Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aeromonas salmonicida grown in vivo

The virulent fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida was rapidly killed in vivo when restricted inside a diffusion chamber implanted intraperitoneally in rainbow trout. After a period of regrowth, the survivors had acquired resistance to host-mediated bacteriolysis, phagocytosis, and oxidative killing, properties which were subsequently lost by growth in vitro. Resistance to bacteriolysis and phagocytosis was associated with a newly acquired capsular layer revealed by acidic polysaccharide staining and electron microscopy. This capsular layer shielded the underlying, regular surface array (S-layer) from immunogold labeling with a primary antibody to the S-layer protein. Resistance to oxidative killing was mediated by a mechanism not associated with the presence of the capsular layer. An attenuated vaccine strain of A. salmonicida grown in vivo failed to express the capsular layer. Consequently, the in vivo-grown cells of this attenuated strain remained as sensitive to bacteriolysis, and as avidly adherent to macrophages, as the in vitro-grown cells. The importance of these new virulence determinants and their relation to the known virulence factors of A. salmonicida are discussed.
The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Respiratory and Limb Locomotor Muscle Deoxygenation During Exercise with Resistive Inspiratory Loading

Abstract We investigated how inspiratory muscle training impacted respiratory and locomotor muscle deoxygenation during submaximal exercise with resistive inspiratory loading. 16 male cyclists completed 6 weeks of either true (n=8) or sham (n=8) inspiratory muscle training. Pre- and post-training, subjects completed 3, 6-min experimental trials performed at ~80% ˙VO2peak with interventions of either moderate inspiratory loading, heavy inspiratory loading, or maximal exercise imposed in the final 3 min. Locomotor and respiratory muscle oxy-, deoxy-, and total-haemoglobin and myoglobin concentration was continuously monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy. Locomotor muscle deoxygenation changes from 80% ˙VO2peak to heavy inspiratory loading were significantly reduced pre- to post-training from 4.3±5.6 µM to 2.7±4.7 µM. Respiratory muscle deoxygenation was also significantly reduced during the heavy inspiratory loading trial (4.6±3.5 µM to 1.9±1.5 µM) post-training. There was no significant difference in oxy-, deoxy-, or total-haemoglobin and myoglobin during any of the other loading trials, from pre- to post-training, in either group. After inspiratory muscle training, highly-trained cyclists exhibited decreased locomotor and respiratory muscle deoxygenation during exercise with heavy inspiratory loading. These data suggest that inspiratory muscle training reduces oxygen extraction by the active respiratory and limb muscles, which may reflect changes in respiratory and locomotor muscle oxygen delivery.
Distinct approaches to investigate the importance of the murine 4‐1BB–4‐1BBL interaction in the antibody response to Streptococcus pneumoniae

Protection against infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is based mainly on the generation of antibodies to the pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (caps‐PS). Although caps‐PS are considered thymus‐independent antigens, there is a growing body of evidence that T lymphocytes and costimulatory molecules are involved in the regulation of the antibody response to caps‐PS. We investigated whether the interaction between 4‐1BB and 4‐1BB ligand (4‐1BBL) is involved in the modulation of the antibody response to caps‐PS after immunization with Pneumovax® or with intact heat‐killed S. pneumoniae. Treatment with agonistic anti‐4‐1BB mAb, which mimics engagement of 4‐1BB by 4‐1BBL, had no effect on the IgG and IgM immune response to caps‐PS (Serotype 3) after immunization with Pneumovax or with S. pneumoniae Serotype 3. However, anti‐4‐1BB treatment strongly inhibited the IgG response to pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). By contrast, the IgG anti‐caps‐PS (Serotype 3) antibody response was reduced strongly in 4‐1BBL−/− mice immunized with S. pneumoniae Serotype 3. The IgG anti‐PspA antibody response in the 4‐1BB−/− mice was comparable with the immune response in the wild‐type mice. We conclude that distinct pathways are involved in the humoral antibody response to pneumococcal antigens, depending on the nature of the antigen and the context in which the different antigens are presented. The 4‐1BB–4‐1BBL interaction is not involved in the antibody response to soluble caps‐PS. The influence of the 4‐1BB–4‐1BBL interaction in the immune reaction to S. pneumoniae Serotype 3 depends on the experimental system used.
Activation of Guinea Pig Herpesvirus Antigen in Leukemic Lymphoblasts of Guinea Pig

Herpesvirus (GPHV) antigen is either present in very small amounts, or absent in leukemic lymphoblasts taken directly from strain 2 guinea pigs. However, after maintenance in tissue culture for 72 hr, almost 100% of these lymphoblasts contained GPHV antigen. The expression of GPHV antigen could be demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescent technique as well as by the direct 125I labeled antibody technique. However, infectious virus or virus capsids could not be detected in these cells either by infectivity tests or electron microscopy.
Direct Evidence for the Control of Mitochondrial Respiration by Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase in Oxidative Muscle Cells in Situ *

The efficiency of stimulation of mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized muscle cells by ADP produced at different intracellular sites, e.g. cytosolic or mitochondrial intermembrane space, was evaluated in wild-type and creatine kinase (CK)-deficient mice. To activate respiration by endogenous production of ADP in permeabilized cells, ATP was added either alone or together with creatine. In cardiac fibers, while ATP alone activated respiration to half of the maximal rate, creatine plus ATP increased the respiratory rate up to its maximum. To find out whether the stimulation by creatine is a consequence of extramitochondrial [ADP] increase, or whether it directly correlates with ADP generation by mitochondrial CK in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, an exogenous ADP-trap system was added to rephosphorylate all cytosolic ADP. Under these conditions, creatine plus ATP still increased the respiration rate by 2.5 times, compared with ATP alone, for the same extramitochondrial [ADP] of 14 μm. Moreover, this stimulatory effect of creatine, observed in wild-type cardiac fibers disappeared in mitochondrial CK deficient, but not in cytosolic CK-deficient muscle. It is concluded that respiration rates can be dissociated from cytosolic [ADP], and ADP generated by mitochondrial CK is an important regulator of oxidative phosphorylation.
Specific binding of leukemia inhibitory factor to murine myoblasts in culture

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a member of the cytokine family of growth factors. It has been shown to exert a variety of actions on a diverse range of cell types, including neuronal, bone, and hemopoietic cells (Hilton, 1992, Trends Biochem. Sci., 17:72–76). In many of these cell types, studies have indicated the presence of specific receptors for LIF (Godard et al., 1982, J. Biol. Chem., 267:3214–3222; Hilton et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 85:5971–5975; Hilton and Nicola, 1992, J. Biol. Chem., 267:10238–10247.). The mechanism by which these receptors act is believed to involve tyrosine phosphorylation and the signal transducing receptor component gp130. We have previously shown that LIF is capable of inducing both human and murine myoblasts to proliferate in culture (Austin et al., 1992, J. Neurol. Sci., 112:185–191). We now report that LIF binds specifically to receptors on the surface of myoblasts, with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 400 pM and the number of receptors per cell varies with cell density. Binding competition studies showed that LIF binding to these receptor sites was not competed for by a number of other growth factors which stimulate myoblast proliferation including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor‐α (TGFα), insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1), and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). There was a time and concentration‐dependent down‐regulation of receptor numbers following preincubation of myoblasts with LIF. The processing of these receptors subsequent to binding, involves as a first step, internalization and degradation by the myoblast. LIF appeared to stimulate myoblast proliferation rather than cell survival. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High-Fidelity Simulation of Transcutaneous Cardiac Pacing: Characteristics and Limitations of Available High-Fidelity Simulators, and Description of an Alternative Two-Mannequin Model

Introduction Transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) is a potentially lifesaving technique that is part of the recommended treatment for symptomatic bradycardia. Transcutaneous cardiac pacing however is used uncommonly, and its successful application is not straightforward. Simulation could, therefore, play an important role in the teaching and assessment of TCP competence. However, even the highest-fidelity mannequins available on the market have important shortcomings, which limit the potential of simulation. Methods Six criteria defining clinical competency in TCP were established and used as a starting point in the creation of an improved TCP simulator. The goal was a model that could be used to assess experienced clinicians, an objective that justifies the additional effort required by the increased fidelity. Results The proposed 2-mannequin model (TMM) combines a highly modified Human Patient Simulator with a SimMan 3G, the latter being used solely to provide the electrocardiography (ECG) tracing. The TMM improves the potential of simulation to assess experienced clinicians (1) by reproducing key features of TCP, like using the same multifunctional pacing electrodes used clinically, allowing dual ECG monitoring, and responding with upper body twitching when stimulated, but equally importantly (2) by reproducing key pitfalls of the technique, like allowing pacing electrode misplacement and reproducing false signs of ventricular capture, commonly, but erroneously, used clinically to establish that effective pacing has been achieved (like body twitching, electrical artifact on the ECG, and electrical capture without ventricular capture). Conclusions The proposed TMM uses a novel combination of 2 high-fidelity mannequins to improve TCP simulation until upgraded mannequins become commercially available.
The costs of treating external genital warts in England and Wales: a treatment pattern analysis

The objective of the study was to determine the cost implications of patterns of treatment for patients with external genital warts. A retrospective case note review was carried out at six genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the UK. Significant variations in the total costs of care were observed across the clinics and across the choice of therapy. The cost per successful outcome was ? 221.81 for males and ? 211.07 for females. A minority of patients accounted for the majority of costs, for example the 30.1% of male patients who recorded six or more visits contributed 66.2% of the total cost. Costs also varied significantly by therapy sequence chosen. Patients who remained on their initial therapy experienced the lowest costs, with the extent to which patients shifted therapies substantially impacting on costs. Therapy sequences involving podophyllin were found to be the most expensive options in achieving a completed episode of care. We concluded that a high proportion of costs for GUM clinics is due to the failure of the initial therapy and by subsequent therapy switching. A greater emphasis on the selection of alternative treatment options, such as the patient-applied therapies, may help to reduce overall costs of care.
Corollary-And Discrepancy-Based Approaches for Examining the Appropriateness of Premorbid Cognitive Estimation in Geriatric Schizophrenia

Objective: This article addresses whether measures for assessing premorbid intellectual functioning are adequate for geriatric schizophrenia. Method: We included geriatric schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD; n = 37), frontotemporal dementia (FTD; n = 41), and geriatric controls (n = 107), and employed measures of verbal ability. Results: Pearson's correlations and ANOVAs for discrepancy comparisons showed unique patterns of spared function in SSD when compared to FTD and controls. Conclusions: Findings lend support to the specificity of cognitive processes in SSD, even when accounting for processes common to the theoretically similar FTD. SSD showed a distinct pattern of spared ability which supports clinical utilization of discrepant measures of premorbid intellectual estimation for SSD.
The Multi-Door Courthouse is Open in Alberta: Judicial Dispute Resolution is Institutionalized in the Court of Queen's Bench

Based on the analysis of the empirical research data from a Survey Questionnaire completed by 374 lawyers and 197 clients who participated in 606 judicially conducted Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) sessions (JDR Program) in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta (the Court) in the year ending June 2008, the author’s judicial experience, and legal literature research, it is asserted that the Court’s JDR Program has become an integral, normative, and institutional part of the resolution of disputes litigated in the Court. This has been achieved through a judicially led process utilizing multi-faceted dispute resolution techniques, with considerable quantitative and qualitative success. All this has led to more demand by lawyers and litigants for the JDR Program, in which these components have, over time, combined in a symbiotic and synergistic way. Thus, it is asserted that the Multi-door Courthouse” is open in Alberta.
Noise or Quality? Cross-nested Hierarchical Effects of Culture on Online Ratings

Previous feedback system research in a variety of contexts has focused on the impact that ratings (as proxies for quality) have on a variety of social and economic outcomes with equivocal findings. These mixed findings may be partially due to noise (factors not related to quality) embedded in aggregated or average positive and negative ratings. One significant source of ratings noise may come from culturally diverse raters’ issuing ratings in virtual environments. Culture impacts how groups of individuals are socialized to behave and think, which may result in members’ having different attitudes towards publicly downgrading (negative ratings) or praising (positive ratings) other members in the feedback system. In this paper, I investigate how culture influences rating practices specifically in public electronic knowledge sharing communities. Using a cross-nested hierarchical linear model, I demonstrate empirically that cultural differences at the community, occupation, and national levels interact in unique ways to increase or decrease an individual’s propensity to give and receive a positive or a negative rating. My study contributes to the literature on rating systems along with having practical ramifications for the designers of feedback systems.
A network of redundant bHLH proteins functions in all TTG1-dependent pathways of Arabidopsis

GLABRA3 (GL3) encodes a bHLH protein that interacts with the WD repeat protein, TTG1. GL3 overexpression suppresses the trichome defect of the pleiotropic ttg1 mutations. However, single gl3 mutations only affect the trichome pathway with a modest trichome number reduction. A novel unlinked bHLH-encoding locus is described here, ENHANCER OF GLABRA3 (EGL3). When mutated, egl3 gives totally glabrous plants only in the gl3 mutant background. The double bHLH mutant, gl3 egl3, has a pleiotropic phenotype like ttg1 having defective anthocyanin production, seed coat mucilage production, and position-dependent root hair spacing. Furthermore, the triple bHLH mutant, gl3 egl3 tt8, phenocopies the ttg1 mutation. Yeast two-hybrid and plant overexpression studies show that EGL3, like GL3, interacts with TTG1, the myb proteins GL1, PAP1 and 2, CPC and TRY, and it will form heterodimers with GL3. These results suggest a combinatorial model for TTG1-dependent pathway regulation by this trio of partially functionally redundant bHLH proteins.
[Intestinal ganglioneuromatosis diagnosed in adult patients].

AIM Intestinal ganglioneuromatosis is essentially described in children and rarely in adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical pathological patterns of intestinal ganglioneuromatosis diagnosed in adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten patients were included in this study (6 men, 4 woman; mean age=55.4 years). The diagnosis was established from ileocolorectal biopsies (n=5) or from a surgical specimen (n=5). An immunohistochemical study was performed with antibodies directed against S100 protein, synaptophysin, PGP9.5, neurofilament, tau protein, c-Kit and c-Ret. Clinical symptoms, endoscopic data and outcome were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS The diagnosis of intestinal ganglioneuromatosis was established solely on the basis of the microscopic examination in all 10 cases. Three patients presented with acute occlusion. The endoscopic examination showed unusual spasticity of the colon or colectasia in 5 cases, raspberry-like polyps in 2 cases and finger-like polyps in 3 cases. Ganglioneuromatosis was characterized by diffuse Schwann cell hyperplasia expressing S100 protein in close contact to nerve fibers expressing neurofilament, tau protein, synaptophysin, PGP9.5 and to ganglion cells expressing c-Ret. There was no hyperplasia of interstitial cells of Cajal. Intestinal ganglioneuromatosis was localized in the mucosa in 9 cases and extended through the entire intestinal wall in 1 case. The finger-like polyps corresponded to ganglioneuromatosis, while the raspberry-like polyps corresponded to adenomas. Two patients had von Recklinghausen's disease, 1 had multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B and 1 had Cowden's disease. Intestinal ganglioneuromatosis was associated with nonfamilial adenomatous polyposis in 2 patients and colonic adenocarcinoma in 1 patient. The patients with finger-like polyps had no associated disease. CONCLUSION Intestinal ganglioneuromatosis in adults is distinctive from that in children. In adults, intestinal ganglioneuromatosis is always a microscopic diagnosis although finger-like polyps observed at colonoscopy may be suggestive. Gastroenterologists must be aware of the higher risk of occlusion and intestinal neoplasia.
Online travel insurance purchase intention : a transaction cost perspective

ABSTRACT Using the transaction cost theory, this study examines customers’ online travel insurance purchase intentions. Data was collected from the life insurers in Taiwan via in-depth interviews and surveys. The hypothesized research model was tested using structural equation modeling. Findings of this study confirm that as customers have more trust in and less online uncertainty about life insurers with greater online experience, they are more likely to purchase online travel insurance. This study reveals that customers with high online purchasing frequency show less transaction cost than those with low online purchasing frequency.
Managerial Challenges of Outbound Open Innovation: A Study of a Spinout Initiative in Astrazeneca

While the research on open innovation is flourishing, less attention has so far been given to ‘outbound’ processes in comparison to ‘inbound’ and ‘coupled’ open innovation. In this paper we analyze a qualitative case study of the global bio‐pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and their attempt to establish a spinout initiative where internal projects are transferred to entrepreneurial startups funded by external venture capital. We explain the enactment work of this initiative and identify three emerged managerial challenges, linked to (1) internal decision‐making, (2) the cultural and psychological barriers of what we phrase as the ‘not‐invented‐elsewhere’ (NIE) syndrome, and (3) the ability to translate and communicate internal projects as attractive external proposals. Theoretical and managerial implications in relation to these challenges are outlined and discussed.
Large Size Hemicraniectomy Reduces Early Herniation in Malignant Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction

Background: Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) reduces mortality and improves outcome after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMI) but early in-hospital mortality remains high between 22 and 33%. Possibly, this circumstance is driven by cerebral herniation due to space-occupying brain swelling despite decompressive surgery. As the size of the removed bone flap may vary considerably between surgeons, a size too small could foster herniation. Here, we investigated the effect of the additional volume created by an extended DHC (eDHC) on early in-hospital mortality in patients suffering from MMI. Methods: We performed a retrospective single-center cohort study of 97 patients with MMI that were treated either with eDHC (n = 40) or standard DHC (sDHC; n = 57) between January 2006 and June 2012. The primary study end point was defined as in-hospital mortality due to transtentorial herniation. Results: In-hospital mortality due to transtentorial herniation was significantly lower after eDHC (0 vs. 11%; p = 0.04), which was paralleled by a significantly larger volume of the craniectomy (p < 0.001) and less cerebral swelling (eDHC 21% vs. sDHC 25%; p = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were found in surgical or non-surgical complications and postoperative intensive care treatment. Conclusion: Despite a more aggressive surgical approach, eDHC may reduce early in-hospital mortality and limit transtentorial herniation. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm our results and assess general safety of eDHC.
Are Credit Ratings More Rigorous for Widely Covered Firms

ABSTRACT We study how business press coverage can discipline credit rating agency actions. Because of their greater prominence and visibility to market participants, more widely covered firms can pose greater reputational costs for rating agencies. Consistent with rating agencies limiting such risk, we find that ratings for more widely covered firms are more timely and accurate, downgraded earlier and systematically lower in the year prior to default, and better predictors of default and non-default. We also find that the recent tightening of credit rating standards is largely explained by growing business press coverage of public debt issuers. Additionally, we find that credit rating agencies take explicit actions to improve their ratings by assigning better educated and more experienced analysts to widely covered firms. Moreover, we document that missed defaults of more visible firms create greater negative economic consequences for rating agencies, and that rating improvements following the financial c.