Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of bep1 and bep4 antigens involved in cell interactions during Paracentrotus lividus development.

We have identified and partially characterised two antigens, extracted with 3% butanol, from Paracentrotus lividus embryos dissociated at the blastula stage, and encoded by the cDNA clones previously described as bep1 and bep4 (bep-butanol extracted proteins). The cDNA fragments containing the specific central portions of bep1 and bep4 were expressed as MS2 polymerase fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. These two fusion proteins, called 1C1 (bep1) and 4A1 (bep4), were injected subcutaneously into rabbits and the corresponding polyclonal antibodies generated. Western blot analysis of proteins, extracted with 3% butanol, from sea urchin embryos at the blastula stage (b.e.p.), established that both antibodies recognize two 33 KDa proteins. Reducing and non-reducing electrophoretic conditions show that both antibodies against bep1 and bep4 related proteins react also with a protein band of a molecular weight 66 KDa, indicating that these two antigens probably exist as dimers. Immunolocalization with anti 1C1 and 4A1 antibodies shows the presence of the related antigens also on the cell surface. Fab fragments of the polyclonal antibodies against 1C1 and 4A1 inhibited reaggregation of sea urchin embryonic cells, dissociated from blastula stage embryos. This prevention of reaggregation indicates that these proteins probably play a role in cell interaction during sea urchin embryonic development.
O USO DE EQUAÇÕES DIFERENCIAIS NA JUSTIFICATIVA DO DESABAMENTO DA PONTE TACOMA NARROWS

RESUMO O desmoronamento da ponte suspensa Tacoma Narrows em 1940 fomentou pesquisas sobre a causa do colapso causado pela forca do vento que provocava grandes oscilacoes verticais no seu leito. Tambem promoveu estudos mais avancados sobre o comportamento de pontes e outras edificacoes sob influencia de forcas externas. Estudos realizados na epoca mostraram que o desmoronamento foi provocado por um fenomeno linear, a ressonância. Porem pesquisas mais recentes afirmam que as causas foram por efeitos nao-lineares. O presente trabalho pretende apresentar as justificativas de tais hipoteses, assim como uma analise de um modelo simplificado desta ultima. Palavras-chaves: oscilacoes, ressonância, modelo nao-linear.
Myth of substituted judgment. Surrogate decision making regarding life support is unreliable.

OBJECTIVE To identify factors predicting the accuracy of surrogate decision making in life support decisions. DESIGN Questionnaire. SETTING Urban Veterans Affairs hospital. PATIENTS AND DESIGN Fifty hospitalized patients and their chosen surrogates were given questionnaires describing life support modalities and four common medical scenarios in which life support would be contemplated. An additional 50 patients also completed the questionnaire. Patients gave their choices of life support in the different scenarios. Surrogates guessed the patients' answers (substituted judgment). Details of the patient-surrogate relationship were asked. Patients completed a depression inventory. MAIN RESULTS Surrogates correctly guessed patients' wishes about life support overall on 59.3% of the questions, not better than random chance (kappa = .09). The only predictor of accurate surrogate decision making was specific discussion between patient and surrogate about life support. SECONDARY RESULTS: Patients had an overall low desire for life support (35%), and a majority favored euthanasia under some circumstances (62%). There was no relationship between depression score and desire for life support. CONCLUSIONS Substituted judgment by surrogates is not more accurate than random chance. Discussion between patient and surrogate about life support correlated with more accurate substituted judgment.
RESEARCH ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORTING

The paper aims to revisit the relationship between reporting companies’ characteristics and the importance assigned to social and environmental disclosure, using statistical correlations. We conducted a content analysis on the extent of sustainability reports of the largest 50 companies classified by Global Fortune in 2009, in order to address the research hypotheses. Results show that size characteristics measured by assets and revenues cannot be correlated to the extent of Corporate Social Responsibility reports published by companies, but there is a significant negative correlation between change in revenues and return on equity and social and environmental disclosure for the sampled companies.
Ciprofloxacin use: acute arthropathy and long-term follow up.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether children treated with ciprofloxacin in 1990 had developed any permanent joint damage. DESIGN Retrospective questionnaire-based follow-up study. SETTING Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Monitoring Center in Mumbai. SUBJECTS 3341 children treated with ciprofloxacin in 1990, including 7 who had developed a ciprofloxacin-related acute arthropathy. METHODS A questionnaire was sent in January 1995 to 147 pediatricians who had reported to us children in whom ciprofloxacin was prescribed in 1990. The information sought for included the number of children who had followed-up beyond 2 years and details of any joint-related complaints noted in them on long-term follow-up. RESULTS Long-term follow-up was reported in 582 of these 3341 children. No joint-related complaints had developed in 581 children, either as an acute ADR in 1990 or as a delayed ADR during a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Long-term follow-up was available in only 1 of the 7 children in whom a ciprofloxacin-related acute arthropathy had developed in 1990, and this child was now asymptomatic. New information was received about 13 children treated with ciprofloxacin during 1991-1994 who had developed a ciprofloxacin-related acute arthropathy. In the total 20 children, aged 2-12 years, reported to us for acute ADR, the arthropathy (joint pains, restriction of joint movements and/or swelling of joint) had developed on day 1 to 8 of ciprofloxacin therapy, and in 18 the acute arthropathy had resolved within 1 day to 4 weeks of either discontinuing or completing ciprofloxacin therapy. Outcome in the remaining 2 children was not available. CONCLUSIONS Ciprofloxacin use can cause an acute reversible arthropathy, but in this study there is no evidence that its use can cause a delayed arthropathy or any permanent joint damage.
Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in pregnant Latin American women and congenital transmission rate in a non-endemic area: the experience of the Valencian Health Programme (Spain)

SUMMARY This study describes the results of the health programme implemented in the Valencian Community (Spain) to achieve an early diagnosis of Chagas disease in pregnant Latin American women and their newborns. During 2009 and 2010, 1975 women living in the health districts of three university hospitals were enrolled via midwives or at the time of delivery. Diagnosis of disease was performed using two serological tests with different antigens. Congenital infection was diagnosed by parasitological, molecular or serological methods from blood samples obtained at birth or in subsequent controls. The overall seroprevalence of Chagas infection in pregnant women from 16 different endemic countries was 11·4%. Infection was higher in those from countries in the Gran Chaco Region (Bolivia, 34·1%; Paraguay, 7·4%; Argentina, 5·3%). Eight newborn infants from Bolivian mothers had congenital Chagas which represents a vertical transmission rate of 3·7%. In conclusion, this work supports the benefits of offering an early diagnosis to pregnant women and newborns during routine prenatal healthcare.
S(+)-ketamine for control of perioperative pain and prevention of post thoracotomy pain syndrome: a randomized, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) often complicates the long term outcome of patients; its appearance has been related to perioperative acute pain. The main goal of this study was to evaluate a possible role of S(+)-ketamine in the prevention of PTPS up to 6 months and secondarily its efficacy in the control of perioperative pain when added to thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) and adjuvants. METHODS Sixty-six patients underwent thoracotomy under general anesthesia. A thoracic epidural catheter was placed for levobupivacaine and sufentanil administration. Thirty-three patients received an i.v. infusion of S(+)-ketamine (Group S(+)K) for 60 hours and 33 patients received i.v. placebo (Group PLAC). Pain was evaluated by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) during the whole study. All patients had supplementary doses of analgesics, as needed, to have NRS targeted to a value of ≤3 in the 1st and <3 in the following days. Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) was evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS All patients had NRS ≤3 in the early postoperative period and NPSI was less or equal to 1 in the follow-up control for each group with no significant difference at three (P=0.67, OR 0.8 [IC95% 0.3-2.2]) and at six months (P=0.23, OR 1.9 [0.7-5.4]). Incidence of moderate PTPS was 24.6% at 3 and 21.1% at six months while severe PTPS was 6.6% at 3 and 1.8% at six months. No difference was detected in NRS and NPSI at 3 and 6 months between groups. CONCLUSION S(+)-ketamine had no effects in respect to placebo in the prevention of PTPS at 3 and 6 months but had a significant role in maintaining a NRS≤3 in the early postoperative period. A tight control of perioperative pain seems to be associated with a low incidence of moderate and severe PTPS.
Experimental Evaluation of Transmission Loss of a Glass Cylinder Tube Containing a Fluid

Transmission Loss (TL) of a glass cylinder tube containing a fluid is studied experimentally. This test specimen represents a typical double layer panel including a fluid. The tests are carried out by using a modified four-microphone standing-wave (impedance) tube for specimens with different lengths, 15 and 30 mm. Each cylinder tube is tested filled with one of the fluids at a time. The fluids are air, water, motor oil and a nanoparticle fluid (in absence of magnetic field). The effects of the cylinder length (thickness), impedance tube terminations, and the containing fluid are discussed. The increasing of the thickness led to an increase of the TL values and a decrease in resonance frequencies. Also, the addition of liquid middle layer led to considerable increase of the TL.
Tracking system for patients with Alzheimer's disease in a nursing home

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that decimates memory and brain functions. It is the most common cause of Dementia. This changes the state of the brain from increasing forgetfulness or memory lapses, mixed-up, that can worsen over time and leads to obliteration of recent activities and memory. In the event that it worsens the person affected by this disease might lose all his memory, ability to function, thinking, reasoning, and even lose his personality and exhibits uncontrolled behavior. The greatest risk factor of this disease is an increasing age, that affects most elderly ages 65 and above, but there are also some known cases at an early on-set condition. Patients with this disease are usually kept in a Nursing Home to be taken care by professional caregivers. Extensive monitoring is demanding and crucial, due to the inability of patients to respond to their environment and high risk of wandering. Due to this the researchers come up with the design and development of a wearable tracking device that will support both family members and caregivers in the challenges that they are facing in monitoring of the patients suffering from this disease. The device has a wearable transceiver that transmits the position of the patient and sends notification to the database in the case that the patient wander and crossed the designated range. Furthermore, it receives an instruction from the database in a form of a voice prompt to the person next to the patient for information. Moreover, ZigBee modules were used for wireless network sensor, Global Positioning System (GPS) module for locating the patient, and Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) module for transmission and reception of data. The researchers considered several factors such as network signal strength, weather condition, and location, in testing for the parameters set. Generally, this corrective and innovative solution of tracking patients with Alzheimer's disease in a Nursing Home, will help the administrators and caregivers in locating the patients before they can get farther from their home.
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF TRANSLATION FOR FLT

The paper proposes unlocking the potential of translation for foreign language teaching (FLT) by seeking to create synergies with the related discipline of translation science (TS). This aim is in keeping with the guidelines for language teaching provided in the Common European Framework of Languages, which introduced a model of communicative competences including communicative language competences as those which enable a person to act by drawing on specific linguistic means. First, an overview of the changing status of translation in FLT is presented – from its being considered a fundamental teaching method and basic skill in the Grammar-Translation Method, to its being all but outlawed in more recent communicative and task-based approaches, to its final rehabilitation in recent decades. It is then shown that, in the development of FLT, the parallel evolution of TS somehow failed to be acknowledged and, consequently, the opportunity to create valuable synergies between the two disciplines was missed. Following the stance of authors who have advocated the use of translation in FLT, it is argued that translation can effectively supplement the development of the four traditional language skills and, moreover, that some of the insights developed by TS can effectively be integrated into FLT as strategies aimed at enhancing leaners’ cross-cultural communicative competences. To this purpose, selected insights from TS (e.g. the functional approach and the skopos theory, the cultureme model, the theory of memes ) are discussed and their potential for creating synergies with FLT are explored. Finally, the paper discusses the omnipresence of different forms of translation and interpreting in contemporary societies and shows that this naturally and logically calls for a systematic inclusion of translation in FLT.
A prospective randomized study of end points of resuscitation after major trauma: global oxygen transport indices versus organ-specific gastric mucosal pH.

BACKGROUND Gastric tonometry, as a method of organ-specific monitoring of the status of the splanchnic circulation, has demonstrated prognostic and therapeutic implications in critically ill patients. The experience with this method in patients with trauma has been limited. STUDY DESIGN Fifty-seven patients were prospectively randomized into two groups: group 1, n = 30, normalization and maintenance of gastric mucosal pH (pHi) at or above 7.3 and group 2, n = 27, maintenance of oxygen delivery index of 600 or an oxygen consumption index of greater than 150. The groups had statistically similar injury severity scores, lactate levels, and base deficits. RESULTS Of the 44 patients with pHi greater than 7.3 at 24 hours, three (6.8 percent) died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome as compared with seven (53.9 percent) of 13 in whom pHi was not optimized, p = 0.006. Optimization times for oxygen delivery index, oxygen consumption index, lactate levels, and base excess were similar between survivors and nonsurvivors. The time for pHi optimization was significantly longer in nonsurvivors. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome points were significantly higher in patients who did not have pHi optimized within 24 hours (6.08 compared with 2.5, p = 0.03). Optimization time for pHi was predictive of mortality on multiple regression. Persistently low pHi was frequently associated with systemic or intra-abdominal complications. It was the first finding in all the nonsurvivors at least 48 to 72 hours before death. CONCLUSIONS Gastric mucosal pH may be an important marker to assess the adequacy of resuscitation. Monitoring of pHi may provide early warning for systemic complications in the postresuscitation period.
Porcine Islet-Specific Tolerance Induced by the Combination of Anti-LFA-1 and Anti-CD154 mAbs is Dependent on PD-1

We previously demonstrated that short-term administration of a combination of anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD154 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) induces tolerance to neonatal porcine islet (NPI) xenografts that is mediated by regulatory T cells (Tregs) in B6 mice. In this study, we examined whether the coinhibitory molecule PD-1 is required for the induction and maintenance of tolerance to NPI xenografts. We also determined whether tolerance to NPI xenografts could be extended to allogeneic mouse or xenogeneic rat islet grafts since we previously demonstrated that tolerance to NPI xenografts could be extended to second-party NPI xenografts. Finally, we determined whether tolerance to NPI xenografts could be extended to allogeneic mouse or second-party porcine skin grafts. Diabetic B6 mice were transplanted with 2,000 NPIs under the kidney capsule and treated with short-term administration of a combination of anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD154 mAbs. Some of these mice were also treated simultaneously with anti-PD-1 mAb at >150 days posttransplantation. Spleen cells from some of the tolerant B6 mice were used for proliferation assays or were injected into B6 rag-/- mice with established islet grafts from allogeneic or xenogeneic donors. All B6 mice treated with anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD154 mAbs achieved and maintained normoglycemia until the end of the study; however, some mice that were treated with anti-PD-1 mAb became diabetic. All B6 rag-/- mouse recipients of first- and second-party NPIs maintained normoglycemia after reconstitution with spleen cells from tolerant B6 mice, while all B6 rag-/- mouse recipients of allogeneic mouse or xenogeneic rat islets rejected their grafts after cell reconstitution. Tolerant B6 mice rejected their allogeneic mouse or xenogeneic second-party porcine skin grafts while remaining normoglycemic until the end of the study. These results show that porcine islet-specific tolerance is dependent on PD-1, which could not be extended to skin grafts.
Secretory Immunoglobulin A: from Mucosal Protection to Vaccine Development

Abstract Immune responses taking place in mucosal tissues are typified by secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) molecules, which are assembled from proteins expressed in two cell lineages. The heavy and light chains as well as the J chain are produced in plasma cells, whereas the secretory component (SC) is associated to the immunoglobulin complex during transcytosis across the epithelial layer. S-IgA antibodies represent the predominant immunoglobulin class in external secretions, and the best defined entity providing specific immune protection for mucosal surfaces by blocking attachment of bacteria and viruses. S-IgA constitutes greater than 80% of all antibodies produced in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in humans. The existence of a common mucosal immune system permits immunization on one mucosal surface to induce secretion of antigen-specific S-IgA at distant sites. In addition, S-IgA antibodies not only function in external secretions, but also exert their antimicrobial properties within the epithelial cell during transport across the epithelium. Passive mucosal delivery of monoclonal IgA molecules neutralizes pathogens responsible for gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Mucosal and systemic immunity can be achieved by orally administered recombinant S-IgA molecules carrying a protective bacterial epitope within the SC polypeptide primary sequence.
Iron Stores and HFE Genotypes Are Not Related to Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke

Background: High iron levels can increase the formation of noxious oxygen radicals, which are thought to contribute to cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this prospective study was to determine if iron status and HFE genotypes constitute risk factors for stroke. Methods: First-ever stroke cases (231 ischemic and 42 hemorrhagic) and matched double referents from the population-based Northern Sweden cohorts were studied in a nested case-referent setting. Results: For total iron binding capacity, an increased risk of ischemic stroke was seen in the highest quartile (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.14–2.83; p for trend 0.012). The highest quartile of transferrin iron saturation showed a decreased risk of ischemic stroke in men (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.22–0.87; p for trend 0.028), but not in women. There was an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke in the second (OR 4.07; 95% CI 1.09–15.20) and third quartile (OR 4.22; 95% CI 1.08–16.42) of ferritin. Neither quartiles of plasma iron concentrations nor the HFE C282Y and H63D genotypes were associated with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusions: Iron stores were not positively related to increased risk of ischemic stroke. Furthermore, HFE genotypes did not influence the risk of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
Tolerancia a fallos en sistemas distribuidos mediante replicación de procesos

Un sistema distribuido es un programa que ejecuta sobre un conjunto de ordenadores conectados por lineas de comunicacion. Una caracteristica importante de estos sistemas es que pueden tolerar fallos de alguno de los ordenadores y seguir cumpliendo la funcion que tenian encomendada, todo ello manteniendo un estado consistente. Esta tesis estudia la tolerancia a fallos hardware, usando tecnicas software. En primer lugar, se presenta una clasificacion original de los trabajos realizados hasta el presente. A continuacion se estudia un modelo orientado a procesos que tolera fallos mediante replicacion de procesos, presentando un conjunto original de protocolos bajados en un consenso distribuido. Por ultimo, se demuestra la utilidad del modelo, estudiando su aplicacion a diversos ejemplos paradigmaticos en sistemas distribuidos.
Changes in protein expression in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles: an iTRAQ proteomic approach.

RATIONALE Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in consumer products and various biomedical fields. As a result, humans are frequently exposed to these NPs. However, there is a lack of information about the proteins that are expressed in the airway in response to exposure to ZnO NPs. METHODS Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats that had been exposed to high-dose 35 nm ZnO NPs (N = 6) and filtered air (N = 4) was collected and then labeled with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). The differentially expressed proteins were identified by two-dimensional liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC/MS/MS) and further classified by Gene Ontology (GO) annotation. RESULTS A total of 46 proteins displayed significant changes after exposure. GO annotation of these differentially expressed proteins indicated that exposure to ZnO NPs mainly affected immune and inflammatory processes. Furthermore, S100A8 and S100A9, candidate markers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer, were significantly up-regulated (2.78- and 2.87-fold, respectively) following exposure. CONCLUSIONS Our data are consistent with recent study results that exposure to ZnO NPs induces lung inflammation. These data contribute to a better understanding of how exposure to ZnO NPs leads to lung damage through the functional classification of these proteins.