Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recruitment of Dendritic Cells Is Responsible for Intestinal Epithelial Damage in the Pathogenesis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis by Cronobacter sakazakii

Cronobacter sakazakii is a Gram-negative pathogen associated with the cases of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) that result from formula contamination. In a mouse model of NEC, we demonstrate that C. sakazakii infection results in epithelial damage by recruiting greater numbers of dendritic cells (DCs) than macrophages and neutrophils in the gut and suppresses DC maturation, which requires outer membrane protein A (OmpA) expression in C. sakazakii. Pretreatment of intestinal epithelial cell monolayers with supernatant from OmpA+ C. sakazakii/DC culture markedly enhanced membrane permeability and enterocyte apoptosis, whereas OmpA− C. sakazakii/DC culture supernatant had no effect. Analysis of OmpA+ C. sakazakii/DC coculture supernatant revealed significantly greater TGF-β production compared with the levels produced by OmpA− C. sakazakii infection. TGF-β levels were elevated in the intestinal tissue of mice infected with OmpA+ C. sakazakii. Cocultures of CaCo-2 cells and DCs in a “double-layer” model followed by infection with OmpA+ C. sakazakii significantly enhanced monolayer leakage by increasing TGF-β production. Elevated levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) were also observed in the double-layer infection model, and abrogation of iNOS expression prevented the C. sakazakii-induced CaCo-2 cell monolayer permeability despite the presence of DCs or OmpA+ C. sakazakii/DC supernatant. Blocking TGF-β activity using a neutralizing Ab suppressed iNOS production and prevented apoptosis and monolayer leakage. Depletion of DCs in newborn mice protected against C. sakazakii-induced NEC, whereas adoptive transfer of DCs rendered the animals susceptible to infection. Therefore, C. sakazakii interaction with DCs in intestine enhances the destruction of the intestinal epithelium and the onset of NEC due to increased TGF-β production.
Applicability of personality disorder criteria in late adolescence: internal consistency and criterion overlap 2 years after psychiatric hospitalization.

We examined internal consistency and criterion overlap of DSM-III-R personality disorder criteria in late adolescence, 2 years after psychiatric hospitalization. A total of 60 adolescents were assessed with the Personality Disorder Examination. Within-category cohesiveness (internal consistency) was evaluated by coefficient alpha and mean intercriterion correlation (MIC). Between-category criterion overlap was evaluated by examining intercategory mean intercriterion correlations (ICMIC) between all pairs of disorders. Internal consistency was low, with alpha less than . 70 for all except borderline and dependent personality disorders. For most disorders, MIC values were higher than ICMIC values. Our findings suggest that personality disorder criteria sets have limited internal consistency in older adolescents. Although the criteria for most personality disorders correlate better with each other than with the criteria for other personality disorders, suggesting some degree of discriminant validity, comparison of these results with a similar analysis performed shortly after hospital admission raises questions about personality disorder construct validity during adolescence.
The effects of competition on premiums: using United Healthcare’s 2015 entry into Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces as an instrumental variable

Abstract One goal of the Affordable Care Act is to increase insurance coverage by improving competition and lowering premiums. To facilitate this goal, the federal government enacted online marketplaces in the 395 rating areas spanning 34 states that chose not to establish their own state-run marketplaces. Few multivariate regression studies analyzing the effects of competition on premiums suffer from endogeneity, due to simultaneity and omitted variable biases. However, United Healthcare’s decision to enter these marketplaces in 2015 provides the researcher with an opportunity to address this endogeneity problem. Exploiting the variation caused by United Healthcare’s entry decision as an instrument for competition, we study the impact of competition on premiums during the first 2 years of these marketplaces. Combining panel data from five different sources and controlling for 12 variables, we find that one more insurer in a rating area leads to a 6.97% reduction in the second-lowest-priced silver plan premium, which is larger than the estimated effects in existing literature. Furthermore, we run a threshold analysis and find that competition’s effects on premiums become statistically insignificant if there are four or more insurers in a rating area. These findings are robust to alternative measures of premiums, inclusion of a non-linear term in the regression models and a county-level analysis.
Games for Health: Have Fun with Virtual Reality!

Some would not expect a quote like this in a famous and heavily discussed game like “World of Warcraft” ®. And yet, it expresses our novel approach to use virtual realities (VR) in combination with the playful motivating character of digital games for clinicalpsychological learning purposes. Games have a spontaneous quality, a potential for joy and flow, and are characterized by intrinsic motivation. According to our experience, playfulness in psychological intervention can dramatically increase insight processes in patients (e.g. modeling problematic situations with the help of plasticine, building blocks, paper and felt pens etc.). The progress of technology (especially virtual reality) offers possibilities for psychologists of integrating playful elements in virtual reality (serious games). In the present chapter we both, address the potential for psychology originating from the inclusion of technology and discuss problematic aspects of games as well as ethical concerns.
PET imaging of striatal dopamine D2 receptors in nonhuman primates: Increases in availability produced by chronic raclopride treatment

Previous research using positron emission tomography (PET) in monkeys has shown that attaining social dominance can result in increased DA D2 receptor availability and attenuated sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of cocaine. The present study utilized a within‐subjects design to determine whether chronic treatment with the D2 receptor antagonist raclopride could similarly increase D2 receptor availability. Using the D2‐selective radioligand [18F]fluoroclebopride (FCP), three adult male cynomolgus monkeys were scanned before and after chronic treatment with raclopride (0.01 mg/kg per h for 30 ± 1 day) administered by a subcutaneous osmotic pump. Food‐reinforced operant behavior was assessed during treatment. A transitory decrease in responding was observed during the initial eight days of raclopride treatment. Tolerance developed by the tenth session, and responding remained at baseline levels for the duration of treatment and after treatment was discontinued. Averaged across monkeys, chronic raclopride administration increased FCP distribution volume ratios (DVRs) between 12 and 20% in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and anterior cingulate cortex. When monkeys were re‐scanned 9–12 months after termination of raclopride treatment, FCP DVRs remained elevated in two subjects, and decreased below baseline levels in the third monkey. Considering the reported 2% test/retest variability for FCP, these findings indicate that chronic treatment with a D2 receptor antagonist can produce large increases in D2 receptor availability as measured with PET. Individual differences in rates of recovery were observed, such that the increases in DVR persisted in two of three subjects. Synapse 58:215–219, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Up‐regulation of pro‐inflammatory genes as adaptation to hypoxia in MCF‐7 cells and in human mammary invasive carcinoma microenvironment

The role of tumor cells in synthesizing pro‐inflammatory molecules is still controversial. Here we report that hypoxic treatment of the MCF‐7 human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line induced activation of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB). Importantly, hypoxia regulated expression of alarmin receptors such as the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the purinoreceptor (P2X7R), and up‐regulated inflammatory response (IR) genes such as the inducible enzymes nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), cycloxygenase (COX2), and the acute‐phase protein pentraxin‐3 (PTX3). Hypoxia also stimulated chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) mRNA synthesis. In fact, the CXCR4 ligand stromal‐derived factor‐1α (SDF‐1α) increased invasion and migration of hypoxic MCF‐7 cells. Inhibition of HIF‐1α by chetomin and NF‐κB by parthenolide reduced mRNA and protein expression of the studied molecules and prevented invasion of hypoxic MCF‐7 cells. Moreover, solid invasive mammary tumor microenvironment was analyzed after laser‐capture microdissection (LCMD) comparing tumor versus host normal tissue. Nuclear translocation of HIF‐1α and NF‐κB and up‐regulation of IR, CXCR4, estrogen receptor α (ERα), and epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) was observed in tumor but not in host normal tissue in the absence of a local inflammatory leukocyte infiltrate. We conclude that under hypoxic conditions MCF‐7 cells acquire a pro‐inflammatory phenotype, and that solid human mammary carcinoma evidenced a similar activation of HIF‐1α, NF‐κB, and IR genes in malignant tumor cells as compared to the normal host tissues. We suggest a role for IR activation in the malignant progression of transformed cells.
Class size.

Having fewer children in a class is attractive to both parents and teachers. One recent national poll found that 70% of adults believe that reducing class size would result in big improvements in public schools.1 Fewer than 10% believed that it would make no improvement at all. A 1997 Education Week survey found that 83% of teachers and 60% of principals agree that class size in elementary schools should not exceed 17 students, compared with a national average of 25 students per class.2 Teachers feel that smaller classes encourage increased studentteacher interaction, allow for more thorough evaluation of students, and promote greater teaching flexibility.3 However, because of the additional teachers and facilities required, reducing class size is costly. In California, for example, school districts claimed nearly $1 billion in state funds for class size reduction in 1996–97 alone.4
Educating Undergraduate Students on Systems Thinking and System Dynamics

Here we propose ideas on educating students on systems thinking and dynamics which have wide applications in engineering and technology management. This is from an ongoing study, involving the design of systems-oriented undergraduate courses at Izmir University. These courses are being designed to enrich the undergraduate education in engineering and social sciences in general, and technology management in particular. The first course in the sequence is Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, introducing basics of systems thinking and its application. The subject matter of this paper is the second and the third courses: Introduction to Dynamic Systems, and System Dynamics and Managing Complexity. The former is on the essentials of Systems Theory, covering both linear and nonlinear systems. This course establishes the theoretical and analytical grounds for the latter. The objectives of System Dynamics and Managing Complexity are designed to present a combination of quantitative and qualitative tools for modeling complex systems (industrial systems, socio-economic systems, ecological systems, etc.) and to teach the application of systems dynamics methodology. All three courses are offered to students of natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering. This particular approach to systems thinking and system dynamics will produce relatively better results in teaching technology management topics.
Automatic Body Feature Extraction from Front and Side Images

Human body feature extraction based on 2D images provides an efficient method for many applications, e.g. non-contact body size measurements, constructing 3D human model and recognizing human actions. In this paper a systematic approach is proposed to detect feature points of human body automatically from its front and side images. Firstly, an efficient approach for silhouette and contour detection is used to represent the contour curves of a human body shape with Freeman’s 8-connected chain codes. The contour curves are considered as a number of segments connected together. Then, a series of feature points on human body are extracted based on the specified rules by measuring the differences between the directions of the segments. In total, 101 feature points with clearly geometric properties (that rather accurately reflect the bump or turning of the contours) are extracted automatically, including 27 points corresponding to the definitions of the landmarks about garment measurements. Finally, the proposed approach was tested on ten human subjects and the entire 101 feature points with specific geography geometrical characteristics were correctly extracted, indicating an effective and robust performance.
Mason type-I radial head fractures and interosseous membrane lesions--a prospective study.

BACKGROUND The role of the forearm interosseous membrane (IOM) in trauma remains not fully understood. Information from experimental models simulating sudden axial loading of the IOM is limited. The results from several cadaver studies are controversially discussed in literature. Pronation and supination of the forearm as well as varus and valgus position of the elbow joint have been suspected to have influence on the injury pattern. The purpose of the current study, therefore, was to further investigate the role of the IOM in trauma mechanism. METHODS We prospectively screened the forearms of 14 patients with Mason type-I radial head fractures for additional occult IOM lesions. The fractures were classified according to the Mason classification using plain radiographs. All patients were subjected to forearm magnetic resonance imaging visualizing the entire IOM within a week. Treatment consisted of nearly total immobilization of the elbow joint using a special elastic and gauze bandage for 7 days followed by an early motion recovery program. RESULTS Partial disruptions of the distal part of the IOM were found in nine cases. The biomechanically essential interosseous ligament was not attained by these ruptures in any of the cases. None of the patient had the classical findings of the Essex Lopresti lesion. All patients had regular roentgenograms of both wrists. Patients were asymptomatic at the time of a 4-week follow-up. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that injuries of the IOM are more frequent than generally expected. The findings support the conclusions of some of the previous cadaver studies. If IOM lesions are suspected, magnetic resonance imaging tomography should be performed.
Building State and Citizen: Experimental Evidence on How Formal Taxation in Congo Engenders Citizen Engagement with the State

Does taxation catalyze engagement with the state? Theories of state building often assume so. To test this “tax-bargaining hypothesis,” I ran a field experiment in collaboration with the provincial government of Kasaï Central that randomly assigns neighborhoods of the provincial capital to door-to-door property tax collection. This experiment — the first to randomize real-world taxation — provides a hard test of the tax-bargaining hypothesis because extractive colonialism, decades of neo-patrimonialism, and civil war have rendered Congo’s state fragile and often predatory. Nonetheless, consistent with the theory, citizens in taxed neighborhoods are nearly 4 percentage points more likely to attend townhall meetings hosted by the provincial government or to submit suggestion cards evaluating the government’s performance. This is a 24% increase compared to control neighborhoods. The most plausible mechanism is that the tax campaign sends a signal about the government’s will and capacity to intervene in society, which raises the expected benefits to participation. Consistent with the view that central and local governance structures can be substitutes, I also find that expanding formal taxation undermines the legitimacy of local government brokers. ⇤I would like to thank James Robinson, Nathan Nunn, Rohini Pande, Horacio Larreguy, Otis Reid, Jorge Dominguez, Bob Bates, Asim Khwaja, Rema Hanna, Gwyneth McClendon, Evan Lieberman, Cyrus Samii, Guy Grossman, Laura Paler, Anders Jensen, Jeremy Weinstein, Brian Dillon, Jessica Gottlieb, and Gemma Dipoppa for invaluable comments and suggestions. For outstanding research assistance and program management, I thank Anissa Chabib, Morgan Yucel, and Gabrielle Corrigan as well as Elie Kabue Ngindu and a superb team of enumerators. I am grateful for the collaboration with the Provincial Government of Kasaï Central, the DGRKOC, and Hologram InfoSystems. Many others supported this project, especially Jim Mukenge, James Diderich, Woody Collins, Roger Makombo, and Antonio Martinez. I gratefully acknowledge funding from the Weiss Family Program Fund, the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, and the Fulbright Scholar Program. AEA pre-registration ID: AEARCTR-0001316. The online appendix can be found at www.jonweigel. com. †Harvard University. (email: jweigel@fas.harvard.edu)
Dynamics of Expression and Maturation of the Type III Secretion System of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major cause of food poisoning, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. EPEC virulence is dependent on a type III secretion system (T3SS), a molecular syringe employed by EPEC to inject effector proteins into host cells. The injected effector proteins subvert host cellular functions to the benefit of the infecting bacteria. The T3SS and related genes reside in several operons clustered in the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE). We carried out simultaneous analysis of the expression dynamics of all the LEE promoters and the rate of maturation of the T3SS. The results showed that expression of the LEE1 operon is activated immediately upon shifting the culture to inducing conditions, while expression of other LEE promoters is activated only ∼70 min postinduction. Parallel analysis showed that the T3SS becomes functional around 100 min postinduction. The T3SS core proteins EscS, EscT, EscU, and EscR are predicted to be involved in the first step of T3SS assembly and are therefore included among the LEE1 genes. However, interfering with the temporal regulation of EscS, EscT, EscU, and EscR expression has only a marginal effect on the rate of the T3SS assembly. This study provides a comprehensive description of the transcription dynamics of all the LEE genes and correlates it to that of T3SS biogenesis.
Infestation and Population Dynamics of Insects on Stored Cassava and Yams Chips in Benin, West Africa

Abstract Natural insect infestation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz subspecies esculenta) and yam (Dioscorea spp.) chips was evaluated during two consecutive storage seasons (2003–2004 and 2004–2005) in two agroecological zones of Benin (Northern Guinea Savanna [NGS] and Sudan Savanna [SS]). The insects infesting chips were collected, identified, and counted, they included Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), Cathartus quadricollis (Guerin) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), Carpophilus dimidiatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). P. truncatus and C. quadricollis were observed with a higher prevalence on cassava than on yam chips. During both seasons after 3 mo of storage, all (100%) cassava chip samples were infested with P. truncatus and C. quadricollis in both agroecological zones, whereas yam chips only showed lower infestation rates of 59.5 and 19.1% for P. truncatus and C. quadricollis, respectively, at the end of storage in 2003–2004. During the 2004–2005 season after 3 mo of storage infestation rate in yam chips was 66 and 24% in NGS and 100 and 0% in SS for P. truncatus and C. quadricollis, respectively, showing that insect infestation levels vary significantly with commodity, year, and fluctuate during the storage season.
A Study of Demand Stochasticity in Service Network Design

The objective of this paper is to investigate the importance of introducing stochastic elements into service network design formulations. To offer insights into this issue, we take a basic version of the problem in which periodic schedules are built for a number of vehicles and where only the demand may vary stochastically. We study how solutions based on uncertain demand differ from solutions based on deterministic demand and provide qualitative descriptions of the structural differences. Some of these structural differences provide a hedge against uncertainty by using consolidation. This way we get consolidation as output from the model rather than as an a priori required property. Service networks with such properties are robust, as seen by the customers, by providing operational flexibility.
Financing Resources for Egyptian Small and Medium Enterprises

Even though small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent the majority of the Egyptian firms, their value added is relatively low. According to previous research, SMEs face a financing gap that causes undercapitalization and represents an obstacle that hinders SMEs from growth. This paper analyzes the current situation of SMEs in Egypt and addresses the question whether the financing problem still exists. In addition, we discuss the role of venture capital as a possible source of financing. Based on data which has been gathered using questionnaires, it is investigated whether Egyptian SMEs do know and would accept venture capital financing for their businesses. Our results show that access to finance is still a significant bottleneck for Egyptian SMEs. Venture capital financing could help to close this financing gap.
Inhibition of antigen-induced bronchoconstriction and eosinophil infiltration in the guinea pig by the cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram.

Selective inhibition of the low Km cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase has been shown to inhibit inflammatory cell function and relax airway smooth muscle. These studies were conducted to characterize the bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activity of rolipram, an archetypical cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in in vitro and in vivo guinea pig airway models. In isolated tracheal rings from ovalbumin (OA)-sensitive guinea pigs, both R- and S-enantiomers of rolipram (1 microM) significantly antagonized OA-induced contractions. In contrast, neither enantiomer at concentrations up to 1 microM significantly inhibited histamine- or LTD4-induced contractions. In superfusion and mediator release experiments, both enantiomers of rolipram significantly reduced antigen-induced prostaglandin D2 release, but had minimal effect on histamine release. In anesthetized, ventilated OA-sensitive guinea pigs, racemic rolipram or enantiomers reduced OA-induced bronchoconstriction with ID50 values of approximately 0.25 mg/kg i.v. Histamine- and leukotriene D4-induced bronchoconstriction were not affected by doses of rolipram which abolished the response to OA. Higher doses (3-10 mg/kg) reduced histamine-, but not the leukotriene D4-induced bronchoconstriction. In conscious OA-sensitive guinea pigs, intragastric pretreatment with rolipram dose-dependently reduced both the OA-induced decreases in specific conductance as well as the corresponding pulmonary eosinophil influx as assessed by both bronchoalveolar lavage and histological evaluation. Therefore, rolipram produces significant inhibition of antigen-induced bronchoconstrictor and inflammatory responses, thus providing strong evidence that this pharmacological approach may be of significant therapeutic value in allergic asthma. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)