Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D-Analysis of a non-planispiral ammonoid from the Hunsrück Slate: natural or pathological variation?

We herein examine the only known non-planispirally coiled early Devonian ammonoid, the holotype specimen of Ivoites opitzi, to investigate if the host was encrusted in vivo and if these sclerobionts were responsible for the trochospiral coiling observed in this unique specimen. To test if the presence of runner-like sclerobionts infested the historically collected specimen of Ivoites opitzi during its life, we used microCT to produce a three-dimensional model of the surface of the specimen. Our results indicate that sclerobionts grew across the outer rim (venter) on both sides of the ammonoid conch at exactly the location where the deviation from the planispiral was recognized, and where subsequent ammonoid growth would likely preclude encrustation. This indicates in vivo encrustation of the I. opitzi specimen, and represents the earliest documentation of the phenomenon. Further, this suggests that non-planispiral coiling in I. opitzi was likely pathologically induced and does not represent natural morphological variation in the species. Despite the observed anomalies in coiling, the specimen reached adulthood and retains important identifying morphological features, suggesting the ammonoid was minimally impacted by encrustation in life. As such, appointing a new type specimen—as suggested by some authors—for the species is not necessary. In addition, we identify the sclerobionts responsible for modifying the coiling of this specimen as hederelloids, a peculiar group of sclerobionts likely related to phoronids. Hederelloids in the Devonian are commonly found encrusting on fossils collected in moderately deep environments within the photic zone and are rarely documented in dysphotic and aphotic samples. This indicates that when the ammonoid was encrusted it lived within the euphotic zone and supports the latest interpretations of the Hunsrück Slate depositional environment in the Bundenbach-Gemünden area.
Statutory health assessments for looked-after children: what do they achieve?

OBJECTIVE To examine the outcomes of statutory health assessment of children looked after by an English City Council. DESIGN Retrospective longitudinal documentary analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Health records of all children looked after by Southampton City Council who had attended at least two statutory health assessments within a designated paediatric service from 1996 to 1999. MAIN VARIABLES STUDIED Demographic characteristics of the children; physical and mental health problems identified at assessment and extent to which health recommendations were implemented. RESULTS Twenty-seven boys and 22 girls aged 6 months-15 years were identified who had attended at least two assessments. One-hundred and four physical and mental health needs were identified at care entry requiring further assessment or intervention. More health problems were identified for girls than boys. At care entry 15/49 of the children were not fully immunized. At review, on average 14 months later, recommendations had only been implemented in just over half of children. CONCLUSIONS In common with previous studies this work confirms that the statutory health assessment identifies health need and health neglect that may otherwise go unrecognized. Whereas children's needs and problems were diverse, many continued to suffer health neglect in the system of public care designed to help them. In order to be effective, statutory health assessments must be a health promoting rather than disease screening exercise delivered by professionals skilled to address diverse health needs. Crucially, the heath assessment can only succeed as a tool for health advocacy if complementary to and integrated with local authority care and review.
Role of Alu Element in Detecting Population Diversity

Abstract Indel polymorphisms are becoming increasingly useful markers for population genetic studies. These are stable mutational events that are unlikely to undergo reverse or convergent mutations, making them useful as markers for distinguishing chromosomal lineages identical by descent and for using in population diversity studies. There has been a great deal of interest to use retrotransposones like Alu element, which displays indel polymorphism, in the population diversity studies. The polymorphic Alu insertions are particularly useful for such studies because the probability of independent retroposition at the same exact chromosomal site is virtually zero. All loci carrying a particular Alu insertion are derived from a unique event and hence are identical by descent. Further the ancestral state for polymorphic Alu insertions is the absence of the insertion hence the direction of mutational change is the gain of the Alu element at a particular locus. Knowing the ancestral state and the direction of mutational change greatly facilitates the analysis of population relationship but is generally not possible for other types of loci. These features make Alu insertion polymorphisms more attractive than other autosomal classical markers for analyses of population history and structure. This review is focused on Alu element and its role in detecting population diversity with few empirical examples from around the world. The phylogenetic studies based on Alu polymorphisms on Indian populations has also been presented.
In Silico and In Vitro Study of the Bromelain-Phytochemical Complex Inhibition of Phospholipase A2 (Pla2)

Phospholipase A2 (Pla2) is an enzyme that induces inflammation, making Pla2 activity an effective approach to reduce inflammation. Therefore, investigating natural compounds for this Pla2 inhibitory activity has important therapeutic potential. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential in bromelain-phytochemical complex inhibitors via a combination of in silico and in vitro methods. Bromelain-amenthoflavone displays antagonistic effects on Pla2. Bromelian-asiaticoside and bromelain-diosgenin displayed synergistic effects at high concentrations of the combined compounds, with inhibition percentages of more than 70% and 90%, respectively, and antagonistic effects at low concentrations. The synergistic effect of the bromelain-asiaticoside and bromelain-diosgenin combinations represents a new application in treating inflammation. These findings not only provide significant quantitative data, but also provide an insight on valuable implications for the combined use of bromelain with asiaticoside and diosgenin in treating inflammation, and may help researchers develop more natural bioactive compounds in daily foods as anti-inflammatory agent.
Hormonal contraception and risk of cervical infections among HIV-1-seropositive Kenyan women

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between hormonal contraceptive use and the acquisition of cervical sexually transmitted infections (STI) among HIV-1-infected women. Design: A prospective cohort study of 242 commercial sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya, followed from the time of HIV-1 infection. Methods: At monthly follow-up visits, sexual behavior and contraceptive use were recorded, and laboratory screening for STI was performed. Multivariate Andersen–Gill proportional hazards models were constructed to examine the association between the use of hormonal contraception and the occurrence of cervical STI. Results: The median duration of follow-up after HIV-1 acquisition was 35 months, and 799 person-years of follow-up were accrued. After adjustment for demographic factors and sexual behavior, women using the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate were at increased risk of Chlamydia trachomatis infection [hazard ratio (HR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–9.4, P = 0.05] and cervicitis (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.3, P = 0.03) compared with women using no contraception. The use of oral contraceptive pills was associated with an increased risk of cervicitis (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.8, P = 0.001). Hormonal contraception was not associated with an increased risk of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Conclusion: The use of hormonal contraception by HIV-1-infected women was associated with an increased risk of cervicitis and cervical chlamydia infection. HIV-1-seropositive women using hormonal contraception should be counseled about the importance of consistent condom use to prevent both STI and HIV-1 transmission.
Accuracy of Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease by Radionuclide Measurement of Left Ventricular Function During Rest and Exercise

Rest and exercise radionuclide angiocardiographic measurements of left ventricular function were obtained in 496 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for chest pain. Two hundred forty-eight of these patients also had an exercise treadmill test. An ejection fraction less than 50% was the abnormality of resting left ventricular function that provided the greatest diagnostic information. In patients with normal resting left ventricular function, exercise abnormalities that were optimal for diagnosis of coronary artery disease were an ejection fraction at least 6% less than predicted, an increase of greater than 20 ml in end-systolic volume and the appearance of an exercise-induced wall motion abnormality. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were lower in patients who were taking propranolol at the time of study and in patients who failed to achieve an adequate exercise end point. In the 387 patients with an optimal study, the test had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 58%. Radionuclide angiocardiography was more sensitive and less specific than the exercise treadmill test. The high degree of sensitivity of the radionuclide test suggests that it is most appropriately applied to patient groups with a high prevalence of disease, including those considered for cardiac catheterization.
Health and aging.

Regular meditation is the key to health (mental, physical and social wellbeing). It elevates mind from gross level to finer aspect and makes the body and mind follow the law of nature achieving good health, preventing disease, improving performance and reducing aging process. Balanced diet (less sugar, less salt and less fat as age advances supplemented with vitamins and minerals) and mild to moderate exercise (walking etc.) are complimentary to the effects of meditation.
New audiences, international distribution, and translation

The interconnectivity made possible by the technological advancements of the past three decades has changed the way how audiences engage with audiovisual content around the world. On the one hand, viewers have become empowered consumers who are also engaged in the distribution of content; on the other, companies serving global audiences have emerged as key players in the audiovisual market. With more access to content, through piracy or official channels, new consumption habits, such as binge watching, have become common among viewers. Non-professional subtitling has played a key role in the expansion of the audiovisual market, the configuration of international audiences and the development of new viewing traditions. By looking at non-professional subtitling as a constituent of the international media flows, this chapter proposes Translation Studies should look at the reception of non-professional subtitles at a global scale to understand the interplay between non-professional subtitling, its producers/users and the audiovisual market, as well as the societal impact of the phenomenon.
Cancer Therapy : Preclinical Lyn Kinase Mediates Cell Motility and Tumor Growth in EGFRvIII-Expressing Head and Neck Cancer

Purpose: EGF receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) has been detected in several cancers in which tumors expressing this truncated growth factor receptor showmore aggressive behavior. Themolecularmechanisms that contribute to EGFRvIII-mediated tumor progression that are amenable to targeted therapy are incompletely understood. The present study aimed to better define the role of Src family kinases (SFKs) in EGFRvIII-mediated cell motility and tumor growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Glasgow aneurysm score in predicting outcome after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objective To assess the ability of Glasgow Aneurysm Score in predicting postoperative mortality for ruptured aortic aneurysm which may assist in decision making regarding the open surgical repair of an individual patient. Methods A total of 121 patients diagnosed of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent open surgery in our hospital between 1999 and 2013 were included. The Glasgow Aneurysm Score for each patient was graded according to the Glasgow Aneurysm Score (Glasgow Aneurysm Score = age in years + 17 for shock + 7 for myocardial disease + 10 for cerebrovascular disease + 14 for renal disease). The groups were divided as Group 1 (containing the patients who died) and Group 2 (the patients who were discharged). The Glasgow Aneurysm Scores amongst the groups were compared. Results Out of 121 patients, 108 (89.3%) were males and 13 (10.7%) were females. The in-hospital mortality was 48 patients (39.7%). The Glasgow Aneurysm Score was 84.15 ± 15.94 in Group 1 and 75.14 ± 14.67 in Group 2 which revealed significance (p = 0.002). The most appropriate cut-off value for Glasgow Aneurysm Score was determined as 78.5 (AUC = 0.669, p = 0.002, sensitivity: 64.6%, specificity: 60.3%). Glasgow Aneurysm Score value above 78.5 is associated with almost threefold increase in mortality (p = 0.007, OR:2.76, 95% CI 1.30–5.89). In further logistic regression models, Glasgow Aneurysm Score value and preoperative hematocrit values were found to be independent predictors for mortality (p = 0.023 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion Glasgow Aneurysm Score may have a predictive value for outcome of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm undergoing open surgical procedure and it appears to be a useful tool in clinical decision-making of an individual patient when integrated with clinical experience.
Do Ccts Improve Employment and Earnings in the Very Long-Term? Evidence from Mexico

We assess long-term impacts of the Mexican conditional cash transfer (CCT) program on youth employment and earnings. We rely on the original random assignment into early and late treatment localities, which introduced CCTs in 1998 and 2000. We focus on children between 7 and 16 years of age in 1997, who we follow up to 17 years later. Using the household surveys between 2003 and 2015, we find that those with greater time of exposure to CCTs had greater increases in educational attainment. Moreover, we find significant and positive impacts of the program on the likelihood and quality of employment.
Tumor antigen drives a persistent oligoclonal expansion of CD8+ T cells in aged mice

Oligoclonal T cell expansions (TCE) are common in old humans and mice, but it is not known whether the T cell response to a specific antigen is more restricted in old vs. young animals. Herein, we describe an enhanced and prolonged response of tumor antigen‐specific CD8 cells in old mice identified by Kd/peptide tetramers and Vβ10 staining. At the onset of the response CD8 T cell numbers and Vβ10+CD8+ cells at the site of tumor injection were lower in old mice, hinting that control of initial tumor growth may not be optimal. As further evidence of a dysregulated response in old mice, antibody titers to the tumor were deficient and the CD8 tumor antigen‐specific response was greater and more prolonged in the blood and spleen. Old mice selected a more oligoclonal TCR repertoire based on TCRβ chain CDR3 length analysis and sequences. Persistent expansions of Vβ10+CD8+ cells in old mice had memory/activation phenotypes. This induced tumor antigen‐specific response may represent a model for the spontaneous TCE observed with aging and demonstrates that the CD8 response to a defined peptide/MHC antigen is indeed more oligoclonal in old mice.
Tissue factor mRNA in THP-1 monocytic cells is regulated at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in response to lipopolysaccharide

Tissue factor (TF) is transiently expressed in human monocytes exposed to the inflammatory agonist bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Since TF is the major cellular initiator of the coagulation protease cascades, it is inferred that its expression within the vasculature is strictly regulated. In this study, we investigated mechanisms which control TF mRNA expression in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. LPS induced a rapid and transient accumulation of the mature 2.2-kb TF mRNA, which was maximal at 2 h. After stimulation, the rate of transcription of the TF gene was increased (3.3 +/- 1.3)fold. In addition, we observed a significant change in TF mRNA stability: at 1 h after LPS stimulation, TF mRNA was stable during a 60-min period and had a half-life of greater than 120 min, whereas at 2 h, the half-life had declined to 25 +/- 5 min. Furthermore, a larger (3.4-kb) TF RNA species was induced in these cells; the size of this species and data from selective hybridizations with intron-specific probes are consistent with the presence of an unspliced copy of intron 1. These results demonstrate that the LPS-induced accumulation of TF mRNA levels in these monocytic cells is accomplished by both transcriptional and posttranscriptional control mechanisms.
Adapting attribution science to the climate extremes of tomorrow

Increasing risks of extreme weather events are the most noticeable and damaging manifestation of anthropogenic climate change. In the aftermath of an extreme event, policymakers are often called upon to make timely and sensitive decisions about rebuilding and managing present and future risks. Information regarding whether, where, and how present day and future risks are changing is needed to adequately inform these decisions. But this information is often not available on the temporal and spatial scales decisions are made. In particular, decision makers require information about both historical changes and plausible future changes in the severity and frequency of extreme weather in a seamless way. However, applying the same methods from event attribution to future projections by defining events based on present day frequency of occurrence leads to potentially misleading estimates of future changes in a warmer climate. We demonstrate that this is fundamentally a consequence of risk ratios saturating at different values. This study investigates the circumstances under which present-day attribution frameworks become ill-suited for characterising changes in future extremes, before discussing what alternative frameworks may be more useful to inform stakeholders about what additional risks from extreme weather events will emerge in a warmer world.
Matrix metalloproteinases in brain development and remodeling: Synaptic functions and targets

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in egg fertilization, embryonic development, wound repair, cancer, and inflammatory and neurologic diseases. This subfamily of metzincin peptidases can cleave extracellular matrix (ECM) and pericellular proteins that have profound effects on cell behavior. Among known MMP substrates are several proteins that play important roles in synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and long‐term potentiation (LTP). In this Mini‐Review we discuss how MMP‐directed cleavage of these proteins can impact the formation and function of synapses within the brain. Pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus, and other large neurons, are surrounded by perineuronal nets that are composed of brevican, tenascin‐R, and laminin, each of which is subject to proteolytic cleavage by MMPs. Tenascin‐R knockout mice show deficits in learning and memory and LTP, as do at least two MMP knockouts. Impaired LTP is also seen in brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) knockout mice, which is interesting in that pro‐BDNF can be processed into mature BDNF by several MMPs and thereby regulate activation of the high‐affinity BDNF receptor TrkB. At the synaptic level, MMP substrates also include ephrins, Eph receptors, and cadherins, which are also involved in synapse development and plasticity. MMPs can also process membrane‐bound tumor necrosis factor‐α into a potent soluble cytokine that is increasingly implicated in neuron–glial signaling, particularly in neurologic disease. Finally, we discuss how the development of therapeutics to attenuate MMP activity in neurodegenerative disorders may become powerful tools for future studies of synaptic formation and function within the developing and mature brain. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased risk of mortality in Alzheimer's disease patients with higher education? A replication study

The objective of this study was to replicate findings from an earlier study by Stern et al. of an increased risk of mortality in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with higher levels of education and to compare this risk with the risk of death in the elderly population. As part of a community-based follow-up study on dementia (Amsterdam Study of the Elderly[AMSTEL]) a cohort of 4,051 noninstitutionalized elderly age 65 to 84 years stratified in four 5-year strata of equal size was screened for dementia using the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination). Those suspected of dementia received diagnostic evaluation using the CAMDEX (Cambridge examination for mental disorders in the elderly). Clinical diagnoses of probable AD were made according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Thirty-six prevalent patients were diagnosed as having AD. The suspected subcohort was followed up yearly over a period of 4 years. During the three yearly follow-ups, 30 incident patients received a diagnosis as well. After 6 years mortality data were obtained from municipality records. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age and sex were used to estimate the relative risk of death associated with the level of education. Relative risk of death decreased (although not statistically significant) in AD patients as level of education increased (RR= 0.86; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.19). In the full baseline sample, relative risk of death decreased as level of education increased (RR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.89 to 0.97). In this study we could not replicate the findings of Stern et al. of an increased risk of death in more highly educated AD patients. Several major differences between the two studies, among which difference in populations used is considered to be most important, are discussed that might explain the conflicting results. We conclude that higher education is not associated with increased risk of mortality in AD patients.
Self-organisation and group creativity

The team has become the basic organisational unit of development and innovation work and an understanding of creativity at the collective level is crucial for long-term sustainability. This article takes a process perspective and understands group creativity as emerging from the interaction among group members. It is about the possibility to enable the emergence of selforganisation, thereby increasing group creativity. This paper presents an experiment where four out of eight randomly formed groups of students were given a work order structured according to the group process model “GroPro”. In groups using the GroPro ideas were significantly more often promoted, observed and used by other group members, and used in the final solution. Further, the two best solutions and the more creative solutions of the task were found among the GroPro groups. A work process structured according to the GroPro model seems to increase self-organisation as well as the creativity of the group. Further, the group process is shown to be more important for group creativity than the individual creativity of the group members. Our results encourage more focus on the group process by both academia and practitioners.