Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prolonged release and c‐kit expression of haemopoietic precursor cells mobilized by stem cell factor and granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Mobilization of haemopoietic precursor cells into the circulation by the combination of cytokines, stem cell factor (SCF) and G‐CSF in previously untreated patients with carcinoma of the breast resulted in increased yield of collected peripheral blood precursor cells (PBPC). This mobilization of PBPC by SCF with G‐CSF lasted several days after ceasing the cytokines in comparison to the rapid fall of PBPC after ceasing G‐CSF. Possible mechanisms for this increased and prolonged mobilization were investigated. Immunological phenotyping with CD38, Thy‐1 and MDR‐1 of the CD34‐positive mobilized PBPC detected no difference in maturity compared to PBPC mobilized by G‐CSF alone. However, the down‐regulation of c‐kit, which is associated with the mechanism of mobilization, was much greater in the PBPC mobilized by SCF and G‐CSF. The potential clinical implication of increased and prolonged mobilization is increased yield, allowing transplantation of heavily pretreated patients, transplantation with PBPC from a single apheresis, or PBSC support for multiple courses of high‐dose therapy from one mobilization procedure.
The serum‐ & glucocorticoid‐inducible kinase in the regulation of platelet function

The serum‐ and glucocorticoid‐inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) is expressed in megakaryocytes and circulating platelets. In megakaryocytes, SGK1 activates transcription factor nuclear factor kappa‐B (NF‐κB), which in turn stimulates expression of Orai1, a Ca2+ channel protein accomplishing store‐operated Ca2+ enrty (SOCE). SGK1 enhances SOCE and several Ca2+‐sensitive platelet functions, including degranulation, integrin αIIbβ3 activation, phosphatidylserine exposure, aggregation and thrombus formation. As shown in other cell types, stimulators of SGK1 expression include ischaemia, oxidative stress, hyperglycaemia, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and a variety of hormones such as glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), thrombin and endothelin. Thus, SGK1‐sensitive Ca2+ signalling may contribute to altered platelet function in several clinical conditions including inflammation, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure. Nevertheless, further studies are needed defining the contribution of altered SGK1 expression and activity to physiology and pathophysiology of platelets.
Coping with psychosomatic symptoms: The buffering role of psychological flexibility and impact on quality of life

Individual differences in avoidant coping were hypothesized to exacerbate quality of life impairment associated with somatization and illness anxiety symptoms; psychological flexibility was expected to moderate this impairment. Individuals from a random community sample (N = 298; 182 females), who met screening criteria for somatization and illness anxiety, reported lower quality of life and psychological flexibility and greater avoidant coping compared to controls. Psychological flexibility significantly moderated the impact of somatization and illness anxiety on quality of life domains. Findings suggest that decreasing avoidant coping through therapy may be promising in mitigating the negative impact of these symptom categories.
Better with fewer bits: Improving the performance of cardinality estimation of large data streams

Cardinality estimation is the task of determining the number of distinct elements (or the cardinality) in a data stream, under a stringent constraint that the input data stream can be scanned by just a single pass. This is a fundamental problem with many practical applications, such as traffic monitoring of high-speed networks and query optimization of Internetscale database. To solve the problem, we propose an algorithm named HLL-TailCut+, which implements the estimation standard error 1.0/√m using the memory units of three bits each, whose cost is much smaller than the five-bit memory units used by HyperLogLog, the best previously known cardinality estimator. This makes it possible to reduce the memory cost of HyperLogLog by 45%. For example, when the target estimation error is 1.1%, state-of-the-art HyperLogLog needs 5.6 kilobytes memory. By contrast, our new algorithm only needs 3 kilobytes memory consumption for attaining the same accuracy. Additionally, our algorithm is able to support the estimation of very large stream cardinalities, even on the Tera and Peta scale.
Clinical significance of the lymph node ratio in N1 breast cancer

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the lymph node ratio (LNR), which was defined as the proportion of involved nodes of all dissected nodes, in pN1 breast cancer. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with pN1 breast cancer (N = 144) treated at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea between 2001 and 2010. The median age was 46 years (range, 27 to 66 years). The LNR was 0.01–0.15 (low LNR) in 130 patients and >0.15 (high LNR) in 14 patients. Sixty-five patients (45.1%) had T1 tumors, 74 (51.4%) had T2 tumors, and 5 (3.5%) had T3 tumors. Eighty-eight patients (61.1%) underwent total mastectomy and 56 (38.9%) underwent partial mastectomy. Fifty-nine patients (41.0%) underwent radiotherapy and 12 (8.3%) underwent regional radiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 65 months. Results The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 92.7% and 82.4%, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed that high LNR (p = 0.004), total mastectomy (p = 0.006), no local radiotherapy (p = 0.036), and stage T2 or T3 (p = 0.010) were associated with worse DFS. In multivariable analysis, only high LNR (p = 0.015) was associated with worse DFS. Conclusion High LNR is an independent prognostic factor in pN1 breast cancer and could be an indication for adjuvant radiotherapy in these patients.
SOCIALIZATION of Japanese Nursing Students

ABSTRACT An important focus of nursing education research is the acquisition of values, behaviors, and attitudes that will influence a nurse's professional role. In this qualitative study, the process of professional socialization among Japanese nursing students was investigated. Interviews with nursing students and faculty members in Tokyo revealed that socialization of nursing students is a multidimensional process, with classroom experiences, clinical practice, and extracurricular elements all having an influence. Six themes emerged from the data: openness to others, communication, team building, reflection, extracurricular networking, and focused education. Although communication and clinical experiences are limited by cultural norms, students become socialized to the nursing profession through various other means.
Hydrophilic residues surrounding the S1 and S2 pockets contribute to dimerisation and catalysis in human dipeptidyl peptidase 8 (DP8)

Abstract Dipeptidyl peptidase (DP) 8 belongs to the dipeptidyl peptidase IV gene family. DP8 has been implicated in immune function and asthma, although its biological function is yet unknown. Structures of the homologs, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and DPIV, are known but the DP8 structure is yet to be resolved. To help characterise the DP8 substrate pocket, mutants of residues lining the pocket were produced at DP8D772, DP8Y315, DP8H434 and DP8D435 and assessed by substrate kinetics and size-exclusion chromatography. Mutations of DP8D772A/E/S/V affected catalysis but did not confer endopeptidase activity. Mutations of DP8H434F, DP8D435F and DP8Y315F reduced catalytic activity. Furthermore, mutations to DP8D772A/E/S/V, DP8H434F, DP8D435F and DP8Y315F affected dimer stabilisation. Homology modelling of DP8 using DPIV and FAP crystal structures suggested that DP8D772, DP8H434 and DP8D435 were located at the edge of the S2 catalytic pocket, contributing to the junction between the alpha-beta hydrolase and beta-propeller domains. This study provides insights into how the DP8 substrate pocket and dimer interface differ from DPIV and FAP which could be utilised for designing more selective DP8 inhibitors.
The adenosine 2 A receptor agonist GW 328267 C improves lung function after acute lung injury in rats

Folkesson HG, Kuzenko SR, Lipson DA, Matthay MA, Simmons MA. The adenosine 2A receptor agonist GW328267C improves lung function after acute lung injury in rats. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 303: L259–L271, 2012. First published June 1, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00395. 2011. —There is a significant unmet need for treatments of patients with acute lung injury (ALI) and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The primary mechanism that leads to resolution of alveolar and pulmonary edema is active vectorial Na and Cl transport across the alveolar epithelium. Several studies have suggested a role for adenosine receptors in regulating this fluid transport in the lung. Furthermore, these studies point to the A2A subtype of adenosine receptor (A2AR) as playing a role to enhance fluid transport, suggesting that activation of the A2AR may enhance alveolar fluid clearance (AFC). The current studies test the potential therapeutic value of the A2AR agonist GW328267C to accelerate resolution of alveolar edema and ALI/ARDS in rats. GW328267C, at concentrations of 10 5 M to 10 3 M, instilled into the airspaces, increased AFC in control animals. GW328267C did not increase AFC beyond that produced by maximal -adrenergic stimulation. The effect of GW328267C was inhibited by amiloride but was not affected by cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator inhibition. The drug was tested in three models of ALI, HCl instillation 1 h, LPS instillation 16 h, and live Escherichia coli instillation 2 h before GW328267C instillation. After either type of injury, GW328267C (10 4 M) decreased pulmonary edema formation and restored AFC, measured 1 h after GW328267C instillation. These findings show that GW328267C has beneficial effects in experimental models of ALI and may be a useful agent for treating patients with ALI or prophylactically to prevent ALI.
The Nonverbal Communication Functions of Emoticons in Computer-Mediated Communication

Most past studies assume that computer-mediated communication (CMC) lacks nonverbal communication cues. However, Internet users have devised and learned to use emoticons to assist their communications. This study examined emoticons as a communication tool that, although presented as verbal cues, perform nonverbal communication functions. We therefore termed emoticons quasi-nonverbal cues.
Virtual autopsy: preliminary experience in high-velocity gunshot wound victims.

PURPOSE To retrospectively assess virtual autopsy performed with multidetector computed tomography (CT) for the forensic evaluation of gunshot wound victims. MATERIALS AND METHODS The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant study and did not require informed consent of the next of kin. Thirteen consecutive male gunshot wound victims (mean age, 27 years) were scanned with 16-section multidetector CT prior to routine autopsy. Retrospectively, the total-body nonenhanced scans were interpreted at a three-dimensional workstation by radiologists blinded to autopsy findings. Images were evaluated for lethal wound, number and location of wound tracks, injured structures, and metal fragment location. After image review, autopsy reports and photographs were compared with the images and interpretations to validate the multidetector CT determinations. RESULTS Multidetector CT aided in correct identification of all lethal wounds, and metallic fragment location was always precise. In four cases, multidetector CT aided in accurate assessment of organ injuries and lethal wounds but led to underestimation of the number of wounds if comingling paths occurred. In two cases of a chest wound, multidetector CT aided in accurate assessment of the chest as having the lethal wound but failed to help identify specific sites of hemorrhage. In two cases of craniofacial injury, the path of the wound was not clear. Autopsy revealed a total of 78 wound tracks (mean, 6; range, 1-24). Ten (13%) wound tracks were not identified at multidetector CT (six upper extremity wounds and four thigh wounds). In two cases, findings missed at autopsy (fracture of the cervical spine, bullet fragments in the posterior area of the neck) were identified at multidetector CT. CONCLUSION Multidetector CT can aid prediction of lethal wounds and location of metallic fragments.
Species‐specific usage of sleeping sites in two sympatric mouse lemur species (Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis) in northwestern Madagascar

We investigated the sleeping site ecology of two sympatric mouse lemur species (Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis) in northwestern Madagascar during the second half of the dry season with respect to the type, quality, and usage pattern of the sleeping sites, as well as to social sleeping habits and response to potential threats. The type and quality of the sleeping sites differed between the two species. M. murinus used protected wooden shelters (tree holes) more frequently than M. ravelobensis, and M. ravelobensis used a broader variety of less protected sites (e.g., branches, lianas, and leaves) than M. murinus. Whereas male M. murinus usually slept alone, and female M. murinus mostly slept in groups, both sexes of M. ravelobensis slept in mixed‐sex sleeping groups. M. murinus relied on crypsis in their sleeping sites, whereas M. ravelobensis regularly showed a flight response to the approach of an observer. This behavioral difference could indicate an adaptation to a higher predation risk in less protected sleeping sites. Whereas female M. murinus showed a high site fidelity, male M. murinus and both sexes of M. ravelobensis frequently changed their sleeping sites, which may also be interpreted as an antipredator strategy. The results are discussed with respect to three possible ecological explanations: interspecies competition, restricted resource availability, and niche differentiation. The latter is the most likely explanation for these interspecific differences. Am. J. Primatol. 59:139–151, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Culture Wars: Secular-Catholic Conflict in Nineteenth-Century Europe

List of illustrations List of contributors Introduction: the European culture wars Christopher Clark and Wolfram Kaiser 1. The New Catholicism and the European culture wars Christopher Clark 2. 'Clericalism - that is our enemy! ': European anticlericalism and the culture wars Wolfram Kaiser 3. 'Priest hits girl': on the front line in the 'war of the two Frances' James McMillan 4. The battle for monasteries, cemeteries and schools: Belgium Els Witte 5. Contested rituals and the battle for public space: the Netherlands Peter Jan Margry and Henk te Velde 6. Nonconformity, clericalism and 'Englishness': the United Kingdom J. P. Parry 7. The assault on the city of the Levites: Spain Julio de la Cueva 8. Roma o morte: culture wars in Italy Martin Papenheim 9. Enemies at the gate: the Moabit Klostersturm and the Kulturkampf: Germany Manuel Borutta 10. Village quarrels and national controversies: Switzerland Heidi Bossard-Borner 11. The counter-reformation's last stand: Austria Laurence Cole 12. The uncivil origins of civil marriage: Hungary Robert Nemes Annotated bibliography Index.
Overexpression and Characterization of the Chromosomal Aminoglycoside 2′-N-Acetyltransferase ofProvidencia stuartii

ABSTRACT The gene coding for aminoglycoside 2′-N-acetyltransferase Ia [AAC(2′)-Ia] fromProvidencia stuartii was amplified by PCR and cloned. The resulting construct, pACKF2, was transferred intoEscherichia coli for overexpression of AAC(2′)-Ia as a fusion protein with an N-terminal hexa-His tag. The fusion protein was isolated and purified by affinity chromatography on Ni2+-nitrilotriacetic acid agarose and gel permeation chromatography on Superdex 75. Comparison of the specific activity of this enzyme with that of its enterokinase-digested derivative lacking the His tag indicated that the presence of the extra N-terminal peptide does not affect activity. The temperature and pH optima for activity of both forms of the 2′-N-acetyltransferase were 20°C and pH 6.0, respectively, while the enzymes were most stable at 15°C and pH 8.1. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters for AAC(2′)-Ia at 20°C and pH 6.0 were determined using a series of aminoglycoside antibiotics possessing a 2′-amino group and a concentration of acetyl coenzyme A fixed at 10 times its Kmvalue of 8.75 μM. Under these conditions, gentamicin was determined to be the best substrate for the enzyme in terms of bothKm andkcat/Kmvalues, whereas neomycin was the poorest. Comparison of the kinetic parameters obtained with the different aminoglycosides indicated that their hexopyranosyl residues provided the most important binding sites for AAC(2′)-Ia activity, while the enzyme exhibits greater tolerance further from these sites. No correlation was found between these kinetic parameters and MICs determined for P. stuartiiPR50 expressing the 2′-N-acetyltransferase, suggesting that its true in vivo function is not as a resistance factor.
Your Understanding Is My Understanding

In four experiments, we tested the community-of-knowledge hypothesis, that people fail to distinguish their own knowledge from other people’s knowledge. In all the experiments, despite the absence of any actual explanatory information, people rated their own understanding of novel natural phenomena as higher when they were told that scientists understood the phenomena than when they were told that scientists did not yet understand them. In Experiment 2, we found that this occurs only when people have ostensible access to the scientists’ explanations; the effect does not occur when the explanations exist but are held in secret. In Experiment 3, we further ruled out two classes of alternative explanations (one appealing to task demands and the other proposing that judgments were mediated by inferences about a phenomenon’s understandability). In Experiment 4, we ruled out the possibility that the effect could be attributed to a pragmatic inference.
Certificación en calidad y medio ambiente y su relación con el rendimiento empresarial: evidencia en el sector hotelero español

La certificacion en calidad y medio ambiente puede ayudar a las empresas a mejorar su eficiencia y sus resultados. Algunas empresas consiguen los dos certificados y obtienen sinergias derivadas de las similitudes y paralelismos entre ambos sistemas de gestion. El objetivo de este articulo es comparar los resultados obtenidos por los hoteles no certificados y certificados en calidad y/o medio ambiente, ademas de identificar sus caracteristicas con relacion al numero de estrellas, tamano del hotel y pertenencia a una cadena. Las principales contribuciones de este trabajo son la consideracion conjunta de la certificacion en calidad y medio ambiente, asi como el analisis realizado en el sector hotelero. Ademas, el trabajo enfatiza varias implicaciones practicas para los directivos de este sector, ya que entre los resultados se obtiene que los hoteles certificados obtienen mayores niveles de rendimiento.
Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy with Cancer Patients' Trajectory: Emesis, Acute Pain, and Analgesia and Anxiolysis in Procedures

Abstract Clinical hypnosis in cancer settings provides symptom reduction (pain and anxiety) and empowers patients to take an active role in their treatments and procedures. The goal of this paper is to systematically and critically review evidence on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for emesis, analgesia, and anxiolysis in acute pain, specifically in procedures with an emphasis on the period from 1999 to 2006. Further, it aims to provide a theoretical rationale for the use of hypnosis with cancer populations in the whole spectrum of illness/treatment trajectory in several clinical contexts. Finally, a treatment protocol for management of overt anxiety and phobic reactions in the radiotherapy suite is presented, with the intent of having such a protocol empirically validated in the future.
Maternal Vitamin D Status in Pregnancy and Risk of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections, Wheezing, and Asthma in Offspring

Background: Adequate vitamin D status in mothers during pregnancy may influence the health status of the child later in life. We assessed whether maternal circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations in pregnancy are associated with risk of lower respiratory tract infections, wheezing, and asthma in the offspring. Methods: Data were obtained from 1724 children of the INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) Project, a population-based birth cohort study. Maternal circulating 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in pregnancy (mean gestational age = 12.6 [SD = 2.5] weeks). When the child was age 1 year, parents were asked if their child had a physician-confirmed history of lower respiratory tract infections or a history of wheezing. The questions about wheezing were repeated annually thereafter. Asthma was defined as parental report of doctor diagnosis of asthma or receiving treatment at the age of 4–6 years or wheezing since the age of 4 years. Results: The median maternal circulating 25(OH)D concentration in pregnancy was 29.5 ng/mL (interquartile range, 22.5–37.1 ng/mL). After multivariable adjustment, there was a trend for an independent association between higher levels of maternal circulating 25(OH)D levels in pregnancy and decreased odds of lower respiratory tract infections in offspring (for cohort- and season-specific quartile Q4 vs. Q1, odds ratio = 0.67 [95% confidence interval = 0.50–0.90]; test for trend, P = 0.016). We found no association between 25(OH)D levels in pregnancy and risk of wheezing at age 1 year or 4 years, or asthma at age 4–6 years. Conclusions: Higher maternal circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in pregnancy were independently associated with lower risk of lower respiratory tract infections in offspring in the first year of life but not with wheezing or asthma in childhood.
Selective inhibition by progesterone of androgen-induced behavior in male ring doves (Streptopelia risoria).

Male ring doves (Streptopelia risoria) were castrated and then tested 7 days later, when both the bowing-coo and the nest-call (2 items of male sexual behavior) had disappeared. They were then injected daily for 14 days with testosterone propionate (.2 mg/day/bird), after which the occurrence of these 2 behavior patterns was again assessed. Both items of behavior had been significantly reinstated as a result of the androgen replacement therapy. The birds were then divided into 4 groups for a further period of 7 days of treatment, as follows: 1) (N=10) testosterone propionate treatment continued; 2) (N=10) testosterone propionate continued with added progesterone (.1 mg/day/ bird); 3) (N = 7) no hormone treatment; 4) (N =9) progesterone treatment alone (.1 mg/day /bird). Progesterone, in the presence of the circulating androgen, virtually completely inhibited the occurrence of the bowing-coo. The effect of adding progesterone to the administered androgen during these 7 days was the same as that of withdraw.