed to identify DNA sequences that either lead to or predispose to cataract. METHODS. We sequenced the candidate gene SLC16A12, which encodes a solute carrier of the monocarboxylate transporter family, in 484 cataract patients (134 with juvenile cataract, 350 with age-related cataract) and 190 control individuals. RESULTS. One patient with age-related cataract showed a novel heterozygous mutation (c.17A>G) in the 5’untranslated region (5’UTR). This mutation is in cis with the minor G allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3740030 (c.-42T/G), also within the 5’UTR. Using a luciferase reporter assay system, a construct with the patient’s haplotype caused a significant upregulation of luciferase activity. In comparison, the SNP G-allele alone promoted less activity but that amount was still significantly higher than that of the common T-allele. Analysis of SLC16A12 transcripts in surrogate tissue demonstrated striking allelespecific differences causing 5’UTR heterogeneity with respect to sequence and quantity. These differences in gene expression were mirrored in an allele-specific predisposition to age-related cataract, as determined in a Swiss population (odds ratio of approximately 2.2 with confidence intervals from 1.23 to 4.3). CONCLUSIONS. The monocarboxylate transporter SLC16A12 may contribute to agerelated cataract. Sequences within the 5’UTR modulate translational efficiency with pathogenic consequences. Zuercher et al Page 3 8/17/2010
Replication and amplification of defective interfering particle RNAs of vesicular stomatitis virus in cells expressing viral proteins from vectors containing cloned cDNAs

Replication and amplification of RNA genomes of defective interfering (DI) particles of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) depend on the expression of viral proteins and have until now been attained only in cells coinfected with helper VSV. In the work described in this report, we used a recombinant vaccinia virus-T7 RNA polymerase expression system to synthesize individual VSV proteins in cells transfected with plasmid DNAs that contain cDNA copies of the VSV genes downstream of the T7 RNA polymerase promoter. In this way, we were able to examine the ability of VSV proteins, individually and in combination, to support DI particle RNA replication. VSV proteins were synthesized soon after transfection in amounts that depended on the amount of input plasmid DNA and at rates that remained constant for at least 16 h after transfection. When cells expressing the nucleocapsid protein (N), the phosphoprotein (NS), and the large polymerase protein (L) of VSV were superinfected with the DI particles, rapid and efficient replication and amplification of DI particle RNA was observed. Omission of any one of the three viral proteins abrogated the replication. The maximum levels of DI particle RNA replication that were achieved in the system exceeded those seen with wild-type helper VSV by 8- to 10-fold and were observed at molar L:NS:N protein ratios of approximately 1:200:200. This replication system can be used for analysis of structure-function relationships of VSV proteins that are involved in RNA replication and has potential for use in the identification of RNA sequences in the viral genome that control transcription and replication of VSV RNA.
Surgical management of adrenal gland tumors with and without associated tumor thrombi in dogs: 40 cases (1994-2001).

OBJECTIVE To compare pathologic findings and results of adrenalectomy for adrenal gland tumors in dogs with and without vena caval tumor thrombi. DESIGN Retrospective study. ANIMALS 40 dogs with adrenal gland tumors. PROCEDURE Medical records were examined. An exact logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between tumor type or right-sided versus left-sided tumor involvement and development of caval tumor thrombi and associations between tumor thrombi, tumor type, or right- versus left-sided location and perioperative complications and mortality rate. Survival was compared between dogs with and without tumor thrombi. RESULTS Caval thrombi were detected in 25% of dogs, including 3 of 28 (11%) dogs with an adrenocortical tumor and 6 of 11 dogs with a pheochromocytoma. A caval tumor thrombus was detected in 6 of 17 right-sided and 4 of 20 left-sided tumors. Sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasonography for detection of caval thrombi were 80 and 90%, respectively. Intraoperative and postoperative complications developed in 15 and 51% of dogs, respectively. The mortality rate was 22%. There were no significant differences in perioperative morbidity and mortality rates between dogs with and without tumor thrombi. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Caval thrombi associated with adrenal gland tumors are amenable to adrenalectomy and thrombectomy without significantly increased perioperative morbidity and mortality rates, assuming the surgeon is experienced in appropriate techniques.
Molecular Epidemiology of the fsr Locus and of Gelatinase Production among Different Subsets of Enterococcus faecalis Isolates

ABSTRACT We examined 215 Enterococcus faecalis isolates and found that neither the two-component regulatory locus fsr (E. faecalis regulator) nor gelatinase production was more common in disease-associated isolates than in isolates colonizing healthy individuals (ca. 60 to 65%). The majority of gelatinase-negative isolates, including 14 endocarditis isolates (of 80 isolates tested), contained the previously described 23.9-kb deletion and lacked fsrA and fsrB. While these findings indicate that neither fsr nor gelatinase is required for E. faecalis to cause infection, this study did not address whether fsr or gelatinase affects the severity of disease, as it does in animal models.
Design of Miniaturized Dual-Mode Microstrip Resonator Bandpass Filters for Modern Wireless Applications

The design of a new compact size dual-mode microstrip resonator filter is presented in this paper, as a candidate for use in modern wireless applications. The proposed resonator structure is a result of applying two reduction techniques to the conventional dual-mode microstrip square patch resonator. The edges of the conventional square patch have been replaced by 1st and 2nd iteration Koch pre-fractal curves. The proposed resonator filters have been designed for ISM band applications, at 2.4 GHz, using a substrate with relative dielectric constant of 10.8 and thickness of 1.27 mm. The resulting microstrip dual-mode resonators have been found to possess size reductions of about 24% and 27% respectively, as compared with the conventional square patch dual-mode resonator using the same substrate and designed at the same frequency. Moreover, these resonators have been further reduced in size by inserting a crossed-slot pattern in the respective patch structures. In this case, the corresponding resonators offer size reductions of about 61% and 64%, as compared with the conventional square patch dual-mode resonator. Modeling and performance evaluation of the presented resonator structures have been carried out using a method of moments based IE3D EM simulator. Simulation results show that the proposed filters have acceptable return loss and transmission responses besides the miniaturized size gained.