Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential immune responses to Borrelia burgdorferi in European wild rodent species influence spirochete transmission to Ixodes ricinus L. (Acari: Ixodidae)

Immune responses to Borrelia burgdorferi and their influence on spirochete transmission to Ixodes ricinus were analyzed in the natural European reservoir hosts; i.e., the mouse species Apodemus flavicollis (yellow-necked mouse) and Apodemus sylvaticus (wood mouse) and the vole species Clethrionomys glareolus (bank vole), and, in addition, in the laboratory mouse strain NMRI. Naive and preimmunized rodents were infected either by artificially infected I. ricinus larvae or by intradermal injection of spirochetes. Independent of the species, all animals developed antibodies to various spirochetal antigens. However, antibodies to the outer surface proteins A (OspA) and B (OspB) were not found in recipients infected via ticks. Rodents of the genus Apodemus and of the NMRI strain showed higher levels of B. burgdorferi-specific antibodies than those of the species C. glareolus. The rate of spirochete transmission to noninfected ticks correlated with both the quality and quantity of spirochete-specific antibodies generated in the various species: high levels of spirochete-specific immunoglobulins correlated with low transmission rates. Furthermore, lower transmission rates were observed with rodents expressing antibodies to OspA and OspB (i.e., intradermally infected or immunized) than with those lacking these specificities (i.e., infected via ticks). The study provides evidence that transmission of B. burgdorferi from natural hosts to ticks is controlled by the specificity and quantity of spirochete-reactive antibodies and suggests that immunity to B. burgdorferi in natural reservoir hosts is an important regulatory factor in the horizontal transmission of B. burgdorferi in nature.
Self-inhibition by dopaminergic neurons

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Electromyographic analysis of the shoulder during the golf swing

Golf is a popular sport throughout the world, yet there is little in the literature that discusses the mechanics of the swing. The purpose of this study is to analyze the EMG activity in eight shoulder muscles of both the right and left arms during the golf swing. The results reveal that the infraspinatus and supraspinatus act predomi nantly at the extremes of shoulder range of motion, the subscapularis and pectoralis major during acceleration, the latissimus dorsi during forward swing, and the anterior deltoid during forward swing and follow- through. The middle and posterior deltoids appear to be relatively noncontributory, without any specific tim ing patterns. This data is an expansion of an earlier pilot study and allows us to more accurately develop an exercise program for optimal performance as well as for prevention and rehabilitation.
Automated Imaging and Analysis of the Hemagglutination Inhibition Assay

The hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay quantifies the level of strain-specific influenza virus antibody present in serum and is the standard by which influenza vaccine immunogenicity is measured. The HAI assay endpoint requires real-time monitoring of rapidly evolving red blood cell (RBC) patterns for signs of agglutination at a rate of potentially thousands of patterns per day to meet the throughput needs for clinical testing. This analysis is typically performed manually through visual inspection by highly trained individuals. However, concordant HAI results across different labs are challenging to demonstrate due to analyst bias and variability in analysis methods. To address these issues, we have developed a bench-top, standalone, high-throughput imaging solution that automatically determines the agglutination states of up to 9600 HAI assay wells per hour and assigns HAI titers to 400 samples in a single unattended 30-min run. Images of the tilted plates are acquired as a function of time and analyzed using algorithms that were developed through comprehensive examination of manual classifications. Concordance testing of the imaging system with eight different influenza antigens demonstrates 100% agreement between automated and manual titer determination with a percent difference of ≤3.4% for all cases.
Biomass Modeling of Larch (Larix spp.) Plantations in China Based on the Mixed Model, Dummy Variable Model, and Bayesian Hierarchical Model

With the development of national-scale forest biomass monitoring work, accurate estimation of forest biomass on a large scale is becoming an important research topic in forestry. In this study, the stem wood, branches, stem bark, needles, roots and total biomass models for larch were developed at the regional level, using a general allometric equation, a dummy variable model, a mixed effects model, and a Bayesian hierarchical model, to select the most effective method for predicting large-scale forest biomass. Results showed total biomass of trees with the same diameter gradually decreased from southern to northern regions in China, except in the Hebei province. We found that the stem wood, branch, stem bark, needle, root, and total biomass model relationships were statistically significant (p-values < 0.01) for the general allometric equation, linear mixed model, dummy variable model, and Bayesian hierarchical model, but the linear mixed, dummy variable, and Bayesian hierarchical models showed better performance than the general allometric equation. An F-test also showed significant differences between the models. The R2 average values of the linear mixed model, dummy variable model, and Bayesian hierarchical model were higher than those of the general allometric equation by 0.007, 0.018, 0.015, 0.004, 0.09, and 0.117 for the total tree, root, stem wood, stem bark, branch, and needle models respectively. However, there were no significant differences between the linear mixed model, dummy variable model, and Bayesian hierarchical model. When the number of categories was increased, the linear mixed model and Bayesian hierarchical model were more flexible and applicable than the dummy variable model for the construction of regional biomass models.
Gregariousness and protandry promote reproductive insurance in the invasive gastropod Crepidula fornicata: evidence from assignment of larval paternity

According to the size‐advantage hypothesis, protandric sequential hermaphroditism is expected when the increase in reproductive success with age or size is small for males but large for females. Interestingly, some protandrous molluscs have developed gregarious strategies that might enhance male reproductive success but at the cost of intraspecific competition. The gastropod Crepidula fornicata, a European invading species, is ideal for investigating mating patterns in a sequential hermaphrodite in relation to grouping behaviour because individuals of different size (age) live in perennial stacks, fertilization is internal and embryos are brooded. Paternity analyses were undertaken in stacks sampled in three close and recently invaded sites in Brittany, France. Paternity assignment of 239 larvae, sampled from a set of 18 brooding females and carried out using five microsatellite loci, revealed that 92% of the crosses occurred between individuals located in the same stack. These stacks thus function as independent mating groups in which individuals may reproduce consecutively as male and female over a short time period, a pattern explained by sperm storage capacity. Gregariousness and sex reversal are promoting reproductive insurance in this species. In addition, females are usually fertilized by several males (78% of the broods were multiply sired) occupying any position within the stack, a result reinforcing the hypothesis of sperm competition. Our study pointed out that mating behaviours and patterns of gender allocation varied in concert across sites suggesting that multiple paternities might enhance sex reversal depending on sperm competition intensity.
Expression and Localization of the Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded Protein Kinase

ABSTRACT The protein kinase (PK) encoded by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) BGLF4 gene is the only EBV protein kinase. The expression pattern of EBV PK during the reactivation of the viral lytic cycle and the subcellular localization of the protein were analyzed with a polyclonal antiserum raised against a peptide corresponding to the N terminus of EBV PK. Based on previously published data (E. Gershburg and J. S. Pagano, J. Virol. 76:998-1003, 2002) and the expression pattern described here, we conclude that EBV PK is an early protein that requires viral-DNA replication for maximum expression. By biochemical fractionation, the protein could be detected mainly in the nuclear fraction 4 h after viral reactivation in Akata cells. Nuclear localization could be visualized by indirect immunofluorescence in HeLa cells transiently expressing EBV BGLF4 in the absence of other viral products. Transient expression of 3′-terminal deletion mutants of EBV BGLF4 resulted in cytoplasmic localization, confirming the presence of a nuclear localization site in the C-terminal region of the protein. In contrast to the wild-type EBV PK, all of the mutants were unable to hyperphosphorylate EA-D during coexpression or to phosphorylate ganciclovir, as measured by an in-cell activity assay. Thus, the results demonstrate that the nuclear localization, as well as the kinase activity, of BGFL4 is dependent on an intact C-terminal region.
Augmentation of keratinized gingiva through bilaminar connective tissue grafts: a comparison between two techniques.

AIM A mucogingival deficiency is considered a potential risk factor for periodontal disease. In particular, mucogingival deficiency can lead to gingival recession, which is a pathological entity per se, due to the increased risk for dental hypersensitivity and root caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare 2 bilaminar grafting techniques normally employed to achieve root coverage. METHODS Thirty-five patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 19 patients with 49 gingival recessions treated by Nelson technique (as modified by Harris), while group 2 included 15 patients with 40 recessions treated by Langer technique. Clinical evaluation was performed at preoperative level (T0), after 1 month (T1) and after 1 year (T2). Statistical analysis was performed by means of Friedmann and Wilcoxon test and U-Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant difference between groups, both in terms of percentage of root coverage and of width of keratinizaed gingiva gain. A significant difference was only observed within each group, for the amount of keratinized gingiva at T1 vs T0 and at T2 vs T1. CONCLUSIONS This study did not show any statistical difference between the Nelson and the Langer technique as to root coverage and gain in keratinized gingiva.
High level of DDT resistance in the malaria mosquito: Anopheles gambiae s.l. from rural, semi urban and urban communities in Nigeria.

Objective: To investigate the susceptibility status of the major malaria mosquito in selected rural, semi-urban and urban areas of Nigeria to DDT and Permethrin based insecticides used in vector control. Methods: Two to three day old unfed adult female Anopheles mosquitoes raised from larvae collected across three ecological zones in Nigeria were exposed to 4 % DDT impregnated papers. To find out the possibility of DDT – pyrethroid cross-resistance, susceptibility tests were carried out using 0.75% Permethrin. Mosquitoes tested were identified to species level using PCR assays. Knockdown resistance assays were also carried out on all specimens. Results: At all three locations, the principal species was A. gambiae s.s constituting more than 80% of mosquitoes analysed. The 24 hour post-exposure mortality for Permethrin ranged from 51.7 to 100% with resistance observed in five out of the 19 communities tested. DDT resistance was observed at all of the 12 communities tested with mortality ranging from 9.8% to 80%. Incidence of Permethrin resistance was associated with urban communities compared to DDT resistance which was widespread in all the communities. Resistance was recorded in the A. gambiae s.s, however DDT resistance was observed in A. arabiensis from five study communities. Conclusions: Indications of differential susceptibility to Permethrin and high frequency of DDT resistance in A. gambiae was observed which highlights the need for baseline information prior to the use of DDT for indoor residual spray in Nigeria. It also highlights the need for an effective insecticide resistance management programme.
A two-step cascade classification method

This paper proposes a classification approach in which monolithic and multiple classifier systems are combined in a cascading fashion. The rationale behind that is to deal with the existing trade-off between the need for increasing the accuracy, while reducing the complexity of the classification method. In other words, the idea is to offer an interesting strategy to conciliate the different levels of efforts necessary to deal with easy and hard patterns usually observed in a classification problem. The experimental results have shown that for some problems more than 90% of the instances can be processed in the first step of the cascade, saving efforts by avoiding the use of the second step in which a more complex classification method is used. It means that for some problems the reduction of the classification cost achieved more than 70% when compared to the use of an MCS. In addition to this interesting classification cost reduction, the cascade approach has shown to be able of improving the classification accuracy up to 15.19 percentage points.
When is preview beneficial?

We analyze the H2 performance of the fixed-lag smoothing problem when the measurement noise intensity is a function of the smoothing lag (preview window). We derive computable necessary and sufficient conditions on the rate of the measurement noise intensity growth as a function of the smoothing lag, under which minuscule preview improves the estimation performance. A sufficient condition in terms of the spectrum of the associated Kalman filter are also derived.
Human Breast Cancer Resistance Protein: Interactions with Steroid Drugs, Hormones, the Dietary Carcinogen 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine, and Transport of Cimetidine

The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) is an ATP-binding cassette drug efflux transporter that extrudes xenotoxins from cells, mediating drug resistance and affecting the pharmacological behavior of many compounds. To study the interaction of human wild-type BCRP with steroid drugs, hormones, and the dietary carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine (PhIP), we expressed human BCRP in the murine MEF3.8 fibroblast cell line, which lacks Mdr1a/1b P-glycoprotein and Mrp1, and in the polarized epithelial MDCKII cell line. We show that PhIP was efficiently transported by human BCRP in MDCKII-BCRP cells, as was found previously for murine Bcrp1. Furthermore, we show that six out of nine glucocorticoid drugs, corticosterone, and digoxin increased the accumulation of mitoxantrone in the MEF3.8-BCRP cell line, indicating inhibition of BCRP. In contrast, aldosterone and ursodeoxycholic acid had no significant effect on BCRP. The four most efficiently reversing glucocorticoid drugs (beclomethasone, 6α-methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone) and 17β-estradiol showed a significantly reduced BCRP-mediated transepithelial transport of PhIP by MDCKII-BCRP cells, with the highest reduction of PhIP transport ratio for beclomethasone (from 25.0 ± 1.1 to 2.7 ± 0.0). None of the tested endogenous steroids or synthetic glucocorticoids or digoxin, however, were transported substrates of BCRP. We also identified the H2-receptor antagonist drug cimetidine as a novel efficiently transported substrate for human BCRP and mouse Bcrp1. The generated BCRP-expressing cell lines thus provide valuable tools to study pharmacological and toxicological interactions mediated by BCRP and to identify new BCRP substrates.
Late Mesolithic fish traps from the Liffey estuary, Dublin, Ireland

An opportunity to investigate in advance of new construction led to the discovery of five Mesolithic hazel fish traps some 6.3m below mean sea level in the River Liffey. Closely paralleled on the continent of Europe they imply a well organised community that knew how to catch fish using the tide, to make wattle-work and baskets and who undertook coppicing on an eight year cycle in about 6100-5700 cal BC. The likelihood of more Mesolithic remains under European towns that have remained attractive to fishers and settlers has considerable implications for Cultural Resource Management. Do we always know how to find and access such delicate and important traces?
Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Human Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Protein, rdgBβ*

The various PITP, retinal degeneration B (rdgB), and amino-terminal domain interacting receptor (Nir) phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins can be divided into two structural families. The small, soluble PITP isoforms contain only a phosphatidylinositol transfer domain and have been implicated in phosphoinositide signaling and vesicle trafficking. In contrast, the rdgB proteins, which include Nir2 and Nir3, contain an amino-terminal PITP-like domain, an acidic, Ca2+-binding domain, six putative transmembrane domains, and a conserved carboxyl-terminal domain. However, the biological function of rdgB proteins is unclear. Here, we report the isolation of a cDNA encoding a novel rdgB protein, mammalian rdgBβ (MrdgBβ). The 38-kDa MrdgBβ protein contains an amino-terminal PITP-like domain and a short carboxyl-terminal domain. In contrast to other rdgB-like proteins, MrdgBβ contains no transmembrane motifs or the conserved carboxyl-terminal domain. Using Northern and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, we demonstrate that MrdgBβ mRNA is ubiquitously expressed. Immunofluorescence analysis of ectopic MrdgBβ showed cytoplasmic staining, and the ability of recombinant MrdgBβ to transfer phosphatidylinositolin vitro was similar to other PITP-like domains. Although early reports found functional degeneracy in vitro, the identification of a fifth mammalian PITP-like protein with a unique domain organization and widespread expression supports more recent results that suggest that different PITP-like domains have distinct functions in vivo.
In search for phase transitions in Casimir force between percolating metal lattices

We provide a derivation of the percolation threshold for a two-dimensional triangular lattice. We then proceed to model an ensemble of skewed square lattices with randomly punched out squares, which is topologically equivalent to triangular lattice percolation. We investigate the behavior of the magnitude of the Casimir force between the percolating plate and the solid plate. We find evidence which suggests that connectivity of the percolating plate has an effect on the long wavelength current excitations on the surface of the conductors and consequently on the magnitude of the Casimir force.
Speaker Clustering in Emotion Recognition

Speaker variability is a known challenge for emotion recognition, however little work has been done on speaker similarity in terms of its contribution to the performance in the emotion classification task. In this paper, we investigate this topic, and find a clear link between speaker proximity and the recognition accuracy. Motivated by this result, emotion based speaker clustering is proposed as a new strategy for speaker adaptation. It involves using speaker proximity to cluster individual speakers’ emotion models in the training set on a per-emotion basis, and adapting the test speaker’s emotion from the closest cluster. A series of tests were conducted to explore how system performance varies with clustering method, the number of clusters and the amount of adapting data. Results on the LDC Emotion Prosody and FAU Aibo Corpora show that this method outperforms speaker bootstrap, both in terms of relieving computation load and producing higher accuracy.
The Potassium Channel Kir4.1 Associates with the Dystrophin-Glycoprotein Complex via α-Syntrophin in Glia*

One of the major physiological roles of potassium channels in glial cells is to promote “potassium spatial buffering” in the central nervous system, a process necessary to maintain an optimal potassium concentration in the extracellular environment. This process requires the precise distribution of potassium channels accumulated at high density in discrete subdomains of glial cell membranes. To obtain a better understanding of how glial cells selectively target potassium channels to discrete membrane subdomains, we addressed the question of whether the glial inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir4.1 associates with the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Kir4.1 is associated with the DGC in mouse brain and cultured cortical astrocytes. In vitro immunoprecipitation and pull-down assays demonstrated that Kir4.1 can bind directly to α-syntrophin, requiring the presence of the last three amino acids of the channel (SNV), a consensus PDZ domain-binding motif. Furthermore, Kir4.1 failed to associate with the DGC in brains from α-syntrophin knockout mice. These results suggest that Kir4.1 is localized in glial cells by its association with the DGC through a PDZ domain-mediated interaction with α-syntrophin and suggest an important role for the DGC in central nervous system physiology.