Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cholesterol Enrichment of Human Monocyte/Macrophages Induces Surface Exposure of Phosphatidylserine and the Release of Biologically-Active Tissue Factor–Positive Microvesicles

Objective—Biologically significant amounts of two procoagulant molecules, phosphatidylserine (PS) and tissue factor (TF), are transported by monocyte/macrophage-derived microvesicles (MVs). Because cellular cholesterol accumulation is an important feature of atherosclerotic vascular disease, we now examined effects of cholesterol enrichment on MV release from human monocytes and macrophages. Methods and Results—Cholesterol enrichment of human THP-1 monocytes, alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tripled their total MV generation, as quantified by flow cytometry based on particle size and PS exposure. The subset of these MVs that were also TF-positive was likewise increased by cellular cholesterol enrichment, and these TF-positive MVs exhibited a striking 10-fold increase in procoagulant activity. Moreover, cholesterol enrichment of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages also increased their total as well as TF-positive MV release, and these TF-positive MVs exhibited a similar 10-fold increase in procoagulant activity. To explore the mechanisms of enhanced MV release, we found that cholesterol enrichment of monocytes caused PS exposure on the cell surface by as early as 2 hours and genomic DNA fragmentation in a minority of cells by 20 hours. Addition of a caspase inhibitor at the beginning of these incubations blunted both cholesterol-induced apoptosis and MV release. Conclusions—Cholesterol enrichment of human monocyte/macrophages induces the generation of highly biologically active, PS-positive MVs, at least in part through induction of apoptosis. Cholesterol-induced monocyte/macrophage MVs, both TF-positive and TF-negative, may be novel contributors to atherothrombosis.
Effects of the herbicide molinate on mixotrophic growth, photosynthetic pigments, and protein content of Anabaena sphaerica under different light conditions.

The effects of the carbamate herbicide molinate on growth and chlorophyll a, biliprotein, and protein content of the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena sphaerica grown mixotrophically under 3000- and 300-lux light intensity were studied. Under two light intensities, the three concentrations of molinate tested (5, 25, and 50 microg ml-1) can significantly inhibit algal growth in a dose-dependent manner. The high concentration of molinate (50 microg ml-1) stimulated the synthesis of chlorophyll a and protein, but inhibited the formation of biliprotein, and these effects appear to be greater at 3000 lux than at 300 lux. The effects of the other two concentrations of molinate (5 and 25 microg ml-1) on chlorophyll a and biliprotein varied with time, but 5 microg ml-1 molinate had an inhibitory effect on the synthesis of protein. It was demonstrated that different concentrations of molinate had different effects on chlorophyll a, biliprotein, and protein content, which varied with light intensity. The results support the suggestion that the physiological mode of molinate toxicity to A. sphaerica is related to its interference with the metabolism of protein, particularly the formation and functional effectiveness of some special protein.
5‐azacytidine alters TGF‐β and BMP signaling and induces maturation in articular chondrocytes

Maintenance of the articular surface depends on the function of articular chondrocytes (ACs) which produce matrix and are constrained from undergoing the maturation program seen in growth plate chondrocytes. Only during pathologic conditions, such as in osteoarthritis, are maturational constraints lost causing recapitulation of the process that occurs during endochondral ossification. With the aim of establishing a model to identify regulatory mechanisms that suppress AC hypertrophy, we examined the capability of 5‐azacytidine (Aza) to have an impact on the maturational program of these cells. Primary ACs do not spontaneously express markers of maturation and are refractory to treatment by factors that normally regulate chondrocyte maturation. However, following exposure to Aza, ACs (i) were induced to express type X collagen (colX), Indian hedgehog, and alkaline phosphatase and (ii) showed altered colX and AP expression in response to bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2), transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), and parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP). Since Aza unmasked responsiveness of ACs to BMP‐2 and TGF‐β, we examined the effect of Aza treatment on signaling via these pathways by assessing the expression of the TGF‐β Smads (2 and 3), the BMP‐2 Smads (1 and 5), and the Smad2 and 3‐degrading ubiquitin E3 ligase Smurf2. Aza‐treated ACs displayed less Smad2 and 3 and increased Smad1, 5, and Smurf2 protein and showed a loss of TGF‐β signaling on the P3TP‐luciferase reporter. Suggesting that Aza‐induction of Smurf2 may be responsible for the loss of Smad2 and 3 protein via this pathway, immunoprecipitation and metabolic labeling experiments confirmed that Aza accelerated the ubiquitination and degradation of these targets. Overall, Aza‐treated ACs represent a novel model for the study of mechanisms that regulate maturational potential of articular cartilage, with the data suggesting that maturation of these cells may be due to up‐regulation of Smad1 and 5 coupled with a Smurf2‐dependent degradation of Smad2 and 3 and loss of TGF‐β signaling. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Leminorella, a new genus of Enterobacteriaceae: identification of Leminorella grimontii sp. nov. and Leminorella richardii sp. nov. found in clinical specimens

Leminorella is proposed as a new genus for the group of Enterobacteriaceae formerly known as Enteric Group 57. Strains of Leminorella gave positive tests for H2S production, acid production from L-arabinose and D-xylose, and tyrosine clearing; they were negative for indole production, Voges-Proskauer, urea hydrolysis, phenylalanine deaminase, motility, gelatin liquefaction, lysine and ornithine decarboxylases, arginine dihydrolase, growth in KCN, and acid production from adonitol, D-arabitol, cellobiose, erythritol, D-galactose, myo-inositol, lactose, maltose, D-mannitol, D-mannose, melibiose, alpha-CH3-glucoside, raffinose, L-rhamnose, salicin, D-sorbitol, sucrose, and trehalose. By DNA hybridization, strains of Leminorella were only 3 to 16% related to other Enterobacteriaceae and were divided into three groups. Leminorella grimontii is proposed as the type species for the genus and strain CDC 1944-81, ATCC 33999, is designated as the type strain. There were four strains of L. grimontii from stool specimens and two from urine specimens. L. richardii is proposed as the name for the second species (type strain, CDC 0978-82, ATCC 33998). All four L. richardii strains were from stool specimens. L. grimontii can be distinguished from L. richardii because it produces gas from glucose (100%) and acid from dulcitol (83%) and is methyl red positive (100%). One strain, CDC 3346-72, was more related to L. grimontii by DNA hybridization than to L. richardii, but the lower relatedness to both of these species indicated that it may be a third species. Biochemically it could not be distinguished from L. grimontii. All Leminorella strains were resistant (no zone of inhibition) to ampicillin, carbenicillin, and cephalothin. Some of the Leminorella strains were sent to us for Salmonella serotyping, and two reacted weakly in Salmonella antisera. The clinical significance of Leminorella is unknown.
Approach to the patient with a cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodule.

BACKGROUND Fine-needle aspiration remains the primary diagnostic intervention for the evaluation of most thyroid nodules larger than 1-1.5 cm. Although most aspirates provide diagnostic cytology, approximately 15-25% will be classified indeterminate (often referred to as follicular neoplasm, suspicious for carcinoma, or atypical). In such cases, abnormal cellular findings preclude interpretation of benignity, although only a minority will prove cancerous upon final histopathology. Nonetheless, patients with indeterminate aspirates are commonly referred for consideration of hemi- or near-total thyroidectomy. Recently, improved understanding and novel investigation of clinical, radiological, cytological, and molecular factors has allowed improved stratification of cancer risk. CONCLUSION Although surgery continues to be commonly recommended, strategies for such patients should increasingly seek to define treatment based on the estimation of an individual's thyroid cancer risk in comparison with associated operative risk and morbidity. In doing so, the rate of unnecessary surgical procedures and associated complications can be reduced.
Mismatch circuit aging modeling and simulations for robust product design and pre-/post-silicon verification

As technology scales down, PMOS NBTI-induced mismatch, in addition to the NBTI mean-shifts and time0-Vt variation, is critical for designing circuitry having matched pair transistors, such as OP amplifier. This paper covers mismatch aging models incorporated into design simulation tool for PMIC products and used the Monte-Carlo simulation to consider process and systematic variations for robust design. Circuit simulation for PMIC OP Amp and its output characteristics were investigated and then further validated through the post-silicon HTOL stress. The pre-silicon simulation further enables to optimize HTOL stress conditions.
From Individual Resource to Social Capital: The Mechanism of How Political Skill Affect Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention

From the perspective of individual resource and social capital, this paper aims to explain how employees’ political skill affect their job satisfaction and turnover intention, through the mediating role of popularity. Using a sample of 237 dyad surveys from supervisors and employees in the Yangtze River Delta of China, we found that: 1) political skill is positively correlated with job satisfaction and negatively correlated with turnover intention, and that these correlations are partially mediated by individual popularity; 2) positive affect (PA) moderates the relationship between political skill and job satisfaction, and negative affect (NA) moderates the relationship between political skill and turnover intention. The implications of our findings and future research directions are discussed.
The Consequences of Public Employment: Evidence from Italian Municipalities

We investigate the consequences of public employment on local economies. We start by presenting a spatial-equilibrium framework, to highlight that the housing market is an important channel through which a variation in public employment affects private employment. We then provide empirical evidence from Italian municipalities, focusing on the strong contraction in the public sector workforce that occurred between the last two Censuses (2001-2011). We use an IV identification strategy that exploits the fact that variations in local public employment were strongly influenced by central government decisions, with little reference to the economic conditions of the municipalities. Our results suggest that exogenous contractions in public employment lead to an increase of private jobs, and that competition in the housing market seems to be a relevant explanation for this finding.
White Blood Cell Differentials of Northern Cricket Frogs (Acris c. crepitans) with a Compilation of Published Values from Other Amphibians

Abstract Herpetologists are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of hematological parameters for evaluating the welfare of their study animals. In particular, differential counts of white blood cells (from blood smears) are now commonly performed on amphibians, although interpretation of such counts relies on some knowledge of the normal range for the species in question, and for many species this range is not known. In this study we examined blood smears from 79 cricket frogs (Acris c. crepitans) from two ponds in northeastern Georgia to establish reference ranges of white blood cell differentials for this species and to explore possible differences in relative white blood cell numbers between sexes, ponds, and body sizes. For comparison, we also compiled values of many other amphibians from published and unpublished records. We found that lymphocytes made up the majority (68.3%) of white blood cells in cricket frogs, followed by neutrophils (22.4%). There was no difference in relative cell numbers of any type between sexes, nor was there an association with body size. Relative numbers of certain cell types (lymphocytes and neutrophils) varied between ponds. In general the values for cricket frogs resembled those of other amphibians, with high numbers of lymphocytes and neutrophils and low numbers of eosinophils, basophils and monocytes. However, in assembling the records for other species we discovered that all Ambystomatid salamanders examined thus far have markedly elevated values of eosinophils compared to other amphibian species. Moreover, their eosinophil counts may be the highest of all vertebrates, and clearly warrant further study to determine their significance.
Gobernanza corporativa y orientación emprendedora de las pymes familiares: un análisis de la influencia de la implicación familiar a distintos niveles

[ES] La actitud emprendedora de las empresas es clave para competir en un entorno economico globalizado y dinamico. Por ello, resulta de especial interes el analisis de los factores que promueven o dificultan la orientacion emprendedora (OE) de las organizaciones. En el caso de las empresas familiares, la interaccion entre la familia y la empresa puede afectar directamente a la OE, si bien ese efecto puede variar dependiendo de si se produce en el equipo directivo o en el Consejo de Administracion. Ademas, el efecto de la implicacion familiar en ambos organos puede verse afectada por sus respectivos tamanos. Basandonos en una muestra de 91 pymes familiares, este trabajo demuestra el efecto negativo que sobre la OE tienen una alta proporcion de familiares en el Consejo y en el equipo directivo, efecto que se ve acentuado cuando el numero de decisores en cada organo es mayor. Por su parte, este estudio tambien constata que la involucracion de diferentes generaciones familiares en el equipo directivo tiene un efecto positivo sobre la OE, disminuyendo esta influencia en los equipos directivos mas grandes. Ademas de las implicaciones teoricas que de estos hallazgos se derivan, son especialmente interesantes las implicaciones practicas para los gestores y duenos de las pymes familiares que se encuentran inmersas en un periodo de profesionalizacion. Asi, este estudio puede ser de ayuda a la hora de disenar el tamano y la composicion del equipo directivo y del Consejo de Administracion de este tipo de organizaciones.
Microbial transformation of kepone

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain KO3 and a mixed aerobic enrichment culture, isolated from sewage sludge lagoon water, were found to aerobically transform the chlorinated insecticide Kepone, yielding monohydro-Kepone. Identification of the product was confirmed by gas chromatography and electron impact mass spectrometry. The mixed culture and P. aeruginosa strain KO3 produced about 4 and 16%, respectively, dihydro-Kepone, determined by cochromatography using authentic standards. Reduced amounts of monohydro-Kepone, compared with the mixed and pure cultures, were produced by James River sediment microorganisms. Kepone was not utilized as a sole carbon or energy source by any of the bacteria or mixed cultures examined in this study.
Diversity of the CD8+ T-Cell Response to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Proteins among Persons with Genital Herpes

ABSTRACT Cytolytic T cells play a major role in controlling herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections in humans. In an effort to more thoroughly evaluate the response to HSV-2 directly, ex vivo, we developed an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay that utilized pools of overlapping synthetic peptides presented by autologous dendritic cells to purified CD8+ T cells. Donor response rates to individual open reading frames (ORFs) ranged from fewer than 5% responding to as many as 70% responding, with the greatest frequency of responses (by ORF) being directed against UL39, UL25, UL27, ICP0, UL46, and UL47 in descending order of frequency. HSV-2-seropositive subjects responded to as few as 3 or as many as 46 of the 48 ORFs tested, with a median of 11 ORFs recognized. HLA-B*07 expression correlated with stronger responses overall that were directed primarily against UL49 and UL46. Cumulative precursor frequencies in the blood ranged from 500 to almost 6,000 HSV-2 spot-forming units/106 CD8+ T cells. The magnitude and breadth of the response in the infected population were greater than previously appreciated. Whether this variability in the CD8+ T-cell response within individuals is associated with the frequency of viral reactivation warrants further study.
An on-line algorithm for anomaly detection in trajectory data

An algorithm for anomaly detection in trajectory data is presented. The algorithm has an intrinsic capability of handling spatial and temporal data shifts as well as dealing with trajectories of unequal lengths and, possibly, non-uniformly sampled in time. Further, it has low computational complexity and can be used in an on-line setting. The main idea of the algorithm is to extract a mean path that is “normal” for the monitored route, and with respect to the mean path, calculate the anomaly score of an acquired trajectory by means of a statistical test. The algorithm is evaluated for a simulated test scenario, where it finds all anomalous trajectories while raising no false alarms. A test on a real data set, containing trajectories of freight ships traveling through the English Channel, also proves the algorithm to perform well.
Single-site mutations in the conserved alternating-arginine region affect ionic channels formed by CryIAa, a Bacillus thuringiensis toxin

The role of the third domain of CryIAa, a Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal toxin, in toxin-induced membrane permeabilization in a receptor-free environment was investigated. Planar lipid bilayer experiments were conducted with the parental toxin and five proteins obtained by site-directed mutagenesis in block 4, an arginine-rich, highly conserved region of the protein. Four mutants were constructed by replacing the first arginine in position 21 by a lysine (R521K), a glutamine (R521Q), a histidine (R521H), or a glutamic acid (R521E). A fifth mutant was obtained by replacing the fourth arginine by a lysine (R527K). Like CryIAa, the mutants formed cation-selective channels. A limited but significant reduction in channel conductance was observed for all mutants except R521H. The effect was more dramatic for the voltage dependence of the channels formed by R521K and R521Q, which was reversed compared to that of the parental toxin. This study provides the first direct evidence of a functional role for domain III in membrane permeabilization. Our results suggest that residues of the positive arginine face of block 4 interact with domain I, the putative pore-forming region of CryIAa.
Sod2 overexpression preserves myoblast mitochondrial mass and function, but not muscle mass with aging

Mice lacking superoxide dismutase‐2 (SOD2 or MnSOD) die during embryonic or early neonatal development, with diffuse superoxide‐induced mitochondrial damage. Although stem and progenitor cells are exquisitely sensitive to oxidant stress, they have not been well studied in MnSOD2‐manipulated mouse models. Patterns of proliferation and differentiation of cultured myoblasts (muscle progenitor cells), PI3‐Akt signaling during differentiation, and the maintenance of mitochondrial mass with aging using myoblasts from young (3–4 week old) and aged (27–29 months old) MnSOD2‐overexpressing (Sod2‐Tg) and heterozygote (Sod2+/−) mice were characterized by us. Overexpression of MnSOD2 in myoblasts had a protective effect on mitochondrial DNA abundance and some aspects of mitochondrial function with aging, and preservation of differentiation potential. Sod2 deficiency resulted in defective signaling in the PI3‐Akt pathway, specifically impaired phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 and Thr308 in young myoblasts, and decreased differentiation potential. Compared with young myoblasts, aged myoblast Akt was constitutively phosphorylated, unresponsive to mitogen signaling, and indifferent to MnSOD2 levels. These data suggest that specific sites in the PI3K‐Akt pathway are more sensitive to increased superoxide levels than to the increased hydrogen peroxide levels generated in Sod2‐transgenic myoblasts. In wild‐type myoblasts, aging was associated with significant loss of mitochondrial DNA relative to chromosomal DNA, but MnSOD2 overexpression was associated with maintained myoblast mitochondrial DNA with aging.
Murine Plasmodium chabaudi Malaria Increases Mucosal Immune Activation and the Expression of Putative HIV Susceptibility Markers in the Gut and Genital Mucosae

Objective:To evaluate if systemic murine malarial infection enhances HIV susceptibility through parasite-induced mucosal immune alterations at sites of HIV sexual exposure. Background:Malaria and HIV have a high degree of geographical overlap and interact substantially within coinfected individuals. We used a murine model to test the hypothesis that malaria might also enhance HIV susceptibility at mucosal sites of HIV sexual exposure. Methods:Female C57/BL6 mice were infected with Plasmodium chabaudi malaria using a standardized protocol. Blood, gastrointestinal tissues, upper and lower genital tract tissues, and iliac lymph nodes were sampled 10 days postinfection, and the expression of putative HIV susceptibility and immune activation markers on T cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Results:P. chabaudi malaria increased expression of mucosal homing integrin &agr;4&bgr;7 on blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and these &agr;4&bgr;7+ T cells had significantly increased co-expression of both CCR5 and CD38. In addition, malaria increased expression of the HIV co-receptor CCR5 on CD4+ T cells from the genital tract and gut mucosa as well as mucosal T-cell expression of the immune activation markers CD38, Major Histocompatibility Complex -II (MHC-II) and CD69. Conclusions:Systemic murine malarial infection induced substantial upregulation of the mucosal homing integrin &agr;4&bgr;7 in blood as well as gut and genital mucosal T-cell immune activation and HIV co-receptor expression. Human studies are required to confirm these murine findings and to examine whether malarial infection enhances the sexual acquisition of HIV.
Communication, Information, and Pragmatics

The intention of this article is to clarify the relationship between communication and information by considering pragmatics. Although these terms are closely related, they are not the same. In order for communication to occur the information that is transmitted must be processed within the social context of the sender and the receiver or in other words through the use of pragmatics. That is, there is no communication between the sender and the receiver if the receiver does not understand the information sent by the sender. Information before it is interpreted is therefore nothing more than the signal. It only becomes communication, if it is properly interpreted by the receiver of the information. And it is only through the context or the pragmatics that the receiver can understand the intended meaning of the sender and therefore as a result communication can take place. Misinterpretation leads to miscommunication. As no interpretation is perfect as pragmatics between the sender and the receiver is never perfect the content of the communication depends on the user and the user’s interpretation, which McLuhan formulated with his iconic one-liner the user is the content. In actuality the sender, the receiver and their understanding of each other are all part of the content. BACKGROUND