Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of the P2X7 receptor signaling pathway for the release of autolysosomes in microglial cells

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system by which cytoplasmic contents are degraded in lysosomes. In response to nutrient depletion, phagophores are generated, which sequester a portion of the cytoplasm, forming autophagosomes, which ultimately fuse with lysosomes to re-utilize the digested contents. Numerous studies have shown that such a conventional mode of autophagic flux may play a critical role in both physiological and disease processes. However, it is possible that a different mode of autophagic flux exists. In a recent publication in J Immunol (Takenouchi et al, 2009, 182:2051-62), we observed that activation of the purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) by ATP treatment in microglial cells resulted in the release of autolysosomes into the extracellular space, providing a novel mechanism for the clearance of intracellular pathogens during the course of inflammation. Furthermore, given the role of the P2X7R signaling pathway in inflammation and neurodegeneration, this non-canonical autophagic pathway might explain the mechanism of the release of various cytoplasmic proteins, such as interleukin-1β and α-synuclein.
Comparison of Animal Infectivity and Nucleic Acid Staining for Assessment of Cryptosporidium parvum Viability in Water

ABSTRACT Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were stained with the fluorogenic dyes SYTO-9 and SYTO-59 and sorted by flow cytometry in order to determine whether the fluorescent staining intensity correlated with the ability of oocysts to infect neonatal CD-1 mice. Oocysts that did not fluoresce or that displayed weak fluorescent intensity when stained with SYTO-9 or SYTO-59 readily established infections in mice, whereas those oocysts that fluoresced brightly did not. Although fluorescent staining profiles varied among different batches of oocysts, a relative cutoff in fluorescent staining intensity that correlated with animal infectivity was observed for all batches.
Pecuniary Knowledge Externalities: Evidence from European Regions

The paper investigates the effects of agglomeration and specialization of technological activities on regional productivity growth, applying the notion of pecuniary knowledge externalities. The latter are indirect interdependencies between firms mediated by the price system. Pecuniary knowledge externalities enable to appreciate both the positive and negative effects associated with the regional concentration of knowledge generating activities. Our analysis leads to specify the hypothesis of an inverted U-shaped relationship between the agglomeration of innovation activities and productivity growth. The empirical investigation, based upon 138 European regions in the years 1996 through 2003, supports the hypothesis that agglomeration yields diminishing positive net effects beyond a maximum. The homogeneity of knowledge generating activities however reduces absorption costs and hence rises the net benefits at each agglomeration level.
Simple Urine Test to Evaluate Adherence to Oral 5-ASA in Teenagers With Ulcerative Colitis: Proof of Concept

Objectives: 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is an important maintenance drug for patients with ulcerative colitis. A proportion of the ingested dose is excreted in the urine. Measuring 5-ASA and its metabolites in urine requires mass spectrometry, which is not widely available for this purpose. Urinary 5-ASA can be measured by colorimetry using the serum salicylic acid assay and is a surrogate marker of recent 5-ASA ingestion. We evaluated whether measuring 5-ASA in first morning voids or in random spot urine samples correctly identifies teenagers with poor adherence to oral 5-ASA. Methods: Teenagers who were prescribed a current regimen including >40 mg · kg−1 · day−1 of 5-ASA were invited to collect their spot urine with various time lapses since their last presumed 5-ASA ingestion. Classification of adherence was based on a composite method that included a patient-reported adherence scale and 6-thioguanine levels in erythrocytes. Results: Teenagers who were classified as “good adherers” had 66 of 69 (96%; 95% confidence interval 87%–99%) spot urine samples with detectable 5-ASA levels. “Poor adherers” had 30 of 45 (67%; 95% confidence interval 52%–79%) spot urine samples with undetectable 5-ASA levels. The “good adherers” with false-negative urine tests were on a once daily dosing regimen and had collected a spot urine sample shortly before the next dosage. Their first morning voids had detectable 5-ASA levels. Conclusions: Undetectable 5-ASA levels in the first morning void confirms short-term nonadherence to oral 5-ASA.
More, Less, or All the Same? The Difference Midlife Caregiving Makes for Women's Adjustments of Work Hours

This paper uses data from the European Community Household Panel to study the association between changes in caregiving and changes in weekly work hours for women age 45 to 59. In order to capture a fair number of transitions between the various care modes (starting, increasing, decreasing or stopping informal care) we consider changes over the two year period 1994 to 1996. Our study sample includes middle aged women who report any positive number of work hours in one of the two years under study. Following the difference-in-difference approach we regress the absolute change in weekly work hours on five substantive independent variables which are dichotomous and capture changes in the caregiving status and caregiving intensity. Our results show that the impact of caregiving on adjustments of weekly work hours is asymmetrical and varies across countries. We find significant relationships between starting or increasing informal caregiving and the change in weekly work hours. Taking on a new caregiving responsibility induces a reduction of paid work. Increasing weekly care hours has the same effect and also restrains an extension of hours in paid employment. Also, switching to a new level of care intensity appears to result in a larger change in work hours than starting the provision of care. No such association emerges for women terminating a caregiving spell or reducing care hours. Overall, our findings lend empirical support to the time competition hypothesis as postulated in microeconomic models of rational time-allocation. Estimations for sub-samples of women living in Northern Europe (exclusive of Ireland) and Southern Europe uncover that women in Northern Europe account for significant positive effect on the reduction in work hours. Female employees in Southern Europe and Ireland, by contrast, respond to an increase in care demands. They reduce paid work by more and increase work hours by less than non-caregivers. We assume different institutional factors to affect the association between employment and caregiving. The supply and utilisation of formal care services, for instance, should help midlife women to cope with dual work and caregiving commitments. This offers a potential explanation for the strong associations between changes in work hours and changes in informal caregiving in Southern European countries which do not offer such possibilities.
Fiscal Episodes, Technological Progress and Market Power

We assess the impact of fiscal adjustments (and technology) on the evolution of markups in a panel of 14 OECD countries. We allow for smooth changes in the technological parameters by generating measures of TFP compatible with markups and assess the interaction between the two variables. Our results with narrative action-based data show counter-cyclicality since negative fiscal shocks increase markups. Moreover, in times of economic contraction the degree of counter-cyclicality of negative (positive) government spending (tax) shocks is larger than during economic expansions. In addition, markups have a pro-cyclical behaviour after a productivity shock. However, when identifying fiscal consolidations using changes of the cyclically adjusted primary balance, one obtains expansionary effects and a pro-cyclical behaviour in terms of markups and aggregate demand shocks.
Copper Future's Risk Spillover Effect between SHFE and LME Based on EGARCH-GED

This paper calculates the VaR of copper futures' price in SHFE and LME during the Sub-prime mortgage crisis and the European debt crisis using the EGARCH-GED model. The direction and extent of spillover effects are checked with Granger causality test and impulse response function. The empirical results show that the two markets own mutual spillover effects during the U.S. Sub-prime mortgage crisis, while LME's spillover effects are stronger; and during the European debt crisis, LME has one-way spillover effects on SHFE. Therefore, we conclude that the SHFE's spillover effects on abroad markets depend on domestic economy, meanwhile it is necessary to take the abroad markets into consideration when supervising domestic financial market's risk. Keywords-Risk Spillover; Value at Risk (VaR); EGARCHGED Model; Granger Causality Test.
['5 digit test': a multilinguistic non-reading alternative to the Stroop test].

INTRODUCTION The use of digits in groups that may or may not correspond to their arithmetic values (for instance: five twos, that can be easily read as 'two', but must be counted as a 'five') allows us to measure at the same time the 'processing speed' of the subjects and their ability to 'direct' and 'switch' their attentional control. AIMS The use of this new 'five digit test' (5DT) as a multilingual non-reading alternative to the Stroop test presents a series of advantages: it minimizes the effects of education and social class, allows the testing of much younger students, and allows the testing of some severe clinical cases, who may not be able to read words or name colors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Using groups of 20 adults at different age levels (55-64, 65-74, 75+) and groups of 20 and 20 subjects with cerebral-vascular episodes (anterior and posterior) we can estimate the usefulness of this instrument in concrete nosological populations. RESULTS We find a slowing of production and reorientation times with aging; and a dramatic influence of neurological dysfunctions. CONCLUSIONS The tests allows a valid exploration of the Stroop effect in prereading and non-reading subjects, even in other languages.
Broad spectrum inhibition of HIV-1 infection by sulfated K5 Escherichia coli polysaccharide derivatives

Objective: HIV-1 entry into CD4 cells represents a main target for developing novel antiretroviral agents and microbicides. Design: Sulfated derivatives of the Escherichia coli K5 polysaccharide have a backbone structure resembling the heparin precursor, but are devoid of the anticoagulant activity. The derivatives were chemically sulfated in the N position after N-deacetylation, in the O position, or in both sites. Methods: HIV replication in human T cell blasts, monocyte-derived macrophages and cell lines was studied in the presence of sulfated K5 derivatives. Results: O-sulfated [K5-OS(H)] and N,O-sulfated [K5-N,OS(H)] K5 derivatives with high degree of sulfation inhibited the replication of an HIV strain using CXCR4 as entry co-receptor (X4 virus) in both cell lines and T-cell blasts. K5 derivatives also strongly inhibited the multiplication of CCR5-dependent HIV (R5 virus) in cell lines, T-cell blasts and primary monocyte-derived macrophages. Their 50% inhibitory concentration was between 0.07 and 0.46 μM, without evidence of cytotoxicity even at the maximal concentration tested (9 μM). In addition, both K5-N,OS(H) and K5-OS(H) potently inhibited the replication of several primary HIV-1 isolates in T-cell blasts, with K5-N,OS(H) being more active than K5-OS(H) on dual tropic R5X4 strains. K5 derivatives inhibited the early steps of virion attachment and/or entry. Conclusions: Because K5 derivatives are unlikely to penetrate into cells they may represent potential topical microbicides for the prevention of sexual HIV-1 transmission.
Clinical Comparison of Conventional and Mobile Endockscope Videocystoscopy Using an Air or Fluid Medium.

OBJECTIVE To compare conventional videocystoscopy (CVC) with a novel and affordable (approximately $45) mobile cystoscopy system, the Endockscope (ES). We evaluated the ES system using both fluid (Endockscope-Fluid [ES-F]) and air (Endockscope-Air [ES-A]) to fill the bladder in an effort to expand the global range of flexible cystoscopy. METHODS The ES system comprised a portable 1000 lumen LED self-contained cordless light source and a three-dimensional printed adaptor that connects a mobile phone to a flexible fiber-optic cystoscope. Patients undergoing in-office cystoscopic evaluation for either stent removal or bladder cancer surveillance received three examinations: conventional, ES-F, and ES-A cystoscopy. Videos of each examination were recorded and analyzed by expert endoscopists for image quality/resolution, brightness, color quality, sharpness, overall quality, and whether or not they were acceptable for diagnostic purposes. RESULTS Six of the 10 patients for whom the conventional videos were 100% acceptable for diagnostic purposes were included in our analysis. The conventional videos scored higher on every metric relative to both the ES-F and ES-A videos (p < 0.05). There was no difference between ES-F and ES-A videos on any metric. Fifty-two percent and 44% of the ES-F and ES-A videos, respectively, were considered acceptable for diagnostic purposes (p = 0.384). CONCLUSIONS The ES mobile cystoscopy system may be a reasonable option in settings where electricity, sterile fluid irrigant, or access to CVC equipment is unavailable.
Generalized error control techniques for integrated service packet networks

This paper presents some generalized error control techniques that allows one to fulfill the delay and reliability demands of applications over integrated service packet networks (ISPNs). Binary frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation, which is suitable for lightwave packet networks and which, in addition, allows noncoherent detection in place of the classical coherent detection, has been considered. Performance is derived in terms of region-by-region and end-to-end error control. The proposed protocols performed better than previously described techniques, especially under poor channel conditions. In addition, the use of noncoherent detection produced a considerable reduction in receiver implementation complexity. >
Title Asymmetric Activation of the Primary Motor Cortex duringObservation of a Mirror Reflection of a Hand

Mirror therapy is an effective technique for pain relief and motor function recovery. It has been demonstrated that magnetic 20-Hz activity is induced in the primary motor cortex (M1) after median nerve stimulation and that the amount of the stimulus-induced 20-Hz activity is decreased when the M1 is activated. In the present study, we investigated how the image or the mirror reflection of a hand holding a pencil modulates the stimulus-induced 20-Hz activity in the M1. Neuromagnetic brain activity was recorded from 13 healthy right-handed subjects while they were either viewing directly their hand holding a pencil or viewing a mirror reflection of their hand holding a pencil. The 20-Hz activity in the left or the right M1 was examined after the right or the left median nerve stimulation, respectively, and the suppression of the stimulus-induced 20-Hz in the M1 by viewing directly one hand holding a pencil or by viewing the mirror image of the hand holding a pencil was assumed to indicate the activation of the M1. The results indicated that the M1 innervating the dominant hand was suppressed either by viewing directly the dominant hand holding a pencil or by viewing the mirror image of the nondominant hand holding a pencil. On the other hand, the M1 innervating the non-dominant hand was activated by viewing the mirror image of the dominant hand holding a pencil, but was not activated by viewing directly the non-dominant hand holding a pencil. The M1 innervating either the dominant or the non-dominant hand, however, was not activated by viewing the hand on the side ipsilateral to the M1 examined or the mirror image of the hand on the side contralateral to the M1 exaimined. Such activation of the M1 might induce some therapeutic effects of mirror therapy. Citation: Tominaga W, Matsubayashi J, Furuya M, Matsuhashi M, Mima T, et al. (2011) Asymmetric Activation of the Primary Motor Cortex during Observation of a Mirror Reflection of a Hand. PLoS ONE 6(11): e28226. doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0028226 Editor: Andreas Keil, University of Florida, United States of America Received September 29, 2011; Accepted November 3, 2011; Published November 29, 2011 Copyright: 2011 Tominaga et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This research is partly supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) 22300187 (to A.M.) and (C) 21613003 (to T.M.), and for Young Scientists (B) 21700288 (to M.M.) and (B) 21700529 (to J.M.) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding received for this study. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: amitani@hs.med.kyoto-u.ac. jp
Perceived social presence reduces fact-checking

Significance The dissemination of unverified content (e.g., “fake” news) is a societal problem with influence that can acquire tremendous reach when propagated through social networks. This article examines how evaluating information in a social context affects fact-checking behavior. Across eight experiments, people fact-checked less often when they evaluated claims in a collective (e.g., group or social media) compared with an individual setting. Inducing momentary vigilance increased the rate of fact-checking. These findings advance our understanding of whether and when people scrutinize information in social environments. In an era of rapid information diffusion, identifying the conditions under which people are less likely to verify the content that they consume is both conceptually important and practically relevant. Today’s media landscape affords people access to richer information than ever before, with many individuals opting to consume content through social channels rather than traditional news sources. Although people frequent social platforms for a variety of reasons, we understand little about the consequences of encountering new information in these contexts, particularly with respect to how content is scrutinized. This research tests how perceiving the presence of others (as on social media platforms) affects the way that individuals evaluate information—in particular, the extent to which they verify ambiguous claims. Eight experiments using incentivized real effort tasks found that people are less likely to fact-check statements when they feel that they are evaluating them in the presence of others compared with when they are evaluating them alone. Inducing vigilance immediately before evaluation increased fact-checking under social settings.
Suppression of streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis by human chorionic gonadotropin.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) contributes to pregnancy-associated immunosuppression, as observed clinically by an amelioration of symptoms in human autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, during pregnancy. METHODS Administration of HCG was initiated 2 days prior to an arthritogenic dose of streptococcal cell wall (SCW) in nonpregnant female rats, and the development and severity of SCW-induced arthritis was monitored. Inflammatory mediators, including plasma nitrite/nitrate and cytokine levels, were measured. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein and cytokine messenger RNA expression in joint tissue were compared between treated and untreated arthritic animals. RESULTS Systemic administration of HCG resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the clinical arthritis index. Consistent with the amelioration of clinical symptoms, HCG significantly reduced the inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, and bone and cartilage degradation. Mechanistically, HCG therapy was associated with suppression of the overzealous production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1beta, which contribute to synovial pathology in animals with SCW-induced arthritis. Circulating nitric oxide and the amount of iNOS protein were also reduced. Furthermore, circulating transforming growth factor beta levels were elevated by the HCG, all of which suggest monocytes/macrophages as a potential target. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that HCG exerts a protective effect in this experimental arthritis model, through modulation of inflammatory mediators.
The UreEF Fusion Protein Provides a Soluble and Functional Form of the UreF Urease Accessory Protein

ABSTRACT Four accessory proteins (UreD, UreE, UreF, and UreG) are typically required to form the nickel-containing active site in the urease apoprotein (UreABC). Among the accessory proteins, UreD and UreF have been elusive targets for biochemical and structural characterization because they are not overproduced as soluble proteins. Using the best-studied urease system, in which the Klebsiella aerogenes genes are expressed in Escherichia coli, a translational fusion of ureE and ureF was generated. The UreEF fusion protein was overproduced as a soluble protein with a convenient tag involving the His-rich region of UreE. The fusion protein was able to form a UreD(EF)G-UreABC complex and to activate urease in vivo, and it interacted with UreD-UreABC in vitro to form a UreD(EF)-UreABC complex. While the UreF portion of UreEF is fully functional, the fusion significantly affected the role of the UreE portion by interrupting its dimerization and altering its metal binding properties compared to those of the wild-type UreE. Analysis of a series of UreEF deletion mutants revealed that the C terminus of UreF is required to form the UreD(EF)G-UreABC complex, while the N terminus of UreF is essential for activation of urease.
Proof Pearl : A Practical Fixed Point Combinator for Type Theory

Type theories need to enforce some restrictions on recursive definitions in order to remain sound. Depending on the implementation, these restrictions may prevent the user from defining recursive functions as conveniently as in a functional programming language. This paper describes a fixed point combinator that can be applied to any functional. A fixed point equation can be derived for the recursive function produced, provided that all recursive calls are made on arguments that are smaller than the current argument, with respect to a decidable well-founded relation or a measure. The approach is entirely constructive, and does not require the user to program with dependent types. It supports partial functions, n-ary functions, mutual recursion, higher-order recursion and nested recursion. It has been implemented and experimented in Coq.
Transient thermal analysis of sapphire wafers subjected to thermal shocks

Rapid heating and cooling are commonly encountered events in integrated circuit processing, which produce thermal shocks and consequent thermal stresses in wafers. The present paper studies the heat transfer in sapphire wafers during a thermal shock as well as the dependence of the wafer temperature on various process parameters. A three-dimensional finite-element model of a single sapphire wafer was developed to analyze the transient heat conduction in conjunction with the heat radiation and heat convection on the wafer surfaces. A silicon wafer was also investigated, for comparison. It was found that the rapid thermal loading leads to a parabolic radial temperature distribution, which induces thermal stresses even if the wafer is not mechanically restrained. The study predicted that for sapphire wafers the maximum furnace temperature of 800 degC should be held for two hours in order to get a uniform temperature throughout the wafer