Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CCR6 regulates EAE pathogenesis by controlling regulatory CD4+ T‐cell recruitment to target tissues

The T‐cell subsets, characterized by their cytokine production profiles and immune regulatory functions, depend on correct in vivo location to interact with accessory or target cells for effective immune responses. Differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into effectors is accompanied by sequentially regulated expression of the chemokine receptors responsible for cell recruitment to specific tissues. We studied CCR6 function in EAE, a CD4+ T‐cell‐mediated CNS disease characterized by mononuclear infiltration and demyelination. CCR6−/− mice showed an altered time course of EAE development, with delayed onset, a higher clinical score, and more persistent symptoms than in controls. An imbalanced cytokine profile and reduced Foxp3+ cell frequency characterized CNS tissues from CCR6−/− compared with CCR6+/+ mice during the disease effector phase. Transfer of CCR6+/+ Treg to CCR6−/− mice the day before EAE induction reduced the clinical score associated with an increased in infiltrating Foxp3+ cells and recovery of the cytokine balance in CCR6−/− mouse CNS. Competitive assays between CCR6+/+ and CCR6−/− Treg adoptively transferred to CCR6−/− mice showed impaired ability of CCR6−/− Treg to infiltrate CNS tissues in EAE‐affected mice. Our data indicate a CCR6 requirement by CD4+ Treg to downregulate the CNS inflammatory process and neurological signs associated with EAE.
Effect of growth phase and parental cell survival in river water on plasmid transfer between Escherichia coli strains

We evaluated the transfer to and from Escherichia coli of endogenously isolated plasmid material from the River Butrón during the growth of three donor strains and two recipient strains as well as after the survival of these parental cells in river water. Transfer frequency varied greatly during the growth of donor cells, with minimum values in the exponential phase; frequency remained constant, however, during the growth of recipient strains. After survival in river water, donor cells lost their ability for plasmid transfer before any other physiological variations in the cells caused by environmental stress were detected. Under the same conditions and during equal periods, however, no variation in the ability of recipient cells to receive and express plasmid material was observed.
Increased expression of KDR/Flk-1 (VEGFR-2) in murine model of ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization.

Although the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor system plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of ischemic retinal neovascular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, regulation of VEGF receptor expression in ischemic retina has not been fully investigated in vivo. Accordingly, we studied the regulation of Flt-1 (VEGFR-1) and KDR/Flk-1 (VEGFR-2) expression in a mouse model of ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization. Immunohistochemistry for Flt-1 and KDR/Flk-1 revealed that, in hypoxic retina, the immunoreactivity of KDR/Flk-1 was increased in both intensity and extent of involvement in the vessels near the avascular area, particularly at the neovascular tufts, but that the pattern of Flt-1 expression in hypoxic retina was almost the same as that of control animals. The number of KDR/Flk-1-positive vessels was significantly increased in hypoxic retina (P < 0.01). In addition, expression of both Flt-1 and KDR/Flk-1 was observed in nonvascular cells of the neural retina. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the mRNA levels of KDR/Flk-1 were greater in the neovascular retina of hypoxic animals than in control animals. We suggest that the increased expression of KDR/Flk-1 in vascular cells might potentiate the VEGF-mediated angiogenesis that accompanies many ischemic retinal diseases.
Nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A systematic review

&NA; Both HIV and sexual assault remain major public health problems in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This review examines the state of the science regarding provision of non‐ occupational post‐exposure prophylaxis following sexual assault in Sub‐Saharan African countries over the last 10 years. Specifically, rates of provision of HIV nPEP, the number of patients accepting nPEP, patients' rates of completing the HIV nPEP regimen as defined by the individual studies, and patients' perceptions of HIV nPEP from qualitative data.
Intracellular Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist in Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes

The objective of the current study was to determine whether the balance of interleukin-1 and intracellular interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in chondrocytes in osteoarthritic human joints favors agonist action. Chondrocytes were isolated from cartilage specimens taken at the time of joint arthroplasty. Interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, and intracellular interleukin-1 receptor antagonist messenger ribonucleic acids were assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and chondrocyte lysates were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the respective proteins. Type I intracellular interleukin receptor antagonist transcripts were the only intracellular variant detected in osteoarthritis chondrocytes. In cartilage graded as advanced osteoarthritis both interleukin proteins in chondrocyte lysates decreased, correlating with decreased interleukin-1α and β messenger ribonucleic acids. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist exceeded interleukin-1α in chondrocyte lysates by one order of magnitude except that in moderate osteoarthritis, antagonist was only two- to fourfold in excess. Interleukin-1α and interleukin-1β proteins were correlated closely in individual lysates, with interleukin-1β exceeding interleukin-1β by one order of magnitude. In moderately degenerated cartilage, intracellular antagonist may not be sufficiently abundant to block postulated intracellular functions of precursor interleukin-1α. Furthermore, if stored interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin receptor antagonist are released from chondrocytes, the localized antagonist would be insufficient to prevent signaling through cell surface receptors. Chondrocyte-derived interleukin-1α and interleukin-1β may locally overwhelm inhibition by interleukin receptor antagonist to promote the early degenerative changes in osteoarthritis.
The repair of preveneered posterior stainless steel crowns

PURPOSE This study's purposes were to determine the shear bond strength (SBS) for and to perform dye penetration (microleakage) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluations of preveneered posterior stainless steel crowns (SSCs) that were repaired using 2 different materials. METHODS Twenty-two crowns were used. They were stored in artificial saliva for 30 days and then thermocycled. A force was applied on the crowns' occlusal surfaces until the original veneer material appeared to be fractured. The fracture types and S8S values were recorded. The crowns were then repaired using Panavia opaque cement and Tetric Flow or Monoopaque and Tetric Flow. Twenty of the repaired crowns were subjected to dye penetration and SBS tests, and the remaining 2 were evaluated using SEM. RESULTS Statistical analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the results of either the S8S or the dye penetration test (P = .58 and P = 38, respectively). A statistically significant difference was found between original and repaired crowns regarding fracture extent (P = .02), but not failure type (P = .08). SEM evaluation showed that there was no observable gap at the interface of the original or repaired materials and the stainless steel base. CONCLUSION Preveneered posterior stainless steel crowns may be repaired using either repair material types tested here.
Body mass index and risk of breast cancer. A prospective study of 23,826 norwegian women

The association between body mass index (BMI) and the incidence rate of breast cancer has been examined in 236 cases of breast cancer that developed among 23,826 Norwegian women during 11 to 14 years of follow‐up. At the time of height and weight measurement they were 35 to 51 years of age, and at the end of follow‐up their age was between 46 and 63 years. There was an overall age‐adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.52 (95% confidence limits, 0.34 and 0.77) for women in the highest quartile of BMI compared to women in the lowest quartile, which was confined to an effect observed among women who were diagnosed at age 50 or earlier (IRR = 0.36). The association with BMI displayed an inverse dose‐related trend (X2 for trend = 14.22, p < 0.001). The negative trend was particularly pronounced among non‐smoking women (X2 = 14.63), and no clear trend associated with BMI was observed among women who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day (X1 = 0.41), indicating an interaction between BMI and cigarette smoking (X2 interaction = 3.86, p = 0.05). We thus suggest that there is a negative association between body mass index and risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women.
Open Source DSMC Chemistry Modelling for Hypersonic Flows

An open source implementation of chemistry modelling for the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is presented. Following the recent work of Bird [1] an approach known as the quantum kinetic (Q-K) method has been adopted to describe chemical reactions in a 5-species air model using DSMC procedures based on microscopic gas information. The Q-K technique has been implemented within the framework of the dsmcFoam code, a derivative of the open source CFD code OpenFOAM. Results for vibrational relaxation, dissociation and exchange reaction rates for an adiabatic bath demonstrate the success of the Q-K model implementation in dsmcFoam when compared with analytical solutions for both inert and reacting conditions. A comparison is also made between the Q-K and total collision energy (TCE) chemistry approaches for a hypersonic flow benchmark case.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression and Neovascularization in Non—Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

The prognostic significance of microvascular density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were investigated in 15 patients with adenocarcinoma (AC) and 15 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Immunohistochemically, VEGF and factor VIII were applied. The average microvessel counts were given as MVD, and VEGF expression was given as VEGF percentage area and VEGF staining degree. Higher values of MVD were obtained in patients with AC (11.47 ± 3.48) when compared with patients with SCC (7.47 ± 2.50; P = .001) and also in patients at early stages of disease (10.77 ± 3.24) when compared with patients at advanced stages (8.47 ± 3.64; P = .050). A significant correlation was shown between MVD and VEGF percentage area (P = .006) and between VEGF percentage area and VEGF staining degree (P = .000). No significant difference was found in VEGF percentage area between patients with SCC and AC and between patients at early and advanced stages. In conclusion, VEGF or MVD should not be regarded as a solitary prognostic factor but should be supported by other prognostic factors.
Analytical and Clinical Performance of Blood Glucose Monitors

Background: The objective of this study was to understand the level of performance of blood glucose monitors as assessed in the published literature. Methods: Medline from January 2000 to October 2009 and reference lists of included articles were searched to identify eligible studies. Key information was abstracted from eligible studies: blood glucose meters tested, blood sample, meter operators, setting, sample of people (number, diabetes type, age, sex, and race), duration of diabetes, years using a glucose meter, insulin use, recommendations followed, performance evaluation measures, and specific factors affecting the accuracy evaluation of blood glucose monitors. Results: Thirty-one articles were included in this review. Articles were categorized as review articles of blood glucose accuracy (6 articles), original studies that reported the performance of blood glucose meters in laboratory settings (14 articles) or clinical settings (9 articles), and simulation studies (2 articles). A variety of performance evaluation measures were used in the studies. The authors did not identify any studies that demonstrated a difference in clinical outcomes. Examples of analytical tools used in the description of accuracy (e.g., correlation coefficient, linear regression equations, and International Organization for Standardization standards) and how these traditional measures can complicate the achievement of target blood glucose levels for the patient were presented. The benefits of using error grid analysis to quantify the clinical accuracy of patient-determined blood glucose values were discussed. Conclusions: When examining blood glucose monitor performance in the real world, it is important to consider if an improvement in analytical accuracy would lead to improved clinical outcomes for patients. There are several examples of how analytical tools used in the description of self-monitoring of blood glucose accuracy could be irrelevant to treatment decisions.
Genetic testing: When prediction generates stigmatization

Using grounded theory methodology, this study examined the experiences of six BRCA1/2 gene mutation carriers (mean age = 38.5 years). Three types of stigmatization were identified: stigmatization by anticipation, stigmatization through rejection, and stigmatization by affiliation. Participants described potential impacts on their womanhood, felt threatened by others, and revealed fears that their children would inherit their stigmatization. These findings indicate the importance of psychological support in the follow-up of such patients.
Retrograde crossing stent placement strategies at the basilar apex for the treatment of wide necked aneurysms: reconstructive and deconstructive opportunities

Neck remodeling devices such as the Neuroform or Enterprise greatly facilitate the endovascular treatment of wide necked basilar apex aneurysms. The complex anatomy of the basilar apex affords opportunity for antegrade, multiple crossing and retrograde device placement strategies to facilitate coil embolization. A retrograde approach is possible in the presence of a posterior communicating artery large enough to allow device navigation. Our experience with a retrograde device placement strategy in three patients is reported. In two patients, device positioning extended from one P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery to the other across the basilar apex. In one patient, device positioning extended from the P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery across the basilar apex into the opposite superior cerebellar artery. All patients underwent reconstructive or deconstructive uncomplicated coil embolization after device placement with stable aneurysm occlusion on follow-up angiography. In appropriate anatomic situations, retrograde stent placement across the basilar apex through a posterior communicating artery may represent a preferred strategy for wide necked basilar apex aneurysms.
Comparative study of CD34, α‐SMA and h‐caldesmon expression in the stroma of gynaecomastia and male breast carcinoma

Aims : To address the fibroblastic/myofibroblastic nature of stroma in gynaecomastia and in male breast carcinoma, the expression of CD34, α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA) and h‐caldesmon in the stromal cells was investigated by immunohistochemistry.
Development and Preliminary Testing of the Biopsychosocial Prognosis Scale for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background: The present study attempted to develop a self-report scale called Biopsychosocial Prognosis Scale for Coronary Artery Bypass grafting (BIPROSCAB) that measured patients' prognosis in an integrated manner, a month after they had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Method: The development and preliminary testing of the psychometric properties of BIPROSCAB followed five phases involving 450 patients in total. Results: Findings gave rise to a 25-item scale which was subjected to an exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with varimax rotation. A 9-factor structure emerged, and the factors were named post-CABG affect state, post-CABG anxiety, post-CABG physical pain, discomfort in surgical sites, worry about return to normalcy, discomfort in the leg, CABG bio-social by-products, constraints in socializing, and infection and interference to routine life. The reliability, validity, and usability of BIPROSCAB were also analyzed. Conclusion: BIPROSCAB is a reliable, valid, and useful multidimensional self-report scale for measuring and evaluating the impact of medical treatment and psychosocial intervention in patients after CABG.
Urban Sprawl and Adverse Impacts on Agricultural Land: A Case Study on Hyderabad, India

Many Indian capitals are rapidly becoming megacities due to industrialization and rural–urban emigration. Land use within city boundaries has changed dynamically, accommodating development while replacing traditional land-use patterns. Using Landsat-8 and IRS-P6 data, this study investigated land-use changes in urban and peri-urban Hyderabad and their influence on land-use and land-cover. Advanced methods, such as spectral matching techniques with ground information were deployed in the analysis. From 2005 to 2016, the wastewater-irrigated area adjacent to the Musi river increased from 15,553 to 20,573 hectares, with concurrent expansion of the city boundaries from 38,863 to 80,111 hectares. Opportunistic shifts in land-use, especially related to wastewater-irrigated agriculture, emerged in response to growing demand for fresh vegetables and urban livestock feed, and to easy access to markets due to the city’s expansion. Validation performed on the land-use maps developed revealed 80–85% accuracy.
Production , Manufacturing and Logistics A genetic algorithm for cellular manufacturing design and layout

Cellular manufacturing (CM) is an approach that can be used to enhance both flexibility and efficiency in today’s small-to-medium lot production environment. The design of a CM system (CMS) often involves three major decisions: cell formation, group layout, and group schedule. Ideally, these decisions should be addressed simultaneously in order to obtain the best results. However, due to the complexity and NP-complete nature of each decision and the limitations of traditional approaches, most researchers have only addressed these decisions sequentially or independently. In this study, a hierarchical genetic algorithm is developed to simultaneously form manufacturing cells and determine the group layout of a CMS. The intrinsic features of our proposed algorithm include a hierarchical chromosome structure to encode two important cell design decisions, a new selection scheme to dynamically consider two correlated fitness functions, and a group mutation operator to increase the probability of mutation. From the computational analyses, these proposed structure and operators are found to be effective in improving solution quality as well as accelerating convergence. 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Assessment of Tear Meniscus with Optical Coherence Tomography in Thyroid-Associated Ophtalmopathy

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the tear-film meniscus with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with Graves’ disease (GD). Materials and methods: Patients with GD without clinical features of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) (Group 1, n = 35), patients with signs of TAO (Group 2, n = 31) and healthy participants (Group 3, n = 31) were enrolled. Palpebral fissure width, Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT) test and tear-film meniscus height and area obtained with Fourier-domain-OCT were analyzed. Results: TBUT test scores were 8 s (2–25) in Group 1, 8 s (2–15) in Group 2 (p = 0.380); and10 s (5–17) in Group 3 (p = 0.000 Group 1 versus 3, and 0.000 for Group 2 versus 3). Tear-film meniscus height did not significantly differ between Groups 1 and 2 (257.5 µm (86–962) and 258 µm (99–1340), respectively, p = 0.980). In Group 3, tear-film meniscus height was 316 µm (122–720) (p = 0.005 Group 1 versus 3 and 0.004 for Group 2 versus 3). Tear-film meniscus area did not significantly differ between Groups 1 and 2 (0.025 mm2 (0.004–0.250) and 0.024 mm2 (0.003–0.316), respectively, p = 0.850). In Group 3, tear-film meniscus area was 0.048 mm2 (0.006–0.75) (p = 0.000 Group 1 versus 3 and 0.000 for Group 2 versus 3). Conclusion: Tear function is significantly disturbed in GD. OCT is an effective way to assess the tearing function also in patients with GD.
Specific Identification and Targeted Characterization ofBifidobacterium lactis from Different Environmental Isolates by a Combined Multiplex-PCR Approach

ABSTRACT The species Bifidobacterium lactis, with its main representative strain Bb12 (DSM 10140), is a yoghurt isolate used as a probiotic strain and is commercially applied in different types of yoghurts and infant formulas. In order to ensure the genetic identity and safety of this bacterial isolate, species- and strain-specific molecular tools for genetic fingerprinting must be available to identify isolated bifidobacteria or lactic acid bacteria from, e.g., various clinical environments of relevance in medical microbiology. Two opposing rRNA gene-targeted primers have been developed for specific detection of this microorganism by PCR. The specificity of this approach was evaluated and verified with DNA samples isolated from single and mixed cultures of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (48 isolates, including the type strains of 29Bifidobacterium and 9 Lactobacillusspecies). Furthermore, we performed a Multiplex-PCR using oligonucleotide primers targeting a specific region of the 16S rRNA gene for the genus Bifidobacterium and a conserved eubacterial 16S rDNA sequence. The specificity and sensitivity of this detection with a pure culture of B. lactis were, respectively, 100 bacteria/ml after 25 cycles of PCR and 1 to 10 bacteria/ml after a 50-cycle nested-PCR approach.
Artificial Cranial Deformation at the Omo M10 Site: A Tiwanaku Complex from the Moquegua Valley, Peru

Artificial cranial deformation is a recognized attribute of many archaeologically recovered Andean skeletal collections. Ethnohistoric sources document the diversity of forms used to mark both vertical and horizontal status distinctions among Late Horizon peoples. Region-specific social groups were characterized by distinctive deformation styles, as were individuals of Inka heritage. Review of early Spanish accounts and consideration of various strategies commonly used in analyzing deformation forms suggest that investigators be sensitive to both final skull shape and the nature of deforming devices. This case study maintains that detailed descriptions of skull form will permit interpretations of technique and apparatus used, without the actual deforming artifacts. We examined archaeologically recovered skeletal remains from Huaracane-phase, Tiwanaku-related Chen Chen-phase (Tiwanaku V), and Tumilaca-phase cemetery components of the Omo site group, located near the present-day town of Moquegua in southern Peru. Our analysis demonstrates that the pattern of cranial deformation within the Omo M10 cemetery complex clearly emphasizes homogeneity within individual cemeteries and heterogeneity across cemeteries. We enlist current competing models for Tiwanaku hegemony to interpret this pattern.