Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ADAM‐17‐independent shedding of L‐selectin

L‐selectin is expressed by leukocytes and facilitates their adhesion under flow along the walls of blood vessels. As do a variety of membrane proteins, L‐selectin undergoes ectodomain shedding. Using approaches that monitor full‐length L‐selectin in short‐term assays, it has been determined that L‐selectin shedding is defective in tumor necrosis factor α‐converting enzyme (ADAM‐17)‐deficient cells. In this study, we examined the steady‐state levels of L‐selectin on ADAM‐17‐deficient cells using a monoclonal antibody to the cytoplasmic region of L‐selectin, which allows for the detection of total L‐selectin (full‐length and the membrane‐associated cleavage fragment). We demonstrate that ADAM‐17‐deficient cells generate a 6‐kDa transmembrane fragment of L‐selectin. Although inducible L‐selctin shedding by phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate stimulation was not observed by these cells in short‐term assays, basal turnover did occur, resulting in the production of soluble L‐selectin, as determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. L‐selectin turnover was greatly increased upon ADAM‐17 reconstitution. Truncating the juxtamembrane region of L‐selectin blocked ADAM‐17‐independent shedding as did a hydroxymate metalloprotease inhibitor. Together, these findings demonstrate that a metalloprotease activity separate from ADAM‐17 can use the cleavage domain of L‐selectin. We speculate that separate proteolytic mechanisms of L‐selectin shedding may regulate distinct antiadhesive mechanisms, such as inducible shedding for the rapid dissociation of cell–cell interactions and constitutive shedding for the homeostatic maintenance of high serum levels of soluble L‐selectin, a potential adhesion buffer.
Applications of isometric embeddings to chemical graphs

Abstract. Applications of isometric embeddings of benzenoid graphs are surveyed. Their embeddings into hypercubes provide methods for computing the Wiener index and the Szeged index, while embeddings into the Cartesian product of trees lead to fast algorithms. A new method for computing the hyperWiener index of partial cubes in general, and of benzenoid graphs and trees in particular, is also presented.
Transplantation of preconditioned schwann cells in peripheral nerve grafts after contusion in the adult spinal cord. Improvement of recovery in a rat model.

BACKGROUND Recovery after injury to the peripheral nervous system is based on the pro-regenerative relationship between axons and the extracellular matrix, a relationship established by Schwann cells. As mechanical conditioning of Schwann cells has been shown to stimulate their regenerative behavior, we sought to determine whether transplantation of these cells to the central nervous system (i.e., the spinal cord), with its limited regenerative capacity after injury, would improve axonal regeneration and functional recovery. METHODS A moderate contusion injury of the spinal cord was created with a force-directed impactor in forty-eight adult Sprague-Dawley rats, and, at one week postinjury, the spinal cords were reexposed in all animals. In twenty-four of these animals, peripheral nerve grafts with Schwann cells that had been obtained from the sciatic nerves of donor animals, and had been either untreated or subjected to mechanical conditioning, were transplanted to the contused area of the cords following resection of the glial scar. Another group of animals was treated with glial scar excision only, and a fourth group had the contusion injury but neither glial excision nor transplantation. Scores according to the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) Locomotor Rating Scale were assigned preoperatively and weekly thereafter. Tract tracing of descending and ascending spinal cord tracts was performed at six weeks postoperatively for quantitative histological evaluation of axonal regeneration. RESULTS While the recovery following glial scar excision without peripheral nerve transplantation was significantly worse than the recovery in the other groups, both transplantation groups had significantly higher BBB scores than the controls (no transplantation) in the early postoperative period (p < 0.05). Moreover, histological analysis showed markedly increased axonal regeneration at the lesional sites in the animals treated with the mechanically conditioned grafts than in the other groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Functional recovery after spinal cord contusion improved following glial scar excision with transplantation of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve grafts to the contusion areas. Although recovery did not differ significantly between the transplantation groups, only the preconditioned grafts led to axonal regeneration at and past the lesional site. These grafts may further enhance functional recovery as the descending tracts eventually reach their target end-organs.
Supermarket Speak: Increasing Talk Among Low-Socioeconomic Status

Children from low-socioeconomic sta- tus (SES) families often fall behind their middle-class peers in early language development. But interventions designed to support their language skills are often costly and labor-intensive. This study implements an inexpensive and subtle language intervention aimed at sparking parent-child interaction in a place that families naturally visit: the super- market. We placed signs encouraging adult-child dialogue in supermarkets serving low- and mid-SES neighborhoods. Using an unobtrusive observational methodology, we tested how these signs affected adult-child interactions. When signs were present in supermarkets serving low-SES neigh- borhoods, both the amount and the quality of talk between adults and children increased significantly, compared to when the signs were not present; signs had little effect in middle-SES supermarkets. This study demonstrates that implementing simple, cost-effective interventions in everyday environments may bolster children's language development and school readiness skills.
Antibody protects against lethal infection with the neurally spreading reovirus type 3 (Dearing)

The mammalian reoviruses have provided a valuable model for studying the pathogenesis of viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS). We have used this model to study the effect of antibody on disease produced by the neurally spreading reovirus type 3 (Dearing) (T3). Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies protect mice from fatal infection with T3 after either footpad or intracerebral virus challenge. Protection occurs with monoclonal antibodies directed against the viral cell attachment protein sigma 1, and with polyclonal antisera without T3 sigma 1 binding activity. In vivo protection occurs with both neutralizing and nonneutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Antibody-mediated protection does not require serum complement and, under specific circumstances, can occur via Fc-independent mechanisms. Antibody can protect mice when transferred up to 5 days after intracerebral challenge and up to 7 days after footpad challenge, times when high titers of virus are present in the CNS. Thus, antibody mediated protection against this neurally spreading virus does not require neutralizing antibody or serum complement and occurs even in the face of established CNS infection.
Angeliq versus Activelle in normotensive postmenopausal women: a prospective, randomized pilot study

Objective:The aim of this study was to compare, in normotensive postmenopausal women, the effects of drospirenone/estradiol and norethisterone acetate/estradiol on blood pressure and other surrogate markers of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular risk. Methods:Thirty postmenopausal women were submitted to utero-ovarian ultrasonography and to color Doppler evaluation of ophthalmic arteries. Ultrasonographic and Doppler analysis of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed. Plasma concentrations of nitrites/nitrates were assayed. The participants were randomly assigned to drospirenone 2 mg/estradiol 1 mg (group 1; n = 15) or norethisterone acetate 0.5 mg/estradiol 1 mg (group 2; n = 15) treatment. The duration of the study was 6 months. Results:The basal pulsatility index and the back pressure of the ophthalmic artery were similar in groups 1 and 2. After 6 months, no changes were observed. The nitrites/nitrates values were not different between groups 1 and 2 both in basal conditions and after therapy. The brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation and the pulsatility index of the brachial artery did not show any difference in groups 1 and 2 both in basal conditions and after the therapy. The 24-hour blood pressure monitoring showed no significant differences in the 24-hour time, daytime, and nighttime values either in basal conditions or after therapy. All participants were found to be dippers normally (nocturnal reduction ≥10% in comparison with diurnal values). The wake-up blood pressure values were similar in the studied participants. Conclusions:A 6-month hormone therapy with drospirenone/estradiol or norethisterone acetate/estradiol is equally effective and does not seem to alter the surrogate markers of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk.
Feature Relevance in Bayesian Network Classifiers and Application to Image Event Recognition

An important problem in Bayesian Network Classiﬁers (BNCs) is to discover relevant variables that can achieve optimal classiﬁcation performance. We propose a method based on Bayesian inference for estimating and incorporating feature relevance in classiﬁcation using BNCs. We empirically validate our method on an application to event recognition in natural images using object and scene information.
Longitudinal Analysis of Assimilation, Ethnic Capital and Immigrants' Earnings: Evidence from a Hausman-Taylor Estimation

In this paper we examine the economic performance of immigrants using a panel/longitudinal approach. We extend the literature by incorporating the effect of ‘ethnic capital’ in our analysis in the Australasian setting. To construct social and resource networks for immigrant groups, we adopt the ‘spatial model approach’ to account for ethnic concentration and networks. We incorporate different measures of ethnic capital, in particular, ethnic group economic resources and spatial concentration. Moreover, we employ the Hausman-Taylor estimation method (1981) to account for potential endogeneity in the panel setting to examine the effects of ethnic capital and human capital using an eight-year Australian panel data set (HILDA). We find that immigrants tend to assimilate over time, but this effect is significantly affected by immigrants’ ethnic group local concentration and resources. We further show that controlling for ethnic capital enhances the analytical explanation of the assimilation model.
Immune mechanisms of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury

Idiosyncratic drug reactions (IDRs) continue to be an important issue. Specifically, idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) is the most likely IDR to lead to drug withdrawal, and it accounts for a significant portion of all cases of acute liver failure. In addition, IDRs are unpredictable and their mechanisms are not well understood. There is increasing clinical evidence that most IDILI is immune mediated. Several immune mediated mechanistic hypotheses exist such as the hapten and danger hypothesis; however, they do not completely explain the idiosyncratic nature of these reactions. Extensive mechanistic studies are needed to better understand these reactions; however, it is impossible to do controlled experiments in humans, and previous animal models did not properly model IDILI. If IDILI is immune mediated and the major factor preventing liver injury in patients is immune tolerance, then a plausible method to develop an animal model of IDILI would be to impair immune tolerance. This hypothesis has shown promise in developing valid animal models of IDILI as demonstrated by a halothane induced liver injury mouse model developed by depleting myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), as well as an amodiaquine-, isoniazid-and nevirapine-induced liver injury mouse model developed by impairing immune tolerance by blocking PD-1 and CTLA-4, two immune checkpoint inhibitors. Further characterization and validation of these models is required; however, it is likely that they will make it possible to perform mechanistic studies that have been impossible in the past. Relevance for patients: Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury can be serious leading to liver transplantation or death. Their idiosyncratic nature makes mechanistic studies very difficult. However, with the development of the first animal model that is similar to the liver injury that occurs in humans, it will be possible to study the mechanisms involved. With a better mechanistic understanding it should be possible to test drug candidates and produce safer drugs. In addition, it should be possible to design better treatments when drug-induced liver injury does occur.
Dissociation of 24-hour catecholamine levels from blood pressure in older men.

Increased plasma norepinephrine levels have been observed in some persons with early essential hypertension. Although both plasma norepinephrine level and mean arterial blood pressure rise with age, little is known about the state of catecholamine secretion in elderly patients with essential hypertension. We studied the 24-hour cycle levels of plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine in 12 elderly hypertensive subjects and 13 age-matched normotensive controls (mean ages, 63.8 +/- 1.2 yr and 64.8 +/- 1.8 yr [SEM] respectively). Blood samples were obtained at bihourly intervals from 0900 to 2100 hours and every 30 minutes from 2100 to 0900 hours, during which time sleep and breathing were continuously monitored. A circadian rhythm was displayed in both groups by plasma epinephrine levels (mesor, 49 +/- 2 pg/ml and 38 +/- 1 pg/ml; amplitude, 15 +/- 2 pg/ml and 11 +/- 1 pg/ml; acrophase, 12.20 +/- 0.40 hr and 14.41 +/- 0.34 hr in the normotensive and hypertensive groups respectively) but not by plasma norepinephrine or dopamine levels. During the 24-hour cycle plasma epinephrine, but not norepinephrine or dopamine, levels were positively related to mean arterial blood pressure (r = 0.60 for the normotensive subjects, r = 0.57 for the hypertensive subjects, p less than 0.01 for both). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Magic functions

In this paper we show that three apparently unrelated problems are in fact very closely related. We sketch these problems at a high level. The selective decommitment problem first arose in a slightly different form, selective decryption, in the context of Byzantine agreement, no later than 1985. Instead of seeing encryptions of plaintexts the adversary is given commitments to the plaintexts. This problem is poorly understood even in strong-receiver commitments, which leak no information about the plaintext values information-theoretically. The second problem is in complexity theory: what can be proved in (a possibly weakened form of) zero-knowledge in a 3-round argument (interactive proof in which the prover is polynomial-time bounded)? The Fiat-Shamir Methodology is cryptographic, and addresses a methodology suggested by Fiat and Shamir (1987) to construct a (non-interactive) signature scheme from any 3-round (not necessarily zero-knowledge) public-coin identification scheme.
The nonintentional processing of Arabic numbers in children

This paper aims at determining when magnitude is automatically activated from Arabic digits in children and whether this automatic activation depends on the number size of the stimuli considered. Second, third, and fourth graders performed a physical Stroop task in which pairs of single- and two-digit Arabic numerals in a ratio 1:2 or 2:3 were used. In addition, the speed of perceptual and semantic information was balanced: Instead of presenting the two members of each pair directly with a physical size difference, they first appeared in the same intermediate physical size, the perceptual difference occurring only after some time. The results indicated a significant effect of congruity at all grades, with faster reaction times and lower error rates for congruent trials than for incongruent trials, for both one- and two-digit numerals. Furthermore, this congruity effect was affected by the ratio of the numbers in the pairs. Only pairs of ratio 1:2 were affected by this congruity effect. These findings strongly support the fact that children as young as 7 years old can automatically access the magnitude information of one- as well as two-digit Arabic numerals.
Cardiovascular Effects of Low-Dose Dexamethasone in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates with Refractory Hypotension

Background: Administration of hydrocortisone and relatively high doses of dexamethasone increase blood pressure in volume- and pressor-resistant hypotensive preterm infants. However, little is known about the temporal relationship of dexamethasone administration and the improvement in blood pressure and the weaning of pressors/inotropes. Furthermore, there are no sufficient data available on whether a smaller dose of dexamethasone would also be effective in treating refractory hypotension. Objective: To study the cardiovascular responses to low-dose dexamethasone in very low birth weight neonates with volume- and pressor-resistant hypotension. Methods: Retrospective database review. Twenty-four preterm neonates (gestational age 26 (23–34) weeks; birth weight 801 (457–1,180) g; postnatal age 2 (1–24) days, medians (ranges)) who remained hypotensive despite volume administration and combined dopamine and dobutamine treatment at ≧30 µg/kg/min received dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg followed by 0.05 mg/kg intravenously every 12 h for 5 additional doses if still on pressors ≧8 µg/kg/min. Results: Two hours after the first dose of dexamethasone the mean blood pressure increased from 30 ± 5 to 34 ± 6 mm Hg (p < 0.001) and remained elevated at 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after treatment was started (p < 0.001). Six hours after the initial dose of dexamethasone the pressor/inotrope requirement decreased from 34 ± 9 to 24 ± 13 µg/kg/min (p = 0.001) and continued to decrease at 12 and 24 h (p < 0.001). Urine output also increased significantly during the first 6 h after dexamethasone (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Low-dose dexamethasone rapidly increases blood pressure and decreases pressor requirements in very low birth weight neonates with volume- and pressor-resistant hypotension.
Femoral shaft fractures in children: traction and casting versus elastic stable intramedullary nailing.

BACKGROUND Treatment of pediatric femoral fractures by 90/90 traction and spica casting (TXN/CST) has begun to be replaced by elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN). The purpose of our study was to perform a cost analysis of TXN/CST versus ESIN in addition to comparing clinical/functional parameters. METHODS We reviewed all children admitted with femoral shaft fractures between January 1995 and April 1998. Overall cost and clinical/radiographic outcome measures were analyzed, and 60% of patients' parents completed a follow-up telephone interview. Sixty-eight patients representing 71 femoral shaft fractures that had complete data and 1-year follow-up were included. RESULTS No difference existed between the two groups for standard clinical/functional criteria. ESIN was associated with a lower overall cost than TXN/CST. ESIN also resulted in better scar acceptance, and higher overall parent satisfaction. CONCLUSION Less cost and comparable clinical outcome make ESIN a better option than traditional TXN/CST for femoral fracture care in the skeletally immature patient.
Alford's theoretical political framework and its application to interests in health care now.

In these troubled times, it can be useful to see whether there are any sociological or political theories that could help us analyse issues from a fresh perspective. Several theories might be relevant but Alford's political theory of interests seems to me especially illuminating. Published in 1975, it is based on Robert R Alford's study of the failure of reforms to improve health care in New York city.1 Its detailed categorisation of interest holders and examination of the political relationships among them, and its general applicability to western healthcare systems, promise to make sense of conflicts of objective and of view in debates about proposed policies and changes in UK health care. Here I outline Alford's theory and look at the convergences and conflicts of interests among the major categories of interest holders he identifies: clinicians, corporate rationalisers, and patients. (Corporate rationalisers is a useful term for bureaucrats, managers, and many academics, see below.) Patients' interests are excluded from discussions about proposed policies more often than other interest holders always realise or intend. Using Alford's framework, I suggest that a more thorough consideration of the interests of all three categories of interest holder could sometimes lead to policies that met the interests of them all. Alford's theory is expressed through the political concepts of interests and power. Interests are difficult to define but roughly mean a stake in something that is important to the interest holder because of the benefit or harm it can do to him or her or to the social group to which he or she belongs.2 Power is ability to bring about significant effects, specifically by furthering the agent's own interests or by affecting the interests of others, whether positively or negatively.2 Values, the worth of something to a person or group, are …
How Might Climate Change Affect Island Culture in the in the Torres Strait

The Torres Strait Islands are frequently ‘left off the map’ in research on biophysical change in Australia. There are few observational data sets from which modelling work or inundation studies can be performed—even though these communities may be facing imminent threats to their existence. Some of these islands are only a metre or two above local mean sea level; and in the last two years several have suffered major inundation incidents due to a combination of king tides and strong winds. Most of these islands have inadequate infrastructure, health services and employment opportunities. This social context is highly significant in terms of these communities’ resilience to climate hazards because social and economic disadvantage reduces their ability to cope and their capacity to adapt to rapid environmental change. This concern is compounded by a cultural issue not normally considered by natural scientists working on identifying climate impacts in human settlements. Many Islanders connect the health of their land and sea country to their mental and physical wellbeing and, more broadly, their cultural integrity. Therefore, direct biophysical impacts such as rising temperatures, extreme weather events or secondary impacts resulting from these biophysical changes are likely to have significant indirect impacts on the social and cultural cohesion of these communities. In the near term, projected changes could affect subsistence hunting as well as commercial fishery operations with significant nutritional, economic and cultural ramifications. Similarly, change in rainfall could exacerbate existing pressures on potable water supplies unless significant anticipatory planning is initiated to reduce this climate related risk. In the longer term, the very existence of Ailan Kastom (Island Custom) may be threatened if projected sea level rise in combination with extreme weather events increases the frequency and/or severity of inundation incidents and necessitates relocation from the islands. In conclusion, highly participatory adaptation planning is vital to reduce climate risks and their subsequent impacts on Islanders’ cultural integrity in the mid to long term.