Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
pHMA, a pH‐sensitive GFP reporter for cell engulfment, in Drosophila embryos, tissues, and cells

Engulfment of apoptotic cells by phagocytosis ensures the removal of unwanted and defective cells. We developed a genetically encoded marker for cell engulfment, pHMA, which consists of the pH‐Sensitive derivative of GFP, pHluorin, fused to the actin‐binding domain of Moesin. In healthy cells of Drosophila embryos and cultured cells, pHMA resides at the cell cortex. In dying cells, pHMA loses its cortical localization and reports a modest decrease in pH. In embryos, the dying cells lose their apical contacts, then move basally and are ultimately engulfed by neighboring cells or macrophages. The cell corpse material is strongly acidified soon after engulfment and persists in the phagocytic cell for several hours. Changes in the pHMA signal correlate well with increases or decreases in apoptosis. These data show that pHMA is a useful reporter for cell engulfment and can be used in screening for mutations that affect cell engulfment. Developmental Dynamics 239:559–573, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical Instructors’ Perceptions of Behaviors That Comprise Entry-Level Clinical Performance in Physical Therapist Students: A Qualitative Study

Background and Purpose The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore clinical instructors’ (CIs) perceptions of students’ behaviors that comprise entry-level clinical performance, as well as how those perceptions were integrated into their decision making. Subjects The participants were 21 physical therapists who were CIs for physical therapist students. Methods Using a grounded theory approach, we conducted interviews, asking the question, “What is it about students’ performance that makes you see them as entry-level therapists? ” We determined common themes among the interviews and developed a schema to explain the decision-making process. Results Participants identified 7 attributes that, when demonstrated to a sufficient degree, illustrated to them students’ ability to practice at the entry level. Those attributes were knowledge, clinical skills, safety, clinical decision making, self-directed learning, interpersonal communication, and professional demeanor. Participants viewed these attributes in concert to form a subjective “gut feeling” that a student demonstrated entry-level performance. A final theme emerged suggesting a definition of entry-level performance as “mentored independence. ” Discussion and Conclusions Participants reported evaluating students’ performance based on attributes similar to those suggested by the American Physical Therapy Association's Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument and previous research. However, subjectivity also was involved in their decision about whether students were able to practice at the entry level. Participants also concluded that entry-level students need not be independent in all clinical situations.
Antigenic Topology of Chlamydial PorB Protein and Identification of Targets for Immune Neutralization of Infectivity1

The outer membrane protein PorB is a conserved chlamydial protein that functions as a porin and is capable of eliciting neutralizing Abs. A topological antigenic map was developed using overlapping synthetic peptides representing the Chlamydia trachomatis PorB sequence and polyclonal immune sera. To identify which antigenic determinants were surface accessible, monospecific antisera were raised to the PorB peptides and were used in dot-blot and ELISA-based absorption studies with viable chlamydial elementary bodies (EBs). The ability of the surface-accessible antigenic determinants to direct neutralizing Ab responses was investigated using standardized in vitro neutralization assays. Four major antigenic clusters corresponding to Phe34-Leu59 (B1-2 and B1-3), Asp112 -Glu145 (B2-3 and B2-4), Gly179-Ala225 (B3-2 to B3-4), and Val261-Asn305 (B4-4 to B5-2) were identified. Collectively, the EB absorption and dot-blot assays established that the immunoreactive PorB Ags were exposed on the surface of chlamydial EBs. Peptide-specific antisera raised to the surface-accessible Ags neutralized chlamydial infectivity and demonstrated cross-reactivity to synthetic peptides representing analogous C. pneumoniae PorB sequences. Furthermore, neutralization of chlamydial infectivity by C. trachomatis PorB antisera was inhibited by synthetic peptides representing the surface-exposed PorB antigenic determinants. These findings demonstrate that PorB Ags may be useful for development of chlamydial vaccines.
Salvage radiation therapy following radical prostatectomy. A national Danish study

Abstract Background: The purpose of this observational cohort study was to evaluate the outcome and prognostic factors following salvage radiotherapy (SRT) in a consecutive national cohort. Material and methods: Between 2006 and 2010, 259 patients received SRT in Denmark. Patient- and cancer-related characteristics were retrospectively retrieved from patient charts. The primary end point was biochemical progression-free survival (b-PFS). Results: At the end of follow-up, 51% of the patients displayed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level <0.1 ng/ml. The three-year b-PFS rate for the total cohort was 57.0%. Nearly half of the patients (44%) received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in combination with SRT. Positive surgical tumour margins (p = 0.025) and ADT (p = 0.001) were the only markers independently correlated with b-PFS. In patients who received SRT without ADT, both a pre-SRT PSA level ≤0.5 ng/ml (p = 0.003) and pathological tumour stage T1-T2 (p = 0.036) independently correlated with b-PFS. Moreover, a duration between radical prostatectomy (RP) and SRT ≤29 months (p = 0.035) independently correlated with b-PFS in patients treated with ADT in combination with RT. Conclusions: In patients treated for biochemical failure after RP, positive surgical tumour margins and PSA levels ≤0.5 ng/mL at the time of SRT were associated with a favourable outcome. Despite less favourable tumour characteristics, patients receiving SRT and ADT demonstrated improved b-PFS, and in particular, patients with PSA levels >0.2 ng/ml benefitted from additional ADT.
Immunotherapy reduces CD40L expression and modifies cytokine production in the CD4 cells of pollen allergy patients.

BACKGROUND Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only intervention for IgE-mediated respiratory disorders. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate the immunological modifications induced by SIT in patients allergic to olive and/or grass pollen by attempting to establish an association between these modifications and clinical improvements. METHODS We studied 29 patients who were allergic to olive and/or grass pollen. Patients were randomized to 2 groups: an active treatment group, comprising 19 allergic patients who received SIT, and a control group, formed by 10 allergic patients who received pharmacological treatment for their allergic symptoms but not immunotherapy. We used flow cytometry to analyze intracellular expression of the cytokines IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-10, and TGF-beta1 in CD4+ T cells, as well as expression of Foxp3, the costimulatory CTLA-4 molecule, and the non-costimulatory CD40L molecule. To assess clinical changes, patients recorded their medication consumption, symptoms, and the limitation of daily activities using diary cards and quality of life questionnaires. RESULTS Six months after initiation of SIT, we recorded a reduction in cell surface CD40L expression in the CD4+ T-cell population and a shift in the cytokine production profile (decrease in IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells and increase in IFN-gamma, IL-10, and TGF-beta1). These changes persisted after 12 months. Simultaneously, a clinical improvement was observed. CONCLUSIONS SIT-induced clinical improvement is the result of immunological modifications such as a reduction in CD40L expression on CD4 cells and alteration in the cytokine production profile.
Distribution and colocalization of melatonin 1a-receptor and NADPH-d in the trigeminal system of rat

Melatonin and nitric oxide (NO) are involved in orofacial signal processing in the trigeminal sensory system. The aim of the present study was to examine the distribution of melatonin 1a-receptor (MT1) and its colocalization with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN), the trigeminal ganglion (TG), and the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN) in the rat, using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Our results show that MT1-positive neurons are widely distributed in the TG and the subnucleus caudalis of the STN. Furthermore, we found that MT1 colocalizes with NADPH-d throughout the TG and MTN, most extensively in the TG. The distribution pattern of MT1 and its colocalization with NADPH-d indicate that melatonin might play an important role in the trigeminal sensory system, which could be responsible for the regulation of NO levels.
The Case for Market-Mimicking Supranational Corporate Forms in Europe

In its Consultation on the Future of European Company Law the European Commission asks: What purpose can and should supranational corporate forms have in European corporate law? What form and content should their legal regulation take? The answers to these questions depend on the extent to which it is possible and probable that there will be regulatory competition between the EU Member States (horizontal competition) and between the EU and its Member States (vertical competition) to provide the best possible corporate law. This article first looks at these questions from a comparative law perspective based on experience in Australia, the USA and Canada. It then develops an approach for creating a range of supranational corporate forms in the EU. The corporate forms should embody the corporate law rules that a legislator would choose in the context of a functional, active, horizontal regulatory competition among Member States. Supranational corporate forms should mimic the results of such competition. This approach expands regulatory competition in the EU by adding a third, “diagonal” dimension: The EU legislator confronts the Member States with the results of a hypothetical, active horizontal competition for incorporations. If the resulting corporate form is attractive to EU citizens, mere passive competition between Member States will be sufficient to ensure that the results are transformed into national law of the Member States. This would enrich the regulatory competition in Europe in a meaningful and useful way. For the formulation of this EU supranational corporate form, the EU legislator can draw on more than 35 years of economic analysis of corporate law. In addition, Delaware General Corporation Law offers a limited comparative “litmus test”.
Chloride channel blockers inhibit myogenic tone in rat cerebral arteries

1 We have investigated the role of chloride channels in pressure‐induced depolarization and contraction of cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. 2 Two chloride channel blockers, indanyloxyacetic acid (IAA‐94) and 4,4′‐diisothiocyanato‐stilbene‐2,2′‐disulphonic acid (DIDS), caused hyperpolarizations (10–15 mV) and dilatations (up to 90 %) of pressurized (80 mmHg), rat posterior cerebral arteries. Niflumic acid, a blocker of calcium‐activated chloride channels, did not affect arterial tone. 3 Dilatations to IAA‐94 and DIDS were unaffected by potassium channel blockers, but were prevented by elevated potassium. IAA‐94 and DIDS had no effect on membrane potential or diameter of arteries at low intravascular pressure, where myogenic tone is absent. Reduction of extracellular chloride (60 mm Cl−) increased the pressure‐induced contractions. Removal of extracellular sodium did not affect the pressure‐induced responses. 4 Our results suggest that intravascular pressure activates DIDS‐ and IAA‐94‐sensitive chloride channels to depolarize arterial smooth muscle, thereby contributing to the myogenic constriction.
Few older people in New Zealand who commit suicide receive specialist psychogeriatric services

Objective: Suicide in older people is a growing public health concern in many parts of the world. The literature on this issue is lacking in New Zealand. The aim of this study is to ascertain whether this group is accessing specialist psychogeriatric services. A retrospective case series study of completed suicides in older people (≥65 years) during a three-year period from January 2010 to December 2012 was performed. Method: An online survey detailing demographic and clinical information was completed by psychiatrists in 15 of the 20 District Health Boards in New Zealand. Results: Only about 15% of older people who committed suicide were accessing specialist psychogeriatric services and the group with the highest suicide rate (men≥85 years) did not feature in specialist services. Depression (61%) was the most common diagnosis and nearly half (35%) had had contact with specialist services within three days prior to the suicide. Over half (52%) had a history of past suicide attempt(s). Conclusions: Older people who complete suicide are infrequently accessing specialist services. In those that do, there are questions to be answered regarding suicide prediction and prevention for this high-risk group of vulnerable individuals. More research is required targeting those not accessing specialist services, in particular the high risk group of older men. The role of general practitioner, community care, the assessment and management of depression and whether there is any access issue to specialist psychogeriatric services require elucidation.
Development of novel three-dimensional printed scaffolds for osteochondral regeneration.

As modern medicine advances, various methodologies are being explored and developed in order to treat severe osteochondral defects in joints. However, it is still very challenging to cure the osteochondral defects due to their poor inherent regenerative capacity, complex stratified architecture, and disparate biomechanical properties. The objective of this study is to create novel three-dimensional (3D) printed osteochondral scaffolds with both excellent interfacial mechanical properties and biocompatibility for facilitating human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) growth and chondrogenic differentiation. For this purpose, we designed and 3D printed a series of innovative bi-phasic 3D models that mimic the osteochondral region of articulate joints. Our mechanical testing results showed that our bi-phasic scaffolds with key structures have enhanced mechanical characteristics in compression (a maximum Young's modulus of 31 MPa) and shear (a maximum fracture strength of 5768 N/mm(2)) when compared with homogenous designs. These results are also correlated with numerical simulation. In order to improve their biocompatibility, the scaffolds' surfaces were further modified with acetylated collagen (one of the main components in osteochondral extracellular matrix). MSC proliferation results demonstrated that incorporation of a collagen, along with biomimetically designed micro-features, can greatly enhance MSC growth after 5 days in vitro. Two weeks' chondrogenic differentiation results showed that our novel scaffolds (dubbed "key" scaffolds), both with and without surface collagen modification, displayed enhanced chondrogenesis (e.g., 130%, 114%, and 236% increases in glycosaminoglycan, type II collagen deposition, and total protein content on collagen-modified key scaffolds when compared with homogeneous controls).
Improving Educational Outcomes in Developing Countries: Lessons from Rigorous Impact Evaluations

This paper reviews and interprets the evidence from 223 rigorous impact evaluations of educational initiatives conducted in 56 low- and middle-income countries. We consider for inclusion in our review all studies in recent syntheses, which have reached seemingly conflicting conclusions about which interventions improve educational outcomes. We group interventions based on their theory of action. We derive four lessons from the studies we review. First, reducing the costs of going to school and expanding schooling options increase attendance and attainment, but do not consistently increase student achievement. Second, providing information about school quality, developmentally appropriate parenting practices, and the economic returns to schooling affects the actions of parents and the achievement of children and adolescents. Third, more or better resources improve student achievement only if they result in changes in children’s daily experiences at school. Finally, well-designed incentives increase teacher effort and student achievement from very low levels, but low-skilled teachers need specific guidance to reach minimally acceptable levels of instruction.
Sport policy evaluation and governing participation in sport: governmental problematics of democracy and health

ABSTRACT Sport and participation in sport has become an important welfare policy issue and is regarded as a solution to many of the ‘problems’ that face contemporary societies. Together with the ambition of using sport as a policy tool there has also been an intensification in the use of evaluation measures to judge whether sport delivers services in line with policy objectives. This study draws on the concept of governmentality to examine one such sport policy evaluation, a Swedish state-appointed Commission of Inquiry on sport. The purpose is to elucidate the Commission’s problematisation of the socio-political role and function of sport and participation in contemporary Sweden. The analysis showed that the Commission adopted two main ‘problematics’. The democratic problematic concerned a commitment to issues of democracy and equality of opportunities and specified a particular problem of sport; sport excludes rather than includes. The second, the health problematic concerned a commitment to issues of public health and physical activity and focused upon a particular problem of the population; people are physically inactive and unhealthy. The argument being proposed in this article is that these two problematics construct the ‘problem’ of sport and the sport (non)participant in specific ways, draw on particular forms of knowledges and discourses, with certain implications for the judgements made and the solutions proposed by the Commission.
Let's Not Blame Immigrants for High Unemployment Rates

Given the current high unemployment rates in America it is predictable that some seeking to cast blame are calling on America to “round up the usual suspects,�? in the words of Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca. Throughout American history, immigrants have been among the usual suspects when looking for culprits in times of economic trouble. However, an understanding of how immigrants function in the labor market and an examination of the likely causes of high unemployment rates illustrate why the foreign- born are not at fault for unemployment in America.
Risk factors associated with parvovirus enteritis in dogs: 283 cases (1982-1991).

OBJECTIVE To determine breed, sex, and seasonal predisposition for development of canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis in dogs. DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. SAMPLE POPULATION Medical records from 283 dogs with confirmed CPV enteritis and from 834 age-matched control dogs that were healthy or had been admitted with nonenteric illness. PROCEDURE Effects of season, breed, sex, and neutering on the risk of developing CPV enteritis were examined by calculation of unadjusted odds ratios and performance of multivariate analysis. Stratified and contingency table analyses were performed to identify interactions and confounding among variables. RESULTS Rottweilers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, and German Shepherd Dogs were at increased risk and Toy Poodles and Cocker Spaniels were at decreased risk for developing CPV enteritis, compared with that for mixed-breed dogs. For dogs more than 6 months old, sexually intact males were twice as likely as intact females to develop CPV enteritis. Dogs were 3 times more likely to be admitted with CPV enteritis in July, August, and September, compared with the rest of the year. Dogs were 12.7 times more likely to be admitted with CPV enteritis if they had not been currently vaccinated. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Lack of vaccination is a significant risk factor for development of CPV enteritis. Seasonal, sex, and breed predispositions for the development of CPV enteritis also exist.
Evaluation of plasma human herpesvirus 8 DNA as a marker of clinical outcomes during antiretroviral therapy for AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma in Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND The usefulness of plasma human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) DNA as a marker of response to treatment for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) in an African setting is unknown. METHODS We conducted a prospective pilot study at the Parirenyatwa Hospital Kaposi Sarcoma Clinic (Harare, Zimbabwe) to investigate the hypothesis that the clinical response of AIDS-KS is associated with suppression of HHV-8 DNA. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was provided as coformulation of abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine. Clinical response was defined as survival to week 96 with either complete or partial resolution of KS disease. RESULTS Ninety ART-naive participants (62 men and 28 women) aged >18 years who had human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and biopsy-confirmed KS were studied; 82% had stage T1 disease. Fifty participants received adjunctive chemotherapy. The median CD4(+) lymphocyte count increased from 124 cells/microL at baseline to 281 cells/microL, the plasma HIV-1 RNA level decreased from 4.69 to <2.60 log(10) copies/mL, the plasma HHV-8 DNA level decreased from 660 to <25 copies/mL, and HHV-8 DNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells decreased from 2790 to 37 copies/10(6) cells (P < .001 for each comparison). There were 14 deaths (16%) and 13 patients (15%) lost to follow-up. The most common cause of death was infection. Clinical response of KS occurred in 17 participants (19%). Pretreatment plasma HHV-8 DNA levels of <660 copies/mL were associated with greater survival (odds ratio, 2.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-7.53; P = .04) and a better clinical response (odds ratio, 6.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-24.19; P = .006). CONCLUSIONS AIDS-KS tumor responses after ART initiation were limited. Pretreatment plasma HHV-8 DNA level may be a surrogate for KS disease that is in need of intensive clinical management.
Epstein-Barr virus-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: diagnosis, difficulties and therapeutic options

ABSTRACT Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) most frequently affects elderly patients, without previous immunosuppression, with frequent extra-nodal involvement and whose disease runs an aggressive clinical course with high International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores. Various EBV-related transforming mechanisms, much favored by immunosenescence, have been described, including activation of the NFKB transcriptional program. Elderly patients show poor survival after treatment with conventional CHOP regimens, even after addition of Rituximab. Younger patients, however, have a better outcome with a similar prognosis to EBV-negative DLBCL cases. New therapeutic strategies, including treatments targeting EBV, new drugs directed against specific pathways constitutively activated in these lymphomas, and new specific conjugate antibodies against molecules usually expressed in the tumor cells, such as CD30, are described.
Testability, debuggability, and manufacturability features of the UltraSPARC-I microprocessor

This paper describes the testability, debuggability, and manufacturability features of the UltraSPARC-I microprocessor. Due to the aggressive nature of this high performance design, these three areas needed to be addressed at the beginning of the project to ensure success. We present the goals and analysis that lead to our decisions as well as the actual features that were implemented. The features described in this paper have helped enormously in achieving the time-to-volume goals and hence the overall success of the product.