Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Readiness for behavioral changes in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND Successful self-care in heart failure often requires lifestyle changes such as avoiding sodium, excess fluid intake, alcohol, and tobacco; exercising regularly; and losing weight. The Transtheoretical Model, a framework for making behavioral changes, proposes that change requires a series of stages. OBJECTIVES To identify the stage of readiness for change in 6 lifestyle behaviors important in heart failure and to determine differences in signs and symptoms of heart failure, self-reported knowledge of the disease, and self-reported behavior between patients who have taken action and patients who have not. METHOD A mail survey of 250 patients with heart failure. RESULTS Most respondents reported consistent avoidance of tobacco (90.6%), alcohol (87.9%), sodium (81%), and excess fluid (72.6%) and regular participation in exercise (67.1%) and trying to lose weight (64.7%). Yet only 38.7% had a regular exercise program, and 94.2% had eaten high-sodium foods in the preceding 24 hours. Knowledge of heart failure was low (mean score, 67.4%) and did not differ by stage of change. Only 30.4% of the respondents were at their desired weight, and most overweight subjects had been trying to lose weight for more than 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Although respondents thought they were consistently adhering to recommended guidelines for changes in lifestyle, actual reported behaviors did not always support this evaluation. Use of the stage of change tool to assess stage of readiness to make lifestyle changes may not work well in patients with heart failure, perhaps because of the number and complexity of the changes needed.
High-impedance fault detection in distribution networks with use of wavelet-based algorithm

A new simple and effective algorithm of arcing fault detection in distribution networks with the application of a wavelet transform technique is presented in this paper. The protection algorithm developed observes the phase displacement between wavelet coefficients calculated for zero-sequence voltage and current signals at a chosen high-level frequency. The final decision in regards to feeder switching off (or alarm issuing) is met either with a deterministic logic scheme or with the use of a neural net trained especially for that purpose. The developed wavelet-based high-impedance fault (HIF) detector has been tested with Electromagnetic Transients Program-Alternative Transients Program (ATP)-generated signals, exhibiting better performance than traditionally used algorithms and methods. The protection method proposed may be used for HIF detection independent of the network neutral-point grounding mode. The scheme proved to be robust against transients generated during normal events such as feeder energizing and de-energizing as well as capacitor bank switching
Relative Income Position and Performance: An Empirical Panel Analysis

Many studies have established that people care a great deal about their relative economic position and not solely, as standard economic theory assumes, about their absolute economic position. However, behavioral evidence is rare. This paper provides an empirical analysis on how individuals' relative income position affects their performance. Using a unique data set for 1114 soccer players over a period of eight seasons (2833 observations), our analysis suggests that the larger the income differences within a team, the worse the performance of the soccer players is. The more the players are integrated in a particular social environment (their team), the more evident this negative effect is.
Psychological distress as a risk factor for dementia death.

kale@mountsinai.org). Author Contributions: Study concept and design: Kale, Bishop, Federman, and Keyhani. Analysis and interpretation of data: Kale, Bishop, and Keyhani. Drafting of the manuscript: Kale. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Bishop, Federman, and Keyhani. Statistical analysis: Kale. Administrative, technical, and material support: Keyhani. Study supervision: Bishop, Federman, and Keyhani. Financial Disclosure: None reported. Funding/Support: This project was not supported by external funds. Dr Kale is a fellow who is supported by a National Research Service Award grant. Dr Keyhani is funded byaDepartmentofVeteransAffairsHealthServicesResearch and Development Service Career Development Award. Online-Only Material: The eTable is available at http: //www.archinternmed. com.
Pegfilgrastim to support CHOP-14 in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

This study investigated whether pegfilgrastim support would enable on-schedule delivery of dose-dense cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP-14) to elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Thirty patients 60 years of age and older with aggressive NHL were evaluated after receiving up to six cycles of CHOP-14 supported with pegfilgrastim. The median age was 68 years (range 61 – 74). Forty-seven per cent of patients received full dose chemotherapy on schedule for all cycles (range 65 – 93). Chemotherapy was delayed in 10 patients and dose reduced in 15 patients. Hematological toxicity was the most common reason for delays and dose reduction. Six of nine patients (67%) achieved a peripheral blood CD34+ count of at least 20 cells×106 L−1 on day 12 of cycle one. The delivery on schedule of dose-dense CHOP-14 to elderly patients with previously untreated aggressive NHL is safe and efficacious with once per cycle pegfilgrastim support.
Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is an immunologic disorder that develops in individuals who have produced allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in response to environmental exposures (most commonly to pollens, animal dander, insect debris, and molds). For patients with a severe allergy that is not responsive to environmental controls and pharmacotherapy or for those who do not wish to use medication for a lifetime, immunotherapy may be offered. Specific immunotherapy as practiced since hundred years in Western Europe and the USA. Different routes for specific immunotherapy have been evaluated, such as the subcutaneous, sublingual, oral, nasal, bronchial, and intra-lymphatic, the first 2 of these routes being the most commonly used today in clinical practice. In this article, subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis is reviewed.
Distinctive response of naïve lymphocytes from cord blood to primary activation via TCR

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is now being considered an alternative to bone marrow for restoring hematopoiesis after myeloablative therapy. The lower risk of acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease in patients who received UCB cells seems related to the nature of UCB–T cells. Phenotypically, UCB–CD3+ cells are mostly naive (CD45RA+) and represent a transitional population between thymocytes and adult T cells. We examined the immune reactivity of highly purified, negatively selected CD4+CD45RA+ cells by mimicking activation via T cell receptor (TCR). All experiments included the extensively characterized adult peripheral blood (APB) cells as reference. On the contrary to APB, naive UCB–CD4+ cells were able to proliferate with anti‐CD3 stimulation alone. With addition of interleukin (IL)‐2 or costimulatory signal, both populations reached similar proliferation. Forty‐eight hours after anti‐CD3 stimulation, CD4+CD45RA+ from UCB, but not APB, showed characteristic blastic morphology and significant expression of CD25 on the surface. A low concentration of IL‐2 was detected at 24 h by anti‐CD3‐stimulated UCB CD4+CD45RA+, which rapidly disappeared. By 72 h after activation, CD4+CD45RA+ UCB cells showed extensive apoptosis, whereas CD4+CD45RA+ APB cells showed low levels of apoptosis. Using RNase protection assay, we observed that CD95L levels were significantly higher in naive CD4+ cells from UCB than from APB after activation. However, neutralizing Fas‐Fc protein was unable to inhibit anti‐CD3‐induced apoptosis, suggesting that this was a CD95‐independent mechanism. These results indicate that UCB–CD4+CD45RA+ cells are able to start proliferating as a result of early IL‐2 production after TCR engagement alone, but probably, as a result of the consumption of this IL‐2, they undergo cell death.
High Production of Thermostable β-Galactosidase of Bacillus stearothermophilus in Bacillus subtilis

By cloning the β-galactosidase gene of Bacillus stearothermophilus IAM11001 (ATCC 8005) into Bacillus subtilis, enzyme production was enhanced 50 times. β-Galactosidase could be purified to 80% homogeneity by incubating the cell extract of B. subtilis at 70°C for 15 min, followed by centrifugation to remove the denatured proteins. Because of its heat stability and ease of production, β-galactosidase is suitable for application in industrial processes.
Fate of Pasteurella hemolytica in conventionally raised and germfree mice

When Pasteurella hemolytica was introduced into conventionally raised ICR mice by a variety of routes (intraperitoneal, aerogenic, and oral), the inoculum was rapidly eliminated, and none of the mice died. Even when the inoculum was injected intraperitoneally into sublethally irradiated (600 rads) mice, the organisms were eliminated rapidly unless suspended in 10% hog gastric mucin. When germfree ICR mice were orally infected with P. hemolytica, the infection established itself in the intestinal tract and spread to the mesenteric lymph nodes but did not progress beyond this point. Despite the inability of P. hemolytica to establish itself systemically, the organism multiplied freely in mouse blood and a homogenate of normal mouse lung in vitro. Normal mouse peritoneal macrophages could phagocytose P. hemolytica in vitro, although not as efficiently as the control Listeria monocytogenes suspensions. The addition of hyperimmune bovine serum (opsonin) to the P. hemolytica suspension increased phagocytosis but did not greatly affect the subsequent bactericidal activity of the macrophages in vitro. The reason for the lack of pathogenicity shown by P. hemolytica in normal mice remains enigmatic.
Rapamycin reduces fibroblast proliferation without causing quiescence and induces STAT5A/B-mediated cytokine production

Rapamycin is a well-known inhibitor of the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling cascade; however, the impact of this drug on global genome function and organization in normal primary cells is poorly understood. To explore this impact, we treated primary human foreskin fibroblasts with rapamycin and observed a decrease in cell proliferation without causing cell death. Upon rapamycin treatment chromosomes 18 and 10 were repositioned to a location similar to that of fibroblasts induced into quiescence by serum reduction. Although similar changes in positioning occurred, comparative transcriptome analyses demonstrated significant divergence in gene expression patterns between rapamycin-treated and quiescence-induced fibroblasts. Rapamycin treatment induced the upregulation of cytokine genes, including those from the Interleukin (IL)-6 signaling network, such as IL-8 and the Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), while quiescent fibroblasts demonstrated up-regulation of genes involved in the complement and coagulation cascade. In addition, genes significantly up-regulated by rapamycin treatment demonstrated increased promoter occupancy of the transcription factor Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5A/B (STAT5A/B). In summary, we demonstrated that the treatment of fibroblasts with rapamycin decreased proliferation, caused chromosome territory repositioning and induced STAT5A/B-mediated changes in gene expression enriched for cytokines.
The Role of Horizontal Connections in Generating Long Receptive Fields in the Cat Visual Cortex

The cells in the primary visual cortex possess numerous functional properties that are more complex and varied than those seen in the cortical input. These properties result from the network of intrinsic cortical connections running across the cortical layers and between cortical columns. In the current study we relate the long receptive fields that are characteristic of layer 6 cells to the input that these cells receive from layer 5. The axons of layer 5 pyramidal cells project over long distances within layer 6, enabling layer 6 cells to collect input from regions of cortex representing large parts of the visual field. When layer 5 was locally inactivated by injection of the inhibitory transmitter GABA, layer 6 cells lost sensitivity over the portion of their receptive fields corresponding to the inactivated region of layer 5. This suggests that the extensive convergence in the projection from layer 5 to layer 6 is responsible for generating the long receptive fields characteristic of the layer 6 cells.
Dietary Isoflavone Absorption, Excretion, and Metabolism in Captive Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Abstract: Dietary isoflavones, capable of influencing reproductive parameters in domestic cats (Felis catus), have been detected in commercial diets fed to captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). However, the absorptive and metabolic capacity of cheetahs towards isoflavones has not yet been studied. Experiments were designed to describe the plasma concentration–time curve, metabolite profile, and urinary and fecal excretion of genistein and daidzein in cheetahs following consumption of isoflavones. Four adult cheetahs were administered a single oral bolus of genistein and daidzein, and five juvenile cheetahs consuming a milk replacer formula found to contain isoflavones were also included. Urine was collected from all animals, and blood and feces were also collected from adult cheetahs following isoflavone exposure. Samples were analyzed for isoflavone metabolite concentration by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–multiple reaction ion monitoring mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. Sulfate conjugates were the primary metabolites detected of both genistein and daidzein (60–80% of total isoflavones present) in the plasma and urine of cheetahs. A smaller proportion of daidzein was detected as conjugates in the urine of juvenile cheetahs, compared to adult cheetahs. Other metabolites included unconjugated genistein and daidzein, O-desmethylangolensin, and dihydrodaidzein, but not equol. Only 33% of the ingested genistein dose, and 9% of daidzein, was detected in plasma from adult cheetahs. However, of the ingested dose, 67% of genistein and 45% of daidzein were detected in the feces of adults. This study revealed that cheetahs appear efficient in their conjugation of absorbed dietary isoflavones and only a small fraction of ingested dose is absorbed. However, the capacity of the cheetah to conjugate genistein and daidzein with sulfate moieties appears lower than reported in the domestic cat. This may confer greater opportunity for biologic activity of isoflavones in the cheetah than would be predicted from findings in the domestic cat. However, further investigation is required.
The effect of methotrexate (MTX) on expression of signalling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its role in the regulation of cytokine production

Objective: To investigate the effect of methotrexate (MTX) on cytokine production by activated CD4+ T‐cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The effect of MTX on intracellular expression of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), and cell surface expression of signalling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) from freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and after in vitro culture with or without MTX, was analysed with flow cytometry in 18 patients with RA and 20 healthy controls. Results: Intracellular expression of IFN‐γ and IL‐4 on freshly isolated CD4+ T‐cells was significantly higher in patients with RA than in the controls (p<0.05). Intracellular expression of both IFN‐γ and IL‐4 after culture with MTX was significantly lower than those after culture without MTX in patients with RA. Although no significant difference was observed in SLAM expression on freshly isolated CD4+ T‐cells between patients with RA and the controls, MTX significantly decreased SLAM expression on both activated IFN‐γ+ and IL‐4+CD4+ T‐cells in patients with RA. Conclusion: In vitro modulation of the cytokine network by MTX, IFN‐γ, and IL‐4 is one of the major targets for MTX, and production of IFN‐γ and IL‐4 by PBMCs may be suppressed by SLAM on activated CD4+ T‐cell in patients with RA.
Effects of cholecystokinin and related peptides on neuronal activity in the ventromedial nucleus of the rat hypothalamus

1 An investigation into the effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK‐8S) and its pentapeptide analogue, pentagastrin, on neurones located in ventromedial nuclei of rat hypothalamic slices maintained in vitro has been undertaken. 2 CCK‐8S (0.01‐1.0 μm) applied in the perfusion medium produced a concentration‐dependent increase in firing rate. This effect could be mimicked by pentagastrin and was selectively blocked by L‐364,718, a potent peripheral CCK receptor antagonist that has been shown to possess micro‐molar affinity for central CCK receptors. 3 Intracellular recordings from ventromedial nucleus neurones revealed two distinct populations with comparable resting membrane parameters but differing neuronal activity. One group fired tetrodotoxin (TTX)‐sensitive action potentials spontaneously at resting membrane potential whilst the second group fired action potentials only on injection of depolarizing current and were otherwise silent. 4 Application of CCK‐8S or pentagastrin to spontaneously active neurones produced a small depolarization concomitant with an increase in action potential firing rate but the peptides had no effect on membrane properties of ‘silent’ neurones. 5 These data suggest the existence of at least two populations of neurones in the ventromedial hypothalamus, only one of which is excited by CCK‐8S and pentagastrin.
Trends in the proportion of patients with lung cancer meeting screening criteria.

Lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography is recommended for high-risk individuals by professional associations including the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). 1 The implications of the USPSTF screening criteria were investigated in a retrospective study of a well-defined population to demonstrate trends in the proportion of lung cancer patients meeting the criteria over 28 years.
Pedicle Screw Motion in the Osteoporotic Spine After Augmentation With Laminar Hooks, Sublaminar Wires, or Calcium Phosphate Cement: A Comparative Analysis

Study Design. A biomechanical study addressing the motion of pedicle screws in a human cadaveric, osteoporotic spine model. Objectives. To compare the fixation of pedicle screws in an osteoporotic spine model after augmentation with laminar hooks, sublaminar wires, or calcium phosphate cement and to determine the kinematic patterns of these screws. Summary of Background Data. Numerous techniques exist for improving the quality of fixation within the osteoporotic spine, including supplementing the construct with laminar hooks, sublaminar wires, or calcium phosphate cement. Direct comparisons of these practices, however, are lacking. Methods. Twenty-four cadaveric lumbar vertebrae were instrumented with a pedicle screw and rod construct augmented with laminar hooks, sublaminar wires, or calcium phosphate cement. The screws were tested cyclically with physiologic loads. Rigid body motions of the screws were measured using an optoelectronic camera system, and the motion at the screw tip and at the screw head were calculated. Screw motions were compared using nonparametric paired statistical analysis. Results. Between augmentation groups, there were no significant differences in the magnitude of motion at the screw head and at the screw tip. After calcium phosphatecement supplementation, screw motion was predominantly rotational in nature, whereas rigid body translation of the screw was more common with sublaminar wires or laminar hooks. Conclusions. The three augmentation techniques were similar in their ability to enhance the rigidity of fixation of the pedicle screws. Differences did exist, however, in the patterns of pedicle screw motion, with the calcium phosphate cement augmentation resulting in less rigid body translation than the other two techniques.
Probiotics in the Treatment of Human Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Update 2008

Probiotic research and clinical trials have been forging ahead over the last decade. Although much has been learnt in relation to probiotic intestinal epithelial-mucosal immune interactions, the evidence for substantial clinical efficacy of probiotics continues to progress much slower. This review outlines the probiotic clinical studies before 2005 that formed the foundation of probiotic clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease and then examines indepth those inflammatory bowel disease probiotic clinical trials published after 2005 that are leading to new understanding of the role of probiotics in the induction and remission of inflammatory bowel disease in humans.
OspF and OspC1 Are Shigella flexneri Type III Secretion System Effectors That Are Required for Postinvasion Aspects of Virulence

ABSTRACT Shigella flexneri is the causative agent of dysentery, and its pathogenesis is mediated by a type III secretion system (T3SS). S. flexneri secretes effector proteins into the eukaryotic cell via the T3SS, and these proteins usurp host cellular functions to the benefit of the bacteria. OspF and OspC1 are known to be secreted by S. flexneri, but their functions are unknown. We transformed S. flexneri with a plasmid that expresses a two-hemagglutinin tag (2HA) in frame with OspF or OspC1 and verified that these proteins are secreted in a T3SS-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence of HeLa cells infected with S. flexneri expressing OspF-2HA or OspC1-2HA revealed that both proteins localize in the nucleus and cytoplasm of host cells. To elucidate the function of these T3SS effectors, we constructed ΔospF and ΔospC1 deletion mutants by allelic exchange. We found that ΔospF and ΔospC1 mutants invade host cells and form plaques in confluent monolayers similar to wild-type S. flexneri. However, in the polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell migration assay, a decrease in neutrophil migration was observed for both mutants in comparison to the migration of wild-type bacteria. Moreover, infection of polarized T84 intestinal cells infected with ΔospF and ΔospC1 mutants resulted in decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in comparison to that of T84 cells infected with wild-type S. flexneri. To date, these are the first examples of T3SS effectors implicated in mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway activation. Ultimately, OspF and OspC1 are essential for PMN transepithelial migration, a phenotype associated with increased inflammation and bacterial access to the submucosa, which are fundamental aspects of S. flexneri pathogenesis.
Accelerating language learning in young children

ABSTRACT To examine the effects of direct intervention on language learning, 18 children ranging in age from 3;6 to 4;6 were systematically taught linguistic structures still beyond their developmental grasp. Four types of relative clause sentences were trained, using a toy manipulation task. Solid improvement was found in the performance of subjects in the two experimental conditions between the Pre- and Post-test Phases. No significant improvement was demonstrated by the control condition subjects. This successful outcome is viewed as demonstrating that the language learning process is somewhat independent of cognitive development. In addition, error response analyses indicated that the First Noun strategy accounted for the majority of errors, providing support for the canonical–sentoid hypothesis.