Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persistence of Liver Cirrhosis in Association with Proliferation of Nonparenchymal Cells and Altered Location of α-Smooth Muscle Actin-Positive Cells

This study was carried out to achieve pathological understanding for the persistence of cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA). Forty-five, male, 21-day-old, F344 rats were randomly allocated to group 1 and received drinking water as a control, and groups 2 and 3 given 0.015% or 0.03% TAA, respectively for 12 weeks. Two-third of animals per group were sacrificed, and remainder were maintained for a further 4 weeks without TAA treatment. Liver cirrhosis was induced in all animals in group 3 at week 12, with obvious increase of collagen content, and this persisted after cessation of TAA. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive labeling indices of nonparenchymal cells were increased significantly after cessation in groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.01). RT-RCR analysis of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) showed significant increase in group 3 compared to that of control at both time points (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining of it demonstrated positive cells to mainly be located around regenerating hepatic nodules at week 12, however, they were focused into enlarged portal areas consisting of fibrous tissues and pseudo-bile ductular cells after the cessation. Taken together, we conclude persistence of liver cirrhosis could be associated with the proliferation of nonparenchymal cells and altered location of α-SMA positive cells.
Dectin-2 is a primary receptor for NLRP3 inflammasome activation in dendritic cell response to Histoplasma capsulatum

Inflammasome is an intracellular protein complex that serves as cytosolic pattern recognition receptor (PRR) to engage with pathogens and to process cytokines of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family into bioactive molecules. It has been established that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is important to host defense against Histoplasma capsulatum infection. However, the detailed mechanism of how H. capsulatum induces inflammasome activation leading to IL-1β production has not been studied. Here, we showed in dendritic cells (DCs) that H. capsulatum triggers caspase-1 activation and IL-1β production through NLRP3 inflammasome. By reciprocal blocking of Dectin-1 or Dectin-2 in single receptor-deficient DCs and cells from Clec4n-/-, Clec7a-/-, and Clec7a-/-Clec4n-/- mice, we discovered that while Dectin-2 operates as a primary receptor, Dectin-1 serves as a secondary one for NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, both receptors trigger Syk-JNK signal pathway to activate signal 1 (pro-IL-1β synthesis) and signal 2 (activation of caspase-1). Results of pulmonary infection with H. capsulatum showed that CD103+ DCs are one of the major producers of IL-1β and Dectin-2 and Dectin-1 double deficiency abolishes their IL-1β response to the fungus. While K+ efflux and cathepsin B (but not ROS) function as signal 2, viable but not heat-killed H. capsulatum triggers profound lysosomal rupture leading to cathepsin B release. Interestingly, cathepsin B release is regulated by ERK/JNK downstream of Dectin-2 and Dectin-1. Our study demonstrates for the first time the unique roles of Dectin-2 and Dectin-1 in triggering Syk-JNK to activate signal 1 and 2 for H. capsulatum-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Death Attitudes across the Life-Span: The Development and Validation of the Death Attitude Profile (DAP)

Four orthogonal factors were identified by principal component factor analysis: Fear of Death/Dying, Approach-Oriented Death Acceptance, Escape-Oriented Death Acceptance, and Neutral Death Acceptance. Theta estimates of the internal consistency of the factor scales ranged from fair (.60) to good (.89). An elderly sample (n = 50) showed less fear of death and more acceptance (all three kinds of acceptance) than the middle age (n = 50) and the young (n = 50) samples. As predicted, Fear of Death/Dying was negatively related to happiness, but positively related to hopelessness, whereas Escape-Oriented Death Acceptance was positively related to hopelessness, thus providing some evidence of concurrent validity of the DAP.
Promoting Positive Engagement With Climate Change Through Visual and Iconic Representations

Fear-inducing representations of climate change are widely employed in the public domain. However, there is a lack of clarity in the literature about the impacts that fearful messages in climate change communications have on people’s senses of engagement with the issue and associated implications for public engagement strategies. Some literature suggests that using fearful representations of climate change may be counterproductive. The authors explore this assertion in the context of two empirical studies that investigated the role of visual, and iconic, representations of climate change for public engagement respectively. Results demonstrate that although such representations have much potential for attracting people’s attention to climate change, fear is generally an ineffective tool for motivating genuine personal engagement. Nonthreatening imagery and icons that link to individuals’ everyday emotions and concerns in the context of this macro-environmental issue tend to be the most engaging. Recommendations for constructively engaging individuals with climate change are given.
Short-term outcome of 1,465 computer-navigated primary total knee replacements 2005–2008

Background and purpose Improvement of positioning and alignment by the use of computer-assisted surgery (CAS) might improve longevity and function in total knee replacements, but there is little evidence. In this study, we evaluated the short-term results of computer-navigated knee replacements based on data from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. Patients and methods Primary total knee replacements without patella resurfacing, reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register during the years 2005–2008, were evaluated. The 5 most common implants and the 3 most common navigation systems were selected. Cemented, uncemented, and hybrid knees were included. With the risk of revision for any cause as the primary endpoint and intraoperative complications and operating time as secondary outcomes, 1,465 computer-navigated knee replacements (CAS) and 8,214 conventionally operated knee replacements (CON) were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis with adjustment for age, sex, prosthesis brand, fixation method, previous knee surgery, preoperative diagnosis, and ASA category were used. Results Kaplan-Meier estimated survival at 2 years was 98% (95% CI: 97.5–98.3) in the CON group and 96% (95% CI: 95.0–97.8) in the CAS group. The adjusted Cox regression analysis showed a higher risk of revision in the CAS group (RR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.5; p = 0.02). The LCS Complete knee had a higher risk of revision with CAS than with CON (RR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.4; p = 0.004)). The differences were not statistically significant for the other prosthesis brands. Mean operating time was 15 min longer in the CAS group. Interpretation With the introduction of computer-navigated knee replacement surgery in Norway, the short-term risk of revision has increased for computer-navigated replacement with the LCS Complete. The mechanisms of failure of these implantations should be explored in greater depth, and in this study we have not been able to draw conclusions regarding causation.
Impact of infectious disease consultation on the clinical and economic outcomes of solid organ transplant recipients admitted for infectious complications.

BACKGROUND There has been a paucity of data on the healthcare resource utilization of infectious disease-related complications in solid organ transplant recipients. The aims of this study were to report the clinical and economic burden of infectious disease-related complications, along with the impact of infectious disease consultation. METHODS This cohort study evaluated patients requiring admission to a tertiary-care center during 2007, 2008, and 2011. Propensity score matching was used to estimate the effects of patient demographics, comorbidities, and transplant- and infection-related factors on 28-day hospital survival, length of stay (LOS), and medical costs. RESULTS Infectious disease-related complications occurred in 603 of 1414 (43%) admissions in 306 of 531 (58%) patients. Unadjusted 28-day mortality did not differ between those who received infectious disease consultations vs those who did not (2.9% vs 3.6%, P = .820), however, after propensity score matching, infectious disease consultation resulted in significantly greater 28-day survival estimates (hazard ratio = 0.33; log-rank P = .026), and reduced 30-day rehospitalization rates (16.9% vs 23.9%, P = .036). The median LOS and hospitalization costs were significantly increased for patients receiving an infectious disease consultation than in those managed by the attending team alone (7.0 vs 5.0 days, P = .002, and $9652 vs $6192, P = .003). However, the median LOS (5.5 vs 5.1 days, P = .31) and hospitalization costs ($8106 vs $6912, P = .63) did not differ significantly among those receiving an early infectious disease consultation (<48 hours) vs no consultation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Infectious disease consultation in recipients of solid organ transplant is associated with increased LOS and hospitalization costs but decreased mortality and reduced rehospitalization rates. Early consultation with infectious disease specialists decreases healthcare resource utilization compared with delayed referrals.
Predictive Validity and Other Psychometric Properties of the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) in a Norwegian High Secure Hospital

Short- to medium-term risk assessment in psychiatric hospitals is a topic of clinical relevance that deserves attention from the research community. In this paper, the Short Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability, or START (Webster, Martin, Brink, Nicholls, & Middleton, 2004), a new structured instrument for judgment of dynamic risk and treatment factors is briefly described. Internal reliability properties are analyzed and the predictive validity for severe violence in a Norwegian high secure psychiatric hospital is investigated. The results indicate that the START has promise as a valid tool for short-term violence risk assessment. The authors make an argument for the importance and relevance of dynamic risk and strength factors in the short to medium term.
Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity: A Reconceptualization of African American Racial Identity

Research on African American racial identity has utilized 2 distinct approaches. The mainstream approach has focused on universal properties associated with ethnic and racial identities. In contrast, the underground approach has focused on documenting the qualitative meaning of being African American, with an emphasis on the unique cultural and historical experiences of African Americans. The Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity (MMRI) represents a synthesis of the strengths of these two approaches. The underlying assumptions associated with the model are explored. The model proposes 4 dimensions of African American racial identity: salience, centrality, regard, and ideology. A description of these dimensions is provided along with a discussion of how they interact to influence behavior at the level of the event. We argue that the MMRI has the potential to make contributions to traditional research objectives of both approaches, as well as to provide the impetus to explore new questions.
Preschoolers' Creativity, Shyness, and Self-Esteem

Measures of shyness, self-esteem, and creativity were administered to 64 preschool children. Correlational analyses indicated a positive relation between self-esteem and creativity, and a negative relation between shyness and creativity. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) indicated that the relation between shyness and creativity continued to exist after self-esteem was covaried. Suggestions are made for future research examining the contributions of social style and social competence to young children's creative potential.
Current and future medical treatment in primary dystonia

Dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder, characterized by involuntary and sustained contractions of opposing muscles causing twisting movements and abnormal postures. It is often a disabling disorder that has a significant impact on physical and psychosocial wellbeing. The medical therapeutic armamentarium used in practice is quite extensive, but for many of these interventions formal proof of efficacy is lacking. Exceptions are the use of botulinum toxin in patients with cervical dystonia, some forms of cranial dystonia (in particular, blepharospasm) and writer’s cramp; deep brain stimulation of the pallidum in generalized and segmental dystonia; and high-dose trihexyphenidyl in young patients with segmental and generalized dystonia. In order to move this field forward, we not only need better trials that examine the effect of current treatment interventions, but also a further understanding of the pathophysiology of dystonia as a first step to design and test new therapies that are targeted at the underlying biologic and neurophysiologic mechanisms.
SERVICE QUALITY, RELATIONSHIP QUALITY, AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN TAIWANESE INTERNET BANKS

While deregulation of financial institutions has increased competition in the Taiwanese banking industry, the advent of e-commerce has provided business opportunities for consumer financing operations. Network banking helps banks to develop relationship marketing by delegating tasks to customers, thus improving customer loyalty. The relationships between service quality, relationship quality, and customer loyalty were investigated in this study. It was found that crisis handling and relationships are negatively, and relationship quality and customer loyalty, and service quality and customer loyalty positively, correlated. Customer loyalty in Taiwanese Internet banks can be increased by improving service quality and relationship quality.
After-School Activities, Misbehavior in School, and Delinquency From the End of Elementary School Through the Beginning of High School

Annual survey data on 776 students from sixth through ninth grade were used to examine the relationships among after-school activities, misbehavior in school, and delinquency. The social development model hypothesizes that antisocial behavior in one developmental time period leads to less involvement in activities and interactions that have positive socializing influence in the next developmental time period. Although the overall correlations between structured activities and both misbehavior in school and delinquency did not indicate strong protective influences of structured activities, results of a cross-lagged model that adjusted for prior activity and behavior patterns provided support for the hypotheses. However, antisocial behavior did not predict involvement in activities across the middle school to high school transition. Consistent with routine activities theory, unstructured activity involvement and delinquent behavior in the first year of high school were positively correlated after adjusting for prior levels of antisocial behavior and structured and unstructured activity involvement.
Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Regulation of Cytokine Gene Expression in HIV-1 Antigen-Specific CD8+ T Cells That Mediate Virus Inhibition

ABSTRACT The ability of CD8+ T cells to effectively limit HIV-1 replication and block HIV-1 acquisition is determined by the capacity to rapidly respond to HIV-1 antigens. Understanding both the functional properties and regulation of an effective CD8+ response would enable better evaluation of T cell-directed vaccine strategies and may inform the design of new therapies. We assessed the antigen specificity, cytokine signature, and mechanisms that regulate antiviral gene expression in CD8+ T cells from a cohort of HIV-1-infected virus controllers (VCs) (<5,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml and CD4+ lymphocyte counts of >400 cells/μl) capable of soluble inhibition of HIV-1. Gag p24 and Nef CD8+ T cell-specific soluble virus inhibition was common among the VCs and correlated with substantial increases in the abundance of mRNAs encoding the antiviral cytokines macrophage inflammatory proteins MIP-1α, MIP-1αP (CCL3L1), and MIP-1β; granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); lymphotactin (XCL1); tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNFRSF9); and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). The induction of several of these mRNAs was driven through a coordinated response of both increased transcription and stabilization of mRNA, which together accounted for the observed increase in mRNA abundance. This coordinated response allows rapid and robust induction of mRNA messages that can enhance the CD8+ T cells' ability to inhibit virus upon antigen encounter. IMPORTANCE We show that mRNA stability, in addition to transcription, is key in regulating the direct anti-HIV-1 function of antigen-specific memory CD8+ T cells. Regulation at the level of RNA helps enable rapid recall of memory CD8+ T cell effector functions for HIV-1 inhibition. By uncovering and understanding the mechanisms employed by CD8+ T cell subsets with antigen-specific anti-HIV-1 activity, we can identify new strategies for comprehensive identification of other important antiviral genes. This will, in turn, enhance our ability to inhibit virus replication by informing both cure strategies and HIV-1 vaccine designs that aim to reduce transmission and can aid in blocking HIV-1 acquisition.
The Evolution of Armed Conflict in Medellín

The evolution of the criminal gangs and militia groups operating in Medellin, Colombia, today mirrors the evolution of tensions and disputes in the city over time. Research on their origins and dynamics reveals the borrowing of revolutionary ideology from the guerrillas and the emergence of groups that combine the features and behaviors of the two kinds of groups. Reporting on this research, this article briefly outlines the background to armed conflict in Colombia, presents an analysis of Medellin as an instance of widespread armed conflict, outlines the collective actors at the barrio level from an evolutionary perspective, and then examines the recent changes among these actors and discusses the future directions of armed conflict in Medellin.
Specific mitochondrial DNA mutation in mice regulates diabetes and lymphoma development

It has been hypothesized that respiration defects caused by accumulation of pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and the resultant overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or lactates are responsible for aging and age-associated disorders, including diabetes and tumor development. However, there is no direct evidence to prove the involvement of mtDNA mutations in these processes, because it is difficult to exclude the possible involvement of nuclear DNA mutations. Our previous studies resolved this issue by using an mtDNA exchange technology and showed that a G13997A mtDNA mutation found in mouse tumor cells induces metastasis via ROS overproduction. Here, using transmitochondrial mice (mito-mice), which we had generated previously by introducing G13997A mtDNA from mouse tumor cells into mouse embryonic stem cells, we provide convincing evidence supporting part of the abovementioned hypothesis by showing that G13997A mtDNA regulates diabetes development, lymphoma formation, and metastasis—but not aging—in this model.
Microsatellites for Oenothera gayleana and O. hartwegii subsp. filifolia (Onagraceae), and their utility in section Calylophus1

Premise of the study: Eleven nuclear and four plastid microsatellite markers were screened for two gypsum endemic species, Oenothera gayleana and O. hartwegii subsp. filifolia, and tested for cross-amplification in the remaining 11 taxa within Oenothera sect. Calylophus (Onagraceae). Methods and Results: Microsatellite markers were tested in two to three populations spanning the ranges of both O. gayleana and O. hartwegii subsp. filifolia. The nuclear microsatellite loci consisted of both di- and trinucleotide repeats with one to 17 alleles per population. Several loci showed significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, which may be evidence of chromosomal rings. The plastid microsatellite markers identified one to seven haplotypes per population. The transferability of these markers was confirmed in all 11 taxa within Oenothera sect. Calylophus. Conclusions: The microsatellite loci characterized here are the first developed and tested in Oenothera sect. Calylophus. These markers will be used to assess whether pollinator foraging distance influences population genetic parameters in predictable ways.
Building International Relations Theory with Chinese Characteristics

As an atmosphere conducive for scientific inquiry and research improves in China, many Chinese scholars are optimistic about the future development of International Relations (IR) studies. A younger generation of IR scholars has started to pay more attention to IR theory and begun to research issues like national sovereignty and China's national interests. This paper reviews the development of IR theory in China and the basic arguments among Chinese scholars on theory building, especially concerning the attempt to build an IR theory with 'Chinese characteristics'. It examines the reasons for the continuing challenges, amid progress, of IR theory in China and looks into the prospects in the near future.
Comparative pharmacokinetics and subacute toxicity of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in rats and marmosets: extrapolation of effects in rodents to man.

Certain phthalate esters and hypolipidemic agents are known to induce morphological and biochemical changes in the liver of rodents, which have been associated with an increased incidence of hepatocellular tumors in these species. There is evidence that hypolipidemic agents do not induce these effects in either subhuman primates or man. The oral and intraperitoneal administration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to the marmoset monkey at doses up to 5 mmole DEHP/kg body weight/day for 14 days did not induce morphological or biochemical changes in the liver or testis comparable with those obtained in rats given the same amount of DEHP. In the marmoset, the excretion profile of [14C]-DEHP following oral, IP, and IV administration and the lower tissue levels of radioactivity demonstrated a considerably reduced absorption in this species compared to the rat. The urinary metabolite pattern in the marmoset was in many respects qualitatively similar to but quantitatively different from that in the rat; the marmoset excreted principally conjugated metabolites derived from omega- 1 oxidation. The pharmacokinetic differences between these two species indicate that the tissues of the marmoset are exposed to a level of DEHP metabolites equivalent to the complete absorption of a dose of Ca. 0.1 to 0.25 mmole DEHP/kg body weight/day without significant toxicological effects. These exposure levels are at least 100-fold greater than the worst estimates of incidental human exposure (ca. 0.0015 mmole/kg/day). They are comparable with the human therapeutic dose of many hypolipidemic drugs (ca. 0.15 mmole/kg/day), a dose at which it is claimed that there is an absence of morphological or biochemical changes to human or subhuman primate liver. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)