Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epstein‐Barr virus, B cell lymphoproliferative disease, and SCID mice: Modeling T cell immunotherapy in vivo

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐associated post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) arises in up to 10% of organ transplant recipients and is fatal in ∼50% of cases. PTLD can be modeled in SCID mice using EBV+ve human B lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCLs), and the current study investigated intraperitoneal (ip) inoculation of such animals in experiments which assessed the effect of EBV‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and cytokines on PTLD growth. Ip transfer of one dose of autologous CTLs, or CD8‐enriched T cells, into ip BLCL‐inoculated animals significantly delayed tumor development (P = 0.001) and prevented tumor formation in a significant proportion (40%) of mice (P = 0.001). A combination of interleukin (IL)2, 7, and 15 conditioning of CTLs prior to ip injection significantly delayed ip BLCL‐derived tumor formation in vivo when compared to CTLs expanded in vitro using only IL2 (P = 0.04) and prevented tumor outgrowth in a significant proportion (60%) of mice (P = 0.02). Daily ip IL2 dosing of ip CTL‐inoculated mice significantly delayed tumor development in vivo (P = 0.004) and prevented tumor outgrowth in a significant proportion (78%) of mice (P = 0.02) when compared to animals dosed with vehicle only. In SCID mice, autologous CTLs, and CD8‐enriched T cells, have significant capacity to hinder development of PTLD‐like tumors. Whilst studies are needed to delineate the role of cytokine conditioning and CD4‐enriched T cells, the results suggest that IL2 plays a key role in supporting CTL funtion in vivo. J. Med. Virol. 83:1585–1596, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Condensation of DNA by multivalent cations: experimental studies of condensation kinetics.

DNA in viruses and cells exists in highly condensed, tightly packaged states. We have undertaken an in vitro study of the kinetics of DNA condensation by the trivalent cation hexaammine cobalt (III) with the aim of formulating a quantitative, mechanistic model of the condensation process. Experimental approaches included total intensity and dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and differential sedimentation. We determined the average degree of condensation, the distribution of condensate sizes, and the fraction of uncondensed DNA as a function of reaction time for a range of [DNA] and [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)]. We find the following: (1) DNA condensation occurs only above a critical [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)] for a given DNA and salt concentration. At the onset of condensation, [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)]/[DNA-phosphate] is close to the average value of 0.54, which reflects the 89-90% charge neutralization criterion for condensation. (2) The equilibrium weight average hydrodynamic radius of the condensates first decreases, then increases with increasing [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)] as they undergo a transition from intramolecular (monomolecular) to intermolecular (multimolecular) condensation. However, is insensitive to [DNA]. (3) The uncondensed DNA fraction decays approximately exponentially with time. The equilibrium uncondensed DNA fraction and relaxation time decrease with increasing [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)] but are insensitive to [DNA]. (4) The condensation rate in its early stages is insensitive to [DNA] but proportional to [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)](xs) = [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)] - [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)](crit). (5) Data for low [DNA] and low [Co(NH(3))(3+)(6)] at early stages of condensation are most reliable for kinetic modeling since under these conditions there is minimal clumping and network formation among separate condensates. A mechanism with initial monomolecular nucleation and subsequent bimolecular association and unimolecular dissociation steps with rate constants that depend on the number of DNA molecules in the condensate, accounts reasonably well for these observations.
Comparison of methods to differentiate staphylococcus and micrococcus species isolated from bovine mammary glands

The hemolytic pattern of colonies, the slide coagulase (clumping factor) test, the tube coagulase test and the thermonuclease test were studied for their capability to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus from other Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species. A total 93 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine udder glands were tested. The hemolytic pattern of colonies and the slide coagulase test were found to be less reliable than other tests. No important differences could be found between the tube coagulase test and the thermonuclease test. The API-Staph test was used as a reference.
Women in TV Broadcast News: Reporters and Sources in Hard News Stories

This study, conducted during a two-week period leading up to the 2012 Presidential Election, analyzed three prime time news broadcasts to determine whether male journalists reported more hard news stories than female journalists throughout a segment of increased political activity and whether male and female sources were used equally in said stories. The results showed that male reporters were assigned more hard news than female reporters, and males were a little more likely to assigned to hard news than soft news. Male sources were used more as experts in hard news by both male and female reporters. Actually female reporters relied on males as expert sources more than male reporters. The implications of the results of this study include female underrepresentation as reporters and sources, probably continuing a perception of women as being in a lower social status than men.
Concentrations of thiocyanate and hypothiocyanite in the saliva of young adults.

The study was conducted to determine thiocyanate (SCN-) and hypothiocyanite (OSCN-) concentrations in resting (RWS) and stimulated whole saliva (SWS) and stimulated parotid saliva (SPS) of 20 healthy young adults aged 21-29 y. Samples of saliva were collected at 12:30, immediately before lunch. Resting saliva was collected by expectoration, and stimulated saliva was collected during the uniform chewing of paraffin wax. Parotid secretion was collected using a modified Carlsson-Crittenden cup (Carlsson et al., Am, J. Physiol., 26, 169-177, 1910). SCN- concentration was determined by the ferric nitrate method (Betts et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 75, 5721-5727, 1953) whilst OSCN- was assayed using 2-mercaptoethanol as a reducing agent (Pruitt et al., Caries Res., 16, 315-323, 1982). In RWS, SWS and SPS, the mean SCN- concentrations (in mM) were 1.48 +/- 0.59(S.D.), 0.90 +/- 0.56(S.D.) and 1.24 +/- 0.65(S.D.) whilst the mean OSCN- concentrations (in microM) were 31.21 +/- 13.54(S.D.), 24.90 +/- 12.61 and 30.19 +/- 23.35(S.D.) in the respective salivas. The presence of OSCN- in the secretion collected from the parotid gland supported previous findings by Tenovuo and Pruitt (Tenovuo et al., J. Oral Path, ol. 13, 573-584, 1984), who suggested an endogenous glandular (eukaryotic) source of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), since parotid saliva from healthy glands is devoid of bacteria and leukocytes.
Outcomes in a large series of minipercs: analysis of consecutive 318 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of miniperc at our center. PATIENTS AND METHODS This is a retrospective review of consecutive 318 minipercs done in a single tertiary urological center. The Miniperc system used was either Wolf (Richard Wolf) 14F with 20F Amplaz sheath or Storz (Karl Storz) nephroscope 12F with 15/18F sheath or 16.5/19.5F sheath. Data about the demography of patients, comorbidities, stone size, number and size of the tract, size of nephroscope, energy source used, total operative time, exit strategy, hospital stay, clearance of stones, total analgesic requirement, visual analogue pain score at 6 and 24 hours, hemoglobin drop and complications were analyzed by the chi-square test and analysis of variance test. RESULTS The average age of patients, stone size, operative time, hemoglobin drop and hospital stay were 41.9±17.0 years, 15.26±6.35 mm, 60±19 minutes,1.0±0.6 g/dL and 2.8±1 day, respectively. Complete clearance rate was 98.7%. Fourteen (4.4%) patients had Clavien-Dindo level 1 complications and 1 (0.31%) patient had Clavien-Dindo level 2 complications. The size of the stone treated by miniperc did not affect the hemoglobin drop (p-value=0.26) or hospital stay (p-value=0.924). There is no significant increase in hemoglobin drop (p-value=0.064) or hospital stay (p-value=0.627) with increasing number of miniperc tracts. An increase in operative time is associated with the increase in hemoglobin drop (p-value=0.041). Different energy sources did not significantly affect the operative time (p-value=0.184). Placement of only ureteral catheter is associated with less analgesic requirement (p-value=0.000). CONCLUSIONS Miniperc is a safe alternative to standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy. In carefully selected patients, the best exit strategy would be a tubeless procedure with ureteral catheter drainage.
Compartmentalization of cAMP Signaling in Mesangial Cells by Phosphodiesterase Isozymes PDE3 and PDE4 REGULATION OF SUPEROXIDATION AND MITOGENESIS*

Some major pathobiologic processes in renal mesangial cells, elicited in response to immunoinflammatory stimuli, are modulated via cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathways; namely, generation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and accelerated proliferation of mesangial cells. We investigated the role of cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) isozymes in these regulatory mechanisms. Generation of ROM in cultured rat mesangial cells was inhibited by selective inhibitors of PDE4, rolipram and denbufylline, whereas PDE3 inhibitors, cilostamide and lixazinone, had no effect. Conversely, cilostamide or lixazinone suppressed mitogenic synthesis of DNA in mesangial cells, but 1 μM rolipram or 1 μM denbufylline showed no inhibitory effect. The efficacy of PDE isozyme inhibitors (IC50) to suppress [3H]thymidine incorporation or ROM generation paralleled IC50 values for inhibition of cAMP PDE. Incubation of mesangial cells with either rolipram alone or with cilostamide alone increased significantly in situ activity of PKA in mesangial cells, assessed by (−cAMP/+cAMP) PKA activity ratio, and the stimulatory effects were additive. Results indicate that in mesangial cells a cAMP pool that is metabolized by PDE4 activates PKA and thereby inhibits ROM generation; another cAMP pool that is metabolized by PDE3 activates another PKA (isozyme or pool) which suppresses proliferation of mesangial cells. We propose that in mesangial cells, a cAMP-PKA pathway that regulates mitogenesis is determined by activity of PDE3, whereas another cAMP-PKA pathway is directed by activity of PDE4 and controls ROM generation. Therefore, two PDE isozymes within one cell type compartmentalize distinct cAMP signaling pathways.
Job Security Rule Changes and Employee Organizational Commitment

This study assesses the impact of different job security rules on federal employees’ organizational commitment by looking at the effects of changes in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) precipitated by MaxHR, introduced to DHS in 2005. The 2005 job security rule changes, as part of the “reformed” personnel system of the new DHS, reduced employee job security, which in turn weakened organizational commitment. The study found subsequent repeal of the job security rules in 2007 boosted organizational commitment among DHS workers by as much as 10 percentage points. Taken together, the results of difference-in-differences (DID) analysis for the new job security rules in the period 2005-2006 and subsequent repeal of the job security rules in the period 2007-2010 suggest that employees’ commitment to DHS was more favorable after the repeal of the job security rules than prior to the 2005 reforms.
Diapause termination of Rhagoletis cerasi pupae is regulated by local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity: escape in time through bet‐hedging strategies

Persistence and thriving of univoltine, herbivore insect species of the temperate zone rely on obligate diapause response that ensures winter survival and synchronization with host phenology. We used a stenophagous fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) with obligate pupae diapause to determine genetic and environmental effects on diapause intensity of geographically isolated populations with habitat heterogeneity. Pupae from two Greek and one German populations with various gene flow rates were exposed at five constant chilling temperatures (0–12 °C) for different durations and then incubated at a high temperature until all adults have emerged. Pupae diapause intensity differs among Greek and German populations, suggesting an adaptive response to habitat heterogeneity (mostly differences in phenology patterns of local host cultivars). Moderately warm winter temperatures, such as 8 °C, promote diapause termination in all three populations. Insufficient chilling (short duration or warmer temperatures) regulates the expression of prolonged dormancy. Interestingly, extended chilling (longer than required for terminating diapause) ‘return’ pupae to another (facultative) cycle of dormancy enabling adults to emerge during the next appropriate ‘window of time’; a strategy first time reported for univoltine insects. Consequently, diapause duration of R. cerasi is determined both by i) the adaptive response to local climatic conditions (annual dormancy) and ii) the plastic responses to interannual climatic variability resulting in two types of long life cycles within populations, prolonged and facultative dormancy as response to insufficient chilling and extended exposure to chilling, respectively. Long life cycles are expressed as a part of dormancy bet‐hedging strategies of R. cerasi populations.
Switching long acting antipsychotic medications to aripiprazole long acting once-a-month: expert consensus by a panel of Italian and Spanish psychiatrists

ABSTRACT Introduction: Aripiprazole long acting once-monthly (AOM) is a long acting atypical antipsychotic with proven efficacy in schizophrenia and with a pharmacological and a side effect profile that is different from other antipsychotics. These and other characteristics make AOM a possible alternative in patients requiring a change in long acting antipsychotic treatment due to issues such as lack of efficacy or persistent side effects. Both clinical and pharmacological factors should be considered when switching antipsychotics, and specific guidelines for long acting antipsychotic switching that address all these factors are needed. Areas covered: A panel of Italian and Spanish experts in psychiatry met to discuss the strategies for the switch to AOM in patients with schizophrenia. Real life clinical experiences were shared and the clinical strategies to improve the likelihood of success were discussed. Expert Opinion: Due to its specific pharmacological and tolerability profile, AOM represents a suitable alternative for patients with schizophrenia requiring a switch to a new LAI treatment because of lack of efficacy or persistent side effects from another LAI. Possible strategies for the switch to AOM are presented in this expert consensus paper in an attempt to provide guidance throughout the entire switching process
Polymer Sliding in Axons

SUMMARY In axons the cytoskeletal polymers are transported by slow axonal transport. Microtubules, microfilaments and neurofilaments move at different rates in the axon. On the basis of their transport rates, two populations of polymers can be distinguished: SCb polymers are transported at 2–4 mm day−1 and SCa polymers are transported at 0.25–1 mm day−1. As they move within the axon, the faster moving SCb polymers must pass the slower moving SCa polymers. This observation and others indicate that polymers slide in the axon. A model of polymer sliding is presented. This model provides a dynamic architectural framework for studies of the mechanisms of slow axonal transport.
Effectiveness of Community Based Management of Borehole Facilities in Urban Areas: The Case of Budiriro High Density Suburb in Harare Zimbabwe; View from Human Rights Perspective

This study sought to assess the effectiveness of community based management of boreholes in urban areas using Budiriro high density suburb in Harare, Zimbabwe as a case study. The general objective was to find out the community’s willingness to take ownership and capability to control or at least strongly influence the development of its water system. The study employed a mixed methods approach comprising three data collection methods namely survey questionnaire, key informant in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The sample size was 120 research participants.The study revealed that community based management of boreholes, if introduced in Budiriro, can be very effective as the respondents expressed the community’s willingness to pay, and that they had capacity and ability to manage the project, highlighting the community’s experience of water related diesease out-breaks that had claimed many lives in the suburb. The results of this study led to the conclusion that community based management of boreholes was the only effective way and option at Harare City Council’s disposal to curb water shortages and ensure efficient water supply to the community by the community, hence it should be implemented.
Diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:YVO/sub 4/ lasers with 40-GHz repetition rate

We present two different diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:YVO/sub 4/ lasers with a repetition rate of 40 GHz. This is the highest repetition rate demonstrated so far with diode-pumped 1-/spl mu/m solid-state lasers. The first laser design allows short pulses of 2.7-ps duration whereas the second laser design is optimized for high average output power of up to 288 mW. We compare both design approaches and show that there is a tradeoff between output power and pulse duration.
Assembly of the Preprotein Receptor MOM72/MAS70 into the Protein Import Complex of the Outer Membrane of Mitochondria (*)

Membrane integration and assembly of MOM72 from Neurospora crassa and its yeast homolog MAS70 was studied with isolated mitochondria. After synthesis in vitro, the precursors of MOM72/MAS70 are tightly folded and expose only their N-terminal amino acid residues comprising the targeting and the membrane anchor domain. Insertion of the protein into the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) occurs in a time- and temperature-dependent manner and is stimulated by ATP. MOM72/MAS70 is then assembled into the outer membrane MOM complex. Whereas membrane insertion occurred independently of the presence of protease-sensitive surface components, the assembly reaction depended on such components. In the MOM complex MOM72 and MAS70 were found in the neighborhood of different components in yeast and N. crassa mitochondria. MOM72 was found in association with MOM22 in N. crassa mitochondria, whereas MAS70 was in proximity to a 37-kDa component in yeast outer mitochondrial membrane. The interaction with the 37-kDa protein is important for integration of MAS70 into the MOM complex. Thus, the 37-kDa protein plays an important role in the biogenesis of MAS70.
Development and validation of a liquid-chromatographic procedure for serum creatinine.

We evaluated and compared three analytical procedures for measuring creatinine by testing pooled sera and sera from individual human subjects. In two of the methods, an enzymic and a conventional colorimetric procedure, creatinine was separated from serum proteins with tungstic acid and detected at 520 nm after reaction with alkaline picrate (Jaff#{233} reagent). The amount of enzymaticaIly active creatinine was estimated by computing the difference between the creatinine concentrations in specimens incubated with and without creatinine deiminase (EC 3.5.4.21; creatinine iminohydrolase). For the other procedure we measured creatinine at 236 nm in serum ultrafiltrates injected on a reversed-phase high-performance liquid-chromatographic column, with allopurinol as an internal standard. Studies with serum pools showed that the chromatographic procedure was more precise than the enzymic and conventional tests. The routine Jaff#{233} method was not specific and produced erroneously high creatinine results for serum pools supplemented with ascorbate, pyruvate, acetone, and glucose. There was little or no interference with the chromatographic or enzymic techniques. Recovery of creatinine added to serum specimens was about 95% for the chromatographic procedures, but only 82% for both Jaff#{233} methods.
Influências Culturais para Tomada de Decisões em Processo de Internacionalização: Análise de Discurso de Discentes em Cursos de Administração no Município de Foz do Iguaçu

Cada vez mais as empresas estao se internacionalizando, motivada por fatores como mercado, materia-prima, tecnologia etc. Nesse contexto, as empresas precisam entrar em situacoes de nao estruturadas, de risco. O metodo como cada administrador percebe a questao do risco varia de cultura para cultura. Baseando-se nisso, esse artigo apresenta uma introducao das principais teorias sobre internacionalizacao de empresas e as dimensoes culturais descritas por Hofstede. E feito um breve estudo sobre a percepcao do risco por parte de alunos de uma universidade brasileira, do curso de administracao, em relacao a internacionalizacao das empresas. O estudo foi feito por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e avaliou-se que a diferenca da percepcao do risco influencia o entendimento sobre os processos de internacionalizacao. A percepcao dos estudantes entrevistados, sobre a aplicabilidade das teorias de internacionalizacao, tambem apresenta variacoes. Alunos com maior experiencia pratica apresentam menor aceitacao as teorias do que alunos com maior experiencia academica. Novos estudos sao recomendados para verificacao e exploracao desses resultados.
Interactions between potassium and calcium in their absorption by intact barley plants. I. Effects of potassium on calcium absorption.

Increasing concentrations of K (20, 200, 2000 mum) in the nutrient solution depressed Ca content and concentration in barley plants growing in nutrient solutions of low Ca concentrations (250 and 2500 mum). Increasing K from 20 to 200 mum depressed Ca absorption more than increasing K from 200 to 2000 mum K.The strong depression of Ca absorption by low concentrations of K must involve a different process from that studied by other workers at high concentrations of K. Since the depression in net absorption of Ca was as great at 250 as at 2500 mum Ca the results fail to support previous suggestions that a specific mechanism for Ca absorption operates at low Ca concentrations. It is suggested that, at the low concentrations of K and Ca likely to be found at the root surface in many soil solutions, the above mentioned effect of K in inhibiting Ca absorption may be important in the Ca nutrition of plants.