Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Negative Regulation of Interleukin-12 Production by a Rapamycin-Sensitive Signaling Pathway: A Brief Communication

Interleukin-12 (IL-12), an important cytokine in host defense against microbial pathogens, regulates natural killer and T-cell function(s) including the induction of γ-interferon production. The major cellular sources of IL-12 are monocytes/macrophages. Bacteria, bacterial products, and intracellular parasites are the most efficient inducers of IL-12 production. In the present study we show that a signal transduction pathway sensitive to rapamycin may have an important role in the regulation/suppression of Staphylococcus aureus–induced IL-12 production in vitro. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, monocytes, or a human monocytic cell line THP-1 were stimulated with S. aureus Cowan strain 1 (SAC) in the presence or absence of rapamycin and investigated for production of IL-12 protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and IL-12 p40 mRNA accumulation by RNase protection assay or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results show that rapamycin significantly enhances SAC-induced IL-12 p70 protein production and IL-12 p40 mRNA accumulation. Further the results demonstrate that wortmannin enhances SAC-induced IL-12 p40 mRNA accumulation, whereas Ly294002 does not. These data indicate that a rapamycin-sensitive signaling pathway may act as a negative feedback cascade in the regulatory mechanisms of IL-12 production.
Comparison of intrathecal isobaric bupivacaine-morphine and ropivacaine-morphine for Caesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to evaluate the effects of intrathecal isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% plus morphine and isobaric ropivacaine 0.5% plus morphine combinations in women undergoing Caesarean deliveries. METHOD Twenty-five parturients received ropivacaine 15 mg and morphine 150 micro g (RM group) and twenty-five parturients received bupivacaine 15 mg and morphine 150 micro g (BM group) for spinal anaesthesia. Sensory and motor block, haemodynamics, postoperative analgesia, fetal outcomes, and side-effects were evaluated. RESULTS Intrathecal bupivacaine-morphine and ropivacaine-morphine provided effective sensory anaesthesia and motor block. Time to reach complete motor block was shorter and time to complete recovery from motor block was longer in the BM group than the RM group (P<0.05). The time to regression of two dermatomes and time for the block to recede to the S2 dermatome were similar in both groups (P>0.05). Time to first complaint of pain and the mean total consumption of tenoxicam were similar in both groups (P>0.05). APGAR scores at 1 and 5 min were similar in the two groups, as were mean umbilical blood pH values (P>0.05). Hypotension and pruritus were the most common side-effects in both groups during the operation. CONCLUSION Intrathecal isobaric ropivacaine 0.5% 15 mg plus morphine 150 micro g provides sufficient anaesthesia for Caesarean delivery. The ropivacaine-morphine combination resulted in shorter motor block, similar sensory and postoperative analgesia.
Attachment Styles and Contingencies of Self-Worth

Previous research on attachment theory has focused on mean differences in level of self-esteem among people with different attachment styles. The present study examines the associations between attachment styles and different bases of self-esteem, or contingencies of self-worth, among a sample of 795 college students. Results showed that attachment security was related to basing self-worth on family support. Both the preoccupied attachment style and fearful attachment style were related to basing selfworth on physical attractiveness. The dismissing attachment style was related to basing self-worth less on others’ approval, family support, and God’s love.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of adverse drug reaction reporting among doctors in a tertiary health care centre in South India

Background: A fundamental determinant to medical drug safety surveillance is voluntary adverse drug reaction [ADR] reporting ; but there exists substantial under-reporting which is the main drawback of the system. The objective of the study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of ADR reporting among doctors in a tertiary health care center. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted on doctors in a tertiary health care center. Participants were selected randomly and those not willing to participate were excluded from the study. Collected data was assessed by frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 13.0. Results: 75% (45) of respondents were aware of the existence of ADR reporting system in India; on the contrary only (11.7%) of respondents were aware of regional center for ADR reporting. All respondents (100%) felt that seriousness of the ADR event, unusual reaction (95%), reaction to new drug (98.33%), and the certainty of ADR reaction (91.66%) would encourage them to report an ADR event. However, only 15 out of 60 respondents (25%) have reported ADRs. Conclusion: Though the level of knowledge about ADR reporting and the attitude towards ADR reporting were adequate, our study has shown that the actual practice of ADR reporting is unsatisfactory. This indicates that there is a need to create an awareness of the importance of ADR reporting through continuous medical education and training of ADR reporting among doctors.
POWER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT IN AN ISOLATED POWER SYSTEM THROUGH SERIES COMPENSATION

The issue of power quality in an isolated power system is investigated. The use of series compensa- tor (SC) is proposed, not only to mitigate the effect of voltage sag/swell, but also to reduce the distortions due to the presence of non-linear loads in the network. A method of harmonics compensation is described. In the process of the compensation, it is shown that the SC will exchange energy with the external network. It causes undesirable variations in the voltage across the terminals of the SC energy storage system (ESS). A method to maintain the voltage of the ESS is then described. Simulation results verify that the SC is effective in reducing the harmonic distortions and thus improving the supply quality of the isolated power system.
Elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of prostaglandin E2 and 15‐(S)‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in multiple sclerosis

Objective. To test the hypothesis that the arachodinic acid metabolites prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 15‐(S)‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)‐HETE) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are elevated and reflect neuroinflammation and degenerative changes in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Access to, and outcome of, renal transplantation according to treatment modality of end-stage renal disease in France.

BACKGROUND Although peritoneal dialysis (PD) is recognized as one of the methods of treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), there have been recurrent concerns about the access of patients treated by this modality to kidney transplantation (KTx), as well as reports showing increased complications of KTx in such patients, such as graft thrombosis and infections. METHODS The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of the impact on transplantation of pretransplant modality of treatment of ESRD using a multivariate analysis of the French database. From 1997 to 2000, after exclusion of pediatric patients, multiple transplantations, and living donors, 6420 were patients registered on the waiting list, and 3464 were transplanted. RESULTS Using a Cox proportional hazard analysis, we found a shorter waiting time for PD patients (RR 0.71, P < 0.0001), which became equivalent to hemodialysis (HD) patients when taking into account the transplant center as a variable (RR 1.0, P= 0.95). Concerning graft survival, only preemptive transplantation had a significant impact, being associated to a decreased risk of graft failure (RR 0.46, P= 0.005). Conclusion. Our study supports the concept that the choice of any pretransplant dialysis modality does not influence waiting time for transplant or the results of transplantation.
The age-associated alterations in late diastolic function in mice are improved by caloric restriction.

Caloric restriction reduces the magnitude of many age-related changes in rodents. Cardiac function is altered with senescence in mice, rats, and healthy humans. We examined the effects of life-long caloric restriction on diastolic and systolic cardiac function in situ using Doppler techniques in ad libitum-fed 30- to 32-month-old (AL) and calorically restricted (CR) 32- to 35-month-old female B6D2-F1 hybrid mice. The heart weight to body weight ratio was similar in AL (5.74 +/- .24 mg/g) and CR (5.68 +/- .20 mg/g) mice. Two systolic functional parameters known to decrease with age in both humans and mice, peak aortic velocity and aortic acceleration, were unchanged by CR compared to AL. In contrast, diastolic function was altered by caloric restriction. Although left ventricular peak early filling velocity (E) was not different between CR and AL, peak atrial filling velocity (A) was 50% lower in CR compared to AL (p < .001). The ratio of early diastolic filling to atrial filling (E/A ratio) was 64% higher in the CR (2.74 +/- .31) than the AL (1.55 +/- .07; p = .004). The fraction of ventricular filling due to atrial systole, the atrial filling fraction, was also reduced in CR (.21 +/- .04) compared to AL (.36 +/- .02; p = .007). These changes occurred in CR without alteration in E deceleration time, which is consistent with improved diastolic function in CR. Through mechanisms that remain unknown, lifelong caloric restriction may prevent the age-related impairments in late diastolic function but does not alter the impairments in systolic or early diastolic cardiac function.
Interruption and bizarreness effects in the recall of script-based text

Recall of script, script-irrelevant, and script-interruptive actions in script-based stories was examined in four experiments. By varying the plausibility of the script-irrelevant and the script-interruptive actions, the bizarreness effect (i.e., enhanced recall for bizarre, implausible actions) was assessed within the context of script-based text. In addition, presentation of script-interruptive actions allowed for an assessment of the interruption effect (i.e., enhanced recall for interruptive actions). A bizarreness effect was found, to the extent that implausible script-irrelevant actions were better recalled than their more plausible counterparts and script actions. However, implausible actions were not better recalled than script-interruptive actions, nor did bizarreness significantly enhance recall of script-interruptive actions. These results are discussed in terms of recent assumptions underlying interruptions underlying interruption and bizarreness effects, and in terms of recent assumptions about how scripted and nonscripted actions are retained in memory.
The Cognition of Grouping Structure in Real-time Listening of Music . A GTTM-based Empirical Research on 6 and 8-year-old Children

The aims of the present study are: a) to investigate how children of average ages 6 and 8 segment a musical piece during real-time listening, b) to compare children’s indicated segment boundaries with boundaries obtained by the segmentation of the piece by adults (musicians and nonmusicians), and c) to compare the adults’ and children’s segmentation profiles to the structural boundaries predicted in a previous study by a full analysis of the piece according to the principles of GTTM. 70 children participated in the empirical study, of average age 6 and 8 (n =35 individuals for each Grade), as well as 50 adults (25 musicians and 25 nonmusicians). The performed boundaries were placed into two categories, depending on whether or not they were predicted by the analysis of the piece using the Generative Theory of Tonal Music (GTTM). Participants indicated a maximum of 38 segment boundaries. 16 corresponded to the boundaries predicted by the analysis of the piece with the use of GTTM, and 22 were not. The deviations in the range of values obtained from the 38 segment boundaries are also justified by the theory's principle of hierarchy, by the GS and TSR preference rules, and by the idiomatic features of the selected piece. The results suggest that even by the age of 6, children can perceive the grouping structure of a piece in accordance to the general laws expressed by the GTTM and by the age of 8 year-old children are almost perfect ‘experienced listeners’ of their musical culture, in accordance to the
Phylogenetic Analysis of Particle-Attached and Free-Living Bacterial Communities in the Columbia River, Its Estuary, and the Adjacent Coastal Ocean

ABSTRACT The Columbia River estuary is a dynamic system in which estuarine turbidity maxima trap and extend the residence time of particles and particle-attached bacteria over those of the water and free-living bacteria. Particle-attached bacteria dominate bacterial activity in the estuary and are an important part of the estuarine food web. PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes from particle-attached and free-living bacteria in the Columbia River, its estuary, and the adjacent coastal ocean were cloned, and 239 partial sequences were determined. A wide diversity was observed at the species level within at least six different bacterial phyla, including most subphyla of the classProteobacteria. In the estuary, most particle-attached bacterial clones (75%) were related to members of the genusCytophaga or of the α, γ, or δ subclass of the classProteobacteria. These same clones, however, were rare in or absent from either the particle-attached or the free-living bacterial communities of the river and the coastal ocean. In contrast, about half (48%) of the free-living estuarine bacterial clones were similar to clones from the river or the coastal ocean. These free-living bacteria were related to groups of cosmopolitan freshwater bacteria (β-proteobacteria, gram-positive bacteria, andVerrucomicrobium spp.) and groups of marine organisms (gram-positive bacteria and α-proteobacteria [SAR11 andRhodobacter spp.]). These results suggest that rapidly growing particle-attached bacteria develop into a uniquely adapted estuarine community and that free-living estuarine bacteria are similar to members of the river and the coastal ocean microbial communities. The high degree of diversity in the estuary is the result of the mixing of bacterial communities from the river, estuary, and coastal ocean.
Ultrastructural features of the cell surfaces of uterine and trophoblastic epithelia during embryo attachment in the cow

Ultrastructural features of the bovine uterine and trophoblastic epithelial cell surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at the time of attachment. Apical cytoplasmic protrusions were observed on the uterine cell surface from cyclic animals on days 12–16 during the luteal phase and disappeared thereafter. However, in pregnant animals, these cytoplasmic protrusions were observed until day 21 (attachment stage). These structures suggest that the uterine cells possess secretory and/or endocytotic properties.
Efficacy of polyethylene glycol-conjugated bovine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for reducing the incidence of naturally occurring clinical mastitis in periparturient dairy cows and heifers.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of various doses of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated bovine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (bG-CSF) on the incidence of naturally occurring clinical mastitis in periparturient dairy cattle. ANIMALS 211 periparturient Holstein cows and heifers. PROCEDURES Approximately 7 days before the anticipated date of parturition (day of parturition = day 0), healthy cattle received SC injections of sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control treatment) or PEG-bG-CSF at 5, 10, or 20 μg/kg. Cattle were commingled and housed in a pen with dirt flooring, which was kept wet to maximize the incidence of naturally occurring clinical mastitis. Within 24 hours after parturition, each animal again received the assigned treatment. Mammary glands and milk were visually scored for abnormalities twice daily for 28 days after parturition. Milk samples were aseptically collected from mammary glands with an abnormal appearance or abnormal milk and submitted for microbial culture. Daily milk production was recorded, and milk composition was assessed on days 3, 5, 7, and 10. RESULTS Cattle treated with PEG-bG-CSF at 10 and 20 μg/kg had significantly fewer cases of clinical mastitis (9/54 and 5/53, respectively), compared with control cattle (18/53). Administration of PEG -bG-CSF did not significantly affect daily milk production or milk composition. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that PEG-bG-CSF was effective for reducing the incidence of naturally occurring clinical mastitis in periparturient dairy cattle. Further investigations of the use of PEG-bG-CSF as a potential preventative intervention should be conducted.
A Comparative Study of an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test and an Immunoperoxidase Monolayer Assay for the Diagnosis of Porcine Proliferative Enteropathy

The currently used indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the detection of antibodies against porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) was compared to an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA). Serum samples used in this comparison were collected from 5-week-old pigs on day 0 (pre-experimental challenge) and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after oral inoculation with intestinal homogenate from pigs affected by PPE (28 challenged pigs) and sucrose phosphate glutamate solution (2 control pigs). All animals were euthanized 4 weeks after inoculation. Immunohistochemistry staining was applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of ileum for the detection of Lawsonia intracellularis antigen. The serology results with each method agreed in all samples, except on days 0 and 7 in 1 control animal, which was positive by IPMA, but negative by IFAT. The percentage of agreement between IFAT and IPMA was 98.6%.
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in the Rat Retina: Distributions and Developmental Expression Patterns

We have studied the distributions of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGluR2 and mGluR3, and a group Ill metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR4, in the adult rat retina and during postnatal development using receptor specific anti-peptide antisera. Of the three receptors examined, mGluR3 was not expressed in the retina. MGIuR2 showed a distinct stratification pattern in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Double-labelling immunocytochemistry revealed that mGluR2 was localized in the processes of cholinergic amacrine cells. MGIuR4 was found throughout the entire IPL. At the subcellular level, both mGluR2 and mGluR4 were found to be localized exclusively in processes postsynaptic to bipolar cell synapses in the IPL. During postnatal development, labelling for mGluR2 was detected at around postnatal day five. MGIuR4 was already present at postnatal day one, prior to the establishment of synaptic connections in the IPL. The differential expression patterns of individual metabotropic glutamate receptors in the adult and developing rat retina suggest distinct roles for these receptors in retinal synaptic circuitry.
Teacher Perceptions of School-Based Interventions

This article reports the results of a study investigating teachers' perceptions of intervention alternatives used to control classroom behavior problems. Regular and special educators from a two-state area completed a 65-item questionnaire assessing teachers' perceptions of the relative effectiveness, ease of use, and frequency of use of a variety of intervention strategies for the treatment of classroom behavior problems. Results indicated that teachers' responses factored into clearly defined categories. Further, teachers differentially rated these categories in terms of their relative effectiveness, ease of use, and frequency of use. Strategies rated as most effective, easiest to use, and most frequently used by both regular and special educators included interventions that either redirected students toward appropriate behavior or that involved manipulation of rewards. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for school-based consultants who interact with teachers concerning the control, of classroom behavior.
Work-Family Conflict among Junior Physicians : Its Mediating Role in the Relationship between Role Overload and Emotional

Problem statement: The use of a mediation model for understanding the mediating impact of work-family conflict on the relationship between role overload and emotional exhaustion has not been given much attention. Approach: This study tested a mediation model consisting of emotional exhaustion as the dependent variable and role overload as the independent variable, with work-family conflict as its mediator. Data were gathered from a sample of 220 female junior physicians aged 40 years and below, having at least one child as well as working full-time in 14 public hospitals in Malaysia, using self-administered questionnaires. The data were analyzed using correlation and multiple regression analyses. Results: Results of correlation analyses revealed that role overload was significantly related to work-family conflict and emotional exhaustion and work-family conflict was significantly related to emotional exhaustion. Results of a series of multiple regression analyzed indicated that work-family conflict partially mediated the relationship between role overload and emotional exhaustion. Conclusion/Recommendations: Junior physicians who experience role overload seem to be more emotionally drained and seem to experience greater conflict between work and family roles. There is a need to reduce the role overload that physicians experience by reviewing the ratio between physicians and patients and re-assessing the number of work hours and the weekly frequency of on-calls. Limiting on-call frequency and hours may be more likely to reduce work-family conflict as well as emotional exhaustion.
Affinities of β-Lactams for Penicillin Binding Proteins of Chlamydia trachomatis and Their Antichlamydial Activities

ABSTRACT Binding affinities of β-lactam antibiotics for the three penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) from Chlamydia trachomatis were determined in vitro and compared with their antichlamydial activities. Mecillinam selectively inhibited PBP1, with a 50% inhibitory concentration for PBP1 binding (0.2 μg/ml) similar to the MIC (0.1 μg/ml) and minimum bactericidal concentration (0.25 μg/ml). Although the other β-lactams inhibited a wider range of PBPs than mecillinam, their antichlamydial activities were inferior to that of mecillinam.
P27kip1 regulates the cell cycle arrest and survival of activated T lymphocytes in response to interleukin‐2 withdrawal

The majority of activated T lymphocytes undergo cell death at the end of a primary immune response, while a minority survive as memory cells. The mechanisms that control the decision between these two fates are unknown. In the present study we examined the response of activated T cells to interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) withdrawal. Within hours, the percentage of T lymphocytes in cell cycle showed a steady decrease, while the percentage arrested in G1 increased proportionally. Deprivation of IL‐2 resulted in upregulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p27kip1. Comparison with resting T‐cell populations revealed that the highest expression of p27kip1 occurs in activated T cells undergoing cell cycle arrest following IL‐2 withdrawal. T cells deficient in p27kip1 expression showed an impaired ability to undergo cell cycle arrest in response to IL‐2 deprivation. Moreover, T cells deficient in p27kip1 showed significantly more apoptosis after IL‐2 withdrawal. Collectively, this study demonstrates that p27kip1 regulates both the cell cycle arrest and the apoptosis of antigen‐specific T lymphocytes.