Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytokine Modulation of TLR Expression and Activation in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Leads to a Proinflammatory Phenotype1

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) possess an immune plasticity manifested by either an immunosuppressive or, when activated with IFN-γ, an APC phenotype. Herein, TLR expression by MSC and their immune regulatory role were investigated. We observed that human MSC and macrophages expressed TLR3 and TLR4 at comparable levels and TLR-mediated activation of MSC resulted in the production of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8/CXCL8, and CCL5. IFN-α or IFN-γ priming up-regulated production of these inflammatory mediators and expression of IFNB, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and TRAIL upon TLR activation in MSC and macrophages, but failed to induce IL-12 and TNF-α production in MSC. Nonetheless, TLR activation in MSC resulted in the formation of an inflammatory site attracting innate immune cells, as evaluated by human neutrophil chemotaxis assays and by the analysis of immune effectors retrieved from Matrigel-embedded MSC injected into mice after in vitro preactivation with cytokines and/or TLR ligands. Hence, TLR-activated MSC are capable of recruiting immune inflammatory cells. In addition, IFN priming combined with TLR activation may increase immune responses induced by Ag-presenting MSC through presentation of Ag in an inflammatory context, a mechanism that could be applied in a cell-based vaccine.
[The effect of premolar extractions on Bolton index.].

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of premolar extractions on Bolton index. METHODS 213 plaster casts were divided into Bolton big, normal and small groups according to Bolton normal value and one standard deviation. Bolton overall ratios and number of patients in each group were measured and compared between parameters before and after hypothetical premolar extractions. RESULTS The Bolton overall ratios in each group were smaller after premolar extractions than those before extractions. Part of patients in the Bolton normal group and big group were changed into Bolton small group and normal group after premolar extractions, respectively. CONCLUSION The Bolton overall ratios decreased after premolar extractions.
Capital Inflows and Balance of Payments Pressures - Tailoring Policy Responses in Emerging Market Economies

Although capital inflows are generally beneficial to recipient countries, they also pose a challenge for the conduct of economic policy. This paper proposes a conceptual taxonomy to guide the design of policy responses in the face of capital flows. We explore how responses to capital surges should be differentiated based on the source of balance of payments pressures. We also examine whether the policy choices in emerging market countries conform to the taxonomy's predictions and find some correspondence, especially during periods of high global liquidity.
Sonographic versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic measurements of the bile duct revisited: importance of the transverse diameter.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate how frequently the cross section of the bile duct is oval versus round on sonography and whether the transverse diameter of the bile duct (DTRV) on sonography corresponds better than the conventional anteroposterior diameter (DAP) to measurements on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS In 44 consecutive patients with a DAP greater than or equal to 8 mm, DTRV was measured on short-axis sonograms. Diameter of the bile duct measured on ERC (DERC) was compared with DAP and DTRV in patients who underwent ERC shortly after sonography. RESULTS The cross section of the bile duct was oval in 31 patients (70%). In 20 patients who underwent ERC after sonography, mean DERC was statistically indistinguishable from mean DTRV but statistically different from mean DAP. Comparing both DAP and DTRV with DERC in each patient, we found no statistically significant difference between DERC and DTRV, but we did find a statistically significant difference between DERC and DAP. CONCLUSION An oval cross section is common in bile ducts with a DAP greater than or equal to 8 mm. The discrepancy between measurements of the bile duct made sonographically and those made on ERC is largely attributable to different cross-sectional diameters. Because DTRV correlates better than conventional DAP with DERC, measurement of DTRV can be helpful in confirming or excluding true biliary dilatation in patients with a DAP larger than normal.
Association between mammographic density and age-related lobular involution of the breast.

PURPOSE Mammographic density and lobular involution are both significant risk factors for breast cancer, but whether these reflect the same biology is unknown. We examined the involution and density association in a large benign breast disease (BBD) cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS Women in the Mayo Clinic BBD cohort who had a mammogram within 6 months of BBD diagnosis were eligible. The proportion of normal lobules that were involuted was categorized by an expert pathologist as no (0%), partial (1% to 74%), or complete involution (>or= 75%). Mammographic density was estimated as the four-category parenchymal pattern. Statistical analyses adjusted for potential confounders and evaluated modification by parity and age. We corroborated findings in a sample of women with BBD from the Mayo Mammography Health Study (MMHS) with quantitative percent density (PD) and absolute dense and nondense area estimates. RESULTS Women in the Mayo BBD cohort (n = 2,667) with no (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.3) or partial (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.6) involution had greater odds of high density (DY pattern) than those with complete involution (P trend < .01). There was no evidence for effect modification by age or parity. Among 317 women with BBD in the MMHS study, there was an inverse association between involution and PD (mean PD, 22.4%, 21.6%, 17.2%, for no, partial, and complete, respectively; P trend = .04) and a strong positive association of involution with nondense area (P trend < .01). No association was seen between involution and dense area (P trend = .56). CONCLUSION We present evidence of an inverse association between involution and mammographic density.
The Bright Side of the Economic Crisis: The Attribution of Political Responsibilities in Hard Times

Abstract We examine the impact of the current economic crisis on the accuracy of responsibility attribution between levels of government within states. Using individual-level data from Spain, we show that learning about responsibility attribution depends on the saliency of the issue (in our study, unemployment) and economic self-interest. The (unintended) positive consequence of economic crisis is that citizens are now more able to accurately attribute the responsibility for political decisions than some years ago. Learning is particularly significant among those individuals more affected by the economic crisis. Résumé Nous analysons l'impact de la crise économique actuelle sur l'attribution de la responsabilité aux différents niveaux de gouvernements dans des États. Selon des données individuelles d'enquêtes espagnoles, nous démontrons que l'attribution correcte des responsabilités dépend de la prépondérance du sujet en question (dans notre étude, le chômage) et de l'intérêt économique de chacun. La conséquence (non intentionelle) de la crise économique est qu'aujourd'hui les citoyens sont capables d'attribuer de manière plus précise la responsabilité des décisions politiques qu'il y a quelques ans. L'apprentissage est encore plus grand entre les individus les plus touchés par la crise économique.
P2F-7 Formation Stress Effects on Wave Propagation in a Fluid-Filled Borehole

Formation stress magnitudes provide useful input to design decisions in wellbore planning, wellbore stability, and reservoir management in the oil and gas industry. It has been known for the past 50 years that elastic wave velocities in rocks change as a function of applied stress. Yet reliable inversion techniques are not available for estimating formation stresses from measured changes in sonic velocities. Borehole wave propagation in such formations can be described by equations of motion for small dynamic fields superposed on a bias. These equations are derived from the rotationally invariant equations of nonlinear elasticity by making a Taylor expansion of the quantities for the dynamic state about their values in the biasing (or intermediate) state. The effective elastic constants in these equations become position-dependent in the presence of inhomogeneous stresses. These equations can be solved either by a finite- difference or perturbation techniques. A finite-difference formulation of equations of motion in the presence of such stresses yields a complete wave solution produced by either a monopole or dipole band-limited source placed in a fluid- filled borehole. Processing of synthetic waveforms by a modified matrix pencil algorithm isolates various dispersive and non-dispersive arrivals. While a perturbation method is an expedient way of solving equations of motion with spatially varying coefficients, results from this method is limited to changes in modal dispersions caused by the presence of such near-wellbore stresses. Results provide changes in both the Stoneley and flexural dispersions caused by an increases in borehole overpressure, effective overburden, maximum and minimum horizontal stresses. The increase in formation shear velocity caused by a given increase in the overburden stress is the same as that caused by the horizontal stress of the same magnitude and parallel to the radial polarization. In contrast, changes in flexural velocities at high frequencies caused by an increase in the overburden stress are similar to that caused by the horizontal stress of the same magnitude and perpendicular to the radial polarization.
Antioxidant Properties of Ethyl Vanillin in Vitro and in Vivo

We systematically evaluated the antioxidant activity of ethyl vanillin, a vanillin analog, as compared with the activities of vanillin and other vanillin analogs using multiple assay systems. Ethyl vanillin and vanillin exerted stronger antioxidant effects than did vanillyl alcohol or vanillic acid in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, although the antioxidant activities of vanillyl alcohol and vanillic acid were clearly superior to those of ethyl vanillin and vanillin in the three model radical assays. The antioxidant activity of ethyl vanillin was much stronger than that of vanillin in the oxidative hemolysis inhibition assay, but was the same as that of vanillin in the ORAC assay. Oral administration of ethyl vanillin to mice increased the concentration of ethyl vanillic acid, and effectively raised antioxidant activity in the plasma as compared to the effect of vanillin. These data suggest that the antioxidant activity of ethyl vanillin might be more beneficial than has been thought in daily health practice.
[Comparison of four techniques for the measurement of lung volumes and airway resistances by plethysmography].

OBJECTIVE To search influence of measurement technique of thoracic gas volume(Vgt) and airway resistance(Raw) by plethysmography on results. MATERIALS AND METHODS 20 healthy subjects, aged 22.75 + 0.40 years were studied. Vgt and Raw were measured by series of gentle panting manoeuvres (GPM) or calm respiration (CR) before and after closure of a shutter valve. So, four methods were compared : method 1 (M1) CR before ahd after, method 2 (M2): CR before and GPM after, method 3 (M3) GPM before and CR after, and method 4 (M4): GPM before and after the closure of the shutter valve. Five tests were maked with each method. RESULTS There is no significant inter-tests variability with each method. Raw(cm H2O/L/s) measured by M1 and M2 were so elevated if compared to M3 and M4 (M1 : 2.65 + 0.102; M2: 2.47 + 0.171; M3: 1.21 + 0.080; M4: 1.30 + 0.102 ; p < 0.05). There is also a significant variability intermethods in Vgt I): (M1: 3.53 + 0.188; M2 : 3.60 + 0.203; M3 : 3.91 + 0.262; M4: 3.84 + 0.247; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The plethysmography measurement method must be considered in the interpretation of Vgt and Raw values.
Copper Blocks V-ATPase Activity and SNARE Complex Formation to Inhibit Yeast Vacuole Fusion

The accumulation of Copper in organisms can lead to altered functions of various pathways, and become cytotoxic through the generation of reactive oxygen species. In yeast, cytotoxic metals such as Hg+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ are transported into the lumen of the vacuole through various pumps. Copper ions are initially transported into the cell by the copper transporter Ctr1 at the plasma membrane and sequestered by chaperones and other factors to prevent cellular damage by free cations. Excess copper ions can subsequently be transported into the vacuole lumen by an unknown mechanism. Transport across membranes requires the reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+. Labile copper ions can interact with membranes to alter fluidity, lateral phase separation and fusion. Here we found that CuCl2 potently inhibited vacuole fusion by blocking SNARE pairing. This was accompanied by the inhibition of V-ATPase H+ pumping. Deletion of the vacuolar reductase Fre6 had no effect on the inhibition of fusion by copper. This suggests that that Cu2+ is responsible for the inhibition of vacuole fusion and V-ATPase function. This notion is supported by the differential effects chelators. The Cu2+-specific chelator TETA rescued fusion, whereas the Cu+-specific chelator BCS had no effect on the inhibited fusion.
Anti‐atherosclerotic effects of vitamin E – myth or reality?

Atherosclerosis and its complications such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke are the leading causes of death in the developed world. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and a diet high in cholesterol and lipids clearly increase the likelihood of premature atherosclerosis, albeit other factors, such as the individual genetic makeup, may play an additional role. Several epidemiological studies and intervention trials have been performed with vitamin E, and some of them showed that it prevents atherosclerosis. For a long time, vitamin E was assumed to act by decreasing the oxidation of LDL, a key step in atherosclerosis initiation. However, at the cellular level, vitamin E acts by inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation, platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion, oxLDL uptake and cytokine production, all reactions implied in the progression of atherosclerosis. Recent research revealed that these effects are not the result of the antioxidant activity of vitamin E, but rather of precise molecular actions of this compound. It is assumed that specific interactions of vitamin E with enzymes and proteins are at the basis of its non‐antioxidant effects. Vitamin E influences the activity of several enzymes (e.g. PKC, PP2A, COX‐2, 5‐lipooxygenase, nitric oxide synthase, NADPH oxidase, superoxide dismutase, phopholipase A2) and modulates the expression of genes that are involved in atherosclerosis (e.g. scavenger receptors, integrins, selectins, cytokines, cyclins). These interactions promise to reveal the biological properties of vitamin E and allow designing better strategies for the protection against atherosclerosis progression.
[Usefulness of ultrasound endometrium thickness measurement in diagnosis of endometrium pathology in women with abnormal peri- and postmenopausal bleeding].

OBJECTIVE Aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of ultrasound endometrial thickness measurement in the diagnosis of endometrial pathology in women with abnormal peri- and postmenopausal bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS Material included 182 patients whose endometrium sample was obtained for analysis. Patients were divided into six groups according to histological findings. RESULTS Correlation between thickness of endometrium and histological diagnostic was sought. Wide and partially covered range of endometrium thickness were found in the observed groups. In carcinoma group the highest were maximal and average values. The difference in average thickness of endometrium in carcinoma and hyperplasia groups when compared to the remaining groups proved to be statistically significant A value of cut down ultrasound measured endometrial thickness to exclude endometrial cancer was 9 mm. CONCLUSION Ultrasound measurement of endometrial thickness is not sufficient to increase effectiveness of endometrial pathology diagnosis in women with abnormal peri- and postmenopausal bleeding.
Prenatal maternal blood pressure response to stress predicts birth weight and gestational age: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE The objective was to test the prospective association between prenatal maternal circulatory responses to a standardized psychologic challenge and birth outcome. STUDY DESIGN We examined the relationship between blood pressure responses to a cognitive arithmetic stressor and birth outcome in 40 healthy primigravid women. Pregnant women between 18 and 37 years old were recruited from the University of Kentucky Prenatal Service Clinic for participation. All women performed an interactive arithmetic task while maternal heart rate and blood pressures were determined. Subsequent birth outcome parameters of birth weight and gestational age were obtained for prospective analyses. RESULTS Results indicated that maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rates were significantly increased during the arithmetic task (p < or = 0.01). Regression analyses suggested that women with larger diastolic blood pressure responses during stress had infants with lower birth weights (p < 0.01) and decreased gestational age (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This effect was specific to psychologic stress reactivity and was not related to maternal age, maternal race, baseline blood pressures, the trimester of stress testing, nor expired carbon monoxide. The relationship between maternal blood pressure response and birth outcome may reflect the transplacental impact of individual differences in systemic stress responsivity.
The Diffusion of Impact Assessment Practices in Europe

The diffusion of the use of various forms of impact assessments (IAs) in different political settings and legal traditions illustrates the great malleability of the tool. This diversity is not only reflected in the adoption of different models of IA across the various jurisdictions examined, but also in the way this practice is effectively implemented. Factors explaining the various types of IA implemented in various European jurisdictions include the patterns of diffusion from one country to another, the interaction of politics with expert knowledge and the prevailing “evidence eco-system” in each jurisdiction. In this study we explore diffusion patterns, not only in terms of the adoption of the tool of IA, but also in terms of the specific types of IA implemented. We do so by introducing a taxonomy developed with the purpose to describe the interaction of politics and expertise in each jurisdiction. The last part of the chapter empirically connects the diffusion process with the type of IA prevalent in a jurisdiction.
Perception and Action in Depth

Little is known about distance processing in patients with posterior brain damage. Although many investigators have claimed that distance estimates are normal or abnormal in some of these patients, many of these observations were made informally and the examiners often asked for relative, and not absolute, distance estimates. The present investigation served two purposes. First, we wanted to contrast the use of distance information in peripersonal space for perceptual report as opposed to visuomotor control in our visual form agnosic patient, DF. Second, we wanted to see to what extent her abilities to process distance cues were dependent on binocular vision, in light of Milner et al.'s (1991) observations of preserved stereopsis in DF, and Dijkerman et al.'s (1996) and Marotta et al.'s (1997) observations that her visual guidance of grasping may be particularly dependent on binocular vision of the target. We hypothesized that DF's visuomotor responses would show normal sensitivity to target distance, while her perceptual estimates would not. In the first experiment, we required DF and two age- and sex-matched control subjects to reach out and grasp black cubes placed at varying distances, or to estimate the distance of the cubes from the hand starting position without making a reaching movement. In the second experiment, we required DF and two age-matched control subjects to point as rapidly and accurately as possible to small LED targets which differed in spatial location, under binocular and monocular conditions. The results showed that, relative to the control subjects, DF's grasping movements produced normal peak velocity-distance scaling-when she reached for blocks which varied in depth or pointed to LED targets which were presented at different distances in depth. In contrast, in the cube experiment, her verbal estimates of object distance were poorly scaled, although they improved slightly under the binocular conditions. The results are discussed in terms of current theories of processing streams in extrastriate visual cortex and the distinction between categorical and coordinate spatial processing.
Loss of Cell Wall Mannosylphosphate in Candida albicans Does Not Influence Macrophage Recognition*

The outer layer of the cell wall of the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans is enriched with heavily mannosylated glycoproteins that are the immediate point of contact between the fungus and cells of the host, including phagocytes. Previous work had identified components of the acid-labile fraction of N-linked mannan, comprising β-1,2-linked mannose residues attached via a phosphodiester bond, as potential ligands for macrophage receptors and modulators of macrophage function. We therefore isolated and disrupted the CaMNN4 gene, which is required for mannosyl phosphate transfer and hence the attachment of β-1,2 mannose oligosaccharides to the acid-labile N-mannan side chains. With the mannosylphosphate eliminated, the mnn4Δ null mutant was unable to bind the charged cationic dye Alcian Blue and was devoid of acid-labile β-1,2-linked oligomannosaccharides. The mnn4Δ mutant was unaffected in cell growth and morphogenesis in vitro and in virulence in a murine model of systemic C. albicans infection. The null mutant was also not affected in its interaction with macrophages. Mannosylphosphate is therefore not required for macrophage interactions or for virulence of C. albicans.