Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fibrous component of the blastocoelic extracellular matrix shapes epithelia in concert with mesenchyme cells in starfish embryos

By using a monoclonal antibody (4H11 Mab), we have investigated morphogenetic functions of a fibrous component of the blastocoelic extracellular matrix in relation to cellular activities during early development of the starfish Asterina pectinifera. The 4H11 fibers fill the blastocoele from the late‐cleavage to late‐gastrula stage and contain the 370‐kDa proteinaceous molecule secreted only by the epithelial cells. When 4H11 Mab is introduced into the blastocoele of blastulae, the embryos reveal three distinct morphological abnormalities after the mid‐gastrula stage: (1) Distribution of mesenchyme cells confined near the tip of the archenteron, (2) swelling of the posterior ectoderm, and (3) suppressed growth of the mouth, esophagus, and coelomic pouches. These abnormalities occur together with alterations in the distribution of the 4H11 fibers. In embryos recovering from the effect of 4H11 Mab, the mesenchyme cells rearrange the 4H11 fibers. We propose that 4H11 fibers play direct roles in the morphogenesis of starfish embryos by providing a dynamic scaffold not only for the mesenchyme cells but also for the epithelial cells. Moreover, 4H11 fibers have a resist force from within, in concert with the mesenchyme cells, to counter the bulging force intrinsic to the epithelia and hold the epithelia in specific positions, once the positions have been decided. Developmental Dynamics 232:915–927, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects and regulation of autoreactive CD8+ T cells in a transgenic mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease of unknown etiology. Autoreactive T cells are thought to mediate liver injury, but the pathogenesis of AIH is poorly understood because of the lack of suitable animal models. We established a mouse model to investigate liver-specific T-cell responses and assess the effects and regulation of autoreactive CD8(+) T cells in the pathogenesis of AIH. METHODS We generated transgenic mice expressing the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) autoantigen under control of mouse albumin regulatory elements and alpha-fetoprotein enhancers (Alb) specifically in the liver (Alb-HA mice); they were crossed with mice that express a specific T-cell receptor (TCR) (CL4-TCR). CL4-TCR transgenic CD8(+) T cells were also adoptively transferred into Alb-HA mice. We investigated immunologic mechanisms of CD8(+) T cell-induced liver damage and of counteracting peripheral tolerance. RESULTS The double-transgenic mice (Alb-HA/CL4-TCR) spontaneously developed chronic, autoimmune-mediated hepatitis, characterized by necroinflammatory lesions, hepatic fibrosis, and increased levels of aminotransferase; these features resembled those of AIH. Interestingly, most liver-infiltrating, HA-specific CD8(+) T cells had an anergic phenotype; regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells accumulated in the inflamed liver. CONCLUSIONS The continuous development of a few, HA-specific CD8(+) effector T cells is sufficient to induce chronic hepatitis. Peripheral tolerance mechanisms such as induction of T-cell anergy and accumulation of regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells protect the liver from severe damage. Our mouse model that spontaneously develops chronic autoimmune-mediated hepatitis provides a new tool to investigate autoantigen-specific T-cell responses and regulatory mechanisms involved in the prevention and pathogenesis of AIH.
Value creation and value distribution in Chinese listed firms: the role of ownership structure, board characteristics, and control

We investigate how ownership structure and board characteristics affect the value creation and value distribution in Chinese listed firms. Our results reveal that value creation – captured by firm profitability, labor productivity, and asset utilization efficiency – is superior when the firm’s largest ultimate shareholder controls a larger fraction of voting rights. Ownership by managers and by countervailing shareholders both improve value creation, yet only in privately controlled firms. In state-controlled firms, value creation is better when independent directors occupy a larger fraction of board seats. As to the proportional distribution of the generated value, operationalized by related-party transactions (RPT) and by cash dividends, we note that RPT are more extensive when the government controls a larger fraction of voting rights. In state-controlled firms, the wedge between the government’s voting rights and cash-flow rights is also positively associated with RPT, while negatively associated with the firm’s disbursement of cash dividends. Ownership by managers helps curb RPT in state-controlled firms, while it stimulates cash dividends in privately controlled firms. Regardless of who controls the listed firm, ownership by countervailing shareholders contributes to the proportional distribution of the firm’s generated value. Finally, independent directors have a positive influence on the distribution of cash dividends in Chinese listed firms. Overall, companies that generate more value trade at a larger market-to-book ratio. The effects of our measures of value distribution on a firm’s stock market valuation are generally insignificant, except for the negative impact of RPT in privately controlled firms.
Association of Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Kinase II with Developmentally Regulated Splice Variants of the Postsynaptic Density Protein Densin-180*

In a continuing search for proteins that target calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) to postsynaptic density (PSD) substrates important in synaptic plasticity, we showed that the PSD protein densin-180 binds CaMKII. Four putative splice variants (A–D) of the cytosolic tail of densin-180 are shown to be differentially expressed during brain development. Densin-180 splicing affects CaMKII phosphorylation of specific serine residues. Variants A, B, and D, but not C, bind CaMKII stoichiometrically and with high affinity, mediated by a differentially spliced domain. Densin-180 differs from the previously identified CaMKII-binding protein NR2B in that binding does not strictly require CaMKII autophosphorylation. Binding of densin-180 and NR2B to CaMKII is noncompetitive, indicating different interaction sites on CaMKII. Expression of the membrane-targeted CaMKII-binding domain of densin-180 confers membrane localization to coexpressed CaMKII without requiring calcium mobilization, suggesting that densin-180 plays a role in the constitutive association of CaMKII with PSDs.
Poverty and involuntary engagement stress responses: examining the link to anxiety and aggression within low-income families

Abstract Families living with the burdens of poverty-related stress are at risk for developing a range of psychopathology. The present study examines the year-long prospective relationships among poverty-related stress, involuntary engagement stress response (IESR) levels, and anxiety symptoms and aggression in an ethnically diverse sample of 98 families (300 individual family members) living at or below 150% of the US federal poverty line. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) moderator model analyses provided strong evidence that IESR levels moderated the influence of poverty-related stress on anxiety symptoms and provided mixed evidence for the same interaction effect on aggression. Higher IESR levels, a proxy for physiological stress reactivity, worsened the impact of stress on symptoms. Understanding how poverty-related stress and involuntary stress responses affect psychological functioning has implications for efforts to prevent or reduce psychopathology, particularly anxiety, among individuals and families living in poverty.
The great American health care debate: A classroom game to explore risk and insurance

Abstract Health insurance policy is a current topic of concern for the United States. The classroom game discussed here provides students with a thorough understanding of some of the policy options under debate, in addition to demonstrating the classic problem of adverse selection. Students received probabilities of encountering a variety of medical expenses, based on their randomly assigned fictitious person’s age and health status. In each round, students made insurance decisions and then rolled dice to determine outcomes for each possible medical expense. The experiment considered insurance with an individual mandate, insurance without an individual mandate, insurance where students could purchase à la carte coverage mimicking proposed insurance riders for certain coverage, and insurance where pre-existing conditions were not covered.
Examining the supportive employment practices used by Project SEARCH: A descriptive study

Project SEARCH is a unique high school transition program from school-to-work for young adults with intellectual disabilities. This program teaches individuals with disabilities (interns) job skills in an inclusive work environment, such as a hospital. Therefore, the overall goal of this study was to examine Project SEARCH as a transition program that has data indicating positive outcomes regarding supportive employment for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, this study aimed to: (1) examine the ways in which Project SEARCH enacts its transition supported employment services for individuals with disabilities, and (2) examine the experiences and perceptions of Project SEARCH employees and coworkers toward working with individuals with special needs. Qualitative research methods, including descriptive and interpretative analysis, were employed in this study. The data were collected via face-to-face group interviews. The researcher interviewed two groups separately: Project SEARCH employees and interns’ coworkers. The interview questions were about practices implemented by Project SEARCH, teaching employment skills, coaching and support interns in the workforce, collaboration between Project SEARCH employees and coworkers, and experiences and perceptions of working alongside individuals with special needs. The results of this study were divided into two sections: descriptive results and interpretative results. In the first section, Project SEARCH employees provided valuable information about how to select, prepare, coach, and support interns in the program. In the second section, the interpretative results, coworkers provided an inclusive work environment to interns with disabilities through positive attitudes and support. Lastly, the results have important implications for research in the field of inclusive and supportive employment. EXAMINING THE SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES USED BY PROJECT SEARCH: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
Periodontal pocket as a potential reservoir of high risk human papilloma virus: A pilot study

Aim: Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are small DNA viruses that have been identified in periodontal pocket as well as gingival sulcus. High risk HPVs are also associated with a subset of head and neck carcinomas. HPV detection in periodontium has previously involved DNA detection. This study attempts to: (a) Detect the presence or absence of high risk HPV in marginal periodontiun by identifying E6/E7 messenger RNA (mRNA) in cells from samples obtained by periodontal pocket scraping. (b) Detect the percentage of HPV E6/E7 mRNA in cells of pocket scrapings, which is responsible for producing oncoproteins E6 and E7. Materials and Methods: Pocket scrapings from the periodontal pockets of eight subjects with generalized chronic periodontitis were taken the detection of presence or absence of E6, E7 mRNA was performed using in situ hybridization and flow cytometry. Results: HPV E6/E7 mRNA was detected in four of the eight samples. Conclusion: Presence of high risk human papillomaviruses in periodontal pockets patients of diagnosed with chronic periodontitis, not suffering from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the present day could link periodontitis to HPV related squamous cell carcinoma. Prevalence studies are needed detecting the presence of HPV in marginal periodontium as well as prospective studies of HPV positive periodontitis patients are required to explore this possible link.
Absence of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides from glycoprotein D of herpes simplex virus type 1 results in a structurally altered but biologically active protein

Glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex virus contains three utilized sites (Asn-X-Ser/Thr) for addition of asparagine-linked carbohydrates (N-CHO). Previously, we used oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to alter serine or threonine residues to alanine at each N-CHO addition site. Studies with monoclonal antibodies showed that a mutant protein lacking all three sites (now designated AAA) was structurally altered because of the amino acid change at residue 96 as well as the absence of the N-CHO. In this study, we constructed additional single mutations at site 1 (residues 94 and 96) and found that in most cases, the amino acid change itself adversely affected the conformation of gD. However, changing asparagine 94 to glutamine (Q) at site 1 had the least effect on gD. We constructed a second triple mutant, QAA, which lacked all three N-CHO signals. The antigenic conformation of QAA was similar to that of gD produced in the presence of tunicamycin (TM-gD). However, binding of MAbs to the AAA protein or to single mutants altered at site 1 was reduced compared with TM-gD. Wild-type gD and QAA proteins were equally susceptible to digestion by trypsin or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. In contrast, the AAA protein was more sensitive to trypsin but less sensitive to V8, again suggesting conformational alterations of the AAA protein. Despite what appeared to be large changes in structure, each mutant complemented the infectivity of a virus lacking gD (F-gD beta). We conclude that the N-CHO and amino acids at N-CHO site 1 play an important role in forming and/or maintaining gD structure, but none of the N-CHO are required for gD to function in the complementation assay.
Socio-linguistic Competence of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot English as a ForeignLanguage Learners in the English Speech Act of Apology

Abstract Apologies are formulated when social norms are violated. The objective of this paper is to analyzethe interlanguage and socio-pragmatic features of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot English as a foreign language (EFL)for learners in the speech act of apology.The interlanguage variability in the realization patterns of apologies isidentified with special emphasis on the comparison between the usages of strategy types.Based on the analysis ofthe data gathered through a written discourse completion task, the results have revealed that the most frequentlyemployed semantic formulae for the speech act of apology in English for all the groups are expressing regretfollowed by explanation and offer of repair. It is concluded that although the three groups have employed similarstrategy types in apologizing, they have differed in the frequency of these strategies and that in some situations therealization patterns of apologies are influenced by the first language cultural norms.
True morels (Morchella, Pezizales) of Europe and North America: evolutionary relationships inferred from multilocus data and a unified taxonomy

Applying early names, with or without original material, to genealogical species is challenging. For morels this task is especially difficult because of high morphological stasis and high plasticity of apothecium color and shape. Here we propose a nomenclatural revision of true morels (Morchella, Pezizales) from Europe and North America, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of portions of the genes for RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1) and second largest subunit (RPB2), translation elongation factor-1α (TEF1), the nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2, along with the 5.8S rDNA (ITS), and partial nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S). The 107 newly sequenced collections were from both continents, including 48 types, together with previously published sequences. Names are applied to 30 of the 65 currently recognized genealogical species. Results of the present study revealed that the number of Morchella species in Europe (n = 21) is nearly identical to that in North America (n = 22). Only seven species were found on both continents, consistent with previous reports of high continental endemism within the genus. Presently it is not possible to tell whether the transoceanic disjunctions were due to human activities, migration across a Bering land bridge or long-distance dispersal. In an effort to stabilize the taxonomy, due in part to the recent publication of synonyms for 11 of the species, accepted names are presented together with their corresponding later synonyms. A new subclade that includes holotypes of M. castanea and M. brunneorosea is identified in sect. Morchella (Esculenta Clade). Lectotypes for Morchella deliciosa, M. eximia and M. tridentina are designated here, as well as epitypes for M. dunalii, M. eximia, M. purpurascens and M. vulgaris. Morchella conica was determined to be illegitimate, and further research is required to determine the identity of M. elata and M. inamoena.
Esophageal dysmotility is more common than gastroparesis in diabetes mellitus and is associated with retinopathy.

OBJECTIVES Gastroparesis is a well-known complication of diabetes mellitus, both in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Esophageal dysmotility has also been described, but is not as well-characterized. The etiology and effect of these complications need to be clarified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate esophageal and gastric motility, complications, gastrointestinal symptoms, and plasma biomarkers in a cross-sectional study comprising patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS Patients with diabetes were consecutively asked to participate, and eventually 84 volunteers were included in the study. Esophageal manometry and the gastric emptying test were performed in all patients. Type of diabetes, symptoms, diabetic complications, body mass index (BMI), and biomarkers were recorded. Patients were interviewed about gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS Esophageal dysmotility was present in 63% of patients and gastroparesis in 13% of patients. There was no difference in dysmotility between patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes or between genders. Gastrointestinal symptoms did not correlate to objective findings. Age correlated negatively with gastric emptying rate (p = 0.004). Patients with esophageal dysmotility had longer duration of diabetes compared to those without dysmotility (p = 0.043). In logistic regression analysis, retinopathy was strongly associated with esophageal dysmotility, independent of duration (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Esophageal dysmotility is more common than gastroparesis in diabetes mellitus independent of gender, symptoms, and type of diabetes. There is a strong association between retinopathy and esophageal dysmotility.
Tactile evaluation of the response to double burst stimulation decreases, but does not eliminate, the problem of postoperative residual paralysis

Background: Routine perioperative monitoring with accelero‐myography might prevent residual block, whereas routine tactile evaluation of the response to train‐of‐four (TOF) nerve stimulation does not. The purpose of this prospective, randomised and blinded study was to evaluate the effect of manual evaluation of the response to double burst stimulation (DBS3.3) upon the incidence of residual block.
Performance and excitability of mdx mouse muscle at 2, 5, and 13 wk of age.

Dystrophin is a 427-kDa protein localized adjacent to the sarcolemma in skeletal muscle. Its physiological role remains uncertain, although its absence is known to cause muscular dystrophy. In this study, the function of dystrophin was investigated using the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse. Control and mdx animals at 2, 5, and 13 wk of age (n = 8-11/age) were compared to evaluate in situ gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus muscle contractile, endurance, and excitability properties at nondegenerated, degenerated, and regenerated stages, respectively. Twitch and tetanic tensions expressed per gram of muscle mass were lower in mdx muscle only at 5 wk. Fatigue produced during successive contractions at 2, 10, and 20 Hz did not differ between the two groups at 2 and 5 wk but was lower in mdx muscle at 13 wk. This was not attributed to differences in mitochondria, since cytochrome-c oxidase activity was similar in mdx and control muscle. Contractile properties of control and mdx muscle became faster with age, and at 13 wk the time to peak twitch tension was shorter in mdx muscle relative to control, whereas the half-relaxation times did not differ. Mass action potential area (M wave), an index of muscle excitability, was not significantly different between mdx and control muscle at 2 or 5 wk but was greater in mdx muscle at 13 wk. Thus, in this weight-bearing muscle group, the lack of dystrophin has only a moderate impact in modifying muscle function relative to contractile properties, fatigability, or excitability. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[The influence of anthocyanins from Aronia melanocarpa on selected parameters of oxidative stress and microelements contents in men with hypercholesterolemia].

THE AIM OF THE STUDY Our investigations was to estimate the influence of Aronia anthocyanins (Aronox by Agropharm) on selected parameters of oxidative and antioxidative balance as well as on the concentration of selected metals in red blood cells in men with hipercholesterolaemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS 16 men aged 27 +/- 6.4 years old with blood cholesterol concentration on the level of 205-250 mg/dl took 240 mg of anthocyanins a day for 30 days. Before and after the period of anthocyanins administration a blood sample was taken and following parameters were estimated: lead, aluminium, cooper and zinc concentration in erythrocytes with the method of atomic emission spectrometry with induced coupling plasma (AES-ICP), concentration of substances reacting with thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in hemolysate. CONCLUSION 30 days long administration of 240 mg of anthocyanins a day, caused a substantial increase of glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities. The lead, aluminium and cooper concentration was decreased while zinc concentration in red blood cells was increased.
Colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer in New Zealand in those under 25 years of age (1997–2007)

Colorectal cancer is common and primarily a disease of older people. Colorectal cancer in patients aged 25 years and under is infrequent and may represent a unique subgroup of patients. This study aimed to describe the population of young people in New Zealand diagnosed with colorectal cancer, their tumour characteristics, management and outcomes.
Assessment and treatment of hoarding disorder

Objectives: To provide a brief selective review of the current literature regarding Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Hoarding Disorder, with an emphasis on its associated risks, assessment and management approaches. Conclusions: Hoarding disorder is defined by clear diagnostic criteria. It can be a severe and disabling disorder that can pose significant safety risks to the individual and to others. Management is often challenging, due to the poor level of insight that people with hoarding disorder often have. Psychological approaches tend to adapt cognitive-behavioural approaches, in order to specifically target areas such as impaired decision-making and motivation. Several trials of pharmacological agents have been conducted, but the limitations of these studies call for further research.