Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proteomics Analysis of Ring1B/Rnf2 Interactors Identifies a Novel Complex with the Fbxl10/Jhdm1B Histone Demethylase and the Bcl6 Interacting Corepressor*S

Ring1B/Rnf2 is a RING finger protein member of the Polycomb group (PcG) of proteins, which form chromatin-modifying complexes essential for embryonic development and stem cell renewal and which are commonly deregulated in cancer. Ring1B/Rnf2 is a ubiquitin E3 ligase that catalyzes the monoubiquitylation of the histone H2A, one of the histone modifications needed for the transcriptional repression activity of the PcG of proteins. Ring1B/Rnf2 was shown to be part of two complexes, the PRC1 PcG complex and the E2F6.com-1 complex, which also contains non-PcG members, thus raising the prospect for additional Ring1B/Rnf2 partners and functions extending beyond the PcG. Here we used a high throughput proteomics approach based on the single step purification, using streptavidin beads, of in vivo biotinylated Ring1B/Rnf2 and associated proteins from a nuclear extract from erythroid cells and their identification by mass spectrometry. About 50 proteins were confidently identified of which 20 had not been identified previously as subunits of Ring1B/Rnf2 complexes. We found that histone demethylases LSD1/Aof2 and Fbxl10/Jhdm1B, casein kinase subunits, and the BcoR corepressor were among the new interactors identified. We also isolated an Fbxl10/Jhdm1B complex by biotinylation tagging to identify shared interacting partners with Ring1B/Rnf2. In this way we identified a novel Ring1B-Fbxl10 complex that also includes Bcl6 corepressor (BcoR), CK2α, Skp1, and Nspc1/Pcgf1. The putative enzymatic activities and protein interaction and chromatin binding motifs present in this novel Ring1B-Fbxl10 complex potentially provide additional mechanisms for chromatin modification/recruitment to chromatin and more evidence for Ring1B/Rnf2 activities beyond those typically associated with PcG function. Lastly this work demonstrates the utility of biotinylation tagging for the rapid characterization of complex mixtures of multiprotein complexes achieved through the iterative use of this simple yet high throughput proteomics approach.
Two years' intensive training in endoscopic diagnosis facilitates detection of early gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE Early detection of gastric cancer by screening endoscopy facilitates endoscopic treatment in place of open surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether 2 years intensive training improved the detection of gastric cancer by screening endoscopy. METHODS An endoscopist who had trained for 6 years as a general physician, performed screening endoscopy at Imari Arita Kyoritsu Hospital before (group I) and after (group II) intensive training in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer in consecutive patients. RESULTS Background characteristics, including age (61.6 vs. 62.2 years) and sex, did not differ between the groups. Before training, 10 gastric neoplasms were detected in 937 patients in group I: four early gastric cancers, one gastric adenoma, and five advanced gastric cancer. After training, 36 gastric neoplasms were detected in 937 patients in group II: 18 early gastric cancers, 11 gastric adenoma, five advanced gastric cancer, and one each of gastric carcinoid and malignant lymphoma. The detection rate for early gastric cancer was significantly improved by training [group I: 4/937 (0.4%) vs. group II: 18/937 (1.9%)], although the detection rate for advanced gastric cancer did not differ before and after training. The proportion of early gastric cancer + adenoma to advanced cancer was higher in group II (5/5 vs. 29/5 in group I). CONCLUSION Intensive training in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening dramatically improved the detection rate for early gastric cancer, although the detection rate for advanced gastric cancer was not affected.
A dynamic multi-plant lot-sizing and distribution problem

In this paper, we investigate a multi-plant, production planning and distribution problem for the simultaneous optimisation of production, inventory control, demand allocation and distribution decisions. The objective of this rich problem is to satisfy the dynamic demand of customers while minimising the total cost of production, inventory and distribution. By solving the problem, we determine when the production needs to occur, how much has to be produced in each of the plants, how much has to be stored in each of the warehouses and how much needs to be delivered to each customer in each period. On a large real data-set inspired by a case obtained from an industrial partner, we show that the proposed integration is highly effective. Moreover, we study several trade-offs in a detailed sensitivity analysis. Our analyses indicate that the proposed scenarios give the company competitive advantage in terms of reduced total logistics cost, and also highlight more possibilities that become available taking advantage of an integrated approach towards logistics planning. These abundant opportunities are to be synergised and exploited in an interconnected open global logistics system.
Unemployment convergence analysis for Nordic countries: Evidence from linear and nonlinear unit root tests

The purpose of this study is to analyze the unemployment convergence in the NORDIC countries. The linearity test developed by Harvey et al. (2008) was used, the Sollis (2009) nonlinear unit root test was used for the countries the nonlinearity of which have been identified and the Narayan and Popp (2010) test was used for the series the linearity of which have been identified. As a result of the analysis, it was found out that the unemployment rates in Finland, Norway and Sweden converged to the NORDIC mean whereas the unemployment rates in Denmark and Iceland did not converge to the NORDIC mean. Based on this result, it could be said for Denmark and Iceland that the shocks to unemployment rate differentials are persistent.
Effectiveness of a short (4 day) course of oritavancin in the treatment of simulated Clostridium difficile infection using a human gut model.

OBJECTIVES We previously demonstrated that 7 days of oritavancin instillation effectively treats Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in a human gut model. Oritavancin may be more effective than vancomycin due to apparently increased activity against spores. We compared the efficacy of shortened dosing duration (4 days) of oritavancin and vancomycin for CDI treatment using the gut model. METHODS Clindamycin induced CDI in two triple-stage chemostat gut models primed with pooled human faeces and C. difficile ribotype 027 spores. Oritavancin (64 mg/L twice daily) or vancomycin (125 mg/L four times daily) was instilled for 4 days and the effects on C. difficile proliferation and toxin production, and gut microflora were determined. RESULTS Both oritavancin and vancomycin reduced toxin to undetectable levels. Recurrent C. difficile germination occurred 20 days after vancomycin instillation, with high-level toxin production. Oritavancin reduced C. difficile counts to around the detection limit for the remainder of the experiment, with spores undetectable from day 1 of instillation. Toxin production was reduced to below detectable levels, but was sporadically seen later, despite no evidence of germination. Both oritavancin and vancomycin instillation led to only modest effects on gut microflora. CONCLUSIONS Shortened courses of oritavancin and vancomycin effectively treated CDI in a human gut model, but evidence of recurrence was observed following vancomycin instillation. Oritavancin exposure inhibited the recovery of C. difficile spores, as previously described. Shortened antibiotic exposure minimizes disruption to the gut microflora. These data indicate the possible value of a 4 day oritavancin dosing regimen for CDI treatment.
The Formation of Cabinet Coalitions in Presidential Systems

Abstract Cabinet coalitions are central to the functioning of Latin American presidential systems. However, the reasons for their formation remain unclear. While recent studies suggest that presidents invite parties to the cabinet to facilitate governability and lawmaking, this study argues that the composition of cabinet coalitions is largely predetermined by commitments made before presidential elections. To analyze this argument, the study introduces the conditional logit model as a new empirical strategy for modeling cabinet choice under this type of regime. Based on a new dataset of 107 cabinets in 13 Latin American democracies, the study shows that pre-electoral commitments strongly affect cabinet formation and thereby also confound the relationship between cabinet formation and governability.
AIRWAY EOSINOPHIL ACCUMULATION AND EOTAXIN-2/CCL24 EXPRESSION FOLLOWING ALLERGEN CHALLENGE IN BALB/c MICE

Eotaxin-1/CCL11 is important for early eosinophil recruitment to the airways of asthmatics. In order to clarify whether eotaxin-2/CCL24 accounts for prolonged airway eosinophilia, the authors determined the expression of CCL11 and CCL24 in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) as well as eosinophil infiltration over 14 days in BALB/c mice sensitised (intraperitonealy) and challenged (inhalations) with ovalbumin (OVA). Allergen exposure induced perivascular, peribronchial, and BAL eosinophilia for up to 7 days. CCL11 and CCL24 were highly expressed in lung tissue from 6 and up to 72 hours. Peak expression of CCL11 protein was 1557 ± 109 pg/mL for OVA (mean ± SEM) versus 404 ± 73 pg/mL in controls (SAL) (P <.001) and 1690 ± 54 versus 455 ± 165 pg/mL for CCL24 (P <.01). In BAL, only eotaxin-2/CCL24 was significantly increased (1623 ± 85 pg/mL for OVA versus 157 ± 22 pg/mL for SAL, P <.01). Peak eosinophilia and CCL24 expression occurred later in BAL than in lung tissue. These data suggest that both CCL11 and CCL24 are important for recruitment of eosinophils to perivascular and peribronchial tissue seen up to 72 hours. This finding implies redundancy between these chemokines rather than differentially regulated expression over time. In contrast, only CCL24 seems important for recruitment of eosinophils into BAL. Specific inhibition of CCL11 alone is therefore unlikely to inhibit eosinophil recruitment to the airways.
Protective Effects of Angiotensin II Interruption: Evidence for Antiinflammatory Actions

Angiotensin II, the major effector molecule produced renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone axis, is a vasoconstrictor contributing to hypertension. Evidence indicates, however, that angiotensin II also is a potent proinflammatory mediator with growth and remodeling effects. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that angiotensin II blockade significantly reduces concentrations of proinflammatory mediators and oxidative stress products in numerous inflammatory models. Interruption of angiotensin II activity with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers has been beneficial for patients with inflammatory diseases. Much of this benefit occurs independent of the antihypertensive effect of angiotensin II interruption, suggesting a distinctive protective mechanism. Angiotensin II receptor blockers may represent a novel class of antiinflammatory drugs with indications far beyond cardiovascular diseases.
A common haplotype of the dopamine transporter gene associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and interacting with maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy.

CONTEXT Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common heritable childhood behavioral disorder. Identifying risk factors for ADHD may lead to improved intervention and prevention. The dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) is associated with ADHD in several studies, with an average 1.2 odds ratio and evidence of heterogeneity across data sets. OBJECTIVE To investigate sources of heterogeneity by refining the DAT1 association using additional markers and investigating gene-environment interaction between DAT1 and maternal use of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING AND PATIENTS Children with ADHD from child behavior clinics in the southeast of England and in the Taipei area of Taiwan. INTERVENTIONS Within-family tests of association using 2 repeat polymorphisms in the 3' untranslated region and intron 8 plus additional markers in the English sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Transmission ratios of risk alleles from heterozygote parents to affected offspring and comparison of the transmission ratios in high- and low-exposure groups for the environmental variables. RESULTS A novel association was identified between ADHD, the intron 8 polymorphism, and a specific risk haplotype in both English and Taiwanese samples. The risk haplotype showed significant interactions with maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS The identification of a common haplotype in 2 independent populations is an important step toward identifying functionally significant regions of DAT1. Interaction between DAT1 genotypes and maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy suggests that DAT1 moderates the environmental risk and has implications for the prevention of ADHD. Further studies are required to delineate the precise causal risk factor involved in this interaction.
Work stress and well‐being in oncology settings: a multidisciplinary study of health care professionals

Staff working in oncology report high levels of work‐related stress. This arises partly from the nature of clinical work, including practitioner perceptions of high demand and low control or high effort and low reward. This comparative study investigated the correlates of work stress in a multidisciplinary group of staff and the associations between staff perceptions of the work environment, emotional distress, job satisfaction and work‐based social support.
PID controller design based on optimal servo and v-gap metric

This paper presents a new design method of a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller that provides sufficient stability margins and good time responses. It is possible to design an optimal PID controller with properties of a linear quadratic regulator or LQR by taking advantage of the fact that the integral-type optimal servo, which is a kind of the LQR, designed for a second order system is equivalent to an I-PD (proportional and derivative preceded integral) controller, However, the plant order is generally higher than the second. In such a case, the plant-order is reduced to the second based on the criterion of the í-gap metric. Even if open-loop properties of the reduced-order plant are very different from those of the original plant, as long as the í-gap is sufficiently small, a desirable I-PD or PID controller is obtained using the second-order plant model. Several design examples illustrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the method as a practical design tool of a PID controller.
Associations of the IL‐1 and TNF gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to duodenal ulcer disease in Chinese Han population

Our aim was to investigate whether genetic polymorphism of IL‐1Β‐511, IL‐1RN, TNF‐A‐308 are involved in the susceptibility to duodenal ulcer (DU). 437 unrelated Chinese Han patients with DU and 148 healthy controls were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism method for the IL‐1B‐511, TNF‐A‐308 gene polymorphisms and the VNTR polymorphism in intron 2 of the IL‐1RN gene polymorphisms. There was no difference in the genetic polymorphism of IL‐1Β‐511, IL‐1RN and TNF‐A‐308 in the patients with DU compared with control. After stratified by Helicobacter pylori infection, they also could not reach significant differences in this study. No statistically significant differences were observed in DU group compared with control according to combination of the IL‐1Β‐511 and IL‐1RN genotypes regardless of H. pylori positivity. These findings show that no evidence for the involvement of a proinflammatory polymorphism in the IL‐1Β‐511, IL‐1RN and TNF‐A‐308 in the susceptibility to DU in China.
Comparison of efficacy and tolerance of short-duration open-ended ureteral catheter drainage and tamsulosin administration to indwelling double J stents following ureteroscopic removal of stones.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of short-duration, open-ended ureteral catheter drainage as a replacement to indwelling stent, and to study the effect of tamsulosin on stent-induced pain and storage symptoms following uncomplicated ureteroscopic removal of stones. DESIGN Prospective randomised study. SETTING School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India. PATIENTS Patients who underwent ureteroscopic removal of stones for lower ureteral stones between November 2011 and January 2014 were randomly assigned into three groups. Patients in group 1 (n=33) were stented with 5-French double J stent for 2 weeks. Patients in group 2 (n=35) were administered tablet tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily for 2 weeks in addition to stenting, and those in group 3 (n=31) underwent 5-French open-ended ureteral catheter drainage for 48 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All patients were evaluated for flank pain using visual analogue scale scores at days 1, 2, 7, and 14, and for storage (irritative) bladder symptoms using International Prostate Symptom Score on days 7 and 14, and for quality-of-life score (using International Prostate Symptom Score) on day 14. RESULTS Of the 99 patients, visual analogue scale scores were significantly lower for groups 2 and 3 (P<0.0001). The International Prostate Symptom Scores for all parameters were lower in patients from groups 2 and 3 compared with group 1 both on days 7 and 14 (P<0.0001). Analgesic requirements were similar in all three groups. CONCLUSION Open-ended ureteral catheter drainage is equally effective and better tolerated than routine stenting following uncomplicated ureteroscopic removal of stones. Tamsulosin reduces storage symptoms and improves quality of life after ureteral stenting.
Responsiveness of Economic Growth to External Debt in Nigeria

This study focused on responsiveness of economic growth to foreign debt in Nigeria, 1986-2013. Specifically, the study sought to: (i) ascertain whether economic growth positively responds to external debt, and (ii) determine whether economic growth significantly responds to external debt. The study adopted ex-post facto design. Annual time series data for 28 years (1986-2013) were generated from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Debt Management Office (DMO). A preliminary test was conducted using Augmented DickeyFuller (ADF) to ascertain data stationarity so as to forestall obtaining spurious regression results. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method was used to estimate the variables. External debt stock (EDS), External debt service payment (EDSP) and Foreign exchange rate (FEXR) were applied as explanatory variables, while real gross domestic product (RGDP) formed the dependent variable. Decisions were anchored on a 5% level of significance. The study discovered as follows that: (i) GDP negatively responded to external debt stock, and (ii) GDP had a non-significant response to external debt stock. Based on the findings, the study recommended that external debt can drive economic growth if fiscal discipline and high sense of responsibility is maintained by leaders in managing public funds. Secondly, efforts should be geared toward increased credit delivery (including borrowed funds) to the productive sectors capable of stimulating the economy.
A Uniformly Selected, Southern-sky 6dF, Optical AGN Catalog

We have constructed a catalog of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with z < 0.13, based on optical spectroscopy, from the parent sample of galaxies in the Six-Degree Field (6dF) galaxy survey (Final Release of 6dFGS), a census of the Southern Hemisphere. This work is an extension of our all-sky AGN catalog in Zaw et al. (ZCF, hereafter). The ZCF is based on 43,533 galaxies with K s ≤ 11.75 (z ≤ 0.09) in the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) Redshift Survey (2MRS). The parent catalog of this work, the 6dF catalog, consists of 136,304 publicly available digital spectra for 125,071 galaxies with decl. ≤ 0° and K s ≤ 12.65 (median z = 0.053). Our AGN catalog consists of 3109 broadline AGNs and 12,156 narrowline AGNs which satisfy the 2003 criteria, of which 3865 also satisfy the 2001 criteria. We also provide emission-line widths, fluxes, flux errors, and signal-to-noise ratios of all the galaxies in our spectroscopic sample, allowing users to customize the selection criteria. In addition, we provide the AGN likelihood for the rest of galaxies based on the availability and quality of their spectra. These likelihood values can be used for rigorous statistical analyses.
Specificity of vascular reactivity and altered response in experimental malaria.

OBJECTIVE Adherence of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum (P falciparum) to microvascular endothelial cells (sequestration) is considered to play an important role in parasite virulence and pathogenesis. In this study, we have examined the possibility that there is altered vascular reactivity due to the direct interaction between the parasitized erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells and that it could be tissue specific. METHOD Ring preparations of blood vessels from the rabbit carotid and rat aorta were studied using standard organ bath techniques. Dose response curves for phenylephrine (PE) and acetylcholine (Ach)-induced relaxation were constructed in rings pre-contracted with PE. RESULTS Incubation of rat aortic rings with parasitized blood resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in maximum contractile response to phenylephrine in the rat aortic rings but there was no effect on the rabbit carotid artery. The dose-response curve showed a significant (p < 0.05) left-ward shift following the addition of parasitized blood. Parasitised blood had no effect on baseline in both tissues. Following exposure to parasitized blood, the magnitude of Ach-induced relaxation responses reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in rat aortic rings and (p < 0.05) in rabbit carotid rings; relaxations to acetylcholine was more pronounced in the aortic compared to the carotid rings. CONCLUSIONS Malaria altered vascular reactivity through an endothelium-dependent mechanism. The regulation of vascular tone by various vasoactive agents following exposure to malaria parasites might be altered in a vessel-specific manner. This may contribute to or exacerbate the abnormal haemodynamics observed in the microcirculation of numerous vascular beds in malaria.
Effect of epidural analgesia on labor times and mode of delivery: a prospective study.

PURPOSE To assess changes in labor times and delivery outcome in low-risk women requesting pain relief and undergoing epidural analgesia, according to the epidural analgesia schemes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective observational study of 499 low-risk women with epidural analgesia. Speed of dilatation (SD) (centimeters of dilatation / hours), speed of lowering of the fetal head through maternal pelvis (SL) (centimeters in lowering / hours), time of active phase of labor (TA), cesarean section (CS), vacuum application (VA) were dependent variables in multivariable linear and logistic regressions. RESULTS Dilution of ropivacain, fentanyl amount, and volume of the first dose of epidural analgesia did not seem to affect labor times. Epidural analgesia with schemes used in this study favored both the dilatation and the fetal head lowering through maternal pelvis. Every five minutes from the first dose of epidural to the last top-up, SD decreased by about 13% (p=0.002), SL decreased by about 14% (p<0.001), and TA increased by about 40% (p<0.001). Additionally, every five minutes from the first dose of epidural to the last top-up, the odds of an operative vaginal birth (vacuum) increased by 0.7% (p<0.001). Increasing of number of top-ups independently caused a reduction in odds of undergoing CS (odds ratio 0.434; C.I. 95% 0.219-0.859, p=0.017), without influencing labor times. CONCLUSION Epidural analgesia in patients requesting pain relief favors normal course of labor if it is not discontinued or delayed.