Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CCR1 Inhibition Ameliorates the Progression of Lupus Nephritis in NZB/W Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, the development of which is characterized by a progressive loss of renal function. Such dysfunction is associated with leukocyte infiltration in the glomerular and tubulointerstitial compartments in both human and experimental lupus nephritis. In this study, we investigated the role of the Ccr1 chemokine receptor in this infiltration process during the progression of nephritis in the lupus-prone New Zealand Black/New Zealand White (NZB/W) mouse model. We found that peripheral T cells, mononuclear phagocytes, and neutrophils, but not B cells, from nephritic NZB/W mice were more responsive to Ccr1 ligands than the leukocytes from younger prenephritic NZB/W mice. Short-term treatment of nephritic NZB/W mice with the orally available Ccr1 antagonist BL5923 decreased renal infiltration by T cells and macrophages. Longer Ccr1 blockade decreased kidney accumulation of effector/memory CD4+ T cells, Ly6C+ monocytes, and both M1 and M2 macrophages; reduced tubulointerstitial and glomerular injuries; delayed fatal proteinuria; and prolonged animal lifespan. In contrast, renal humoral immunity was unaffected in BL5923-treated mice, which reflected the unchanged numbers of infiltrated B cells in the kidneys. Altogether, these findings define a pivotal role for Ccr1 in the recruitment of T and mononuclear phagocyte cells to inflamed kidneys of NZB/W mice, which in turn contribute to the progression of renal injury.
Frequency Dependent Risk

Abstract We provide a model-free framework for studying the dynamics of the state vector and its risk prices. Specifically, we derive a frequency domain decomposition of the unconditional asset return premium in a general setting with a log-affine stochastic discount factor (SDF). Importantly, we show that the cospectrum between returns and the SDF only displays frequency dependencies through the state vector and that its dynamics and risk prices can be inferred from covariances between asset (portfolio) returns, that is, from the cross-section. Empirically, we find low and high-frequency state vector risk to be differentially priced for US equities.
Vertical and Seasonal Variations of Bacterioplankton Subgroups with Different Nucleic Acid Contents: Possible Regulation by Phosphorus

ABSTRACT We used flow cytometry to examine seasonal variations in basin-scale distributions of bacterioplankton in Lake Biwa, Japan, a large mesotrophic freshwater lake with an oxygenated hypolimnion. The bacterial communities were divided into three subgroups: bacteria with very high nucleic acid contents (VHNA bacteria), bacteria with high nucleic acid contents (HNA bacteria), and bacteria with low nucleic acid contents (LNA bacteria). During the thermal stratification period, the relative abundance of VHNA bacteria (%VHNA) increased with depth, while the reverse trend was evident for LNA bacteria. Seasonally, the %VHNA was strongly positively correlated (r = 0.87; P < 0.001) with the concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphorus, but not with the concentration of chlorophyll a. The growth of VHNA bacteria was significantly enhanced by addition of phosphate or phosphate plus glucose but not by addition of glucose alone. Although the growth of VHNA and HNA bacteria generally exceeded that of LNA bacteria, our data also revealed that LNA bacteria grew faster than and were grazed as fast as VHNA bacteria in late August, when nutrient limitation was presumably severe. Based on these results, we hypothesize that in severely P-limited environments such as Lake Biwa, P limitation exerts more severe constraints on the growth of bacterial groups with higher nucleic acid contents, which allows LNA bacteria to be competitive and become an important component of the microbial loop.
Carotid Body Tumor Surgery: Management and Outcomes in the Nation

Objective: To evaluate the impact of carotid reconstruction (REC) and pre-operative embolization (EMB) for Carotid Body Tumor (CBT) surgery. Methods: Retrospective study utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002-2006). Results: 2117 patients (mean age 56.5 ± 17.2 years) underwent CBT surgery: 1686 excision alone (EX); 129 excision with embolization (EX+EMB); and 302 excision with carotid artery reconstruction (EX+REC). EX+REC compared to EX had greater rates of mortality (1.61%vs.0.59%; P =.0495), stroke (17.7% vs. 3.5%; P < .0002), and postoperative hemorrhage (43.1% vs. 2.4%; P < 0.002). EX+EMB did not demonstrate increased mortality or stroke compared to EX and the rate of postoperative hematoma was similar between groups (P = .3144). Conclusions: CBT resection is a relatively rare procedure and when combined with EMB was more expensive, but was associated with significantly fewer complications and decreased blood product utilization. These data suggest that CBT surgery requiring carotid reconstruction carries significant morbidity and that EMB as an adjunctive tool was beneficial for CBT surgery outcomes.
Inducible immortality in hTERT‐human mesenchymal stem cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are attractive candidates for tissue engineering and cell‐based therapy because of their multipotentiality and availability in adult donors. However, in vitro expansion and differentiation of these cells is limited by replicative senescence. The proliferative capacity of hMSCs can be enhanced by ectopic expression of telomerase, allowing for long‐term culture. However, hMSCs with constitutive telomerase expression demonstrate unregulated growth and even tumor formation. To address this problem, we used an inducible Tet‐On gene expression system to create hMSCs in which ectopic telomerase expression can be induced selectively by the addition of doxycycline (i‐hTERT hMSCs). i‐hTERT hMSCs have inducible hTERT expression and telomerase activity, and are able to proliferate significantly longer than wild type hMSCs when hTERT expression is induced. They stop proliferating when hTERT expression is turned off and can be rescued when expression is re‐induced. They retain multipotentiality in vitro even at an advanced age. We also used a selective inhibitor of telomere elongation to show that the mechanism driving immortalization of hMSCs by hTERT is dependent upon maintenance of telomere length. Thanks to their extended lifespan, preserved multipotentiality and controlled growth, i‐hTERT hMSCs may prove to be a useful tool for the development and testing of novel stem cell therapies. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1879–1885, 2012
Mycoplasma genitalium PCR: Does Freezing of Specimens Affect Sensitivity?

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma genitalium is an established cause of sexually transmitted infections. Studies of disease associations are often performed on archived specimens, but little is known about the effect of storage of specimens on the detection of M. genitalium. Genital swab and first-void urine specimens submitted for detection of M. genitalium were tested on the day of receipt. Remnants of positive original specimens as well as DNA preparations were stored at −20°C for up to 18 months. A total of 361 M. genitalium-positive specimens were available. PCR after repeat DNA preparation was performed for 262 specimens. The sensitivity after repeat DNA preparation was 90%, and the median decrease in DNA load was 155 genome equivalents (geq) (P < 0.0001). For 327 specimens, PCR could be repeated on the primary DNA preparation. The sensitivity of PCR after storage was 95%, and the median decrease in DNA load was 13.5 geq (P < 0.0001). The specimens yielding negative results at repeat testing had a significantly lower median DNA load in the primary analysis than those with a repeat positive test (P < 0.0001). For 228 specimens, PCR could be performed both on the primary DNA preparation and after repeat DNA preparation. The median DNA load was lower after repeat DNA extraction than after repeat testing of the stored DNA extract (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, the M. genitalium DNA load as well as the detection rate decreased after storage. This was more pronounced in clinical specimens stored frozen than in stored DNA extracts, particularly in those with an initial low DNA load.
Profile of Women Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches

Abstract Laskowski, KD and Ebben, WP. Profile of women collegiate strength and conditioning coaches. J Strength Cond Res 30(12): 3481–3493, 2016—This study describes the careers of women collegiate strength and conditioning coaches, including specifics of the universities and athletic departments they work for, responsibilities and demands of their jobs, compensation and benefits, preparation and qualifications, likes and dislikes about their work, and the role that gender plays in their work. Forty-three coaches participated for a response rate of 29.1% (43 of 148). The survey was divided into 5 sections, including university profile, position profile, personal profile, job satisfaction, and comments. Results show that women occupy approximately 32% of all strength and conditioning positions. Those who are full-time coaches work approximately 55.6 hours per week, starting their workday at 6:02 AM and ending at 5:40 PM, on average. Part-time coaches worked 42.5 hours per week. Those who were in director positions earned approximately $76,000 per year, whereas full-time assistants averaged approximately $39,300 per year. Most coaches had master's degree and held the CSCS and USAW certifications. These coaches averaged 7.14 years of full-time experience. Coaches identified a variety of advantages and disadvantages associated with their work and described the influence of gender in their work. These results provide normative data about employment conditions of women strength and conditioning coaches and those who are considering this career. These data also document the current state of affairs in the profession and can be used in comparison with the past benchmarks in an attempt to understand the role of women in the collegiate strength and conditioning profession.
The Application of Information Technologies in Consideration of Augmented Reality and Lean Management of Enterprises in the Light of Sustainable Development

The paper discusses the problem associated with the use of modern information technologies that take into account extended reality and the lean management culture to achieve sustainable development by enterprises, which is part of the field of management science. The subject is important and current due to the strong social need for the implementation of the concept of sustainable development. The aim of the article is to learn about and evaluate augmented reality and lean culture in the area of sustainable development management of enterprises. The concept of sustainable development is an approach that arouses great interest among management theoreticians, but many practitioners still do not know how to effectively realize it in changing conditions. Therefore, the paper proposes the application and the use of augmented reality and lean culture assumptions in the area of sustainable development management of enterprises. In the research, the authors emphasize that the sustainable approach to enterprise management should take into account the assessment of augmented reality (AR) and instruments of lean culture in the area of management since better understanding of the coexistence of benefits, compromises, opportunities and threats related to modern technologies allows for more efficient implementation of sustainable development management in enterprises. The paper has been divided into four parts. The first part presents the concept of sustainable development in the light of the literature research. The second part shows the essence of augmented reality as a modern information technology. The third part of the paper is devoted to the presentation of the concept of lean management in enterprises. The fourth part of the paper is the case study, in which the DHL enterprise report is related to, where the applied and utilized augmented reality and lean culture in shaping sustainable development are presented. The methods used to achieve the goal are: Literature studies, descriptive analysis and case study. The whole discussion is closed with the summary, which shows that the scope of application of augmented reality and lean culture in the area of sustainable development management of enterprises is unlimited.
Evaluating immune responses after sipuleucel-T therapy

Following FDA approval of sipuleucel-T in 2010 for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), several studies have described the effect of sipuleucel-T on peripheral immune responses. Retrospective associations have also been made with immune responses and survival. A recently published study by Fong et al. was the first to characterize the immune response of sipuleucel-T in the tumor microenvironment. The findings of this study have been hypothesis generating, yet it remains unclear whether the peri-tumor immune response described is predictive of survival. Increasing evidence suggests that radiographic or PSA progression does not accurately reflect survival with sipuleucel-T and other immunotherapies. Finding an immune biomarker which can accurately reflect clinical benefit and validating it prospectively offers the potential for a predictive indicator of response in an area where none currently exists.
Characterization of the gene coding for GDP-mannose dehydrogenase (algD) from Azotobacter vinelandii

Azotobacter vinelandii presents a differentiation process leading to the formation of desiccation-resistant cysts. Alginate, the exopolysaccharide produced by this bacterium, has been postulated to have a role in cyst formation. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the A. vinelandii gene coding for the enzyme GDP-mannose dehydrogenase (algD), which is the key enzyme for alginate synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This gene has a high degree of similarity with the algD gene from P. aeruginosa, and similar proteins seem to be involved in algD regulation in both bacteria. We show the existence of two mRNA start sites; one of these sites corresponds to a promoter transcribed by RNA polymerase containing a sigma E subunit. An A. vinelandii algD mutant which is completely impaired in alginate production and which is unable to form desiccation-resistant cells was constructed. The effects of NH4, NO3, and NaCl concentrations on algD transcription for three A. vinelandii strains producing different alginate levels were evaluated. We found a strict correlation between alginate production and algD transcription for the three strains studied; however, the effects on algD transcription under the conditions studied were different for each strain. The nitrogen source regulates algD expression in the wild-type strain.
REMOVAL OF SILICONE OIL: Prognostic Factors and Incidence of Retinal Redetachment

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of retinal redetachment after the removal of silicone oil endotamponade for complicated retinal detachment and identify possible factors affecting outcome. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 173 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for complex retinal detachment and subsequent removal of silicone oil (ROSO). The outcome factors studied included anatomical success, best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure pre- and post-ROSO. Results: Anatomical success was achieved in 167 of the 173 eyes (96.5%) after ROSO. The mean duration of silicone oil tamponade was 70 ± 48 weeks (median, 56 weeks; mode, 48 weeks). The cause for primary retinal detachment was proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 36 (20.8%) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in 137 of 173 cases (79.2%). Best-corrected visual acuity of greater than 20/100 was achieved in 83 cases (49.4%) at 3 months after ROSO. Levene's test for equality of variances was used to determine the association between previous unsuccessful retinal surgeries and redetachment (P = 0.523) and between duration of endotamponade and anatomical success (P = 0.451). Conclusion: The incidence of retinal redetachment after ROSO in our study was 3.46%. Aggressive removal of the vitreous base, performing retinotomies, ensuring complete silicone oil filling for adequate tamponade, and argon retinopexy can lead to low complication rates and improved outcomes.
A nosocomial outbreak of KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Chinese hospital: dissemination of ST11 and emergence of ST37, ST392 and ST395.

In China, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) -producing K. pneumoniae isolates have been identified. However, little is known about the spread and outbreak of KPC-producing enterobacterial pathogens. In this study, 48 non-duplicated KPC-producing isolates were analysed for genetic relatedness by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), antimicrobial susceptibility by E-test, and sequence type (ST) by multilocus sequence typing. S1-PFGE and Southern blot were used for plasmid profiling, and PCR and subsequent sequencing were performed to determine the effects of genetic background on the blaKPC gene. From December 2011 to June 2012, an outbreak of the KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae was observed. The 48 isolates of K. pneumoniae are categorized into eight PFGE types (A1, A2, A3, A4, B, C, D and E). The predominant pathogens of the outbreak were strains with PFGE types A1, A2 and A3, which all belong to ST11. Furthermore, ST37, ST392 and ST395 KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae isolates have also been sporadically identified. The blaKPC-2 -carrying plasmids vary in size from 30 to 220 kb. The genetic environments of the blaKPC-2 gene for most strains were consistent with the genetic structure of blaKPC-2 on the plasmid pKP048. In conclusion, the dissemination and outbreak of KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae isolates in this study appeared to be clonal, and ST11 K. pneumoniae was the predominant clone attributed to the outbreak. This is the first study to report the emergence and spread of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae ST392 and ST395 worldwide. Our findings suggest that horizontal transfer of Tn3-based transposons might mediate the spread of blaKPC-2 gene between different K. pneumoniae clones in China.
Localization of visual stimuli after striate cortex damage in monkeys: parallels with human blindsight.

Blindsight is a phenomenon in which human patients with damage to striate cortex deny any visual sensation in the resultant visual field defect but can nonetheless detect and localize stimuli when persuaded to guess. Although monkeys with striate lesions have also been shown to exhibit some residual vision, it is not yet clear to what extent the residual capacities in monkeys parallel the phenomenon of human blindsight. To clarify this issue, we trained two monkeys with unilateral lesions of striate cortex to make saccadic eye movements to visual targets in both hemifields under two conditions. In the condition analogous to clinical perimetry, they failed to initiate saccades to targets presented in the contralateral hemifield and thus appeared "blind. " Only in the condition where the fixation point was turned off simultaneously with the onset of the target--signaling the animal to respond at the appropriate time--were monkeys able to localize targets contralateral to the striate lesion. These results indicate that the conditions under which residual vision is demonstrable are similar for monkeys with striate cortex damage and humans with blindsight.
Immunocytochemical localization of androgen receptors in the male songbird and quail brain

The distribution of androgen receptors was studied in the brain of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), and the canary (Serinus canaria) by immunocytochemistry with a polyclonal antibody (AR32) raised in rabbit against a synthetic peptide corresponding to a sequence located at the N‐terminus of the androgen receptor molecule. In quail, androgen receptor‐immunoreactive cells were observed in the nucleus intercollicularis and in various nuclei of the preoptic‐hypothalamic complex, namely, the nucleus preopticus medialis, the ventral part of the nucleus anterior medialis hypothalami, the nucleus paraventricularis magnocellularis, the nucleus ventromedialis hypothalami, and the tuberal hypothalamus. In the two songbird species, labeled cells were also observed in various nuclei in the preoptic‐hypothalamic region, in the nucleus taeniae, and in the nucleus intercollicularis. Additional androgen receptor‐immunoreactive cells were present in the androgen‐sensitive telencephalic nuclei that are part of the song control system. These immunoreactive sells filled and outlined the boundaries of the hyperstriatum ventrale, pars caudalis, nucleus magnocellularis neostriatalis anterioris (both in the lateral and medial subdivisions), and nucleus robustus archistriatalis. The immunoreactive material was primarily present in cell nuclei but a low level of immunoreactivity was also clearly detected in cytoplasm in some brain areas. These studies demonstrate, for the first time, that androgen receptors can be detected by immunocytochemistry in the avian brain and the results are in general agreement with the binding data obtained by autoradiography with tritiated dihydrotestosterone. Immunocytochemical methods offer several advantages over autoradiography and their use for the study of the androgen receptor will greatly facilitate the analysis of steroid‐sensitive systems in the avian brain.
The potential of neurotrophic tyrosine kinase (NTRK) inhibitors for treating lung cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction: Molecular alterations in neurotrophic tyrosine kinase (NTRK) genes have been identified in several solid tumors including lung cancer. Pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggested their potential role as oncogenic drivers and predictive biomarkers for targeted inhibition, leading to the clinical development of a new class of compounds blocking the NTRK molecular pathway, which are currently undner early clinical investigation. Area covered: This review describes the biology of the NTRK pathway and its molecular alterations in lung cancer. It focuses on the pre-clinical and clinical development of emerging NTRK inhibitors, which have shown very promising activity in early phase I studies. Expert opinion: Among the several NTRK-inhibitors, entrectinib and LOXO-101 are those in more advanced stage of clinical development. Both agents have shown encouraging activity along with a tolerable safety profile in patients with different solid tumors harboring NTRK-fusions, emerging as new promising therapeutic options for molecularly selected patients with advanced Trk-driven lung cancers. Results from ongoing phase II basket trials are eagerly awaited.