Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantification of C5a/C5a(desArg) in bovine plasma, serum and milk.

Complement activation generates two potent inflammatory mediators from C5, C5a and its derivative C5a(desArg), which results from the removal of the C-terminal arginine by ubiquitous carboxypeptidases. In this paper we describe the purification of milligram amounts of bovine C5a(desArg) by a simplified procedure, and the preparation of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to C5a/C5a(desArg) which do not recognize native C5. A MAb was used to develop a sandwich ELISA which made it possible to quantify levels of C5a/C5adesArg in bovine biological fluids. Small amounts (means +/- SEM) of C5a/C5a(desArg) were found in EDTA-plasma (0.58 +/- 0.06 ng.mL-1). The anticoagulant EDTA was more efficient than citrate or heparin in inhibiting in vitro activation of the complement system. Complement activation occurred during coagulation since the baseline concentration of C5a/C5a(desArg) (15.4 +/- 4.1 ng.mL-1) was higher than in plasma. Zymosan, a potent activator of the complement cascade, was used to generate C5a/C5a(desArg). The time-course of the reaction and the dose-effect of zymosan were investigated. Optimal conditions were incubation at 39 degrees C for 1 or 2 h with 2 mg of zymosan per mL of serum. The maximal concentration of C5a/C5a desArg attained in zymosan-activated serum was 4.28 +/- 0.14 micrograms.mL-1. Normal milk (from healthy, uninflamed mammary glands) contained on average 0.12 ng of C5a/C5a(desArg). mL-1 (range 0.02-0.19 ng.mL-1). The maximal amount of C5a/C5a(desArg) which was generated in milk with zymosan was 1.1 ng.mL-1 (range 0.68-2.17 ng.mL-1). In milk from quarters with subclinical infections by coagulase-negative staphylococci, values were 0.18 ng.mL-1 and 2.37 ng.mL-1 for spontaneous and zymosan-generated C5a/C5a(desArg) concentrations, respectively. In milk from Escherichia coli endotoxin-induced mastitis, C5a/C5a(desArg) concentrations (means of four cows) before and after zymosan activation reached 6.5 ng.mL-1 and 55 ng.mL-1, respectively. These results indicate that a C5-convertase can operate in normal milk, that only minute amounts of C5a/C5a(desArg) can be generated (less than 1/1,000 of plasma potential), but that much higher concentrations are reached in milk during endotoxin-induced inflammation. The ELISA made it possible to determine normal ranges of C5a/C5a(desArg) in bovine blood plasma and in milk, and is a valuable tool to define the variations of its concentrations in exudates during inflammatory reactions.
A single amino acid residue controls ROS production in the respiratory Complex I from Escherichia coli

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by respiratory Complex I from Escherichia coli was studied in bacterial membrane fragments and in the isolated and purified enzyme, either solubilized or incorporated in proteoliposomes. We found that the replacement of a single amino acid residue in close proximity to the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐binding catalytic site (E95 in the NuoF subunit) dramatically increases the reactivity of Complex I towards dioxygen (O2). In the E95Q variant short‐chain ubiquinones exhibit strong artificial one‐electron reduction at the catalytic site, also leading to a stronger increase in ROS production. Two mechanisms can contribute to the observed kinetic effects: (a) a change in the reactivity of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) towards dioxygen at the catalytic site, and (b) a change in the population of the ROS‐generating state. We propose the existence of two (closed and open) states of the NAD+‐bound enzyme as one feature of the substrate‐binding site of Complex I. The analysis of the kinetic model of ROS production allowed us to propose that the population of Complex I with reduced FMN is always low in the wild‐type enzyme even at low ambient redox potentials, minimizing the rate of reaction with O2 in contrast to E95Q variant.
Epilepsy and behavioral changes, type 1 diabetes mellitus and a high titer of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies

Autoantibodies to the 65 kDa isoform of glutamate acid decarboxylase (GAD65Ab) are associated with a range of clinical disorders, including type 1 diabetes (T1D) and stiff‐person syndrome (SPS). In this article we describe a young girl who was diagnosed with T1D at the end of her first year of life and developed drug‐resistant epilepsy 18 months later, followed by behavioral disturbances. She was admitted to our center at the age of 5 yr, at which time high GAD65Ab titers were detected in the patient's serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The titer remained elevated during 19 months of follow‐up. Furthermore, GAD65Ab in both serum and CSF showed epitope binding characteristics similar to those observed for GAD65Ab in SPS patients, and GAD65Ab in the serum reduced GAD65 enzyme activity. Our results suggest an association between high GAD65Ab titers and epilepsy in children with T1D. Careful titration and characterization of GAD65Ab regarding inhibition of enzyme activity and epitope specificity may be helpful in identifying T1D patients at risk for neurological complications.
IMF STRUCTURAL CONDITIONALITY AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS: DETERMINANTS OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN LABOR MARKET AND FINANCIAL SECTOR

What accounts for the differences in implementation of IMF programs across countries and across policy areas? Why do some countries are more effective in implementing IMF reforms than others, and in some policy areas than others? In this dissertation project, I argue that one of the most important sources of this heterogeneity in implementation lies in the strength of organized interests who are adversely affected by specific policies and their interaction with their governments. Specifically, I examine how partisan differences in the borrowing country governments and their electoral concerns mediate the effect of organized interests in the implementation of IMF reforms. Departing from common practice in the literature, I use a disaggregated approach to study implementation. With a novel global dataset, constructed from the Fund’s MONA database, I analyze implementation in two specific policy areas: labor market and financial sector reforms, in which preferences of organized interests and their linkages to the different partisan governments can be drawn from the existing literature. The results provide strong evidence regarding the interactive effect of special interests and partisanship. Analysis of the implementation of labor market reforms show that these reforms are driven by partisan preferences, electoral concerns and the interaction between the borrowing country governments and labor unions. When faced with an increasing number of strikes, left-wing governments are more likely to implement labor market reforms in non-election years than center/right wing governments. However, the left is less likely than the center/right to fulfill its international commitments when labor groups are militant during election years. Unlike labor market reforms, the effect of the financial sector is not necessarily mediated by the partisan politics and democratic institutions in the implementation stage due to lack of broader electoral appeal and mobilization capacity. The implementation of financial sector conditionality significantly goes down in the presence of strong financial interests, irrespective of the regime type and partisan ideology. This dissertation also provides two detailed case studies: the recent Fund programs in Ireland and Greece, focusing on the politics of reform in these countries and further highlighting the empirical findings.
Bacillus Strains as Potential Alternate for Zinc Biofortification of Maize Grains

Decreased efficiency of Zn fertilization upon formation of insoluble zincate complex is a serious threat to soil-plant nutrition. Zn solubilizing bacteria are recently reported to be a potential alternate to combat this issue but evaluation of their bioaugmentation potential is direly required. In present study, four promising Zn solubilizing strains; Bacillus sp. (ZM20), Bacillus aryabhattai (ZM31 and S10) and Bacillus subtilis (ZM63) were selected to evaluate their ability for Zn biofortification of maize grains. The results revealed that inoculation/co-inoculation of Zn solubilising Bacillus strains significantly improved plant growth and yield attributes of maize. Co-inoculation of Bacillus aryabhattai ZM31 and Bacillus subtilis ZM63 yielded the best results in terms of growth and yield of studied plant. The inoculation/co-inoculation of strains also enhanced the macro and micronutrients in plant roots and shoots and successfully biofortified the maize grains with Fe and Zn. Co-inoculation significantly improved the N (171%) and Fe (78%) concentration in maize grains over uninoculated control. Maximum improvement in P (48%), K (81%) and Zn concentration (68%) in maize grains were observed with coinoculation of Bacillus aryabhattai (ZM31) and Bacillus subtilis (ZM63) compared with uninoculated counterparts. The study infers that reported Bacillus strains showed their potential to improve nutrient concentrations in maize grains along with improvement in maize growth and yield parameters in pot experiment. These strains, therefore, should be evaluated for their potential to biofortify maize grains under field conditions before their recommendations as potential bio-inoculants for Zn biofortification under nutrient deficient soils. © 2018 Friends Science Publishers
Gene expression profile of cultured adult compared to immortalized human RPE.

PURPOSE ARPE19 is a spontaneously immortalized cell line of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that is used widely to draw inferences about the behavior of adult human RPE (ahRPE). We used DNA microarray analysis to compare the gene expression profiles of these two cell types. METHODS Second-passage cultured ahRPE from four human donors (age range 48-82 years) and ARPE19 cultured to confluence in five dishes were used for this DNA microarray study. Total RNA was isolated and first- and second-strand complimentary DNA was synthesized using standard techniques. Biotin-labeled antisense complimentary RNA was produced by an in vitro transcription reaction. Target hybridization, washing, staining, and scanning probe arrays were done following an Affymetrix GeneChip Expression Analysis Manual. Microarray data were normalized and statistical techniques were used to determine the presence or absence of expression of individual genes within ARPE19 and ahRPE, and their relative expression levels. RESULTS Hierarchic clustering analysis demonstrated that the gene expression profile of ahRPE and ARPE19 samples cluster into two distinct groups with no discernable overlap. The expression of 5,634+/-65 gene probes (out of 12,600 on microarray Human U95Av2 chip) was detected in ARPE19 cells compared to 5,580+/-84 genes in ahRPE cells from four human donor eyes. Thirty-five genes are expressed exclusively in ahRPE and nine genes exclusively in ARPE19 cells. Fifty additional genes have a threefold increase and 40 genes have a threefold decrease in expression level in ahRPE compared to ARPE19. There was no clear difference in the global expression level of genes known to be related to phagocytosis, angiogenesis, or apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS There are significant differences in the gene expression profile of ahRPE compared to ARPE19, and with some genes exclusively being expressed in one group and other genes being upregulated or downregulated by threefold. Caution should be exercised when generalizing results obtained from ARPE19 to the behavior of ahRPE.
Comparison of Administration of Two Standard Intravenous Amino Acid Formulas to Severely Brain-Injured Patients

Twenty severely brain-injured patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 4–9 were prospectively randomized to receive one of two standard amino acid formulas, starting with the first day of hospital admission up to day 14 postinjury. Formula 2 (patient group 2) had 54 percent more leucine, 53 percent more isoleucine, 74 percent more valine, 28 percent less phenylalanine, 31 percent less methionine, 111 percent more proline, 38 percent less alanine, and 38 percent less glycine than formula 1 (patient group 1). Groups 1 and 2 received statistically equal overall mean parenteral nutrition calories and protein (2173 ± 147 vs. 2059 ± 143 kcal, and 77 ± 12 vs. 83.1 ± 6 g, respectively). There was a significant difference in overall mean urinary urea nitrogen excretion (group 1 = 24.6 ± 1.3 vs. group 2= 18.3 ± 1.1, p = 0.02) and nitrogen balance (group 1 = −8.0 ± 2.1 vs. group 2 = + 1.8 ± 1.2, p = 0.01). Mean overall isoleucine values were significantly higher in group 2 (overall mean 77 μmol/L vs. 62 μmol/L, p = 0.04). Phenylalanine levels were significantly higher in group 1 (107 μmol/L) versus group 2 (82 μmol/L) patients (p = 0.01). Arginine levels were significantly higher in group 1 (78 μmol/L) versus group 2 (49 μmol/L) patients (p = 0.0002). This observation suggests that some standard intravenous amino acid formulas may be more apt to promote positive nitrogen balance than others.
A Driving Factor in Mobility? Transportation's Role in Connecting Subsidized Housing and Employment Outcomes in the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) Program

Problem, research strategy, and findings: We evaluate the role of transportation in improving the employment outcomes of participants in the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) for Fair Housing Voucher Program, a 10-year demonstration project designed to enable low-income families to improve their outcomes by moving out of high-poverty neighborhoods. We use longitudinal data from the MTO program to assess the role of transportation—automobiles and improved access to public transit—in moving to, and maintaining, employment. We use multi-nomial logistic regression to predict changes in employment status as a function of change in automobile availability and transit accessibility, controlling for other potential determinants of employment. We find that keeping or gaining access to an automobile is positively related to the likelihood of employment. Improved access to public transit is positively associated with maintaining employment, but not with job gains. Although we cannot say for certain whether car ownership preceded or followed employment, it is clear that having a car provides multiple benefits that facilitate getting and keeping a job. Takeaway for practice: Policies to increase automobile access among low-income households—even in dense urban areas—will most clearly enhance job gain and job retention. While auto programs are unpopular with many planners, they would improve the lives of low-income families who currently have the least access to cars. In addition, supporting moves to transit-rich neighborhoods may help households maintain consistent employment.
Quantitative Proteomic Analyses of Influenza Virus-Infected Cultured Human Lung Cells

ABSTRACT Because they are obligate intracellular parasites, all viruses are exclusively and intimately dependent upon host cells for replication. Viruses, in turn, induce profound changes within cells, including apoptosis, morphological changes, and activation of signaling pathways. Many of these alterations have been analyzed by gene arrays, which measure the cellular “transcriptome. ” Until recently, it has not been possible to extend comparable types of studies to globally examine all the host cellular proteins, which are the actual effector molecules. We have used stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC), combined with high-throughput two-dimensional (2-D) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/mass spectrometry, to determine quantitative differences in host proteins after infection of human lung A549 cells with human influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) for 24 h. Of the 4,689 identified and measured cytosolic protein pairs, 127 were significantly upregulated at >95% confidence, 153 were significantly downregulated at >95% confidence, and a total of 87 proteins were upregulated or downregulated more than 5-fold at >99% confidence. Gene ontology and pathway analyses indicated differentially regulated proteins and included those involved in host cell immunity and antigen presentation, cell adhesion, metabolism, protein function, signal transduction, and transcription pathways.
Survey of Core Trainees’ Confidence in Electroconvulsive Therapy

Objectives The objective of the survey was to assess confidence in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in core psychiatry trainees across Scotland, looking at both theoretical and practical aspects of ECT. Methods A link to a 14-item electronic questionnaire was distributed to core trainees via deanery administrators. Most questions were based on the Royal College of Psychiatry's ECT guidelines. Results A total of 85 responses were analyzed from trainees at all 3 levels of core training and from all health boards across Scotland. Almost 90% of trainees felt that their ECT training was sufficient, with more senior trainees rating their training better than those in the first year of training. Trainees who had theoretical teaching before their practical sessions rated their training better than those with purely observational training. Most trainees felt confident delivering ECT under supervision, and nearly 75% of trainees felt confident preparing a patient for ECT. The areas in which trainees felt least confident were in practical aspects such as dosing protocols and electroencephalogram interpretation. Conclusions While ECT training and trainee confidence in delivering ECT were generally good, there are variations in trainees' experience that could be addressed by having a standardized ECT training, including theoretical teaching and practical competencies, in line with current guidelines. Ideally, evidence of meeting the Royal College recommendations for ECT competencies could be made a compulsory aspect of core training in the United Kingdom.
Estimated fetal weight percentile as a tool to predict collection of cord blood units with higher cellular content: implications for prenatal selection of cord blood donors

The need for high‐cellular‐content cord blood units (CBUs) for allogenic transplantation is evident to improve clinical outcomes. In our environment and with current donation programs, very few collected units meet suggested clinical thresholds, making collection programs highly inefficient. To increase the clinical conversion rate, we have assessed factors influencing the cellular content of the cord blood collection and established the estimated fetal weight percentile (EFWp) as a tool to predict which deliveries will obtain higher cellular counts.
Subclinical hyperthyroidism and biatrial function and mechanics: a two- and three-dimensional echocardiographic study

Abstract Background We sought to evaluate left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) phasic function and deformation in the subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) using two- and three-echocardiographic (2DE and 3DE) methods. Methods We included 45 untreated women with SCH and 45 healthy women who underwent comprehensive 2DE and 3DE examination. Results Total and passive LA emptying fractions (EF) were decreased, whereas active EF was increased among the SCH participants. RA total EFs were similar between the controls and the SCH subjects; passive EF was reduced; and active EF was amplified in the SCH group. TSH correlated with 2DE LA passive and active EFs, 3DE LA total, passive and active EFs, as well as 2DE LA positive longitudinal strain. Additionally, TSH correlated with 2DE RA passive and active EFs, 3DE LA and RA passive EF, 2DE LA and RA positive longitudinal strain. However, after adjustment for the parameters of left and right ventricular diastolic function and structure, the TSH level remained associated only with LA conduit and booster pump functions, as well as RA pump function. Conclusion Biatrial phasic function evaluated by 2DE and 3DE is significantly impaired in the SCH subjects. TSH level correlates with LA and RA conduit and pump functions.
Can Asylum-Seekers with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Be Successfully Treated? A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are exceptionally high among asylum-seekers. Reportedly, stressors caused by the asylum procedure and psychological consequences of torture contribute to the maintenance of symptoms and interfere with treatment. In a pilot randomized controlled trial, the authors examined the efficacy of trauma-focused treatment in 32 asylum-seekers with PTSD resulting from state-sponsored violence and other traumatic events. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) was compared with treatment as usual (TAU), with a focus on stabilization and psychoactive medication. Six months after treatment, a significant reduction of posttraumatic stress symptoms was found in the NET participants but not in the TAU group. Although treatment gains were moderate, these results indicate that NET is a promising approach for the treatment of PTSD in asylum-seekers living in unstable conditions.
A Qualitative Descriptive Study Examining the Current State of the New York 4-H Program From a Leader’s Perspective

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) represent a fast-growing industry with significant value in today’s society. NPOs are filling gaps in providing services the government can no longer deliver and are considered an economic industry worth billions of dollars. As evidenced in research, NPOs are facing a multitude of challenges. Still, most of these challenges are addressed as standalone issues. Research has provided tools and suggestions for how leadership can address singular challenges; however, few researchers have examined challenges broadly. It has been confirmed that organizational leadership needs to understand, from a leader’s perspective, the challenges of the organization so that efforts can be developed to solve critical issues. For NPOs to be able to solve problems, they need to develop a deeper understanding of their challenges. In this qualitative descriptive study, the intention was to add to the body of knowledge on NPO and leadership challenges and organizational effectiveness by examining what leaders do to lead Programs well. The goal was to gain a deeper understanding from the perspective of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) 4-H Program Leaders of the current state of the New York 4-H Program, which broad collective challenges exist within that program, and how programs are led well. This topic was explored through open-ended inquiry utilizing a theoretical framework of Organizational Effectiveness (OE). Implications, recommendations, and suggestions for future research relate directly to CCE guiding documents and past organizational research. Document Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor Theresa L Pulos Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: https://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/education_etd/276 A Qualitative Descriptive Study Examining the Current State of the New York 4-H Program From a Leader’s Perspective