Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beneficial effect of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone on esophageal dysfunction associated with systemic sclerosis: A pilot study

Background Esophageal involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) carries significant morbidity and is empirically managed with domperidone, albeit with questionable efficacy. The oral 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone may enhance esophageal peristalsis and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function in healthy volunteers. Aim We aimed to test the hypothesis that buspirone may exert a beneficial acute effect on esophageal motor dysfunction in symptomatic patients with SSc. Methods Twenty consecutive patients with SSc reporting esophageal symptoms underwent high-resolution manometry before and 30 minutes after administration of buspirone (10 mg). Ten other patients received domperidone (10 mg) and served as control group. Changes in LES resting and residual pressure, amplitude, duration, and velocity of distal esophageal body contractions were examined. Results Esophageal hypomotility and hypotensive LES was found in 63% and 67% of patients, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including baseline manometric parameters, were comparable between groups. Resting pressure of LES increased after buspirone from 9.42 ± 2.6 to 11.53 ± 3.4 mmHg (p = 0.0002 by paired t-test), but not after domperidone; a trend for increase of amplitude of contractions was also observed after buspirone (p = 0.09). Comparison of the individual changes revealed that buspirone was superior to domperidone in enhancing LES pressure ( + 2.11 ± 2.0 versus –0.45 ± 2.3 mmHg, p = 0.006). No significant effects of either drug were noted on other examined parameters of esophageal function. Conclusion The beneficial acute effect of buspirone on impaired LES function associated with SSc suggests a role of 5-HT1A receptor-mediated interactions in these patients. Prospective studies to examine whether buspirone is of long-term therapeutic value for SSc-associated esophageal disease are warranted.
The Ground Substance of Connective Tissue

THE fact that all the various forms of connective tissue possess considerable quantities of ground substance, in which their formed elements are embedded, and that this ground substance varies considerably in constitution, being especially modified in the more complex forms, renders a study of its chemical relations of considerable interest and importance. That form of connective tissue known as mucous or jelly-like connective tissue, of which the vitreous humour and the Whartonian jelly of the umbilical cord are made up, offers especial facilities for such a research, as in it we have large quantities of ground substance with very few fibrous or cellular elements, and also its structure agrees very closely with that of embryonic connective tissue. I have therefore made a series of experiments on this subject, under the direction of Prof. Halliburton, to whom I wish to record my warmest thanks for the great assistance and kind advice he has given me throughout my work. It will be convenient to divide my paper into four sections, as follows:A. The vitreous humour. B. The Whartonian jelly. C. On some decomposition products of connective tissue mucin. D. General summary of results.
Economic Growth and Environmental Policy

In this innovative book, Frank Hettich uses dynamic modelling to study the interactions between economic growth, environmental policy and tax reform. He incorporates pollution and abatement technologies into different endogenous growth models that take into account consumer preferences and physical and human capital accumulation. He focuses on the effects of environmental policy in closed and open economies in the short, medium and long term.
The chemopreventive activity of apple against carcinogenesis: antioxidant activity and cell cycle control

Apples and their derivatives are rich in phytochemicals, including flavonoids (catechins, flavonols, quercetin) and phenolic acids (quercetin glycosides, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins), vitamins, and fibers, that confer an important antioxidant property. Chemoprevention is defined by the use of natural or synthetic agents to interfere with the progression, reverse, or inhibit carcinogenesis, thereby reducing the risk of developing clinically invasive disease. The aim of this article is to present data generated from the use of apples as a chemopreventive agent in carcinogenesis using in-vivo and in-vitro test systems. Apple and its bioactive compounds can exert chemopreventive properties as a result of antioxidant activity and cell cycle control. However, future focus of research on apple such as identifying the specific phytochemical responsible for the anticarcinogenic effect, timing of consumption, and adequate amount of apples to achieve the best preventive effect using human large randomized-controlled trials is needed. Furthermore, animal studies are also relevant for better understanding the role of this fruit in human health as well as modulation of degenerative diseases such as cancer. Therefore, this area warrants further investigation as a new way of thinking, which would apply not only to apples but also to other fruit used as promising therapeutic agents against human diseases.
Personality and pay satisfaction: exploring the influence of organizational justice and gender in South Africa

Abstract This study contributes to the limited established empirical research on the impact and relevance of individual-level personality variables, specifically the broad dispositional trait, core self-evaluations, on the pay satisfaction of historically disadvantaged individuals. In light of recent inquiries which document the important causal role of personality attributes in the emergence of fairness perceptions, this study examines the mediating role of justice perceptions on the relationship between core self-evaluations and pay satisfaction. Using a sample of historically disadvantaged individuals from South Africa, our results show that organizational justice perceptions fully mediate the relationship between core self-evaluations and pay satisfaction. Furthermore, this study finds that gender moderates the relationship between core self-evaluations and pay satisfaction such that self-confident historically disadvantaged females are more satisfied with their pay than their male counterparts.
A Gene Cluster for the Mevalonate Pathway from Streptomyces sp. Strain CL190

ABSTRACT A biosynthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (EC1.1.1.34 ), the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway for isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis, had previously been purified fromStreptomyces sp. strain CL190 and its corresponding gene (hmgr) had been cloned (S. Takahashi, T. Kuzuyama, and H. Seto, J. Bacteriol. 181:1256–1263, 1999). Sequence analysis of the flanking regions of the hmgr gene revealed five new open reading frames, orfA to -E, which showed similarity to those encoding eucaryotic and archaebacterial enzymes for the mevalonate pathway. Feeding experiments with [1-13C]acetate demonstrated that Escherichia coli JM109 harboring the hmgr gene and these open reading frames used the mevalonate pathway under induction with isopropyl β-d-thiogalactopyranoside. This transformant could grow in the presence of fosmidomycin, a potent and specific inhibitor of the nonmevalonate pathway, indicating that the mevalonate pathway, intrinsically absent in E. coli, is operating in the E. coli transformant. The hmgr gene andorfABCDE are thus unambiguously shown to be responsible for the mevalonate pathway and to form a gene cluster in the genome ofStreptomyces sp. strain CL190.
Test Data Reduction for BIST-Aided Scan Test Using Compatible Flip-Flops and Shifting Inverter Code

In this paper, a method for reducing test data volume of BIST-aided scan test (BAST) is proposed. In our BAST method, scan chains are ordered using compatible flip-flops to reduce the conflicting bits between ATPG pattern and random pattern obtained by LFSR. The inverter block in BIST-aided scan architecture is modified for shifting inverter code such that the random pattern produced by LFSR has less conflicting bits with ATPG patterns when providing the test pattern to the scan chains. The experimental results show the method can reduce the test data volume than the previous method.
Complete Genome Sequences of Bordetella pertussis Isolates with Novel Pertactin-Deficient Deletions

ABSTRACT Clinical isolates of the respiratory pathogen Bordetella pertussis in the United States have become predominantly deficient for the acellular vaccine immunogen pertactin through various independent mutations. Here, we report the complete genome sequences for four B. pertussis isolates that harbor novel deletions responsible for pertactin deficiency.
CELL‐TO‐CELL COMMUNICATION VIA PLANT ENDOMEMBRANES

Cell‐to‐cell communication was investigated in epidermal cells cut from stem internodal tissue of Nicotiana tabacum and Torenia fournieri. Fluorescently labelled peptides and dextrans were microinjected using iontophoresis into the cytoplasm andcortical endomembrane network of these cells. The microinjected endomembrane network was similar in location and structure to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as revealed by staining with 3,3′‐dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6). No cell‐to‐cell movement of dextrans was observed following cytoplasmic injections but injection of dextrans into the endomembrane network resulted in rapid diffusion of the probes to neighbouring cells. It is proposed that the ER acts as a pathway for intercellular communication via the desmotubule through plasmodesmata.
Brazilian policy of universal access to AIDS treatment: sustainability challenges and perspectives

Introduction: The Brazilian AIDS Programme success is recognized worldwide, due to its integrated approach of prevention, respect for human rights and to free of charge universal access to state of the art antiretrovirals. Current situation: As of 2006, 180,000 people living with AIDS are on HAART with 17 drugs available, receiving medical and laboratory care through the public health system. Costs for ART drugs reached US$ 400 million in 2006 and will increase steeply if the current trends are maintained: uptake of approximately 20,000 new patients/year and the need for more expensive, patent-protected second and third line drugs. Discussion: We discuss the strengths and weeknesses of the programme, budgetary pressures, the need for more intense preventive efforts, for boosting local production of new drugs, for more investment in research and development and the issue of voluntary and compulsory licensing. There are many hurdles in pursuing long-term sustainability, which depends on country driven initiatives and international collaboration and participation. Conclusion: We conclude that the Brazilian experience demonstrated the capability of a developing country to treat people with equity, independently of race, gender or economic power and that this equality “seed” has already spread to other countries. Internally this experience must be used to tackle other endemic diseases, such as leprosy, malaria, dengue and leishmania. The Brazilian political will has been proven but, once again, there will be the need for concerted action by civil society, researchers, health professionals, people living with HIV/AIDS and the government to convince the world that health needs should not be treated as commercial issues, and that progress in research and development must be shared throughout the world if we expect to survive as a civilization.
Fungal biomass is a key factor affecting polymorphonuclear leucocyte‐induced hyphal damage of filamentous fungi

Previous studies have not systematically assessed the effect of fungal biomass on polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN)‐induced hyphal damage (HD) of filamentous fungi. We hypothesised that fungal biomass is a significant factor affecting PMN‐induced HD. One isolate each consisting of a volume of 2 × 104 conidia ml−1 of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Rhizopus oryzae, Rhizopus microsporus, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Scedosporium prolificans and Fusarium solani were incubated for six different time periods yielding biomass values between 0.01 and 0.1 optical density (OD, 405 nm). Polymorphonuclear leucocyte were added at effector–target (E : T) ratios of 5 : 1, 10 : 1, 20 : 1, 50 : 1 and 100 : 1, and HD was assessed by XTT [2,3‐bis‐(2‐methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5‐sulphophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium‐5‐carboxanilide] metabolic assay. Hyphal damage decreased with increasing biomass following the sigmoid (Emax) model (median R2: 0.87). Hyphal damage at 0.01 OD exceeded HD at 0.1 OD (P < 0.01) by >twofold in 64 out of 80 comparisons. The sigmoid curves were shifted to the right with higher E : T ratios; the EC50 values (OD values showing HD halfway between maximal and minimal HD) obtained for 50 : 1 or 100 : 1 were higher than for 5 : 1 (P < 0.01). Using the same E : T ratio, interspecies differences were observed; for 5 : 1, lower EC50 values were obtained for A. flavus and the zygomycete species. In conclusion, PMN‐induced HD decreases with increasing biomass. This effect is both species‐dependent and E : T ratio‐dependent.
College Funding in Context: Understanding The Difference In Higher Education Appropriations Across The States

Dēmos Dēmos is a national, non-partisan public policy center headquartered in New York City. Dē-mos generates ideas,research and advocacy to ensure that all Americans are able to benefit in our economy and participate fully in our democracy. at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Weerts' teaching and scholarly interests include state financing of higher education, university-community engagement, and alumni giving, advocacy, and volunteerism. His research on these topics appears in leading higher education journals including The Journal of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, and the Review of Higher Education. Weerts has eight years of experience in university advancement, and has held major gifts officer positions at the University of Wisconsin Foundation and University of Minnesota Foundation. He holds a Ph.D in higher education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. THOMAS SANFORD is an Affiliate Researcher with the Jandris Center for innovative Higher education in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Additionally, Sanford serves as an adjunct faculty member at vanderbilt University and St. Cloud State University. Sanford's research and teaching interests include quantitative methodology, higher education finance, and organizational theory. His research has appeared in several leading higher education journals and has been highlighted in the Chronicle of Higher education and inside Higher education. Thomas earned a Ph.D. in higher education for the University of Minnesota. LeAH ReiNeRT is a doctoral student in higher education and a graduate research assistant for the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota. Additionally, Leah has worked as a graduate research assistant for the Midwest-ern Higher education Compact since September 2011. Her research interests include faculty issues, gender equity, diversity in higher education, higher education history, and pedagogical strategies. Leah earned her B.S. in University Studies and M.S.ed. in Higher education Administration from Southern illinois University Carbondale. AcknowleDgements The authors thank University of Minnesota graduate students, Yoojeong Jang and erin Konkle, for their assistance with data collection for this project. The Kresge Foundation. t A b l e o f c o n t e n t s key finDings 1 introDuction 5 bAckgrounD: three t ypes of fActors influence higher eDucAtion funDing 6 finDings from the quAntitAtive AnAlysis 8 cAse stuDies 9 A. Minnesota B. Pennsylvania C. Louisiana D. Colorado finDings from the cAse stuDies 20 conclusion 22 methoDologicAl AppenDix 23 enDnotes 35
The neurokinin1 receptor antagonist aprepitant as an antiemetic for moderately emetogenic chemotherapy

The neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist aprepitant has become part of standard antiemetic therapy for high-dose cisplatin. Recent results indicate that chemotherapy for breast cancer that contains an anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide is more emetogenic than has been previously realised. One large randomised trial demonstrated that aprepitant substantially reduces the risk of vomiting or retching when added to a corticosteroid and a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (HT3) receptor antagonist. The adverse effects of standard antiemetics and chemotherapy do not appear to be increased by the addition of this novel antiemetic agent. Aprepitant should now also be considered to be part of prophylactic antiemetic therapy for women who receive chemotherapy that contains an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide. The role of NK1 receptor antagonists in preventing emesis due to other cytotoxic agents that are deemed to be moderately emetogenic is still unclear.
Mutation in IRO1 Tightly Linked with URA3 Gene Reduces Virulence of Candida albicans

Gene deletion in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans has relied heavily on a URA3 cassette and a recipient Aura3 strain CAI4. The IRO1 gene adjacent to URA3 was inadvertently deleted during construction of CAI4. We report here that a mutation in IRO1 reduces virulence of C. albicans.
An optimal entropy estimator for discrete random variables

This paper presents analytical formulations of the most important estimation errors-averaged squared bias error and mean squared error - for the class of entropy estimator expressed as a sum of single variable functions. The class of entropy estimator includes almost all important entropy estimators that have been proposed heretofore. Furthermore, this paper presents an optimal entropy estimator that can minimize mean squared error of the estimate under the condition that averaged squared bias error of the estimate is restricted to below an arbitrary value. A numerical experiment demonstrates that the proposed entropy estimator provides a lower mean squared error than conventional entropy estimators when entropy is estimated as an ensemble mean over plural entropy estimates obtained for different independent data. Such estimation is often utilized for biological signals, e.g., neural signals, because of biological tiredness and adaptation property.
[The value of qualitative regression grading as a prognostic factor for survival after preoperative radiochemotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck cancer].

BACKGROUND Multimodal therapeutic strategies gain importance in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Quantitative regression grading can be traced as an independent prognostic parameter in the histological examination in many neoadjuvantly treated cancers. Various regression systems have been suggested. We propose an easy to apply and economical score that seems to have a significant prognostic value in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. PATIENTS AND METHODS 43 patients with Stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have been treated neoadjuvantly with two cycles chemotherapy (ifosfamide 1.5 g/m2 day 1-5 with mesna [300 mg/m2], cisplatin 60 mg/m2 day 5, second cycle day 22). Hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (30 Gy) was given from day 29 on. We divided the resected tumors histologically as follows: Grade I--no tumor cells to be identified, Grade II--necrosis, Grade III--partial destruction of the carcinoma, Grade IV--vital carcinoma. RESULTS After 1 year the overall survival amounted to 79%, after 2 years 56%. A significant correlation could be established between qualitative tumor regression and survival. The 1-year survival depended on the regression of the primary as follows: 94% in Grade I, 80% in Grade II, 60% in Grade III and 56% in Grade IV. For the 2-year survival: 76%, 40%, 40%, 11% (p < 0.01). The results were similar regarding the neck dissections. CONCLUSIONS After radiochemotherapy the histological regression is a significant prognostic factor of survival. A simple system with four subgroups is suggested which seems to be of a high prognostic value. We discuss to intensify the treatment for patients with good regression after neoadjuvant therapy for a further reduction of recurrence.
SMCSPO based force estimation for a hydraulic cylinder

Sliding mode control with perturbation observer (SMCSPO) is well known as a robust controller. It has not only the good performance in non-linear control but also a certain accuracy in perturbation estimation. In this paper, SMCSPO is used to control a hydraulic cylinder and observe the perturbation which major is the reaction force from environment. The reaction force estimation is compared with the real force measured by a force/torque sensor for observer evaluation. The evaluation shows the estimated reaction force can be used as a force feedback within some errors.
FDG Avidity at PET/CT During Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy in Patients With Breast Cancer

Background We aim to retrospectively evaluate the impact of hormone therapy (HT) on FDG avidity of metastatic lesions in patients with breast cancer (BC) undergoing PET/CT. Patients and Methods Three hundred eight patients with BC were scanned with PET/CT at 2 Italian institutions (mean time from diagnosis 4 yrs, range: 1–24 yrs). Main indications for PET/CT were elevation of tumor markers (34.4%) and clinical or radiological suspicion of relapse (65.6%). The diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET/CT was computed according to the standard method. Student t test was used to assess the mean differences between the study groups, whereas categorical data were compared with chi-square test. Significance was set at P <0.05. Results Two hundred sixty-four patients with positive estrogen receptor and who had received adjuvant HT were included in the analysis. At the time of PET/CT scan, HT was ongoing in 176 patients (66.7%) and 88 (33.3%) had completed adjuvant HT. Ninety-eight (55.7%) patients on HT and 59 (67%) off HT had a positive PET/CT; therefore, the scan resulted negative in the remaining 107 patients, 78 and 29 on and off HT, 44.3% and 33%, respectively (P < 0.001). At a median follow-up of 7 months (range 1–48 mos), disease recurrence was confirmed in either clinical or radiological examinations in 126 (47.7%) patients; 72 (40.9%) versus 54 (61.4%) patients on and off HT, respectively (P < 0.005). True-positive PET/CT results were found in 82% and 91% of patients on and off HT, respectively, whereas it failed to identify disease relapse in 13 (18%) and 5 (9%) patients on and off HT, respectively. Conclusions In our series, FDG PET/CT shows a similar diagnostic accuracy in detecting disease relapse between patients with BC on adjuvant HT versus those who have completed therapy. These preliminary results suggest that the glucose metabolism is not altered by hormonal suppression at the time of the scan.
A NEW RESPIRATORY TRACT PATHOGEN: CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE STRAIN TWAR

Chlamydia pneumoniae strain TWAR, the new third species of Chlamydia, is a common cause of pneumonia and other acute respiratory tract infections. About 10% of hospitalized and outpatient pneumonia cases have been associated with TWAR infection. TWAR is among the four or five most commonly identified causes of all pneumonia. Most TWAR infections are mild or asymptomatic, but occasionally severe pneumonia with death has been observed. Laboratory diagnosis is not generally available. Vigorous treatment with tetracycline or erythromycin is recommended. Both epidemic and endemic infections have been described in North America and the Nordic Countries. Population prevalence antibody studies suggest that TWAR infection is wide-spread throughout the world, that nearly everyone is infected and reinfected during their life-time, and that infection is common in all ages except those less than 5 years in temperate zone countries. The infection is transmitted from person to person, apparently with a long incubation period.