Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ron receptor tyrosine kinase-dependent hepatic neutrophil recruitment and survival benefit in a murine model of bacterial peritonitis

Objective:To determine whether Ron receptor tyrosine kinase signaling affects the in vivo response to bacterial peritonitis. Design:Experimental study. Setting:University laboratory. Subjects:Male mice 8–11 wks of age (22–28 g). Interventions:A genetic approach comparing wild-type mice to mice with a targeted deletion of the Ron tyrosine kinase signaling domain (TK−/−) was undertaken to determine the influence of Ron receptor in the in vivo response to a well-characterized model of bacterial peritonitis and sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Measurements and Main Results:Several clinical (i.e., survival curves, blood and tissue bacterial burdens, and neutrophil oxidative burst), morphologic (i.e., liver histology and leukocyte trafficking), and biochemical variables (i.e., serum aminotransferases and select serum cytokine and chemokine levels) important for assessing inflammatory responses to bacterial infection were assessed in mice following cecal ligation and puncture. Ron TK−/− mice had a significant decrease in survival time compared with controls, and this was associated with a significant increase in bacterial colony-forming units found in the blood and several end-organs. Moreover, this increased bacterial load was associated with increased liver necrosis and serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Neutrophils isolated from TK−/− mice exhibited decreased spontaneous oxidative burst capacity ex vivo, and by intravital microscopy, a reduced level of neutrophil migration to and translocation within the liver was observed. Loss of Ron signaling resulted in significantly reduced production of serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6 levels following cecal ligation and puncture, and peritoneal macrophage isolated from TK−/− mice exhibited blunted production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-6, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 following stimulation with endotoxin ex vivo. Conclusions:Ron signaling negatively regulates the response to polymicrobial infection by regulating the activation and recruitment of inflammatory cells necessary for clearing a systemic bacterial burden. This effect may be regulated in part through the Ron-dependent, macrophage-mediated production of cytokines and chemokines, namely monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-6, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2, important for neutrophil mobilization.
Is There Any Optimum Income Distribution in Relation to Government Debt (As % of GDP)? A Note

In this small paper author makes some comments on the relation between Income Distribution and the Government Debt as a percentage of GDP. It is estimated through a panel data model that optimum Income Distribution takes place at a critical level of Government Debt as a percentage of GDP. Further, it is noted that Economic Growth, Investment and Entrepreneurial activities play a significant role towards a more equal Income Distribution. Finally, the size of the GDP per se does not matter in the improvement of Income Distribution. Our sample covers European Countries during the period 2004 - 2008. Panel data regression analysis will be used based on the Eviews software package.
Further Evidence on the Marginal Gains in Accuracy of Alternative Levels of Specificity of the Producer Price Indexes

In the process of evaluating the reliability of the current cost data required to be disclosed by its Statement No. 33 (FASB [1979]), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is soliciting empirical evidence on the accuracy of price indexes for estimating the current cost of machinery and equipment (see FASB [1983]). Sunder and Waymire [1983] presented some preliminary evidence that the marginal gains in accuracy from increasing the specificity of price indexes utilized as measurement techniques for three approximations of the U.S. economy were not substantial. Their hypothetical economies consisted of portfolios of 15, 68, and 199 commodities represented by selected price indexes from the two-digit, three-digit, and four-digit Producer Price Indexes (PPI) respectively. Most of the indexes they selected represent inventorytype commodities. In the absence of actual price data, the Sunder and Waymire [1983] methodology provides a means to assess only the relative efficiency of various aggregations of the PPI to estimate the current costs of assets
Product Diversity, Demand Structures, and Optimal Taxation

This paper studies optimal taxation in a general equilibrium model with endogenous entry. We compare the constant elasticity of substitution (CES) model to three alternative demand structures: oligopolistic competition in prices, oligopolistic competition in quantities, and translog preferences. Our economy is characterized by two distortions: a labor distortion due to the misalignment of markups on goods and leisure, and an entry distortion due to the misalignment of the consumer surplus effect and the profit destruction effect of entry. The two distortions interact in determining the wedge between the market-driven and optimal level of product diversity. We show how optimal labor and entry taxes depend upon the prevailing demand structure, the nature and size of entry costs, and the degree of substitutability between goods.
Use of acupuncture by American physicians.

OBJECTIVES Little is known about the characteristics of American physicians who currently practice acupuncture. We asked: (1) Do the demographics of physicians practicing acupuncture differ from the general physician population? (2) Do these physicians use or endorse other alternative therapies? (3) For which conditions is acupuncture most commonly used? (4) For which conditions is acupuncture perceived to be most efficacious? DESIGN Mailed survey of physicians who incorporate acupuncture into their practice. PARTICIPANTS Membership of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA). OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic information regarding physicians and practice characteristics; specific illnesses treated, and perceived efficacy; use of other complementary modalities; personal reasons for practicing acupuncture. RESULTS Compared with national data, respondents were more likely to be nonspecialists, in private practice, and age 35 to 54. There was an equal proportion of men and women. Most had been doing acupuncture for < 5 years; most use it on < 25% of their patients. Endorsement or use of other complementary methods (spinal manipulation, herbal medicine, supplements, homeopathy) was common. Acupuncture was more commonly used for pain conditions than general medical problems or addiction management. Reasons for use included: efficacy of the technique, an alternative in cases of inadequacy of standard medical approach, and a multidimensional approach to health care. CONCLUSIONS Physicians surveyed in this study who incorporate acupuncture into their practice do so mainly to treat pain problems. They are more likely to be in the 35 to 54 age group, nonspecialists, and in private practice when compared with national averages. These physicians are also more likely to use or endorse other complementary modalities.
PDGF in bone formation and regeneration: New insights into a novel mechanism involving MSCs

With the identification of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as pericytes, the details of bone formation, regeneration, and repair take on new meaning. Growth factors and other signaling molecules together with MSCs play important roles in these bone fabrication processes. However, the interaction of these cellular healing components is not completely understood. The formation of new vasculature is critical to regeneration and repair as both the driver and orientor of new bone formation. In this context, MSCs are proposed to be largely derived from pericytes associated with the vasculature. A comprehensive perspective is presented in which signaling molecules such as PDGF take on new significance in the vasculature‐pericyte‐MSC‐osteoblast dynamics. Current data suggest that PDGF could function as a central connector between the cellular components and contributors of the osteoblast differentiation program. The inference is that PDGF could function at sites of injury to mobilize the pericytes from their abluminal location, stimulate mitotic expansion of these cells and help organize them. In this way, PDGF both contributes to the osteogenic lineage and helps to stabilize newly forming vessels that act to drive the multistep, multicomponent cascade of new bone formation. This thesis explains how PDGF functions as a powerful therapeutic agent for bone formation and repair. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:1795–1803, 2011
Distribution of thimet oligopeptidase (E.C. 3.4.24.15) in human and rat testes.

Thimet oligopeptidase (TOP:E.C. 3.4.24.15) is a thiol sensitive metalloendopeptidase which is widely distributed and active in most tissues including testis, brain and pituitary. In the median eminence it is postulated to play a role in the degradation of GnRH released from the hypothalamus and thus to modulate LH levels. In the rat and human, the testis is the richest source of TOP activity with levels 3- to 5-fold higher than that of the brain. In order to define the exact localisation of this enzyme within the rat and human testis, the distribution of TOP in the developing and adult gonad was examined in situ and in isolated cells by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and northern blotting analysis. Ontogeny studies have demonstrated that TOP is detectable by western blotting from 9 days with levels of expression increasing with the age of the animal. Immunolocalisation of the protein in the interstitium was positive from 9 days onwards but was negative within the seminiferous tubules before 35 days of age, whereas TOP mRNA was not detected within the testis until 35 days of age with subsequent stable expression levels up to 90 days. In the adult rat testis, a strong TOP immunoreactivity was observed within seminiferous tubules, in elongating and elongated spermatids and residual bodies. In the interstitial compartment, immunoreactivity was also observed in Leydig cells and throughout the interstitial space. Western blot analyses confirmed the distribution of expression observed using immunochemistry, however Leydig cells display a lower signal than expected from the immunohistochemical data. Northern hybridization showed that the transcript is present in pachytene spermatocytes, early spermatids, and residual bodies, whereas its presence was not observed in Leydig cells probably due to very low levels of expression of the message. Analyses of various human tissue extracts showed that the testis displays the highest levels of TOP mRNA, with immunohistochemical experiments revealing that, as in the rat, the protein is principally expressed in elongated spermatids/residual bodies, and in Leydig cells. It is concluded that in the human and rat testes, TOP is highly expressed, in particular in post-meiotic germ cells and Leydig cells. The possible involvement of TOP in proteolytic events associated with the process of spermiogenesis and Leydig cell function is currently under investigation.
Continuous Intravenous Infusion of CGS 26303, an Endothelin-converting Enzyme Inhibitor, Prevents and Reverses Cerebral Vasospasm after Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVEEndothelin-mediated vasoconstriction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Endothelin-1, the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide of the endothelin family, is synthesized initially as a large prepropeptide that requires multiple steps of post-translational processing for activation. The final step of this processing involves the proteolytic cleavage of a relatively inactive precursor, big endothelin-1, by the metalloprotease endothelin-converting enzyme. Previous findings have demonstrated that intravenous bolus injections of an endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitor (CGS 26303) administered twice daily can prevent and reverse arterial narrowing in a rabbit model of SAH. However, attenuation of vasospastic response was incomplete and required relatively high doses to be effective in reversing vasospasm. Therefore, the present study evaluated an alternative protocol for administration of CGS 26303 to optimize the antispastic influence of this compound. METHODSContinuous intravenous infusion of CGS 26303 at doses of 2.4, 8.0, or 24.0 mg/kg/d was initiated either 1 hour (prevention paradigm) or 24 hours (reversal paradigm) after experimental SAH in New Zealand White rabbits. All animals were killed by perfusion-fixation 48 hours after SAH. Basilar arteries were then removed and sectioned, and their cross-sectional areas were measured by use of computer-assisted video microscopy. RESULTSContinuous intravenous infusion of CGS 26303 attenuated SAH-induced cerebral vasospasm in a dose-dependent manner in both the prevention and the reversal groups. These effects achieved statistical significance at all doses as compared with the SAH-only or SAH-plus-vehicle groups. Furthermore, the attenuation of vasospasm after continuous infusion of CGS 26303 was more efficacious than that obtained with bolus injections. CONCLUSIONThese findings provide further support for the use of endothelin-converting enzyme inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for reduction of cerebral vasospasm, and they also support the effectiveness of this strategy even when initiated after arterial narrowing has been established. The findings also indicate that continuous intravenous infusion of CGS 26303 is a more effective approach for attenuation of vasospasm than bolus intravenous administration.
Frequency of tau mutations in three series of non‐Alzheimer's degenerative dementia

Splice‐site and missense mutations have been identified in tau associated with frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17. In this study we assessed the genetic contribution of tau mutations to three patient series with non‐Alzheimer's (non‐AD) degenerative dementia. The groups included (1) a community‐based dementia series from Minnesota, MN; (2) a referral series with clinicopathological tauopathy; and (3) a pathologically confirmed familial frontotemporal dementia series from Manchester, UK. Comparing the three clinical series: in the stringently diagnosed Manchester frontotemporal dementia series, tau mutations were present in 13.6% of cases (three splice‐site mutations); in the clinicopathological referral series that used more general inclusion criteria, 3 cases with P301L mutations were observed, which represents a lower mutation frequency of 3.6% (9.4% in familial cases); in contrast, tau mutations were not detected in the Minnesota community‐based dementia series, suggesting the occurrence of these mutations in dementia generally is rare (<0.2%). These data identify the prevalence of mutations in three different clinical settings and indicate that this figure is sensitive to the diagnostic criteria used in each patient series. Ann Neurol 1999;46:243–248
Variations in asthma care by race/ethnicity among children enrolled in a state Medicaid program.

OBJECTIVE To examine differences in the process of care for Medicaid-enrolled white, Hispanic, and black children with asthma. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using Medicaid claims data to analyze the process of asthma care in 1994, including all white (non-Hispanic), black (non-Hispanic), and Hispanic children (aged 2-18 years) with asthma in the non-health maintenance organization portion of the Massachusetts Medicaid program (N = 5773). Main outcome measures included performance on 6 claims-based process-of-care measures that reflect national guidelines. Measures addressed primary and specialty care for asthma, appropriate asthma pharmacotherapy, and timely follow-up care after asthma emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. RESULTS Controlling for case mix, provider type, disability status, age, and gender, Hispanic children with asthma were 39% less likely than white children to have a specialist visit for asthma (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61; confidence interval [CI]: 0.46-0.81) and 41% less likely to receive a follow-up visit within 5 days of being seen in the ED for asthma (OR: 0.59; CI: 0.36-0.95). However, Hispanic children received better care in 2 respects. They were 16% more likely than white children to receive a minimum of 2 asthma visits per year (CI: 1.01-1.34) and 27% less likely to be overprescribed beta-agonist medications (OR: 0.73; CI: 0.54-0.99). Black children were 64% less likely than white children to receive timely follow-up care after being seen in the ED for asthma (OR: 0.36; CI: 0.18-0.73). There were no racial/ethnic differences in the prescribing of antiinflammatory medications or timely follow-up care after an asthma hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates important differences in the process of care experienced by racial/ethnic subpopulations within a Medicaid population, which may help explain differential outcomes. Efforts to improve asthma outcomes should target specific areas in which black and Hispanic children may be receiving suboptimal care.
Neutralizing Antibodies in Persistent Borna Disease Virus Infection: Prophylactic Effect of gp94-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies in Preventing Encephalitis

ABSTRACT Borna disease virus (BDV) infection triggers an immune-mediated encephalomyelitis and results in a persistent infection. The immune response in the acute phase of the disease is characterized by a cellular response in which CD8+ T cells are responsible for the destruction of virus-infected brain cells. CD4+ T cells function as helper cells and support the production of antiviral antibodies. Antibodies generated in the acute phase of the disease against the nucleoprotein and the phosphoprotein are nonneutralizing. In the chronic phase of the disease, neutralizing antibodies directed against the matrix protein and glycoprotein are synthesized. In the present work, the biological role of the neutralizing-antibody response to BDV was further investigated. By analyzing the blood of rats infected intracerebrally with BDV, a highly neurotropic virus, nucleic acid could be detected between 30 and 50 days after infection. Neutralizing antibodies were found between 60 and 100 days after infection. Furthermore, we produced hybridomas secreting BDV-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies, directed against the major glycoprotein (gp94) of BDV, were able to prevent Borna disease if given prophylactically. These data suggest that the late appearance of BDV-specific neutralizing antibodies is due to the presence of BDV in the blood of chronically infected rats. Furthermore, these antibodies have the potential to neutralize the infectious virus when given early, which is an important finding with respect to the development of a vaccine.
Evaluation of platform architecture performance using abstract instruction-level workload models

Evaluation of platform performance is critical in the optimisation and validation of integrated application domain-specific multiprocessor systems. This work describes a method for creating abstract instruction-level workload models from source code, and a method for modelling multi-processor platforms. The approaches are validated by simulating complex use cases in a multiprocessor platform and comparing some of the results to measurements obtained from a prototype product. The approach is targeted at defining architecture parameters and to feature feasibility studies at product concept creation phase.
Control scheme of a novel capacitive-coupled STATCOM

In this paper, a control scheme for a novel capacitive-coupled STATCOM in three-phase power system is proposed and analyzed. In order to maintain the dc-link voltage to a constant level, an active block diagram model is built. Based on this model, a novel dc-link voltage feedback control scheme is proposed and discussed. The proposed novel capacitive-coupled STATCOM is characterized by lower the dc-link rating of the conventional inductive-coupled STATCOM with good system compensation feature. Simulation results are given to prove the effectiveness of the control scheme together with the dc-link voltage feedback control in the novel capacitive-coupled STATCOM.
Migration of thoracic epidural catheters

Migration of thoracic epidural catheters was evaluated in 25 patients by three methods either after placement of the catheter or immediately after surgery. The first method was the determination of the depth of the catheter from the skin, the second the determination of the level of sensory blockade which resulted from a test dose of a local anesthetic agent, while the third consisted of radiological visualisation of the catheter tip in the epidural space with radiopaque dye. The evaluations were repeated on the third or fourth day after operation. We observed an inward movement of the catheter in 56% of the patients instead of the expected outward movement. This inward movemenl was accompanied by a higher level of sensory blockade. No relationship with radiological visualisation was found.
Body size and body composition effects on heat loss from the hands during severe cold exposure.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the influence of body size and composition on maintaining hand temperature during severe cold exposure. The hand's high surface area-to-volume ratio predisposes the hand to heat loss, increasing the risk of cold injury and even hypothermia, which are major selective pressures in cold environments. While vasoregulation may reduce heat loss from the hand, the effect of body form, tissue thermogenesis, and body insulation on heat loss is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thermal imaging was used to determine heat loss during a 3-min ice-water hand immersion test carried out on 114 volunteers (female = 63, male = 51). Established anthropometric measures were used to quantify body size, and bioelectrical impedance analysis determined skeletal muscle and fat mass. RESULTS Skeletal muscle mass relative to body mass was a highly significant predictor of heat loss, while body mass, fat mass, and stature were not. Body composition and body size had little to no significant influence during rewarming after immersion. DISCUSSION The thermogenic properties of muscle mass support maintenance of hand temperature during severe cold exposure. The findings here suggest that muscular individuals are less susceptible to heat loss and cold injury, and may be better at manual tasks in cold conditions than nonmuscular individuals.
Poster: Emotion-Aware Smart Tips for Healthy and Happy Sleep

People spend up to one-third of lives asleep, and healthy sleep habits can make a big difference in their quality of life. But in modern society, many people have unhealthy sleep diaries and suffer from various sleep disorders, which may result in irregular mood fluctuations or even mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. We propose the Emotion-Aware Smart Tips (EAST), a novel approach that could help to inform users about their irregular emotional states with smart tips to improve their sleep qualities. EAST aims at helping users keep healthy sleep schedules and emotional states by providing smart tips through a novel model that combines multivariate regression, random forest, and neural network to quantify the relations between sleep patterns and emotional states. Prototype implementation and initial experiments of EAST in mobile phones have demonstrated its desired functionality and practicality for real-world deployment.