Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intranasal Interleukin-12 Treatment for Protection against Respiratory Infection with the Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain

ABSTRACT Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative intracellular bacterium that can induce lethal respiratory infection in humans and rodents. However, little is known about the role of innate or adaptive immunity in protection from respiratory tularemia. In the present study, the role of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in inducing protective immunity in the lungs against intranasal infection of mice with the live vaccine strain (LVS) of F. tularensis was investigated. It was found that gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and IL-12 were strictly required for protection, since mice deficient in IFN-γ, IL-12 p35, or IL-12 p40 all succumbed to LVS doses that were sublethal for wild-type mice. Furthermore, exogenous IL-12 treatment 24 h before intranasal infection with a lethal dose of LVS (10,000 CFU) significantly decreased bacterial loads in the lungs, livers, and spleens of wild-type BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice and allowed the animals to survive infection; such protection was not observed in IFN-γ-deficient mice. The resistance induced by IL-12 to LVS infection was still observed in NK cell-deficient beige mice but not in CD8−/− mice. These results demonstrate that exogenous IL-12 delivered intranasally can prevent respiratory tularemia through a mechanism that is at least partially dependent upon the expression of IFN-γ and CD8 T cells.
The effectiveness of teaching strategies for students with dyslexia based on their preferred learning styles

Sioned Exley is the SENCo at Guilsborough School, a comprehensive school with 1,300 students in rural Northamptonshire. She undertook the research reported in this paper while working towards her MA at De Montfort University. The study reported here looked at whether teaching to the preferred learning styles of students with dylexia can improve their performance and attainment. Sioned Exley worked with a sample of seven students, four boys and three girls, in Years 7 and 8 in her school. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, she indicates that five of the seven students made significant progress in both spelling and number work. All the students, in interviews, reported improved feelings about and attitudes towards their school work. While acknowledging that this is a small-scale study, Sioned Exley draws some positive conclusions.
Do Mexican Americans really have low rates of cardiovascular disease?

In this article we challenge the conclusion made from vital statistics that Hispanic Americans have lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality than non-Hispanic whites. There is reason to believe that vital statistics underascertain minority, and in particular Hispanic, deaths. Cohort studies minimize many of these limitations. In the San Antonio Heart Study risk factor distributions predicted higher all-cause and CVD mortality among Mexican Americans than among non-Hispanic whites. Follow-up of the cohort confirmed a mortality ratio of 1.38 for all-cause and 1.30 for CVD mortality for Mexican Americans vs non-Hispanic whites. This excess risk was confined to U.S.-born Mexican Americans, since immigrants from Mexico had very low mortality despite low socioeconomic status. We attribute this latter finding to a "healthy migrant effect. "
Plant productivity and soil nitrogen as a function of grazing, migration and fire in an African savanna

1 Herbivores can play a key role in affecting ecosystem function, but their direct and indirect effects are often confounded with each other and have rarely been dissected. Predictions for open systems, i.e. those with cross‐habitat nutrient fluxes and dispersal, may differ from those expected in closed systems, where no such transfers occur, but these differences have only recently begun to be characterized. 2 We present a theoretical model of plant productivity and soil nitrogen (N) based on the Serengeti ecosystem in order to investigate the interplay among herbivore movement, nutrient transport across habitats (spatial subsidies), the fire regime and the effects of herbivores on N cycling. 3 Model results suggest that the fire regime and herbivore migration are key determinants of primary productivity and fertility, and that the impact of these factors depends on grazing intensity. At low intensity, high grass biomass leads to extensive fires and N volatilization, but this effect is reduced at high grazing intensity. Without migration, the model predicts that primary productivity and fertility initially increase, then decline with increasing grazing intensity. Conversely, seasonal migration decouples the growing and grazing seasons, leading to a monotonic increase in productivity with grazing intensity. Cross‐habitat N transport has a relatively modest effect on N dynamics, and the magnitude of the seasonality effect outweighs the spatial subsidy effect. 4 Our model suggests that herbivores and fire may play key interactive roles in regulating producers and determining ecosystem functional properties in grazing systems, both through consumption and via indirect effects on nutrient availability. The direction and magnitude of these effects could potentially vary greatly among ecosystems with resident vs. migratory herbivores, suggesting that spatial coupling through animal movement can be important at both the population and ecosystem levels. 5 This study suggests that the degree to which trophic interactions influence ecosystem function may be strongly modulated by whether systems are open or closed. It also suggests that direct and indirect effects of consumers on their resources (top‐down effects) may be far more important than nutrient subsidies in open terrestrial systems.
The effects of psychopathology on subjective experience of side effects of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia

This study was conducted to delineate the relationship between self-reported side effects and psychopathology in schizophrenia patients. Patients with schizophrenia completed the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effects Rating Scale for subjective side effects and were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for their psychopathology. Based on a series of multiple linear regression analyses, we derived a model accounting for the relationships among the specific domains of psychopathology and red herring (RH) items of the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effects Rating Scale in predicting subjective side effects. The model with anxiety/depressive symptoms and RH serving as mediators between positive symptoms and side effects was found to show good fit. Positive symptoms caused mostly anxiety symptoms and tendency to report RH items, whereby resulting in over-generalized reporting of subjective side effects. However, a large proportion of variance of side effects was explained by RH, which was only partially explained by positive symptoms alone. Therefore, patients with severe levels of positive and anxiety/depressive symptoms may be prone to nocebo-like effects of antipsychotics. Studies that include acute stage patients presenting severe levels of these symptoms should not rely only on the subjective report of side effects but also apply objective measures.
Deep Learning Architectures for Vessel Segmentation in 2D and 3D Biomedical Images

The aim of this thesis is to describe deep learning approaches for vessel segmentation in 2 and 3-dimensional biomedical images and the results achieved from these approaches on specific sets of data. The first chapter introduces the objective of this thesis, describes the data, which was used for the training, gives a short overview of machine learning and covers some theoretical aspects of artificial neural networks and especially of convolutional neural networks. The second chapter describes methods that were used for achieving the segmentation in 2 and 3 dimensions, like preprocessing of the images, algorithmic approaches, and general project set-up. The third and final chapter focuses on the results of methods described in chapter 2, contains personal advice for future approaches for improving the algorithm’s results and discusses the results. The thesis provides the theory, code snippets for the most fundamental part of the algorithms’ implementations and shows graphical, as well as numerical results of the approaches.
Long‐term prognostic impact of therapeutic strategies in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: changing mortality over the last 30 years

ACE‐inhibitors, β‐blockers, implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improved prognosis of heart failure. We sought to analyse the long‐term prognostic impact of evidence‐based integrated therapeutic strategies in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM).
Schistosoma mansoni: scanning electron microscopy of schistosomula, adults and eggs grown in vitro

SUMMARY Development of surface topography of cultured Schistosoma mansoni was followed in the cercariae, newly transformed and older schistosomula, and adults. Comparison with surface features of schistosomes from animal infections revealed no apparent differences in tegumental folding or morphogenesis, spines, sensory structures, or other components. Eggs produced by worm pairs grown in vitro were grossly abnormal, usually composed of loosely packed vitelline granules and lacking a shell.
Complementary and alternative therapies for children and adolescents with ADHD

Purpose of review To provide a comprehensive review of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recent findings Many parents of children with ADHD are reluctant to pursue medication options and unable to access behavioral counseling. CAM therapies are often appealing to families and studies show that a large percentage of children with ADHD are treated with one or more CAM therapy. Most research studies evaluating CAM therapies are methodologically flawed, and often times there are inconsistencies across either study design or results. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any CAM therapies for ADHD, essential fatty acid supplementation is likely well tolerated and modestly effective. Summary Most complementary and alternative treatments do not have adequate research to recommend their use in children with ADHD. Physicians should be aware of the many CAM treatment options and the research surrounding them in order to provide their patients with the most current and accurate information available.
Performance Evaluation of JSON and XML for Data Exchange in Mobile Services

One of the major challenges of developing mobile services is that of data transfer back and forth between the mobile device and the server side application parts. This paper provides a performance analysis and comparison on the use of XML and JSON for data exchange for mobile services. Results obtained from common emulators are provided, as well as results from live operation on state-of-the-art mobile devices.
Characterization of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Recombinants That Express and Incorporate High Levels of Hepatitis C Virus Glycoproteins

ABSTRACT We generated recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV) expressing genes encoding hybrid proteins consisting of the extracellular domains of hepatitis C virus (HCV) glycoproteins fused at different positions to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the VSV G glycoprotein (E1G and E2G). We show that these chimeric proteins are transported to the cell surface and incorporated into VSV virions efficiently. We also generated VSV recombinants in which the gene encoding the VSV G protein was deleted and replaced by one or both of the E1G and E2G genes, together with a green fluorescent protein gene. These ΔG viruses incorporated E1G and E2G proteins at levels approximately equivalent to the normal level of VSV G itself, or about 1,200 molecules of each protein per virion. Given the potency of VSV recombinants as vaccines in other studies, this high-level expression and incorporation of HCV proteins into virions could be very important for development of an HCV vaccine. Despite the presence of E1G and E2G proteins at high levels in the virions, these virions did not infect cell lines that have been reported to support at least a low level of HCV infection and replication.
45,X/46,XY mosaicism: phenotypic characteristics, growth, and reproductive function--a retrospective longitudinal study.

CONTEXT Most previous studies of 45,X/46,XY mosaicism are case reports or have described single aspects of the disease. OBJECTIVE The objective was to provide longitudinal data of patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism. DESIGN This was a retrospective, longitudinal study conducted from June 1990 to January 2012. SETTING The study took place at a tertiary pediatric and andrological referral center. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five patients (18 boys, seven girls) with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism and its variants were included and were compared to healthy controls. INTERVENTION(S) No interventions were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Phenotypes were scored using external masculinization scores. Serum LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol, and inhibin B levels were reported in male patients. IGF-I levels and height were reported in all patients. Available biopsies/gonadectomies were histologically examined. RESULTS Fourteen of 18 males had external masculinization scores consistent with normal virilization. Ten of 11 male patients experienced spontaneous puberty. Median height sd score was -2.0 (range, -3 to 0.3) for males and -2.2 (range, -2.5 to -1.4) for females, both considerably below genetic potential. Median 1-yr height gain after GH treatment in seven patients was 0.5 sd (0.1 to 1.2). All tissue samples from 15 patients (eight males, seven females) revealed abnormal gonadal histology. Four patients had carcinoma in situ (CIS); two had tissue samples available from early childhood, one showing CIS. CONCLUSIONS Gonadal function in most 45,X/46,XY males, even those with genital ambiguity, seems sufficient for spontaneous puberty. Short stature and 45,X/46,XY mosaicism seem associated, but patients appear to benefit from GH treatment. Histology from two patients with biopsies from early childhood indicates that CIS originates before puberty.
The representation of unseen objects in visual neglect: Effects of view and object identity

We provide evidence for long-term priming based on view-specific representations of neglected stimuli. A patient with visual neglect, M.P., was asked to search for a target presented amongst other objects on a table. Subsequently recognition memory was tested for items that were identified and for items missed in search. Items that were missed were rejected more slowly than novel items in the recognition memory task, providing evidence for implicit processing (Experiment 1). Implicit memory for missed items was both item-specific (Experiment 2) and view-specific (Experiment 3), and it was eliminated when there were intervening activities lasting about 1 hour (Experiment 4). There was also an implicit memory for distractors in the search task, which was item- but not view-specific (Experiments 2 and 3) and it lasted for at least an hour, even with other intervening activities (Experiment 4). The data suggest that the representations of neglected stimuli may differ qualitatively from those of nonneglected items, with representations of neglected objects being both view-specific and vulnerable across extended retention intervals. The results support the argument that attention is needed in order to encode object representations that are robust to view transformations and temporal decay or interference.
Analysis of the role of the PAC1 receptor in neutrophil recruitment, acute‐phase response, and nitric oxide production in septic shock

Infections caused by Gram‐negative bacteria constitute one of the major causes of septic shock, which results from the inability of the immune system to limit bacterial spread during the ongoing infection. In the last decade, it has been demonstrated that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activing polypeptide (PACAP) are two endogenous immunopeptides, which together with three G protein‐coupled receptors (VPAC1, VPAC2, and PAC1) exert a significant, therapeutic effect attenuating the deleterious consequences of septic shock by balancing pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory factors. We have recently shown PAC1 receptor involvement in vivo as an anti‐inflammatory receptor, at least in part, by attenuating lipopolysaccharide‐induced production of proinflammatory interleukin‐6. The present study deepens in the protective role of PAC1 receptor in septic shock, elucidating its involvement in the modulation of neutrophil recruitment and in the expression of different molecular sensors such as intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, fibrinogen, serum amyloid A, and nitric oxide as important, systemic players of the development of septic shock. Our results, using a mice deficient in PAC1 and a PAC1 antagonist, show that VIP and PACAP as well as the PAC1 receptor are involved in neutrophil recruitment in different target organs, in adhesion molecules expression, and in coagulation‐related molecule fibrinogen synthesis. Thus, this study provides some important insights with respect to the involvement of PAC1 into the complexities of sepsis and represents an advantage for the design of more specific drugs complementing standard intensive care therapy in severe sepsis, confirming VIP and PACAP as candidates for multitarget therapy of septic shock.
Body water indices as markers of aging in male masters swimmers.

The association of age and weekly swim training distance with body water, lean tissue, fat mass and regional adiposity was examined in 27 male masters swimmers. Subjects ranged in age from 25.3 to 73.1 years (mean age = 47.7 ± 11.1 years). Weekly swim distances, estimated from self-reported swim logs, were from 3 400 to 17 500 m and averaged 10 016 ± 4 223 m. Total body water (TBW), and extracellular water (ECW) were predicted from multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and intracellular water was estimated by difference. Lean soft tissue, bone mineral content, fat mass, and percent body fat were estimated from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Measures of skinfold thickness, waist circumference, and abdominal sagittal diameter provided an indication of regional adiposity. Total body water, ECW, and ICW mean values (ranges) were as follows: 47.4 ± 4.6 L (37.9-56.9 L), 19.6 ± 1.8 L. , (16.4-24.8 L), and 27.8 ± 3.2 L (21.5-34.4 L). Mean percent body fat levels were 21.9 ± 6.6% and ranged from 10.3 to 34.9%. Age was negatively associated with ICW (p = 0.02) and with the ICW/TBW ratio (p = 0.00). Multiple-linear regression analysis backward method suggested that both lean tissue and fat mass were predictors of ICW although the association with fat mass did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.00 and p = 0.06 for lean and fat mass respectively). There was a tendency for greater lower abdominal thickness with increasing age (p = 0.08), but no other associations were observed between age or with swimming and body composition variables. Changes in ICW and the ration of ICW to TBW appeared to be the strongest marker of aging in this group of adult male competitive swimmers. Key PointsSubject age was negatively associated with the volume of intracellular water and with the intracellular-to-total body water ratio.There was a trend for age to be positively related to lower abdominal thickness.Weekly swim training distance was not associated with body water, lean tissue, fat mass or regional adiposity.Lean tissue mass appeared to be a strong positive predictor of total body water and the intra- and extracellular fractions.There was a trend for fat mass to be a negative predictor of intracellular water volume.
Two siblings with alternate unbalanced recombinants derived from a large cryptic maternal pericentric inversion of chromosome 20

Two brothers, with dissimilar clinical features, were each found to have different abnormalities of chromosome 20 by subtelomere fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The proband had deletion of 20p subtelomere and duplication of 20q subtelomere, while his brother was found to have a duplication of 20p subtelomere and deletion of 20q subtelomere. Parental cytogenetic studies were initially thought to be normal, both by G‐banding and by subtelomere FISH analysis. Since chromosome 20 is a metacentric chromosome and an inversion was suspected, we used anchored FISH to assist in identifying a possible inversion. This approach employed concomitant hybridization of a FISH probe to the short (p) arm of chromosome 20 with the 20q subtelomere probe. We identified a cytogenetically non‐visible, mosaic pericentric inversion of one of the maternal chromosome 20 homologs, providing a mechanistic explanation for the chromosomal abnormalities present in these brothers. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) with both a custom‐made BAC and cosmid‐based subtelomere specific array (TEL array) and a commercially available SNP‐based array confirmed and further characterized these rearrangements, identifying this as the largest pericentric inversion of chromosome 20 described to date. TEL array data indicate that the 20p breakpoint is defined by BAC RP11‐978M13, ∼900 kb from the pter; SNP array data reveal this breakpoint to occur within BAC RP11‐978M13. The 20q breakpoint is defined by BAC RP11‐93B14, ∼1.7 Mb from the qter, by TEL array; SNP array data refine this breakpoint to within a gap between BACs on the TEL array (i.e., between RP11‐93B14 and proximal BAC RP11‐765G16). © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coming to the Nuisance: An Economic Analysis from an Incomplete Contracts Perspective

We construct a model in which an investment opportunity arises for a first mover before it knows the identity of a second mover and in which joint location results in a negative externality. Contracts are inherently incomplete since the first mover cannot bargain over its ex ante investment decision with the anonymous second mover. Given this departure from the setting of the Coase theorem, the allocation of property rights over the externality has real effects on social welfare. We investigate the relative efficiency of property rights regimes used in practice: injunctions, damages, the ruling in the Spur Industries case, etc. The first best can be obtained by allocating property rights (in particular the right to sue for damages) to the second mover. Allocating property rights to the first mover, as a "coming to the nuisance" rule entails, leads to overinvestment. In contrast to conventional wisdom, this inefficiency persists even if a monopoly landowner controls all the land on which the parties may locate. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.