Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advanced cytologic techniques for the detection of malignant pancreatobiliary strictures.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Two advanced cytologic techniques for detecting aneuploidy-digital image analysis (DIA) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-have recently been developed to help identify malignant pancreatobiliary strictures. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of cytology, DIA, and FISH for the identification of malignant pancreatobiliary strictures. METHODS Brush cytologic specimens from 233 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for pancreatobiliary strictures were examined by all 3 (cytology, DIA, and FISH) techniques. Strictures were stratified as proximal (n = 33) or distal (n = 114) based on whether they occurred above or below the cystic duct, respectively. Strictures in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 86) were analyzed separately. RESULTS Despite the stratification, the performances of the tests were similar. Conventional cytology has a low sensitivity (4%-20%) but 100% specificity. Because of the high specificity for cytology, we assessed the performance of the other tests when conventional cytology was negative. In this clinical context, FISH had an increased sensitivity (35%-60%) when assessing for chromosomal gains (polysomy) while preserving the specificity of cytology. The sensitivity and specificity of DIA was intermediate as compared with routine cytology and FISH but was additive to FISH values demonstrating only trisomy of chromosome 7 or chromosome 3. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that FISH and DIA increase the sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignant pancreatobiliary tract strictures over that obtained by conventional cytology while maintaining an acceptable specificity.
How Do Consumers Choose between Multiple Product Generations and Conditions? An Empirical Study of iPad Sales on eBay

Many companies are reluctant to enter the remanufacturing market because of concern with cannibalization of new sales, competition from current remanufacturers, and the willingness of consumers to purchase remanufactured products. What is often missing, however, is an in‐depth understanding of how consumers make complex purchase decisions involving remanufactured items among numerous other options. This study examines how consumers evaluate remanufactured products when there are multiple conditions and generations of the item available, and evaluates the risk that remanufactured products pose to new product sales. We leverage transaction data of iPad sales from eBay and structural estimation techniques developed in the industrial organization literature to conduct our analysis. We find that product generation, condition, and seller attributes are all highly influential in shaping consumers’ purchasing decisions and that the relationship between new and remanufactured products is much more nuanced and context‐specific than previously shown. Counter to industry intuition, we find that remanufactured products pose the same amount of threat to new‐condition goods as do used goods. Through these and other findings, we provide insights on how CLSC participants and those exploring entry into the remanufacturing business may achieve more profitable remanufacturing strategies.
Teacher Perception of Cultural Difference in L2 Materials: Is Filtering Culture the Right Approach?.

With the emergence of the intercultural approach to L2 teaching, several studies investigated teachers’ attitudes and beliefs concerning the cultural dimension of L2 teaching in different foreign language settings. This study explored teachers’ perceptions of the relationship between teaching English and culture in Tunisia, an EFL setting where the culture of L2 teachers is assumed to be distant from the “English” culture. It also enquired into Tunisian teachers’ approach to culturally different teaching materials. The study revealed that although most Tunisian teachers thought that English cannot be taught without culture, some of them approached cultural content with apprehension to the point that they expressed a readiness to filter and drop any aspect of the “English” culture that is incompatible with the local culture. In practice, the teachers in the study had varied understandings of intercultural communicative competence on the one hand and the socio-pragmatic and the socio-semantic dimensions of communicative competence on the other. In light of these results, it can be argued that teacher attitudes and beliefs concerning the cultural dimension of L2 teaching and their approach to culturally different content are a function of two factors: (1) distance between L2 culture and teacher culture defined in religious, moral and political terms and (2) teacher awareness of the intercultural approach to L2.
Distance to the neurooncological center: a negative prognostic factor in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. An epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND Regardless of current multimodal treatment strategies, the prognosis of patients harboring glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is still dismal. The introduction of concomitant radiochemotherapy and adjuvant cyclic temozolomide has significantly improved the overall survival, compared to postoperative radiotherapy-alone. Furthermore this regimen shows a lower toxicity profile compared to previous nitrosourea-based chemotherapy and can easily be applied on an outpatient basis, thus potentially facilitating chemotherapy in rural and more remote areas. The distance to the oncological center has been shown to be a negative prognostic parameter in other types of cancer. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the introduction of temozolomide as the standard regimen in the treatment of GBM has influenced the administration of chemotherapy and the prognosis of patients depending on the distance to our neurooncological center. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 208 patients diagnosed with GBM (M:F=1.4:1), surgically resected between 1990 and 2009, thus covering the pre-temozolomide and the temozolomide-era, were included retrospectively in this analysis. The distance from the patients' residences to the neurooncological center was determined and statistical analysis was performed to assess its influence on overall survival and administration of adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy-only, nitrosourea-based chemotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide). RESULTS Overall, 41.3% of the cohort underwent subtotal surgical resection, whereas a gross total resection was accomplished in 57.2%. The median distance to the neurooncological center was 75 km (range=1-870 km). Postoperatively, 68 patients (32.7%) received concomitant and adjuvant radiochemotherapy with temozolomide, 31 (14.9%) were treated with nitrosourea other than the Procarbazin, Lomustin, Vincristin (PCV), 34 (16.3%) with PCV, and 71 patients (34.1%) had radiotherapy-alone. The distance to the neurooncological center had a significant influence on overall survival for the whole cohort (p=0.027) and patients with increasing distances, were significantly less often treated with chemotherapy (p=0.05). With the introduction of temozolomide this relation was lost (overall survival, temozolomide and other agents: p=0.685/p=0.007; administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in the temozolomide-era/whole cohort: p=0.612/p=0.05). CONCLUSION The distance to the neurooncological center negatively-influenced the prognosis of patients with GBM. Patients were less often treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in the pre-temozolomide era with increasing distance to the neurooncological center. Although the introduction of temozolomide as the standard chemotherapeutic agent in GBM treatment changed this fact, the influence of the distance to the specialized center should be kept in mind as a prognostic factor for this disease.
Lysine maintenance requirement and efficiency of its utilisation in young pigs as estimated by comparative slaughter technique

An experiment was carried out on weaner pigs (initial BW 10.8 kg) to estimate the maintenance requirement for lysine (Lys) and its marginal efficiency of utilisation using a comparative slaughter technique. Three groups of six pigs each were fed purified diets for 21 days supplying Lys at 19.5, 78 or 195 mg/kg W0.75, which corresponded to 50, 200 or 500% of the assumed maintenance requirement. All other essential amino acids were given at 50% excess. At the end of the experiment, pigs were killed for whole-body nitrogen (N) and amino acid analysis. A representative group of six pigs was analysed at the beginning of the experiment. Based on regression equations, relating Lys or N retention to Lys intake, Lys requirement for zero Lys retention was estimated to be 121 mg/kg W0.75, while Lys requirement corresponding to zero N retention was 41.7 mg/kg W0.75. At N equilibrium, the pigs lost 65 mg of Lys per kg W0.75 daily while at zero Lys retention, the daily N retention was 156 mg/kg W0.75. The marginal efficiency of lysine utilisation was 0.91. It is concluded that zero lysine retention is a better criterion of lysine maintenance requirement than zero N retention.
Antiviral Treatment Down-Regulates Peripheral B-Cell CD81 Expression and CD5 Expansion in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with immune-mediated abnormalities and B-cell lymphoproliferation. Recently, CD81 was identified as an HCV receptor on B lymphocytes, providing a mechanism by which B cells are infected and activated by the virus. It has recently been shown that peripheral B-cell CD81 overexpression and CD5+ subpopulation expansion correlate with HCV viral load and are associated with the development of HCV-related autoimmunity. In the present study, we assessed the effects of combination antiviral therapy (alfa interferon and ribavirin) on peripheral B-cell CD81 expression and CD5 expansion and the presence of autoimmune markers. Peripheral B-cell CD5 expression and the mean fluorescence intensity of CD81 were assessed by flow cytometry before and after treatment in 15 HCV-infected patients, in 10 untreated patients, and in 25 healthy controls. A significant posttreatment decrease in peripheral B-cell CD81 expression and disappearance of CD5+ B-cell expansion were observed in all nine patients in whom a complete and sustained virological response was achieved (P < 0.01) (comparable to those for healthy controls). The decrease in CD81 overexpression and CD5 expansion in these patients was associated with a decrease and/or disappearance of autoimmune markers. In contrast, in nonresponders overexpression of CD81 and expansion of the CD5+ B-cell subpopulation were not significantly changed and were comparable to those for untreated patients. In conclusion, antiviral therapy down-regulates peripheral B-cell CD81 expression and the CD5+ population, either directly or by its effect on HCV RNA load. The overexpression of CD81 and the expansion of the population of CD5+ peripheral B cells in HCV-infected patients may possibly play a role in the development of HCV-associated autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation.
Analgesic Properties of the Novel Amino Acid, Isovaline

BACKGROUND:Isovaline, a nonproteinogenic &agr;-amino acid rarely found in the biosphere, is structurally similar to the inhibitory neurotransmitters glycine and &ggr;-aminobutyric acid. Because glycineA and &ggr;-aminobutyric acid receptor agonists are antiallodynic, we hypothesized that isovaline produces antinociception in mice. METHODS:All experiments were performed on female CD-1 mice using a blinded, randomized, and controlled design. The effects of RS-isovaline were studied on nociceptive responses to (1) formalin injection into the hindpaw; (2) glutamate injection into the hindpaw; and (3) strychnine injection either into the lumbar intrathecal space or cisterna magna. We determined the effects of IV RS-isovaline (50, 150, or 500 mg/kg; n = 10/dose) or intrathecal RS-, R-, and S-isovaline, glycine, and &bgr;-alanine into the lumbar intrathecal space (5-&mgr;L volumes of 60, 125, 250, and 500 mM; n = 9/dose/group) on the response to formalin in the paw. The response to 20 &mgr;L intraplantar glutamate (750 mM) was compared with glutamate (750 mM) coadministered with isovaline. We also determined the response to intraplantar strychnine. Lumbar intrathecal (100 &mgr;M) or intracisternal (200 &mgr;M) injections of strychnine into the lumbar intrathecal space or the cisterna magna were used to induce allodynia as a measure of glycine inhibitory dysfunction. The effects of intrathecal or intracisternal strychnine were compared with isovaline coapplied with the strychnine (n = 8/group). RESULTS:In the formalin paw test, IV isovaline did not change phase I but decreased phase II responses in a dose-dependent manner (50% effective dose = 66 mg/kg, n = 10, P < 0.01). There was no effect on rotarod performance, appearance, or behavior of the mouse, and no respiratory depression. Intrathecal isovaline, glycine, and &bgr;-alanine attenuated phase I and II responses (P < 0.01 for each drug). In contrast to &bgr;-alanine and glycine, isovaline at maximally effective doses did not produce scratching, biting, or agitation. Intrathecal RS- and S-isovaline attenuated phase I (P < 0.05 for each group) and RS-, R-, and S-isovaline attenuated phase II responses (P < 0.05 for each group), with no significant difference between the efficacies of R- and S-enantiomers. Localized strychnine-induced glycine inhibitory dysfunction was greatly reduced by intracisternal (P < 0.01) and intrathecal (P < 0.01) isovaline. Although intraplantar strychnine did not induce peripheral allodynia, high doses of isovaline did not block the peripheral allodynia induced by glutamate. CONCLUSIONS:Isovaline reduced responses in mouse pain models without producing acute toxicity, possibly by enhancing receptor modulation of nociceptive information.
Using a Campaign Approach Among Health Workers to Increase Access to Antiretroviral Therapy for Pregnant HIV-Infected Women in South Africa

Background: In 2010, WHO guidelines modified eligibility criteria for persons living with HIV to start on lifelong antiretroviral therapy. Pregnant HIV-infected women were identified as a priority group. Yet, despite the availability of key resources and medications, antiretroviral treatment rates for pregnant women in South Africa remained low. Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study to evaluate the impact of a campaign approach among health workers to improve referral and initiation rates of antiretroviral therapy for eligible pregnant HIV-infected women in 2 matched districts in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Results: The average number of referrals of pregnant women for antiretroviral therapy increased from 79 per month (95% confidence interval [CI]: 69 to 89) at baseline to 188 per month (95% CI: 167 to 209) 6 months after the intervention (P < 0.001). Similarly, the number of pregnant women initiated on antiretroviral therapy increased from 21 per month (95% CI: 2 to 40) at baseline to 124 per month (95% CI: 108 to 140) after the intervention (P < 0.001). Unlike in the control district, where no improvements were seen, the intervention district showed a greater than 4-fold increase in women initiated on antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion: A targeted campaign among health workers can accelerate access to antiretroviral therapy for pregnant HIV-infected women.
Hormone and hemodynamic responses to atrial natriuretic peptide in conscious sheep and effect of hemorrhage.

The effect of rat atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on basal hemodynamic and hormonal function and on the response to acute hemorrhage was studied in eight conscious sheep. ANP infusions (3 micrograms/kg BW bolus, followed by 50 ng/kg.min for 70 min) increased plasma immunoreactive ANP levels from less than 12 pmol/liter to steady state levels of 523 +/- 20 pmol/liter, reduced arterial pressure by 14% (P less than 0.002), increased heart rate by 26% (P less than 0.06), and increased plasma norepinephrine levels (P less than 0.015) compared to control values. These changes were associated with a significant increase in plasma cortisol (P less than 0.05) and smaller increases in plasma ACTH and arginine vasopressin (AVP), but plasma angiotensin II (AII) and aldosterone were unaffected. When hemorrhage (15 ml/kg BW over 10 min) was performed during ANP or control infusions, hypotension was greater (P less than 0.0004) during ANP treatment and the responses of plasma ACTH, AVP, catecholamines, and AII were enhanced compared with those to control hemorrhage. Plasma immunoreactive ANP during ANP infusions was significantly higher after hemorrhage (mean, 833 +/- 46; P less than 0.003), but the disappearance rate after the termination of ANP infusion was the same (3.1 min) with or without hemorrhage. These studies show that ANP infusions, achieving plasma levels observed in pathological states such as congestive heart failure, inhibit the expected responses of plasma AII and aldosterone to mild acute hypotension, but do not inhibit the responses of plasma AVP, ACTH, AII, and aldosterone associated with acute moderate hemorrhage in conscious sheep.
Precision Agriculture for Greenhouses Using a Wireless Sensor Network

Agriculture is one of the most crucial needs of the life since it supports human and animals with food supplies and benefits the human employment and the national economy. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has recently applied in precision agriculture to improve the crop yields and apply the agricultural resources at right time and place. In this paper, Greenhouse Smart Management System (GSMS) using WSNs is designed and developed to automatically control, manage and monitor the agricultural parameters and activities inside the greenhouses. The ambient relative humidity and temperature of the greenhouse are measured using sensor nodes. When the sensed parameters exceed threshold values, the irrigation and cooling activities are triggered by activating the fan and water pump devices. GSMS includes also an algorithm to compute the period of irrigation and coolingaccording to the measured agricultural parameters. Hardware and software for the proposed GSMS are developed in this paper. The results show that the GSMS can save the agricultural resources and improve the crop yields, compared with other traditional schemes.
Neuronal differentiation in SH‐SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells induces synthesis and secretion of tenascin and upregulation of αv integrin receptors

Human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were induced to neuronal differentiation by using 12‐0‐tetradecanoyl‐phorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) and retinoic acid (RA). Both treatments rapidly induced long neurites and increased the content of neurofilaments as shown by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting of the culture medium with monoclonal antibodies demonstrated a rapid onset of synthesis and secretion of Mr 280,000 tenascin (Tn) polypeptide with TPA and both Mr 280,000 and 190,000 Tn polypeptides with RA and an increased secretion of extradomain A cellular fibronectin (EDA‐Fn) upon both treatments. Upon RA treatment both Tn polypeptides were also found in extracellular matrix preparations of the differentiated cells. A diffuse extracellular Tn immunoreactivity and a distinct cytoplasmic reaction were seen in differentiated cells especially after exposure to monensin to inhibit cellular secretion. Instead, immunoprecipitation experiments suggested that laminin was synthesized by the cells but was not upregulated upon differentiation. Experiments with purified Tn, used to coat the culture substratum, demonstrated that the undifferentiated cells were unable to adhere or spread on Tn but rapidly acquired the spreading capacity upon differentiation with the inducing agents. In immunofluorescence and immunoblotting the undifferentiated cells presented only a faint heterogenous reaction for β1 integrin (Int) subunit, whereas cells exposed to RA presented a strong reaction for the Int α1 and β1 subunits, hence suggestive of Int α1β1, and for Int αv subunit. Cells exposed to TPA showed an enhanced immunoreaction for Int α2 and β1 subunits, suggestive of Int α2β1, and for Int αv subunit. Immunoreactivity for Int αv located to distinct punctate plaques in the differentiated cells after both inducing agents. The results suggest that Tn is produced by cultured neuronally differentiating cells, and it is accompanied by the acquitance of an adhesion receptor for Tn. J. Neurosci. Res. 49:53–63, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
The muscarinic M1 receptor activates Nrf2 through a signaling cascade that involves protein kinase C and inhibition of GSK‐3beta: connecting neurotransmission with neuroprotection

In this study, we provide evidence that the muscarinic M1 receptor targets NF‐E2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes containing antioxidant response elements (AREs) in their promoters and that collectively constitute the phase II antioxidant response. In hippocampal primary and cerebellar granule neuron cultures expressing endogenous M1 receptor, carbachol increased the levels of a prototypical phase II antioxidant enzyme, heme oxygenase‐1. Moreover, in a heterologous system, based on lentiviral expression of M1 receptor in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells, we found that M1 increased total and nuclear Nrf2 protein levels and heme oxygenase‐1 messenger RNA and protein levels. Luciferase reporter constructs for AREs and the use of two inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), chelerythrine and 2‐aminoethyl diphenylborinate, or transfection with relevant expression vectors allowed us to identify Gαq, phospholipase C‐β and the classical PKC‐γ isoenzyme, as responsible for the regulation of Nrf2. A PKC‐insensitive Nrf2S40A single‐point mutant partially channeled M1 signaling to AREs, therefore suggesting the participation of additional intermediates. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) augmented M1‐dependent activation of AREs while a PKC‐insensitive mutant of GSK‐3β (GSK‐3β‐Δ9) blocked this effect and prevented M1‐induced accumulation of Nrf2 in the nucleus. Our results demonstrate a previously unidentified role of the Gαq/phospholipase C‐β/PKC/GSK‐3β axis in regulation of Nrf2 by M1. Such role provides additional conceptual support for the use of cholinemimetics in the treatment of pathologies that, like Alzheimer’s disease, require a reinforcement of the cell antioxidant capacity.