Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased resistance of PIG-A-bone marrow progenitors to tumor necrosis factor α a and interferon γ g : possible implications for the in vivo dominance of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clones

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disease (incidence between 1:100,000 and 1:1,000,000) due to an acquired clonal disorder of the hematopoietic stem cell. It is characterized by intravascular hemolysis, an increased risk of venous thrombotic events, and bone marrow failure. The PNH phenotype is due to an abnormality of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthetic pathway, caused at the molecular level by somatic mutations in the X-linked phosphatidylinositolglycan-class A (PIG-A) gene, resulting in the absence or decreased surface expression of GPI–anchored proteins. PNH clones have also been found in other diseases including aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes as well as, albeit at extremely low levels, in healthy subjects. Two events seem to be necessary for the expression of the clinical PNH phenotype: a somatic mutation of the PIG-A gene in one or more hematopoietic stem cells, and an unfavorable, hypoplastic bone marrow environment. It has been hypothesized that the expansion of the PIG-A negative clone is the consequence of a somatic cell selection resulting from the presence of autoreactive T-cells directed against GPIanchored proteins in the context of an MHC-like molecule on the surface of hematopoietic stem cell. Consistently, a Tcell receptor Vβ-chain skewing has been described in PNH, suggesting a T-cell mediated process leading to suppression of hematopoietic function. It is known that regulatory cytokines play a role in conditioning bone marrow microenvironment and stem cell growth. In aplastic anemia, a disease closely related to PNH, over-expression of Th1 cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin From the Department of Hematology, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Bacteroides acidifaciens sp. nov., isolated from the caecum of mice.

During studies of the bacterial flora in the intestines of mice, we isolated characteristic strains which lowered the pH of peptone-yeast broth containing Fildes' digest. Based on 16S rRNA sequence comparison, these isolates were considered to belong to the Bacteroides cluster in the bacteroides subgroup of the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides phylum, and were divided into two groups. Their phenotypic characteristics, i.e. growth in 20% bile, aesculin hydrolysis, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activity, were the same as those of the 'Bacteroides fragilis group'. The low level of DNA-DNA hybridization with type strains in the Bacteroides cluster confirmed the novel species status of these isolates. It is proposed that these isolates be named Bacteroides acidifaciens, the type strain of which is A40T (= JCM 10556T).
Comparison of Knee-Joint Moments in Male and Female College Soccer Players during a Single-Leg Landing

Context: Although kinematic analyses are helpful in describing movement differences between genders, kinetic data might further explain the predisposing factors contributing to potential injury during athletic landing maneuvers. Objective: To determine whether there are differences in knee moments between male and female varsity college soccer players during a single-leg landing. Design: Preexperimental with static group comparison. Setting: Motion-analysis laboratory. Participants: 16 varsity college soccer players (8 men, 8 women). Intervention: Subjects performed 5 single-leg landings from a height of 60 cm. Main Outcome Measures: Peak internal rotation, valgus, varus, and extension knee moments calculated from raw ground-reaction forces and kinematic data. Results: Significant gender differences were present (P = .020), with men exhibiting 31% greater mean peak knee-varus moments than women when landing on a single leg from 60 cm (P = .020). Conclusions: Male soccer players demonstrate greater knee-va.
Signaling Processes for Initiating Smooth Muscle Contraction upon Neural Stimulation*

Relationships among biochemical signaling processes involved in Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) were determined. A genetically-encoded biosensor MLCK for measuring Ca2+-dependent CaM binding and activation was expressed in smooth muscles of transgenic mice. We performed real-time evaluations of the relationships among [Ca2+]i, MLCK activation, and contraction in urinary bladder smooth muscle strips neurally stimulated for 3 s. Latencies for the onset of [Ca2+]i and kinase activation were 55 ± 8 and 65 ± 6 ms, respectively. Both increased with RLC phosphorylation at 100 ms, whereas force latency was 109 ± 3 ms. [Ca2+]i, kinase activation, and RLC phosphorylation responses were maximal by 1.2 s, whereas force increased more slowly to a maximal value at 3 s. A delayed temporal response between RLC phosphorylation and force is probably due to mechanical effects associated with elastic elements in the tissue. MLCK activation partially declined at 3 s of stimulation with no change in [Ca2+]i and also declined more rapidly than [Ca2+]i during relaxation. The apparent desensitization of MLCK to Ca2+ activation appears to be due to phosphorylation in its calmodulin binding segment. Phosphorylation of two myosin light chain phosphatase regulatory proteins (MYPT1 and CPI-17) or a protein implicated in strengthening membrane adhesion complexes for force transmission (paxillin) did not change during force development. Thus, neural stimulation leads to rapid increases in [Ca2+]i, MLCK activation, and RLC phosphorylation in phasic smooth muscle, showing a tightly coupled Ca2+ signaling complex as an elementary mechanism initiating contraction.
Effects of high spinal anesthesia on cerebral circulation and metabolism in man.

The effects of high spinal anesthesia on the general (1, 2), hepatic (3), and coronary (4) hemodynamics have been previously reported by our group. Because hypotension produced by high spinal anesthesia may be a potential hazard to the circulatory sufficiency of the brain, it was considered important to study the effects of high spinal anesthesia on the cerebral circulation and metabolism. Studies by others have been concerned with the effects of differential spinal block on the cerebral circulation of hypertensive individuals (5) and the effect of hypotensive drugs on the cerebral circulation of aged persons (6) and hypertensives (7). The majority of patients in this study are normotensive, but the effects of high spinal anesthesia on a small group of hypertensives is included. The anesthetic level is higher and the amount of spinal anesthetic agent employed is larger than in studies reported by others, simulating the dosage used in producing surgical high spinal anesthesia, although surgical procedures were not undertaken in these subjects.
The Influence of IT Investment Goals on IT Investment Governance: A Contingency Perspective

Delivering IT-business value from IT investments has been the focus of IT professionals and researchers for decades. For instance, IT investment consumes a substantial amount of organisational resources, IT investment can be relatively high risk in nature, possibly adversely impacting on organisations if not being managed adequately, and the rapid progress of IT has opened new business opportunities as well as new business threats. Given these reasons, IT investment, therefore, requires careful consideration by organisations. Based on contingency theory, this study examines a potential factor which may influence the effectiveness of IT investment governance, namely, IT investment goals. This study uses results of a survey of 231 participants from senior-level management within Australian organisations to examine hypothesized relationships between IT investment goals and IT investment governance. This study found organisations with more focused goals for IT investments were significantly positively related with higher levels of IT investment governance.
THE POLITICAL COLOR OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

We propose a dynamic general equilibrium model that yields testable implications about the fiscal policy run by governments of different political color. Successive generations of voters choose taxation, expenditure, and government debt through repeated elections. Voters are heterogeneous by age and by the intensity of their preferences for public good provision. The political equilibrium switches stochastically between left- (pro-public goods) and right-leaning (pro-private consumption) governments. A shift to the left (right) is associated with a fall (increase) in government debt, an increase (fall) in taxation, and an increase (fall) in government expenditures. However, left-leaning governments engage in more debt accumulation during recessions. These predictions are shown to be consistent with the time-series evidence for the United States in the postwar period, and also with the evidence for a panel of OECD countries.
Pathophysiology and risk factors related to hypertension and its cure using herbal drugs

Hypertension is a term used to denote chronic disease that is related to high blood pressure due to the exertion of force of blood against the walls of arteries. It can be categorized into two types i.e. primary and secondary hypertension on the basis of variation from systolic/diastolic blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg. There are several risk factors contributing in the onset and severity of hypertension including changing life style pattern, sodium and potassium content, alcohol consumption, calcium deficiency, obesity etc. The disease can be prevented by the use of drugs but excessive use of antihypertensive is related to different side effects. In such instances, use of herbal drugs is promoted as these act on the same mechanism to prevent hypertension, as are therapeutic agents as well as are having metabolism enhancing effects. In this review, an attempt has been made to summarise the pathophysiology of hypertension, factors contributing in the onset and widespread occurrence of disease along with role of herbal drugs and formulations used to prevent the risk of disease.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and Its Binding Proteins, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3, in Adolescents with Type-1 Diabetes mellitus and Microalbuminuria

Background/Aims: Numerous clinical and experimental studies suggest that growth factors may contribute to the development of diabetic microvascular complications. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that in adolescents with type-1 diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria (MA) there are specific disorders of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and concentrations of its binding proteins, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3, that could be of importance in the pathogenesis of microvascular diabetic complications. Methods: 25 adolescents with MA, 24 adolescents with diabetes without complications, and 17 controls were examined. There were no differences with regard to age, puberty stage, HbA1c and body mass index between the groups examined. Two of the patients in the first group also had diabetic retinopathy. Serum fasting concentrations of IGF-1 and overnight urine albumin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations by immunoradiometric assay and HbA1c by high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Diabetic patients were examined by an experienced ophthalmologist and neurologist. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. Results: Significantly lower IGF-1 concentrations were found in adolescents with diabetes and MA compared to diabetic patients without complications and healthy contemporaries. IGFBP-1 concentrations were significantly higher and IGFBP-3 concentrations were statistically lower in diabetic patients with MA than in patients without complications. Conclusions: The IGF-IGFBP system is deranged in adolescents with type-1 diabetes mellitus and MA. Our results suggest the participation of circulating IGFBP-1 in the origin of diabetic complications. It could be also possible that IGFBP-3 takes part in the protection from them.
Milk flash pasteurization by the microwave and study its chemical, microbiological and thermo physical characteristics.

The study included pasteurization of cow’s milk by the Flash Pasteurization method and using temperature of 100°C for a period of 0.01 seconds. The chemical tests were measured and included determination of moisture, fat, lactose, ash and protein. The microbiological tests included estimating of the total number of microbes, bacteria of the colon (E. coli) and surviving fraction. Thermo physical properties were calculated for milk and included specific heat, viscosity, thermal conductivity and density during the different temperatures. TBA and free fatty acids were measured. Productivity of the device reached to 80 liters/hour and heating rate is 22.22°C/min. The results showed that the microbiological characteristics were improved after the flash pasteurization process by reducing the total number of microbial, and absence of Coliform bacteria in pasteurized milk. The pasteurization value, specific heat and thermal conductivity of the milk were increased with increasing time of heating, while viscosity and density of the milk were decreased with increasing temperature. Moisture, acidity and pH were decreased after the flash pasteurization process. Ash and carbohydrates have been increased. Fat and protein were not affected with pasteurization process. Results also showed the absence of alkaline phosphatase in pasteurized milk. TBA and free fatty acids were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by using microwave flash pasteurization.
Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in serous ovarian carcinoma: relationship with high mitotic activity and high FIGO stage.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by neoplastic cells in serous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma in relation to proliferation as determined by mitotic activity and to FIGO stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue from 10 benign serous cystadenomas and 45 serous carcinomas was immunostained with a polyclonal antibody to VEGF (Biogenex) utilizing the LSAB kit, alkaline phosphatase (Dako). Positivity was scored as (0) for no, (+) for weak, and (++) for strong staining. Mitotic activity was determined on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections as mitotic figures per 10 high power fields; for carcinomas, three mitotic activity groups (MAG) were established (0-9 = I [N = 13], 10-24 = II [N = 18], >24 = III [N = 14]). The data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS In cystadenomas, focal and weak (+) VEGF expression was found in six cases; mitoses were rare. In carcinomas, no significant difference of (+) and (++) staining intensity was found between MAG I and II (P = 0.6239). In MAG II, focal (++) staining was frequently observed on a background of (+). (++) staining was significantly more frequent in MAG III compared with MAG II (P = 0.0027). Diffuse (++) was more common in MAG III than in MAG II (P = 0.0062). FIGO III cases displayed more frequently a diffuse (++) staining than the FIGO I and FIGO II cases taken together (P = 0.0017). CONCLUSION VEGF expression as determined by immunohistochemistry is related to high mitotic activity and high FIGO stage in serous ovarian cystadenocarcinomas. VEGF expression seems to be an interesting indicator of neoplastic proliferation and may offer therapeutic options for these cancers.
Difference in incisional complications following exploratory celiotomies using antibacterial-coated suture material for subcutaneous closure: Prospective randomised study in 100 horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Incisional complications are a major post operative challenge following ventral midline exploratory celiotomy for abdominal pain in horses. They lead to discomfort, prolonged hospitalisation, longer recovery times and increased cost; therefore, investigation of preventative procedures are warranted. OBJECTIVES To determine the clinical effect of antibacterial (triclosan) coated 2-0 polyglactin 910 suture material on the likelihood of incisional infections when used for closure of subcutaneous tissue following ventral midline celiotomies in horses. METHODS One hundred horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy assigned at random to one of 2 groups. In the control group coated 2-0 polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) was used for apposition of the subcutaneous tissue in a simple continuous pattern and, in the study group, antibacterial (triclosan) coated 2-0 polyglactin 910 suture material (Vicryl Plus) was used. Post operatively an elastic adhesive abdominal bandage was applied, changed and the incision was inspected by a clinician blinded to the study protocol at 24-36 h and 6-9 days post operatively. Outcomes of interest were evidence of incisional pain, incisional oedema, sheath/udder oedema, incisional drainage, hernia formation and dehiscence. RESULTS Antibacterial-coated suture material did not decrease the likelihood of incisional complications in 100 horses. CONCLUSIONS A beneficial effect on ventral midline incisions in 100 horses was not evident by using antibacterial-coated suture material. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Lack of effectiveness of antibacterial-coated suture material in equine ventral midline closure after exploratory celiotomy and the observed potential adverse effects suggest that further clinical investigations are needed before using such material routinely on horses.
RESEARCH Effects of Radiotherapy on the Risk of Developing Secondary Malignant Neoplasms in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivors

Extended follow-up of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors indicates that these patients are at high risk of secondary malignant neoplasms (SMNs) contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. This study examined the characteristics of HL survivors who developed SMNs with the aim to report any correlation with radiotherapy (RT) dose. In this retrospective multi-center cohort study of HL patients treated between 1990 and 2011 at three major teaching hospitals in Lebanon, classification was into two groups including those treated with combined modality (RT and chemotherapy-CHT) and those treated with CHT alone. Approval from the University Institutional Review Board (IRB) was obtained. Of the 112 patients evaluated, 52.7% (59) received the combined modality while 47.3% (53) received CHT alone. There were 6 cases of SMNs in the combined modality cohort and 5 cases in the CHT cohort. The mean RT dose in the combined modality cohort was 34.5 Gray (Gy) (SD ± 5.3). A statistically significant increase (1.5 fold) in the risk of developing SMNs was observed among patients who received a dose higher than 41 Gy compared to a dose between 20 to 30 Gy (OR= 1.5; 95% confidence interval= 0.674 to 3.339, p=0.012). The risk of SMNs was not significantly higher among patients who received extended field compared to involved field RT (p=0.964). This study showed that the risk of developing SMNs is higher among patients treated with RT dose greater than 31 Gy, independent of the RT type used.
Knowledge-based strategies: a foundation of a typology

Knowledge, besides being recognised as a business asset, is being considered a crucial component of business strategy. As a result, companies are investing heavily in Information Systems (IS) technologies. Unfortunately, very often the investments do not fulfill their expected returns. This paper embarks on the development of a typology of Knowledge-Based (KB) strategies to address this situation. Two alternative strategies were identified and a set of survey instruments was validated. The analysis showed that the strategies had a positive relationship to R&D and training and development investments and had a direct and indirect relationship with organisational outcomes. The research indicates that KB strategies are significantly related to all IS technologies studied. Evidence of reciprocal relationships between IS technologies and KB strategies was found for specific and different IS technologies. This may suggest that some technologies are more important for a specific KB strategy. The analysis also indicates that there is a significant relationship between business outcomes, KB strategies, and IS technologies in the case of earnings.
Explicit and Implicit States of Model Mixing in Conceptual Development

Researchers in science education have demonstrated that students can hold several different understandings of a single concept and apply them inconsistently to tasks related to the concept. Many studies have been conducted to investigate how these coexisting and competing understandings of concepts affect the process of conceptual development. Based on the context dependence of learning, we developed Model Analysis as a theoretical and measurement framework to capture the process of how different types of understandings of a concept evolve and develop in learning and to quantitatively assess the existences and changes of these different understandings. In Model Analysis, we use the term models to represent the layer of functional mental constructs and describe the uses of different constructs with model states. A model state gives the distribution of probabilities for a student to apply different types of models in given contexts. When a student holds multiple models and applies them inconsistently across contexts, the student is described with a mixed model state. With this method, students’ changes of their understandings can be represented quantitatively with the structures (in terms of probability distributions) of their model states. This paper reports a new progress in Model Analysis, which identifies two different mixed model states: explicit state and implicit state. The author will discuss the theoretical basis, empirical evidence, and a mathematical representation developed to use with quantitative instruments such as multiple-choice questions. Examples of research applications are also discussed.
ErbB receptor dimerization, localization, and co‐localization in mouse lung type II epithelial cells

ErbB receptors are crucial for embryonic neuronal and cardiac development. ErbB receptor ligands neuregulin (NRG) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) play a major role in the developing lung, specifically in mesenchymal induced fetal surfactant synthesis by type II epithelial cells. Different erbB receptor ligands cause diverse biologic effects by stimulating specific erbB‐dimers. It is not known how dimerization, cellular localization, and co‐localization of erbB dimers are regulated in type II epithelial cells. We hypothesized that erbB receptors have a distinct dimerization, localization, and co‐localization pattern in type II cells. In mouse type II epithelial cells, which express all four erbB receptors, erbB1 and erbB4 were the preferred dimerization partners. These dimerization patterns were ligand independent. Confocal microscopy showed these transmembrane receptors exhibited a strong nuclear localization. In non‐stimulated cells, both erbB1 and erbB2 were predominantly localized to the nucleus and less intensely to the cytoplasm. However, erbB1 was mainly found in the nucleoli, whereas erbB2 spared the nucleolar region. ErbB3 was exclusively located in the nucleoli. ErbB4 was diffusely located in nucleus and cytoplasm, and like erbB2 spared the nucleolar region. Short stimulation with either EGF or NRG led to a more pronounced nuclear staining for erbB1, erbB2, and erbB4. All four receptors co‐localized with each other after stimulation, but with varying intensity. The two known stimulators of fetal surfactant synthesis, NRG and NRG‐containing fibroblast conditioned medium, changed cellular localization of the dimerization partners erbB4 and erbB2 in a distinct fashion. We conclude that erbB receptors have a receptor‐specific localization and dimerization pattern in type II epithelial cells. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2006; 41:1205–1212. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.