Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distinct regulation by lipopolysaccharides of the expression of interleukin-1β by murine macrophages and salivary glands

The regulation of interleukin (IL)-1 expression and secretion by salivary glands and macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was compared. In wild-type mice, injection of LPS significantly decreased the volume of saliva stimulated by pilocarpine and increased its protein and amylase concentration. It did not modify the salivary concentration of IL-1β. The cytokine was expressed by submandibular acini and ducts. Macrophages also expressed IL-1β but at lower concentration than salivary glands. The pre-incubation of macrophages with LPS increased the phosphorylation of IκB and the expression of IL-1β. Adenosine triphosphate also promoted the secretion of the cytokine by these cells. These responses were absent in submandibular gland cells. These glands expressed CD14, TLR4 and MyD88. P2X7-KO mice secreted a lower volume of saliva which contained less proteins and amylase. In conclusion, IL-1β is constitutively expressed by submandibular glands and its secretion is not regulated by a P2X7 agonist. In these cells, LPS do not activate the nuclear factor-κB–pro-IL-1β axis in spite of the expression of the proteins involved in their recognition.
A study on experimental neurosis of rats. II. Electroencephalography of experimentally induced neurotic rats.

Fig. 1. Behavior patterns. Schematic diagrams of both hind legs' movements in eaeh behavior period. R: right side. L: left side, a1: delayed conditioned response, a2: conditioned response (paradox phenomenon), F1, F2 conditioned response (conditioned fit), b: crossed-extensor reflex, C: dropping of central excitability, D: inhibition is more remarkable in the right hind leg (stimulated side) than in the left. T: tremor, E: tic-like movement.
Chromosomal localization of gut, fruC, and pfk mutations affecting genes involved in Bacillus subtilis D-glucitol catabolism

Mutations affecting the genes involved in B. subtilis D-glucitol catabolism were mapped either by PBS1-mediated transduction or DNA-mediated transformation. It was shown that the genes gutA and gutB coding for the D-glucitol permease and the D-glucitol dehydrogenase, respectively, and regulatory locus gutR are clustered in a gut operon localized between purB and dal close to the pha marker. A mutation affecting fructokinase activity (fruC) was mapped near the gut markers. The fruC gene does not belong to the operon. A mutation affecting phosphofructokinase activity (pfk) was mapped between the leuA and aroG markers.
The anticipated work-family conflict of future business managers: Does gender and maternal employment matter?

This study investigated the nature and predictors of anticipated work-family conflict (AWFC) amongst business students in South Africa (N=645) who intended to both work and start a family. Anticipated work-family conflict is the belief that future demands from work and family will be incompatible. The results indicate moderate levels of anticipated work-family conflict with differences across gender but no differences across race, socio-economic status, parental employment or parental education level. Further analysis showed an interaction effect between gender and maternal employment in explaining AWFC amongst female students. As expected, the personal factors of positive affectivity and specific self-efficacy beliefs helped predict significant variance in AWFC. Social context factors did not help explain the variance in AWFC above that explained by demographic and personal variables.
Notch Signaling Requires GATA-2 to Inhibit Myelopoiesis from Embryonic Stem Cells and Primary Hemopoietic Progenitors1

The bone marrow and thymus, although both hemopoietic environments, induce very distinct differentiation outcomes. The former supports hemopoietic stem cell self-renewal and multiple hemopoietic lineages, while the latter supports T lymphopoiesis almost exclusively. This distinction suggests that the thymic environment acts to restrict the hemopoietic fates available to thymic immigrants. In this study, we demonstrate that the addition of the Notch ligand Delta-like-1 (Dll-1) to an in vitro system that otherwise supports myelopoiesis, greatly reduces the myelopoietic potential of stem cells or uncommitted progenitors. In contrast, committed myeloid progenitors mature regardless of the presence of Dll-1. The block in myelopoiesis is the direct result of Notch signaling within the hemopoietic progenitor, and Dll-1-induced signals cause a rapid increase in the expression of the zinc finger transcription factor GATA-2. Importantly, in the absence of GATA-2, Dll-1-induced signals fail to inhibit commitment to the myeloid fate. Taken together, our results support a role for GATA-2 in allowing Dll-1 to restrict non-T cell lineage differentiation outcomes.
Has the Euro Changed the Business Cycle?

In contrast to the notion that the exchange-rate regime is non-neutral, there is little evidence that EMU has systematically changed the European business cycle. In fact, we find the volatility of macroeconomic variables largely unchanged before and after the introduction of the euro. Exceptions are a strong decline in real exchange rate volatility and a considerable increase in cross-country correlations. To account for this finding, we develop a two-country business cycle model which is able to replicate key features of European data. In particular, the model correctly predicts a limited effect of EMU on standard business cycles statistics. However, further analysis reveals that the euro has changed the nature of the cycle through its impact on the transmission mechanism. Cross-country spillovers have become relatively more, domestic shocks relatively less important in accounting for economic fluctuations under EMU. This explains why there is little change in unconditional volatilities.
The effect of heat treatment of whole cottonseed on site and extent of protein digestion in dairy cows.

Six mature Holstein cows in late lactation and fitted with permanent ruminal, duodenal and ideal cannulae were used in a double 3 X 3 Latin-square design to study the effect of roasting or extruding of cottonseed on protein degradation in the rumen and availability of amino acids in the small intestine. Raw whole cottonseed (CS), extruded whole cottonseed (ECS), and roasted whole cottonseed (RCS) were fed in diets containing 17% crude protein and composed of 42% whole cottonseed, 26% corn grain and 29% hay supplemented with dry molasses, vitamins and minerals. The diets were isocaloric and contained 1.86 Mcal NEL/kg. Acid detergent lignin was used as a digesta marker, and diaminopimelic acid as a bacterial marker. Ruminal ammonia concentration was higher (P less than .05) for CS than for ECS and RCS (15.7, 12.7 and 10.2 mM). Concentrations of isobutyrate (1.3 vs 0.8 and 0.8 mM) and isovalerate (1.8 vs 1.1 and 1.1 mM) were higher (P less than .05) for CS compared with ECS and RCS. Non-ammonia nitrogen flow to the duodenum (g/d) was 248, 300 and 350 for CS, ECS, and RCS, with RCS higher (P less than .05) that in CS. Apparent absorption of total amino acids in the small intestine was . 80, 1.01, and 1.24 kg/d, for CS, ECS, and RCS, respectively, with RCS higher (P less than .05) than CS. Apparent absorption of essential and non-essential amino acids was 376, 425; 458, 548;610 and 628 g/d for CS, ECS and RCS respectively, with RCS higher (P less than .05) than CS.
Isolation and biochemical characterization of plasma monoclonal free light chains in amyloidosis and multiple myeloma: a pilot study of intact and truncated forms of light chains and their charge properties

Abstract Background: The presence of monoclonal immunoglobulin free light chains (FLC) in the serum is commonly associated with the gammopathies, including multiple myeloma, systemic light chain amyloidosis and non-amyloid light chain deposition disease. Although a sensitive nephelometry-based assay is used for quantification of serum FLC and patient follow-up, this method does not provide information regarding the biochemical properties of these proteins. The present study focused on the development of the procedure for isolation and biochemical characterization of monoclonal FLC in small plasma specimens from patients with these disorders. Methods: Methods used in this study were ultrafiltration, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), protein elution from gel and support membranes, dialysis, lyophilization, isoelectric focusing (IEF) and Western blotting. Results: The isolation, concentration and partial purification of FLC was based on micro-preparative SDS-PAGE employing analytical scale gels. For the determination of the isoelectric point of FLC, the developed protocol included consecutive IEF, electrotransfer of IEF-separated proteins onto and elution from support membranes, and their analysis by SDS-PAGE-based Western blotting. The procedures, which require only 20–50 μL of starting plasma, allow biochemical characterization of the monomeric, dimeric and truncated forms of FLC, including their charge properties. Conclusions: The developed procedure may be applied to reveal distinguishing chemical features of FLC in serum, which could be important in predicting the pathologic form of disease, and in yielding information to better understand the mechanism(s) involved in the deposition of light chains in tissues. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:335–41.
The Role of MDR-Acinetobacter baumannii in Orthopedic Surgical Site Infections.

BACKGROUND Gram-positive microorganisms were the main causative organisms of orthopedic surgical site infections (SSI); however the rising incidence of multiple drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) infections in orthopedic operations causes a great concern because of their limited array of therapeutic options. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to remark the changing microbiology in orthopedic SSI and to evaluate the MDR CHROMagar Acinetobacter media for screening of MDR-AB. METHODS Aspirated pus samples were collected from infected wounds of 100 patients in the orthopedics unit of El-Helal Hospital, samples were cultured on conventional media and MDR CHROMagar Acinetobacter media, the reveled MDR-AB colonies were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect blaOXA-51 like gene. RESULTS Out of 100 infected wounds SSI cases represented 90/100 (90%) according to CDC 2013 definitions. Staphylococcus aureus was the dominant organism 40/90 (44.4%) (P value 0.038), all S. aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 22/90 (24.44%) and Acinetobacter 15/90 (16.67%). Implant was highly associated with SSI cases 80/90 (89%). Also, prolonged hospital stay>7 d was significantly associated with SSI 69/90 (77%) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION Staphylococcus aureus was the main causative organism of orthopedic SSI (44.4%), whereas A. baumannii represented only (16.67%) of the causative organisms. MDR Acinetobacter CHROMagar reduced the turnaround time for screening of MDR-AB.
Role of MicroRNAs in Malignant Glioma

Objective: This overview seeked to bring together the microRNA (miRNA) researches on biogenesis and bio-function in these areas of clinical diagnosis and therapy for malignant glioma. Data Sources: Using the keyword terms “glioma” and “miRNA,” we performed the literature search in PubMed, Ovid, and web.metstr. com databases from their inception to October 2014. Study Selection: In screening out the quality of the articles, factors such as clinical setting of the study, the size of clinical samples were taken into consideration. Animal studied for verification and reviews article were also included in our data collection. Results: Despite many advance in miRNA for malignant glioma, further studies were still required to focus on the following aspects: (i) Improving the understanding about biogenesis of miRNA and up-down regulation; (ii) utilizing high-throughput miRNA expression analysis to screen out the core miRNA for glioma; (iii) Focusing related miRNAs on the signal transduction pathways that regulate the proliferation and growth of glioma. Conclusions: We discussed the most promising miRNA, correlative signaling pathway and their relation with gliomas in the way of prompting miRNA target into being a clinical therapeutic strategy.
Systemic therapy for recurrent endometrial cancer: a review of North American trials

While early-stage endometrial cancer is highly curable after hysterectomy for the majority of patients afflicted with this disease, recurrent and metastatic endometrial cancer continues to pose a significant challenge. The median survival of women with advanced or recurrent uterine cancer on most recent clinical trials is only approximately 1 year. This review will discuss the developments of systemic therapy in recurrent endometrial cancer, focusing on North American trials, in particular those documenting recent progress in new drug developments, as well as the future of individualized treatment regimens.
Customer-Employee Substitution: Evidence from Gasoline Stations

We document the adoption of self-service pumps in U.S. gasoline stations from 1977 to 1992. Using establishment-level data from the Census of Retail Trade over this period, we show that self-service stations employ approximately one quarter fewer attendants per pump, all else equal. The work done by these attendants has shifted to customers, biasing upwards conventional measures of productivity growth.
Coevolution of cells and viruses in a persistent infection of foot-and-mouth disease virus in cell culture

Virus and cells evolve during serial passage of cloned BHK-21 cells persistently infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). These carrier cells, termed C1-BHK-Rc1 (J.C. de la Torre, M. Dávila, F. Sobrino, J. Ortín, and E. Domingo, Virology 145:24-35, 1985), become constitutively resistant to the parental FMDV C-S8c1. Curing of late-passage C1-BHK-Rc1 cells of FMDV by ribavirin treatment (J.C. de la Torre, B. Alarcón, E. Martínez-Salas, L. Carrasco, and E. Domingo, J. Virol. 61:233-235, 1987) did not restore sensitivity to FMDV C-S8c1. The resistance of C1-BHK-Rc1 cells to FMDV C-S8c1 was not due to an impairment of attachment, penetration, or uncoating of the particles but to some intracellular block that resulted in a 100-fold decrease in the amount of FMDV RNA in the infected cells. FMDV R59, the virus isolated from late-passage carrier cells, partly overcame the cellular block and was more cytolytic than FMDV C-S8c1 for BHK-21 cells. Sequencing of the VP1 gene from nine viral clones from C1-BHK-Rc1 cells showed genetic heterogeneity of 5 X 10(-4) substitutions per nucleotide. Mutations were sequentially fixed during persistence. In addition to resistance to FMDV C-S8c1, C1-BHK-Rc1 cells showed a characteristic round cell morphology, and compared with BHK-21 cells, they grew faster in liquid culture, were less subject to contact inhibition of growth, and had an increased ability to form colonies in semisolid agar. Reconstitution of a persistent infection was readily attained with late-passage C1-BHK-Rc1 cells and FMDV C-S8c1 or FMDV R59. The results suggest that coevolution of BHK-21 cells and FMDV contributes to the maintenance of persistence in cell culture.
Infliximab Treatment of Crohn’s Disease in Children: It’s Time to Not Go Retro(Spective)

Nancy Bach, M.D., Carol Bodian, Dr.P.H. , Henry Bodenheimer, M.D., Edward Croen, M.D., Paul D. Berk, M.D., Swan N. Thung, M.D., Keith D. Lindor, M.D., Thierry Therneau, Ph.D., and Fenton Schaffner, M.D.† Departments of Medicine, Biomathematical Science, and Pathology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York; and the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota
The Effect of Nursing Care Protocol on Health Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth most common cause of death in the world. COPD prevalence, morbidity, and mortality vary across countries and across different groups within countries. Aim: Examine the effect of nursing care protocol on health outcomes of patients with COPD. Study design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at outpatient clinics at Chest Hospital (AL masah ALbahary) in Port Said city. Subjects: A purposive sample of 45 patients with (COPD) disease was included. Methods: four tools were used as follow (1) Patients’ assessment sheet. (2)The Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ) sheet. (3) Patients’ observational checklists. ) (4) Health outcomes assessment sheet. Results: There was improvement in patients' total knowledge scores and all practices post nursing care protocol implementation with highly statistically significance whereas p ? 001,there were statistically significant difference between mean scores of total mood disturbance, sleep quality and fatigue for patients with COPD pre and post implementation of protocol of nursing care, with significant decrease in mean score whereas p ? 001 and there were improvement in level 4 of dyspnea (sever dyspnea) post implementation of nursing care protocol compared to pre nursing care protocol and there was highly statistically significant difference between levels of dyspnea pre and post implementation of nursing care protocol whereas p ? 001. Conclusion: Based on the study findings, it is concluded that, application of nursing care protocol for patients with COPD has positive effect on improving their knowledge about COPD and its management, practices related to pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, deep breathing exercise, a metered dose inhaler and dry powder inhaler and improving their health outcomes regarding mood, fatigue, sleep quality and dyspnea. Recommendation: Continuous educational program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be applied periodically in order to improve knowledge, practices and health outcomes for those patients.
Prospective association of adiposity and cardiorespiratory fitness with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy children

This study aimed to examine the prospective association of three different measures of adiposity and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with 2‐year change in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in children. Two‐year longitudinal data in schoolchildren aged 7–11 years (n = 365–729) was used. Total body fat (TBF) from dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), CRF, blood samples, and blood pressure were obtained in 2008 and 2010 in the Childhood Health, Activity, and Motor Performance School Study in Denmark (CHAMPS study‐DK). Greater adiposity at baseline was associated with increased CVD risk factor levels at follow‐up. The magnitudes of associations were similar regardless of adiposity measure [TBF%: β 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.39; BMI: β 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14–0.33; WC: β 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10–0.31], and no evidence of nonlinear relationships was observed. We found less strong associations of CRF with increase in CVD risk factor levels after adjusting for adiposity; however, increasing CRF was still favorably associated with decrease in CVD risk factor levels among boys. Results suggest that any effort to shift the population distribution of adiposity downward would be valuable for early CVD prevention. The association of CRF with CVD risk factors was largely explained by adiposity, particularly among girls.
Measuring structural social capital in a cluster policy network: insights from the Basque Country

ABSTRACT Cluster Associations (CAs) attempt to promote competitiveness through inter-firm collaboration, and are generally seen as drivers of social capital formation in the region. We map in this paper, by using Social Network Analysis, the cluster policy network of the Basque Country in 2013, which may be considered a proxy of the structural dimension of social capital in the region. Besides, we identify the central agents of this network and attempt to explain the reasons for their centrality and the roles that they play. We take the affiliation of an organization to at least two CAs as a first indicator of the overall pattern of connections within the cluster policy network. Later on, we filter it with data about the Boards of Directors of CAs, and the Basque Contact Points created to concur with the Seventh Framework Programme for Research launched by the European Commission. We contend that those organizations that are present in these three networks form a ‘small world’ that numerous studies have shown to be favourable for creative output, where they might play a dual role of gatekeepers of knowledge and innovation within and between clusters and drivers of bridging social capital formation in the Basque Country.
Exercise echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to predict outcome in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS We have observed that wall motion abnormalities (WMAs) during exercise echocardiography (ExE) are associated to events in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Our objective was to evaluate ExE and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to predict outcome in HCM. METHODS AND RESULTS ExE and CMR were performed in 148 patients with HCM. During follow-up (7.1 ± 2.7 years), there were 7 hard events (Hard-E) and 26 combined events (Comb-E). Exercise WMAs were observed in 13 patients (8.8%), perfusion defects in 10 (6.8%), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in 48 (32.4%). WMAs were seen in 57% of patients with Hard-E vs. 6% without (P = 0.001) and in 23 and 6% with and without Comb-E (P = 0.005). Perfusion defects were also more frequent in patients with Hard-E than without (43 vs. 5%, P = 0.007) and in patients with Comb-E than without (23 vs. 5%, P = 0.002). LGE (g) was greater in patients with Comb-E than without [median (25th-75th percentile) 0 (0-21.1) vs. 0 (0-9.3) g P = 0.04]. Univariable predictors of Comb-E included NYHA class ≥2, peak double product, ΔWMSI, and CMR data. Peak double product [Hazard ratios (HR) = 0.99, confidence intervals (CI) 95% 0.99-0.99, P = 0.02] and ΔWMSI (HR = 404, CI 95% 12-13681, P = 0.001) remained independent predictors. Peak WMSI correlated with myocardial mass with LGE (r = 0.20, P = 0.02) and with perfusion defect area (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). LGE affecting ≥15% of the left ventricle was observed in 38% of patients with exercise WMAs vs. 12% without (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION CMR data are associated to exercise WMAs in patients with HCM. ExE and CMR may help to predict outcome in them.