Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IL-1β-Mediated Activation of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Results in PMN Reallocation and Enhanced Phagocytosis: A Possible Mechanism for the Reduction of Osteoarthritis Pathology

Background: Injection of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) into murine knee joints after induction of inflammatory collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CiOA) reduces development of joint pathology. This protection is only achieved when ASCs are applied in early CiOA, which is characterized by synovitis and high S100A8/A9 and IL-1β levels, suggesting that inflammation is a prerequisite for the protective effect of ASCs. Our objective was to gain more insight into the interplay between synovitis and ASC-mediated amelioration of CiOA pathology. Methods: CiOA was induced by intra-articular collagenase injection. Knee joint sections were stained with hematoxylin/eosin and immunolocalization of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and ASCs was performed using antibodies for NIMP-R14 and CD271, respectively. Chemokine expression induced by IL-1β or S100A8/A9 was assessed with qPCR and Luminex. ASC-PMN co-cultures were analyzed microscopically and with Luminex for inflammatory mediators. Migration of PMNs through transwell membranes toward conditioned medium of non-stimulated ASCs (ASCNS-CM) or IL-1β-stimulated ASCs (ASCIL-1β-CM) was examined using flow cytometry. Phagocytic capacity of PMNs was measured with labeled zymosan particles. Results: Intra-articular saline injection on day 7 of CiOA increased synovitis after 6 h, characterized by PMNs scattered throughout the joint cavity and the synovium. ASC injection resulted in comparable numbers of PMNs which clustered around ASCs in close interaction with the synovial lining. IL-1β-stimulation of ASCs in vitro strongly increased expression of PMN-attracting chemokines CXCL5, CXCL7, and KC, whereas S100A8/A9-stimulation did not. In agreement, the number of clustered PMNs per ASC was significantly increased after 6 h of co-culturing with IL-1β-stimulated ASCs. Also migration of PMNs toward ASCIL-1β-CM was significantly enhanced (287%) when compared to ASCNS-CM. Interestingly, association of PMNs with ASCs significantly diminished KC protein release by ASCs (69% lower after 24 h), accompanied by reduced release of S100A8/A9 protein by the PMNs. Moreover, phagocytic capacity of PMNs was strongly enhanced after priming with ASCIL-1β-CM. Conclusions: Local application of ASCs in inflamed CiOA knee joints results in clustering of attracted PMNs with ASCs in the synovium, which is likely mediated by IL-1β-induced up-regulation of chemokine release by ASCs. This results in enhanced phagocytic capacity of PMNs, enabling the clearance of debris to attenuate synovitis.
Semi-Supervised Classification on Non-Sparse Graphs Using Low-Rank Graph Convolutional Networks

Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) have proven to be successful tools for semi-supervised learning on graph-based datasets. For sparse graphs, linear and polynomial filter functions have yielded impressive results. For large non-sparse graphs, however, network training and evaluation becomes prohibitively expensive. By introducing low-rank filters, we gain significant runtime acceleration and simultaneously improved accuracy. We further propose an architecture change mimicking techniques from Model Order Reduction in what we call a reduced-order GCN. Moreover, we present how our method can also be applied to hypergraph datasets and how hypergraph convolution can be implemented efficiently.
Energetic and rate effects on methanogenesis of ethanol and propionate in perturbed CSTRs

Energetic and reaction‐rate interactions between hydrogenic (hydrogen‐producing) and hydrogenotrophic (hydrogen‐consuming) bacteria were investigated in five perturbation experiments performed on steady‐state, mixed‐culture methanogenic CSTRs receiving ethanol, propionate, or both hydrogenic substrates. When a large quantity of propionate was suddenly added to a propionatefed CSTR, P H 2 increased to 10−4 atm and propionate oxidation remained energetically favorable. When ethanol was added to a CSTR receiving ethanol, P H 2 rose to 6.3 × 10−3 atm within 5 h. In both perturbations, P H 2 remained at levels such that oxidation of the hydrogenic substrate remained energetically favorable throughout the transient. Sudden increase in ethanol concentration in the ethanol‐ and propionate‐fed CSTR resulted in an increase in P H 2 such that propionate oxidation became energetically unfavorable and was blocked. Propionate utilization resumed when the added ethanol was depleted and P H 2 returned to its previous steady‐state levels. Ethanol perturbation of ethanol‐ and propionate‐fed CSTRs led to the formation of reduced products, including n‐propanol and four‐through seven‐carbon n‐carboxylic acids, when P H 2 was elevated; these products disappeared after P H 2 returned to previous, steady‐state levels. The transformations were consistent with reaction energetics. Reduced product formation may have been a sink for reducing equivalents, as an alternative to oxidation for propionate utilization, as indicated by an electron equivalents balance over the time course of experiments.
Hybrid Clustering and Routing Strategy with Low Overhead for Wireless Sensor Networks

Dynamic Clustering is an efficient topology management approach for sensor networks. Observing the fact that the clustering has tight relations with inter-cluster routing problem, we propose a hybrid clustering and routing protocol (HCR) that considers both the cluster head selection and routing discovery problems. Random backoff and gradient routing strategies are used to achieve our design goals with low overhead. Considering the limited transmission range bounded by the hardware, the clustered network generated by HCR is ensured to be connected. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed strategies ensure the connectivity of the network and improve the energy efficiency for data transmission.
Tbilisi type of smog as attribute of feedback effect between the air ionization intensity and small ions concentration

In Tbilisi according to the data of the complex stationary and mobile monitoring of small ions concentration, radon, gamma-radiation of soil and sub-micron aerosol concentration in 2009–2011 the feedback effect of intensity of ionizing radiation with the small ions content in atmosphere is revealed. One of the reasons for this effect can be catalyzation of the processes of formation secondary aerosols in atmosphere according to the scheme of gas→ particle by the ionizing radiation, which occur more intensive than the ions formation. The corresponding examples of the connections of ionizing radiation with the ions content and sub-micron aerosol concentration are presented.
A randomized, double-blind study of increasing or maintaining duloxetine dose in patients without remission of major depressive disorder after initial duloxetine therapy.

OBJECTIVE To compare efficacy of remaining on duloxetine 60 mg to increasing to 120 mg q.d. in patients without remission of major depressive disorder (MDD) after 6 weeks at 60 mg. METHOD This double-blind, parallel study was conducted in adults with MDD (DSM-IV-TR criteria). Patients initially randomly assigned to duloxetine 60 mg for 6 weeks with a 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17) score > 7 (nonremitters) were randomly reassigned to 60 mg or 120 mg duloxetine for 8 weeks. Patients with a HAM-D-17 score < or =7 (remitters) continued on duloxetine 60 mg. The primary objective was to compare time to remission (HAM-D-17 score < or =7) between rerandomized groups. Secondary objectives included evaluation of HAM-D-17 and Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology assessments and safety and tolerability evaluations in nonremitters and remitters. Patients were enrolled from November 2004 to January 2006. RESULTS Nonremitters randomly reassigned to 60 mg and 120 mg achieved similar time to remission and similar improvements on efficacy measures. Remission was achieved in 30.0% and 30.5% in the 60-mg and 120-mg groups, respectively. Of the remitters, 85.5% continued to be in remission at study end. Other than a greater incidence of hyperhidrosis and chest pain in the 120-mg group, adverse events were similar between groups, as were discontinuations due to adverse events. CONCLUSION Nonremitters to 60 mg of duloxetine for 6 weeks randomly reassigned to 60 mg or 120 mg of duloxetine demonstrated continued symptom improvement in the 8-week extension. Patients randomly reassigned to 120 mg showed no advantage over those who continued on 60 mg. Duloxetine was well tolerated at both doses and had similar safety profiles.
Hunger in legal immigrants in California, Texas, and Illinois.

OBJECTIVES This study determined the prevalence of food insecurity and hunger in low-income legal immigrants. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Latino and Asian legal immigrants attending urban clinics and community centers in California, Texas, and Illinois with a food security questionnaire. RESULTS Among 630 respondents, 40% of the households were food insecure without hunger and 41% were food insecure with hunger. Independent predictors of hunger were income below federal poverty level (odds ratio [OR] = 2.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.72, 4.30), receipt of food stamps (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.57, 4.09), Latino ethnicity (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.49, 3.82), and poor English (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.10, 2.82). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of hunger among low-income legal immigrants is unacceptably high. Access to food assistance programs is important for the health and well-being of this population.
Useful knowledge for information systems practice: the contribution of the participatory paradigm

Information systems research has become methodologically pluralistic, not least in the hope of achieving greater relevance of scholarly output to practice. Although interventionist approaches have considerable potential for bridging the theory-practice gap, they are dismissed as unscientific because of the purported absence of a philosophical foundation that would justify the interactive research process and the co-productive relationships between researchers and practitioners that are so defining of this type of inquiry. The intention in this paper is to demonstrate that philosophical foundations for interventionist research strategies do exist. This task is pursued by the introduction of the participatory worldview, as articulated in the fields of sociology, philosophy and organization studies. The paper shows its distinctness to other, non-positivist paradigms, describes the participatory research process, presents participatory inquiry methods and extrapolates the distinctness of the knowledge they produce. The application of its paradigmatic principles is illustrated through an empirical example of a participatory research programme and the challenges that this approach presents for research practice are indicated.
Colon cancer trends in Norway and Denmark by socio-economic group: A cohort study

Aims: Norway has experienced an unprecedented rapid and so far unexplained increase in colon cancer incidence. Norwegian rates passed Danish rates for men in 1985 and for women in 1990. This study aimed to unravel clues to the development in colon cancer incidence by investigating changes over time in incidence by socio-economic group. Methods: Persons participating in the 1970 censuses in Norway and Denmark were aged 55–75 years in 1971–1980 (called pre-crossing period) and in 1991–2000 (called post-crossing period), respectively. Country, sex, age and socio-economic group-specific colon cancer incidence rates. Percent change in the average rate from the pre- to the post-crossing period. Results: In the pre-crossing period, Norwegian male managers/administrators had the highest colon cancer incidence, but the largest increase in incidence from the pre-to the post-crossing period was seen for unskilled workers, skilled workers and farmers. The rate for unskilled workers almost doubled and in the post-crossing period this rate had bypassed that of managers/administrators. A similar development was seen for Norwegian women and was less dramatic in Denmark. Conclusions: The change in the risk of manual workers has been the driving force behind the dramatic increase in the Norwegian incidence of colon cancer. This development resulted in a reversal of the socio-economic gradient from the classic European pattern with the highest incidence in the upper socio-economic groups to an American pattern with the highest incidence in the lower socio-economic groups. This ‘Americanization’ of the disease pattern followed the rapid growth in the Norwegian gross domestic product.
The Influence of Authentic Leadership and Empowerment on New-Graduate Nurses’ Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine new-graduate nurses’ perceptions of the influence of authentic leadership and structural empowerment on the quality of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare work environments. BACKGROUND: Although the challenges associated with true interprofessional collaboration are well documented, new-graduate nurses may feel particularly challenged in becoming contributing members. Little research exists to inform nurse leaders’ efforts to facilitate effective collaboration in acute care settings. METHODS: A predictive nonexperimental design was used to test a model integrating authentic leadership and workplace empowerment as resources that support interprofessional collaboration. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis revealed that 24% of the variance in perceived interprofessional collaboration was explained by unit-leader authentic leadership and structural empowerment (R2 = 0.24, F = 29.55, P = .001). Authentic leadership (&bgr; = .294) and structural empowerment (&bgr; = .288) were significant independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that authentic leadership and structural empowerment may promote interprofessional collaborative practice in new nurses.
Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors inhibits glutamate release from salamander retinal photoreceptors

We investigated the effects of group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation on excitatory synaptic transmission in the salamander retinal slice preparation. The group II selective agonists DCG-IV and LY354740 reduced light-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in ganglion cells. To determine the synaptic basis of this effect, we also recorded from bipolar cells and horizontal cells. In ON bipolar cells, DCG-IV increased the inward current in darkness but did not affect the peak current at light onset. In OFF bipolar cells and horizontal cells, DCG-IV had the opposite effect, reducing the inward current in darkness. Given the opposite polarities of these two classes of synapses, our results suggest that group II mGluRs act presynaptically to reduce glutamate release from photoreceptors. To determine whether DCG-IV affected rods or cones, we applied light stimuli that selectively activate each type of photoreceptor. In horizontal cells, most of which receive mixed synaptic input from rods and cones, DCG-IV reduced rod-driven EPSCs evoked by 470-nm stimuli and cone-driven EPSCs elicited by 700-nm stimuli in the presence of a rod-saturating background. Thus, activation of group II mGluRs reduced rod- and cone-mediated glutamate release. Our results suggest that group II mGluRs could mediate feedback by which extracellular glutamate inhibits glutamate release from photoreceptor terminals.
Developmental Regulation of RNA Transcript Destabilization by A + U-rich Elements is AUF1-dependent*

The developmental immaturity of neonatal phagocytic function is associated with decreased accumulation and half-life (t 1 2 ) of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA in mononuclear cells (MNC) from the neonatal umbilical cord compared with adult peripheral blood. The in vivo t 1 2 of GM-CSF mRNA is 3-fold shorter in neonatal (30 min) than in adult (100 min) MNC. Turnover of mRNA containing a 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) A + U-rich element (ARE), which regulates GM-CSF mRNA stability, is accelerated in vitro by protein fractions enriched for AUF1, an ARE-specific binding factor. The data reported here demonstrate that the ARE significantly accelerates in vitrodecay of the GM-CSF 3′-UTR in the presence of either neonatal or adult MNC protein. Decay intermediates of the GM-CSF 3′-UTR are generated that are truncated at either end of the ARE. Furthermore, thet 1 2 of the ARE-containing 3′-UTR is 4-fold shorter in the presence of neonatal (19 min) than adult (79 min) MNC protein, reconstituting developmental regulation in a cell-free system. Finally, accelerated ARE-dependent decay of the GM-CSF 3′-UTRin vitro by neonatal MNC protein is significantly attenuated by immunodepletion of AUF1, providing new evidence that this accelerated turnover is ARE- and AUF1-dependent.
Role of Spatial and Temporal Coincidence in Depth Organization

The linking of spatial information is essential for coherent space perception. A study is reported of the contribution of temporal and spatial alignment for the linkage of spatial elements in terms of depth perception. Stereo half-images were generated on the left and right halves of a large-screen video monitor and viewed through a mirror stereoscope. The half-images portrayed a black vertically oriented bar with two brackets immediately flanking this bar and placed in crossed or uncrossed disparity relative to the bar. A pair of thin white ‘bridging lines' could appear on the black bar, always at zero disparity. Brackets and bridging lines could be flickered either in phase or out of phase. Observers judged whether the brackets appeared in front of or behind the black bar, with disparity varied. Compared to conditions when the bridging lines were absent, depth judgments were markedly biased toward “in front” when bridging lines and brackets flashed in temporal phase; this bias was much reduced when the bridging lines and brackets flashed out of phase. This biasing effect also depended on spatial offset of lines and brackets. However, perception was uninfluenced by the lateral separation between object and brackets.
The k-server problem: a reinforcement learning approach

This work presents an original algorithm, based on reinforcement learning, as a solution for the k-server problem. This problem was modelled as a multi-stage decision-making process, and subsequently the Q-learning algorithm was used as a means of solution. A series of experiments was conducted with the aim of evaluating the appropriateness and performance of the proposed solution. The results obtained show the efficiency of the suggested algorithm in comparison with other methods of solving the k-server problem frequently cited in the literature, whose rates of competitiveness have already been proven.
Kahalalide F Induces Necrosis-Like Cell Death that Involves Depletion of ErbB3 and Inhibition of Akt Signaling

Kahalalide F (KF) is a novel marine-derived antitumor agent that is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials. The mechanism of action of KF is not well understood. In line with previous reports, we show that KF caused rapid and potent cytotoxicity in the breast cancer cell lines SKBR3 and BT474, characterized by cytoplasmic swelling and DNA clumping. Several markers of caspase-dependent apoptosis, such as phosphatidyl-serine externalization, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage were negative after KF exposure. Inhibitors of caspases or cathepsins failed to protect against KF cytotoxicity. Altogether, these data indicate that KF-induced cell death is a necrosis-like process. The sensitivity to KF in a panel of human tumor cell lines derived from breast (SKBR3, BT474, and MCF7), vulval (A431), non–small-cell lung (H460, A549, SW1573, and H292), and hepatic (Skhep1, HepG2, and Hep3B) carcinomas positively correlated with ErbB3 (HER3) protein levels. A KF-resistant subline of colon carcinoma cells, HT29/KF, expressed significantly reduced levels of all ErbB receptors, but short-term KF exposure of sensitive cell lines such as SKBR3 selectively induced down-regulation of ErbB3. On the other hand, stable transfection of an ErbB3-expressing plasmid increased the KF sensitivity of H460 cells, the most resistant cell line in our panel. Finally, we found that KF efficiently inhibited the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway in sensitive cell lines and that ectopic expression of a constitutively active Akt mutant reduced KF cytotoxicity in this cell line. In summary, our results identify ErbB3 and the downstream PI3K-Akt pathway as important determinants of the cytotoxic activity of KF in vitro.
The modern management of severe aplastic anaemia

The management of severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) has evolved rapidly during the last quarter of the century. Twenty years ago, a prospective multicentre study reported a 57% chance of survival for severe aplastic anaemia following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from an HLA-identical sibling donor (Camitta et al, 1979), in contrast with recent reports showing that the success of matched sibling donor BMT may now be as high as 90% (Storb et al, 1994; Pitcher et al, 1999). The 25% survival rate reported in the 1970s for the non-transplanted group (Camitta et al, 1979) contrasts similarly with the 87% probability of 4-year survival reported 20 years later for a cohort of children treated with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporin (FuÈ hrer et al, 1998). However, the legacy of success with ATG is the recognition that long-term survivors are at significant risk of clonal haemopoietic disorders, and that it is no longer possible to measure success simply in terms of improved 5-year survival figures. This review gives an overview of the current management of severe acquired aplastic anaemia with this in mind, including the choice of definitive therapy and aspects of supportive care. It is inevitably not exhaustive, concentrating mostly on the factors influencing choice of therapy and outcome, both short-and long-term. For a fuller discussion, readers are referred to the excellent recent text on aplastic anaemia by a series of international experts (Schrezenmeier & Bacigalupo, 2000).
The Gut Microbiome and Metabolites Are Altered and Interrelated in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

The relationship among the gut microbiome, global fecal metabolites and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been systematically evaluated. In this study, we performed 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based nontargeted metabolomic profiling on feces of 26 untreated RA patients and 26 healthy controls. Twenty-six genera and forty-one MS2-identified metabolites were significantly altered in the RA patients. Klebsiella, Escherichia, Eisenbergiella and Flavobacterium were more abundant in the RA patients, while Fusicatenibacter, Megamonas and Enterococcus were more abundant in the healthy controls. Function prediction analysis demonstrated that the biosynthesis pathways of amino acids, such as L-arginine and aromatic amino acids, were depleted in the RA group. In the metabolome results, fecal metabolites including glycerophospholipids (PC(18:3(9Z,12Z,15Z)/16:1(9Z)), lysoPE 19:1, lysoPE 18:0, lysoPC(18:0/0:0)), sphingolipids (Cer(d18:0/16:0), Cer(d18:0/12:0), Cer(d18:0/14:0)), kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid were remarkably altered between the RA patients and healthy controls. Dysregulation of pathways, such as tryptophan metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism, may contribute to the development of RA. Additionally, we revealed that the gut microbiome and metabolites were interrelated in the RA patients, while Escherichia was the core genus. By depicting the overall landscape of the intestinal microbiome and metabolome in RA patients, our study could provide possible novel research directions regarding RA pathogenesis and targeted therapy.