Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Common Expression of Melanoma Tumor-Associated Antigens Recognized by Human Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes: Analysis by Human Lymphocyte Antigen Restriction

Summary: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens (Ag), particularly human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-A2, have been shown to function as restriction elements in human cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition of tumor. This study was undertaken to determine the function of non-A2 MHC class I Ag in tumor recognition by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) cultured from six melanomas, and to find evidence for shared or unique tumorassociated Ag. Four predominantly CD8+ and two mixed CD4+, CD8+ population TIL cultures were tested for lysis in short-term 51Cr-release assays against a panel of targets including 29 fresh melanomas, 2 fresh sarcomas, 11 cultured melanoma lines, and 14 nonmelanoma cell lines derived from HLA-typed patients. All six melanoma TILs lysed the autologous melanoma. Two of three TILs from HLA-A2+ patients lysed allogeneic melanomas matched for HLA-A2, giving evidence for shared tumor Ag; one of these TILs also used HLA-B44 as a restriction element. The third HLA-A2+ TIL lysed autologous melanoma but not autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells nor 14 HLA-A2 matched allogeneic melanomas, suggesting the possibility of a unique tumor Ag in this system. The three HLA-A2- TILs each lysed multiple HLA-matched melanomas, using HLA-A24, HLA-A31, and HLA-Cw7 as restriction elements. Blocking of autologous and allogeneic melanoma lysis by TILs with mAb w6/32 (anti-MHC class I) and anti-CD3, as well as cold target inhibition assays, confirmed that specific interaction of the T-cell receptor with MHC class I Ag and the relevant tumor Ag on the target cell surface is required for tumor lysis. These data provide evidence for specific recognition of shared melanoma Ag by human TILs.
Troglitazone and 9cis,11trans,13trans-Conjugated Linolenic Acid: Comparison of Their Antiproliferative and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects on Different Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Background: We have previously reported that troglitazone, a synthetic ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and bitter gourd seed oil rich in 9cis,11trans,13trans-conjugated linolenic acid (9c,11t,13t-CLN) prevent colon carcinogenesis. To evaluate the chemotherapeutic effect and potency of these compounds on colon cancer cells, we investigated their antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects using different human colon cancer cell lines. Methods: The antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of troglitazone and 9c,11t,13t-CLN were evaluated and compared using HT-29, DLD-1 and Caco-2 cells at different stages of enterocytic differentiation. Results: Troglitazone and 9c,11t,13t-CLN decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in three colon cancer cell lines. The susceptibility of HT-29, which expresses PPARγ at high levels, to troglitazone and 9c,11t,13t-CLN was higher than that of Caco-2 cells with low levels of PPARγ. Conclusion: Troglitazone and 9c,11t,13t-CLN exhibited more effective chemotherapeutic effects on HT-29 cells than on Caco-2 cells.
Delay in Hip Fracture Surgery: An Analysis of Patient-Specific and Hospital-Specific Risk Factors

Objectives: To empirically define a “delay” for hip fracture surgery based on clinical outcomes, and to identify patient demographics and hospital factors contributing to surgical delay. Design: Retrospective database analysis. Setting: Hospital discharge data. Patients/Participants: A total of 2,121,215 patients undergoing surgical repair of hip fracture in the National Inpatient Sample between 2000 and 2009. Intervention: Internal fixation or partial/total hip replacement. Main Outcome Measurements: Logistic regressions were performed to assess the effect of surgical timing on in-hospital complication and mortality rates, controlling for patient characteristics and hospital attributes. Subsequent regressions were performed to analyze which patient characteristics (age, gender, race, comorbidity burden, insurance status, and day of admission) and hospital factors (size, teaching status, and region) independently contributed to the likelihood of surgical delay. Results: Compared to same-day surgery, each additional day of delay was associated with a significantly higher overall complication rate. However, next-day surgery was not associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Surgery 2 calendar days (odds ratio: 1.13) and 3+ days (odds ratio: 1.33) after admission was associated with higher mortality rates. Based on these findings, “delay” was defined as surgery performed 2 or more days after admission. Significant factors related to surgical delay included comorbidity score, race, insurance status, hospital region, and day of admission. Conclusions: Surgical delay in hip fracture care contributes to patient morbidity and mortality. A variety of patient and hospital characteristics seem to contribute to surgical delay and point to important health care disparities. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Employment and Taxes in Latin America: An Empirical Study of the Effects of Payroll, Corporate Income and Value Added Taxes on Labor Outcomes

This paper empirically explores the effects of payroll taxes, value-added taxes and corporate income taxes on a variety of labor market outcomes such as employment, unemployment, informality, and wages. Using national-level data on labor variables for 15 Latin American countries, the results indicate that the effects of each tax are distinctly different and may depend on several aspects of labor and tax institutions. Payroll taxes reduce employment and increase labor costs when their benefits are not valued by workers, but otherwise increase labor participation and do not raise labor costs. Value-added taxes increase informality and reduce skilled labor demand. In contrast, corporate income taxes may help reduce informality, especially among low-education workers but, when tax enforcement capabilities are strong, may reduce labor participation and employment of medium- and high-education workers.
Quality of parenting and vulnerability to depression: results from a family study

Background. We examined a group of subjects at familial risk of depression and explored the relationship between the perceptions of parents and a history of depression. We also investigated: (a) whether any difference in perceived parenting found between those with and without a past history of depression was an artefact of the depression; and (b) whether the relationship between parenting and depression was explained by neuroticism. Method. We took a sample of first-degree relatives selected from a family study in depression and subdivided them by their history of mental illness on the SADS-L, into those: (a) without a history of mental illness (N=43); and (b) those who had fully recovered from an episode of RDC major depression (N=34). We compared the perceptions of parenting, as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), in these two groups having adjusted for the effect of neuroticism and subsyndromal depressive symptoms. We also had informants report on parenting of their siblings, the latter being subdivided into those with and without a past history of depression. Results. Relatives with a past history of depression showed lower care scores for both mother and father combined compared with the never ill relatives. The presence of a history of depression was associated with a non-significant reduction in the self-report care scores compared to the siblings report. Vulnerable personality (as measured by high neuroticism) and low perceived care were both found to exert independent effects in discriminating between the scores of relatives with and without a history of depression and there was no interaction between them. Conclusion. This study confirmed that low perceived parental care was associated with a past history of depression, that it was not entirely an artefact of having been depressed, and suggested that this association was partially independent of neuroticism.
The AS interactive project: single-user and collaborative virtual environments for people with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorders

The AS Interactive Project aimed to assess the potential of single-user and collaborative virtual environments to support learning and enhancing of social skills in people with autistic disorders on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum. The project had two distinct phases of research: Phase I focused mainly on development and design using user-centred principles. Phase II was concerned with implementation of design feedback, further improvements and evaluation studies of the virtual environments developed. This paper describes the research process, summarizes results of the project and briefly outlines plans for future research.
Stress‐induced desensitization of alpha 2‐adrenergic receptors in human platelets.

&NA; Although agonist‐induced desensitization of adrenergic receptors has been previously demonstrated, the regulation of adrenergic receptors during acute psychological stress has not been investigated in humans. We studied 30 first year medical students during final examination week and one month earlier. Platelet alpha 2 receptor binding was measured using 3H‐yohimbine and leukocyte beta 2 receptor binding was measured with 125I‐CYP (Iodocyanopindolol). During final examination week, platelet alpha 2‐receptor binding affinity was significantly reduced, while levels of plasma catecholamines and reported anxiety were significantly increased, compared with the earlier period. Students showing the greatest increases in plasma norepinephrine and in reported anxiety also demonstrated the greatest reductions in alpha 2 receptor binding affinity. These data show that acute psychological stress can produce adrenergic receptor desensitization, possibly through increased levels of circulating norepinephrine.
Canopy position affects the relationships between leaf respiration and associated traits in a tropical rainforest in Far North Queensland.

We explored the impact of canopy position on leaf respiration (R) and associated traits in tree and shrub species growing in a lowland tropical rainforest in Far North Queensland, Australia. The range of traits quantified included: leaf R in darkness (RD) and in the light (RL; estimated using the Kok method); the temperature (T)-sensitivity of RD; light-saturated photosynthesis (Asat); leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA); and concentrations of leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), soluble sugars and starch. We found that LMA, and area-based N, P, sugars and starch concentrations were all higher in sun-exposed/upper canopy leaves, compared with their shaded/lower canopy and deep-shade/understory counterparts; similarly, area-based rates of RD, RL and Asat (at 28 °C) were all higher in the upper canopy leaves, indicating higher metabolic capacity in the upper canopy. The extent to which light inhibited R did not differ significantly between upper and lower canopy leaves, with the overall average inhibition being 32% across both canopy levels. Log-log RD-Asat relationships differed between upper and lower canopy leaves, with upper canopy leaves exhibiting higher rates of RD for a given Asat (both on an area and mass basis), as well as higher mass-based rates of RD for a given [N] and [P]. Over the 25-45 °C range, the T-sensitivity of RD was similar in upper and lower canopy leaves, with both canopy positions exhibiting Q10 values near 2.0 (i.e., doubling for every 10 °C rise in T) and Tmax values near 60 °C (i.e., T where RD reached maximal values). Thus, while rates of RD at 28 °C decreased with increasing depth in the canopy, the T-dependence of RD remained constant; these findings have important implications for vegetation-climate models that seek to predict carbon fluxes between tropical lowland rainforests and the atmosphere.
Gastrointestinal graft‐versus‐host disease in man: A clinicopathologic study of the rectal biopsy

Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of the rectal biopsy in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), using the crypt abscess as a major diagnostic criterion, was based on 52 patients who had received marrow allografts for leukemia or aplastic anemia. Thirty-six of these patients had acute GVHD by skin biopsy criteria. These 36 patients demonstrated a strong association of the rectal crypt abscess with severity of clinical GVHD. High stool volume also correlated strongly with the crypt abscess. Patients without clear evidence of GVHD usually had normal rectal histology. Serial studies showed a good correlation of rectal biopsy results with the clinical course of acute GVHD. Patients with chronic GVHD had rectal muosal damage only during the acute phase. Rectal histology at autopsy reflected ileal and cecal disease accurately. The rectal biopsy is a useful adjunct to serial skin biopsies in the diagnosis of GVHD in man.
Preventive effect of melatonin on the progression of α‐naphthylisothiocyanate‐induced acute liver injury in rats

Abstract: The preventive effect of melatonin on the progression of α‐naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)‐induced acute liver injury with cholestasis was examined in rats treated once with the hepatotoxin [75 mg/kg body weight (BW), i.p.]. In rats treated with ANIT alone, liver injury with cholestasis occurred 24 hr after treatment and progressed at 48 hr, judging from the serum levels of hepatobiliary marker enzymes and components. Melatonin (10 or 100 mg/kg BW) was orally administered to the ANIT‐treated rats, 24 hr after the hepatotoxin treatment at which time hepatic injury had already developed. The administered indoleamine prevented the progression of liver cell damage rather than biliary cell damage more effectively at the higher dose than at the lower dose. In rats treated with ANIT alone, the serum and hepatic concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, an index of lipid peroxidation, and the hepatic activity of myeloperoxidase, an index of tissue neutrophil infiltration, increased 24 hr after treatment and further increased at 48 hr. In the liver of rats treated with ANIT alone, Cu,Zn‐superoxide dismutase activity decreased 24 hr after treatment and was further reduced at 48 hr, although there was no change in Mn‐superoxide dismutase activity. Catalase and Se‐glutathione peroxidase activities also decreased at 48 hr, while reduced glutathione concentrations remained increased at 24 and 48 hr. The melatonin administered to the ANIT‐treated rats attenuated the increases in serum and hepatic concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the decreases in hepatic activities of Cu,Zn‐superoxide dismutase, catalase, and Se‐glutathione peroxidase found at 48 hr after the hepatotoxin treatment more effectively at the higher dose than at the lower dose; on the other hand, melatonin treatment had no effect on the increases in hepatic myeloperoxidase activity and reduced glutathione concentration found at 48 h. These results indicate that orally administered melatonin at pharmacological doses prevents the progression of ANIT‐induced acute liver injury, mainly liver cell damage, in rats, and suggest that the administered melatonin exerts these preventive effects through its direct and indirect antioxidant actions.
Social Capital, Intellectual Capital, and the Organizational Advantage

Scholars of the theory of the firm have begun to emphasize the sources and conditions of what has been described as “the organizational advantage,” rather than focus on the causes and consequences of market failure. Typically, researchers see such organizational advantage as accruing from the particular capabilities organizations have for creating and sharing knowledge. In this article we seek to contribute to this body of work by developing the following arguments: (1) social capital facilitates the creation of new intellectual capital; (2) organizations, as institutional settings, are conducive to the development of high levels of social capital; and (3) it is because of their more dense social capital that firms, within certain limits, have an advantage over markets in creating and sharing intellectual capital. We present a model that incorporates this overall argument in the form of a series of hypothesized relationships between different dimensions of social capital and the main mechanisms and proces.
Lectin histochemistry of salivary glands in the giant ant-eater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).

The submandibular and buccal glands of the Giant Ant-eater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) have been studied by means of a series of carbohydrate histochemical methods, including a broad spectrum of PO-lectin procedures. The seromucous cells (Gl. submandibularis) and mucous cells (Gl. buccalis) of the glandular acini, as well as the secretion in the excretory duct system exhibited very strong to strong reactions for neutral and acidic glycoconjugates. The serous cells of the buccal glands and the excretory duct cells reacted rather weakly. The different controls applied particularly emphasized that sialoglycoconjugates are the predominant ingredients of the saliva secreted. Lectin histochemical differentiation demonstrated a varying pattern of saccharide residues in these substances. In the submandibular glands the glycoconjugates (mostly proteoglycans) of the seromucous cells and the luminal secretion normally contained terminal beta-galactose and minor contents of terminal alpha-N-acetylglucosamine. After sialidase digestion this cell type exhibited distinct amounts of sialic acid-beta-galactose and sialic acid-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine. Sialic acid was also clearly present in the tough interlobular connective tissue. The buccal glands showed a similar distribution of saccharide residues in the mucous cells. In the serous cells, however, acidic glycoproteins with sialyl residues were observed, also containing terminal alpha-D-mannosyl, alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyl, and beta-D-galactosyl residues. The cells of the excretory duct system of both gland types reacted weakly to moderately for terminal sugar residues (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, beta-D-galactose). The results obtained are discussed in view of the specific feeding mode of the Giant Ant-eater, whereby high contents of sialoglycoconjugates (proteoglycans, glycoproteins) produced by the salivary glands warrant for the main function of the non-sticky saliva; i.e., to act as an effective lubricant during tongue movement.
Willingness and access to joint replacement among African American patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, controlled intervention.

OBJECTIVE African American patients are significantly less likely to undergo knee replacement for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Racial difference in preference (willingness) has emerged as a key factor. This study was undertaken to examine the efficacy of a patient-centered educational intervention on patient willingness and the likelihood of receiving a referral to an orthopedic clinic. METHODS A total of 639 African American patients with moderate-to-severe knee OA from 3 Veterans Affairs primary care clinics were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design. Patients were shown a knee OA decision-aid video with or without brief counseling. The main outcome measures were change in patient willingness and receipt of a referral to an orthopedic clinic. Also assessed were whether patients discussed knee pain with their primary care provider or saw an orthopedic surgeon within 12 months of the intervention. RESULTS At baseline, 67% of the participants were definitely/probably willing to consider knee replacement, with no difference among the groups. The intervention increased patient willingness (75%) in all groups at 1 month. For those who received the decision aid intervention alone, the gains were sustained for up to 3 months. By 12 months postintervention, patients who received any intervention were more likely to report engaging their provider in a discussion about knee pain (92% versus 85%), to receive a referral to an orthopedic surgeon (18% versus 13%), and for those with a referral, to attend an orthopedic consult (61% versus 50%). CONCLUSION An educational intervention significantly increased the willingness of African American patients to consider knee replacement. It also improved the likelihood of patient-provider discussion about knee pain and access to surgical evaluation.
Corporate social responsibility and executive compensation: exploring the link

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore whether socially responsible firms recognize the potential conflicts that come with higher levels of executive compensation, and thus limit executive pay relative to what is being paid in other firms. In the process, the relationships between executive compensation and financial performance, and corporate social performance and financial performance are examined to determine whether potential compensation and social performance links are coming at the expense of company financial performance.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data for this research were obtained from a stratified sample of Fortune 1000 companies pulled from across more than 15 industries. Multiple regression analysis is utilized to test three hypotheses.Findings – In line with the hypotheses, results indicate that companies identified as good corporate social performers do in fact have lower levels of executive compensation and there is some support found for a positive relationsh.
Mammalian target of rapamycin is activated in human gastric cancer and serves as a target for therapy in an experimental model

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has become an interesting target for cancer therapy through its influence on oncogenic signals, which involve phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase and hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α). Since mTOR is an upstream regulator of HIF‐1α, a key mediator of gastric cancer growth and angiogenesis, we investigated mTOR activation in human gastric adenocarcinoma specimens and determined whether rapamycin could inhibit gastric cancer growth in mice. Expression of phospho‐mTOR was assessed by immunohistochemical analyses of human tissues. For in vitro studies, human gastric cancer cell lines were used to determine S6K1, 4E‐BP‐1 and HIF‐1α activation and cancer cell motility upon rapamycin treatment. Effects of rapamycin on tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo were assessed in both a subcutaneous tumor model and in an experimental model with orthotopically grown tumors. Mice received either rapamycin (0.5 mg/kg/day or 1.5 mg/kg/day) or diluent per intra‐peritoneal injections. In addition, antiangiogenic effects were monitored in vivo using a dorsal‐skin‐fold chamber model. Immunohistochemical analyses showed strong expression of phospho‐mTOR in 60% of intestinal‐ and 64% of diffuse‐type human gastric adenocarcinomas. In vitro, rapamycin‐treatment effectively blocked S6K1, 4E‐BP‐1 and HIF‐1α activation, and significantly impaired tumor cell migration. In vivo, rapamycin‐treatment led to significant inhibition of subcutaneous tumor growth, decreased CD31‐positive vessel area and reduced tumor cell proliferation. Similar significant results were obtained in an orthotopic model of gastric cancer. In the dorsal‐skin‐fold chamber model, rapamycin‐treatment significantly inhibited tumor vascularization in vivo. In conclusion, mTOR is frequently activated in human gastric cancer and represents a promising new molecular target for therapy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.