Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of connexin 43 expression increases proliferation and differentiation of an osteoblast-like cell line.

Bone cells form a functional syncytium as they are coupled by gap junctions composed mainly of connexin 43 (Cx43). To further understand the role of Cx43 in bone cell growth and differentiation, we stably transfected Cx45-expressing UMR 106-01 cells with Cx43 using an expression vector containing rat Cx43 cDNA. Three stably transfected clones were analyzed, all of which showed altered expression of Cx43 and/or Cx45 as was obvious from immunocytochemistry and Northern blotting. Double whole-cell patch clamping revealed single-channel conductances of 20 (Cx45) and 60 pS (Cx43). The overexpression of Cx43 led to an increase in dye coupling concomitant with elevated gap-junctional conductance. The phenotype of the transfected clones was characterized by an increased proliferation (4- to 7-fold) compared to controls. Moreover, a transfectant clone with 10- to 12-fold enhanced Cx43 expression showed a significantly increased calcium content of the extracellular matrix and enlarged mineralization nodules, while alkaline phosphatase was moderately increased. We conclude that enhanced gap-junctional coupling via Cx43 significantly promotes proliferation and differentiation of UMR cells.
Human apolipoprotein A-I exerts a prophylactic effect on high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis via inflammation inhibition in a rabbit model

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is the major functional protein fraction of high-density lipoprotein. The prophylactic effect and mechanism of human apoA-I on atherosclerosis (AS) were investigated in a high-fat diet-induced AS rabbit model. The rabbits were injected with apoA-I once a week while fed high-fat diet for 20 weeks. Our results showed that apoA-I could raise the serum level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and reduce those of lipid total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in AS rabbits. Decreased aortic plaque area and aortic injury degree were also observed by Oil Red O staining and HE staining in apoA-I-treated high-fat diet-induced AS rabbits. Further study elucidated that apoA-I could down-regulate the expression of some inflammatory mediators including intercellular adhesion molecule type 1, vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein in serum and aorta of AS rabbits. In addition, real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses showed that the apoA-I infusions decreased the mRNA levels of two pro-inflammatory molecules, i.e. nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in aorta of AS rabbits, which was associated with a concomitant reduction in endothelial VCAM-1 and IL-6 mRNA transcription. Together, our results support the atheroprotective and prophylactic role of apoA-I in vivo, and this activity may be correlated with its anti-inflammatory effect.
Factors associated with type‐specific persistence of high‐risk human papillomavirus infection: A population‐based study

Persistent genital infection with high‐risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prerequisite for cervical cancer development. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with type‐specific persistence of HR HPV infections. From a population‐based cohort of 40,399 women participating in cervical cancer screening established during 2002–2005, we selected all HR HPV‐positive women (N = 7,778). During follow‐up (2005–2008), we collected cervical samples from these women and tested them for HPV DNA to determine type‐specific HR HPV persistence in the interval 1–4.5 years after enrolment. Data on hospitalisations, prescriptions and socioeconomic factors were obtained from nationwide registers. Women with abnormal cytology at baseline or who had undergone conisation during follow‐up were excluded. Factors associated with persistence were identified by logistic regression analysis. The overall rate of HR HPV persistence was 31.4%. The risk for persistence was significantly increased among women with a previous episode of genital warts (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04–1.74), current use of oral contraceptives (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.13–1.63) or use of systemic glucocorticoids (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.16–3.56). The number of pregnancies or births or use of a hormonal intrauterine device, hormonal therapy or nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs was not associated with risk for HR HPV persistence. A history of genital warts and current use of oral contraceptives or systemic glucocorticoids increased the risk, potentially indicating a decreased immune response to HPV infection. These findings suggest that host immune response characteristics are important in HR HPV persistence and consequently in cervical cancer development.
Diagnostic performance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in coronary artery disease

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a promising method for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD). The first reports of new diagnostic techniques indicated generally unrealistic diagnostic performance relying on retrospectively observed cut‐off values of quantitative parameters. Although visual analysis of CMR is the most applicable method for clinical work, its diagnostic performance is not fully elucidated for study components such as wall motion, perfusion and late enhancement in patients with different severity of CAD.
Higher‐level gait disorders: An open frontier

The term higher‐level gait disorders (HLGD) defines a category of balance and gait disorders that are not explained by deficits in strength, tone, sensation, or coordination. HLGD are characterized by various combinations of disequilibrium and impaired locomotion. A plethora of new imaging techniques are beginning to determine the neural circuits that are the basis of these disorders. Although a variety of neurodegenerative and other pathologies can produce HLGD, the most common cause appears to be microvascular disease that causes white‐matter lesions and thereby disrupts balance/locomotor circuits. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Chronic exercise increases macrophage-mediated tumor cytolysis in young and old mice

Lu, Q. , M. A. Ceddia, E. A. Price, S. -M. Ye, and J. A. Woods. Chronic exercise increases macrophage-mediated tumor cytolysis in young and old mice. Am. J. Physiol. 276 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 45): R482–R489, 1999. —In this study, we determined the effects of age and chronic treadmill running (16 wk; 5 days/wk; 45 min/day; 18–22 m/min) on resident peritoneal macrophage responsiveness to interferon-g (IFN-g) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in young (6 mo) and aged (22 mo) male BALB/cByJ mice by measuring cytolytic ability and production of reactive nitrogen products. Macrophages (.90% Mac-31) were incubated with various concentrations of IFN-g and LPS for 24 h. After washing, P815 tumor cells were utilized as targets in a 16-h 51Cr release assay. We found that aging resulted in a significant reduction in the ability of macrophages to respond to the highest doses of IFN-g and LPS and kill P815 cells (46 6 4 vs. 34 6 2% in young and old mice, respectively). Exercise training significantly increased macrophage cytolysis in both age groups (66 1 7 vs. 44 1 2% in young and old mice, respectively); this effect was larger in the young mice. Macrophages from young exercised mice also produced significantly (50–60%) more NO2 ; there was a tendency for higher NO2 2 in old exercisers. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) significantly reduced macrophage cytolysis and NO2 2 production and completely abrogated exercise-induced increases in these measures. RT-PCR analysis revealed significantly higher iNOS mRNA levels in macrophages obtained from the exercisetrained mice and significantly lower iNOS mRNA in old compared with young mice. We conclude that aging reduces and exercise training increases the capacity of resident peritoneal macrophages to respond to IFN-g and LPS with increased tumor cytolysis. Enhanced iNOS gene expression and NO2 2 production are likely the contributing mechanisms of the exercise-induced enhancement of cytolysis in young mice. While L-NMMA did block the exercise-induced increase in cytolysis, exercise did not increase NO2 2 or iNOS gene expression in the old mice, indicating perhaps the contribution of other cytolytic mechanisms in old mice.
Satellite Remote Sensing for Developing Time and Space Resolved Estimates of Ambient Particulate in Cleveland, OH

This article empirically demonstrates the use of fine resolution satellite-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) to develop time and space resolved estimates of ambient particulate matter (PM) ≤2.5 μm and ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameters (PM2.5 and PM10, respectively). AOD was computed at three different spatial resolutions, i.e., 2 km (means 2 km × 2 km area at nadir), 5 km, and 10 km, by using the data from MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites. Multiresolution AOD from MODIS (AODMODIS) was compared with the in situ measurements of AOD by NASA's AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) sunphotometer (AODAERONET) at Bondville, IL, to demonstrate the advantages of the fine resolution AODMODIS over the 10-km AODMODIS, especially for air quality prediction. An instrumental regression that corrects AODMODIS for meteorological conditions was used for developing a PM predictive model. The 2-km AODMODIS aggregated within 0.025° and 15-min intervals shows the best association with the in situ measurements of AODAERONET. The 2-km AODMODIS seems more promising to estimate time and space resolved estimates of ambient PM than the 10-km AODMODIS, because of better location precision and a significantly greater number of data points across geographic space and time. Utilizing the collocated AODMODIS and PM data in Cleveland, OH, a regression model was developed for predicting PM for all AODMODIS data points. Our analysis suggests that the slope of the 2-km AODMODIS (instrumented on meteorological conditions) is close to unity with the PM monitored on the ground. These results should be interpreted with caution, because the slope of AODMODIS ranges from 0.52 to 1.72 in the site-specific models. In the cross validation of the overall model, the root mean square error (RMSE) of PM10 was smaller (2.04 μg/m3 in overall model) than that of PM2.5 (2.5 μg/m3). The predicted PM in the AODMODIS data (∼2.34 million data points) was utilized to develop a systematic grid of daily PM at 5-km spatial resolution with the aid of spatiotemporal Kriging.
[Need for blood transfusion in premature infants in 2 Dutch perinatology centres particularly determined by blood sampling for diagnosis].

OBJECTIVE Determination of factors related to the need for transfusion in premature infants. DESIGN Descriptive. METHOD The need for transfusion in premature infants was determined in 2 academic centres: University Medical Center Utrecht and Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. The data had been acquired in another study. The factors under study were: hospital, pregnancy duration, birth weight, gender, time of clamping of the umbilical cord, total volume of blood sampled for diagnostic purposes, number of days of mechanical ventilation, total duration of admission and duration of the admission to the Neonatal Intensive care unit. Both hospitals followed the national interdisciplinary practice guideline 'Blood transfusion'. RESULTS The total volume ofsampled blood for diagnosis, the duration of the mechanical ventilation and the admission period were related to a greater need for transfusion. On the other hand, the chance of transfusions diminished with longer pregnancy duration or increased birth weight. The difference in need for blood transfusion between both centres was significant. The total volume of transfused erythrocytes showed a strong correlation with the volume sampled for diagnostic procedures. CONCLUSION Anaemia in neonates is strongly related to the amount of blood taken for diagnostic procedures. Alternatives for blood transfusions in premature infants, and consequently for the reduction of the number of donors per child, are to be sought in delayed clamping of the umbilical cord, use of erythropoietin and use ofautologous umbilical cord blood.
Virtual Reality Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Due to Motor Vehicle Accident

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex, multifaceted disorder encompassing behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and physiological factors. Although PTSD was only codified in 1980, there has been an increasing interest in this area of research. Unfortunately, relatively little attention has been given to the psychological treatment of motor vehicle accident survivors, which is remarkable because vehicular collisions are deemed the number one cause of PTSD. As the emotional consequences of vehicular collisions prevail, so does the need for more effective treatments. Randomized controlled clinical trials have identified exposure-based therapies as being the most efficacious for extinguishing fears. One type of exposure-based treatment, called virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), provides a safe, controlled, and effective therapeutic alternative that is not dependent on real-life props, situations, or even a person's imagination capabilities. This modality, while relatively new, has been implemented successfully in the treatment of a variety of anxiety disorders and may offer a particularly beneficial and intermediary step for the treatment of collision-related PTSD. In particular, VRET combined with physiological monitoring and feedback provides a unique opportunity for individuals to objectively recognize both anxiety and relaxation; learn how to manage their anxiety during difficult, albeit simulated, driving conditions; and then transfer these skills onto real-life roadways.
Getting warmer: the optimal distance for motivating climate change mitigation

CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION By KRISTINA HOWANSKY A thesis submitted to the Graduate School-New Brunswick Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Science Graduate Program in Psychology Written under the direction of Shana Cole, Ph.D. And approved by __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
Author ' s personal copy Path similarity evaluation using Bloom filters

The performance of several Internet applications often relies on the measurability of path similarity between different participants. In particular, the performance of content distribution networks mainly relies on the awareness of content sources topology information. It is commonly admitted nowadays that, in order to ensure either path redundancy or efficient content replication, topological similarities between sources is evaluated by exchanging raw traceroute data, and by a hop by hop comparison of the IP topology observed from the sources to the several hundred or thousands of destinations. In this paper, based on real data we collected, we advocate that path similarity comparisons between different Internet entities can be much simplified using lossy coding techniques, such as Bloom filters, to exchange compressed topology information. The technique we introduce to evaluate path similarity enforces both scalability and data confidentiality while maintaining a high level of accuracy. In addition, we demonstrate that our technique is scalable as it requires a small amount of active probing and is not targets
Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy: Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood

Consideration of GH re−testing should be performed in all adolescents reaching the transition period (if not at start of puberty) who had been previously diagnosed with idiopathic, isolated GH deficiency. In the presence of multiple hormone deficiencies and/or clear−cut evidence of organic disease, persistence of severe GH deficiency is much more likely. Thus, GH deficiency may be “confirmed” by a low serum IGF−I concentration. During the transition period, the optimal time to reassess the integrity of the GH−IGF−I axis after prior GH treatment, the specific testing protocol to use, and the definition of GH deficiency all remain unknown. During the transition period, patients should have their GH dose lowered with (upward) adjustments made on the basis of age−and gender−adjusted serum IGF−I concentrations. GH treatment during the transition period has been shown in most, but not all, studies to be beneficial in preventing development of the features of the adult GH deficiency syndrome. It is important to remember that, during the transition period in teenagers with GH deficiency, there must be initiation of a careful plan for transfer of care to an intermist−endocrinologist with expertise in management of hypothalamic−pituitary disease in young adults. Conflict of interest:None declared.
In Silico Mining of MicroRNA Signatures in Human Ovarian Cancer

During last decade an extensive research had been made on the microRNA's, their targets, their functions and their involvement in different diseases. The basic functioning of microRNA's is cell proliferation and cell death which provided the evidence for their involvement in cancers. Researchers put all of their efforts in unraveling the truths of microRNA roles in cancer prognosis and treatment but still there is a need of further investigation. In this paper we suggested an in silico approach for finding association of microRNA's with cancer. Our approach is more authentic in the sense that we chose those genes which are proved to be associated with ovarian cancer and then these genes were further analyzed for their targeting microRNA's. We predicted microRNA's that are confirm to be involved in human ovarian cancer by our method.
Changes in the incidence and determinants of employer-funded training in Britain, 1984-1994

Given the current political and economic importance attributed to private sector training for increasing the skills and productivity of the workforce, this thesis has examined, for the first time, how the determinants of employer-funded training changed for male and female full­ time employees in Britain over the decade 1984 to 1994. A related objective, which investigates the importance of personal characteristics, is to determine whether or not an employer-funded training differential exists between white and non-white, male and female, full-time employees in the British labour market. In order to investigate these issues we use data from the Labour Force Survey and Quarterly Labour Force Survey, and it is important to note that these are the only sources of data in Britain which allow this to be undertaken. Using logistic models and time-wise decomposition techniques we find that age, highest qualification, firm size and industry are consistently important factors determining training participation. Decomposition results suggest that the growth in employer-funded training between 1984 and 1989 was principally the result of increased demand for training and skilled labour by workers and firms, whilst the growth between 1989 and 1994 was due to the general improvement in the qualification base of workers rather than changes in the age or industry structures. These findings suggest that one key to increased training participation at the workplace is the continued reduction in the numbers of youngsters leaving school with low level or no qualifications. A separate analysis of the manufacturing sector confirmed these results. We find that non-white employees in Britain are disadvantaged in access to employerfunded training compared to their white counterparts. As such, non-whites are estimated to receive only about one-half of the training received by whites. We have argued that this could lead to future labour market disadvantage in terms of reduced promotion opportunities and wages.
A Survey Of The Accounting Information Systems Used By The Banking Industry In Albania

During the last two decades the banking and financial industry in Albania has undergone a major revolution regarding the products it offers as well as its organization and competitiveness. During the same period there has been an immense development of the information and communication technology in the banking industry and consequently an increase in the use of advanced information systems in the collection and processing of financial information by these institutions. Also, the globalization of the markets has increased the need to process the information faster and more efficiently, not only for a prompt decision making, but also to comply to financial supervision requirements and to better understand the market situation. In this paper we analyze how the information systems used by the banks in Albania impact their activities and daily operations. We use a survey to conduct an analysis of strategy matrix of McFarlan and how the banks of Albania position themselves in this matrix. We find out that all the surveyed banks view their information systems as strategic tools through which they adjust their market positioning to gain strategic advantage and product differentiation. The dependency on the information systems is considerably high and it is expected to increase in the near future as the investments for the systems are also expected to increase.
Co‐evolutionary patterns and diversification of ant–fungus associations in the asexual fungus‐farming ant Mycocepurus smithii in Panama

Partner fidelity through vertical symbiont transmission is thought to be the primary mechanism stabilizing cooperation in the mutualism between fungus‐farming (attine) ants and their cultivated fungal symbionts. An alternate or additional mechanism could be adaptive partner or symbiont choice mediating horizontal cultivar transmission or de novo domestication of free‐living fungi. Using microsatellite genotyping for the attine ant Mycocepurus smithii and ITS rDNA sequencing for fungal cultivars, we provide the first detailed population genetic analysis of local ant–fungus associations to test for the relative importance of vertical vs. horizontal transmission in a single attine species. M. smithii is the only known asexual attine ant, and it is furthermore exceptional because it cultivates a far greater cultivar diversity than any other attine ant. Cultivar switching could permit the ants to re‐acquire cultivars after garden loss, to purge inferior cultivars that are locally mal‐adapted or that accumulated deleterious mutations under long‐term asexuality. Compared to other attine ants, symbiont choice and local adaptation of ant–fungus combinations may play a more important role than partner‐fidelity feedback in the co‐evolutionary process of M. smithii and its fungal symbionts.