Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced production of leptin in gastric fundic mucosa with Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM To determine the concentrations of leptin in plasma and gastric fundic mucosa in humans, with reference to Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection, and their association with gastric mucosal levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8. METHODS Plasma leptin concentrations were determined in 135 outpatients with non-ulcer dyspepsia, consisting of 95 H pylori-infected and 40 uninfected subjects, and 13 patients before and after cure of the infection with anti-H pylori regimen. Using biopsy samples that were endoscopically obtained from the middle corpus along the greater curvature, gastric leptin contents were measured by radioimmunoassay and the mucosal concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. We also analysed the expression of leptin in the fundic mucosa by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The mucosal levels of leptin in the fundic mucosa of H pylori-infected patients were significantly higher than those of uninfected patients. The amount of gastric leptin correlated positively with the mucosal levels of IL-1beta and IL-6, but not IL-8. Circulating leptin correlated with body mass index, but not with H pylori status, and there was no change in plasma leptin levels following cure of the infection. Leptin immunoreactive cells were noted in the lower half of the fundic glands, and its expression of messenger ribonucleic acid in the oxyntic mucosa was detected by RT-PCR. CONCLUSION Leptin production is enhanced in H pylori-infected gastric mucosa. Gastric leptin may be involved in immune and inflammatory response during H pylori infection, through interaction with proinflammatory cytokines.
Rural geography: multifunctional rural geographies - reactionary or radical?

level. Secondly, more information is needed on the physical consequences of land moving out of primary production (Potter and Burney, 2002): do invasive species thrive and endemic ones decline, as advocates of multifunctionality assert? Do abandoned fields become forests or suburbs, and what are the consequences for water quality or carbon sequestration? Thirdly, many discussions of multifunctionality seem to assume that rural producers will choose whatever is economically rational or ecologically sustainable. Yet this may not be so (see, for example, Marsden et al., 2003). If Morris and Evans (2004) are correct that the cultural turn in rural geography has largely bypassed research on agricultural producers specifically, we are in urgent need ofethnographies ofmultifunctional rural areas, along the lines of Bohnet et al. (2003), in order for 'strong versions of multifunctionality to become realities. Acknowledgements My thanks to Corinne Thatcher for research on working landscapes in the United States, to Martin Lenihan and Alistair Geddes for deepening my understanding of European agricultural policy, and to Martin again for pointing me towards the agricultural economics literature on multifunctionality.
Vasomotor Effects of Acetylcholine, Bradykinin, Noradrenaline, 5-Hydroxytryptamine, Histamine and Angiotensin II on the Mouse Basilar Artery

ABSTRACT We investigated the responsiveness of the mouse basilar artery to acetylcholine (ACh), bradykinin (BK), noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), histamine (His) and angiotensin (Ang) II in order to characterize the related receptor subtypes in vitro. ACh and BK induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of precontracted arteries with U-46619 (a thromboxane A2 analogue). Atropine (a non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist) and Nω-nitro-L-arginine (a NO synthase inhibitor, L-NNA) shifted the concentration-response curve for ACh to the right, whereas pirenzepine, methoctramine and pFHHSiD (muscarinic M1, M2 and M3 antagonists, respectively) had no significant effect. L-NNA and HOE140 (a B2 antagonist) shifted the concentration-response curve for BK to the right, whereas des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK (a B1 antagonist) and indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) had no significant effect. NA failed to produce any vasomotor action. His and Ang II induced concentration-dependent contraction. Diphenhydramine (a H1 antagonist) shifted the concentration-response curve for His to the right, whereas cimetidine (a H2 antagonist) had no significant effect. Losartan (an AT1 antagonist) shifted the concentration-response curve for Ang II to the right, whereas PD123319 (an AT2 antagonist) had no significant effect. These results suggest that the H1 and AT1 receptor subtypes might play an important role in arterial contraction, whereas muscarinic receptor subtypes apart from M1, M2 and M3, and B2 receptors on the endothelium, might modify these contractions to relaxations.
A novel role for p120 catenin in E-cadherin function

Îndirect evidence suggests that p120-catenin (p120) can both positively and negatively affect cadherin adhesiveness. Here we show that the p120 gene is mutated in SW48 cells, and that the cadherin adhesion system is impaired as a direct consequence of p120 insufficiency. Restoring normal levels of p120 caused a striking reversion from poorly differentiated to cobblestone-like epithelial morphology, indicating a crucial role for p120 in reactivation of E-cadherin function. The rescue efficiency was enhanced by increased levels of p120, and reduced by the presence of the phosphorylation domain, a region previously postulated to confer negative regulation. Surprisingly, the rescue was associated with substantially increased levels of E-cadherin. E-cadherin mRNA levels were unaffected by p120 expression, but E-cadherin half-life was more than doubled. Direct p120–E-cadherin interaction was crucial, as p120 deletion analysis revealed a perfect correlation between E-cadherin binding and rescue of epithelial morphology. Interestingly, the epithelial morphology could also be rescued by forced expression of either WT E-cadherin or a p120-uncoupled mutant. Thus, the effects of uncoupling p120 from E-cadherin can be at least partially overcome by artificially maintaining high levels of cadherin expression. These data reveal a cooperative interaction between p120 and E-cadherin and a novel role for p120 that is likely indispensable in normal cells.
Why We Disagree about Climate Change: Understanding Controversy, Inaction and Opportunity

Three of the four finalists for the 2009 Gerald L. Young Book Award focus their direct attention to the topic of climate change and all three represent timely publications given the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (Dec. 7 Dec. 18, 2009) in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, this particular book, Why We Disagree About Climate Change, by Hulme (2009) reaches the highest standard of the Gerald L. Young book award in Human Ecology by tapping into several issues that reflects the mission and philosophical stance of the Society for Human Ecology. We value critical thinking, engaged dialogue, and creative solutions to the challenges of human-environment interactions. We have an interest in interdisciplinary approaches within international settings. Finally, we place a strong emphasis on research findings that can be translated in applications to educational settings. And with these guiding principles, Mike Hulme has written a provocative and inspirational book that centers on the intersection of science and society. Not everyone will agree with his interpretations, but his approach is refreshing and a much needed catalyst to generate scholarly discussion on the topic. Hulme’s perspectives are vastly different than the usual lockstep press releases we are accustomed to. For example, Hulme argues that climate change is real but the COP-15 conference was the wrong way to go about tackling it given the scope of the issue and the diversity of cultures and social priorities that were present at the conference. In effect, Hulme casts the challenge in a new heuristic, such that climate change is not ‘a problem’ waiting for ‘a solution,’ rather, it is an environmental, cultural and political phenomenon which is re-shaping the way we think about ourselves, our societies and humanity’s place on Earth. He believes than man-made climate change is real, but that the actions that we should promote are those which build on existing successes, work at smaller scales, require less bureaucratic institutions and which simultaneously achieve a wider range of local benefits for society. Hulme expresses his perspective in this excerpt, “The idea of climate change should be used to rethink and renegotiate our wider social goals about how and why we live on this planet. We need to harness climate change to give new expression to some of the irreducible and intrinsic human values that are too easily crowded out — our desires for personal growth and self-determination, for creative experimentation relationship and for community. In this way climate change can be assimilated into our future. If we harness the full array of human sciences, artistic and spiritual endeavors, and our civic and political pursuits we can reconcile climate change with our human and social evolution, with our instinct for justice and with our endurance on this planet. ” (pp 361362) Hulme acknowledges that there will be disagreements with process and desired goals, but he sees this as an opportunity towards enlightenment in human existence.
Patient-Empowerment Interactive Technologies

Health-promoting videogames are emerging as nonpharmacological tools to help patients manage their diseases. Video games capture the rapt attention of an individual player’s mind and body, providing new opportunities for personalized health care. An example of therapeutic interactive technologies is an incentive-based video game that translates physical exercise into mental empowerment via motivational metaphoric visualization in order to help patients psychologically overcome cancer. Such nonpharmacological interventions may enhance patients’ resilience toward various chronic disorders via neuronal mechanisms that activate positive emotions and the reward system.
Brachial Plexus Block: A Comparison of the Supraclavicular Lateral Paravacular and Axillary Approaches

Background and Objectives. Anesthesia of the brachial plexus has been associated with injuries to adjacent structures (e.g., pneumothorax, vascular penetration). It is not uncommon to have only partial block of the upper extremity, hindering completion of the surgical procedure. The supraclavicular lateral paravascular approach to brachial plexus anesthesia has been proposed as an effective, safe alternative to the traditional approaches to brachial plexus anesthesia. Methods. This prospective, randomized study sought to determine if the supraclavicular lateral paravascular (SCLP) approach is as effective as the transarterial axillary approach, the most common brachial plexus block used at our institution. Results. 16/20 (80%) of SCLP blocks were good. 13/20 axillary blocks were good. The success rate with the SCLP approach was 95%. The success rate with the axillary approach was 90%. Conclusions. The supraclavicular lateral paravascular approach is as effective as the axillary approach.
Expression of interleukin 8 and its receptors in human colon carcinoma cells with different metastatic potentials.

PURPOSE In the present study, we examined the expression of a multifunctional cytokine, interleukin 8 (IL-8), and its receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2, in human colon carcinoma cells with different metastatic potentials and determined their role in modulating phenotypes associated with metastasis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN IL-8, CXCR1, and CXCR2 protein and mRNA expression were examined using ELISA, immunocytochemistry, and reverse transcription-PCR in human colon carcinoma cells with different metastatic potentials. IL-8-mediated proliferation, migration, and tumor-endothelial cell interaction were analyzed. RESULTS IL-8 mRNA and protein expression was very low in Caco2 cells but elevated in KM12C cells and very high in KM12L4 cells, suggesting an association between the IL-8 production and metastatic potential. Similarly, CXCR1 and CXCR2 expression was lower in Caco2 cells than in low and high metastatic KM12C and KM12L4 cells. The recombinant human IL-8 enhanced the proliferation of colon carcinoma cells. Furthermore, proliferation of low and high metastatic cells expressing different levels of IL-8 was inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to IL-8, CXCR1, and CXCR2. We observed significant differences in the invasive potential of colon carcinoma cells expressing different levels of IL-8. In addition, we observed that IL-8 modulates adhesion of tumor cells to endothelial cells in an autocrine and paracrine manner. CONCLUSION Our present data suggest an association between constitutive expression of IL-8 and aggressiveness in human colon carcinoma cells and the possible role of IL-8 in modulating different metastatic phenotypes associated with progression and metastasis.
The physiology of rowing

Abstract Rowing competitions for males are performed over a distance of 2000 m and last 5.8–7.4 min. This time is being improved by 0.01 min per year. Races are most often carried out with an initial spurt in order to increase the total aerobic metabolism. Large individuals have an advantage partly because of a larger anaerobic metabolism, but also because the almost constant weight of the boat, oars and coxswain becomes relatively less for oarsmen with larger body dimensions. Oxygen uptake during rowing increases with velocity to the power 2.4. It is estimated that the metabolic cost of rowing at racing speed corresponds to 6.41 O2 min‐1. The most successful oarsmen have a weight of 93 ± 2.6 kg (± s.e.) and a maximal oxygen uptake of 5.9 ± 0.08 1 min‐1 (± s.e.). A direct relationship is demonstrated between the average maximal oxygen uptake of the crew (y) and their placing (x) in an international regatta, y=6.15–0.08x (r=0.87). In contrast, measures of muscle strength do not separate the good from less .
Prospective study of caffeine consumption and risk of Parkinson's disease in men and women

Results of case‐control studies and of a prospective investigation in men suggest that consumption of coffee could protect against the risk of Parkinson's disease, but the active constituent is not clear. To address the hypothesis that caffeine is protective against Parkinson's disease, we examined the relationship of coffee and caffeine consumption to the risk of this disease among participants in 2 ongoing cohorts, the Health Professionals' Follow‐Up Study (HPFS) and the Nurses' Health Study (NHS). The study population comprised 47,351 men and 88,565 women who were free of Parkinson's disease, stroke, or cancer at baseline. A comprehensive life style and dietary questionnaire was completed by the participants at baseline and updated every 2–4 years. During the follow‐up (10 years in men, 16 years in women), we documented a total of 288 incident cases of Parkinson's disease. Among men, after adjustment for age and smoking, the relative risk of Parkinson's disease was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.23–0.78; p for trend < 0.001) for men in the top one‐fifth of caffeine intake compared to those in the bottom one‐fifth. An inverse association was also observed with consumption of coffee (p for trend = 0.004), caffeine from noncoffee sources (p for trend < 0.001), and tea (p for trend = 0.02) but not decaffeinated coffee. Among women, the relationship between caffeine or coffee intake and risk of Parkinson's disease was U‐shaped, with the lowest risk observed at moderate intakes (1–3 cups of coffee/day, or the third quintile of caffeine consumption). These results support a possible protective effect of moderate doses of caffeine on risk of Parkinson's disease.
A structurally conserved water molecule in Rossmann dinucleotide‐binding domains

A computational comparison of 102 high‐resolution (≤1.90 Å) enzyme‐dinucleotide (NAD, NADP, FAD) complexes was performed to investigate the role of solvent in dinucleotide recognition by Rossmann fold domains. The typical binding site contains about 9–12 water molecules, and about 30% of the hydrogen bonds between the protein and the dinucleotide are water mediated. Detailed inspection of the structures reveals a structurally conserved water molecule bridging dinucleotides with the well‐known glycine‐rich phosphate‐binding loop. This water molecule displays a conserved hydrogen‐bonding pattern. It forms hydrogen bonds to the dinucleotide pyrophosphate, two of the three conserved glycine residues of the phosphate‐binding loop, and a residue at the C‐terminus of strand four of the Rossmann fold. The conserved water molecule is also present in high‐resolution structures of apo enzymes. However, the water molecule is not present in structures displaying significant deviations from the classic Rossmann fold motif, such as having nonstandard topology, containing a very short phosphate‐binding loop, or having α‐helix “A” oriented perpendicular to the β‐sheet. Thus, the conserved water molecule appears to be an inherent structural feature of the classic Rossmann dinucleotide‐binding domain.
Relay-aided high-throughput path selection in multi-rate wireless mesh networks

This paper proposes an opportunistic rate-adaptive expected transmission time (ORETT) metric, which exploits cooperative (relay-aided) retransmissions to achieve high-throughput routing in multi-rate wireless mesh networks. This metric captures the combined effects of MAC-layer cooperative retransmission by neighbor nodes with transmission rate diversity (and rate-dependent link quality). In our approach, a relay node is selected among one-hop neighbors to assist with packet retransmissions and minimize the expected retransmission time. The paper describes the design and implementation of the ORETT routing metric using the DSR routing protocol. Our extensive simulation on the Qualnet platform confirms that multi-rate routing using ORETT significantly reduces the overall transmission time while yielding higher packet delivery ratio compared to single rate unicast or non-cooperative ETT based routing.
Robust stability and robust stabilization of uncertain linear time-delay systems

A method of producing carbon-13 by multiphoton decomposition of C3F6, said material containing carbon-12 and carbon-13 isotopic species, comprising irradiating gaseous C3F6 in a reaction chamber at a pressure below 10 Torr with a laser beam at a frequency in the range of 950 to 1020 wavenumbers and providing a minimum fluence of 1 joules per sq. cm. and passing the material through a physical separation stage to obtain a 13C2F4 product.
Association of Superoxide Dismutase 2 Polymorphism Rs4880 and Open-Angle Glaucoma in a Greek Patients Cohort

Purpose: Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy and leading cause of visual impairment and blindness. Multigenic inheritance hypothesis is being investigated over the past decades and numerous mainly causative and synergic polymorphisms have been revealed. Aim of this study is to investigate whether superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) polymorphism rs4880 is associated with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in Greek population. Materials and method: This is a case control study of 106 POAG patients and 120 thoroughly examined, unrelated, healthy control subjects of Greek origin, surveyed for SOD2 polymorphism rs4880 and potential correlation to POAG. Results: SOD2 rs4880 polymorphism showed no statistically significant difference between POAG patients and healthy controls. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) of both eyes of the heterozygous (T/C) group was found significantly higher than in homozygous (T/T) group (19.13 ± 0.60 vs. 17.59 ± 0.33, p = 0.02). When we compared the IOP in each eye separately, the (T/C) and (C/C) carriers had significantly higher IOP on their left eye compared to the (T/T) carriers [(Τ/C) 18.79 ± 0.56 vs. (Τ/Τ) 17.2 ± 0.36, p = 0.02 and (C/C) 20.75 ± 2.14 vs. (Τ/Τ) 17.2 ± 0.36, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Our study did not find any significant association between SOD2 rs4880 polymorphism and POAG. Mean IOP of the polymorphic (C) allele carriers was found significantly higher than in homozygous (T/T) group. As we cannot reject the possibility that oxidative stress might be a crucial factor for the POAG development further studies may be needed to confirm the importance of SOD2 gene in POAG pathogenesis.
Multiple sclerosis and pregnancy: experience from a nationwide database in Germany

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate exposure to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) during pregnancy in 335 pregnancies of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to further determine whether exclusive breastfeeding of MS mothers has any relevant influence on postpartum relapse rate. Background: Only limited data are available on whether DMT exposure during pregnancy affects relapse rate during pregnancy or after birth. Currently, findings on beneficial effect of exclusive breastfeeding on MS disease course are controversially discussed. Methods: We enrolled pregnant women with MS who contacted us directly or via their treating physicians to be included in our nationwide MS and pregnancy database. Results: We identified 78 pregnancies under interferon-beta (IFNβ) preparations, 41 under glatiramer acetate (GLAT), and 216 pregnancies without DMT exposure during pregnancy. As expected, annualized relapse rate (ARR) decreased continuously during pregnancy in nonexposed mothers (p < 0.001) to then increase after birth. In IFNβ- or GLAT-exposed women this typical pattern was not as obvious. Congenital anomalies were within normal ranges in exposed pregnancies. In total, 170 women were identified who exclusively breastfed (EBF). Significantly reduced postpartum relapse rate during the first 3 months after birth were registered in the EBF group as compared with nonexclusively breastfeeding (NEBF) or nonbreastfeeding women (NBF) women with MS (p < 0.0001). Relapse rate (RR) in the year before pregnancy had been similar throughout all groups. We did not observe any significant differences in RR of NEBF and NBF women. Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding showed some beneficial effects on postpartum relapse rate in our cohort. Our data support that IFNβ and GLAT do not seem to represent a major teratogenic risk in pregnancy.
An Operational Semantics for the Eiffel Language

This paper formally describes the dynamic semantic of the Eiffel language (Eiffel parallel). Eiffel is a parallel extension of Eiffel language based on passive and active objects, asynchronous communication and wait-by-necessity. In this semantics we use formal specifications of inheritance and dynamic binding which we have defined in Natural Semantics for the Eiffel language. While in the framework of Natural Semantics (big-step semantics), we specify the \ep\/ semantics in the SOS style (small-step semantics). >From this specification we automatically generate a programming environment for Eiffel.
Growth processes of high-growth firms as a four-dimensional chicken and egg

This article investigates whether high-growth firms grow in different ways from other firms. Specifically, we analyze how firms grow along several dimensions (growth of sales, employment, assets, and operating profits) using Structural Vector Autoregressions. Causal relations are identified by using information contained in the (non-Gaussian) growth rate distributions. For most firms, the growth process starts with employment growth, which is then followed by sales growth, then growth of operating profits, and finally growth of assets. In contrast, high growth firms put more emphasis on growth of operating profits driving other dimensions of growth, with employment growth occurring at the end.