Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lung Attenuation Measurements in Healthy Young Adults

Background: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) attenuation measurements may be more sensitive in finding early emphysematous changes in relatively young subjects than lung function measurements. Objectives: To define lung attenuation parameters in smokers and never-smokers. Methods: A prospective comparative study in a university hospital setting was designed with 20 healthy smoking and 20 nonsmoking volunteers. Attenuation measurements on spirometrically controlled HRCT at three levels in the upper half of the lungs at 10% and 90% of vital capacity (VC10% and VD90%) were done, and lung function measurements were performed. Results: Mean lung attenuation (MLD) and pixel index (PI) were correlated with lung function and smoking history. Small attenuation differences in the left and right lung were found but no sex-related differences. At main carina (MC) level, the PI was higher at VC90% (p < 0.0001) but lower at VC10% (p < 0.01) compared to the apex. Age correlated with attenuation parameters at VC10%, whereas for pack-years no correlation was found. There were attenuation correlations with VC (PI: R = 0.31, p < 0.05 at VC10%/90%), residual volume (MLD: R = –0.31, p < 0.05 at VC10%), and total lung capacity (PI: R = 0.31, p < 0.05 at VC10%/VC90%). Conclusions: Lung attenuation during inspiration was lower at the MC level than at the top, but higher on expiratory scans. No sex-related differences were found. Lung attenuation decreases with age on expiratory scans. This seemed to be of more importance than the amount of pack-years of smoking. A relationship with lung function parameters is not uniformly proven.
Inflammatory infiltration of the upper airway epithelium during Sendai virus infection: involvement of epithelial dendritic cells

We undertook the present study to determine the nature of the cellular inflammatory response within the epithelial lining of the rat trachea during a Sendai virus infection. In particular, we aimed to investigate changes in the resident population of epithelial dendritic cells. Rats were infected with Sendai virus, and tracheal tissue was examined immunohistochemically at various times with a panel of cell-specific monoclonal antibodies. We found that Sendai virus infection was restricted to only the lumenal layer of epithelial cells and that virus nucleoprotein was present from days 2 to 5 postinfection. Starting around day 2 or 3, there was a large cellular influx consisting of macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, and T cells; this coincided with expression of high levels of ICAM-1 on the basal (uninfected) layers of the epithelium. The T cells were mostly alphabeta T-cell receptor positive; however, a smaller influx of gammadelta T cells also took place. The number of resident dendritic cells increased markedly during infection, with numbers peaking around day 5 and remaining elevated 14 days later. The peak of the inflammatory response occurred on day 5 and declined thereafter, with the exception of dendritic cell and alphabeta T-cell numbers, which remained elevated. Starting around day 3, the tracheal epithelial cells expressed increasing levels of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen. This expression was maximal at day 5 and declined rapidly thereafter. In vitro culture of tracheal segments demonstrated that viral infection was not per se responsible for the upregulation of class II expression and that when cultured in the presence of gamma interferon, class II antigen was induced on epithelial cells.
Nonlinear dynamic inversion for redundant systems using the EKF formalism

This paper presents an allocator for over-actuated systems based on the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). The main advantages of the proposed approach are the greater flexibility in handling the constraints and its real-time capabilities. Based on the literature, theoretical convergence results, which ensure the convergence towards the local optimal values looked for, are presented. Another formulation of the kinematic equations of redundant systems that meet some constraints is also proposed in order to go through and/or avoid singularities. The two formulations are combined and applied to an academic example (a planar redundant manipulator arm).
Systemic Protection of Papaver somniferum L. Against Iraella luteipes (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) by an Endophytic Strain of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

ABSTRACT The poppy stem gall wasp, Iraella luteipes (Thompson) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), is one of the main pests of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum L. , an economically important pharmaceutical crop cultivated worldwide. In a previous study, we obtained from I. luteipes larvae a strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) that can become established endophytically in opium poppy plants. A field experiment was conducted to study the ability of this B. bassiana strain to provide systemic protection against damage by I. luteipes in opium poppy in southern Spain for three seasons. Conidial suspensions were applied as seed dressings, leaf sprays, or soil sprays. The effect of the treatment was studied by harvesting fully ripened plants and dissecting I. luteipes larvae from the stem. The effect of treatment on growth and yield was also evaluated. Emergence of I. luteipes adults was not uniform over the 3 yr, with important differences exhibited in the duration of the emergence period, although the flight peaks tended to occur in mid-late April. B. bassiana seed dressings, leaf sprays at the fourth true-leaf stage, and soil sprays were not significantly different in their ability to reduce the number of larvae per plant compared with the controls, with percentage reductions of 36.5–58.5, 64.4–73.4, and 51.9–57.2% in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively. Even though the population level of I. luteipes increased over the 3 yr, the efficacy of the fungal inoculation in reducing the larval population was maintained throughout the study period. No significant differences between inoculation methods were detected in the percentage of leaf pieces showing fungal growth when placed on B. bassiana selective medium, with mean values in the range of 10–15% for the three seasons. Leaf pieces from controls did not exhibit any sign of B. bassiana growth when placed on B. bassiana-selective medium. Neither adverse effects on growth and yield nor symptomatic tissues were observed in B. bassiana-treated plants compared with controls in any of the three seasons.
Evolution of the mating system in colonizing plants

Colonization is likely to be more successful for species with an ability to self‐fertilize and thus to establish new populations as single individuals. As a result, self‐compatibility should be common among colonizing species. This idea, labelled ‘Baker's law’, has been influential in discussions of sexual‐system and mating‐system evolution. However, its generality has been questioned, because models of the evolution of dispersal and the mating system predict an association between high dispersal rates and outcrossing rather than selfing, and because of many apparent counter examples to the law. The contrasting predictions made by models invoking Baker's law versus those for the evolution of the mating system and dispersal urges a reassessment of how we should view both these traits. Here, I review the literature on the evolution of mating and dispersal in colonizing species, with a focus on conceptual issues. I argue for the importance of distinguishing between the selfing or outcrossing rate and a simple ability to self‐fertilize, as well as for the need for a more nuanced consideration of dispersal. Colonizing species will be characterized by different phases in their life pattern: dispersal to new habitat, implying an ecological sieve on dispersal traits; establishment and a phase of growth following colonization, implying a sieve on reproductive traits; and a phase of demographic stasis at high density, during which new trait associations can evolve through local adaptation. This dynamic means that the sorting of mating‐system and dispersal traits should change over time, making simple predictions difficult.
The anthocyanin reduced Tomato Mutant Demonstrates the Role of Flavonols in Tomato Lateral Root and Root Hair Development1[W][OPEN]

Flavonols contribute to lateral root development through the regulation of auxin transport and root hair and they modulate the levels of reactive oxygen species. This study utilized tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutants with altered flavonoid biosynthesis to understand the impact of these metabolites on root development. The mutant anthocyanin reduced (are) has a mutation in the gene encoding FLAVONOID 3-HYDROXYLASE (F3H), the first step in flavonol synthesis, and accumulates higher concentrations of the F3H substrate, naringenin, and lower levels of the downstream products kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, and anthocyanins, than the wild type. Complementation of are with the p35S:F3H transgene reduced naringenin and increased flavonols to wild-type levels. The initiation of lateral roots is reduced in are, and p35S:F3H complementation restores wild-type root formation. The flavonoid mutant anthocyanin without has a defect in the gene encoding DIHYDROFLAVONOL REDUCTASE, resulting in elevated flavonols and the absence of anthocyanins and displays increased lateral root formation. These results are consistent with a positive role of flavonols in lateral root formation. The are mutant has increased indole-3-acetic acid transport and greater sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of the auxin transport inhibitor naphthylphthalamic acid on lateral root formation. Expression of the auxin-induced reporter (DR5-β-glucuronidase) is reduced in initiating lateral roots and increased in primary root tips of are. Levels of reactive oxygen species are elevated in are root epidermal tissues and root hairs, and are forms more root hairs, consistent with a role of flavonols as antioxidants that modulate root hair formation. Together, these experiments identify positive roles of flavonols in the formation of lateral roots and negative roles in the formation of root hairs through the modulation of auxin transport and reactive oxygen species, respectively.
Reliability of the blood flow velocity pulsatility index for assessment of intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures in head-injured patients.

BACKGROUND It has been postulated that the Gosling pulsatility index (PI) assessed with transcranial Doppler (TCD) has a diagnostic value for noninvasive estimation of intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). OBJECTIVE To revisit this hypothesis with the use of a database of digitally stored signals from a cohort of head-injured patients. METHODS We analyzed prospectively collected data of patients admitted to the Cambridge Neuroscience critical care unit who had continuous recordings of arterial blood pressure, ICP, and cerebral blood flow velocities (FVs) using TCD. PI was calculated (FVsys-FVdia)/FVmean over each recording session. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman rank correlation, receiver-operator-characteristics methods, and modeling of a nonlinear PI-ICP/CPP graph. RESULTS Seven hundred sixty-two recorded daily sessions from 290 patients were analyzed with a total recording time of 499.9 hours. The correlation between PI and ICP was 0.31 (P<.001) and for PI and CPP -0.41 (P<.001). The 95% prediction interval of ICP values for a given PI was more than ±15 mm Hg and for CPP more than ±25 mm Hg. The diagnostic value of PI to assess ICP area under the curve ranged from 0.62 (ICP>15 mm Hg) to 0.74 (ICP>35 mm Hg). For CPP, the area under the curve ranged from 0.68 (CPP<70 mm Hg) to 0.81 (CPP<50 mm Hg). Probability charts for elevated ICP/lowered CPP depending on PI were created. CONCLUSION Overall, the value of TCD-PI to assess ICP and CPP noninvasively is very limited. However, extreme values of PI can still potentially be used in support of a decision for invasive ICP monitoring.
Pretreatment with nitroprusside for microcirculatory protection in saphenous vein graft interventions.

OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that the prophylactic administration of sodium nitroprusside (NTP) during saphenous vein graft (SVG) PCI would ameliorate the detrimental effects of distal embolization and reduce the frequency and magnitude of post-procedural myonecrosis. METHODS Sixty-four consecutive patients with normal preprocedural cardiac enzymes underwent SVG PCI without embolic protection devices and received prophylactic intragraft NTP before initial device activation. For each case, 2 control patients were selected in reverse chronologic order and were matched for stent use, thromboatherectomy device use, clinical presentation, presence of thrombus and pre-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow. RESULTS Mean patient age was 66 +/- 10 years, 78% of whom were males. Stent and thromboatherectomy use was 95.3% and 3.1%, respectively in both groups (p = ns). Prior to intervention, TIMI < 3 flow was present in 26.6% of cases and in 24.2% of control patients (p = ns). Thrombus was present in 20.3% of cases and in 19.5% of controls (p = ns). Post-PCI creatinine kinase (CK)-MB elevation > 3 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) occurred in 6.3% of cases vs. 16.4% of controls (p = 0.049) and > 5 x ULN in 1.6% of cases vs.10. 9% of controls (p = 0.022). In a multivariate regression model that included stent use, in-stent restenosis, thrombus presence, preprocedural TIMI 3 flow, MI as procedural indication, NTP and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa use, NTP was the only independent and significant predictor of reduced post-procedural CK-MB elevation > 5 x ULN. CONCLUSION Prophylactic administration of intragraft NTP during SVG PCIs results in a lower frequency and magnitude of post-procedural cardiac enzyme elevation.
Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 3C Interacts with Histone Deacetylase To Repress Transcription

ABSTRACT EBNA3C can specifically repress the expression of reporter plasmids containing EBV Cp latency-associated promoter elements. Cp is normally the main promoter for EBNA mRNA initiation, so it appears that EBNA3C contributes to a negative autoregulatory control loop. By mutational analysis it was previously established that this repression is consistent with EBNA3C being targeted to Cp by binding the cellular sequence-specific DNA-binding protein CBF1 (also known as recombination signal-binding protein [RBP]-Jκ. Further analysis suggested that in vivo a corepressor interacts with EBNA3C in this DNA binding complex. Results presented here are all consistent with a component of such a corepressor exhibiting histone deacetylase activity. The drug trichostatin A, which specifically inhibits histone deacetylases, relieved two- to threefold the repression of Cp induced by EBNA3C in two different cell types. Moreover, repression of pTK-CAT-Cp4× by EBNA3C was specifically enhanced by cotransfection of an expression plasmid for human histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC1). Consistent with these functional assays, in vitro-translated HDAC1 bound to a glutathioneS-transferase (GST) fusion protein including full-length EBNA3C, and in the reciprocal experiment EBNA3C bound to a GST fusion with the N terminus of HDAC1. Coimmunoprecipitations also revealed an EBNA3C-HDAC1 interaction in vivo, and GST-EBNA3C bound functional histone deacetylase enzyme activity from HeLa cell nuclear extracts. The region of EBNA3C involved in the interaction with HDAC1 appears to correspond to the region which is necessary for binding to CBF1/RBP-Jκ. A direct physical interaction between EBNA3C and HDAC1 was demonstrated with recombinant proteins purified from bacterial cells, and we therefore conclude that HDAC1 and CBF1/RBP-Jκ bind to the same or adjacent regions of EBNA3C. These data suggest that recruitment of histone deacetylase activity makes a significant contribution to the repression of transcription from Cp because EBNA3C bridges an interaction between CBF1/RBP-Jκ and HDAC1.
Dominant-Negative Mutations in the G-Protein-Coupled α-Factor Receptor Map to the Extracellular Ends of the Transmembrane Segments

ABSTRACT G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transduce the signals for a wide range of hormonal and sensory stimuli by activating a heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein). The analysis of loss-of-function and constitutively active receptor mutants has helped to reveal the functional properties of GPCRs and their role in human diseases. Here we describe the identification of a new class of mutants, dominant-negative mutants, for the yeast G-protein-coupled α-factor receptor (Ste2p). Sixteen dominant-negative receptor mutants were isolated based on their ability to inhibit the response to mating pheromone in cells that also express wild-type receptors. Detailed analysis of two of the strongest mutant receptors showed that, unlike other GPCR interfering mutants, they were properly localized at the plasma membrane and did not alter the stability or localization of wild-type receptors. Furthermore, their dominant-negative effect was inversely proportional to the relative amount of wild-type receptors and was reversed by overexpressing the G-protein subunits, suggesting that these mutants compete with the wild-type receptors for the G protein. Interestingly, the dominant-negative mutations are all located at the extracellular ends of the transmembrane segments, defining a novel region of the receptor that is important for receptor signaling. Altogether, our results identify residues of the α-factor receptor specifically involved in ligand binding and receptor activation and define a new mechanism by which GPCRs can be inactivated that has important implications for the evaluation of receptor mutations in other G-protein-coupled receptors.
Molecular Characterization and Heterologous Expression of the Gene Encoding a Low-Molecular-Mass Endoglucanase from Trichoderma reesei QM9414

ABSTRACT We have isolated the genomic and cDNA clones encoding EG III (a low-molecular-mass endo-β-1,4-glucanase) gene fromTrichoderma reesei QM9414. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA fragment was verified to contain a 702-bp open reading frame that encodes a 234-amino-acid propeptide. The deduced protein sequence has significant homologies with family H endo-β-1,4-glucanases. The 16-amino-acid N-terminal sequence was shown to function as a leader peptide for possible secretion. Northern blot analysis showed that the EG III gene transcript, with a length of about 700 bp, was expressed markedly by cellulose but not by glucose. The protein has been expressed as a mature form in Escherichia coli and as secreted forms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe under the control of tac, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1), and human cytomegalovirus promoters, respectively. The S. cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe recombinant strains showed strong cellulolytic activities on agar plates containing carboxymethyl cellulose. The E. coli strain expressed small amounts of EG III in an active form and large amounts of EG III in an inactive form. The molecular masses of the recombinant EG IIIs were estimated to be 25, 28, and 29 kDa for E. coli, S. cerevisiae, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, respectively, by immunoblot analysis following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Parts of the yeast recombinant EG IIIs decreased their molecular masses to 25 kDa after treatment with endoglycosidase H and α-mannosidase, suggesting that they are N glycosylated at least partly.
ALLOZYME AND ADVERTISEMENT CALL VARIATION IN THE TÚNGARA FROG, PHYSALAEMUS PUSTULOSUS

We analyzed variation in advertisement calls and allozymes in 30 populations along a 5000‐km transect throughout most of the range of the túngara frog, Physalaemus pustulosus. All 12 call variables measured show significant differences among populations despite the importance of the advertisement call in species recognition. Some call variables exhibited clinal variation, whereas most others differed between the two major allozyme groups that have invaded Panama at different times, perhaps 4–4.5 million yr apart. Call variables that primarily affect discrimination among conspecifics tended to exhibit greater variation than call variables that are crucial for species recognition. The proximate mechanism of production underlying a call variable, however, is a better predictor of its variation. Contrary to predictions of some sexual selection models, call variation exhibits predictable patterns of geographical variation, although a substantial portion of variation among populations is not explained by geographic position. Although allozymes, calls, and geography usually covary, closer populations can have more similar calls independent of allozyme similarity.
Beyond alphabet soup: helping college health professionals understand sexual fluidity

ABSTRACT Many college students today are no longer using the terms straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to self-identify their sexual orientation or gender identity. This commentary explores research related to fluidity of sexual identities, emerging sexual identities used by college students, and how these identities interact with the health and well-being of the student. Additionally, the authors discuss strategies to help college health professionals provide a sensitive environment and clinical experience for students whose sexual identity is fluid.
Morphology and mechanical function of long-term in vitro engineered cartilage.

Cartilage tissue can be engineered in vitro with articular chondrocytes and poly(glycolic acid) nonwoven scaffolds as previously shown over 12 weeks in vitro. This study addressed whether engineered cartilage would further evolve and approach natural cartilage in extracellular matrix organization and biomechanical properties, especially aggregate modulus through longer term in vitro cultivation. Cellularity, cell size, compressive modulus, and permeability of the in vitro engineered cartilage stabilized within the 12-week cultivation time and remained at the same levels as those of natural cartilage thereafter. The linear range of the stress-strain curve was from 0 to a strain value between 5 and 10% for all the engineered cartilage tissues that were in vitro cultured for longer than 2 weeks, which was the same linear range for natural cartilage. The aggregate modulus further increased from week 12 to week 20 and remained approximately the same value thereafter during a 25-week in vitro cultivation. The aggregate modulus of the engineered cartilage reached 179+/-9 kPa after 20 weeks of in vitro cultivation, which was 40% that of natural articular cartilage. To our knowledge this is the highest aggregate modulus value yet reported of any in vitro engineered cartilage tissue.