Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Guanine nucleotide-induced polymerization of actin in electropermeabilized human neutrophils

The effects of exogenous guanine nucleotides on the polymerization of actin in human neutrophils were tested in an electropermeabilized cell preparation. Close to 40% permeabilization was achieved with a single electric discharge as measured by nucleic acid staining with ethidium bromide or propidium iodide with minimal (less than 2%) release of the cytoplasmic marker lactate dehydrogenase. In addition, electropermeabilized neutrophils retained their capacity to produce superoxide anions and to sustain a polymerization of actin in response to surface-receptor dependent stimuli such as chemotactic factors. Electropermeabilization produced a rapid and transient permeabilization that allowed the entry of guanine nucleotides into the cells. GTP and, to a larger extent, its nonhydrolyzable analog guanosine 5'-O-2- thiotriphosphate (GTP[S]), induced a time- and concentration-dependent polymerization of actin, as determined by increased staining with 7- nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazolylphallacidin. The effects of the aforementioned guanine nucleotides were antagonized by GDP[S], but were insensitive to pertussis toxin. Cholera toxin potentiated to a small degree the amount of actin polymerization induced by GTP[S]. These results provided direct evidence for the involvement of GTP-binding proteins in the regulation of the organization of the cytoskeleton of neutrophils, an event that is of crucial importance to the performance of the defense-oriented functions of these cells.
Immunogenic Properties of Archaeal Species Found in Bioaerosols

The etiology of bioaerosol-related pulmonary diseases remains poorly understood. Recently, archaea emerged as prominent airborne components of agricultural environments, but the consequences of airway exposure to archaea remain unknown. Since subcomponents of archaea can be immunogenic, we used a murine model to study the pulmonary immune responses to two archaeal species found in agricultural facilities: Methanobrevibacter smithii (MBS) and Methanosphaera stadtmanae (MSS). Mice were administered intranasally with 6.25, 25 or 100 µg of MBS or MSS, once daily, 3 days a week, for 3 weeks. MSS induced more severe histopathological alterations than MBS with perivascular accumulation of granulocytes, pronounced thickening of the alveolar septa, alveolar macrophages accumulation and increased perivascular mononucleated cell accumulation. Analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids revealed up to 3 times greater leukocyte accumulation with MSS compared to MBS. Instillation of 100 µg of MBS or MSS caused predominant accumulation of monocyte/macrophages (4.5×105 and 4.8×105 cells/ml respectively) followed by CD4+ T cells (1.38×105 and 1.94×105 cells/ml respectively), B cells (0.73×105 and 1.28×105 cells/ml respectively), and CD8+ T cells (0.20×105 and 0.31×105 cells/ml respectively) in the airways. Both archaeal species induced similar titers of antigen-specific IgGs in plasma. MSS but not MBS caused an accumulation of eosinophils and neutrophils in the lungs, which surprisingly, correlated inversely with the size of the inoculum. Stronger immunogenicity of MSS was confirmed by a 3 fold higher accumulation of myeloid dendritic cells in the airways, compared to MBS. Thus, the dose and species of archaea determine the magnitude and nature of the pulmonary immune response. This is the first report of an immunomodulatory role of archaeal species found in bioaerosols.
Doing Psychoanalysis of Normal Development: Forward Edge Transferences

Chapter 11 Doing Psychoanalysis of Normal Development: Forward Edge Transferences Marian Tolpin, M.D. This paper develops the idea of a “leading edge” transference, which was mentioned by Heinz Kohut in his supervision of Jule Miller (see Miller, 1985). In the early stages of developing his theory of selfobject transferences in his lectures to candidates (see Tolpin and Tolpin, 1996), Kohut also occasionally referred to patients' overlooked “forward moves,” which remobilized still healthy strivings and needs of the child and adolescent self. For the time being, at least, I use the term forward edge childhood strivings and transferences—”leading edge” having been rendered less useful by its frequent use in advertising. I have also considered describing the transference remobilization of the “growth edge” or “growing edge” of development, loosely analogous to the normal functioning of the epiphyses (growth centers of the long bones) before their closure ends further growth. There may be other felicitous terms for what I have in mind. It is my impression that the theory of forward edge or growth transferences that I am proposing has validity for all psychoanalytic theories, not only for the theory of the self that informs this work. For example, Racker (1968, p. 150-154) described a “total transference,” including a “prospective” element that has been overlooked.
Evolution of IT Use: A Case of Business Intelligence System Transition

Business intelligence (BI) becomes increasingly important and is an evolving topic in research and practice. The evolvement of BI, the flexibility of BI systems, and their context-dependency entail diverse and partially contradicting results on BI system use and outcomes. This study examines how and why BI systems are used differently and what the entailing outcomes are. With the theoretical lens of affordances, we account for non-deterministic BI results. We conceptualize constraints, complementary to affordances, for a more holistic picture of the appropriation process. For this, we conduct an in-depth case study to explore different user perceptions and appropriations of a successfully implemented BI system. We inform affordance theory, advancing research on the (mis-)perception of affordances and constraints by applying an extended model of the appropriation process. For practitioners, we present potential paths for BI systems development and provide a visual representation of affordances and constraints supporting intended affordance developments.
Genetic analysis of a nodA-nodD region of autochthonous strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae that showed effective nodulation of host plants

Two autochthonous strains of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae, designated 201ZG and 301ZG, were isolated from large and numerous root nodules of peas and vetches where these symbiotic bacteria fix nitrogen into ammonia. In preliminary biological experiments, both local isolates showed a better nodulation efficacy than control referent strain R. leguminosarum bv. viciae 248. The most important nodulation genes nodA and nodD, and the bidirectional promoter region between them, were cloned, sequenced and compared with the referent strain. Many changes in the primary structure of nod genes and the major promoter region were detected in both strains. Amino acid sequences of NodA and NodD proteins have changed up to 6.6% and 3.6%, respectively. The changes were conservative, however, and located at positions where variations had already been detected in both proteins. The nod boxes, which are essential to the function of the promoter region, were well conserved in both strains. The results of this study provide an insight into the primary structure of nodA-nodD region in both autochthonous strains and in the possible association with the better nodulation and nitrogen fixation which showed biological experiment in greenhouse.
International diversification, subsidiary performance, and the mobility of knowledge resources

We examine the link between international diversification, organizational knowledge resources, and subsidiary performance. The success of international corporate diversification depends on a firm's capability to transfer knowledge to its subsidiaries, and how its local subsidiaries effectively utilize that knowledge. As knowledge resources are imperfectly mobile, a firm may find it difficult to transfer knowledge to its subsidiaries. In our analysis of 4964 Japanese subsidiaries over a 14‐year period, we find that knowledge that is valuable, but not rare, positively affects subsidiary performance in the short term, but not the long term. In contrast, knowledge that is both valuable and rare affects subsidiary performance in the long term, but not the short term. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic targeting of the endoderm with claudin-6CreER

A full description of the ontogeny of the β cell would guide efforts to generate β cells from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The first step requires an understanding of definitive endoderm: the genes and signals responsible for its specification, proliferation, and patterning. This report describes a global marker of definitive endoderm, Claudin‐6 (Cldn6). We report its expression in early development with particular attention to definitive endoderm derivatives. To create a genetic system to drive gene expression throughout the definitive endoderm with both spatial and temporal control, we target the endogenous locus with an inducible Cre recombinase (Cre‐ERT2) cassette. Cldn6 null mice are viable and fertile with no obvious phenotypic abnormalities. We also report a lineage analysis of the fate of Cldn6‐expressing embryonic cells, which is relevant to the development of the pancreas, lung, and liver. Developmental Dynamics 237:504–512, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Model-Based Vulnerability Analysis of Computer Systems

Vulnerability analysis is concerned with the problem of identifying weaknesses in computer systems that can be exploited to compromise their security. Most vulnerabilities arise from unexpected interactions between di erent system components such as server processes, lesystem permissions and content, and other operating system services. Existing vulnerability techniques (such as those used in COPS and SATAN) are based on enumerating the known causes of vulnerabilities in the system and capturing these causes in the form of rules, e.g., a worldor group-writable . login le is a well known vulnerability that enables one user to gain all access privileges of another user. However, the generation of the rules relies on expert knowledge about interactions among many components of the system. Issues such as system complexity, race conditions, many possible interleavings, hidden assumptions etc. make it very hard even for experts to come up with all such rules. In contrast, we propose a new model-based approach where the security-related behavior of each system component is modeled in a high-level speci cation language such as CSP or CCS. These component models can then be composed to obtain all possible behaviors of the entire system. Finding system vulnerabilities can now be accomplished by analyzing these behaviors using automated veri cation techniques (model checking in particular) to identify scenarios where security-related properties (such as maintaining integrity of password les) are violated. In contrast to previous approaches that mainly address well-known vulnerabilities, our model-based approach has the potential to automatically seek out and identify known and as-yet-unknown vulnerabilities.
The redshift distribution of absorption-line systems in QSO spectra

A statistical analysis of the space-time distribution of absorption-line systems (ALSs) observed in QSO spectra within the cosmological redshift interval z = 0.0-3.7 is carried out on the base of our catalogue of absorption systems (Ryabinkov et al. 2003). We confirm our previous conclusion that the z-distribution of absorbing matter contains non-uniform component displaying a pattern of statistically significant alternating maxima (peaks) and minima (dips). Using the wavelet transformation, we determine the positions of the maxima and minima and estimate their statistical significance. The positions of the maxima and minima of the z-distributions obtained for different celestial hemispheres turn out to be weakly sensitive to orientations of the hemispheres. The data reveal a regularity (quasi-periodicity) of the sequence of the peaks and dips with respect to some rescaling functions of z. The same periodicity was found for the one-dimensional correlation function calculated for the sample of the ALSs under investigation. We assume the existence of a regular structure in the distribution of absorption matter, which is not only spatial but also temporal in nature with characteristic time varying within the interval 150-650 Myr for the cosmological model applied.
A Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Dutasteride Caused Reductions in Vascular Density and Area in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Objectives. Dutasteride, a dual 5α-reductase inhibitor, is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Nevertheless, its histopathological effects on the morphometrics of blood vessels and glands are still controversial. The aim here was to assess the histopathological effects of dutasteride in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia in a retrospective study. Methods. Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia more than 40 cm3 in prostatic volume were administered 0.5 mg of dutasteride daily or left untreated prior to receiving a transurethral resection of the prostate. Images of sections stained with hematoxylin/eosin and with anti-CD31 antibody were analyzed. Results. In the dutasteride-treated group, the duration of administration was 16.3 ± 8.1 weeks. Artery/arteriole density and vein/venule density in benign prostatic tissue were both lower in the dutasteride-treated group than in the control group. The vein/venule area as a percentage of the whole area was also lower in the dutasteride-treated group, while the artery/arteriole area did not show a significant difference. Glandular/CD31-expressing vessel densities as well as glandular/CD31-expressing vessel areas were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions. Dutasteride reduced the artery/arteriole and vein/venule densities and the proportion of vein/venule area in the tissue of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Various factors influencing birth weight in animal production

This is a review article that looks at various factors that influence birth weight in animal production. Birth weight is an important indicator of potential growth of an animal and is affected by both genetic and non-genetic factor, and the birth size depends on their interaction. Environmental conditions such as kind and quality of feed and details of management may have an influence on birth weight in livestock production. In order to minimize the adverse effects of factors that influence birth weight, it is perhaps important to understand the implications of different mechanisms, how and why they affect birth weight. Low birth weight than optimum is the main factor that determine the pre weaning losses of young ones and large birth have been associated with difficult birth. Traditional measures to ameliorate birth associated negative effects should also focus on maternal dietary manipulation which may influence optimum birth weight. Nutritional programs designed to improve dam’s body condition during pregnancy will have a positive influence on birth weight of progeny. A good knowledge of genetic parameters is essential to develop accurate selection indices and to optimally design breeding programs and performance recording systems for maximum economic gain or profit from growth traits. Estimates of genetic parameters for birth weight is model dependent and ignoring of maternal genetic effect in the model leads to overestimation of direct heritability for birth weight. Estimates of direct and maternal heritability for birth weight in different species have been reported and vary from low to high. The review article therefore, concludes that the large variability of birth weight in livestock species suggests that many factors or conditions may be responsible for this variation. The reported low heritability estimates for birth weight may be explained by the poor nutritional levels of dams creating a large environmental variation.
Cortical dynamics of word recognition

While functional neuroimaging studies have helped elucidate major regions implicated in word recognition, much less is known about the dynamics of the associated activations or the actual neural processes of their functional network. We used intracerebral electroencephalography recordings in 10 patients with epilepsy to directly measure neural activity in the temporal and frontal lobes during written words' recognition, predominantly in the left hemisphere. The patients were presented visually with consonant strings, pseudo‐words, and words and performed a hierarchical paradigm contrasting semantic processes (living vs. nonliving word categorization task), phonological processes (rhyme decision task on pseudo‐words), and visual processes (visual analysis of consonant strings). Stimuli triggered a cascade of modulations in the gamma‐band (>40 Hz) with reproducible timing and task‐sensitivity throughout the functional reading network: the earliest gamma‐band activations were observed for all stimuli in the mesial basal temporal lobe at 150 ms, reaching the word form area in the mid fusiform gyrus at 200 ms, evidencing a superiority effect for word‐like stimuli. Peaks of gamma‐band activations were then observed for word‐like stimuli after 400 ms in the anterior and middle portion of the superior temporal gyrus (BA 38 and BA 22 respectively), in the pars triangularis of Broca's area for the semantic task (BAs 45 and 47), and in the pars opercularis for the phonological task (BA 44). Concurrently, we observed a two‐pronged effect in the prefrontal cortex (BAs 9 and 46), with nonspecific sustained dorsal activation related to sustained attention and, more ventrally, a strong reflex deactivation around 500 ms, possibly due to semantic working memory reset. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficient numerical methods for the least-norm regularization

The problem min x ‖x‖, s.t. ‖b−Ax‖ ≤ arises in the regularization of discrete forms of ill-posed problems when an estimate of the noise level in the data is available. After deriving necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for this problem, we propose two different classes of algorithms: a factorization-based algorithm for small to medium problems, and matrix-free iterations for the large-scale case. Numerical results illustrating the performance of the methods demonstrate that both classes of algorithms are efficient, robust, and accurate. An interesting feature of our formulation is that there is no situation corresponding to the so-called hard case that occurs in the standard trust-region subproblem. Neither small singular values nor vanishing coefficients present any difficulty to solving the relevant secular equations.
Pulmonary metastasectomy from soft tissue sarcomas

INTRODUCTION: Isolated pulmonary metastases from soft tissue sarcomas occur in 20-50% of these (the issue is about metastases, not lung cancer) patients, and 70% of these patients will present disease limited only to the lungs. Surgical resection is well accepted as a standard approach to treat metastases from soft tissue sarcomas isolated in the lungs, and many studies investigating this technique have reported an overall 5-year survival ranging from 30-40%. The most consistent predictor of survival in these patients is complete resection. The aim of the present study was to determine the demographics and clinical treatment-related variables associated with long-term (90-month) overall survival in patients with lung metastases undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy from soft tissue sarcomas. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients admitted in the Thoracic Surgery Department with lung metastases who underwent thoracotomy for resection following treatment of the primary tumor. Data regarding primary tumor features, demographics, treatment, and outcome were collected. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two thoracotomies and 273 nodules were resected from 77 patients with previously treated soft tissue sarcomas. The median follow-up time of all patients was 36.7 months (range: 10-138 months). The postoperative complication rate was 9.1%, and the 30-day mortality rate was 0%. The 90-month overall survival rate for all patients was 34.7%. Multivariate analysis identified the following independent prognostic factors for overall survival: the number of metastases resected, the disease-free interval, and the number of complete resections. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that lung metastasectomy is a safe and potentially curative procedure for patients with treated primary tumors. A select group of patients can achieve long-term survival after lung resection.
Cryopreservation of intact testicular tissue from boys with cryptorchidism.

BACKGROUND Boys with cryptorchidism often face fertility problems in adult life despite having orchiopexy performed at a very young age. During this operation, a biopsy of the testis is normally taken in order to evaluate their infertility potential and the presence of malignant cells. This study evaluated the morphology and functional capacity of cryopreserved testes biopsies and their possible use in fertility preservation. METHODS Biopsies from 11 testes (eight boys) were obtained. Each biopsy was subdivided into six pieces and two pieces were frozen in each of two different cryoprotectants. One fresh and two cryopreserved pieces were cultured for 2 weeks. All pieces were prepared for histology. Used culture media were analysed for testosterone and inhibin B concentrations. RESULTS The morphology of the fresh and frozen-thawed samples was similar, with well-preserved seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells. A similar picture appeared after 2 weeks of culture, but a few of the cultured biopsies contained small necrotic areas. The presence of spermatogonia was verified by c-kit-positive immunostaining. Production of testosterone and inhibin B (ng/mm(3) testis tissue) in the frozen-thawed pieces was on average similar to that of the fresh samples. CONCLUSIONS Intact testicular tissue from young boys with non-descended testes tolerates cryopreservation with surviving spermatogonia and without significant loss of the ability to produce testis-specific hormones in vitro. It may be an option to freeze part of the testis biopsy, which is routinely removed during the operation for cryptorchidism, for fertility preservation in adult life.
Condition-Specific Performance Information: Assessing Salience, Comprehension, and Approaches for Communicating Quality

This study assesses how consumers view condition-specific performance measures and builds on an earlier study to test an approach for communicating quality information. The study uses three separate designs: a small experiment, a cross-sectional analysis of survey data, and focus groups. We test whether providing information on the health care context affects consumer understanding of indicators. Focus groups were used to explore how consumers view performance measures. The cross-sectional survey analysis used survey data from the experiment and the focus groups to look at comprehension and the salience of condition-specific performance measures. Findings show that a general consumer population does view condition-specific performance measures as salient. Further, the findings provide evidence that information on the health care context makes a difference in how consumers understand performance measures.