Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resident Alveolar Macrophages Suppress, whereas Recruited Monocytes Promote, Allergic Lung Inflammation in Murine Models of Asthma

The role and origin of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in asthma are incompletely defined. We sought to clarify these issues in the context of acute allergic lung inflammation using house dust mite and OVA murine models. Use of liposomal clodronate to deplete resident AMs (rAMs) resulted in increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and eosinophil numbers in lavage fluid and augmented the histopathologic evidence of lung inflammation, suggesting a suppressive role for rAMs. Lung digests of asthmatic mice revealed an increased percentage of Ly6Chigh/CD11bpos inflammatory monocytes. Clodronate depletion of circulating monocytes, by contrast, resulted in an attenuation of allergic inflammation. A CD45.1/CD45.2 chimera model demonstrated that recruitment at least partially contributes to the AM pool in irradiated nonasthmatic mice, but its contribution was no greater in asthma. Ki-67 staining of AMs supported a role for local proliferation, which was increased in asthma. Our data demonstrate that rAMs dampen, whereas circulating monocytes promote, early events in allergic lung inflammation. Moreover, maintenance of the AM pool in the early stages of asthmatic inflammation depends on local proliferation, but not recruitment.
Elevated cardiac troponin measurements in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND The clinical significance of elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) level in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is uncertain. We reviewed the frequency of cTn elevation and its association with mortality and length of ICU stay in these patients. METHODS Studies were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and reference list review. We included observational studies of critically ill patients that measured cTn at least once and reported the frequency of elevated cTn or outcome (mortality and length of ICU or hospital stay). We pooled the odds ratios (ORs) using the inverse variance method in studies that conducted multivariable analysis to examine the relationship between elevated cTn and mortality (adjusted analysis). We calculated the weighted mean difference in length of stay between patients with and without elevated cTn and pooled the results using the inverse variance method (unadjusted analysis). RESULTS A total of 23 studies involving 4492 critically ill patients were included. In 20 studies, elevated cTn was found in a median of 43% (interquartile range, 21% to 59%) of 3278 patients. In adjusted analysis (6 studies comprising 1706 patients), elevated cTn was associated with an increased risk of death (OR, 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9 to 3.4; P < .001). In the unadjusted analysis (8 studies comprising 1019 patients), elevated cTn was associated with an increased length of ICU stay of 3.0 days (95% CI, 1.0 to 5.1 days; P = .004) and an increased length of hospital stay of 2.2 days (95% CI, -0.6 to 4.9; P = .12). CONCLUSIONS Elevated cTn measurements among critically ill patients are associated with increased mortality and ICU length of stay. Research is needed to clarify the underlying causes of elevated cTn in this population and to examine their clinical significance.
Region-based Memory Management

This paper describes a memory management discipline for programs that perform dynamic memory allocation and de-allocation. At runtime, all values are put intoregions. The store consists of a stack of regions. All points of region allocation and de-allocation are inferred automatically, using a type and effect based program analysis. The scheme does not assume the presence of a garbage collector. The scheme was first presented in 1994 (M. Tofte and J.-P. Talpin,in“Proceedings of the 21st ACM SIGPLAN? SIGACT Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages,” pp. 188? 201); subsequently, it has been tested in The ML Kit with Regions, a region-based, garbage-collection free implementation of the Standard ML Core language, which includes recursive datatypes, higher-order functions and updatable references L. Birkedal, M. Tofte, and M. Vejlstrup, (1996),in“Proceedings of the 23 rd ACM SIGPLAN? SIGACT Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages,” pp. 171? 183. This paper defines a region-based dynamic semantics for a skeletal programming language extracted from Standard ML. We present the inference system which specifies where regions can be allocated and de-allocated and a detailed proof that the system is sound with respect to a standard semantics. We conclude by giving some advice on how to write programs that run well on a stack of regions, based on practical experience with the ML Kit.
Construction and characterization of poliovirus subgenomic replicons

Poliovirus RNAs containing in-frame deletions within the capsid-coding region were produced by in vitro transcription of altered poliovirus type 1 cDNA by using bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. Three RNAs were transcribed that contained deletions of 2,317 nucleotides (bases 747 to 3064), 1,781 nucleotides (bases 1,175 to 2,956), and 1,295 nucleotides (bases 1,175 to 2,470). All three subgenomic RNAs replicated after transfection into HeLa cells, demonstrating that sequences encoding the capsid polypeptides are not essential for viral RNA replication in vivo. Viral RNA containing the largest deletion (R1) replicated approximately three times better than full-length RNA produced in vitro. Northern blot (RNA blot) hybridization analysis of total cellular RNA from HeLa cells at different times after transfection with R1 demonstrated the presence of increasing amounts of the expected 5.1-kilobase subgenomic RNA. Analysis by immunoprecipitation of viral proteins induced after transfection of R1 RNA into HeLa cells revealed the presence of proteins 2Apro, 2C, and 3Dpol and its precursors, suggesting that the polyprotein cleavages are similar to those occurring in virus-infected cells. Replication of P2/Lansing virion RNA was inhibited by cotransfection with the R1 replicon, as demonstrated by hybridization analysis with a serotype-specific oligonucleotide probe. A higher level of inhibition of RNA replication was observed when P2/Lansing RNA was cotransfected into HeLa cells with truncated R1 transcripts (R1-PvuII) that were missing 395 3' nucleotides and a poly(A) tail. These internally and terminally deleted RNAs inhibited the replication of subgenomic replicons R1, R2, and R3 and caused a reduction in plaque size when cotransfected with P1/Mahoney or P2/Lansing viral RNA, suggesting that individual cells had received both RNAs. No inhibition of plaque size was observed when replicon RNAs were used that were missing 1,384 or 1,839 3' nucleotides or contained plasmid-derived sequences downstream of the 3' poly(A). The trans-acting inhibitory effect of R1-PvuII on the replication of poliovirus P2/Lansing RNA did not involve entry of RNA into cells and appeared to reduce viral translation and RNA synthesis late in the infection cycle.
DC-40 GHz and 20-40 GHz MMIC SPDT switches

DC to 40 GHz and 20 to 40 GHz monolithic GaAs SPDT switches have been demonstrated. Both the measured and the modeled small-signal performance are presented. Measured power handling performance and switching speed data are also presented. The 20-40 GHz switch uses a combination of shunt FET's and quarter-wave transformers. Better than 2 dB insertion loss and 25 dB isolation have been achieved. The dc-40 GHZ switch uses a combination of series and shunt FET's. Better than 3 dB insertion loss and 23 dB isolation have been achieved. A simplified switching FET model is used to adequately model switch performance. It is demonstrated that parasitic "off" state resistance is an important FET characteristic for broad-band switch design. The Switches use MESFET's With the same characteristics as an existing millimeter-wave amplifier to allow for ease of future integration.
To study intracellular bactericidal activity of Isoniazid & Rifampicin, alone and in combination with Isoxyl against standard and multi drug resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in macrophage cell line

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem in developing nations. As drug development is a long and expensive process, it becomes predominant to reexamine drugs that were formerly deemed effective against TB and increase the permeability of the Mycobacterial cell wall. One such drug is Isoxyl (ISO). Interest in the use of combination of antibiotics was started many years ago, almost as soon as two antibiotics were available. To minimize the probability of emergence of drug resistance, to increase the activity, particularly the bactericidal activity of the agents. Current use of drug combinations in the therapy of TB is aimed at designing the most efficient short-course regimens. It is reported the use of a murine macrophage continuous cell line J774 as a model for testing the susceptibility of mycobacteria to antimicrobial agents. Present study was conducted with the objective of determining the efficacy of ISO. To assess cytotoxic reaction to macrophage cell line by various concentrations of ISO. To study intracellular bactericidal activity of ISO against standard strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in macrophage cell line. To study intracellular bactericidal activity of INH and RF, alone and in combination with ISO against standard and MDR strain of M. tuberculosis in macrophage cell line. It is observed that, this thiourea is apparently not acutely toxic for macrophage cell line J 774A.1. It showed some bactericidal activity in intracellular bacteria. There is an intracellular synergistic interaction, though little, between ISO & INH and ISO & RF against standard strain and MDR strain of M. tuberculosis
Do Faculty Intensivists Have Better Outcomes When Caring for Patients Directly in a Closed ICU versus Consulting in an Open ICU?

Abstract Background:Intensivists have been associated with decreased mortality in several studies, but in one major study, centers with intensivist-staffed units reported increased mortality compared with controls. We hypothesized that a closed unit, in which a unit-based intensivist directly provides and coordinates care on all cases, has improved mortality and utilization compared with an open unit, in which individual attendings and consultants provide care, while intensivists serve as supervising consultants. Methods: We undertook the retrospective study of outcomes in 2 intensive care units (ICUs)—a traditional open unit managed by faculty intensivists and a second closed unit overseen by the same faculty intensivists who coordinated the care on all patients in a large community hospital. Primary Outcome: In-hospital mortality. Secondary Outcomes: Hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, and relative costs of hospitalization. Results: From January 2006 to December 2007, we identified 2602 consecutive admissions to the 2 medical ICUs. Of all patients admitted to the closed and open units, 19.2% and 24.7%, respectively, did not survive (P < 0.001, adjusted for severity). Median hospital LOS was 10 days for the closed unit and 12 days for the open unit (P < 0.001). Median ICU LOS was 2.2 days for the closed unit and 2.4 days for the open unit (P = NS). The unadjusted cost index for the open unit was 1.11 relative to the closed unit (1.0) (P < 0.001). However, after adjusting for disease severity, cost differences were not significantly different. Conclusions: We observed significant reductions in mortality and hospital LOS for patients initially admitted to a closed ICU versus an open unit. We did not observe a significant difference in ICU LOS or total cost after adjustment for severity.
Tumor Necrosis Factor α Regulatesα vβ5 Integrin Expression by Osteoclast Precursors in Vitro and in Vivo1.

Early osteoclast precursors, in the form of murine bone marrow macrophages (BMMs), while expressing no detectableα vβ3 integrin, contain abundantα vβ5 and attach to matrix in anα v integrin-dependent manner. Furthermore,α vβ5 expression by osteoclast precursors progressively falls as they assume the resorptive phenotype. We find the osteoclastogenic agent, tumor necrosis factor-α, (TNF) down-regulates αvβ5 expression by BMMS via attenuation of β5 messenger RNA (mRNA) t1/2. Using BMMs from TNF receptor knockout mice we establish the p55 receptor transmits the β5 suppressive effect. The functional implications of TNF-mediated αvβ5 down-regulation are underscored by the capacity of an αv inhibitory peptide mimetic to prevent spreading by BMMs expressing abundantα vβ5 while failing to impact those in which the integrin has been diminished by TNF. Finally, β5 mRNA in BMMs of wild-type mice administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) progressively falls with time of in vivo treatment. Alternatively, β5 mRNA does not .
Cancer mortality in workers employed at a transformer manufacturing plant.

This study examined mortality to December 31, 1989 in a cohort of 2,222 males employed between 1947 and 1975 at a transformer manufacturing plant in Canada, where there had been extensive use of transformer fluid, some containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A combined cohort list of 2,222 names was independently obtained from plant management and union officials. Mortality of 1,939 workers with known birthdates was ascertained by record linkage with the Canadian Mortality Data-base. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for different criteria for acceptance of the death certificate link and for cohort membership (based on work history) ranged from . 71-1.05. There was no significant increase in overall cancer deaths. The only significant site-specific increased mortality was pancreatic cancer (11 deaths), with SMRs ranging from 2.92-7.64 and higher mortality risk in those who entered the cohort prior to 1960. All but one of these deaths had a latency period of at least 10 years, and greatest SMRs were found in departments with the greatest exposure to transformer fluid. Several previous studies have found excess pancreatic cancers in association with oil exposures and electrical equipment manufacturing. The need to further investigate pancreatic cancer in transformer manufacturing and related exposures is evident.
Association of dietary protein intake and microalbuminuria in healthy adults: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND The relationship between dietary protein intake (DPI) and microalbuminuria (MA) is unclear. We investigated whether DPI was associated with urinary albumin level in a population sample of persons with normal kidney function. METHODS We addressed this question in adults aged 20 to 80 years from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 12,422). DPI was assessed from a 24-hour dietary recall and quantified as percentage of total energy intake. MA is defined as urinary albumin-creatinine ratio 30 mg/g (3 mg/mmol) or greater. RESULTS In multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and coronary heart disease risk factors, DPI was not associated with MA in normotensive or nondiabetic persons. In crude models, odds ratios (ORs) for MA were 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 3.0) in persons with hypertension (n = 3,433) and 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 5.2) in those with diabetes (n = 1,165) in the highest (>19%) versus lowest (<11.7%) quintile of DPI. However, in models adjusted for the concurrent prevalence of diabetes or hypertension, this association attenuated to nonsignificance. Persons in the highest quintile of DPI who had both hypertension and diabetes (n = 634) had a significantly elevated OR for MA (3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 7.8) compared with those in the lowest quintile. CONCLUSION DPI is not associated with MA in healthy persons or those with isolated hypertension or diabetes. However, in persons with both conditions, high DPI is associated with increased prevalence of MA. These findings suggest the need for further research on weight-loss strategies for high-risk persons.
Channel-Capacity, Intelligibility and Immediate Memory

When subjects try to remember lists of digits played to them through pulse-modulated white noise the number of errors they make is greater than would be expected if digitrecognition errors and immediate memory errors were independent (Exp. 1). A second experiment compared recall of digits in early list positions, when digits in subsequent list positions were presented through noise, and in clear. Digits in early positions were less well remembered when digits in later list positions had to be discriminated through noise. In a third experiment prose passages were played to subjects who subsequently answered questions about their factual content. Judged by this technique recall of the first half of a prose passage is less accurate if the second half must be heard through noise than if the entire passage is heard through a good fidelity system. These results together are interpreted as demonstrations that increased difficulty of recognition of speech through noise may interfere with other activities, (conveniently termed “rehearsal”) which may be necessary to efficiently retain data in memory.
Though They May Be Unaware, Newlyweds Implicitly Know Whether Their Marriage Will Be Satisfying

Newlywed Game? The extent to which our “gut” feelings influence our social interactions has been a matter of debate. Social psychologists have sometimes been criticized for their reliance on short-term analyses of undergraduates as test subjects. McNulty et al. (p. 1119) measured explicit and implicit attitudes of newlywed couples toward one another twice a year for 4 years. Over time, the implicit or unaware evaluations of the relationship predicted changes of marital satisfaction, whereas the explicit or conscious evaluations did not. Relationship satisfaction is captured by implicit measures of spousal attitudes. For decades, social psychological theories have posited that the automatic processes captured by implicit measures have implications for social outcomes. Yet few studies have demonstrated any long-term implications of automatic processes, and some scholars have begun to question the relevance and even the validity of these theories. At baseline of our longitudinal study, 135 newlywed couples (270 individuals) completed an explicit measure of their conscious attitudes toward their relationship and an implicit measure of their automatic attitudes toward their partner. They then reported their marital satisfaction every 6 months for the next 4 years. We found no correlation between spouses’ automatic and conscious attitudes, which suggests that spouses were unaware of their automatic attitudes. Further, spouses’ automatic attitudes, not their conscious ones, predicted changes in their marital satisfaction, such that spouses with more positive automatic attitudes were less likely to experience declines in marital satisfaction over time.
B-cell differentiation immunophenotypes in classical Hodgkin lymphomas

The bcl6/CD10/MUM1/CD138 B-cell differentiation immunophenotypes were analysed in 101 cases of classical Hodgkin lymphomas (cHL) aiming to elucidate their histogenesis. Three major bcl6/CD10/MUM1/CD138 immunophenotypes were distinguished on the basis of the immunohistochemical positivity of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H/RS) cells: (a) the late germinal center (GC)/early post-GC B-cell-like immunophenotype (bcl6−/CD10−/MUM1+/CD138−); 59/101 cases (59%), (b) the post-GC B-cell-like immunophenotype (bcl6−/CD10−/MUM1+/CD138+); 24/101 cases (24%) and (c) the indeterminate immunophenotype (bcl6+/CD10−/MUM1+/CD138−: 14 cases and bcl6+/CD10−/MUM1+/CD138+: four cases); 18/101 cases (18%). The above findings indicate that H/RS cells in most cHL display bcl6/CD10/MUM1/CD138 immunophenotypes consistent with late GC/early post-GC or post-GC B-cell differentiation. In addition, H/RS cells in a small fraction of cHL display indeterminate bcl6/CD10/MUM1/CD138 immunophenotypic profiles which are characterized by simultaneous expression of GC, late GC/early post-GC and post-GC B-cell differentiation proteins. These immunophenotypic profiles do not correspond to the differentiation immunophenotypes of normal B-cells and their identification in a part of cHL suggests that the differentiation process of H/RS cells is not complete in a fraction of these cells and/or is still ongoing at the time of observation.
First‐Trimester Placental Volume and Vascularization Measured by 3‐Dimensional Power Doppler Sonography in Pregnancies With Low Serum Pregnancy‐Associated Plasma Protein A Levels

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the first‐trimester placental volume and 3‐dimensional (3D) power Doppler vascularization of pregnancies with low serum pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A) levels and to relate these findings to pregnancy outcomes. Methods. Three‐dimensional power Doppler sonography of the placenta was performed at gestational ages of 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days in 84 pregnancies with PAPP‐A concentrations of less than 0.4 multiple of the median (MoM). With a standardized setting, the placental volume and vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization‐flow index (VFI) were calculated and related to pregnancy outcomes. Results. Pregnancy outcomes were as follows: 57 pregnancies with birth weights at or above the 10th percentile (group A), 16 pregnancies with birth weights below the 10th percentile and normal Doppler findings in the umbilical artery throughout gestation (group B), and 11 pregnancies with birth weights below the 10th percentile and abnormal umbilical Doppler findings later in gestation (group C). No differences were found in PAPP‐A levels among groups. Placental volume values were significantly lower than reference limits, but no differences were found between groups. In groups A and B, there were no significant differences in 3D Doppler indices. However, these indices were significantly lower in group C (VI mean difference, −1.904; P < .001; FI mean difference, −1.939; P < .001; VFI mean difference, −1.944; P < .001). Placental vascular indices were significantly related to the severity of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR; VI, r = 0.438; P < .001; FI, r = 0.482; P < .001; VFI, r = 0.497; P < .001) but not to the PAPP‐A MoM and placental volume values. Conclusions. Low serum maternal PAPP‐A levels are associated with altered 3D placental Doppler indices, and these changes are related to subsequent development of IUGR and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
A correlation between acute phase proteins and cytokines in patients suffering from mycosis fungoides.

BACKGROUND Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. To evaluate whether the serum levels of sIL- 2R, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and INF-gamma reflect the processes in various stages of MF, to measure the acute phase protein concentrations in the serum of the patients, and to determine the glycosylation profile of two proteins. MATERIAL AND METHODS Serum samples were obtained from 52 patients with MF and from 20 healthy subjects. Concentrations of interleukins IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, INF-gamma, and sIL-2R were measured using ELISA tests. Concentrations of proteins were measured using Laurell rocket electrophoresis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION An inflammatory reaction exists in all MF patients because the concentrations of acute phase proteins were increased. In more advanced stages of MF, intensive activation of T cells is present, as reflected by the sIL-2R levels and Th2 cytokines outweighing the main Th1 cytokine (IFNgamma). Increased levels of sIL-2R, IL-4, and IL-10 accompanied the increase in concentrations of acute phase proteins and a decrease in their reactivity with Con A. It appears that the increase of IL-4, IL10, and sIL-2R may be due to the activation of T-helper lymphocytes.