Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Newly formed mRNA lacking polyadenylic acid enters the cytoplasm and the polyribosomes but has a shorter half-life in the absence of polyadenylic acid

Labeled adenovirus type 2 nuclear RNA molecules from cells treated with 3'-deoxyadenosine (3'dA) were earlier reported to lack polyadenylic acid [poly(A)], but to be correctly spliced in the nucleus (M. Zeevi et al., Cell 26:39-46, 1981). We have now found that the shortened mRNA molecules, lacking poly(A), can also be found in the cytoplasm of 3'dA-treated cells in association with the polyribosomes. In addition, the accumulation of labeled, nuclear adenovirus-specific RNA complementary to early regions 1a, 1b, and 2 of the adenovirus genome was approximately equal in 3'dA-treated and control cells. At the initial appearance of newly labeled adenovirus type 2 RNA (10 min) in the cytoplasm, there was one-half as much labeled RNA in 3'dA-treated cells as in the control. However, control cells accumulated additional mRNA in the cytoplasm very rapidly in the first 40 min of labeling, whereas the 3'dA-treated cells did not. Therefore, it appears that the correctly spliced, poly(A)- mRNA molecules that are labeled in the presence of 3'dA can be transported from the nucleus with nearly the same frequency and the same exit time as in control cells and can be translated in the cytoplasm but have a much shorter half-life than the poly(A)+ mRNA molecules from control infected cells. From these results it is suggested that the role of poly(A) may be entirely to increase the longevity of cytoplasmic mRNA.
Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF file are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Distribution or copying is strictly prohibited without permission of the National Academies Press . Permission is granted for this material to be posted on a secure password-protected Web site. The content may not be posted on a public Web site. ISBN: 0-309-56573-1, 136 pages, 6 x 9, (2001)
Immunological protection of rabbits infected with Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with toxic shock syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) isolated from the growth medium of Staphylococcus aureus 1169 and 555 was used to immunize male rabbits before infection with either a TSST-1+ or a TSST-1- strain of S. aureus isolated from cases of TSS. None of the immunized rabbits died as a result of the infections, whereas 50% of the nonimmunized rabbits infected with the TSST-1- strain, D4508, and 75% of those infected with the TSST-1+ strain, 555, died. Western blots of crude extracellular protein preparations probed with sera from immunized rabbits indicated that the TSST-1- strain produces a 30,000-molecular-weight protein that cross-reacts with antiserum to TSST-1. Because both organisms caused similar diseases in rabbits, we propose to designate the cross-reacting protein as TSST-2.
Comment on spatial models in marketing research and practice: Comments

This paper discusses recent advances in advertising response models and identifies new opportunities for managerially relevant research. First, it establishes that recent research has shifted attention from topics such as duration of advertising effects in mature markets and short-term advertising elasticities to issues such as combined effects of ad content and weight and effectiveness in evolving markets. Then, motivated from recent trends in advertising practice, it presents a research agenda consisting of four main topics: (1) new media and forms of advertising (e.g. product placement), (2) media synergies, (3) advertising productivity and (4) advertising effects on performance stability. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crime Victimization of Persons with Severe Mental Illness in Taiwan

Objective: Research in the West has shown that persons with severe mental illness are easy targets of criminals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the types, incidence, and prevalence of crime victimization and its demographic and clinical correlates among persons with severe mental illness in Taiwan. Methods: Participants diagnosed with schizophrenia or major affective disorders were selected from the psychiatric service of a general hospital. They were asked about any crime perpetrated against them within the preceding year. Only crimes occurring after a psychiatric diagnosis had been made were included. The results of this survey were compared with crimes among the general population in 2000 as reported by the Taiwan Crime Victimization Survey of the Ministry of Justice. Results: The 1 year prevalence of victimization in the study population was 16.8%, compared with 11.3% in the general population. After controlling for demographic and clinical variables it was found that those with affective disorders or a history of alcohol abuse were more likely to be victimized. Conclusion: In Taiwan, persons with severe mental illness are more vulnerable to crime victimization than the general population.
Reducing ischaemia/reperfusion injury through delta-opioid-regulated intrinsic cardiac adrenergic cells: adrenopeptidergic co-signalling.

AIMS The purpose of this study was to determine whether intrinsic cardiac adrenergic (ICA) cells release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), exerting synergistic adrenopeptidergic cardioprotection. METHODS AND RESULTS In situ hybridization coupled with immunostaining demonstrated that ICA cells exclusively expressed CGRP mRNA and co-expressed CGRP and delta-opioid receptor in human and rat left ventricular (LV) myocardium. Radioimmunoassay detected constitutive CGRP release from ICA cells in human and rat hearts. The delta-opioid agonist [D-Pen(25)]-enkephalin (DPDPE) increased CGRP release from ICA cells in denervated rat heart. In an ischaemia/reperfusion rat model, pre-ischaemic treatment with DPDPE reduced infarct size (IS) by 51 +/- 16% (P < 0.01). Co-infusion of beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)-AR) and CGRP receptor (CGRP-R) antagonists increased IS by 62 +/- 23% (P < 0.01) compared with saline and abolished DPDPE-initiated IS reduction. Pre-treatment of ICA cell-myocyte co-culture with the beta(2)-AR/CGRP-R antagonists increased myocyte death rate by 24 +/- 4% (P < 0.01) and abolished DPDPE-initiated myocyte protection against hypoxia/reoxygenation (re-O(2)). In the ICA cell-depleted myocyte culture, DPDPE did not confer myocyte protection. Supplementing ICA cell-depleted myocyte culture with beta(2)-AR/CGRP-R agonists reduced hypoxia/re-O(2)-induced myocyte death by 24 +/- 5% (P < 0.01), simulating endogenous neurohormonal effects of ICA cells. Western blot analysis showed that DPDPE markedly increased phosphorylated myocardial Akt levels. This effect was abolished in the presence of beta(2)-AR/CGRP-R blockade. Terminal dUTP nick-end labelling staining analysis of the LV infarct zone demonstrated that DPDPE reduced myocyte apoptosis by 58 +/- 19% (P < 0.05), an effect that was eliminated in the presence of beta(2)-AR/CGRP-R blockade. Finally, echocardiography showed that DPDPE increased LV contractility in a manner dependent on beta-AR/CGRP-R stimulation. CONCLUSION ICA cells constitute a delta-opioid-regulated adrenopeptidergic paracrine system conferring robust cardioprotection through beta(2)-AR/CGRP-R co-signalling, resulting in the activation of an anti-apoptotic pathway during ischaemia/reperfusion.
Chemopreventive Effects of Soy Protein and Purified Soy Isoflavones on DMBA-Induced Mammary Tumors in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

There are conflicting reports on the effect of soy and its components on mammary carcinogenesis in adult female rats, mainly because of different rodent models that are used in chemoprevention studies. The present study was undertaken to compare the tumor-preventative effects of soy protein isolate (SPI) and two of its isoflavones in a "standard" model that had been used for the identification of many chemopreventive agents. Six groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were provided with modified cornstarch AIN-76A diets supplemented as follows: no additional agents (control), purified genistein (200 mg/kg diet), purified daidzein (200 mg/kg diet), genistein + daidzein (100 mg/kg diet each), SPI containing normal levels of isoflavones (SPI-n), or SPI depleted of isoflavones (SPI-d). Mammary carcinomas were induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) introduced 1 wk after the animals began consuming the experimental diets. At the end of the study (120 days after DMBA treatment), no significant differences were found among the six groups with respect to tumor incidence or survival, nor was there a significant reduction in tumor multiplicity in the genistein or genistein + daidzein group. However, there was a 32% reduction in tumor multiplicity in the daidzein and SPI-n groups relative to the control group (P ? 0.05). The most effective diet was SPI-d, which produced a 50% reduction in tumor multiplicity relative to the control (P ? 0.01). The difference between the SPI-d group and the daidzein or SPI-n group was not significant. Median tumor latency was increased from 53 days in the control group to 68 days in the daidzein group and to 72 days in the SPI-d group, but these differences were not statistically significant. These results show that daidzein and SPI (with normal or low levels of isoflavones) are effective inhibitors of DMBA-induced mammary tumors in adult rats.
University Students’ Attitudes and Intentions Towards Entrepreneurial Education

The impact of entrepreneurship education has been recognized as one of the crucial factors that help students develop an entrepreneurial attitude. Various international researches on the matter show significant differences at the retrieval of data, analysis and evaluation of the results. At the same time there are few official studies on the students’ attitude towards entrepreneurial education and practice which leads to a greater ambiguity on the matter. It appears that factors influencing entrepreneurship education image are to a large extent complex and subjective. The aim of this paper is to analyze IUC students’ attitudes and intentions in the light of constantly increasing importance of entrepreneurial culture on a global scale. The authors believe the empirical research conducted among 103 first to third year students at Dobrich campus for the period of 1 month will help to further advancing the rapidly developing scientific and business realm of entrepreneurship.
ETHICS CASES Communicating Evidence in Shared Decision Making

One afternoon in the outpatient medicine clinic, Dr. Garrison spoke with Mr. Mendez, a 62-year-old man who had come in for a yearly physical. In reviewing Mr. Mendez’s chart, Dr. Garrison noted that his total cholesterol was high at 242 mg/dL, while his HDL cholesterol was low at 35 mg/dL. He was otherwise healthy, having normal blood pressure, no other symptoms or signs of cardiovascular disease, no family history of cardiovascular disease, and no history of smoking. According to the Framingham 10-year risk calculator, this picture corresponded to a 15 percent risk of a myocardial infarction in the next 10 years (“moderate risk”).
Temperature Sensor Array for Tactile Sensation Using FBG Sensors

This paper describes a tactile sensor system which can detect distributed temperature and distributed force using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. The newly designed temperature sensor using FBG is introduced and the performance of this temperature sensor is evaluated. Combining this temperature sensor array with the force sensor array, a new tactile sensor system capable of measuring a temperature distribution and a force distribution is evaluated. In particular, through the use of the distributed temperature sensor array, the distributed force sensor array can be compensated for a temperature effect that prevents an accurate distributed force measurement.
Low-profile tunable and steerable fabry-perot antenna for software defined radio applications

Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a flexible radio architecture programmed through software, which is reconfigured depending on the usage scenario. SDR consists of a programmable hardware base that is controlled through software [1]. The key attraction of SDR is its ability to support multiple standards on the same processor by changing the software only. SDR technology is also evolving to cognitive radio which is a new technology that allows spectrum to be dynamically shared between users. It offers the potential to change the way spectrum is used in systems and to substantially increase the amount of spectrum available for wireless communications. However, for this to be possible, it is necessary to have also an appropriate hardware. From the antenna design perspective, it is necessary to have a wideband coverage and a high level of reconfigurability [2]. Depending on the application it is also required high-directivity. Wideband antenna design, both low and high gain, are available but they does not guarantee the reconfigurability of the radiation pattern with a low-cost setup. In this context a novel active design of the Fabry-Perot antennas is proposed showing that a wideband tunability range (one octave) and strong capabilities of beam shaping and beam steering can be achieved.
Numerical scheme based on similarity reductions for the regularized long wave equation

Numerical solution based on similarity reductions for partial differential equations used to get the numerical scheme for the regularized long wave (RLW) equation. The similarity reductions for RLW equation are obtained locally on subdomains defined by the classical three-point stencil. The ordinary differential equation, which deduced from the similarity reduction can be linearized, integrated analytically and then obtain the solution. This approch eliminates the difficulties associated with boundary conditions for the similarity reduction over the whole solution domain. Numerical results are obtained for test problem. The computed results using our scheme confirm the accuracy of our scheme.
Atypical Neuropsychological Profile in a Boy with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Keywords:

In this article the general and specific cognitive impairments of the boy R.H. with a de novo deletion 22q11.2 are described. His full-scale IQ was 73, and he obtained only slightly better verbal than non-verbal subtest scores. Neuropsychological assessment revealed specific impairments in perceptual categorization of objects presented suboptimal, matching of unfamiliar faces, and verbal learning and memory. In contrast, he performed in accordance with his intelligence level on other visual perceptual tasks, on non-verbal learning and memory tasks, and on attention tasks. Voxel-wise statistical comparison of a high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance image of R.H’s brain with similar images obtained from 14 normal control children revealed as major abnormalities a reduction of the right inferior parietal and superior occipital lobe, and a bilateral reduction of deep white matter behind the inferior frontal gyrus. These cognitive impairments and MRI abnormalities are not commonly described in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome and may indicate a larger heterogeneity in the neurocognitive phenotype than currently evidenced. At least in this boy the microdeletion seems to have interfered with the development and functioning of particular neural subsystems, while the structure and functioning of other subsystems was left intact.
Asymmetric T Lymphocyte Division in the Initiation of Adaptive Immune Responses

A hallmark of mammalian immunity is the heterogeneity of cell fate that exists among pathogen-experienced lymphocytes. We show that a dividing T lymphocyte initially responding to a microbe exhibits unequal partitioning of proteins that mediate signaling, cell fate specification, and asymmetric cell division. Asymmetric segregation of determinants appears to be coordinated by prolonged interaction between the T cell and its antigen-presenting cell before division. Additionally, the first two daughter T cells displayed phenotypic and functional indicators of being differentially fated toward effector and memory lineages. These results suggest a mechanism by which a single lymphocyte can apportion diverse cell fates necessary for adaptive immunity.
PPARgamma ligands suppress proliferation of human urothelial basal cells in vitro.

Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma in the human urinary tract through embryonic development suggests its possible roles in the development, proliferation, and differentiation of uroepithelium. Little is known, however, about physiological roles of PPARgamma in the urinary tract. We investigated effects of PPARgamma ligands on the proliferation of normal human urothelial cells and stromal cells cultivated from surgical specimens. Active proliferation in vitro as well as high molecular weight cytokeratin expression indicated that cultured urothelial cells possess basal cell phenotype. PPARgamma protein, expressed predominantly in the epithelial layer of the normal human urinary tract in vivo, was abundantly expressed in urothelial cells but barely detectable in stromal cells in vitro. Natural ligand for PPARgamma, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14) prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)), as well as synthetic ones, troglitazone and pioglitazone, suppressed proliferation of the urothelial cells dose-dependently. These effects were PPARgamma specific because clofibrate or PGF(2alpha) did not affect proliferation of urothelial cells. Neither 9-cis retinoic acid or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) at 1 microM showed any synergism on the antiproliferative effects of PPARgamma ligands. Urothelial cells treated with PPARgamma ligands showed drastic morphologic changes and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase accompanied with increased mRNA level of a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1). Since 15d-PGJ(2) is present in vivo during the resolution phase of inflammation, these results indicated that PPARgamma might be involved in the terminal phase of urothelial re-epithelialization processes.
Waiting in the queue on Hotelling’s Main Street

We consider a variant of Hotellings location model that was proposed by Kohlberg 1983 when choosing a firm, consumers take travel time and also expected waiting time, which again depends on the number of consumers choosing that firm, into consideration. If we assume that firms are symmetric, then we show that a subgame perfect equilibrium exists if there is an even, but small, number of firms and no subgame perfect equilibrium exists if there is an odd, but small, number of firms. Further, we illustrate by means of examples what other subgame perfect equilibria exist if we allow for asymmetric firms.
ARE KAVALACTONES THE HEPATOTOXIC PRINCIPLE OF KAVA EXTRACTS ? THE PITFALLS OF THE GLUTATHIONE THEORY

Dear Editor: Recently, in this journal Denham et al. (2002) and (within the same paper) Whitton et al. published their ideas about the influence of glutathione in aqueous preparations respectively low alcoholic tinctures of kava (Piper methysticum roots.html) on the safety of intake regarding adverse liver reactions. Even though the theory presented is highly interesting, and deserves a closer inspection, the weak point of the argumentation is that it is based on the hypothesis that kavalactones are hepatotoxic. There is, however, currently no evidence to back up this theory. The worldwide discussion on potential liver toxicity of kava was triggered by the risk– benefit reevaluation of the German health authorities, on the assumption of hepatotoxic effects, which finally led to the ban of kava products in Germany in June 2002 (for details, see www.uni-muenster.de/Chemie/PB/Kava/ kavaroot.html). One should keep in mind, however, that the circumstances of the case reports and the existing preclinical and clinical data still do not allow a deduction of a specific hepatotoxic potential of kava extracts, even though several case reports have been cited with the evaluation of a “probable” causality in a most recent approach by Teschke (2002). However, the potentially hepatotoxic concomitant treatment of the patients was still largely left out of the discussion (Teschke, 2002). The outcome of the official German assessment was heavily criticized by experts in phytomedicine and toxicology, including the members of the German Commission E (who would normally have been consulted in the decision-making process), because the kava ban would not decrease, but rather increase the risk of potentially serious adverse effects, including liver diseases, for individual patients (Anonymous, 2002a, 2002b, 2002c). The experts of the German Commission E filed their protest against the decision in the media, however, without success.
Therapeutic effects of various initial combinations of chemotherapy including clarithromycin against Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to find an optimal initial combination chemotherapy that includes clarithromycin (CAM) for treatment-naive patients with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease, as assessed by microbiological conversion using a Mycobacterium growth indicator tube (MGIT). METHODS Thirty-four patients with treatment-naive MAC pulmonary disease (determined using 1997 American Thoracic Society criteria) were evaluated retrospectively. They demonstrated a nodular and bronchiectatic pattern without cavity on high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans. The following three regimens were administered: regimen A (n = 9) consisted of CAM (400 mg/d), ethambutol (EB) [750 mg/d], and rifampicin (RFP) [450 mg/d]; regimen B (n = 12) consisted of CAM (800 mg/d), EB (750 mg/d), and RFP (450 mg/d); and regimen C (n = 13) consisted of CAM (800 mg/d), EB (1,000 mg/d), and RFP (600 mg/d) during the first 2 months followed by a reduction of the dosage of EB from 1,000 to 750 mg/d. Gender, age, BMI, and HRCT scan finding scores were not significantly different among the three groups. Chemotherapy was continued for 18 months. Sputum culture was periodically assessed by MGIT. RESULTS Culture conversion at 18 months in regimen A (55.6%), which included a daily dosage of 400 mg of CAM (9.5 mg/kg), was significantly inferior to that in regimen B (91.7%), which included daily 800 mg of CAM (17.6 mg/kg; p < 0.05), but regimen B and C (92.3%) showed no between-group difference after > 18 months of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The higher dose of CAM allowed for better culture conversion. Daily combination chemotherapy that includes CAM (800 mg) seems appropriate as an initial treatment against treatment-naive patients with nodular and bronchiectatic MAC pulmonary disease.
The NB‐LRR proteins RGA4 and RGA5 interact functionally and physically to confer disease resistance

Plant resistance proteins of the class of nucleotide‐binding and leucine‐rich repeat domain proteins (NB‐LRRs) are immune sensors which recognize pathogen‐derived molecules termed avirulence (AVR) proteins. We show that RGA4 and RGA5, two NB‐LRRs from rice, interact functionally and physically to mediate resistance to the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae and accomplish different functions in AVR recognition. RGA4 triggers an AVR‐independent cell death that is repressed in the presence of RGA5 in both rice protoplasts and Nicotiana benthamiana. Upon recognition of the pathogen effector AVR‐Pia by direct binding to RGA5, repression is relieved and cell death occurs. RGA4 and RGA5 form homo‐ and hetero‐complexes and interact through their coiled‐coil domains. Localization studies in rice protoplast suggest that RGA4 and RGA5 localize to the cytosol. Upon recognition of AVR‐Pia, neither RGA4 nor RGA5 is re‐localized to the nucleus. These results establish a model for the interaction of hetero‐pairs of NB‐LRRs in plants: RGA4 mediates cell death activation, while RGA5 acts as a repressor of RGA4 and as an AVR receptor.