Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of Cell Surface Straight Chain Poly-N-Acetyl-Lactosamine Bearing Protein Ligands for VH4-34–Encoded Natural IgM Antibodies

B cell binding and cytotoxicity by human VH4-34–encoded Abs of the IgM isotype has been well documented. A VH4-34-IgM has recently shown a favorable early response in a phase 1 trial for treatment of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although its B cell ligand has been identified as straight chain poly-N-acetyl-lactosamine (SC-PNAL), the carrier of the sugar moiety has not been identified. Using nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry, we identify the metabolic activation related protein complex of CD147-CD98 as a major carrier of poly-N-acetyl-lactosamine (SC-PNAL) on human pre-B cell line Nalm-6. Previous studies have suggested CD45 as the SC-PNAL carrier for VH4-34–encoded IgG Abs. Because Nalm-6 is CD45 negative, human peripheral blood B lymphocytes and human B cell line, Reh, with high CD45 expression, were examined for SC-PNAL carrier proteins. Western blot analysis shows that the CD147-98 complex is indeed immunoprecipitated by VH4-34–encoded IgMs from human peripheral blood B lymphocytes and human B cell lines, Reh, OCI-Ly8, and Nalm-6. However, CD45 is immunoprecipitated only from peripheral B lymphocytes, but not from Reh despite the high expression of CD45. These results suggest that human B cells retain SC-PNAL on the CD147-98 complex, but modulate the sugar moiety on CD45. Because the carbohydrate moiety may act as a selecting Ag for VH4-34 autoantibody repertoire, its differential expression on proteins may provide a clue to the intricate atypical regulation of the VH4-34 gene.
HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THE NIGERIAN LOCAL GROWER CHICKENS FED VARYING DIETARY LEVELS OF PALM KERNEL CAKE

Original scientific paper Izvorni znanstveni ~lanak SUMMARY The effect of feeding varying dietary levels of Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) on the haematological parameters of the Nigerian local grower chicken was investigated. Sixty (60) nine-week old local chickens were randomly allotted to five experimental diets at four birds per three replicates. Five isonitrogenous (17% CP) grower diets containing 2,813 to 3,070 Kcal ME/kg with varying levels of 10, 15, 20 and 25% PKC used to replace maize and soybean in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 were formulated respectively. Diet 1 without PKC (0% PKC) was the control. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum for ten weeks. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, platelets, heterophil and eosinophil were similar (p>0.05) among birds across diets whereas variations in white blood cell (15.95 to 19.53 x 10 6 /mm 3 ), lymphocytes (60.00 to 67.00%) and monocytes (0.67 to 2.00%) were significant (p<0.05). The haematological parameters obtained were within the normal range of values documented for healthy chicken. PKC added up to 25% in the diet of the Nigerian local grower chicken elicited no adverse effect on the hematology.
Magnetic phase diagram of superantiferromagnetic TbCu2 nanoparticles

The structural state and static and dynamic magnetic properties of TbCu2 nanoparticles are reported to be produced by mechanical milling under inert atmosphere. The randomly dispersed nanoparticles as detected by TEM retain the bulk symmetry with an orthorhombic Imma lattice and Tb and Cu in the 4e and 8h positions, respectively. Rietveld refinements confirm that the milling produces a controlled reduction of particle sizes reaching ≃6 nm and an increase of the microstrain up to ≃0.6%. The electrical resistivity indicates a metallic behavior and the presence of a magnetic contribution to the electronic scattering which decreases with milling times. The dc-susceptibility shows a reduction of the Néel transition (from 49 K to 43 K) and a progressive increase of a peak (from 9 K to 15 K) in the zero-field-cooled magnetization with size reduction. The exchange anisotropy is very weak (a bias field of ≃30 Oe) and is due to the presence of a disordered (thin) shell coupled to the antiferromagnetic core. The dynamic susceptibility evidences a critical slowing down in the spin-disordered state for the lowest temperature peak associated with a spin glass-like freezing with a tendency of zv and β ? > exponents to increase when the size becomes 6 nm (zv≃6.6 ? > and β≃0.85 ? >). A Rietveld analysis of the neutron diffraction patterns 1.8⩽T⩽60 ? > K, including the magnetic structure determination, reveals that there is a reduction of the expected moment (≃80%), which must be connected to the presence of the disordered particle shell. The core magnetic structure retains the bulk antiferromagnetic arrangement. The overall interpretation is based on a superantiferromagnetic behavior which at low temperatures coexists with a canting of surface moments and a mismatch of the antiferromagnetic sublattices of the nanoparticles. We propose a novel magnetic phase diagram where changes are provoked by a combination of the decrease of size and the increase of microstrain.
Activated Cardiac Adenosine A1 Receptors Translocate Out of Caveolae*

The cardiac affects of the purine nucleoside, adenosine, are well known. Adenosine increases coronary blood flow, exerts direct negative chronotropic and dromotropic effects, and exerts indirect anti-adrenergic effects. These effects of adenosine are mediated via the activation of specific G protein-coupled receptors. There is increasing evidence that caveolae play a role in the compartmentalization of receptors and second messengers in the vicinity of the plasma membrane. Several reports demonstrate that G protein-coupled receptors redistribute to caveolae in response to receptor occupation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that adenosine A1 receptors would translocate to caveolae in the presence of agonists. Surprisingly, in unstimulated rat cardiac ventricular myocytes, 67 ± 5% of adenosine A1receptors were isolated with caveolae. However, incubation with the adenosine A1 receptor agonist 2-chlorocyclopentyladenosine induced the rapid translocation of the A1 receptors from caveolae into non-caveolae plasma membrane, an effect that was blocked by the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine. An adenosine A2areceptor agonist did not alter the localization of A1receptors to caveolae. These data suggest that the translocation of A1 receptors out of caveolae and away from compartmentalized signaling molecules may explain why activation of ventricular myocyte A1 receptors are associated with few direct effects.
Neoaleurodiscus fujii, a new genus and new species found at the timberline in Japan

A new genus, Neoaleurodiscus, is proposed as a segregate from Aleurodiscus (Basidiomycota), and the new species, Neoaleurodiscus fujii, is described. It was collected at the timberline of Mount Fuji, Japan. Specimens were found on trunks of Rhododendron sp. Morphological study and phylogenetic analysis based on sequence data derived from LSU nrDNA indicated that Neoaleurodiscus is separate from other segregate genera from Aleurodiscus s.l. Neoaleurodiscus is characterized by having a disciform basidiocarp; microscopically it has moniliform gloeocystidia, absence of acanthophyses, nodose-septate hyphae, hyphidia, and basidiospores, which are amyloid, smooth and ± thick-walled. Among genera studied Acanthobasidium and Aleurodiscus (s.s.) are most closely related to Neoaleurodiscus, but these genera have warted or spiny basidiospores. Two new combinations, Acanthobasidium penicillatum and Neoaleurodiscus monilifer, are proposed.
Prospective and observational study of antimicrobial drug utilization in medical intensive care unit in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Objectives: 1) The objective of this study was to assess the prescribing patterns of anti-microbial drugs. 2) Rationality of drug use in the medical ICU of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: After taking approval from the Institutional ethical committee, study was undertaken over a period of 6 months. A prospective observational study was conducted to assess the prescription pattern of antibiotic usage in the medical ICU. Standard Proforma was used to collect the information regarding antibiotics, its dose, duration, first line of antibiotics and second line of antibiotics and adverse drug reactions. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics with help of SPSS software. Results: Total 202 cases were admitted to the ICU during study period. Respiratory conditions (33.2%), febrile illness (15.3%), poisoning (15.3%) and CNS (12.9%) illnesses were commonly reported to ICU. Cephalosporins (81.7%) were commonly prescribed followed by Nitroimidazoles (30.2%) and Penicillin (16.3%). Ceftriaxone (43.1%) and cefixime (38.6%) were commonly used followed by Pipercillin + Tazobactum combination (9.4%). No adverse reactions were reported during the study period. Conclusion: In conclusion, a wide spectrum of clinical diagnoses and a variety of drugs were utilized from various drug classes. Results showed that Cephalosporins were extensively used in ICU. The number of drugs prescribed by generic names was low in the ICU and effort must be made to encourage prescribing by generic names. Rational usage of antimicrobial agents in ICU should be encouraged by following strict Hospital antimicrobial policy.
The ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 R230C Variant Affects HDL Cholesterol Levels and BMI in the Mexican Population

Although ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is well known for its role in cholesterol efflux and HDL formation, it is expressed in various tissues, where it may have different functions. Because hypoalphalipoproteinemia is highly prevalent in Mexico, we screened the ABCA1 coding sequence in Mexican individuals with low and high HDL cholesterol levels to seek functional variants. A highly frequent nonsynonymous variant (R230C) was identified in low–HDL cholesterol but not in high–HDL cholesterol individuals (P = 0.00006). We thus assessed its frequency in the Mexican-Mestizo general population, seeking possible associations with several metabolic traits. R230C was screened in 429 Mexican Mestizos using Taqman assays, and it was found in 20.1% of these individuals. The variant was significantly associated not only with decreased HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels but also with obesity (odds ratio 2.527, P = 0.005), the metabolic syndrome (1.893, P = 0.0007), and type 2 diabetes (4.527, P = 0.003). All of these associations remained significant after adjusting for admixture (P = 0.011, P = 0.001, and P = 0.006, respectively). This is the first study reporting the association of an ABCA1 variant with obesity and obesity-related comorbidities as being epidemiologically relevant in the Mexican population.
Demethylation of the FOXP3 gene in human melanoma cells precludes the use of this epigenetic mark for quantification of Tregs in unseparated melanoma samples

The human suppressive T cells that stably express transcription factor FOXP3, or regulatory T cells (Tregs), are thought to suppress antitumor immune responses. The most specific marker for human Tregs is the demethylation of CpG dinucleotides located in the first intron of FOXP3 (FOXP3i1). FOXP3i1 is completely methylated in other hematopoietic cells, including nonsuppressive T cells that transiently express FOXP3 after activation. Previously, we and others reported estimations of the frequency of Tregs in the blood of melanoma patients using a FOXP3i1 methylation‐specific qPCR assay. Here, we attempted to quantify Tregs inside tumor samples using this assay. However, we found demethylated FOXP3i1 sequences in the melanoma cells themselves. This demethylation was not associated with substantial FOXP3 mRNA or protein expression, even though the demethylation extended to the promoter and terminal regions of the gene in some melanoma cells. Our results imply that analyzing Treg frequencies by quantification of demethylated FOXP3i1 will require that tumor‐infiltrating T cells be separated from melanoma cells.
Agonist Concentration Gradients as a Generalizable Regulatory Implementation Strategy

This article proposes a general mechanism by which biphasic dose-response relationships occur in pharmacological and toxicological experimental systems. Such biphasic responses are mediated via a strategy of differential binding to stimulatory and inhibitory receptor subtypes based on agonist concentrations. Such a strategy is widely seen in pharmacological systems and has been demonstrated in toxicological-related biphasic dose responses in which the treatment altered levels of endogenous agonists.
Comparative analysis of development‐related gene expression in mouse preimplantation embryos with different developmental potential

The potential of embryonic and somatic cell nuclear‐transferred (NT) mouse oocytes to develop into young is low compared with bovine NT oocytes. To examine the reasons for the low developmental potential of NT mouse oocytes, we analyzed the gene expression patterns of six development‐related genes (Oct4, Nanog, Stat3, stella, FGF4, and Sox2) during preimplantation development in manipulated oocytes with different potentials to develop into young using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The manipulated oocytes were parthenogenetically activated oocytes and embryonic stem cell, cumulus cell, morula blastomere NT oocytes, and in vitro‐cultured and in vivo‐recovered embryos. The mRNA expression patterns in mouse NT‐derived embryos markedly differed from in vivo and in vitro counterparts. Some transcript expression patterns in embryonic stem‐cell NT oocytes resembled those of parthenogenetic oocytes. Of the six developmentally important transcripts examined in NT embryos, four had a downregulated expression pattern at the blastocyst stage. Our findings indicate that abnormal expression patterns of development‐related genes during preimplantation development correlate with the low potential of NT oocytes to develop into young. Although more detailed information is required, Sox2 mRNA expression pattern in blastocysts seems to closely correlate with the developmental potential of NT embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlation of Cerebral Oximetry With Internal Carotid Artery Stump Pressures in Carotid Endarterectomy

Objective: This study compares internal carotid artery (ICA) mean stump pressures (SPs) with cerebral oximetry monitoring during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: A total of 104 consecutive patients undergoing CEA under general anesthesia (GA) during a 10-month period were prospectively evaluated. Baseline and postcarotid clamp regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) and mean ICA SPs were measured. Demographic, surgical, and medical variables were recorded for each case. Results: There were no postoperative strokes. Thirteen patients were excluded because of incomplete data. Of the 40 patients who had <10% drop in rSO2, 6 had SP <40 mm Hg. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation with a 15% saturation drop threshold was 76.3% sensitive and 81.1% specific in detecting patients with SP <40 mm Hg. With a threshold of 20% drop, sensitivity and specificity were 57.9% and 86.8%, respectively. Conclusions: Relative drop in rSO 2 is neither sensitive nor specific in detecting patients with mean SP <40 mm Hg. These data do not support the use of cerebral oximetry as the sole monitoring modality during carotid endarterectomy under GA.
A longitudinal study of natural infection of piglets with Streptococcus suis types 1 and 2

SUMMARY Streptococcus suis types 1 and 2 were detected in nasal swabs taken from five litters of piglets sampled twice weekly from birth. The two types had been detected in all pigs by the time they were 38 and 25 days old respectively with mean ages of first detectable infection being 13·5 and 8·5 days. The prevalence of infection was not affected by housing conditions or the population density of pigs. Piglets originating from a sow with vaginal swabs positive for S. suis type 2 were infected earlier than piglets from non-vaginal carriers. It is concluded that infection of piglets with S. suis type 2 may occur during the birth process.
Nefazodone pharmacokinetics in depressed children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To describe the pharmacokinetics and safety of nefazodone (NFZ) in depressed children and adolescents. METHOD Depressed youths aged 7 to 17 years were eligible to participate. Intensive sampling for pharmacokinetic analyses of NFZ and 3 of its active metabolites was performed after single and multiple dose administration. Treatment was continued for 6 more weeks and titrated to maximize clinical response. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients were enrolled. Systemic exposure to NFZ and 3 metabolites was generally higher in children than adolescents. NFZ and metabolite disposition profiles showed high intra- and interpatient variability. Compared to published data in adults, the half-life of NFZ and 2 of its metabolites appears shorter in children and adolescents. Meta-chlorphenylpiperazine pharmacokinetic parameters were different in 5 patients determined to be poor metabolizers of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). NFZ was well tolerated, and administration was associated with significant reductions (p < .001) in depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The pharmacokinetics of NFZ in pediatric patients is highly variable. NFZ appears to be safe in this small, short-term study. Pediatric patients who are poor metabolizers of CYP2D6 do not appear to be at increased risk for NFZ-associated adverse events. Open-label treatment of NFZ is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms.
Uptake and deacylation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides by macrophages from normal and endotoxin-hyporesponsive mice

Macrophages are thought to play a central role in the responses of animals to gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Since nothing is known about the metabolism of LPS by these cells, we studied the uptake and deacylation of radiolabeled LPS by thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from normal (C3H/HeN) and LPS-hyporesponsive (C3H/HeJ) mice. Macrophages from both kinds of mice took up and deacylated LPS that were added to the culture medium. Opsonization of the LPS with anti-LPS immunoglobulin G antibodies greatly increased LPS uptake; the opsonized LPS also underwent deacylation at rates that were directly related to the amount of cell-associated LPS. An analysis of the fatty acid composition of the cell-associated LPS indicated that the cells have one or more acyloxyacyl hydrolases that remove the non-hydroxylated fatty acids that are normally substituted to the hydroxyl groups of (glucosamine-linked) 3-hydroxytetradecanoate residues in lipid A; we also found evidence for deacylation of 3-hydroxytetradecanoate from the glucosamine backbone. LPS deacylation by macrophages from C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice was qualitatively and quantitatively similar. Nonopsonized LPS are able to stimulate LPS-responsive cells; in these studies we established that animal cells can deacylate nonopsonized LPS, thus raising the possibility that LPS metabolism may play a role in modulating cellular stimulation.
Identifying stakeholders in a Portuguese university: a case study La identificación de los stakeholders en una universidad portuguesa

The Stakeholder Theory proved highly useful to some specific organisations with dispersed powers, such as is the case of universities. This theory may serve to explain the focus on varying communities in the environments surrounding these organisations as well as the relationships between organisations and communities. However, identifying and prioritising the different stakeholders to a university has not proven an easy question to resolve. Given the effective management of university stakeholders necessarily requires the correct identification of just who they are, this article seeks to identify, classify and rank the stakeholders of a university based upon a case study. To this end, we reviewed previous studies sharing similar objectives. After finding that university stakeholders have rarely been identified by empirical means, we carried out a case study on a Portuguese state university that sought to identify and qualify the importance of the respective stakeholder through such means. A series of interviews were held with fifteen individuals, connected with the institution, three from each hierarchical university level. Following content analysis of these interviews, a list containing 21 stakeholders was resulted, duly classified by importance. The final results found students, the teaching and/or research staff and employers identified as the main stakeholders. Furthermore, findings pointed to stakeholders connected to research are gaining greater importance in the contemporary university environment. Indeed, the list clarifies the complexity of universities in identifying 21 distinct groups of stakeholders making this type of organisation a managerial challenge. Given this, stakeholders need to be attributed priorities, with some prevailing over others as it would seem impossible to attribute equal attention to them all.
Influence of mechanical stresses on some electrical properties of polymers

The influence of mechanical stresses on relaxations and on electrical breakdown of polyethylene is reviewed and analyzed. It is shown that the electrical aging model developed by one of the authors could be extended to describe the influence of the stress through the activation volume of the studied process. The parameters affecting the activation volume are discussed and it is shown that several electrical properties of polymers could be significantly changed by the application of moderate external stresses. Future work in this domain is also briefly discussed.
Activated T cells from umbilical cord blood armed with anti‐CD3 × anti‐CD20 bispecific antibody mediate specific cytotoxicity against CD20+ targets with minimal allogeneic reactivity: a strategy for providing antitumor effects after cord blood transplants

BACKGROUND: In this study, we asked whether anti‐CD3–activated T cells (ATCs) from cord blood (CB) could be expanded and targeted to solid tumors or hematologic malignancies for infusions after unrelated CB stem cell transplant and whether cord blood ATCs (CBATCs) could reduce alloresponsiveness.
A Loop Transformation Theory and an Algorithm to Maximize Parallelism

An approach to transformations for general loops in which dependence vectors represent precedence constraints on the iterations of a loop is presented. Therefore, dependences extracted from a loop nest must be lexicographically positive. This leads to a simple test for legality of compound transformations: any code transformation that leaves the dependences lexicographically positive is legal. The loop transformation theory is applied to the problem of maximizing the degree of coarse- or fine-grain parallelism in a loop nest. It is shown that the maximum degree of parallelism can be achieved by transforming the loops into a nest of coarsest fully permutable loop nests and wavefronting the fully permutable nests. The canonical form of coarsest fully permutable nests can be transformed mechanically to yield maximum degrees of coarse- and/or fine-grain parallelism. The efficient heuristics can find the maximum degrees of parallelism for loops whose nesting level is less than five. >