Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and distribution of pig helminths in the Dongting Lake Region (Hunan Province) of the People's Republic of China

Abstract The prevalence of helminths in pigs was investigated in five rural communities situated on the embankment of Dongting Lake in Zhiyang County, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China, in an area known to be endemic for Schistosoma japonicum. The helminth prevalences identified on the basis of faecal egg count analysis were: Oesophagostomum spp. (86.7%), Ascaris suum (36.7%), Metastrongylus spp. (25.8%), Strongyloides spp. (25.8%), Trichuris suis (15.8%), Globocephalus spp. (6.7%), Gnathostoma spp. (4.2%), Schistosoma japonicum (5.0%) and Fasciola spp. (1.3%). Post mortem examinations of a small number of pigs depositing eggs of different helminth species revealed the presence of Oesophagostomum dentatum, O. quadrispinulatum, A. suum, Metastrongylus apri, M. pudendotectus, T. suis, G. hispidum and Ascarops dentata. Prevalences of all helminths, with the exception of Oesophagostomum spp. , were higher in young pigs (< 8 months old) compared with adult pigs. Prevalences of trematodes were very low, especially for S. japonicum which had decreased dramatically compared with previous reports from this area of P.R. China, whereas prevalences of nematodes were generally in agreement with those reported from other Yangtze River Provinces. Results from helminth prevalence studies in pigs, conducted in other provinces of P.R. China between 1987 and 1997, are presented and discussed. It was concluded that a government helminth control programme, implemented in 1995 to control S. japonicum infection in pigs in Hunan Province, may have resulted in a greatly reduced prevalence of S. japonicum in pigs in this region.
The atypical N‐glycosylation motif, Asn‐Cys‐Cys, in human GPR109A is required for normal cell surface expression and intracellular signaling

Asparagine‐linked glycosylation (N‐glycosylation) is necessary for the proper folding of secreted and membrane proteins, including GPCRs. Thus, many GPCRs possess the N‐glycosylation motif Asn‐X‐Ser/Thr at their N‐termini and/or extracellular loops. We found that human GPR109A (hGPR109A) has an N‐glycosylation site at Asn17 in the N‐terminal atypical motif, Asn17‐Cys18‐Cys19. Why does hGPR109A require the atypical motif, rather than the typical sequence? Here we show that Asn17‐Cys18‐Cys19 sequence of hGPR109A possesses 2 biologic roles. First, Asn17‐X‐Cys19 contributed to hGPR109A N‐glycosylation by acting as an atypical motif. This modification is required for the normal surface expression of hGPR109A, as evidenced by the reduced surface expression of the nonglycosylated mutants, hGPR109A/N17A, and the finding that hGPR109A/C19S and hGPR109A/C19T, which are N‐glycosylated at Asn17, exhibited expression similar to the wild‐type receptor. Second, the X‐Cys18‐Cys19 dicysteine is indispensable for hGPR109A function. Substitution of Cys18 or Cys19 residue to Ala impaired Gi‐mediated signaling via hGPR109A. We propose the disulfide bond formations of these residues with other Cys existed in the extracellular loops for the proper folding. Together, these results suggest that the atypical motif Asn17‐Cys18‐Cys19 is crucial for the normal surface trafficking and function of hGPR109A. —Yasuda, D. , Imura, Y. , Ishii, S. , Shimizu, T. , and Nakamura, M. The atypical N‐glycosylation motif, Asn‐Cys‐Cys, in human GPR109A is required for normal cell surface expression and intracellular signaling. FASEB J. 29, 2412‐2422 (2015). www.fasebj. org
Of suspicious minds: Race, scandal, and the DC mayoralty

ABSTRACT Local government in America has had a long and storied tradition of corruption, and Black mayors have often been prosecutorial targets in the federal dragnets. Yet, the scholarly attention to public corruption has had very limited examinations of the racial politics of political scandals in local government. The extent and persistence of corruption and other ethical transgressions in American cities raise several important questions. For example, are there racial differences in how voters hold mayors accountable for alleged misconduct when the voter and accused elected official is of their same race? This article examines whether Black voters adjust their practice of making moral judgments about elected officials or political ethics when the officials accused of impropriety are also Black. Using survey data collected by the Washington Post, which followed two mayoral scandals in Washington, DC, I demonstrate important racial differences in how residents responded to scandals surrounding the drug arrest of Marion Barry and the corruption case against Vincent Gray.
Association between Hepatitis B Virus X Gene Mutations and Clinical Status in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Few reports have described the association between mutations in the entire X gene of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the clinical status of HBV-infected patients. We studied the association between HBV X gene mutations and the disease status of patients infected with HBV genotype C. METHODS Mutations in the HBV X genes of 194 patients were determined by direct sequencing. The subject population consisted of patients with chronic hepatitis (n=60), liver cirrhosis (n=65), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n=69). The sequencing results of these 3 groups were compared. RESULTS Each of the mutations G1386M, C1485T, C1653T, T1753V, A1762T, and G1764A was significantly associated with the patient's clinical status. The T1753V (p<0.001) and A1762T/G1764A (p<0.001) mutations were found more frequently in Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative than in HBeAg-positive patients. Specific X gene mutations (G1386M, C1653T, and A1762T/G1764A) were more prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC than in chronic hepatitis patients (p<0.005 for all). In addition, the T1753V (p<0.001) and C1485T (p<0.001) mutations were significantly more prevalent in HCC patients than in chronic hepatitis patients. Only the prevalence of the T1753V mutation increased as the HBV infection progressed from liver cirrhosis to HCC (p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS Our findings show a difference in the pattern of X gene mutations that were associated with the clinical status of patients with chronic HBV infection.
Serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors: New hope for the treatment of chronic pain

Depression and painful symptoms occur frequently together. Over 75% of depressed patients report painful symptoms such as headache, stomach pain, neck and back pain as well as non-specific generalized pain. In addition, World Health Organization data have shown that primary care patients with chronic pain have a four fold greater risk of becoming depressed than pain-free patients. Increasingly, pain is considered as an integral symptom of depression and there evidence to suggest that pain and depression may arise from a common neurobiological dysfunction. Serotonergic cell bodies, in the raphe nucleus, and noradrenergic cell bodies in the locus coeruleus send projections to various parts of the brain, where they are involved in the control of mood, movement, cognitive functioning and emotions. In addition both serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons project to the spinal cord. These descending pathways serve to inhibit input from the intestines, skeletal muscles and other sensory inputs. Usually, these inhibitory effects are modest, but in times of stress, in the interest of the survival of the individual, they can completely inhibit the input from painful stimuli. A dysfunction of the serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons can thus affect both the ascending and descending pathways resulting in the psychological symptoms of depression and somatic pain symptoms such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, non-cardiac chest pain, or irritable bowel syndrome. In view of this, it is not surprising that tricyclic antidepressants have been a standard treatment of chronic pain for many years. In contrast and in spite of their improved tolerance, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors do not appear to be particularly effective in the treatment of pain. Recently, a number of open and controlled trials with selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors such as venlafaxine, milnacipran and duloxetine, suggest that these compounds may be more effective in relieving pain than selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake. Wherever valid comparisons have been made the newer dual action drugs appear to be as effective as the tricyclic and considerably better tolerated. Dual action antidepressants may thus soon become the new standard treatment of chronic pain whether it is associated with depression or not. In addition, these agents may also have a role in modulating neurogenesis and other neuroplastic changes in the central nervous system, thereby leading to more complete recovery in patients suffering from the symptoms of depression or chronic pain.
Low salivary cortisol levels and externalizing behavior problems in youth

Research linking basal cortisol levels with internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in youths has yielded inconsistent results. We hypothesize that the high moment to moment variation in adrenocortical activity requires an analytical strategy that separates variance in cortisol levels attributable to “stable traitlike” versus “state or situationally specific” sources. Early morning saliva samples were obtained from 724 youths (M age = 13.5 years; range = 6–16 years in Year 1) on 2 successive days 1 year apart. Latent state–trait modeling revealed that 70% of the variance in cortisol levels could be attributed to statelike sources, and 28% to traitlike sources. For boys only, higher levels of externalizing problem behaviors were consistently associated with lower cortisol attributable to traitlike sources across 3 years of behavioral assessment. The inverse association between individual differences in cortisol and externalizing problem behavior has previously only been reported in studies of at-risk or clinical groups. The present findings suggest the relationship is a stable phenomenon that spans both normative and atypical child development. Studies are needed to reveal the biosocial mechanisms involved in the establishment and maintenance of this phenomenon, and to decipher whether individual differences in this hormone–behavior link confers risk or resilience.This research was supported in part by the Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory, and the Population Research Institute (PRI) at Pennsylvania State University, as well as the W. T. Grant Foundation (Grant 9617796). PRI has core support from the National Institute of Child Health and Development (Grant 1-HD28263). Collection of data on family process and child psychosocial functioning was supported by two grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 32336 and HD 29409) to Ann Crouter and Susan McHale.
Time-varying Return and Volatility Spillover among EAGLEs Stock Markets: A Multivariate GARCH Analysis

This study investigates the presence of return and volatility spillover across EAGLEs stock markets, namely China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Turkey and Mexico. A multivariate GARCH DCC and BEKK frameworks are employed by classifying the total sample (i.e. from January 2002 to February 2017) into three sub-periods according to the 2008 Global financial crisis. The result shows a significant and positive spillover effect among stock markets in the pre-crisis and post-crisis periods. The transmission of spillover from external markets intensely influenced by US stock market. Furthermore, strong inter-connection and channel of spread observed among EAGLEs stock market during the post-crisis period.
The Tyro3 Receptor Kinase Axl Enhances Macropinocytosis of Zaire Ebolavirus

ABSTRACT Axl, a plasma membrane-associated Tyro3/Axl/Mer (TAM) family member, is necessary for optimal Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) glycoprotein (GP)-dependent entry into some permissive cells but not others. To date, the role of Axl in virion entry is unknown. The focus of this study was to characterize entry pathways that are used for ZEBOV uptake in cells that require Axl for optimal transduction and to define the role of Axl in this process. Through the use of biochemical inhibitors, interfering RNA (RNAi), and dominant negative constructs, we demonstrate that ZEBOV-GP-dependent entry into these cells occurs through multiple uptake pathways, including both clathrin-dependent and caveola/lipid raft-mediated endocytosis. Other dynamin-dependent and -independent pathways such as macropinocytosis that mediate high-molecular-weight dextran uptake also stimulated ZEBOV-GP entry into these cells, and inhibitors that are known to block macropinocytosis inhibited both dextran uptake and ZEBOV infection. These findings provided strong evidence for the importance of this pathway in filovirus entry. Reduction of Axl expression by RNAi treatment resulted in decreased ZEBOV entry via macropinocytosis but had no effect on the clathrin-dependent or caveola/lipid raft-mediated endocytic mechanisms. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that Axl enhances macropinocytosis, thereby increasing productive ZEBOV entry.
SDT Analysis of Experimental Thermal Pain, with “Signal” and “No-Signal” Being Determined Psychophysically

In a signal-detection experiment, the effects of repeated pain stimulation and the induction of fear on pain thresholds and SDT parameters were studied. “Signal” and “no-signal” were not defined physically, but by means of an independent criterion as the primary sensations “pain” and “no-pain. ” First, the relationship between sensation levels for “phasic” (short stimulus, used in the SDT procedure) and “tonic” (longer stimulus, used in the criterion measurement) heat stimuli was determined in 14 subjects. It was quadratic (polynomial regression) and sufficient to define the distinction between “signal/pain” and “no-signal/no-pain. ” In the signal-detection experiment, a significant upward trend (adaptation) in threshold parameters, but no systematic change in the SDT parameters (discrimination ability and response bias) was found. Manipulation of anxiety by instructions caused unsystematic changes in discrimination ability. The procedure employed determines both the absolute strength of pain sensation and the ability to discriminate pain from no pain. These variables proved to be independent.
Estimation of the frequencies of anti‐MAGE‐3 cytolytic T‐lymphocyte precursors in blood from individuals without cancer

Attempts to detect a cytolytic T‐lymphocyte (CTL) response in melanoma patients vaccinated with MAGE‐3 peptides have been negative so far, even though some tumor regressions have been observed. The detection of such responses may require very sensitive detection assays for CTL precursors. To this end, we set up a method whereby a large number of CD8+ T‐cell microcultures are stimulated with autologous antigen‐presenting cells incubated with a peptide, in the presence of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐12 during the first week, and IL‐2 and IL‐7 from the second week. We report here that not only monocyte‐derived dendritic cells but also activated T cells incubated with the MAGE‐3 antigenic peptide presented by HLA‐A2 were effective in activating specific CTL precursors present in the blood of individuals without cancer. These precursors were detected in the CD8+CD45RA+ subpopulation of T cells. Among the CD8+ T‐lymphocyte population of blood donors, the frequency of CTL precursors specific for the MAGE‐3.A2 antigen ranged from 4 to 17 × 10−7. For the MAGE‐3 antigenic peptide presented by HLA‐A1, this frequency ranged from 0.4 to 3 × 10−7. Knowing that several parameters of this procedure still have to be optimized, we will begin to use it to evaluate the CTL precursor frequencies of cancer patients before and after injection of MAGE peptides. Int. J. Cancer 77:538–542, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evasion of the immune response: survival within low responder individuals of the host population

SUMMARY It is proposed that, for many species of parasites, evasion of the host immune response may be achieved passively through enhanced survival within host individuals that have a genetically determined low responsiveness to infection. Evasion by this means may contribute significantly to continued transmission of infection in man and domestic animals and influence the severity of pathology. Low responsiveness plays an important role in determining over-dispersion of parasites within host populations, and the common occurrence of this form of distribution is seen as supporting evidence for the proposition, although few of the examples available provide conclusive proof. The extensive individual and strain variation in response to parasitic infection in laboratory strains of mice is tak as a homologue of the natural situation and allows analysis of the mechanisms underlying low responsiveness. Two examples are considered in detail. In Leishmania infections both non-H-2 and H-2-linked genes influence resistance, but the primary expression of genetically determined low response is at the level of the macrophage. Genetic influences upon acquired immunity regulate macrophage–T-cell interactions. In Trichinella spiralis H-2-linked and non-H-2 genes influence development of the intestinal responses necessary for expulsion of the adult worm, the former through the response of helper T-cells to worm antigen and the amplification of this response through other T-cells, the latter through an effect upon the response of myeloid stem cells to T-cell signals. Modification of genetically determined low responsiveness is discussed in terms of (a) improving host responsiveness through vaccination or non-specific immunostimulation and (b) altering host genotype through selective breeding or the introduction of resistance alleles into a population.
Influence of Global versus Local Rating Agencies to Japanese Financial Firms

Global rating agencies, such as Moody’s and S&P, have assigned credit ratings to corporate bonds issued by Japanese firms since 1980s. Local Japanese rating agencies, such as R&I and JCR, have more market share than the global raters. We examine the yield spreads of 1,050 yen-denominated corporate bonds issued by financial firms in Japan from 1998 to 2014 and find no evidence that bonds rated by at least one global agency are associated with a significant reduction in the cost of debt as compared to those rated by only local rating agencies. Unlike non-financial firms, the reputation effect of global rating agencies does not exist for Japanese financial firms. We also observe that firms with less information asymmetry are more likely to acquire ratings from Moody’s or S&P. Additionally, the firm’s financial profile does not affect its choice to seek out ratings from global raters. Our findings are contradictory to those by Han, Pagano, and Shin (2012), who employ bonds issued by non-financial firms in Japan. Our conjecture is that the asymmetric nature of financial firms makes investors less likely to depend on a credit risk assessment by rating agencies in determining the yields of new bonds.
Optimizing docetaxel chemotherapy in patients with cancer of the gastric and gastroesophageal junction

Advanced gastroesophageal cancer patients are often treated with systemic combination chemotherapy. The V‐325 study demonstrated that adding docetaxel (D) to a frequently used regimen of cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil (CF) provided benefits with regard to overall survival, response rate, time‐to‐disease progression, clinical benefit, and health‐related quality of life. Although the DCF regimen provides these advantages, it is accompanied by an increase in toxicity compared with the doublet regimen. The toxicity profile of DCF is acceptable only with appropriately selected patients and comprehensive toxicity management strategies. The objective of the current review was to identify trials that investigated modifications to the original DCF regimen to improve its toxicity profile and summarize response rate and toxicities. An attempt was also made to summarize ongoing modifications of the DCF regimen. MEDLINE, major meeting proceedings, and the government clinical trials website were searched until 2007. The modified DCF regimens appear to improve the toxicity profile when compared with the original DCF regimen. The docetaxel‐based triplet combinations appear to have a higher response rate than the doublet combinations. Many institutions and cooperative groups continue to study docetaxel‐based modifications of the DCF regimen to treat patients with gastroesophageal carcinoma. However, although modified DCF reduces the frequency of severe toxicities previously reported with DCF, considerably more advances are needed to improve the safety, survival, and convenience of patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Tumor debulking followed by immediate combination chemotherapy in advanced ovarian carcinoma: Phase II

Fifty‐one consecutive, previously untreated patients with FIGO stage III or IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma were enrolled in a prospective study over a period of 7 years (1981–1988). Significant improvement has been noted in patients with advanced ovarian cancer following the administration of modified PAC 1 (adriamycin, cytoxan and cyclophospha‐mide) immediately following primary debulking surgery (within 24 hours) and repeated for 11 monthly cycles. A second look operation was found as an important prognostic indicator. Thirty‐one patients (all Stage III) completed the chemotherapy course and were eligible for second look operation. Of these, 21 patients (68%) showed negative second look. Of the patients with negative second look, 17 of 21 (81%) are alive with a mean survival of 61 months (range 19–103 months) after diagnosis. Among those with positive second look only 3 of 10 are alive with a mean of 41 months after diagnosis. The remaining 20 patients (13 stage III and 7 stage IV) did not undergo second look laparotomy. Only 2 of these 20 patients are alive with a mean of 35 months after diagnosis. Other factors of significant importance were: age and completion of chemotherapy course. Patients appeared to benefit from the combined regimen of optimal debulking surgery, completion of 12 courses of chemotherapy with the first course administered immediately after surgery and second look operation. Tumor type or histologic gradc did not seem to influence results. The early use of chemotherapy was well tolerated and toxicity was minimal and acceptable.
The Forward Premium in the Nord Pool Power Market

ABSTRACT This article investigates the forward premium of futures contracts in the Nordic power market for the time period from January 2004 to December 2013. We find that futures prices are biased predictors of the subsequent spot prices and that there is a significant forward premium in the Nord Pool market, particularly during the winter and autumn. We analyze the impact from several factors on the forward premium. The spot price, and the deviation of water inflow from its usual level, positively affect the forward premium. The variance of the spot price also has a positive effect on the forward premium, but only for the contract closest to delivery.