Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Citrobacter freundii Invades and Replicates in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT Neonatal bacterial meningitis remains a disease with unacceptable rates of morbidity and mortality despite the availability of effective antimicrobial therapy. Citrobacter spp. cause neonatal meningitis but are unique in their frequent association with brain abscess formation. The pathogenesis of Citrobacter spp. causing meningitis and brain abscess is not well characterized; however, as with other meningitis-causing bacteria (e.g.,Escherichia coli K1 and group B streptococci), penetration of the blood-brain barrier must occur. In an effort to understand the pathogenesis of Citrobacter spp. causing meningitis, we have used the in vitro blood-brain barrier model of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) to study the interaction between C. freundii and HBMEC. In this study, we show thatC. freundii is capable of invading and trancytosing HBMEC in vitro. Invasion of HBMEC by C. freundii was determined to be dependent on microfilaments, microtubules, endosome acidification, and de novo protein synthesis. Immunofluorescence microscopy studies revealed that microtubules aggregated after HBMEC came in contact with C. freundii; furthermore, the microtubule aggregation was time dependent and seen with C. freundii but not with noninvasive E. coli HB101 and meningitic E. coli K1. Also in contrast to other meningitis-causing bacteria, C. freundii is able to replicate within HBMEC. This is the first demonstration of a meningitis-causing bacterium capable of intracellular replication within BMEC. The important determinants of the pathogenesis of C. freundii causing meningitis and brain abscess may relate to invasion of and intracellular replication in HBMEC.
The Visibility of Social Class From Facial Cues

Social class meaningfully impacts individuals’ life outcomes and daily interactions, and the mere perception of one’s socioeconomic standing can have significant ramifications. To better understand how people infer others’ social class, we therefore tested the legibility of class (operationalized as monetary income) from facial images, finding across 4 participant samples and 2 stimulus sets that perceivers categorized the faces of rich and poor targets significantly better than chance. Further investigation showed that perceivers categorize social class using minimal facial cues and employ a variety of stereotype-related impressions to make their judgments. Of these, attractiveness accurately cued higher social class in self-selected dating profile photos. However, only the stereotype that well-being positively relates to wealth served as a valid cue in neutral faces. Indeed, neutrally posed rich targets displayed more positive affect relative to poor targets and perceivers used this affective information to categorize their social class. Impressions of social class from these facial cues also influenced participants’ evaluations of the targets’ employability, demonstrating that face-based perceptions of social class may have important downstream consequences.
Morph-Dependent Expression and Subcellular Localization of Host Serine Carboxypeptidase in Bacteriocytes of the Pea Aphid Associated with Degradation of the Endosymbiotic Bacterium Buchnera

Pea aphids form a mutualistic association with the endosymbiotic bacterium Buchnera, which is harbored in specialized host cells called bacteriocytes. The adult aphids display dimorphism in which there are winged and wingless morphs. We previously reported that the Buchnera density in bacteriocytes of the winged morph (alate) decreases around final ecdysis, whereas that in the wingless morph (aptera) does not decrease; the decrease in density in alatae is accompanied by activation of the host lysosomal system and by Buchnera degradation. In the present study, we performed a proteomic analysis to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the decrease in Buchnera density. By comparing the protein expression profiles of bacteriocytes in alatae and apterae just after final ecdysis, we identified three and one protein spots that were preferentially expressed in alatae and apterae, respectively. Among the three alate-preferential spots, two were an identical aphid protein, carboxypeptidase vitellogenic-like (CPVL), whereas the other was a mixture of four proteins: &ggr;-glutamyl hydrolase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, aphid short chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and Buchnera S-adenosylmethionine synthetase. The aptera-preferential spot was Buchnera outer membrane protein A. Immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses using aphid bacteriocytes just after final ecdysis revealed that expression of aphid CPVL was preferentially upregulated in alatae and was localized around Buchnera cells in the bacteriocytes, suggesting the involvement of CPVL in Buchnera degradation in alatae.
Loan/Loss Provisioning in Emerging Europe: Precautionary or Pro-Cyclical?

The recent global financial crisis has generated considerable interest in reviewing the regulatory environment surrounding the banking sectors in most countries and proposals for changes designed to avoid such a severe outcome in the future. In this paper, we consider a particular aspect relevant to bank regulation, namely, the cyclicality of loan loss provisioning, in a region of emerging market economies. All eleven of the countries in our sample are currently new members of the European Union, the first group entering 2004 and the last country joining in 2013. Our time period from 1997 to 2010 covers roughly one and a half business cycles, starting with the impact of the Russian financial crisis and followed by a rapid growth of bank credit prior to the included global financial crisis. We find that the determinants of loan loss provisioning by banks in the region are similar to those found in the literature for other countries both developed and developing ones. We find evidence on income smoothing through provisioning and capital management by substitution. Unlike the results in much of the literature, we do not find statistically significant evidence of bank-specific pro-cyclicality, i.e., a strong positive relationship between provisioning and individual bank loan growth. However, we do find strong and robust evidence of macroeconomic pro-cyclicality, i.e., a strong positive relationship between provisioning and country GDP growth. Based on the innovative policy of dynamic (statistical) provisioning instrument adopted by Spanish regulators in 2000 to smooth provisioning over the business cycle, we draw implications for regulatory design specific to this region in which financial sectors are bank-centric and financial deepening is occurring.
Determinants of the Probability of Obtaining Formal and Informal Long-Term Care in European Countries. ENEPRI Research Report No. 99, November 2011

The aim of this report is to identify patterns in the utilisation of formal and informal long-term care (LTC) across European countries and discuss possible determinants of demand for different types of care. It addresses specific research questions on the volume of different types of care and the conditions under which care is provided. The latter include demographic factors, especially population ageing, health status and the limitations caused by poor health, family settings and social networking. The analysis indicates substantial differences in the receipt of LTC across European countries, depending on traditions and social protection models, which determine both the availability of institutional care and the provision of informal care. In countries with a Scandinavian approach, where the levels of state responsibility and provision of institutional care are high, informal care is less prominent and is mostly provided on an irregular basis by caregivers outside the family. As needs for care increase, formal settings are more common. Countries in the Continental Europe group are less uniform, with a high share of individuals using formal settings of care, but also combining formal and informal care. In Mediterranean countries, the provision of informal care, including personal care, plays a much greater role than formal LTC.
Chikungunya Virus Arthritis in Adult Wild-Type Mice

ABSTRACT Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne arthrogenic alphavirus that has recently reemerged to produce the largest epidemic ever documented for this virus. Here we describe a new adult wild-type mouse model of chikungunya virus arthritis, which recapitulates the self-limiting arthritis, tenosynovitis, and myositis seen in humans. Rheumatic disease was associated with a prolific infiltrate of monocytes, macrophages, and NK cells and the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Infection with a virus isolate from the recent Reunion Island epidemic induced significantly more mononuclear infiltrates, proinflammatory mediators, and foot swelling than did an Asian isolate from the 1960s. Primary mouse macrophages were shown to be productively infected with chikungunya virus; however, the depletion of macrophages ameliorated rheumatic disease and prolonged the viremia. Only 1 μg of an unadjuvanted, inactivated, whole-virus vaccine derived from the Asian isolate completely protected against viremia and arthritis induced by the Reunion Island isolate, illustrating that protection is not strain specific and that low levels of immunity are sufficient to mediate protection. IFN-α treatment was able to prevent arthritis only if given before infection, suggesting that IFN-α is not a viable therapy. Prior infection with Ross River virus, a related arthrogenic alphavirus, and anti-Ross River virus antibodies protected mice against chikungunya virus disease, suggesting that individuals previously exposed to Ross River virus should be protected from chikungunya virus disease. This new mouse model of chikungunya virus disease thus provides insights into pathogenesis and a simple and convenient system to test potential new interventions.
Description of the type of chemical restraint used by French veterinarians to perform hip dysplasia screening radiographs

Summary The objective of this study was to investigate the type of chemical restraint used by French practitioners to perform official hip screening radiographs, to determine the proportion of dogs under general anesthesia versus dogs under sedation, and to search for a difference in hip dysplasia (HD) prevalence between the two groups. From September 2005 to August 2008, 3302 conventional ventrodorsal hip extended radiographs sent for official scoring to the same panellist were selected because information related to the type of chemical restraint had been provided. There were 2825 dogs under general anesthesia and 477 were sedated. Chemical restraint used by French veterinarians to perform HD screening radio-graphs is mainly based on general intra-venous anesthesia with an α2 agonist associated with ketamine. A single injection of α2 agonist is also mostly used for dogs which are radiographed while under sedation. A very low (1.7%) difference in HD prevalence was noted between the anesthetized and the sedated group. Except for acepromazine, which has been demonstrated to provide insufficient muscle relaxation to show evidence of hip laxity, the protocols seem acceptable as regards the Federation Cynologique Internationale requirements for HD screening.
Renal carcinoma metastasis to the parotid gland

Abstract Metastatic tumours in major salivary glands are uncommon with a higher incidence of primary sites from the head and neck. The lungs and breast are the common primary sites, while metastases from the kidney are very rarely found. The authors describe a case of renal clear-cell carcinoma with metastastis to the parotid gland. The incidence of a metastasis in the parotid gland from a primary renal carcinoma, even if rare, should not be overlooked in making a correct differential diagnosis with acinic cell carcinoma and monomorphic clear cell adenoma.
AIR POLLUTION AND RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

A chohort study was carried out to determine impact of outdoor and indoor air pollution on excces of respiratory symptoms. A total of 663 preschool children (aged 1-7) from two areas with different levels of common air pollutant (sulfur dioxide and black smoke) were staded. Trained medical students interviewed parents at home and in kindergarten.The standard WHO questionnaires was used. It inquired about respiratory symptoms (cough, wheezing,phlegm) and respiratory illness (asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia), indoor air pollution (heating in home and passive smoking). Respiratory symptoms didn`t show more common occurrence in preschool children living in polluted area. Also indoor heating didn`t affect respiratory tract significantly. Passive smoking has significantly more influence on respiratory symptoms among preschool children. Present finding suggest that passive smoking may be a significant etiologic factor in the occurrence of respiratory symptoms and illness. A clear effect of exposure to high sulfur dioxide concentration during the life has not been established.
Corporate Taxation and Corporate Social Responsibility

" The imposition of taxes and the expenditure of tax proceeds are governmental functions. The whole justification for permitting the corporate executive to be selected by the stockholders is that the executive is an agent serving the interests of his principal. This justification disappears when the corporate executive imposes taxes and spends the proceeds for 'so-cial' purposes. " 1 Article was originally submitted as Senate testimony. See infra note 5. All errors are my own.
Adherence to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis in victims of sexual assault: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To assess adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for the prevention of HIV infection in victims of sexual assault. Methods The authors carried out a systematic review, random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression of studies reporting adherence to PEP among victims of sexual violence. Seven electronic databases were searched. Our primary outcome was adherence; secondary outcomes included defaulting, refusal and side effects. Results 2159 titles were screened, and 24 studies matching the inclusion criteria were taken through to analysis. The overall proportion of patients adhering to PEP (23 cohort studies, 2166 patients) was 40.3% (95% CI 32.5% to 48.1%), and the overall proportion of patients defaulting from care (18 cohorts, 1972 patients) was 41.2% (95% CI 31.1% to 51.4%). Adherence appeared to be higher in developing countries compared with developed countries. Conclusions Adherence to PEP is poor in all settings. Interventions are needed to support adherence.
Structural and Functional Analysis of a Conjugated Bile Salt Hydrolase from Bifidobacterium longum Reveals an Evolutionary Relationship with Penicillin V Acylase*

Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) is an enzyme produced by the intestinal microflora that catalyzes the deconjugation of glycine- or taurine-linked bile salts. The crystal structure of BSH reported here from Bifidobacterium longum reveals that it is a member of N-terminal nucleophil hydrolase structural superfamily possessing the characteristic αββα tetra-lamellar tertiary structure arrangement. Site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic nucleophil residue, however, shows that it has no role in zymogen processing into its corresponding active form. Substrate specificity was studied using Michaelis-Menten and inhibition kinetics and fluorescence spectroscopy. These data were compared with the specificity profile of BSH from Clostridium perfrigens and pencillin V acylase from Bacillus sphaericus, for both of which the three-dimensional structures are available. Comparative analysis shows a gradation in activity toward common substrates, throwing light on a possible common route toward the evolution of pencillin V acylase and BSH.
Factors influencing the fracture of dental implants

BACKGROUND Implant fractures are rare but offer a challenging clinical situation. PURPOSE To determine the prevalence of implant fracture and the possible risk factors predisposing an implant to a higher fracture risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study is based on 2670 patients consecutively treated with implant-supported prostheses. Anatomical-, patient-, and implant-related factors were collected. Descriptive statistics and survival analyses were performed. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) evaluated the effect of explanatory variables on implant fracture. RESULTS Forty-four implants (out of 10 099; 0.44%) fractured. The mean ± standard deviation time for fracture to occur was 95.1 ± 58.5 months (min-max, 3.8-294.7). Half of the occurrences of fracture happened between 2 and 8 years after implantation. Five factors had a statistically significant influence on the fracture of implants (increase/decrease in fracture probability): use of higher grades of titanium (decrease 72.9%), bruxism (increase 1819.5%), direct adjacency to cantilever (increase 247.6%), every 1 mm increase in implant length (increase 22.3%), every 1 mm increase in implant diameter (decrease 96.9%). CONCLUSIONS It is suggested that 5 factors could influence the incidence of implant fractures: grade of titanium, implant diameter and length, cantilever, bruxism.
Comparison of the effect of high-dose inhaled budesonide and fluticasone on adrenal function in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of respiratory-related morbidity and mortality. Inhaled steroids are frequently used in patients with moderate to severe disease and may lead to adrenal suppression. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of inhaled budesonide/formoterol with inhaled fluticasone/salmeterol in severe COPD. METHODS: It was a prospective open-label crossover study of 22 patients. Adrenal suppression was measured by overnight urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio. The measurements were taken while patients were on either combination for at least 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients completed the study. The mean age was 64 years (8 males, 4 females). The mean FEV1 was 1 L (range, 0.5-1.8). There was no significant difference in adrenal suppression measured by overnight urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (budesonide 5.2 ± 4.3, fluticasone 4.7 ± 3.1; 95% CI -2.2 to 1.2; P = 0.52) and urinary cortisol concentration (budesonide 51 ± 53, fluticasone 43 ± 31 [nmol/l]; 95% CI -35 to 20; P = 0.56). CONCLUSION: Inhaled budesonide and fluticasone have no significantly different effect on adrenal function in moderate to severe COPD. The adverse event profile of high-dose inhaled steroids should not influence the choice of medication.
Outbreak of tetanus among elderly women treated with sheep cell therapy.

Tetanus is a worldwide disease whose incidence is highest in developing countries. In most Western nations, however, the incidence is less than one case per million population per year [1]. About 60% of the cases occur in persons years [2]. In Argentina, a country with 34 million inhabitants, 10 to 67 cases have been reported yearly in the past decade [1]. We describe an outbreak of tetanus in a population of elderly patients who received sheep cell therapy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between March and April 1996. On 14 March 1996, a 63-year-old Argentine woman complained to her relatives of muscle rigidity in her face and legs. She was treated at a medical center for symptoms of high blood pressure and contractures. The patient's condition gradually worsened, and on 18 March, when she became unable to walk, a diagnosis of tetanus was reached. She died 3 days later. On 22 March, a 54year-old woman with a clinical diagnosis of tetanus died, and six other women with tetanus were admitted to infectious disease services in two hospitals in the province of Buenos Aires. The following week, four more patients with clinical diagnoses of tetanus were admitted to these hospitals. Of these 12 women, seven subsequently died. All patients developed the severe generalized type of tetanus; no mild cases or the local or cephalic types of the disease were seen in this patient population. Interviews of the patients and their relatives revealed that all had received intramuscular injections of fetal sheep cells as part of an alternative treatment for rheumatism and arthrosis between 8 and 14 days before the onset of symptoms (mean interval, 11 days). All patients had received cell therapy for several years at a single clinic in the province of Buenos Aires. A single pharmaceutical company was the source of the sheep cell preparations. Family members reported that the patients had not previously been vaccinated with tetanus toxoid. While most patients received the doses of cell therapy at the clinic, the possibility that needles or syringes were shared in the clinic or outside the facility was ruled out. The fetal sheep cells used by the patients were analyzed at three independent infectious disease centers. At the first center, gram staining for Clostridium tetani was not performed. At the second center, the samples were reanalyzed, and positive evidence of anaerobic organisms was found in one of the samples, although the presence of clostridia was not demonstrated. At the third center, rodents and rabbits were inoculated with this sample. These animals subsequently developed the clinical symptoms of tetanus. About one century has elapsed since the protein neurotoxins produced by clostridia were identified as the cause of the paralytic syndromes of tetanus and botulism [3]. Despite the availability of effective and inexpensive tetanus toxoid vaccines, cases of tetanus continue to occur in most countries. The cases described in this report are
Attenuated Host Resistance againstMycobacterium bovis BCG Infection in Mice Lacking Osteopontin

ABSTRACT Expression of the cytokine osteopontin (OPN) is elevated in granulomas caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We tested the hypothesis that OPN contributes to host protection in a mouse model of mycobacterial infection. When infected with Mycobacterium bovis BCG, mice lacking a functional OPN gene had more severe infections characterized by heavier bacterial loads and a delayed clearance of the bacteria. The OPN-null mice had greater granuloma burdens consistent with the elevated bacterial load. The ability of osteopontin to facilitate the clearance of mycobacteria was most pronounced early after infection and appeared to be independent of known mediators of resistance to infection by mycobacteria: antigen-specific T-cell immunity, gamma interferon production, and nitric oxide production. BCG grew more rapidly in macrophages derived from OPN-null mice than in those from wild-type mice, demonstrating that the null phenotype was due to an intrinsic macrophage defect. These results indicate that osteopontin augments the host response against a mycobacterial infection and that it acts independently from other antimycobacterial resistance mechanisms.
The neurons in layer 1 of cat visual cortex

We have examined the morphology of neurons in layer 1 by injecting them intracellularly with lucifer yellow in lightly fixed brain slices (250 µm thick) taken from the medial bank of area 17 in adult cats. Of 22 neurons with well- filled dendrites, 16 had smooth dendrites, two had sparsely spiny dendrites ( < 200 spines) and, unexpectedly, four had spiny dendrites typical of pyramidal cells. The axon was generally not well filled. Computer reconstructions showed that parts of the dendritic tree had been lost in the sectioning. Nevertheless, measurements of the length of intact dendrites suggested an average diameter of the dendritic tree of 220 µm. The density of the neurons was such that the dendritic trees of about six neurons cover each point in layer 1. Thus, despite the very low density of neurons that characterizes layer 1 there are more than sufficient neurons to sample from the entire representation of the visual field in area 17.