Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T Cell Help to B Cells in Germinal Centers: Putting the Jigsaw Together

The germinal center (GC) reaction supports the processes of affinity maturation and class switching in B cells that result in long-lasting humoral immunity. CD4+ T follicular helper cells (Tfh) participate in the GC reaction to help B cells. However, recent studies highlight the heterogeneity of CD4+ T cells in GCs, which confounds the understanding of Tfh cells. Based on many recent studies, we have tried to form a working model on the niche of Tfh cells in GCs. We have also addressed whether Tfh cells are a distinct lineage and how they may be generated to help B cells.
Relationship of prior antidepressant exposure to long-term prospective outcome in bipolar I disorder outpatients.

OBJECTIVE The long-term impact of prior antidepressant exposure on the subsequent course of bipolar illness remains controversial. METHOD 139 outpatients (mean age, 42 years) with bipolar I disorder diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria had a detailed retrospective examination of their prior course of illness on the National Institute of Mental Health Life Chart Method. Number of prior antidepressant trials and total duration of antidepressant exposure were assessed. Prospective long-term response (for at least 6 months) to naturalistic treatment in the network from 1996 through 2002 was the primary outcome measure as it related to prior antidepressant exposure (and other illness variables) by logistic regression, with P < . 05 used for statistical significance in this post hoc analysis. RESULTS Greater number of antidepressant trials, but not duration of antidepressant exposure, was related to prospective nonresponse (P = .0051) whether or not antidepressants were covered by concurrent treatment with a mood stabilizer or atypical antipsychotic. Poor prospective response was also independently related to having had an anxiety disorder and 20 or more prior affective episodes. CONCLUSIONS That the number of antidepressant trials, but not duration of antidepressant treatment, was associated with prospective nonresponse suggests that it is the repeated use of antidepressants to treat episodes of depression that is related to poor prospective response to naturalistic treatment. The direction of causality is unclear as to whether more antidepressant trials led to this increased treatment resistance or whether a difficult course of illness with more episodes and anxiety comorbidity engendered more attempts at antidepressant treatment.
Low-Voltage High-Stability InZnO Thin-Film Transistor Using Ultra-Thin Solution-Processed ZrO$_{x}$ Dielectric

This paper deals with the evaluation of the performances of InZnO thin-film transistor (TFT) using as dielectric an ultra-thin solution-processed ZrOx layer. The ZrOx thin film was formed using ultraviolet (UV) photo-annealing method and shows a low leakage-current density of 4 nA/cm2 at 3.8 MV/cm and a large areal-capacitance of 775 nF/cm2 at 50 Hz. The InZnO TFT incorporating the UV-treated ZrOx dielectric exhibits high stable and enhanced characteristics, an on/off current ratio of 107, a field-effect mobility of 14.7 cm2/V·s, a subthreshold swing voltage of 100 mV/decade and a threshold voltage shift under bias stress, for 2 hours less than 0.1 V. All these performances are obtained at a low operation voltage of 2 V and make it suitable for use as a switching transistor in low-power electronics applications.
Identification of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) as a Repressor of C/EBPβ-mediated Gene Activation*

Transcription factor C/EBPβ has been known to regulate a wide array of genes including those involved in the acute-phase response. One of the molecular mechanisms underlying transcription activation by C/EBPβ is through protein-protein interaction with other transcription factors. Here we report the identification and characterization of physical and functional interactions between C/EBPβ and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) K. This interaction results in the repression of C/EBPβ-dependent trans-activation of theagp gene. Footprinting assays indicate that hnRNP K cannot bind to the promoter region of agp gene or interfere with the binding of C/EBPβ to its cognate DNA site. Furthermore,agp gene activation by the synergistic interaction of Nopp140 and C/EBPβ is abolished by hnRNP K. The kinetics of appearance of C/EBPβ-hnRNP K complex in the nuclear extract after initiation of acute-phase reaction indicates that hnRNP K functions as a negative regulator of C/EBPβ-mediated activation of agpgene.
Bronchoalveolar lavage findings in cystic fibrosis patients with stable, clinically mild lung disease suggest ongoing infection and inflammation.

To determine the extent of airway infection and inflammation in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have mild lung disease and are without symptoms of active infection, we performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on 18 CF patients > or = 12 yr of age who were stable, appeared clinically well, and had mean (+/- SEM) FEV1 of 79 +/- 4% of predicted. We quantitated the bacteria, inflammatory cells, immunoglobulins, and mediators of inflammatory tissue damage in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of these patients and in 23 healthy control subjects. All CF patients were found to be infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and/or Haemophilus influenzae; no organisms were isolated from the control subjects. The mean number of cells in the ELF was 14 times greater in the CF patients than in the control subjects. Neutrophils constituted 57% of the recovered cells in the CF patients versus 3% in the control subjects, and their concentration was 380 times greater in the CF patients versus the control subjects. IgG, IgA, and IgM were 2.5 to 6 times greater in CF ELF versus that of control subjects. Abundant active elastase was present in the ELF of the CF patients (2.3 +/- 0.9 microM) despite threefold elevated levels of alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI). No active elastase was detectable in the control subjects. alpha 1-PI was functional in CF as demonstrated by elevated elastase:alpha 1-PI complex (0.045 microM in CF versus 0.002 microM in control subjects). This active elastase caused proteolytic destruction of surface complement receptors on airway neutrophils in situ. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Performance Characteristics According to Playing Position in Elite Soccer

The paper provides a large-scale study into the motion characteristics of top class soccer players, during match play, according to playing position. Three hundred top-class outfield soccer players were monitored during 20 Spanish Premier League and 10 Champions League games using a computerized match analysis system (Amisco Pro, Nice, France). Total distance covered in five selected categories of intensity, and the mean percentage of playing time spent in each activity were analyzed according to playing position. Midfield players covered a significantly greater total distance (p < 0.0001) than the groups of defenders and forwards did. Analyzing the different work rates showed significant differences (p < 0.5 - 0.0001) between the different playing positions. There were no significant differences between halves in the total distance covered, or in distances covered at submaximal and maximal intensities. However, significantly more distance was covered in the first half compared to the second in medium intensities (11.1 - 19 km/h). The current findings provide a detailed description of the demands placed on elite soccer players, according to their positional role at different work intensities, which may be helpful in the development of individualized training programs.
Cannabis and psychotic illness

In-patients with psychotic symptoms and cannabis-positive urine analysis were assessed by PSE within one week of admission and again at one and six months. Concurrently admitted psychotic patients with drug-free urine analysis were controls. At one week the two groups differed significantly on only five PSE items: changed perception, thought insertion, non-verbal auditory hallucinations, delusions of control, and delusions of grandiose ability. One item (delayed sleep) differed at one month, and none at six months. The symptom cluster at one week is consistent with acute cannabis intoxication. Subjects and controls were mostly single, poorly educated, unemployed people with histories of psychotic disorders, and given major tranquillisers on admission. Compared with controls, subjects were younger, less likely to have psychiatric histories, more often male, Afro-Caribbeans with a history of convictions and compulsory admissions. The commonest diagnosis was schizophrenia. Use of the label ‘cannabis-induced psychosis’ may obscure a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. A short-lived psychotic episode does occur in clear consciousness after cannabis intoxication, but chronic cannabis-induced psychosis was not found.
Generality in ecology: testing North American grassland rules in South African savannas

Ecology has emerged as a global science, and there is a pressing need to identify ecological rules – general principles that will improve its predictive capability for scientists and its usefulness for managers and policy makers. Ideally, the generality and limits of these ecological rules should be assessed using extensive, coordinated experiments that ensure consistency in design and comparability of data. To improve the design of these large-scale efforts, existing data should be used to test prospective ecological rules and to identify their limits and contingencies. As an example of this approach, we describe prospective rules for grassland responses to fire and rainfall gradients, identified from long-term studies of North American grasslands and tested with existing data from long-term experiments in South African savanna grasslands. Analyses indicated consistent effects of fire on the abundance of the dominant (grasses) and subdominant (forbs) flora on both continents, but no common response of gr.
Semantic clustering for region-based image retrievalYing

With the proliferation of applications that demand content-based image retrieval, two merits are becoming more desirable. The first is the reduced search space, and the second is the reduced ‘‘semantic gap. ” This paper proposes a semantic clustering scheme to achieve these two goals. By performing clustering before image retrieval, the search space can be significantly reduced. The proposed method is different from existing image clustering methods as follows: (1) it is region based, meaning that image subregions, instead of the whole image, are grouped into. The semantic similarities among image regions are collected over the user query and feedback history; (2) the clustering scheme is dynamic in the sense that it can evolve to include more new semantic categories. Ideally, one cluster approximates one semantic concept or a small set of closely related semantic concepts, based on which the ‘‘semantic gap” in the retrieval is reduced. 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Evolution of proline biosynthesis: enzymology, bioinformatics, genetics, and transcriptional regulation

Proline is not only an essential component of proteins but it also has important roles in adaptation to osmotic and dehydration stresses, redox control, and apoptosis. Here, we review pathways of proline biosynthesis in the three domains of life. Pathway reconstruction from genome data for hundreds of eubacterial and dozens of archaeal and eukaryotic organisms revealed evolutionary conservation and variations of this pathway across different taxa. In the most prevalent pathway of proline synthesis, glutamate is phosphorylated to γ‐glutamyl phosphate by γ‐glutamyl kinase, reduced to γ‐glutamyl semialdehyde by γ‐glutamyl phosphate reductase, cyclized spontaneously to Δ1‐pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate and reduced to proline by Δ1‐pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate reductase. In higher plants and animals the first two steps are catalysed by a bi‐functional Δ1‐pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate synthase. Alternative pathways of proline formation use the initial steps of the arginine biosynthetic pathway to ornithine, which can be converted to Δ1‐pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate by ornithine aminotransferase and then reduced to proline or converted directly to proline by ornithine cyclodeaminase. In some organisms, the latter pathways contribute to or could be fully responsible for the synthesis of proline. The conservation of proline biosynthetic enzymes and significance of specific residues for catalytic activity and allosteric regulation are analysed on the basis of protein structural data, multiple sequence alignments, and mutant studies, providing novel insights into proline biosynthesis in organisms. We also discuss the transcriptional control of the proline biosynthetic genes in bacteria and plants.
Further delineation of the GDF6 related multiple synostoses syndrome

A mutation in GDF6 was recently found to underlie a multiple synostoses syndrome. In this report, we describe the second family with GDF6‐related multiple synostoses syndrome (SYNS4), caused by a novel c.1287C>A/p.Ser429Arg mutation in GDF6. In addition to synostoses of carpal and/or tarsal bones, at least 6 of 10 affected patients in this family have been diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss. In four of them otosclerosis was said to be present, one patient had hearing loss due to severe stapes fixation at the age of 6 years, providing evidence that hearing loss in the GDF6‐related multiple synostoses syndrome can be present in childhood. Two others had surgery for stapes fixation at adult age. We hypothesize that, identical to the recently published GDF6‐related multiple synostoses family, the p.Ser429Arg mutation also leads to a gain of function. The previously reported c.1330T>A/pTyr444Asn mutation was located in a predicted Noggin and receptor I interacting domain and the gain of function was partly due to resistance of the mutant GDF6 to the BMP‐inhibitor Noggin. The results in our family show that mutations predicting to affect the type II receptor interface can lead to a similar phenotype and that otosclerosis presenting in childhood can be part of the GDF6‐related multiple synostoses syndrome.
Clinical Study Risk of Mortality ( Including Sudden Cardiac Death ) and Major Cardiovascular Events in Atypical and Typical Antipsychotic Users : A Study with the General Practice Research Database

Objective. Antipsychotics have been associated with increased cardiac events includingmortality.This study assessed cardiac events including mortality among antipsychotic users relative to nonusers. Methods. The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) was used to identify antipsychotic users, matched general population controls, and psychiatric diseased nonusers. Outcomes included cardiac mortality, sudden cardiac death (SCD), all-cause mortality (excluding suicide), coronary heart disease (CHD), and ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Sensitivity analyses were conducted for age, dose, duration, antipsychotic type, and psychiatric disease. Results. 183,392 antipsychotic users (115,491 typical and 67,901 atypical), 544,726 general population controls, and 193,920 psychiatric nonusers were identified. Nonusers with schizophrenia, dementia, or bipolar disorder had increased risks of all-cause mortality compared to general population controls, while nonusers with major depression had comparable risks. Relative to psychiatric nonusers, the adjusted relative ratios (aRR) of all-cause mortality in antipsychotic users was 1.75 (95% CI: 1.64–1.87); cardiac mortality 1.72 (95% CI: 1.42–2.07); SCD primary definition 5.76 (95% CI: 2.90–11.45); SCD secondary definition 2.15 (95% CI: 1.64–2.81); CHD 1.16 (95% CI: 0.94–1.44); and VA 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02–1.31). aRRs of the various outcomes were lower for atypical versus typical antipsychotics (all-cause mortality 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80–0.85); cardiac mortality 0.89 (95% CI: 0.82–0.97); and SCD secondary definition 0.76 (95%CI: 0.55–1.04). Conclusions. Antipsychotic users had an increased risk of cardiac mortality, all-cause mortality, and SCD compared to a psychiatric nonuser cohort.
Assessment of the Circadian Cardiovascular Risk with Ambulatory BLood Pressure Measurement

In this chapter, I review the evidence that ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) can provide a means of assessing circadian cardiovascular risk. I will not attempt to review the circadian risk from the biochemical, hormonal, and thrombotic viewpoints other than to acknowledge that there is considerable harmony in the physiological, hemodynamic adjustments that occur during each 24-h cycle, and to indicate at the outset that what may be measurable with ABPM may well be the effect of changes in other hemorheological mechanisms that are orchestrated to cope with the vast variation in activity and circumstance that characterizes human behavior during a 24-h period.
The effectiveness of Hong Kong's Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme

The Hong Kong Government introduced the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme in December 2005 to ensure that disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is properly priced to reduce such waste. The charging scheme is not only intended to provide an economic incentive for contractors and developers to reduce waste but also to encourage reuse and recycling of waste material thereby slowing down the depletion of limited landfill and public filling capacities. This paper examines the effectiveness of the charging scheme 1 year after implementation. A survey was conducted at Tseung Kwan O Area 137 and Tuen Mun Area 38, and daily C&D waste records were collected from landfills and public filling facilities between January 2006 and December 2006. The results of the survey show that waste has been reduced by approximately 60% in landfills, by approximately 23% in public fills, and by approximately 65% in total waste between 2005 and 2006. Suggestions for improving the scheme are provided.
Improved patency and reduced intimal hyperplasia in PTFE grafts with luminal immobilized heparin compared with standard PTFE grafts at six months in a sheep model.

AIM The aim of this study was to compare the performance of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts with luminal coating of immobilized heparin to that of standard PTFE grafts at six months. METHODS Twenty-eight common carotid arteries in fourteen sheep were bypassed with heparin-coated PTFE grafts (6 mm diameter, 6 cm length) on one side and standard PTFE grafts on the other. The grafts were explanted after six months. The thickness of intimal hyperplasia (IH) in open grafts was measured with histomorphometrical methods. RESULTS Two of 14 heparinized PTFE grafts and nine of 14 grafts in the control PTFE-group were occluded at explantation (P=0.006). Six-month patency rates for heparinized PTFE grafts and for standard PTFE grafts were 86% and 36%, respectively. Mean graft anastomotic IH thickness in open grafts were 0.074 mm for heparinized PTFE grafts and 0.259 mm for PTFE-grafts (P=0.006). CONCLUSION PTFE grafts with luminal coating containing immobilized heparin had significantly better patency and recruited less intimal hyperplasia than standard PTFE grafts at six months.
DETERMINANTS OF THE INTENTION TO USE TELEMEDICINE: EVIDENCE FROM PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS

Objectives: While most studies have focused on analyzing the results of telemedicine use, it is crucial to consider the determinants of its use to fully understand the issue. This article aims to provide evidence on the determinants of telemedicine use in clinical practice. Methods: The survey targeted a total population of 398 medical professionals from a healthcare institution in Spain. The study sample was formed by the ninety-three primary care physicians who responded. Using an extended Technology Acceptance Model and microdata for the ninety-six physicians, binary logistic regression analysis was carried out. Results: The analysis performed confirmed the model's goodness-of-fit, which allowed 48.1 percent of the dependent variable's variance to be explained. The outcomes revealed that the physicians at the healthcare institution placed greater importance on telemedicine's potential to reduce costs, and on its usefulness to the medical profession. The perception of medical information security and confidentiality and the patients’ predisposition toward telemedicine were the second explanatory factors in order of importance. A third set of moderating effects would appear to corroborate the importance of the physicians’ own opinions. Conclusions: These results have revealed the need for a dynamic approach to the design of telemedicine use, especially when it targets a variety of end-users. Hence, the importance of conducting studies before using telemedicine, and attempting to identify which of the above-mentioned predictors exert an influence and how.
Influence of post-hatch starvation on broiler chick ’ s productivity

The effect of post hatch starvation on growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and nutrient digestibility coefficient was evaluated in broiler chicks. One hundred and eighty “Sayed” day-old broiler chickens were placed in six treatments with three replications of 10 chickens each. The experiment was arranged in a complete random design (CRD) at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours delay access to feed as treatments. Birds subjected to fasting at 12, 24 and 36h showed no significant (P>0.05) differences in body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios. Body weight increased significantly (P<0.05) at 12, 24 and 36h compared with those at 48, 60 and 72h delayed access to feed. At 7 days of age, the nutrient digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ash and nitrogen free extracts (NFE) was significantly (p<0.05) better at 12, 24 and 36h compared with those at 48, 60 and 72h. At 28 day of age, the results of the digestibility coefficient of birds at 12, 24 and 36h feed holding period was similar (p>0.05) for DM, CP and CF but significantly (P<0.05) differed from those on 48, 60 and 72h. The EE, ash and NFE were similar (P>0.05) across the treatments with improved values in birds with decreasing starved period. The results of this study revealed that delayed access to feed has adverse effects on broiler performance. It recommended that a source of energy in the hatching basket or during transportation be provided to chicks to reduce starvation.
Loss of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (Tsc1) expression results in increased Rheb/S6K pathway signaling important for astrocyte cell size regulation

Individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) develop central nervous system abnormalities that may reflect astrocyte dysfunction. In an effort to model astrocyte dysfunction in TSC, we generated mice lacking Tsc1 (hamartin) expression in astrocytes and demonstrated that Tsc1‐null astrocytes exhibit abnormalities in contact inhibition growth arrest. In this study, we demonstrate that hamartin‐deficient astrocytes are also defective in cell size regulation. We show that the increase in Tsc1‐null astrocyte size is associated with increased activation of the S6‐kinase pathway. In keeping with recent reports that the hamartin/tuberin complex may regulate Rheb and downstream S6K activation, we demonstrate that expression of either Rheb or S6K in primary astrocytes results in increased S6 pathway activation, and that inhibition of Rheb activity in Tsc1‐deficient astrocytes using either pharmacologic or genetic strategies markedly reduces S6 activation. Collectively, these observations suggest that TSC inactivation in astrocytes results in defective cell size regulation associated with dysregulated Rheb/mTOR/S6K pathway activity. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.