Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polarized Secretion of Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 by Human Airway Epithelia 16HBE14o- Cells in Response to Cationic Polypeptide Challenge

Background The airway epithelium participates in asthmatic inflammation in many ways. Target cells of the epithelium can respond to a variety of inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Damage to the surface epithelium occurs following the secretion of eosinophil-derived, highly toxic cationic proteins. Moreover, the surface epithelium itself is responsible for the synthesis and release of cytokines that cause the selective recruitment, retention, and accumulation of various inflammatory cells. To mimic the damage seen during asthmatic inflammation, the bronchial epithelium can be challenged with highly charged cationic polypeptides such as poly-l-arginine. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, human bronchial epithelial cells, 16HBE14o- cells, were “chemically injured” by exposing them to poly-l-arginine as a surrogate of the eosinophil cationic protein. Cytokine antibody array data showed that seven inflammatory mediators were elevated out of the 40 tested, including marked elevation in interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion. IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression levels were elevated as measured with real-time PCR. Cell culture supernatants from apical and basolateral compartments were collected, and the IL-6 and IL-8 production was quantified with ELISA. IL-6 and IL-8 secretion by 16HBE14o- epithelia into the apical compartment was significantly higher than that from the basolateral compartment. Using specific inhibitors, the production of IL-6 and IL-8 was found to be dependent on p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 MAPK, and NF-κB pathways. Conclusions/Significance The results clearly demonstrate that damage to the bronchial epithelia by poly-l-arginine stimulates polarized IL-6 and IL-8 secretion. This apically directed secretion of cytokines may play an important role in orchestrating epithelial cell responses to inflammation.
Airflow obstruction in young adults in Canada.

OBJECTIVE Airflow obstruction is relatively uncommon in young adults, and may indicate potential for the development of progressive disease. The objective of the present study was to enumerate and characterize airflow obstruction in a random sample of Canadians aged 20 to 44 years. SETTING The sample (n=2962) was drawn from six Canadian sites. DESIGN A prevalence study using the European Community Respiratory Health Survey protocol was conducted. Airflow obstruction was assessed by spirometry. Bronchial responsiveness, skin reactivity to allergens and total serum immunoglobulin E were also measured. Logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS Airflow obstruction was observed in 6.4% of the sample, not associated with sex or age. The risk of airflow obstruction increased in patients who had smoked and in patients who had lung trouble during childhood. Adjusted for smoking, the risk of airflow obstruction was elevated for subjects with past and current asthma, skin reactivity to allergens, elevated levels of total immunoglobulin E and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Of the subjects with airflow obstruction, 21% were smokers with a history of asthma, 50% were smokers without asthma, 12% were nonsmokers with asthma and 17% were nonsmokers with no history of asthma. Bronchial hyper-responsiveness increased the prevalence of airflow obstruction in each of these groups. CONCLUSION Smoking and asthma, jointly and individually, are major determinants of obstructive disorders in young adults. Bronchial hyper-responsiveness contributes to obstruction in both groups.
Physical activity and depression symptoms among pregnant women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between objectively measured physical activity and depression symptoms among a nationally representative sample of pregnant women to provide a more accurate understanding of the relationship between physical activity and depression symptoms. DESIGN We employed a cross-sectional study design. SETTING Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006 were used for this study. METHODS One-hundred and forty-one pregnant women wore an ActiGraph accelerometer for 7 days and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression status. RESULTS More than 19% of the participants experienced some depression symptoms, and compared to their counterparts not having depression symptoms, they were less physically active. CONCLUSION An inverse association was found between physical activity and depression symptoms among pregnant women. When feasible, nurses are encouraged to help facilitate physical activity among pregnant women, assuming an uncomplicated pregnancy.
Mouse Polycomb Proteins Bind Differentially to Methylated Histone H3 and RNA and Are Enriched in Facultative Heterochromatin

ABSTRACT The chromodomain (CD) of the Drosophila Polycomb protein exhibits preferential binding affinity for histone H3 when trimethylated at lysine 27. Here we have investigated the five mouse Polycomb homologs known as Cbx2, Cbx4, Cbx6, Cbx7, and Cbx8. Despite a high degree of conservation, the Cbx chromodomains display significant differences in binding preferences. Not all CDs bind preferentially to K27me3; rather, some display affinity towards both histone H3 trimethylated at K9 and H3K27me3, and one CD prefers K9me3. Cbx7, in particular, displays strong affinity for both H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 and is developmentally regulated in its association with chromatin. Cbx7 associates with facultative heterochromatin and, more specifically, is enriched on the inactive X chromosome. Finally, we find that, in vitro, the chromodomain of Cbx7 can bind RNA and that, in vivo, the interaction of Cbx7 with chromatin, and the inactive X chromosome in particular, depends partly on its association with RNA. We propose that the capacity of this mouse Polycomb homolog to associate with the inactive X chromosome, or any other region of chromatin, depends not only on its chromodomain but also on the combination of histone modifications and RNA molecules present at its target sites.
The cardiopulmonary effects of dobutamine and norepinephrine in isoflurane-anesthetized foals.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of norepinephrine (NE) and dobutamine (DB) in isoflurane-anesthetized foals. STUDY DESIGN Prospective laboratory study. METHODS Norepinephrine (0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.40 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)) and dobutamine (2.5, 5.0, and 10 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)) were alternately administered to seven healthy, 1- to 2-week-old isoflurane-anesthetized foals. Arterial and pulmonary arterial blood pressure, right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, heart rate, body temperature, cardiac output, arterial and mixed venous blood pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen [arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)) and mixed venous partial pressure of oxygen (PvO(2))], and packed cell volume were measured. Standard base excess, bicarbonate concentration, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac index (CI), stroke volume, left and right stroke work indices, oxygen delivery (DO(2)), consumption, and extraction were calculated. Results Norepinephrine infusion resulted in significant increases in arterial and pulmonary arterial pressure, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance indices, and PaO(2); heart rate was decreased. Dobutamine infusion resulted in significant increases in heart rate, stroke volume index, CI, and arterial and pulmonary arterial blood pressure. Systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance indices were decreased while the ventricular stroke work indices increased. The PaO(2) decreased while DO(2) and oxygen consumption increased. Oxygen extraction decreased and PvO(2) increased. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Norepinephrine primarily augments arterial blood pressure while decreasing CI. Dobutamine primarily augments CI with only modest increases in arterial blood pressure. Both NE and DB could be useful in the hemodynamic management of anesthetized foals.
Inhibitor development in haemophilia according to concentrate

Summary Inhibitor development represents the most serious side effect of haemophilia treatment. Any difference in risk of inhibitor formation depending on the product used might be of clinical relevance. It was this study’s objective to assess inhibitor development according to clotting factor concentrate in severe haemophilia A and B. The European Haemophilia Safety Surveillance (EUHASS) was set up as a study monitoring adverse events overall and according to concentrate. Since October 2008, inhibitors were reported at least quarterly. Number of treated patients was reported annually, specifying the number of patients completing 50 exposure days (Previously Untreated Patients, PUPs) without inhibitor development. Cumulative incidence, incidence rates and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Data from October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012 were analysed for 68 centres that validated their data. Inhibitors developed in 108/417 (26 %; CI 22–30 %) PUPs with severe haemophilia A and 5/72 (7 %; CI 2–16%) PUPs with severe haemophilia B. For Previously Treated Patients (PTPs), 26 inhibitors developed in 17,667 treatment years [0.15/100 treatment years; CI 0.10–0.22) for severe haemophilia A and 1/2836 (0.04/100; (CI 0.00–0.20) for severe haemophilia B. Differences between plasma-derived and recombinant concentrates, or among the different recombinant FVIII concentrates were investigated. In conclusion, while confirming the expected rates of inhibitors in PUPs and PTPs, no class or brand related differences were observed.
Postoperative Ocular Hypertension in Dogs Undergoing Phacoemulsification : Investigation of Risk Factors and Evaluation of Medical Prophylaxis

Development of cataracts is a relatively frequent ocular disease of the dog and cataract extraction via phacoemulsification (PE) is commonly performed by veterinary ophthalmologists. Postoperative ocular hypertension (POH) describes the elevation of pressures within the eye during the acute postoperative period and can result in vision loss and poor surgical outcome. Relatively little is known about risk factors or efficacy of prophylactic treatment for POH, and current clinical practice with regard to pressure monitoring and medication administration are highly variable. The literature on POH prophylaxis in humans indicates that improved efficacy may be achieved with a multi-dose approach and that dorzolamide hydrochloride/timolol maleate (DHTM) may be more efficacious than other pressure lowering medications. The canine literature on POH prophylaxis is limited and DHTM has not yet been evaluated despite common use in the clinical setting. Our objectives, therefore, were to investigate risk factors for POH and to test the hypothesis that perioperative topical ophthalmic dorzolamide hydrochloride 2%/timolol maleate 0.5% (DHTM) reduces the prevalence and/or severity of postoperative ocular hypertension (POH) in dogs undergoing cataract extraction by phacoemulsification (PE). We employed a randomized double-masked placebo-controlled study and enrolled 103 dogs (180 eyes) presenting for unilateral or bilateral PE. Select historical, signalment, ophthalmic examination, and surgical data was collected. Dogs were treated with DHTM or Blink Contacts (BC) placebo at 14and 2-h preoperatively and at conclusion of surgical closure. Intraocular pressures were assessed by rebound tonometry at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after surgery and at 8 am the following morning. POH was defined as IOP>25 mmHg and intervention consisted of latanoprost 0.005% if IOP rose to 26 mmHg 45 mmHg or surgeon treatment of choice if >45 mmHg. Our investigation of risk factors yielded a statistically significant association only with surgeon and surgical time, which were also associated with one another. DHTM significantly reduced the prevalence of POH in comparison with BC (26% versus 49% of eyes, OR=0.36; 34% versus 62% of dogs, OR=0.32). There was also a trend toward reduction of POH severity in DHTM-treated eyes (POH value 37.17±10.47 mmHg with BC, 32.67±6.39 mmHg with DHTM). DHTM-treated eyes that developed POH were significantly more likely to respond favorably (1 hour post-treatment IOP <25 mmHg) to treatment with latanoprost than those in the BC group (76% versus 51%, OR=3.87). We conclude that multi-dose perioperative administration of DHTM may be recommended in dogs undergoing PE to reduce the risk of POH and improve responsiveness of POH to treatment with latanoprost.
Emotional Health of People with Visual Impairment Caused by Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose To understand the emotional difficulties associated with living with the ocular condition Retinitis Pigmentosa, and to examine the functioning of a self-report instrument used to assess this construct. Methods The difficulty of goals and tasks in the emotional health domain of the Dutch ICF Activity Inventory were rated by 166 people with Retinitis Pigmentosa in a cross-sectional study. Demographic factors were also assessed. Results Responses to the 23 emotional health tasks were Rasch analysed and could be used to form either one 20 item overview scale with some multidimensionality, or three unidimensional subscales addressing feelings (4 items), communicating visual loss (5 items) and fatigue (7 items). The most difficult individual tasks related to communicating visual loss to other people, and dealing with feelings such as frustration, anxiety and stress. The use of mobility aids and female gender were associated with increased difficulty with emotional health, explaining 19% of the variance in the overview scale. Conclusions The emotional health domain of the Dutch ICF Activity Inventory is a valid tool to assess emotional difficulties arising from visual loss. Interventions to aid people with Retinitis Pigmentosa deal with emotional difficulties should particularly address communicating vision loss effectively to others and coping with negative feelings.
LAI estimation based on multi-temporal CHRIS/PROBA data and radiative transfer modelling

Leaf area index (LAI) is a key variable for the understanding and modeling of several ecophysiological processes within a vegetation canopy. The LAI could thus provide vital information for the management of the environment and agricultural practices when estimated continuously over time and space thanks to remote sensing sensors such as CHRIS/PROBA. The spaceborne ESA-mission CHRIS/PROBA provides multi-temporal observations of the land surface in the spectral and directional information dimensions. This system represents a rich source of information for Earth observation purposes specifically adapted for monitoring the high dynamic of agricultural crops. For this purpose a radiative transfer model (RTM) is coupled to a canopy structure dynamic model (CSDM). The coupled models are used to exploit the complementary content of the spectral and temporal information dimensions for LAI estimation over a maize canopy. The resulting estimation of the temporal and spatial variation of LAI is improved by integrating multi-temporal CHRIS/PROBA data and ground meteorological observations. Further, the presented method provides the continuous LAI time course over the season, which is required by crop growth and land surface process models.
Mobility restriction in vivo of the heavy ribosomal subunit in a secretory cell

Analysis in insect (Chironomus tentans) salivary gland cells of labeled RNA as a function of time after precursor injection and its distance to the nuclear membrane, cytoplasmic zone analysis, could previously be used to demonstrate the presence of short-lasting gradients in newly labeled ribosomal RNA. Since the gradients were sensitive to puromycin, they are likely to be a result of diffusion restriction due to an engagement of the subunits into polysomes. In the present paper the possibility was explored of recording gradients that were caused by labeled subunits in puromycin-resistant associations, which, in all probability, involve the endoplasmic reticulum. It was found that labeled 28 S and 5 S RNA but not 18 S RNA were present in radioactivity gradients lasting for at least 2 days but less than 6 days. The gradients also remained during inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin, and they were completely resistant to puromycin whether given in vivo or in vitro. The semipermanent gradients formed fhere offer a unique parameter for the in vivo study of conditions for formation and maintenance of heavy subunits in puromycin-resistant bonds. An explanation for these and previous results is that the light subunit, although restricted in movement by engagement to polysomes, is nevertheless free to exchange and spread between rounds of translation, whereas at least part of the heavy subunit population is bound to the endoplasmic reticulum and less free to spread. These results offer a good in vivo correlate to previous results on in vitro exchangeability of subunits.
Disabled people and communication systems in the twenty first century

This thesis is first and foremost about oppression - the oppression experienced in our society by those with particular impairments. It is also about technology - the new information and communication systems which have increasing primacy in today's world. Specifically it is about the ways in which the communication systems of a disablist society hold both opportunities and threats for disabled people and their organisations in the twenty first century, perhaps changing the boundaries of the disabled category. In drawing on literature from both the sociology of technology and disability studies, it contributes to two bodies of academic work. It is intended as a welcome palliative to the growing tendency towards speculative futurology that characterises both disciplines, since it places an empirical study at centre stage. It is unusual in that its main emphasis is on domestic usage of communication systems, not on their use in employment. The research participants were largely unwaged people, many of them in older age groups. The study gave participants the opportunity to describe their experiences and opinions of technological developments in the last throes of the twentieth century. Access to communications systems emerged as a major issue, with disabled people facing a variety of barriers to their beneficial use of technology. Concerns were voiced however about the provision of such systems constituting little more than a 'technical fix', cutting welfare costs,enforcing further segregation and distracting attention from the real source of disabled people's oppression. These findings highlight the increasing importance of more radical social transformation. The opportunities and threats presented by the utilisation of communication systems are examined through an analysis of their usevalue - how they allow or disallow the satisfaction of basic unmet needs. In conclusion, various recommendations are proposed which will go some way towards making technology more accessible and appropriate for disabled people. It is however acknowledged that this will merely treat a symptom of their oppression, not eradicate the cause.
Play behavior in the year-old infant: early sex differences.

Thirty-two boys and 32 girls, 13 months old, were observed with their mothers in a standardized free play situation. There were striking sex differences in the infants' behavior toward their mothers and in their play. Earlier observation of the mothers' behavior toward the infants at six months indicates that some of these sex differences were related to the mothers' behavior toward the infants. It was suggested that parents behave differently toward girls and boys, even as infants, reinforcing sex appropriate behavior. This study emphasizes the importance of observing the freely emitted behavior of the very young child.
Differential Contribution of Ca2+-Dependent Mechanisms to Hyperexcitability in Layer V Neurons of the Medial Entorhinal Cortex

Temporal lobe epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures in one or both temporal lobes of the brain; some in vitro models show that epileptiform discharges initiate in entorhinal layer V neurons and then spread into other areas of the temporal lobe. We previously found that, in the presence of GABAA receptor antagonists, stimulation of afferent fibers, terminating both at proximal and distal dendritic locations, initiated hyperexcitable bursts in layer V medial entorhinal neurons. We investigated the differential contribution of Ca2+-dependent mechanisms to the plateaus underlying these bursts at proximal and distal synapses. We found that the NMDA glutamatergic antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV; 50 μM) reduced both the area and duration of the bursts at both proximal and distal synapses by about half. The L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nimodipine (10 μM) and the R- and T-type Ca2+ channel blocker NiCl2 (200 μM) decreased the area of the bursts to a lesser extent; none of these effects appeared to be location-dependent. Remarkably, the perfusion of flufenamic acid (FFA; 100 μM), to block Ca2+-activated non-selective cation currents (ICAN) mediated by transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, had a location-dependent effect, by abolishing burst firing and switching the suprathreshold response to a single action potential (AP) for proximal stimulation, but only minimally affecting the bursts evoked by distal stimulation. A similar outcome was found when FFA was pressure-applied locally around the proximal dendrite of the recorded neurons and in the presence of a selective blocker of melastatin TRP (TRPM) channels, 9-phenanthrol (100 μM), whereas a selective blocker of canonical TRP (TRPC) channels, SKF 96365, did not affect the bursts. These results indicate that different mechanisms might contribute to the initiation of hyperexcitability in layer V neurons at proximal and distal synapses and could shed light on the initiation of epileptiform activity in the entorhinal cortex.
Gene expression profiling of mouse aborted uterus induced by lipopolysac charide

To identify genes that participate in the abortion process, normal pregnant uteri were compared to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced abortion uteri. At day 6 of pregnancy, mice were treated with LPS at various time points to induce an abortion. Total RNAs were applied to a cDNA microarray to analyze genes with altered expression. At the early stage (2 hours) of LPS-induced abortion, upregulated genes were mainly composed of immune responsive genes, including Ccl4, Ccl2, Cxcl13, Gbp3, Gbp2, Mx2, H2-Eb1, Irf1 and Ifi203. Genes related to toll-like receptor signaling were also overexpressed. At late stages of abortion (12-24 hours), many genes were suppressed rather than activated, and these were mainly related to the extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, and anti-apoptosis. Altered expression of several selected genes was confirmed by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that many known genes were altered in the LPS-treated pregnant uterus, implying that the molecular mechanisms of the genes involved in LPS-induced abortion are complicated. Further analysis of this expression profile will help our understanding of the pathophysiological basis for abortion.
Constructivism : theory, perspectives, and practice

Part I, which covers the theoretical aspects of constructivism, includes chapters from Ernst von Glasersfeld, Catherine Twomey Fosnot, and Paul Cobb. In Part II, Candace Julyan, Eleanor Duckworth, Deborah Schifter, June S. Gould, Rheta DeVries, Betty Zan, and Maxine Greene provide perspectives from the field. Part III, which explores practices in the classroom, features work from Jill Bodner Lester, Susan Cowey, George Forman, Dewey Dykstra, Jr.