Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cryptococcal glucuronoxylomannan interferes with neutrophil rolling on the endothelium

The major capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans has been associated with depression of a variety of immunological host responses. For one, GXM has been shown to interfere with the migration of phagocytes to sites of inflammation by interference with both chemokinesis and leucocyte adhesion to the endothelium. We reported previously that GXM blocks the firm adhesion of neutrophils (PMNs) to endothelium in a static adhesion model, most probably by interfering with E‐selectin binding pathways. Using a flow model, we now demonstrate that GXM also interferes with the initial rolling phase of PMN adhesion to endothelium (40% decrease) as well as to E‐selectin‐transfected CHO cells (43% inhibition). Furthermore, we show that CD14 and TLR4, which are known receptors for GXM, mediate this interference with PMN rolling. However, thus far, we are not able to identify the ligand of E‐selectin on the surface of PMNs that is specifically affected by GXM. In conclusion, cryptococcal GXM interferes with both rolling and fixed binding of neutrophils on the endothelium, providing a novel means of contributing to the absence of neutrophil infiltration observed in cryptococcal infections.
The effectiveness of ergonomic interventions on return-to-work after low back pain; a prospective two year cohort study in six countries on low back pain patients sicklisted for 3–4 months

Aims: To study occurrence and effectiveness of ergonomic interventions on return-to-work applied for workers with low back pain (LBP). Methods: A multinational cohort of 1631 workers fully sicklisted 3–4 months due to LBP (ICD-9 codes 721, 722, 724) was recruited from sickness benefit claimants databases in Denmark, Germany, Israel, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States. Medical, ergonomic, and other interventions, working status, and return-to-work were measured using questionnaires and interviews at three months, one and two years after the start of sickleave. Main outcome measure was time to return-to-work. Cox’s proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios regarding the time to return-to-work, adjusted for prognostic factors. Results: Ergonomic interventions varied considerably in occurrence between the national cohorts: 23.4% (mean) of the participants reported adaptation of the workplace, ranging from 15.0% to 30.5%. Adaptation of job tasks and adaptation of working hours was applied for 44.8% (range 41.0–59.2%) and 46.0% (range 19.9–62.9%) of the participants, respectively. Adaptation of the workplace was effective on return-to-work rate with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.47 (95% CI 1.25 to 1.72; p < 0.0001). Adaptation of job tasks and adaptation of working hours were effective on return-to-work after a period of more than 200 days of sickleave with an adjusted HR of 1.78 (95% CI 1.42 to 2.23; p < 0.0001) and 1.41 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.76; p = 0.002), respectively. Conclusions: Results suggest that ergonomic interventions are effective on return-to-work of workers long term sicklisted due to LBP.
The Rx gene confers resistance to a range of potexviruses in transgenic Nicotiana plants.

Rx-mediated resistance was analyzed in Rx-expressing transgenic Nicotiana plants. The infection outcome of nine Potato virus X isolates mutated at amino acid positions 121 and 127 of the coat protein (CP) confirmed the key role of these amino acids but provided a more complex picture than previously reported. In particular, in Rx-expressing Nicotiana spp. , eliciting activity modulated by amino acid 121 was conditioned by the nature of amino acid 127. These results suggest that the specificity of recognition might be modulated by host factors that are somehow subtly modified between Rx-expressing potato and Rx-expressing transgenic Nicotiana plants. Moreover, the CP of three Potexviruses, Narcissus mosaic virus (NMV), White clover mosaic virus (WClMV), and Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV), are all recognized by the Rx-based machinery and able to trigger an Rx-dependant hypersensitive response. A smaller elicitor of 90 amino acids was identified in the CP of NMV and WClMV, which contains the previously identified key positions 121 and 127. This elicitor is only weakly conserved (approximately 40% identity) among the CP of the various recognized viruses, suggesting that the Rx molecular machinery targets a conserved structural element of the Potexvirus CP rather than a conserved amino acid motif.
Perception of Vowel-to-Vowel Transitions with Different Formant Trajectories

Abstract In this paper, the perceptual effects of vowel-to-vowel transitions determined by different temporal variations of model parameters which specify the shapes of the vocal tract area function are investigated. It is shown that, (a) the method of deformation of the vocal tract area function between two targets can be perceptually important and (b) conversely, within certain limits, the time course of parameters from one state to another, and the precise synchronization of two parameters is not important for the correct identification of a vowel series. These characteristics are necessary but not sufficient to prove the existence of a phonetic gesture percept.
Response of Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Terminal Diamines in a Food-based Synthetic Attractant

A current trapping system for Anastrepha fruit flies uses a two-component food-based synthetic attractant consisting of ammonium acetate and putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane). Development of more effective monitoring programs may be realized through identification of additional attractant chemicals. This study examined response of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), to putrescine and four homologous terminal diamines, differing only in carbon chain length. Using a fixed dose of each diamine substrate, electroantennogram (EAG) responses from mature females to putrescine and cadaverine (1,5-diaminopentane) were not significantly different from each other but were significantly greater than responses to longer chain diamines. Over a range of doses tested, mean female EAG response was greater than male response to both putrescine and cadaverine. In an initial field test, capture of female flies in traps baited with ammonium acetate and either putrescine or cadaverine was higher than in traps baited with ammonium acetate and any of the other diamines. In a subsequent field test, traps baited with putrescine, cadaverine, or 1,6-diaminohexane in combination with ammonium acetate captured more female flies than traps baited with ammonium acetate alone. A significantly greater synergistic effect on female captures was observed with either putrescine or cadaverine than with 1,6-diaminohexane. Thus, of the diamines evaluated, cadaverine elicited both antennal and behavioral responses comparable to that of putrescine and will be studied further as a potential attractant for pest Anastrepha species.
Expression and Regulation of the Na+‐K+‐2Cl− Cotransporter NKCC1 in the Normal and CFTR‐Deficient Murine Colon

Defective regulation and/or reduced expression of the Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransporter NKCC1 may contribute to the severe secretory defect that is observed in cystic fibrosis, but data concerning the expression and function of NKCC1 in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)‐deficient cells are equivocal. We therefore investigated NKCC1 mRNA expression, Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransport activity and regulation by cAMP in crypts isolated from the proximal colon of CFTR‐containing (CFTR (+/+)) and CFTR‐deficient (CFTR (−/−)) mice. mRNA expression levels were determined by semiquantitative PCR, transport rates were measured fluorometrically in 2′,7′‐bis(carboxyethyl)‐5(6)‐carboxyfluorescein acetomethylester (BCECF)‐loaded crypts, cytoplasmic volume changes were assessed by confocal microscopy, and [Cl−]i changes were examined by N‐(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)‐6‐methoxyquinolinium bromide (MQAE) quenching. NKCC1 mRNA expression levels were not significantly reduced in CFTR (−/−) crypts compared to controls. Azosemide‐sensitive NH4+ influx (used as a measure of Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransport) was 2.23 ± 0.72 vs. 1.56 ± 0.16 mm min−1, and increased by 63.6 % in (+/+) and 87.3 % in (−/−) crypts upon stimulation for 5 min with forskolin. After 20 min of stimulation with forskolin, the Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransport rates in (−/−) and (+/+) crypts were identical. Crypt cross‐sectional area and [Cl−]i decreased only in (+/+) crypts upon stimulation. In conclusion, normal NKCC1 expression levels, somewhat reduced Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransport rates, but preserved activation by cAMP were found in colonic crypts from CFTR (−/−) mice, ruling out a severe dysfunction of the Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransporter in the CF intestine. Furthermore, these studies establish the existence of a direct, cell‐volume‐ and [Cl−]i‐independent activation of colonic NKCC1 by an increase in intracellular cAMP.
Estimation of forest stem volume using ALOS PALSAR satellite images

A first evaluation of ALOS PALSAR data for forest stem volume estimation has been performed at a coniferous dominated test site in Sweden. In total, 7 Fine Beam Single polarization (FBS, look angle 34.3deg, HH-polarization) and 7 Polarimetric (PLR, look angle 21.5deg, HH-, HV-, VH-, and W- polarization) SAR images were used. In total, 56 forest stands with stem volume in the range of 45-650 m3 ha"1 (average 325 m3 ha"1) were analyzed by relating backscatter intensity to field data. The estimation accuracy of stem volume at stand level was calculated in terms of root mean square error (RMSE). For the best case investigated an RMSE of 30% was obtained using one of the FBS images acquired in the winter season. The corresponding RMSEs for the PLR images with HH-, HV-, VH-, and W-polarization were 65%, 65%, 62%, and 81%, respectively. The better results for FBS compared to PLR mode could be explained by particularly favorable weather conditions at image acquisition, or by the higher ground resolution in the FBS images, which makes small stands less sensitive to errors in geocoding.
Trends in survival of patients diagnosed with male genital cancers in the Nordic countries 1964–2003 followed up until the end of 2006

Abstract Background. Prostate, testicular and penile cancer constitute about one-third of the cancer incidence burden among Nordic males, but less than one-fifth of the corresponding mortality. The aim of this study is to describe and interpret trends in relative survival and excess mortality in the five Nordic populations. Material and methods. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates, 5-year relative survival, and excess mortality rates for varying follow-up periods are presented, as are age-specific 5-year relative survival by country, sex and 5-year diagnostic period. Results. The vast majority of male genital cancer incident cases and deaths are prostate cancers, with 5-year and 10-year survival trends resembling the diagnostic-led increasing incidence over the past 25 years. Five-year prostate cancer survival is estimated at 53% in Denmark compared to 78% or above in the other Nordic populations for patients diagnosed 1999–2003. Excess mortality has declined over time, with Denmark having a greater excess of deaths compared to the other countries, irrespective of time of diagnosis. Concomitant with the declines in testicular cancer mortality, testicular cancer survival has increased since the 1970s in each Nordic country. Men diagnosed with testicular cancer in recent decades have had, on average, a continually better prognosis with time, with relative 5-year survival for patients diagnosed 1999–2003 ranging from 88% in Finland to 94% in Sweden. For the few patients diagnosed with cancer of the penis and other male genital organs, survival trends have been rather stable over time, with recent 5-year relative survival estimates ranging from 62% in Finland to 80% in Norway. Conclusions. There are intriguing country-specific and temporal variations in male genital cancer survival in the Nordic countries. Prognosis varies widely by cancer site and relates to both changing diagnostic and clinical practices. The increasing PSA detection and biopsy makes interpretation of the prostate cancer survival trends particularly difficult.
Olfactory information transfer in the honeybee: compared efficiency of classical conditioning and early exposure

We investigated the ability of honeybees, Apis mellifera, to use olfactory information gained in a given experimental context, in other contexts. First, restrained bees were subjected to a Pavlovian associative learning procedure, based on the conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER), where a floral odour was paired with a sugar reward. We observed the orientation behaviour of conditioned and naïve bees in a four-armed olfactometer with four contiguous fields either scented with the conditioning odour or unscented. Information transfer was clearly shown, conditioned bees orienting towards the conditioning odour, whilst naïve bees shunned it. Second, the effect of passive olfactory exposures during the bees' development was assessed in two behavioural contexts: either orientation in the olfactometer or a PER conditioning procedure. Two exposure periods were applied: (1) the pupal stage (9 days before emergence); (2) the early adult stage (8 days after emergence). No effect of preimaginal exposure was recorded, but exposure during the early adult stage induced a higher choice frequency of the odour field in the olfactometer, and lower learning performance in the PER conditioning assay. These observations show that olfactory information gained during development can modify bees' later behaviour in different contexts: this is another instance of olfactory information transfer in bees. These results also suggest that nonassociative learning phenomena, taking place at a critical period during development, might be involved in the maturation of the bees' olfactory system, and in the organization of odour-mediated behaviours. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Quantitation of ATP-binding cassette subfamily-A transporter gene expression in primary human brain cells

Five ATP-binding cassette (ABC) subfamily-A transporters (ABCA1, ABCA2, ABCA3, ABCA7 and ABCA8) are expressed in the brain. These transporters may regulate brain lipid transport; however, their relative expression level in isolated human brain cells is unknown. We developed real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to quantify the expression of these genes in human neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia and cell lines. Neurons expressed predominantly ABCA1 and ABCA3; astrocytes ABCA1, ABCA2 and ABCA3; microglia ABCA1 and oligodendrocytes ABCA2 and ABCA3. Although ABCA7 and ABCA8 expression was relatively low in all cells, the highest expression occurred in microglia and neurons, respectively. ABCA gene expression in the NTERA-2 and MO3.13 cell lines closely resembled the ABCA expression pattern of primary neurons and oligodendrocytes, respectively.
Pathway‐Based Association Study of Multiple Candidate Genes and Multiple Traits Using Structural Equation Models

There is increasing interest in the joint analysis of multiple genetic variants from multiple genes and multiple correlated quantitative traits in association studies. The classical approach involves testing univariate associations between genotypes and phenotypes and correcting for multiple testing that results in loss of power to detect associations. In this paper, we propose modeling complex relationships between genetic variants in candidate genes and measured correlated traits using structural equation models (SEM), taking advantage of prior knowledge on clinical and genetic pathways. We adopt generalized structured component analysis (GSCA) as an approach to SEM and develop a single association test between multiple genetic variants in a gene and a set of correlated traits, taking into account all available data from other genes and other traits. The performance of this test is investigated by simulations. We apply the proposed method to the Quebec Child and Adolescent Health and Social Survey (1999) data to investigate genetic associations with cardiovascular disease‐related traits.
Efficacy and safety of roflumilast in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, has been shown to improve lung function and reduce exacerbation rates, but is associated with adverse events (AEs). The purpose of this study was to systematically review the clinical effectiveness and safety of roflumilast. Methods: A systematic search was made of MEDLINE, Cochrane trials database, DARE and CINAHL. Randomized, controlled trials of more than 12 weeks’ duration comparing roflumilast with placebo were reviewed. Studies were pooled to yield relative risk (RR), incident rate difference or weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Eight trials (8698 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Roflumilast significantly reduced moderate to severe exacerbations (RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.80−0.91) compared with placebo, but not severe exacerbations (RR 0.83; 95% CI 0.68–1.01) or mortality (RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.63–1.28). Roflumilast significantly improved lung function relative to placebo, but not quality of life measures. AEs (RR 1.11; 95% CI 1.03–1.19) and discontinuations of treatment due to AEs (RR 1.63; 95% CI 1.45–1.84) were significantly more frequent with roflumilast than placebo. In the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Safety Pool (12,054 patients), the overall incidence of serious AEs did not differ between groups. However, atrial fibrillation (0.4% versus 0.2%; p = 0.02) and suicidality (0.08% versus 0%) were more frequent with roflumilast than placebo. Conclusions: The efficacy of roflumilast appears modest compared with other available therapies for COPD. Further studies are needed to investigate the risk–benefit ratio and long-term safety of roflumilast before its wider use.
Analysis of Joint and Hand Impedance During Teleoperation and Free-Hand Task Execution

Teleoperated robotic surgery allows filtering and scaling the hand motion to achieve high precision during the surgical interventions. Teleoperation represents a very complex sensory-motor task, mainly due to the kinematic and kinetic redundancies that characterize the human motor control. It requires an intensive training phase to acquire sufficient familiarity with the master–slave architecture. We estimated the hand stiffness modulation during the execution of a simulated suturing task in teleoperation, with two different master devices, and in free hand. Kinematic data of eight right-handed users were acquired, using electromagnetic and optical tracking systems, and analyzed using a musculoskeletal model. Through inverse dynamics, muscular activation was computed and used to obtain the joint torque and stiffness, leading to end-point stiffness estimation. The maximal stiffness value and its angular displacement with respect to the trajectory tangent were computed. The results show that there is a difference in how the main stiffness axis was modulated by using the two master devices with respect to free hand, with higher values and variability for the serial link manipulator. Moreover, a directional modulation of the hand stiffness through the trajectory was found, showing that the users were aligning the direction of the main stiffness axis perpendicularly to the trajectory.
Feline immunodeficiency virus Gag- and Env-specific immune responses after vaginal versus intravenous infection.

To better understand the correlation of mucosal and systemic immune responses with lentiviral containment, we contrasted the early mucosal and systemic immune responses induced by vaginal versus intravenous exposure of cats to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) isolates of differing pathogenicity and clade (i.e., FIV-B-2542 and FIV-A-PPR). We found that despite divergence in viral genotype, the mucosal and systemic immune responses induced differed more with route of exposure than virus isolate. In intravenously exposed cats, Gag-specific antibody (both IgG and IgA isotype) predominated in the serum, saliva, and vaginal wash fluid irrespective of infecting virus isolate. While Env-specific responses were more variable, they were more often detected in vaginally infected cats. Both IgG and IgA directed against Gag and Env were consistently present in vaginal wash fluids independent of route of infection or virus isolate. FIV Gag- and Env-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) were detected in blood and tissue lymphocytes of cats infected with either virus strain but were greatest in intravenously infected animals. Likewise, FIV-specific CTLs were detected in CD8(+) vaginal lymphocytes of animals infected by either route but were also more frequent in intravenously inoculated animals. In summary, we found qualitative differences in the immune responses following vaginal infection but no evidence (1) that mucosal immune responses were enhanced in vaginally exposed cats, (2) that local mucosal infection led to measurably greater immune responses in either compartment; or (3) that more prominent immune responses correlated with lower viral burden.
Breast and cervix cancer screening among multiethnic women: role of age, health, and source of care.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between age, health status, access to care, and breast and cervical cancer screening among multiethnic elderly and nonelderly women. METHODS A structured telephone survey of a quota sample of 1,420 New York City women from four Hispanic groups (Columbian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Ecuadorian) and three black groups (U.S., Caribbean, and Haitian) was performed. Outcome measures included "ever" and "recent" self-reported use of mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and Pap smears. Logistic regression models assessed the predictors of screening use. RESULTS Having a regular source of care significantly predicted all screening use for both elderly and nonelderly, controlling for ethnicity, sociodemographics, health status, access to care, proportion of life in the United States, and cancer attitudes. Elderly women (>/=65 years) were significantly less likely to have ever had (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0. 96) and to have recently had (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.79) Pap smears than younger women, controlling for the other variables; being elderly also tended to be an independent predictor of ever and recent mammography and CBE use. Interestingly, there was a trend for health status to act differently in predicting Pap smear use for the two age groups. For younger women, being in poor health increased the odds of Pap smear screening, while for elderly women, being in good health increased the odds of screening. CONCLUSIONS Elderly women reported being screened less than younger women; interactions between health status and age need further exploration.