Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic structure of a soil population of nonsymbiotic Rhizobium leguminosarum

The genetic structure of a population of nonsymbiotic Rhizobium leguminosarum strains was determined by the electrophoretic mobilities of eight metabolic enzymes. Nonsymbiotic strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of bean plants and characterized by growth on differential media and at different temperatures, intrinsic antibiotic resistance, the lack of homology to a nifH probe, and their inability to form nodules on bean roots. All the isolates clustered with R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli reference strains and did not encompass any other Rhizobium taxa. Their rRNA operon restriction fragment length polymorphisms and the nucleotide sequence of a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene were also found to be identical to those of R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli reference strains. When complemented with an R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli symbiotic plasmid (p42d), the nonsymbiotic isolates were able to fix nitrogen in symbiosis with bean roots at levels similar to those of the parental strain. The symbiotic isolates were found at a relative frequency of 1 in 40 nonsymbiotic R. leguminosarum strains.
Sustainable Agricultural Development in Nigeria: A Way Out of Hunger and Poverty

This paper examines the agricultural transformation via-a-vis hunger and poverty eradication as a means of sustaining economic growth and development in Nigeria. About 80 percent of Nigerians live in rural areas and agricultural sector remains the main provider of livelihood for most rural dwellers and a major contributor to Nigeria growth rate besides oil and gas sector. Before the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity in the country in 1968, agriculture dominated the economy and accounted for almost all its foreign reserves. The discovery of oil caused a paradigm shift from agriculture to petroleum, relegating the multi-functional nature of agriculture to the background. Despite the huge revenue and foreign reserves derived from the oil sector, hunger and poverty rates remain on the increase in Nigeria. Recent estimates put the number of undernourished Nigerians at over 53 million-representing about 30 percent of the country’s total population while the poverty statistics shows that about 72 percent of Nigerians (118.2million people) are poor. The importance of agricultural transformation on the nation’s socio-economic development cannot be over-emphasized. Hunger and poverty rates will continue to rise as long as the abundance human and material resources located in Nigeria rural settings are not optimally harnessed. This paper therefore, emphasizes significant improvements and effective harnessing of agricultural sector for meaningful and adequate food production and other socio-economic developments through agricultural reforms. Specifically, the study limits itself to the important role of agricultural transformation in engendering sustainable development and significant levels of hunger and poverty reduction in South Western Nigeria. Keywords: Hunger, Agricultural transformation, Food production, Poverty reduction, Sustenance
Tumour necrosis factor α production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils treated with mouse anti‐human CD19 monoclonal antibody

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play pivotal roles as phagocytic cells in immune defence against bacteria and parasites, exerting their effects by production of reactive oxygen species, several cytokines, chemokines and by phagocytotic reaction. In our investigation of properties of activated PMNs, we discovered that one of the two kinds of mouse anti‐human CD19 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) clone SJ25‐C1, weakly binds to freshly prepared PMNs. Moreover, the treatment of freshly prepared PMNs with anti‐CD19 mAb (clone SJ25‐C1) at 37°C for 6 h induces the production and the secretion of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF α) by PMNs in vitro which was detectable in culture supernatants by bioassay using mouse cell line L929 cells. The concentration of TNF α secreted into the culture supernatant of PMNs cultured in the presence of anti‐CD19 mAb (clone SJ25‐C1) was higher than those of PMNs treated at 37°C for 6 h with various PMN activators, such as anti‐CD24 mAb, granulocytes‐macrophage colony stimulation factor (GM‐CSF) or interferon γ (IFN γ). In contrast, another clone of anti‐CD19 mAb, HD37, did not bind to freshly prepared PMNs and failed to produce TNF α. To confirm that anti‐CD19 mAb (clone SJ25‐C1)‐treated PMNs definitely produce TNF α, we measured the levels of intracellular expression of TNF α in PMNs permeabilized by saponin. These cells were treated with fluorescence‐conjugated mouse anti‐human TNF α mAb for detection of intracellular TNF α expression. Consequently, large amounts of intracellular TNF α were detected in PMNs treated with anti‐CD19 mAb (clone SJ25‐C1) but not in those treated with anti‐CD19 mAb (clone HD37). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Agrin Is a Major Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan in the Human Glomerular Basement Membrane

Agrin is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) that is highly concentrated in the synaptic basal lamina at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Agrin-like immunoreactiv-ity is also detected outside the NMJ. Here we show that agrin is a major HSPG component of the human glomerular basement membrane (GBM). This is in addition to perlecan, a previously characterized HSPG of basement membranes. Antibodies against agrin and against an unidentified GBM HSPG produced a strong staining of the GBM and the NMJ, different from that observed with anti-perlecan antibodies. In addition, anti-agrin antisera recognized purified GBM HSPG and competed with an anti-GBM HSPG monoclonal antibody in ELISA. Furthermore, both antibodies recognized a molecule that migrated in SDS-PAGE as a smear and had a molecular mass of approximately 200–210 kD after deglycosylation. In immunoelectron microscopy, agrin showed a linear distribution along the GBM and was present throughout the width of the GBM. This was again different from perlecan, which was exclusively present on the endothelial side of the GBM and was distributed in a nonlinear manner. Quantitative ELISA showed that, compared with perlecan, the agrin-like GBM HSPG showed a sixfold higher molarity in crude glomerular extract. These results show that agrin is a major component of the GBM, indicating that it may play a role in renal ultrafiltration and cell matrix interaction.
Apoptotic Cell-Derived Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Promotes HuR-Dependent Cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA Stabilization and Protein Expression1

Removal of apoptotic cells by phagocytes is considered a pivotal immune regulatory process. Although considerable knowledge has been obtained on the postphagocytic macrophage phenotype, there is little information on molecular mechanisms, which provoke macrophage polarization. In this study, we show that human apoptotic Jurkat cells (AC) or AC-conditioned medium (CM) rapidly induces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages via sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Pharmacological inhibition of S1P release from AC or using CM from cells with a knockdown of sphingosine kinase 2 in human MCF-7 cells abrogates this effect. Expression of COX-2 resulted from an increase in mRNA stability via its 3′-untranslated region (UTR), shown by COX-2–3′-UTR and AU-rich element-driven reporter assays. Western analysis corroborated increased nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of the RNA-binding protein HuR after CM treatment. RNA EMSA analysis revealed an S1P- and CM-mediated increase in HuR-RNA binding to a COX-2-specific UTR, whereas HuR knockdown pointed to its importance for S1P in CM-induced COX-2 expression. Immunofluorescence microscopy of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and ELISA analysis of PGE2 revealed activation of PLA2 and production of PGE2 in response to CM but not S1P. S1P, released from AC, uses HuR to stabilize COX-2 mRNA and thus to increase COX-2 protein expression. However, only CM also activates PLA2 to provide the substrate for COX-2. Our data underscore the importance of S1P in AC-mediated immune regulation, by stabilizing COX-2 mRNA in macrophages, a prerequisite for PGE2 formation.
Generation of accurate rational model of microwave filters using Cauchy-TLS method

A method to generate an accurate rational model of microwave coupled resonator filters is presented. The Cauchy-TLS (total least squares) method has been used to achieve this goal. By the analysis of the relationship between the polynomial coefficients and the phase loading, it is easy to remove the loading effect. The resulting model can be used to extract the coupling structure of filters by synthesis or optimization. Two numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed method. One deals with numerical simulation data from a full-wave electromagnetic simulation and the other uses the measured data.
GNAS Locus and Pseudohypoparathyroidism

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is characterized by hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia due to resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH). Patients with PHP-Ia often present with additional hormonal resistance and show characteristic physical features that are collectively termed Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). These features are also present in pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), but patients affected by this disorder do not show hormone resistance. PHP-Ib patients, on the other hand, present predominantly with renal PTH resistance and lack any features of AHO. Most of these PHP forms are caused by defects in GNAS (20q13.3), an imprinted gene locus with multiple transcriptional units. PHP-Ia and PPHP are caused by heterozygous inactivating mutations in those exons of GNAS encoding the α subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gsα), and the autosomal dominant form of PHP-Ib (AD-PHP-Ib) is caused by heterozygous mutations disrupting a long-range imprinting control element of GNAS. Expressed nearly in all cells, Gsα plays essential roles in a multitude of physiological processes. Its expression in renal proximal tubules occurs predominantly from the maternal allele, and this tissue- and parent-specific imprinting of Gsα is an important determinant of hormone resistance in kindreds with PHP-Ia/PPHP and AD-PHP-Ib.
The effect of blocking radial abduction on palmar abduction strength of the thumb

The measurement of palmar abduction strength of the thumb (PAST) is often used as a research tool to provide an objective assessment of thenar muscle function in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of blocking radial abduction on PAST in a normal population. PAST was measured for both hands of 100 healthy volunteers in two positions. In the first position a vertical board was placed perpendicular to the radial border of the hand to block radial abduction, and in the second position PAST was measured without the board. Men had greater PAST. There was no difference in PAST between the dominant and non-dominant hand for both men and women, when a vertical board was used. Without the board, the values were significantly greater in the dominant hand. Radial abduction should be blocked during measurement of PAST.
Acetabular Fractures: Long-Term Follow-Up of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation

Summary: Eighty-seven acetabular fractures in eighty-seven patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation at Vanderbilt University Hospital from 1984 to 1989. Fifty-six were treated by orthopaedic traumatologists. Fifty- six patients returned for long-term follow-up (range 24-80 months, average 43). Harris hip ratings were used to clinically grade the results. Poor results were found in 43%. Eighty-three percent of the patients with poor results had satisfactory surgical reductions with < 3 mm of residual displacement. Factors other than surgical reduction contributed significantly to the poor results. These included hip dislocation associated with the fracture, class III or IV heterotopic ossification, development of avascular necrosis, and age > 40 years. These factors in addition to adequacy of surgical reduction allow us to better counsel patients as to long-term prognosis.
The Influence of the Spatio-Temporal Terzi Treatment on the Kinematics of Cursive Writing of Dysgraphic Subjects

Many different treatment approaches have been applied for handwriting remediation in school-aged children. The effects of these treatments are usually evaluated by using ad-hoc checklists as well as some standard test protocols like Movement ABC tests, Visual-Motor Integration (V.M.I.) tests, etc. Recently, digitizing tablets have allowed the study of kinematic characteristics of handwriting and a series of parameters were estimated on cursive writing of Italian children. In this paper, the influence of a new rehabilitation protocol (Terzi's method) on kinematics of cursive writing was evaluated. The analysis was carried out on 22 nonproficient handwriting children, attending primary or secondary school, which undertook a series of three exercises, with and without linguistic concerns. A set of kinematic parameters was calculated before and after the rehabilitation process. The results showed that Terzi's rehabilitation program is capable of producing a significant velocity increase in the test without linguistic involvement, whereas a significant slowdown in the stroke realization was present in the other tasks. The effectiveness of Terzi's rehabilitation program was proved by significant improvements in the V.M. I. test, in the Movement ABC test as well as in writing legibility (evaluated by checklist).
Challenges of phase 1 clinical trials evaluating immune checkpoint-targeted antibodies.

BACKGROUND Immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies (imAbs) targeting immune checkpoint molecules are revolutionizing oncology not only regarding cancer therapeutics and clinical care, but also from a drug development point of view. A handful of first-generation molecules have been approved so far based on their tremendous efficacy, after an expedited development phase that has challenged most paradigms established in the era of conventional cytotoxic therapy and to some extent molecularly targeted agents. A huge wave of second-generation imAbs is just entering into phase 1 trials now, in monotherapy or in combination. In order to maximize their chances of success in early phase trials, and eventually for patients' benefit, their clinical development has to benefit from lessons learnt from previous imAbs phase 1 trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the early clinical development of anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 and anti-programmed death-1 receptor/ligand. Particularities of each agent, including safety, dose--toxicity and dose--efficacy relationships, scheduling, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), trial design, biomarkers, response assessment and overall drug development strategies, are described and challenged. RESULTS As opposed to conventional cytotoxic agents, dose of imAbs is not linearly associated with efficacy and toxicity. Therefore, the definition of a minimal immunologically active dose could be proposed. Traditional patient eligibility criteria might also be revisited as the toxicity profile and mechanism of toxicity--immune-related adverse events--are mostly known and their physiopathology somehow less unexpected than with molecularly targeted small molecules. Most challenging are the comprehensive investigation of complex PK and PD characteristics as well as the definition of patient selection biomarkers. Finally, the early focus on efficacy (and not only dose confirmation) in expansion cohorts challenges the traditional phase 1/2/3 drug development process. CONCLUSION Several drug development paradigms have been challenged by imAbs. Here, we discuss novel approaches for an efficient and successful drug development of these agents.
Human caliciviruses detected in HIV‐seropositive children in Kenya

The human caliciviruses (HuCVs) are important causes of gastroenteritis worldwide. Norovirus (NoV) and sapovirus (SaV) have been detected in HIV‐seropositive children but the genetic diversity of HuCVs circulating in these individuals is largely unknown. In this study the prevalence and genotype diversity of HuCVs circulating in Kenyan HIV‐positive children, with or without diarrhea, from the year 1999 to 2000 was investigated. The overall prevalence of HuCVs was 19% with NoV predominating at 17% (18/105) and SaV present in 5.7% (6/105) of specimens. Human CVs were detected in both symptomatic (24%) and asymptomatic (16%) children. Co‐infections with other enteric viruses were detected in 21.6% of children with diarrhea but only in 4.4% of children without diarrhea. Remarkable genetic diversity was observed with 12 genotypes (7 NoV, 5 SaV) being identified in 20 HuCV‐infected children. NoV genogroup II (GII) strains predominated with GII.2 and GII.4 each representing 27% of the NoV‐positive strains. The GII.4 strain was most closely related to the nonepidemic GII.4 Kaiso 2003 variant. Other NoV genotypes detected were GI.3, GII.6, GII.12, GII.14, and GII.17. Five different SaV genotypes (GI.2, GI.6, GII.1, GII.2, and GII.4) were characterized from six specimens. Diarrheal symptoms were not associated with any specific HuCV genotype. Overall the HuCV genotype distribution detected in this study reflects those in other studies worldwide. The strains detected are closely related to genotypes that have circulated on several continents since the year 2000. J. Med. Virol. 86:75–81, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Drug-eluting stents versus bare metal stents following rotational atherectomy for heavily calcified coronary lesions: late angiographic and clinical follow-up results.

OBJECTIVES To study the effectiveness of drug-eluting stents following rotablation of severely calcified lesions. BACKGROUND Drug-eluting stents are increasingly showing promising results in complex lesions and high-risk patients. Heavily calcified stenoses have not been adequately studied, and form a challenge both for the immediate and late outcomes. METHODS Single-center prospective study among 27 patients treated by rotablation followed by a drug-eluting stent implantation for angiographically heavily calcified lesions, compared with a historical control of 34 patients treated by rotablation followed by bare stent implantation for the same indication. The primary endpoint was the late lumen loss at 9 months; secondary endpoints were binary restenosis and major adverse cardiac events at 9 months. A 2-year follow-up directed to death and myocardial infarction was added. RESULTS Both groups were comparable regarding baseline and procedural characteristics. Angiographic success was 100% for both groups. At 9 months, there was a significant difference in the late lumen loss (0.11 +/- 0.7 mm in the DES group and 1.11 +/- 0.9 mm in the BMS group, P = 0.001). This difference was manifest in the clinical event rates at late follow-up (combined incidence of death due to any cause, MI, and TLR was 7.4% in the DES group and 38.2% in the BMS group; P = 0.004). At 2 years, there were 5 deaths in each group (P = 0.5) and 2 infarctions in the BMS group versus none in the DES group (P = 1.0). CONCLUSION The combination of rotablation and drug-eluting stent implantation (Rota-DES) has a favorable effect on clinical and angiographic outcomes at 9 months when treating heavily calcified lesions compared to rotablation followed by bare metal stent implantation. No safety concerns are observed at 2 years.
Analysis of a splice acceptor site mutation which produces multiple splicing abnormalities in the human argininosuccinate synthetase locus.

The cloned argininosuccinate synthetase gene from a citrullinemia patient's fibroblast cell line revealed a single base substitution (G to C) within the splice acceptor site of the last intron. The mutation abolished normal RNA splicing, and, by cDNA analysis, three abnormal splicing pathways were demonstrated. The major pathway involved the activation of a cryptic acceptor site in the last exon that resulted in a deletion of seven nucleotides in the mature RNA. Another pathway involved a downstream cryptic acceptor site, that is 388 nucleotides downstream from the first cryptic site. Northern blot analysis showed that this second cryptic site is present on the minor 2.7-kilobase mRNA, but not on the major species of argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA, which is 1.7-kilobases in length. Using this aberrant cDNA as a probe, the cDNA of the 2.7-kilobase mRNA was isolated and studied. Sequence analysis suggests that this species of RNA is the one that bypasses the polyadenylation signal employed by the 1.7-kilobase RNA. Since both transcripts encounter the same translation termination codon, both RNAs should encode identical protein. Furthermore, a tract of 22 repeats of d(CA). (GT) is found at the 3' end of the gene and this repeat sequence is present on the 2.7-kilobase RNA. The third pathway of the abnormal splicing revealed a rare class of transcript that has the last intron retained in the mature RNA. This study shows that in human the intron inclusion can occur through a naturally occurring point mutation. All these abnormally spliced RNAs resulted in a protein reading frame shift.
Literature review of questionnaires assessing vertigo and dizziness, and their impact on patients' quality of life.

OBJECTIVES Vertigo and dizziness, which are major symptoms of diseases affecting the vestibular system, drastically impair patients' health-related quality of life (QoL). Patient's perspectives are thus essential to symptom assessment. We sought to make a critical review of published questionnaires measuring vertigo or dizziness, and/or their impact on QoL. METHODS Twenty-nine articles reporting the validation or use in clinical trials of vertigo- or dizziness-specific questionnaires were identified over the 1991-2004 period, and reviewed using a methodological and a Patient-Reported Outcomes specific checklist. Questionnaires were classified into three categories according to content: QoL (or handicap), mixed (assessing both symptoms and QoL), and symptom questionnaires. RESULTS Four QoL, three mixed questionnaires, two symptoms, and one Meniere's disease-specific questionnaire were identified. QoL questionnaire validation was usually not complete. The structural validity of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory is not established, although this questionnaire is considered to be the reference questionnaire in the QoL domain. Moreover, QoL questionnaires were not very specific to vertigo or dizziness. Similarly, the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire appeared to have the most pertinent content, but its validation remains to be completed. Mixed questionnaires have the same imperfections. The Vertigo, Dizziness, Imbalance (VDI) Questionnaire had the best validation score from the checklist, but its responsiveness appears to be weak. Regarding symptom questionnaires, the European Evaluation of Vertigo questionnaire evaluated the five major symptoms of vestibular syndrome satisfactorily. CONCLUSION The present literature review failed to find any relevant and validated questionnaire assessing the impact of vertigo or dizziness on QoL.