Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential proliferative response of NKT cell subpopulations to in vitro stimulation in presence of different cytokines

Human Vα24+Vβ11+ NKT (NKT) cells have immune regulatory activities associated with rejection of tumors, infections and control of autoimmune diseases. They can be stimulated to proliferate using α‐galactosylceramide (KRN7000) and have the potential for therapeutic manipulation. Subpopulations of NKT cells (CD4+CD8–, CD4–CD8+ and CD4–CD8–) have functionally distinctive Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles and their relative numbers following stimulation may influence the Th1/Th2 balance, which may result in or prevent disease. We aimed to determine the effect of different cytokines in culture during stimulation of NKT cells on the relative proportions of NKT cell subpopulations. Our results show that all NKT cell subpopulations expanded following stimulation with KRN7000 and IL‐2, IL‐7, IL‐12 or IL‐15. Expansion capacity differed between subpopulations, resulting in different relative proportions of CD4+ and CD4– NKT cell subpopulations, and this was influenced by the cytokine used for stimulation. A Th1‐biased environment was observed after stimulation of NKT cells. NKT cells expanded under all conditions evaluated demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against U937 tumor cells. In view of the potential for NKT cell subsets to alter the balance of Th1 and Th2 environment, these data provide insights into the effects of NKT cell manipulation for possible therapeutic applications in different disease settings.
The organization of divergent axonal projections from the midbrain raphe nuclei in the rat

The intranuclear organization of divergently projecting neurons of the midbrain raphe in the rat was studied by using double retrograde axonal tracing. Paired injections of the tracers N‐[acetyl‐3H] WGA and horseradish peroxidase were made within known projection targets of the midbrain raphe (caudate‐putamen, amygdala, hippocampus, substantia nigra, and locus coeruleus).
Ki67 labelling index correlates with stage and histology but not significantly with prognosis in thymoma

There have been several cell kinetic studies of thymoma, but the effectiveness of using Ki67 antibody as a tool to measure proliferative activity in this tumour was rarely evaluated. We carried out an immunohistochemical study using this antibody to assess the clinicopathological correlation and the prognostic significance of this technique.
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Hypertension

Hypertension affects approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. Pharmacological therapy has not been perfected and often is associated with adverse side effects. Acupuncture is used as an adjunctive treatment for a number of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension. It has long been established that the two major contributors to systemic hypertension are the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system and chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Recent evidence indicates that in some models of cardiovascular disease, blockade of AT1 receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) reduces sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure, suggesting that overactivity of the angiotensin system in this nucleus may play a role in the maintenance of hypertension. Our experimental studies have shown that electroacupuncture stimulation activates neurons in the arcuate nucleus, ventrolateral gray, and nucleus raphe to inhibit the neural activity in the rVLM in a model of visceral reflex stimulation-induced hypertension. This paper will discuss current knowledge of the effects of acupuncture on central nervous system and how they contribute to regulation of acupuncture on the endocrine system to provide a perspective on the future of treatment of hypertension with this ancient technique.
Finding philosophy in social science

This book takes a fresh, unorthodox look at the key philosophical concepts and assumptions of the social sciences. Eminent philosopher of science Mario Bunge argues that none of the best known philosophies helps to advance or even understand social science, and he proposes a particular union of rationalism, realism, and systemism as the logical and viable stance for social science practitioners.
Adaptive and Approximate Orthogonal Range Counting

We present three new results on one of the most basic problems in geometric data structures, 2-D orthogonal range counting. All the results are in the w-bit word RAM model. —It is well known that there are linear-space data structures for 2-D orthogonal range counting with worst-case optimal query time O(log n/log log n). We give an O(nlog log n)-space adaptive data structure that improves the query time to O(log log n + log k/log log n), where k is the output count. When k = O(1), our bounds match the state of the art for the 2-D orthogonal range emptiness problem [Chan et al., 2011]. —We give an O(nlog log n)-space data structure for approximate 2-D orthogonal range counting that can compute a (1 + δ)-factor approximation to the count in O(log log n) time for any fixed constant δ > 0. Again, our bounds match the state of the art for the 2-D orthogonal range emptiness problem. —Last, we consider the 1-D range selection problem, where a query in an array involves finding the kth least element in a given subarray. This problem is closely related to 2-D 3-sided orthogonal range counting. Recently, Jørgensen and Larsen [2011] presented a linear-space adaptive data structure with query time O(log log n + log k/log log n). We give a new linear-space structure that improves the query time to O(1 + log k/log log n), exactly matching the lower bound proved by Jørgensen and Larsen.
Characterization of the natural products in cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) using GC–MS

Abstract Context: There is paucity of information in literature on the natural products in cocoyam [Colocasia esculenta Linn (Araceae)] that confer it with biological properties. Objectives: This study investigated the antioxidant properties of C. esculenta and also reported for the first time the natural products in C. esculenta that justify its biological properties. Materials and methods: The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract (50–250 μg/mL) of C. esculenta was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical and reducing power assays. Characterization of the natural products in C. esculenta was done using the gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric (GC–MS) technique. The experiment lasted for 3 months. Results: GC–MS analysis of methanol/chloroform extract of the flour of C. esculenta indicated the presence of eight compounds, namely hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (0.43%), octadecanoic acid (20.91%), 9,12-octadecadienoyl chloride (0.77%), 11-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (2.12%), 9-octadecenoic acid (64.37%), 3-hexadecyloxycarbonyl-5-(2-hydroxylethyl)-4-methylimidazolium(1.36%), hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl)ester (1.36%) and 3,5-di-t-butyl phenol (3.27%). The total phenolic content of C. esculenta was 15.15 ± 0.35 mg Gallic Acid Equivalence/g and it was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the total flavonoid (8.50 ± 0.42 mg Quercetin Equivalence/g) and condensed tannin (4.40 ± 0.14 mg Catechin Equivalence/g) contents, respectively. C. esculenta possessed strong antioxidant capacity though it was lower than that of standard quercetin. Discussion and conclusion: Results showed that C. esculenta possesses strong antioxidant activity and also contains some important bioactive compounds that justify its medicinal properties as used in ethno-medicine.
From land dispossession to land restitution: European land rights in South Africa

ABSTRACT Behind every colonial and imperial project laid a persistent constellation of ideas in which rights, obligations and duties were specified to justify colonialism and establish ownership of land. This constellation of ideas provided the reasons for European expansionism, in addition to forming part of the ideological practices of the land-centred settler colonial project of founding new political orders. In this article, I explore the ideologies of land appropriation in colonial South Africa, paying particular attention to the idea of ‘empty land’ and ‘trusteeship’. As well as attending to this partly neglected aspect of South Africa's colonial history, I argue that land restitution today continues to be informed by norms that were used to justify occupation and the appropriation of lands inhabited by indigenous peoples.
Transient New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Poor Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered to be associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it remains uncertain whether transient new-onset AF (NOAF) during AMI has a subsequent increased risk of poor clinical outcomes. METHODSANDRESULTS Transient NOAF was defined as AF that developed during AMI without a prior history and not documented for 1 month after discharge. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause death. We enrolled 2,105 consecutive AMI patients. Overall, AF was observed in 209 (9.9%) and transient NOAF occurred in 102 (4.8%) among 150 patients (7.1%) with NOAF. The transient NOAF group showed higher 1-month (21.8 vs. 7.0%, P<0.001), 2-year (37.8 vs. 20.7%, P<0.001), and 5-year MACE rates (51.8 vs. 28.0%, P<0.001) than the group without AF. In-hospital (16.7 vs. 5.2%, P<0.001), 1-month (17.9 vs. 5.7%, P<0.001), 2-year (30.0 vs. 11.6%, P<0.001), and 5-year mortality rates (36.9 vs. 14.0%, P<0.001) were also higher in patients with transient NOAF. Transient NOAF was a significant independent predictor of both MACE (hazard ratio [HR] 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-2.18, P=0.013) and death (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.22-2.85, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS Transient NOAF was associated with the poorer clinical outcomes and was an important independent predictor of MACE and death in AMI patients. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1615-1623).
A Study of the Effects of Latent Iron Deficiency on Measures of Cognition: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of Iron Supplementation in Young Women

Rates of iron deficiency are high amongst healthy young women. Cognitive impairment occurs secondary to iron deficiency in infants and children, but evaluation of the impact on cognition among young women is inconsistent. The aim was to determine the suitability of the IntegNeuro test battery for assessing cognitive function in iron-deficient and iron-sufficient young women. A pilot double-blinded, placebo-controlled intervention trial was conducted in iron-deficient (serum ferritin ≤ 20 μg/L and haemoglobin > 120 g/L) and iron-sufficient young women (18–35 years). Cognitive function and haematological markers of iron status were measured at baseline and follow-up. Iron-deficient participants (n = 24) were randomised to receive placebo, 60 mg or 80 mg elemental iron daily supplements for 16 weeks. A control group of iron-sufficient participants (n = 8) was allocated to placebo. Change scores for Impulsivity and Attention were significantly greater in plasma ferritin improvers than in non-improvers (p = 0.004, p = 0.026). IntegNeuro was easy to administer and acceptable to young women. Based on the differences in Memory and Attention scores between iron-deficient participants on iron treatment and those on placebo, it was decided that between 26 and 84 participants would be required in each iron treatment group for an adequately powered extension of this pilot RCT.
Magnetoelastic Resonators for Highly Specific Chemical and Biological Detection: A Critical Study

We have developed a detection system made of an amorphous ferromagnetic ribbon of composition Fe<sub>64</sub>Co<sub>17</sub>Si<sub>6.6</sub>B<sub>12.4</sub>, with excellent magnetoelastic properties as a saturation magnetostriction of 23 ppm and a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Delta E$ </tex-math></inline-formula> effect of 27%. The resonators were coated with polystyrene (PS). Consecutive depositions were applied by dip coating from 10 to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$100~\mu \text{M}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> solution in tetrahydrofuran. The mass increment after each deposition was accurately measured with a high precision (0, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1~\mu \text{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) balance and was compared with the corresponding resonant frequency. We have tested resonators with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L = 3$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, 2, and 1 cm length. As theory predicts, we have observed a decrease in the resonant frequency as the PS mass increases, reaching a maximum sensitivity of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$S = \Delta f/\Delta m = 52.4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Hz/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (that corresponds to 19 ng detection for 1 Hz resolution), for the 1 cm length resonator. Nevertheless, our measurements show even better results than theoretically predicted by the common resonator model. Bearing this in mind, here, we present a critical study on the conditions for optimum performance of such resonance-based sensing devices, both from the point of view of the magnetoelastic resonance conditions and from the layer deposition procedure.
In vitro evaluation of Ro 13-9904

The in vitro activity of a new investigational cephalosporin, Ro 13-9904, was compared with those of four cephalosporins (cephalothin, cefamandole, cefoxitin, and moxalactam), five semisynthetic penicillins (mezlocillin, piperacillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, and azlocillin), and the aminoglycoside tobramycin. Ro 13-9904 inhibited 75% of all isolates of Enterobacteriaceae at a concentration of 6.25 micrograms/ml, including Enterobacter spp. , Serratia marcescens, and indole-positive Proteus spp. Ro 13-9904 was only minimally active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci. There was no significant change (greater than or equal to 2 dilutions) in drug activity when tested in various pH and media. A significant inoculum effect occurred when the size of the inoculum was increased from a concentration of 10(5) to 10(7) organisms per ml.
Firm Selection and Corporate Cash Holdings

Among stock market entrants, more firms over time are R&D–intensive with initially lower profitability but higher growth potential. This sample-selection effect determines the secular trend in U.S. public firms’ cash holdings. A stylized firm industry model allows us to analyze two competing changes to the selection mechanism: a change in industry composition and a shift toward less profitable R&D–firms. The latter is key to generating higher cash ratios at IPO, necessary for the secular increase, whereas the former mechanism amplifies this effect. The data confirm the prominent role played by selection, and corroborate the model’s predictions.
LP-Based Algorithms for Capacitated Facility Location

Linear programming has played a key role in the study of algorithms for combinatorial optimization problems. In the field of approximation algorithms, this is well illustrated by the uncapacitated facility location problem. A variety of algorithmic methodologies, such as LP-rounding and primal-dual method, have been applied to and evolved from algorithms for this problem. Unfortunately, this collection of powerful algorithmic techniques had not yet been applicable to the more general capacitated facility location problem. In fact, all of the known algorithms with good performance guarantees were based on a single technique, local search, and no linear programming relaxation was known to efficiently approximate the problem. In this paper, we present a linear programming relaxation with constant integrality gap for capacitated facility location. We demonstrate that the fundamental theories of multi-commodity flows and matchings provide key insights that lead to the strong relaxation. Our algorithmic proof of integrality gap is obtained by finally accessing the rich toolbox of LP-based methodologies: we present a constant factor approximation algorithm based on LP-rounding.
Nerve root blocks in the treatment of lumbar radicular pain. A minimum five-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND In a previous prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blinded study on the effect of nerve root blocks on the need for operative treatment of lumbar radicular pain, we found that injections of corticosteroids were more effective than bupivacaine for up to thirteen to twenty-eight months. We performed a minimum five-year followup of those patients who had avoided surgery. METHODS All of the patients were considered to be operative candidates by the treating surgeon, and all had initially requested operative intervention. They had then been randomized to be treated with a selective nerve-root block with either bupivacaine or bupivacaine and betamethasone. Both the treating physician and the patient were blinded to the type of medication. Of fifty-five randomized patients, twenty-nine avoided an operation in the original study. Twenty-one of those twenty-nine patients were reevaluated with a follow-up questionnaire at a minimum of five years after the initial block. RESULTS Seventeen of the twenty-one patients still had not had operative intervention. There was no difference between the group treated with bupivacaine alone and the group treated with bupivacaine and betamethasone with regard to the avoidance of surgery for five years. At the five-year follow-up evaluation, all of the patients who had avoided operative treatment had significant decreases in neurological symptoms and back pain compared with the baseline values. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients with lumbar radicular pain who avoid an operation for at least one year after receiving a nerve root injection with bupivacaine alone or in combination with betamethasone will continue to avoid operative intervention for a minimum of five years.
p150Glued, Dynein, and Microtubules Are Specifically Required for Activation of MKK3/6 and p38 MAPKs*

To look for regulators of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 6 (MKK6), a yeast two-hybrid screen was initiated using MKK6 as bait. p150Glued dynactin, a key component of the cytoplasmic dynein-dynactin motor complex, was found to specifically interact with MKK6 and its close homologue MKK3. Silencing of p150Glued expression by small interference RNA reduced the stimulus-induced phosphorylation of MKK3/6 and p38 MAPKs. The similar adverse effect was also seen when the cytoplasmic dynein motor was disrupted by other means. Like p150Glued, MKK3/6 directly associate with microtubules. Disruption of microtubules prior to cell stimulation specifically inhibits the stimulus-induced phosphorylation of both MKK3/6 and p38 MAPKs. Our unexpected findings reveal a specific requirement for p150Glued/dynein/functional microtubules in activation of MKK3/6 and p38 MAPKs in vivo.
Quercetin Increases Hepatic Homocysteine Remethylation and Transsulfuration in Rats Fed a Methionine-Enriched Diet

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of quercetin on mRNA expression and activity of critical enzymes in homocysteine metabolism in rats fed a methionine-enriched diet. Rats were fed for 6 weeks the following diets, that is, control, 0.5% quercetin, 1.0% methionine, and 1.0% methionine plus 0.5% quercetin diets. Serum homocysteine was significantly increased after methionine treatment and decreased after the addition of quercetin. The mRNA expression of methionine synthase was significantly increased after methionine or methionine plus quercetin supplementation, while its enzymatic activity was significantly increased after methionine plus quercetin supplementation. The mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase were upregulated after quercetin, methionine, or quercetin plus methionine treatment and a more significant increase was observed for hepatic cystathionine β-synthase in the methionine plus quercetin treated rats, suggesting an interaction between methionine and quercetin. Meanwhile, hepatic ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocysteine was significantly decreased in response to methionine supplementation and normalized after the addition of quercetin. It is concluded that quercetin reduces serum homocysteine by increasing remethylation and transsulfuration of homocysteine in rats exposed to a methionine-enriched diet.
Ship detectors exploiting spectral analysis of SAR images

Ship detection is an important topic for security and surveillance of maritime and costal areas. A solution exploiting satellite-borne SAR sensors is particularly interesting, because it offers wide scale surveillance capabilities, which are not reliant on solar illumination and are rather independent of weather conditions ([1], [2], [3]). In SAR images, the main feature of a ship is a relatively large backscattering signal, which is usually brighter in comparison with the sea background. This led to the idea of using the intensity contrast as a feature to discriminate between targets and sea clutter. Several methodologies were proposed ([1], [3]). Most of these techniques set a statistical test between target and clutter background. Recently, the several ship detectors were proposed that exploits the property of SAR images to perform detection. In this work, two methodologies used for coherent scatterer detection are tested for the first time for ship detection and a comparison of ship detectors based on spectral analysis is performed over L-band ALOS date accompanied by a ground survey.
Targeting Autism: What We Know, Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children with Autism and Related Disorders [Book Review]

Review(s) of: Targeting Autism: What We Know Don't Know, and Can Do to Help Young Children with Autism and Related Disorders; Shirley Cohen University of California Press, Berkeley, 1998, xiii + 215pp. , $14. 95 (paperback) $40. 00 (hardcover).
Effect of the HIV-1 fusion peptide on the mechanical properties and leaflet coupling of lipid bilayers

The fusion peptide (FP) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is part of the N-terminus of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp41 and is believed to play an important role in the viral entry process. To understand the immediate effect of this peptide on the cell membrane, we have studied the influence of the synthetic FP sequence FP23 on the mechanical properties of model lipid bilayers. For this purpose, giant unilamellar vesicles were prepared from the unsaturated lipid dioleoylphosphatidylcholine mixed in various molar ratios with FP23. The bending stiffness of the vesicles was measured with two different methods: fluctuation analysis and aspiration with micropipettes. The data obtained from both of these approaches show that the bending stiffness of the membrane decreases gradually with increasing concentration of the FP23 in the bilayer. Low concentrations of only a few mol% FP23 are sufficient to decrease the bending stiffness of the lipid bilayer by about a factor of 2. Finally, data obtained for the stretching elasticity modulus of the membrane suggest that the peptide insertion decreases the coupling between the two leaflets of the bilayer.