Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The absence of iron deficiency effect on the humoral immune response of piglets to tetanus toxoid

The aim of this study was to investigate an antibody response to tetanus toxoid in iron-deficient piglets. Ten piglets were not given any iron preparation until the age of 21 days. Ten piglets were given 200 mg Fe 3+ dextran intramuscularly at the age of 3 days. All piglets were immunized with tetanus toxoid 14 days after birth. Reimmunization was performed 21 days after the first immunization. IgM and IgG titres were measured in weekly intervals after immunization. Haematological indices and iron concentration in the blood plasma of iron- deficient piglets characterized iron deficiency. The dynamic changes in IgM and IgG response to tetanus toxoid were similar in iron-deficient and iron-supplemented piglets and no significant differences in titres between the two groups were found in any period of the trial.
Association of Baseline Viral Serology and Sirolimus Regimens With Kidney Transplant Outcomes: A 14-Year Registry-Based Cohort Study in the United States

BackgroundThe risks for transplant outcomes associated with baseline viral serostatus in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) on sirolimus have not been widely studied. MethodsWe performed a cohort-study of 61 590 adult KTR in 2000 to 2013. We used Cox regression models to determine the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of patient death, death-censored graft loss and posttransplant malignancy associated with the baseline serostatus (+ or −: hepatitis B core [HBc], hepatitis C virus [HCV], Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], or cytomegalovirus [CMV]) in KTR on sirolimus (SRL) + mycophenolate (MPA) or SRL + tacrolimus (Tac), relative to the control-regimen: Tac + MPA. ResultsCompared with Tac + MPA, SRL + MPA, and SRL + Tac were associated with higher risks of 5-year mortality (aHR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.23-1.60 and aHR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.38-1.83, respectively) and death-censored graft loss (aHR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.24-1.60 and aHR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.21-1.57, respectively). In KTR with negative pretransplant EBV, CMV, HBc, or HCV serostatus, SRL + MPA not SRL + Tac was associated with a lower risk of posttransplant malignancy compared with control (aHR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.10-0.72; aHR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43-0.88; aHR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97; and aHR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65-0.98, respectively, for SRL + MPA and aHR, 0.98: 95% CI, 0.52-1.80; aHR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.46-1.06; aHR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.66-1.06 and aHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.67-1.07, respectively, for SRL + Tac). In KTR with positive serostatus to any of the above viruses, SRL + MPA or SRL + Tac was not associated with a different malignancy risk compared with control. ConclusionsCompared with Tac + MPA, SRL regimens were associated with higher risks for patient death and graft loss, although SRL + MPA was associated with a lower risk for posttransplant malignancy in kidney allograft recipients with negative pretransplant HBc, HCV, EBV, or CMV serology.
Compact CPW dual-band bandpass filters based on semi-lumped elements and metamaterial concepts

In this work we present the design of a three-pole dual-band bandpass filter implemented in coplanar waveguide technology (CPW) by using semi-lumped elements. The structure is described by a circuit model which is roughly the canonical circuit model of an order-4 composite right/left handed (CRLH) transmission line, which is identical to the circuit model of a dual-band bandpass filter that results from frequency transformation from the lowpass filter prototype. The reported filter is a dual-band bandpass filter with central frequencies at fc1 = 1.02 GHz and fc2 = 1.68 GHz, and 20% fractional bandwidth for both bands. Since the filter has been implemented by synthesizing the circuit model, rather than by using distributed elements, the resulting filter dimensions are very small, that is, 20.9 mm × 17.5 mm. Measured in-band insertion and return losses are very satisfactory, and the first spurious band appears at 2.3 times the central frequency of the upper band.
Regional unemployment and norm-induced effects on life satisfaction

While rising unemployment generally reduces people’s happiness, researchers argue that there is a compensating social-norm effect for the unemployed individual, who might suffer less when it is more common to be unemployed. This empirical study rejects this thesis for German panel data, however, and finds that individual unemployment is even more hurtful when regional unemployment is higher. On the other hand, an extended model that separately considers individuals who feel stigmatised from living off public funds yields strong evidence that this group of people does in fact suffer less when the normative pressure to earn one’s own living is lower. A comprehensive discussion reconciles these findings with the existing research and concludes that to find evidence for the often described social-norm effect it is worthwhile to analyse disutility associated with benefit receipts.
Modification of the spectrophotometric determination of ketone bodies in blood enabling the total recovery of beta-hydroxybutyric acid.

A method is described for the determination of ketone bodies in blood, based on (1) their conversion to acetone by boiling in Greenberg and Lester's microrefluxing units, (2) the reaction of acetone with alkaline salicylaldehyde by a modification of Thin and Robertson's microdiffusion technic, and (3) the colorimetric determination of salicylacetone in water. A study of the effects of varying concentrations of dichromate and sulfuric acid on the recoveries of acetoacetic and β-hydroxybutyric acids is presented and the optimum reagent concentrations are established. Recoveries of 100 per cent are obtained for both acetoacetic and β-hydroxybutyric acids. The method is particularly sensitive to small changes of ketone bodies. In the range 0-8 mg. acetone per 100 ml. blood, differences of 0.06 mg. /100 ml. are detected with ease.
Thrombin Differentiates Normal Lung Fibroblasts to a Myofibroblast Phenotype via the Proteolytically Activated Receptor-1 and a Protein Kinase C-dependent Pathway*

Myofibroblasts are ultrastructurally and metabolically distinctive fibroblasts that express smooth muscle (SM)-α actin and are associated with various fibrotic lesions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the myofibroblast phenotype that appears after activation of normal lung fibroblasts by thrombin. We demonstrate that thrombin induces smooth muscle-α actin expression and rapid collagen gel contraction by normal lung fibroblasts via the proteolytically activated receptor-1 and independent of transforming growth factor-β pathway. Using antisense oligonucleotides we demonstrate that a decreased level of PKCε abolishes SM-α actin expression and collagen gel contraction induced by thrombin in normal lung fibroblasts. Inhibition of PKCε translocation also abolishes thrombin-induced collagen gel contraction, SM-α actin increase, and its organization by normal lung fibroblasts, suggesting that activation of PKCε is required for these effects. In normal lung fibroblasts PKCε binds to SM-α actin after thrombin treatment, but in activated fibroblasts derived from scleroderma lung they associate even in untreated cells. This suggests that SM-α actin may serve as a substrate for PKCε in lung fibroblasts when activated by thrombin. We propose that thrombin differentiates normal lung fibroblasts to a myofibroblast phenotype via a PKC-dependent pathway. Thrombin-induced differentiation of normal lung fibroblasts to a myofibroblast phenotype resembles the phenotype observed in scleroderma lung fibroblasts. Therefore, we conclude that chronic exposure to thrombin after microvascular injury leads to activation of normal lung fibroblasts and to the appearance of a myofibroblast phenotype in vivo. Our study provides novel, compelling evidence that thrombin is an important mediator of the interstitial lung fibrosis associated with scleroderma.
Switching Overvoltages in Long Crossbonded Cable Systems Using the Fourier Transform

In this paper, the chain matrix theory of multiconductor systems has been applied to the analysis of long cross-bonded cable systems. In order to highlight the power of the method, typical results of transient voltage waveforms at various points of a system comprising 20 major sections are given. Effects of resistive and inductive sources on the transient waveforms are considered.
On the Importance of Transition Regions for Automatic Speaker Recognition

This letter describes the importance of transition regions, e.g. at phoneme boundaries, for automatic speaker recognition compared with using steady-state regions. Experimental results of automatic speaker identification tasks confirm that transition regions include the most speaker distinctive features. A possible reason for obtaining such results is described in view of articulation, in particular, the degree of freedom of articulators. These results are expected to provide useful information in designing an efficient automatic speaker recognition system.
Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce

This study proposes an integrated model of users’ intention to purchase paid smartphone applications. Focusing on individual-level perceptions of paid smartphone apps, it investigates the impacts of paid apps’ characteristics (perceived usefulness and perceived price), as well as their users’ personal (personal motivation and self-efficacy) and social (mass influence and peer influence) characteristics on users’ attitude toward paid apps, which in turn influence users’ intention to purchase them. The proposed research model was evaluated using data collected from 231 respondents through the structural equation modeling technique. The results showed that perceived usefulness, self-efficacy, and peer influence are critical determinants of users’ attitude toward paid apps, which can lead to users’ intention to purchase paid apps. By highlighting the purchasing process of smartphone paid apps, it may provide guidance to app vendors to launch their new products or services in a successful manner.
Endoscopic ultrasonography: changes of chronic pancreatitis in asymptomatic and symptomatic alcoholic patients.

Changes suggestive of chronic pancreatic damage by endoscopic ultrasonography were studied in 31 asymptomatic and symptomatic alcohol abusers. Fifteen additional patients who did not drink alcohol served as controls. Eighty‐nine percent (17 of 19) of the alcohol abusers with chronic abdominal pain had chronic pancreatitis by endoscopic ultrasonography. Similarly, 58%, (7 of 12) asymptomatic alcoholic patients also had changes of chronic pancreatitis on endosonography. Endoscopic ultrasonography has thus detected changes suggestive of alcohol‐induced chronic pancreatic damage in up to 58% of asymptomatic alcoholic persons and in 89% of alcoholic persons with pancreatic type pain.
TÜRKİYE'DE İHRACAT VE GSMH ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN KOİNTEGRASYON YÖNTEMİYLE İNCELENMESİ

Bu calismada, Turkiye'de ihracat ve GSMH arasindaki iliski kointegrasyon yontemi kullanilarak 1955-2002 donemi icin incelenmistir. Hata duzeltme yontemi ve nedensellik testlerinden yararlanilarak ihracat ve GSMH arasindaki iliskinin yonu tespit edilmistir. Test sonuclarindan, GSMH'den ihracata yonelik tek tarafli bir nedenselligin oldugu gozlenmistir. Bu anlamda GSMH ihracatin Granger nedenidir. Bu cercevede Turkiye'de surdurulebilir bir buyume ortamini saglayacak politikalarin ihracat performansi icin onemli bir unsur oldugu ifade edilebilir.
Efficacy and safety of multi-target therapy using a combination of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and a steroid in patients with active lupus nephritis

Abstract Objectives. To examine the efficacy and safety of multi-target therapy using tacrolimus (TAC), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and a steroid as initial treatment for active lupus nephritis (LN). Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the data of 16 consecutive patients who received the multi-target therapy for active Classes III–V LN at our department. We also compared the outcomes of the multi-target therapy with those of TAC therapy (TAC + steroid), a study of which we had conducted previously in 13 patients with active LN (TAC group). Results. All the patients treated with multi-target therapy achieved complete remission (CR) (mean, 4.6 ± 3.8 months; range, 1–15 months). The clinical profiles of the patients of the multi-target group were similar to those of the TAC group at baseline, except for a significantly higher level of proteinuria (4.6 ± 2.8 vs. 2.5 ± 2.1 g/gCr, p = 0.033) in the former. The CR rate at 6 months was significantly higher in the multi-target group as compared with that in the TAC group (81% vs. 38%, p = 0.018). Two cases of serious adverse events were associated with cytomegalovirus infection in the multi-target group, namely gastric ulcer and pancytopenia, both of which were successfully treated by antiviral therapy. Conclusions. Multi-target therapy was effective as initial treatment for active LN, with CR achieved early and in a high percentage of patients. Although this therapy was generally well tolerated, it is important to bear in mind the associated risk of cytomegalovirus infection.
Expression of glutamine metabolism-related proteins in thyroid cancer

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the expression of glutamine metabolism-related protein in tumor and stromal compartments among the histologic subtypes of thyroid cancer. Results GLS1 and GDH expression in tumor and stromal compartments were the highest in AC than in other subtypes. Tumoral ASCT2 expression was higher in MC but lower in FC (p < 0.001). In PTC, tumoral GLS1 and tumoral GDH expression was higher in the conventional type than in the follicular variant (p = 0.043 and 0.001, respectively), and in PTC with BRAF V600E mutation than in PTC without BRAF V600E mutation (p<0.001). Stromal GDH positivity was the independent factor associated with short overall survival (hazard ratio: 21.48, 95% confidence interval: 2.178-211.8, p = 0.009). Methods We performed tissue microarrays with 557 thyroid cancer cases (papillary thyroid carcinoma [PTC]: 344, follicular carcinoma [FC]: 112, medullary carcinoma [MC]: 70, poorly differentiated carcinoma [PDC]: 23, and anaplastic carcinoma [AC]: 8) and 152 follicular adenoma (FA) cases. We performed immunohistochemical staining of glutaminolysis-related proteins (glutaminase 1 [GLS1], glutamate dehydrogenase [GDH], and amino acid transporter-2 [ASCT-2]). Conclusion Glutamine metabolism-related protein expression differed among the histologic subtypes of thyroid cancer.
The Use of Biologics and Other Immunosuppressants in the Treatment of Common Inflammatory Diseases in Neuro-ophthalmology

Corticosteroids remain the primary treatment for inflammatory diseases that involve the eye and orbit. However, side effects and treatment failures have provided the impetus for the use of safer and more specific immunosuppressive agents. ‘‘Steroid-sparing’’ immunosuppressants, such as antimetabolites (ie, methotrexate, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil), alkylating agents (ie, cyclophosphamide and chlorambucil), and specific T-cell inhibitors (ie, cyclosporine and tacrolimus) continue to be evaluated in the treatment of ocular inflammatory diseases. More recently, greater understanding of immune cells and cell products involved in the inflammatory response has led to the ability to target specific cell receptor proteins and cytokines in the inflammatory cascade. This has been performed with the development of biologics, which generally include recombinant forms of natural inhibitory molecules, recombinant receptor fusion proteins for inflammatory cytokines, and monoclonal antibodies targeting inflammatory cytokines or select cell surface markers. In ophthalmology, the use of these compounds has been limited by their cost and the lack of large trials in ocular inflammatory disease. However, multiple case series have been published on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) inhibitors, including infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab, in the treatment of ocular inflammatory conditions. The use of rituximab, which targets the CD20 receptor of B cells, and daclizumab, which blocks the IL-2 receptor of T lymphocytes, have been described as well.
Escherichia coli Population-Based Study in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease

Escherichia coli is assumed to be involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by many authors. The present Short Report was aimed at analyzing E. coli population isolated from ileal samples collected from 4 CD and 3 non-CD (control group) diagnosed pediatric patients. A total of 539 mu- cosa-associated E. coli strains were characterized by: Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), adhesive and virulence factors, and for their phylogenetic groups. A significant separation be- tween RAPD profiles of the two CD and non-CD cohorts (P < 0.0001), along with a significant reduc- tion of intra-species genomic variability in E. coli populations isolated from CD group (P < 0.0001) was found as assessed by Dice index, indicating a different selective pressure in CD intestinal ha- bitat. A predominance of phylogenetic group A was found in control subjects (P < 0.0001). Results on adhesive and virulence factors evidenced peculiar genes significantly related to CD E. coli pop- ulations (K1, IbeA) (P < 0.0001) and to total DNA from biopsy specimens K1 (P < 0.0001). Results suggest that among E. coli population, particular variants may be favorite in the intestinal habitat of CD pediatric patients. These genotype variants could represent the genetic background that, via evolutionary phenomena driven by a persistent inflammatory state, may evolve in Adherent Inva- sive Escherichia coli (AIEC) like strains found in adult CD patients.
An Anatomic Review of the Delay Phenomenon: II. Clinical Applications

This paper applies the anatomic concepts and data obtained from our animal experimental studies of the delay phenomenon to a series of clinical cases. Similar clinical results were obtained to those seen in Part I of our study when skin flaps were raised with and without a delay, when a tissue expander was used, and when the delay technique was extended to musculocutaneous flaps. In each instance, the cutaneous perforators were identified with the Doppler probe to facilitate the delay of specific vessels rather than dividing those at random. Intraoperative arteriograms and venograms reveal that the choke arteries dilate and the anatomically unfavorable valved vein segments become regurgitant. The end result is the observation that at least one additional anatomic vascular territory can be added to the length of a flap with safety following a surgical delay.
Naive Precursor Frequencies and MHC Binding Rather Than the Degree of Epitope Diversity Shape CD8+ T Cell Immunodominance1

The primary CD8+ T cell response of C57BL/6J mice against the 28 known epitopes of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is associated with a clear immunodominance hierarchy whose mechanism has yet to be defined. To evaluate the role of epitope competition in immunodominance, we manipulated the number of CD8+ T cell epitopes that could be recognized during LCMV infection. Decreasing epitope numbers, using a viral variant lacking dominant epitopes or C57BL/6J mice lacking H-2Kb, resulted in minor response increases for the remaining epitopes and no new epitopes being recognized. Increasing epitope numbers by using F1 hybrid mice, delivery by recombinant vaccinia virus, or epitope delivery as a pool in IFA maintained the overall response pattern; however, changes in the hierarchy did become apparent. MHC binding affinity of these epitopes was measured and was found to not strictly predict the hierarchy since in several cases similarly high binding affinities were associated with differences in immunodominance. In these instances the naive CD8+ T cell precursor frequency, directly measured by tetramer staining, correlated with the response hierarchy seen after LCMV infection. Finally, we investigated an escape mutant of the dominant GP33–41 epitope that elicited a weak response following LCMV variant virus infection. Strikingly, dominance loss likely reflects a substantial reduction in frequencies of naive precursors specific for this epitope. Thus, our results indicate that an intrinsic property of the epitope (MHC binding affinity) and an intrinsic property of the host (naive precursor frequency) jointly dictate the immunodominance hierarchy of CD8+ T cell responses.
Folic acid use and major congenital malformations in offspring of women with epilepsy: a prospective study from the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register

Objective: In the general population, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy has been demonstrated to reduce the frequency of neural tube defects (NTDs) and other major congenital malformations (MCMs). It is recommended that women with epilepsy contemplating pregnancy take supplemental folic acid because of the known antifolate effect of some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Here the aim was to determine the effectiveness of this practice. Methods: This study is part of a prospective, observational, registration and follow-up study. Suitable cases are women with epilepsy who become pregnant and who are referred before outcome of the pregnancy is known. The main outcome measure is the MCM rate. Outcomes were analysed against folic acid exposure, malformation type and drug group for the most commonly used monotherapy AEDs. Results: In 1935 cases reported to have received preconceptual folic acid, 76 MCMs (3.9%; 95% CI 3.1 to 4.9) and eight NTDs (0.4%; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.8) were identified. For 2375 women who were reported to have received folic acid but not until later in the pregnancy (n = 1825) or not at all (n = 550), there were 53 outcomes with an MCM (2.2%; 95% CI 1.7 to 2.9) and eight NTDs (0.34%; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7). Conclusions: The study supports the view that extrapolation from studies carried out in the general population to groups of women with epilepsy may be questionable. It may be that the increased risk of MCM recorded in this group occurs through mechanisms other than that of folic acid metabolism.
National innovative capacity in the international technology diffusion: The perspective of network contagion effects

Effective promoting national innovative capacity performance tends to be a critical policy for a country. This study examines network contagion effects on international diffusion of embodied and disembodied technology by two different social network models: cohesion models, which are based on diffusion by direct communication, and structural equivalence models, which are based on diffusion by network position similarity. This study then utilizes the data of 42 countries from 1997 to 2002 to empirically examine their relational influences. The analytical results show international technology diffusion influences the performance of national innovative capacity through contagion effects; however, the mimetic behavior is predicted better by network position than by interactions with others. This result provides a broader consideration for science and technology policy.