Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
B-Cell Lymphoma and Myeloma Protection Induced by Idiotype Vaccination with Dendritic Cells Is Mediated Entirely by T Cells in Mice

Immunoglobulin idiotypes (Id) of malignant B cells are tumor-specific antigens that may be targeted for immunotherapy. Id-directed immunotherapy by immunization with autologous Id has been initiated in clinical trials to control residual disease in B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The effector mechanisms responsible for destruction of B-cell tumors are a controversial issue. The authors show that vaccination with Id-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) or with soluble Id-KLH in adjuvant induced immune responses that eliminated both B-cell lymphoma and myeloma in tumor-bearing mice; however, the two vaccination regimens resulted in distinct immune responses. Whereas soluble Id plus adjuvant induced high levels of anti-Id antibodies, the Id-pulsed DCs did not induce anti-Id or any antitumor antibodies. Immunization with Id-pulsed DCs induced a significant increase in the frequency of Id-reactive T cells. Depletion studies in DC-vaccinated mice showed that the predominant effector cells responsible for tumor rejection were of the CD8+ subset. The finding that DC-based Id vaccines elicit tumor protection, which is entirely based on cell-mediated effector mechanisms, is of particular importance for plasma cell tumors because these tumors do not express Id on the surface and hence do not bind anti-Id antibodies.
Post-translational Processing of β-Secretase (β-Amyloid-converting Enzyme) and Its Ectodomain Shedding

Processing of the β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP) by β- and γ-secretases generates the amyloidogenic peptide Aβ, a major factor in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. Following the recent identification of the β-secretase β-amyloid-converting enzyme (BACE), we herein investigate its zymogen processing, molecular properties, and cellular trafficking. Our data show that among the proprotein convertase family members, furin is the major converting enzyme of pro-BACE into BACE within the trans-Golgi network of HK293 cells. While we demonstrate that the 24-amino acid prosegment is required for the efficient exit of pro-BACE from the endoplasmic reticulum, it may not play a strong inhibitory role since we observe that pro-BACE can produce significant quantities of the Swedish mutant βAPPsw β-secretase product C99. BACE is palmitoylated at three Cys residues within its transmembrane/cytosolic tail and is sulfated at mature N-glycosylated moieties. Data with three different antibodies show that a small fraction of membrane-bound BACE is shed into the medium and that the extent of ectodomain shedding is palmitoylation-dependent. Overexpression of full-length BACE causes a significant increase in the production of C99 and a decrease in the α-secretase product APPsα. Although there is little increase in the generation of Aβ by full-length BACE, overexpression of either a soluble form of BACE (equivalent to the shed form) or one lacking the prosegment leads to enhanced Aβ levels. These findings suggest that the shedding of BACE may play a role in the amyloidogenic processing of βAPP.
Emergency peripartum hysterectomy: A five year study from a tertiary care hospital in Mysore, South India

Introduction: Peripartum hysterectomy is defined as a hysterectomy performed at the time, or within 24 hours, of delivery. It is certainly a lifesaving procedure when all medical and surgical methods fail to control bleeding. Objective: To determine the incidence, indications, maternal and perinatal outcome of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH). Methods: A retrospective, analytical study of all patients who underwent peripartum hysterectomy over a period of 5 years from January 2014 to September 2018 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JSS Hospital an associated hospital of JSS Medical College, Mysuru. Results: There were 12 cases of peripartum hysterectomy (9 caesarean hysterectomies 75%, 3 postpartum hysterectomy 25%, making an incidence of 0.498/1000 deliveries. Most of the patients were para 8 (66.6%) were mostly in age group of 20-30 years and 10 (83.3%) belonged to rural areas. Overall the most common indication for emergency peripartum hysterectomy was uterine atony 9 (75%), abnormal placentation 3 (25%), uterine rupture 1(8.3%). One patient required total abdominal hysterectomy, 11 (91.6%) patients required subtotal hysterectomy. There were 2 (16.6%) maternal and 1 (8.3%) perinatal deaths; all were due to severity of conditions necessitating hysterectomy. Discussion: Atonic uterus was the commonest indication for emergency peripartum hysterectomy. Previous scar, multiparity and abnormal placentation were the significant risk factors. Conclusions: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy is potentially a lifesaving procedure, at times when all conservative surgical modalities fail and interventional radiology is not immediately available. It is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality.
Limbic tract anomalies in pediatric myelomeningocele and Chiari II malformation: anatomic correlations with memory and learning--initial investigation.

PURPOSE To prospectively determine anomalies of limbic tracts and to describe the relationship between these anomalies, seen on diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance (MR) and fiber tract (FT) reconstruction images, and learning and memory in children with myelomeningocele (MM) and Chiari II malformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The investigation was HIPAA compliant and approved by institutional review boards; informed consent was obtained. In seven male and six female patients (aged 6 months to 16 years) with MM and Chiari II malformation, diffusion-tensor imaging and FT reconstruction were performed. FT reconstruction was generated with fractional anisotropy continuous tracking algorithm and manually drawn regions of interest. Limbic tract abnormalities were assessed on FT reconstruction images by an experienced pediatric neuroradiologist blinded to results of cognitive testing. Nine patients met criteria for memory and learning testing by a trained cognitive neuroscientist blinded to MR results. Exact Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare performance with learning and memory tasks in two groups. RESULTS Eleven of 13 patients had defects within fornices and/or cingulum; three patients had aberrant fibers of cingulum. In nine patients, six had deficits in general memory; four, in learning; and four, in both. Atresia or hypoplasia of crura and body of fornices was noted in six patients with memory deficits and four patients with learning deficits. Five of six patients with memory deficits and three of four with learning deficits had hypoplasia or atresia of cingulum. Exact Wilcoxon rank sum test demonstrated significantly poorer performance for nonverbal immediate recall tasks in patients with anomalies of the fornix compared with those without (P = .04, exact two-tailed test). CONCLUSION Diffusion-tensor and FT reconstruction images revealed that limbic fiber abnormalities were common in patients with MM and Chiari II malformation. Nonverbal immediate recall task performance appeared to be related to abnormalities of the fornix.
Personal and Interpersonal Competencies of University Students Entering the Workforce : Validation of a Scale

The big changes that take place in a social and productive context demand putting a set of competencies into action that relate to the same equation of training, orientation and employment are demanded. Faced with this growing commitment of employability, the aim of this paper is to describe the construction of a scale of competencies for university students on entering the workforce and analyze the validity of construct of said scale. 931 final year undergraduate students from the University of Murcia and the University of Granada participated. To achieve the aim of this research, a quantitative methodological approach was adopted and a non-experimental, exploratory, and transversal study with a survey was applied. The main results indicated the reliability and validity of the proposed competency scale, as well as its adequacy to the proposed theoretical model that claims that relevance and active presence of personal (individual) and interpersonal (social) competencies are the most influential competencies for an optimal entry into the job market today. Universities must manage employability through a group of actions directed to encourage these kinds of competencies and promote better cooperative training with the objective to improve the university-workforce relationship, to access job opportunities and professional internships, and to form a long-term career goal
WAVELET ANALYSIS OF BROADBAND SIGNALS TO EXTRACT AMPLITUDE AND FREQUENCY MODULATION : AN APPLICATION TO WALL TURBULENCE

Large-scale structures in wall-bounded turbulent flows are known to exhibit a coupling with the small-scale energy in th e flow. Besides a superposition of large-scale energy onto the near-wall dynamics, this coupling comprises an amplitude a nd frequency modulation of the small-scale fluctuations by the large-sca le motions. In this work we use wavelet analysis to examine am plitude and frequency modulation. Albeit the wavelet-based approach f or amplitude modulation condenses to analyses presented in earl er studies, the strength of the approach becomes evident from a convenie nt extension of the technique to extract local instantaneou s frequency modulation. While discrete techniques were employed previ ously, an application of a continuous approach results in in herent advantages when phase lags between the largeand small-scale fluc tuations in terms of amplitude and frequency modulation are inv stigated.
Daily rifapentine for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. A randomized, dose-ranging trial.

RATIONALE Rifapentine has potent activity in mouse models of tuberculosis chemotherapy but its optimal dose and exposure in humans are unknown. OBJECTIVES We conducted a randomized, partially blinded dose-ranging study to determine tolerability, safety, and antimicrobial activity of daily rifapentine for pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. METHODS Adults with sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were assigned rifapentine 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg or rifampin 10 mg/kg daily for 8 weeks (intensive phase), with isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. The primary tolerability end point was treatment discontinuation. The primary efficacy end point was negative sputum cultures at completion of intensive phase. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A total of 334 participants were enrolled. At completion of intensive phase, cultures on solid media were negative in 81.3% of participants in the rifampin group versus 92.5% (P = 0.097), 89.4% (P = 0.29), and 94.7% (P = 0.049) in the rifapentine 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg groups. Liquid cultures were negative in 56.3% (rifampin group) versus 74.6% (P = 0.042), 69.7% (P = 0.16), and 82.5% (P = 0.004), respectively. Compared with the rifampin group, the proportion negative at the end of intensive phase was higher among rifapentine recipients who had high rifapentine areas under the concentration-time curve. Percentages of participants discontinuing assigned treatment for reasons other than microbiologic ineligibility were similar across groups (rifampin, 8.2%; rifapentine 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg, 3.4, 2.5, and 7.4%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Daily rifapentine was well-tolerated and safe. High rifapentine exposures were associated with high levels of sputum sterilization at completion of intensive phase. Further studies are warranted to determine if regimens that deliver high rifapentine exposures can shorten treatment duration to less than 6 months. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT 00694629).
Large Eddy Simulation of Non-Reactive Flow in a Pulse Detonation Chamber

A non-reactive LES simulation of the flow inside a pulse detonation combustor has been carried out. The main goals of the simulations were to verify that supersonic flow exists in the domain without the fuel ignition, to analyze the interplay between the pressure waves travelling in the main combustion chamber and in the resonators, and to check if fuel auto-ignition temperature is reached due to shack wave heating. It was found that the flow in the pulse detonation chamber is supersonic even without ignition, and that the maximum temperature in the domain exceeds the auto-ignition value for significant regions close to the back wall. The pressure in the main combustion chamber oscillates at the same frequency, of 3250 Hz, as the pressure in the resonators, but the two signals are in opposite phase. Key-Words: Pulse detonation combustion, Large Eddy Simulation, constant volume combustion
Platelet products prepared by different methods of sedimentation undergo platelet activation differently during storage

BACKGROUND: The activation marker CD40 ligand (CD40L) has recently been demonstrated to be released from the cytoplasm of platelets (PLTs) during storage. CD40L may be associated with some adverse transfusion reactions including febrile responses and transfusion‐related acute lung injury. CD62P has been traditionally measured to assess PLT activation. This study compares the surface levels of CD40L and CD62P and accumulation of the soluble forms of these activation markers in the plasma of stored PLTs, prepared by PLT‐rich plasma (PRP) or buffy coat (BC) methods and with two apheresis instruments.
Role of bee Venom Acupuncture in improving pain and life quality in Egyptian Chronic Low Back Pain patients

Chronic non-specific low back pain is considered to be the commonest medical symptom for which patients seek complementary and alternative medical treatment, including bee venom acupuncture. This study was done to detect the effect of bee venom acupuncture (BVA) for controlling of chronic low back pain (CLBP). We compared the effects of BVA on 40 patients with CLBP, pre-and post-treatment. The age of patient ranged from 38 to 65 with history of back pain more than 6 months. The curative effect was measured by scoring of visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), serum levels TNFα, IL1β, IL-6, and NF-KB as well as ESR before and after BVA treatment. The obtained results revealed that the application of BVA ameliorated the disturbances induced by CLBP, as it showed a significant improvement in VAS (65%) accompanied with a significant improvement in ODI (75.6%) in all patients. Moreover, BVA treatment resulted in a significant (p
Measuring gender in surveys Social psychological perspectives

A lot of research in the social sciences is more concerned with effects of adherence to gender stereotypes rather than actual sex differences. For instance, women and men vary greatly in gender traits and expressions, which in turn also varies with context. Moreover, there are also other gender identities that cut across or go beyond the traditional dichotomy of woman/man, which is therefore an unsatisfactory measure. The problem of measuring gender becomes increasingly complex as gender identity is less straightforward to measure than sex. In our own research, gender identity, defined as social identification with the own gender, is a better predictor of attitudes to feminist activities, such as, the use of gender-fair language, than categorical gender, even if the latter includes more than two options (Gustafsson Sendén, Bäck & Lindqvist, 2015). Another venue is to assess individual-level sexism and to use this as a predictor of political behaviour. Again, our research show that sexism, regardless of gender, affected voting intentions in the 2016 U.S presidential election (Bäck, Carroll, Hansen & Bäck, 2017). This indicates that other measures, such as gender identity and sexism should be more regularly included in social science research. The challenge is to find appropriately short, validated versions of such measurements. Paper prepared for presentation at the Gender Diversity in Survey Research Workshop in Gothenburg, June 11-12, 2018.
Avian Influenza Monitoring in Migrating Birds in Taiwan During 1998–2007

Abstract Avian influenza virus (AIV) monitoring in migratory birds has been performed in Taiwan since 1998. From 1998 to 2007, 29,287 samples were collected from wild ducks, shorebirds, and other wild birds in the four wetlands around Taiwan and at two outside islets, Penghu and Kinmen. Virus isolation was performed for all collected samples by inoculating chicken embryos. The AIV in the allantoic fluid was identified using hemagglutination and reverse transcription PCR. The AIV prevalence from those samples was 0.81% (237/29,287). The peak prevalence reached 1.06% (186/17,493) from September to December, during which time migrating ducks came from the North. The prevalence from January to April was 0.51%. However, no virus was isolated from May to August. The partial HA genes of 28 H4 AIVs were sequenced and analyzed. The phylogenetic tree showed that a correlation existed between the isolation years and the evolutional distances. The pathogenicity of the isolated H5 and H7 AIVs was determined by intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) testing in specific-pathogen-free chickens and by HA cleavage sequencing. Using the IVPI test and the HA cleavage sequences, all of the H5 or H7 AIVs isolated were determined to be low pathogenicity AIVs.
Combining Ability Studies for Quality Traits in Sweet Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ( L . )

Sorghum is normally grown for grain as well as fodder in most parts of the country. Sorghum with high stem sugar has emerged as a leading crop for biomass utilization among energy crops due to high yield potential. Fresh weight biomass yields in excess of 60t ha-1 and ethanol yields in excess of 5000 litres ha-1 are possible from the use of improved cultivars (Monk et al., 1984). Development of sorghum for energy utilization will require more effort but should be rapid; hence knowledge on the genetics of desirable characteristics is essential. Precise information on the genetics of most of the characters related to stem sugar in sorghum is lacking. The present investigation was therefore taken up, to study the nature of gene action governing the inheritance of agronomic and quality attributes and to identify useful parents and hybrids for further exploitation to develop varieties and hybrids for total biomass, grain and ethanol yield.
Biomarker evaluation in jundiara ( Leiarius marmoratus x Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum ) after exposure to an agrochemical used on soybean crops

We aimed to investigate the effects of acute exposure to Roundup Original on the oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant defenses and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) of the hybrid fish jundiara (Leiarius marmoratus x Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum). The fish were exposed to different herbicide concentrations (10%, 20% and 40%) for 96 hours based on the predetermined LC50. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls and other antioxidant responses were assessed. None of the animals died during experiments. TBARS levels in the liver, brain and muscle increased when fish were exposed to the herbicide, even though protein carbonyl content increased only in the muscle and brain. Among the antioxidant activities, superoxide dismutase decreased in the liver and brain, while catalase decreased in the liver and increased in the brain after exposure to the herbicide. Reduced levels of glutathione (GSH) occurred in the liver and brain, as a response against the toxic agent. Decreased AChE was found in both the brain and muscle. In the plasma analysis, glucose decreased but cholesterol and AST levels increased after exposure. It was observed that Roundup Original may lead to deleterious changes in the parameters tested, however the responses varied in the tested tissues.
Previous Antimicrobial Exposure Is Associated With Drug-Resistant Urinary Tract Infections in Children

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of previous antimicrobial exposure on the development of antimicrobial resistance in children with their first urinary tract infection (UTI). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children aged 6 months to 6 years and received their first diagnosis of UTI in a network of 27 outpatient pediatric practices between July 1, 2001, and May 31, 2006. We examined the relationship between antimicrobial resistance in UTI isolates and exposure to specific antimicrobial agents (amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefdinir, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and azithromycin) in the previous 120 days. We developed multivariable logistic regression models for resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and first-generation and third-generation cephalosporins, adjusting for potential confounders such as age, number of siblings, recent hospitalizations, and child care exposure. RESULTS: Of the 533 children who had a first UTI, 8%, 14%, and 21% were exposed to antimicrobial agents within 30, 60, and 120 days before the UTI, respectively. Amoxicillin exposure within 30 days (odds ratio [OR]: 3.6 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–8.2]) and 31 to 60 days (OR: 2.8 [95% CI: 1.0–7.5]) before UTI both were associated with ampicillin resistance. Exposure to amoxicillin >60 days before the UTI was not associated with ampicillin resistance. Amoxicillin exposure within 30 days of UTI was also associated with amoxicillin-clavulanate resistance (OR: 3.9 [95% CI: 1.8–8.7]). No association between exposure to other antimicrobial agents and resistance to any of the antimicrobial agents was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Recent antimicrobial exposure is associated with antimicrobial-resistant UTIs among pediatric outpatients, and the magnitude of this association decreases with time since exposure. Judicious antimicrobial prescribers should consider this association when selecting empiric antimicrobial agents for a new UTI and should use strategies to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use to avoid development of resistant bacteria.
The Chaperone-assisted E3 Ligase C Terminus of Hsc70-interacting Protein (CHIP) Targets PTEN for Proteasomal Degradation*

Background: PTEN is targeted by multiple E3 ligases but that does not clearly decipher the rigid control of its level and activity. Results: CHIP interacts with PTEN and promotes its proteasomal degradation. Conclusion: CHIP acts as a bridge between the chaperone system and the degradation machinery for PTEN. Significance: Stabilization of PTEN by targeting CHIP can be a novel therapeutic approach in cancer regulation. The tumor suppressor, PTEN is key to the regulation of diverse cellular processes, making it a prime candidate to be tightly regulated. The PTEN level is controlled in a major way by E3 ligase-mediated degradation through the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS). Nedd 4-1, XIAP, and WWP2 have been shown to maintain PTEN turnover. Here, we report that CHIP, the chaperone-associated E3 ligase, induces ubiquitination and regulates the proteasomal turnover of PTEN. It was apparent from our findings that PTEN transiently associates with the molecular chaperones and thereby gets diverted to the degradation pathway through its interaction with CHIP. The TPR domain of CHIP and parts of the N-terminal domain of PTEN are required for their interaction. Overexpression of CHIP leads to elevated ubiquitination and a shortened half-life of endogenous PTEN. On the other hand, depletion of endogenous CHIP stabilizes PTEN. CHIP is also shown to regulate PTEN-dependent transcription presumably through its down-regulation. PTEN shared an inverse correlation with CHIP in human prostate cancer patient samples, thereby triggering the prospects of a more complex mode of PTEN regulation in cancer.