Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Manganese‐enhanced MRI detection of neurodegeneration in neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic cerebral injury

In this study, we investigated the Mn‐enhanced MRI (MEMRI) for detecting neurodegenerative processes in neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic (H‐I) cerebral injury. Seven‐day‐old rats were induced with H‐I injury, and scanned for T1‐weighted image (T1WI) and T2‐weighted image (T2WI) with and without systemic MnCl2 administration. Serial histological analysis was performed for Mn‐superoxide dismutase (Mn‐SOD) and glutamine synthetase (GS), which are Mn‐binding enzymes against the oxidative stress and glutamate excitotoxicity in neurodegeneration. In the acute phase (first 2 days), the ipsilateral lesion exhibited no Mn enhancement in T1WIs, with histology showing no Mn‐SOD and GS production. In the mid‐phase (from day 3), Mn enhancement was found in the cortex, basal ganglia, and hippocampus, correlating with local Mn‐SOD and GS increase. In the late phase, the enhancement became more localized to the pericyst basal ganglia and cortex, and then gradually diminished. In T2WIs, a signal decrease was observed from day 3 in the corresponding regions. Hypointense voids gradually formed in the late phase, correlating with the local iron accumulation. H‐I rats without Mn2+ administration exhibited similar but weak changes in T1WIs and T2WIs from days 14 and 7, respectively. These results indicate that Mn2+ may be a useful in vivo probe for monitoring Mn‐SOD and GS enzymatic activities. Magn Reson Med, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The spatial distribution and size of rook (Corvus frugilegus) breeding colonies is affected by both the distribution of foraging habitat and by intercolony competition

Explanations for the variation in the number of nests at bird colonies have focused on competitive or habitat effects without considering potential interactions between the two. For the rook, a colonial corvid which breeds seasonally but forages around the colony throughout the year, both the amount of foraging habitat and its interaction with the number of competitors from surrounding colonies are important predictors of colony size. The distance over which these effects are strongest indicates that, for rooks, colony size may be limited outside of the breeding season when colony foraging ranges are larger and overlap to a greater extent.
A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk

Background Red meat and processed meat have been associated with carcinogenesis at several anatomic sites, but no prospective study has examined meat intake in relation to a range of malignancies. We investigated whether red or processed meat intake increases cancer risk at a variety of sites. Methods and Findings The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP (formerly the American Association for Retired Persons) Diet and Health Study is a cohort of approximately 500,000 people aged 50–71 y at baseline (1995–1996). Meat intake was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals within quintiles of red and processed meat intake. During up to 8.2 y of follow-up, 53,396 incident cancers were ascertained. Statistically significant elevated risks (ranging from 20% to 60%) were evident for esophageal, colorectal, liver, and lung cancer, comparing individuals in the highest with those in the lowest quintile of red meat intake. Furthermore, individuals in the highest quintile of processed meat intake had a 20% elevated risk for colorectal and a 16% elevated risk for lung cancer. Conclusions Both red and processed meat intakes were positively associated with cancers of the colorectum and lung; furthermore, red meat intake was associated with an elevated risk for cancers of the esophagus and liver.
The influence of numbers on invasion success

The process by which a species becomes a biological invader, at a location where it does not naturally occur, can be divided into a series of sequential stages (transport, introduction, establishment and spread). A species' success at passing through each of these stages depends, in a large part, on the number of individuals available to assist making each transition. Here, we review the evidence that numbers determine success at each stage of the invasion process and then discuss the likely mechanisms by which numbers affect success. We conclude that numbers of individuals affect transport and introduction by moderating the likelihood that abundant (and widespread) species are deliberately or accidentally translocated; affect establishment success by moderating the stochastic processes (demographic, environmental, genetic or Allee) to which small, introduced populations will be vulnerable; and affect invasive spread most likely because of persistent genetic effects determined by the numbers of individuals involved in the establishment phase. We finish by suggesting some further steps to advance our understanding of the influence of numbers on invasion success, particularly as they relate to the genetics of the process.
Effect of CO2, Calcium, Digoxin, and Potassium on Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Metabolism in Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptible Swine

The effects on whole body or cardiac metabolism of carbon dioxide, calcium, potassium, or digoxin were studied in 16 normal swine and 31 swine susceptible to malignant hyperthermia (MHS). Malignant hyperthermia (MH) was defined as an increase in metabolism that occurred in MHS but not in normal pigs. Whole body response: despite a sustained PaCO2 greater than 130 mmHg, MH did not develop in four intact MHS swine during thiopental-N2O anesthesia and controlled ventilation. Drugs given during total cardiopulmonary bypass: MH did not develop in five MHS pigs with blood ionized calcium to 15 mEq/1, in four MHS pigs with digoxin levels to 60 ng/ml, or in four normal pigs with potassium to 10 mEq/1. In six MHS pigs, oxygen consumption increased from 6.5 to 11.6 ml O2· Min-1·kg-1 when potassium exceeded 6 mEq/l; lactate did not increase. Cardiac response (during extracorporeal right heart bypass): eight pigs (four normal, four MHS) with blood ionized calcium to 5 mEq/l and eight pigs (four normal, four MHS) with digoxin levels above 7.5 ng/ml had increased myocardial oxygen consumption. Cardiac potassium efflux or lactate production did not occur in normal or MHS pigs. Increased arterial potassium (7.4–8.5 mEq/l) did not alter myocardial oxygen consumption or lactate production in four MHS or four normal pigs. MH responses were initiated only by potassium and only in regard to whole body metabolism. Cardiac metabolism increased as a result of specific drugs (calcium, digoxin), unrelated to MH phenomena. Porcine inbreeding resulting in MH susceptibility of skeletal muscle does not imply abnormality in other tissues.
Structural and Thermodynamic Characterization of Vibrio fischeri CcdB*

CcdBVfi from Vibrio fischeri is a member of the CcdB family of toxins that poison covalent gyrase-DNA complexes. In solution CcdBVfi is a dimer that unfolds to the corresponding monomeric components in a two-state fashion. In the unfolded state, the monomer retains a partial secondary structure. This observation correlates well with the crystal and NMR structures of the protein, which show a dimer with a hydrophobic core crossing the dimer interface. In contrast to its F plasmid homologue, CcdBVfi possesses a rigid dimer interface, and the apparent relative rotations of the two subunits are due to structural plasticity of the monomer. CcdBVfi shows a number of non-conservative substitutions compared with the F plasmid protein in both the CcdA and the gyrase binding sites. Although variation in the CcdA interaction site likely determines toxin-antitoxin specificity, substitutions in the gyrase-interacting region may have more profound functional implications.
Genomic Organization and Evolutionary Conservation of Plant D-Type Cyclins1[C][W]

Plants contain more genes encoding core cell cycle regulators than other organisms but it is unclear whether these represent distinct functions. D-type cyclins (CYCD) play key roles in the G1-to-S-phase transition, and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) contains 10 CYCD genes in seven defined subgroups, six of which are conserved in rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we identify 22 CYCD genes in the poplar (Populus trichocarpa) genome and confirm that these six CYCD subgroups are conserved across higher plants, suggesting subgroup-specific functions. Different subgroups show gene number increases, with CYCD3 having three members in Arabidopsis, six in poplar, and a single representative in rice. All three species contain a single CYCD7 gene. Despite low overall sequence homology, we find remarkable conservation of intron/exon boundaries, because in most CYCD genes of plants and mammals, the first exon ends in the conserved cyclin signature. Only CYCD3 genes contain the complete cyclin box in a single exon, and this structure is conserved across angiosperms, again suggesting an early origin for the subgroup. The single CYCD gene of moss has a gene structure closely related to those of higher plants, sharing an identical exon/intron structure with several higher plant subgroups. However, green algae have CYCD genes structurally unrelated to higher plants. Conservation is also observed in the location of potential cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites within CYCD proteins. Subgroup structure is supported by conserved regulatory elements, particularly in the eudicot species, including conserved E2F regulatory sites within CYCD3 promoters. Global expression correlation analysis further supports distinct expression patterns for CYCD subgroups.
AMINO GROUP FORMATION AND GLUTAMATE SYNTHESIS IN STREPTOCOCCUS BOVIS

Burchall, J. J. (University of Illinois, Urbana), R. A. Niederman, and M. J. Wolin. Amino group formation and glutamate synthesis in Streptococcus bovis. J. Bacteriol. 88:1038–1044. 1964. —Extracts of Streptococcus bovis grown on NH4+ as a nitrogen source contain a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-linked glutamic dehydrogenase and are devoid of alanine dehydrogenase, other amino acid dehydrohygenases, and aspartase. A potential source of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate for glutamate synthesis is a NADP and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-linked glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase present in the extracts. Experiments with C14-labeled glucose and NaHCO3 indicate that the glutamate carbon skeleton is synthesized by a tricarboxylic acid pathway. The synthesis of the carbon skeleton of glutamate is repressed when glutamate or casein hydrolysate supplement the NH4+-containing growth medium. Repression of glutamic dehydrogenase and a NAD-linked isocitric dehydrogenase occurs only when complex nitrogen sources, but not when free amino acids, are added to the growth medium.
Association study of susceptibility genes for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in the Japanese population

APOE is an established susceptibility gene for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). Recent genome-wide association studies have identified many additional susceptibility genes for LOAD in populations of European descent. However, there is little information on whether or not genetic variants in these genes are associated with other ethnicities. To investigate the association of seven genes identified by genome-wide association studies, we carried out a case–control study using 825 LOAD cases and 2934 controls in the Japanese population. For the APOE gene, APOE-&egr;4 carriers had a 4.54-fold higher risk than APOE-&egr;4 noncarriers after adjusting for age and sex (P=4.6×10–27). For other genes, the single-nucleotide polymorphism in the PICALM gene was significantly associated with LOAD (P=0.02, odds ratio=1.23). There was no significant interaction between PICALM and APOE-&egr;4 carrier status (P for interaction=0.68). Our data indicate that PICALM is also a susceptibility gene for LOAD in the Japanese population.
Understanding employee turnover in humanitarian organizations

Purpose – At a time when the number and seriousness of disasters seems to be increasing, humanitarian organizations find that besides their challenging work they are faced with problems caused by a high level of turnover of staff. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the 24 variables leading to employee turnover identified by Cotton and Tuttle (1986) the authors analyse the work-related, external and personal factors affecting employee turnover in humanitarian organizations, using a survey of members of the Indian National Institute of Disaster Management. Findings – Results indicated that the three factors are present. Of the external factors, only employment perception had a factor loading over 0.7; of the work-related factors, all were significant; of the personal factors, biographical information, marital status, number of dependants, aptitude and ability and intelligence had the highest loadings. It was also shown that behavioural intentions and net expectati.
Induction of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-Specific Cytotoxic T Cell Killing by Vaccination

ABSTRACT Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to be a significant threat to the health and economic value of livestock species. This acute infection is caused by the highly contagious FMD virus (FMDV), which infects cloven-hoofed animals, including large and small ruminants and swine. Current vaccine strategies are all directed toward the induction of neutralizing antibody responses. However, the role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) has not received a great deal of attention, in part because of the technical difficulties associated with establishing a reliable assay of cell killing for this highly cytopathic virus. Here, we have used recombinant human adenovirus vectors as a means of delivering FMDV antigens in a T cell-directed vaccine in pigs. We tested the hypothesis that impaired processing of the FMDV capsid would enhance cytolytic activity, presumably by targeting all proteins for degradation and effectively increasing the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/FMDV peptide concentration for stimulation of a CTL response. We compared such a T cell-targeting vaccine with the parental vaccine, previously shown to effectively induce a neutralizing antibody response. Our results show induction of FMDV-specific CD8+ CTL killing of MHC-matched target cells in an antigen-specific manner. Further, we confirm these results by MHC tetramer staining. This work presents the first demonstration of FMDV-specific CTL killing and confirmation by MHC tetramer staining in response to vaccination against FMDV.
Evolution of the volume-outcome relation for hospitals performing coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND Hospitals performing more surgical procedures tend to yield better outcomes. This study examines the evolution of this volume-outcome relation over time. METHODS AND RESULTS The relation between the number of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures performed at hospitals (volume) and in-hospital bypass surgery and death for 353 488 patients treated in California between 1984 and 1996 was examined. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to compare outcomes for 3 periods: 1984 to 1987, 1988 to 1992, and 1993 to 1996. The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.5% for hospitals performing <200 PTCA procedures per year but only 1.3% for hospitals performing >400 procedures per year in 1984 to 1987. By 1993 to 1996, mortality rates in these 2 volume categories narrowed to 1.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Bypass surgery rates also narrowed and fell in low-volume (<200 procedures) versus high-volume (>400 procedures) hospitals from 12.4% versus 6.9% in 1984 to 1987 to 4.6% versus 3.3% in 1993 to 1996. In a logistic regression, PTCA procedures significantly predicted in-hospital mortality and bypass surgery rates in all 3 time periods. However, coefficient estimates indicate that improvements over time in outcomes for hospitals performing <200 procedures were comparable to the predicted benefits of increasing volume above 400 procedures within time periods. CONCLUSIONS Over time, the disparity in outcomes between low- and high-volume hospitals has narrowed, and outcomes have improved significantly for all hospitals. Given these improvements, lower minimum volume standards may be advisable in less populated areas, where the alternative is no angioplasty at all.
Cholelithiasis Is a Risk Factor for Colorectal Adenoma

OBJECTIVES: Postcholecystectomy patients show moderate risk of colorectal cancer. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between cholelithiasis and colorectal adenoma. We examined this possibility through a combination of colonoscopy and ultrasonography in asymptomatic Japanese.METHODS: We reviewed a subgroup of subjects drawn from a prospective annual colonoscopy screening survey. Subjects who underwent both ultrasonography and colonoscopy, and completed a questionnaire regarding lifestyle habits were entered. We investigated whether subjects with cholelithiasis or a previous cholecystectomy showed an increased risk of colorectal adenoma, as compared with subjects with normal gallbladders.RESULTS: Data of 4,458 subjects (men 3,053, women 1,405, mean age ± SD 46.1 ± 8.62 yr) were analyzed. Cholelithiasis was detected in 206 subjects, 4,189 subjects had normal gallbladders, and 63 subjects had cholecystectomies. The prevalence of colorectal adenoma was 29.6% (61/206) in subjects with cholelithiasis, which was significantly higher when compared with normal subjects, with a prevalence of 17.7% (741/4,189, P < 0.001). In cholecystectomy patients, only 15.9% (10/63) developed colorectal adenomas, which was not significantly different from the control group. In a multivariate analysis controlling for sex, age, family history of colorectal cancer, alcohol, smoking, and body mass index, cholelithiasis was shown to be an independent risk factor for colorectal adenoma (adjusted OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.14–2.18). Cholelithiasis was strongly associated with multiple (≥3 lesions, adjusted OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.21–4.72) and left-sided colorectal adenomas (adjusted OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.28–2.59). CONCLUSIONS: Cholelithiasis is a risk factor for colorectal adenoma.
Arsenic removal from drinking water using granular ferric hydroxide

This paper examines the use of granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) to remove both arsenate [As(V)] and arsenite [As(III)] present in drinking water by conducting batch and column studies. The kinetic studies were conducted as a function of pH, and less than 5 µg/l was achieved from an initial concentration of 100 µg/l for both As(III) and As(V) with GFH at a pH of 7.6, which is in the pH range typically encountered in drinking water supplies. In the isotherm studies, the observed data fitted well with both the Freundlich and the Langmuir models. In continuous column tests (five cycles) with tap water using GFH, consistently less than 5 µg/l of arsenic was achieved in the finished water for 38 to 42 hours of column operation, where the influent had a spiked arsenic concentration of 500 µg/l. High bed volumes (1260 and 1140) up to a breakthrough concentration of 5 µg/l were achieved in the column studies. The adsorptive capacities for GFH estimated from the column studies were higher than that of activated alumina reported in the previous studies. Speciation of a natural water sample with arsenic showed the dominance of As(III) species over As(V). Batch and column studies showed that granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) can be effectively used in small water utilities to achieve less than 5 µg As/l in drinking water.
Gender Comparison of Employment and Career Development in China

Leveraging data from Sina’s online survey of employment and career development carried in 2009, this article uses statistical description in case studies of the status quo of gender equality in employment and the diverse experiences and hopes of employees in China. This research shows some progress of gender equality in employment has been achieved, but there remain distinct differences between men and women in their professions, ranks, income levels, and promotions. Secondly, it shows that men and women have different experiences and hopes for the work environment due to their different ages, levels of education, and incomes. The marginalization of women in the workplace has a positive correlation with their hopes. The traditional stereotyped impressions still function as frames and templates in defining gender roles in the workplace. These factors have had an influence on gender equality in the workplace.
Cerebellar abscess caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a liver transplant patient

Brain abscesses are a rare but serious complication and have been documented in transplant recipients. Aspergillus is by far the most frequent etiology of post‐transplant brain abscesses. Bacteria, apart from Nocardia, have a low association with brain abscesses in transplant recipients. We report herein the case of a 52‐year‐old man who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for end‐stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to chronic hepatitis, and who developed a cerebellar abscess (CA) from Listeria monocytogenes. Three months after transplantation, he presented with a 1‐week history of headache and vomiting. Computed tomography scan of the brain revealed a space‐occupying lesion in the right cerebellum, which was further confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Emergency surgery was planned because of pressure effect on the surrounding structures. The patient recovered smoothly from the surgery. To our knowledge, no reports of Listeria CA following OLT have been published in the English literature. This case shows that, although extremely rare, L. monocytogenes may cause CA in liver transplant recipients, and clinicians should be aware of this, so that prompt diagnosis and treatment can be instituted before serious brain damage can occur.
Intermediary Asset Pricing: New Evidence from Many Asset Classes

We find that shocks to the equity capital ratio of financial intermediaries—Primary Dealer counterparties of the New York Federal Reserve—possess significant explanatory power for crosssectional variation in expected returns. This is true not only for commonly studied equity and government bond market portfolios, but also for other more sophisticated asset classes such as corporate and sovereign bonds, derivatives, commodities, and currencies. Our intermediary capital risk factor is strongly pro-cyclical, implying counter-cyclical intermediary leverage. The price of risk for intermediary capital shocks is consistently positive and of similar magnitude when estimated separately for individual asset classes, suggesting that financial intermediaries are marginal investors in many markets and hence key to understanding asset prices.