Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Localization of antigenic sites of the S glycoprotein of feline infectious peritonitis virus involved in neutralization and antibody-dependent enhancement

The S glycoprotein of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) has been shown to contain the antigenic sites responsible for eliciting both neutralization and antibody-dependent enhancement. To determine the region of S responsible, overlapping DNA fragments spanning the entire S gene were cloned and expressed as fusion proteins by in vitro transcription and translation. Fusion proteins containing relevant epitopes were identified by radioimmunoprecipitation with neutralizing and enhancing FIPV-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). A region spanning residues 509 to 673 reacted with most MAbs tested. Translation in the presence of microsomal membranes did not enhance reactivity, suggesting that glycosylation is not essential for recognition by the MAbs. To localize the antigenic sites further, several MAb-resistant (mar) mutants of FIPV were cloned and sequenced. Amino acid residues that contribute to the neutralizing and enhancing epitopes were localized to two regions, designated A1 and A2, which show partial overlap with the homologous antigenic site A of transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Site A1 contains residues 568 and 591 and is homologous with part of subsite Aa of transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Site A2 contains residues 643, 649, and 656. Double mutations in sites A1 and A2 were found in mar mutants derived from neutralizing and enhancing MAbs 23F4.5 and 18A7.4, while a single mutation in site A2 was found in a mar mutant derived from MAb 24H5.4, which is neutralizing but not enhancing. The data suggest that site A2, which includes residues 643 to 656, is a dominant neutralizing site of FIPV and that sites A1 and A2 may act in concert to induce antibody-dependent enhancement.
An international study of the quality of national-level guidelines on driving with medical illness.

BACKGROUND Medical illnesses are associated with a modest increase in crash risk, although many individuals with acute or chronic conditions may remain safe to drive, or pose only temporary risks. Despite the extensive use of national guidelines about driving with medical illness, the quality of these guidelines has not been formally appraised. AIM To systematically evaluate the quality of selected national guidelines about driving with medical illness. DESIGN A literature search of bibliographic databases and Internet resources was conducted to identify the guidelines, each of which was formally appraised. METHODS Eighteen physicians or researchers from Canada, Australia, Ireland, USA and UK appraised nine national guidelines, applying the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument. RESULTS Relative strengths were found in AGREE II scores for the domains of scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement and clarity of presentation. However, all guidelines were given low ratings on rigour of development, applicability and documentation of editorial independence. Overall quality ratings ranged from 2.25 to 5.00 out of 7.00, with modifications recommended for 7 of the guidelines. Intra-class coefficients demonstrated fair to excellent appraiser agreement (0.57-0.79). CONCLUSIONS This study represents the first systematic evaluation of national-level guidelines for determining medical fitness to drive. There is substantive variability in the quality of these guidelines, and rigour of development was a relative weakness. There is a need for rigorous, empirically derived guidance for physicians and licensing authorities when assessing driving in the medically ill.
Metalloproteases meprin α and meprin β are C- and N-procollagen proteinases important for collagen assembly and tensile strength

Type I fibrillar collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, crucial for the formation and strength of bones, skin, and tendon. Proteolytic enzymes are essential for initiation of the assembly of collagen fibrils by cleaving off the propeptides. We report that Mep1a−/− and Mep1b−/− mice revealed lower amounts of mature collagen I compared with WT mice and exhibited significantly reduced collagen deposition in skin, along with markedly decreased tissue tensile strength. While exploring the mechanism of this phenotype, we found that cleavage of full-length human procollagen I heterotrimers by either meprin α or meprin β led to the generation of mature collagen molecules that spontaneously assembled into collagen fibrils. Thus, meprin α and meprin β are unique in their ability to process and release both C- and N-propeptides from type I procollagen in vitro and in vivo and contribute to the integrity of connective tissue in skin, with consequent implications for inherited connective tissue disorders.
Trap-Related Current Collapse Effects in GaN HEMTs

The current collapse effects are investigated in GaN HEMTs by means of dc and dynamic measurements. The trapping-detrapping process is demonstrated by varying the hold time from 0.1s to 20s and the delay time from l0us to l00ms. The relevant time constant is more than ls. Our simulation result show that the gate-induced collapse is related both to the high surface state density and high vertical electric filed. New structures are simulated to demonstrate the advantages in reducing both gate-induced and buffer-induced collapse.
Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Buerger Disease: A Report on 3 Cases

ObjectivesBuerger disease (or thromboangeiitis obliterans) is an inflammatory disease of the medium and small caliber arteries and veins that predominantly affects young males and presents with ischemia in the hands or the feet. It is closely associated with smoking. Critical ischemia of the lower limbs is a threat to the survival of the patient s extremities, and often disables its victims severely. This takes on an even greater significance in younger individuals who are still actively employed, as is the case in patients suffering from Buerger disease. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency of the spinal cord stimulation as an alternative therapeutic option in acute stages of Buerger disease. Results and MethodsWe present a case series of males under the age of 45 years, diagnosed with thromboangeiitis obliterans and all of them were in the acute phase of the disease. They were satisfactorily treated with an implantable spinal cord stimulation device. DiscussionSpinal cord stimulation is an accepted therapy for the treatment of chronic ischemic pain and ulcer healing and to avoid amputation in patients with severe, nonrevascularisable peripheral occlusive arteriopathy, and specially in the subgroup of patients with Buerger disease. It should not only be considered as a last resort strategy for pain control, but as a valid therapeutic option to improve perfusion of the limbs in the initial stages of the disease, however larger studies still remain necessary.
Victimizing Cap-and-Trade: How Policy Narratives Influence Policy Realities

When a cap-and-trade bill was introduced to the Washington legislature in 2009, it was met with staunch opposition from a coalition of businesses and industry leaders. In the end, the opposing side won when cap-and-trade legislation was removed from the bill. My goal was to better understand if there were differences in how the Pro and Con Coalitions presented policy narratives, and how they may have influenced the policy outcome. Using the Narrative Policy Framework, I analyzed public testimony produced by both coalitions and examined the use of narrative elements, narrative strategies, and policy beliefs between and within the coalitions. My results yielded statistically significant intercoalitional differences in narrative elements and policy beliefs, and revealed that the winning coalition’s narratives were more cohesive. This work contributes further evidence that policy narratives created actors and stakeholders can indeed influence decision makers and thus, policy realities. In order to apply this work and previous NPF studies to influencing policy realities, future NPF work at the micro level should focus in on how effectively policy narratives shape elected officials’ decisions.
The effect of diets adequate and deficient in calcium on blood pressures and the activities of intestinal and kidney plasma membrane enzymes in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Basolateral and brush-border membranes were prepared from the intestines and kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (WKY) rats fed on a calcium-adequate diet and assayed for their enzyme activities. In intestinal basolateral membranes the activities of Na+ K+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.37) Ca2+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.38) and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) were lower in SHR rats when compared with WKY rats, whilst 5'-nucleotidase (EC3.1.3.5) (a marker for basolateral membranes) was unaffected. In kidney basolateral membranes all enzymes were similar in activity in SHR and WKY rats. In intestinal brush-border membranes the activities of Ca2+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase were lower in SHR rats when compared with WKY rats, whilst microvillus aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2) (a marker for brush-border membranes) was unaffected. In kidney brush-border membranes all enzymes were similar in activity in SHR and WKY rats. The blood pressures of the SHR rats were considerably higher than those of the WKY rats. When SHR rats were fed on a Ca-deficient diet the activities of Na+K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase in basolateral membranes and Ca2+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase in brush-border membranes were all increased in the intestine when compared with SHR rats fed on a Ca-adequate diet. The equivalent enzymes in the kidneys of SHR rats, and the intestines and kidneys of WKY rats, were not affected by altering the Ca in the diet. The blood pressures of SHR rats fed on a Ca-deficient diet were higher than in those fed on a Ca-adequate diet. Blood pressures of WKY rats were not affected by altering the diet in this way. The results indicate that the absorption of Ca by active mechanisms may be reduced in SHR rats compared with WKY rats. Changing the level of Ca in the diet modified both blood pressure and the activities of enzymes which catalyse active Ca transport. The implications of these results to the aetiology, and possible nutritional treatment, of essential hypertension are discussed.
Soluble and Transmembrane Isoforms of Novel Interleukin-17 Receptor-like Protein by RNA Splicing and Expression in Prostate Cancer*

Members of the interleukin-17 cytokine family are present in a variety of tissues (1-3), although the founding member, interleukin-17, is expressed exclusively in T cells and B cells (4-8). The cloning and characterization of a novel single-pass transmembrane protein with limited homology to the interleukin-17 receptor is reported. High mRNA levels were detected in prostate, cartilage, kidney, liver, heart, and muscle, whereas transcripts were barely detected in thymus and leukocytes. At least 11 RNA splice variants were found, transcribed from 19 exons on human chromosome 3p25.3–3p24.1. Differential exon usage was found in different tissues by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Predicted proteins range from 186 to 720 amino acids. Soluble secreted proteins lacking transmembrane and intracellular domains are predicted from several splice isoforms and may function as extracellular antagonists to cytokine signaling by functioning as soluble decoy receptors. Using antibodies directed at the cytoplasmic and extracellular domains of this protein, we investigated its localization and found that it was expressed in a variety of normal human tissues including prostate and in prostate cancer.
Diagnostic Values of Electrocardiogram in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), a broad spectrum of respiratory diseases represents a worldwide problem. Electrocardiographic (ECG) findings may help in clinical decision making regarding this disease entity. Aims: To evaluate the extent and diagnostic values of ECG changes among COPD patients suffering from broad spectrum of respiratory diseases. Material & Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in Sworoop Rani Nehru Hospital, Allahabad in Eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. A sample of 60 patients attending respiratory diseases OPD for treatment of various respiratory problems including 14 COPD patients was selected randomly during 2000-2001. Patients of respiratory diseases were also evaluated electrocardiographically along with other investigations. Results: Respiratory problems were more common among rural males of low socio-economic group. COPD particularly chronic bronchitis was the commonest respiratory problem next to pulmonary tuberculosis. Inspite of normal heart rate observed in 71.4% COPD patients, ECG changes were present in 35.7% COPD patients. Peaked P-wave was observed in 35.7% COPD patients, whereas duration of QRS complex was abnormal in only 8.1% of the patients. None of the COPD patients showed abnormal P-wave duration. ECG changes were found less sensitive (35.7%) but highly specific (95.6%). Conclusion: Diagnostic values of ECG among patients with respiratory problems suggest that COPD patients should be screened electrocardiographically in addition to other clinical investigations.
Who is to blame? Neural correlates of causal attribution in social situations

In everyday life causal attribution is important in order to structure the complex world, provide explanations for events and to understand why our environment interacts with us in a particular way. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 30 healthy subjects to separate the neural correlates of self vs. external responsibility for social events and explore the neural basis of self-serving attributions (internal attributions of positive events and external attributions of negative events). We presented short sentences describing positive and negative social events and asked participants to imagine the event, to decide the main cause and assign it to one of the categories (internal vs. external). FMRI data were analyzed using a 2 × 2 factorial design with the factors emotional valence and attribution. Internal compared to external attribution revealed activations along the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ). The reverse contrast showed a left lateralized network mainly involving the TPJ, the precuneus and the superior/medial frontal gyrus. These results confirmed the involvement of a fronto-temporoparietal network in differentiating self and external responsibility. Analysis of the self-serving bias yielded activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate and in the dorsal striatum, suggesting a rewarding value of these attributions.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CAPSTONE DEPLETED URANIUM AEROSOLS I: URANIUM CONCENTRATION IN AEROSOLS AS A FUNCTION OF TIME AND PARTICLE SIZE

During the Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Study, aerosols containing DU were produced inside unventilated armored vehicles (i.e., Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles) by perforation with large-caliber DU penetrators. These aerosols were collected and characterized, and the data were subsequently used to assess human health risks to personnel exposed to DU aerosols. The DU content of each aerosol sample was first quantified by radioanalytical methods, and selected samples, primarily those from the cyclone separator grit chambers, were analyzed radiochemically. Deposition occurred inside the vehicles as particles settled on interior surfaces. Settling rates of uranium from the aerosols were evaluated using filter cassette samples that collected aerosol as total mass over eight sequential time intervals. A moving filter was used to collect aerosol samples over time, particularly within the first minute after a shot. The results demonstrate that the peak uranium concentration in the aerosol occurred in the first 10 s after perforation, and the concentration decreased in the Abrams tank shots to about 50% within 1 min and to less than 2% after 30 min. The initial and maximum uranium concentrations were lower in the Bradley vehicle than those observed in the Abrams tank, and the concentration levels decreased more slowly. Uranium mass concentrations in the aerosols as a function of particle size were evaluated using samples collected in a cyclone sampler, which collected aerosol continuously for 2 h after perforation. The percentages of uranium mass in the cyclone separator stages ranged from 38 to 72% for the Abrams tank with conventional armor. In most cases, it varied with particle size, typically with less uranium associated with the smaller particle sizes. Neither the Abrams tank with DU armor nor the Bradley vehicle results were specifically correlated with particle size and can best be represented by their average uranium mass concentrations of 65 and 24%, respectively.
Microbial content and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates from yoghurts

A total of 83 dairy products form the Greek market were examined for their bacterial populations and results were compared with the label information. The antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates was also examined. The status labeling of the yoghurts and the dairy desserts was found insufficient. The 89.8% of the cocci was found susceptible against all the 12 antibiotics examined. Lactobacillus spp. strains exhibited some kind of resistance to one or more antibiotics. The isolates of Lactobacillusdelbrueckii showed resistance to one to four antibiotics, the isolates of Lactobacillus acidophilus were resistant to one to three antibiotics, while the Lactobacillus paracasei strains were resistant to four or five antibiotics. Finally, multi-resistant strains (six to nine antibiotics) were found only among the Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains.
Ultrasonography in early assessment of elderly patients with polymyalgic symptoms: a role in predicting diagnostic outcome?

Objective: To study the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) in predicting the diagnostic outcome in patients with polymyalgic symptoms. Methods: Sixty-one elderly patients with polymyalgic syndrome were recruited in a secondary care setting and followed up in a prospective way. Clinical, laboratory, and US data obtained at onset were re-evaluated after 1 year when diagnostic outcome was defined. Results: A diagnostic shift was observed in 32 polymyalgic patients (52%). Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD) was diagnosed in nine patients, elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) in 18, and elderly-onset spondyloarthritis (EOSpA) in five. In polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients US demonstrated synovitis in 90% of cases, in both proximal (90%) and peripheral joints (41%). The best predictive US model for the definitive diagnosis of PMR comprised: the presence of subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis [odds ratio (OR) 5.603, p = 0.003], low frequency of wrist (OR 0.074, p < 0.001), metacarpophalangeal (OR 0.052, p < 0.001), and metatarsophalangeal effusion/synovitis (OR 0.107, p < 0.027), low frequency of knee menisci chondrocalcinosis (OR 0.091, p = 0.013), tendinous calcaneal calcifications (OR 0.078, p = 0.006), and Achilles enthesitis (OR 0.107, p = 0.027), and low power Doppler US (PDUS) scores at wrist (OR 0.052, p < 0.001). Conclusions: US and PDUS can be useful in distinguishing, at onset of disease, pure PMR from other diseases mimicking this condition.
Cementless metaphyseal fitting anatomic total hip arthroplasty with a ceramic-on-ceramic bearing in patients thirty years of age or younger.

BACKGROUND The number of midterm or long-term studies on the current generation of cementless total hip replacements with alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearings in patients younger than thirty years of age is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the midterm results of the cementless metaphyseal fitting anatomic total hip prosthesis in patients younger than thirty years of age, with a particular emphasis on the prevalence of thigh pain, resorption of bone due to stress-shielding of the proximal part of the femur, aseptic loosening, and osteolysis. METHODS We reviewed the cases of ninety-six patients (127 hips) who had a cementless total hip arthroplasty when they were thirty years or younger at the time of surgery. All surgical procedures were performed by a single surgeon. The most common diagnoses were osteonecrosis (54.3%) and developmental dysplasia of the hip (20.5%). Demographic data, the Harris hip score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scores were recorded. Radiographic evaluation was used to evaluate implant fixation and osteolysis. The minimum follow-up interval was ten years (mean, 14.6 years; range, ten to sixteen years). RESULTS The mean preoperative Harris hip score, WOMAC score, and UCLA activity score were 41 points, 66 points, and 3 points, respectively. At the time of final follow-up, the mean Harris hip score, WOMAC score, and UCLA activity score were 95 points, 16 points, and 8 points, respectively. No patient had thigh pain after one year postoperatively. All of the femoral stems and all but one of the acetabular components were well-fixed at the time of final follow-up. No hip exhibited squeaking, ceramic fracture, loosening, or osteolysis at the time of the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS These results in patients thirty years of age or younger suggest that the cementless metaphyseal fitting anatomic total hip prosthesis provides outstanding midterm fixation and substantial pain relief well into the second decade postoperatively. Moreover, the alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearing provides a high rate of survivorship without osteolysis.
Root Cause Analysis: An Examination of Odontogenic Origins of Acute Maxillary Sinusitis in Both Immunocompetent & Immunocompromised Patients

Background and Purpose Dental and periodontal diseases represent important but often overlooked causes of acute sinusitis. Our goal was to examine the prevalence of potential odontogenic sources of acute maxillary sinusitis according to immune status and their associations with sinusitis. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of maxillofacial computed tomography studies from 2013 to 2014 was performed. Each maxillary sinus and its ipsilateral dentition were evaluated for findings of acute sinusitis and dental/periodontal disease. Results Eighty-four patients (24 immunocompetent, 60 immunocompromised) had 171 maxillary sinuses that met inclusion criteria for acute maxillary sinusitis. Inspection of dentition revealed oroantral fistula in 1%, periapical lucencies in 16%, and projecting tooth root(s) in 71% of cases. Immunocompromised patients were more likely to have bilateral sinusitis than immunocompetent patients (67% vs 33%, P = 0.005). A paired case-control analysis in a subset of patients with unilateral maxillary sinusitis (n = 39) showed a higher prevalence of periapical lucency in association with sinuses that had an air fluid level—29% of sinuses with a fluid level had periapical lucency compared with 12% without sinus fluid (P = 0.033). Conclusions Potential odontogenic sources of acute maxillary sinusitis are highly prevalent in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, although the 2 patient populations demonstrate no difference in the prevalence of these potential odontogenic sources. Periapical lucencies were found to be associated with an ipsilateral sinus fluid level. Increased awareness of the importance of dental and periodontal diseases as key components of maxillofacial computed tomography interpretation would facilitate a more appropriate and timely treatment.