Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced expression of the functionally active complement receptor for iC3b but not for C3d on an avirulent mutant of Candida albicans

Pseudohyphae of Candida albicans bear surface receptors for iC3b and C3d. In order to determine a possible role for these receptors in the pathogenesis of candidiasis, a spontaneous C. albicans mutant, m-10, which exhibits reduced ability to adhere in vitro to fibrin platelet clots and epithelial cells or to cause endocarditis in a rabbit model, and its parent wild-type (wt) strain were compared for receptor expression in rosetting assays with sheep erythrocytes carrying iC3b (EAC1423bi) or C3d (EAC1423d). An equally high attachment to wt and m-10 was seen with EAC1423d, whereas rosetting with EAC1423bi was reduced by 53% in m-10 compared with wt. In inhibition studies, rosetting of wt with EAC1423bi was markedly inhibited by culture filtrate, hyphal-cell extract, and DEAE-fractionated material prepared from wt (54, 87, and 70% decreases in rosetting, respectively), thus suggesting the presence of the soluble, functionally active iC3b receptor of C. albicans in each of these preparations. Minimal inhibition of iC3b rosetting, however, was seen with the identical materials from m-10 (21, 5, and 12%, respectively). All of the preparations from the two strains were equally effective in their inhibitory activities against rosetting of C3d. A human serum specimen obtained from a patient with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis blocked iC3b rosetting of the wt strain almost completely. When used in an immunoblot, this serum recognized proteins of 68 to 71, 55, and 50 kilodaltons (kDa) in hyphal-cell extracts of the wt. With the same preparation of the avirulent mutant, only weak reactions with the 68- to 71-kDa and 55-kDa proteins occurred, while the 50-kDa protein was not detectable. Taken together, these results indicate that the expression of the functionally active iC3b receptor on C. albicans may be involved in the virulence of the organism, possibly by mediating adherence to mammalian cells.
Detection of the pathogenic parasite Toxoplasma gondii by specific amplification of ribosomal sequences using comultiplex polymerase chain reaction

Amplification of DNA sequences from ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was tested as a specific and sensitive method for the detection of small numbers of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite cells. We applied the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the basis of detection of the 110-fold repetitive rDNA as a target by using (i) DNA sequences within the small ribosomal subunit known to be universal and conserved in all eukaryotes and (ii) small ribosomal subunit and intergenic spacer rDNA sequences known to be T. gondii species specific. The level of sensitivity obtained from a crude cell lysate allowed the detection of as few as one parasite visualized directly as a specific PCR product in agarose gels. By using a combination of universal and T. gondii species-specific primers, we propose a comultiplex-based PCR approach as a new diagnostic tool. The combination of sensitivity, specificity, and built-in positive and negative PCR controls should make detection of the rDNA sequences by comultiplex PCR a useful clinical test for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and for epidemiological studies. Finally, the idea of a built-in positive control to support or counter the T. gondii-specific PCR result is novel and is a notable advance.
Candida infections in paediatrics: Results from a prospective single‐centre study in a tertiary care children's hospital

To describe the epidemiology of invasive Candida infection in a tertiary care paediatric hospital. Prospective single‐centre survey on all Candida strains isolated from normally sterile fluids and urines in the period 2005‐2015 . A total of 299 ICI were documented in 262 patients. Urinary tract infection represented the most frequent diagnosis (62%), followed by fungaemia (34%) and peritonitis (4%). Fungaemia was most frequent in children with cancer (59%) or in low birth weight neonates (61%), while urinary tract infections were more frequent in patients with urinary tract malformation. C.albicans was the most frequently isolated species (60%) compared with C. non‐albicans, but differences were present according to the site of isolation and underlying conditions. Overall 90‐day mortality was 7%, 13% in fungaemias, 8% in peritonitis and 2% in urinary tract infections. The rates of invasive Candida infection increased during the study period. Invasive Candida infection is diagnosed with increasing frequency in children. Site of isolation and aetiology are frequently related with the presence of underlying, favouring conditions. Mortality was not negligible, especially in the presence of more invasive infections and specific underlying conditions.
Gallbladder cancer and liver transplantation

Gallbladder cancer is the fifth most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Gallbladder cancer is found incidentally at the time of cholecystectomy in 0.35% of patients. Two previous isolated case reports of incidentally found gallbladder cancer in hepatectomy specimens following liver transplantation (LT) showed no adverse outcomes. We reviewed the outcome of four patients. Three patients had end‐stage liver disease secondary to primary sclerosing cholangitis and one patient had cryptogenic cirrhosis. Gallbladder cancer was removed at cholecystectomy in one patient 11 months prior to transplant. One patient had suspected gallbladder cancer prior to LT by ultrasound and CT imaging, as well as a rising CA 19‐9. The other two patients had incidentally identified gallbladder cancer. Median follow‐up was 30 months. There has been no evidence of recurrence and patient survival was 100%. Early gallbladder cancer is not a contraindication for LT, however further follow‐up is needed.
A Three‐Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Displaced Intra‐Articular Calcaneal Fractures

Abstract A better understanding of displaced intra‐articular calcaneal fractures, their effect on joint mechanics, and the relationship between altered mechanics and osteoarthritis could aid in the development or refinement of treatment methods. Finite element modeling is accepted as the reference standard for evaluating joint contact stresses. The objective of the present study was to analyze the in vivo joint mechanical data from finite element modeling for normal and injured subtalar joints. A 3‐dimensional model of the ankle‐hindfoot was developed and validated. Both height loss and width increases in the calcaneus were simulated. Next, they were used to investigate the relationship between calcaneal height or width and the contact mechanics of the posterior facet of the subtalar joint. The contact area/joint area ratio increased in the subtalar joint with injury when the calcaneal width increased. Moreover, the peak contact pressure and the proportion of the area under high contact pressure (>6 MPa) increased. The contact area/joint area ratio decreased with reduced calcaneal height, but the peak contact pressure remained almost constant. The width increases of the calcaneus somewhat limited the subtalar joint motion, especially for eversion; however, the height loss mostly resulted in subtalar rotatory instability. The height loss diminished the subtalar joint's stability in eversion, internal rotation, and external rotation. The results of the present study support the advisability of surgery for these complex injuries. Reestablishing the calcaneal height and width could restore the normal kinematics and contact stress distribution in the subtalar joint, improve the tibiotalar position, and diminish long‐term degeneration in the ankle. &NA; Level of Clinical Evidence: 5
Current Control for Dual Three-Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors Accounting for Current Unbalance and Harmonics

This paper proposes an improved vector space decomposition current control scheme for dual three-phase permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motors having two sets of three-phase windings spatially shifted by 30° electrical degrees. A proportional-integral (PI) and resonant (second) controller is developed for eliminating the current unbalance in αβ subplane, which is effective irrespective of the degree of current unbalance, while PI plus multifrequency resonant (second and sixth) control is employed to eliminate the current unbalance, fifth and seventh current harmonics in z1z2 subplane. Compared with existing methods only accounting for current unbalance in z1z2 subplane, the proposed method has considered the current unbalances in both z1z2 and αβ subplanes and can eliminate them simultaneously at the steady-state of operation. Consequently, the full compensation of current unbalance can be achieved, by which both the current unbalance between two sets and current unbalance between phase windings in each set are eliminated. Meanwhile, the fifth and seventh current harmonics caused by nonsinusoidal back electromotive force and inverter nonlinearity can also be fully compensated. The effectiveness of proposed method is verified by a set of comparative experiments on a prototype dual three-phase PM machine system. It shows that fully balanced currents without the fifth and seventh current harmonics at the steady state of operation can be achieved.
Prevalence and epidemiologic correlates of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance in women at low risk for cervical cancer

Our aim was to determine the prevalence and epidemiologic correlates of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in a population at low risk for cervical cancer in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Sociodemographic data and gynecological and obstetrical history from 977 women screened at an outpatient clinic were recorded. Specimens were collected for Papanicolaou cervical cytology, colposcopy, and biopsy (if indicated). Sixty‐two (6.3%) patients presented ASCUS, 21 (2.1%) presented low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 6 (0.6%) presented high‐grade lesions. Presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical cells (odds ratio (OR) = 1.57; confidence interval (CI) 95% = 1.11–2.23), history of HPV infection (OR = 3.12; CI 95% = 1.22–7.96), and becoming sexually active at 18 yr or younger (OR = 1.70; CI 95% = 1.15–2.51) were independently associated with ASCUS. ASCUS patients reported HPV infections and presented HPV DNA in cervical cells more often than did patients with normal cytology; therefore, they should be carefully monitored to ensure early detection of cancer precursor lesions and prevention of cervical cancer. Diagn. Cytopathol. 24:276–282, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of AlN Passivation on Dynamic ON-Resistance and Electric Field Distribution in High-Voltage AlGaN/GaN-on-Si HEMTs

We investigate in detail the influence of AlN passivation on dynamic ON-resistance (RON) and electric field (E-field) distribution in high-voltage AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) on a Si substrate based on pulsed I-V measurements, electroluminescence (EL) microscopy, and 2-D physics-based numerical device simulations. It is found that the dynamic RON increase has been significantly suppressed to below 10% at various temperatures ranging from -50 to 200 °C owing to the effective and robust compensation of deep acceptor-like trap states at the AlN/GaN (passivation/cap) interface by the additional positive polarization charges induced in the epitaxial AlN thin passivation layer grown in a plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that highly suppressed current collapse in an AlGaN/GaN HEMT on a Si substrate within a wide temperature range is ever reported. By monitoring the dynamic RON for 100 consecutive 133-kHz switching cycles, its variation is observed to be less than 2.5%, indicating excellent stability of the passivation effectiveness. The electric field in an AlN-passivated device is found to be well confined at the drain-side gate edge, as shown in EL measurement and numerical simulation results. This phenomenon directly suggests that the virtual gate effect arising from surface trap charging has been effectively alleviated by the AlN passivation technique.
The Actin Cytoskeleton Regulates LFA-1 Ligand Binding through Avidity Rather than Affinity Changes*

To elucidate the role of the cytoskeleton regulating avidity or affinity changes in the leukocyte adhesion receptor lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) (αLβ2), we generated mutant cytoplasmic LFA-1 receptors and expressed these into the erythroleukemic cell line K562. We determined whether intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-mediated adhesion of LFA-1, lacking parts of its cytoplasmic tails, is regulated through receptor diffusion/clustering and/or by altered ligand binding affinity. All cytoplasmic deletion mutants that lack the complete β2cytoplasmic tail and/or the conserved KVGFFKR sequence in the αL cytoplasmic tail were constitutively active and expressed high levels of the activation epitopes NKI-L16 and M24. Surprisingly, whereas these mutants showed a clustered cell surface distribution of LFA-1, the ligand-binding affinity as measured by titration of soluble ligand ICAM-1 remained unaltered. The notion that redistribution of LFA-1 does not alter ligand-binding affinity is further supported by the finding that disruption of the cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D did not alter the binding affinity nor adhesion to ICAM-1 of these mutants. Most cytoplasmic deletion mutants that spontaneously bound ICAM-1 were not capable to spread on ICAM-1, demonstrating that on these mutants LFA-1 is not coupled to the actin cytoskeleton. From these data we conclude that LFA-1-mediated cell adhesion to ICAM-1 is predominantly regulated by receptor clustering and that affinity alterations do not necessarily coincide with strong ICAM-1 binding.
Nuclear Localization of the Cell Cycle Regulator CDH1 and Its Regulation by Phosphorylation*

The anaphase-promoting complex activated by CDC20 and CDH1 is a major ubiquitination system that controls the destruction of cell cycle regulators. Exactly how ubiquitination is regulated in time and space is incompletely understood. Here we report on the cell cycle-dependent localization of CDH1 and its regulation by phosphorylation. CDH1 localizes dynamically to the nucleus during interphase and to the centrosome during metaphase and anaphase. The nuclear accumulation of CDH1 correlates with a reduction in the steady-state amount of cyclin A, but not of cyclin E. A nuclear localization signal conserved in various species was identified in CDH1, and it sufficiently targets green fluorescent protein to the nucleus. Interestingly, a CDH1-4D mutant mimicking the hyperphosphorylated form was constitutively found in the cytoplasm. In further support of the notion that phosphorylation inhibits nuclear import, the nuclear localization signal of CDH1 with two phospho-accepting serine/threonine residues changed into aspartates was unable to drive heterologous protein into the nucleus. On the other hand, abolition of the cyclin-binding ability of CDH1 has no influence on its nuclear localization. Taken together, our findings document the phosphorylation-dependent localization of CDH1 in vertebrate cells.
Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and inflammatory cytokines in alveolar macrophages of ARDS following sepsis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and proinflammatory cytokines in alveolar macrophages (AMs) in the pathogenesis of ARDS following sepsis. SETTING ICU in a university hospital. DESIGN Prospective exploratory, open-labeled study was carried out. PATIENTS A total of 24 patients were investigated: 8 patients diagnosed as having ARDS following sepsis (ARDS group); 8 patients under general anesthesia in the operating room whose lung functions were normal (control group); and 8 patients who were intubated and artificially ventilated for 1 week in the ICU whose lung functions were not deteriorated without fulfilling the ARDS criteria and whose general state fulfilled the sepsis criteria (long-term ventilation group, or LTV group). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The expression of iNOS, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in AMs obtained from BAL fluid (BALF) was determined by the immunofluorescent technique. We observed the significant expression of iNOS, IL-6, and IL-8 only in the ARDS group. Meanwhile, NOx (the sum of NO2- + NO3-) was elevated in the BALF supernatant, and IL-6 and IL-8 levels in both the BALF supernatant and the serum were also elevated in the ARDS group. No significant expressions were detected in the control and the LTV group. CONCLUSIONS The result that iNOS was detected only in ARDS patients following sepsis suggests that iNOS together with proinflammatory cytokines produced by AMs might play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury and be useful for monitoring disorders in the lung in such conditions.
The ideational foundations of the illiberal backlash in Central and Eastern Europe: the case of Hungary

Abstract While the spread of neoliberal ideas through networks has attracted much attention worldwide, the ideational content of the recent counter-waves to liberal democracy has still received relatively little consideration. This article focuses on the ideational dimension behind the current illiberal backlash in Central and Eastern Europe. We ask how political conceptions critical of the Western liberal paradigm came about and what their main components are in Hungary, a country which is often seen as the avant-garde of the ‘illiberal backsliding’ in the region. The article shows that political illiberalism in Eastern Europe has intellectual underpinnings forged in conservative intellectual networks that have grown disillusioned with liberal democracy and neoliberalism long before the current illiberal political wave. Combining the reception of Western critiques of liberalism with a critique of post-communist liberals’ perceived lack of willingness to break with the communist past, these intellectuals have slowly but continuously extended their networks and influence since the 1990s. Our analysis suggests that the contestation of liberalism is not reducible to political parties and instead should be approached as a broader phenomenon.
[Evaluation of the Activities of Community Pharmacies during the Annual Campaign with Focus on Diabetes Prevention].

With its increasing incidence, diabetes is one of the major challenges of the 21th century. Against this background, the Bavarian State Ministry of Public Health and Care Services (BStMGP) started in 2014 the campaign "Diabetes moves us! ". The scientific institute for prevention in health care (WIPIG) supported the activities of Bavarian pharmacies and evaluated the extent to which they might be able to contribute towards prevention. Besides additional training of pharmaceutical staff, WIPIG initiated a diabetes prevention network. Pharmacies that were members of the network had the opportunity to order a campaign package including an evaluation questionnaire and to register their activity in the calendar of events of the campaign. A total of 215 pharmacies signed up for the diabetes prevention network and registered 103 events. The WIPIG received 67 completed evaluation questionnaires. Most often (86.6%) the pharmacies conducted a blood glucose screening; 76.1% carried out screening with the diabetes risk questionnaire FINDRISC of the German Diabetes Foundation and 22.4% gave a information lecture on diabetes. During the screening 2,502 persons had their blood sugar checked and 1,765 persons filled in the FINDRISC questionnaire. Overall, 190 persons were advised to visit their physician because of a very high blood glucose level. On the basis of the FINDRISC, 80.2% were advised to change their lifestyle to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Use of Dried Spots of Whole Blood, Plasma, and Mother's Milk Collected on Filter Paper for Measurement of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Burden

ABSTRACT We studied the use of dried spots of bodily fluids (plasma, whole blood, and mother's milk) on filter paper as a means of sample collection and storage for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral load testing under stringent field conditions. Plasma placed directly in lysis buffer, which is customarily used for viral load assays, was used for comparison in all our experiments. Utilizing reconstruction experiments, we demonstrate no statistical differences between viral loads determined for plasma and mother's milk spotted on filter paper and those for the same fluids placed directly in lysis buffer. We found that the addition of whole blood directly to lysis buffer was unreliable and could not be considered a feasible option. However, viral load measurements for whole blood spotted onto filter paper correlated with plasma viral load values for both filter spots and lysis buffer (Pearson correlation coefficients, 0.7706 and 0.8155, respectively). In conclusion, dried spots of plasma, whole blood, or mother's milk provide a feasible means for the collection, storage, and shipment of samples for subsequent viral load measurement and monitoring. Virus material spotted and dried on filter paper is a good inexpensive alternative for collecting patient material to monitor the HIV-1 viral load. Measuring the HIV-1 burden from whole blood dried on filter paper provides a suitable alternative for low-technology settings with limited access to refrigeration, as can be found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Polymorphisms of XPG/ERCC5 and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Objectives Xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG) protein is essential for the nucleotide excision repair system, and genetic variations in XPG/ERCC5 that affect DNA repair capacity may contribute to the risk of tobacco-induced cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We investigated the association between XPG/ERCC5 polymorphisms and risk of SCCHN. Methods We genotyped 12 tagging and potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of XPG/ERCC5 in a case–control study of 1059 non-Hispanic white patients with SCCHN and 1066 cancer-free age- and sex-matched controls, and evaluated their associations with the risk of SCCHN. Results Multivariate logistic regression showed that only an intronic tagging SNP (rs4150351A/C) of XPG/ERCC5 was associated with a decreased risk of SCCHN (adjusted odds ratio=0.76, 95% confidence interval=0.62–0.92 for AC vs. AA; adjusted odds ratio=0.81, 95% confidence interval=0.67–0.98 for AC/CC vs. AA), but this association was nonsignificant after corrections by the permutation test (empirical P=0.105). In the genotype–phenotype correlation analysis using peripheral lymphocytes from 44 patients with SCCHN, we found that rs4150351 AC/CC was associated with a statistically significant increase in the XPG/ERCC5 mRNA expression. Conclusion These findings suggest that genetic variation in XPG/ERCC5 may not affect the risk of SCCHN, although rs4150351 C variant genotypes were associated with an increased expression of XPG/ERCC5 mRNA and nonsignificantly decreased risk of SCCHN. Larger population-based and additional functional studies are warranted to validate our findings.