Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Diversity Analysis Reveals that Geographical Environment Plays a More Important Role than Rice Cultivar in Villosiclava virens Population Selection

ABSTRACT Rice false smut caused by Villosiclava virens is an economically important disease of grains worldwide. The genetic diversity of 153 isolates from six fields located in Wuhan (WH), Yichang Wangjia (YCW), Yichang Yaohe (YCY), Huanggang (HG), Yangxin (YX), and Jingzhou (JZ) in Hubei province of China were phylogenetically analyzed to evaluate the influence of environments and rice cultivars on the V. virens populations. Isolates (43) from Wuhan were from two rice cultivars, Wanxian 98 and Huajing 952, while most of the other isolates from fields YCW, YCY, HG, YX, and JZ originated from different rice cultivars with different genetic backgrounds. Genetic diversity of isolates was analyzed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). The isolates from the same cultivars in Wuhan tended to group together, indicating that the cultivars had an important impact on the fungal population. The 110 isolates from individual fields tended to cluster according to geographical origin. The values of Nei's gene diversity (H) and Shannon's information index (I) showed that the genetic diversity among isolates was higher between than within geographical populations. Furthermore, mean genetic distance between groups (0.006) was higher than mean genetic distance within groups (0.0048) according to MEGA 5.2. The pairwise population fixation index (F ST) values also showed significant genetic differentiation between most populations. Higher genetic similarity of isolates from individual fields but different rice cultivars suggested that the geographical factor played a more important role in the selection of V. virens isolates than rice cultivars. This information could be used to improve the management strategy for rice false smut by adjusting the cultivation measures, such as controlling fertilizer, water, and planting density, in the rice field to change the microenvironment.
Perilesional gliosis and seizure outcome: A study based on magnetization transfer magnetic resonance imaging in patients with neurocysticercosis

We studied the effect of perilesional gliosis on seizure recurrence after stopping antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in 108 patients with a solitary cysticercal brain cyst. All patients received albendazole therapy in the beginning, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done after 2 seizure‐free years showed complete disappearance of the lesion in 67, partial degeneration in 12, and healing by calcification in 29. The gliosis, which was not visible on initial MRI, was observed near the lesion in 22 (20%) patients on T1‐weighted magnetization transfer spin‐echo (MTSE) MRI. Initial seizure control was difficult with single AED therapy in 16 of 22 patients with gliosis but only in 8 of 86 patients without gliosis. On stopping AED therapy, patients with perilesional gliosis had a higher incidence of seizure recurrence (19 of 22 patients) compared with those who did not demonstrate gliosis (9 of 86 patients). The presumption that gliosis visible on MTSE MRI correlates with seizure recurrence had a high specificity (96%) but only moderate sensitivity (68%). Our findings suggest that there is a group of patients with neurocysticercosis in whom the risk of seizure recurrence is actually high. Several such patients have perilesional gliosis that can be identified on T1‐weighted MTSE MRI. These patients probably need long‐term AED administration. Ann Neurol 2000;48:181–187
Predictors of women's attitudes toward world health organization framework convention on tobacco control policies in urban China.

BACKGROUND In 2005 China ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and committed to implement tobacco control legislation and policies. Wide variation in smoking prevalence between men and women in China and the high exposure of women to secondhand smoke suggest that each component of the FCTC should be analyzed from a gender perspective. This study describes women's attitudes toward and predictors of support for four key FCTC measures in China. METHODS Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,408 women in two urban cities on demographics, smoking behavior, and attitudes toward key tobacco control measures. RESULTS Seventy percent of the study women (n = 1,408) were exposed to secondhand smoke at home, work, or other public places. Support for the four FCTC measures of interest was as follows: 92.5% supported banning smoking in public places, 79.2% supported increasing the cigarette tax, 92% supported stronger health warnings on cigarette packages, and 87.1% favored banning tobacco advertising. The predictors for supporting each of these measures included socioeconomic, attitudinal, and behavioral factors. CONCLUSION Urban Chinese women appear to support implementation of key WHO FCTC measures. Predictors of women's attitudes toward the key FCTC measures varied. The formulation process resulting from the tobacco control policy should consider these women-specific predictors in order to facilitate successful implementation of FCTC.
CpG-Modified Plasmid DNA Encoding Flagellin Improves Immunogenicity and Provides Protection against Burkholderia pseudomallei Infection in BALB/c Mice

ABSTRACT The plasmid DNA encoding the fliC gene of Burkholderia pseudomallei combined with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) was injected intramuscularly into BALB/c mice, resulting in the increased production of certain humoral antibodies and flagellin-specific spleen cell clonal expansion. CpG ODN, as an immunoadjuvant, was added to the plasmid containing the fliC gene in order to obtain ongoing expression in muscle for a long period. Functional expression of flagellin from the constructed CpG-modified plasmid in transfected peritoneal exudate cells of BALB/c mice was shown by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. Furthermore, BALB/c mice immunized with the modified plasmid had relatively higher resistance to B. pseudomallei infection in vivo than did mice immunized with unmodified plasmid DNA. The time course of restricted bacterial growth in spleen and liver and changes in the cytokine profiles of immunized mice suggested that the stimulated phagocytic cells would be able to kill the bacteria eventually, possibly as a consequence of the induction of Th-1-type immune polarization in vivo. Th-1-type immune polarization was detected in response to flagellin induction in mice immunized with CpG-modified plasmid DNA by the appearance of increased levels of immunoglobulin G2a antibodies and gamma interferon-secreting cells specific to flagellin. The exogenous CpG motifs added to the fliC gene would contribute to an adjuvant-like response that enhances the flagellin-specific immunogenicity and provides protection against B. pseudomallei infection. This CpG-modified plasmid DNA vaccination is an important potential strategy that should be developed to protect against melioidosis.
Estrogen‐dependent tensile properties of the rabbit knee medial collateral ligament

The influence of oophorectomy or continuous administration of estradiol on the tensile properties of the rabbit knee medial collateral ligament was investigated. Young postpubertal female New Zealand white rabbits were either oophorectomized or underwent a sham operation. The sham‐operated animals received in addition a daily dosage of 4 mg 17β‐estradiol. After 5 months the animals were killed, and the material properties of the bone‐ligament‐bone complex in one knee were determined using a material testing machine and video system, and compared to non‐treated control animals. There was no difference in elastic modulus between the groups. However, the ligaments from low‐dose estrogen‐treated animals had a smaller cross‐sectional area and a higher ultimate tensile strength than those from controls or oophorectomized rabbits (P<0.04–0.0003).
Development of glial cells in the cerebral wall of ferrets: Direct tracing of their transformation from radial glia into astrocytes

Coronal sections of the cerebral wall from developing ferrets (newborn to adult) were double‐stained with antibodies to vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). At birth, the dominant glial population was radial glia and these cells labeled only for vimentin. A small population of immature astrocytes in the cortical plate was double labeled for GFAP and vimentin. In successive days, the number of vimentin‐positive radial glia gradually decreased and they disappeared entirely at about 21 days. During this same period, the double‐stained astrocytes increased in number and were distributed throughout the cortical plate and intermediate zone. After 6 weeks of age the astrocytes were mostly confined to the developing white matter. Around this time they gradually lost their vimentin staining, and in the adult no vimentin‐positive elements were seen except at the ependymal surface.
Transcriptional control of flavonoid biosynthesis

Flavonoids are plant secondary polyphenolic metabolites and fulfil many vital biological functions, offering a valuable metabolic and genetic model for studying transcriptional control of gene expression. Arabidopsis thaliana mainly accumulates 3 types of flavonoids, including flavonols, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins (PAs). Flavonoid biosynthesis involves a multitude of well-characterized enzymatic and regulatory proteins. Three R2R3-MYB proteins (MYB11, MYB12, and MYB111) control flavonol biosynthesis via activating the early biosynthetic steps, whereas the production of anthocyanins and PAs requires the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complex to activate the late biosynthetic genes. Additional regulators of flavonoid biosynthesis have recently come to light, which interact with R2R3-MYBs or bHLHs to organize or disrupt the formation of the MBW complex, leading to enhanced or compromised flavonoid production. This mini-review gives an overview of how these novel players modulate flavonoid metabolism and thus plant developmental processes and further proposes a fine-tuning mechanism to complete the complex regulatory network controlling flavonoid biosynthesis.
Codon Substitution Mutations at Two Positions in the L Polymerase Protein of Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 1 Yield Viruses with a Spectrum of Attenuation In Vivo and Increased Phenotypic Stability In Vitro

ABSTRACT The Y942H and L992F temperature-sensitive (ts) and attenuating amino acid substitution mutations, previously identified in the L polymerase of the HPIV3cp45 vaccine candidate, were introduced into homologous positions of the L polymerase of recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 1 (rHPIV1). In rHPIV1, the Y942H mutation specified the ts phenotype in vitro and the attenuation (att) phenotype in hamsters, whereas the L992F mutation specified neither phenotype. Each of these codon mutations was generated by a single nucleotide substitution and therefore had the potential to readily revert to a codon specifying the wild-type amino acid residue. We introduced alternative amino acid assignments at codon 942 or 992 as a strategy to increase genetic stability and to generate mutants that exhibit a range of attenuation. Twenty-three recombinants with codon substitutions at position 942 or 992 of the L protein were viable. One highly ts and att mutant, the Y942A virus, which had a difference of three nucleotides from the codon encoding a wild-type tyrosine, also possessed a high level of genetic and phenotypic stability upon serial passage in vitro at restrictive temperatures compared to that of the parent Y942H virus, which possessed a single nucleotide substitution. We obtained mutants with substitutions at position 992 that, in contrast to the L992F virus, possessed the ts and att phenotypes. These findings identify the use of alternative codon substitution mutations as a method that can be used to generate candidate vaccine viruses with increased genetic stability and/or a modified level of attenuation.
Vocal emotion recognition in five languages of Assam using features based on MFCCs and Eigen Values of Autocorrelation Matrix in presence of babble noise

This work investigates whether vocal emotion expressions of (i) discrete emotion be distinguished from ‘no-emotion’ (i.e. neutral), (ii) one discrete emotion be distinguished from another, (iii) surprise, which is actually a cognitive component that could be present with any emotion, be also recognized as distinct emotion, (iv) discrete emotion be recognized cross-lingually. This study will enable us to get more information regarding nature and function of emotion. Furthermore, this work will help in developing a generalized vocal emotion recognition system, which will increase the efficiency of human-machine interaction systems. In this work, an emotional speech database consisting of short sentences of six full-blown basic emotions and neutral is created with 140 simulated utterances per speaker of five native languages of Assam. This database is validated by a Listening Test. A new feature set is proposed based on Eigen Values of Autocorrelation Matrix (EVAM) of each frame of the speech signal. The Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is used as classifier. The performance of the proposed feature set is compared with Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) at sampling frequency of 8.1 kHz and with additive babble noise of 5 db and 0 db Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNRs) under matched noise training and testing condition.
Sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor requires E-cadherin in esophageal cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND/AIM Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) has limited anticancer efficacy in EGFR-positive esophageal cancer (EsC) and malignant mesothelioma (MPM). The underlying molecular mechanism of resistance to EGFR-TKI in these types of cancer remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS We tested sensitivity to EGFR-TKI, expression/activity of common signal transduction pathways and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene signatures in 14 EsC and MPM cultured cell lines in vitro. RESULTS More than 50% EGFR-positive EsC and MPM cells were resistant to EGFR-TKI, and susceptibility to EGFR-TKI growth-inhibitory effect correlated positively with expression of E-cadherin (epithelial gene marker) and negatively with mesenchymal gene markers. Acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI in intrinsically sensitive cancer cells coincided with spontaneous loss of E-cadherin, while ectopic expression of E-cadherin sensitized resistant cells to EGFR-TKI. CONCLUSION E-Cadherin expression appears to be not only a strong biomarker but also a functional requirement and potential therapeutic target for sensitivity to EGFR-TKI.
A combination of biocompatible peritoneal dialysis solutions and residual renal function, peritoneal transport, and inflammation markers: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND The benefits of biocompatible peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids, particularly for residual renal function (RRF), are controversial. Moreover, the clinical effects of a PD regimen consisting of different biocompatible PD fluids have not been fully established. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS Patients with end-stage kidney disease newly started on continuous ambulatory PD therapy (N = 150). INTERVENTION A 12-month intervention with 3 biocompatible PD fluids (a neutral-pH, low glucose degradation product, 1.5% glucose solution; a solution with 1.1% amino acid; and a fluid with 7.5% icodextrin) or conventional PD fluid. OUTCOMES The primary outcome was change in RRF and daily urine volume. Secondary outcomes were peritoneal transport and inflammation markers. MEASUREMENTS RRF, daily urine volume, serum and dialysate cytokine levels. RESULTS RRF(3.24 ± 1.98 vs 2.88 ± 2.43 mL/min/1.73 m(2); P = 0.9) and rate of decline in RRF (-0.76 ± 1.77 vs -0.91 ± 1.92 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per year; P = 0.6) did not differ between the biocompatible- and conventional-PD-fluid groups. However, patients using the biocompatible PD fluids had better preservation of daily urine volume (959 ± 515 vs 798 ± 615 mL/d in the conventional group, P = 0.02 by comparison of difference in overall change by repeated-measures analysis of variance). Their dialysate-plasma creatinine ratio at 4 hours was higher at 12 months (0.78 ± 0.13 vs 0.68 ± 0.12; P = 0.01 for comparison of the difference in overall change by repeated-measures analysis of variance). They also had significantly higher serum levels of adiponectin and overnight spent dialysate levels of cancer antigen 125, adiponectin, and interleukin 6 (IL-6). No differences between the 2 groups were observed for serum C-reactive protein and IL-6 levels. LIMITATIONS Unblinded, relatively short follow-up; no formal sample-size calculations. CONCLUSIONS Use of a combination of 3 biocompatible PD fluids for 12 months compared with conventional PD fluid did not affect RRF, but was associated with better preservation of daily urine volume. The biocompatible PD fluids also lead to changes in small-solute transport and an increase in dialysate cancer antigen 125, IL-6, adiponectin, and systemic adiponectin levels, but have no effect on systemic inflammatory response. The clinical significance of these changes, while of great interest, remains to be determined by further studies.
Ketamine Inhibits Inspiratory-evoked &ggr;-Aminobutyric Acid and Glycine Neurotransmission to Cardiac Vagal Neurons in the Nucleus Ambiguus

Background:Ketamine can be used for perioperative pain management as well as a dissociative anesthetic agent in emergency situations. However, ketamine can induce both cardiovascular and respiratory depression, especially in pediatric patients. Although ketamine has usually been regarded as sympathoexcitatory, recent work has demonstrated that ketamine has important actions on parasympathetic cardiac vagal efferent activity. The current study tests the hypothesis that ketamine, at clinical relevant concentrations, alters central cardiorespiratory interactions in the brainstem and, in particular, the inspiration-evoked increase in &ggr;-aminobutyric acid–mediated and glycinergic neurotransmission to parasympathetic cardiac efferent neurons. Methods:Cardiac vagal neurons were identified by the presence of a retrograde fluorescent tracer. Respiratory evoked &ggr;-aminobutyric acid–mediated and glycinergic synaptic currents were recorded in cardiac vagal neurons using whole cell patch clamp techniques while spontaneous rhythmic respiratory activity was recorded simultaneously. Results:Ketamine, at concentrations from 0.1 to 10 &mgr;m, evoked a concentration-dependent inhibition of inspiratory burst frequency. Inspiration-evoked &ggr;-aminobutyric acid–mediated neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons was inhibited at ketamine concentrations of 0.5 and 1 &mgr;m. The increase in glycinergic activity to cardiac vagal neurons during inspiration was also inhibited at ketamine concentrations of 0.5 and 1 &mgr;m. Conclusions:At clinically relevant concentrations (0.5 and 1 &mgr;m), ketamine alters central respiratory activity and diminishes both inspiration-evoked &ggr;-aminobutyric acid–mediated and glycinergic neurotransmission to parasympathetic cardiac efferent neurons. This reduction in inhibitory neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons is likely responsible for the compromised respiratory sinus arrhythmia that occurs with ketamine anesthesia.
A Pareto-improving hybrid rationing and pricing policy with multiclass network equilibria

ABSTRACT This paper extends the work on Pareto-improving hybrid rationing and pricing policy for general road networks by considering heterogeneous users with different values of time. Mathematical programming models are proposed to find a multiclass Pareto-improving pure road space rationing scheme (MPI-PR) and multiclass hybrid rationing and pricing schemes (MHPI and MHPI-S). A numerical example with a multimodal network is provided for comparing both the efficiency and equity of the three proposed policies. We discover that MHPI-S can achieve the largest reduction in total system delay, MHPI can induce the least spatial inequity and MHPI-S is a progressive policy which is appealing to policy makers. Furthermore, numerical results reveal that different classes of users react differently to the same hybrid policies and multiclass Pareto-improving hybrid schemes yield less delay reduction when compared to their single-class counterparts.
The role of knowledge management in technology assimilation processes

Technology is one of the most important determining factors for achieving competitiveness. Since companies cannot produce all technologies internally, they need to acquire them from outside providers. Thus, they face some challenges, which are caused due to the gap between provider and receiver. The gap between the parties can originate from technology itself, organizational context, or environmental attributes. Performance of firms in integrating imported technologies into their existing organization is influenced by several factors. One of these factors is knowledge, which is a key asset for all organizations and obtained through technology transfer. The aim of this study is to identify the role of Knowledge Management in technology assimilation process by analyzing the data gathered from a survey conducted in 47 Turkish firms. It is found out that knowledge management activities constitute one of the most important factors in technology assimilation process. Knowledge management factors do not show significant differences in regard to their impact on particular technology assimilation activities. However, when compared, they may play relatively different roles due to the objectives and needs of the case.
Interleukin‐12 Induces Efficient Lysis of Natural Killer‐Sensitive and Natural Killer‐Resistant Human Osteosarcoma Cells: the Synergistic Effect of Interleukin‐2

Previously we demonstrated that some osteosarcoma cell lines varied greatly in their susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell lysis in vitro. The expression of CD54 and CD58 adhesion molecules on their surface appeared to influence their vulnerability, and the tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α)‐induced positive modulation of CD54 increased osteosarcoma susceptibility in vitro. This study investigated whether peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal healthy donors could be activated by interleukin (IL)‐12 and IL‐2, separately or in combination, to lyse osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro, as evaluated by using a microcytotoxicity test. In addition, we analysed (by flow cytometry) whether this function correlated with modifications of the CD2, CD11a, CD11b and CD18 molecules, which are involved in the adhesion of effector cells to the counter‐receptors (CD54 and CD58) on osteosarcomas. This study demonstrates that incubation with IL‐12 and/or IL‐2 triggered NK cell cytolytic activity against osteosarcoma targets and that cytolytic activity was enhanced to a greater extent when lymphocytes were incubated simultaneously with a combination of IL‐12 and IL‐2. The density of CD18 and CD2 molecules involved in NK adhesion was also up‐modulated following cytokine incubation. These changes in the density of adhesion molecules can be involved in the increased lytic activity of effector lymphocytes and in the modification of their binding capacity to osteosarcoma target cells.