Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells Using the Modified ISHAGE Protocol

Aims Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), involved in endothelial regeneration, neovascularisation, and determination of prognosis in cardiovascular disease can be characterised with functional assays or using immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Combinations of markers, including CD34+KDR+ or CD133+KDR+, are used. This approach, however may not consider all characteristics of EPC. The lack of a standardised protocol with regards to reagents and gating strategies may account for the widespread inter-laboratory variations in quantification of EPC. We, therefore developed a novel protocol adapted from the standardised so-called ISHAGE protocol for enumeration of haematopoietic stem cells to enable comparison of clinical and laboratory data. Methods and Results In 25 control subjects, 65 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD; 40 stable CAD, 25 acute coronary syndrome/acute myocardial infarction (ACS)), EPC were quantified using the following approach: Whole blood was incubated with CD45, KDR, and CD34. The ISHAGE sequential strategy was used, and finally, CD45dimCD34+ cells were quantified for KDR. A minimum of 100 CD34+ events were collected. For comparison, CD45+CD34+ and CD45−CD34+ were analysed simultaneously. The number of CD45dimCD34+KDR+ cells only were significantly higher in healthy controls compared to patients with CAD or ACS (p = 0.005 each, p<0.001 for trend). An inverse correlation of CD45dimCD34+KDR+ with disease activity (r = −0.475, p<0.001) was confirmed. Only CD45dimCD34+KDR+ correlated inversely with the number of diseased coronaries (r = −0.344; p<0.005). In a second study, a 4-week de-novo treatment of atorvastatin in stable CAD evoked an increase only of CD45dimCD34+KDR+ EPC (p<0.05). CD45+CD34+KDR+ and CD45−CD34+KDR+ were indifferent between the three groups. Conclusion Our newly established protocol adopted from the standardised ISHAGE protocol achieved higher accuracy in EPC enumeration confirming previous findings with respect to the correlation of EPC with disease activity and the increase of EPC during statin therapy. The data of this study show the CD45dim fraction to harbour EPC.
Antibiotic Overconsumption in Pregnant Women With Urinary Tract Symptoms in Uganda

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections in women. During pregnancy physiological changes, like frequency, mimic UTI symptoms, and therefore bacteriological cultures are needed to confirm the diagnosis. However, in developing countries antibiotic therapy is commonly initiated without culture confirmation. Methods We investigated the prevalence of bacteriuria among pregnant women with and without UTI symptoms in Uganda. In total 2 562 urine samples were evaluated with nitrite and leukocyte esterase tests, using urine culture and/or dipslide with species identification as reference. Results The prevalence of culture-proven UTI among pregnant women with UTI symptoms was 4%. Since treatment is initiated based only on the presence of symptoms, 96% were erroneously given antibiotics. Further, there is a high prevalence of resistance to commonly used antibiotics, with 18 % ESBL and 36 % multidrug resistant Escherichia coli strains. Nitrite, leukocyte esterase tests, and urine microscopy alone were of poor diagnostic value. Using dipslide, gynecologists and nurses, not trained in microbiology, were mostly able to identify E. coli and negative cultures. Mixed Gram-negative flora, suggesting fecal contamination was, however, in the majority of cases interpreted as a single pathogenic bacterium and would have resulted in antibiotic treatment. Conclusions To prevent excessive use of antibiotics, dipslide possibly supported by a combination of nitrite and leukocyte esterase tests can be used. Trained frontline health care professionals correctly diagnosed E. coli UTI and negative urine cultures, which would help preventing antibiotic misuse. In addition, regular screening for antibiotic resistance would improve correct treatment.
Nut‐cracking behaviour in wild‐born, rehabilitated bonobos (Pan paniscus): a comprehensive study of hand‐preference, hand grips and efficiency

There has been an enduring interest in primate tool‐use and manipulative abilities, most often with the goal of providing insight into the evolution of human manual dexterity, right‐hand preference, and what behaviours make humans unique. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are arguably the most well‐studied tool‐users amongst non‐human primates, and are particularly well‐known for their complex nut‐cracking behaviour, which has been documented in several West African populations. However, their sister‐taxon, the bonobos (Pan paniscus), rarely engage in even simple tool‐use and are not known to nut‐crack in the wild. Only a few studies have reported tool‐use in captive bonobos, including their ability to crack nuts, but details of this complex tool‐use behaviour have not been documented before. Here, we fill this gap with the first comprehensive analysis of bonobo nut‐cracking in a natural environment at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Eighteen bonobos were studied as they cracked oil palm nuts using stone hammers. Individual bonobos showed exclusive laterality for using the hammerstone and there was a significant group‐level right‐hand bias. The study revealed 15 hand grips for holding differently sized and weighted hammerstones, 10 of which had not been previously described in the literature. Our findings also demonstrated that bonobos select the most effective hammerstones when nut‐cracking. Bonobos are efficient nut‐crackers and not that different from the renowned nut‐cracking chimpanzees of Bossou, Guinea, which also crack oil palm nuts using stones.
Consecutive non-natural PZ nucleobase pairs in DNA impact helical structure as seen in 50 μs molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract Little is known about the influence of multiple consecutive ‘non-standard’ (Z, 6-amino-5-nitro-2(1H)-pyridone, and P, 2-amino-imidazo[1,2-a]-1,3,5-triazin-4(8H)-one) nucleobase pairs on the structural parameters of duplex DNA. P:Z nucleobase pairs follow standard rules for Watson–Crick base pairing but have rearranged hydrogen bonding donor and acceptor groups. Using the X-ray crystal structure as a starting point, we have modeled the motions of a DNA duplex built from a self-complementary oligonucleotide (5΄-CTTATPPPZZZATAAG-3΄) in water over a period of 50 μs and calculated DNA local parameters, step parameters, helix parameters, and major/minor groove widths to examine how the presence of multiple, consecutive P:Z nucleobase pairs might impact helical structure. In these simulations, the PZ-containing DNA duplex exhibits a significantly wider major groove and greater average values of stagger, slide, rise, twist and h-rise than observed for a ‘control’ oligonucleotide in which P:Z nucleobase pairs are replaced by G:C. The molecular origins of these structural changes are likely associated with at least two differences between P:Z and G:C. First, the electrostatic properties of P:Z differ from G:C in terms of density distribution and dipole moment. Second, differences are seen in the base stacking of P:Z pairs in dinucleotide steps, arising from energetically favorable stacking of the nitro group in Z with π–electrons of the adjacent base.
Improvement of start-up and nitrogen removal of the anammox process in reactors inoculated with conventional activated sludge using biofilm carrier materials

ABSTRACT The start-up of the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process in three up-flow column reactors seeded with common mixed activated sludge and added with three materials, sponge (R1), sponge + volcanic rock (R2) and sponge + charcoal (R3), as carriers for biofilm formation were comparatively investigated in this study. The supplement of volcanic rock and charcoal could significantly shorten the start-up time of the anammox process, which primarily occurred in the activity-enhanced phase, with ammonium and nitrite removal efficiencies stabilized above 92.5% and 93.4% after an operation period of 145, 105 and 121 d for R1, R2 and R3, respectively. After the successful anammox start-up, R2 performed significantly better in TN removal (p < .05), achieving an average rate of 91.0% and 191.5 g N m−3 d−1 compared to R1 of 88.4% and 172.1 g N m−3 d−1, and R3 of 89.9% and 180.1 g N m−3 d−1 in the steady running phase. The ratios of consumed and generated /consumed after anammox start-up were lower than the theoretical values, probably suggesting the simultaneous existences of anammox, denitrification as well as nitrification processes in the reactors. A reddish brown biofilm was wrapped on the carriers and morphological detection of biofilm displayed the presentations of thick and compact floc aggregates and some filamentous bacteria on the sponge, and spherical-, ovoid- and shortrod-shaped microorganisms on the volcanic rock and charcoal. Using porous material as carrier for biofilm development is an effective strategy for practical application of the anammox reactor.
Estrogen Receptor β-Selective Agonists Stimulate Calcium Oscillations in Human and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neurons

Estrogens are used extensively to treat hot flashes in menopausal women. Some of the beneficial effects of estrogens in hormone therapy on the brain might be due to nongenomic effects in neurons such as the rapid stimulation of calcium oscillations. Most studies have examined the nongenomic effects of estrogen receptors (ER) in primary neurons or brain slices from the rodent brain. However, these cells can not be maintained continuously in culture because neurons are post-mitotic. Neurons derived from embryonic stem cells could be a potential continuous, cell-based model to study nongenomic actions of estrogens in neurons if they are responsive to estrogens after differentiation. In this study ER-subtype specific estrogens were used to examine the role of ERα and ERβ on calcium oscillations in neurons derived from human (hES) and mouse embryonic stem cells. Unlike the undifferentiated hES cells the differentiated cells expressed neuronal markers, ERβ, but not ERα. The non-selective ER agonist 17β-estradiol (E2) rapidly increased [Ca2+]i oscillations and synchronizations within a few minutes. No change in calcium oscillations was observed with the selective ERα agonist 4,4′,4″-(4-Propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol (PPT). In contrast, the selective ERβ agonists, 2,3-bis(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN), MF101, and 2-(3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-vinyl-1,3 benzoxazol-5-ol (ERB-041; WAY-202041) stimulated calcium oscillations similar to E2. The ERβ agonists also increased calcium oscillations and phosphorylated PKC, AKT and ERK1/2 in neurons derived from mouse ES cells, which was inhibited by nifedipine demonstrating that ERβ activates L-type voltage gated calcium channels to regulate neuronal activity. Our results demonstrate that ERβ signaling regulates nongenomic pathways in neurons derived from ES cells, and suggest that these cells might be useful to study the nongenomic mechanisms of estrogenic compounds.
Comparison of plethysmographic and helium dilution lung volumes in patients with a giant emphysematous bulla as selection criteria for endobronchial valve implant†

OBJECTIVES To assess whether the difference in lung volume measured with plethysmography and with the helium dilution technique could differentiate an open from a closed bulla in patients with a giant emphysematous bulla and could be used as a selection criterion for the positioning of an endobronchial valve. METHODS We reviewed the data of 27 consecutive patients with a giant emphysematous bulla undergoing treatment with an endobronchial valve. In addition to standard functional and radiological examinations, total lung capacity and residual volume were measured with the plethysmographic and helium dilution technique. We divided the patients into 2 groups, the collapse or the no‐collapse group, depending on whether the bulla collapsed or not after the valves were put in position. We statistically evaluated the intergroup differences in lung volume and outcome. RESULTS In the no‐collapse group (n = 6), the baseline plethysmographic values were significantly higher than the helium dilution volumes, including total lung capacity (188 ± 14 vs 145 ± 13, P = 0.0007) and residual volume (156 ± 156 vs 115 ± 15, P = 0.001). In the collapse group, there was no significant difference in lung volumes measured with the 2 methods. A difference in total lung capacity of ≤ 13% and in residual volume of ≤ 25% measured with the 2 methods predicted the collapse of the bulla with a success rate of 83% and 84%, respectively. Only the collapse group showed significant improvement in functional data. CONCLUSIONS Similar values in lung volumes measured with the 2 methods support the hypothesis that the bulla communicates with the airway (open bulla) and thus is likely to collapse when the endobronchial valve is implanted. Further studies are needed to validate our model.
Mitochondria in complex psychiatric disorders: Lessons from mouse models of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Mitochondrial ATP synthesis, calcium buffering, and trafficking affect neuronal function and survival. Several genes implicated in mitochondrial functions map within the genomic region associated with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), which is a key genetic cause of neuropsychiatric diseases. Although neuropsychiatric diseases impose a serious health and economic burden, their etiology and pathogenesis remain largely unknown because of the dearth of valid animal models and the challenges in investigating the pathophysiology in neuronal circuits. Mouse models of 22q11DS are becoming valid tools for studying human psychiatric diseases, because they have hemizygous deletions of the genes that are deleted in patients and exhibit neuronal and behavioral abnormalities consistent with neuropsychiatric disease. The deletion of some 22q11DS genes implicated in mitochondrial function leads to abnormal neuronal and synaptic function. Herein, we summarize recent findings on mitochondrial dysfunction in 22q11DS and extend those findings to the larger context of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric diseases.
Long-term pulmonary function after surgery for lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES Many patients with lung cancer have been cured by surgical intervention. However, the long-term effects of lung resection on pulmonary function are unclear. Therefore, we investigated long-term pulmonary function after surgery. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer between 2001 and 2009. A total of 445 patients who had survived more than 5 years since the surgery were included. The patients were divided into lobectomy, segmentectomy and partial resection groups. The time-dependent changes in pulmonary function were investigated. RESULTS The percentages of the vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) at postoperative year (POY) 1 vs preoperative values were 92.9 ± 11.1% and 91.3 ± 13.0% in the lobectomy group, 95.9 ± 9.0% and 93.8 ± 10.5% in the segmentectomy group and 97.8 ± 7.3% and 98.1 ± 8.3% in the partial resection group, respectively. The values in the lobectomy group were significantly lower than those in the segmentectomy and partial resection groups. The percentages of vital capacity and FEV 1 at POY 5 vs preoperative values were 90.0 ± 11.5% and 86.2 ± 11.9% in the lobectomy group, 93.4 ± 9.8% and 91.1 ± 9.8% in the segmentectomy group and 94.3 ± 8.8% and 94.0 ± 8.0% in the partial resection group, respectively. The decrease in the rates from POY 1 to POY 5 were not significantly different among the procedures. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary function declined with pulmonary resection. After the patient recovered from the operation, pulmonary function decreased with time regardless of the surgical procedure.
“You Talkin’ to Me?”

In humans, direct gaze typically signals a deliberate attempt to communicate with an observer. An auditory signal with similar signal value is calling someone’s name. We investigated whether the presence of this personally relevant signal in the auditory modality would influence perception of another individual’s gaze. Participants viewed neutral faces displaying different gaze deviations while hearing someone call their own name or the name of another person. Results were consistent with our predictions, as participants judged faces with a wider range of gaze deviations as looking directly at them when they simultaneously heard their own name. The influence of this personally relevant signal was present only at ambiguous gaze deviations; thus, an overall response bias to categorize gaze as direct when hearing one’s own name cannot account for the results. This study provides the first evidence that communicative intent signaled via the auditory modality influences the perception of another individual’s gaze.
The use of late nitrogen on milling wheat in the Manawatu

The Manawatu Mills Ud. operate a variable payment scheme for milling wheat based on a quality index. The index is determined by the cultivar and protein content This study was carried out to investigate the use of late Nitrogen (N) as a means of increasing grain protein content and grain yield in milling wheat. Trials were conducted at three sites in the Manawatu region. Nitrogen was applied at Feekes G.S. 9. Late N significantly increased grain protein content at all sites. However, at one site, grain protein contents were above the threshold level for obtaining premiums. There was a strong relationship between grain protein content and MDD bake score. Late N significantly increased grain yields at two sites. The yield response at one site was the result of an increase in grain weight whereas at the other responsive site, late N increased ear numberslm2 at harvest. As a result of an increase in grain yield and grain protein, the use of late N would have been highly economic at two of the sites used in this study. The feasibility of using late N to increase the profitability of milling wheat in the Manawatu is discussed Additiollllllcey words: Grain yield, grain protein content, yield components, bake score, economic feasibility.
Changes in power with resistance training in older and younger men and women.

BACKGROUND Muscle power diminishes with increasing age and inactivity. The capacity for older adults to increase muscle power with resistance exercise has not been examined; therefore, we examined the influence of progressive resistance training (PRT) on muscle power output in 17 men and women aged 56-66 years, and compared their responses to 15 men and women aged 21-30 years. METHODS All subjects performed 12 weeks of PRT at a workload equivalent to 80% of the one repetition maximum (1RM). All training and assessments of 1RM and power were made on Keiser pneumatic resistance machines. Subjects performed five exercises, three sets per exercise, twice weekly. Muscle power was measured (isotonically) at resistances equivalent to 40, 60, and 80% of the 1RM, on the knee extension and arm pull machines. RESULTS All subjects increased arm pull power similarly at 40 and 60% of 1RM, independent of age or sex. There was not a significant increase in arm pull power at 80% of 1RM. Older and younger subjects also had similar absolute increases in leg extensor power at 40 and 60% of 1RM, but men responded with greater absolute gains than women at these percentages (p < .05). The increase in leg extensor power at 80% of 1RM was similar in all groups. Older and younger subjects increased strength similarly in all exercises except the left knee extension. Independent of age, men increased strength more than women in all exercises except the double leg press. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that individuals in their sixth decade can still improve muscle power (and strength); however, men may realize greater absolute gains than women.
The effect of bullying on burnout in nurses: the moderating role of psychological detachment.

AIMS The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between bullying and burnout and the potential buffering effect psychological detachment might have on this relationship. BACKGROUND There is evidence to suggest that bullying is relatively widespread in the nursing profession, with previous studies indicating that bullying is associated with higher levels of burnout. There is, however, limited research focusing on potential moderators of the relationship between bullying and burnout. DESIGN A cross-sectional quantitative study conducted with self-completed, anonymous questionnaires. METHODS The study was conducted in 2011 with 762 Registered Nurses in Australia. Two hypotheses were tested with validated measures of bullying, psychological detachment and burnout. The hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression. RESULTS Bullying is positively associated with burnout. Psychological detachment does not significantly moderate the relationship between bullying and burnout. CONCLUSION The results indicate that bullying exacts a strong negative toll on nurses. Ensuring there are workplace policies and practices in place in healthcare organizations to reduce the instances of bullying and proactively address it when it does occur would therefore seem crucial. Individuals may also lower their risk of burning out by psychologically detaching from work.
Microstructural properties of warm mix asphalt before and after laboratory-simulated long-term ageing

This paper presents microstructural analysis of two original and their respective warm mix asphalt (WMA) binders, obtained with the addition of Advera® and Sasobit®. The binders were analysed before and after long-term ageing with the aid of atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM images highlighted the effect of ageing using rolling thin film oven (RTFO) followed by pressure ageing vessel (PAV) on the binders’ microstructure. Ageing of original binders generally increased the size of the “bee” structures. The ageing effect on the microstructure morphology of WMA binders was found to be negligible. However, ageing could affect the mechanical properties without morphology variations. The high variability inside each sample analysed makes the analysis complex. Sasobit® changed the original binders’ microstructure considerably, while Advera® did not affect it. For the original and Advera® binders, 24 hours after sample preparation, the dispersed phase expanded, and this effect was generally more pronounced for unaged than for aged binders. This could indicate a lower mobility of the species forming microstructures in aged samples. The reduced mobility of these species during heat treatment also affects the microstructure of the samples. A hypothesis on the development of “bee” structures starting from dendritic structures was proposed.