Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lovastatin Inhibits T-cell Proliferation While Preserving the Cytolytic Function of EBV, CMV, and MART-1-specific CTLs

Statin treatment has been shown to reduce graft-versus-host disease while preserving graft-versus-tumor effect in allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Herein, we investigated whether lovastatin treatment affects the function of human cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Upon T-cell receptor stimulation, lovastatin significantly inhibited the proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from healthy donors whereas their intracellular cytokine production including interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α remained the same with a slight decrease of interleukin-2. Moreover, the specific lysis of target cells by CTL lines derived from patients and normal donors specific for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded antigen latent membrane protein-2 or cytomegalovirus-encoded antigen pp65 was uncompromised in the presence of lovastatin. In addition, we evaluated the effect of lovastatin on the proliferation and effector function of the CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) derived from melanoma patients specific for MART-1 antigen. Lovastatin significantly reduced the expansion of antigen-specific TILs upon MART-1 stimulation. However, the effector function of TILs, including the specific lysis of target cells and secretion of cytokine interferon-γ, remained intact with lovastatin treatment. Taken together, these data demonstrated that lovastatin inhibits the proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and MART-1-specific CTLs without affecting cytolytic capacity. The differential effect of lovastatin on the proliferation versus cytoxicity of CTLs might shed some light on elucidating the possible mechanisms of graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-tumor effect elicited by alloimmune responses.
The effects of naris occlusion on mouse nasal turbinate development

Unilateral naris occlusion, a standard method for causing odor deprivation, also alters airflow on both sides of the nasal cavity. We reasoned that manipulating airflow by occlusion could affect nasal turbinate development given the ubiquitous role of environmental stimuli in ontogenesis. To test this hypothesis, newborn mice received unilateral occlusion or sham surgery and were allowed to reach adulthood. Morphological measurements were then made of paraffin sections of the whole nasal cavity. Occlusion significantly affected the size, shape and position of turbinates. In particular, the nasoturbinate, the focus of our quantitative analysis, had a more delicate appearance on the occluded side relative to the open side. Occlusion also caused an increase in the width of the dorsal meatus within the non-occluded and occluded nasal fossae, compared with controls, and the position of most turbinates was altered. These results suggest that a mechanical stimulus from respiratory airflow is necessary for the normal morphological development of turbinates. To explore this idea, we estimated the mechanical forces on turbinates caused by airflow during normal respiration that would be absent as a result of occlusion. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were used to construct a three-dimensional model of the mouse nasal cavity that provided the input for a computational fluid dynamics simulation of nasal airflow. The simulation revealed maximum shear stress values for the walls of turbinates in the 1 Pa range, a magnitude that causes remodeling in other biological tissues. These observations raise the intriguing possibility that nasal turbinates develop partly under the control of respiratory mechanical forces.
A Compositional Data Analysis of Market Share Dynamics

The existing literature has shown that there are several statistical regularities in industrial dynamics, which are an important clue to understanding the underlying mechanism. This paper focuses on market share changes and shows that its distribution has some remarkable properties. Because of the constrained nature of market share, namely, the sum must be unity, this paper applies the recently developed method called compositional data analysis (CDA) to market share data. We find the distribution does not follow a Gaussian but instead a tent-shaped distribution with a fatter tail, which is closely related with the findings of firm growth rate distribution. With some exceptions, this statistical feature can be observed across different sectors. Furthermore, this property can be observed when we focus on the relation between the top subgroup and lower-ranked firms. This distribution shape implies that market share growth cannot be described by an accumulation of small shocks. Rather, lumpy jumps that transform the market structure are crucial in market share dynamics. Put differently, radical change in market structure is a relatively frequent phenomenon. Such implications based on statistical properties of observed data help us further investigate industrial dynamics theoretically.
Adenosine A1 but Not A2a Receptor Agonist Reduces Hyperalgesia Caused by a Surgical Incision in Rats: A Pertussis Toxin-sensitive G Protein–dependent Process

Background:Activation of A1 adenosine receptors (A1Rs) causes antinociception after nerve injury and inflammation. However, the role of A2a adenosine receptors (A2aRs) for pain processing is less clear. In the current study, the authors investigated the role of spinal adenosine A1Rs and A2aRs for the maintenance of mechanical hyperalgesia in an animal model for postoperative pain. Methods:Rats with intrathecal catheters were anesthetized and underwent plantar incision. Spontaneous pain behavior and withdrawal threshold to punctuate stimulation were measured before and after administration of intrathecal R-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (R-PIA; A1R agonist), 2-w p-2-carbonyl-ethyl-phenylethylaminox-5X-N-ethylcarboxami-doadenosine (CGS21680; A2aR agonist), or vehicle. In separate groups of animals, the effects of pertussis toxin, forskolin, glibenclamide, 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylammonium, apamin, charybdotoxin, or margatoxin on R-PIA–induced antinociception were examined. Results:Intrathecal administration of 5 nmol R-PIA but not 10 nmol CGS21680 decreased nonevoked spontaneous pain behavior. Furthermore, intrathecal administration of R-PIA but not of CGS21680 increased withdrawal thresholds after incision. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin and administration of forskolin, glibenclamide, 4-aminopyridine, and tetraethylammonium inhibited R-PIA–induced antinociception. In addition, intrathecal administration of apamin, charybdotoxin, or margatoxin did not modify mechanical hypoalgesia mediated by R-PIA. Conclusions:Spinal A1Rs but not A2aRs play an important role in the maintenance of nonevoked and evoked pain behaviors after an incision. Furthermore, A1R-induced spinal antinociception is mediated by interactions with pertussis toxin–sensitive G proteins. In addition, the opening of adenosine triphosphate–sensitive K channels but not of calcium-activated potassium channels and voltage-gated Kv1.3 or Kv1.6 channels contribute to the antinociceptive effect of A1R agonists.
Goal orientations and moral identity as predictors of prosocial and antisocial functioning in male association football players

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of task and ego goal orientation and moral identity on prosocial and antisocial judgement and behaviour in football. The interaction between task and ego orientation in predicting these variables was also examined. Participants were 210 adult male footballers (age 25 ± 6 years) competing at recreational (n = 133) and semi-professional (n = 77) levels. They completed questionnaires measuring task and ego goal orientation, the importance of moral identity, prosocial and antisocial judgement, frequency of prosocial and antisocial behaviours in football, and social desirability. Regression analysis revealed no main effects for goal orientations and moral identity on prosocial judgement and behaviour. However, a significant interaction effect between task and ego orientation emerged in relation to prosocial judgement. Specifically, task orientation positively predicted prosocial judgement only at low levels of ego orientation. Ego orientation emerged as a positive predictor of antisocial judgement and behaviour, whereas moral identity negatively predicted these variables. The differentiation between prosocial and antisocial aspects of morality was supported. It was concluded that examining moral identity and interactions between task and ego orientation adds to our understanding of the influence of these variables on prosocial and antisocial functioning in sport.
Enteral Nutrition for Feeding Severely Underfed Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

Severe undernutrition nearly always leads to marked changes in body spaces (e.g., alterations of intra-extracellular water) and in body masses and composition (e.g., overall and compartmental stores of phosphate, potassium, and magnesium). In patients with severe undernutrition it is almost always necessary to use oral nutrition support and/or artificial nutrition, besides ordinary food; enteral nutrition should be a preferred route of feeding if there is a functional accessible gastrointestinal tract. Refeeding of severely malnourished patients represents two very complex and conflicting tasks: (1) to avoid “refeeding syndrome” caused by a too fast correction of malnutrition; (2) to avoid “underfeeding” caused by a too cautious rate of refeeding. The aim of this paper is to discuss the modality of refeeding severely underfed patients and to present our experience with the use of enteral tube feeding for gradual correction of very severe undernutrition whilst avoiding refeeding syndrome, in 10 patients aged 22 ± 11.4 years and with mean initial body mass index (BMI) of 11.2 ± 0.7 kg/m2. The mean BMI increased from 11.2 ± 0.7 kg/m2 to 17.3 ± 1.6 kg/m2 and the mean body weight from 27.9 ± 3.3 to 43.0 ± 5.7 kg after 90 days of intensive in-patient treatment (p < 0.0001). Caloric intake levels were established after measuring resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry, and nutritional support was performed with enteral feeding. Vitamins, phosphate, and potassium supplements were administered during refeeding. All patients achieved a significant modification of BMI; none developed refeeding syndrome. In conclusion, our findings show that, even in cases of extreme undernutrition, enteral feeding may be a well-tolerated way of feeding.
Numerical investigation of techniques for reducing radiated emission of PCBs with attached cables in complex systems

Numerical simulations are used to quantify the effects of fixes such as EMI filter and grounding solutions for reducing the radiated emission from a PCB with an attached cable in a complex digital system. The numerical models adopted in the full-wave simulations of a basic PCB with an attached cable are validated by comparison with an analytical approach. The investigation shows that to reduce the radiated emission from an unshielded cable attached to a PCB placed within a shielded box, the best solution is to use common-mode filters, and connect the PCB ground plane to the chassis by a suitable number of stitches.
The Role of Business Sustainability in Human Resource Management: A Study on Indian Manufacturing Companies

Business sustainability from the point of view of human resource management (HRM) is a management and leadership philosophy about how people are most enable to contribute to success at their work by minimizing the negative impact of their work on the environmental and social factors and at the same time improving the financial factors in the organizations. This study is an empirical study conducted on 233 Indian manufacturing firms operating in the Karnataka region to investigate the role for HRM in business sustainability. The role for HRM in business sustainability is studied with the construct HRM strategic integration in business sustainability strategy. Further, this study focuses on the way HRM incorporates sustainability in its practices in the organization and its impact on the organizational performance. The data are analyzed using SEM, and the results revealed the significance of the relationship of the HRM strategic integration of sustainability strategy with the organizational performance. The organizational performance studied with respect to the three factors of business sustainability viz., profit, people, and planet. Further, these relationships are tested with contingency factors, age of the firm, and the number of employees for its significance in this relation. The empirical evidence of the study shows a significant positive relation of organizational performance when HRM has strategic integration in business sustainability strategy. Model I4C is derived to show the role for HRM in business sustainability.
Vascular complications after living related liver transplantation: evaluation with gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) MR angiography for detection of vascular complications in patients who have undergone living related liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-six patients who underwent living related liver transplantation were evaluated with gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography. All MR angiograms were assessed for patency of the hepatic artery and the portal vein using a four-point scale (grades I-IV). The results were correlated with conventional angiography (n = 23) and clinical follow-up with Doppler sonography (n = 53) for more than 6 months. RESULTS Seventy-three of 76 MR angiography procedures were technically adequate. When grades III (focal narrowing [> 50%] at the anastomotic site) and IV (abrupt cutoff at the anastomotic site with nonvisualization of the right [or left] hepatic artery distal to the anastomosis) were regarded as the diagnostic criteria for hepatic artery stenosis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of MR angiography were 100%, 74%, 29%, 100%, and 77%, respectively. In the portal vein, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of MR angiography were 100%, 84%, 35%, 100%, and 85%, respectively, when grades III (narrowing [> 50%] without poststenotic dilatation) and IV (narrowing [> 50%] with poststenotic dilatation) were defined as criteria for portal vein stenosis. CONCLUSION MR angiography was sensitive but not specific in the detection of significant vascular stenosis after living related liver transplantation. However, normal MR angiography findings reliably exclude the possibility of significant stenosis.
Specific differences and similarities in the learning preferences of engineering students

The Index of learning Styles (ILS) being developed by Felder and Soloman classifies a student's overall learning preferences on four dimensions. It expresses whether the students learning style tends to favor active or reflective processing, sensing or intuitive perception, visual or verbal presentation and sequential or global assimilation. Version I of the ILS consists of twenty weight forced-choice items, from which seven items refer to each of the four dimensions. A large group (n=858) of engineering students at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) has completed the ILS and their overall responses show a preference for an active (69%), sensing (59%), visual (80%), and sequential (67%) learning style. Although these learning preferences do not necessarily indicate the teaching methods which would enable the students to learn best, it would certainly contribute negatively to their learning if they were consistently taught in a way that conflicted with their preferred learning style. The ILS item responses from these UWO engineering students have also been analysed for separate subgroups such as male/female, first-year/senior year and extravert/introvert and these analyses have yielded significantly different preferences for some of the specific learning items. This paper describes the characteristics and learning preferences associated with each of the four ILS dimensions and presents the overall engineering student responses. It also presents those specific ILS items which elicited significantly different responses between the various subgroups of engineering students.
Remission of refractory Crohn's disease by high‐dose cyclophosphamide and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Despite advances in immunosuppressive therapy, up to 10% of patients with severe Crohn's disease (CD) remain refractory to conventional treatment. Limited evidence from pilot trials suggests that high‐dose immunosuppression and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (autoPBSCT) may induce remission in these patients, but there is substantial controversy regarding the safety and efficacy of this approach.
Depression in women aged 75-89--predisposing factors and preventive measures.

BACKGROUND There are analyses showing the relationship between low and irregular physical activity and the risk of more frequent occurrences of depression symptoms in the future. There are studies that do not prove the connection between those two dependencies. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to find the relationship between physical activity before menopause and the occurrence of depression in senium. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was comprised of 200 randomly selected women, aged 75-89 years, who were treated in the local department of general surgery and oncology from January to June 2009. The study used a 15-point Geriatric Depression Scale which is an integral part of the EASY care (Polish version 1999-2002) questionnaire to assess emotional efficiency, and the Questionnaire Survey for Research on Physical Activity in Older People which contains 8 questions. The results were statistically analyzed using a Student's test and basic probabilities calculations. RESULTS The probability of depression in women aged 75-89 is 0.8. Increased physical activity in pre-menopausal women neither affects the level of depression, nor prevents it (p < 0.1). Depression was more common in people living alone, in which case the probability is 0.85. Postmenopausal women enjoy a beneficial impact on physical activity in the following areas: previous activity (p < 0.001), family support (p < 0.0001), GP support (p < 0.001), and television education (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Depression among elderly women is very common. In this study, depression was found in 80% of senior women. There is a relationship between depression and physical activity. Increased physical activity in premenopausal women neither affects the level of depression, nor prevents it. There was no correlation between age, weight, education, place of residence and depression. Depression was more common in people living alone.
Intracellular trafficking of retroviral genomes during the early phase of infection: viral exploitation of cellular pathways

Retroviruses enter cells through specific cell‐surface receptors and then embark on a journey that ultimately leads to the establishment of the integrated proviral DNA. The steps of the journey include the reverse transcription of the viral RNA into DNA, the trafficking of the viral protein–DNA complex through the cytoplasm, the entry of the complex into the nucleus, and the insertion of the linear viral DNA into the host genome. All these steps are likely to involve specific interactions of viral proteins with host machinery. Our knowledge of the details of these interactions is very limited but is rapidly expanding, and should provide a deeper understanding of the pathways and components used by the different classes of retroviruses. This knowledge in turn should enable the development of better and more efficient retroviral vectors for use in gene therapy protocols in vivo. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new integrated approach to improve left ventricular electromechanical activation during right ventricular septal pacing.

AIMS The deleterious effects of apical right ventricular pacing has fostered the utilization of alternative pacing sites. Although right ventricular septal (RVS) sites are commonly used, the results have been controversial because of poor standardization of lead position by fluoroscopy. This study investigated the utility of a new RVS pacing technique based on the combination of fluoroscopy (F), and electrophysiological mapping (F + EP). Left ventricular (LV) electromechanical activation was determined in patients undergoing RVS pacing and the results of the F + EP approach were compared with those derived from standard F alone. METHODS AND RESULTS Between December 2008 and November 2010 we enrolled 156 consecutive patients undergoing permanent RVS pacing. The standard F approach was used in 93 patients and the F + EP technique was applied to 63 patients. Electromechanical activation was assessed by: (i) electromechanical latency (EML) interval measured from the QRS onset to the mechanical activation of the basal LV and (ii) intra-LV dyssynchrony measured as the interval from the earliest to the latest LV basal motion. Intra-LV dyssynchrony was found in 46.2% patients in the F group compared with 15.9% in the group F + EP (P < 0.001). The F group demonstrated a significantly higher degree of intra-LV dyssynchrony than F + EP group (43.9 ± 24.3 vs. 26.5 ± 15.4 ms; P < 0.001). The F group exhibited a significantly higher EML duration compared with the F + EP group (215.8 ± 25.3 vs. 195.1 ± 17.4 ms; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION During RVS pacing, the F + EP approach provides a more physiological LV activation than the standard F technique. The prognostic significance of these short-term findings needs to be correlated with long-term data.
VSCCN: CCN with a very simple control plane

The proliferation of user-generated content available over the Internet has introduced a new aspect for the design of the Future Internet, called Information Centric Networking (ICN), which deal with the need for unified information access and consumption. Content-Centric Networking (CCN) is one of the important ICN methodologies, which defines a new transport for content request and response packets. For the operation of CCN data plane, it is normally assumed that a control plane based on a routing protocol such as OSPF is used. While routing protocols such as OSPF are quite suitable for the interoperation between the legacy IP network and CCN network, such protocols are not suitable for supporting content mobility because of their slow convergence time. Therefore, in this paper, we suggest a control plane that supports content mobility with a very simple extension to the original CCN message formats.
Safety and Efficacy of Target Controlled Infusion (Diprifusor™) vs Manually Controlled Infusion of Propofol for Anaesthesia

In this multi-centre, randomized trial, we compared the safety and efficacy of Diprifusor™ TCI with manually controlled infusion (MCI) of propofol for anaesthesia. With approval, 123 adult male and female patients were studied. Firstly, each investigator anaesthetized five patients to familiarize themselves with Diprifusor™ TCI. In Stage 2, 98 patients were randomized to receive propofol-based anaesthesia via TCI or MCI. Adjuvant drugs, airway management and monitoring were managed at the discretion of the anaesthetist. Results are presented as mean (SD). Induction times were significantly longer [67 (32) vs 54 (17)s] and induction doses were significantly lower [14 (5) vs 16 (4) ml] in the TCI vs the MCI group. Recovery times and total doses were not significantly different. There were statistically but not clinically significant differences in mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Quality of anaesthesia and ease of control of anaesthesia were similar. We conclude that Diprifusor™ TCI and MCI are similar in terms of safety and efficacy.