Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolução do melhoramento genético de suínos no Brasil

Os suinos foram introduzidos no Brasil pela colonizacao portuguesa, que proporcionou o isolamento de determinadas racas e o cruzamento de outras, dando origem ao conjunto de racas nacionais, criadas e melhoradas para producao de banha e carne, ao longo dos quatro seculos pos-descobrimento. Em meados dos anos de 1900, foram introduzidas outras racas, mais produtivas, com o proposito de melhorar as caracteristicas de producao de carne, cujos genes disseminaram-se rapidamente entre os criatorios, via programas de teste, avaliacao, selecao e cruzamento para o melhoramento genetico de racas puras e compostas, coordenados pelas associacoes de criadores de suinos nacional e de alguns estados, como Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana, Sao Paulo e Minas Gerais. Em 1970 foi introduzido o “Teste de Progenie (TP)”, nos Estados de Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul e Sao Paulo, controlado pelas Associacoes de Criadores, representando o marco inicial do melhoramento genetico de suinos no Brasil. A decada de 70 foi uma das que mais contribuiu para a melhoria genetica de suinos no Brasil, pois alem do TP, contou ainda com o incremento das integracoes (associacao entre produtor e industria), grandes responsaveis pela disseminacao do material genetico melhorado; com a substituicao de femeas puras por femeas hibridas (F1) para producao de animais para o abate; com a implantacao da primeira Central de Inseminacao Artificial (CIA). Em 1976 iniciou-se o Teste de Performance, em Estacoes Centrais (ETRS); e, em 1979, foi implantado o Teste de Performance na Granja (TG). Em 1964, a Associacao Brasileira de Criadores de Suinos criou o Metodo Brasileiro de Classificacao de Carcacas (MBCC), contribuindo para o conceito de porco tipo carne. Em 1982, a AURORA, com o apoio do Ministerio da Agricultura e do Abastecimento, implantou um sistema de tipificacao de carcacas. As linhas macho sao formadas a partir de genotipos das racas Duroc, Large White, Pietrain, Hampshire e Landrace Belga e linhas sinteticas. As linhas femeas sao derivadas das racas brancas Landrace e Large White. Outros genotipos sao utilizados em menor escala, como os das racas Duroc e Meishan, este ultimo de origem Chinesa. Entre os genes de maior importância para a industria suina destaca-se o gene halotano, o gene da carne acida, e o gene imf da gordura intramuscular (IMF).
Design of DPX system for real-time spectrum analysis and signal detection

: A new method named Digital Phosphor technology (DPX) is presented for real - time spectrum analysis and signal detection. The process of generating the 3 - D spectrum in the DPX system is analyzed, and a practical DPX system is designed and implemented. The maximum effective bandwidth is 500 MHz, and the signals are sampled directly in radio frequency (RF) with 1.2 GHz sampling rate. The main data processing module employs dual - FPGA architecture. 65,535 frames of frequency waveforms are continuously processed and accumulated in one DPX image within 100 ms. The experimental results have indicated that the 3 - D spectrum of DPX greatly improves the capabilities of signal discovery, capture and analysis, and the DPX system is adapted to real - time spectrum analysis and signal detection.
A CMOS supply-insensitive with 13ppm/°C temperature coefficient current reference

A simple all CMOS low temperature coefficient current reference is designed. Two opposite temperature coefficient supply-insensitive self-bias reference generators that have a function of threshold voltage, mobility and resistor are utilizing to compensate the first-order and second-order temperature curvature. The proposed circuit is designed in AMI 0. 5μm process with 5V supply voltage over the temperature range of -45°C to 125 °C. The proposed circuit achieves a 16μA current with temperature coefficient of 13ppm/°C, the supply variation of the designed current is ±1.2% over ±10% VDD change and the accuracy over process variation is ±4.1%.
Rationale and criteria of eligibility for calcineurin inhibitor interruption following kidney transplantation

Purpose of reviewTo summarize predictive low-risk parameters of renal allograft recipients for purposes of improving the initiation of calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal protocols. Recent findingsClinical trials have demonstrated the potential global benefit of calcineurin inhibitor interruption protocols on graft survival despite being associated with an increased rate of acute rejection episodes, thus underlying a number of risk factors. Recent identification or confirmation of variables updating the list of parameters and molecular markers that can be used to predict graft outcome are described. SummaryThe effect of calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal on long-term graft and recipient survival patterns is assessed in relation to the large number of calcineurin inhibitor-related side-effects. However, current protocols are based on empirical observations and there is a clear requirement for reliable parameters to define patient eligibility for calcineurin inhibitor weaning procedures. Here, we review biological, clinical and genetic parameters that can be used as predictive markers of long-term graft outcome and could serve as criteria for patient selection in calcineurin inhibitor weaning protocols.
Effects of habitat fragmentation on wild mammal infection by Trypanosoma cruzi

SUMMARY Expansion of human activities frequently results in habitat fragmentation, a phenomenon that has been widely recognized in the last decades as one of the major threats to world's biodiversity. The transformation of a continuous forest into a fragmented area results in a hyper-dynamic landscape with unpredictable consequences to overall ecosystem health. The effect of the fragmentation process on Trypanosoma cruzi infection among small wild mammals was studied in an Atlantic Rain Forest landscape. Comparing continous forest to fragmented habitat, marsupials were less abundant than rodents in the continuous landscape. An overall decrease in small wild mammal richness was observed in the smaller fragments. An anti-T. cruzi seroprevalence of 18% (82/440) was deteced by immunofluorescence assay. Moreover, this seroprevalence was higher in the fragmented habitat than in the continuous forest. According to the collected data, 3 main factors seem to modulate infection by T. cruzi in small wild mammals: (i) habitat fragmentation; (ii) biodiversity loss; (iii) increase of marsupial abundance in mammal communities. Furthermore, an extremely mild controlled infection by T. cruzi was detected since no patent parasitaemia could be detected in fresh blood samples, and no parasites were isolated by haemoculture.
Sterically Stabilized Cationic Liposomes Improve the Uptake and Immunostimulatory Activity of CpG Oligonucleotides1

Immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotides (ODN) show promise as immune adjuvants, anti-allergens, and immunoprotective agents. Increasing the bioavailability and duration of action of CpG ODN should improve their therapeutic utility. Encapsulating ODN in sterically stabilized cationic liposomes provides protection from serum nucleases while facilitating uptake by B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages. In a pathogen challenge model, sterically stabilized cationic liposomes encapsulation doubled the duration of CpG ODN-induced immune protection. In an immunization model, coencapsulation of CpG ODN with protein Ag (OVA) magnified the resultant Ag-specific IFN-γ and IgG responses by 15- to 40-fold compared with Ag plus CpG ODN alone. These findings support the use of sterically stabilized cationic liposomes to significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of CpG ODN.
Structure – function analysis of the tobacco mosaic virus resistance gene

The tobacco N gene is a member of the Toll-interleukin-1 receptorynucleotide-binding siteyleucine-rich repeat (TIR-NBS-LRR) class of plant resistance (R) genes and confers resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). We investigated the importance of specific domains of N in inducing TMV resistance, by examining various N deletion and point mutations that introduce single amino acid substitution mutants in vivo. Our deletion analysis suggests that the TIR, NBS, and LRR domains play an indispensable role in the induction of resistance responses against TMV. We show that amino acids conserved among the TollyIL-1Ryplant R gene TIR domain and NBS-containing proteins play a critical role in Nmediated TMV resistance. Some loss-of-function N alleles such as the TIR deletion and point mutations in the NBS (G216AyEyVyR, G218R, G219D, K222EyN, and T223AyN) interfere with the wildtype N function and behave like dominant negative mutations. These F1 plants mount a hypersensitive response (HR) that is indistinguishable from that of the wild-type N plants, yet TMV was able to move systemically, causing a systemic hypersensitive response (SHR). Many amino acid substitutions in the TIR, NBS, and LRR domains of N lead to a partial loss-of-function phenotype. These mutant plants mount delayed HR compared with the wildtype N plants and fail to contain the virus to the infection site. In addition, some partial loss-of-function alleles (W82SyA, W141SyA, G218VyS, and G219V) interfere with the wild-type N function, leading to SHR. The partial loss-of-function and dominant negative mutant alleles described in this report will be useful in furthering our understanding of the TIR-NBS-LRR class of R genes.
Brain metabolite profiles of T1-hypointense lesions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Persistent T1-hypointense lesions ("black holes") are thought to represent permanent damage of brain parenchyma. We attempted to ascertain whether the metabolic profiles of these hypointense areas support this hypothesis and whether these profiles correlate with these hypointense findings. METHODS Four patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and four matched control volunteers underwent MR imaging and 3D proton MR spectroscopy. Absolute levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, and choline (Cho) were obtained in 0.19 cm(3) voxels containing 14 T1-hypointense lesions (average volume, 0.4 cm(3); range, 0.2-1.0 cm(3)) in patients. Metabolite levels were analyzed, by using Pearson correlation, against their respective lesions' hypointensity relative to the surrounding normal-appearing white matter. RESULTS Moderate correlation, r = 0.56, was found between the NAA level and MR imaging hypointensity. Of the 14 lesions studied, 12 were deficient in NAA and 11 had excess Cho compared with corresponding brain regions in control volunteers. Only one lesion was significantly deficient in all three metabolites, indicative of total damage or matrix loss. CONCLUSION No relationship was found between the hypointensity of the lesions and their metabolic profile. Specifically, lesions with the same hypointensity on T1-weighted MR images were metabolically variable (ie, displayed disparate metabolite levels and behavior). Also, although 86% of the lesions exhibited abnormally low NAA, 71% also had increased Cho. This indicates that although neuronal damage had already occurred (lower NAA), these lesions were still "smoldering" with active membrane turnover (high Cho), most likely because of de- and remyelination, indicative of shadow plaques (remyelinated lesions). Consequently, relapsing-remitting hypointense lesions represent neither final-stage nor static pathologic abnormality.
Términos y taxonomías utilizadas en la seguridad de pacientes relacionados con el uso de medicamentos

Hay una falta de homogeneidad en la terminologia utilizada en el contexto de la seguridad del paciente relacionada con el uso de la medicacion. El objetivo de esta revision fue identificar los terminos, definiciones y taxonomias utilizados en la seguridad del paciente en relacion con la medicacion dentro de la literatura cientifica. Se incluyeron articulos originales y de revision indexados entre 1998 y 2008 en MEDLINE y EMBASE que contuvieran terminos utilizados en la seguridad del paciente en relacion con la medicacion. Los terminos y definiciones se extrajeron y se clasificaron de acuerdo a si su definicion hacia referencia al proceso de uso de medicamentos, o al resultado clinico derivado del uso de medicamentos, o ambos.
Minimizing Operational Power Cost in Remote-Area Wireless Sensor Networks With a DF Relay and Outage Constraints

For wireless multi-sensor networks with a single decode-and-forward (DF) relay, this letter provides an optimal power allocation that minimizes the total sum of costs of sensor- and relay-transmitting powers and recharging the battery in the sensors, which is referred to operational power cost. We assume a remote-area wireless sensor application and hence that the direct communication between the sensors and a destination does not exist. Motivated by an observation that the proposed power allocation is a function of the location of relay, we also provide a near-optimal location of the relay that minimizes the operational cost. Optimality of the proposed solutions is verified with numerical investigation. Numerical results show that the proposed power allocation saves the total cost by nearly up to 15% compared to the previous source-sum-power minimizing allocation when the relay location is fixed. Furthermore, the proposed relay location is shown to save the cost by about 59-77% compared to randomly-chosen relay locations.
A-Type K+ Current Mediated by the Kv4 Channel Regulates the Generation of Action Potential in Developing Cerebellar Granule Cells

During neuronal differentiation and maturation, electrical excitability is essential for proper gene expression and the formation of synapses. The expression of ion channels is crucial for this process; in particular, voltage-gated K+ channels function as the key determinants of membrane excitability. Previously, we reported that the A-type K+ current (IA) and Kv4.2 K+ channel subunit expression increased in cultured cerebellar granule cells with time. To examine the correlation between ion currents and the action potential, in the present study, we measured developmental changes of action potentials in cultured granule cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp method. In addition to an observed increment of IA, we found that the Na+ current also increased during development. The increase in both currents was accompanied by a change in the membrane excitability from the nonspiking type to the repetitive firing type. Next, to elucidate whether Kv4.2 is responsible for theIA and to assess the effect of Kv4 subunits on action potential waveform, we transfected a cDNA encoding a dominant-negative mutant Kv4.2 (Kv4.2dn) into cultured cells. Expression of Kv4.2dn resulted in the elimination ofIA in the granule cells. This result demonstrates that members of the Kv4 subfamily are responsible for theIA in developing granule cells. Moreover, elimination of IA resulted in shortening of latency before the first spike generation. In contrast, expression of wild-type Kv4.2 resulted in a delay in latency. This indicates that appearance of IA is critically required for suppression of the excitability of granule cells during their maturation.
Comparative Transcriptome Atlases Reveal Altered Gene Expression Modules between Two Cleomaceae C3 and C4 Plant Species[C][W][OPEN]

Transcriptome atlases of Tarenaya hassleriana, a C3 plant, and the C4-species Gynandropsis gynandra were developed. Integrated analysis of RNA-seq and leaf anatomical data indicates altered regulation of the cell cycle and endoreduplication during the establishment of C4 leaf anatomy. C4 genes have been recruited to photosynthetic gene expression regulation from ancestral nonphotosynthetic functions in C3. C4 photosynthesis outperforms the ancestral C3 state in a wide range of natural and agro-ecosystems by affording higher water-use and nitrogen-use efficiencies. It therefore represents a prime target for engineering novel, high-yielding crops by introducing the trait into C3 backgrounds. However, the genetic architecture of C4 photosynthesis remains largely unknown. To define the divergence in gene expression modules between C3 and C4 photosynthesis during leaf ontogeny, we generated comprehensive transcriptome atlases of two Cleomaceae species, Gynandropsis gynandra (C4) and Tarenaya hassleriana (C3), by RNA sequencing. Overall, the gene expression profiles appear remarkably similar between the C3 and C4 species. We found that known C4 genes were recruited to photosynthesis from different expression domains in C3, including typical housekeeping gene expression patterns in various tissues as well as individual heterotrophic tissues. Furthermore, we identified a structure-related module recruited from the C3 root. Comparison of gene expression patterns with anatomy during leaf ontogeny provided insight into genetic features of Kranz anatomy. Altered expression of developmental factors and cell cycle genes is associated with a higher degree of endoreduplication in enlarged C4 bundle sheath cells. A delay in mesophyll differentiation apparent both in the leaf anatomy and the transcriptome allows for extended vein formation in the C4 leaf.
Corneodesmosin, a Component of Epidermal Corneocyte Desmosomes, Displays Homophilic Adhesive Properties*

Corneodesmosomes, the modified desmosomes of the uppermost layers of the epidermis, play an important role in corneocyte cohesion. Corneodesmosin is a secreted glycoprotein located in the corneodesmosomal core and covalently linked to the cornified envelope of corneocytes. Its glycine- and serine-rich NH2-terminal domain may fold to give structural motifs similar to the glycine loops described in epidermal cytokeratins and loricrin and proposed to display adhesive properties. A chimeric protein comprising human corneodesmosin linked to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of mouse E-cadherin was expressed in mouse fibroblasts to test the ability of corneodesmosin to promote cell-cell adhesion. Classic aggregation assays indicated that corneodesmosin mediates homophilic cell aggregation. Moreover, Ca2+depletion showed a moderate effect on aggregation. To assess the involvement of the glycine loop domain in adhesion, full-length corneodesmosin, corneodesmosin lacking this domain, or this domain alone were expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins and tested for protein-protein interactions by overlay binding assays. The results confirmed that corneodesmosin presents homophilic interactions and indicated that its NH2-terminal glycine loop domain is sufficient but not strictly necessary to promote binding. Altogether, these results provide the first experimental evidence for the adhesive properties of corneodesmosin and for the involvement of its glycine loop domain in adhesion.
NiSe Nanowire Film Supported on Nickel Foam: An Efficient and Stable 3D Bifunctional Electrode for Full Water Splitting.

Active and stable electrocatalysts made from earth-abundant elements are key to water splitting for hydrogen production through electrolysis. The growth of NiSe nanowire film on nickel foam (NiSe/NF) in situ by hydrothermal treatment of NF using NaHSe as Se source is presented. When used as a 3D oxygen evolution electrode, the NiSe/NF exhibits high activity with an overpotential of 270 mV required to achieve 20 mA cm(-2) and strong durability in 1.0 M KOH, and the NiOOH species formed at the NiSe surface serves as the actual catalytic site. The system is also highly efficient for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction in basic media. This bifunctional electrode enables a high-performance alkaline water electrolyzer with 10 mA cm(-2) at a cell voltage of 1.63 V.
Aberrant DNA methylation and epigenetic inactivation of hMSH2 decrease overall survival of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients via modulating cell cycle and apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE Altered regulation of many transcription factors has been shown to play important roles in the development of leukemia. hMSH2 can modulate the activity of some important transcription factors and is known to be a regulator of hematopoietic differentiation. Herein, we investigated epigenetic regulation of hMSH2 and its influence on cell growth and overall survival of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. METHODS hMSH2 promoter methylation status was assessed by COBRA and pyrosequencing in 60 ALL patients and 30 healthy volunteers. mRNA and protein expression levels of hMSH2, PCNA, CyclinD1, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by real time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The influence of hMSH2 on cell proliferation and survival was assessed in transient and stable expression systems. RESULTS mRNA and protein expression of hMSH2 and Bcl-2 was decreased, and that of PCNA, CyclinD1 and Bax was increased in ALL patients as compared to healthy volunteers (P<0.05). hMSH2 was inactivated in ALL patients through promoter hypermethylation. Furthermore, hMSH2 hypermethylation was found in relapsed ALL patients (85.7% of all cases). The median survival of patients with hMSH2 methylation was shorter than that of patients without hMSH2 methylation (log-rank test, P=0.0035). Over-expression of hMSH2 in cell lines resulted in a significant reduction in growth and induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that aberrant DNA methylation and epigenetic inactivation of hMSH2 play an important role in the development of ALL through altering cell growth and survival.
Analysing Women's Substantive Representation: From Critical Mass to Critical Actors

Abstract This article makes a case for rethinking traditional approaches to the study of legislative behaviour on behalf of women by asking (1) not when women make a difference, but how the substantive representation of women occurs; and (2) not what ‘women’ do, but what specific actors do. The first shift aims to explore the contexts, identities and attitudes that motivate and inform substantive representation. The second seeks to move beyond a focus on female legislators to identify the ‘critical actors’, male and female, who may attempt to represent women as a group. In so doing, this framework calls attention to how structure and agency interact in the substantive representation of women.
Full resting echocardiographic study of left ventricle in children with b-thalassemia major

Our objective was to investigate the cardi- ac status of patients with b-thalassemia major who received regular transfusions and chelation therapy, to assess the incidence of subclinical abnormalities of the myocardium and to study the relationship bet- ween the above possible disorders and age, serum hemoglobin and ferritin levels, duration and compli- ance to chelation therapy. Ninety three b-thalasse- mia major patients aged 2.5 to 18 years old and for- ty-three age and sex matched controls (3-17 years od) were studied. The cardiac evaluation included a clinical examination, x-ray films of the chest, electro- cardiography and echocardiography. The cardiotho- racic ratio was increased in 7/93 patients (8%) and electrocardiographic abnormalities were present in 11/93 patients (12%). Echocardiographic abnor- malities were observed in 8/93 patients (9%) and three of them suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy. B-thalassemia patients had also increased mean left ventricular end-diastolic diamension (LVDd), left ven- tricular mass and mass index compared to controls,
Destabilization of dark states and optical spectroscopy in Zeeman-degenerate atomic systems

We present a general discussion of the techniques of destabilizing dark states in laser-driven atoms with either a magnetic field or modulated laser polarization. We show that the photon-scattering rate is maximized at a particular evolution rate of the dark state. We also find that the atomic-resonance curve is significantly broadened when the evolution rate is far from this optimum value. These results are illustrated with detailed examples of destabilizing dark states in some commonly trapped ions and supported by insights derived from numerical calculations and simple theoretical models.