Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Networks, Territories, and the Cartography of Ancient States

Abstract With broad lines and dark shading, the cartographic depictions of ancient states and empires convey the impression of comprehensive political entities having firm boundaries and uniform territorial control. These depictions oversimplify the complexities of early state growth, as well as overstating the capacity of central governments to control large territories. Archaeological and textual evidence suggests that ancient states are better understood through network models rather than bounded-territory models. Network approaches enable us to depict competition within and among polities as they grow, the efficient use of nodal points as a focus for political leaders, and the realities of nonoverlapping ritual, social, and economic activities that have an impact on political cohesion. Network maps and bounded-territory representations are compared for the Inka, Mauryan, and Sassanian polities.
MicroRNA-144-3p inhibits bone formation in distraction osteogenesis through targeting Connexin 43

Distraction osteogenesis (DO), one of effective therapies for bone regeneration, has been received more attention in recent years. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in regulating osteogenesis and bone formation. We therefore provided the hypothesis that miRNAs could involve in the DO-mediated bone regeneration. After successfully established the DO model of rats, a miRNA microarray was performed to find the differently expressed miRNAs in DO and control groups in this study. As one of the most downregulated miRNAs, miR-144-3p was found to be decreased during osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells of rats (rBMSCs) and DO model. And miR-144-3p overexpression suppressed the osteogenesis while its inhibitor promoted osteogenesis. Furthermore, Connexin-43, an essential regulator for osteogenesis, was validated to be a novel target for miR-144-3p. Finally, miR-144-3p inhibitor modified MSCs promoted mineralization of distracted bone in rat DO model. In conclusion, miR-144-3p was found to regulate osteogenesis and inhibition of miR-144-3p resulted in acceleration of mineralization of DO, which not only give clues to understanding the mechanism of DO but also provide a potential therapeutic target in clinical practice.
Lymphoma Immunotherapy with CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Requires TLR9 Either in the Host or in the Tumor Itself1

Established widely metastatic tumor was cured in a transplanted mouse B cell lymphoma model, by the combination of chemotherapy plus intratumoral injection of oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated C-G motifs (CpG). This therapeutic effect required that the CpG be injected directly into the tumor and was dependent on CD8 T cells. Although the efficacy of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides has been thought to depend on the expression of TLR9, we unexpectedly found that tumor rejection did not require host expression of TLR9. By using a TLR9-deficient tumor and a TLR9KO host, we demonstrate that TLR9 expression either by the host or the tumor is required. These results indicate that activation of Ag presentation by cells within the tumor via TLR9 stimulation can be an effective form of immunotherapy. This study forms the basis of an ongoing clinical trial in patients with lymphoma.
Experiences of mental health services for ‘black’ men with schizophrenia and a history of disengagement: A qualitative study

Whilst mental disorders can be disabling they are also treatable, yet engagement with services is often poor and disengagement from treatment is a major concern for mental health nurses. Participants were service users typically perceived as the most disengaged from mental health services, yet they were willing to engage in the research interviews. The seven participants were all male with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, a history of disengagement from mental health services and described their ethnicity as 'black'. Participants were under the care of Assertive Outreach Teams and were recruited after the researcher was introduced to them by clinicians who were working with them. After ethical approval, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were used to elicit the experiences of participants. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, themes were developed. Interpretative Phenomenological analysis generated four themes: (i) "People just keep hounding me", (ii) Antipathy to Medication, (iii) Choice and the value of services, (iv) Stigmatisation and identity. By rigorously examining how service users with schizophrenia make sense of their experience of their relationship with mental health services, there is potential to give voice to the experiences of the recipients of mental health services. This study uncovered the complex nature of disengagement and in view of this there may never be a straightforward mechanism developed to engage all people with schizophrenia with mental health services. When the participants' experiences are considered in a broader social context it may be possible to reflect on how services can be adapted to facilitate better engagement.
Development of exchange lists for Mediterranean and Healthy Eating diets: implementation in an intervention trial.

BACKGROUND There has been little research published on the adaptation of diabetic exchange list diet approaches for the design of intervention diets in health research despite their clinical utility. The exchange list approach can provide clear and precise guidance on multiple dietary changes simultaneously. The present study aimed to develop exchange list diets for Mediterranean and Healthy Eating, and to evaluate adherence, dietary intakes and markers of health risks with each counselling approach in 120 subjects at increased risk for developing colon cancer. METHODS A randomised clinical trial was implemented in the USA involving telephone counselling. The Mediterranean diet had 10 dietary goals targeting increases in mono-unsaturated fats, n-3 fats, whole grains and the amount and variety of fruits and vegetables. The Healthy Eating diet had five dietary goals that were based on the US Healthy People 2010 recommendations. RESULTS Dietary compliance was similar in both diet arms, with 82-88% of goals being met at 6 months, although subjects took more time to achieve the Mediterranean goals than the Healthy Eating goals. The relatively modest fruit and vegetable goals in the Healthy Eating arm were exceeded, resulting in fruit and vegetable intakes of approximately eight servings per day in each arm after 6 months. A significant (P < 0.05) weight loss and a decrease in serum C-reactive protein concentrations were observed in the overweight/obese subgroup of subjects in the Mediterranean arm in the absence of weight loss goals. CONCLUSIONS Counselling for the Mediterranean diet may be useful for both improving diet quality and for achieving a modest weight loss in overweight or obese individuals.
Le sud revisité : équité de genres et fécondité en italie et en Espagne

Selon la these de Peter McDonald, une relation negative existe entre l'emploi des femmes et la fecondite. Dans cet article, l'analyse de donnees macro- et micro-economiques montre que ce n'est pas le conflit en soi mais le renforcement de l'« iniquite » entre les sexes dans les differentes legislations qui peut laisser presager un declin des taux de fecondite. Les differentes legislations concernent les droits de l'individu en tant que tel (par exemple le droit du travail) et le droit qui s'adresse a l'individu en tant que membre d'une famille (les allocations familiales, les conges parentaux). On fait ici l'hypothese d'une relation croissante selon laquelle une plus grande equite dans l'emploi a pour effet d'encourager une plus grande equite au sein des politiques en faveur de la famille et, in fine, au sein de la famille elle-meme. Les donnees du Panel de demographie familiale de l'Union europeenne sont utilisees pour illustrer l'evolution des effets de l'equite des genres sur la probabilite de secondes naissances en Italie et en Espagne. Ces deux Etats sont caracterises par la domination d'un modele de « l'homme gagne-pain » ou le pere est le seul pourvoyeur financier de la famille. Cependant, l'Italie a fait plus de progres vers l'equite dans l'emploi des femmes que l'Espagne.
The Fifth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

This paper describes the Fifth Data Release (DR5) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). DR5 includes all survey quality data taken through 2005 June and represents the completion of the SDSS-I project (whose successor, SDSS-II, will continue through mid-2008). It includes five-band photometric data for 217 million objects selected over 8000 deg2 and 1,048,960 spectra of galaxies, quasars, and stars selected from 5713 deg2 of that imaging data. These numbers represent a roughly 20% increment over those of the Fourth Data Release; all the data from previous data releases are included in the present release. In addition to "standard" SDSS observations, DR5 includes repeat scans of the southern equatorial stripe, imaging scans across M31 and the core of the Perseus Cluster of galaxies, and the first spectroscopic data from SEGUE, a survey to explore the kinematics and chemical evolution of the Galaxy. The catalog database incorporates several new features, including photometric redshifts of galaxies, tables of matched objects in overlap regions of the imaging survey, and tools that allow precise computations of survey geometry for statistical investigations.
Effective collaboration between marginal metallophilic macrophages and CD8+ dendritic cells in the generation of cytotoxic T cells

The spleen is the lymphoid organ that induces immune responses toward blood-borne pathogens. Specialized macrophages in the splenic marginal zone are strategically positioned to phagocytose pathogens and cell debris, but are not known to play a role in the activation of T-cell responses. Here we demonstrate that splenic marginal metallophilic macrophages (MMM) are essential for cross-presentation of blood-borne antigens by splenic dendritic cells (DCs). Our data demonstrate that antigens targeted to MMM as well as blood-borne adenoviruses are efficiently captured by MMM and exclusively transferred to splenic CD8+ DCs for cross-presentation and for the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Depletion of macrophages in the marginal zone prevents cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation by CD8+ DCs after antibody targeting or adenovirus infection. Moreover, we show that tumor antigen targeting to MMM is very effective as antitumor immunotherapy. Our studies point to an important role for splenic MMM in the initial steps of CD8+ T-cell immunity by capturing and concentrating blood-borne antigens and the transfer to cross-presenting DCs which can be used to design vaccination strategies to induce antitumor cytotoxic T-cell immunity.
Remyelination of Demyelinated CNS Axons by Transplanted Human Schwann Cells: The Deleterious Effect of Contaminating Fibroblasts

Areas of demyelination can be remyelinated by transplanting myelin-forming cells. Schwann cells are the naturally remyelinating cells of the peripheral nervous system and have a number of features that may make them attractive for cell implantation therapies in multiple sclerosis, in which spontaneous but limited Schwann cell remyelination has been well documented. Schwann cells can be expanded in vitro, potentially affording the opportunity of autologous transplantation; and they might also be spared the demyelinating process in multiple sclerosis. Although rat, cat, and monkey Schwann cells have been transplanted into rodent demyelinating lesions, the behavior of transplanted human Schwann cells has not been evaluated. In this study we examined the consequences of injecting human Schwann cells into areas of acute demyelination in the spinal cords of adult rats. We found that transplants containing significant fibroblast contamination resulted in deposition of large amounts of collagen and extensive axonal degeneration. However, Schwann cell preparations that had been purified by positive immunoselection using antibodies to human low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor containing less than 10% fibroblasts were associated with remyelination. This result indicates that fibroblast contamination of human Schwann cells represents a greater problem than would have been appreciated from previous studies.
Role of Fcγ Receptors in Nigral Cell Injury Induced by Parkinson Disease Immunoglobulin Injection into Mouse Substantia Nigra

Immune/inflammatory factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) from patients with PD can induce injury of dopaminergic neurons following stereotaxic injection into rat substantia nigra (SN). The PD IgG can be demonstrated in vitro to activate microglia via the Fcgamma receptor (Fcgamma R) and induce dopaminergic cell injury. To confirm the involvement of microglia and their Fcgamma R in IgG-induced lesions of SN in vivo we analyzed the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cell loss in SN par compacta (SNpc) in mice lacking Fcgamma receptors (Fcgamma R(-/-)) and wild type (Fcgamma R(+/+)). At 1 day after stereotaxic injection of PD IgG into the SN of Fcgamma R(+/+) mice there was a 27% increase in the number of CD11b-positive microglial cells and no significant loss of TH-positive cells. At 14 days after the stereotaxic injection, the number of microglial cells was increased by 42%, accompanied by a 40% loss of TH-positive neurons in the SNpc. PD IgG injection in Fcgamma R(-/-) mice resulted in no significant increase of microglia and no loss of TH-positive cells in the SNpc at any time point. The injection of F(ab')(2) fragments of PD IgG was able to induce TH-positive neuronal loss in the SNpc only when the injected animals raised antibodies against the injected human IgG fragments, which confirmed the importance of the Fcgamma R in microglial activation and nigral injury.
Adherence Profiles and Therapeutic Responses of Treatment-Naive HIV-Infected Patients Starting Boosted Atazanavir-Based Therapy in the ANRS 134-COPHAR 3 Trial

ABSTRACT The adherence profile of HIV-infected patients predicts the therapeutic outcome, in particular during the early phase of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We conducted a prospective observational multicenter trial monitoring adherence and virological and immunological parameters over the initial 6 months of treatment. Thirty-five subjects were starting a treatment regimen including atazanavir, ritonavir, and emtricitabine-tenofovir. Adherence was assessed using self-completed questionnaires, announced pill counts, and the medication event monitoring system (MEMS) for each drug. Three MEMS measures were defined: the percentages of doses taken, days with the correct dosing, and doses taken on time (±3 h). Dynamic virological suppression (DVS) was defined as a reduction in the plasma HIV-RNA level of >1 log10 per month or <40 copies/ml. The cumulative treatment time was 5,526 days. A high level of adherence was observed. The MEMS-defined adherence for correct dosing (−0.68% per 4-week period, P < 0.03) and timing compliance (−1.60% per 4-week period, P < 0.003) decreased significantly over time. The MEMS-defined adherence data were concordant with the pill counts during the trial but not with the data from the questionnaires. The median [range] percentages of doses taken (100% [50 to 102]), days with the correct dosing (95% [41 to 100]), and doses taken on time (86% [32 to 100]) were significantly associated with DVS in separate models. Among these three measures, the percentage of doses taken on time had the greatest ability to predict DVS. Timing compliance should be supported to optimize DVS during the early phase of treatment by once-daily boosted protease inhibitor-based ART. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00528060.)
Factors affecting adherence to a gluten-free diet in children with celiac disease.

BACKGROUND The treatment of celiac disease is a strict, life-long gluten-free (GF) diet. This diet is complex and can be challenging. Factors affecting adherence to the GF diet are important to identify for improving adherence. OBJECTIVE To identify factors that inhibit or improve adherence to a GF diet in children with celiac disease. METHODS Patients (<18 years of age) with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease followed by the gastroenterology service at a tertiary care paediatric institution were surveyed using a mailed questionnaire. Factors influencing adherence to a GF diet were scored from 1 to 10 based on how often they were problematic (1 = never, 10 = always). Parents of patients <13 years of age were instructed to complete the survey with their child. Adolescents ≥13 years of age were asked to complete the survey themselves. RESULTS Of 253 subjects, 126 completed the survey; the median age was 12 years (range two to 18 years). Forty percent were adolescents. Overall, participants reported good adherence at home and school, but lower adherence at social events. Adolescents reported lower adherence compared with parents. Availability of GF foods and cost were the most significant barriers. Other factors identified to help with a GF diet included education for schools/restaurants and improved government support. CONCLUSIONS Availability, cost and product labelling are major barriers to adherence to a GF diet. Better awareness, improved labelling and income support are needed to help patients.
Refractive errors in Filipino eyes in a single-center study population

Objective We determined the frequency of refractive errors among Filipino patients undergoing refractive or cataract screening at an ambulatory eye-care center, correlated them with demographic and ophthalmic variables, and compared refractive and keratometric astigmatism. Methods Clinical records of 666 consecutive patients who had optical interferometry were reviewed and the demographic and clinical parameters obtained were subjected to statistical analyses. Results The mean axial length (AL) was 24.43 ± 1.56 mm, significantly shorter among females (p < 0.001). Axial length (AL) was also inversely correlated with age (r = ‐0.50). Mean sphere was ‐1.3 ± 3.4D, and correlated with age (r = 0.57); younger age groups had higher negative values. Myopia was the major refractive-error type (90 to 100%) in the 17- to 30-year-old age bracket. Hyperopia was the predominant refractive error (50 to 75%) among the elderly. The mean keratometry reading was 44 ± 1.5D. Females had steeper K readings than males (p = 0.000). Refractive astigmatism was observed in 47.88% and keratometric astigmatism in 71.7%. Against-the-rule (ATR) was the prevalent type (46.1%) in refractive astigmatism and with-the-rule (WTR) (59.1%) in keratometric astigmatism. Conclusion In the older population, AL was shorter and hyperopia was more prevalent; in the younger population, myopia was more prevalent. Astigmatism did not differ between gender groups but differed among age groups. WTR astigmatism was more prevalent in the younger age group and ATR in the elderly.
Blood Velocities Estimation using Ultrasound

This thesis consists of two parts. In the rst part, the iterative data-adaptive BIAA spectral estimation technique was extended to estimate lateral blood velocities using ultrasound scanners. The BIAA method makes no assumption on samples depth or sampling pattern, and therefore allows for transmission in duplex mode imaging. The technique was examined on a realistic Field II simulation data set, and showed fewer spectral artifacts in comparison with other techniques. In the second part of the thesis, another common problem in blood velocity estimation has been investigated, namely strong backscattered signals from stationary echoes. Two methods have been tested to examine the possibility of overcoming this problem. However, neither of these methods resulted in a better estimation of the blood velocities, most likely as the clutter characteristics in color ow images vary too rapidly to allow for this form of models. This might be a result of the non-stationary tissue motions which could be caused by a variety of factors, such as cardiac activities, respiration, transducer/patient movement, or a combination of them.
Dark Adaptation and the Acuity/Luminance Response in Senile Macular Degeneration (SMD)

ABSTRACT Patients with senile macular degeneration (SMD) often complain of problems with adaptation and have best acuity under a restricted range of lighting conditions. We investigated dark adaptation and acuity over a wide range of luminances in eight SMD patients and six age‐matched controls. Some patients showed evidence of altered dark adaptation, with a much longer time required to reach asymptotic sensitivity levels than shown by normals; others had difficulty with spatial resolution at different light levels. There was good correlation between symptoms and test findings; all but one patient who reported difficulties with adaptation demonstrated either retarded adaptation, aberrant acuity/luminance response, or both. These data provide evidence that the processes which adjust the sensitivity of the retina and the spatial summation properties of the retina are disrupted in SMD.
Appetite Regulatory Peptides PYY 3-36 as an anti-obesity drug target

M. M. Boggiano 1 *, P. C. Chandler 1 , K. D. Oswald 1 , R. J. Rodgers 2 , J. E. Blundell 2 , Y. Ishii 2 , A. H. Beattie 2 , P. Holch 2 , D. B. Allison 3 , M. Schindler 4 , K. Arndt 4 , K. Rudolf 4 , M. Mark 4 , C. Schoelch 4 , H. G. Joost 5 , S. Klaus 5 , C. Thöne-Reineke 5,6 , S. C. Benoit 7 , R. J. Seeley 7 , A. G. Beck-Sickinger 8 , N. Koglin 8 , K. Raun 9 , K. Madsen 9 , B. S. Wulff 9 , C. E. Stidsen 9 , M. Birringer 10 , O. J. Kreuzer 10 , X. Y. Deng 11 , D. C. Whitcomb 11 , H. Halem 12 , J. Taylor 12 , J. Dong 12 , R. Datta 12 , M. Culler 12 , S. Ortmann 13 , T. R. Castañeda 5,7 and M. Tschöp 5,7
Functional Interaction between Fluorodeoxyuridine-Induced Cellular Alterations and Replication of a Ribonucleotide Reductase-Negative Herpes Simplex Virus

ABSTRACT G207 is an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV) which is attenuated by inactivation of viral ribonucleotide reductase (RR) and deletion of both γ 1 34.5 genes. The cellular counterparts that can functionally substitute for viral RR and the carboxyl-terminal domain of ICP34.5 are cellular RR and the corresponding homologous domain of the growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34 (GADD34), respectively. Because the thymidylate synthetase (TS) inhibitor fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) can alter expression of cellular RR and GADD34, we examined the effect of FUdR on G207 bioactivity with the hypothesis that FUdR-induced cellular changes will alter viral proliferation and cytotoxicity. Replication of wild-type HSV-1 was impaired in the presence of 10 nM FUdR, whereas G207 demonstrated increased replication under the same conditions. Combined use of FUdR and G207 resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity. FUdR exposure caused elevation of RR activity at 10 and 100 nM, whereas GADD34 was induced only at 100 nM. The effect of enhanced viral replication by FUdR was suppressed by hydroxyurea, a known inhibitor of RR. These results demonstrate that the growth advantage of G207 in FUdR-treated cells is primarily based on an RR-dependent mechanism. Although our findings show that TS inhibition impairs viral replication, the FUdR-induced RR elevation may overcome this disadvantage, resulting in enhanced replication of G207. These data provide the cellular basis for the combined use of RR-negative HSV mutants and TS inhibitors in the treatment of cancer.