Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Celiac Disease, a Subset of Autoantibodies against Transglutaminase Binds Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Induces Activation of Monocytes

Background Celiac disease is a small intestine inflammatory disorder with multiple organ involvement, sustained by an inappropriate immune response to dietary gluten. Anti-transglutaminase antibodies are a typical serological marker in patients with active disease, and may disappear during a gluten-free diet treatment. Involvement of infectious agents and innate immunity has been suggested but never proven. Molecular mimicry is one of the mechanisms that links infection and autoimmunity. Methods and Findings In our attempt to clarify the pathogenesis of celiac disease, we screened a random peptide library with pooled sera of patients affected by active disease after a pre-screening with the sera of the same patients on a gluten-free diet. We identified a peptide recognized by serum immunoglobulins of patients with active disease, but not by those of patients on a gluten-free diet. This peptide shares homology with the rotavirus major neutralizing protein VP-7 and with the self-antigens tissue transglutaminase, human heat shock protein 60, desmoglein 1, and Toll-like receptor 4. We show that antibodies against the peptide affinity-purified from the sera of patients with active disease recognize the viral product and self-antigens in ELISA and Western blot. These antibodies were able to induce increased epithelial cell permeability evaluated by transepithelial flux of [3H] mannitol in the T84 human intestinal epithelial cell line. Finally, the purified antibodies induced monocyte activation upon binding Toll-like receptor 4, evaluated both by surface expression of activation markers and by production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions Our findings show that in active celiac disease, a subset of anti-transglutaminase IgA antibodies recognize the viral protein VP-7, suggesting a possible involvement of rotavirus infection in the pathogenesis of the disease, through a mechanism of molecular mimicry. Moreover, such antibodies recognize self-antigens and are functionally active, able to increase intestinal permeability and induce monocyte activation. We therefore provide evidence for the involvement of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of celiac disease through a previously unknown mechanism of engagement of Toll-like receptor 4.
ATP-binding cassette transporter A7 enhances phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and associated ERK signaling in macrophages

The mammalian ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and A7 (ABCA1 and -A7) show sequence similarity to CED-7, a Caenorhabditis elegans gene that mediates the clearance of apoptotic cells. Using RNA interference or gene targeting, we show that knock down of macrophage ABCA7 but not -A1 results in defective engulfment of apoptotic cells. In response to apoptotic cells, ABCA7 moves to the macrophage cell surface and colocalizes with the low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 (LRP1) in phagocytic cups. The cell surface localization of ABCA7 and LRP1 is defective in ABCA7-deficient cells. C1q is an opsonin of apoptotic cells that acts via phagocyte LRP1 to induce extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. We show that ERK signaling is required for phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and that ERK phosphorylation in response to apoptotic cells or C1q is defective in ABCA7-deficient cells. These studies reveal a major role of ABCA7 and not -A1 in the clearance of apoptotic cells and therefore suggest that ABCA7 is an authentic orthologue of CED-7.
The Idea of Using PIM Training Program to Improve Self Efficacy of the Golfers

This study investigated the effectiveness of Practice in Mind or PIM training program on self-efficacy of the golfers when putting from the 6-feet distance. Recent research has suggested that golfers perceived putting from six feet more difficult than i.e., 3, 12 and 24 feet. Sixty-three male golfers with 1 to 3 year golf experiences participated in this study. Participants in PIM group and traditional group completed imagery and physical practices. Meanwhile, the control group only performed physical practices. Three tests were conducted and one- way repeated measure ANOVA used in this study. The results revealed that PIM group improved on self- efficacy compared to the traditional imagery and control group. The finding suggests the idea of using PIM training program to improve self-efficacy of the golfers.
Towards personalised automated driving: Prediction of preferred ACC behaviour based on manual driving

More and more Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADASs) are entering the market for improving both safety and comfort. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is an ADAS application that has high interaction with the driver. ACC systems use limited sensor input and have only few configuration possibilities. This may result in the behaviour of the ACC not matching user's preferences in all cases, resulting in lower acceptance of the system. In this work, we examine the possibilities for a Personalised ACC (PACC), which adapts the ACC settings such that it matches the driver preference in order to increase the acceptance. The driver preferred ACC behaviour is predicted using machine learning techniques and manual driving data. On-road experiments showed that the method is promising as it is able to discriminate between two preference clusters with an accuracy of 85%.
Enhancement of Fibrinolysis by EF6265 [(S)-7-Amino-2-[[[(R)-2-methyl-1-(3-phenylpropanoylamino)propyl]hydroxyphosphinoyl] methyl]heptanoic Acid], a Specific Inhibitor of Plasma Carboxypeptidase B

Plasma procarboxypeptidase B, also known as thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), is converted by thrombin into the active enzyme, carboxypeptidase B (CPB)/activated TAFI. Plasma CPB down-regulates fibrinolysis by removing carboxy-terminal lysines, the ligands for plasminogen and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), from partially degraded fibrin. To target thrombosis in a new way, we have identified and optimized a phosphinic acid-containing inhibitor of CPB, EF6265 [(S)-7-amino-2-[[[(R)-2-methyl-1-(3-phenylpropanoylamino) propyl]hydroxyphosphinoyl]methyl]heptanoic acid] and determined both the pharmacological profile and pathophysiological role of CPB in rat thrombolysis. EF6265 specifically inhibited plasma CPB activity with an IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) of 8.3 nM and enhanced tPA-mediated clot lysis in a concentration-dependent manner. EF6265 decreased detectable thrombi (percentage of glomerular fibrin deposition; control, 98 ± 1.1; EF6265, 0.1 mg/kg, 27 ± 9.1) that had been generated by tissue factor in a rat microthrombosis model with concomitant increases in plasma D-dimer concentration (control, <0.5 μg/ml; EF6265, 0.1 mg/kg, 15 ± 3.5 μg/ml). EF6265 reduced plasma α2-antiplasmin activity to a lesser extent than tPA. In an arteriovenous shunt model, EF6265 (1 mg/kg) enhanced exogenous tPA-mediated thrombolysis under the same conditions that neither EF6265 nor tPA (600 kIU/kg) alone reduced thrombi. EF6265 (1 and 30 mg/kg) did not affect the bleeding time in rats. Moreover, it did not prolong the bleeding time evoked by tPA (600 kIU/kg). These results confirm that circulating procarboxypeptidase B functions as a fibrinolysis inhibitor's zymogen and validates the use of CPB inhibitors as both an enhancer of physiological fibrinolysis in microcirculation and as a novel adjunctive agent to tPA for thromboembolic diseases while maintaining a small effect on primary hemostasis.
Potassium balance and the control of renin secretion.

Plasma renin activity and renin substrate were measured in nine groups of rats which were maintained for 7 wk on diets in which the proportions of sodium and potassium were varied. Balance data indicated that the highest dietary intake of potassium employed (92 mEq K(+)/100 g food) consistently induced sodium depletion. With less consistency, the highest sodium intake employed (52 mEq Na(+)/100 g food) tended to induce potassium depletion.In accordance with previous reports, sodium deprivation induced significant increases in plasma renin activity. But the present results indicated that changes in potassium intake exerted a highly significant modulating influence on this characteristic response. The results describe an inverse relationship between potassium administration and the concurrent level of plasma renin activity. The highest serum renin levels of all occurred in the potassium-depleted animals and the usual renin response to sodium deprivation was virtually abolished in the presence of a high potassium diet. Neither the suppressing effect of K(+) administration nor the stimulating effect of K(+) depletion on plasma renin activity could be explained in terms of any predicted changes in aldosterone secretion or observed changes in sodium balance. Therefore, the effect seems to be mediated by a direct influence of potassium ions on renal renin secretion, perhaps via induced changes in sodium load to the macula densa.These studies point to an important role for potassium in the regulation of renin secretion. The results in turn raise the possibility that renin secretion per se may be importantly involved in effecting potassium conservation and potassium elimination. The means by which these interactions are finally mediated remain to be clarified.
Cerato-ulmin, a hydrophobin secreted by the causal agents of Dutch elm disease, is a parasitic fitness factor.

Dutch elm disease is caused by the aggressive Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and the nonaggressive O. ulmi. Both secrete the protein cerato-ulmin (CU). To determine what role CU plays in the pathology of Dutch elm disease, we constructed a CU overexpression mutant of the nonaggressive O. ulmi H5. Stable integration of a single copy of the cu gene from the aggressive O. novo-ulmi into the genome of the nonaggressive isolate resulted in increased secretion of CU protein. Trials with American elm, Ulmus americana, suggested no alteration of virulence of this overexpressing transformant. Using aggressive and nonaggressive wild types, the cu overexpressing mutant, and our cu- mutant (Bowden et al., 1996), we have demonstrated that CU production is correlated with an altered phenotype and more hydrophobic and adherent yeast-like cells. Our results also demonstrate that CU has a role in protecting infectious propagules from desiccation. These biological roles for CU would affect transmission of Dutch elm disease, and we therefore propose that this hydrophobin acts as a parasitic fitness factor.
Failure to clear elevated lactate predicts 24-hour mortality in trauma patients

BACKGROUND Lactate clearance is a standard resuscitation goal in patients in nontraumatic shock but has not been investigated adequately as a tool to identify trauma patients at risk of dying. Our objective was to determine if trauma patients with impaired lactate clearance have a higher 24-hour mortality rate than patients whose lactate concentration normalizes. METHODS A retrospective chart review identified patients who were admitted directly from the scene of injury to an urban trauma center between 2010 and 2013 and who had at least one lactate concentration measurement within 24 hours. Transfers, patients without lactate measurement, and those who were dead on arrival were excluded. Of the 26,545 screened patients, 18,304 constituted the initial lactate measurement population, and 3,887 were the lactate clearance cohorts. RESULTS Initial lactate had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.86 and 0.73 for mortality at 24 hours and in the hospital, respectively. An initial concentration of 3 mmol/L or greater had a sensitivity of 0.86 and a specificity of 0.73 for mortality at 24 hours. The mortality rate among patients with elevated lactate concentrations (n = 2,381; 5.6 [2.8] mmol/L) that did not decline to less than 2.0 mmol/L in response to resuscitative efforts (mean [SD] second measurement, 3.7 [1.9] mmol/L) was nearly seven times higher (4.1% vs. 0.6%, p < 0.001) than among those with an elevated concentration (n = 1,506, 5.3 [2.7] mmol/L) that normalized (1.4 [0.4] mmol/L). Logistic regression analysis showed that failure to clear lactate was associated with death more than any other feature (odds ratio, 7.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–35.5), except having an Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 25 (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.7–25.2). CONCLUSION Failure to clear lactate is a strong negative prognostic marker after injury. An initial lactate measurement combined with a second measurement for high-risk individuals might constitute a useful method of risk stratifying injured patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.
Socializing American Expatriate Managers Overseas

This study examined the impact of organizational socialization tactics and the moderating effect of organizational tenure on role innovation or the extent to which expatriate managers changed the procedures and objectives of their jobs. The results suggested that collective, serial, and rixed tactics had a significant relationship with role innovation. In addition, organizational tenure moderated the relationship between collective and serial tactics with role innovation.
Memantine as an add-on therapy in alcohol withdrawal syndrome -

Memantine as an add-on therapy in alcohol withdrawal syndrome Objective: NMDA receptor antagonists were found to be effective treating alcohol withdrawal syndrome, preventing seizures, and decreasing daily alcohol intake in preclinical studies. But there were only few studies on the efficacy of NMDA receptor antagonists in humans. In this current study, we evaluated the effects of memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist on alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Methods: The study was planned as a prospective, randomized; double-blind study. In total, 32 patients enrolled in study. 16 patients were randomized to benzodiazepine plus memantine group and 16 were randomized to benzodiazepine plus placebo group. Memantine was administered to patients as 10 mg/day in first week of study and 20 mg/day in second week of study. Severity of alcohol withdrawal was measured by Revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale (CIWA-AR). Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Gama Glutamyl transferase (GGT), Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrine (CDT), and Alcohol Using Disorders Identity Test (AUDIT) tests were also administered to evaluate patients. CIWA-AR scores of the two groups were compared with Mann-Whitney U test at 1 st
Social Judgment of Abortion: A Black-Sheep Effect in a Catholic Sheepfold

Abstract French Catholic participants (N = 340) with high or low religious identification read 1 of 8 scenarios presented as an interview with a female target 2 months after she had had an abortion. The experimental device varied situational pressure (pressure vs. no pressure), the target's religious social identity (Catholic vs. neutral), and the consequences of abortion for the target (positive vs. negative). The participants then rated the acceptability of the target's decision. The participants judged abortion more negatively in the no-pressure condition. Moreover, the participants with high religious identification judged abortion more negatively than did those with low religious identification. In partial support of a black-sheep effect, the participants with high religious identification judged the Catholic target more negatively than they judged the neutral one in some conditions (pressure, negative consequences). In other conditions (no pressure, both positive and negative consequences), the participants with low religious identification judged the Catholic target more positively than they judged the neutral one.
Visual deficiency and multi-deficiency symptoms of macro and micro nutrients element in pistachio seedling (Pistacia vera)

The effects of nitrogen, iron, magnesium, manganese and molybdenum deficiencies and multi- deficiencies on pistachio seedling (Pistaia vera) was studied in sand culture. The following treatments were employed: 1-Complete Hoagland's nutrient solution; 2-Nutrient solution lacking N; 3-Nutrient solution lacking Fe, 4-Nutrient solution lacking Mg; 5-Nutrient solution lacking Mn; 6-Nutrient solution lacking Mo; 7-distilled water; 8- Nutrient solution lacking Fe and N; 9- Nutrient solution lacking Fe and Mn; and 10- Nutrient solution lacking Fe and Mo. The experimental design used in this study was complete randomized block design with three replications. Deficiency symptoms observed were mainly leaf discoloration, necrosis, scorching, defoliation and growth stunting. Seedlings that received complete nutrient solution were healthy with dark green foliage. Reductions in height, leaf area and leaf number were noticed for various levels of deficiencies of nutrient elements. Shoot and root growth of the seedlings deficient in nutrients were also affected. Seven months after planting, shoot and root biomasses production were statistically significant at one percent level. Multi-Deficiency symptoms sound like single deficiency. Also shoot and root growth of the seedlings deficient of nutrients were affected. Visual symptoms of nitrogen- deficient seedlings also coincided with the reduction in foliar levels of the concerned element. The typical symptoms of deficiencies of various nutrient elements could be used as a guideline for diagnosing nutrient deficiencies of pistachio in commercial nurseries and plantations. The present study also showed the multi-deficiency of nutrients, new symptom appears in leaves, differs from single deficiencies. In these conditions, leaf symptoms don't agree with Minimum Law. This is a new incorporated sign that appears in leaves.
Effects of Moisture and Hydrogen Exposure on Radiation-Induced MOS Device Degradation and Its Implications for Long-Term Aging

Transistors and ICs built in several different captive and commercial facilities were exposed to moisture, irradiated, and annealed. The moisture exposures were performed using highly accelerated stress test (HAST) at 130degC and 85% relative humidity. Irradiation of n-channel transistors exposed to HAST followed by a long-term anneal resulted in some increase in interface-trap and oxide-trapped charge buildup. However, exposing p-channel transistors to HAST preirradiation resulted in extremely large and unexpected voltage shifts immediately following irradiation. They were observed for devices with either doped oxide or nitride final chip passivation. Because of this, nitride passivation may not be sufficient to prevent H2O from causing enhanced radiation-induced degradation over long time periods in some devices (e.g., commercial devices with nitride final chip passivation packaged in plastic packages). The smaller voltage shifts for the n-channel transistors may be related to the formation of phosphosilicate glass (PSG) overlying the sources and drains of the n-channel transistors impeding the diffusion of moisture to the gate oxides. It is shown that, the large radiation-induced voltage shifts for the p-channel transistors can lead to enhanced IC parametric degradation and functional failure at lower radiation levels. Large increases in radiation-induced field oxide leakage current were also observed for transistors exposed to HAST preirradiation. Transistors were also annealed (prior to irradiation) and irradiated in H2. Approximately the same level of radiation-induced degradation was observed for n- and p-channel transistors suggesting that the diffusion kinetics for H2 diffusion are considerably different than for H2O diffusion. These results raise the concern that exposure of devices to moisture or hydrogen can lead to long-term radiation-induced aging effects.
Extending the Curry-Howard interpretation to linear, relevant and other resource logics

The so-called Curry-Howard interpretation (Curry [1934], Curry and Feys [1958], Howard [1969], Tait [1965]) is known to provide a rather neat term-functional account of intuitionistic implication. Could one refine the interpretation to obtain an almost as good account of other neighbouring implications, including the so-called ‘resource’ implications (e.g. linear, relevant, etc.)? We answer this question positively by demonstrating that just by working with side conditions on the rule of assertability conditions for the connective representing implication (‘→’) one can characterise those ‘resource’ logics. The idea stems from the realisation that whereas the elimination rule for conditionals (of which implication is a particular case) remains virtually unchanged no matter what kind of conditional one has (i.e. linear, relevant, intuitionistic, classical, etc., all have modus ponens), the corresponding introduction rule carries an element of vagueness which can be explored in the characterisation of several sorts of conditionals. The rule of →-introduction is classified as an ‘improper’ inference rule, to use a terminology from Prawitz [1965]. Now, the so-called improper rules leave room for manoeuvre as to how a particular logic can be obtained just by imposing conditions on the discharge of assumptions that would correspond to the particular logical discipline one is adopting (linear, relevant, ticket entailment, intuitionistic, classical, etc.). The side conditions can be ‘naturally’ imposed, given that a degree of ‘vagueness’ is introduced by the presentation of those improper inference rules, such as the rule of →-introduction: which says: starting from assumption ‘A’, and arriving at ‘B’ via an unspecified number of steps, one can discharge the assumption and conclude that ‘A’ implies ‘B’.
Effect of dielectric properties of moist salinized soils on backscattering coefficients extracted from RADARSAT image

This paper presents the experimental results regarding changes in the dielectric properties of artificially moistened and salinized soils and on soil samples taken from a salt lake. The complex dielectric constants of soil samples were measured using a microwave network analyzer. We evaluated the real and imaginary parts of dielectric constants of artificially moistened and salinized soil samples prepared in the laboratory as a function of microwave frequency, salinity, and water content The frequency and the salinity of soils have little influence on the real part of dielectric constant /spl epsiv/'. The results show that, in the frequency range of 1-6 GHz, the imaginary part /spl epsiv/" has greater sensitivity to soil salinity. The dielectric constant measurements for soil samples collected in Jilantai Salt Lake are in agreement with the results of the artificially moistened and salinized laboratory soil samples. These dielectric measurements were subsequently compared with the backscattering coefficients extracted from a RADARSAT image (C-HH) that was acquired at same time with the soil sampling at the Jilantai Salt Lake area. We discovered that the correlation coefficient between /spl sigma//sup 0/ extracted from the RADARSAT image and /spl epsiv/" measured in the soil sample is 0.70. The correlation coefficient between /spl sigma//sup 0/ and the soil sample salinity is 0.69. This suggests that soil salinity has a significant contribution to the backscattering coefficient, /spl sigma//sup 0/ recorded in a SAR image. Consequently, a SAR image can be a useful tool for monitoring soil salinity.