Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure of Phosphatidylserine by Xk-related Protein Family Members during Apoptosis*

Background: Xkr8 is essential to scramble phospholipids during apoptosis. The function of other Xkr family members is unknown. Results: Xkr4, Xkr8, and Xkr9 rescued apoptotic lipid scrambling in Xkr8−/− cells. Conclusion: In the Xkr family, three members support caspase-activated lipid scrambling, and two of them are tissue-specifically expressed. Significance: Learning the biochemical function of Xkr family members is essential to understand their physiological role. Apoptotic cells expose phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) on their surface as an “eat me” signal. Mammalian Xk-related (Xkr) protein 8, which is predicted to contain six transmembrane regions, and its Caenorhabditis elegans homolog CED-8 promote apoptotic PtdSer exposure. The mouse and human Xkr families consist of eight and nine members, respectively. Here, we found that mouse Xkr family members, with the exception of Xkr2, are localized to the plasma membrane. When Xkr8-deficient cells, which do not expose PtdSer during apoptosis, were transformed by Xkr family members, the transformants expressing Xkr4, Xkr8, or Xkr9 responded to apoptotic stimuli by exposing cell surface PtdSer and were efficiently engulfed by macrophages. Like Xkr8, Xkr4 and Xkr9 were found to possess a caspase recognition site in the C-terminal region and to require its direct cleavage by caspases for their function. Site-directed mutagenesis of the amino acid residues conserved among CED-8, Xkr4, Xkr8, and Xkr9 identified several essential residues in the second transmembrane and second cytoplasmic regions. Real time PCR analysis indicated that unlike Xkr8, which is ubiquitously expressed, Xkr4 and Xkr9 expression is tissue-specific.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Stock Prices: The Environmental Awareness of Shareholders

This study examines whether shareholders are sensitive to corporations’environmental footprint. Speci…cally, we conduct an event study around the announcement of corporate news related to environment for all U.S. publicly-traded companies from 1980 to 2009. Consistent with the view that environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) generates new and competitive resources for …rms, we …nd that companies reported to behave responsibly towards the environment experience a signi…cant stock price increase, whereas …rms that behave irresponsibly face a signi…cant stock price decrease. Extending this view of “environment-as-a-resource,”we posit that the value of environmental CSR depends on external and internal moderators. First, we argue that external pressure to behave responsibly towards the environment— which has increased dramatically over the past decades— exacerbates the punishment for eco-harmful behavior and reduces the reward for eco-friendly initiatives. This argument is supported by the data: over time, the negative stock market reaction to eco-harmful behavior has increased, while the positive reaction to eco-friendly initiatives has decreased. Second, we argue that environmental CSR is a resource with decreasing marginal returns. Consistent with this view, we …nd that the positive (negative) stock market reaction to eco-friendly (-harmful) events is smaller for companies with higher levels of environmental CSR.
AUTOSPERMAGGLUTININS: A CAUSE OF INFERTILITY IN MEN

Spermagglutinins were found in 3.3% of 2015 infertile males in titers of 1 to 32 or higher. 1/3 of these men had complete or partial a utoagglutination of the sperm. 7 patients had had herniorrhaphy in chil dhood; others had had testicular necrosis following a surgical accident fistula mumps orhitis inguinal abcess gonorrhea and a variety of oth er problems. About half the patients revealed abnormalities in epididym us or vas deferens indicating obstructed efferent ducts. Obstruction of the efferent ducts is often associated with formation of autospermagglutinins.
Self-Regulation of Creativity at Work: The Role of Feedback-Seeking Behavior in Creative Performance

Using 456 supervisor-employee dyads from four organizations, this study examined how employees use one proactive behavior, feedback seeking, as a strategy to enhance their creative performance. As hypothesized, employees' cognitive style and perceived organizational support for creativity affected two patterns of feedback seeking: the propensity to inquire for feedback and the propensity to monitor the environment for indirect feedback. Feedback inquiry related to supervisor ratings of employee creative performance. These results highlight the importance of employees' self-regulatory behaviors in the creative process and show that feedback seeking is not only a strategy that facilitates individual adaptation, but also a resource for achieving creative outcomes.
Robust Fractal Modulation for Mobile Communications

This paper presents a robust fractal modulation scheme which is suitable for signal transmission over wireless channels. Recent work has suggested fractal modulation with BPSK, QPSK and QAM symbols. As a novelty, we proposed the fractal modulation with differential encoded data. It allows differential decoding, which is accomplished using differentially coherent detection. We used data which are equivalent to the symbols of pi/4-DQPSK modulation. Carrier synchronization is not needed at the receiver in that case. Mobile channels were simulated like Rayleigh flat fading channels and frequency selective channels
Frequency and severity of comorbid mood and anxiety disorders in prescription opioid dependence.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Comorbid substance use disorders and mood and anxiety disorders are associated with more severe psychiatric symptoms, social and occupational impairment, and economic burden. To date, the majority of research has focused on comorbidity in illicit drug users, rather than prescription drug users. To address this gap in the literature, the present cross-sectional study investigated the clinical profiles of individuals with prescription opioid dependence with or without comorbid mood and anxiety disorders. METHODS Ninety individuals with prescription opioid use were recruited to participate in the study procedures. All participants completed a structured clinical interview and series of self-report measures. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Of the 85 individuals with prescription opioid dependence, 47.1% (n = 40) were diagnosed with a comorbid mood or anxiety disorder. The findings showed that individuals with prescription opioid dependence and comorbid mood and anxiety disorders demonstrated significantly more severe alcohol use, psychiatric symptoms, and sleep impairment than individuals without comorbidity. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE The findings highlight the frequency and severity of co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders in individuals with prescription opioid dependence and suggest that integrated interventions are needed to address these growing problems.
Combination antibiotic therapy for severe melioidosis.

of severe melioidosis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. J We would like to comment on the therapeutic regimens used in Med Assoc Thai 1998;81:265–71. this case. 7. Dance DAB, Wuthiekanun V, Chaowagul W, White NJ. Interactions in The authors state that combination therapy is recommended for vitro between agents used to treat melioidosis. J Antimicrob Chemother severe disease. While it is true that some investigators have recom1989;24:311–6. mended intravenous combination therapy for treatment of severe
Temporal changes in gene expression in the skin of patients treated with isotretinoin provide insight into its mechanism of action

Isotretinoin (13-cis RA) is the most potent agent in the treatment of acne. Insights into its mechanism of action can lead to drug discovery of alternative compounds with comparable efficacy but improved safety. The goal of this study is to compare the temporal changes in gene expression in the skin of acne patients after 1 week and 8 weeks of treatment with isotretinoin. Microarray analysis was performed on skin biopsies taken from 8 acne patients prior to and at 8 weeks of treatment with isotretinoin. Results were compared with data obtained from 7 acne patients biopsied at one week of treatment in a prior study. Distinctly different patterns of gene expression were noted. At 8 weeks, genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins were up-regulated and numerous genes encoding lipid metabolizing enzymes were down-regulated. At one week, genes encoding differentiation markers, tumor suppressors and serine proteases were up-regulated. Only three genes were commonly down-regulated. The temporal changes in gene expression in patient skin noted with isotretinoin substantiate many previously reported effects of isotretinoin and other retinoids, suggesting a model wherein isotretinoin induces apoptosis leading to reduced sebaceous gland size, decreased expression of lipid metabolizing enzymes and increased matrix remodeling during acne resolution.
Use of the internet in the treatment of obesity and prevention of type 2 diabetes in primary care

Cardiovascular prevention, including emphasising healthy diet and physical activity patterns for weight loss and diabetes prevention, is an important focus of primary care medicine, yet provision of intensive lifestyle counselling in the primary care setting remains uncommon. Online approaches for providing lifestyle counselling are emerging as a new avenue for bringing support to outpatient patient populations. Features of successful programmes include the use of a structured behavioural programme, electronic counselling support and feedback, and uncomplicated user interfaces. Online tools may be used independently or to complement in-person approaches. Limited data also suggest that the internet can be used to support the maintenance of weight loss. In addition, the internet may help overcome various clinical barriers to lifestyle support, including significant time limitations, a need to prioritise acute care and maintain clinical workflow, and the high cost of counselling. Furthermore, the continuity of the primary care patient–provider(s) relationship provides an established source of long-term support which has been difficult to create in other community settings. As the field of online lifestyle counselling matures, nutrition and physical activity experts will face new challenges in providing asynchronous counselling without the assistance of traditional non-verbal communication cues. However, the potential for reaching a wider population in a convenient and accessible manner also creates unique opportunities for providing lifestyle support.
Learning the Structure of Probabilistic Sentential Decision Diagrams

The probabilistic sentential decision diagram (PSDD) was recently introduced as a tractable representation of probability distributions that are subject to logical constraints. Meanwhile, efforts in tractable learning achieved great success inducing complex joint distributions from data without constraints, while guaranteeing efﬁcient exact probabilistic inference; for instance by learning arithmetic circuits (ACs) or sum-product networks (SPNs). This paper studies the efﬁcacy of PSDDs for the standard tractable learning task without constraints and develops the ﬁrst PSDD structure learning algorithm, called L EARN PSDD. Experiments on standard benchmarks show competitive performance, despite the fact that PSDDs are more tractable and more restrictive than their alternatives. L EARN PSDD compares favorably to SPNs, particularly in terms of model size, which is a proxy for tractability. We report state-of-the-art likelihood results on six datasets. Moreover, L EARN PSDD retains the ability to learn PSDD structures in probability spaces subject to logical constraints, which is beyond the reach of other representations.
SHIP Represses the Generation of IL-3-Induced M2 Macrophages by Inhibiting IL-4 Production from Basophils1

There is a great deal of interest in determining what regulates the generation of classically activated (M1) vs alternatively activated (M2) macrophages (Mφs) because of the opposing effects that these two Mφ subsets have on tumor progression. We show herein that IL-3 and, to a lesser extent, GM-CSF skew murine Mφ progenitors toward an M2 phenotype, especially in the absence of SHIP. Specifically, the addition of these cytokines, with or without M-CSF, to adherence- or lineage-depleted (Lin−) SHIP−/− bone marrow (BM) cells induces high levels of the M2 markers, arginase I, and Ym1 in the resulting mature Mφs. These in vitro-derived mature Mφs also display other M2 characteristics, including an inability to enhance anti-CD3-stimulated splenic T cell secretion of IFN-γ and low IL-12 and high IL-10 production in response to LPS. Not surprisingly, given that IL-3 and GM-CSF utilize STAT5 to trigger many downstream signaling pathways, this M2 phenotype is suppressed when STAT5−/− BM cells are used. Unexpectedly, however, this M2 phenotype is also suppressed when STAT6−/− BM cells are used, suggesting that IL-4- or IL-13-induced signaling might be involved. Consistent with this, we found that IL-3 and GM-CSF stimulate the production of IL-4, especially from SHIP−/− Lin− BM cells, and that neutralizing anti-IL-4 Abs block IL-3-induced M2 skewing. Moreover, we found that basophil progenitors within the Lin− BM are responsible for this IL-3- and GM-CSF-induced IL-4 production, and that SHIP represses M2 skewing not by preventing skewing within Mφs themselves but by inhibiting IL-4 production from basophils.
Maternal dystocia in cows and buffaloes: A Review

The maternal causes of dystocia in cattle and buffaloes are analyzed. Uterine torsion appears to be the most frequent maternal cause of dys-tocia in buffaloes whereas improper cervical dilation appears to be more frequent maternal cause of dystocia in cattle. Failure of uterine expulsive forces (Uterine Inertia) and neo-plasm’s of vagina, vulva and uterus are com-monly seen in cows and buffaloes. The various maternal causes of dystocia in cattle and buf-faloes and their management are described.
Yi-Gan San as Adjunctive Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: An Open-Label Study

Backgroud: Recent studies indicate that the traditional Japanese herbal medicine yi-gan san (YGS; yokukan-san in Japanese) may be safe and useful in treating behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia and borderline personality disorder. We aimed at evaluating both the efficacy and safety of YGS in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Methods: Thirty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, (YGS-free) group (n = 25) and treated in a 4-week open-label study with YGS at an average daily dosage of 6.7 ± 2.5 g (range, 2.5-7.5 g). Psychometric instruments used to assess efficacy included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale. Results: A significant decrease was observed at 2 weeks and at 4 weeks in each Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia subscale score in the YGS group, but this was not observed in the control group. However, the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale total score did not change in both groups. Conclusions: In this open-label pilot study, patients treated with YGS showed a statistically significant reduction on clinician-rated scales. The present findings suggest that an adjunction of YGS might be effective for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Estimated daily intake of phenolics and antioxidants from green tea consumption in the Korean diet

Abstract To estimate daily intake of total phenolics and flavonoids from green tea and the contribution of green tea to the antioxidant intake from the Korean diet, 24 commercial brands of green tea were selected and analyzed. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2008 and 2011 indicate that the green tea consumption in these 2 years was 2.8 g/tea drinker/day and 2.9 g/tea drinker/day, respectively. Based on data derived from direct measurements of green tea phenolics and the dataset of the 2008 KNHANES, we estimated the daily per tea drinker phenolics intake to be 172 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE), the total flavonoids to be 43 mg catechin equivalents (CE) and the total antioxidants to be 267 mg vitamin C equivalents (VCE; 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay) and 401 mg VCE (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assay). In 2011, we estimated the daily per tea drinker total phenolics intake to be 246 mg GAE, the total flavonoids to be 60 mg CE and the antioxidants to be 448 mg VCE (DPPH assay) and 630 mg VCE (ABTS assay). The daily intake of total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidants from green tea consumption increased from 2008 to 2011.
Cholangitis and subsequent gastrointestinal cancer risk: a Danish population-based cohort study

Objective While patients with gastrointestinal cancer are at increased risk of cholangitis, it is less clear whether cholangitis is also a marker for occult gastrointestinal cancer. If an undiagnosed cancer obstructs the bile duct system and causes cholangitis, the short-term risk of cancer will appear increased. However, an increased long-term risk of cancer may originate from chronic inflammatory processes. We assessed the risk of a gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis subsequent to a cholangitis diagnosis during a 17-year period in Denmark. Design We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study by linking Danish medical registries during 1994–2010. We quantified the excess risk of cancer in cholangitis patients using relative (standardised incidence ratio; SIR) and absolute (excess absolute risk per 1000 person-years at risk; EAR) risk calculations. Results 4333 patients with cholangitis (including 178 with primary sclerosing cholangitis) were followed for 17 222 person-years. During the follow-up period, 477 gastrointestinal cancers occurred versus 59 expected, corresponding to a SIR of 8.12 (95% CI 7.41 to 8.88). Risk was increased mainly for cancer in the small intestine (SIR 18.2; 95% CI 8.69 to 33.4), liver (SIR 16.3; 95% CI 11.6 to 22.2), gallbladder and biliary tract (SIR 70.9; 95% CI 59.0 to 84.4) and pancreas (SIR 31.7; 95% CI 27.8 to 36.0). During the first 6 months of follow-up, 314 patients were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer, corresponding to a SIR of 49.8 (95% CI 44.4 to 55.6) and an EAR of 175. Conclusions Cholangitis is a marker of occult gastrointestinal cancer.
Child marriage and infant mortality: Evidence from Ethiopia

This study uses age discontinuities in the degree of exposure to a law that raised the legal age of marriage for women from 15 to 18 years in some regions of Ethiopia to provide the first evidence on (a) the beneficial effects on child marriage and infant mortality of laws that ban underage marriage and on (b) the causal effect of delaying women's age at cohabitation on infant mortality using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design. The results show that although the introduction of the law did not end child marriage among Ethiopian women, it had large effects on the incidence of child marriage and on the probability of infant mortality of the first born child. Besides, the results suggest that a one-year delay in women's age at cohabitation during teenage years decreases the incidence of infant mortality of the first born by 3.8 percentage points. The size of this effect is comparable to the joint impact on child mortality of measles, BCG, DPT, Polio and Maternal Tetanus vaccinations. This effect on infant mortality seems to be closely linked to the impact of delaying cohabitation on the age of women at first birth.
A study of anti‐hepatitis C positive blood donors: the first year of screening

SUMMARY. In the U.K., blood donations have been routinely screened for anti‐HCV since September 1991. In order to get the most epidemiological benefit from these extensive screening data, the histories obtained at counselling from donors confirmed to be anti‐HCV positive, ‘indeterminate’ and falsely positive have been analysed in detail. In addition, the associations with potential risk factors have been investigated by comparing these groups of donors with a control group of 771 routine donors bled on one day during the study, at North London Blood Transfusion Centre. This paper documents the prevalence and demography of HCV infection in asymptomatic blood donors, to assess varicus possible sources of infection and the association between liver function test results and alcohol consumption in donors. One in 1400 previously untested donors was confirmed positive for anti‐HCV. Age (the group 30–49 years being highest), tattooing and intravenous drug use in both sexes, ear‐piercing in males and blood transfusion in females were all significantly associated with an increased risk of HCV infection. Intravenous drug use proved to be the factor most strongly associated with risk. Liver function tests (alanine aminotransferase) were elevated in a significant number of donors confirmed to be anti‐HCV positive but no clear correlation between alanine aminotransferase level and either time since infection or alcohol consumption was found. Alcohol consumption was significantly higher in donors confirmed to be anti‐HCV positive and was particularly marked in those admitting to previous intravenous drug use. Although donors confirmed to be anti‐HCV positive had a 5–10 times greater chance of non‐Caucasian ethnic origin compared with controls, the association with ethnic origin was not as marked as it was for HBsAg positive donors.
Synergistic Anthelmintic Effect of Citrus aurantifolia Swingle Seeds and Mebendazole in Egyptian Dogs Infected with Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis : Trial to Solve Drug Resistance Problem

Synergistic Combination has been described in human and veterinary medicine as to solve the anthelmintic resistance and overcome it. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of combination of the herbal plants; Citrus aurantifolia; Egyptian lemon seeds extract and mebendazol against mixed infection with Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis. A total number of 25 local Egyptian dogs naturally infected with A. caninum and T. canis were used in the experiment. The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups, five dogs each. Group A; animals were non infected non treated control one, group B; animals were naturally infected with both A. caninum and T. canis and not treated. The infected C, D and E groups; animals were treated in serials with mebendazole alone, Citrus aurantifolia seeds extract only and the latter were treated with combined therapy mebendazole and Citrus aurantifolia seeds extract. The treatment extended 2 weeks; 3 times per week; day after day. The results showed that treatment with the different anthelmintic gives a variable efficacy, but the high efficacy was produced by the combination treatment of mebendazole and Citrus aurantifolia seeds extract which produce significant decrease in fecal egg count (FEC) and the percent of FEC reduction of A. caninum and T. canis reached to 100% and 98.2%, respectively. The hematological assay during different period of treatment and after recovery were done and the infected treated dogs with combined therapy of C. aurantifolia extract with mebendazoles, showed blood parameters (Hb, RBCs, PCV, WBCs, total protein and albumin concentration) reaching to normal values of non-infected untreated control group.