Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The toxicity of bovine α‐lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells is highly dependent on oleic acid and induces killing in cancer cell lines and noncancer‐derived primary cells

A complex between α‐lactalbumin and oleic acid (C18:1, 9 cis) has been reported to be cytotoxic to cancer cells. We have prepared such complexes and tested their activity against both cancer cell lines and noncancer‐derived primary cells. Unexpectedly, some primary cell types were more sensitive to treatment than cancer cell lines. We found the complex to be cytotoxic to all of the tested cells, with a 46‐fold difference between the most sensitive and the least sensitive cell type. Oleic acid by itself exhibited a remarkably similar activity. The cell‐killing mechanisms of the complex and of oleic acid alone were examined by flow cytometry, testing for apoptosis‐ and necrosis‐ inducing activity. The T‐cell leukemia‐derived Jurkat cells primarily underwent cell death resembling apoptosis, whereas the monocytic leukemia‐derived THP1 cells adopted a more necrotic‐like cell death. Erythrocytes were sensitive to lysis by the complex and oleic acid. We conclude that oleic acid is cytotoxic by itself and that, in contrast to the literature, a complex of α‐lactalbumin and oleic acid has cytotoxic activity against primary cells, as well as cancer cells.
Actin as target for modification by bacterial protein toxins

Various bacterial protein toxins and effectors target the actin cytoskeleton. At least three groups of toxins/effectors can be identified, which directly modify actin molecules. One group of toxins/effectors causes ADP‐ribosylation of actin at arginine‐177, thereby inhibiting actin polymerization. Members of this group are numerous binary actin–ADP‐ribosylating exotoxins (e.g. Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin) as well as several bacterial ADP‐ribosyltransferases (e.g. Salmonella enterica SpvB) which are not binary in structure. The second group includes toxins that modify actin to promote actin polymerization and the formation of actin aggregates. To this group belongs a toxin from the Photorhabdus luminescens Tc toxin complex that ADP‐ribosylates actin at threonine‐148. A third group of bacterial toxins/effectors (e.g. Vibrio cholerae multifunctional, autoprocessing RTX toxin) catalyses a chemical crosslinking reaction of actin thereby forming oligomers, while blocking the polymerization of actin to functional filaments. Novel findings about members of these toxin groups are discussed in detail.
Thoracic Response to Shoulder Belt Loading: Comparison of Tabletop and Frontal Sled Tests with PMHS

Objective: The recent refinement of high-rate optical tracking allows dramatically detailed thoracic deformation measurements to be taken during postmortem human subject (PMHS) sled tests. These data allow analysis of restraint belt geometry and the 3-dimensional thoracic deformations generated by belt impingement. One consequence of this new capability is a better understanding of complementary thoracic characterization experiments such as tabletop tests and how the thoracic response can be interpreted for applications involving more complex loading mechanisms. Methods: This article reports a detailed evaluation of the timing, magnitude, and direction of the applied belt forces and the resulting thoracic deformations in 2 previously performed tests series involving frontal sled tests and tabletop belt-loading tests. Results: In the sled tests, the posteriorly directed component (SAE x) of the belt tension (F B ) was F Bx = 0.70 F B at the shoulder but only F Bx = 0.14 F B where the belt engaged the anterolateral torso inferiorly. The corresponding components on the tabletop were F Bx = 0.60 F B (shoulder) and F Bx = 0.48 F B (lower). Conclusions: When these components are cross-plotted with chest deflection, pronounced consequences of thoracic anterior wall deformation patterns due to flexion of the thoracic spine and the internal viscera's inertia can be seen in the effective thoracic stiffness. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Traffic Injury Prevention to view the supplemental file.
Irritant and allergic epicutaneous patch test reactions. A comparative study of their cellular infiltrates using monoclonal antibody labelling

Ketoconazole is active against the pityrosporum yeasts and we have studied the response of unequivocal seborrhoeic dermatitis to ketoconazole. Nineteen adult subjects with seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp, sixteen of whom had involvement at other sites, entered a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study which lasted 12 weeks. For the first 4 weeks they received no medication. They then received either ketoconazole 200 mg per day or an indistinguishable inert tablet, and after 4 weeks the treatments were changed, active for placebo and vice versa. Throughout the study the subjects were asked to wash their hair twice weekly with a non-medicated shampoo, but not for 3 days before each 4-weekly assessment, when clinical gradings on a 0-4 scale were made of scalp scaling, scalp erythema and seborrhoeic dermatitis at sites outside the scalp. In addition, subjects made their own weekly assessments of scalp scaling and itch on a 100 mm analogue scale. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyse both the clinical gradings and the analogue scale results. Considerable and statistically significant improvements in the clinical gradings of scalp scaling (P<o 01), erythema ( P 0 0 5 ) , and seborrhoeic dermatitis outside the scalp (P < o-oi) and also in the linear analogue assessments of scalp scaling (P < o-oi) and itch (P < o-oi) were found during treatment with ketoconazole but not with placebo. This study suggests that the pityrosporum yeasts play a major part in the pathogenesis of seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Crystal structure of an ascomycete fungal laccase from Thielavia arenaria – common structural features of asco‐laccases

Laccases are copper‐containing enzymes used in various applications, such as textile bleaching. Several crystal structures of laccases from fungi and bacteria are available, but ascomycete types of fungal laccases (asco‐laccases) have been rather unexplored, and to date only the crystal structure of Melanocarpus albomyces laccase (MaL) has been published. We have now solved the crystal structure of another asco‐laccase, from Thielavia arenaria (TaLcc1), at 2.5 Å resolution. The loops near the T1 copper, forming the substrate‐binding pockets of the two asco‐laccases, differ to some extent, and include the amino acid thought to be responsible for catalytic proton transfer, which is Asp in TaLcc1, and Glu in MaL. In addition, the crystal structure of TaLcc1 does not have a chloride attached to the T2 copper, as observed in the crystal structure of MaL. The unique feature of TaLcc1 and MaL as compared with other laccases structures is that, in both structures, the processed C‐terminus blocks the T3 solvent channel leading towards the trinuclear centre, suggesting a common functional role for this conserved ‘C‐terminal plug’. We propose that the asco‐laccases utilize the C‐terminal carboxylic group in proton transfer processes, as has been suggested for Glu498 in the CotA laccase from Bacillus subtilis. The crystal structure of TaLcc1 also shows the formation of a similar weak homodimer, as observed for MaL, that may determine the properties of these asco‐laccases at high protein concentrations.
Driving Performance and Behaviors: A Comparison of Gender Differences in Parkinson's Disease

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine gender differences by comparing self-reported driving behaviors, clinical tests, and on-road driving performance in a cohort of men and women drivers with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: In this prospective observational study, we analyzed data of a convenience sample of 63 men (mean age = 70.9 ± 6.6 years) and 21 women (mean age 67.1 ± 7.3 years) with diagnosed PD. All participants underwent a comprehensive driving evaluation by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist. Results: On average, both men and women were active drivers (driving ∼4.6 times/week). A substantial proportion of both groups avoided driving at night (40% of men versus 46% of women), during rush hour, and in heavy traffic (36% of men versus 57% of women), although the differences were not significant. Both groups reported some avoidance behaviors: making left-hand turns (9.7% men versus 9.5% women), driving in the rain (12.9% men versus 19.0% women), or on the interstate/highway (14.3% men versus 7.7% women). With respect to driving performance, both groups were equally likely to fail the on-road test (42.6% men versus 42.9% women). Although men committed slightly more total driving errors compared to women, the differences were not statistically significant. Specific driving errors also did not differ by gender. Controlling for gender and disease severity, age was an independent predictor of total driving errors in men but not in women. Additionally, a cut-point of ≥2.5 on the modified Hoehn and Yahr was predictive of pass–fail outcomes in men when controlling for age. Conclusions: Our study shows preliminary evidence that few gender differences exist with respect to driving errors and overall driving performance. Future studies should better balance gender distribution by age in PD driving studies to determine whether there are indeed differences in driving performance between men and women.
Governmental and Independent Venture Capital Investments in Europe: A Firm-Level Performance Analysis

This paper examines the impact of government versus private independent venture capital (VC) backing on the exit performance of entrepreneurial firms. Our analyses are based on the VICO dataset, which avoids the coding problems of VC type in the Thompson Financial SDC dataset. The data indicate that private independent VC-backed companies have better exit performance than government-backed companies. Mixed-syndicates of private-independent and governmental VC investors give rise to a higher (but not statistically different) likelihood of positive exits than that of IVC-backing. Our findings are not influenced by the composition of the syndicate in terms of size and institutional heterogeneity. Our results remain stable after controlling for endogeneity concerns, selection bias, omitted variable bias, legal and institutional differences across countries and over time through several econometric techniques. Moreover, our results are not driven by: i) the holding period of the different types of VC investors; ii) the potential signaling effect of GVC towards IVC investors; iii) the firm's financial structure and net cash-flow ratio; iv) the investment stage; and v) the distance between the VC investor and the target company.
Function and regulation of ABCA1 – membrane meso‐domain organization and reorganization

The ATP‐binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1) mediates the secretion of cellular‐free cholesterol and phospholipids to an extracellular acceptor, apolipoprotein A‐I, to form high‐density lipoprotein. Because ABCA1 is a key factor in cholesterol homeostasis, elaborate transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulations of ABCA1 have evolved to maintain cholesterol homeostasis. Recent studies suggest that ABCA1 moves lipids not only between membranes but also within membranes to organize and reorganize membrane meso‐domains to modulate cell proliferation and immunity.
Agricultural Vehicles and Rural Road Safety: Tackling a Persistent Problem

Objective: Crashes involving agricultural vehicles (AVs) on public roads are an increasing road safety problem. We aim to analyze developments in the appearance and severity of these accidents, identify influencing factors, and draw lessons for possible interventions for accident prevention within the context of modern mechanized agriculture. Methods: To analyze developments in the appearance of accidents we use a subset of accidents with AVs involved on public roads in The Netherlands aggregated per year for 1987–2010. To identify and explore preventive measures we use an in-depth study of the Dutch Safety Board. With a study of international literature we put our findings in a wider context. Results: During this time span, Dutch annual averages show 15 registered fatal accidents involving AVs, 93 with hospitalization and 137 with slight injuries. For nonfatal accidents, the numbers are decreasing over time. This decrease is proportionate to the reduction in the total number of traffic victims. For fatalities, however, the number is stable, increasing its proportion in all traffic fatalities from 1 in 1987 to 2 percent in 2010. Related to the number of inhabitants, this number is 2 times the value in the UK and 3 times the value in the United States. Influencing factors can be related to the 3 road system components (AV, driver, and infrastructure). Weak points for AVs are the view from the driver's seat, visibility at night, permitted vehicle width, and crash aggressivity (large kinetic energy of the AV) that is transferred to other road users in case of a collision. Important factors identified for the driver are poor risk perception and high risk acceptance, in combination with speeding, dysfunctional use such as the use of AVs as modes of transport to and from school, and driving on public roads without protecting or removing protruding and sharp components. For infrastructure, the focus is on road design and separation of AVs from other motor vehicles. Lessons to be learned follow from these accident factors. For AV drivers, a driver's training focusing on driving behavior in the presence of vulnerable road users and concluding with an examination is advised. For vehicle safety, actual practice in The Netherlands is inadequate for control of proper maintenance. Some permanent requirements for the AV are insufficiently specific (view) or effective (lighting) and too generous (width). For infrastructure, a wide range of measures is available. Conclusions: A targeted approach to all road system components is urgently needed to avoid a further worsening of existing problems and to reduce the above proportional role of AVs in road danger. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Traffic Injury Prevention to view the supplemental file.
Investigation of a Relationship Between External Force to Shoulder and Chest Injury of WorldSID and THUMS in 32 km/h Oblique Pole Side Impact

Objective: This article describes the chest injury risk reduction effect of shoulder restraints using finite element (FE) models of the worldwide harmonized side impact dummy (WorldSID) and Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) in an FE model 32 km/h oblique pole side impact. Methods: This research used an FE model of a mid-sized vehicle equipped with various combinations of curtain shield air bags, torso air bags, and shoulder restraint air bags. As occupant models, AM50 WorldSID and THUMS AM50 Version 4 were used for comparison. Results: The research investigated the effect of shoulder restraint air bag on chest injury by comparing cases with and without a shoulder side air bag. The maximum external force to the chest was reduced by shoulder restraint air bag in both WorldSID and THUMS, reducing chest injury risk as measured by the amount of rib deflection, number of the rib fractures, and rib deflection ratio. However, it was also determined that the external force to shoulder should be limited to the chest injury threshold because the external shoulder force transmits to the chest via the arm in the case of WorldSID and via the scapula in the case of THUMS. Because these results show the shoulder restraint air bag effect on chest injury risk, the vent hole size of the shoulder restraint air bag was changed for varying reaction forces to investigate the relationship between the external force to the shoulder and the risk of chest injury. In the case of THUMS, an external shoulder force of 1.8 kN and more force from the shoulder restraint air bag was necessary to help prevent rib fracture. Increasing external force applied to shoulder up to 6.2 kN (the maximum force used in this study) did not induce any rib or clavicle fractures in the THUMS. When the shoulder restraint air bag generated external force to the shoulder from 1.8 to 6.2 kN in THUMS, which were applied to the WorldSID, the shoulder deflection ranged from 35 to 68 mm, and the shoulder force ranged from 1.8 to 2.3 kN. Conclusions: In the test configuration used, a shoulder restraint using the air bag helps reduce chest injury risk by lowering the maximum magnitude of external force to the shoulder and chest. To help reduce rib fracture risk in the THUMS, the shoulder restraint air bag was expected to generate a force of 3.7 kN with a minimum rib deflection ratio. This corresponds to a shoulder rib deflection of 60 mm and a shoulder load of 2.2 kN in WorldSID. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Traffic Injury Prevention to view the supplemental file.
The Diagnostic Interview

This is a second edition of the author's well-received Medical History Taking (Hoeber, 1960), with a new title; the emphasis is on interviewer/interviewee relationship. The depth interview is presented as an optimum approach, appropriate to investigation of life styles and related psychophysiological disturbances. Particular attention is given to means of eliciting correlations between stresses and symptoms. Dr. Stevenson deserves great praise for his careful presentation of the importance and relevance of all aspects of the prenatal period; also laudable is his all-too-brief discussion of the use of language. The section on family history is very good, and includes a rapid method of sketching a family-tree diagram which would be useful in any routine workup. The psychiatrist-author urges the interviewer to maximize the values of both directive and nondirective methods, alternating these as may seem appropriate. A few of his suggested questions may appear to confirm patient delusions, an approach not
Drivers’ Attitudes Toward Front or Rear Child Passenger Belt Use and Seat Belt Reminders at These Seating Positions

Objective: Passengers, especially those in rear seating positions, use seat belts less frequently than drivers. In-vehicle technology can inform drivers when their passengers are unbuckled and encourage passengers to use belts. The current study collected information about drivers’ attitudes toward passenger belt use and belt reminders for front passengers and children in back seats. Methods: A national telephone survey of 1218 people 18 and older was conducted, of which 477 respondents were drivers who transport a front seat passenger at least once a week and 254 were drivers who transport an 8- to 15-year-old child in the back seat. Respondents were asked about their attitudes toward belt use by their front passengers or rear child passengers and preferences for different passenger belt reminder features. Results: Ninety percent of drivers who regularly transport front seat passengers said that the passengers always use seat belts. Reported belt use was even higher among 8- to 15-year-old children in the back seat (97%). Among the drivers whose children do not always buckle up, about half said their child unbuckled the belt during the trip. Almost every full-time belt use driver (96%) would encourage front passengers to buckle up if not belted, compared to 57 percent of part-time belt users and nonusers. In contrast, nearly every driver who transports children in the back seat would encourage their belt use, regardless of the driver's belt use habits. Most drivers who transport front passengers wanted passenger belt reminders to encourage passengers to buckle up. Most of these drivers wanted a chime/buzzer or warning light or text display and wanted the reminder to last indefinitely. Most drivers who transport child passengers in the rear seat wanted the vehicle to indicate whether child passengers are unbuckled. A large majority of these drivers wanted notifications via a visual diagram of seating positions and belt use, a chime/buzzer, and a warning light or text display. These drivers also wanted the vehicle to provide belt use information until the child buckled up. Conclusions: Many drivers, especially those who always use seat belts, said they would encourage unbuckled passengers to buckle up and supported auditory and visual belt reminders for passengers, particularly for children sitting in the back seat. Front and rear passenger reminders that last indefinitely would be acceptable to most drivers who transport these passengers. An auditory alert may be especially useful to alert drivers to children unbuckling in the back seat during a trip.
Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct: A biliary equivalent to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas?

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a variant of bile duct carcinoma characterized by intraductal growth and better outcome compared with the more common nodular‐sclerosing type. IPNB is a recognized precursor of invasive carcinoma, but its pathogenesis and natural history are ill‐defined. This study examines the clinicopathologic features and outcomes of IPNB. A consecutive cohort of patients with bile duct cancer (hilar, intrahepatic, or distal) was reviewed, and those with papillary histologic features identified. Histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical staining for tumor markers and for cytokeratin and mucin proteins were used to classify IPNB into subtypes. Survival data were analyzed and correlated with clinical and pathologic parameters. Thirty‐nine IPNBs were identified in hilar (23/144), intrahepatic (4/86), and distal (12/113) bile duct specimens between 1991 and 2010. Histopathologic examination revealed 27 pancreatobiliary, four gastric, two intestinal, and six oncocytic subtypes; results of cytokeratin and mucin staining were similar to those of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas. Invasive carcinoma was seen in 29/39 (74%) IPNBs. Overall median survival was 62 months and was not different between IPNB locations or subtypes. Factors associated with a worse median survival included presence and depth of tumor invasion, margin‐positive resection, and expression of MUC1 and CEA. Conclusion: IPNBs are an uncommon variant of bile duct cancer, representing approximately 10% of all resectable cases. They occur throughout the biliary tract, share some histologic and clinical features with IPMNs of the pancreas, and may represent a carcinogenesis pathway different from that of conventional bile duct carcinomas arising from flat dysplasia. Given their significant risk of harboring invasive carcinoma, they should be treated with complete resection. (HEPATOLOGY 2012)
Parâmetros hematológicos normais

Foram selecionadas e revistas algumas contribuicoes brasileiras e de outros paises latino-americanos sobre parâmetros hematologicos considerados normais para diversas populacoes. Observou-se que nao existe unanimidade entre os resultados obtidos por diferentes autores, estando envolvidos numerosos fatores de ordem social, nutricional, ambiental, alem de outros ligados aos metodos laboratoriais e as condicoes individuais tais como sexo, idade, raca e ocupacao dos individuos, tamanho da amostra e outros. Foram apresentados os resultados de tres estudos de autores brasileiros na tentativa de mostrar as variacoes presentes em populacoes tidas como normais. Um dos propositos do estudo foi servir de ponto de partida para investigacoes futuras visando a examinar a possivel influencia da industrializacao sobre os padroes hematologicos.
Estimation of stature based on foot length of Malays in Malaysia – Some technical and methodological observations

This letter to editor refers to a recently published research by Tharmar et al. entitled ‘Estimation of stature based on foot length of Malays in Malaysia’ (Aust J Forensic Sci 2011;43(1):13–26). In this letter, we intend to emphasize some essential issues related to techniques and methodology used in the study.