Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of lactoferrin on human granulocytes: analysis with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies

Lactoferrin (LF), an iron‐binding protein present in specific granules of neutrophils, is expressed on membrane after granulocyte activation. It may represent a target for anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in patients affected by some immunomediated diseases. We recently produced two MoAbs, AGM 2.29 and AGM 10.14, that recognize two spatially distant epitopes of human LF. In this study we perform a cytometric analysis in order to evaluate the expression of LF on the surface of granulocytes obtained from freshly drawn blood or after purification, in both the presence and absence of stimuli. Our results demonstrate that LF is not constitutively expressed on membrane of circulating neutrophils. After priming with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), an increased mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) was obtained on neutrophils stained with polyclonal anti‐LF antibodies and with AGM 2.29. The kinetics of LF expression during activation demonstrated a progressive increase in MFI within 45 min. No increase in MFI was documented when primed granulocytes were stained with MoAb AGM 10.14, thus indicating that the epitope recognized by AGM 10.14 is not exposed at the cell surface. Following membrane permeabilization, performed in order to analyse the binding of anti‐LF MoAbs to cytoplasmic LF, a marked increase in MFI was obtained by staining granulocytes with both anti‐LF MoAbs. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) analysis confirmed that AGM 2.29 and AGM 10.14 reacted with human granulocytes, showing a cytoplasmic pattern on formalin–acetone‐fixed neutrophils and a perinuclear one on ethanol‐fixed cells.
Behavioural profile and maternal stress in Greek young children with Williams syndrome.

BACKGROUND Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic disorder causing intellectual disability. Children with WS often exhibit various kinds of maladaptive behaviours that affect their social functioning. In order to determine whether these behaviours are syndrome-specific, it would be necessary to compare children with WS with children with other syndromes as well as to provide data on the socio-emotional profile in WS from a variety of cultures. The present study investigated the behavioural profile and its relation to maternal stress in Greek young children with WS in comparison with young children with Down syndrome and typically developing (TD) children. METHODS Participants were 60 mothers, 20 in each syndrome group and 20 in the control group. The three groups were matched for mental age. The behavioural profile of the participants was investigated through the Child Behaviour Checklist (1.5-5 years) and maternal stress through the Parental Stress Index. RESULTS In accordance with studies in other cultures, it was found that young children with WS received significantly higher rates in emotional problems and anxiety/depression, compared with both children with Down syndrome and TD children. Moreover, mothers of children with WS reported significantly higher scores in the Total Stress index compared with mothers of TD children. However, in contrast with previous studies, only 25% of children with WS fell into the clinical range in the total Child Behavior Checklist score. CONCLUSION The consistency of the socio-emotional characteristics of children with WS across cultures and developmental stages implies a strong influence of the genetic phenotype. However, Greek mothers avoided to characterize these behaviours as pathological. Implications of these findings for clinical practice are also discussed.
Climbing to the Top? Foreign Direct Investment and Property Rights

This paper operates at the interface of the literature on the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on host countries, and the literature on the determinants of institutional quality. We argue that FDI contributes to economic development by improving institutional quality in the host country and we attempt to test this proposition using a large panel data set of 70 developing countries during the period 1 981 and 2005, and we show that FDI inflows have a positive and highly significant impact on property rights. The result appears to be very robust and is and not affected by model specification, different control variables, or a particular estimation technique. As far as we are aware this is the first paper to empirically test the FDI – property rights linkage.
Do Innovative Work Practices and Use of Information and Communication Technologies Motivate Employees?

I investigate the impact of innovative work practices and information and communication technologies (ICT) use on employees’ motivations. The paper provides new and interesting results on how firms can build a motivational environment. Within an original instrumenting framework, I modify what previous analyses reveal about quality circle and training participation. The results confirm the positive role of work practices such as teamwork, quality norms, formal appraisals, management recognition, and family-friendly policies. The ICT that most contributed to the development of a motivational environment are those that facilitate access to information and knowledge such as workflow, Internet, and e-mail.
Proprioceptive Deficits Are Comparable before Unicondylar and Total Knee Arthroplasties, But Greater in the More Symptomatic Knee of the Patient

The clinical importance of the known proprioceptive deficit in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee is unclear. Attention to the factors that influence proprioception is needed to better understand the role that proprioception plays in the disease process and to assess how these deficits influence clinical outcomes of various treatment options for osteoarthritis. We hypothesized that preoperative proprioception would be poorer in knees with greater symptoms and that knees considered candidates for unicompartmental arthroplasty would have superior proprioception to those in which a total knee arthroplasty was indicated because of the less extensive disease process in the former group. Proprioceptive thresholds were measured in 119 patients with osteoarthritis and no prior knee arthroplasties who were scheduled for unicondylar or total knee arthroplasty. Proprioception examinations consisted of passively flexing and extending each of the bilateral knees in patients independently, from 45° flexion until the blinded patient identified motion. Proprioceptive thresholds for flexion and extension were computed from the angular delays that elapsed before the patient recognized the stimulus. Multiple regression analysis was done to assess the association that these proprioceptive thresholds had with patient factors (age, gender, body mass index, activity level, functional capacity) and knee factors (surgical history, osteoarthritis severity, angular deformity, instability, range of motion). Patient age was the strongest predictor of proprioceptive thresholds, with older patients tending to respond slower to stimulus. Comparison of the right and left knees of each patient showed that proprioception was significantly poorer in the more symptomatic of the two knees. Preoperative thresholds did not differ between knees that received a total knee arthroplasty and those that received a unicondylar arthroplasty.
Repeatability of cold pain and heat pain thresholds: The application of sensory testing in migraine research

Normal heat pain threshold (HPT) and cold pain threshold (CPT) repeatability should be estimated in order to identify thermal allodynia in longitudinal studies, but such data are scarce in the literature. The aim of our study was to estimate normal HPT and CPT repeatability in the face, forehead, neck and hand. In addition, we reviewed briefly normative studies of thermal pain thresholds relevant for headache research. Thermal pain thresholds were measured on three different days in 31 healthy headache-free subjects. Coefficients of repeatability and normal limits were calculated. HPT and CPT were lowest in the face. Pooled across regions, the lower repeatability limit for the test/retest ratio was 63% for HPT and 55% for CPT. The upper normal CPT limit varied between 24.5°C and 29.7°C. Lower HPT limits ranged between 35.5°C and 40.8°C. Quantitative sensory methods provide useful information about headache and pain pathophysiology, and it is important to estimate the normal test/retest repeatability range in follow-up studies.
Accelerated ecotoxicity of photoreactive nanoparticles on Moina macrocopa

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are well known as photoreactive nanoparticles (NPs). Various phototoxicities of ZnO NPs and TiO2 NPs were reported on several organisms. It was still necessary to evaluate the toxicity of photoreactive ZnO NPs and TiO2 NPs due to species-specific effects under various irradiation conditions. We compared the acute toxicity of Moina macrocopa under visible, ultraviolet (UV) A, and B irradiations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines for the testing of chemicals (Test No. 202). The sensitivity of ZnO NPs for M. macrocopa was UVB>UVA>visible light irradiation. There were no significant lethal and immobile effects of TiO2 NPs on juveniles under all irradiations and in the tested concentrations of TiO2 NPs. Photoreactive NPs have a potential and accelerated toxicity on organisms in the ambient environments.
Dual institution experience of nodal marginal zone lymphoma reveals excellent long‐term outcomes in the rituximab era

Nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL) is a rare non‐Hodgkin lymphoma that arises from mature B‐cells. We delineate outcomes, prognostic factors and treatment trends among a large cohort of patients with NMZL in the rituximab era. We identified 56 such patients treated at our institutions. The majority presented with advanced stage disease (78·6%). Over a median follow‐up of 38·2 months, median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 42·4 months and median overall survival (OS) was not reached. Kaplan–Meier estimates of OS at 120 months after diagnosis was 71·9%. High‐risk follicular lymphoma international prognostic index (FLIPI) was associated with inferior PFS. Age >60 years and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were associated with inferior OS. Transformation to diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma occurred in 7 patients, 6 of who presented with advanced disease. OS was comparable to our previously reported extranodal MZL cohort. FLIPI score predicted for inferior PFS and OS when both cohorts were analysed together (n = 267). In summary, outcomes in NMZL are favourable with a large majority of patients surviving at 120 months. High risk FLIPI, age >60 years, and elevated serum LDH were associated with inferior outcomes.
Inclusion for toddlers with autism spectrum disorders

The present quasi-experimental study examines the outcomes for a group of 102 children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder at age 2 who attended an inclusive toddler program (described by Stahmer and Ingersoll, 2004) until age 3. Outcomes on standardized developmental assessments indicate significant improvement, with large effect sizes, in developmental level, adaptive behavior and communication. Thirty-one of the children (31%) were functioning in the typically developing range when they exited the program at age 3, after an average of 8 months of intervention. Predictors of positive outcomes included length of time in the program, level of words and gestures use at entry and higher externalizing and lower internalizing behavior CBCL scores at entry. Implications for serving toddlers with autism in inclusive settings and suggestions for future research directions are discussed.
The incorporation of whole grain into pelleted broiler chicken diets: Production and physiological responses

1. Pelleted diets, incorporating whole or ground triticale or wheat in the pellets, were fed to broiler chickens and the performance, gastro-intestinal development and health of those chickens recorded. 2. The use of whole triticale in the pelleted food produced similar bodyweight responses to when ground triticale was incorporated in the food. Food conversion efficiency was enhanced when whole triticale was used compared to ground triticale and was similar to when an exogenous enzyme was added to the ground triticale diet. The incorporation of whole wheat into the pelleted food produced similar production responses to the use of ground wheat. 3. The gastro-intestinal development of the birds was greater when they were fed the whole grain diet as gizzard weights were increased by the incorporation of whole grain into the diet. Gastro-intestinal development was thought to be related to the presence of large fibre particles in the food. 4. Proventricular dilatation and mortality due to ascites were reduced by feeding pelleted diets containing whole grain, which was possibly related to the early development of the gastro-intestinal tract relative to total body development. 5. It is suggested that the current use of exogenous enzyme additions to broiler diets may be reduced by incorporating whole grain into pelleted diets for broiler chickens.
The use of an unbaited tunnel maze in neurotoxicology: I. Trimethyltin-induced brain lesions.

In our laboratory we use an unbaited 6-arm radial tunnel maze (6-arm RTM) to assess working and reference memory in the course of neurotoxicity studies. The 6-arm RTM is believed to measure parameters comparable to those assessed in radial-arm mazes, but without the need of food deprivation and rewarding of animals. This is especially useful in the course of neurotoxicity studies as interferences of e.g. food deprivation with drug pharmacokinetics can be avoided. Since the 6-arm RTM is less evaluated than conventional mazes the aim of this study was to further confirm mean error score as measure of 'working memory', left-right discrimination within each radial arm (expressed as percent "blind-alley" visits) as measure of 'reference memory', and number of arm entries/min as a measure of motor activity. Therefore, hippocampal lesions were induced by injecting animals with the neurotoxicant trimethyltin (TMT). TMT at a dose of 5 mg/kg slightly lesioned hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells in 3 of 8 animals, but did not affect behavioral measures in the 6-arm RTM. In all surviving animals treated with 7 or 9 mg/kg TMT moderate to marked loss of CA3 pyramidal cells was observed, while in 4 of these 7 rats CA4 pyramidal cells were also affected. Other brain lesions were not observed. TMT-induced brain lesions led to increased mean error score and number of arm visits during the retention phase and after changing maze configuration, whereas percent "blind-alley" visits were not affected. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Severe Intrauterine Amputations in One Dichorionic Twin With Pentalogy of Cantrell: Further Evidence and Consideration for Mechanical Teratogenesis

Pentalogy of Cantrell (PC) is characterized by midline supraumbilical abdominal wall defect, lower sternum defect, anterior diaphragmatic and pericardial defect, and congenital cardiac anomalies. Several etiological influences have been postulated, however, most of the reported cases are sporadic. In addition, evidence for mechanical teratogenesis in PC is limited. Here, we describe in one dichorionic twin with complete PC, additional severe intrauterine amputations (mainly head and neck) not previously reported resultant from mechanical teratogenesis. This morphologic constellation prompts us to emphasize the consideration of this etiological influence and provides further evidence. In fact, the pattern of anomalies in the affected fetus provides new insight into the severity and presentation of PC due to mechanical teratogenesis, which is a significant etiological consideration in clinical evaluation and implies that the syndrome involves a complex defective fetal development.
Hypothetical bias: a new meta-analysis

Contingent valuation is a survey-based procedure that attempts to estimate how much households are willing to pay for specific programs that improve the environment or prevent environmental degradation. For decades, the method has been the center of debate regarding its reliability: does it really measure the value that people place on environmental changes? Bringing together leading voices in the field, this timely book tells a unified story about the interrelated features of contingent valuation and how those features affect its reliability. Through empirical analysis and review of past studies, the authors identify important deficiencies in the procedure, raising questions about the techniqueâ€™s continued use.
The Cpx stress response system of Escherichia coli senses plasma membrane proteins and controls HtpX, a membrane protease with a cytosolic active site

Background: The abnormal accumulation of misfolded proteins outside the plasma (cytoplasmic or inner) membrane up‐regulates the synthesis of a class of envelope‐localized catalysts of protein folding and degradation. The pathway for this transmembrane signalling is mediated by the CpxR‐CpxA two‐component phospho‐relay mechanism.
Alpha-adrenergic control of volume-regulated Cl- currents in rabbit atrial myocytes. Characterization of a novel ionic regulatory mechanism.

alpha-Adrenergic stimulation is known to play a role in cardiac arrhythmogenesis and to modulate a variety of cardiac K+ currents. The effects of alpha-adrenergic stimulation on Cl- currents are largely unknown. Many cardiac cell types show a volume-sensitive Cl- current induced by cell swelling (ICl.swell). The present experiments were designed to assess the potential alpha-adrenergic modulation of ICl.swell in rabbit atrial myocytes. ICl.swell was induced with the use of a hypotonic superfusate, under conditions designed to prevent currents carried by K+, Na+, and Ca2+ ions. A basal Cl- current (ICl.b) was observed under isotonic conditions in 128 of 150 cells (85%), had the same dependency on [Cl-]o as ICl.swell, and was reduced by cell shrinkage induced by hypertonic superfusion, suggesting that ICl.b is carried by the same volume-sensitive Cl- conductance as ICl.swell. Phenylephrine produced a concentration-dependent and near-complete inhibition of ICl.b and ICl.swell, with EC50 values of 86 +/- 5 and 72 +/- 7 (mean +/- SEM) mumol/L, respectively, at +20 mV. Norepinephrine (administered in the presence of 1 mumol/L propranolol) also inhibited ICl.b and ICl.swell, with EC50 values of 2.6 +/- 0.1 and 2.8 +/- 0.4 mumol/L, respectively. The concentration-response curve for phenylephrine was shifted significantly (P < .001) to the right by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin and by the alpha 1A-receptor antagonists (+)-niguldipine and 5-methylurapidil but was unaltered by the alpha 1B-receptor antagonist chloroethylclonidine (100 mumol/L). Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with staurosporine, H-7, or 18-hour preincubation with the phorbol ester 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 500 nmol/L) blocked the effects of phenylephrine on ICl.swell, and the highly selective PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide blocked the effects of norepinephrine on ICl.swell and ICl.b. Both PMA and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol inhibited ICl.swell in a concentration-dependent fashion. In blinded studies, the phorbol ester phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (PDD) reduced ICl.swell by 91 +/- 3%; its inactive analogue 4 alpha-PDD had no effect (mean change, 3 +/- 1%). Preincubation with pertussis toxin (PTX) prevented the actions of phenylephrine on ICl.swell, indicating a role for a PTX-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein. We conclude that alpha-adrenergic agonists inhibit volume-sensitive Cl- currents in rabbit atrial cells by interacting with an alpha 1A-adrenoceptor mechanism that is coupled to PKC via a PTX-sensitive G protein. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
TLR3 but Not TLR7/8 Ligand Induces Allergic Sensitization to Inhaled Allergen

Epidemiological studies suggest that viral infections during childhood are a risk factor for the development of asthma. However, the role of virus-specific pattern recognition receptors in this process is not well defined. In the current study, we compare the effects of the inhaled viral TLR ligands polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (TLR3) and resiquimod (TLR7/8) on sensitization to a model allergen (OVA) in a murine model. Both compounds enhance the migration, activation, and Ag-processing of myeloid dendritic cells from the lung to the draining lymph nodes comparable to the effects of LPS. Application of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] or LPS induces production of allergen-specific IgE and IgG1, whereas resiquimod (R848) had no effect. In addition, rechallenge of mice with OVA resulted in airway inflammation and mucus production in animals that received either poly(I:C) or LPS but not after application of R848. In summary, these results show that activation of TLR3 in combination with inhaled allergen results in induction of dendritic cell activation and migration similar to the effects of LPS. This leads to the development of allergic airway disease after allergen rechallenge, whereas mice treated with R848 did not develop allergic airway disease. These findings give further insight into the effects of stimulation of different TLRs on the development of asthma.
Computational haemodynamics analysis and comparison study of arterio-venous grafts

Haemodialysis arterio-venous graft failure is related to the development of stenotic lesions most commonly located near the venous anastomosis, especially in the toe region. 'Disturbed flow' interaction with the vessel wall surface, characterized by haemodynamic parameters based on the local wall shear stress or the radial pressure gradient, have been widely recognized as the trigger mechanism of a cascade of abnormal biological events leading to occlusive developments. Assuming incompressible laminar flow and rigid, in-plane vessel walls, validated haemodynamics are numerically simulated for a constant-diameter end-to-side base case, the VenafloTM graft, and an improved graft-end configuration. The geometric design of the new graft-end was based on the reduction of three time- and area-averaged haemodynamic parameters, i.e. the wall shear stress gradient, wall shear stress angle gradient, and radial pressuregradient. Considering the critical toeregion, the VenafloTM graft has demonstrated measurable improvements over the base case configuration in predictive computer simulations as well as in clinical trials. The performance improvement should be further enhanced with the modifications illustrated by the new design.
Relationship between insulin resistance and C-reactive protein in a patient population treated with second generation antipsychotic medications

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. A recent study found CRP levels to be higher in individuals treated with certain antipsychotic medications such as olanzapine; however, it is not clear whether this is associated directly with drug intake or indirectly with drug-associated weight gain and insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to explore the potential predictors of CRP including insulin resistance, components of the metabolic syndrome, psychiatric diagnosis, and antipsychotic medication in patients treated with antipsychotics. Sixty-four outpatients without diabetes being treated with a single second generation antipsychotic medication had direct measurements of insulin resistance at the end of a 180-min infusion of glucose, insulin, and octreotide (insulin suppression test) as well as components of the metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance was the strongest predictor of CRP (r=0.52, P<0.001). When adjusted for insulin resistance, there was no significant relationship between CRP and any of the components of the metabolic syndrome criteria, specific drug treatment or psychiatric diagnoses. In conclusion, insulin resistance is strongly associated with CRP levels and likely contributes to earlier associations between CRP and certain antipsychotic treatments.