Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chloride Accumulation and Swelling in Endosomes Enhances DNA Transfer by Polyamine-DNA Polyplexes*

The “proton sponge hypothesis” postulates enhanced transgene delivery by cationic polymer-DNA complexes (polyplexes) containing H+ buffering polyamines by enhanced endosomal Cl- accumulation and osmotic swelling/lysis. To test this hypothesis, we measured endosomal Cl- concentration, pH, and volume after internalization of polyplexes composed of plasmid DNA and polylysine (POL), a non-buffering polyamine, or the strongly buffering polyamines polyethylenimine (PEI) or polyamidoamine (PAM). [Cl-] and pH were measured by ratio imaging of fluorescently labeled polyplexes containing Cl- or pH indicators. [Cl-] increased from 41 to 80 mm over 60 min in endosomes-contained POL-polyplexes, whereas pH decreased from 6.8 to 5.3. Endosomal Cl- accumulation was enhanced (115 mm at 60 min) and acidification was slowed (pH 5.9 at 60 min) for PEI and PAM-polyplexes. Relative endosome volume increased 20% over 75 min for POL-polyplexes versus 140% for PEI-polyplexes. Endosome lysis was seen at >45 min for PEI but not POL-containing endosomes, and PEI-containing endosomes showed increased osmotic fragility in vitro. The slowed endosomal acidification and enhanced Cl- accumulation and swelling/lysis were accounted for by the greater H+ buffering capacity of endosomes containing PEI or PAM versus POL (>90 mm versus 46 H+/pH unit). Our results provide direct support for the proton sponge hypothesis and thus a rational basis for the design of improved non-viral vectors for gene delivery.
Recent progress on the Tate conjecture

We survey the history of the Tate conjecture on algebraic cycles. The conjecture is closely related with other big problems in arithmetic and algebraic geometry, including the Hodge and Birch–Swinnerton-Dyer conjectures. We conclude by discussing the recent proof of the Tate conjecture for K3 surfaces over finite fields.
RN Preceptor Learning Needs Assessment

One institution’s registered nurse preceptor training curriculum was revised to include preceptors’ input to ensure their learning needs were being met. A descriptive study design was used to answer the following research questions: (a) what knowledge, skills, and attitudes do nurses believe they need to have to be a preceptor; (b) when, in the course of their development, do preceptors believe they need this information; and (c) in what manner(s) do preceptors prefer to learn this information? Thirteen topics that preceptors believed were important were identified. The results of this study were used to successfully revise the preceptor training curriculum.
Islet Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes

Decreases in both mass and secretory function of insulin-producing β-cells contribute to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. The histology of islets from patients with type 2 diabetes displays an inflammatory process characterized by the presence of cytokines, apoptotic cells, immune cell infiltration, amyloid deposits, and eventually fibrosis. This inflammatory process is probably the combined consequence of dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and increased circulating adipokines. Therefore, modulation of intra-islet inflammatory mediators, in particular interleukin-1β, appears as a promising therapeutic approach.
A motion planning for grasp and manipulation system based on rolling motion

This paper proposes a motion planning method to manipulate a grasped object by a two-fingered robot hand based on the nonholonomy of rolling contacts. A grasped rectangular object is regulated to a target configuration through regulating the contact coordinates between the fingers and object using the holonomy generated by closed paths on semi-spherical fingertips. The parameters of the closed paths are determined by solving an optimization problem with the constraints which consist of the limitations on the finger-tip surfaces and configurations. The proposed method is verified by a numerical simulation.
Blockade of CD40 pathway enhances the induction of immune tolerance by immature dendritic cells genetically modified to express cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin

Background. Immature dendritic cells (DCs) have the tolerogenic potential to induce alloantigen-specific immune tolerance. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig) gene-modified immature DCs have been shown to maintain their tolerogenicity and prolong allograft survival to some extent. We investigated whether blockade of CD40 pathway by anti-CD40 ligand (L) monoclonal antibody (mAb) could enhance the immune tolerance induction by immature DCs genetically modified to express CTLA4Ig (DC-CTLA4Ig). Methods. The tolerogenic properties of DC-CTLA4Ig were analyzed. In the vascularized heterotopic heart transplantation murine model, 2×106 DC-CTLA4Ig were infused intravenously into recipients, with or without a concomitant administration of anti-CD40L mAb 7 days before transplantation. Host responses to donor alloantigen were quantified by mixed leukocyte reaction and CTL assays. Donor major histocompatibility complex class II (Iab) expression in recipient lymph nodes was detected posttransplantation by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results. The allostimulatory activity of DC-CTLA4Ig was reduced. DC-CTLA4Ig also induced alloantigen-specific T-cell hyporesponsiveness and polarized T helper 2 cytokine production. Pretreatment of the recipients with DC-CTLA4Ig modestly prolonged allograft survival, without long-term allograft acceptance. Combined administration of DC-CTLA4Ig and anti-CD40L mAb significantly prolonged cardiac allograft survival, with long-term (>100 days) survival of 50% of the allografts in the pretreated recipients. More potent donor-specific inhibition of immune response against alloantigens and increased microchimerism were observed in these recipients. Conclusions. Blockade of CD40 pathway with anti-CD40L mAb potentiates the tolerogenic potential of DC-CTLA4Ig and enhances the induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance more effectively.
Antimicrobial prophylaxis in neurosurgery.

: Attempts to reach conclusions concerning the efficacy of antimicrobial prophylaxis in neurosurgery have been frustrated by the paucity of clinical trials which cannot be invalidated by flaws in their design and/or execution. Although the data are inconclusive, the weight of evidence suggests that antibiotics probably exert a protective effect in clean, non-implant procedures, for which a first or second generation cephalosporin would be appropriate. No consensus has been reached regarding the benefits of prophylaxis to patients undergoing the implantation of a CSF shunt and surgeons will therefore need to come to a decision based on their own experiences; those who elect to give antibiotics will still be left with the problems of choosing the optimum regimen and route of administration. Nor can valid conclusions be drawn about the efficacy of prophylaxis in patients with dural fistulae; a rational and ethically supportable approach would be to withhold antibiotics and to monitor patients closely for the early signs of meningitis, instituting appropriate empirical therapy should this complication arise.
Impact of Team Cohesion on performance among Tunisian Women Soccer Players

Group cohesion is a dynamic process where the group tends to remain together and united in the pursuit of its goal for the satisfaction of the affective needs of group members (Paskevich, Estabrooks, Brawley, and Carron, 2001). Team cohesion exists where players are united in a common purpose (Cashmore, 2002). Athletes often spend time together or share common interests outside of their chosen sport. A challenge to any team is the maintenance of the team, rather than focusing on the individual. Our Study aims to identify the relationship between sport cohesion and performance among Tunisian women football players. Our results have shown a significant impact of team cohesion on the football performance.
Efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in male breast cancer

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is rapidly becoming the standard of care in the treatment of women with early stage breast cancer. Male breast cancer although relatively rare, has typically been treated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Men who develop breast carcinoma have the same risk as their female counterparts of developing the morbidities associated with axillary dissection. SLNB has been championed as a procedure aimed at preventing those morbidities. We recently have evaluated the role of SLNB in the treatment of men with early stage breast cancer.
Outflow vein reconstruction of extended right lobe graft using quilt venoplasty technique

Various techniques of hepatic vein reconstruction have been created to secure the venous outflow drainage of extended right lobe grafts. They can be roughly classified as follows: unification venoplasty of the right hepatic vein (RHV) and middle hepatic vein (MHV) trunk and corresponding triangular excision of the recipient’s inferior vena cava (IVC); large patch venoplasty to accommodate RHV and MHV simultaneously and corresponding large opening at the IVC; and direct RHV anastomosis and separate reconstruction of MHV with or without interposition vein graft. Any of these reconstruction techniques would ensure the hepatic outflow drainage of right liver graft during the immediate postoperative period unless there was any significant technical fault. However, progressive regeneration of right liver graft would make the liver cut surface shift or rotate toward the ventral and left side. Consequently, this made the MHV and its anastomosis vulnerable to morphologic distortion. This mechanism has been presented by the Hong Kong group and Tokyo groups. We analyzed the regeneration patterns of extended right lobe grafts, and reproduced the 3-dimensional distortion of MHV anatomy through computer simulation. We recognized that interposition of redundant vascular cuff around the orifices of graft RHV and MHV is beneficial to offset such a regeneration-induced distortion. However, a large-sized vein patch is not always available in Korea, where cadaveric donors are scarce. Instead, we began to applying the quilt venoplasty technique using an autologous saphenous vein patch. A new dome-shaped vein cuff was attached to the RHV and MHV orifices of an extended right lobe graft (Fig. 1). At the same time, the orifices of recipient’s RHV, MHV, and left hepatic vein were opened altogether to make a large orifice at the recipient IVC (Fig. 2). Matching of Figure 1. Quilt venoplasty to the orifices of RHV and MHV at the back table. Some of MHV trunk was left at the recipient side because a dorsal MHV branch to the medial segment was preserved. This extended right lobe graft weighed 600 gm, but it was equivalent to only 0.71 of the graft-recipient weight ratio. Tailored design of patchwork was applied to secure the hepatic vein reconstruction of this small-for-size graft. (A,B) A rectangular patch of recipient’s left portal vein segment was first sutured between the orifices of RHV and MHV. A small patch of recipient’s saphenous vein was attached as a center of the large cuff. (C) Another long segment of saphenous vein was attached to make the vein cuff large and concave. (D) Final shape of the common cuff resembled a dome. No cuff was attached to the posterior border of RHV orifice.
Changes in biochemical markers of pain perception and stress response after spinal manipulation.

STUDY DESIGN Controlled, repeated-measures, single-blind randomized study. OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of cervical or thoracic manipulation on neurotensin, oxytocin, orexin A, and cortisol levels. BACKGROUND Previous studies have researched the effect of spinal manipulation on pain modulation and/or range of movement. However, there is little knowledge of the biochemical process that supports the antinociceptive effect of spinal manipulation. METHODS Thirty asymptomatic subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups: cervical manipulation (n = 10), thoracic manipulation (n = 10), and nonmanipulation (control) (n = 10). Blood samples were extracted before, immediately after, and 2 hours after each intervention. Neurotensin, oxytocin, and orexin A were determined in plasma using enzyme-linked immuno assay. Cortisol was measured by microparticulate enzyme immuno assay in serum samples. RESULTS Immediately after the intervention, significantly higher values of neurotensin (P<.05) and oxytocin (P<.001) levels were observed with both cervical and thoracic manipulation, whereas cortisol concentration was increased only in the cervical manipulation group (P<.05). No changes were detected for orexin A levels. Two hours after the intervention, no significant differences were observed in between-group analysis. CONCLUSION The mechanical stimulus provided by spinal manipulation triggers an increase in neurotensin, oxytocin, and cortisol blood levels. Data suggest that the initial capability of the tissues to tolerate mechanical deformation affects the capacity of these tissues to produce an induction of neuropeptide expression. J
Composition of surface-active material isolated from beef lung.

Observations by several investigators suggest that a protein-containing material which possesses unusual surface activity lines the internal surface of the lung1' 2 and accounts to a large degree for the stability of its fine airspaces. ' In a recent report, Pattle and Thomas4 suggest that this surface-active material is a lecithinprotein complex; independently, we have obtained results which indicate that the complex contains these and additional substances. As the initial step in isolating and purifying this substance, we used the method suggested by Bondurant.5 Beef lungs were perfused with saline via the pulmonary artery and ventilated with intermittent positive pressure via the trachea. After a short time, a thick white foam poured out of the trachea. The foam was washed with distilled water to remove most of the serum proteins and then dried at 50C. The dried powder was spread on isotonic saline in a modified Wilhelmy balance,6 and surface tension was measured during compression and expansion of the surface film. This powder lowered the surface tension to less than 10 dynes/cm when surface area was decreased (Fig. 1, left). The surface tension-area diagram was similar to that seen with saline extracts of minced lung.3 Powders prepared from five beef lungs contained 50-70 per cent lipids and 5 per cent nitrogen. The lipids were extracted for 12 hours with equal parts of alcohol and acetone in a Soxhlet apparatus; when spread on isotonic saline and compressed on the balance, they failed to reduce surface tension below 20 dynes/cm. Separation of the major lipid fractions on silicic acid columns yielded about 74 per cent phospholipids, 8 per cent cholesterol, 10 per cent triglycerides, 8 per cent fatty acids, and essentially no cholesterol esters. Fractions containing cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids did not have the unusual surface activity. The phospholipid fraction, however, reduced the surface tension as much as an extract of whole lung; surface tension decreased to 1 to 5 dynes/cm on compression of the surface, and hysteresis occurred on expansion of the film surface (Fig. 1, right). The surface activity of the phospholipid fraction was inhibited by the other lipid fractions. It is possible that inhibition by certain lipids (or other compounds) may be the cause of the abnormally high surface tension of lung extracts which has been described in some pathological conditions.79 The surface tension-lowering activity of the phospholipid fraction was preserved under nitrogen for 4 hours but was lost gradually over 2 hours if the film-covered liquid was exposed to room air. Three pure phospholipids-lysolecithin, sphingomyelin from red blood cells, and synthetic dipalmitoyl lecithin (obtained through the courtesy of Dr. Donald Hanahan of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle)-gave surface tension-area diagrams closely resembling those obtained with whole lung extracts.
Limiting Exercise Options

We examined the influence of proxy-assistance on exercisers' social cognitions and behavior. Fifty-six fitness class participants reported preference for proxy-assistance and reacted to exercising in different contexts. A 2 (proxy-led vs self-managed exercise context) by 2 (preferred assistance) MANOVA revealed significant assistance by context interactions for self-regulatory efficacy (SRE) and difficulty. Regarding self-managed exercise, high-assistance individuals expressed lower SRE and higher difficulty. Chi-square analysis revealed that significantly fewer high-assistance participants chose self-managed exercise. A one-way MANOVA on preferred assistance indicated that high-assistance participants were less confident, satisfied and perceived their self-managed exercise as more difficult. Results support Bandura's theorizing that use of a proxy can limit SRE of those preferring the proxy's control of their behavior.
The relationship between daytime exposure to light and night‐time sleep in 6–12‐week‐old infants

This project investigated the relationship between exposure to light and 24‐h patterns of sleep and crying in young, healthy, full‐term babies living at home and following a normal domestic routine. Measures included an ankle worn activity monitor, an external light monitor and the Barr Baby Day Diary in which parents recorded periods of sleep, crying, feeding and other behaviours at 5‐min intervals throughout the 24‐h period. Fifty‐six babies (26 males and 30 females) were monitored across three consecutive days at 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age. There was an early evening peak in crying which was associated with reduced sleep at 6 weeks. Across the trials there was a gradual shift towards a greater proportion of sleep occurring at night. Sleeping well at 6 weeks was a good indication of more night‐time sleep at 9 and 12 weeks. Babies who slept well at night were exposed to significantly more light in the early afternoon period. These data suggest that light in the normal domestic setting influences the development of the circadian system.
Social Consequences of the Internet for Adolescents

Adolescents are currently the defining users of the Internet. They spend more time online than adults do, and they use the Internet for social interaction more often than adults do. This article discusses the state of the literature on the consequences of online communication technologies (e.g., instant messaging) for adolescents' social connectedness and well-being. Whereas several studies in the 1990s suggested that Internet use is detrimental, recent studies tend to report opposite effects. We first explain why the results of more recent studies diverge from those of earlier studies. Then, we discuss a viable hypothesis to explain the recent findings: the Internet-enhanced self-disclosure hypothesis. Finally, we discuss some contingent factors that may deserve special attention in future research.
Magnetic resonance imaging to distinguish the type and severity of pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases.

BACKGROUND The distinction between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is important, because treatment options and clinical course may vary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows noninvasive transmural assessment of the intestine and may facilitate differentiation of ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease. The objective of this prospective study was to determine whether MRI differentiates Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis in children as effectively as colonoscopy with mucosal biopsies. METHODS Fifteen patients underwent colonoscopy with biopsies followed by abdominal MRI. The MRI diagnosis, determined by two radiologists independently completing a standardized form was compared with the gastroenterologic diagnosis. RESULTS After colonoscopy and review of histology, Crohn's disease was diagnosed in nine patients, ulcerative colitis in five, and indeterminate colitis in one, who was excluded from study. Agreement of the MRI diagnosis with the gastroenterologic diagnosis was 4 of 4 (100%) for ulcerative colitis, 4 of 10 (40%) for Crohn's disease considering both radiologists, and 5 of 10 (50%) for Crohn's disease for each radiologist individually. Percentage of enhancement by MRI did not correlate with the severity of inflammation determined at endoscopy among the patients with Crohn's disease (r = -0.3, P = 0.366). There was agreement on severity of inflammation in three of four patients with ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSIONS Current MRI interpretation of inflammatory bowel disease did not adequately recognize Crohn's disease in children. Therefore, colonoscopy with biopsy remains the most accurate tool for determining the type and severity of inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents.
The binding selectivity of vonoprazan (TAK‐438) to the gastric H+,K+‐ATPase

The gastric H+,K+‐ATPase is the preferred target for acid suppression. Until recently, the only drugs that effectively inhibited this ATPase were the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). PPIs are acid‐activated prodrugs that require acid protection. Once acid‐activated, PPIs bind to cysteines of the ATPase, resulting in covalent, long‐lasting inhibition. The short plasma half‐life of PPIs and continual de novo synthesis of the H+,K+‐ATPase result in difficulty controlling night‐time acid secretion. A new alternative to PPIs is the pyrrolo‐pyridine, vonoprazan (TAK‐438), a potassium‐competitive acid blocker (PCAB) that does not require acid protection. In contrast to other PCABs, vonoprazan has a long duration of action, resulting in 24‐h control of acid secretion, a high pKa of 9.37 and high affinity (Ki = 3.0 ηmol/L).
Ranking Law Journals and the Limits of Journal Citation Reports

Rankings of schools, scholars, and journals emphasize ordinal rank. Journal rankings published by Journal Citation Reports (JCR) are widely used to assess research quality, which influences important decisions by academic departments, universities, and countries. We study refereed law journal rankings by JCR, Washington and Lee Law Library (W&L), and the Australian Research Council (ARC). Both JCR’s and W&L’s multiple measures of journals can be represented by a single latent factor. Yet JCR’s rankings are uncorrelated with W&L’s. The differences appear to be attributable to underrepresentation of law journals in JCR’s database. We illustrate the effects of database bias on rankings through case studies of three elite journals, the Journal of Law & Economics, Supreme Court Review, and the American Law & Economics Review. Cluster analysis is a supplement to ordinal ranking and we report the results of a cluster analysis of law journals. The ARC does organize journals into four large groups and provides generally reasonable rankings of journals. But anomalies exist that could be avoided by checking the ARC groups against citation-based measures. Entities that rank should use their data to provide meaningful clusters rather than providing only ordinal ranks.
Fast electromagnetic interference analysis of distributed networks using longitudinal partitioning based waveform relaxation

In this paper, a waveform relaxation algorithm for the fast electromagnetic interference analysis of distributed transmission line networks is presented. The proposed work models lossy transmission lines as a cascade of lumped circuit elements and lossless line segments, where the incident field coupling with the network is represented as lumped sources connected to each lossless line segment. A longitudinal partitioning methodology which ensures that the resultant subcircuits are weakly coupled using delayed linear equations is presented, thereby leading to fast convergence of the waveform relaxation iterations. A numerical example is provided to demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm.