Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telomere shortening in familial and sporadic pulmonary fibrosis.

RATIONALE Heterozygous mutations in the coding regions of the telomerase genes, TERT and TERC, have been found in familial and sporadic cases of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. All affected patients with mutations have short telomeres. OBJECTIVES To test whether telomere shortening is a frequent mechanism underlying pulmonary fibrosis, we have characterized telomere lengths in subjects with familial or sporadic disease who do not have coding mutations in TERT or TERC. METHODS Using a modified Southern blot assay, the telomerase restriction fragment length method, and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay we have measured telomere lengths of genomic DNA isolated from circulating leukocytes from normal control subjects and subjects with pulmonary fibrosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS All affected patients with telomerase mutations, including case subjects heterozygous for newly reported mutations in TERT, have short telomere lengths. A significantly higher proportion of probands with familial pulmonary fibrosis (24%) and sporadic case subjects (23%) in which no coding mutation in TERT or TERC was found had telomere lengths less than the 10th percentile when compared with control subjects (P = 2.6 x 10(-8)). Pulmonary fibrosis affectation status was significantly associated with telomerase restriction fragment lengths, even after controlling for age, sex, and ethnicity (P = 6.1 x 10(-11)). Overall, 25% of sporadic cases and 37% of familial cases of pulmonary fibrosis had telomere lengths less than the 10th percentile. CONCLUSIONS A significant fraction of individuals with pulmonary fibrosis have short telomere lengths that cannot be explained by coding mutations in telomerase. Telomere shortening of circulating leukocytes may be a marker for an increased predisposition toward the development of this age-associated disease.
La Deletion from Mouse Brain Alters Pre-tRNA Metabolism and Accumulation of Pre-5.8S rRNA, with Neuron Death and Reactive Astrocytosis

ABSTRACT Human La antigen (Sjögren's syndrome antigen B [SSB]) is an abundant multifunctional RNA-binding protein. In the nucleoplasm, La binds to and protects from 3′ exonucleases, the ends of precursor tRNAs, and other transcripts synthesized by RNA polymerase III and facilitates their maturation, while a nucleolar isoform has been implicated in rRNA biogenesis by multiple independent lines of evidence. We showed previously that conditional La knockout (La cKO) from mouse cortex neurons results in defective tRNA processing, although the pathway(s) involved in neuronal loss thereafter was unknown. Here, we demonstrate that La is stably associated with a spliced pre-tRNA intermediate. Microscopic evidence of aberrant nuclear accumulation of 5.8S rRNA in La cKO is supported by a 10-fold increase in a pre-5.8S rRNA intermediate. To identify pathways involved in subsequent neurodegeneration and loss of brain mass in the cKO cortex, we employed mRNA sequencing (mRNA-Seq), immunohistochemistry, and other approaches. This revealed robust enrichment of immune and astrocyte reactivity in La cKO cortex. Immunohistochemistry, including temporal analyses, demonstrated neurodegeneration, followed by astrocyte invasion associated with immune response and decreasing cKO cortex size over time. Thus, deletion of La from postmitotic neurons results in defective pre-tRNA and pre-rRNA processing and progressive neurodegeneration with loss of cortical brain mass.
Effects of metal‐contaminated forest soils from the Canadian shield to terrestrial organisms

The effects of elevated metal concentrations in forest soils on terrestrial organisms were investigated by determining the toxicity of six site soils from northern Ontario and Quebec, Canada, using a battery of terrestrial toxicity tests. Soils were collected from three sites on each of two transects established downwind of nickel (Sudbury, ON, Canada) and copper (Rouyn‐Noranda, PQ, Canada) smelting operations. Site soils were diluted to determine if toxicity estimates for the most‐contaminated site soils could be quantified as a percent of site soil. Rouyn‐Noranda soils were toxic following acute exposure (14 d) to plants, but not to invertebrates (7 d for collembola and 14 d for earthworms). However, Rouyn‐Noranda soils were toxic to all species following chronic exposure (21, 35, and 63 d for plants, collembola, and earthworms, respectively). The toxicity of the Rouyn‐Noranda site soils did not correspond to the gradient of metal concentrations in soil. Metal‐contaminated Sudbury soils were toxic to plants but not to invertebrates, following acute exposure. Chronic exposure to Sudbury soils caused adverse effects to plant growth and invertebrate survival and reproduction. The toxicity of Sudbury soils corresponded to the metal concentration gradient, with one exception: The reference soil collected in October was toxic to collembola following acute and chronic exposure. This study evaluated the applicability of the new Environment Canada terrestrial toxicity test methods, developed using agricultural soils, to forest soils and also provided useful data to assess the ecological risk associated with mixtures of metals in soil.
Antennal sensilla and ovipositor morphology of the European birch sawfly Arge pullata Zadd (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae, Argidae)

Arge pullata Zadd is an important phytophagous pest that damages red birch Betula albo‐sinensis in Hubei Province, South China. Massive ecological and economic losses have been caused by this species, which threatens the ecological security of the Shennongjia Nature Reserve. To investigate the mechanoreception, chemoreception, and oviposition processes of A. pullata, scanning electron microscopy and optical confocal microscopy were used to reveal the typology, morphology, and distribution of ovipositor and antennal sensilla. The results show that A. pullata has clavate antennae and eight types of sensilla in total, including sensilla chaetica, sensilla trichodea (types 1–3), sensilla basiconica, sensilla coeloconica (types 1 and 2), and Böhm's bristles. Sensilla trichodea type 1 distributed only on male antennae; the densities of sensilla trichodea type 2 and sensilla basiconica differed between the sexes. The binding pattern of ovipositor valvulae was discovered, and one type of sensilla chaetica, two types of sensory pits, and tooth‐like cones as well as two types of microtrichia were found in the ovipositor. Based on morphological evidence and research on Hymenoptera, putative functions are suggested to increase our understanding of the mechanisms by which this species finds hosts and mates, and how oviposition takes place. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:401–409, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Analysis of Performance of Commercial Banks in Belize during Post Global Recession Period

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of five major commercial banks in Belize during the period of 2008-2015 using CAMEL approach. The data for the commercial banks were collected from Central Bank of Belize and the macroeconomic data were collected from the Statistical Institute of Belize. The panel data were analysed by using SPSS. The results of the study showed that the capital adequacy for all the banks were higher than the legal requirement of 9% with Bank D maintaining the highest of over 40% in the past five years. The ratio of Non-Performing Loans to Total Loans (NPL/TL) was increasing gradually from 2008 to 2010 and started to decrease from 2011 to 2015 for all the banks. The NPL/TL was significantly higher for Bank A and Bank C compared to the other banks. The ROE and ROA were in the positive territory for Bank B and Bank D during the period of study, however there was a decreasing trend throughout the study period. The ROE and ROA were in negative territory between 2008 -2010 for Bank A, 2013 – 2015 for Bank E Bank and 2010 – 2014 for the Bank C. The cash to deposit ratio was consistently low for Bank D with around 20% whereas it was consistently higher for the Bank E and reached over 50% from 2012 onwards. The correlation analysis showed that there was strong negative relationship between non-interest expense to total loan and ROE and ROA. As expected there was a negative correlation between NPL/TL and ROE and ROA. There was no significant influence of GDP and Inflation on ROE and ROA of the commercial banks. The composite analysis of the CAMEL criteria used in this study for the five banks revealed that Bank D and Bank B performed better than the other banks.
The Effect of the Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit Upon Movement and Strength

Abstract Carvil, PA, Attias, J, Evetts, SN, Waldie, JM, and Green, DA. The effect of the gravity loading countermeasure skinsuit upon movement and strength. J Strength Cond Res 31(1): 154–161, 2017—Effective countermeasures against musculoskeletal deconditioning induced by microgravity and disuse are required. A simple alternative to provision of artificial gravity by centrifugation is compressive axial loading. The Russian “Pingvin” suit was the first wearable suit to apply this concept using bungee cords tethered around the shoulders and feet. However, poor loading characteristics and severe thermal and movement discomfort were reported. The gravity loading countermeasure skinsuit (GLCS) uses a bidirectional weave to generate staged axial loading from shoulders to feet, better mimicking how Earth's gravity induces progressive loading head to foot. The Mk III GLCS's loading was evaluated and tolerability assessed during maximal joint motion, ambulation, and selected strength exercises. Eight subjects (5 male and 3 female; 28 ± 3 years; 179 ± 0.1 cm and 74.8 ± 2.9 kg), having given written informed consent, had an Mk III GLCS individually tailored. Axial loading imparted, body height, joint range of motion (ROM), ambulation, and strength tests (12 repetition maximum) were performed in the GLCS and gym attire, with subjective (rating of perceived exertion, thermal comfort, movement discomfort and body control) ratings recorded throughout. Gravity loading countermeasure skinsuit provided significant axial loading when standing but significantly reduced knee (−13°), spinal (−28°) and shoulder flexion/extension ROM (−34°/−13°), in addition to Sit and Reach (−12.8 cm). No thermal issues were reported but there was an increase in subjective discomfort. Gravity loading countermeasure skinsuit did not significantly impede strength exercise, with the exception of shoulder press. The GLCS (Mk III) demonstrates potential as a countermeasure by providing tolerable, static axial loading. Furthermore, it may serve as an elasticlike strength exercise adjunct, which may have utility as a rehabilitation modality after further design refinement.
Hydrogen peroxide causes greater oxidation in cellular RNA than in DNA

Abstract Human A549 lung epithelial cells were challenged with 18O-labeled hydrogen peroxide ([18O]-H2O2), the total RNA and DNA extracted in parallel, and analyzed for 18O-labeled 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine ([18O]-8-oxoGuo) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine ([18O]-8-oxodGuo) respectively, using high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). [18O]-H2O2 exposure resulted in dose-response formation of both [18O]-8-oxoGuo and [18O]-8-oxodGuo and 18O-labeling of guanine in RNA was 14–25 times more common than in DNA. Kinetics of formation and subsequent removal of oxidized nucleic acids adducts were also monitored up to 24 h. The A549 showed slow turnover rates of adducts in RNA and DNA giving half-lives of approximately 12.5 h for [18O]-8-oxoGuo in RNA and 20.7 h for [18O]-8-oxodGuo in DNA, respectively.
Exercise-dependent BDNF as a Modulatory Factor for the Executive Processing of Individuals in Course of Cognitive Decline. A Systematic Review

Background: Aging naturally triggers a decline in cognition as result of deterioration in cerebral circuits, thus the executive functions (EFs) suffer changes that progress from mild to severe states of impairment. Exercise instead, works as a strategy for cognitive enhancement by modulating neuronal plasticity through the regulation of BDNF. However, whether the exercise-dependent BDNF may improve higher complexity processes such as the EFs is still in a studying process. Results: Current data on exercise-dependent BDNF changes for aging individuals in a course of cognitive impairment was summarized to investigate whether the exercise regulation of BDNF is effective to pronounce long term changes on executive controls. While the exercise-dependent regulation of BDNF is currently undeniable, the role of exercise dependent BDNF as a tool for the improvement of EFs in individuals with dementia is still less clear and seldom discussed. The summary of findings indicate a limited number of studies addressing exercise in order to discuss parameters related to either BDNF or executive functioning in such population conditions (n = 215), further narrowing to a total of 5 studies presenting analysis of both parameters. Nonetheless, positive outcomes from BDNF and EF variables were displayed by all the populations exposed to exercise across studies. Aerobic exercise was shown to be a major source for the enhancement of the BDNF-dependent executive functioning, when compared to cognitive stimulation. Moreover, the effect of exercise-dependent BDNF on domains of executive functioning appears to occur in a dose-dependent manner for the aging individuals, independently of cognitive condition.
Evidence-Based Medicine: Pressure Sores

Learning Objectives: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Cite risk factors for pressure sore development. 2. Detail the pathophysiology of pressure sores. 3. List the types and classification of pressure sores. 4. Consider the various nonsurgical conservative wound management strategies. 5. Describe the appropriate surgical interventions for each pressure sore type. 6. Understand the causes of recurrent pressure sores and methods of avoiding recurrence. Summary: Pressure sores are the result of unrelieved pressure, usually over a bony prominence. With an estimated 2.5 million pressure ulcers treated annually in the United States at a cost of $11 billion, pressure sores represent a costly and labor-intensive challenge to the health care system. A comprehensive team approach can address both prevention and treatment of these recalcitrant wounds. Consideration must be given to the patient’s medical and socioeconomic condition, as these factors are significantly related to outcomes. Mechanical prophylaxis, nutritional optimization, treatment of underlying infection, and spasm control are essential in management. A variety of pressure sore patterns exist, with surgical approaches directed to maximize future coverage options. A comprehensive approach is detailed in this article to provide the reader with the range of treatment options available.
Utilizing Quality Assurance as a Tool for Reducing the Risk of Nosocomial Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

A multidisciplinary group was formed to develop strategies to reduce ventilator-associated lower respi ratory tract infections (LRI) in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a 540-bed acute care teaching medical center. The group process was facilitated by the Infection Di rector and the quality management specialist. The group was made of medical, nursing, and respiratory therapy staff. Quality improvement techniques were used to define the process of care for ventilated patients in the ICU. "State of the art" care was defined after a litera ture review and brainstorming sessions. Current prac tice and new concepts were then forged into a realistic protocol for the ICU. The resulting protocol was intro duced into the ICU in May 1992. The information was communicated to Respiratory Therapy and ICU staff in writing and at department meetings. After a 4-month introductory period and learning curve process, a de crease in the endemic rate of ventilator-associated LRI was reduced in the fourth quarter of 1992. The mean 1993 LRI rate was 21 LRI/1000 ventilator days versus 26 LRI/1000 ventilator days in 1992 before protocol im plementation. This equates to 18 LRI prevented in 1993. This represents a savings of $126,000. There was a signi ficant decrease in the process variation of the monthly mean LRI/1000 ventilator days in 1993 from 1992. To date, there continues to be improvement with a mean of 16 LRI/1000 ventilator days reported in 1994. The ICU staff developed a multidisciplinary process evalua tion and monitored staff implementation of the protocol over time. The results of the evaluation were used as feedback to measure protocol implementation. This was found to improve compliance with the protocol. Both the process (care of ventilated patients) and the outcome (number of LRI) have been improved through use of continuous quality improvement concepts and transdis ciplinary interventions.
A Subsidy-Surplus Model and the Skorokhod Problem in an Orthant

We consider the deterministic Skorokhod problem in an orthant of the formZw( t) =w( t) + ? b( u,Yw( u),Zw( u))du + ? R( u,Yw( u--);Zw( u--)) dYw( u) with ( Yw) i(Â·) nondecreasing, and ( Yw) i(Â·) not increasing while ( Zw) i(Â·)>0. This can be viewed as a subsidy-surplus model in an interdependent economy. Existence of a unique solution is established under fairly general conditions (viz. with R(Â·, Â·, Â·) satisfying a uniform spectral radius condition). Comparison result for (SP) vis-a-vis the usual partial order on the orthant is studied; we show that the more "inward looking" the reflection vectors and the drift, the larger the values ofYw will be but the values ofZw will be smaller. In addition to showing that the Leontief-type output is a feasible subsidy, connection between (SP) and "minimality" of feasible subsidies is discussed (consequently it is suggested that (SP) may be taken as a continuous time feedback-form analogue of open Leontief model). In the stochastic case, ( Y( t),Z( t)) turns out to be a strong Markov process ifw(Â·) arises from aLevy process. Relevance of the comparison result to recurrence/positive recurrence ofZ(Â·) process is pointed out.
Kemiskinan Masyarakat Sekitar Hutan dan Program Perhutanan Sosial

Masyarakat sekitar hutan pada umumnya miskin dan berpendidikan rendah. Keterbatasan tersebut membuat mereka seringkali merambah kawasan hutan karena keterdesakan ekonomi dan terbatasnya lahan garapan. Luasnya kawasan hutan yang telah diokupasi oleh masyarakat menunjukkan lemahnya negara dari sisi pengamanan hutan. Tidak ada jalan lain menyelamatkan hutan, kecuali dengan melibatkan masyarakat pada pengelolaan hutan. Sebagai upaya legalisasi akses masyarakat dalam pengelolaan kawasan hutan, pemerintah mengeluarkan kebijakan perhutanan sosial. Tentunya kebijakan ini bukan sekadar bagi-bagi lahan hutan untuk masyarakat, melainkan disertai aturan-aturan yang mengamankan keberadaan pohon di dalam hutan sampai batas usia panennya. Kebijakan ini diharapkan mempunyai manfaat ganda, satu untuk kesejahteraan masyarakat dan yang lain untuk kelestarian hutan. Tulisan ini dimaksudkan untuk menjelaskan mengenai kemiskinan masyarakat sekitar hutan dan program perhutanan sosial. Meskipun masih banyak kendala dalam implementasi program perhutanan sosial, namun ke depan program ini diharapkan mampu menanggulangi kemiskinan masyarakat sekitar hutan. Penanggulangan kemiskinan melalui program perhutanan sosial dilaksanakan melalui pemberdayaan masyarakat dalam kelompok-kelompok tani. Pemberdayaan masyarakat dilakukan, baik melalui peningkatan kapasitas petani maupun pemberdayaan ekonomi lokal. Setiap wilayah memiliki karakter yang berbeda, dan oleh sebab itu, komoditas yang dikembangkan setiap wilayah juga berbeda-beda sesuai dengan potensinya masing-masing. Komoditas yang dikembangkan diharapkan dapat mengisi pasar nasional dan internasional dengan sistem bisnis sosial yang diselenggarakan oleh kelompok tani melalui koperasi dan mitra. Keuntungan dari bisnis sosial ini pada ujungnya akan kembali kepada kelompok tani, sehingga dapat sepenuhnya digunakan untuk kesejahteraan anggota, selain diputar kembali untuk mengembangkan usaha lebih lanjut dengan tetap mengutamakan kelestarian hutan.
Blood transfusion and infectious complications following colorectal cancer surgery

Blood transfusion has been linked to clinical phenomena attributable to immune suppression. We prospectively studied the relationship between perioperative blood transfusion and postoperative infectious complications in 343 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. Of the 134 patients who received transfusions 33 (24.6 per cent) developed infectious complications compared with 9 (4.3 per cent) of the 209 patients who did not receive blood (P < 0.0001). The mean number of units of blood received by patients who developed infectious complications significantly exceeded the number for patients without infectious complications (2.31 versus 0.74, P < 0.0001). The association of transfusion with infections was highly significant (P < 0.0001) after controlling for age, sex, blood loss, procedure, tumour differentiation, stage, admission haematocrit, duration of surgery, length of the specimen and tumour size. Blood transfusion appears to be an independent risk factor for postoperative infectious complications.
Reforming Spending Policy and Its Impact on Indonesia’s Economy: The Case of Fuel Subsidy and Infrastructure

The quality of Indonesia’s infrastructure up until 2014 was considered uncompetitive, and one of the reasons was that there was not enough money spent on infrastructure, and too much on fuel subsidy. In November 2014, the government of Indonesia decided to cut the expenditure for fuel subsidy and reallocate the money to invest on public services. This study was conducted with the intention to quantify the impact of the program on economic growth and income distribution in Indonesia using Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) model. Simulation results indicated that the impact from social and human capital infrastructure was bigger than that of economic infrastructure, although the simulation for both categories resulted in an increase of sectoral output and domestic income. Therefore, improving infrastructure, especially social, is vital to stimulate economic activity in the long run.
Impact of systemic antimicrobials combined with anti-infective mechanical debridement on the microbiota of generalized aggressive periodontitis: a 6-month RCT.

AIM To compare the effects of systemic amoxicillin (AMX) plus metronidazole (MET) or placebos combined with anti-infective mechanical debridement on the sub-gingival microbiota of generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was a 6-month randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Thirty-one subjects received full-mouth ultrasonic debridement followed by scaling and root planing with chlorhexidine rinsing, brushing and irrigation. During mechanical therapy, subjects received systemic AMX (500mg)+MET (250mg) or placebo, t.i. d. for 10 days. Sub-gingival samples were obtained from each patient and analysed for their composition by checkerboard at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-therapy. Significant differences between groups over time were examined by General Linear Model of Repeated Measures. RESULTS High levels of periodontal pathogens, as well as some "non-periodontal" species were observed. Most of the periodontal pathogens decreased significantly over time (p<0.05), whereas "non-periodontal" bacteria tended to increase in both groups. Sites that showed attachment loss and probing depth increase harboured higher levels of Dialister pneumosintes, Campylobacter rectus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Prevotella tannerea and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius than sites that improved after both therapies (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Systemic AMX+MET or placebos adjunctive to anti-infective mechanical debridement were comparable in lowering periodontal pathogens up to 6 months after treatment. Species not commonly associated with GAP were less affected by both therapies.