Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia induces accumulation of p53 protein, but activation of a G1-phase checkpoint by low-oxygen conditions is independent of p53 status

It has been convincingly demonstrated that genotoxic stresses cause the accumulation of the tumor suppressor gene p53. One important consequence of increased p53 protein levels in response to DNA damage is the activation of a G1-phase cell cycle checkpoint. It has also been shown that G1-phase cell cycle checkpoints are activated in response to other stresses, such as lack of oxygen. Here we show that hypoxia and heat, agents that induce cellular stress primarily by inhibiting oxygen-dependent metabolism and denaturing proteins, respectively, also cause an increase in p53 protein levels. The p53 protein induced by heat is localized in the cytoplasm and forms a complex with the heat shock protein hsc70. The increase in nuclear p53 protein levels and DNA-binding activity and the induction of reporter gene constructs containing p53 binding sites following hypoxia occur in cells that are wild type for p53 but not in cells that possess mutant p53. However, unlike ionizing radiation, the accumulation of cells in G1 phase by hypoxia is not strictly dependent on wild-type p53 function. In addition, cells expressing the human papillomavirus E6 gene, which show increased degradation of p53 by ubiquitination and fail to accumulate p53 in response to DNA-damaging agents, do increase their p53 levels following heat and hypoxia. These results suggest that hypoxia is an example of a "nongenotoxic" stress which induces p53 activity by a different pathway than DNA-damaging agents.
Strategies for Classifying Patients Based on Office, Home, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement

Hypertension guidelines propose home or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring as indispensable after office measurement. However, whether preference should be given to home or ambulatory monitoring remains undetermined. In 831 untreated outpatients (mean age, 50.6 years; 49.8% women), we measured office (3 visits), home (7 days), and 24-h ambulatory blood pressures. We applied hypertension guidelines for cross-classification of patients into normotension or white-coat, masked, or sustained hypertension. Based on office and home blood pressures, the prevalence of white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension was 61 (10.3%), 166 (20.0%), and 162 (19.5%), respectively. Using daytime (from 8 AM to 6 PM) instead of home blood pressure confirmed the cross-classification in 575 patients (69.2%), downgraded risk from masked hypertension to normotension (n=24) or from sustained to white-coat hypertension (n=9) in 33 (4.0%), but upgraded risk from normotension to masked hypertension (n=179) or from white-coat to sustained hypertension (n=44) in 223 (26.8%). Analyses based on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure were confirmatory. In adjusted analyses, both the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (+20.6%; confidence interval, 4.4–39.3) and aortic pulse wave velocity (+0.30 m/s; confidence interval, 0.09–0.51) were higher in patients who moved up to a higher risk category. Both indexes of target organ damage and central augmentation index were positively associated (P⩽0.048) with the odds of being reclassified. In conclusion, for reliably diagnosing hypertension and starting treatment, office measurement should be followed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Using home instead of ambulatory monitoring misses the high-risk diagnoses of masked or sustained hypertension in over 25% of patients.
Nerve fiber layer thinning lags retinal ganglion cell density following crush axonopathy.

PURPOSE We investigated the progressive nature of neurodegenerative structural changes following injury to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons using quantifiable and noninvasive in vivo imaging techniques. METHODS To track degenerative RGC progression in retinas following optic nerve crush (ONC) injury, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to quantitate the RGC nerve fiber layer (NFL) density. The RGC soma cell density (RCD) was measured by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO). The RCD counts were performed using blood vessels as landmarks to anatomically track defined progressive changes in enhanced yellow fluorescent fusion protein (EYFP)-labeled RGCs. RESULTS Following ONC injury, 68% of the observed decrease in RCD measured by CSLO and 54% of the NFL thickness obtained by SD-OCT imaging (N=4 retinas) occurred within the first week. Between days 7 and 14, an additional 22% decrease in RCD was concurrent with a 31% decrease in overall NFL thickness. Finally, between days 14 and 21, an additional 10% decrease in RCD measured in vivo by CSLO and 15% decrease in NFL thickness by SD-OCT was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that in vivo CSLO imaging of EYFP-RGC expression and SD-OCT measured NFL thickness are fast and reliable methods that longitudinally track neurodegenerative progression following ONC injury. Neurodegenerative changes in NFL thickness measured by SD-OCT imaging have the same overall trajectory as those observed by CSLO for RCD; however, changes in NFL thickness initially lag behind in vivo RGC soma counts with a slower decline in overall measurable change.
Escherichia coli sequence type 131: epidemiology and challenges in treatment

Escherichia coli ST131 has emerged as a global epidemic, multidrug-resistant clone of E. coli causing extra-intestinal infections. It is now highly prevalent among fluoroquinolone-resistant and CTX-M ESBL-producing E. coli isolates worldwide. Humans are likely the primary reservoir of ST131. Factors associated with its acquisition include residence in long-term care facilities and recent receipt of antimicrobial agents. E. coli ST131 causes a wide array of infections ranging from cystitis to life-threatening sepsis. Fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are no longer adequate options for empiric therapy when E. coli ST131 is suspected from risk factors and local epidemiology. Expanded-spectrum cephalosporins, piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems are options to treat serious non-ESBL-producing E. coli ST131 infections, while carbapenems are indicated for ESBL-producing infections. There is a growing interest in reevaluating oral agents including fosfomycin and pivmecillinam for less serious infections such as uncomplicated cystitis.
Management of Bone Defects in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty With Structural Allografts

Some degree of bone loss is typically encountered in all cases of revision total knee arthroplasty. Massive bone loss options in revision total knee arthroplasty include arthrodesis, custom total knee replacement, amputation, or revision with structural allograft-prosthesis composites. Advantages of structural allografts include their biologic potential, versatility, relative cost-effectiveness, and bone stock restoration, and the potential for ligamentous reattachment. Disadvantages include the risk of disease transmission, graft nonunion, malunion, collapse, or resorption. Extensive preoperative planning is necessary to rule out infection as well as to select properly both the type and size of allograft and the appropriate prosthetic implant. Implant designs with diaphyseal-engaging stems and increased prosthetic constraint are often required. The host site and allograft require meticulous preparation to maximize surface contact and mechanical interlock of the allograft and host. The most common complications include instability and graft fracture and collapse.
Financial Distress Risk and Initial CEO Compensation Contracts

We examine the association between a firm’s ex ante risk of financial distress and the compensation and incentives provided to newly hired CEOs. Our findings are as follows. First, new CEOs at firms with higher bankruptcy risk receive substantially less compensation than new CEOs at low-risk firms. Second, while pay-performance sensitivity is higher for new CEOs at high-risk firms, the semi-elasticity of CEO pay with respect to shareholder wealth is lower. Finally, we find a negative relation between bankruptcy risk and the ratio of CEO pay-risk sensitivity to semi-elasticity, which is consistent with firms reducing potential shareholder/debtholder agency conflicts.
Hematology of the Pascagoula Map Turtle (Graptemys Gibbonsi) and the Southeast Asian Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis)

Abstract Turtle populations are decreasing dramatically due to habitat loss and collection for the food and pet market. This study sought to determine hematologic values in two species of turtles to help assess health status of captive and wild populations. Blood samples were collected from 12 individuals of the Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) and seven individuals of the southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (South Carolina, USA). The hematologic data included hematocrit, total solids, erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, and differential and percentage leukocyte counts. Low hematocrit values and high basophil counts were found in both species. The basophil was the most abundant leukocyte in the Pascagoula map turtle (median = 0.80 × 109/L), whereas in the Southeast Asian box turtle the most abundant leukocyte was the heterophil (median = 2.06 × 109/L).
Embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes are not ready for human trials.

Recently, a preclinical report assessed the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of using human embryonic stem cells to regenerate infarcted myocardium in a nonhuman primate model. This commentary evaluates that study by pointing out key weaknesses, offering an alternative perspective, and summarizing major unresolved issues. Our conclusion is that significant challenges remain before human embryonic stem cells are ready for use in clinical trials. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) affects millions of patients. The cardiac dysfunction that results from IHD is secondary to the death of cardiac muscle cells. Current IHD treatments are inadequate, and there is a need to develop novel therapies to improve the lives of affected patients. New cellular therapies are being developed for repairing damaged hearts via induction of cardiac myocyte regeneration. In our view, approaches that can regenerate new, functional myocardium need to be tested first in small animal models and then in appropriate large animal models. Those approaches that are shown to be safe and to improve cardiac function in preclinical studies should then be considered for clinical application. In a recent report in Nature , Chong et al1 describe experiments designed to test the potential of human embryonic stem cell–derived cardiac myocytes (hESC-CMs) to regenerate infarcted myocardium in a nonhuman primate model. This study was proposed by the authors as proof of concept for trials of these cells in patients. Our commentary looks at this report with an eye toward safety and efficacy of hESC-CMs. A major advance in the study of Chong et al1 is that an approach has been developed to produce large quantities of hESC-CMs that seem to be sufficient for future use in humans with IHD. The authors were able to amplify 1 billion hESC-CMs, a number purported sufficient to regenerate an adult human infarcted heart. This approach addresses …
Psychological risk factors for borderline pathology in school-age children.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether children with borderline pathology have a specific pattern of psychological risk factors. METHOD The subjects were 94 school-age children in day treatment, divided into borderline (n = 41) and nonborderline (n = 53) groups using the child version of the Retrospective Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines. All children were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, and the Psychosocial Questionnaire. Parental pathology was assessed by a computerized version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. RESULTS Children with borderline pathology had higher rates of physical abuse, sexual abuse, severe neglect, as well as family breakdown and parental criminality. In multivariate analyses, the discriminating factors were sexual abuse and parental criminality. Borderline pathology was highly comorbid with conduct disorder, but most of these results remained significant in reanalyses comparing children with and without conduct disorder. CONCLUSIONS Borderline pathology in children has a unique pattern of risk factors not accounted for by conduct disorder alone.
Stratification in binary colloidal polymer films: experiment and simulations.

When films are deposited from mixtures of colloidal particles of two different sizes, a diverse range of functional structures can result. One structure of particular interest is a stratified film in which the top surface layer has a composition different than in the interior. Here, we explore the conditions under which a stratified layer of small particles develops spontaneously in a colloidal film that is cast from a binary mixture of small and large polymer particles that are suspended in water. A recent model, which considers the cross-interaction between the large and small particles (Zhou et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 2017, 118, 108002), predicts that stratification will develop from dilute binary mixtures when the particle size ratio (α), initial volume fraction of small particles (ϕS), and Péclet number are high. In experiments and Langevin dynamics simulations, we systematically vary α and ϕS in both dilute and concentrated suspensions. We find that stratified films develop when ϕS is increased, which is in agreement with the model. In dilute suspensions, there is reasonable agreement between the experiments and the Zhou et al. MODEL In concentrated suspensions, stratification occurs in experiments only for the higher size ratio α = 7. Simulations using a high Péclet number, additionally find stratification with α = 2, when ϕS is high enough. Our results provide a quantitative understanding of the conditions under which stratified colloidal films assemble. Our research has relevance for the design of coatings with targeted optical and mechanical properties at their surface.
Neural Correlates of Both Perception and Memory for Objects in the Rodent Perirhinal Cortex

Despite its anatomical positioning as an interface between the perceptual and memory systems, the perirhinal cortex (PER) has long been considered dedicated for object recognition memory. Whether the PER is also involved in object perception has been intensely debated in recent studies, but physiological evidence has been lacking. We recorded single units from the PER while the rat made categorical responses immediately after sampling a visual object as the originally learned objects were ambiguously morphed to varying degrees. Some neurons in the PER changed their firing rates monotonically following the gradual changes across the morphed objects as if they coded perceptual changes of the object stimuli. However, other neurons abruptly changed their firing rates according to the response categories associated with the morphed objects, seemingly responding to the learned relationships between the stimulus and its associated choice response. The gradual and abrupt changes in object-tuning properties were also found at the neural population level. Furthermore, the object-associated tuning characteristics of neurons in the PER were more readily observable in correct trials than in error trials. Our findings suggest that neurons in the PER represent perceptual details of an object in addition to its mnemonic identity.
Behavior-change action plans in primary care: a feasibility study of clinicians.

PURPOSE Collaborative goal-setting--with clinician and patient together deciding on concrete behavior-change goals-may be more effective in encouraging healthy behaviors than traditional clinician-directed advice. This study explores whether it is feasible for clinicians to engage patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in collaborative goal-setting and concrete action planning during the primary care visit. METHODS Primary care clinicians were trained in goal-setting and action planning techniques and asked to conduct action plan discussions with study patients during medical visits. Clinicians' experiences were documented through post-visit surveys and with questionnaires and semistructured interviews at the end of the study. RESULTS Forty-three clinicians and 274 patients with CHD risk factors participated in the study; 83% of the patient encounters resulted in a behavior-change action plan. Goal-setting discussions lasted an average of 6.9 minutes. Clinicians rated 75% of the discussions as equally or more satisfying than previous behavior-change discussions, and identified time constraints as the most important barrier to adopting the goal-setting process. CONCLUSIONS Collaborative goal-setting between clinicians and patients for improved health behaviors is viewed favorably by clinicians in primary care. Time constraints could be addressed by delegating goal-setting to other caregivers.
The Design and Conduct of a Community‐Based Registry and Biorepository: A Focus on Cardiometabolic Health in Latinos

Latinos are disproportionately impacted by obesity and type 2 diabetes but remain underrepresented in biomedical research. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to develop a research registry and biorepository to examine cardiometabolic disease risk in the Latino community of Phoenix, Arizona. The overarching goal was to establish the research infrastructure that would encourage transdisciplinary research regarding the biocultural mechanisms of obesity‐related health disparities and facilitate access to this research for the Latino community.
Clinical decision making: from theory to practice. Anatomy of a decision.

Eddy argues that the quality of medical care is determined mainly by the quality of the decisions that determine what that care will be and the quality with which that care is executed. While the medical profession understands the importance of ensuring quality of execution, it has not taken steps to develop and evaluate quality decision making. Eddy describes the two main steps that make up the "anatomy" of a decision, the first a largely fact-based analysis of the estimated outcomes of various care plans, and the second a more personal and subjective comparison of the desirability of the outcome of each option. Eddy also identifies the "pathology" of decisions resulting from misperceptions about outcomes of care options, or about the values that patients place upon those outcomes. He identifies three principles that, if attended to, should enable physicians to achieve the goal of improving patient outcomes.
Some Mechanical and Thermal Properties of PC/ABS Blends

A series of blends of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) and Polycarbonate (PC) were prepared and some of their thermal and mechanical properties were determined. The Young’s modulus changed gradually and monotonically with the polycarbonate content. This effect was tentatively explained as the antiplasticization of the PC which is ascribed to the chain mobility, which permits the PC chains to pack more tightly, to the secondary cross-linking between the PC chains, or to the secondary attachment of bulky side-chains to the PC, thus producing steric hindrance to the rotation of the PC main chains. The experimental values found for the impact strength were intermediate between those of the neat polymers, depending upon the dispersed rubber particles of butadiene in the matrix of SAN (Styrene-Acrylonitrile), and the dispersed PC particles which generally make the ABS more brittle. A maximum value of about 88 KJ/m2 for the impact strength was observed for the blend with 90% PC. This may be attributed to the strong polymer-polymer interactions for this particular composition. The variations in the heat deflection temperature HDT and the Vicat softening point with the blend composition were very similar, and allowed us to assume that the phase inversion between the matrices of the two polymers takes place at 50% PC. The morphology of the blends revealed by SEM observation, show a co-continuous structure.
Frontal eye field inactivation reduces saccade preparation in the superior colliculus, but does not alter how preparatory activity relates to saccade latency

A neural correlate for saccadic reaction times (SRTs) in the gap saccade task is the level of preparatory activity in the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus (iSC) just before visual target onset: greater levels of iSC preparatory activity precede shorter SRTs. The frontal eye fields (FEF) are one likely source of such iSC preparatory activity, since FEF preparatory activity is also inversely related to SRT. To better understand the FEF’s role in saccade preparation, and the way in which such preparation relates to SRT, in two male rhesus monkeys we examined iSC preparatory activity during unilateral reversible cryogenic inactivation of the FEF. FEF inactivation increased contralesional SRTs, and lowered ipsilesional iSC preparatory activity. FEF inactivation also reduced fixation-related activity in the rostral iSC. Importantly, the distributions of SRTs generated with or without FEF inactivation overlapped, enabling us to conduct a novel population-level analyses examining iSC preparatory activity just before generation of SRT-matched saccades. These analyses revealed no change during FEF inactivation in the relationship between iSC preparatory activity and SRT-matched saccades across a range of SRTs, even for the occasional express saccade. Thus, while our results emphasize that the FEF has an overall excitatory influence on preparatory activity in the iSC, the communication between the iSC and downstream oculomotor brainstem is unaltered for SRT-matched saccades, suggesting that the integration of preparatory and visual signals in the SC just before saccade initiation is largely independent of the FEF for saccades generated in this task. Significance statement How does the brain decide when to move? Here, we investigate the role of two oculomotor structures, the superior colliculus (SC) and frontal eye fields (FEF), in dictating visually-guided saccadic reaction times (SRTs). In both structures, higher levels of preparatory activity precede shorter SRTs. Here, we show that FEF inactivation increases SRTs and decreases SC preparatory activity. Surprisingly, a population-level analysis of SC preparatory activity showed a negligible impact of FEF inactivation, providing one examines SRT-matched saccades. Thus, while the FEF is one source of preparatory input to the SC, it is not a critical source, and it is not involved in the integration of preparatory activity and visual signals that precedes saccade initiation in simple visually-guided saccade tasks.
Why women and men choose nursing.

The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast why women and men choose nursing. Male and female nursing students enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program at every class level were interviewed over a two-year period. The interviews enabled the subjects to give voice to their motivations, needs, and expectations. Data were obtained and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. The analyses, performed both by the author and by a second intercoder, included constant comparison with substantive and categorical coding for the purpose of theory generation. While male and female students demonstrated comparable commitment to care for their patients, differences emerged within the construct of power. In addition, there was a strong contrast between male and female students regarding practical motivations for choosing nursing (e.g., salary and working conditions).