Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Various genotypes of Mycobacterium leprae from Mexico reveal distinct geographic distribution.

OBJECTIVE To classify Mycobacterium leprae isolates from multiple areas in Mexico based on variable number of tandem repeats of 6 base within the rpoT gene and three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and to analyse their geographic distribution in the context of the origin of leprosy in Mexico. RESULTS Analysis for rpoT genotyping of 64 samples collected in the west and southwestern areas revealed that 46 isolates were of the 4 copy type and 18 isolates were of the 3 copy type. All samples from the eastern coastal area (n = 24) and from the Yucatan peninsula (n = 12) were of the 3 copy type. Six isolates from the west and southwestern area were SNP-type 1, 13 isolates were SNP-type 2 and 45 isolates were SNP-type 3. Nineteen of 24 isolates from the eastern coastal area were SNP-type 3 and one was SNP-type 4. Seven isolates from the Yucatan peninsula were SNP-type 3 and one was SNP-type 4. CONCLUSION The difference of the proportion of each genotype between the western areas and the eastern areas indicated the expansion of leprosy through different paths in Mexico.
Positive and Negative Health Behavior Changes in Cancer Survivors

Cancer survivors often make health behavior changes in response to their increased risk for subsequent health problems. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying these changes or whether they differ for positive and negative changes. This cross-sectional study applied a stress and coping model to examine both positive and negative health behavior changes in 250 middle-aged cancer survivors. A structural equation model showed that social support, sense of control over illness course, life meaning, and approach coping were related to positive health behavior changes; a lack of life meaning and avoidance coping were related to negative health behavior changes.
Non-stimulating tradition: The Effect of Temperament on Painting Art Preferences

This study examined the effect of temperament on preferences for painted artwork. Our preferences are determined by different personality traits. The study presented here was a replication of the current study of Terror Management Theory (TMT) with the structures of temperament as individual differences. The results showed significant differences in preferences for traditional and modern art, depending on the degree of harmonization of the temperamental structures. Sanguines and melancholics in the no fear condition evaluated modern art most highly, however in the fear condition they evaluated traditional art most highly. This effect confirms the importance of individual differences and the situational variability of preferences in art. There is a lot of research about how personality affects preferences for art. Researchers suggests that people’s aesthetic preferences differ depending on their personality structure, including temperament. Is it possible that preferences for modern or abstract painting are related to their temperament? Could these preferences change under the influence of fear? Finally, is it possible that biology determines what we like in a particular context or situation? Are our preferences so variable?
Blue shift of the Mie plasma frequency in Ag clusters and particles.

Photodepletion spectroscopy is used to measure the optical activity of sputtered Ag ionic clusters with up to 70 atoms. With decreasing cluster size the giant resonance caused by collective excitation of the valence electrons shifts to higher frequencies. This blue shift is qualitatively explained in terms of a reduced s-d screening interaction in the surface region of the particles
The resistance of delayed xenograft rejection to α(1,3)‐galactosyltransferase gene inactivation and CD4 depletion in a mouse‐to‐rat model

Critical to the prevention of xenograft loss is the prevention of delayed xenograft rejection (DXR), due to its resistance to conventional immunosuppression. The role of the carbohydrate galactose‐α1,3‐galactose (α1,3Gal) has been a matter of great debate and it has been proposed that the reaction between α1,3Gal epitopes on donor endothelial cells and recipient anti‐α1,3Gal antibodies (Abs) may damage the graft during DXR. Recipient anti‐α1,3Gal Abs are produced by CD4‐dependent B cells. To test the above‐mentioned hypothesis, hearts from α1,3Gal‐free mice (GT‐Ko mice), generated by α1,3‐galacto‐syltransferase gene disruption, were transplanted to anti‐α1,3Gal antibody‐free Lew/Mol rats. This model consists of an α1,3Gal/α1,3Gal‐antibody‐free environment, eliminating a possible influence of this specific system on DXR. A subgroup of recipients were furthermore CD4 depleted in order to inhibit CD4‐dependent B‐cell antibody production. Rejected hearts were evaluated by light‐ and immunofluorescence microscopy. Treatment effects on recipient T‐cell subsets and cytokine expression were analyzed by flow cytometry, while antibody production was measured by ELISA. All recipients developed DXR with no differences among the groups. DXR was related to thrombosis with IgG and IgM desposition in vessel walls, as well as macrophage and granulocyte accumulation in the myocardium. No complement C3, CD4 cells or NK cells were found. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed peripheral blood CD4 depletion and IFN‐γ suppression in CD4 Ab‐treated recipients. Finally, ELISA showed that specific anti‐α1,3Gal Ab production was absent. However, Ab(s) against an unidentified Galα 1 were found among recipients. In our model, DXR is resistant to α1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene inactivation and CD4 depletion. However, other Galα 1 epitopes and antibodies may play a role during DXR. Further studies are needed to elucidate the precise pathways leading to DXR.
T Cell‐Dependent Activation of Macrophages and Enhancement of Their Phagocytic Activity in the Lungs of Mice Inoculated with Heat‐Killed Cryptococcus neoformans: Involvement of IFN‐γ and Its Protective Effect against Cryptococcal Infection

Previous investigations have demonstrated that macrophages play a critical role in the first‐line cellular defense mechanism against infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. In the present study, to elucidate the way in which anticryptococcal activity of macrophages is regulated at the site of infection, pulmonary intraparenchymal macrophages were directly analyzed for expression of their surface molecules and their phagocytic activities against the organism, and the effects of depletion of T cells and endogenous IFN‐γ in vivo on these parameters were examined. In the lungs of mice intratracheally inoculated with heat‐killed C. neoformans, macrophages were activated, as indicated by augmented expression of MHC class II, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and Fc receptor (FcR), and about two‐thirds of macrophages were found to have ingested an average of 3.77 ± 0.12 yeast cells per macrophage. In mice depleted of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by injecting the specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or anti‐IFN‐γ mAb, not only augmentation of the expression of macrophage activation markers but also phagocytosis of C. neoformans was significantly reduced. These results suggest that anticryptococcal activity of macrophages is regulated by IFN‐γ endogenously produced by T cells. Additionally, treatment with IFN‐γ were shown to significantly prolong the survival time of mice infected with viable C. neoformans. Additionally, preimmunization with heat‐killed C. neoformans significantly prolonged the survival time of mice which received the following infection.
Network measures for characterising team adaptation processes

The aim of this study was to advance the conceptualisation of team adaptation by applying social network analysis (SNA) measures in a field study of a paediatric cardiac surgical team adapting to changes in task complexity and ongoing dynamic complexity. Forty surgical procedures were observed by trained human factors researchers, and communication processes amongst team members were recorded. Focusing on who talked to whom, team communication structures, in response to changing task demands, were characterised by various network measures. Results showed that in complex procedures, the communication patterns were more decentralised and flatter. Also, in critical transition phases of the procedure, communication was characterised by higher information sharing and participation. We discuss implications for team adaptation theory and teamwork observation methods. Practitioner Summary: The reasons for this study were to advance our conceptualisation of team adaptation processes and to further quantify team observation methods. We found that the surgical team studied adapted to complexity of surgical procedures by adopting flatter communication patterns. We quantified team observation methods by applying SNA techniques.
The impact of curricular change on medical students' knowledge of anatomy

Background In recent years, following the publication of Tomorrow's Doctors, the undergraduate medical curriculum in most UK medical schools has undergone major revision. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the time allocated to the teaching of the basic medical sciences, including anatomy. However, it is not clear what impact these changes have had on medical students' knowledge of surface anatomy.
An Evaluation of Human Demineralized Bone Matrices in a Rat Femoral Defect Model

The osteoconductive and osteoinductive potential of two human allogeneic demineralized bone matrix putties were compared in a critical-sized athymic rat femoral defect model. Defects were treated with (1) a demineralized bone matrix in a hyaluronic acid carrier, (2) a demineralized bone matrix in a glycerol carrier, (3) a hyaluronic acid carrier alone, or (4) with no implant. Radiographic examinations and histologic analyses were done at 4, 8, and 16 weeks postoperatively. Eight of the 48 defects treated with a demineralized bone matrix and none of the 36 surgical controls showed complete radiographic healing by 16 weeks and no statistically significant difference between the radiographic scores for the two demineralized bone matrix preparations was found. On histologic review, both preparations of demineralized bone matrix had passive remineralization. The largest foci of endochondral ossification were seen in limbs treated with a demineralized bone matrix in a hyaluronic acid carrier. The 8-mm rat femoral defect allows for stringent assessment of the osteoinductive potential of bone graft substitutes. Hyaluronic acid and glycerol are viable carriers for demineralized bone matrices. As both de-mineralized bone matrices tested provided an adequate osteoconductive matrix and showed some, although limited, osteoinductive capacity, these materials should be used in clinical practice only as bone graft extenders or enhancers.
Three Processes that Form Online Social Networking Post-Adoptive Use Intention

Not all individuals log into an online social networking (OSN) website because they have deliberately reflected on how useful and fun it will be. For some users, this post-adoptive use decision requires a less deliberate process based on past experience. For still others, the decision is automatic and requires little, if any, reflection on beliefs or prior experiences. While past research has examined these different post-adoptive thought processes, no research to date has done so in an OSN context. This study develops a research model that combines reflective, transitional, and non-reflective thought processes into a comprehensive model of post-adoptive OSN intention. We test the hypotheses with cross sectional data collected from Facebook users. We find that all three thought processes predict intention, although the effects of experience on intention during the transitional and non-reflective thought processes are strongest. Results also show that habit, enjoyment, trust, usefulness, and privacy concern predict OSN continuance intention.
Predicting project risk from architecture reviews

A metric is proposed to predict the risk of a project's failure. It is a simplification of a metric proposed by A. Avritzer et al. (Proc. 5th Internat. Symp. on Software Metrics, pp. 4-10, Nov. 1998). The metric is based on findings made during an architecture review of the project. An empirical study involving 36 large industrial telecommunications projects is included, describing our experience with using this metric.
Traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors are associated with atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association between cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque were evaluated by high resolution B-mode ultrasound in 74 consecutive patients with RA. Patients with an IMT > or = 0.60 mm and plaque were considered to have atherosclerosis and advanced atherosclerosis, respectively. Traditional risk factors as well as an extensive range of other clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Methods used to analyze the data included logistic regression, classification and regression tree (CART), and factor analyses. RESULTS Fifty-three (72%) patients had atherosclerosis, 23 (31%) had plaque, and 21 (28%) were free of atherosclerosis. In multivariable analysis, age and hypertension were independently associated with atherosclerosis and plaque (p < or = 0.04). Radiographic scores and polymorphonuclear cell counts were also strongly associated with plaque (p < or = 0.008). Uric acid concentrations were associated with atherosclerosis, and hypothyroidism was associated with plaque, both with borderline significance (p = 0.078 and 0.052, respectively). In CART analysis, age, polymorphonuclear cell counts, and joint space narrowing in the hands were considered to be the most important determinants of plaque, and 62% of patients could be classified correctly after cross-validation. Factor analysis (varimax rotation) revealed that age and uric acid levels were related to low glomerular filtration rates, polymorphonuclear cell counts to disease activity, and radiographic scores to disease duration, and hypertension was associated with high cholesterol levels. The 10-year risk for a coronary event estimated using the Framingham risk equation (calculated from traditional risk factors) was only 7% in patients with plaque. CONCLUSION Atherosclerosis in RA is associated with the traditional CV risk factors age and hypertension, as well as nontraditional risk factors comprising current inflammation as reflected by polymorphonuclear cell counts, cumulative inflammation as disclosed by radiographic scores, and, to a lesser extent, with uric acid levels and hypothyroidism. Multiple risk factor assessment equations that are based on traditional risk factors only are likely to be insufficient to capture CV risk extent in RA.
A description of the needs of noninstitutionalized cancer patients and their primary care givers

The purpose of this descriptive study was twofold: to identify the needs of the noninstitutionalized patient with cancer as defined by patients, primary care givers, and nurses, and to identify the needs of the primary care giver as defined by the same three groups of subjects. Each subject completed two forms of the Objects Content Test, an open-ended questionnaire on which subjects were asked to list the needs of patients and care givers. Content analysis was applied to the two sets of data to formulate categories of need responses; each set of data with category labels and definitions was submitted for q-sort by two successive groups of nurse experts to establish the validity of need item responses in categories. Findings revealed that patient needs were represented by six categories and caregivers' needs by seven categories. For both sets of data, the largest number of needs were in the psychological needs category. For patients, physical needs and information needs were the next largest categories; for care givers, the categories of household management needs (which encompassed patient care) and information needs were the second and third largest. Some disparity between perceived needs as generated by the three groups of subjects was noted. Further research utilizing quantitative methods is needed to determine whether suggested trends (such as nurse subjects' emphasis on informational needs for care givers and patients' infrequent listing of informational needs for themselves) have validity.
Kinematics of Turning 180° During the Timed Up and Go in Stroke Survivors With and Without Falls History

Background. Community-dwelling, chronic stroke survivors are at risk of falling during turning and are more likely to sustain a hip fracture when they fall. Objective. This study quantifies kinematic differences between stroke survivors (mean ± SD: 38.3 ± 31.3 months poststroke, 59.9 ± 10.1 years of age), with (n = 9) and without a falls history (n = 9), and age-matched healthy counterparts (n = 18) in turning coordination during the 180° turn around in the Timed “Up & Go„ (TUG) test. Methods. Full-body kinematics were recorded while participants performed the 180° turn around in the TUG. Dependent measures were time to turn, number of steps to turn, and measures of axial segment coordination. Result. Although participants who had a stroke and falls history took significantly longer to turn (mean ± SD: 4.4 ± 1.7 seconds) than age-matched controls (2.5 ± 0.6 seconds), no kinematic differences were found in performance or in the axial segment coordination during turning that could contribute to falls history or falls risk. Conclusions. These results indicate incidences of falls during turning following stroke may not be due to impaired movement patterns but due to the many other factors that are associated with falls, such as deficits in cognitive processes—attention or central integration—and/or sensory deficits.
Fine mapping of an apparently targeted latent human herpesvirus type 6 integration site in chromosome band 17p13.3

An unusually high level of latent HHV‐6 infection has been documented in the peripheral blood and/or bone marrow cells of a small group of patients with predominantly malignant lymphoid disorders, and in at least one healthy individual. We have shown previously in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of three patients, two with a history of lymphoma and one with multiple sclerosis, a specific target site for latent integration of the full‐length HHV‐6 viral genome on the distal short arm of chromosome 17, in band p13.3. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedures were used to map more precisely the location of the viral integration site in one of those patients, relative to two known oncogenes mapped previously, namely CRK, and the more telomeric ABR oncogene. It is shown that the HHV‐6 integration site is located at least 1,000 kb telomeric of ABR, and is very likely to map close to or within the telomeric sequences of 17p. This finding is significant given that human telomeric‐like repeats flank the terminal ends of the HHV‐6 genome. Cytogenetic studies showed evidence of karyotype instability in the peripheral blood cells infected latently. J. Med. Virol. 58:69–75, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A fractionation procedure for studies of the synthesis of cell-wall mucopeptide and of other polymers in cells of Staphylococcus aureus.

SUMMARY: A method is described for simultaneous estimation of pool constituents, protein, nucleic acids, cell-wall mucopeptide, and possibly teichoic acid in a single sample of S. aureus. The method makes possible isolation of the cell-wall mucopeptide contaminated by less than 5% of the cytoplasmic protein. It is suitable for studies of biosynthesis, with radioactive precursors, and requires approximately 3 mg. cell/sample.
Remnant Cholesterol Elicits Arterial Wall Inflammation and a Multilevel Cellular Immune Response in Humans

Objective— Mendelian randomization studies revealed a causal role for remnant cholesterol in cardiovascular disease. Remnant particles accumulate in the arterial wall, potentially propagating local and systemic inflammation. We evaluated the impact of remnant cholesterol on arterial wall inflammation, circulating monocytes, and bone marrow in patients with familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (FD). Approach and Results— Arterial wall inflammation and bone marrow activity were measured using 18F-FDG PET/CT. Monocyte phenotype was assessed with flow cytometry. The correlation between remnant levels and hematopoietic activity was validated in the CGPS (Copenhagen General Population Study). We found a 1.2-fold increase of 18F-FDG uptake in the arterial wall in patients with FD (n=17, age 60±8 years, remnant cholesterol: 3.26 [2.07–5.71]) compared with controls (n=17, age 61±8 years, remnant cholesterol 0.29 [0.27–0.40]; P<0.001). Monocytes from patients with FD showed increased lipid accumulation (lipid-positive monocytes: Patients with FD 92% [86–95], controls 76% [66–81], P=0.001, with an increase in lipid droplets per monocyte), and a higher expression of surface integrins (CD11b, CD11c, and CD18). Patients with FD also exhibited monocytosis and leukocytosis, accompanied by a 1.2-fold increase of 18F-FDG uptake in bone marrow. In addition, we found a strong correlation between remnant levels and leukocyte counts in the CGPS (n=103 953, P for trend 5×10–276). In vitro experiments substantiated that remnant cholesterol accumulates in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells coinciding with myeloid skewing. Conclusions— Patients with FD have increased arterial wall and cellular inflammation. These findings imply an important inflammatory component to the atherogenicity of remnant cholesterol, contributing to the increased cardiovascular disease risk in patients with FD.
The roles of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor on the production and immunogenicity of recombinant ookinete surface antigen Pbs21 of Plasmodium berghei when prepared in a baculovirus expression system

Malarial ookinetes express an immunodominant surface protein (P28) that is a priority candidate for the development of transmission‐blocking vaccines. The full length P28 gene from Plasmodium berghei [Pbs21(1–213)] and a deletion construct [Pbs21(1–188)] encoding a protein that lacks the 25 C‐terminal amino acids, including the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor signal, were expressed in insect cells using baculovirus vectors. Pbs21(1–213) protein is strongly hydrophobic, found in the cytoplasm and on the surface of Spodoptera Sf21 cells, and in the culture medium. Pbs21(1–188) protein was largely found in the aqueous phase of the medium and in the cytoplasm of Sf21 cells, but was not detected on the cell surface. The presence of 25 C‐terminal amino acids is therefore critical to the attachment of recombinant Pbs21 to the parasite plasma membrane. Mice were immunized subcutaneously or intramuscularly with affinity purified recombinant Pbs21(1–213), Pbs21(1–188) or native Pbs21 proteins. Following two immunizations, native Pbs21 induces higher titres when administered by either route, than the recombinant protein bearing an insect GPI anchor, which in turn is markedly more immunogenic than the recombinant polypeptide lacking a GPI anchor. When specific anti Pbs21 antibody titres exceeded 1 mg/ml all three antigens were capable of inducing transmission blockade ≥ 90%, below 1 mg/ml blockade did not correlate with antibody concentration.