Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: Depression in End‐Stage Renal Disease Patients Treated With Hemodialysis: Tools, Correlates, Outcomes, and Needs

Depression has been thought to be the most common psychiatric abnormality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. There are few data using psychiatric diagnostic criteria and a lack of large, well‐designed epidemiologic research studies in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) that can render definitive results on this topic. The prevalence of major depression or a defined psychiatric illness in ESRD patients is unknown, but is probably between 5% and 10%. The prevalence of increased levels of depressive affect is greater. Estimates of the prevalence will vary according to the screening techniques used. Depression could affect medical outcomes in ESRD patients through several mechanisms. Correlational analyses suggest stressors and protective factors play roles in mediating the level of depressive affect and associated outcomes. Although early studies suggested a deleterious effect of depression on survival in ESRD patients, more recent studies had failed to confirm such findings. The use of longitudinal analyses and larger samples has confirmed an association of depressive affect and morbidity and mortality in more contemporary ESRD populations. The importance of depressive affect compared with the presence of a defined psychiatric syndrome in mediating clinically important outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease has not been determined. Studies of interventions designed to reduce levels of depressive affect in ESRD patients are urgently needed.
Molecular evidence for multiple introductions of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata, Brassicaceae) to North America

Invasive species offer excellent model systems for studying rapid evolutionary change. In this context, molecular markers play an important role because they provide information about pathways of introduction, the amount of genetic variation introduced, and the extent to which founder effects and inbreeding after population bottlenecks may have contributed to evolutionary change. Here, we studied microsatellite variation in eight polymorphic loci among and within 27 native and 26 introduced populations of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), a European herb which is a current serious invader in North American deciduous forests. Overall, introduced populations were genetically less diverse. However, considerable variability was present and when compared to the probable source regions, no bottleneck was evident. Observed heterozygosity was very low and resulted in high inbreeding coefficients, which did not differ significantly between native and introduced populations. Thus, selfing seems to be equally dominant in both ranges. Consequently, there was strong population differentiation in the native (FST = 0.704) and the introduced (FST = 0.789) ranges. The high allelic diversity in the introduced range strongly suggests multiple introductions of Alliaria petiolata to North America. Out of six European regions, the British Isles, northern Europe, and central Europe had significantly higher proportions of alleles, which are common to the introduced range, and are therefore the most probable source regions. The genetic diversity established by multiple introductions, and the lack of inbreeding depression in this highly selfing species, may have contributed to the invasion success of Alliaria petiolata.
Voltage-gated calcium channels in CNS white matter: role in anoxic injury.

1. The effect of Ca2+ channel antagonists on the extent of anoxia-induced white matter injury was studied in the rat optic nerve, a white matter tract. Compound action potentials (CAPs) were recorded before and after a standard 60-min anoxic period to assess the extent of anoxic injury. 2. The L-type Ca2+ channel antagonists verapamil (90 microM), diltiazem (50 microM), and nifedepine (2.5 microM) significantly protected the rat optic nerve from anoxic injury. Mean recovery of CAP area was 51.3 +/- 3.0% (mean +/- SE, n = 8, P < 0.01), 65.6 +/- 5.3% (n = 8, P < 0.01), and 54.3 +/- 6.1% (n = 8, P < 0.01), respectively. Mean CAP recovery under control conditions was 35.2 +/- 0.3 (n = 33). 3. Simultaneous block of L-type and N-type Ca2+ channels by coapplication of 50 microM diltiazem and 1 microM SNX-124 [synthetic omega-conotoxin (CgTx) GVIA], resulted in postanoxic CAP recovery of 73.6 +/- 6.0% (n = 12), significantly larger than CAP recovery in diltiazem alone (P < 0.001). Block of CgTx MVIIC-sensitive channels in addition to L-type and N-type channels by coapplication of 50 microM diltiazem + 1 microM SNX-230 + 1 microM SNX-124 failed to produce any additional increase in CAP recovery (71.3 +/- 5.6%, n = 8). Application of 1 microM SNX-124 alone did not significantly protect against anoxic injury (CAP recovery, 36.3 +/- 2.9%, n = 10). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Correlations in Palmitoylation and Multiple Phosphorylation of Rat Bradykinin B2 Receptor in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells*

Rat bradykinin B2 receptor from unstimulated Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the corresponding cDNA has been isolated, and subsequent mass spectrometric analysis of multiple phosphorylated species and of the palmitoylation attachment site is described. Bradykinin B2 receptor was isolated on oligo(dT)-cellulose usingN-(ε-maleimidocaproyloxy)succinimide-Met-Lys-bradykinin coupled to a protected (dA)30-mer. This allowed a one-step isolation of the receptor on an oligo(dT)-cellulose column via variation solely of salt concentration. After enzymatic in-gel digestion, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and electrospray ion trap mass spectrometric analysis of the isolated rat bradykinin B2 receptor showed phosphorylation at Ser365, Ser371, Ser378, Ser380, and Thr374. Further phosphorylation at Tyr352 and Tyr161 was observed. Rat bradykinin receptor B2receptor is also palmitoylated at Cys356. All of the phosphorylation sites except for Tyr161 cluster at the carboxyl-terminal domain of the receptor located on the cytoplasmic face of the cell membrane. Surprisingly, many of the post-translational modifications were shown by MS n mass spectroscopic analysis to be correlated pairwise, e.g.diphosphorylation at Ser365 and Ser371, at Ser378 and Ser380, and at Thr374and Ser380 as well as mutually exclusive phosphorylation at Tyr352 and palmitoylation at Cys356. The last correlation may be involved in a receptor internalization motif. Pairwise correlations and mutual exclusion of phosphorylation and palmitoylation suggest critical roles of multiple post-translational modifications for the regulation of activity, coupling to intracelluar signaling pathways, and/or sequestration of the bradykinin receptor.
To what extent are Roma disadvantaged in terms of health and access to health care? What policies have been introduced to foster health and social inclusion?

While data and literature on Roma health are scarce, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Roma are disadvantaged in almost all areas of health. Health inequalities experienced by Roma are likely to be caused in part by their relatively poor access to health care services, caused in turn by poverty, lack of documentation, geographical distance from health providers and discrimination on the part of health workers. Initiatives developed under the European Union during the last twenty years have gone some way in providing a policy framework within which countries have attempted to redress these inequalities. CEE countries with large Roma minorities such as Romania, Bulgaria. Hungary and Slovakia have moved from policies of exclusion or forced assimilation to rights based approaches. However, it is not clear that implementation has been successful to date. The recommendations made in this policy brief could provide a broad framework although this would necessarily need to be more tailored to varying local circumstances: to be effective, policy on Roma health has to take into account social and cultural issues and should be multi-sectoral, taking place within the broader context of anti-discrimination legislation and institution building; Roma, particularly women, should participate in all stages of data collection and in policy-making and programme development; there is a need for measures to combat discrimination of Roma in accessing health services; victims of alleged discrimination should be encouraged to come forward with complaints; problems with implementation need to be urgently addressed by allocating sufficient financial resources to programmes and carrying out regular assessments of the impact of policies; and there is an urgent need for more research and dissemination of research. The European Commission could do much to support countries in developing and implementing such policies.
Heterologous Co-expression of CYP6B7 and NADPHDependent Cytochrome P450 Reductase from Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Pichia pastoris

Abstract As important metabolic enzymes, the function of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) has been demonstrated repeatedly through various means, including heterologous expression systems. Unfortunately, most model systems typically lack expression of a conspecific NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), which is the electron transfer partner of CYPs. As a result, the activities of heterologously expressed insect CYPs may not accurately reflect detoxification activities in vivo. Previously, CYP6B7 from Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (HaCYP6B7) has been expressed in the Pichia pastoris GS115 strain and shown to detoxify bifenthrin, fenvalerate and chlorpyrifos. However, it remains to be determined if co-expression of HaCYP6B7 with HaCPR will enhance the detoxification ability of the expression system. In the present study, HaCYP6B7 and HaCPR genes were co-expressed in P. pastoris using a reconstituted expression vector, pPICZA-HaCYP6B7-HaCPR. Protein expression was confirmed by Western blot, and the detoxification activities of microsomal fractions to p-nitroanisole O-demethylation (PNOD), 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation (ECOD), fenvalerate and chlorpyrifos were measured. Co-expression of HaCYP6B7 with HaCPR resulted in PNOD and ECOD activities of 1.90 nmol/min/mg·protein and 12.39 pmol/min/mg·protein, which were 1.6- and 1.5-fold of that catalyzed by HaCYP6B7 expressed alone, respectively. Furthermore, microsomes of pPICZA-HaCYP6B7-HaCPR-GS115 had higher detoxification activity than that of pPICZA-HaCYP6B7-GS115 to fenvalerate, but not chlorpyrifos. The results indicated that co-expression of HaCYP6B7 with conspecific CPR could enhance the detoxification activities to some substrates comparing with expression of HaCYP6B7 alone.
Politically Motivated Corporate Decisions: Evidence from China

Two conflicting hypotheses assess the effect of political tournaments on corporate decisions: 1) uncertainty regarding outcomes reduces economic activity, and 2) agency-driven incentives increase economic activity. Further assertions suggest that under democratic elections the former hypothesis prevails, and under autocratic promotions the latter does. Indeed, Julio and Yook (2012) found that democratic elections are associated with reductions in corporate investments. In this paper, we investigate the effect of Chinese political cycles on Chinese corporate decisions. Every five years, 31 mainland China province heads compete for promotions to the national congress by demonstrating high economic performance. We study 17,534 yearly firm observations from 2000-2013. Controlling for economic conditions, we find that average investment rates are 7% higher two years before national promotions. We further examine promotion effects on tax revenues and find that firms, on average, pay 4.1% more taxes in the year leading up to national promotions. We study jointly employment, wages, cash holdings, debt, stock returns, and stock volatility using simultaneous equations and find pervasive effects of impending political promotion cycles. Finally, studying firms dual-listed in China’s mainland and Hong Kong, we find that price discrepancies increase prior to promotion cycles. We demonstrate cyclicality in corporate decision-making synchronized with political promotion cycles. Our evidence is consistent with political leaders exerting power over firms when competing for promotions. We consider this study especially unique and interesting because it captures corporate decisions mostly induced by political motivation and not directly related to corporate stakeholders. In contrast, under democratic regimes, it is hard to separate the extent to which corporate decisions, including political and charity contributions, are equilibrium optimal ones rather than constrained ones.
Race and Democratic Contestation

As the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) passes its fortieth anniversary and soon faces constitutional challenges to its recent renewal, a growing number of liberals and conservatives once united in their unqualified support now share deep reservations about it. In this Article, I argue that the growing skepticism about the VRA and majority-minority districting is misguided by a simplistic and impoverished sensibility about the value of electoral competition in American politics. Electoral competition should be judged with reference to ultimate end states it is intended to produce - more democratic debate, greater civic engagement and participation, and richer political discourse - all of which are generated by a deeper first-order competition among political leaders that I describe as 'democratic contestation. ' In the Article, I offer democratic contestation, in place of electoral competition, as a basic value to be pursued in the law of democracy and as foundation for new theory that helps reconcile approaches to race, representation, and political competition. A theory of democratic contestation shifts the normative focus from the pluralist absorption about which groups get what from politics, to a new focus on the tenor and quality of democratic contestation among leaders. When viewed through a theory of democratic contestation, the VRA is crucially pro-competitive in the broader sense of democratic contestation. By carving out safe majority-minority districts, the VRA breaks the discursive stasis of racial polarization in which politics by definition revolve around the single axis of race. A theory of democratic contestation reveals how majority-minority districts energize the process of democratic contestation and enable an internal discourse of ideas that moves beyond the racially polarized divide, otherwise impossible in the face of racial polarized opposition. A theory of democratic contestation thus demands a thorough re-evaluation of the Supreme Court's recent decision in LULAC v. Perry and provides a new understanding of the renewed VRA going forward in the modern political world of national partisan competition.
A flexible 12-bit self-calibrated quad-core current-steering DAC

This paper presents a flexible fully integrated self-calibrated quad-core 12-bit current-steering 180 nm CMOS DAC. Its novel architecture features multiple parallel sub-DAC unit cores. Their various combinations deliver smart flexibility in: performance, functionality, power management, design reuse, and smartness. The parallel sub-DAC units can be used together or separately to optimize the performance of a targeted mixed-signal application. Unused sub-DAC units can be switched off to optimize the power consumption. The new parallel sub-DACs architecture facilitates a new calibration algorithm. This algorithm together with small calibrating DACs and a current comparator enables the realization of the first fully integrated self-calibration start-up method that corrects the mismatch errors of all binary and unary current sources. The presented self-calibrated flexible DAC achieves measured linearity of better than 12-bit, while occupying small silicon area due to the intrinsic 9-bit accuracy of the DAC unit core.
Innate Immune Responses of Calves during Transient Infection with a Noncytopathic Strain of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

ABSTRACT In this study, six immunocompetent calves were experimentally infected with a noncytopathic strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), and the effects of the viral infection on parameters of the innate immune response of the host were analyzed. Clinical and virological data were compared with the temporal activation of the alpha/beta interferon-regulated Mx gene in white blood cells (WBC) and skin as well as the upregulation of the acute-phase serum proteins haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA). The viral strain used did provoke transient health impairment, namely, fever and leukopenia that were associated with viremia, viral shedding with nasal secretions, and antiviral seroconversion. Complete recovery was observed within 3 weeks. Elevated levels of SAA and Hp were apparent from days 4 to 13 and 8 to 11, respectively. In WBC, the levels of Mx mRNA and Mx protein were elevated from days 2 to 15. In the context of this study with BVDV, the level of Mx protein expression in WBC provided the most telling diagnostic window to monitor the host's ongoing innate immune response.
Randomized phase II study of two schedules of flavopiridol given as timed sequential therapy with cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone for adults with newly diagnosed, poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia

Background Flavopiridol is a protein-bound, cytotoxic, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor. A phase II trial of flavopiridol followed by ara-C and mitoxantrone with flavopiridol given by 1-h bolus for adults with newly-diagnosed, poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia yielded 67% complete remission with median disease-free survival of 13.6 months. Design and Methods We compared bolus flavopiridol (50 mg/m2/day, Arm A) versus 'hybrid' flavopiridol (30 mg/m2 over 30 min followed by 40 mg/m2 over 4 h, Arm B) followed by ara-C and mitoxantrone in 78 patients (39 per arm) with newly diagnosed, poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. To mitigate imbalance, patients were stratified by presence or absence of secondary leukemia and therapy for antecedent disorder. Results Death at or before Day 60 occurred in 8% of patients per arm. Complete remission plus complete remission with incomplete recovery was 68% (Arm A, 62%; Arm B, 74%) overall, and 65% or over in both arms for patients with secondary leukemia and leukemia with adverse genetics. In Arm A 91% and in Arm B 86% of patients received chemotherapy and/or allogeneic transplantation in complete remission. Median overall survival for all remission patients has not been reached for either arm, with median disease free survival of 13.6 months for Arm A and of 12.0 months for Arm B. Conclusions Both flavopiridol schedules produce comparably encouraging results in adults with poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. Given the greater ease of bolus administration, we are conducting a randomized phase II study of bolus flavopiridol followed by ara-c and mitoxantrone versus conventional induction therapy for patients aged 70 years and under with intermediate or poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT 00407966.
Yeast Life Span and its Impact on Food Fermentations

Yeasts are very important microorganisms for food production. The high fermentative capacity, mainly of the species of the genus Saccharomyces, is a key factor for their biotechnological use, particularly to produce alcoholic beverages. As viability and vitality are essential to ensure their correct performance in industry, this review addresses the main aspects related to the cellular aging of these fungi as their senescence impacts their proper functioning. Laboratory strains of S. cerevisiae have proven a very successful model for elucidating the molecular mechanisms that control life span. Those mechanisms are shared by all eukaryotic cells. S. cerevisiae has two models of aging, replicative and chronological. Replicative life span is measured by the number of daughter cells a mother can produce. This kind of aging is relevant when the yeast biomass is reused, as in the case of beer fermentations. Chronological life span is measured by the time cells are viable in the stationary phase, and this is relevant for batch fermentations when cells are most of the time in a non-dividing state, such as wine fermentations. The molecular causes and pathways regulating both types of aging are explained in this review.
Beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic-receptor subpopulations in nonfailing and failing human ventricular myocardium: coupling of both receptor subtypes to muscle contraction and selective beta 1-receptor down-regulation in heart failure.

We used radioligand binding techniques and measurement of beta-agonist-mediated positive inotropic responses in isolated cardiac tissue to examine beta-adrenergic-receptor subpopulations in nonfailing and failing human left and right ventricular myocardium. In tissue derived from 48 human hearts the receptor subtypes identified in nonfailing ventricle by radioligand binding were beta 1 (77%) and beta 2 (23%), with no evidence of an "atypical" beta-adrenergic receptor. In failing left ventricle the beta 1:beta 2 ratio was markedly different, i.e., 60:38. This decrease in the beta 1 proportion and increase in the beta 2 proportion in the failing ventricles were due to a 62%, "selective" down-regulation of the beta 1 subpopulation, with little or no change in beta 2 receptors. In muscle bath experiments in isolated trabeculae derived from nonfailing and failing right ventricles, both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors were coupled to a positive inotropic response. In nonfailing myocardium, beta 1 responses predominated, as the selective beta 1 agonist denopamine produced a response that was 66% of the total contractile response of isoproterenol. In heart failure the beta 1 component was markedly decreased, while the beta 2 component was not significantly diminished. Moreover, in heart failure the beta 2 component increased in prominence, as the contractile response to the selective beta 2 agonist zinterol increased from a minority (39%) to a majority (60%) of the total response generated by isoproterenol. We conclude that failing human ventricular myocardium contains a relatively high proportion of beta 2 receptors, due to selective down-regulation of beta 1 receptors. As a result, in the failing human heart the beta 2-receptor subpopulation is a relatively important mediator of inotropic support in response to nonselective beta-agonist stimulation and is available for inotropic stimulation by selective beta 2 agonists.