Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Down regulation of CD11b and CD18 expression in atherosclerotic lesion-derived macrophages.

Monocyte/macrophages play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Electron microscopic evidence suggests that in the early stages, lipid laden monocytes leave the lesion to reenter the circulation. This reverse monocyte traffic ceases as the lesion develops. We hypothesize that monocyte/macrophages may not be able to exit the lesion and reenter the circulation because of the reduced expression of CD11/CD18 integrins. We have compared CD11b and CD18 expression of peripheral blood monocytes from normal rabbits (NMø) to atherosclerotic lesion-derived macrophages (AthMø) by anti-CD11b and anti-CD 18 antibody staining, followed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining. AthMø were isolated from aortic lesions of rabbits fed 2 per cent cholesterol diet following balloon angioplasty. AthMø were separated into two regions based on their size and granularity by flow cytometry. All macrophages stained positively with RAM 11. Our results indicated that NMø showed a strong cell surface expression of CD11b and CD18. The less granular and smaller AthMø showed little anti-CD11b or anti-CD18 antibody staining, indicating very little CD11b or CD18 antibody staining, indicating very little CD11b or CD18 expression. The more granular and larger cells showed surface expression of both CD11b and CD18. With respect to CD18, over 90 per cent of NMø expressed CD18, only 37 per cent of the large granular AthMø and less than 1 per cent of the smaller, less granular AthMø stained positive for CD18. Immunohistochemical studies revealed strong surface expression of CD11b and CD18 on normal monocytes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
It Is the Outcome that Counts! Damage to the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Disrupts the Integration of Outcome and Belief Information for Moral Judgment

Abstract Moral judgment involves considering not only the outcome of an action but also the intention with which it was pursued. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research has shown that integrating outcome and belief information for moral judgment relies on a brain network including temporo-parietal, precuneus, and medial prefrontal regions. Here, we investigated whether the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a crucial role in this process. Patients with lesions in vmPFC (vmPFC patients), and brain-damaged and healthy controls considered scenarios in which the protagonist caused intentional harm (negative-outcome, negative-belief), accidental harm (negative-outcome, neutral-belief), attempted harm (neutral-outcome, negative-belief), or no harm (neutral-outcome, neutral-belief), and rated the moral permissibility of the protagonists’ behavior. All groups responded similarly to scenarios involving intentional harm and no harm. vmPFC patients, however, judged attempted harm as more permissible, and accidental harm as less permissible, than the control groups. For vmPFC patients, outcome information, rather than belief information, shaped moral judgment. The results indicate that vmPFC is necessary for integrating outcome and belief information during moral reasoning. During moral judgment vmPFC may mediate intentions’ understanding, and overriding of prepotent responses to salient outcomes. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–10)
Regional and local population structure of the pioneer wood-decay fungus Trichaptum abietinum

The population structure of 11 Fennoscandian geographic populations of the pioneer wood-decay basidiomycete Trichaptum abietinum was assessed with PCR-RFLPs, intersequence simple repeats (ISSRs) and mating studies. The three codominant PCR-RFLP markers (1) internal transcribed spacer 2 (nrDNA), (2) glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and (3) translation elongation factor 1α showed that genotype distributions in most cases (94%) agreed with Hardy-Weinberg expectations and that random association of alleles occurred across loci. The molecular data suggest that T. abietinum is a highly outcrossing fungus that regularly proliferates and spreads by sexual spores. Interstock mating reactions suggest a high number of mating factors among individuals and that biological barriers to gene flow are nonexistent in the region. The three PCR-RFLP loci gave an overall FST = 0.03, indicating a low level of genetic differentiation and presumably high gene flow among the geographic populations. The ISSR markers revealed no systematic substructuring and the among-population variance component was low (6.1%) in AMOVA. However, all PCR-RFLP and most ISSR markers (7/12) showed significant deviation from the null hypothesis of an even distribution of allele frequencies across the 11 geographic populations. Allele frequencies varied in an apparently random manner, suggesting that genetic drift might be an important structuring factor in T. abietinum. The spatial small-scale distribution of heterokaryons on three selected substrate units (logs) showed that most isolates represented discrete individuals and that a number of genets (19) may occupy a single log. The small-scale genotype distributions (within logs) were in agreement with panmictic Hardy-Weinberg expectations.
Ruminal release of minerals from six forage species.

An in vitro technique and an in situ technique were used to measure release of Ca, Mg, P and Zn over time from hand-clipped alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Maximal release of P and Zn was greater using the in situ technique. 'Florida 77' alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), 'Florigraze' rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.), 'Mott' dwarf elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), 'Tifton 78' bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. ), 'Pensacola' bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) and 'Floralta' limpograss (Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf and Hubbard) were used to examine the ruminal release of Ca, Mg, P, K, Cu and Zn by means of the in situ technique. Minerals were ranked from highest to lowest for extent of immediate and maximal release in the rumen. Averaged across forage species, ranking was K at 100% and 100%, Mg at 82% and 95%, Cu at 71% and 84%, P at 66% and 80%, Zn at 26% and 69% and Ca at 29% and 70%. A large proportion of Ca was associated with the plant cell wall, based on the duration of incubation time needed to maximize its release and the large fractinal amount of Ca slowly released. A large portion of the Zn was released slowly as well (mean, 43.8%), but release of Zn was maximal in less than 24 h. Most of the Mg, K, P and Cu probably reside in the cell contents. Forages with high NDF concentrations can have high release coefficients for their minerals.
Intentional poisoning among elderly people—residents of a large urban agglomeration in Poland

Poisoning is considered a significant health problem among elderly people in Poland. This report refers to patients treated for poisonings at the Toxicology Unit, Lodz, Poland, during the period 2008–2012. The data to be analyzed were obtained from medical records of elderly people. A group of 1167 patients aged 60+ was selected. The number of intentional poisonings in the group of patients was 417, which accounted for 35.7% of all poisonings among the elderly people. Patients attempting intentional poisonings included 301 (72.2%) women and 116 (27.8%) men. The most common cause of intentional poisonings were drugs—96.6% (n = 403). Benzodiazepines (46.9%) dominated among the intentional poisoning by drugs. During the analyzed 5 years, 80.3% (n = 335) were suicidal poisonings and 19.7% (n = 82) were demonstrative poisonings. Cardiovascular disease, which was diagnosed among 53.5% of the patients, was the most common physical illness. In conclusion, drugs are the most frequent type of the toxic agent responsible for poisoning cases among the elderly people. In this situation, the role of family doctors is very important: they should prescribe medicines in amounts not greater than absolutely necessary and maybe more often recommend psychiatric care for the elderly patients.
The role of echocardiography in diagnosing double chambered right ventricle in adults

Objective: To evaluate the utility of echocardiography in diagnosing double chambered right ventricle (DCRV) in adults. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Department of Congenital Heart Diseases and Department of Cardiac Surgery, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland. Patients: 32 patients, mean age 32.5 years, 21 female, and 11 male. Intervention: Transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal (TOE) echocardiographic examination in patients with suspected DCRV. Main outcome measures: Direct inspection during surgical treatment of 28 patients diagnosed as having DCRV as an isolated lesion or associated with other pathologies. Results: Echocardiography allowed the final diagnosis of DCRV in 26 patients (81%) out of 32 studied. TTE was diagnostic in 5 (15.6%) whereas TOE was diagnostic in 21 of 21 studied by this technique. Of 6 patients with negative TTE, DCRV was identified by cardiac catheterisation in 3 and directly during surgery in the remaining 3. Of 26 patients diagnosed by echocardiography, the anomalous muscle bundle was discrete in 20 (77%) and diffuse in 6 (23%). In 23 patients (88%) right ventricular outflow obstruction was localised low in the right ventricle, and in the remaining 3 (11.5%), the obstruction was localised high in the right ventricle. Abnormal bundles localised high were discrete, bundles localised in the lower part of right ventricle were discrete in 17 (74%) and diffuse in the remaining 6 (26%). DCRV was an isolated lesion in only 2 patients (6.2%). In all subjects surgical inspection confirmed echocardiographic data. Conclusions: Echocardiography was very useful to diagnose DCRV in adults as well as to identify its anatomic type. Comparing two different approaches, TOE better defines the entire scope of pathology, including estimation of the resultant systolic pressure gradient within the right ventricular cavity.
A 2.8 mW ΔΣ ADC with 83 dB DR and 1.92 MHz BW using FIR outer feedback and TIA-based integrator

A low-power continuous-time ΔΣ ADC for HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) applications provides 83 dB dynamic range and 1.92 MHz bandwidth. A high sample rate (245.76 MHz) and an FIR filter in the outer feedback path minimize susceptibility to jitter. A TIA-based integrator with direct connection of inner feedback DAC current sources to integration capacitors supports the high sample rate. The modulator, implemented using 40 nm CMOS, dissipates only 2.8 mW and achieves a 110 fJ / conversion step figure-of-merit.
Immunotherapy in small-cell lung cancer: at what point are we?

Immunotherapy is a new frontier for the management of cancers with practice-changing trials already reported for unresectable or metastatic malignant melanoma, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and advanced renal-cell carcinoma (1). Considering these recent exciting developments, immunotherapy is being investigated in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), too. Unfortunately, in the last decades, despite several treatment attempts and new strategic approaches investigated, SCLC outcomes have not improved. In fact, even if an objective response rate (ORR) with first-line chemotherapy was reached by most of the patients, they relapse within a year of treatment. At relapse, the response to first-line chemotherapy and its duration are the main factors in predicting the efficacy of salvage chemotherapy. In fact, based on these two factors patients who respond to initial chemotherapy and relapse more than 60–90 days after the end of chemotherapy are defined as ‘sensitive relapse’ patients, while those whose tumor is stable or progresses during the initial chemotherapy or who have a recurrence within 60–90 days after the end of chemotherapy are considered ‘refractory relapse’ patients (2).
The Evolution of Culture

Cultures evolve. In one sense, this is a truism; in other senses, it asserts one or another controversial, speculative, unconfirmed theory of culture. Consider a cultural inventory of some culture at some time? say A.D. 1900. It should include all the languages, practices, ceremonies, edifices, methods, tools, myths, music, art, and so forth, that compose that culture. Over time, that inventory changes. Today, a hundred years later, some items will have disappeared, some multiplied, some merged, some changed, and many new elements will appear for the first time. A verbatim record of this changing inventory through history would not be science; it would be a data base. That is the truism: cultures evolve over time. Everybody agrees about that. Now let's turn to the controversial question: how are we to explain the patterns to be found in that data base? Are there any good theories or models of cultural evolution?
High fluence iontophoretic corneal collagen cross-linking: in vivo OCT imaging of riboflavin penetration.

To the Editor: We read with interest the excellent article by Malhotra et al.1 regarding in vivo estimation of ribofl avin penetration using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). The article evaluates the effect of complete versus grid-like epithelial removal on ribofl avin penetration during collagen cross-linking (CXL) in vivo using hand-held OCT. Twenty eyes of 20 patients were imaged intraoperatively at 30 and 60 minutes after starting the procedure. Results showed a homogeneous hyperrefl ective band extending to a mean depth of 54.2 μm after 30 minutes. In the gridlike removal group, the band was reported uneven in the epi-on areas. We agree with the authors on the use of OCT for in vivo evaluation of ribofl avin’s penetration inside the stroma. Moreover, we agree that grid removal of the epithelium is not able to soak the corneal stroma evenly like the epi-off procedure.2 In our study, we report the in vivo ribofl avin penetration during CXL performed with iontophoresis versus conventional epithelium-off protocol using high-resolution OCT. Six eyes (6 patients) undergoing CXL were measured preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively using high-resolution OCT. The epithelium was removed completely in the central 9-mm zone in 3 eyes (epi-off group), whereas ribofl avin penetration through intact epithelium was promoted by an iontophoresis device in the remaining 3 eyes (iontophoresis group). The iontophoresis device for corneal application (8 mm in diameter) is placed on the cornea using an annular suction ring (low suction created by a syringe connected on the suction annulus). The device is fi lled with approximately 0.5 mL solution from the open proximal side, until the electrode (stainless steel mesh) is covered (Figure 1A). The device is connected to a constant current generator (I-ON XL, Sooft, Italy) set at 1 mA (the total dose of 5 mA min is monitored by the generator). During the irradiation phase (10mW/cm2 for 9 minutes), a good fl uorescence is clearly detectable (Figure 1B) even after washing with balanced salt solution. The depth of the hyperrefl ective band (representing penetration of ribofl avin) in the anterior corneal stroma was measured. In the conventional epi-off group, after 30 minutes of passive impregnation, a homogeneous hyperrefl ective band without fading effect was measured at mean depth of 80 μm (Figure 1C). In the iontophoresis group, we observed a less homogeneous but deeper hyperrefl ective band with a fading effect extending through the anterior 200 μm of the cornea (Figure 1D). This band was not visible until the end of irradiation time. Intraoperative OCT imaging could be a useful technique to evaluate in vivo penetration of ribofl avin in-
Parkinson’s disease among Inuit in Greenland: organochlorines as risk factors

Objectives. In the present study we investigate organochlorines as possible risk factors for Parkinson’s disease (PD) in an arctic population. This has never been done before. Study design. Case-control study of Inuit in Greenland. Materials and methods. Plasma from 31 PD (20 males and 11 females) (mean age 69 yr) and 122 controls (57 males and 65 females) (mean age 61 yr) was analysed for 31 PCBs and pesticides by dual-column GC-ECD and GC-NCI/MS. Results. Plasma concentrations of PCBs and pesticides were markedly increased in both PD and controls. The concentrations did not differ between the PD cases and controls. However, the mean DDE concentration was higher in PD than in controls (42.1 and 15.0 μg/l, respectively, and with a wide range among the PD cases). The difference was significant for log transformed DDE values after control for age and sex (p=0.005). Conclusion. A few epidemiological studies indicate a possible connection between exposure to pesticides and PD. The idea that exposure to organochlorines may be an important risk factor for PD among the Inuit in Greenland requires more investigations.
Protein–protein interaction inhibition (2P2I) combining high throughput and virtual screening: Application to the HIV-1 Nef protein

Protein–protein recognition is the cornerstone of multiple cellular and pathological functions. Therefore, protein–protein interaction inhibition (2P2I) is endowed with great therapeutic potential despite the initial belief that 2P2I was refractory to small-molecule intervention. Improved knowledge of complex molecular binding surfaces has recently stimulated renewed interest for 2P2I, especially after identification of “hot spots” and first inhibitory compounds. However, the combination of target complexity and lack of starting compound has thwarted experimental results and created intellectual barriers. Here we combined virtual and experimental screening when no previously known inhibitors can be used as starting point in a structure-based research program that targets an SH3 binding surface of the HIV type I Nef protein. High-throughput docking and application of a pharmacophoric filter on one hand and search for analogy on the other hand identified drug-like compounds that were further confirmed to bind Nef in the micromolar range (isothermal titration calorimetry), to target the Nef SH3 binding surface (NMR experiments), and to efficiently compete for Nef–SH3 interactions (cell-based assay, GST pull-down). Initial identification of these compounds by virtual screening was validated by screening of the very same library of compounds in the cell-based assay, demonstrating that a significant enrichment factor was attained by the in silico screening. To our knowledge, our results identify the first set of drug-like compounds that functionally target the HIV-1 Nef SH3 binding surface and provide the basis for a powerful discovery process that should help to speed up 2P2I strategies and open avenues for new class of antiviral molecules.
The impact of in-stent neoatherosclerosis on long-term clinical outcomes: an observational study from the Kobe University Hospital optical coherence tomography registry.

AIMS Although pathological studies have indicated the development of neoatherosclerosis (NA) after stenting, its risk factors and impact on future clinical events remain unclear. We aimed to clarify the possible risk factors for NA development and to evaluate the impact of NA in a large Japanese observational OCT database of patients with coronary heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred and seventy-five consecutive patients (314 lesions) who underwent OCT examination >1 year after bare metal or drug-eluting stent implantation were enrolled. We assessed the presence of NA by follow-up OCT and compared adverse clinical events between NA+ and NA- patients. Forty-six patients had NA at the follow-up OCT. These patients had higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at follow-up. In multivariate logistic analysis, LDL cholesterol and CRP levels at follow-up were independently associated with the presence of NA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.022, p=0.008, OR 1.022, p=0.001, respectively). Moreover, patients with NA had a higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at follow-up. Multivariate Cox hazard analysis showed that the presence of NA was an independent risk factor for MACE (hazard ratio: 2.909, p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS High LDL cholesterol and CRP levels may be risk factors for NA development in patients treated with coronary stents. Moreover, the presence of NA was independently associated with MACE, suggesting the need for careful clinical follow-up of these patients.
Measuring underwater noise with high endurance surface and underwater autonomous vehicles

This paper describes the results of AcousticRobot' 13 - a noise measurement campaign that took place off the Portuguese Coast in May 2013, using two high endurance autonomous vehicles capable of silent operation (an underwater glider and an autonmomous sailing vessel) equipped with hydrophones, and a moored hydrophone that served as reference.We show that the autonomous vehicles used can provide useful measurements of underwater noise, and describe the main advantages and shortcomings that became evident during the campaign.
New insights into limbic system roles in the myocardial effects of hypertension

There is a strong association between abnormalities in central nervous system structure and function and increased risk for the development of hypertension. Comprehensive clinical studies and research using animal models, including brain imaging studies, have revealed effects of insula metabolites on hypertension associated with OSA. Alterations in the limbic system of the central nervous system are closely linked both to hypertension status and to myocardial changes that result from pressure overload. While therapy, including continuous positive airway pressure, have shown excellent results, new studies delineating mechanisms of action are needed. This review article summarizes current concepts regarding central nervous system connections to hypertension and cardiac pathology associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The limbic system provides one such novel mechanism for resistant hypertension and related cardiac diseases that may be amenable to treatment in the setting of OSA.
Occupational slip, trip, and fall-related injuries can the contribution of slipperiness be isolated?

To determine if the contribution of slipperiness to occupational slip, trip and fall (STF)-related injuries could be isolated from injury surveillance systems in the USA, the UK and Sweden, six governmental systems and one industrial system were consulted. The systems varied in their capture approaches and the degree of documentation of exposure to slipping. The burden of STF-related occupational injury ranged from 20 to 40% of disabling occupational injuries in the developed countries studied. The annual direct cost of fall-related occupational injuries in the USA alone was estimated to be approximately US$6 billion. Slipperiness or slipping were found to contribute to between 40 and 50% of fall-related injuries. Slipperiness was more often a factor in same level falls than in falls to lower levels. The evaluation of the burden of slipperiness was hampered by design limitations in many of the data systems utilized. The resolution of large-scale injury registries should be improved by collecting more detailed incident sequence information to better define the full scope and contribution of slipperiness to occupational STF-related injuries. Such improvements would facilitate the allocation of prevention resources towards reduction of first-event risk factors such as slipping.