Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progranulin: normal function and role in neurodegeneration

Progranulin (PGRN) is a multifunctional protein that has attracted significant attention in the neuroscience community following the recent discovery of PGRN mutations in some cases of frontotemporal dementia. Most of the pathogenic mutations result in null alleles, and it is thought that frontotemporal dementia in these families results from PGRN haploinsufficiency. The neuropathology associated with PGRN mutations is characterized by the presence of tau‐negative, ubiquitin‐immunoreactive neuronal inclusions (frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitinated inclusions) that are also positive for the transactivation response DNA binding protein with Mr 43 kD. The clinical phenotype includes behavioral abnormalities, language disorders and parkinsonism but not motor neuron disease. There is significant clinical variation between families with different PGRN mutations and among members of individual families. The normal function of PGRN is complex, with the full‐length form of the protein having trophic and anti‐inflammatory activity, whereas proteolytic cleavage generates granulin peptides that promote inflammatory activity. In the periphery, PGRN functions in wound healing responses and modulates inflammatory events. In the CNS, PGRN is expressed by neurons and microglia; consequently, reduced levels of PGRN could affect both neuronal survival and CNS inflammatory processes. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of the molecular genetics, neuropathology, clinical phenotype and functional aspects of PGRN in the context of neurodegenerative disease.
Physical work load affects the maximum oxygen uptake.

PURPOSE Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) is known to be influenced by life-style factors, such as exercise and smoking. We aimed to further test the hypothesis that, besides these, work form also contributes to increase VO2max among workers. METHOD Three thousand six hundred and forty eight male workers with age 38.3 +/- 12.1 and 1,575 female workers with age 35.6 +/- 11.1, ranging from 20-year old to 69-year old, who participated in Total Health Promotion Plan at workplaces in Fukui Prefecture in 1998 were selected. Data on VO2max were analyzed for age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), work form (sedentary, standing or ambulatory), exercise, and smoking. RESULTS Multiple regression analysis showed that work form ("standing", "ambulatory"), and exercise habits might increase VO2max while BMI, age, and SBP might decrease VO2max in male participants. Exercise habits were suggested to increase VO2max while BMI, SBP, and age might decrease VO2max in females. In females smoking, was suggested to increase VO2max. CONCLUSION After adjusting for age, BMI, SBP, exercise, and smoking, it was suggested that the physical work load, represented by the work form, may contribute to increases in VO2max in males. Implications of smoking among females with respect to VO2max is discussed.
Pathology of Immune-Mediated Liver Injury

The liver is a special lymphoid organ with its own defense mechanism and it is prone to chronic viral and autoimmune diseases. All constituent liver cells are involved in immune mechanisms against foreign toxins and infectious agents: hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells and liver resident lymphocytes such as natural killer, natural killer T and dendritic cells. The first line of defense is held up by the innate immune system where the adaptive immune response is more antigen-specific, but needs a longer time to build up. Even in drug injury of the liver, the innate immune system is involved. There is activation of natural killer and natural killer T cells, and liver cell damage is induced mainly by the Fas and FasL pathways. In viral hepatitis, the mechanism of liver injury is mainly immune-mediated since almost none of the hepatitis viruses have turned out to be cytopathic by themselves. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes with CD8 epitopes are the most important effector cell population. The immune defense may be downregulated by regulatory T cell lymphocytes, PD1/PDL-positive lymphocytes or suppressor dendritic cells. In Epstein-Barr virus infection, liver cell injury does not seem to be due to direct antigen-specific CTLs, but the injury is assumingly induced by a bystander reaction from activated lymphocytes in the sinusoids. Autoimmune hepatitis is a paradigm of immune-mediated liver injury and has a special, but not pathognomonic, histopathology. The main effector lymphocytes belong to the CD8 population, which are antigen-specific; however, the mechanisms seem to be suppressed by regulatory T cells.
Kanały dystrybucji surowców żywnościowych z gospodarstw ekologicznych w województwie Warmińsko-Mazurskim

The paper presents the opinions of owners of organic farms located in selected districts of Warmia and Mazury voivodeship about the sales channels made of raw materials. It turned out that the distribution of farms uses mainly conventional methods. Respondents also pointed to difficulties with the sale of organic materials including very important issue such as the distribution of certified raw material as conventional. Bibliografia
Characterization of matrix metalloproteinase-26, a novel metalloproteinase widely expressed in cancer cells of epithelial origin.

Identification of expanding roles for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in complex regulatory processes of tissue remodelling has stimulated the search for genes encoding proteinases with unique functions, regulation and expression patterns. By using a novel cloning strategy, we identified three previously unknown human MMPs, i.e. MMP-21, MMP-26 and MMP-28, in comprehensive gene libraries. The present study is focused on the gene and the protein of a novel MMP, MMP-26. Our findings show that MMP-26 is specifically expressed in cancer cells of epithelial origin, including carcinomas of lung, prostate and breast. Several unique structural and regulatory features, including an unusual 'cysteine-switch' motif, discriminate broad-spectrum MMP-26 from most other MMPs. MMP-26 efficiently cleaves fibrinogen and extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin, vitronectin and denatured collagen. Protein sequence, minimal modular domain structure, exon-intron mapping and computer modelling demonstrate similarity between MMP-26 and MMP-7 (matrilysin). However, substrate specificity and transcriptional regulation, as well as the functional role of MMP-26 and MMP-7 in cancer, are likely to be distinct. Despite these differences, matrilysin-2 may be a suitable trivial name for MMP-26. Our observations suggest an important specific function for MMP-26 in tumour progression and angiogenesis, and confirm and extend the recent findings of other authors [Park, Ni, Gerkema, Liu, Belozerov and Sang (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 20540--20544; Uría and López-Otín (2000) Cancer Res. 60, 4745--4751; de Coignac, Elson, Delneste, Magistrelli, Jeannin, Aubry, Berthier, Schmitt, Bonnefoy and Gauchat (2000) Eur. J. Biochem. 267, 3323--3329].
Free‐flow isoelectric focusing of proteins remaining in cell fragments following sonication of thyroid carcinoma cells

The method of preparing protein mixtures for electrophoretic analysis of membrane‐associated cell proteins was improved. By sonication, about one‐half of the proteins of thyroid cells were released into the supernatant, while the other half preferentially comprising membrane proteins still remained in cell fragments, which could be sedimented by centrifugation. After sonication, even those proteins which remained in cell fragments, could completely be dissolved by free‐flow isoelectric focusing media. They migrated through the free‐flow electrophoresis chamber without forming precipitates. Because of these improvements, it was possible to show that the two thyroid cancer cell lines ML‐1 and ONCO‐DG1 express cytokeratin 8 at similar rates, but cytokeratins 7 and 18 differently. In addition, the presence of inorganic pyrophosphatase, tubulin‐β‐5, and tubulin‐β‐1 chains in human thyroid cells was proved for the first time.
Impact of Blood Pressure and Antihypertensive Treatment on Incipient and Overt Nephropathy, Retinopathy, and Endothelial Permeability in Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of the increased morbidity and mortality in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients. Elevated blood pressure accelerates and effective blood pressure reduction with β-blockers and/or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors delays the progression of nephropathy and reduces albuminuria. All previous reports dealing with the natural history of diabetic nephropathy demonstrated a cumulative death rate between 50 and 77% 10 yr after onset of nephropathy. Effective antihypertensive treatment reduced the cumulative death rate to 15–20% 10 yr after onset of nephropathy. Recent randomized control studies indicate that ACE inhibition may delay and even prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy in normotensive IDDM patients with persistent microalbuminuria. Several cross-sectional and prospective studies suggest an association between elevated blood pressure and the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, carotid insufficiency or other causes of unilaterally or bilaterally reduced retinal blood flow (pressure) diminish the development of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is characterized by abnormal leakage of fluorescein through the blood-retinal barrier, an abnormality that can be reversed during antihypertensive treatment. It is well documented that elevated blood pressure, poor metabolic control, and diabetic microangiopathy independently enhance the endothelial leakage of plasma proteins in diabetes mellitus. A link between capillary hypertension, increased extravasation of plasma proteins, and the development and progression of diabetic microangiopathy has been suggested. Blood pressure reduction diminishes the extravasation of plasma proteins. The above results strongly support the case for early and effective treatment of arterial blood pressure elevation in diabetes.
Naproxen and ibuprofen based acyl hydrazone derivatives : Synthesis , structure analysis and cytotoxicity studies

Several acyl hydrazone derivatives based on naproxe n and ibuprofen were synthesized via a three step method in good yields. All the compounds synthesized were found to exist as a mixture of two rotameric forms in solution e.g. ant iperiplanar (ap) and synperiplanar (sp) as indicated by their H NMR spectra. This was supported by the analysis o f 1D H NMR and H-H 2D Homo COSY spectra of a representative compound. The X-ray diffractio n study of the single crystal of another representative compou nd indicated that the molecule exists as an H-bonded symmetrical dimeric ap form in the solid s tate. This study also confirmed the Egeometry of the C=N bond unambiguously. Many of the se compounds were found to be potent when tested against human prostate cancer (P c-3) cell line in vitro. The ibuprofen based hydrazones showed superior cytotoxicity than t of naproxen.
Fan Beam Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Body Composition Measurements in Piglets

Objectives: A piglet model was used to validate and cross validate the fan-beam (FB) dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) software vKH6 and to determine the predictive values of physiologic parameters (weight, length, age and gender) on body composition. Methods: Nineteen piglets (Group A: 600 to 21100 g) were used to validate the FB-DXA measurements of body composition based on chemical analysis of the carcass. An additional 22 piglets (Group B: 640 g to 17660 g) had FB-DXA measurements, and these values were compared to the predicted values generated from regression equations computed from group A piglets. Body composition for bone mass, lean mass and fat mass was based on ash weight, nitrogen and fat measured from three aliquots of homogenate from each carcass. Data from all piglets (n = 41) were used to determine the variations in body composition. Data analysis used regression, t test and analysis of variance. Results: Duplicate DXA (total weight TW, bone mineral content BMC, bone area BA, bone mineral density BMD, lean mass LM and fat mass FM) measurements were highly correlated (r = 0.98 to 1.00, p < 0.001 for all comparisons) and were not significantly different. No significant differences were found in the residuals from predicted versus measured DXA values between the larger and the smaller (<1.6 kg) piglets from Group A. For Group B piglets, the DXA measured TW of 5666 ± 5692 g (mean ± SD), LM (5063 ± 5048 g), FM (465 ± 510 g), BMC (138 ± 139 g), BA (486 ± 365 cm2) and BMD (0.235 ± 0.071 g/cm2) were highly significantly correlated with (r = 0.94 to 1.00, p < 0.001 for all comparisons) and were not significantly different from the predicted values. Data from all piglets (n = 41) showed that weight is the dominant predictor of whole body and regional body composition. Length, age or gender contributed to <2% of the variability of body composition. Conclusion: Body composition measurements using the FB DXA software vKH6 is highly reproducible. The software vKH6 is validated for use in a wide range of body weights and body composition, and cross-validated using a separate group of animals. Body weight is the dominant predictor of body composition in immature piglets.
Integration of mobile vehicles for automated material handling using Profibus and IEEE 802.11 networks

This paper focuses on a method to integrate mobile devices such as a mobile robot, automated guided vehicle, and unmanned container transporter to form an automated material handling system. In this paper, the stationary devices are connected via a Profibus network while the mobile devices are communicating via an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN. In order to integrate these two networks, a protocol converter is developed on a PC platform that runs two interacting processes with shared internal buffers. The protocol converter performs a role of translator between two different protocols by converting the format of a data frame. In addition to this basic conversion function, the protocol converter has a virtual polling algorithm to reduce the uncertainty involved in accessing the wireless network. Finally, the integrated network. of Profibus and IEEE 802.11 is experimentally evaluated for its data latency and throughput, which shows the feasibility of the Profibus-IEEE 802.11 network for industrial applications involving mobile devices.
Comparison between ultra-thin ZrO/sub 2/ and ZrO/sub x/N/sub y/ gate dielectrics in TaN or poly-gated NMOSCAP and NMOSFET devices

Both NMOSCAP and self-aligned NMOSFET devices using TaN gates were fabricated and characterized in order to compare ZrO/sub 2/ and nitrogen-incorporated ZrO/sub 2/ (ZrO/sub x/N/sub y/) gate dielectrics (EOT/spl sim/10.3/spl Aring/). ZrO/sub x/N/sub y/ devices demonstrated excellent thermal stability, comparable leakage current, higher breakdown field, decreased subthreshold swing, and improved drive current over ZrO/sub x/ devices. Polysilicon-gated NMOSCAPs were also fabricated to investigate the compatibility of ZrO/sub x/N/sub y/ with the poly process (EOT/spl sim/19/spl Aring/), but high leakage and TEM analysis revealed interaction between the poly and ZrO/sub x/N/sub y/.
Clinical aspects of MuSK antibody positive seronegative MG

Serum antibodies to muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase were detected in 12 of 32 patients with generalized seronegative MG. All were women, with onset between ages 21 and 59 years. Seven had prominent neck, shoulder, or respiratory muscle weakness and little or delayed ocular muscle involvement. The response to cholinesterase inhibitors was variable, and electromyographic findings suggested myopathy in several. None improved after thymectomy. All patients improved after plasma exchange, and most had a good response to selected immunotherapy. MuSK antibody status should help diagnose MG with atypical presentations and ensure appropriate patient treatment.
Role of SCCmec Type in Outcome of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in a Single Medical Center

Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors may determine infection presentation. Whether SCCmec type-associated factors play a role in S. aureus bacteremia is unclear. We conducted a prospective observation of adult inpatients with S. aureus bacteremia (1 November 2005 to 31 December 2006), performed SCCmec typing of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates, and stratified the results according to SCCmec type. We studied 253 patients. MRSA accounted for 163 (64.4%) cases. The illness severity index was similar in MRSA and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) cases. MRSA caused higher in-hospital mortality (23.9% versus 8.9%; P = 0.003), longer bacteremia (4.7 ± 6.5 days versus 2.7 ± 2.9 days; P = 0.01), but similar metastatic infection (14.7% versus 15.6%). Stratifying the results according to SCCmec type revealed significant differences. SCCmec type II caused highest mortality (33.3%) versus type IVa (13.5%), other MRSA (12.5%), and MSSA (8.9%). SCCmec IVa produced the highest metastatic infection (26.9% versus 9.1% [SCCmec II], 8.3% [other MRSA], and 15.6% [MSSA]). Persistent bacteremia (≥7 days) was similar in all SCCmec types (16.7 to 20.7%); each exceeded MSSA (6.7%; P = 0.05). In multivariate analysis, SCCmec II was a predictor of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 3.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.81 to 7.66; P = 0.009), SCCmec IVa was a predictor of metastatic infection (OR = 3.52; CI = 1.50 to 8.23; P = 0.004), and MRSA (independent of SCCmec type) was a predictor of persistent bacteremia (OR = 4.16; CI = 1.47 to 11.73; P = 0.007). These findings suggest that SCCmec-associated virulence factors play a role in the outcome of S. aureus bacteremia. Additional studies are needed to identify which virulence factors are the determinants of increased mortality with SCCmec type II and metastatic infection with SCCmec type IVa.
Discovering Decision Knowledge from Web Log Portfolio for Managing Classroom Processes by Applying Decision Tree and Data Cube Technology

In conventional classrooms, teachers attempt to enhance instruction by monitoring students' learning processes and analyzing their performances by paper records and observation. Similarly, distance learning systems on the Web should be designed to record students' behaviors to assist teachers in assessing performance and making decisions related to curriculum. Recent developments in Web server systems can record the students' access to the learning systems in Web logs. Information processing analysis on the historical classroom processes can help teachers to develop knowledge for applying proper teaching strategies according to available information in Web logs. However, teachers cannot easily infer the pedagogical meaning of Web logs and discover the pedagogical rules of students' behavior patterns in the Web logs to refine teaching strategies. Therefore, to use Web logs for pedagogical purposes, this article adopts decision tree and data cube information processing methodologies to observe students' behaviors and discover the pedagogical rules on students' learning performance from Web logs. The architecture and guidelines of utilizing the data cube and decision tree methodologies for pedagogical purposes are also presented. Consequently, teachers can efficiently estimate and explain the effectiveness of pedagogical strategies, ultimately improving instruction with decision tree and data cube software.
Homophobic Attitudes and Associated Factors Among Adolescents: A Comparison of Six Latin American Countries

ABSTRACT Homophobic attitudes are still very common in the world, although there are large differences between countries. This study analyzed the responses of almost 30,000 8th- and 9th-grade students from six countries who participated in the Latin American component of the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study. Higher levels of homophobia were found in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Paraguay than in Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Homophobic attitudes were positively associated with being male, having lower levels of empathy, spending less time with friends and the media, having aggressive attitudes, and being more religious, in particular non-Catholic Christian.
A psychiatric study of patients with diseases of the small intestine

A group of 80 patients with diseases of the small intestine were given a standardized psychiatric assessment every time they attended the outpatients' department over a period of a year. Forty-six patients with idiopathic steatorrhoea, 23 patients with Crohn's disease, and 11 patients with alactasia were interviewed on 158 occasions. During this time 27 of them (34%) were found to be psychiatrically ill, their illnesses being minor affective disorders. Psychiatric illness was not related either to generalized malabsorption or to deficiencies of specific substances such as folic acid. Although a clear relationship was demonstrated between emotional disturbances and bowel action, diarrhoea was neither sufficient nor necessary for psychiatric illness, and distress associated with diarrhoea was unusual. No single characteristic type of personality was found in any of the patients with the three diseases, but some traits were considerably more commonly associated with some of the diseases than others, and patients with psychiatric illness were shown to attend the outpatients' department more frequently than stable patients. Patients with a family history or a previous history of psychiatric illness, or with depressive traits in their previous personality, were much more likely to fall ill in the survey year. A positive family history of psychiatric illness was significantly more common in idiopathic steatorrhoea. Three patients suffered relapses in the survey year, and in all of these the relapse appeared to be related to emotional factors.
Cutting Edge: Innate Immune Augmenting Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Expressing Zika Virus Proteins Confers Protective Immunity

Zika virus (ZIKV) has become a serious public health concern because of its link to brain damage in developing human fetuses. Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) was shown to be a highly effective and safe vector for the delivery of foreign immunogens for vaccine purposes. In this study, we generated rVSVs (wild-type and attenuated VSV with mutated matrix protein [VSVm] versions) that express either the full length ZIKV envelope protein (ZENV) alone or include the ZENV precursor to the membrane protein upstream of the envelope protein, and our rVSV-ZIKV constructs showed efficient immunogenicity in murine models. We also demonstrated maternal protective immunity in challenged newborn mice born to female mice vaccinated with VSVm-ZENV containing the transmembrane domain. Our data indicate that rVSVm may be a suitable strategy for the design of effective vaccines against ZIKV.