Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recombinant Attenuated Toxoplasma gondii Expressing the Plasmodium yoelii Circumsporozoite Protein Provides Highly Effective Priming for CD8+ T Cell-Dependent Protective Immunity Against Malaria1

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii elicits strong cell-mediated immunity against itself as well as nonspecific resistance against other pathogens and tumors. For this reason, we asked whether recombinant Toxoplasma could be utilized as an effective vaccine vehicle for inducing immunity against heterologous microbial infections. The circumsporozoite protein (PyCSP) of Plasmodium yoelii was engineered into a T. gondii temperature-sensitive strain (ts-4), a mutant that induces complete protection against virulent Toxoplasma challenge. When administered to mice in a single dose, a recombinant ts-4 (CSC3) that both secretes and expresses surface PyCSP induced strong anti-CSP Ab responses, with an isotype distribution pattern similar to that stimulated by the T. gondii carrier. When challenged with P. yoelii sporozoites during the first month after CSC3 vaccination, these animals displayed substantial levels of nonspecific resistance attributable entirely to the T. gondii carrier. Nevertheless, after the nonspecific protection had waned, high levels (up to 79%) of specific immunity against sporozoite challenge were achieved by boosting the animals with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing PyCSP. These CSC3-primed PyCSP-vaccinia-boosted mice displayed high frequencies of splenic PyCSP-specific IFN-γ-producing cells, as well as CD8+ T cell-dependent cytolytic activity. In vivo depletion of CD8+ lymphocytes at the time of challenge completely ablated protective immunity in the T. gondii-primed/vaccinia-boosted animals, while neutralization of IFN-γ or IL-12 caused a partial but significant reduction in resistance. Together these findings establish the efficacy of recombinant attenuated Toxoplasma as a vaccine vehicle for priming CD8+-dependent cell-mediated immunity.
AH/PH domain-mediated interaction between Akt molecules and its potential role in Akt regulation

The cytoplasmic serine-threonine protein kinase coded for by the c-akt proto-oncogene features a protein kinase C-like catalytic domain and a unique NH2-terminal domain (AH domain). The AH domain is a member of a domain superfamily whose prototype was observed in pleckstrin (pleckstrin homology, or PH, domain). In this communication, we present evidence that the AH/PH domain is a domain of protein-protein interaction which mediates the formation of Akt protein complexes. The interaction between c-akt AH/PH domains is highly specific, as determined by the failure of this domain to bind AKT2. The AH/PH domain-mediated interactions depend on the integrity of the entire domain. Akt molecules with deletions of the NH2-terminal portion (amino acids 11 to 60) and AH/PH constructs with deletions of the C-terminal portion of this domain (amino acids 107 to 147) fail to interact with c-akt. To determine the significance of these findings, we carried out in vitro kinase assays using Akt immunoprecipitates from serum-starved and serum-starved, platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated NIH 3T3 cells. Addition of maltose-binding protein-AH/PH fusion recombinant protein, which is expected to bind Akt, to the immunoprecipitates from serum-starved cells induced the activation of the Akt kinase.
Increased Rectal Nitric Oxide in Children With Active Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background Luminal nitric oxide increases in ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease. The authors have previously used a minimally invasive method to demonstrate increased luminal nitric oxide in ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease of the colon. The aim of the current study was to determine whether this method could be applied to identify inflammatory activity in ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease in children. Methods Thirty-six children (18 of whom had active disease) with inflammatory bowel disease localized to the colon were studied. The control group comprised 12 healthy children. To measure nitric oxide, a silicon catheter with an inflatable balloon was inserted into the rectum and inflated with 10 mL of nitric oxide–free air. After a 10-minute incubation time, the air was withdrawn and nitric oxide concentrations were immediately analyzed using a chemiluminescence technique. Results Children with active ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease of the colon had greatly increased luminal nitric oxide concentrations in the rectum (8,840 ± 5,120 and 15,170 ± 4,757 parts per billion [ppb], respectively) compared with controls (77 ± 17 ppb) (P < 0.001). Children with nonactive ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease displayed low concentrations of rectal nitric oxide (356 ± 110 and 188 ± 55 ppb, respectively), which was not different from that of healthy controls. Conclusion Rectal nitric oxide measurement is a feasible and useful method for monitoring disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease, especially in children.
Adult human subventricular, subgranular, and subpial zones contain astrocytes with a specialized intermediate filament cytoskeleton

Human glial fibrillary acidic protein‐δ (GFAP‐δ) is a GFAP protein isoform that is encoded by an alternative splice variant of the GFAP‐gene. As a result, GFAP‐δ protein differs from the predominant splice form, GFAP‐α, by its C‐terminal protein sequence. In this study, we show that GFAP‐δ protein is not expressed by all GFAP‐expressing astrocytes but specifically by a subpopulation located in the subpial zone of the cerebral cortex, the subgranular zone of the hippocampus, and, most intensely, by a ribbon of astrocytes following the ependymal layer of the cerebral ventricles. Therefore, at least in the sub ventricular zone (SVZ), GFAP‐δ specifically marks the population of astrocytes that contain the neural stem cells in the adult human brain. Interestingly, the SVZ astrocytes actively splice GFAP‐δ transcripts, in contrast to astrocytes adjacent to this layer. Furthermore, we show that GFAP‐δ protein, unlike GFAP‐α, is not upregulated in astrogliosis. Our data therefore indicate a different functional role for GFAP‐δ in astrocyte physiology. Finally, transfection studies showed that GFAP‐δ protein expression has a negative effect on GFAP filament formation, and therefore could be important for modulating intermediate filament cytoskeletal properties, possibly facilitating astrocyte motility. Further studies on GFAP‐δ and the cells that express it are important for gaining insights into its function during differentiation, migration and during health and disease. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of active peer benchmarks in assessing UK mutual fund performance and performance persistence

ABSTRACT The majority of UK style-specific mutual funds either report a broad market index as their prospectus benchmark or give no benchmark at all – a practice that may be (a) strategic, or (b) cultural and attributable to the lack of UK style-specific indices (e.g. mid-cap-growth, small-cap-value). The choice of a broad market index as a benchmark can bias the inferences of a fund’s performance and performance persistence. This study is the first to provide an alternative to style-specific indices in the UK, and suggests the use style-specific peer group benchmarks, following [Hunter, D. , E. Kandel, S. Kandel, and R. Wermers. 2014. “Mutual Fund Performance Evaluation with Active Peer Benchmarks. ” Journal of Financial Economics 112 (1): 1–29]. Our sample comprises of 817 active UK long-only equity mutual funds allocated to nine Morningstar style categories (peer groups) during the period 1992–2016. We show that the funds with the most significant positive peer-group-adjusted alphas continue to perform well one year ahead, in terms of both parametric and non-parametric measures of persistence in performance. Moreover, persistence in performance is driven by both winner and loser funds. The results within each peer group are by and large consistent with these findings.
Intentional strengths interviewing in occupational justice research

Abstract Background: Occupational justice research can generate knowledge about societal conditions that support participation in meaningful occupations. This is useful because occupational therapy’s human rights goal is to create societal conditions that are conducive to occupational engagement. Participants in this research field are likely to be vulnerable and need special ethical considerations. However, no model exists to support ethical considerations for vulnerable participants in occupational justice research. Aim: This study aimed to develop a model for additional ethical considerations for occupational justice research with vulnerable participants. Materials and methods: A secondary analysis was carried out on data from a previous study with asylum seekers. Data included semi-structured interview transcripts with seven asylum seekers, researcher memos, and text from the researcher’s written report. Template analysis was employed. Results: The Intentional Strengths Interviewing model was developed. It has three component strategies: strengths-informed interview processes, strengths questioning, and strengths responding. Conclusion and significance: This model might be considered in the design of future occupational justice research involving vulnerable participants in order to best support their inclusion. This model might support future occupational justice research and might be evaluated in other contexts.
Sonohysterography for distinguishing endometrial thickening from endometrial polyps in postmenopausal bleeding

Sonohysterography, or sonographic uterine cavity visualization by uterine cavity distension, may help to distinguish true endometrial thickening from other intracavitary pathological conditions, assuming the same sonographic appearance. We examined 1.5 women with a thickened endometrium (range 10–25 mm) in sonography performed for postmenopausal bleeding. Sonohysterography revealed a polypoid structure in seven women, a normal uterine cavity in four women, and a thickened endometrium in four women. All the women underwent hysteroscopic evaluation of the uterine cavity. Hysteroscopy confirmed the sonohysterographic findings in 14 women (93.3%). Hysteroscopic resection of the polypoid structure was performed while the other patients underwent diagnostic curettage. Histological examination of the seven polypoid structures revealed benign endometrial polyps in six patients, and one pedunculated submucous fibroid. In the patients undergoing diagnostic curettage, histological examination revealed three cases of glandular hyperplasia, one of cystic (atrophic) hyperplasia, and one of papillary endometrial adenocarcinoma. Two cases were inadequate for diagnosis. The advantage of sonohysterography in distinguishing endometrial thickening from intracavitary polyps or fibroids was clearly demonstrated. This technique can help in tailoring the correct treatment in various conditions presenting as postmenopausal bleeding. Copyright © 1994 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Personality and gender differences in revealed risk preference: evidence from Ghana

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate gender differences in risk aversion and determine the effect of personality traits on risk aversion from an African country context. Design/methodology/approach The study combined both descriptive and analytical designs, and employed t-test, Pearson’s χ2 and binary logistic regression as the main analytical techniques. Data for the analysis were obtained from the World Bank’s Skills toward Employment and Productivity survey on Ghana. Findings Results of the study revealed systematic differences in personality and gender and their associations with risk aversion. Specifically, women were found to be more risk averse than men. Differences in personality also showed that females reported higher levels of personality in all but one of the Big Five personality traits – extraversion. In addition to gender, age and education, the personality traits of conscientiousness and stability were the main predictors of the likelihood of being risk averse. Although personality differences existed between male and female, the interaction terms between gender and personality factors were not statistically significant. Originality/value The paper departs from the extant literature on developed countries and western cultures to add to the understanding on how individual differences account for variation in revealed risk preferences.
Preliminary Clinical Evidence of the Antiplaque, Antigingivitis Efficacy of a Mouthwash Containing 2% Green Tea - A Randomised Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of a mouthwash containing 2% green tea as compared to a placebo mouthwash for the control of plaque and gingivitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted on 110 male subjects 18-60 years of age. The inclusion criteria were having a minimum of 20 sound natural teeth, a plaque index (PI) of at least 1.5 and a gingival index (GI) of at least 1.0. The subjects were randomised into two parallel groups, test and control. Subjects in the test group and control group were instructed to rinse twice daily for 1 min with 10 ml of test (mouthwash containing 2% green tea) and placebo mouthwash, respectively. After 28 days of using the mouthwash, inter- and intragroup differences for mean plaque index and gingival index scores were analysed. RESULTS There was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in mean GI and PI scores among the test group from baseline to 28 days, whereas it was not significant in the control group. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction was found in the mean difference in GI scores in the test group (0.67 ± 0.22) as compared to the control group (0.05 ± 0.11) and a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction was observed in the mean difference in PI scores in the test group (1.65 ± 0.68) compared to the control group (0.45 ± 0.99). CONCLUSION The results showed that the green tea mouthwash was effective in the reduction of plaque and gingivitis scores.
Computational models explain the oligosaccharide specificity of cyanovirin‐N

The prokaryotic lectin cyanovirin‐N (CV‐N) is a potent inhibitor of HIV envelope‐mediated cell entry, and thus is a leading candidate among a new class of potential anti‐HIV microbicides. The activity of CV‐N is a result of interactions with the D1 arm of high‐mannose oligosaccharides on the viral glycoprotein gp120. Here, we present computationally refined models of CV‐N recognition of the di‐ and trisaccharides that represent the terminal three sugars of the D1 arm by each CV‐N binding site. These models complement existing structural data, both from NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. When used with a molecular dynamics/continuum electrostatic (MD/PBSA) approach to compute binding free energies, these models explain the relative affinity of each site for the two saccharides. This work presents the first validation of the application of continuum electrostatic models to carbohydrate–protein association. Taken as a whole, the results both provide models of CV‐N sugar recognition and demonstrate the utility of these computational methods for the study of carbohydrate‐binding proteins.
Investigating preference-performance relationships in aboveground-belowground life cycles: a laboratory and field study with the vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)

Abstract The preference-performance hypothesis has principally considered insect herbivores with aboveground lifecycles, although the hypothesis could be equally relevant to insects with life stages occurring both aboveground and belowground. Moreover, most studies have focussed on either laboratory or field experiments, with little attempt to relate the two. In this study, the preference-performance hypothesis was examined in an aboveground-belowground context in the laboratory using the vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.)) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and two cultivars of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Glen Rosa and Glen Ample. A two-year field study (2008–2009) was also undertaken to characterise the population dynamics of adult weevils on the two raspberry cultivars. Larval performance (abundance and mass) differed significantly between Glen Rosa and Glen Ample, with Glen Rosa resulting in 26% larger but 56% fewer larvae compared to Glen Ample. Larval abundances were significantly and positively correlated with root nitrogen and magnesium concentrations, but negatively correlated with root iron. However, concentrations of these minerals were not significantly different in the two cultivars. Adult weevils did not preferentially select either of the two cultivars for egg laying (laying 3.08 and 2.80 eggs per day on Glen Ample and Glen Rosa, respectively), suggesting that there was no strong preference-performance relationship between adult vine weevils and their belowground offspring. Field populations of adult vine weevils were significantly higher on Glen Ample than Glen Rosa, which may reflect the higher larval survival on Glen Ample observed in laboratory experiments.
Endometriosis and ovarian cancer: A review

Objectives. To describe the relationship between endometriosis and ovarian cancer. Search strategy. Review of the relevant clinical, epidemiologic, and molecular biology literature. Selection criteria. Studies published in the English language using the MEDLINE database. Data collection and analysis. Relevant studies were reviewed by the three authors and those that seem to be of significant scientific value, based on the methodology and statistical power, were included. Main results. Endometriosis and ovarian cancer share many common predisposing factors. Both conditions demonstrate similar patterns regarding local invasion and distal spread they respond similarly to estrogen-induced growth signaling, they express resistance to apoptotic mechanisms and they are characterized by genomic instability. Endometrioid and clear-cell are the most frequent types of ovarian cancer associated with endometriosis. Tubal ligation, in women with endometriosis, seems to prevent retrograde menstruation but it has also been shown to be protective from these types of ovarian cancer. Conclusion. There is evidence to support that endometriosis (by definition a benign process), could simultaneously have the potential for malignant transformation. More studies are needed to establish risk factors that may lead to malignant transformation of this condition and to identify predisposed individuals who may require closer surveillance.
Forecasting and Trading Monetary Policy Effects on the Riskless Yield Curve with Regime Switching Nelson‐Siegel Models

We use monthly data on the US riskless yield curve for a 1982-2015 sample to show that mixing simple regime switching dynamics with Nelson-Siegel factor forecasts from time series models extended to encompass variables that summarize the state of monetary policy, leads to superior predictive accuracy. Such spread in forecasting power turns out to be statistically significant even controlling for parameter uncertainty and sample variation. Exploiting regimes, we obtain evidence that the increase in predictive accuracy is stronger during the Great Financial Crisis in 2007-2009, when monetary policy underwent a significant, sudden shift. Although more caution applies when transaction costs are accounted for, we also report that the increase in predictive power owed to the combination of regimes and of monetary variables that capture the stance of unconventional monetary policies is tradeable. We devise and test butterfly strategies that trade on the basis of the forecasts from the models and obtain evidence of risk-adjusted profits both per se and in comparisons to simpler models.
Population Policy, Demographic Change, and Firm Returns: Evidence from China

Abstract We take advantage of China’s relaxation in January 2014 of its “one-child” family planning policy to study the causal relationship between expected future demographic changes and firms’ stock returns. We use an event study method as our identification strategy and employ data from Chinese stock markets to implement the analysis. We find consistent evidence suggesting that expected demographic changes exert statistically and economically significant effects on firms’ stock returns. We address four potential threats about the validity of our empirical design and argue that our conclusion is not China-specific, but a generic lesson portable to developed countries.
Clinical application of functional glycoproteomics – dissection of glycotopes carried by soluble CD44 variants in sera of patients with cancers

We provide here an example of clinical application of functional glycoproteomics for cancer diagnosis. Sialyl Lewis a and sialyl Lewis x glycotopes, which are the specific ligands for selectins, and variant forms of CD44, which are the adhesion molecules recognizing hyaluronate, are both implicated in cancer metastasis. The CD44 variants modified by the sialyl Lewis a and sialyl Lewis x glycotopes are expected to have dual functions, serving as ligands for vascular selectins, and simultaneously having binding activity to vascular bed hyaluronate, and are expected to figure heavily in cancer metastasis. We developed a heterogeneous sandwich assay system to detect soluble CD44v specifically modified by the cancer‐associated sialyl Lewis a/x glycotopes, using the extracellular domain of CD44v cleaved by the metalloproteinase ADAM10 as standard molecules. We also developed the assay system for CD44v modified by normal epithelial glycotopes including disialyl Lewis a and sialyl 6‐sulfo Lewis x. The results indicated that serum levels of soluble CD44v modified by cancer‐associated glycotopes were frequently increased in patients with cancers, while those of CD44v modified by the nonmalignant glycotopes tended to be elevated in patients with benign disorders.
Altered cardiac excitation-contraction coupling in mutant mice with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) remains poorly understood, despite the fact that the genetic alterations are well defined. We characterized calcium cycling and contractile activation in trabeculae from a mutant mouse model of FHC (Arg403Gln knockin, alpha-myosin heavy chain). Wild-type mice of the same strain and age ( approximately 20 weeks old) served as controls. During twitch contractions, peak intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was higher in mutant muscles than in the wild-type (P < 0.05), but force development was equivalent in the two groups. Ca2+ transient amplitude increased dramatically in both groups as stimulation rate increased from 0.2 to 4 Hz. Nevertheless, developed force fell at the higher stimulation rates in the mutants but not in controls (P < 0.05). The steady-state force-[Ca2+]i relationship was less steep in mutants (Hill coefficient, 2.94 +/- 0.27 vs. 5.28 +/- 0.64; P > 0.003), with no changes in the [Ca2+]i required for 50% activation or maximal Ca2+-activated force. Thus, calcium cycling and myofilament properties are both altered in FHC mutant mice: more Ca2+ is mobilized to generate force, but this does not suffice to maintain contractility at high stimulation rates.