Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between the heat resistance of spores and the optimum and maximum growth temperatures of Bacillus species

Heat resistance of spores of Bacillus strains was compared with the temperature adaptation of each strain as measured by the optimum and maximum growth temperatures and the heat resistance of vegetative cells. Maximum growth temperatures ranged from 31 to 76 degrees C and were little affected by the nature of the growth medium. The temperature giving maximum growth rate was closely correlated to the maximum temperature for growth, and about 6 degrees C lower. Vetetative-cell heat resistance, determined on exponential-phase cells, was also correlated with maximum growth temperature. The temperature at which spores were inactivated with a decimal reduction time of 10 min was in the range of 75 to 121 degrees C. This temperature was 46 +/- 7 degrees C higher than the maximum growth temperature and correlated with it and the other cell parameters. Spore heat resistance can be considered to have two components, the temperature adaptation characteristic of the species and the stabilization conferred by the spore state.
Efficacy theory and its utility in arthritis rehabilitation: review and recommendations

Purpose: Self-efficacy, a cognitive construct implicating one's self-perception about one's performance ability, has been found to be a significant predictor of psychological well-being, adherence to prescribed treatments, and pain coping mechanisms of persons with arthritis. Heightened self-efficacy may also ameliorate arthritis-related symptoms of fatigue and depression, and preserve function and prolong physical wellbeing. Methods: To elaborate upon the utility of self-efficacy enhancing strategies as this pertains to ameliorating arthritisrelated disability, this paper examined the related literature on this topic and detailed the outcomes and nature of those selfefficacy enhancing strategies that have been incorporated into arthritis treatment regimens. Results: Despite limitations in the prevailing database, results indicated: (1) self-efficacy is potentially a potent predictor of the overall health status of the person with arthritis; and (2) carefully designed self-efficacy enhancing strategies are likely to impact favourably upon the magnitude of the disability experienced by individuals with arthritis. Conclusions : In relation to maximizing the therapeutic outcomes for disabling arthritis, the concept of self-efficacy is very worthy of the clinical practitioners and the clinical researchers attention.
Is Monetary Policy in New Members States Asymmetric?

Estimated Taylor rules became popular as a description of monetary policy conduct. There are numerous reasons why real monetary policy can be asymmetric and estimated Taylor rule nonlinear. This paper tests whether monetary policy can be described as asymmetric in three new European Union (EU) members (the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland), which apply an inflation targeting regime. Two different empirical frameworks are used: (i) a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation of models that allow discrimination between the sources of potential policy asymmetry but are conditioned by specific underlying relations (Dolado et al., 2004, 2005; Surico, 2007a,b); and (ii) a flexible framework of sample splitting where nonlinearity enters via a threshold variable and monetary policy is allowed to switch between regimes (Hansen, 2000; Caner and Hansen, 2004). We find generally little evidence for asymmetric policy driven by nonlinearities in economic systems, some evidence for asymmetric preferences and some interesting evidence on policy switches driven by the intensity of financial distress in the economy.
Concepts of Health and Illness in Egyptian Children

Background: Concepts of health and illness give additional important information to the biomedical models. According to the literature of lay beliefs, these concepts significantly affect population's health and illness behaviors and their health consciousness. Detecting children's lay concepts of health means a special professional challenge since they are not able to think in an abstract and systematic way yet, particularly to express this verbally. The draw-and-write method, which is based on projective technique, enables us to map children's lay concepts of health in 9-11 years of age. Objective: The main goal of the present study is to detect 9-11 year-old children's lay concepts of health, illness and risks, by using a technique, which has already been accepted and applied, at international level to inform future health promotion work. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted among 4th , 5th grade schoolchildren 9-11 years in two primary schools in Gizza. The sample consisted of 472 students (53% males and 47% female). We used the "draw and write" technique to detect children's lay beliefs and knowledge of health and illness asking them about sources of information. Results: Most children apply a mixture of the biomedical and holistic health definitions. Many of them also emphasize the role of healthy lifestyle. Television and the media were the most important sources of information of health and illness followed by their parents and physicians. Conclusion: These findings support earlier findings from international literature that 9-11 year-old children have a significant base of knowledge about health, illness and diseaseinducing risks.
Reliability of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

The test/retest reliability of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was studied utilizing 49 male freshman medical students. Test/retest reliabilities were obtained for three periods of administration, August-April, August-July, and April-July (8 mo., 11 mo., and 3 mo. respectively). As predicted for anxiety-state, low reliabilities were obtained. Anxiety trait reliabilities varied from . 539 to . 292. This trend of moderate to low reliabilities over relatively long periods of time may cause researchers to be cautious about long-term predictive reliabilities of anxiety trait.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia Pregnancy Cohort Study: Maternal-infant Adiposity Development until the First Year of Life

Increasing rates of overweight and obesity have prompted the need to prevent the risk from early life. This idea was originated from the 'Developmental Origins of Adult Disease' hypothesis. Historical cohort studies had indicated that maternal nutritional status was associated with later obesity development. However, little attention has been paid on the specific roles of prenatal oxidative stress status and adipokines levels in affecting postpartum and infant obesity. The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Pregnancy Cohort Study was thus established in year 2009 to measure the prenatal environment of 153 Malay women aged 19 to 40 years, and then followed-up these women and their delivered infants until the first year of life. Healthy women in the second trimester of pregnancy were recruited from two clinics in Kelantan, Malaysia. Maternal blood and breast milk samples were collected for analyzing oxidative stress and adipokines profiles, together with the maternal and infant anthropometric measurements, nicotine exposure, dietary intakes and physical activities. Preliminary findings that indicated the association of maternal environment based on the aspects of prenatal dietary intake and pregnancy symptoms with birth outcomes were presented. Overall, this paper seeks to provide a brief introduction to the USM Pregnancy Cohort Study, to summarize the study content, to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the study and to address the issue of challenges that was faced throughout the study. An overview of the study and preliminary findings are important to serve as a basic reference of the project implementation for future studies.
The political (and physiological) divide: Political orientation, performance monitoring, and the anterior cingulate response

Our goal was to test a model of sociopolitical attitudes that posits a relationship between individual differences in liberal versus conservative political orientation and differential levels of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responsivity. We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) while participants who varied along a unidimensional liberal-conservative continuum engaged in a standard Go/NoGo task. We also measured component attitudes of political orientation in the form of traditionalism (degree of openness to social change) and egalitarianism (a preference for social equality). Generally, participants who reported a more liberal political orientation made fewer errors and produced larger ACC-generated ERPs (the error-related negativity, or ERN and the NoGo N2). This ACC activation, especially as indicated by a larger NoGo N2, was most strongly associated with greater preference for social equality. Performance accuracy, however, was most strongly associated with greater openness to social change. These data are consistent with a social neuroscience view that sociopolitical attitudes are related to aspects of neurophysiological responsivity. They also indicate that a bidimensional model of political orientation can enhance our interpretation of the nature of these associations.
Structural organization of authentic, mature HIV‐1 virions and cores

Mature, infectious HIV‐1 particles contain a characteristic cone‐shaped core that encases the viral RNA and replication proteins. The architectures of mature virions and isolated cores were studied using cryo‐electron microscopy. The average size (∼145 nm) of the virion was unchanged during maturation. Most virions contained a single core but roughly one‐third contained two or more cores. Consideration of the capsid protein concentration during core assembly indicated that core formation in vivo is template‐mediated rather than concentration‐driven. Although most cores were conical, 7% were tubular. These displayed a stacked‐disc arrangement with 7‐, 8‐, 9‐ or 10‐fold axial symmetry. Layer line filtration of these images showed that the capsid subunit arrangement is consistent with a 9.6 nm hexamer resembling that previously seen in the helical tubes assembled from purified capsid protein. A common reflection (1/3.2 nm) shared between the tubular and conical cores suggested they share a similar organization. The extraordinary flexibility observed in the assembly of the mature core appears to be well suited to accommodating variation and hence there may be no single structure for the infectious virion.
CEO Incentives and Downside Risk

We examine whether CEO equity incentives are related to firm risk. Our study differs from prior research in that we distinguish between upside and downside firm risk. Our study is prompted by the simple observation that variance is a symmetric and unconditional risk measure that may not capture how CEOs judge risk. For a sample of about 2,600 firms from 1992 to 2008, we find that CEO incentives reflect both the asymmetry and the conditional nature of firm risk. In particular, CEO incentives are negatively related to downside risk but positively related to upside risk, consistent with the notion that CEOs perceive potential losses as riskier than potential gains. We also find that CEO incentives reflect upside and downside systematic risk. Our results hold after we control for other firm-specific and CEO characteristics known to affect incentives. One conclusion from our findings is that CEO equity incentives reflect risk asymmetrically, consistent with psychology research. To the extent that they are not already doing so, compensation committees might tailor contracts to reflect the differential importance of downside and upside risk. From a research perspective, failing to consider these richer risk measures could lead to false inferences about the efficacy and efficiency of CEO incentives and compensation contracts.
Chronic inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, and effect of an anti‐VEGFR therapy in a mouse model and in human patients with aspiration pneumonia

Chronic inflammation induces lymphangiogenesis and blood vessel remodelling. Since aged pneumonia patients often have repeated episodes of aspiration pneumonia, the pathogenesis may involve chronic inflammation. For lymphangiogenesis, VEGFR‐3 and its ligand VEGF‐C are key factors. No previous studies have examined chronic inflammation or vascular changes in aspiration pneumonia or its mouse models. In lung inflammation, little is known about the effect of blocking VEGFR‐3 on lung lymphangiogenesis and, moreover, its effect on the disease condition. This study aimed to establish a mouse model of aspiration pneumonia, examine the presence of chronic inflammation and vascular changes in the model and in patients, and evaluate the effect of inhibiting VEGFR‐3 on the lymphangiogenesis and disease condition in this model. To induce aspiration pneumonia, we repeated inoculation of pepsin at low pH and LPS into mice for 21–28 days, durations in which bronchioalveolar lavage and plasma leakage in the lung suggested the presence of exaggerated inflammation. Conventional and immunohistochemical analysis of tracheal whole mounts suggested the presence of chronic inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, and blood vessel remodelling in the model. Quantitative RT‐PCR of the trachea and lung suggested the involvement of lymphangiogenic factor VEGF‐C, VEGFR‐3, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines. In the lung, the aspiration model showed the presence of chronic inflammation and exaggerated lymphangiogenesis. Treatment with the VEGFR inhibitor axitinib or the VEGFR‐3 specific inhibitor SAR131675 impaired lymphangiogenesis in the lung and improved oxygen saturation in the aspiration model. Since the lung is the main site of aspiration pneumonia, the changes were intensive in the lung and mild in the trachea. Human lung samples also showed the presence of chronic inflammation and exaggerated lymphangiogenesis, suggesting the relevance of the model to the disease. These results suggest lymphatics in the lung as a new target of analysis and therapy in aspiration pneumonia. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
T-cell-mediated cytotoxic response to mumps virus in humans

Mumps-specific T-cell-mediated cytotoxic activity against virus-treated autologous lymphocytes was studied after peripheral blood lymphocytes of sensitized subjects had been incubated with ultraviolet light-inactivated virus antigen. Generation of the cytotoxic activity in vitro was associated with an antecedent lymphoproliferative response to mumps virus. The virus specificity of the effector cells was demonstrated by a lack of lysis of type 1 parainfluenza virus (HVJ)-treated as well as of type A influenza virus-treated autologous target cells. This activity was largely associated with E-rosette-forming T lymphocytes as revealed by negative selection of a population from cultured whole lymphocytes. In addition, sequential investigations for subjects with a natural mumps virus infection clearly demonstrated individual characteristics of the cytotoxic response. Therefore, the assay described could be used to reflect mumps virus-specific T-cell-mediated immunity in humans.
The response of trained athletes to six weeks of endurance training in hypoxia or normoxia.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of training under simulated hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia training was integrated into the normal training schedule of 12 endurance trained cyclists. Athletes were randomly assigned to two groups and performed three additional training bouts per week for six weeks on a bicycle ergometer. One group (HG) trained at the anaerobic threshold under hypoxic conditions (corresponding to an altitude of 3200 m) while the control group (NG) trained at the same relative intensity at 560 m. Preceding and following the six training weeks, performance tests were performed under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Normoxic and hypoxic . VO2max, maximal power output as well as hypoxic work-capacity were not improved after the training period. Testing under hypoxic conditions revealed a significant increase in oxygen saturation (SpO 2, from 67.1 +/- 2.3 % to 70.0 +/- 1.7 %) and in maximal blood lactate concentration (from 7.0 to 9.1 mM) in HG only. Ferritin levels were decreased from 67.4 +/- 16.3 to 42.2 +/- 9.5 microg/l (p < 0.05) in the HG and from 54.3 +/- 6.9 to 31.4+/- 8.0 microg/l (p = 0.17) in the NG. Reticulocytes were significantly increased in both groups by a factor of two. In conclusion, the integration of six weeks of high intensity endurance training did not lead to improved performance in endurance trained athletes whether this training was carried out in hypoxic or normoxic conditions.
Pathophysiology of oligodendroglial excitotoxicity

Oligodendrocyte‐like cells (OLD) derived from the rat oligodendroglial precursor line, CG‐4, express Ca2+‐permeable non‐methyl‐D‐aspartate glutamate receptor channels (GluR). Exposure to kainate, an L‐glutamate analogue, markedly elevates OLC Ca2+ influx and cytosolic [Ca2+], and results in damage to both OLC plasma membrane and OLC nuclear DNA. Two observations indicate that kainate‐induced OLC internucleosomal DNA nicking is not simply a delayed consequence of cell necrosis: 1) there is no temporal lag between onset of plasma membrane injury and of DNA nicking; and 2) aurintricarboxylic acid, an endonuclease inhibitor, blocks kainate‐induced damage to the plasma membrane. N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine also inhibits OLC kainate injury, suggesting that reactive oxygen species participate in OLC excitotoxicity. Kainate‐induced OLC Ca2+ influx and excitotoxicity are blocked by α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionate (AMPA), indicating that these kainate effects are mediated by AMPA‐GluR. AMPA and L‐glutamate fail to elicit OLC damage unless cyclothiazide, an AMPA‐GluR desensitization blocker, is present. OLC express both the “flip” and “flop” forms of GluR2, GluR3, and GluR4 mRNAs, but neither flip nor flop GluR1 mRNA. These data, together with the restriction of the desensitization‐blocking activity of cyclothiazide to GluR containing flip‐encoded GluR subunits, and the sharply diminished Ca2+ permeability of GluR containing edited GluR2, suggest OLC excitotoxicity is mediated by AMPA‐GluR that contain flip GluR3 and/or flip GluR4 protein subunits, but neither flip nor flop GluR2 protein subunits. Rapid desensitization of these GluR is likely to be important in protecting cells of the oligodendroglial lineage from excitotoxicity. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists during carotid artery stenting: results from the carotid artery stenting (CAS) registry of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Leitende Kardiologische Krankenhausärzte (ALKK).

BACKGROUND Glycoprotein II b/IIIa antagonists (GPII b/IIIa-A) lower the periprocedural rate of ischemic events during high risk percutaneous coronary interventions. Their clinical impact on carotid artery stenting (CAS) remains to be determined. METHODS We analyzed data from the Carotid Artery Stent (CAS) Registry. RESULTS From 01/ 2000 to 06/2005 1322 CAS interventions were registered. In 94 (7.1%) procedures a GPII b/IIIa-A was used: abciximab in 8 cases (8.6%), tirofiban in 53 cases (57%) and eptifibatide in 32 cases (34.4%). The use of a GPII b/IIIa-A during CAS decreased significantly over time: from 17.6% in 2000 to 3% in 2005, p for trend <0.0001. The mean use of a GPII b/IIIa-A at the hospitals was 5.2%. More than 50% of the hospitals never used a GPII b/IIIa-A. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics and concomitant diseases in CAS patients treated with GPII b/IIIa-A compared to those without GPII b/IIIa-A. A bilateral intervention was performed more often in patients treated with GPII b/IIIa-A (2.1 vs 0.2%, p = 0.04), a thrombus was more often visible (27 vs 12.4%, p <0.001) and an ulcer more frequently diagnosed (50 vs 37.5%, p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in the combined death or stroke rate between the two groups (5.3 vs 3.0%, p = 0.22, OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 0.69-4.72), which was confirmed by logistic regression analysis after adjusting for possible confounders (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 0.62-4.46, p = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS Our data neither demonstrate a significant benefit nor a significant risk with the use of GPIIb/IIIa-A during CAS. However, only an adequately sized randomized controlled clinical trial could establish the real value of GPII b/IIIa-A during CAS. Until then, considering the potential increase in cerebral hemorrhage, we should not use GPII b/ IIIa-A routinely during CAS.
Peripheral arterial disease in HIV‐infected and uninfected women

Although HIV infection has been associated with increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has not been assessed in HIV‐infected patients. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, PAD using ankle‐brachial index (ABI) measurement in HIV‐infected and uninfected women.
Performance of Commercial Blood Tests for the Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND. The accurate diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection reduces the risk of progression to severe disseminated disease. However, in young children, a major limitation of the standard tuberculin skin test is that false-negative results cannot be detected. The new interferon-γ release assays QuantiFERON-TB Gold (Cellestis Carnegie Victoria, Australia), QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube (Cellestis), and T-SPOT.TB (Oxford Immunotec, Abingdon, United Kingdom) show promise of greater accuracy, but they may also be affected by impaired cellular immunity, resulting in indeterminate results (ie, insufficient response in positive-control wells). OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the impact of age on the performance of interferon-γ release assays when used in a routine hospital setting among children tested for suspected active or latent TB infection. METHODS. We retrospectively studied 496 children 0 to 19 years of age who had been tested with the tuberculin skin test and at least 1 interferon-γ release assay: 181 with QuantiFERON-TB Gold and 315 with QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube. In 154 of the children, paired interferon-γ release assay testing was available: 87 with QuantiFERON-TB Gold/T-SPOT.TB and 67 with QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube/T-SPOT.TB. RESULTS. Compared with T-SPOT.TB, the rates of indeterminate results were significantly higher for both QuantiFERON-TB Gold and QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube. QuantiFERON-TB Gold and QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube also gave indeterminate results more frequently in children <4 years of age than in those ≥4 years of age. Indeterminate results were associated with younger age for both QuantiFERON-TB Gold and QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube but not for T-SPOT.TB. Considering age as a binary variable (<4 and ≥4 years of age), a significantly higher concentration of phytohaemagglutinin-produced interferon-γ was observed in older children with both QuantiFERON-TB Gold and QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube. CONCLUSIONS. Different blood tests for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in children seem to perform differently, because both QuantiFERON-TB tests were more likely than T-SPOT.TB to give indeterminate results in children <4 years of age.