Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lymphocyte blastogenesis and interferon production in adult human leukocyte cultures stimulated with cytomegalovirus antigens

Lymphocyte blastogenesis and interferon production were measured in adult human leukocyte cultures stimulated with purified or crude cytomegalovirus antigens. Leukocytes from seropositive adults underwent blastogenesis when stimulated with purified or crude Towne strain antigen, whereas neither antigen stimulated blastogenesis in cultures from seronegative donors. The concentrations of antigens yielding maximal blastogenesis varied among the individuals tested. When cultures from seropositive individuals were stimulated with antigens prepared from three different CMV strains--AD-169, Towne, and Davis--comparable levels of blastogenesis were detected. Type 1 interferon was detected in supernatants of cultures stimulated with crude antigens regardless of the immune status of the donor. In contrast, when purified antigen was used as the stimulant, only cultures obtained from seropositive individuals produced detectable levels of interferon, which appeared to be predominantly type 2 or immune interferon.
Age-and sex-specific seasonal variation of venous thromboembolism in patients with and without family history: a nationwide family study in Sweden

Summary Seasonal variation in venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in individuals with familial predisposition to VTE has not been explored. This nationwide study aimed to determine whether there are age- and sex-specific seasonal differences in risk of hospitalisation of VTE among individuals with and without a family history of VTE. The Swedish Multi-Generation Register was linked to Hospital Discharge Register data for the period 1964–2010. Seasonal variation in first VTE events in 1987–2010 for individuals with and without a family history of VTE (siblings or parents) was determined by several independent methods. Stratified analyses were performed according to age, sex, and VTE subtype (pulmonary embolism [PE] or deep venous thrombosis [DVT]). Seasonal variation in VTE incidence, mostly with a peak during the winter, was observed in both sexes in individuals with and without family history with overall peak-to-low ratios (PLRs) of 1.15 and 1.21, respectively. The peak day was December 25 and February 1 for those with and without a family history of VTE, respectively. Seasonal variation was strongest among individuals aged >50 years. Among individuals aged 0–25 years with a family history, the peak for VTE was in July (PLR = 1.20). Significant seasonal variation was observed for PE and DVT with the exception of DVT among those with a family history (PLR = 1.01). In conclusion, our data support the presence of a modest seasonal variation of VTE among individuals with and without a family history of VTE. However, young age and family history may modify and attenuate the effect of season on VTE.
Synthesis, characterization and inhibitory potency of two oxono and thiono analogues of phosphoramidate compounds on acetylcholinesterase

Two novel structurally related phosphoramidate compounds, 1 and 2, with likely β-diketone system were synthesized and characterized by 1H, 13C, 31P NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Compound 2 exhibited a 31P NMR signal which was significantly shielded (8 ppm) relative to compound 1. Determination of human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) inhibitory activity was carried out according to Ellman's modified kinetic method and the IC50 values of compounds 1 and 2 were 1.567 and 2.986 mM, respectively. The ki values of 1 and 2 were 1.39 to 2.65 min− 1 respectively. A comparison of the bimolecular rate constant (ki) and IC50 values for the irreversible inhibitors 1 and 2 revealed that the oxono analogue has greater affinity for hAChE than the thiono compound. Furthermore effects of two conventional oximes paralidoxime (A) and obidoxime (B) on reactivation of the inhibited hAChE were studied but low reactivity was shown by both the oximes.
Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Outpatient Visits for Acute Bronchitis in a Chinese City.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the short-term association between outdoor air pollution and outpatient visits for acute bronchitis, which is a rare subject of research in the mainland of China. METHODS A time-series analysis was conducted to examine the association of outdoor air pollutants with hospital outpatient visits in Shanghai by using two-year daily data (2010-2011). RESULTS Outdoor air pollution was found to be associated with an increased risk of outpatient visits for acute bronchitis in Shanghai. The effect estimates of air pollutants varied with the lag structures of the concentrations of the pollutants. For lag06, a 10 μg/m(3) increase in the concentrations of PM10, SO(2), and NO(2) corresponded to 0.94% (95% CI: 0.83%, 1.05%), 11.12% (95% CI: 10.76%, 11.48%), and 4.84% (95% CI: 4.49%, 5.18%) increases in hospital visits for acute bronchitis, respectively. These associations appeared to be stronger in females (P<0.05). Between-age differences were significant for SO(2) (P<0.05), and between-season differences were also significant for SO(2) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Our analyses have provided the first evidence that the current air pollution level in China has an effect on acute bronchitis and that the rationale for further limiting air pollution levels in Shanghai should be strengthened.
High versus low implant insertion torque: a histologic, histomorphometric, and biomechanical study in the sheep mandible.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to analyze, in an animal model, the histologic and biomechanical phenomena at the bone-implant interface of implants inserted with high torque (HT) as compared to low torque (LT) during the first 6 weeks of healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty tapered-screw-form implants were placed in five hybrid sheep. The implant sites were placed in the mandible, using an extraoral approach; four were placed with HT (test: mean 110 Ncm) on one side and four were placed with LT (control: mean 10 Ncm) on the contralateral side. After 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks of healing, removal torque testing and resonance frequency analysis were performed and the animals were sacrificed for histologic examination. RESULTS Implants from the HT group showed significantly higher bone apposition than implants from the LT group at all examined healing times. Similarly, removal torque was consistently higher for the HT as compared to the LT group. A significant loss of primary stability in the HT group was evident 7 days after placement. Implants from the LT group achieved a significant increase in stability after 4 weeks. Resonance frequency analysis was unable to detect these histologic and biomechanical modifications of the bone-implant complex. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study showed that high implant insertion torque in dense cortical bone does not induce bone necrosis or implant failure, but it does increase the primary stability of implants, which is extremely important in immediate loading protocols.
The Influence of Family Firms and Institutional Owners on Corporate Social Responsibility Performance

Research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) has traditionally focused on managerial discretion and stakeholders’ influence. This study extends current research by addressing the effect of family firms and institutional owners on CSR performance, namely, CSR strengths and concerns. Based on stewardship theory and the socioemotional wealth perspective, we propose that family firms are more likely to value CSR performance. Next, drawing from multiple agency theory, we predict that institutional owners, unlike family owners, will influence a firm’s CSR performance differently. We tested our hypotheses using a sample of 153 firms from 1994 to 2006 and found general support for our hypotheses. A higher percentage of family owned equity and the presence of a family CEO are found to increase CSR strengths, whereas transient institutional owners have an opposite effect. The presence of a family CEO and founding family are found to reduce CSR concerns. Contrary to our predictions, dedicated institutional owners are positively associated with CSR concerns.
External beam versus intraoperative and external beam irradiation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

One hundred fifty‐nine patients with unresectable but localized pancreatic cancer, as defined at exploratory laparotomy, were treated at the Mayo Clinic between February 1974 to April 1985. Postoperative therapy consisted of 4000 to 6000 cGy external beam irradiation (XRT) alone in 122 patients or 4500 to 5500 cGy XRT in combination with an intraoperative electron boost in 37. In addition, 132 (both groups) received 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) chemotherapy. Local control (LC) at 1 year was 82% with XRT + intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) versus 48% with XRT and 66% versus 20% at 2 years respectively (P < 0.0005). Due to the high incidence of hematogenous and/or peritoneal spread in both groups (abdominal failure in 54 and 56% of patients at risk), the decreased frequency of local progression did not translate into an improved survival. Neither median nor long‐term survival of the two treatment groups (XRT versus XRT + IORT) was statistically different (median 12.6 months versus 13.4 months, P = 0.25). With tumor arising in the head of the pancreas, survival at 2 years was 18% as opposed to 0% for other locations (P < 0.01). On the basis of a Cox multivariate analysis, no other treatment or prognostic factor significantly altered survival. Until the problem with systemic failure (usually abdominal) can be resolved, the median and long‐term survival of patients with pancreatic carcinoma is likely to remain unchanged. Since IORT appears to improve local control, we will continue to utilize IORT in phase 1,2 studies which also attempt to decrease the incidence of abdominal failures. Even with IORT + XRT combinations, the incidence of local progression is excessive and radiation dose modifiers need to be evaluated.
Ontogenetic Changes in the Capacity of the Coral Pocillopora damicornis to Originate Branches

Abstract Most colonial corals vary intraspecifically in growth forms, and the diversity in branching morphology is especially striking. While the effects of environmental factors on growth forms have been studied, the genetic control of coral branching patterns has received little attention. The discovery of ontogenetic changes in the capacity to originate branching would set the stage for studies of how branch formation is genetically controlled. During experiments investigating contact reactions in the coral Pocillopora damicornis, we observed that young colonies derived from settled planulae and colonies regenerated from adult branch tips assumed different growth forms. Young colonies formed at least one branch from the central region of the colony, while colonies regenerated from adult branch tips (3–5 mm long) did not form branches during the 9-month observation period. This pattern was invariable, regardless of the types and outcomes of the contact experiments or the orientation of the branch tips. However, some fragments taken from 1- or 2-year-old colonies formed branches. This suggests that the rate of branch formation in P. damicornis colonies decreases with age. These findings will facilitate investigations of the mechanism of coral branch formation at the molecular level.
Children exposed to disaster: I. Epidemiology of post-traumatic symptoms and symptom profiles.

OBJECTIVE To determine the range and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms exhibited by children after exposure to a natural disaster. METHOD Three months after Hurricane Hugo struck Berkeley County, South Carolina, 5,687 school-aged children were surveyed about their experiences and reactions related to the storm. Self-reports of PTSD symptoms were obtained by use of a PTSD Reaction Index. RESULTS Significant variation in the prevalence of PTSD symptoms was found across race, gender, and age groups. Self-reported symptoms were used to derive a post-traumatic stress syndrome classification according to DSM-III-R guidelines for the diagnosis of PTSD. More than 5% of the sample reported sufficient symptoms to be classified as exhibiting this post-traumatic stress syndrome. Females and younger children were more likely to receive this classification. At the symptom level, females reported more symptoms associated with emotional processing and emotional reaction to the trauma. Males were more likely to report symptoms related to cognitive and behavioral factors. Younger children were more likely to report symptoms overall. CONCLUSIONS Children exposed to a high magnitude natural disaster report sufficient symptoms to establish a DSM-III-R derived classification of a PTSD syndrome. Differences between gender, age, and race groups appear to be related to differential risk of exposure, reporting biases, as well as a differential risk for developing post-traumatic symptoms.
A Decision Support System for Optimizing Operations at Intermodal Railroad Terminals

In this paper, we present a decision support tool to optimize two of the most critical activities in intermodal railroad container terminals, in an iterative and integrated framework devoted to the terminal profit improvement. First, the model allows optimizing the freight trains composition, maximizing the company profit, while respecting physical and economic constraints, and placing in the train head/tail containers prosecuting to subsequent destinations. Hence, based on the resulting train composition, the decision support system allows optimizing the containers allocation in the terminal storage yard, in order to maximize the filling level while respecting physical constraints. The model is successfully tested on a real case study, the inland railroad terminal of a leading Italian intermodal logistics company.
Cloning and characterization of the rabbit POU5F1 gene

The product of the POU5F1 gene, Oct4, plays an important role both in embryonic development and in the self-renewal and differentiation of totipotent cells. To understand the function of Oct4 in rabbit ES cells, we cloned and sequenced the rabbit POU5F1 gene, as well as the cDNA encoded by the gene. The Oct4 cDNA contains a 1083 bp ORF encoding a 360 aa protein and a 241 bp 3′ UTR sequence. Oct4 mRNA was expressed at a high level in rabbit ES cells and was barely detectable in the adult spleen, kidney, brain and muscle tissues. The POU5F1 gene is approximately 6 kb in length and includes five exons and four introns. Gene organization is similar to that of the mouse, human and bovine orthologs. Sequencing of the gene revealed an 82% (mouse), 90% (human) and 89% (bovine) overall identity at the protein level. The rabbit POU5F1 gene was mapped to chromosome 12q1.1 by PCR amplification of DNA from two putative POU5F1-containing BAC clones, which were previously mapped to chromosome 12q1.1. The cloning of the rabbit POU5F1 gene will facilitate studies on its roles in rabbit embryogenesis and ES cells.
The capacity of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) to degrade atrazine in a phytoremediation setting

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide in agriculture. Non‐point source contamination of groundwater and drinking water may pose a significant threat to humans, wildlife, and the environment. Phytoremediation may provide a cost‐effective strategy for reducing non‐point source contamination of atrazine from agricultural runoff. Previous studies have shown that the rhizosphere of the native prairie grass, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is capable of enhancing the degradation of atrazine in soils. Biodegradation also may occur within the plant biomass; however, the extent to which this occurs has not been studied. We hypothesize that switchgrass has the capacity to degrade atrazine in vivo, in addition to the microbial biotransformation that occurs in its rhizosphere. The goals of this study were to characterize the ability of switchgrass to take up atrazine from soils, quantify the amount of biodegradation occurring in the plant, and quantify the amount of degradation occurring in the rhizosphere. Switchgrass seedlings were transplanted into autoclaved and non‐autoclaved sand containing 10 µg/g atrazine in sand. Treatments were sacrificed on days 0, 3, and 7. Sand and plant tissue extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography to determine the concentration of atrazine and metabolites in sand and plant tissues. Results demonstrated that leaf biomass is capable of detoxifying atrazine, because metabolites were present in leaf material and not in the sand or root. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:715–722. © 2011 SETAC
Crystal Structure of Tetrameric Homoisocitrate Dehydrogenase from an Extreme Thermophile, Thermus thermophilus: Involvement of Hydrophobic Dimer-Dimer Interaction in Extremely High Thermotolerance

ABSTRACT The crystal structure of homoisocitrate dehydrogenase involved in lysine biosynthesis from Thermus thermophilus (TtHICDH) was determined at 1.85-Å resolution. Arg85, which was shown to be a determinant for substrate specificity in our previous study, is positioned close to the putative substrate binding site and interacts with Glu122. Glu122 is highly conserved in the equivalent position in the primary sequence of ICDH and archaeal 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMDH) but interacts with main- and side-chain atoms in the same domain in those paralogs. In addition, a conserved Tyr residue (Tyr125 in TtHICDH) which extends its side chain toward a substrate and thus has a catalytic function in the related β-decarboxylating dehydrogenases, is flipped out of the substrate-binding site. These results suggest the possibility that the conformation of the region containing Glu122-Tyr125 is changed upon substrate binding in TtHICDH. The crystal structure of TtHICDH also reveals that the arm region is involved in tetramer formation via hydrophobic interactions and might be responsible for the high thermotolerance. Mutation of Val135, located in the dimer-dimer interface and involved in the hydrophobic interaction, to Met alters the enzyme to a dimer (probably due to steric perturbation) and markedly decreases the thermal inactivation temperature. Both the crystal structure and the mutation analysis indicate that tetramer formation is involved in the extremely high thermotolerance of TtHICDH.
Impact of hyponatremia on survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with molecular targeted therapy

Objectives: Hyponatremia is reported to be associated with poor survival in localized renal cell carcinoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with immunotherapy. However, there are no reports on the relationship between hyponatremia and prognosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with molecular targeted therapy. We evaluated the prognostic significance of hyponatremia in metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with molecular targeted therapy as first‐line therapy.
Optimization of Single-Sideband DCS-RZ Format for Long-Haul 43-Gb/s/channel Ultradense WDM Systems

The optimization of the single-sideband (SSB) duobinary carrier-suppressed (DCS) return-to-zero (RZ) format for long-haul ultradense wavelength-division multiplexing (UDWDM) systems with a 43-Gb/s/channel and a channel spacing of 50 GHz is investigated numerically. It is shown that the optimized SSB-DCS-RZ format with an electrical transmitter bandwidth of 0.35 of the bit rate has about 1 dB of Q-factor improvement relative to the conventional SSB-DCS-RZ format (an electrical transmitter bandwidth of 0.25 of the bit rate) due to the reduction of noise bandwidth, smaller linear crosstalk, and better tolerance to the intra-channel fiber nonlinear effects. No substantially different UDWDM system performance is observed when varying the duty cycle of the DCS-RZ signal with optimized SSB filters settings. The UDWDM transmission performance of SSB-DCS-RZ formats is compared with the bandwidth-limited (BL)-duobinary formats. It is shown that generally, the SSB-DCS-RZ formats have poorer Q-factor and tolerance to the total residual dispersion but much higher tolerance to the in-line dispersion compensation and intra-channel nonlinear effects than the BL-duobinary formats
Maintenance of Donor-Specific Chimerism Despite Osteopontin-Associated Bone Fibrosis in a Vascularized Bone Marrow Transplantation Model

Background: The role of vascularized bone allografting is not established in plastic and reconstructive surgery. The authors evaluated the contribution by osteopontin to fibrosis of allografted bone in a vascularized bone marrow transplantation model across a major histocompatibility complex barrier. Methods: Thirty-six transplantations were performed between Brown Norway (RT1n) donors and Lewis (RT1l) recipients divided into three groups: group 1, isografts between Lewis rats (n = 12); group 2, allografts without treatment (n = 8); and group 3, allografts under a 7-day αβ–T-cell receptor/cyclosporine protocol (n = 16). Flow cytometry assessed the presence of chimerism for donor major histocompatibility complex class I (RT1n) antigens. Immunostaining was used to determine osteopontin expression in grafted and recipient bone, and histologic examination was used to assess bone architecture. Results: Early engraftment of donor bone marrow cells (RT1n) into the recipient bone marrow compartment was achieved at posttransplantation day 7. This corresponded with osteopontin expression restricted to the endosteum of trabecular bone and was associated with the preservation of hematopoietic cells within donor bone. Cell migration between donor and recipient bone marrow compartments was confirmed by the presence of recipient cells (RT1l) within the allografted bone and donor-origin cells (RT1n) within the recipient bone. At posttransplantation day 63, osteopontin expression within allografted bone was associated with allograft bone fibrosis and lack of hematopoietic properties. In contrast, the recipient's contralateral bone demonstrated a highly localized osteopontin expression pattern within the endosteum and active hematopoiesis with the presence of donor-specific (RT1n) cells and correlated with chimerism maintenance. Conclusions: These results confirm that despite up-regulation of osteopontin expression and fibrosis of allografted bone, vascularized bone marrow transplantation resulted in efficient engraftment of donor cells into the recipient's bone marrow compartment, leading to chimerism maintenance.
Alcohol policies and impaired driving in the United States: Effects of driving- vs. drinking-oriented policies.

AIMS To test the hypotheses that stronger policy environments are associated with less impaired driving and that driving-oriented and drinking-oriented policy subgroups are independently associated with impaired driving. DESIGN State-level data on 29 policies in 50 states from 2001-2009 were used as lagged exposures in generalized linear regression models to predict self-reported impaired driving. SETTING Fifty United States and Washington, D.C. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1,292,245 adults (≥ 18 years old) biennially from 2002-2010. MEASURES Alcohol Policy Scale scores representing the alcohol policy environment were created by summing policies weighted by their efficacy and degree of implementation by state-year. Past-30-day alcohol-impaired driving from 2002-2010 was obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. FINDINGS Higher Alcohol Policy Scale scores are strongly associated with lower state-level prevalence and individual-level risk of impaired driving. After accounting for driving-oriented policies, drinking-oriented policies had a robust independent association with reduced likelihood of impaired driving. Reduced binge drinking mediates the relationship between drinking-oriented policies and impaired driving, and driving-oriented policies reduce the likelihood of impaired driving among binge drinkers. CONCLUSIONS Efforts to reduce alcohol-impaired driving should focus on reducing excessive drinking in addition to preventing driving among those who are impaired.