Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OxLDL immune complexes activate complement and induce cytokine production by MonoMac 6 cells and human macrophages Published, JLR Papers in Press, June 27, 2006.

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) is immunogenic and induces autoimmune responses in humans. OxLDL antibodies are predominantly of the proinflammatory IgG1 and IgG3 isotypes. We tested the capacity of immune complexes prepared with copper-oxidized human LDL and affinity chromatography-purified human OxLDL antibodies [OxLDL-immune complexes (ICs)] to activate complement and to induce cytokine release by MonoMac 6 (MM6) cells and by primary human macrophages. The levels of C4d and C3a were significantly higher in human serum incubated with OxLDL-ICs than after incubation with OxLDL or OxLDL antibody, indicating complement activation by the classical pathway. MM6 cells and primary human macrophages were incubated with OxLDL-ICs, with or without prior conditioning with interferon-γ. After 18 h of incubation, both MM6 cells and primary human macrophages released significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines after incubation with OxLDL-ICs than after incubation with OxLDL or with OxLDL antibody, both in primed and unprimed cells. OxLDL-ICs were more potent activators of MM6 cells than keyhole limpet hemocyanin-ICs. Blocking Fc gamma receptor I (FcγRI) with monomeric IgG1 significantly depressed the response of MM6 cells to OxLDL-ICs. In conclusion, human OxLDL-ICs have proinflammatory properties, as reflected by their capacity to activate the classical pathway of complement and to induce proinflammatory cytokine release from MM6 cells and primary human macrophages.
Pleuropulmonary blastoma

Pleuropulmonary blastoma is a rare, aggressive neoplasm that typically occurs in young children. It has been classified as type I, II, or III on the basis of the cystic versus solid nature of the lesion as well as the histologic appearance. Although it has been speculated that type I lesions may have a tendency to progress into type III lesions, no such case has been reported to date.
Causes of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss: yesterday and today.

OBJECTIVE To ascertain the present common causes of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children and compare them with those of previous reports. DESIGN A retrospective review of the medical records for all children with a diagnosis of SNHL seen from January 1, 1993, through September 30, 1996, at our institution. SETTING A tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS Three hundred one children, aged 1 week through 18 years, who presented for evaluation of SNHL. RESULTS Of the 301 children, 68.1% had a definite or probable cause of their SNHL identified; 18.9%, 1 or more possible causes; and 31.9%, no obvious cause. A family history of SNHL or prematurity and/or complicated perinatal course was found in 28.6% of patients. Named syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, meningitis, or prenatal maternal factors, including maternal prenatal substance abuse, were present in another 38.5%. However, syndromes commonly reported to be associated with SNHL, such as Waardenburg syndrome, were seen in less than 1% of patients. The average age at diagnosis was 3.02 years for the bilateral moderate or worse SNHL; for unilateral SNHL, the average age was 3.97 years. The most useful diagnostic study was computed tomographic scanning. CONCLUSIONS Sensorineural hearing loss is fairly common in children. Extensive workups, often without clear direction, should be reconsidered based on the children with SNHL who otolaryngologists are now seeing. Infant screening programs, although identifying many children earlier, will also provide the opportunity to fine-tune the evaluation (ie, cytomegalovirus titers and/or cultures at birth), increasing the diagnostic yield.
Ontogenetic shift in mouth opening mechanisms in a catfish (Clariidae, Siluriformes): A response to increasing functional demands

During ontogeny, larval fish have to deal with increasing nutritional and respiratory demands as they grow. As early ontogeny is characterized by an increasing complexity of moving structural elements composing a fish skull, some constraints will have to be met when developing mechanisms, which enable feeding and respiration, arise at a certain developmental stage. This article focuses on the presence/absence of a possible functional response in mouth opening during ontogeny in Clarias gariepinus. Some reflections are given, based on morphological data, as well as related function‐analysis data from the literature. Starting shortly after hatching, a total of up to five different mouth opening mechanisms may become functional. Of these, three may remain functional in the adult. As could be expected, the apparatuses that enable these mechanisms show an increase in complexity, as well as a putative improvement in mouth opening capacity. Initially, two consecutive mechanisms may allow a restricted depression of the lower jaw (both passively and actively). Synchronously, two more mechanisms may arise, which involve the coupling of the hyoid depression to the mouth opening. At about 11 mm SL a fifth mechanism becomes established, better known as the opercular mouth opening mechanism. An overlapping chronology of functionality of the different mechanisms, as well as differences in efficiencies, could be an indication of the absence of a true critical period in C. gariepinus (at least in relation to mouth opening), as well as the possible presence of a shift in feeding type. Finally, the coupling of the chronology of the shift in mouth opening mechanisms and several morphological, behavioral, and physiological changes during ontogeny, related to feeding and respiration, make it possible to distinguish five important phases in the early life history of C. gariepinus. J. Morphol. 247:197–216, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New insights on translational development of mesenchymal stromal cells for suppressor therapy

The discovery of the immunosuppressive properties of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has given new hope to patients suffering from autoimmune diseases as their lack of immunogenicity in addition to their immunosuppressive and regenerative properties makes them an ideal biological agent for the treatment of various disorders ranging from autoimmune diseases to tissue injury. The translational promises of a safer and more effective therapy has however suffered a setback with the recent release of the results from Phase III randomized clinical trial using MSCs for treatment of steroid refractory acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD), which failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint. In this review, we will address the current knowledge of the immunosuppressive mechanisms of MSCs from in vitro studies to animal models and then look upon the results obtained from human clinical trials in order to provide failure analysis of negative studies. We will conclude by proposing future directions which could help address this issue and allow rational development of MSCs as an effective and useful cell‐based immunotherapeutic. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 3535–3538, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Failures of Flexibility: How Perceived Control Motivates the Individualization of Work–Life Conflict

Firms have increasingly used flexibility policies to facilitate work–life balance, yet existing research shows that employees are stigmatized for using these seemingly beneficial policies. In this article, the authors identify perceived control, that is, the sense of control employees feel they have over managing their work–life conflicts, as a key factor in their avoidance of flexibility policies. Through 50 in-depth interviews with management consultants from five firms, the authors find that employees frame managing their work–life conflicts as a test of their professional skills, emphasize their “natural” suitability for the consulting industry, use choice rhetoric to reframe oppressive work demands as personal choices, and accentuate their ability to exit the consulting industry if they are unable to manage their work–life balance independently. Empirically, this study provides a fuller explanation for the pervasive avoidance of flexibility policies and expands on prior explanations that focus on flexibility stigma.
The impact of postdoc training on academic research productivity: what are the gender differences?

This study examines how postdoc training affects scientists' research productivity in their early career years (the first three years after receiving their doctoral degrees), in an attempt to reveal whether postdoc training contributes to enforce women's lower productivity that has been well documented in the general S&E community. Using a nationally representative sample of academic scientists and engineering from research extensive universities (n=150), the study demonstrates that postdoc training boosts individual productivity in scientists' first three years; and the number of publications male scientists produce in the same period continues to outnumber that of female members. However, postdoc training, among these academic scientists and engineers, does not worsen women's disadvantageous status in productivity, and plays a neutral role in shaping individual productivity across the gender line.
Absence of pepsinogen A3 gene expression in the gastric mucosa of patients with gastric cancer.

AIMS--To investigate the expression of pepsinogen A3 (Pg3) encoding genes in the gastric mucosa of normal controls and subjects with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. METHODS--One hundred and fifty nine patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with sampling of gastric biopsy specimens and serum. Pg3 isoproteins were determined by electrophoresis in serum and gastric mucosal biopsy specimens. Pg3 encoding genes were assessed by PCR in DNA obtained from peripheral blood. RESULTS--One hundred and one subjects (82 normal histology/chronic gastritis, 17 atrophic gastritis, two gastric cancer) showed a pepsinogen phenotype with presence of Pg3 and a corresponding pepsinogen genotype with presence of Pg3 encoding genes. Fifty eight subjects showed a phenotype lacking Pg3. In 39 of them (23 normal histology/chronic gastritis, 11 atrophic gastritis, five gastric cancer), a corresponding genotype without Pg3 encoding genes was found. However, in the remaining 19 subjects (4 normal histology/chronic gastritis, nine atrophic gastritis, six gastric cancer); Pg3 encoding genes were demonstrable in the absence of Pg3 production. CONCLUSIONS--Unexpressed Pg3 encoding genes can be shown in many cases of atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer, but rarely in healthy controls and subjects with superficial gastritis. The correlation of atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer with a pepsinogen phenotype lacking Pg3 can be explained by loss of expression of Pg3 encoding genes throughout the complete gastric mucosa. The mechanism of such loss and the importance as a marker for premalignant degeneration have to be elucidated.
Adaptive On-Wing Gas Turbine Engine Performance Estimation

A key technological concept for producing reliable engine diagnostics and prognostics exploits the benefits of fusing sensor data, information, and/or processing algorithms. In this paper, we consider a real-time physics based model of a commercial turbofan engine called STORM: self tuning on-board, real-time engine model. The STORM system provides a means for tracking engine module performance changes in real-time. However, modeling error can have a corruptive effect on STORM's estimation of performance changes. Fusing an empirical neural network based model with STORM forms a unique hybrid model of the engine called enhanced STORM (eSTORM). This approach can eliminate the STORM engine diagnostic errors. A practical consideration for implementing the hybrid engine model, involves the application of some form of sequential model building to construct and specify the empirical elements. A methodology for constructing the empirical model (EM) in a sequential manner without the requirement for storing all of the original data has been developed. This paper describes the development of the adaptive hybrid model scheme for a commercial turbofan engine. This adaptive hybrid-modeling scheme has been implemented in real-time on an intelligent automation corporation (IAC) computational platform. Model performance achieved with the automated update algorithm using real on-wing commercial aircraft engine data will be presented.
CLIMATE AND HUMAN HEALTH AT THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Aims: To identify regional and seasonal patterns of climate at the continental part of the Far East and to study associations between climate discomfort and population health. Methods: Correlation coefficients between climatic indices in January and July and all-cause-, cardiovascular- and respiratory mortality and morbidity were calculated. Results: The overall morbidity was similar to the national average. It was slightly lower for circulatory diseases, but higher for respiratory diseases. In some regions the latter was significantly higher than the national average. Circulatory- and respiratory morbidity was almost twice as high in Chukotka (Far North East) than in the Jewish Autonomous Region (South Far East). At the same time, the low all-cause mortality in Chukotka needs further research. Conclusions: Common and specific patterns of spatial and seasonal variations and their associations with morbidity were observed in the continental part of the Russian Far East. Wet Kata Cooling Power index by Hill seems to be the best indicator of thermal discomfort. Significant correlations between health indicators and thermal discomfort expressed by bioclimatic indices are in line with other studies suggesting links between population health in the Russian Far East and climate. Low all-cause mortality in Chukotka requires further research.
A Synthetic Biology approach to the realization of embedded feedback controllers for Chemical Reaction Networks

Chemical Reaction Network (CRN) models based on the mass-action law play an important role in the life sciences, since they can be used to describe dynamical processes of interest in many fields of chemistry and biology. A fundamental challenge related to this kind of systems is represented by the lack, within the framework of Systems and Synthetic Biology, of a general methodology to design control systems for CRNs. The main issue addressed by this work is the development of a general methodology for designing embedded feedback control schemes for an assigned CRN, i.e. controllers that are themselves realizable through a CRN. In particular, we illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach by designing a proportional feedback controller for a well-characterized biochemical system.
Respiratory tract inflammation in swine confinement workers studied using induced sputum and exhaled nitric oxide.

OBJECTIVE To further define the asthma-like syndrome seen in swine confinement workers. DESIGN A cross-sectional study was performed at a swine confinement facility in rural Nebraska and at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. PARTICIPANTS 24 swine confinement workers and 14 urban normal control subjects. All subjects completed a questionnaire concerning respiratory complaints. We performed hypertonic saline challenges on the swine confinement workers and control subjects in order to induce expectoration of sputum. Cell counts and cell differentials were determined in the induced sputum samples. Nasal, mean, and peak exhaled nitric oxide was measured in both groups. Spirometry was also done. RESULTS Swine confinement workers were significantly more likely to report wheezing, cough, and sinusitis symptoms than controls (p = .003). Macrophages were significantly elevated in the induced sputum samples of the swine confinement workers vs the control subjects (0.59 macrophages/mL +/- 0.1 SEM vs 0.36 +/- .16; p = .006), while there was no difference in numbers of neutrophils. No eosinophils were observed. A small elevation in mean exhaled nitric oxide was seen in the swine confinement workers compared to normal controls (11.7 ppb +/- 0.6 SEM vs 10.2 +/- 1.6; p = 0.023). Spirometry values did not differ statistically between swine confinement workers and the control group. CONCLUSIONS Swine confinement workers have signs and symptoms of lower respiratory tract inflammation when studied using induced sputum and exhaled nitric oxide. Findings in the swine confinement workers differ from those in asthmatics and chronic bronchitis.
Conduct Disorder and Hyperactivity: I

The distinction between hyperactivity and conduct disorder was explored in a mixed group of 64 children referred to psychiatric clinics because of antisocial or disruptive behaviour. A semi-structured interview measure (the Parental Account of Children's Symptoms, PACS) proved to have adequate inter-rater reliability, internal consistency and factorial validity. The PACS scales of defiance and hyperactivity, and similar subscales from Conners' Teacher Rating Scale, were tested against laboratory and clinical measures of activity, attention, cognitive performance, psychosocial background and family relationships. The hyperactivity (but not the defiance) scales were associated with greater activity, younger age, poorer cognitive performance and abnormalities on a developmental neurological examination. The defiance (but not the hyperactivity) scales were associated with Impairment of family relationships and adverse social factors. It was concluded that a dimension of Inattentive, restless activity should be separated from one of antisocial, defiant conduct In children with psychiatric disorder.
Bop1 Is a Mouse WD40 Repeat Nucleolar Protein Involved in 28S and 5.8S rRNA Processing and 60S Ribosome Biogenesis

ABSTRACT We have identified and characterized a novel mouse protein, Bop1, which contains WD40 repeats and is highly conserved through evolution. bop1 is ubiquitously expressed in all mouse tissues examined and is upregulated during mid-G1 in serum-stimulated fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence analysis shows that Bop1 is localized predominantly to the nucleolus. In sucrose density gradients, Bop1 from nuclear extracts cosediments with the 50S-80S ribonucleoprotein particles that contain the 32S rRNA precursor. RNase A treatment disrupts these particles and releases Bop1 into a low-molecular-weight fraction. A mutant form of Bop1, Bop1Δ, which lacks 231 amino acids in the N- terminus, is colocalized with wild-type Bop1 in the nucleolus and in ribonucleoprotein complexes. Expression of Bop1Δ leads to cell growth arrest in the G1phase and results in a specific inhibition of the synthesis of the 28S and 5.8S rRNAs without affecting 18S rRNA formation. Pulse-chase analyses show that Bop1Δ expression results in a partial inhibition in the conversion of the 36S to the 32S pre-rRNA and a complete inhibition of the processing of the 32S pre-rRNA to form the mature 28S and 5.8S rRNAs. Concomitant with these defects in rRNA processing, expression of Bop1Δ in mouse cells leads to a deficit in the cytosolic 60S ribosomal subunits. These studies thus identify Bop1 as a novel, nonribosomal mammalian protein that plays a key role in the formation of the mature 28S and 5.8S rRNAs and in the biogenesis of the 60S ribosomal subunit.
Emergence of a virulent clone of Neisseria meningitidis serotype 2a that is associated with meningococcal group C disease in Canada

Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis was used to characterize 378 isolates of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C recovered during a period of an increase in group C meningococcal disease in Canada. Thirty-four enzyme electrophoretic types were found among the isolates, which were predominantly (96.0%) serotype 2a. One clone (ET 15), characterized by a rarely occurring allele for the enzyme fumarase, was responsible for a focal outbreak in Ontario followed by the spread of group C disease across the province. This clone, which occurred infrequently among strains isolated in 1986, accounted for over 65% of group C strains associated with meningococcal disease in Canada in 1990.
Economic, Political and Institutional Determinants of Budget Deficits Volatility: A Panel Data Analysis

This study has a major motivation to empirically find the fundamentals of budget deficit instability for the period 1984 to 2016 using panel data for South Asia and ASEAN countries. As main determinants the study has considered the role of institutions, governance variables like corruption, political instability, military in politics and conflicts. The economic data is collected from international financial statistics and world development indicators. The data on political variables are collected from International Country Risk Data Guide (ICRG). Panel data models like Fixed Effect and Random Effect Model are used to test the volatility of budget deficit. To make a comparison between results of panel data models and time series analysis this study also makes an arrangement analysing individual countries, using time series data. The results of panel data models and time series models of individual countries both confirm that corruption and political stability are important indicators of budget deficit. To avoid high and unstable deficit attention should be diverted to improve the institutional setup of the economy.
Effects of asynchronous ventricular activation on myocardial adrenergic innervation in patients with permanent dual-chamber pacemakers; an I(123)-metaiodobenzylguanidine cardiac scintigraphic study.

AIMS To evaluate myocardial sympathetic innervation abnormalities in patients with DDD pacemakers for complete heart block. METHODS We studied 39 patients, chronically paced in DDD mode because of complete atrioventricular block. Twenty-three healthy individuals served as a control group. All patients underwent planar and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial imaging 4 h after intravenous infusion of 185 MBq I(123)-MIBG. The heart to mediastinum ratio was calculated to quantify cardiac I(123)-MIBG accumulation, while the SPECT study was performed to investigate the regional distribution of adrenergic innervation. All patients underwent a SPECT thallium(201)myocardial study during the same week as the I(123)-MIBG study. RESULTS The heart to mediastinum ratio was significantly smaller in paced patients than in the controls (P<0.001). 89.7% of paced patients had regional abnormalities of I(123)-MIBG uptake, mainly in the inferior (92.3%) and apical (38.5%) wall. 46.2% of paced patients had regional perfusion defects, also mainly in the inferior (46.2%) and apical (10.3%) wall. Neither the I(123)-MIBG abnormalities nor the perfusion defects were related to the duration of pacing. CONCLUSIONS Stimulation from the apex of the right ventricle leads to regional disturbances of the adrenergic innervation of the left ventricular myocardium, as assessed by I(123)-MIBG activity.