Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-muscle Mlck is required for &bgr;-catenin- and FoxO1-dependent downregulation of Cldn5 in IL-1&bgr;-mediated barrier dysfunction in brain endothelial cells

ABSTRACT Aberrant elevation in the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;) contributes to neuroinflammatory diseases. Blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is a hallmark phenotype of neuroinflammation. It is known that IL-1&bgr; directly induces BBB hyperpermeability but the mechanisms remain unclear. Claudin-5 (Cldn5) is a tight junction protein found at endothelial cell–cell contacts that are crucial for maintaining brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMVEC) integrity. Transcriptional regulation of Cldn5 has been attributed to the transcription factors &bgr;-catenin and forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1), and the signaling molecules regulating their nuclear translocation. Non-muscle myosin light chain kinase (nmMlck, encoded by the Mylk gene) is a key regulator involved in endothelial hyperpermeability, and IL-1&bgr; has been shown to mediate nmMlck-dependent barrier dysfunction in epithelia. Considering these factors, we tested the hypothesis that nmMlck modulates IL-1&bgr;-mediated downregulation of Cldn5 in BMVECs in a manner that depends on transcriptional repression mediated by &bgr;-catenin and FoxO1. We found that treating BMVECs with IL-1&bgr; induced barrier dysfunction concomitantly with the nuclear translocation of &bgr;-catenin and FoxO1 and the repression of Cldn5. Most importantly, using primary BMVECs isolated from mice null for nmMlck, we identified that Cldn5 repression caused by &bgr;-catenin and FoxO1 in IL-1&bgr;-mediated barrier dysfunction was dependent on nmMlck.
Insulin receptors in human ocular tissues. Immunohistochemical demonstration in normal and diabetic eyes.

The alpha- and beta-subunits of the insulin receptor have been localised in human eyes by immunohistochemistry. In the normal eye staining for both receptor subunits was distinct at the same sites of the anterior part of the eye, i.e. cornea, smooth muscle and epithelium of the ciliary body and the lens capsule. In the retina, the receptor was clearly demonstrated in the nerve fibre layer, the ganglion cells and Müller cells, the outer nuclear layer, inner segments of rods and cones, the outer limiting membrane and in the pigment epithelium. In eyes with diabetic retinopathy, the receptor did not stain in the inner segments of the rods and cones and the staining of the other layers was weak. Endothelial cells stained positively in normal and diabetic eyes, but pericytes of normal and new vessels did not stain. The receptor staining did not change in cornea, iris, ciliary body and lens. All together, the study shows that alpha- and beta-subunits of the insulin receptor are present in the retina, and that the staining reaction for the receptor is reduced in diabetes. To what extent these findings are of importance for the development of diabetic retinopathy, remains to be clarified.
Rest in Peace

Will reading habit influence your life? Many say yes. Reading rest in peace is a good habit; you can develop this habit to be such interesting way. Yeah, reading habit will not only make you have any favourite activity. It will be one of guidance of your life. When reading has become a habit, you will not make it as disturbing activities or as boring activity. You can gain many benefits and importances of reading.
Frontotemporal Dementia: One Disease, or Many?: Probably One, Possibly Two

Accumulating evidence suggest that frontotemporal dementia is best viewed as a clinical syndrome even though there are distinct presentations of the behavioral variety, progressive aphasia, semantic dementia, corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy. Similarly the pathology should be regarded as a spectrum even though histological varieties are distinguished. More than half of FTD pathology is associated with ubiquitin positive and tau negative inclusions that are common in ALS. However the majority of FTD cases do not have ALS clinically and relatively few ALS cases develop FTD. The pathological and biochemical varieties can be dichotomized as tau positive and tau negative pathology and biochemistry. The genetics of the tau positive variety is associated with tau mutations and so far the tau negative variety is not, although some are linked to chromosome-17 also. There is a corresponding clinical dichotomy combining the behavioral variety of FTD presentation with semantic dementia and usually ubiquitin positive tau negative pathology on one hand and the association of primary progressive aphasia and cortical basal degeneration/PSP syndrome with tau positive pathology on the other. The overlap between them is too great to establish two separate diseases.
Hemagglutinin mutations related to antigenic variation in H1 swine influenza viruses

The hemagglutinin (HA) of a recent swine influenza virus, A/Sw/IN/1726/88 (H1N1), was shown previously to have four antigenic sites, as determined from analysis of monoclonal antibody (MAb)-selected escape mutants. To define the HA mutations related to these antigenic sites, we cloned and sequenced the HA genes amplified by polymerase chain reaction of parent virus and MAb-selected escape mutants. The genetic data indicated the presence of four amino acid changes. After alignment with the three-dimensional structure of H3 HA, three changes were located on the distal tip of the HA, and the fourth was located within the loop on the HA. We then compared our antigenic sites, as defined by the changed amino acids, with the well-defined sites on the H1 HA of A/PR/8/34. The four amino acid residues corresponded with three antigenic sites on the HA of A/PR/8/34. This finding, in conjunction with our previous antigenic data, indicated that two of the four antigenic sites were overlapping. In addition, our previous studies indicated that one MAb-selected mutant and a recent, naturally occurring swine isolate reacted similarly with the MAb panel. However, their amino acid changes were different and also distant on the primary sequence but close topographically. This finding indicates that changes outside the antigenic site may also affect the site. A comparison of the HA amino acid sequences of early and recent swine isolates showed striking conservation of genetic sequences as well as of the antigenic sites. Thus, swine influenza viruses evolve more slowly than human viruses, possibly because they are not subjected to the same degree of immune selection.
Economics of development

This book is a general text concerned with the problems of economic development. It aims to make extensive use of the theoretical tools of classical and neoclassical economics in order to help contribute to the understanding of the problems surrounding economic development, but also seeks to draw on decades of empirical study. It considers the experience of developing countries in relation to topics under examination, including: China, the Korea Republic, Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Indonesia, Tanzania, Colombia, Peru, Malaysia and Mexico. Part 1 of the book introduces the concept and measurement of development, some theories developed to explain it, and the body of data that has been amassed to recognize and define development when it takes place. Other CABI sites 
Effects of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection on the Molting Success of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Larvae

Abstract We assessed the effects of sympatric (occupying the same or overlapping geographic areas) and allopatric (occurring in separate geographic areas) isolates of Anaplasma phagocytophilum on the survival of Ixodes scapularis Say larvae that were derived from ticks collected in Bridgeport, CT. Seven isolates of A. phagocytophilum, originating from different geographic regions of the United States, were tested: four isolates from the northeast (Bridgeport, Dawson, Gaillard, and NY-8), two from the Midwest (Webster and Sp-Is), and one from California (MRK). BALB/c mice were infected with each of the seven isolates via exposure to infected I. scapularis nymphs, whereas uninfected nymphs fed upon control mice. Both infected and control mice were infested with uninfected larvae at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 wk after nymphal infestation. The molting success in cohorts of infected and uninfected ticks was calculated as the percentage of larvae successfully molting into nymphal stage, and the prevalence of infection in molted nymphs was determined by polymerase chain reaction. In ticks that became infected with the Bridgeport or Sp-Is isolates, the molting success decreased with an increase in the prevalence of infection. Ticks that fed upon mice infected with six allopatric isolates (Dawson, Gaillard, NY-8, Sp-Is, Webster, and MRK) showed significantly lower levels of survival than those fed upon control mice, regardless of the prevalence of infection, whereas in ticks fed upon mice infected with a sympatric isolate (Bridgeport), the overall molting success was similar to the control. Thus, some but not all of the A. phagocytophilum isolates have adverse effects on ticks. Ticks exposed to harmful isolates may experience higher levels of bacterial metabolism, and/or reduced quality of their blood meal, thereby reducing their survival. Noted differences between isolates may be due to the origin of a particular isolate and/or the degree of coadaptation between the pathogen and its vector on the population level.
New recA mutations that dissociate the various RecA protein activities in Escherichia coli provide evidence for an additional role for RecA protein in UV mutagenesis

To isolate strains with new recA mutations that differentially affect RecA protein functions, we mutagenized in vitro the recA gene carried by plasmid mini-F and then introduced the mini-F-recA plasmid into a delta recA host that was lysogenic for prophage phi 80 and carried a lac duplication. By scoring prophage induction and recombination of the lac duplication, we isolated new recA mutations. A strain carrying mutation recA1734 (Arg-243 changed to Leu) was found to be deficient in phi 80 induction but proficient in recombination. The mutation rendered the host not mutable by UV, even in a lexA(Def) background. Yet, the recA1734 host became mutable upon introduction of a plasmid encoding UmuD*, the active carboxyl-terminal fragment of UmuD. Although the recA1734 mutation permits cleavage of lambda and LexA repressors, it renders the host deficient in the cleavage of phi 80 repressor and UmuD protein. Another strain carrying mutation recA1730 (Ser-117 changed to Phe) was found to be proficient in phi 80 induction but deficient in recombination. The recombination defect conferred by the mutation was partly alleviated in a cell devoid of LexA repressor, suggesting that, when amplified, RecA1730 protein is active in recombination. Since LexA protein was poorly cleaved in the recA1730 strain while phage lambda was induced, we conclude that RecA1730 protein cannot specifically mediate LexA protein cleavage. Our results show that the recA1734 and recA1730 mutations differentially affect cleavage of various substrates. The recA1730 mutation prevented UV mutagenesis, even upon introduction into the host of a plasmid encoding UmuD* and was dominant over recA+. With respect to other RecA functions, recA1730 was recessive to recA+. This demonstrates that RecA protein has an additional role in mutagenesis beside mediating the cleavage of LexA and UmuD proteins.
Stulberg classification system for evaluation of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: intra-rater and inter-rater reliability.

BACKGROUND Researchers and clinicians commonly use the classification system of Stulberg et al. as a basis for treatment decisions during the active phase of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease because of its putative utility as a predictor of long-term outcome. It is generally assumed that this system has an acceptable degree of reliability. This assumption, however, is not convincingly supported by the literature. METHODS The purpose of the present study was to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the classification system of Stulberg et al. with use of a pre-test, post-test design. During the pre-test phase, nine raters independently used the system to evaluate the radiographs of skeletally mature patients who had been managed for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The intervention between the pre-test and post-test phases consisted of a consensus-building session during which all raters jointly arrived at standardized definitions of the various joint structures that are assessed with use of the classification system. The effect of these definitions on reliability then was assessed by reevaluating the radiographs during the post-test phase. RESULTS The pre-test intra-rater reliability coefficients ranged from 0.709 to 0.915, and the post-test coefficients ranged from 0.568 to 0.874. The pre-test inter-rater reliability coefficients ranged from 0.603 to 0.732, and the post-test coefficients ranged from 0.648 to 0.744. Contributing to the variance was a lack of agreement concerning the assessment of joint structures and the way in which the raters translated these evaluations into a classification according to the system of Stulberg et al. CONCLUSIONS Although intra-rater reliability was marginally acceptable, the degree of variability between the classifications assigned by different raters even after the intervention - calls into question the reliability of the system of Stulberg et al.; consequently, the validity of any treatment decisions, outcome evaluations, or epidemiological studies based on this system is also in question.
Enhanced Solid Waste Stabilisation in Bioreactor Landfill Simulators

Entombed waste in sanitary landfills will generate biogas and leachate when physical barriers fail in the future allowing the intrusion of moisture into the waste mass contradicting the precepts of the sustainability concept. Bioreactor Landfills are suggested as a sustainable option to achieve Final Storage Quality (FSQ) status of waste residues. However, it is not clear what characteristics the residues should have in order to stop operation and after-care monitoring schemes. Two series of experiments were conducted to determine the feasibility to achieve FSQ (WAC of the European Landfill Directive) of residues in a pilot scale Bioreactor Landfill. The results of the leaching tests were very encouraging due to their proximity to achieve the proposed stringent FSQ criterion after two and one years of operation, for phase 1 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, residues have the same characteristics of alternative waste stabilisation parameters (low BMP, BOD/COD ratio, VS content, SO4 /Cl ratio) established by others researchers. Mass balances showed that Bioreactor Landfill simulators were capable to practically achieve biological stabilisation after 1 years of operation, while releasing approximately 45% of the total available (organic and inorganic) carbon and nitrogen into the liquid and gas phases.
The pdhR–aceEF–lpd operon of Escherichia coli expresses the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Transcript mapping and studies with lacZ translational fusions have shown that the pdhR gene (formerly genA) is the proximal gene of the pdhR–aceE–aceF–Ipd operon encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex of Escherichia coli. A pdhR–lpd read‐through transcript (7.4 kb) initiating at the pyruvate‐inducible pdh promoter, and a smaller lpd transcript (1.7 kb) initiating at the independent lpd promoter, were identified. Evidence showing that the pdhR gene product negatively regulates the synthesis of the PdhR protein and the PDH complex via the pdh promoter was obtained, with pyruvate (or a derivative) serving as the putative inducing coeffector. The partially purified PdhR protein was also found to specifically retard and protect DNA fragments containing the pdh promoter region. The pdh promoter was not strongly controlled by ArcA, FNR or CRP.
Diversity of the Superfamily of Phloem Lectins (Phloem Protein 2) in Angiosperms1

Phloem protein 2 (PP2) is one of the most abundant and enigmatic proteins in the phloem sap. Although thought to be associated with structural P-protein, PP2 is translocated in the assimilate stream where its lectin activity or RNA-binding properties can exert effects over long distances. Analyzing the diversity of these proteins in vascular plants led to the identification ofPP2-like genes in species from 17 angiosperm and gymnosperm genera. This wide distribution of PP2 genes in the plant kingdom indicates that they are ancient and common in vascular plants. Their presence in cereals and gymnosperms, both of which lack structural P-protein, also supports a wider role for these proteins. Within this superfamily, PP2 proteins have considerable size polymorphism. This is attributable to variability in the length of the amino terminus that extends from a highly conserved domain. The conserved PP2 domain was identified in the proteins encoded by six genes from several cucurbits, celery (Apium graveolens), and Arabidopsis that are specifically expressed in the sieve element-companion cell complex. The acquisition of additional modular domains in the amino-terminal extensions of other PP2-like proteins could reflect divergence from its phloem function.
Pain management and quality of life in sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited disease worldwide and is responsible for a massive health burden. Its main clinical feature is severe pain that is unpredictable and recurrent, and this, in addition to the other acute and chronic features of SCD, may have a huge impact on the quality of life of both the patient and their families and carers. We consider medical and psychological methods of pain management in SCD, drawing on recently published UK Standards of Care, and also consider the effect of SCD on quality of life.
Parental perceptions regarding mandatory mouthguard use in competitive youth soccer

Objective: To understand factors that influence parental perceptions regarding mandatory mouthguard use in competitive youth soccer. Setting and subjects: A web based survey of parents whose 8–14 year old children participated in outdoor competitive youth soccer during the fall of 2002. Questions focused on: previous injury, education provided, dentist/physician recommendations, and parental perceptions of mouthguard use. Main outcome measure: The outcome variable was parental agreement with the statement “mouthguards should be mandatory for competitive youth soccer”. Logistic regression and χ2 were performed using STATA 8.0. Results: Altogether 120 parents participated. The children had a mean (SD) age of 11.8 (1.5) years and 48% were female; 14% wore mouthguards and 11% suffered orofacial injuries. Nineteen percent of parents reported receiving educational material from the youth soccer organization. Although 92% of parents believed that mouthguards were effective in reducing orofacial injuries, only one half agreed that mouthguards should be mandatory. Thirty percent of respondents reported that their dentist/physician recommended mouthguards for competitive youth soccer. Logistic regression showed that dentist/physician recommendation and parental female gender were independently associated with parental agreement for mandatory mouthguard use (odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2 to 7.3; odds ratio 3.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.5). Conclusions: Few athletes wear mouthguards during competitive youth soccer. Health care professionals in this study did not capitalize on the apparent influence they have on parental beliefs regarding mouthguard use. Efforts are needed by both health professionals and soccer organizations to educate parents about orofacial injuries and mouthguard use in competitive youth soccer.
Variation in diaphragm position and shape in adults with normal pulmonary function.

BACKGROUND Diaphragm position and shape on chest radiographs are routinely used as indicators of normal or abnormal lung volume. However, previous population studies of normal diaphragm position and shape frequently lack objective radiographic measurements and documentation of pulmonary function, and do not account for the observed variability. STUDY OBJECTIVE s: To determine the spectrum of diaphragm position and shape on chest radiographs using objective measurements, in patients with normal pulmonary function, and to identify the relationship of diaphragm position and shape to demographic variables and radiographic thoracic dimensions. DESIGN Prospective cross-sectional observational study. SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS One hundred fifty-three adults with normal FEV(1) (>or= 80% predicted) and normal total lung capacity (80 to 120% predicted). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Diaphragm position and shape relative to anatomic landmarks were determined from posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs. We used descriptive statistics to calculate normal values, and linear correlation, two-tailed t tests, and multivariate analysis to relate findings to age, weight, gender, and thoracic dimensions. The right hemidiaphragm dome was positioned at 9.7 +/- 0.8 thoracic vertebral levels (body plus disk space) [mean +/- SD] below the top of the first thoracic vertebra (range, 7.4 to 11.3 vertebral levels), and the left hemidiaphragm dome was positioned at 10.2 +/- 0.8 vertebral levels (range, 8.1 to 11.8 vertebral levels). The right hemidiaphragm radius was 13.8 +/- 3.8 cm (range, 7.2 to 29.6 cm), and the ratio between the height and the anteroposterior dimension of the right hemidiaphragm was 0.23 +/- 0.05 cm (range, 0.08 to 0.36 cm). The diaphragm tended to be lower with higher age, lower weight, and smaller transverse and anteroposterior thoracic dimensions (r = 0.22 - 0.47, p < 0.05), and flatter (larger radius) with higher age, weight, transverse thoracic dimension, pack-years smoked (r = 0.32 - 0.42, p < 0.0001), and male gender (p < 0.0001). The tested variables accounted for approximately one third of the variability in diaphragm position and shape (multivariate R(2) = 0.31 - 0.38). CONCLUSIONS The substantial variability in normal diaphragm position and shape is related to weight, age, and thoracic dimensions. Consideration of these factors may be useful when evaluating chest radiographs.
Growing transformational leaders: exploring the role of personality hardiness

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of personality hardiness in facilitating change or growth in transformational leadership of Norwegian Navy cadets following a stressful military training exercise.Design/methodology/approach – Leadership styles were measured in cadets before and after an intensive leadership training exercise, and again six months later. Hardiness was measured near the end of the first academic year. Leader performance was measured with first year leader development grades.Findings – Repeated measures ANOVAS showed a sustained increase in transformational and transactional leadership following the exercise, and a decrease in the passive‐avoidant style (management by exception – passive and laissez‐faire). Research limitations/implications – This research was conducted with a relatively small group and findings may not generalize readily to other populations.Practical implications – These results suggest high hardy individuals have a greater readiness to make use o.
A longitudinal study of platelet behaviour and thromboxane production in whole blood in normal pregnancy and the puerperium

Summary. A longitudinal study of platelet behaviour (platelet aggregation and release reaction) in whole blood and of serum thromboxane B2 production was performed before, during and after normal pregnancy. The response of platelets to arachidonic acid and to adrenaline was significantly increased in the third trimester. Six weeks after delivery, values were still modestly increased but return to non‐pregnant values was complete by 12 weeks. Serum thromboxane B2 production was unchanged throughout pregnancy and the puerperium.