Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiplication of Legionella pneumophila in unsterilized tap water

Naturally occurring Legionella pneumophila, an environmental isolate which had not been grown on artificial medium, was tested for the ability to multiply in tap water. A showerhead containing L. pneumophila and non-Legionellaceae bacteria was immersed in nonsterile tap water supplying this fixture. Also L. pneumophila and non-Legionellaceae bacteria were sedimented from tap water from a surgical intensive care unit. This bacterial suspension was inoculated into tap water from our laboratory. The legionellae in both suspensions multiplied in the tap water at 32, 37, and 42 degrees C. The non-Legionellaceae bacteria multiplied at 25, 32, and 37 degrees C. A water sample which was collected from the bottom of a hot water tank was found to contain L. pneumophila and non-Legionellaceae bacteria. These legionellae also multiplied when the water sample was incubated at 37 degrees C. These results indicate that L. pneumophila may multiply in warm water environments such as hot water plumbing fixtures, hot water tanks, and cooling towers.
Phase II study of everolimus in metastatic urothelial cancer

No recent advances have been made in the treatment of patients with advanced bladder cancer and, to date, targeted therapies have not resulted in an improvement in outcome. The mammalian target of rapamycin pathway has been shown to be up‐regulated in bladder cancer and represents a rational target for therapeutic intervention. In the present phase II study of everolimus, one near‐complete response, one partial response and several minor responses suggest that everolimus possesses biological activity in a subset of patients with bladder cancer. To maximize benefit from targeted agents such as everolimus, the preselection of patients based on molecular phenotype is required.
Myeloid‐derived suppressor cell activation by combined LPS and IFN‐γ treatment impairs DC development

Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and DC are major controllers of immune responses against tumors or infections. However, it remains unclear how DC development and MDSC suppressor activity both generated from myeloid precursor cells are regulated. Here, we show that the combined treatment of BM‐derived MDSC with LPS plus IFN‐γ inhibited the DC development but enhanced MDSC functions, such as NO release and T‐cell suppression. This was not observed by the single treatments in vitro. In the spleens of healthy mice, we identified two Gr‐1lowCD11bhighLy‐6ChighSSClowMo‐MDSC and Gr‐1highCD11blowPMN‐MDSC populations with suppressive potential, whereas Gr‐1highCD11bhigh neutrophils and Gr‐1lowCD11bhighSSClow eosinophils were not suppressive. Injections of LPS plus IFN‐γ expanded these populations within the spleen but not LN leading to the block of the proliferation of CD8+ T cells. At the same time, their capacity to develop into DC was impaired. Together, our data suggest that spleens of healthy mice contain two subsets of MDSC with suppressive potential. A two‐signal‐program through combined LPS and IFN‐γ treatment expands and fully activates MDSC in vitro and in vivo.
Dual Role of TLR2 and Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 in a Mouse Model of Invasive Group B Streptococcal Disease 1

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are involved in pathogen recognition by the innate immune system. Different TLRs and the adaptor molecule myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) were previously shown to mediate in vitro cell activation induced by group B streptococcus (GBS). The present study examined the potential in vivo roles of TLR2 and MyD88 during infection with GBS. When pups were infected locally with a low bacterial dose, none of the TLR2- or MyD88-deficient mice, but all of the wild-type ones, were able to prevent systemic spread of GBS from the initial focus. Bacterial burden was higher in MyD88- than in TLR2-deficient mice, indicating a more profound defect of host defense in the former animals. In contrast, a high bacterial dose induced high level bacteremia in both mutant and wild-type mice. Under these conditions, however, TLR2 or MyD88 deficiency significantly protected mice from lethality, concomitantly with decreased circulating levels of TNF-α and IL-6. Administration of anti-TNF-α Abs to wild-type mice could mimic the effects of TLR2 or MyD88 deficiency and was detrimental in the low dose model, but protective in the high dose model. In conclusion, these data highlight a dual role of TLR2 and MyD88 in the host defense against GBS sepsis and strongly suggest TNF-α as the molecular mediator of bacterial clearance and septic shock.
Annual research review: Infant development, autism, and ADHD--early pathways to emerging disorders.

BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, with a high degree of co-occurrence. METHODS Prospective longitudinal studies of infants who later meet criteria for ASD or ADHD offer the opportunity to determine whether the two disorders share developmental pathways. RESULTS Prospective studies of younger siblings of children with autism have revealed a range of infant behavioral and neural markers associated with later diagnosis of ASD. Research on infants with later ADHD is less developed, but emerging evidence reveals a number of relations between infant measures and later symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. CONCLUSIONS We review this literature, highlighting points of convergence and divergence in the early pathways to ASD and ADHD.
On four-connecting a triconnected graph

The author considers the problem of finding a smallest set of edges whose addition four-connects a triconnected graph. This is a fundamental graph-theoretic problem that has applications in designing reliable networks. He presents an O(n alpha (m,n)+m) time sequential algorithm for four-connecting an undirected graph G that is triconnected by adding the smallest number of edges, where n and m are the number of vertices and edges in G, respectively, and alpha (m, n) is the inverse Ackermann function. He presents a new lower bound for the number of edges needed to four-connect a triconnected graph. The form of this lower bound is different from the form of the lower bound known for biconnectivity augmentation and triconnectivity augmentation. The new lower bound applies for arbitrary k, and gives a tighter lower bound than the one known earlier for the number of edges needed to k-connect a (k-1)-connect graph. For k=4, he shows that this lower bound is tight by giving an efficient algorithm for finding a set edges with the required size whose addition four-connects a triconnected graph. <<ETX>>
Numerical solution on coupling of UWB pulse into a rectangular cavity through slots

In this paper, the problem of coupling effects of ultra-wide-band (UWB) electromagnetic pulse into a rectangular cavity through slots is investigated. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used in analyzing the effectiveness of various slot slopes on coupling into the cavity. It is demonstrated that the energy penetration of rectangular slot with wider side, perpendicular to the incident wave's electric field polarized direction is maximum on condition that all slots presented have same area.
Poliovirus Protein 3A Inhibits Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-Induced Apoptosis by Eliminating the TNF Receptor from the Cell Surface

ABSTRACT Viral infections often trigger host defensive reactions by activating intrinsic (intracellular) and extrinsic (receptor-mediated) apoptotic pathways. Poliovirus is known to encode an antiapoptotic function(s) suppressing the intrinsic pathway. Here, the effect of poliovirus nonstructural proteins on cell sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced (i.e., receptor-mediated) apoptosis was studied. This sensitivity is dramatically enhanced by the viral proteinase 2A, due, most likely, to inhibition of cellular translation. On the other hand, cells expressing poliovirus noncapsid proteins 3A and 2B exhibit strong TNF resistance. Expression of 3A neutralizes the proapoptotic activity of 2A and results in a specific suppression of TNF signaling, including the lack of activation of NF-κB, due to elimination of the TNF receptor from the cell surface. In agreement with this, poliovirus infection results in a dramatic decrease in TNF receptor abundance on the surfaces of infected cells as early as 4 h postinfection. Poliovirus proteins that confer resistance to TNF interfere with endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi protein trafficking, and their effect on TNF signaling can be imitated by brefeldin A, suggesting that the mechanism of poliovirus-mediated resistance to TNF is a result of aberrant TNF receptor trafficking.
Logística y facilitación del comercio entre la Comunidad del Caribe y Centroamérica

El presente articulo tiene como objetivo analizar los avances y los retos en las relaciones comerciales entre la CARICOM1y Centroamerica2. En una primera parte, se destaca el aumento en la dinamica comercial entre ambas regiones, sus avances en materia de inversion, asi como sus complementariedades economicas y sus acercamientos institucionales y de negociaciones comerciales. En una segunda parte, se pone enfasis en los elementos que frenan una mayor dinamica comercial y de inversion entre la CARICOM y Centroamerica. Entre estos elementos se encuentran las altas protecciones arancelarias existentes en los paises de la CARICOM, la baja disponibilidad de rutas de transporte y sus altos costos, la heterogeneidad en la politica de concesion de visado, asi como los costos relacionados al comercio transfronterizo. Adicionalmente, se hace un somero acercamiento a la ayuda que estos paises reciben para el comercio y el desarrollo, enfatizando en los proyectos relacionados con la facilitacion del comercio. Ambas regiones tienen una potencialidad para beneficiarse mutuamente a traves de una complementariedad economica, no obstante se requieren hacer avances conjuntos para atenuar los elementos que restringen su comercio.
Valiant-Vazirani Lemmata for Various Logics

We show analogues of a theorem due to Valiant and Vazirani [16] for intractable parameterized complexity classes such as W[P], W[SAT] and the classes of the W-hierarchy as well as those of the A-hierarchy. We do so by proving a general “logical” version of it which may be of independent interest.
Effects of Outside Issues on the Comparison Question Test

In the present study, the authors examined the effects of outside issues on the validity of the Comparison Question Test in a laboratory mock-crime paradigm. In a 2 × 2 X 2 factorial design, 192 participants either did or did not commit (a) a mock theft of a dollar (about which they were tested), or (b) a mock theft of $20 (the outside issue); and they either were or were not asked questions about an outside issue. The presence of the outside issue had a strong differential impact on the participants who were innocent of the tested issue, and it dramatically moved their scores toward deception. The impact of an outside issue on the guilty was minimal. Test questions about possible outside issues were ineffective in detecting the presence of the outside issue, but they did function as comparison questions. The results have implications for understanding the high rate of false positive outcomes in some studies.
Generation of regulating power price scenarios

This paper presents a model of the regulating power market prices, based on ARIMA processes. The model can be used when creating scenario trees that are used in stochastic programming problems to generate optimal bids to the regulating power market. The model considers spot market price correlation and the design of the regulating power market, including the delay time of release of prices and submission time. The usual estimation methods associated with stochastic processes are not sufficient for this application. Therefore, new parameter estimation methods have been developed for the ARIMA process. The model and the estimation methods are used in a case study, where real data from the Nordic power market is used. A conclusion is that ARIMA processes are possible to use for this kind of models
The pulmonary artery catheter: economic aspects.

OBJECTIVE To review the literature addressing economic issues related to use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC). DATA SOURCE All pertinent English language articles related to economic analysis of the use of pulmonary artery catheterization were retrieved from 1977 through 1996. STUDY SELECTION Articles were chosen for review if an economic analysis related to use of the PAC was studied or reviewed. DATA EXTRACTION From the articles selected, information was obtained about economic aspects related to pulmonary artery catheterization. DATA SYNTHESIS Inadequate evidence exists to accurately determine if PAC use is truly cost-effective. CONCLUSION Widespread use of the PAC has significant economic ramifications. Data regarding cost-effectiveness of the PAC is extremely limited in terms of methodology and scope. Economic impact and cost-effectiveness are moot prior to establishing clinical efficacy.
CORNER: A Radio Propagation Model for VANETs in Urban Scenarios

Advances in portable technologies and emergence of new applications stimulate interest in urban vehicular communications for commercial, military, and homeland defense applications. Simulation is an essential tool to study the behavior and evaluate the performance of protocols and applications in large-scale urban vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET). In this paper, we propose CORNER, a low computational cost yet accurate urban propagation model for mobile networks. CORNER estimates the presence of buildings and obstacles along the signal path using information extrapolated from urban digital maps. A reverse geocoding algorithm is used to classify the propagation situation of any two nodes that need to communicate starting from their geographical coordinates. We classify the relative position of the sender and the receiver as in line of sight (LOS) or nonline of sight (NLOS). Based on this classification, we apply different formulas to compute the path loss (PL) metric. CORNER has been validated through extensive on-the-road experiments, the results show high accuracy in predicting the network connectivity. In addition, on-the-road experiments suggest the need to refine the fading model to differentiate between LOS, and NLOS situations. Finally, we show the impact of CORNER on simulation results for widely used applications.
Synthesis of furfural from xylose and xylan.

Rising fossil energy prices and environmental preservation call for alternative sources of energy, such as renewable fuels based on biomass. [1] Biofuels could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and decrease fuel prices, particularly if derived from nonfood biomass resources such as agricultural, forest, and landfill wastes. Hemicellulose, a mixture of polysaccharides containing xylose, arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, and other sugars, is typically the second-most-abundant component of biomass, after cellulose. [2] In grasses and hardwoods, xylan, a polymer of xylose, is often the primary hemicellulose. As a result, xylan conversion is critical for utilization of important biomass feedstocks such as bagasse, corn stover, Miscanthus, switchgrass, and poplar.
First‐in‐human trial of nanoelectroablation therapy for basal cell carcinoma: proof of method

This nanoelectroablation therapy effectively treats subdermal murine allograft tumors, autochthonous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumors in Ptch1+/‐K14‐Cre‐ER p53 fl/fl mice, and UV‐induced melanomas in C57/BL6 HGF/SF mice. Here, we described the first human trial of this modality. We treated 10 BCCs on three subjects with 100–1000 electric pulses 100 ns in duration, 30 kV/cm in amplitude, applied at 2 pulses per second. Seven of the 10 treated lesions were completely free of basaloid cells when biopsied and two partially regressed. Two of the 7 exhibited seborrheic keratosis in the absence of basaloid cells. One of the 10 treated lesions recurred by week 10 and histologically had the appearance of a squamous cell carcinoma. No scars were visible at the healed sites of any of the successfully ablated lesions. One hundred pulses were sufficient for complete ablation of BCCs with a single, 1‐min nanoelectroablation treatment.
CNS Activity of Aqueous Extract of Root of Cissus Quadrangularis Linn. (Vitaceae)

ABSTRACT. In Ayurveda, Cissus quadrangularis Linn. is used to treat anorexia, asthma, sickle cell, colds, pain, and malaria. Aqueous C. quadrangularis extract was evaluated in vivo for its antiepileptic activity by using the maximal electroshock and isonicotinic hydrazide acid models, for its analgesic activity by using the hot plate method, and for its smooth muscle relaxant activity by using the rotarod method. Adult male Swiss mice were used for this study and animals were divided into 6 animals per group. Doses of 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight protected the mice against maximal electroshock seizure, and delayed the onset time of seizures induced by isonicotinic hydrazide acid. Prominent analgesic activity was observed using the hot plate method. The paw licking time was delayed significantly. The extract also displayed prominent smooth muscle relaxant activity. The results suggest that the aqueous extracts of C. quadrangularis roots possess anticonvulsant, analgesic, and smooth muscle relaxant properties.
Intervention of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and tetrandrine on cellular calcium overload of pancreatic acinar cells induced by serum and ascitic fluid from rats with acute pancreatitis

Background and Aim: To investigate the effects of serum and ascitic fluid from rats with acute pancreatitis (AP) on cellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) of isolated rat pancreatic acinar cells, and the intervention of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and tetrandrine (Tet) to cellular calcium overload in AP.
Perforating appendicitis. A nine-year survey of treatment and results.

This is a clinical study of 193 adult cases of perforating appendicitis during a nine-year period of treatment. There were 77 females (39.9%) and 116 males (60.1%) with ages of 15 years and above. Throughout the study period, the yearly perforation frequency ranged from 10.0 to 23.1% (mean 16.7%) of all cases with proven appendicitis. Perforation was equally common in both sexes, females: 15.5%, males: 17.6% of the appendicitis cases. In elderly patients (greater than or equal to 60 years of age) perforation was much more common; 37 out of 77 cases with proven appendicitis (48.1%). Compared to different ages (patients under and above 60 years of age), clinical and laboratory findings were found equal. Duration of symptoms showed no differences for younger and elderly patients. Preoperative delay in the hospital of at least 6 hours occurred in 39.9% of all patients, and was found equally common in patients younger than 60 years (39.1%) and in those from 60 years and older (43.2%). There were no fatalities in the study group. Postoperative septical complications predominated over non-septical (32.6 versus 9.3%), and were equally common in both sexes and in patients of different ages. The frequency of occurrence of septical complications was not significantly influenced by the duration of symptoms or by the duration of operation, furthermore, septical complications were equally frequent throughout the study period, although the use of antibiotics changed towards drugs more potent to cover anaerobic bacteria (28.1% infections for the period 1972-1976 versus 29.8% for the period 1977-1981). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Psychosocial factors related to nausea, vomiting, and fatigue in early pregnancy.

PURPOSE To test whether nausea and vomiting or fatigue correlated with psychosocial variables. DESIGN Descriptive, using secondary data from a prenatal database of 113 women in prenatal care in Texas. Mean gestational duration was 59 days at the time of data collection. METHODS Psychosocial factors, frequency of nausea and vomiting and of fatigue were determined by use of questionnaires. Psychosocial measures had reliability and validity and included the Personal Resources Questionnaire and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A checklist was used for measuring nausea and vomiting and fatigue. FINDINGS Of 113 participants, 30 (26.5%) reported no, 43 (38.1%) occasional, and 40 (35.4%) frequent nausea and vomiting. Depressive symptoms had the highest correlation with nausea and vomiting. Social support was negatively related to nausea and vomiting. Four (3.5%) women reported no fatigue, 49 (43.4%) reported occasional fatigue, and 60 (53.1%) reported frequent fatigue in the past month. Depressive symptoms had the highest correlation with fatigue. The chi-square statistic showed that fatigue was significantly related to employment. Fatigue was not significantly associated with work hours or stressfulness of jobs. CONCLUSIONS Only a limited number of psychosocial factors were associated with nausea and vomiting and fatigue in early pregnancy. Depression was related to physical symptoms, but unclear was whether depression preceded or resulted from the symptoms. Many women experienced symptoms, and better understanding of causality is needed to ameliorate the effects on women's well-being.
HORMONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GROWTH OF MAMMARY ADENOCARCINOMA (MTW9) IN RATS.

The hormonal requirements for the growth of a hormone-dependent mammary adenocarcinoma (MTW9) have been studied. Rapid growth of mammary tumor implants in intact female rats was confirmed following coimplantation of pituitary tumor MtTW5. Mammary tumor growth was prevented by oophorectomy prior to, or shortly after, tumor implantation. If oophorectomy was delayed beyond 14 days, suppression of mammary tumor growth was less effective. Growth of MtTW5 was not affected by oophorectomy. Mammary tumor growth did not occur in oophorectomized rats with pituitary tumor; however, if these rats were injected with a combination of estradiol-17β and progesterone, mammary tumor growth was similar to that in intact animals. If estradiol-17β or progesterone was injected singularly, mammary tumor growth occurred but was retarded as compared with intact animals. Transplanted mammary tumor did not grow in intact or castrated male rats unless ovarian hormones were injected. Isografts of whole pituitary glands implanted into.
Mammary-derived growth inhibitor protein and messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations in different physiological states of the gland.

Expression of mammary-derived growth inhibitor in tissue from lactating and involuting bovine mammary glands was investigated. Seventeen lactating, pregnant (220 to 272 d in gestation) cows were divided in two groups of 8 and 9 cows each. Cows of the first group were slaughtered while in lactation. Cows of the second group (9 involuting cows) were slaughtered at 13 to 52 d following sudden cessation of milking. High concentrations of mammary-derived growth inhibitor (.63% of the total protein) were detected in mammary tissue of lactating cows. Mammary-derived growth inhibitor (less than .10% of the total protein) was dramatically reduced during most of the involution period (13 to 45 d following cessation of milking). Mammary-derived growth inhibitor was again detected (.28% of the total protein) during the last stage of the involution (46 to 53 d after cessation of milking), which coincided with colostrum formation. When steady state concentrations of mammary-derived growth inhibitor mRNA were examined, the results obtained mirrored those obtained at the protein concentration. These data suggest that regulation of mammary-derived growth inhibitor occurs via modulation of the steady state concentration of its mRNA. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation between mammary-derived growth inhibitor expression and lactation in dairy cows.