Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moraxella catarrhalis phase-variable loci show differences in expression during conditions relevant to disease

Moraxella catarrhalis is a human-adapted, opportunistic bacterial pathogen of the respiratory mucosa. Although asymptomatic colonization of the nasopharynx is common, M. catarrhalis can ascend into the middle ear, where it is a prevalent causative agent of otitis media in children, or enter the lower respiratory tract, where it is associated with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults. Phase variation is the high frequency, random, reversible switching of gene expression that allows bacteria to adapt to different host microenvironments and evade host defences, and is most commonly mediated by simple DNA sequence repeats. Bioinformatic analysis of five closed M. catarrhalis genomes identified 17 unique simple DNA sequence repeat tracts that were variable between strains, indicating the potential to mediate phase variable expression of the associated genes. Assays designed to assess simple sequence repeat variation under conditions mimicking host infection demonstrated that phase variation of uspA1 (ubiquitous surface protein A1) from high to low expression occurs over 72 hours of biofilm passage, while phase variation of uspA2 (ubiquitous surface protein A2) to high expression variants occurs during repeated exposure to human serum, as measured by mRNA levels. We also identify and confirm the variable expression of two novel phase variable genes encoding a Type III DNA methyltransferase (modO), and a conserved hypothetical permease (MC25239_RS00020). These data reveal the repertoire of phase variable genes mediated by simple sequence repeats in M. catarrhalis and demonstrate that modulation of expression under conditions mimicking human infection is attributed to changes in simple sequence repeat length.
Life threatening hypoglycaemia in a child with infantile myofibromatosis

Sunitinib patří do skupiny protinádorových léčiv, jejichž mechanismus účinku je založen na inhibici řady tyrozinkinázových receptorů (RKTs), které přispívají k růstu nádoru, patologické angiogenezi a metastatické progresi nádorového onemocnění. Především se jedná o inhibici receptorů pro růstový faktor z destiček (PDGFR -α a PDGFR -β), receptorů pro vaskulární endoteliální růstový faktor (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 a VEGFR-3), receptorů faktoru kmenových buněk (Kit), Fms podobné tyrozinkinázy 3 (Flt3, Fms -like tyrosine kinase-3), receptorů kolonie stimulujícího faktoru (CSF-1R) a receptorů pro neurotrofický faktor odvozený od gliálních buněk (RET, glial cell -line derived neurotrophic factor receptor). Ačkoli je sunitinib (Sutent®) registrovaný pouze k léčbě dospělých pacientů pro léčbu specifických diagnóz (gastrointestinální stromální tumor (GIST) po selhání léčby imatinibem v důsledku rezistence nebo intolerance, dále metastatický renální karcinom (MRCC) anebo pankreatický neuroendokrinní tumor (pNET) s progresí onemocnění), existují klinické zkušenosti s použitím sunitinibu i u dětských pacientů v režimu „off label“, tedy mimo SPC, k léčbě odlišného typu nádorového onemocnění, kde nádorové buňky vykazují zvýšenou fosforylaci receptorových tyrosinkináz, jejichž aktivitu je sunitinib schopen inhibovat. V článku popisujeme průběh léčby dětského pacienta s infantilní myofibromatózou, kdy po selhání konvenční chemoterapie bylo provedeno genetické a proteomické vyšetření a na jeho základě byl podáván sunitinib. Během léčby sunitinibem se vyskytly nežádoucí účinky, které žádaly úpravu dávkovacího režimu. Jedním ze závažných nežádoucích účinků byla těžká hypoglykemie, která vedla k hospitalizaci pacienta. Tento nežádoucí účinek sunitinibu je nyní zmíněn poprvé v české odborné literatuře u dětského pacienta. Klíčová slova: hypoglykemie, infantilní myofibromatóza, sunitinib, nežádoucí účinek.
Studies on anti-ulcer, analgesic and antipyretic properties of the ethanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium in rodents.

The ethanol extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves were evaluated for anti-ulcer, analgesic and anti pyretic activities in rats and mice. Ethanol-induced gastric ulceration, acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced nociception were used. Yeast-induced hyperpyrexia was used to investigate the antipyretic activity. The extract produced a significant ulcer protective activity in rats. The extract also decreased pain induced both by acetic acid in mice and early phase of formalin test in rats. A significant reduction in hyperpyrexia was also produced by the extract in rats. This present study provides a strong evidence of anti-ulcer, analgesic and antipyretic activities of G. latifolium.
Education System & Emerging Technologies

The Internet has evolved from connecting people and later videos, photos, and text to more recently physical objects. Using sensors, physical objects can “talk” (transmit data) to each other and even command each other to perform a physical act. As things and people become more connected, such objects will also become part of social networks, much in the same way that people tag photos on Facebook. In this way, the value of such objects will increase for both research and learning. The IOT and Cloud computing technologies can provide solutions for the above mentioned problems in education system. Cloud computing enables users to control and access data via the Internet. The main users of a typical higher education cloud include students, Faculty, administrative staff, Examination Branch, and Admission Branch. All the main users of the institution are connected to the cloud. Separate login is provided for all the users for their respective work. Teachers can upload their class tutorials, assignments, and tests on the cloud server through which students will be able to access all the teaching material provided by the teachers via Internet using computers and other electronic devices both at home and college and 24X7. This paper focuses on the integration of Cloud and IOT for education system. Connected devices can help make life easier for students with special needs. Many of the daydreams for IOT in education involve students taking advantage of new technologies to complete cool new projects.
Reducing the impact of a toxic invader by inducing taste aversion in an imperilled native reptile predator

It is virtually impossible to eradicate invasive organisms once they have spread widely, and even low densities of invaders may have devastating impacts. We need to explore alternative management options that accept the inevitability of encounters between alien and native taxa, but reduce the negative consequences of those encounters. Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) is one approach that offers promise in this respect. The spread of the invasive cane toad Rhinella marina across northern Australia is devastating populations of predators such as the blue‐tongued skink Tiliqua scincoides intermedia. Predators unable to tolerate the toads' powerful bufadienolide chemical defences are likely to die if they ingest a toad. We trained field‐caught skinks to avoid eating cane toad flesh, by offering them toad sausages laced with a nausea‐inducing chemical (lithium chloride). These individuals (and controls) were then released and radio‐tracked as toads arrived at our study site in north‐western Australia. Skinks that regurgitated after consuming the toad sausage survived after release, whereas most untrained animals were fatally poisoned by toad ingestion. Even if we cannot eradicate invasive cane toads, we can ameliorate their ecological impact by CTA training of vulnerable predators.
Comparative aspects of Fusarium mycotoxicoses in poultry fed diets containing naturally contaminated grains

Fusarium mycotoxins are structurally diverse chemically distinct groups of fungal metabolites which are prevalent globally. Economically important Fusarium mycotoxins include trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins. Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin), and its acetylated forms, are the most commonly encountered trichothecenes in grains used for poultry feeds. Early experiments, conducted for short periods or using single purified compounds, showed that poultry were resistant to DON. More recent experiments, utilising naturally contaminated grains fed to poultry for extended durations, have shown that combinations of Fusarium mycotoxins pose significant risks to poultry performance and health. Turkeys appear to be more sensitive to Fusarium mycotoxicoses than chickens, while ducks have proven to be the most resistant poultry species. This review discusses various aspects of mycotoxicoses in poultry fed diets containing grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins.
Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Genomics of Flooding-Associated Low O2 Stress Response in Plants

Low O2 stress to a varied extent affects almost all the organisms either throughout or at specific stages in their life cycle. Plants experience this stress generally in field conditions when flooding, submergence or waterlogging of roots/plants occurs. Low O2 availability during flooding stress results in enormous yield losses in variety of crops. There is overwhelming evidence indicating that adaptations to low O2 stress involves changes in molecular, biochemical, physiological, genetical and anatomical/morphological attributes in plants. Most plants respond to anaerobiosis by switching their respiration from the oxidative (involving complete oxidation of pyruvate into CO2) to the fermentation (involving incomplete oxidation of pyruvate into lactate/ethanol) pathway. Fermentation pathway-related proteins (such as pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes) have been characterized to a significant extent. However, attempts made in altering levels of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase proteins in transgenic plants have not yielded significantly enhanced levels of low O2/flooding stress tolerance as yet. Applying modern tools of transcriptome and proteome analysis, mechanism(s) responsible for low O2/flooding stress tolerance phenotype are being addressed. Progress made in understanding plant responses to low O2 stress is herewith discussed. Referee: Dr. A.M. Ismail, Senior Scientist International Rice Research Institute DAPO 7777, Manila Phillipines
Cold Summer Temperature Regimes Cause a Recruitment Bottleneck in Age-0 Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Reared in Laboratory Streams

Abstract Native salmonids are increasingly restricted to upstream habitats that may be too cold to sustain recruitment, and recruitment limitation owing to cold temperatures is a main hypothesis to explain translocation failures of native cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii in high-elevation streams in the southern Rocky Mountains. We subjected Colorado River cutthroat trout O. c. pleuriticus fry to one of three temperature regimes (cold, intermediate, or warm), which averaged 7.0, 8.5, and 10.0°C during the warmest summer month, in each of 2 years. The regimes mimicked those of natural streams where translocated fish had died out or produced populations of cutthroat trout of low or high abundance. The mean fry survival rate from hatching through swim-up was high during both experiments, ranging from 97% in the warm regime to 85% in the cold. After swim-up, fry in the warm regime grew more than 60% more on average than those in the cold regime by the onset of winter in 2003 during a 22-week period. Survi.
A Novel Spine Fixation System Made Entirely of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced PEEK Composite: An In Vitro Mechanical Evaluation

Background Semirigid spine fixation systems utilizing nonmetallic materials have emerged as a promising innovation to overcome the inherent disadvantages of metal instrumentation in spine surgery. This study tests the mechanical properties of a novel spine fixation system made entirely of carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) composite material (CarboClear System, CarboFix Orthopedics Ltd., Israel). Methods An in vitro mechanical evaluation of the CFR-PEEK CarboClear system was conducted in compliance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1717, F2193, and F543 standards. Results The mean bending yield load, bending ultimate load, and bending stiffness of the construct were 322 N, 363 N, and 45 N/mm, respectively. All tested samples completed 5 × 106 dynamic cycles successfully, with no evidence of fatigue failure at increasing load levels, up to 83% of ultimate bending load. The mean torsional stiffness was 1.0 Nm/deg and the mean screw axial pull-out strength was 2,037 N. Conclusion The CarboClear Pedicle Screw System has mechanical properties comparable to those of other commonly used titanium-made systems, with superior fatigue properties. The fatigue resistance, modulus of elasticity which is very similar to that of bone, radiolucency, and CT/MRI artifact-free feature of this spine fixation system made entirely of CFR-PEEK may offer advantages over traditional spine fixation systems made of metal alloys.
Increased functional dynamics in civil aviation pilots: Evidence from a neuroimaging study

Civil aviation is a distinctive career. Pilots need to monitor the entire system in real time. However, the psychophysiological mechanism of flying is largely unknown. The human brain is a large-scale interconnected organization, and many stable intrinsic large-scale brain networks have been identified. Among them are three core neurocognitive networks: default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN), and salience network (SN). These three networks play a critical role in human cognition. This study aims to examine the dynamic properties of the three large-scale brain networks in civil aviation pilots. We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from pilots. Independent component analysis, which is a data-driven approach, was combined with sliding window dynamic functional connectivity analysis to detect the dynamic properties of large-scale brain networks. Our results revealed that pilots exhibit an increased interaction of the CEN with the DMN and the SN along with a decreased interaction within the CEN. In addition, the temporal properties of functional dynamics (number of transitions) increased in pilots compared to healthy controls. In general, pilots exhibited increased between-network functional connectivity, decreased within-network functional connectivity, and a higher number of transitions. These findings suggest that pilots might have better functional dynamics and cognitive flexibility.
Learning Dexterous In-Hand Manipulation.

We use reinforcement learning (RL) to learn dexterous in-hand manipulation policies which can perform vision-based object reorientation on a physical Shadow Dexterous Hand. The training is performed in a simulated environment in which we randomize many of the physical properties of the system like friction coefficients and an object's appearance. Our policies transfer to the physical robot despite being trained entirely in simulation. Our method does not rely on any human demonstrations, but many behaviors found in human manipulation emerge naturally, including finger gaiting, multi-finger coordination, and the controlled use of gravity. Our results were obtained using the same distributed RL system that was used to train OpenAI Five. We also include a video of our results: this https URL
Contribution à la domestication de l’arganier pour la production d’huile

Des enquetes effectuees dans cinq localites de l’arganeraie ont montre que l’huile d’argane represente une part importante des revenus des usagers et que, dans la production d’huile, l’etape de cassage des noix est la plus longue et la plus penible pour les femmes. Dans trois localites, les femmes font la distinction entre les arbres donnant des noix faciles a casser et ceux donnant des noix tres dures ; nous les avons appeles arbres F et arbres D. Pour les arbres identifies comme donnant des noix faciles a casser, nos mesures mecaniques objectives ont confirme une force de rupture nettement plus faible et ont montre que cette caracteristique est associee a une coque plus fine et a un rapport poids de l’amande/poids de la noix plus eleve. Ce dernier parametre montre que, pour un meme poids de noix, on peut obtenir une quantite d’huile beaucoup plus importante a partir des noix faciles a casser. Nous disposons desormais d’au moins trois criteres de selection pour optimiser la production d’huile d’argane. Le bouturage des arbres adultes selectionnes permet de sauvegarder les phenotypes les plus productifs en huile sous forme de micropieds meres a partir desquels seront produits les plants mycorhizes destines a l’installation de vergers d’arganiers oleagineux.
Nuclear Factor-κB is an Important Modulator of the Altered Gene Expression Profile and Malignant Phenotype in Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We reported previously that transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-κB is constitutively activated in human and murine squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The role of NF-κB in the cumulative changes in gene expression with transformation and progression of the murine SCC Pam 212 and after switching off NF-κB by a dominant negative inhibitor κB mutant (IκBαM) was explored by profiling with a 15,000-element cDNA micoarrray. Remarkably, NF-κB modulated the expression of >60% of the 308 genes differentially expressed between normal keratinocytes and metastatic SCCs. NF-κB directly or indirectly modulated expression of programs of genes functionally linked to proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, and angiogenesis. Among these, changes in expression of cyclin D1, inhibitor of apoptosis-1, mutant Trp53, and β-catenin detected with modulation of NF-κB by microarray were confirmed by Western and Northern blot. NF-κB DNA binding motifs were detected in the promoter of ∼63% of genes showing increased expression and 33% of the genes showing decreased expression. The ACTACAG motif implicated in the NF-κB-dependent down-regulation of mRNA expression of MyoD and Sox9 was detected in the coding portion of about 15% of genes showing increased or decreased expression. Inactivation of NF-κB inhibited malignant phenotypic features including proliferation, cell survival, migration, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. These results provide evidence that NF-κB is an important modulator of gene expression programs that contribute to the malignant phenotype of SCC.
Complete genome analysis and characterization of neurotropic dengue virus 2 cosmopolitan genotype isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of encephalitis patients

Dengue virus (DENV) infection remains a major public health concern in many parts of the world, including Southeast Asia and the Americas. Sri Lanka experienced its largest dengue outbreak in 2017. Neurological symptoms associated with DENV infection have increasingly been reported in both children and adults. Here, we characterize DENV type 2 (DENV-2) strains, which were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or serum of patients with dengue encephalitis. Acute serum and CSF samples from each patient were subjected to dengue-specific non-structural protein 1 (NS1) antigen test, IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), virus isolation, conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Among the 5 dengue encephalitis patients examined, 4 recovered and 1 died. DENV-2 strains were isolated from serum and/or CSF samples of 3 patients. The highest viral genome levels were detected in the CSF and serum of the patient who succumbed to the illness. A phylogenetic tree revealed that the DENV-2 isolates belonged to a new clade of cosmopolitan genotype and were genetically close to strains identified in China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. According to the NGS analysis, greater frequencies of nonsynonymous and synonymous mutations per gene were identified in the nonstructural genes. The full genomes of serum- and CSF-derived DENV-2 from the same patient shared 99.7% similarity, indicating that the virus spread across the blood-brain barrier. This is the first report to describe neurotropic DENV-2 using whole-genome analysis and to provide the clinical, immunological, and virological characteristics of dengue encephalitis patients during a severe dengue outbreak in Sri Lanka in 2017.
Growth and Symbiotic Performance of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Cultivars under Saline Soil Conditions

The present study was conducted to investigate growth and symbiotic performance of selected salt tolerant chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cultivars under arid saline soil conditions. Plants were grown in saline soil of Syrdarya province, Uzbekistan. The results showed that the growth and nodulation of chickpea cultivars Uzbekiston-32, Xalima, Miroz, Flip 1-33 and CIEW 45 were much better under saline conditions compared other chickpea cultivars. Inoculation of salt tolerant chickpea cultivars with M. ciceri IC53 significantly increased numbers of nodules on the roots (300%), shoot and root dry weight (27%), pod numbers (28%) and yield (23%). The above results revealed that for achieving the highest symbiotic effectiveness under salinity conditions plant cultivars have to be taken into account. It could be suggested that cultivation of salt tolerant cultivars with its symbiotic partners
The Need to Conserve Silent Valley and Tropical Rain-forest Ecosystems in India

The tropical rain-forests of India are restricted to two major geographical zones of the country - the western Ghats of southwestern peninsular India and the northeastern region. However, much of these forests have already been irreparably damaged. The destruction is chiefly related to: timber extraction on a large scale, conversion for permanent agriculture or plantation crops, and other developmental activities. It is in this last context that the relatively undisturbed tropical rain-forest ecosystems of the Silent Valley, in Palghat District (11 degree 5'N, 75 degree 27'E), is important and has gained considerable prominence in the recent past.