Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multicomponent exploration of verbal short-term storage deficits in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease

Although many studies have shown diminished performance in verbal short-term memory tasks in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the cognitive processes responsible for this verbal short-term storage (STS) impairment are still unclear for both populations. We explored verbal STS functioning in patients with AD, elderly participants, and young participants, by investigating a series of processes that could underlie STS impairments in normal elderly and AD populations. The processes we investigated were (a) the influence of lexical and sublexical language knowledge on short-term storage performance, (b) functioning of the phonological loop component via word length and phonological similarity effects, and (c) executive control processes (coordination and integration). For the AD and elderly groups, the influence of language knowledge on verbal STS performance and the functioning of the phonological loop were preserved. In contrast, the AD group showed deficits for coordination and integration processes. Our results suggest that the verbal STS deficit observed in AD patients is related to impaired executive control processes. On the other hand, language-related processes underlying passive storage capacity seem to be preserved.
Paracrine/endocrine mechanism of stem cells on kidney repair: role of microvesicle-mediated transfer of genetic information

Purpose of reviewThe mechanism of stem cell-induced kidney repair remains controversial. Engraftment of bone marrow-derived stem cells is considered a rare event and several studies point to paracrine/endocrine processes. This review focuses on microvesicle-mediated transfer of genetic information between stem cells and injured tissue as a paracrine/endocrine mechanism. Recent findingsThe following findings support a bidirectional exchange of genetic information between stem and injured cells: microvesicles shuttle defined patterns of mRNA and microRNA, are actively released from embryonic and adult stem cells and are internalized by a receptor-mediated mechanism in target cells; transcripts delivered by microvesicles from injured cells may reprogram the phenotype of stem cells to acquire specific features of the tissue; transcripts delivered by microvesicles from stem cells may induce dedifferentiation of cells surviving injury with cell cycle reentry and tissue self-repair. SummaryTransfer of genetic information from injured cells may explain stem cell functional and phenotypic changes without the need for transdifferentiation into tissue cells. On the contrary, transfer of genetic information from stem cells may redirect altered functions in target cells suggesting that stem cells may repair damaged tissues without directly replacing parenchymal cells.
Trends in Anemia Management Practices in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Background/Aims: Recent changes in clinical practice guidelines and reimbursement policies may have affected the use of anemia-related medications and red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. We sought to compare patterns of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) and intravenous (IV) iron use, achieved hemoglobin levels, and RBC transfusion use in PD and HD patients. Methods: In quarterly cohorts of prevalent dialysis patients receiving persistent therapy (>3 months), 2007-2011, with Medicare Parts A and B coverage, we assessed ESA and IV iron use and dose, RBC transfusions, and hemoglobin levels. Quarterly transfusion rates were calculated. Results: Observable PD and HD patients numbered 14,958 and 221,866 in Q1/2007 and 17,842 and 256,942 in Q4/2011. Adjusted ESA use was lower in PD (71.4-80.1%) than in HD (86.9-92.0%) patients, decreasing from 80.1% (Q1/2010) to 71.4% (Q4/2011) in PD patients, and from 92.0 to 86.9% in HD patients. The mean adjusted ESA dose decreased by 67.5% in PD and 58.4% in HD patients. IV iron use tended to increase, peaking at 39.3% for PD (Q3/2011) and 80.5% for HD (Q2/2011) patients. Adjusted mean hemoglobin levels fell from 11.7 to 10.6 mg/dl in PD and from 12.0 to 10.7 mg/dl in HD ESA users; adjusted transfusion rates increased from 2.4 to 3.0 per 100 patient-months in PD and from 2.6 to 3.3 in HD patients. Conclusions: In patients receiving persistent dialysis, dose and frequency of ESA administrations decreased during the period 2007-2011. Mean hemoglobin levels decreased by more than 1 g/dl, while transfusion rates increased by approximately 25%.
Incidence of Thyroid Dysfunction and Thyroid Cancer in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience

Background. The prevalence of thyroid cancer in renal transplant population has not been widely studied, and there is no consensus on the management of thyroid cancer in transplant patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in thyroid hormone levels and investigate the incidence of the thyroid cancer after renal transplantation. Materials and methods. From October 1989 to April 2007, 122 renal allograft recipients that were being followed underwent thyroid ultrasonography to determine nodules together with thyroid hormone levels. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed to the nodules > 10 mm or those with 8–10 mm diameter but with calcifications. Results. One hundred and eight patients (88.5%) had normal thyroid function. None of the patients had overt hypothyroidism, 2 had subclinical hypothyroidism, 10 subclinical thyrotoxicosis, and 2 low T3 syndrome. Mean thyroid volume was 14.2 ± 7.2 ml. In all, 91.8% was diagnosed with goiter (n = 112). Seventy-two thyroid nodules were detected in 49 kidney allograft recipients (single nodule in 30, multiple in 19 patients). Eighty-four biopsy samples were reported as benign (n = 21, 87.5%), 8 as suspicious (n = 2, 8.3%), and 4 as inadequate (n = 1, 4.1%). After surgery, one of the patients (0.8%) with suspicious FNAB was reported as papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conclusion. Because of the high incidence of thyroid dysfunction in transplant patients, screening of thyroid function should be a part of follow-up. Our results suggest that although frequency of nodules is increased in kidney transplant patients, prevalence of thyroid cancer is slightly, but not significantly, higher than that of the normal population.
Th17 cytokine differentiation and loss of plasticity after SOCS1 inactivation in a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

We propose that deregulated T-helper-cell (Th) signaling underlies evolving Th17 cytokine expression seen during progression of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Accordingly, we developed a lymphoma progression model comprising cell lines established at indolent (MAC-1) and aggressive (MAC-2A) CTCL stages. We discovered activating JAK3 (V722I) mutations present at indolent disease, reinforced in aggressive disease by novel compound heterozygous SOCS1 (G78R/D105N) JAK-binding domain inactivating mutations. Though isogenic, indolent and aggressive-stage cell lines had diverged phenotypically, the latter expressing multiple Th17 related cytokines, the former a narrower profile. Importantly, indolent stage cells remained poised for Th17 cytokine expression, readily inducible by treatment with IL-2 - a cytokine which mitigates Th17 differentiation in mice. In indolent stage cells JAK3 expression was boosted by IL-2 treatment. Th17 conversion of MAC-1 cells by IL-2 was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of JAK3 or STAT5, implicating IL2RG - JAK3 – STAT5 signaling in plasticity responses. Like IL-2 treatment, SOCS1 knockdown drove indolent stage cells to mimic key aggressive stage properties, notably IL17F upregulation. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that SOCS1 mutations abolished JAK3 binding, revealing a key role for SOCS1 in regulating JAK3/STAT5 signaling. Collectively, our results show how JAK/STAT pathway mutations contribute to disease progression in CTCL cells by potentiating inflammatory cytokine signaling, widening the potential therapeutic target range for this intractable entity. MAC-1/2A cells also provide a candidate human Th17 laboratory model for identifying potentally actionable CTCL markers or targets and testing their druggability in vitro.
Surface melt‐driven seasonal behaviour (englacial and subglacial) from a soft‐bedded temperate glacier recorded by in situ wireless probes

We investigate the spatial and temporal englacial and subglacial processes associated with a temperate glacier resting on a deformable bed using the unique Glacsweb wireless in situ probes (embedded in the ice and the till) combined with other techniques [including ground penetrating radar (GPR) and borehole analysis]. During the melt season (spring, summer and autumn), high surface melt leads to high water pressures in the englacial and subglacial environment. Winter is characterized by no surface melting on most days (‘base’) apart from a series of positive degree days. Once winter begins, a diurnal water pressure cycle is established in the ice and at the ice/sediment interface, with direct meltwater inputs from the positive degree days and a secondary slower englacial pathway with a five day lag. This direct surface melt also drives water pressure changes in the till. Till deformation occurred throughout the year, with the winter rate approximately 60% that of the melt season. We were able to show the bed comprised patches of till with different strengths, and were able to estimate their size, relative percentage and temporal stability. We show that the melt season is characterized by a high pressure distributed system, and winter by a low pressure channelized system. We contrast this with studies from Greenland (overlying rigid bedrock), where the opposite was found. We argue our results are typical of soft bedded glaciers with low englacial water content, and suggest this type of glacier can rapidly respond to surface‐driven melt. Based on theoretical and field results we suggest that the subglacial hydrology comprises a melt season distributed system dominated by wide anastomosing broad flat channels and thin water sheets, which may become more channelized in winter, and more responsive to changes in meltwater inputs. © 2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
High‐resolution blood flow velocity measurements in the human finger

MR phase contrast blood flow velocity measurements in the human index finger were performed with triggered, nontriggered, and cine acquisition schemes. A strong (Gmax = 200 mT/m), small bore (inner diameter 12 cm) gradient system inserted in a whole body 3 Tesla MR scanner allowed high‐resolution imaging at short echo times, which decreases partial volume effects and flow artifacts. Arterial blood flow velocities ranging from 4.9–19 cm/sec were measured, while venous blood flow was significantly slower at 1.5–7.1 cm/sec. Taking into account the corresponding vessel diameters ranging from 800 μm to 1.8 mm, blood flow rates of 3.0–26 ml/min in arteries and 1.2–4.8 ml/min in veins are obtained. The results were compared to ultrasound measurements, resulting in comparable blood flow velocities in the same subjects. Magn Reson Med 45:716–719, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recent changes in Arctic temperature extremes: warm and cold spells during winter and summer

In the Arctic, climate change manifests with the strongest warming trends on the globe, especially in the cold season. It is under debate if climate extremes change similarly strong. Our study provides detailed regional information about two selected temperature extreme indices in the Arctic, namely warm and cold spells in winter and summer. We analyze their temporal evolution and variability from 1979–2013, based on daily station data and ERA-Interim reanalysis. Calculated trends from both datasets suggest a widespread decrease of cold spells in winter and summer of up to −4 days/decade, with regional patches where trends are statistically significant throughout the Arctic. Winter trends are spatially heterogeneous, the reanalysis also shows small areas with statistically significant increases of cold spells throughout Siberia. Calculated changes in warm spells from both datasets are mostly small throughout the Arctic (less than ±1 day/decade) and statistically not significant. Remarkable exceptions are the Lena river basin in winter with a statistically significant decrease of up to −1.5 days/decade and areas in Scandinavia with statistically significant increases of up to 2.5 days/decade in winter and summer (again from both datasets). From the analysis of spell lengths, we find that there are no shifts from longer to shorter spells or vice versa with time, but long cold spells (events lasting for more than 15 days) disappear almost completely after the year 2000. There is a distinct inter-annual and decadal variability in the spells, which hinders the detection of significant trends for all spell categories in all regions.
Comparison of transdermal administration of fentanyl versus intramuscular administration of butorphanol for analgesia after onychectomy in cats.

OBJECTIVE To compare postoperative discomfort assessed by subjective pain score and plasma cortisol concentrations in cats undergoing onychectomy that received analgesia by use of transdermal fentanyl (TDF) patches or an i.m. injection of butorphanol. DESIGN Randomized prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS 22 client-owned cats weighing 2.2 to 5 kg (4.84 to 11 lb) undergoing onychectomy. PROCEDURE Researchers were blinded to which cats received a TDF patch (25 microg/h) 18 to 24 hours prior to surgery or an i.m. injection of butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg (0.09 mg/lb]) at the time of sedation, immediately following extubation, and at 4-hour intervals thereafter for 12 hours. Clinical variables, plasma cortisol concentration, and pain scores were evaluated and recorded 24 hours prior to surgery, at extubation, and 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS The TDF group had a lower pain score than the butorphanol group only at 8 hours after surgery. Both groups had significantly lower mean plasma cortisol concentrations 0, 24, 36, and 48 hours after surgery, compared with mean plasma cortisol concentrations prior to surgery. No significant differences in appetite or response to handling the feet were observed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Our data did not reveal a difference in pain relief between administration of TDF and butorphanol. Plasma cortisol concentrations were not different between groups. Fentanyl appeared to provide equivalent analgesia to butorphanol in cats undergoing onychectomy. The primary advantage of using a TDF patch is that repeated injections are not required.
Agnosic or semantic impairment in very mild Alzheimer's disease?

ABSTRACT The present study investigated object recognition impairment and the existence of category effects in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. A battery of tests was designed to assess the deterioration of semantic memory and/or the existence of agnosia by evaluating visual and auditory naming, knowledge of structural descriptions (pre-semantic representation of an object within each perceptual system) and conceptual knowledge. The group of Alzheimer's patients were impaired in all experimental tests as compared to healthy participants. This result suggests an impairment of multiple levels of object integration processing even at an early stage of the disease. The patients also demonstrated a category effect with massive difficulties in recognizing human actions and musical instruments as compared to the other categories. This study provides an innovative clinical tool for exploring the recognition of visual and auditory objects at different levels of representation, allowing for the description of early signs of Alzheimer disease.
The use of 8-phenyltheophylline as a competitive antagonist of adenosine and an inhibitor of the intrinsic regulatory mechanism of the hepatic artery.

Reduction of portal blood flow results in compensatory vasodilation of the hepatic artery, the hepatic arterial buffer response. The hypothesis tested is that the regulation of the buffer response is mediated by adenosine, where the local concentration of adenosine in the region of the hepatic arterial resistance vessels is regulated by washout of adenosine into portal venules that are in intimate contact with hepatic arterioles. In anesthetized cats, portal flow was reduced to zero by complete occlusion of all arterial supply to the guts. The resultant dilation of the hepatic artery compensated for 23.9 +/- 4.9% of the decrease in portal flow. Dose-response curves were obtained for the effect of intraportal adenosine infusion on hepatic arterial conductance in doses that did not lead to recirculation and secondary effects on the hepatic artery via altered portal blood flow. The dose to produce one-half maximal response for adenosine is 0.19 mg X kg-1 X min-1 (intraportal) and the estimated maximal dilation is equivalent to an increase in hepatic arterial conductance to 245% of the basal (100%) level. The adenosine antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline, produced dose-related competitive antagonism of the dilator response to infused adenosine (but not to isoproterenol) and a similar, parallel antagonism of the hepatic arterial buffer response. If supramaximal blocking doses were used, the hepatic artery showed massive and prolonged constriction with blood flow decreasing to zero. The data strongly support the hypothesis that intrinsic hepatic arterial buffer response is mediated entirely by local adenosine concentration. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The entericidin locus of Escherichia coli and its implications for programmed bacterial cell death.

Antidote/toxin gene pairs known as "addiction modules" can maintain plasmids in bacterial populations by means of post-segregational killing. However, several chromosome-encoded addiction modules may provide an entirely distinct function in the programmed cell death of moribund subpopulations under starvation conditions. We now report a novel chromosomal bacteriolytic module of Escherichia coli called the entericidin locus, which is activated in stationary phase under high osmolarity conditions by sigmaS and simultaneously repressed by the osmoregulatory EnvZ/OmpR signal transduction pathway. The entericidin locus encodes tandem paralogous genes (ecnAB) and directs the synthesis of two small cell-envelope lipoproteins. An attenuator precedes ecnA and an ompR-sensitive sigmaS promoter governs expression of ecnB. The entericidin A lipoprotein is an antidote to the bacteriolytic lipoprotein entericidin B. The entericidins are predicted to adopt amphipathic alpha-helical structures and to reciprocally modulate membrane stability. The entericidin locus is not present on any known plasmids, but is conserved in the homologous region of the Citrobacter freundii chromosome. Although the cloned C. freundii entericidin locus is expressed in E. coli independently of ompR, it carries an additional ompR-like gene called ecnR. The organization of the entericidin locus as a chromosomal antidote/toxin gene pair, which is regulated by both positive and negative osmotic signals during starvation, is consistent with an emerging paradigm of programmed bacterial cell death.
A Comparative Study of the Inhibitors of Fibrinolysis in Human, Dog and Rabbit Blood

Summary Comparison of sera from dog, rabbit and man shows that dog serum contains most fibrinolytic inhibitor and human serum least. The inhibitors are potentiated by a variety of inorganic salts, of which sodium chloride is most effective. Euglobulin fractions precipitated from rabbit and human plasma at pH 5.3 contain small amounts of inhibitory material, whereas little remains in the corresponding dog euglobulin or in euglobulins from all three species when precipitated at pH 6.0. The potentiation of fibrinolytic inhibitors by sodium chloride differs between the three species, suggesting that their composition is not identical. Chloroform extraction removes a proportion of the inhibitory material from each serum.
[The expression of BAG-1 and its clinical significance in human lung cancer.].

BACKGROUND BAG-1 is a multifunctional anti-apoptotic protein that binds to a variety of cellular proteins and affects their functions. It has been proven that overexpression of BAG-1 was observed in a number of human maligancies and correlated with their prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine BAG-1 mRNA expression in human lung cancer tissues and its clinical significance. METHODS The expression of BAG-1 was detected by real-time PCR in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human lung cancer tissues of 156 cases. RESULTS (1) The median survival time (MST, 33.5 months) in BAG-1 low-expression group was significantly higher than that (20.5 months) in BAG-1 highexpression group (P <0.005); (2) The 3-year and 5-year survival rates (44.74%; 26.32%) in BAG-1 low-expression group were dramatically higher than that in BAG-1 high-expression group (32.5%; 21.25%)(P <0.05), respectively. The survival curves in BAG-1 low-expression group was also significantly better than that in BAG-1 high-expression group (P =0.045); (3) The further analysis indicated that the survical curves in BAG-1 low-expression group were much better than that in BAG-1 high-expression group in the lung cancer patient with TNM stage I, or with squamous cell cacrinoma, or without any metastasis, respectively (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS BAG-1 may be a biomarker for the prognosis of lung cancer patients, especially for the lung cancer patients with stage I or squamous cell carcinoma.
Strategy implementation at Kenya Maritime Authority

The project analyses the strntc g) imp! mentation process in Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), challenges faced <lnd ho" the) :ltL being overcome. KMA is a public corporation in Kenya that is the governm nt <Wl n ' \ m.tnd atcd to re )ulatc, coordinate and oversee maritime affairs both at sea and mlan I " . It t · It anal ses strategy implementation in the public sector and looks at the dl'ltrall. ' h:tl an • l (\\·en local legislation vies a vie international standards. Strategy impktlll' lllatiun i looked in the broader picture as a subset of strategic management. Strategic mana ' •mcnt entai l · trategy formulation, implementation and evaluation. Strateg) implementation may seem quite straight forward: a strategy is formulated and then implemented. Transforming strategies into actions is a far more complex, difficult and challenging undertaking and therefore is not as straightforward as one would assume. The strategic management process includes implementation which may take either the planned strategy approach, emergent strategy approach or a combination of both. The study looks at which of these strategies were used by KMA and to what extent they were successful. Primary and secondary data relevant to the objectives of the study was collected for analysis. The data focused on how KMA was carrying out its strategy implementation. econdary data was obtained from KMA records such as corporate strategic plans, financial statements, company magazine, annual reports and company website. An in depth interview wa conducted to collect relevant primary data for the study. The interview guide was administered to, the I irect r General the Head of Maritime afety, ompany ecretary and Head of Legal Department the I lead of ommercial hipping and 1 lead of 'orporatc upport ervices. The data was analysed u ing content analysis. '1 he tudy found out that m the pro css of strateg • imp! m ntation, K put 111 pl.tcc m h. ni m to en ure th individual , nd organizational sub-units c. ccut their part or the ull . 'J h mnin dri ·ct of tratc, ' implementation, rc : institutionalization to tmtc ' im I me nt 11 inn ide nt i lied r : th p. rti i1 • t hi h 1 ult n I th Ill