Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Back to work? Gendered experiences of rehabilitation

Gendered experiences of rehabilitation were studied in a strategic sample of young people with work-related disorders. Thematic interviews were conducted with seven women and four men, and analysed from a gender perspective using grounded theory. In comparison with women, men were more likely to receive specific diagnoses, to demand actions, and to strive for full-time waged work. Women experienced more often than men that doctors distrusted them, and that social insurance officers made decisions for them. The outcome of rehabilitation was better for men, whether they adapted to the offered measures or not. Gendered structures in the rehabilitation system, the construction of gender in the meeting between the client and the doctor/social security officer, as well as the division of domestic duties within marriage, strongly influenced the outcome of the rehabilitation process in favour of men.
Folic Acid‐Conjugated 4‐Amino‐Phenylboronate, a Boron‐Containing Compound Designed for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, is an Unexpected Agonist for Human Neutrophils and Platelets

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an anticancer treatment based on the accumulation in the tumor cells of 10B‐containing molecules and subsequent irradiation with low‐energy neutrons, which bring about the decay of 10B to very toxic 7Li3+ and 4He2+ ions. The effectiveness of BNCT is limited by the low delivery and accumulation of the used 10B‐containing compounds. Here, we report the development of folic acid‐conjugated 4‐amino‐phenylboronate as a novel possible compound for the selective delivery of 10B in BNCT. An extensive analysis about its biocompatibility to mature blood cells and platelet progenitors revealed that the compound markedly supports platelet aggregation, neutrophil oxidative burst, and inhibition of megakaryocyte development, while it does not have any manifest effect on red blood cells.
Obesity prevention and management: Singapore's experience

Singapore's obesity prevalence among adult Singapore residents aged 18–69 increased from 6.9% (2004) to 10.8% (2010). Among school‐going children, the prevalence of overweight and severely overweight (body weight > 120% standard weight for height) increased from 1.4% (1976) to 12.7% (2006) for primary 1 students, and 2.2% to 15.9% for primary 6 students. Fundamentally, obesity is a function of excess energy intake (food consumption) and insufficient energy expenditure (physical activity). In 2010, about 40% did not have sufficient physical activity, and about 60% consumed excess energy. For students in the mainstream schools, only a fifth consumed at least two servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and a tenth were physically active for at least 60 min on 5 or more days a week. From a public health perspective, the most powerful levers for influencing population health lie in interventions that make healthy living convenient and an unconscious choice by targeting the social and environmental context. Recognizing this, the Health Promotion Board has in recent years made a strategic shift away from just public education campaigns aimed at individual behaviours, to focus on creating a ground‐up social movement to enable and empower individuals to live out a healthy lifestyle.
Transcriptional Regulation of Human Papillomavirus Type 18 P105 Promoter by the Co-Activator CBP

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the etiological agents of cervical cancer, with HPV-16 and 18 being the representative types of the higher risk group. The expression of the viral genes with transforming activity (E6 and E7) is controlled by the upstream regulatory region (URR), a segment of the viral genome that contains elements recognized by several transcription factors. Objective: We have analyzed the participation of the cellular co-activator CBP on the transcriptional regulation of the HPV-18 URR. Methods: We generated mutants and 5′ end deletion constructs derived from the HPV-18 URR and evaluated their transcriptional activity performing transient co-transfection assays on C-33A cells with a plasmid that over-expresses the co-activator CBP. We also performed quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to analyze the participation of the co-activator CBP on the HPV-18 P105 promoter. Results: Our results demonstrate that in C-33A cells CBP acts as a strong activator of the HPV-18 P105 promoter by a mechanism that depends on the integrity of the SP1-binding site, directly correlating with the acetylation of the histone H3 that is involved in nucleosomal stability. Conclusion: We propose a mechanism of regulation of the HPV-18 P105 promoter by the cellular co-activator CBP, recruited by the transcription factor SP1.
Statins Induce Regulatory T Cell Recruitment via a CCL1 Dependent Pathway1

The statins, a group of inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, are reported to influence a variety of immune system activities through 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. How statin treatment regulates immune system function in vivo nonetheless remains to be fully defined. We analyzed the immunomodulatory effects of lovastatin in a Candida albicans-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in mice. In this model, lovastatin administration reduced the acute inflammatory response elicited by C. albicans challenge. This anti-inflammatory activity of lovastatin was associated with a shift from a Th1 to a Th2 immune response, as well as an increase in the percentage of regulatory T cells at the inflammation site and in the regional draining lymph node. The lovastatin-induced increase in regulatory T cells in the inflamed skin was dependent on expression of CCL1, a chemokine that is locally up-regulated by statin administration. The anti-inflammatory effect of lovastatin was abrogated in CCL1-deficient mice. These results suggest that local regulation of chemokine expression may be an important process in statin-induced modulation of the immune system.
Fusion sputtering for bonding to zirconia-based materials.

PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of fusion sputtering on zirconia-resin microtensile bond strength after 6 months of water storage. MATERIALS AND METHODS Zirconia disks received one of the following surface treatments: particle abrasion with 50-µm aluminum oxide particles or fusion sputtering, while as-sintered specimens served as a control. The prepared zirconia disks (Lava Zirconia) were bonded to pre-aged composite disks (Filtek Z250) using a phosphatemonomer- containing resin cement (RelyX Unicem), and the bonded specimens were sectioned into micro-bars (1 x 1 x 6 mm) which were either immediately tested or after 6 months of water storage (n = 25). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface roughness were performed for the prepared specimens. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). RESULTS Particle abrasion (33.1 MPa) and fusion sputtering (42.5 MPa) produced significantly higher MTBS values and resisted degradation after 6 months of water storage, while as-sintered specimens (12.4 MPa) demonstrated a significant reduction in bond strength after water storage (2.9 MPa). SEM examination indicated that fusion sputtering resulted in the creation of retentive zirconia beads on the treated surface, which enhanced micromechanical retention with adhesive resin and prevented interfacial failure. CONCLUSIONS Fusion sputtering is a new and a simple method suitable for enhancing the bond strength of adhesive resins to zirconia-based frameworks.
Scleral Lenses: A Literature Review

Objective: To present a comprehensive review of current and historical literature on scleral lenses. Methods: A comprehensive search of several databases from each database's earliest inception to May 23, 2014 was conducted by an experienced librarian with input from the author to locate articles related to scleral lens design, fabrication, prescription, and management. Results: A total of 899 references were identified, 184 of which were directly related to scleral lenses. References of interest were organized by date, topic, and study design. Most of articles published before 1983 presented lens design and fabrication techniques or indications for scleral lens therapy. Case reviews published after 1983 identified major indications for scleral lenses (corneal ectasia, ocular surface disease, and refractive error) and visual and functional outcomes of scleral lens wear. Statistically significant improvements in visual acuity, vision-related quality of life, and ocular surface integrity were reported. Reviews of ocular and systemic conditions suggested that comprehensive management strategies for these conditions could include scleral lenses. Early work investigating scleral lens fitting characteristics, optical qualities, and potential physiological impact on anterior ocular structures have been published in the past 5 years. Conclusions: Indications for scleral lens wear are well-established. Developing areas of research on the physiologic impact of scleral lens wear on the ocular surface, the use of technology to improve scleral lens vision and fit, and the impact of these devices on the quality of life should further enhance our understanding of scleral lenses in the future.
High‐resolution modeling of antibody structures by a combination of bioinformatics, expert knowledge, and molecular simulations

In the second antibody modeling assessment, we used a semiautomated template‐based structure modeling approach for 11 blinded antibody variable region (Fv) targets. The structural modeling method involved several steps, including template selection for framework and canonical structures of complementary determining regions (CDRs), homology modeling, energy minimization, and expert inspection. The submitted models for Fv modeling in Stage 1 had the lowest average backbone root mean square deviation (RMSD) (1.06 Å). Comparison to crystal structures showed the most accurate Fv models were generated for 4 out of 11 targets. We found that the successful modeling in Stage 1 mainly was due to expert‐guided template selection for CDRs, especially for CDR‐H3, based on our previously proposed empirical method (H3‐rules) and the use of position specific scoring matrix‐based scoring. Loop refinement using fragment assembly and multicanonical molecular dynamics (McMD) was applied to CDR‐H3 loop modeling in Stage 2. Fragment assembly and McMD produced putative structural ensembles with low free energy values that were scored based on the OSCAR all‐atom force field and conformation density in principal component analysis space, respectively, as well as the degree of consensus between the two sampling methods. The quality of 8 out of 10 targets improved as compared with Stage 1. For 4 out of 10 Stage‐2 targets, our method generated top‐scoring models with RMSD values of less than 1 Å. In this article, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our approach as well as possible directions for improvement to generate better predictions in the future. Proteins 2014; 82:1624–1635. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Soluble human leukocyte antigen–G serum level is elevated in melanoma patients and is further increased by interferon‐α immunotherapy

The nonclassic human major histocompatibility complex class I antigens human leukocyte antigen (HLA)–G are proposed to protect tumor cells from natural killer cell lysis. In the current study, the authors measured soluble HLA‐G molecules (sHLA‐G) in serum from patients with malignant melanoma.
Essential Role of the Homeodomain for Pituitary Homeobox 1 Activation of Mouse Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Gene Expression through Interactions with c-Jun and DNA

ABSTRACT The gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) is expressed primarily in the gonadotropes of the anterior pituitary. Pituitary homeobox 1 (Pitx-1) has been shown to activate pituitary-specific gene expression by direct DNA binding and/or protein-protein interaction with other transcription factors. We hypothesized that Pitx-1 might also dictate tissue-specific expression of the mouse GnRHR (mGnRHR) gene in a similar manner. Pitx-1 activated the mGnRHR gene promoter, and transactivation was localized to sequences between −308 and −264. Pitx-1 bound to this region only with low affinity. This region includes an activating protein 1 (AP-1) site, which was previously shown to be important for mGnRHR gene expression. Further characterization indicated that an intact AP-1 site was required for full Pitx-1 responsiveness. Furthermore, Pitx-1 and AP-1 were synergistic in the activation of the mGnRHR gene promoter. A Pitx-1 homeodomain (HD) point mutation, which eliminated DNA binding ability, caused only a partial reduction of transactivation, whereas deletion of the HD completely prevented transactivation. Pitx-1 interacted directly with c-Jun, and the HD was sufficient for this interaction. While the point mutation in the Pitx-1 HD did not affect interaction with c-Jun, deletion of the HD eliminated the interaction. Taken together, our studies indicate that Pitx-1 can direct transactivation of the mGnRHR gene, in part by DNA binding and in part by an action of Pitx-1 as a cofactor for AP-1, augmenting AP-1 activity through a novel protein-protein interaction between c-Jun and the HD of Pitx-1.
Association between clinically recorded alcohol consumption and initial presentation of 12 cardiovascular diseases: population based cohort study using linked health records

Abstract Objectives To investigate the association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease at higher resolution by examining the initial lifetime presentation of 12 cardiac, cerebrovascular, abdominal, or peripheral vascular diseases among five categories of consumption. Design Population based cohort study of linked electronic health records covering primary care, hospital admissions, and mortality in 1997-2010 (median follow-up six years). Setting CALIBER (ClinicAl research using LInked Bespoke studies and Electronic health Records). Participants 1 937 360 adults (51% women), aged ≥30 who were free from cardiovascular disease at baseline. Main outcome measures 12 common symptomatic manifestations of cardiovascular disease, including chronic stable angina, unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, unheralded coronary heart disease death, heart failure, sudden coronary death/cardiac arrest, transient ischaemic attack, ischaemic stroke, intracerebral and subarachnoid haemorrhage, peripheral arterial disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Results 114 859 individuals received an incident cardiovascular diagnosis during follow-up. Non-drinking was associated with an increased risk of unstable angina (hazard ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.21 to 1.45), myocardial infarction (1.32, 1.24 to1.41), unheralded coronary death (1.56, 1.38 to 1.76), heart failure (1.24, 1.11 to 1.38), ischaemic stroke (1.12, 1.01 to 1.24), peripheral arterial disease (1.22, 1.13 to 1.32), and abdominal aortic aneurysm (1.32, 1.17 to 1.49) compared with moderate drinking (consumption within contemporaneous UK weekly/daily guidelines of 21/3 and 14/2 units for men and women, respectively). Heavy drinking (exceeding guidelines) conferred an increased risk of presenting with unheralded coronary death (1.21, 1.08 to 1.35), heart failure (1.22, 1.08 to 1.37), cardiac arrest (1.50, 1.26 to 1.77), transient ischaemic attack (1.11, 1.02 to 1.37), ischaemic stroke (1.33, 1.09 to 1.63), intracerebral haemorrhage (1.37, 1.16 to 1.62), and peripheral arterial disease (1.35; 1.23 to 1.48), but a lower risk of myocardial infarction (0.88, 0.79 to 1.00) or stable angina (0.93, 0.86 to 1.00). Conclusions Heterogeneous associations exist between level of alcohol consumption and the initial presentation of cardiovascular diseases. This has implications for counselling patients, public health communication, and clinical research, suggesting a more nuanced approach to the role of alcohol in prevention of cardiovascular disease is necessary. Registration clinicaltrails.gov (NCT01864031).
Voronoi diagram description of the maternal surface of the placenta: Preliminary report

Aim: Voronoi diagram is defined as a diagram of a collection of geometric points that defines a partition of space into cells, each of which consists of the points closer to one particular point than to any other. The distinctive feature of a placentone is the fetomaternal circulatory unit which is composed of one villous tree with a corresponding, centrifugally perfused portion of the intervillous space. Based on this placental architecture, in this study we generated Voronoi diagram from the photographic images of the maternal surface of the placenta and compared them with the shapes of the actual placentones.
Development, Evaluation, and Standardization of a Real-Time TaqMan Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay for Quantification of Hepatitis A Virus in Clinical and Shellfish Samples

ABSTRACT A standardized real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay has been developed for an accurate estimation of the number of genome copies of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in clinical and shellfish samples. Real-time procedures were based on the amplification of a fragment of the highly conserved 5′ noncoding region and detection through an internal fluorescent probe, including TaqMan and beacon chemistries, in one- and two-step RT-PCR formats. The best performance in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility was achieved by a one-step TaqMan RT-PCR, with a sensitivity enabling the detection of 0.05 infectious unit and 10 copies of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) synthetic transcript. Standard reagents, such as a mengovirus strain and an ssRNA transcript, were employed as controls of nucleic acid extraction and RT-PCR, respectively. The test proved to be highly specific after a broad panel of enteric viruses was tested. Sequence alignment of target regions of the primers and probe proved them to be adequate for the quantification of all HAV genotypes. In addition, a quasispecies analysis of the mutant spectrum indicated that these regions are not prone to variability, thus confirming their robustness.
The SAT solving method as applied to cryptographic analysis of asymmetric ciphers

The one of the most interesting problem of discrete mathematics is the SAT (satisfiability) problem. Good way in SAT solver developing is to transform the SAT problem to the problem of continuous search of global minimums of the functional associated with the CNF. This article proves the special construction of the functional and offers to solve the system of non-linear algebraic equation that determines functional stationary points via modified method of consecutive approximation. The article describes parallel versions of the method. Also gives the schema of using the method to important problems of cryptographic analysis of asymmetric ciphers, including determining concrete bits of multipliers (in binary form) in large factorization problems and concrete bits of exponent of discrete logarithm problem.
Distinct phasic and sustained brain responses and connectivity of amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis during threat anticipation in panic disorder

Background Panic disorder (PD) patients are constantly concerned about future panic attacks and exhibit general hypersensitivity to unpredictable threat. We aimed to reveal phasic and sustained brain responses and functional connectivity of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) during threat anticipation in PD. Methods Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated 17 PD patients and 19 healthy controls (HC) during anticipation of temporally unpredictable aversive and neutral sounds. We used a phasic and sustained analysis model to disentangle temporally dissociable brain activations. Results PD patients compared with HC showed phasic amygdala and sustained BNST responses during anticipation of aversive v. neutral stimuli. Furthermore, increased phasic activation was observed in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insula and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Insula and PFC also showed sustained activation. Functional connectivity analyses revealed partly distinct phasic and sustained networks. Conclusions We demonstrate a role for the BNST during unpredictable threat anticipation in PD and provide first evidence for dissociation between phasic amygdala and sustained BNST activation and their functional connectivity. In line with a hypersensitivity to uncertainty in PD, our results suggest time-dependent involvement of brain regions related to fear and anxiety.
Dynamic Response of Human Cervical Spine Ligaments

This study was undertaken to investigate the dynamic response of human cervical spine ligaments. Uniaxial tensile failure tests were conducted on anterior longitudinal ligament (AL) and ligamentum flavum (LF) structures. These ligaments were tested under In situ conditions by transecting all the elements except the one (AL or LF) under study. A fixture was designed to properly align the specimen to induce a uniaxial mode of loading. A six-axis load cell was placed at the distal end of the specimen. The proximal end of the specimen was attached to the piston of a specially designed electrohydraulic testing device. The biomechanical properties of the ligaments were determined at four different loading rates of 8.89,25.0, 250.0 and 2500 mm/sec. The mechanical response indicated nonlinear and sigmoidal characteristics. The ultimate tensile failure load, stiffness, and energy-absorbing capacity at failure were found to increase with increasing loading rates for both the AL and LF. However, the distractions at failure did not indicate this tendency. While the ultimate tensile force and ultimate energy-absorbing capacity varied nonllnearly with the logarithm of the loading rate, the stiffness varied linearly.
The chemokine receptor CCR8 mediates rescue from dexamethasone‐induced apoptosis via an ERK‐dependent pathway

Several chemokines have been shown to regulate cellular apoptosis following discrete stimuli. It was previously demonstrated that the CC chemokine CCL1 (I‐309) rescues thymic lymphoma cells from apoptois by unknown mechanisms. The aim of our study was to characterize the role of the CC chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8), the only described receptor for CCL1, in the rescue of murine thymic lymphoma cells and murine thymocytes from dexamethasone (dex)‐induced apoptosis. We show here that the CCR8‐restricted agonist Kaposi sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus‐encoded chemokine viral macrophage‐inflammatory protein‐1 (vMIP‐1) rescues thymic lymphoma cells from dex‐induced apoptosis, similar to CCL1, and that such rescue is extracellular‐regulated kinase‐dependent. Although it has been hypothesized that the rescuing effect of CCL1 from apoptosis could be CCR8‐mediated, here, we formally demonstrate the role of such receptor as its selective antagonist encoded by the MC148 gene of molluscum contagiosum virus MC148/vMCC‐I inhibits v‐MIP‐1‐ and CCL1‐induced rescue activity. In addition, CCR8 ligands inhibit dex‐induced apoptosis of murine thymocytes with potential implications for thymic selection.