Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunomodulatory effects of hepatocyte growth factor in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Immune-mediated diseases of the CNS, such as multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), are characterized by the activation of antigen-presenting cells and the infiltration of autoreactive lymphocytes within the CNS, leading to demyelination, axonal damage, and neurological deficits. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic factor known for both neuronal and oligodendrocytic protective properties. Here, we assess the effect of a selective overexpression of HGF by neurons in the CNS of C57BL/6 mice carrying an HGF transgene (HGF-Tg mice). EAE induced either by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide or by adoptive transfer of T cells was inhibited in HGF-Tg mice. Notably, the level of inflammatory cells infiltrating the CNS decreased, except for CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, which increased. A strong T-helper cell type 2 cytokine bias was observed: IFN-γ and IL-12p70 decreased in the spinal cord of HGF-Tg mice, whereas IL-4 and IL-10 increased. Antigen-specific response assays showed that HGF is a potent immunomodulatory factor that inhibits dendritic cell (DC) function along with differentiation of IL-10–producing Treg cells, a decrease in IL-17–producing T cells, and down-regulation of surface markers of T-cell activation. These effects were reversed fully when DC were pretreated with anti-cMet (HGF receptor) antibodies. Our results suggest that, by combining both potentially neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects, HGF is a promising candidate for the development of new treatments for immune-mediated demyelinating diseases associated with neurodegeneration such as multiple sclerosis.
Nucleic and amplification testing for screening of individual blood units

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Etapy projektu wdrażania nowego produktu w branży farmaceutycznej

The aim of the article is to present and discuss a model approach to the process of implementing a new product in the pharmaceutical industry on the example of an OTC drug. A description of the pharmaceutical market was made, taking into account the classification of typical products. Presentation of the specifics of the industry and the product made it possible to indicate differences and selected joint stages of the implementation project in the pharmaceutical industry in comparison with the general model described in the literature for the process of introducing a new product to the market. Against this background, an analysis of the stages for the process of introducing OTC drug to the market is presented.
Estructura impositiva y crecimiento económico

Este trabajo examina la relacion entre la estructura impositiva y el crecimiento economico, mediante el uso de variables que delimitan los diversos tipos de impuestos utilizados por los gobiernos. Se llevo a cabo una estimacion de ecuaciones de crecimiento economico aumentadas por capital humano y por indicadores que capturan la estructura y la carga impositiva. Se utilizaron datos de panel de 33 paises (32 de la OCDE y Costa Rica) de 1965 a 2013 y una especificacion de Correccion de Errores para modelar las dinamicas de corto plazo explicitamente. La metodologia empleada (Pooled Mean Group) permitio controlar por efectos fijos no observables y realizar estimaciones heterogeneas en el corto plazo y homogeneas en el largo plazo entre paises. Se encuentra que, si bien la carga tributaria afecta negativamente el crecimiento economico, cierto tipo de impuestos puede contrarrestar o reforzar este efecto.
5′ Fluorogenic PCR Assay for the iap Gene of Listeria species

We developed a fluorogenic 5′ nuclease polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the iap gene, which is highly conserved in all Listeria species. We used this assay to screen tissues obtained during a survey of cull sows. To date, we have detected Listeria species in in caecal contents (66%, 23 of 35 samples), tonsil homogenates (67%, 4 of 6 samples), and ileocaecal lymph nodes (75%, 6 of 8 samples), but infrequently in feces collected before slaughter (4.4%,1 of 23 samples). Taken together, these data indicate that second-generation 5′ nuclease PCR (TaqMan) assays accelerates detection and quantitation of Listeria during pork production. This may reduce product recalls as well as reduce human illness and deaths. The development of portable instruments for 5′ nuclease assays will expedite field surveys.
LASER BIOLOGY: Peculiarities of studying an isolated neuron by the method of laser interference microscopy

Actual aspects of using a new method of laser interference microscopy (LIM) for studying nerve cells are discussed. The peculiarities of the LIM display of neurons are demonstrated by the example of isolated neurons of a pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. A comparative analysis of the images of the cell and subcellular structures of a neuron obtained by the methods of interference microscopy, optical transmission microscopy, and confocal microscopy is performed. Various aspects of the application of LIM for studying the lateral dimensions and internal structure of the cytoplasm and organelles of a neuron in cytology and cell physiology are discussed.
Classical and Nonclassical Melanocytes in Vertebrates

Melanogenic cells produce melanin, a polymer based on tyrosine, in specialized organelles, the melanosomes. This synthesis is catalyzed by an enzyme that converts tyrosine into dopaquinone, tyrosinase (Tyr). In mammals and birds, cutaneous pigment cells are described as “ classical melanocytes, ” and are involved in skin and hair pigmentation. Melanocytes in other locations, such as the eye, inner ear, meninges, adipose tissue, heart, and, possibly, bone, are described as “ nonclassical. ” The pigment cell precursor in mammals and birds is called the melanoblast, and the mature pigment cell is called the melanocyte (Figures 2.1 and 2.2 ). Melanocytes are dendritic cells that produce melanin, the natural pigment of the skin. Melanin is largely responsible for the color of the skin, hair, and eyes, and skin appendages. It plays an important role in protecting skin cells against UV radiation. Melanin is produced in the melanosome, a type of cytoplasmic vesicle related to the lysosome. Some of the quinone intermediate products of melanin synthesis are toxic to cells. The melanosome confi nes these compounds, thereby protecting the cell against their harmful effects. Two melanin pigments are synthesized during melanogenesis: eumelanin, which is brown/black in color, and pheomelanin, which is yellow/red in color. The overall color of the appendages and skin results from regulation of the balance between these two types of pigment. Only eumelanin can effi ciently protect cells against UV. Three enzymes are involved in melanogenesis. The fi rst, Tyrosinase (Tyr), plays an essential role in the early stages of melanin synthesis. It hydroxylates l - tyrosine to generate l - 3,4 - dihydroxyphenylalanine ( l - dopa ) and then oxidizes l - dopa to generate l - dopaquinone, which spontaneously polymerizes to generate eumelanin. The other two enzymes, tyrosinase - related protein 1 ( Tyrp1 ) and tyrosinase - related protein 2 ( Tyrp2 , also called dopachrome tautomerase ( Dct )), share some similarity with Tyr and fi ne - tune the synthesis of eumelanin from l - dopaquinone. Pheomelanin is produced from dopaquinone and cysteine. In many mammals, including mice, the agouti signaling pathway regulates this switching of melanin type within cells. 2
Effect of Temperature on Survival of Meloidogyne incognita in Flooded and Fallow Muck Soil

Infective populations of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood remained high in muck soil after 4 wks of flooding or fallowing at temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30C. After 8 wks, infective populations were still high for temperatures of 10 and 15C but there was a sharp reduction in infectivity at 20C and further reductions at 25 and 30C in both fallowed and flooded soil. After 12 wks, infectivity was only slightly reduced at 10 and 15C but was again greatly reduced at 20C and was very low at 25 and 30C in both fallowed and flooded soil. Infectivity was slightly higher after 8 and 12 wks in soil that had been flooded than in soil that had been fallowed. Growth of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) was greatly enhanced by the reduced infectivity of the nematodes in soil held at the higher temperatures.
THE ROLE OF LONG-CHAIN ACYL-COENZYME A SYNTHETASE 1 (ACSL-1) IN LIPID METABOLISM IN HUMAN SKELETAL MUSCLE PRIMARY MYOTUBES.

Obesity is considered a major health threat to the U.S. due to being a strong risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases. The prevalence and severity of obesity is even greater among some subpopulations in the U.S. (African-American Women). In this regard metabolic dysfunction may be associated with an impairment of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (mtFAO) which can lead to over accumulation of bioactive lipids such as fatty acyl-CoA species. While reductions in mitochondrial content may be a precipitating variable reductions in key enzymes that lead to partitioning fatty acids towards mitochondrial oxidation may also be a contributing factor. Recently reductions of acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) activity have been identified in skeletal muscle. Long chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) exists as five different isoforms the roles of which are to activate fatty acids to acyl-CoAs in the initial step of fatty acid metabolism (synthesis or oxidation). In liver of rodents ACSL-1 has been thought to direct fatty acids toward mtFAO but little data exists in human skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to understand the potential role of ACSL-1 activity in lipid metabolism in human skeletal muscle. To address the purpose of the study we employed a model of underexpression/knockdown (UEX/KD) of ACSL-1 in primary human skeletal muscle cells (HSKM). Based on data from our laboratory ACSL-1 overexpression significantly increased mtFAO in HSKM cells from obese individuals. Therefore we hypothesized that ACSL-1 UEX/KD would reduce mtFAO in this tissue. To address our hypothesis we conducted fatty acid oxidation and lipid synthesis experiments following 48 h of lipid exposure in HSKM primary myotubes obtained from percutaneous biopsies of the vastus lateralis transfected with either shRNA (KD) or scrambled RNA (control) plasmid vectors. Results demonstrated that ACSL-1 was significantly reduced (P<0.05) following KD vs. control. However following ACSL-1 KD we observed an absence of change in complete (CO2) and acid soluble metabolites (ASM) incomplete metabolites oxidation palmitate. In addition we also reported no alterations of total lipid synthesis and esterification of acyl-CoA toward MAG DAG and TAG synthesis despite the supply of exogenous lipids in our cell model. This is the first report of successful transfection and ACSL-1 KD in HSKM cells. Given the inconsistent findings with our original hypothesis we now hypothesize the presence of compensatory mechanisms that exist following UEX/KD of ACSL-1 to offset the negative effects of ACSL-1 KD. Alternatives include upregulation of additional ACSL isoforms (e.g. ACSL-5) and/or elevations in peroxisomal activity.
A Mixed Methods Study of High School Teachers' and Administrators' Perceptions of School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports is a framework used by educators to improve school climates by developing student academic and social skills through the alignment of behavioral expectations, positive acknowledgement for appropriate behaviors, the encouragement of positive staff and student relationships, and data-based decision making. Even though PBIS is comprised of three tiers of increased support, the majority of schools in the United States have only implemented the first tier, or SchoolWide PBIS. Furthermore, due to barriers that are unique to high school settings, most of the schools that have implemented SWPBIS have been elementary and middle schools. The purpose of this explanatory, sequential mixed methods study was to examine teacher and administrator perceptions of SWPBIS in a Middle Georgia high school. The study school was in the first year of SWPBIS implementation and was only partially implementing their framework at the time of the study. Twenty-seven teachers and three administrators at the study school completed the PBIS Perception Survey, and the results were averaged to establish a baseline for the qualitative portion of the study. Additionally, eight teachers and two administrators participated in semi-structured interviews for the qualitative segment of the study. This study was developed around one overarching research question: What are high school teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions of SWPBIS? Additionally, three subquestions directed the research. 1) What are high school teachers’ perceptions of SWPBIS? 2) What are high school administrators’ perceptions of SWPBIS? 3) To what extent is there a difference between high school teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions of SWPBIS? Through qualitative data analysis, four themes emerged which included teacher and administrator
Dietary zinc deficiency affects blood linoleic acid:dihomo‐γ‐linolenic acid ratio: a sensitive physiological marker of zinc status in vivo (Gallus gallus) (1043.2)

Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient for over 300 enzymatic reactions and multiple biochemical and structural processes. Sensitive biological markers of Zn status are needed, especially in delineating varying stages of Zn deficiency. Our objective was to evaluate the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) as a model to test dietary Zn deficiency and to assess the sensitivity of a potential Zn biomarker, erythrocyte linoleic acid: dihomo‐γ‐linolenic acid (LA:DGLA) ratio. Diets identical in composition except for Zn concentration were formulated and birds (n=12) were randomly separated upon hatching into two dietary groups, Zn(+) and Zn(‐) (42 and 2.5µg/g Zn, respectively). Zn intake, BW, and serum Zn were measured weekly. Blood was collected weekly for erythrocyte fatty acid analysis. After 4 wks, tissues were collected for gene expression analysis. BW, Zn intake, and serum Zn were higher in the Zn(+) vs. Zn(‐) group (P<.05). Hepatic Δ6‐desaturase, TNFα, IL1β, and IL6 gene expression were higher in the Zn(+) group (P<.05). The LA:DGLA ratio was significantly elevated in the Zn(‐) group compared to the Zn(+) group (22.6±0.5 and 18.5±0.5, % w/w, respectively, P<.001). This study suggests erythrocyte LA:DGLA ratio is able to differentiate Zn status between subjects with varying levels of Zn deficiency, and may be a novel biomarker to assess dietary Zn manipulation in vivo.
Polymorphic Analysis of MHC-Linked Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70-2 AND HSP70-HOM) Genes: Their Susceptibility and Prognostic Implications in Breast Carcinoma Cases of Kashmiri Population

Background: Heat Shock Proteins (HSP’s) are expressed at high levels in wide range of tumors. They are determining factors for tumor cell survival as they promote autonomous cell proliferation, inhibit cell death pathways, delay senescence as well as influence the immune response to tumor cells. Purpose of the study: We designed a large scale case-control study to characterize the frequency of two polymorphisms within the MHC classIII-linked HSP70 genes, Hsp70-2 and Hsp70-hom, in order to find any association of these genotypic variants for predisposition to and clinical outcome of breast carcinoma patients from Kashmir valley in North India. Polymerase Chain Reaction and restriction enzymes were utilized to characterize the frequency of two polymorphisms with in Hsp70-2 and Hsp70-hom genes in 114 breast carcinoma cases and 90 healthy controls from the same population of Kashmir. Association of high frequency allelic/genotypic variants of Hsp70genes with various clinicopathological features of prognostic significance was assessed by Chi-square test using SPSS software. Results: In the present study, allelic frequency of Hsp70-2 A/G heterozygote (0.88) (p=0.008) was found to be significantly high in breast carcinoma cases compared to control (0.744) with a Relative Risk =2.67 fold. Conversely, the allelic frequency of Hsp70-2A/A allele in homozygous condition was significantly low in breast carcinoma cases and worked out to be 0.078 (Vs 0.244 in control) with p=0.001, implicating it as a protective allele against breast cancer in subjects with this genotype. Similarly, significantly high frequency of 0.50 (Vs 0.30 in control) of Hsp70-homC/C allele was found in homozygous condition in breast cancer cases suggestive of a positive relative risk associated with this genotype (RR=2.42) (p=0.003). The overall genotype frequency data analysis of Hsp70-2 and Hsp70-hom genes was significant (χ2=11.46, p=0.003; and χ2=10.56, p=0.005). The study also reveals considerable association of high frequency alleles of HSP70 genes, especially of Hsp70-2A/G or G/G in breast tumors with clinico-pathological features of poor prognosis. Conclusion: These results indicate that the relative risk of breast cancer associated with Hsp70-2 and Hsp70-hom gene polymorphisms is confined to Hsp70-2 A/G or G/G and Hsp70homC/C haplotype in our population. The study, therefore, suggests Hsp70-2A/G orG/G and Hsp70homC/C genotypes as potential susceptibility markers and independent prognostic indicators in breast carcinoma patients in Kashmiri population.
Rapid Academic Writing

If the title page is the welcome mat, the abstract is the front door to your presentation. The abstract will appear in databases so that readers or researchers can tell very quickly whether or not your work will be relevant and interesting to them. For most articles you have 120 words—or for a thesis or dissertation a whopping 350 Rapid Academic Writing 77 words—to summarize your masterpiece. You want to work in as much solid, specific information as you can; there is no room for repetition or fluff. Since abstracts for doctoral dissertations will be published in Dissertation Abstracts International and other databases, include names of specific relevant places and full names of specific individuals, along with keywords that will be useful in electronic retrieval. Following is a fairly easy process for putting your abstract together. List out your chapter titles and your firstand second-level headings. If you have formed these carefully, they should express in simple and condensed form the main ideas and the groupings of supporting information for each chapter. As you look at this list, you can see at a glance both the outline of content and the key words you have chosen to express it. Choose the most important points. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2010) suggests no more than four or five. You may want to discipline yourself to reflect your pattern of development and the main relationships that you bring out in your work. Just summarize. Do not use the abstract as a “hook” to catch attention or as a place to validate you topic (unless it is BADLY in need of validation). Resist the temptation to use the abstract to make an evaluation of your “excellent” work. Leave statements of your strengths and limitations for later.
THE LINKAGE OF THE AMINO GROUP IN HEPARIN

Many erroneous assumptions have been made from time to time as to the chemical nature and the composition of heparin. To these we must now add the assumption (l-6) that heparin contains an acetyl group, which at one time seemed fairly well justified. As pointed out by Fiirth and coworkers (7), the amino sugar is monoacetylated in all the known mucopolysaccharides and in chitin. Thus, acetic acid occurs in chondroitinsulfuric acid (8), in the hyaluronic acid of Meyer (3), in the immunopolysaccharide of type I pneumococci (9), and in the blood group substances (10, 11). The first analytical findings on heparin also supported this view. The analytical methods applied, however, soon proved somewhat unreliable. The Kuhn-Roth (12) alkaline hydrolysis in methyl alcohol, applied in the first communication (l), later proved, when applied to chondroitinsulfuric acid (2), to liberate a large excess of acid, as found simultaneously by Friedrich and Sternberg (13). When, on the contrary, the toluenesulfonic acid was used for hydrolysis, either as recommended by Friedrich and Rapoport (14) or as modified by Friedrich and Sternberg, no acetic acid whatsoever was found in lieparin. Taking into account the extreme slowness with which reducing groups are liberated on acid hydrolysis of heparin, Jorpes and BergstrGm, who unfortunately did not follow the liberation of the amino group quantitatively, thought that strong hydrolytic agents were necessary, such as 10 per cent (by volume) of sulfuric acid. In fact, acetic acid was also identified by them as silver salt in the distillate after acid hydrolysis. In the meantime a negative finding was made by Masamune, Suzuki, and Kondoh (15) and by Wolfrom and coworkers (16). The latter authors applied both the toluenesulfonic acid method and the chromic acid oxidation method for the determination of the CH& group. The findings of the Japanese workers and of Wolfrom and coworkers necessitated a reinvestigation of the question with more reliable methods.
Combined inhibition of NO, prostaglandins and EDHFs inhibits ATP‐induced vasodilation in the human leg

Adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate (ATP) can bind to P2y‐purinergicreceptors and induce vasodilation in skeletal muscle, but the precise mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear. To investigate whether ATP induced vasodilation is mediated by the action of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins and/or endothelial‐derived hyperpolarizing factors (EDHFs), we measured leg hemodynamics before and during 5 min of intra‐arterial infusion of ATP (0.41±0.04μmol min−1;mean±SEM) in 8 healthy, male subjects (24±2 years, 76±3 kg) with and without co‐infusion of indomethacin (INDO; 621±17 μg min−1), NG‐mono‐methyl‐L‐arginine (L‐NMMA; 12.4±0.3 mg min−1), tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA; 12.4±0.3 mg min−1) or INDO + L‐NMMA + TEA. Basal leg blood flow (LBF) was 0.46±0.06 l min−1, but was lower with either L‐NMMA (0.32±0.03) or all three inhibitors (0.28±0.06)(P<0.05), whereas infusion of either TEA or INDO had no effect on basal flow. ATP infusion increased LBF to 2.4±0.2 l min−1, but with co‐infusion of either INDO or L‐NMMA alone, or all three inhibitors combined, it was 13±8, 22±8 and 39±5 % lower, respectively, than with ATP infusion alone. Infusion of TEA did not alter the ATP induced hyperemia. The lower LBF with ATP combined with INDO, L‐NMMA and triple blockade was associated with a 8–12% higher blood pressure and a 15–45 % lower vascular conductance, while heart rate and leg VO2 remained similar. These results indicate that both NO and prostaglandins play an important role in ATP mediated vasodilatation, whereas EDHFs appear to be less important.