Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietin during porcine aortic balloon occlusion-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury

Background:Aortic occlusion causes ischemia/reperfusion injury, kidney and spinal cord being the most vulnerable organs. Erythropoietin improved ischemia/reperfusion injury in rodents, which, however, better tolerate ischemia/reperfusion than larger species. Therefore, we investigated whether erythropoietin attenuates porcine aortic occlusion ischemia/reperfusion injury. Materials and Methods:Before occluding the aorta for 45 mins by inflating intravascular balloons, we randomly infused either erythropoietin (n = 8; 300 IU/kg each over 30 mins before and during the first 4 hrs of reperfusion) or vehicle (n = 6). During aortic occlusion, mean arterial pressure was maintained at 80% to 120% of baseline by esmolol, nitroglycerine, and adenosine 5’-triphosphate. During reperfusion, noradrenaline was titrated to keep mean arterial pressure >80% of baseline. Kidney perfusion and function were assessed by fractional Na-excretion, p-aminohippuric acid and creatinine clearance, spinal cord function by lower extremity reflexes and motor evoked potentials. Blood isoprostane levels as well as blood and tissue catalase and superoxide dismutase activities allowed evaluation of oxidative stress. After 8 hrs of reperfusion, kidney and spinal cord specimens were taken for histology (hematoxylin–eosin, Nissl staining) and immunohistochemistry (TUNEL assay for apoptosis). Results:Parameters of oxidative stress and antioxidative activity were comparable. Erythropoietin reduced the noradrenaline requirements to achieve the hemodynamic targets and may improve kidney function despite similar organ blood flow, histology, and TUNEL staining. Neuronal damage and apoptosis was attenuated in the thoracic spinal cord segments without improvement of its function. Conclusion:During porcine aortic occlusion-induced ischemia/reperfusion erythropoietin improved kidney function and spinal cord integrity. The lacking effect on spinal cord function was most likely the result of the pronounced neuronal damage associated with the longlasting ischemia.
Person-centred ward climate as experienced by mentally lucid residents in long-term care facilities.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assess the content validity and reliability of the Person-centred Climate Questionnaire-Patient version in long-term care facilities, to describe residents' perceptions of the extent to which their ward climate was person-centred and to explore whether person-centredness was associated with facility and resident characteristics, such as facility and ward size, having a sensory garden and having a primary caregiver. BACKGROUND The importance of the physical environment to persons with dementia has been investigated. However, research is lacking regarding the extent to which mentally lucid residents experience their physical and psycho-social ward climate as person-centred and the factors influencing their experience. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey design. METHODS The Person-centred Climate Questionnaire-Patient version was translated into Norwegian with forward and backward translation. The content validity index for scales was assessed. The Person-centred Climate Questionnaire -Patient version was completed by 145 mentally lucid residents in 17 Norwegian long-term care facilities. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's α and item-total correlations. Test-retest reliability was assessed by paired samples t-test and Spearman's correlation. To explore differences based on facility and resident characteristics, independent-samples t-test and one-way anova were used. RESULTS The content validity index for scales was satisfactory. The Person-centred Climate Questionnaire-Patient version was internally consistent and had satisfactory test-retest reliability. The climate was experienced as highly person-centred. No significant differences were found, except that residents in larger facilities experienced the climate as more person-centred in relation to everyday activities (subscale 2) than residents in smaller facilities. CONCLUSION The Norwegian version of the Person-centred Climate Questionnaire-Patient version can be regarded as reliable in a long-term care facility context. Perceived degree of person-centredness was not associated with facility or resident characteristics, such as the number of residents, having a sensory garden or knowing that one has a primary caregiver. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE A person-centred climate can be attained in different kinds of long-term care facilities.
The public understanding of nanotechnology in the food domain

In spite of great expectations about the potential of nanotechnology, this study shows that people are rather ambiguous and pessimistic about nanotechnology applications in the food domain. Our findings are drawn from a survey of public perceptions about nanotechnology food and nanotechnology food packaging (N = 752). Multinomial logistic regression analyses further reveal that knowledge about food risks and nanotechnology significantly influences people’s views about nanotechnology food packaging. However, knowledge variables were unrelated to support for nanofood, suggesting that an increase in people’s knowledge might not be sufficient to bridge the gap between the excitement some business leaders in the food sector have and the restraint of the public. Additionally, opposition to nanofood was not related to the use of heuristics but to trust in governmental agencies. Furthermore, the results indicate that public perceptions of nanoscience in the food domain significantly relate to views on science, technology, and nature.
Inflation and Economic Growth: An Empirical Evidence of Bangladesh (1986-2016)

The study is conducted to examine empirically the relationship between inflation and economic growth in Bangladesh using annual data set from 1986 to 2016. Moreover to formulate policy issue, it was needed to find the threshold level of inflation for Bangladesh. Based on the results of two steps Engle-Granger and Johansen Co-integration test, it confirms that there is statistically significant positive relationship between inflation and economic growth. The results of the error correction model, specifically the sign of the one period lagged error correction term confirm that inflation adjust itself to long-run path approximately at the speed of 79% in each year. Finally based on the Conditional Least Square (CLS) method the forecasted threshold level of inflation is 8%; any rate beyond this, does not significantly influence the growth rate.
Detection of six novel papillomavirus sequences within canine pigmented plaques

In dogs, papillomaviruses are thought to cause oral and cutaneous papillomas and pigmented plaques. Eight canine papillomaviruses have been fully sequenced to date. Four of these canine papillomaviruses, including Canis familiaris papillomavirus (CPV)-3, CPV-4, CPV-5, and CPV-8, were amplified from pigmented plaques. Given the identification of several different canine papillomaviruses within pigmented plaques, it is likely that there are additional papillomavirus sequences that have not been previously identified. The aim of the present study was to amplify papillomavirus DNA from pigmented plaques and identify potentially novel papillomavirus sequences through nucleotide sequence analysis. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify DNA sequences of the papillomavirus L1 gene from 27 pigmented plaques. Identification of novel papillomavirus sequences was based on less than 90% shared DNA homology to any known papillomavirus. DNA from 10 different papillomaviruses was identified within the pigmented plaques, including 6 putative novel papillomavirus sequences. CPV-4 was detected within 41% (11/27) of the pigmented plaques, while CPV-5 was identified within 2 pigmented plaques and CPV-3 within a single pigmented plaque. A previously identified novel papillomavirus sequence was identified within 2 pigmented plaques. The remaining 11 pigmented plaques contained 6 papillomavirus DNA sequences that have not been previously reported. These putative novel PV sequences were most similar to the canine papillomaviruses that have been detected within canine pigmented plaques.
Enhancement of transient gene expression and culture viability using Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing Bcl‐xL

Transient gene expression (TGE) provides a method for quickly delivering protein for research using mammalian cells. While high levels of recombinant proteins have been produced in TGE experiments in HEK 293 cells, TGE efforts in the commercially prominent CHO cell line still suffer from inadequate protein yields. Here, we describe a cell‐engineering strategy to improve transient production of proteins using CHO cells. CHO‐DG44 cells were engineered to overexpress the anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐xL and transiently transfected using polyethylenimine (PEI) in serum‐free media. Pools and cell lines stably expressing Bcl‐xL showed enhanced viable cell density and increased production of a glycosylated, therapeutic fusion protein in shake flask TGE studies. The improved cell lines showed fusion protein production levels ranging from 12.6 to 27.0 mg/L in the supernatant compared to the control cultures which produced 6.3–7.3 mg/L, representing a 70–270% increase in yield after 14 days of fed‐batch culture. All Bcl‐xL‐expressing cell lines also exhibited an increase in specific productivity during the first 8 days of culture. In addition to increased production, Bcl‐xL cell lines maintained viabilities above 90% and less apoptosis compared to the DG44 host which had viabilities below 60% after 14 days. Product quality was comparable between a Bcl‐xL‐engineered cell line and the CHO host. The work presented here provides the foundation for using anti‐apoptosis engineered CHO cell lines for increased production of therapeutic proteins in TGE applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 567–578. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coordinate regulation of ribosome biogenesis and function by the ribosomal protein S6 kinase, a key mediator of mTOR function

Current understanding of the mechanisms by which cell growth is regulated lags significantly behind our knowledge of the complex processes controlling cell cycle progression. Recent studies suggest that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a key regulator of cell growth via the regulation of protein synthesis. The key mTOR effectors of cell growth are eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP-1) and the ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K). Here we will review the current models for mTOR dependent regulation of ribosome function and biogenesis as well as its role in coordinating growth factor and nutrient signaling to facilitate homeostasis of cell growth and proliferation. We will place particular emphasis on the role of S6K1 signaling and will highlight the points of cross talk with other key growth control pathways. Finally, we will discuss the impact of S6K signaling and the consequent feedback regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway on disease processes including cancer.
The effects of non‐compliance on intent‐to‐treat analysis of equivalence trials

The standard approach for analysing a randomized clinical trial is based on intent‐to‐treat (ITT) where subjects are analysed according to their assigned treatment group regardless of actual adherence to the treatment protocol. For therapeutic equivalence trials, it is a common concern that an ITT analysis increases the chance of erroneously concluding equivalence. In this paper, we formally investigate the impact of non‐compliance on an ITT analysis of equivalence trials with a binary outcome. We assume ‘all‐or‐none’ compliance and independence between compliance and the outcome. Our results indicate that non‐compliance does not always make it easier to demonstrate equivalence. The direction and magnitude of changes in the type I error rate and power of the study depend on the patterns of non‐compliance, event probabilities, the margin of equivalence and other factors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coincident Scrapie Infection and Nephritis Lead to Urinary Prion Excretion

Prion infectivity is typically restricted to the central nervous and lymphatic systems of infected hosts, but chronic inflammation can expand the distribution of prions. We tested whether chronic inflammatory kidney disorders would trigger excretion of prion infectivity into urine. Urinary proteins from scrapie-infected mice with lymphocytic nephritis induced scrapie upon inoculation into noninfected indicator mice. Prionuria was found in presymptomatic scrapie-infected and in sick mice, whereas neither prionuria nor urinary PrPSc was detectable in prion-infected wild-type or PrPC-overexpressing mice, or in nephritic mice inoculated with noninfectious brain. Thus, urine may provide a vector for horizontal prion transmission, and inflammation of excretory organs may influence prion spread.
Chinese Women Living With Cervical Cancer in the First 3 Months After Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study

Background: An earlier study revealed that Mainland Chinese women experienced a relatively low health-related quality of life during the first 3 months after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. This merited conducting a qualitative study to explore their experiences during this period. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of Chinese women with cervical cancer in the first 3 months after diagnosis. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological method was used. Fourteen participants were interviewed at the time of diagnosis and 10 were reinterviewed 3 months later. The number of interviews conducted was determined by data saturation. Results: Five themes were discerned: dealing with the emotional chaos down to the hassles caused by the disease and its treatment, handling the diagnosis and the disease in my own way and in accordance with Chinese culture, instinctively depending on my partner and experiencing improved relationships within the family but no sexual life, sharing information and support with fellow patients but hiding the diagnosis from friends and acquaintances, and returning to previous existence wanting to be treated as normal but with changed attitudes to life. Conclusions: The lived experience was seen as a sudden life transition triggered by receiving the diagnosis. Cultural and societal contexts influenced patient adaptation to the situation. Implications for Practice: Family members and fellow patients could be mobilized to help patients since their support was highly valued. Regarding their hope for an ordinary life, patients could benefit from the relief of adverse effects and information, for instance, on how to resume sexual activity.
Distinct Troponin T Genes Are Expressed in Embryonic/Larval Tail Striated Muscle and Adult Body Wall Smooth Muscle of Ascidian*

During development of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi, the tadpole larva hatched from the tailbud embryo metamorphoses to the sessile adult with a body wall muscle. Although the adult body wall muscle is morphologically nonsarcomeric smooth muscle, it contains troponin complex consisting of three subunits (T, I, and C) as do vertebrate striated muscles. Different from vertebrate troponins, however, the smooth muscle troponin promotes actomyosin Mg2+-ATPase activity in the presence of high concentration of Ca2+, and this promoting property is attributable to troponin T. To address whether the embryonic/larval tail striated muscle and the adult smooth muscle utilize identical or different regulatory machinery, we cloned troponin T cDNAs from each cDNA library. The embryonic and the adult troponin Ts were encoded by distinct genes and shared only <60% identity with each other. Northern blotting and whole mount in situ hybridization revealed that these isoforms were specifically expressed in the embryonic/larval tail striated muscle and the adult smooth muscle, respectively. These results may imply that these isoforms regulate actin-myosin interaction in different manners. The adult troponin T under forced expression in mouse fibroblasts was unexpectedly located in the nuclei. However, a truncated protein with a deletion including a cluster of basic amino acids colocalized with tropomyosin on actin filaments. Thus, complex formation with troponin I and C immediately after the synthesis is likely to be essential for the protein to properly localize on the thin filaments.
Reflections on the Refusal to Acknowledge Private Governments

In this chapter I will argue that the state-centred view of governance that excludes, or at least obscures, private governments and continues to dom- inate our thinking has been, and continues to be, a particularly tenacious paradigm. For all its staying power, however, and indeed because of it, it is a paradigm that needs to be eclipsed. This is so not simply because this state-centred view of the world is preventing us from developing an understanding of the world that captures what has been taking place, but because it is limiting normative thinking. It is restricting our ability to comprehend and respond to the divisions that are being created in the world by limiting our awareness of the sources of these divisions and the options and opportunities available to challenge and, hopefully, reverse them.
In-plane coronary arterial motion velocity: measurement with electron-beam CT.

PURPOSE To determine the speed of and changes in the speed of coronary arterial movement during the cardiac cycle with electron-beam computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS With electron-beam CT, 20 consecutive cross-sectional images were acquired at the mid right coronary artery (with 50-msec acquisition time, 8-msec intersection delay, 7-mm section thickness, and intravenous administration of 40 mL of contrast agent) in 25 patients. On the basis of the displacement of the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arterial cross sections from image to image, movement velocity in the transverse imaging plane was calculated and was correlated with the simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram. RESULTS The velocity of in-plane coronary arterial motion varied considerably during the cardiac cycle. Peaks were caused by ventricular systole and diastole and by atrial contraction. The mean velocity was 46.6 mm/sec +/- 12. 5 (SD). The mean velocity of right coronary arterial movement (69.5 mm/sec +/- 22.5) was significantly faster than that of the left anterior descending (22.4 mm/sec +/- 4.1) or the left circumflex coronary artery (48.4 mm/sec +/- 15.0). The lowest mean velocity (27. 9 mm/sec) was at 48% of the cardiac cycle. CONCLUSION The lowest velocity of coronary arterial movement, which displays considerable temporal variation, was at 48% of the cardiac cycle.
Increased bone turnover during the third trimester of pregnancyand decreased bone mineral density after parturition in adolescentsas compared to age-matched control patients

To evaluate the impact of pregnancy on bone, we studied bone turnover at the first (T1) and third (T3) trimester of gestation in 58 adolescents and 28 healthy adolescents who had never been pregnant. Total body (TB) and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in all control patients (C) and after parturition in 28 pregnant patients (G). Paired and unpaired t tests, Mann–Whitney and Pearson correlation tests were used. Bone turnover markers were above the reference range for adult women in more than 80% of the adolescents, with no difference between C and G patients at T1. Increase in urinary N-telopeptide crosslinks of type I collagen and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, markers of bone turnover, was seen during pregnancy ( p < 0.0001). Body composition did not differ between groups, but LS BMD, percentage of expected LS BMD, LS Z-score, percentage of expected TB BMD and TB Z-score were lower in G than C patients ( p < 0.05). TB BMD was positively correlated with LS BMD (r2 = 0.52). The inverse correlations between bone markers and LS BMD suggest that the increased bone turnover during pregnancy probably explains the low bone density after parturition. The impact on future peak bone mass must be studied.
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is a lethal brain cancer that arises in the pons of children. The median survival for children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is less than 1 year from diagnosis, and no improvement in survival has been realized in more than 30 years. Currently, the standard of care for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is focal radiation therapy, which provides only temporary relief. Recent genomic analysis of tumors from biopsies and autopsies, have resulted in the discovery of K27M H3.3/H3.1 mutations in 80% and ACVR1 mutations in 25% of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, providing renewed hope for future success in identifying effective therapies. In addition, as stereotactic tumor biopsies at diagnosis at specialized centers have been demonstrated to be safe, biopsies have now been incorporated into several prospective clinical trials. This article summarizes the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, molecular genetics, current treatment, and future therapeutic directions for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
Accounting for Tuition Increases at U.S. Colleges

We develop a quantitative model of higher education to test explanations for the steep rise in college tuition between 1987 and 2010. The framework extends the paradigm in Epple, Romano, Sarpca, and Sieg (2013) of imperfectly competitive, quality-maximizing colleges and embeds it in an incomplete markets, life-cycle environment. We measure how much changes in college costs, reforms to the Federal Student Loan Program (FSLP), and the returns to college have contributed to tuition inflation. Taken together, the changes can fully explain the tuition increases seen at U.S. colleges. Our findings suggest that the FSLP and college costs are the main drivers of college tuition.