Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deciphering CD30 ligand biology and its role in humoral immunity

Ligands and receptors in the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamilies have been the subject of extensive investigation over the past 10–15 years. For certain TNFR family members, such as Fas and CD40, some of the consequences of receptor ligation were predicted before the identification and cloning of their corresponding ligands through in vitro functional studies using agonistic receptor‐specific antibodies. For other members of the TNFR family, including CD30, cross‐linking the receptor with specific antibodies failed to yield many clues about the functional significance of the relevant ligand–receptor interactions. In many instances, the subsequent availability of TNF family ligands in the form of recombinant protein facilitated the determination of biological consequences of interactions with their relevant receptor in both in vitro and in vivo settings. In the case of CD30 ligand (CD30L; CD153), definition of its biological role remained frustratingly elusive. Early functional studies using CD30L+ cells or agonistic CD30‐specific antibodies logically focused attention on cell types that had been shown to express CD30, namely certain lymphoid malignancies and subsets of activated T cells. However, it was not immediately clear how the reported activities from these in vitro studies relate to the biological activity of CD30L in the more complex whole animal setting. Recently, results from in vivo models involving CD30 or CD30L gene disruption, CD30L overexpression, or pharmacological blockade of CD30/CD30L interactions have begun to provide clues about the role played by CD30L in immunological processes. In this review we consider the reported biology of CD30L and focus on results from several recent studies that point to an important role for CD30/CD30L interactions in humoral immune responses.
Homogeneous vs heterogeneous subduction zone models: Coseismic and postseismic deformation

A finite‐element model (FEM) incorporating geologic properties characteristic of a subduction zone is compared with FEMs approximating homogeneous elastic half‐spaces (HEHS)s to investigate the effect of heterogeneity on coseismic and postseismic deformation predictions for the 1995 Colima‐Jalisco Mw =8.0 earthquake. The FEMs are used to compute a coefficient matrix relating displacements at observation points due to unit dislocations of contact‐node pairs on the fault surface. The Green's function responses are used to solve the inverse problem of estimating dislocation distributions from coseismic GPS displacements. Predictions from the FEM with heterogeneous material properties, loaded with either of the HEHS dislocation distributions, significantly overestimate coseismic displacements. Postseismic deformation predictions are also sensitive to the coseismic dislocation distribution, which drives poroelastic and viscoelastic relaxation. FEM‐generated Green's functions, which allow for spatial variations in material properties, are thus preferable to those that assume a simple HEHS because the latter leads to dislocation distributions unsuitable for predicting the postseismic response.
Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score at admission predicts possible outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure

Abstract The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a new model for assessing the severity of liver dysfunction. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the prognostic value of the ALBI score in predicting the 3-month outcome of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF). This study included 84 patients with HBV-AoCLF, 56 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and 48 healthy controls (HCs). The virological parameters and biochemical examination of blood were obtained after 12 hours of fasting. The follow-up of AoCLF patients lasted for at least 3 months, and the relationships between the prognosis and ALBI score were analyzed. A significantly higher ALBI score was detected in AoCLF patients than in the HC and CHB groups (both P = .001). The ALBI score was positively correlated with the model of the end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child–Pugh score. Moreover, ALBI scores were higher among non-survivors than survivors in AoCLF patients. Multivariate analysis suggested that both the ALBI and MELD scores were independent predictors of the 3-month mortality in AoCLF patients (P < .001). A high ALBI score measured at admission may be used as a predictor for the 3-month mortality rate in patients with HBV-AoCLF.
Undiagnosed Breech In Banbury: A Study of Undiagnosed Breech at a District Hospital Maternity in Banbury, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and management of undiagnosed breech, relating our figures with the national statistics, comparing our management with “standard” and to see if there could be any benefit from introducing additional intervention(s) to enhance breech detection. The author was also interested in finding out if there could have been any associated co-morbidity which could have contributed to failure to diagnose breech and whether relevant co-morbidities were born in mind or noted during clinical assessment of these women. Methods: This is essentially a retrospective study of deliveries at the Horton Hospital Maternity Unit for a 12 month period, covering the period of October 2003 to September 2004. Delivery summaries of all deliveries were systematically studied twice for consistency. Case notes of breech deliveries were also reviewed twice. Cases of undiagnosed breech deliveries were clearly identified and studied in greater detail. Results/Conclusion: Cases of diagnosed breech were 64, which was 83.1% of the total breech births and 4.12% of the total annual birth. Cases of undiagnosed breech were 13, which was 16.88% of total annual breech deliveries and 0.84% of total annual birth. Interestingly, majority of the diagnoses of undiagnosed breech were made during first stage of labour and most of the women had spent hours with staff and each had 2 or more clinical examinations before discovery was made. There was no diagnosis of undiagnosed breech in women with body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m 2 or higher. As shown in Table 3, contrary to author’s expectation, most cases were diagnosed in women with normal BMI (61.54%). Co-morbidities like uterine anomaly, polyhydramnios, large fibroids and pelvic mass were not apparent from the study. Most cases (61.54%) of undiagnosed breech were made in primigravidas and most cases of undiagnosed breech (61.54%) were delivered by emergency caesarean section. There was no significant impact on maternal morbidity and short term neonatal outcomes. The author’s view is that this study could rekindle the argument that trends of misdiagnoses should ideally prompt reviews rather that few spikes in misdiagnoses, in some aspects of obstetric care. However, one cannot deny the knowledge and reassurance from such reviews prompted by few spikes in misdiagnoses.
Do Cancer-Related Beliefs Influence the Severity, Incidence, and Persistence of Psychological Symptoms?

Background: Previous studies have suggested that negative beliefs about cancer may impair patients’ psychological well-being, but only a few of these studies focused on specific psychological symptoms, and many were cross-sectional. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinally the relationship of cancer-related cognitions with the severity, incidence, and persistence of anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence, depression, and insomnia symptoms during an 18-month period. Methods: Patients scheduled to undergo surgery for cancer (N = 962) completed a questionnaire assessing cancer-related cognitions at baseline (T1), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the severity subscale of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, and the Insomnia Severity Index at baseline (T1) and 2 (T2), 6 (T3), 10 (T4), 14 (T5), and 18 (T6) months later. Results: Group × time factorial analyses using mixed models revealed that participants endorsing more negative cancer-related cognitions consistently reported more severe symptoms throughout the 18-month period. Logistic regression analyses suggested that endorsing more negative cancer-related cognitions at T1 significantly increased incidence and persistence rates of clinical levels of psychological symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the endorsement of negative cancer-related beliefs at the perioperative period influences the longitudinal evolution of anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence, depression, and insomnia symptoms in the following months. Implications for Practice: These results highlight the relevance of using cognitive restructuring early during the cancer care trajectory to potentially revise erroneous beliefs about cancer and prevent the incidence and persistence of psychological disturbances over time.
Scanning vehicular lens antennas for satellite communications

This paper presents technique for designing hemispherical dielectric lens antennas for satellite communications enclosed in protective radome based on spectral domain analysis approach. The analysis technique is coupled with the global optimization technique (namely the particle swarm optimization algorithm), to allow optimization or synthesis of that kind of antennas. The developed tool is used to synthesize vehicular antenna structures and study the influence of radome on radiation pattern.
Specialized Search and Innovation Performance – Evidence Across Europe

Searching for external knowledge has frequently been characterized as crucial for firm success. However, little is known about how the direction of search strategies influences innovation performance. In this paper, we argue that firms need to specialize their search strategy and that its effectiveness is moderated by R&D investments and potential knowledge spillovers from a firm's environment. Based on a sample of more than 5,000 firms from five European countries, our results show that being open for innovation generally pays off. However, both moderating factors have a crucial role to play: On the one hand, in-house R&D investments are most effective when combined with a market-oriented search strategy. On the other hand, a technologically advanced environment requires firms to reach out to scientific knowledge sources in order to access novel knowledge and to enhance innovation performance. We develop targeted management recommendations based on these results.
Reliability aspects of 1200V and 3300V silicon carbide MOSFETs

We have demonstrated 1200V and 3300V planar 4H-SiC MOSFET technology at our 6-inch foundry. 1200V MOSFETs demonstrate good avalanche ruggedness under single-and one million (1,000,000) repetitive unclamped inductive switching (UIS) pulse tests. 1200V MOSFETs can pass one hundred (100) 10 microsecond short-circuit events at 600V bus voltage, while 3300V MOSFETs can pass 5 microsecond short-circuit event at 2200V bus voltage. Both UIS and short-circuit events induce a positive threshold voltage shift, with a significant portion of it being reversible and likely being caused by electron trapping. Exposure of the MOSFET's built-in body diode to 3-rd quadrant pulsed surge current causes expansion of basal plane dislocations in 3300V MOSFETs, severely affecting device static characteristics. At the same time, no degradation is observed in 1200V MOSFETs under the same repeated pulsed surge current test conditions.
Determination of inflammatory and prominent proteomic changes in plasma and adipose tissue after high-intensity intermittent training in overweight and obese males

This study aimed to determine whether 2 wk of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) altered inflammatory status in plasma and adipose tissue in overweight and obese males. Twelve participants [mean (SD): age 23.7 (5.2) yr, body mass 91.0 (8.0) kg, body mass index 29.1 (3.1) kg/m2] undertook six HIIT sessions over 2 wk. Resting blood and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue samples were collected and insulin sensitivity determined, pre- and posttraining. Inflammatory proteins were quantified in plasma and adipose tissue. There was a significant decrease in soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R; P = 0.050), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1, P = 0.047), and adiponectin (P = 0.041) in plasma posttraining. Plasma IL-6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-10, and insulin sensitivity did not change. In adipose tissue, IL-6 significantly decreased (P = 0.036) and IL-6R increased (P = 0.037), while adiponectin tended to decrease (P = 0.056), with no change in ICAM-1 posttraining. TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-10 were not detectable in adipose tissue. Adipose tissue homogenates were then resolved using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and major changes in the adipose tissue proteome, as a consequence of HIIT, were evaluated. This proteomic approach identified significant reductions in annexin A2 (P = 0.046) and fatty acid synthase (P = 0.016) as a response to HIIT. The present investigation suggests 2 wk of HIIT is sufficient to induce beneficial alterations in the resting inflammatory profile and adipose tissue proteome of an overweight and obese male cohort.
Additive Inhibition of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors by Corticosteroids and the Neuromuscular Blocking Drug Vecuronium

Background: Neuromuscular disorders associated with muscular weakness and prolonged paralysis are common in critically ill patients. Acute myopathy has been described in patients receiving a combination therapy of corticosteroids and nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs for treatment of acute bronchospasm. The cause of this myopathy is not fully established and may involve drug interactions that perturb neuromuscular transmission. To investigate the interaction of corticosteroids with neuromuscular blocking drugs, the authors determined the effects of methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone alone and in combination with vecuronium on fetal (&ggr;-subunit containing) and adult (&egr;-subunit containing) subtypes of the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Methods: Functional channels were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and activated with 1 &mgr;M acetylcholine. The resulting currents were recorded using a whole cell two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Results: Both forms of the muscle-type acetylcholine receptor were potently inhibited by methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone, with concentrations producing 50% inhibition in the range of 400–600 &mgr;M and 1–2 mM, respectively. The corticosteroids produced noncompetitive antagonism of the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at clinical concentrations. Both receptor forms were also inhibited, even more potently, by vecuronium, with a concentration producing 50% inhibition in the range of 1–2 nM. Combined application of vecuronium and methylprednisolone showed additive effects on both receptor forms, which were best described by a two-site model, with each site independent. Conclusions: The enhanced neuromuscular blockade produced when corticosteroids are combined with vecuronium may augment pharmacologic denervation and contribute to the pathophysiology of prolonged weakness observed in some critically ill patients.
Migration Experiences and Reported Sexual Behavior Among Young, Unmarried Female Migrants in Changzhou, China

30% reported being sexually experienced, but only 38% reported using contraception at first sex and 58% consistently over the past year, leading to many unintended pregnancies and abortions. These findings document an unmet need for reproductive health education and services for young, unmarried female migrants in urban China. 30% reported being sexually experienced, but only 38% reported using contraception at first sex and 58% consistently over the past year, leading to many unintended pregnancies and abortions. These findings document an unmet need for reproductive health education and services for young, unmarried female migrants in urban China. ABSTRACT Background: China has a large migrant population, including many young unmarried women. Little is known about their sexual behavior, contraceptive use, and risk of unintended pregnancy. Methods: 475 unmarried female migrants aged 15–24, working in 1 of 6 factories in 2 districts of Changzhou city, completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire in May 2012 on demographic characteristics, work and living situation, and health. We examined demographic and migration experience predictors of sexual and contraceptive behavior using bivariate and multivariate regressions. Results: 30.1% of the respondents were sexually experienced, with the average age at first sex of 19 years (standard deviation=3). 37.8% reported using contraception at first sex, 58.0% reported using consistent contraception during the past year, and 28.0% reported having at least 1 unintended pregnancy with all unintended pregnancies resulting in abortion. Those who had had at least 1 abortion reported having on average 1.6 abortions [SD=1] in total. Migrating with a boyfriend and changing jobs fewer times were associated with being sexually experienced. Younger age, less education, and changing jobs more times were associated with inconsistent contraceptive use. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate there is an unmet need for reproductive health education and services where these women work as well as in their hometown communities. This education must begin early to reach young women before they migrate.
Promoting higher levels of reflective writing in student journals

This paper traces the development over several years of an initiative involving student journals that was introduced into a tertiary science education course for pre‐service teachers to promote enhanced learning of how to teach science. Very soon after introducing the journals into course work the lecturer began engaging in ‘unplanned’ informal reflection (reflection‐in‐action and reflection‐on‐action) when she witnessed the shallow, often trivial nature of her students’ reflective writing and the lack of pedagogical insights they were gaining from the exercise. Motivated by her own ongoing scholarship the lecturer introduced purposeful coaching of reflective skills into her pedagogy to scaffold students’ learning and promote more useful reflection. The impact of these interventions on students’ reflective capabilities and learning were investigated using a formal action research cycle. Findings indicate that student teachers’ reflective skills improved and resulted in deeper and more focused thinking about how to teach science for learning.
The flavonoid scaffold as a template for the design of modulators of the vascular Cav1.2 channels

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous studies have pointed to the plant flavonoids myricetin and quercetin as two structurally related stimulators of vascular Cav1.2 channel current (ICa1.2). Here we have tested the proposition that the flavonoid structure confers the ability to modulate Cav1.2 channels.
Inhibitory Actions of Pineal Indoles on Steroidogenesis in Isolated Rat Leydig Cells

The inhibition elicited by pineal indoles on testosterone production by isolated rat Leydig cells could not be overcome by a maximally active dose of luteinizing hormone (LH), and dibutyryl‐CAMP‐induced steroidogenesis was also suppressed, suggesting that the indoles did not exert their effect through an interaction with LH receptors on Leydig cells. Pregnenolone‐induced progesterone secretion was unaffected, indicating that the activity of 3P‐dehydrogenase was not altered. Methoxytryptamine (MTN) at a dose of I mM decreased progesterone‐induced 17αL‐ hydroxyprogesterone secretion by 50%, suggesting that the enzyme 17α‐hydroxylase was inhibited. The inhibition caused by other pineal indoles was either very slight or absent. MTN reduced 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone‐induced androstenedione production by 65%, methoxytryptophol (MTOL) and melatonin (MEL) by 35%, and methoxyindoleacetic acid (MIAA) and hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA) by 10%, revealing an inhibition of 17–20 desmolase. The reduction of androstenedioneinduced testosterone production by MTN infers inhibition of 17‐ketoreductase activity. However, testosterone production induced by either dehydroepiandroster‐ one or androstenedione was unaffected by other indoles. The data suggest that MTN inhibited 17α‐hydroxylase, 17–20 desmolase, and 17‐ketoreductase while MEL, MTOL, MIAA, and HIAA inhibited only 17–20 desmolase. The highest potency of MTN in inhibiting enzymes on the testosterone biosynthestic pathway was reflected in its greatest inhibition of testosterone production. On the other hand, MIAA and HIAA had the lowest potency in inhibiting the enzymes and testosterone production while MEL and MTOL had intermediate potencies.
Asymmetrische Zellteilung und Zellpolarität von humanen hämatopoietischen Stamm- und Vorläuferzellen

Fur die lebenslange Aufrechterhaltung der Blutbildung ist es erforderlich, dass sich hamatopoietische Stammzellen (HSZ) uber einen langen Zeitraum hinweg selbst erneuern und gleichzeitig Vorlaufer hervorbringen konnen, die sich zu reifen Blutzellen entwickeln. Wie das Gleichgewicht zwischen Selbsterneuerung und Differenzierung bei HSZ kontrolliert wird, ist nicht geklart. Vergleichende Proliferations- und Zellschicksalsanalysen von Nachkommen einzelner primitiver hamatopoietischer Zellen deuten darauf hin, dass die Entscheidung bei hamatopoietischen Stamm- und Vorlauferzellen (HSZ/HVZ) moglicherweise durch asymmetrische Zellteilungen reguliert wird. Um auszuschliesen, dass die Unterschiede zwischen den Geschwisterzellen erst nach der Teilung etabliert werden, habe ich in dieser Arbeit nach Faktoren gesucht, die in mitotischen Zellen asymmetrisch auf die beiden Tochterzellen verteilt werden. Da asymmetrisch segregierende Faktoren vor Stammzellteilungen bei Modellorganismen polar angeordnet werden, wurde zunachst in HSZ/HVZ nach polar lokalisierten Faktoren gesucht, um potenzielle Kandidaten zu identifizieren. Die Untersuchungen zur Zellpolaritat ergaben, dass kultivierte HSZ/HVZ eine polarisierte Zellform annehmen konnen. Es zeigte sich, dass dieser Prozess von der Aktivitat der Phosphatidyl-Inositol-3-Kinase, der atypischen Proteinkinase C, der Rho-GTPasen sowie von der Integritat des Zytoskeletts abhangt. Die morphologische Polarisierung ging weiterhin mit einer Umverteilung bestimmter Oberflachenmolekule zu den Zellpolen einher. Desweiteren beoabachteten wir, dass diese Faktoren ihre polare Verteilung auch wahrend der Mitose beibehalten, die Aufteilung auf die Tochterzellen jedoch symmetrisch erfolgt. Im Folgenden identifizierten wir mehrere Proteine, deren Expessionsmuster nach der ersten Zellteilung eine Unterscheidung von Subfraktionen innerhalb der CD34+ Zellen zulies. Da diese Subfraktionen moglicherweise infolge einer asymmetrischen Verteilung der Proteine auf die Tochterzellen entstehen und daruber hinaus funktionelle Unterschiede aufwiesen, wurde die Verteilung von vier dieser Proteine in mitotischen Zellen analysiert. Dabei fanden wir, dass die untersuchten Proteine tatsachlich in einem Teil der Mitosen asymmetrisch auf die Tochterzellen verteilt werden. Somit konnten wir erstmals zeigen, dass sich primitive hamatopoietische Zellen asymmetrisch teilen konnen.