Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Inhibits Apoptosis Using the Phosphatidylinositol 3′-Kinase and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathways*

The role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in preventing apoptosis was examined in differentiated PC12 cells. Induction of differentiation was achieved using nerve growth factor, and apoptosis was provoked by serum withdrawal. After 4-6 h of serum deprivation, apoptosis was initiated, concomitant with a 30% decrease in cell number and a 75% decrease in MTT activity. IGF-1 was capable of preventing apoptosis at concentrations as low as 10−9 M and as early as 4 h. The phosphatidylinositol 3′ (PI3′)-kinase inhibitors wortmannin (at concentrations of 10−8 M) and LY294002 (10−6 M) blocked the effect of IGF-1. The pp70 S6 kinase (pp70S6K) inhibitor rapamycin (10−8 M) was, however, less effective in blocking IGF-1 action. Moreover, stable transfection of a dominant-negative p85 (subunit of PI3′-kinase) construct in PC12 cells enhanced apoptosis provoked by serum deprivation. Interestingly, in the cells overexpressing the dominant-negative p85 protein, IGF-1 was still capable of inhibiting apoptosis, suggesting the existence of a second pathway involved in the IGF-1 effect. Blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway with the specific mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-response kinase kinase inhibitor PD098059 (10−5 M) inhibited the IGF-1 effect. When wortmannin and PD098059 were given together, the effect was synergistic. The results presented here suggest that IGF-1 is capable of preventing apoptosis by activation of multiple signal transduction pathways.
Komunální politika. Obce, aktéři a cíle místní politiky

Hlavnim cilem publikace Komunalni politika. Obce, akteři a cile mistni politiky je v ceskem prostředi poprve souhrnně v jednom celku představit a analyzovat výsledky dlouhodobeho systematickeho původniho výzkumu vsech tři dimenzi komunalni politiky - institucionalni, vztahove i obsahove.
Changing Communities, Changing Spaces: The Challenges of Health Promotion Outreach in cyberspace

This article is a case study of an Internet chat room outreach project in Perth, Western Australia. The CyberReach project sought to adapt current peer based health promotion outreach, training and supervision frameworks to an online outreach setting in a way that was effective and supported by the online community. It targeted marginalised groups to trial the provision of online mental and sexual health promotion incorporating a participatory action research model into its development and implementation. Three 6-week trial periods were conducted and significant changes were made in response to changes in the online environment and to improve sustainability and effectiveness of the protocols. Four themes arose from CyberReach's experience: online group processes are unique due to the creation of extensive personal networks and occurrence of disclosure without face-to-face contact across potentially large geographic barriers; flexibility is required to adapt to technological changes and online community flux; enforcing boundaries and delineating peer education from therapeutic support can be challenging when only using text-based communication; and Internet outreach can be time intensive with small returns in actual community engagement and constant technological up-skilling of staff may be required. Based on the project's experiences we offer the following recommendations when planning similar Internet outreach strategies: Funding and planning groups need to be aware that the Internet environment is constantly changing and planning and funding arrangements need to reflect a capacity to remain flexible; Programs need to be firmly connected to the communities they are outreaching therefore a peer-based education component is strongly encouraged; Careful consideration should be taken regarding data collection so that the environment and the individuals within are respected; Further research needs to be conducted to understand the styles and approaches of different online interactions, and the relative influence of technical platforms, gender and age.
Infant nutrition and lifelong health: current perspectives and future challenges

Understanding the role and importance of nutrition in early postnatal life, as an influence on lifelong vulnerability to poor health, is an important part of current research. We need to be able to define optimal patterns of infant feeding, not just to support growth and development in infancy, but also as determinants of later health. To date, much of the focus on the long-term effects of infant nutrition has been on milk feeding, to compare breast and formula feeding and to evaluate the effects of exclusivity, timing and duration of feeding different types of milk in infancy; other aspects of infant feeding such as age at introduction of solid foods and type of weaning diet have received less attention, and relatively little is known about their links to later health. Contemporary data are needed to enable us to move beyond explanation of historical infant feeding data in order to understand and predict health outcomes in future generations. Ongoing and new population studies, that include infants from diverse settings, will be key to providing generalizable data that can be used to define optimal feeding practice. There are some methodological challenges ahead, although significant progress has already been made, and further progress is envisaged in the future. In particular, the opportunity to bring together epidemiological studies and new mechanistic insights that will help identify key aspects of infant nutrition and their causal effects offer great promise both in moving this field forward as well as the potential for health benefits for future generations.
Correlation between Emotions and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Two Cases of Diabetes Mellitus

&NA; A report was given on two cases of diabetes mellitus—in a man and a woman—who both developed their illness under the strain of an emotional conflict of striking similarity. Both subjects showed unusually strong tendencies to receive and to be taken care of. The first patient's essential demands were stimulated by a physical trauma at the end of his weaning period; the second patient's by a traumatic weaning process. Both patients retained an infantile dependent and demanding attitude, and felt frustrated because their demands for attention and love were out of proportion to the reality situation of an adult and consequently were never adequately satisfied. To this frustration both patients reacted with hostility. Diabetes developed in, both cases when these infantile wishes conflicted with the demands that were frustrated, and the sugar output decreased when they temporarily renounced their demanding attitudes. In the diagram we see very clearly that sugar output is increased under the strain of the above conflict, and decreased when the patients indulged in self‐pity and passivity. It seems probable to us that these food‐demanding drives, under the condition that nobody is there to satisfy them externally, may turn to an autoplastic satisfaction in a metabolic process which mobilizes glucose out of the glycogen stores of the body. The observation of the increased sugar output during the night, i. e. , independent of the carbohydrate intake, under certain emotional conditions described above, is consistent with these assumptions. This interpretation is in conformity with recent experimental findings, namely, that in certain cases of diabetes mellitus the rise of the sugar level is dependent not on failure of sugar utilization but on sugar mobilization.
Survey A survey of blending methods that use parametric surfaces

The paper discusses the blending problem m geometric modelhng, and it provides a comprehensive review of solutions that use parametric surfaces A terminology and a classification are presented to help clarify the nature of blending, and the relationships between various parametric blending methods Several geometric techniques are evaluated, highlighting concepts which the authors feel to be important Topological issues are also &scussed In conclusion, the applicability and efficiency of parametric techniques for general blending situations are emphasized, and open questions for future research are presented An up-to-date hst of publications on blending, including parametric-surface methods and other methods, Is provided as a key to the literature
A Qualitative Study of Sport Event Volunteer Management

Volunteerism is defined as giving unpaid help to an organization to which an individual has no obligation (Clary & Snyder, 1999; Wilson & Musick, 1997). Numerous studies exist on volunteer motivation, satisfaction and retention (Chelladurai, 1999, 2006; Costa, Chalip, Green & Simes, 2006; Cuskelly, Taylor, Hoye & Darcy, 2006; Farrell, Johnston & Twynam, 1998; Kim, Chelladurai & Trail, 2007; Khoo & Engelhorn, 2011) and an impressive number of studies examine volunteer management (Cuskelly, McIntyre & Boag, 1998; Stern & Fullerton, 2009; Waters & Bortree, 2012). An area which is lacking research is the volunteer sport event manager. The volunteer manager takes on the responsibility to lead other volunteers through event coordination. The purpose of this qualitative study and the main research question was to examine what influences a person’s choice to volunteer for a management role at a sport event. The participants in this study volunteered for a 2015 regional senior games in western United States which has been recurring for thirty-eight years and is run for athletes age 50 and over. Participants in the study had at least one year of previous volunteer coordinator experience and many of the participants had several years of volunteer experience. The study included questions relating to the volunteer managers’ satisfaction with the organization within which they volunteer, with their interactions with subordinate volunteers, and with their satisfaction with the management experience.
Modulation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherence to the corneal surface by mucus

To gain access to the corneal epithelium and cause infections keratitis, bacterial pathogens must first interact with ocular surface factors that could affect bacterial adherence. In this study, we demonstrated that the mucus layer, and, in particular, the mucin fraction of mucus, modulated adherence to intact corneal epithelium of Pseudomonas aeruginosa but not that of Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Removal of endogenous mucus from rat or rabbit eyes increased the adherence of P. aeruginosa by 3- to 10-fold. Ocular mucus obtained from rat eyes, porcine stomach mucin, or bovine submaxillary gland mucin inhibited adherence of P. aeruginosa to uninjured corneal epithelium. The mucin fraction of ocular mucus, purified by ultracentrifugation, was found to contain the inhibitory activity, and inhibition was demonstrated at concentrations of mucin as low as 35 micrograms/ml. Ocular mucin was the only material tested that inhibited adherence of P. aeruginosa to an injured cornea. However, the binding of P. aeruginosa to immobilized substrates in vitro did not predict which fraction would possess antiadherence activity: bacteria bound well to whole ocular mucus, mucin, the nonmucin fraction of ocular mucus, and dilute human tears as well as to porcine stomach mucin and bovine submaxillary gland mucin. The effectiveness of the mucin fraction of ocular mucus at inhibiting the binding of P. aeruginosa to the cornea implies that this material is a barrier that protects the surface of the eye from P. aeruginosa adherence.
Lenalidomide maintenance after allogeneic HSCT seems to trigger acute graft-versus-host disease in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia and del(5q): results of the LENAMAINT trial

We read with interest the recent article by Mollgard et al. [1][1] concerning the efficacy of single agent lenalidomide (LEN) in patients with chromosome 5 abnormalities and advanced myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In general, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (
The association of HLA‐DR13 with lower graft survival rates in hepatitis B and primary sclerosing cholangitis caucasian patients receiving a liver transplant

We investigated an association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR13 to graft survival in liver transplantation among Caucasian recipients. 28,708 deceased liver transplants performed between January 1990 and December 2002 in the United States as reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing registry were utilized to compare survival rates. We utilized Caucasian adult patients (>20 years) by Kaplan‐Meier curves, log‐rank tests, and Cox proportional hazard analyses. HLA‐DR13‐negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) recipients yielded significantly lower graft survival rates than those of DR13‐negative patients (P = 0.002, P = 0.015, respectively). This negative association was still significant after adjusting potential confounding factors. The Cox test demonstrated that HLA‐DR13‐positive groups have a significantly higher hazard ratio in PSC (1.40; P = 0.029; 95% confidence interval, 1.04‐1.90) and HBV patients (1.78; P = 0.032; 95% confidence interval, 1.05‐3.02). In conclusion, our data suggest that HLA‐DR13 is a strong, positive predictor of increased risk for graft loss in HBV and PSC liver transplant recipients. Further study is needed to test the hypothesis that DR13‐related immune responses may play a role in mediating graft loss in HBV and PSC liver transplantations. Liver Transpl 12:600–604, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
Hyperuniform Disordered Network Polarizers

A TM-pass integrated waveguide polarizer based on hyperuniform disordered wall network is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for the first time. Its working principle is based on strong interaction between the waveguide modes and hyperuniform disordered solids (HUDS) with large photonic bandgaps, which creates distinct transmission for the TE and TM modes. In our fabricated waveguide polarizers with a length of 8.0 μm, we have achieved a measured bandwidth of 98 nm with extinction ratio larger than 30 dB, and an average insertion loss for the passing TM mode only 1.72 dB. The operational bandwidth is the largest demonstrated to date. The fabrication tolerance of the HUDS polarizers is also numerically investigated. Considering these superior features, our HUDS polarizers serve as a promising candidate for manipulating photonic polarization states on an integrated platform.
Bottom-up vs. Top-down: Trade-offs in Efficiency, Understanding, Freedom and Creativity with InfoVis Tools

The emergence of tools that support fast-and-easy visualization creation by non-experts has made the benefits of InfoVis widely accessible. Key features of these tools include attribute-level operations, automated mappings, and visualization templates. However, these features shield people from lower-level visualization design steps, such as the specific mapping of data points to visuals. In contrast, recent research promotes constructive visualization where individual data units and visuals are directly manipulated. We present a qualitative study comparing people's visualization processes using two visualization tools: one promoting a top-down approach to visualization construction (Tableau Desktop) and one implementing a bottom-up constructive visualization approach (iVoLVER). Our results show how the two approaches influence: 1) the visualization process, 2) decisions on the visualization design, 3) the feeling of control and authorship, and 4) the willingness to explore alternative designs. We discuss the complex trade-offs between the two approaches and outline considerations for designing better visualization tools.
Use of a Text Message Program to Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk Awareness and Promote Health Behavior Change (Part I): Assessment of Participant Reach and Adoption

Background There are an estimated 25.8 million American children and adults, equivalent to 8.3% of the US population, living with diabetes. Diabetes is particularly burdensome on minority populations. The use of mobile technologies for reaching broad populations is a promising approach, given its wide footprint and ability to deliver inexpensive personalized messages, to increase awareness of type 2 diabetes and promote behavior changes targeting risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. As a part of the Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program, txt4health, a public-facing mobile health information service, was launched in 3 Beacon Communities: the Southeast Michigan Beacon Community in Detroit, MI, the Greater Cincinnati Beacon Community in Cincinnati, OH, and the Crescent City Beacon Community in New Orleans, LA. Txt4health is a mobile health information service designed to help people understand their risk for type 2 diabetes and become more informed about the steps they can take to lead healthy lives. Objective The purpose of this investigation was to use the RE-AIM framework to document txt4health reach and adoption by focusing on enrollment and participant engagement in program pilots in Southeast Michigan and Greater Cincinnati. Methods We conducted a retrospective records analysis of individual-level txt4health system data from participants in Southeast Michigan and Greater Cincinnati to determine participant usage of txt4health and engagement with the program. Results Results from the retrospective records analysis revealed that 5570 participants initiated the 2-step enrollment process via 1 of 3 enrollment strategies: text message, website, or directly with Beacon staff who signed participants up via the website. In total, 33.00% (1838/5570) of participants completed the 2-step enrollment process and were fully enrolled in the program. All participants (100.00%, 1620/1620) who enrolled via text message completed the entire 2-step enrollment process versus 5.52% (218/3950) of participants who enrolled via website or a Beacon staff member. Of those who fully enrolled, 71.00% (1305/1838) completed the diabetes risk assessment and 74.27% (1365/1838) set an initial weight loss goal. Overall, 39.06% (718/1838) of participants completed all 14 weeks of the program and 56.26% (1034/1838) dropped out before completing all 14 weeks, with the bulk of dropouts occurring in the first 4 weeks. Length of participation varied greatly, ranging from 0-48.7 weeks (median 8.6, mean 15.8, SD 15.8). Wide variability of participant engagement in regards to weekly weight and physical activity was documented. Conclusions Although broadly focused public health text message interventions may have the potential to reach large populations and show high levels of engagement among some users, the level of individual engagement among participants varies widely, suggesting that this type of approach may not be appropriate for all.
Four‐year study of viruses that cause diarrhea in Japanese pediatric outpatients

Acute gastroenteritis continues to be a major public health problem worldwide. A wide variety of viruses associated with diarrhea disease is being reported continually. This study investigated the epidemiological situation of viruses that cause diarrhea in Japanese pediatric patients. This study enrolled a total of 2,381 fecal specimens collected between 2009 and 2013 from Japanese children with acute gastroenteritis. There is currently a 70.4% prevalence of viruses causing diarrhea among these Japanese pediatric outpatients. Norovirus was detected in 39.3% of the patients, whereas the prevalence of rotavirus, human parechovirus, enterovirus, adenovirus, sapovirus, astrovirus, and Aichi virus was 20.1, 6.6, 6.1, 5.6, 4.8, 2.3, and 0.1%, respectively. Co‐infections were observed at the prevalence rates of 13.4 and 0.5% for double infections and triple infections, respectively. Mixed viral infections were found commonly in Japanese outpatients, and the norovirus seemed to play a major role in co‐infections. Viral diarrhea cases were detected mostly in children younger than 3 years of age. The norovirus and rotavirus can be detected throughout the year, with a peak during the cold and dry seasons, whereas other common viruses are found during no specific season. Surveillance data revealed that a wide variety of viruses has caused diarrhea to circulate currently in Japanese pediatric outpatients, with very high detection rates; and norovirus and rotavirus are the most important pathogens. The data obtained from this study are valuable for compiling the overall picture of several viruses that causes diarrhea and associates with acute gastroenteritis in the Japanese pediatric population. J. Med. Virol. 87:1141–1148, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Costs and Benefits of Long-Short Investing: A Perspective on the Market Efficiency Literature

We highlight key assumptions implicit in the models used by academics conducting research on market efficiency. Most notably, many academics assume that investors can borrow unlimited amounts and construct long-short portfolios at zero cost. We relax these assumptions and examine the attractiveness of long-short strategies as stand-alone investments and as a part of a diversified portfolio. Our analysis illustrates that the key benefit of long-short investing is adding diversification to a portfolio beyond what the market provides. We show that as stand-alone investments, nontrivial risk remains in the “hedge” strategies and that the returns generally do not beat the market in a head-to-head contest. Our findings raise questions about the degree of inefficiency in anomaly studies because plausible measures of costs generally offset strategy returns. The ability to achieve greater diversification may be, but is not necessarily, due to market inefficiency. We also highlight the key role of the generally ignored but critically important short interest rebate and show that absent this rebate, the long-short strategies we examine generally yield insignificant returns.
What is the average conformation of bacteriophage T4 lysozyme in solution? A domain orientation study using dipolar couplings measured by solution NMR.

Lysozyme from T4 bacteriophage is comprised of two domains that are both involved in binding substrate. Although wild-type lysozyme has been exclusively crystallized in a closed form that is similar to the peptidoglycan-bound conformation, a more open structure is thought to be required for ligand binding. To determine the relative arrangement of domains within T4 lysozyme in the solution state, dipolar couplings were measured in several different dilute liquid crystalline media by solution NMR methods. The dipolar coupling data were analyzed with a domain orientation procedure described previously that utilizes high- resolution X-ray structures. The cleft between the domains is significantly larger in the average solution structure than what is observed in the X-ray structure of the ligand-free form of the protein (approximately 17 degrees closure from solution to X-ray structures). A comparison of the solution domain orientation with X-ray-derived structures in the protein data base shows that the solution structure resembles a crystal structure obtained for the M6I mutant. Dipolar couplings were also measured on the lysozyme mutant T21C/T142C, which was oxidized to form an inter-domain disulfide bond (T4SS). In this case, the inter-domain solution structure was found to be more closed than was observed in the crystal (approximately 11 degrees). Direct refinement of lysozyme crystal structures with the measured dipolar couplings using the program CNS, establishes that this degree of closure can be accommodated whilst maintaining the inter-domain cystine bond. The differences between the average solution conformations obtained using dipolar couplings and the crystal conformations for both forms of lysozyme investigated in this study illustrate the impact that crystal packing interactions can have on the arrangement of domains within proteins and the importance of alternative methods to X-ray crystallography for evaluating inter-domain structure.