Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stabilization of brain microvascular endothelial barrier function by shear stress involves VE‐cadherin signaling leading to modulation of pTyr‐occludin levels

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) regulation involves the coordinated interaction of intercellular adherens and tight junctions in response to stimuli. One such stimulus, shear stress, has been shown to upregulate brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMvEC) barrier function, although our knowledge of the signaling mechanisms involved is limited. In this article, we examined the hypothesis that VE‐cadherin can transmit shear signals to tight junction occludin with consequences for pTyr‐occludin and barrier function. In initial studies, chronic shear enhanced membrane localization of ZO‐1 and claudin‐5, decreased pTyr‐occludin (in part via a dephostatin‐sensitive mechanism), and reduced BMvEC permeability, with flow reduction in pre‐sheared BMvECs having converse effects. In further studies, VE‐cadherin inhibition (VE‐cad ΔEXD) blocked shear‐induced Rac1 activation, pTyr‐occludin reduction, and barrier upregulation, consistent with an upstream role for VE‐cadherin in transmitting shear signals to tight junctions through Rac1. As VE‐cadherin is known to mediate Rac1 activation via Tiam1 recruitment, we subsequently confirmed that Tiam1 inhibition (Tiam1‐C580) could elicit effects similar to VE‐cad ΔEXD. Finally, the observed attenuation of shear‐induced changes in pTyr‐occludin level and barrier phenotype following Rac1 inhibition (NSC23766, T17N) establishes a downstream role for Rac1 in this pathway. In summary, we describe for the first time in BMvECs a role for VE‐cadherin in the transmission of physiological shear signals to tight junction occludin through engagement of Tiam1/Rac1 leading to barrier stabilization. A downstream role is also strongly indicated for a protein tyrosine phosphatase in pTyr‐occludin modulation. Importantly, these findings suggest an important route of inter‐junctional signaling cross‐talk during BBB response to flow. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 3053–3063, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aberrant expression during two‐stage mouse skin carcinogenesis of a type 147‐kDa keratin, k13, normally associated with terminal differentiation of internal stratified epithelia

Specific keratin cDNA probes and monospecific antikeratin antisera were used to analyze mouse epidermis and epidermal tumors for the expression of a type I 47‐kDa keratin, K13, normally associated with terminal differentiation of internal stratified epithelia. We demonstrated that this keratin was virtually absent from the entire body epidermis at various stages of development. Also, it was not detected in various forms of acute and chronic epidermal hyperproliferation or in epidermal cells cultured under conditions that favored either cell proliferation or in vitro differentiation. In contrast, K13 was consistently expressed in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin induced by 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA), whereas papillomas obtained by the same two‐stage protocol were distinctly heterogeneous with regard to the expression of this keratin. These findings were true for two different strains of mice (NMRI and Sencar). Papillomas collected from Sencar mice after 12 wk or from NMRI mice after 15 wk of promotion with TPA were either negative for K13 or elicited variable amounts of this keratin. In all cases of positive expression of K13 in tumors, as in normal stratified internal epithelia, both the keratin protein and its mRNA invariably occurred in the differentiating cell compartments. In contrast to what we found in internal stratified epithelia, however, K13 was expressed without its commonly encountered type II 57‐kDa partner, K4. Papillomas negative for the K13 protein were also devoid of K13 transcripts. This indicates that the aberrant K13 expression in tumors is regulated at the level of transcription. Our results suggest that K13 may provide a marker for malignant conversion in the mouse two‐stage skin carcinogenesis model and may be especially suited for studies of gene expression regulation.
DAMPAK DUALISME KEWENANGAN DALAM PELAYANAN ADMINISTRASI PENANAMAN MODAL:STUDI KASUS IMPLEMENTASI DESENTRALISASI DI KOTA BATAM

The decentralization that occurred in Batam city which giving greater authority to the Government of Batam city poses a problem. The problem occurs because in Batam city there has been a specialized agency, called Otorita Batam, which is the delegator of the Central Government. Otorita Batam was formed based on Presidential Decree No. 41 in 1973. The decentralization that occurred in Batam city are not followed by removal of the Otorita Batam, so in Batam City there are two leadership that rises to a dualism of authority. Dualism of authority occurred in the service of the administration of capital investment in Batam city. This research aims to know the impact of dualism of authority that took place between the Government of Batam city and Badan Pengusaha Batam in the service of the administration of capital investment in Batam city. This study uses qualitative method which is descriptive. The Data used are both of the primary and secondary data on the Badan Pengusahaan Batam and the Government of Batam city in 2013. Data was collected by interview, observation, and documentation. Data collection from this research were analyzed by qualitative method. The results of this research show that the emergence of dualism of authority in Batam city it is not only because of the implementation of decentralization but also influenced by other factors: First, the clash of regulation between Government of Batam city and Badan Pengusahaan Batam. Second, the absence of regulations about job relationships between Government of Batam city and Badan Pengusahaan Batam. Third, conflict of interest in the financial management of the resources and permissions that exist in Batam city. The existence of dualism of the authority in the service of capital investment administration is clearly visible in the division of authority in the form of licensing, which are licensing belongs to the Government of Batam City and licensing belongs to the Badan Pengusahaan Batam. In the Division of authority in the form of licensing, those are almost same but both of the licensing are done by two different institutions. The dualism of authority in the service of capital investment administration in Batam city has negative impacts for investors, the effects are: First, the lack of legal certainty for investor. Second, licensing and time procedure need a longer time. Third, Double cost or extra charges for investor.
Role Of Symptomatic Treatment In Comparison To Antibiotics In Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections.

BACKGROUND Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infections among women presenting to primary care causing rapidly increasing strains of resistant bacteria to the growing antibiotic industry. Restricting antibiotics to necessary indications is the only solution. The objectives of the study were to compare the efficacy of symptomatic treatment vs antibiotic in patients with uncomplicated UTI, in terms of individual symptom score, i.e., frequency, urgency, dysuria, supra pubic pain scores and total symptoms scores. METHODS A randomized control trial (RCT) in 100 women (15-50 years) with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria and pain supra pubic region, associated with uncomplicated UTI, at Urology department, AMI, Abbottabad. Two treatment strategies were compared in uncomplicated UTI patient). Patients were randomized to antibiotic or symptomatic treatment groups on consecutive non-probability basis (50 in each group) given for 05 days. Efficacy of medications was assessed by comparing pre and post treatment symptom scores along with the post treatment scores of both groups compared to see statistical significance of difference by independent samples t-test. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in symptoms improvement in both treatment arms of all scores, i.e., p-value=0.000. Whereas only dysuria score was able to show a statistically significance of difference in post Rx scores comparison of both groups, p-value=0.004. CONCLUSIONS Symptomatic treatment is not inferior to antibiotic treatment when proper patient selection is undertaken, resulting in decreased need for unnecessary antibiotics use.
Twelve month test–retest reliability of a Japanese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Personality Disorders

The purpose of the present study was to examine the long‐interval test–retest reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn; DSM‐IV) Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID‐II) Japanese version. One hundred and twenty outpatients with anxiety disorders completed the self‐report SCID‐II personality questionnaire (SCID‐II‐PQ) and structured interviews, and then again 12 months later. In the SCID‐II‐PQ, 70.8% and 71.7% of the patients had a personality disorder (PD) at the first evaluation and second evaluation 12 months later, respectively, and Cohen's kappas ranged from 0.29 for paranoid PD to 0.83 for histrionic PD, and overall kappa was 0.56. In the SCID‐II interviews, 47.5% and 41.7% of the patients fulfilled the criteria for PD at the first and the second evaluations, respectively. At least one PD was identified in 49 subjects (40.8%), of whom 65.3% had one PD, 30.6% had two PD, 2% had three PD, and 2% had four PD; the most frequently diagnosed PD were from cluster C (60.9%). The overall base rate of 12 PD was 7%, and overall kappa was 0.87. Cohen's kappas ranged from 0.86 for obsessive–compulsive PD to 0.93 for avoidant PD and schizoid PD, and were comparable with those in the previous interrater studies. The test–retest reliability of the SCID‐II‐PQ was moderately good, and after the SCID‐II interview the test–retest reliability of the SCID‐II appeared to be of almost perfect reliability. This first long‐interval, large‐sample, non‐Western‐language research on the test–retest reliability of the SCID‐II for DSM‐IV indicated its usefulness and excellent reliability.
Natural history of mild subclinical hypothyroidism: prognostic value of ultrasound.

BACKGROUND Clinical repercussions, progression to overt hypothyroidism, and treatment benefits have been well established in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and TSH >10 mIU/L. In contrast, these aspects of the disease are poorly understood in patients with even milder SCH as defined by TSH < or = 10 mIU/L and normal thyroid hormone levels. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the natural history of this milder form of SCH (TSH < or =10 mIU/L with normal thyroid hormone levels) in adult women patients. PATIENTS One hundred seventeen patients with TSH levels ranging from 5 to 10 mIU/L and normal free T4, without a previously known history of thyroid disease, were followed for a period of 3 years and had two consecutive assessments. RESULTS Sixty patients tested positive for antithyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and 36 were TPOAb negative but had diffuse hypoechogenicity on thyroid ultrasound (US). Twenty-one patients were TPOAb negative and had normal US. During follow-up, 20.5% of the patients had spontaneous normalization of their TSH, 27.3% required replacement therapy with levothyroxine (L-T4) because of progression to overt hypothyroidism or persistence of serum TSH >10 mIU/L, and 52.1% continued to meet the criteria for mild SCH (persistence of TSH < or =10 mIU/L). If the patients were classified into two groups, one with positive TPOAb and/or US alteration and the other with testing negative for TPOAb and not having US alteration, the first group had a greater progression toward overt hypothyroidism (31.2% vs. 9.5%, respectively) and a lower rate of normalization of TSH (15.6% vs. 43% respectively). These rates were similar in TPOAb-positive patients and patients with negative TPOAb but with positive US. CONCLUSIONS Most patients with SCH and TSH < or = 10 mIU/L do not progress to overt hypothyroidism. The presence of chronic thyroiditis as demonstrated by US increases the evolution of SH to overt hypothyroidism or more severe SCH and thus the need for L-T4 treatment. US findings are important in determining the prognosis of mild SCH.
Recent infection as a risk factor for cerebrovascular ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous infection is discussed as a risk factor for ischemic stroke in children and younger adults. We tested the hypothesis that the role of recent infection in cerebrovascular ischemia is not restricted to younger patients and investigated which infections are mainly relevant in this respect. METHODS We performed a case-control study with 197 patients aged 18 to 80 years with acute cerebrovascular ischemia and 197 randomly selected control subjects matched for sex, age, and area of residence. RESULTS Infection within 1 week before ictus or examination was significantly more common among patients (38 of 197) than control subjects (10 of 197; odds ratio [OR], 4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1 to 9.7). Patients more often had febrile and subfebrile infections (> or = 37.5 degrees C) than control subjects (29 of 197 versus 5 of 197; OR, 7.0; 95% CI, 2.5 to 20). Respiratory tract infections were most common in both groups. Bacterial infections dominated among patients but not among control subjects. Infection increased the risk for cerebrovascular ischemia in all age groups; this reached significance for patients aged 51 to 60 and 61 to 70 years. The profile of vascular risk factors was similar in patients with and patients without previous infection. Infection remained a significant risk factor when previous stroke, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and current smoking were included as covariates in a logistic model (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.9 to 11.3). CONCLUSIONS Recent infection, primarily of bacterial origin, may be a risk factor for cerebrovascular ischemia in older as well as younger patients.
Treatment of 3-wall intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis with autologous platelet-rich fibrin: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is considered a second-generation platelet concentrate that is widely used in osseous regeneration. The present study aims to explore the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of autologous PRF in the treatment of intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis. METHODS Fifty-six intrabony defects were treated with either autologous PRF with open-flap debridement or open-flap debridement alone. Clinical parameters such as the probing depth (PD) and periodontal attachment level (PAL) were recorded at baseline and 9 months postoperatively. The defect fill at baseline and 9 months was calculated on standardized radiographs by using image-analysis software. RESULTS The mean PD reduction was greater in the test group (4.55 ± 1.87 mm) than in the control group (3.21 ± 1.64 mm), whereas the mean PAL gain was also greater in the test group (3.31 ± 1.76) compared to the control group (2.77 ± 1.44 mm). Furthermore, a significantly greater percentage of mean bone fill was found in the test group (48.26% ± 5.72%) compared to the control group (1.80% ± 1.56%). CONCLUSIONS Within the limits of the present study, there was greater PD reduction, PAL gain, and bone fill at sites treated with PRF with conventional open-flap debridement compared to conventional open-flap debridement alone. However, a long-term, multicentered randomized controlled clinical trial is required to know the clinical and radiographic effects of PRF on bone regeneration.
HIV Recombination and Pathogenesis – Biological and Epidemiological Implications

Nitin K. Saksena1, Katherine A. Lau2, Dominic E. Dwyer3 and Bin Wang1 1Retroviral Genetics Division, Centre for Virus Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2Perinatal Medicine Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Sydney 3Department of Virology, Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Sydney Australia
Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator for large wind turbines

Direct Torque Control (DTC) and Field Oriented Control (FOC) are the most dominant control strategies used in generators for wind turbines. In this paper both control methods were implemented on a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). The variable speed wind turbine with full scale power converter topology was chosen for design. Parameters from a 2 MW wind turbine were used for system modeling. All the components of the wind turbine system (WTS), except the DC-link and the grid site converter were implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. The pitch controller was used to limit the output power produced by the turbine. DTC and FOC strategies, using SVM were used to control the generator rotor speed. The performance of the two control strategies were compared after different tests have been carried out.
Latency analysis in epidemiologic studies of occupational exposures: application to the Colorado Plateau uranium miners cohort.

BACKGROUND Latency effects are an important factor in assessing the public health implications of an occupational or environmental exposure. Usually, however, latency results as described in the literature are insufficient to answer public health related questions. Alternative approaches to the analysis of latency effects are warranted. METHODS A general statistical framework for modeling latency effects is described. We then propose bilinear and exponential decay latency models for analyzing latency effects as they have parameters that address questions of public health interest. Methods are described for fitting these models to cohort or case-control data; statistical inference is based on standard likelihood methods. APPLICATION A latency analysis of radon exposure and lung cancer in the Colorado Plateau uranium miners cohort was performed. We first analyzed the entire cohort and found that the relative risk associated with exposure increases for about 8.5 years and thereafter decreases until it reaches background levels after about 34 years. The hypothesis that the relative risk remains at its peak level is strongly rejected (P < 0.001). Next, we investigated the variation in the latency effects over subsets of the cohort based on attained age, level and rate of exposure, and smoking. Age was the only factor for which effect modification was demonstrated (P = 0.014). We found that the decline in effect is much steeper at older ages (60+ years) than younger. CONCLUSION The proposed methods can provide much more information about the exposure-disease latency effects than those generally used.
Inducer-responsive expression of the cloned human interferon 1, gene introduced into cultured mouse cells

A hybrid plasmid was constructed from pSV2-Ecogpt (Mulligan and Berg, 1981) and the cloned 1.8 kilobase chromosomal DN4A segment which contains the human interferon (HIFN- al) gene and its flanking sequences. Cultured mouse FM3A cells were trans- fected by the hybrid plasmid and several Ecogpt+ clones were selected. Southern blot analysis of the DNA from these mouse cell clones showed that two of them contained a few copies of the 1.8 kilobase human DNA. Synthesis of mRNA characteristic of the HIFN-al mRNA increased as measured by RNA blot analysis when those clones were treated with Newcastle disease virus or with poly(I);poly(C). In addition, the induced mouse cell clones gave rise to the synthesis of human IFN-al. These results sug- gest the presence of a unique nucleotide sequence in the 1.8 kilobase DNA which is sufficient for the inducer-responsive expression of the human IFN-81 gene.
Treatment of end-stage organ failure in Canada.

This document provides key findings from the latest annual statistics from the Canadian Organ Replacement Register (CORR) at the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). This release provides updated tables and figures, which were previously published in CORR’s Treatment of End-Stage Organ Failure in Canada annual report, in a more accessible format. The statistics examine characteristics and trends for dialysis, organ transplantation and donation, as well as patient outcomes, in Canada over the decade 2005 to 2014, presented as tables and figures.
When Praising Yourself Insults Others: Self-Superiority Claims Provoke Aggression

We tested the prediction, derived from the hubris hypothesis, that bragging might serve as a verbal provocation and thus enhance aggression. Experiments 1 and 2 were vignette studies where participants could express hypothetical aggression; Experiment 3 was an actual decision task where participants could make aggressive and/or prosocial choices. Observers disliked an explicit braggart (who claimed to be “better than others”) or a competence braggart as compared with an implicit braggart (who claimed to be “good”) or a warmth braggart, respectively. Showing that explicit and competence bragging function as verbal provocations, observers responded more aggressively to the explicit and competence braggart than to the implicit and warmth braggart, respectively. They did so because they inferred that an explicit and a competence braggart viewed other people and them negatively, and therefore disliked the braggart. Rather than praising the self, braggarts are sometimes viewed as insulting others.
Circulating procalcitonin in aseptic carcinoma patients: a specificity study with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography as benchmark

Abstract Background: The goal of the study was to evaluate the specificity of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in a large cohort of patients with solid carcinomas at different stages. Methods: The study involved 447 patients having histologically confirmed carcinoma of the breast, head and neck, ovary, cervix or non-small cell lung carcinoma. Patients with a history of small cell lung cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, medullary thyroid carcinoma, sepsis, systemic inflammatory syndrome, renal failure and/or serum C-reactive protein above 5 ng/mL were excluded. Additionally, those with suspicious infectious or inflammatory diseases in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography were also excluded. Serum PCT concentrations were measured using a Kryptor system (BRAHMS) and a clinical cut-off at 0.5 ng/mL was used to define positive results. Results: Serum PCT concentrations did not change at different cancer stages (Kruskal-Wallis, p>0.05). No patient had a PCT concentration >0.5 ng/mL. Conclusions: Our data show that solid carcinomas “per se” did not increase circulating PCT concentrations, regardless of the histotype and stage of the disease. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1163–5.
Financial Statement Comparability and the Informativeness of Stock Prices About Future Earnings

We find that financial statement comparability enhances the ability of current period returns to reflect future earnings, as measured by the future earnings response coefficient (FERC). Thus, comparability improves the informativeness of stock prices and allows investors to better anticipate future firm performance. In addition, using both the FERC and stock price synchronicity tests, we find that comparability increases the amount of firm-specific information (rather than market / industry-level information) reflected in stock prices. Moreover, analysts play an important role in improving the ability of stock prices to incorporate firm-specific information because they produce more firm-specific information when comparability is higher.