Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of canola, corn, and olive oils on fasting and postprandial plasma lipoproteins in humans as part of a National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 diet.

The most stringent dietary recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) are to limit fat intake to < 30% of calories, saturated fat intake to < 7% of calories, and cholesterol intake to < 200 mg/d (Step 2 diet). There is debate as to whether the remaining fat in the diet should be relatively high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. We examined this issue by testing the effects of diets meeting the aforementioned guidelines that were enriched in three different vegetable oils on plasma lipids in the fasting and postprandial states in a clinically relevant population. Female and male subjects (n = 15, mean age, 61 years) with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations > 130 mg/dL were studied under strictly controlled conditions. Subjects were first placed on a diet similar to that currently consumed in the United States to stabilize plasma lipids with respect to identical fat and cholesterol intakes. The subjects then received diets meeting NCEP Step 2 criteria in which two thirds of the fat calories were given either as canola, corn, or olive oil in a randomized, double-blinded fashion for 32 days each. Plasma cholesterol concentrations declined after consumption of diets enriched in all the test oils; however, the declines were significantly greater for the canola (12%) and corn (13%) than for the olive (7%) oil-enriched diet. Mean plasma LDL-C concentrations declined after consumption of diets enriched in all the test oils (16%, 17%, and 13% for canola, corn, and olive oil, respectively), and the magnitude of the declines was statistically indistinguishable among the test oils. Mean plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations declined after consumption of the baseline diet, and these declines were significant for the canola (7%) and corn (9%) oil-enriched diets. Changes in LDL apolipoprotein (apo)B concentrations paralleled those of LDL-C. Switching from the baseline to the vegetable oil--enriched diets had no significant effect on plasma triglyceride, apoA-I, and lipoprotein(a) concentrations or the total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio. LDL apoB to apoA-I ratios were significantly reduced when the subjects consumed the vegetable oil--enriched diets. Differences similar to those observed in the fasting state were observed in the postprandial state. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Public Sector Labour Relations in the United States: Austerity, Politics and Policy

Leseprobe ----- Abstract Public sector unions around the world are under threat from political forces. Combined, the financial crisis and austerity measures have challenged public sector unions’ legitimacy. In the U.S., the postrecession assault on public sector unions is rooted in political ideology, with not only a widening polarization along the liberal-conservative spectrum playing a key role, but cultural cognition and economic downturn, too. This research provides a comparative historical analysis of changes in public sector collective bargaining rights at state and local levels in 50 states. The article describes the variations in public sector industrial relations at the state and local levels in the short and medium term. It also proposes a theoretical model to explain similar and diverging patterns which can be observed across the states. Keywords: public sector labour relations, United States, austerity, regional differences (JEL: H61, H62, H63, J51, J52, J53, L32) ----- Arbeitsbeziehungen des offentlichen Sektors in den Vereinigten Staaten: Austeritat, Politics und Policy Zusammenfassung Gewerkschaften des offentlichen Dienstes sehen weltweit ihre Legitimation in Frage gestellt und sind bedroht durch politische Gegner, die Finanzkrise und Sparmasnahmen. In den USA wurzelt der Angriff auf die Gewerkschaften des offentlichen Dienstes in politischer Ideologie, insbesondere der zunehmenden Polarisierung im liberal-konservativen Spektrum, dem Feld der kulturellen Kognition und des wirtschaftlichen Abschwungs. Der Beitrag liefert eine historisch-komparative Analyse der Veranderungen Rechte des collective bargaining im offentlichen Dienst auf staatlicher und lokaler Ebene aller 50 Staaten der USA. Dabei werden die kurz- und mittelfristigen Veranderungen der industriellen Beziehungen des offentlichen Dienstes auf staatlicher und lokaler Ebene beschrieben und daruber hinaus ein Modell zur Erklarung von Ahnlichkeiten und Abweichungen zwischen den Bundesstaaten vorgeschlagen. Schlagworter: Arbeitsbeziehungen des offentlichen Sektors, USA, Austeritat, regionale Differenzen ----- Bibliographie: Mareschal, Patrice M. : Public Sector Labour Relations in the United States: Austerity, Politics and Policy, Industrielle Beziehungen, 4-2017, S. 450-471. https://doi.org/10.3224/indbez.v24i4. 05
Thymic CD8+ T Cell Production Strongly Influences Tumor Antigen Recognition and Age-Dependent Glioma Mortality 1

For unknown reasons, advanced age remains a dominant predictor of poor clinical outcome for nearly all cancers. A decrease in the production of T cells by the thymus accompanies normal aging and parallels the age-dependent increase in cancer progression, but the specific impact of immunity on tumor progression in general is unknown. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common primary brain neoplasm, is characterized by rapid age-dependent rates of progression and death. In this study, we show levels of CD8+ recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) accounted for the prognostic power of age on clinical outcome in GBM patients. CD8+ RTEs, typically a tiny proportion of CD8+ T cells, remarkably accounted for the majority of tumor Ag-binding small precursor cells in PBMC from these patients and from healthy individuals. Large blasting tumor Ag-binding cells comprised of CD8+ RTEs and phenotypically related cells were predominantly expanded following experimental vaccination of GBM patients. Quantification of CD8+ RTE expansion in vivo correlated strongly with vaccine-elicited cytokine responses, and estimated numbers of expanding CD8+ RTEs were consistent predictors of clinical outcome in vaccinated GBM patients. Targeted mutant (CD8β−/−) mice specifically deficient in thymic CD8+ T cell production uniquely displayed an age-specific decrease in glioma host survival as well as a strong correlation between host survival and thymus cellular production. These findings suggest that levels and function of newly produced CD8+ T cells critically influence age-dependent cancer mortality and exert one of the strongest known influences on GBM outcome by predominantly mediating clinically beneficial antitumor immune responses.
Multidomain electromagnetic modelling for installed performance of antennas on aerostructures (IPAS)

In this paper, we describe a sub-domain method for electromagnetic computations based on boundary element method. The benefits of the sub-domain method are the following: (1) the computation can be split between several companies for collaborative studies; (2) the computation time can be reduced by one or more orders of magnitude especially in the context of parametric studies. The accuracy and efficiency of this technique is assessed by directivity computations of monopole antennas mounted on a Fokker 100 aircraft. Multidomain results obtained by combining two sets of sub-domains are compared with direct boundary element methods. The computations are made in the VHF band for several positions of the monopoles, several generator loads and several engine faces to show the benefits of the multidomain method for parametric studies.
Innovation and endogenous growth over business cycle with frictional labor markets

This paper proposes a microfounded model featuring frictional labor markets that generates procyclical R&D expenditures as a result of optimizing behavior by heterogeneous monopolistically competitive firms. This allows to show that business cycle fluctuations affect the aggregate endogenous growth rate of the economy. Consequently, transitory shocks leave lasting level effects. This mechanism is responsible for economically significant hysteresis effects that increase the welfare cost of business cycles by two orders of magnitude relative to the exogenous growth model. I show that this has serious policy implications and creates ample space for policy intervention. I find that several static and countercyclical subsidy schemes are welfare improving.
Metal Storage and Transport Proteins Increase After Exposure of the Rat Lung to an Air Pollution Particle

With the single exception of mercury, all metals in the atmosphere are associated with particles. The lungs are subsequently exposed to metals present in air pollution particles on a continuous basis. Because metal exposure can be associated with an oxidative stress, a mechanism that isolates the metal in a chemically less reactive form would be of benefit. We tested the hypothesis that the concentrations of both lactoferrin and ferritin in the rat lung increase after exposure to a metal-rich emission source air pollution particle. Using immunohistochemistry, we characterized changes in the concentrations of ferritin and lactoferrin after exposure of rats to an emission source air pollution particle. Lavage metal concentrations, measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, increased 4 hr after exposure to an oil fly ash. After exposure to this metal-rich emission source air pollution particle, ferritin concentrations in the lower respiratory tract increased. Comparable to the iron-storage protein, concentrations of both lactoferrin and transferrin were elevated after exposure. The greatest concentrations of ferritin, lactoferrin, and transferrin occurred at approximately 24 hr after exposure to the air pollution particle. Levels then decreased, and by 96 hr after instillation of the oil fly ash, ferritin, lactoferrin, and transferrin were not elevated relative to those animals exposed to saline. We conclude that, in response to an emission source air pollution particle with high concentrations of metals, there is an increase in ferritin, lactoferrin, and transferrin concentrations in the lungs of the host. The function of these increases in iron-binding proteins may be to control the oxidative stress associated with the exposure to metals.
University of Birmingham The development of structured guidelines for assessing risk in extremist offenders

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Trend-Anticipating versus Trend-Following

This paper evaluates the impact of trading timing on trend-following performance for equity market indices across: (1) an ideal framework where investors successfully anticipate one-day-ahead signals and (2) a realistic framework with delayed transaction prices and cautious investors. We show that trend-following profits reduce significantly under the realistic trading timing. This bias is persistent, holds when controlling for trading costs, interests, and risk, being more pronounced for the emerging markets. Indirectly, the finding suggests that trend-anticipating tends to outperform trend-following as a trading strategy.
A comparison of lorazepam, diazepam, and placebo for the treatment of out-of-hospital status epilepticus.

BACKGROUND It is uncertain whether the administration of benzodiazepines by paramedics is an effective and safe treatment for out-of-hospital status epilepticus. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial to evaluate intravenous benzodiazepines administered by paramedics for the treatment of out-of-hospital status epilepticus. Adults with prolonged (lasting five minutes or more) or repetitive generalized convulsive seizures received intravenous diazepam (5 mg), lorazepam (2 mg), or placebo. An identical second injection was given if needed. RESULTS Of the 205 patients enrolled, 66 received lorazepam, 68 received diazepam, and 71 received placebo. Status epilepticus had been terminated on arrival at the emergency department in more patients treated with lorazepam (59.1 percent) or diazepam (42.6 percent) than patients given placebo (21.1 percent) (P=0.001). After adjustment for covariates, the odds ratio for termination of status epilepticus by the time of arrival in the lorazepam group as compared with the placebo group was 4.8 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.9 to 13.0). The odds ratio was 1.9 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.8 to 4.4) in the lorazepam group as compared with the diazepam group and 2.3 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.0 to 5.9) in the diazepam group as compared with the placebo group. The rates of respiratory or circulatory complications (indicated by bag valve-mask ventilation or an attempt at intubation, hypotension, or cardiac dysrhythmia) after the study treatment was administered were 10.6 percent for the lorazepam group, 10.3 percent for the diazepam group, and 22.5 percent for the placebo group (P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS Benzodiazepines are safe and effective when administered by paramedics for out-of-hospital status epilepticus in adults. Lorazepam is likely to be a better therapy than diazepam.
Inhibitory effect of semaphorin‐3A, a known axon guidance molecule, in the human thymocyte migration induced by CXCL12

Intrathymic T cell differentiation takes place within the thymic lobules and depends on interactions between developing thymocytes and cells of the thymic microenvironment. Along with differentiation, thymocytes migrate in an oriented progression, which is tightly regulated by a number of interactions, including one mediated by the chemokine CXCL12. It has been shown recently that SEMA‐3A, a soluble member of the semaphorin family, is also involved in this human thymocyte migration and can have a chemorepulsive and de‐adhesive role. Herein, we study the role of SEMA‐3A on the CXCL12‐driven migration of human thymocytes. We have shown that SEMA‐3A is able to inhibit the chemotaxis triggered by CXCL12. Such an inhibition was seen in respect to immature and mature CD4/CD8‐defined thymocyte subsets and can be reverted specifically by neutralizing anti‐SEMA‐3A mAb. We have also shown that SEMA‐3A consistently down‐regulates CXCR4 membrane expression in all CD4/CD8‐defined thymocyte subsets, and this down‐regulation is accompanied by a decrease in the phosphorylation of FAK and ZAP‐70 protein kinases. Taken together, these results demonstrate the involvement of SEMA‐3A in the regulation of CXCL12‐driven human thymocyte migration, where it acts as a physiological antagonist.
Renal amino acid transport systems and essential hypertension

Several clinical and animal studies suggest that “blood pressure goes with the kidney,” that is, a normotensive recipient of a kidney genetically programmed for hypertension will develop hypertension. Intrarenal dopamine plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension by regulating epithelial sodium transport. The candidate transport systems for L‐DOPA, the source for dopamine, include the sodium‐dependent systems B0, B0,+, and y+L, and the sodium‐independent systems L (LAT1 and LAT2) and b0+. Renal LAT2 is overexpressed in the prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), which might contribute to enhanced L‐DOPA uptake in the proximal tubule and increased dopamine production, as an attempt to overcome the defect in D1 receptor function. On the other hand, it has been recently reported that impaired arginine transport contributes to low renal nitric oxide bioavailability observed in the SHR renal medulla. Here we review the importance of renal amino acid transporters in the kidney and highlight pathophysiological changes in the expression and regulation of these transporters in essential hypertension. The study of the regulation of renal amino acid transporters may help to define the underlying mechanisms predisposing individuals to an increased risk for development of hypertension. —Pinto, V. , Pinho, M. J., Soares‐da‐Silva, P., Renal amino acid transport systems and essential hypertension. FASEB J. 27, 2927–2938 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Dioxin Receptor Expression Inhibits Basal and Transforming Growth Factor β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition*

Background: The dioxin receptor (AhR) regulates cell migration and has a role in TGFβ activation. Results: AhR expression inhibits basal and TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Conclusion: AhR has an intrinsic role in EMT and cross talks with TGFβ. Significance: The involvement of AhR in EMT can help explain its functions in organ homeostasis and tumor progression. Recent studies have emphasized the role of the dioxin receptor (AhR) in maintaining cell morphology, adhesion, and migration. These novel AhR functions depend on the cell phenotype, and although AhR expression maintains mesenchymal fibroblasts migration, it inhibits keratinocytes motility. These observations prompted us to investigate whether AhR modulates the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). For this, we have used primary AhR+/+ and AhR−/− keratinocytes and NMuMG cells engineered to knock down AhR levels (sh-AhR) or to express a constitutively active receptor (CA-AhR). Both AhR−/− keratinocytes and sh-AhR NMuMG cells had increased migration, reduced levels of epithelial markers E-cadherin and β-catenin, and increased expression of mesenchymal markers Snail, Slug/Snai2, vimentin, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin. Consistently, AhR+/+ and CA-AhR NMuMG cells had reduced migration and enhanced expression of epithelial markers. AhR activation by the agonist FICZ (6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole) inhibited NMuMG migration, whereas the antagonist α-naphthoflavone induced migration as did AhR knockdown. Exogenous TGFβ exacerbated the promigratory mesenchymal phenotype in both AhR-expressing and AhR-depleted cells, although the effects on the latter were more pronounced. Rescuing AhR expression in sh-AhR cells reduced Snail and Slug/Snai2 levels and cell migration and restored E-cadherin levels. Interference of AhR in human HaCaT cells further supported its role in EMT. Interestingly, co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays showed that AhR associates in common protein complexes with E-cadherin and β-catenin, suggesting the implication of AhR in cell-cell adhesion. Thus, basal or TGFβ-induced AhR down-modulation could be relevant in the acquisition of a motile EMT phenotype in both normal and transformed epithelial cells.
Responses of aardwolves,Proteles cristatus, Sparrman 1783, to translocated scent marks

We tested the discrimination abilities of aardwolves by monitoring their response to scent marks of male or female donors varying in familiarity translocated into their territories. We followed aardwolves in a vehicle and collected grass stalks with single fresh scent marks. The next evening we placed these grass stalks at dens and middens in the territory of another aardwolf, which we subsequently followed for the whole night. During 43 experiments 617 stalks were translocated. Of these, 164 were located by the animal followed. Both males and females overmarked more frequently, changed their dens more often and increased their scent-marking rate more when they found scent marks of same-sex donors than those of the opposite sex, except during the mating season. Along territory borders and at middens, the majority of marks were sniffed for short periods and overmarked. However, aardwolves seldom overmarked marks at dens in use and sniffed them for much longer, often showing flehmen. Flehmen and prolonged sniffing seemed to indicate investigatory behaviours. They were most prevalent towards the first mark of a nonresident found that evening and particularly towards strangers' marks or (in the case of males) those of a female during the mating season. Overmarking seemed to be asserting territorial ownership. After locating a neighbour's scent mark the resident also immediately increased its rate of scent-marking and often went directly to the respective border. The results suggest that scent marks may function in intimidating intruders and to synchronize mating in the aardwolf. (c) 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
B‐cell responses to HIV infection

The induction of neutralizing antibodies directed against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has received considerable attention in recent years, in part driven by renewed interest and opportunities for antibody‐based strategies for prevention such as passive transfer of antibodies and the development of preventive vaccines, as well as immune‐based therapeutic interventions. Advances in the ability to screen, isolate, and characterize HIV‐specific antibodies have led to the identification of a new generation of potent broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). The majority of these antibodies have been isolated from B cells of chronically HIV‐infected individuals with detectable viremia. In this review, we provide insight into the phenotypic and functional attributes of human B cells, with a focus on HIV‐specific memory B cells and plasmablasts/cells that are responsible for sustaining humoral immune responses against HIV. We discuss the abnormalities in B cells that occur in HIV infection both in the peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues, especially in the setting of persisting viremia. Finally, we consider the opportunities and drawbacks of intensively interrogating antibodies isolated from HIV‐infected individuals to guide strategies aimed at developing effective antibody‐based vaccine and therapeutic interventions for HIV.
Selective inhibition of functional lymphocyte subpopulations by ribavirin

The present studies were designed to examine the effects of ribavirin (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide), a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, on the generation of murine antibody responses in vitro. Whereas primary and secondary sheep erythrocyte-specific, plaque-forming cell responses by normal murine spleen cells were enhanced by low concentrations of ribavirin (1 microgram per culture), they were strongly inhibited by higher concentrations of ribavirin (5 to 10 micrograms per culture). Both phenomena occurred with the greatest magnitude when spleen cells were exposed to ribavirin 48 to 72 h after culture initiation. Enhancement appeared to result from selective interference with suppressor T cells, since ribavirin failed to augment lipopolysaccharide-specific plaque-forming cell responses in T cell-depleted spleen cell cultures but inhibited concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte proliferation and suppressor T cell generation in cultures of normal spleen cells. The immunosuppressive properties of ribavirin were mediated by a direct antiproliferative effect and, at higher concentrations, a cytotoxic effect for B lymphocytes, since the drug inhibited plaque-forming cell responses in T cell-depleted spleen cell cultures, suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced lymphocyte proliferation and reduced viable spleen cell recoveries.
Inducible production of erythropoietin using intramuscular injection of block copolymer/DNA formulation

We have previously shown that intramuscular injection of plasmid DNA formulated with a non‐ionic amphiphile synthetic vector [poly(ethylene oxide)13‐poly(propylene oxide)30‐poly(ethylene oxide)13 block copolymer; PE6400] increases reporter gene expression compared with naked DNA. We have now investigated this simple non‐viral formulation for production of secreted proteins from the mouse skeletal muscle.