Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
impeded meaningful agricultural productivity gains in SSA countries ( Larson

Although Uganda has poor soils with low organic matter, fertiliser is not widely adopted, especially by female-headed households. Thus we examine the role of gender in inorganic fertiliser adoption using a national household survey. We estimate separate models for femaleand male-headed households to ascertain if the drivers of adoption differ by gender. With respect to male-headed households, we find the number of extension visits, age of head of household, and non-farm earnings significant, but education and distance to market insignificant. With respect to femaleheaded households, we find education and distance to market significant, but the number of extension visits, age of head of household and non-farm earnings insignificant. Our results are robust in that they hold using parametric as well as semiparametric single index models. These findings suggest that different policies may be needed to incentivise fertiliser adoption by maleand female-headed households.
Up-regulation of mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 in ulcerative colitis associated colorectal cancer.

AIM To characterize tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) expression in the progression of ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated colorectal cancer. METHODS Chronic UC is an inflammatory bowel disease that predisposes to colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate TRAP1 expression on tissue microarrays containing colonic tissues from 42 UC progressors (patients with cancer or dysplasia) and 38 non-progressors (dysplasia/cancer free patients). Statistical analyses of the TRAP1 immunohistochemistry staining were performed using GraphPad Prism. Differences in the TRAP1 level between non-progressors and progressors were tested for statistical significance using the Mann-Whitney test. Receiver operating characteristic curve method was used to quantify marker performance in distinguishing diseased cases from controls. RESULTS TRAP1 was up-regulated in the colon tissues from UC progressors, but not in the colon tissues from UC non-progressors. Moreover, up-regulation of TRAP1 preceded the neoplastic changes: it was present in both the dysplastic and non-dysplastic tissues of UC progressors. When TRAP1 staining in rectal tissue was used as a diagnostic marker, it could distinguish progressors from non-progressors with 59% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Our study further showed that the increase of TRAP1 expression positively correlated with the degree of inflammation in the colorectal cancer tissues, which could be related to the increased oxidation present in the colonic mucosa from UC progressors. We then investigated the cellular proteome changes underlying oxidative stress, and found that oxidative stress could induce up-regulation of TRAP1 along with several other negative modulators of apoptosis. CONCLUSION These results suggest that oxidative stress in long standing UC could lead to the increase of cytoprotective protein TRAP1, which in turn could promote cancer progression by preventing or protecting the oxidative damaged epithelial cells from undergoing apoptosis. TRAP1 could be a potential diagnostic marker for UC associated colorectal cancer.
Organization and synaptic connections of cholinergic fibers in the cat superior colliculus

The cat superior colliculus (SC) receives a dense cholinergic input from three brainstem nuclei, the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, the lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus, and the parabigeminal nucleus (PBG). The tegmental inputs project densely to the intermediate gray layer (IGL) and sparsely to the superficial layers. The PBG input probably projects only to the superficial layers. In the present study, the morphology of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)‐immunoreactive axons and synaptic endings in the superficial and deep layers of the SC was examined by light and electron microscopy to determine whether these cholinergic afferents form different types of synapses in the superifical and deep layers.
Extent of utilization of the Frank-Starling mechanism in conscious dogs.

The extent to which an increase in preload increases left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic (ED) diameter (D) was studied in seven conscious dogs instrumented with ultrasonic D transducers and miniature LV pressure (P) gauges. Preload was elevated by three techniques: 1) volume loading with saline infusion, 2) induction of global myocardial ischemia by constricting the left main coronary artery, and 3) infusion of methoxamine. These three interventions increased LVEDP to over 30 mmHg from a control of 10 +/- 1 mmHg. With volume loading, LVEDD rose by only 1.55 +/- 0.39 mm from a control of 44.08 +/- 1.08 mm; with ischemia LVEDD rose by only . 96 +/- . 29 mm from a control of 42.55 +/- 2.18 mm, while with methoxamine LVEDD rose by only 1.34 +/- 0.38 mm from a control of 43.89 +/- 2.07 mm. In contrast, in the open-chest, anesthetized dog, LVEDD was greatly reduced and volume expansion resulted in a profound increase in LVEDD. Thus, the Frank-Starling mechanism is not an important controlling mechanism in the normal, reclining, conscious animal, since LVEDD appears to be near maximal at rest and does not increase substantially despite striking increases in LVEDP.
A Synthetic Peptide Corresponding to the Rab4 Hypervariable Carboxyl-terminal Domain Inhibits Insulin Action on Glucose Transport in Rat Adipocytes (*)

The present study was conducted to examine the involvement of Rab4, a low molecular weight GTP-binding protein, in the action of insulin on glucose transport. A synthetic peptide corresponding to the Rab4 hypervariable carboxyl-terminal domain, Rab4-(191-210), was successfully transferred into rat adipocytes by electroporation and inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose transport by about 50% without affecting the basal transport activity. In contrast, synthetic peptides corresponding to the Rab3C and Rab3D carboxyl-terminal hypervariable domain had little effect on insulin action on glucose transport. The Rab4-(191-210) peptide also reduced insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation from the intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, the Rab4-(191-210) peptide reduced both insulin-induced glucose transport and GLUT4 translocation in the presence of a major histocompatibility complex class I antigen-derived peptide, D-(62-85), which is a potent inhibitor of GLUT4 internalization, suggesting that the peptide inhibited exocytotic recruitment of GLUT4-containing vesicles. The Rab4-(191-210) peptide also inhibited GTPS-stimulated glucose transport. In addition, insulin-stimulated glucose transport was inhibited by the addition of anti-Rab4 antibody. These results suggest that Rab4 protein plays a crucial role in insulin action on GLUT4 translocation, especially in exocytotic recruitment by the hormone of the glucose transporter to the plasma membrane from the intracellular retention pool.
A genetic manipulation system for oceanic cyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus

Unicellular cyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus are among the most abundant members of the picoplankton in the open ocean, and their contribution to primary production is considerable. While several isolates have been used for physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies of their unique adaptations to the marine environment, it has become necessary to develop molecular genetic methods for one or more model open-ocean cyanobacteria in order for studies of these organisms and their unique properties to progress. A number of molecular tools for the genetic manipulation of Synechococcus sp. strains WH7803, WH8102, and WH8103 have been developed. These include a plating technique for obtaining isolated colonies at high efficiencies and a conjugation method for introducing both a replicative vector and a suicide vector. In addition, a method for the generation of random, tagged chromosomal insertions (N. Dolganov and A. R. Grossman, J. Bacteriol. 175:7644-7651, 1993; N. F. Tsinoremas, A. K. Kutach, C. A. Strayer, and S. S. Golden, J. Bacteriol. 176:6764-6768, 1994) has been applied to these organisms.
Gains and Losses in Action Memory

Enacting action phrases (SPT for subject-performed task) produces better free recall than only learning the phrases verbally (VT for verbal task). A widespread explanation of the enactment effect is based on the distinction between item-specific and relational information. There is widespread agreement that the main reason is the excellent item-specific encoding by enactment. However, there is little direct evidence in the case of free recall. The role of relational information is less clear. We suggest that content-based relational encoding is better in VTs than in SPTs. In three experiments, in which multiple free recall testing used item gains and losses as indices of item-specific and content-based relational encoding, respectively, these assumptions were confirmed. Consistently more gains (indexing better item-specific encoding) and more losses (indexing poorer relational encoding) were observed in SPTs than in VTs (Experiments 1 and 2). Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the content-based relational information underlying losses is not identical with order-relational information (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, it was shown that an item-specific orienting task for VTs produced an equivalent number of item gains and losses as did the SPT condition.
Application of medium-chain fatty acids in drinking water increases Campylobacter jejuni colonization threshold in broiler chicks.

Campylobacteriosis is the most reported bacterial-mediated gastroenteritic disease in many developed countries. Broiler chickens are a natural host for Campylobacter spp. , and contaminated poultry meat products are a major source for transmitting pathogenic Campylobacter strains to humans. Currently, no intervention measure efficiently and effectively controls this pathogen in poultry flocks. Medium-chain fatty acids (caproic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids) show a marked anti-Campylobacter activity in vitro. However, in recent trials using our in vivo models, administering these acids to the feed of broiler chicks neither prevented nor reduced cecal C. jejuni colonization in broilers. In the present study, we examined whether a drinking water application of medium-chain fatty acids might be more effective in combating Campylobacter colonization in poultry. Although Campylobacter colonization and transmission was not reduced, we demonstrate that adding an emulsion of a mixture of caproic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids to the drinking water of broiler chicks reduces their colonization susceptibility and prevents C. jejuni survival in drinking water. Thus, the merit of water applications of medium-chain fatty acids is the reduction of the probability of Campylobacter entry into and transmission throughout a flock.
CD70 Signaling Is Critical for CD28-Independent CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Alloimmune Responses In Vivo1

The inability to reproducibly induce robust and durable transplant tolerance using CD28-B7 pathway blockade is in part related to the persistence of alloreactive effector/memory CD8+ T cells that are less dependent on this pathway for their cellular activation. We studied the role of the novel T cell costimulatory pathway, CD27-CD70, in alloimmunity in the presence and absence of CD28-B7 signaling. CD70 blockade prolonged survival of fully mismatched vascularized cardiac allografts in wild-type murine recipients, and in CD28-deficient mice induced long-term survival while significantly preventing the development of chronic allograft vasculopathy. CD70 blockade had little effect on CD4+ T cell function but prevented CD8+ T cell-mediated rejection, inhibited the proliferation and activation of effector CD8+ T cells, and diminished the expansion of effector and memory CD8+ T cells in vivo. Thus, the CD27-CD70 pathway is critical for CD28-independent effector/memory CD8+ alloreactive T cell activation in vivo. These novel findings have important implications for the development of transplantation tolerance-inducing strategies in primates and humans, in which CD8+ T cell depletion is currently mandatory.
Surveying Multiple Health Professional Team Members Within Institutional Settings

Quality improvement and cost containment initiatives in health care increasingly involve interdisciplinary teams of providers. To understand organizational functioning, information is often needed from multiple members of a leadership team since no one person may have sufficient knowledge of all aspects of the organization. To minimize survey burden, it is ideal to ask unique questions of each member of the leadership team in areas of their expertise. However, this risks substantial missing data if all eligible members of the organization do not respond to the survey. Nursing home administrators (NHA) and directors of nursing (DoN) play important roles in the leadership of long-term care facilities. Surveys were administered to NHAs and DoNs from a random, nationally representative sample of U.S. nursing homes about the impact of state policies, market forces, and organizational factors that impact provider performance and residents’ outcomes. Responses were obtained from a total of 2,686 facilities (response rate [RR] = 66.6%) in which at least one individual completed the questionnaire and 1,693 facilities (RR = 42.0%) in which both providers participated. No evidence of nonresponse bias was detected. A high-quality representative sample of two providers in a long-term care facility can be obtained. It is possible to optimize data collection by obtaining unique information about the organization from each provider while minimizing the number of items asked of each individual. However, sufficient resources must be available for follow-up to nonresponders with particular attention paid to lower resourced, lower quality facilities caring for higher acuity residents in highly competitive nursing home markets.
Medical risk classification of dental patients in The Netherlands.

This study centers on the general health of dental patients, evaluated on the basis of the physical status classification system of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). A total of 4,087 patients completed a risk-related, patient-administered questionnaire. On the basis of their medical data, a computerized ASA classification was determined for each patient: 63.3 percent were in ASA class I, 25.7 percent in class II, 8.9 percent in class III, and 2.1 percent in class IV. After verification and/or consultation with the physician, the dentist also determined the ASA class, and this was compared with the computerized outcome. The agreement expressed as a kappa value was 0.64; the computer result generally placed the patient in a higher category of medical risk. The computer-determined ASA classes differed among the various dental practices (chi 2 = 262.9; df = 138; P < .01). It is possible to estimate the risk class of dental patients on the basis of standardized medical information only; however, the definitive ASA class can only be determined after verification of the patient's reply or, in some cases, after consultation with a physician.
Review: Helical computed tomography for suspected pulmonary embolism needs further evaluation

D a t a e x t r a c t i o n Data were extracted on country and year of publication, CT and diagnostic standards, study quality (measured using 11 predefined methodologic criteria), vessels imaged, sensitivity, and specificity. Criteria for methodologic quality were description of scanning technique, criteria for normal and abnormal results, blinding, reliability measured by repeated testing, description of patients enrolled and not enrolled, reporting of disease severity and other diseases identified, procedures for using the diagnostic standard and CT scan regardless of results of the other test, and independent interpretation of test results.
Magnetic and Magnetocaloric Properties in Ferrimagnetic Mn2−xCoxSb ( $x=0.15$  and 0.20) Alloys

The ferrimagnetic Mn2-xCoxSb (x = 0.15 and 0.20) alloys were prepared by arc-melting technique. The structure, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties on these compounds were investigated. The tetragonal Cu2Sb-type structure (P4/nmm space group) was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction measurements at room temperature for these two alloys. The Co-introduction results in a first-order magnetic transition between the antiferromagnetic and the ferrimagnetic state. Adopting the standard and loop process method, respectively, the measurements of isothermal magnetization were performed and the magnetic entropy changes were evaluated for these alloys.
IFN-γ Inhibits Presentation of a Tumor/Self Peptide by CD8α− Dendritic Cells Via Potentiation of the CD8α+ Subset1

Using an in vivo model of tumor/self peptide presentation for induction of class I-restricted skin test reactivity, we have previously shown that a minority population of CD8+ dendritic cells (DC) negatively regulates the induction of T cell reactivity by peptide-loaded CD8− DC in DBA/2 mice. However, the CD8− fraction can be primed by IL-12 to overcome inhibition by the CD8+ subset when the two types of DC are cotransferred into recipient hosts. We report here that exposure of CD8+ DC to IFN-γ greatly enhances their inhibitory activity on Ag presentation by the other subset, blocking the ability of IL-12-treated CD8− DC to overcome suppression. In contrast, IFN-γ has no direct effects on the APC function of the latter cells and does not interfere with IL-12 signaling. The negative regulatory effect triggered by IFN-γ in CD8+ DC appears to involve interference with tryptophan metabolism in vivo. Through tryptophan depletion affecting T cell responses, IFN-γ acting on CD8+ DC may thus contribute to regulation of immunity to tumor/self peptides presented by the CD8− subset.
Tectonic velocities, dynamic topography, and relative sea level

A simple dynamic model based on boundary layer theory shows that dynamic topography is unlikely to vary significantly in response to short term (≤20 Myr) variations in the mean tectonic velocity. Tectonic velocities essentially mirror variations in mantle viscosity, but are not indicative of substantial modification of dynamic topography, which primarily reflects mass anomalies in the mantle. This implies that relative sea level is unlikely to be affected by “tectonic pulses” and also that observed tilting of cratonic margins cannot result from a pulse of increased tectonic velocities. Thus, relative sea level is primarily controlled by the seafloor age distribution, although long term (≥100 Myrs) changes in tectonic velocity will produce dynamic topography that reinforces sea level changes associated with changing ridge volume.
Prime-Boost Immunization of Codon Optimized HIV-1 CRF01_AE Gag in BCG with Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Elicits MHC Class I and II Immune Responses in Mice

The HIV-1 CRF01_AE gag gene was modified by codon restriction for Mycobacterium spp. and transformed into BCG; and it was designated as rBCG/codon optimized gagE. This produced 11 fold higher HIV-1 gag protein expression than the recombinant native gene rBCG/HIV-1gagE. In mice, CTL activity could be induced either by a single immunization of the codon optimized construct or by using it as a priming antigen in the prime-boost modality with recombinant Vaccinia virus expressing native HIV-1 gag. Specific secreted cytokine responses were also investigated. Only when rBCG gag was codon optimized did the prime-boost immunization produce significantly enhanced IFN-γ and IL-2 secretion indicating recognition via CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and these responses seemed to be codon optimized immunogen dose-responsive. On contrary, the prime-boost vaccination using an equal amount of native rBCG/HIV-1gagE instead, or a single rBCG/codon optimized gagE immunization, had no similar effect on the cytokine secretion. These findings suggest that the use of recombinant codon BCG construct with recombinant Vaccinia virus encoding CRF01_AE gag as the prime-boost HIV vaccine candidate, will induce CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ T cell cytokine secretions in addition to enhancing CD8+ CTL response.
The role of lymphocyte subsets and adhesion molecules in T cell‐dependent cytotoxicity mediated by CD3 and CD28 bispecific monoclonal antibodies

The cure of human Hodgkin's tumors heterotransplanted into SCID mice can be achieved by two bispecific monoclonal antibodies (Bi‐mAb) directed against the tumor‐associated CD30 antigen and CD3 and CD28, respectively, and normal peripheral human blood T cells. We investigated the role of lymphocyte subsets and adhesion molecules in this Bi‐mAb‐mediated cytolysis. CD4+ lymphocytes were the most rapidly expanding subpopulation, but Bi‐mAb‐directed cytotoxicity was mediated preferentially by CD8+ lymphocytes and effector cells belonging to the CD45RO+ “memory” pool. Blocking of the LFA‐1/ICAM‐1 or CD2/LFA‐3 adhesion pathways by mAb decreased Bi‐mAb‐mediated cytotoxicity. This was not due to inhibition of aggregate formation between Bi‐mAb‐coated T lymphocytes and target cells. Cross‐linking of LFA‐1 or CD2 molecules on lymphocytes prestimulated with Bi‐mAb bound to CD3 and CD28 antigen lead to a more pronounced and prolonged rise in the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+. Additional CD2 cross‐linking resulted in the tyrosine phosphorylation of distinct proteins. These findings indicate that adhesion molecules play a critical role and function as co‐stimulatory signals rather than as cellular contact mediators in CD3 and CD28 Bi‐mAb‐stimulated T lymphocytes.
IL28B polymorphism genotyping as predictor of rapid virologic response during interferon plus ribavirin treatment in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 patients.

AIM To clarify the association of interleukin-28B (IL28B) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia changes for assessment of interferon (IFN) response. METHODS A cohort of 118 Caucasian treatment-naïve HCV-G1 infected patients, treated with pegylated-IFN alpha 2a or 2b associated with ribavirin (53 responders, 65 non-responders) during the period 2010-2012, were genotyped for IL28B SNPs rs12979860 C>T and rs8099917 T>G. Genotyping was performed by real-time allelic discrimination assay. Serum HCV RNA levels were assayed at 2, 4, 12, 24 and 48 wk during therapy. Correlation between IL28B genotypes and serum HCV RNA kinetics was investigated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of null-response. RESULTS Twenty-six out of 118 patients (22%) had no HCV RNA decline ≥ 1 log IU/mL at therapy week 4 (null-responders). IL28B genotype was rs8099917 (G)/rs1297860 in 21/26 (80%) of null-responder patients. Using multivariate analysis, it was shown that the presence of the rs8099917 G allele was the best predictor of null-response (OR = 7.9, 95%CI: 1.99-31.18). The presence of at least one favorable genotype showed a positive predictive value of above 90% for HCV RNA reduction ≥ log at week 4. Analysis of the HCV RNA kinetics during 12 wk of therapy in patients with IL28B rs12979860 CT heterozygosis (n = 73), according to their rs8099917 status, showed that the viremia reduction was significantly different in patients carrying the rs8099917 G allele compared to those with favorable homozygosis. CONCLUSION Our findings emphasize the association of the IL28B rs8099917 G allele with HCV. Genotyping for both IL28B SNPs is useful in clinical practice for thorough patient risk stratification based on IFN responsiveness.