Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scavenger receptors: role in innate immunity and microbial pathogenesis

Accumulating evidence shows that many scavenger receptors (SR), including SR‐A, MARCO and CD36, represent an important part of the innate immune defence by acting as pattern‐recognition receptors, in particular against bacterial pathogens. Several SR are expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, where they act as phagocytic receptors mediating non‐opsonic phagocytosis of pathogenic microbes. Another important function of some SR is to act as co‐receptors to Toll‐like receptors (TLR), modulating the inflammatory response to TLR agonists. On bacteria, the SR ligands have commonly been reported to be lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid, but recent advances in the field indicate that bacterial surface proteins play a more important role as target molecules for SR than previously thought. Interestingly, recent data show that major pathogens, including Streptococcus pyogenes and the group B streptococcus, have evolved mechanisms to evade SR‐mediated recognition. Moreover, intracellular pathogens, such as hepatitis C virus and Plasmodium falciparum, utilize the SR to gain entry into host cells, focusing interest on the importance of SR also in the molecular pathogenesis of infectious diseases. This review highlights the complex interactions between SR and pathogenic microbes, and discusses the role of these interactions in host defence and microbial pathogenesis.
Reducing Pain During Propofol Injection: The Role of the Solvent

We hypothesized that the concentration of propofol in the aqueous phase may be the most important variable responsible for the pain experienced during injection of the drug.The concentration of propofol in the aqueous phase (18.57 micro gram/mL) can be decreased by increasing the fat concentration of the solvent. To test this hypothesis, 36 patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups, each receiving a different formulation of propofol. Group A received 20 mL of propofol alone in a commercial preparation (Diprivan Registered Trademark with 10 mL of saline); Group B, 20 mL of propofol to which 5 mL of long-chain triglyceride (LCT) fat emulsion and 5 mL of saline had been added; and Group C, 20 mL of propofol and 10 mL of LCT fat emulsion. The propofol emulsion was injected over 30-60 s into a dorsal vein of the hand. Patients reported pain during injection as none, mild, moderate, or severe (almost intolerable). In Group A, 8 of 12 patients reported moderate or severe pain upon injection, whereas in Group C only mild pain was reported by 6 of 12 patients. Our results suggest that a smaller concentration of propofol in the aqueous phase of the emulsion reduces pain on injection. With the addition of more lipid (10 mL), a higher percentage of propofol is absorbed by the fat particles. If solvents that permit a smaller concentration of drug in the aqueous phase of oil-in-water emulsions were used for propofol and other drugs that cause pain on injection, pain would be reduced and patient satisfaction may be increased. (Anesth Analg 1996;82:472-4)
Validation of automatic CPAP leak algorithm

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a prevalent disease. Reliable estimation of respiratory parameters by devices used to treat OSA is important for therapy initiation and maintenance. This is achieved by estimating patient flow in the presence of inadvertent leak from the total flow measured by the device. A method of validating the patient flow estimation of an Automatic Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) device is described. Novel techniques of a multi-composite simulant head and recorded patient flows are used. The APAP device tested was shown to reliably estimate patient flow across a range of therapy pressures, leak conditions and breath types.
[Observation on therapeutic effect of pecking moxibustion of specific acupoints for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea type)].

OBJECTIVE To compare therapeutic effects of pecking moxibustion therapy and common acupuncture on irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea type). METHODS Fifty cases of irritable bowel syndrome were randomly divided into a pecking moxibustion group (n=30) and an acupuncture group (n=20). The pecking moxibustion group was treated by pecking moxibustion with a ZHOU's pecking moxibustion pen, and the acupuncture group by common acupuncture. In the two groups, Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. were selected. After treatment of 15 sessions the scores of symptoms and clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS After treatment, the scores of symptoms significantly decreased (both P < 0.01), with a significant difference in the decrease of symptom scores between the two groups (P < 0.05); the total effective rate of 93.3% in the pecking moxibustion group was higher than 75.0% in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Pecking moxibustion therapy can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea type), with a better therapeutic effect than common acupuncture.
APOE&egr;4 Genotype and Hypertension Modify 8-year Cortical Thinning: Five Occasion Evidence from the Seattle Longitudinal Study

We investigated individual differences in longitudinal trajectories of brain aging in cognitively normal healthy adults from the Seattle Longitudinal Study covering 8 years of longitudinal change (across 5 occasions) in cortical thickness in 249 midlife and older adults (52-95 years old). We aimed to understand true brain change; examine the influence of salient risk factors that modify an individual's rate of cortical thinning; and compare cross-sectional age-related differences in cortical thickness to longitudinal within-person cortical thinning. We used Multivariate Multilevel Modeling to simultaneously model dependencies among 5 lobar composites (Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital, and Cingulate [CING]) and account for the longitudinal nature of the data. Results indicate (1) all 5 lobar composites significantly atrophied across 8 years, showing nonlinear longitudinal rate of cortical thinning decelerated over time, (2) longitudinal thinning was significantly altered by hypertension and Apolipoprotein-E ε4 (APOEε4), varying by location: Frontal and CING thinned more rapidly in APOEε4 carriers. Notably, thinning of parietal and occipital cortex showed synergistic effect of combined risk factors, where individuals who were both APOEε4 carriers and hypertensive had significantly greater 8-year thinning than those with either risk factor alone or neither risk factor, (3) longitudinal thinning was 3 times greater than cross-sectional estimates of age-related differences in thickness in parietal and occipital cortices.
Radiation‐induced bystander effect: Activation of signaling molecules in K562 erythroleukemia cells

Gap junction independent signaling mechanism was investigated using K562 human erythroleukemia cells. They were exposed to 2, 5, or 10 Gy of 60Co γ irradiation, the medium isolated 20 min post‐irradiation and added to fresh cells. Evidence of radiation‐induced bystander effect was observed wherein there was activation of p21, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), Bax, Bcl‐2 and cleavage of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase in bystander cells. The study implicates the involvement of signaling molecules released into the medium and factors like stable free radicals that are generated in the surrounding medium. The response elicited appears to be primarily via NF‐κB and p21 activation. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 991–997, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Accumulative effect of repeated lightning impulses on transformer insulation: mechanism analysis

During the decades-long operation, oil paper insulation in power transformers may suffer the effect of thousands of lightning impulses. Such interesting but rarely studied phenomenon, also known as accumulative effect, may cause irreversible damage to the oil paper insulation, or even premature failure. Therefore, in this work, the influence of repeated lightning impulses on the oil paper insulation, especially the mechanism behind this phenomenon, was experimentally investigated. We determined the accumulative breakdown characteristics of the oil paper insulation and observed the influence of the repeated lightning impulses on the dissolved gas in oil and the degree of polymerization. Specifically, the space charge distribution in the oil paper samples and the relationship between the interval time and accumulative breakdown characteristics were experimentally determined in the end. The test results indicate that the accumulative effect only exists in the cellulose paper rather than the transformer oil. Such effect was considered to be the consequence of electrical degradation and accumulation of space charge.
A Statistical Model of Brain Signals with Application to Brain-Computer Interface

This paper presents a novel approach to improving the robustness of brain-computer interfaces by using a statistical model of brain signals especially P300. We study the distributions of support vector machine scores for the signals and derive a posteriori probability model of P300/non-P300. We further derive a statistical model for multi-trial brain signals, and apply it to the rejection of undesired signals. Six subjects have been involved in an experimental study. The results demonstrate that the P300 model and the rejection method are appropriate and can help improve the robustness of the system significantly
X-Box-Binding Protein 1 and Innate Immune Responses of Human Cystic Fibrosis Alveolar Macrophages.

RATIONALE Alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a key role in host defense to inhaled bacterial pathogens, in part by secreting inflammatory mediators. Cystic fibrosis (CF) airways exhibit a persistent, robust inflammatory response that may contribute to the pathophysiology of CF. Recent findings have linked endoplasmic reticulum stress responses mediated by inositol-requiring enzyme 1α-dependent messenger RNA splicing (activation) of X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1s) to inflammation in peripheral macrophages. However, the role of XBP-1s in CF AM function is not known. OBJECTIVES To evaluate inflammatory responses of AMs from chronically infected/inflamed human CF lungs and test whether XBP-1s is required for AM-mediated inflammation. METHODS Basal and LPS-induced inflammatory responses were evaluated in primary cultures of non-CF versus CF AMs. XBP-1s was measured and its function was evaluated in AMs using 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (4μ8C), an inhibitor of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α-dependent XBP-1s, and in THP-1 cells stably expressing XBP-1 shRNA, XBP-1s, or a dominant-negative XBP-1. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS CF AMs exhibited exaggerated basal and LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6, and these responses were coupled to increased levels of XBP-1s. In non-CF and CF AMs, LPS-induced cytokine production was blunted by 4µ8C. A role for XBP-1s in AM inflammatory responses was further established by data from dTHP-1 cells indicating that expression of XBP-1 shRNA reduced XBP-1s levels and LPS-induced inflammatory responses; and LPS-induced inflammation was up-regulated by expression of XBP-1s and inhibited by dominant-negative XBP-1. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that AMs contribute to the robust inflammation of CF airways via an up-regulation of XBP-1s-mediated cytokine production.
Surgical results of penetrating keratoplasty in essential iris atrophy.

BACKGROUND Results of penetrating keratoplasty in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome have been considered favorable based on past studies; however, documented results in eyes specifically with essential iris atrophy are lacking. METHODS A retrospective study was performed to evaluate all patients at the University of Pittsburgh with essential iris atrophy who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty for corneal decompensation over 21 years (1971-1992). RESULTS Penetrating keratoplasty had been performed on six eyes with essential iris atrophy for corneal decompensation. All eyes postoperatively had evidence of persistent anterior uveitis resistant to corticosteroid treatment with one or more episodes of graft reaction. Five of the six eyes (83.3%) ultimately went on to graft failure. Two of the six eyes (33.3%) rejected grafts on two separate occasions. CONCLUSIONS Penetrating keratoplasty in essential iris atrophy was frequently associated with chronic anterior uveitis and immunologic graft failure.
Oral Fluid–Based Biomarkers of Alveolar Bone Loss in Periodontitis

Abstract: Periodontal disease is a bacteria‐induced chronic inflammatory disease affecting the soft and hard supporting structures encompassing the teeth. When left untreated, the ultimate outcome is alveolar bone loss and exfoliation of the involved teeth. Traditional periodontal diagnostic methods include assessment of clinical parameters and radiographs. Though efficient, these conventional techniques are inherently limited in that only a historical perspective, not current appraisal, of disease status can be determined. Advances in the use of oral fluids as possible biological samples for objective measures of current disease state, treatment monitoring, and prognostic indicators have boosted saliva and other oral‐based fluids to the forefront of technology. Oral fluids contain locally and systemically derived mediators of periodontal disease, including microbial, host‐response, and bone‐specific resorptive markers. Although most biomarkers in oral fluids represent inflammatory mediators, several specific collagen degradation and bone turnover‐related molecules have emerged as possible measures of periodontal disease activity. Pyridinoline cross‐linked carboxyterminal telopeptide (ICTP), for example, has been highly correlated with clinical features of the disease and decreases in response to intervention therapies, and has been shown to possess predictive properties for possible future disease activity. One foreseeable benefit of an oral fluid–based periodontal diagnostic would be identification of highly susceptible individuals prior to overt disease. Timely detection and diagnosis of disease may significantly affect the clinical management of periodontal patients by offering earlier, less invasive, and more cost‐effective treatment therapies.
Blind synchronization for OFDM systems in multipath channels

In this paper we consider the problem of blind feedforward carrier-frequency offset (CFO) and symbol timing estimation for orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing systems in multipath channels. At first, a closed-form blind CFO estimator based on the least-squares (LS) approach is derived under the assumption that the start position of the FFT window is within the lock-in interval. Then, this assumption is removed and, a joint CFO and symbol timing LS estimator is obtained. Specifically, the proposed joint LS estimator does not require the knowledge of the channel impulse response and/or the insertion of virtual subcarriers. Computer simulation results show that the proposed estimators can outperform several blind CFO and symbol timing estimators previously proposed in the literature.
Quantity consumer goods pricing: has yesterday’s surcharge become today’s discount?

Purpose This study aims to extend by way of replication an earlier study, “Blind man’s bluff: The ethics of quantity surcharges” (Gupta and Rominger, 1996) by testing several hypotheses regarding changes in the surcharging phenomenon that may have occurred over time. Design/methodology/approach The original study was constructed from data collected 20 years ago. This study went beyond a mere replication. A key difference between this study and the original study was in the method of data collection. In the earlier study, students were used to collect data. In this study, the author personally and carefully recorded the prices of the same 60 items that were noted in the original study. These new prices were then compared with the original ones. Several matched paired t-tests were administered to analyze the mean differences between the two sets of data. Findings The tests showed a highly significant difference in today’s pricing structure in comparison to the quantity surcharging phenomenon from the prior study. It was found that both the quantity of the items surcharged and the magnitude of the surcharges decreased in comparison to the surcharging reported in the original study. Research limitations/implications Reasons are given regarding what changed and why and suggestions are given for future research in the areas of private or in-store branding, the proliferation of “big box” stores and the changes in the frequency and magnitude of surcharging that may be occurring over time. Originality/value This study indicates that the quantity surcharging phenomenon has lessened. In fact, in mature markets which include big box discounters, the quantity surcharging phenomenon of 20 years ago may have given way to today’s quantity discount.
Effects of an explicit problem-solving skills training program using a metacomponential approach for outpatients with acquired brain injury.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the effects of an explicit problem-solving skills training program using a metacomponential approach with 33 outpatients with moderate acquired brain injury, in the Hong Kong context. METHOD We compared an experimental training intervention with this explicit problem-solving approach, which taught metacomponential strategies, with a conventional cognitive training approach that did not have this explicit metacognitive training. RESULTS We found significant advantages for the experimental group on the Metacomponential Interview measure in association with the explicit metacomponential training, but transfer to the real-life problem-solving measures was not evidenced in statistically significant findings. Small sample size, limited time of intervention, and some limitations with these tools may have been contributing factors to these results. CONCLUSION The training program was demonstrated to have a significantly greater effect than the conventional training approach on metacomponential functioning and the component of problem representation. However, these benefits were not transferable to real-life situations.
‘Opening’ towards ‘open innovation’

`Open innovation' is claimed to be the new breed of innovation requiring enterprises to look beyond the boundaries of their organisation and to use external and internal actors and knowledge to successfully create value. In related business management literature, shifts from `closed' to `open' models are argued to be triggered by new technological, economic and social trends so that many organisations (at least partially) virtualise, their members being distributed across different locations and embedded in various socio-economic and cultural contexts. Complementing that line of argument, the current paper undertakes socio-systems-theoretical revisits to key institutional premises assumed in concepts above - organisation, knowledge, collaboration, complexity etc. - to examine, explore and restate in which sense `openness' may be feasible in organisational realm and with what respects `open innovation' may be supported, accordingly. It is argued that, rather than requiring to tear down organisational walls `outwards' (which in principle is not possible), `open innovation' enables, and is enabled by, differentiating organisations `inwards' to better turn `irritations' feared into chances recognised to leverage upon.
Proactive Vector Control Strategies and Improved Monitoring and Evaluation Practices for Dengue Prevention

ABSTRACT Despite tremendous efforts by public health organizations in dengue-endemic countries, it has proven difficult to achieve effective and sustainable control of the primary dengue virus vector Aedes aegypti (L.) and to effectively disrupt dengue outbreaks. This problem has multiple root causes, including uncontrolled urbanization, increased global spread of dengue viruses, and vector and dengue control programs not being provided adequate resources. In this forum article, we give an overview of the basic elements of a vector and dengue control program and describe a continuous improvement cyclical model to systematically and incrementally improve control program performance by regular efforts to identify ineffective methods and inferior technology, and then replacing them with better performing alternatives. The first step includes assessments of the overall resource allocation among vector/dengue control program activities, the efficacy of currently used vector control methods, and the appropriateness of technology used to support the program. We expect this will reveal that 1) some currently used vector control methods are not effective, 2) resource allocations often are skewed toward reactive vector control measures, and 3) proactive approaches commonly are underfunded and therefore poorly executed. Next steps are to conceptualize desired changes to vector control methods or technologies used and then to operationally determine in pilot studies whether these changes are likely to improve control program performance. This should be followed by a shift in resource allocation to replace ineffective methods and inferior technology with more effective and operationally tested alternatives. The cyclical and self-improving nature of the continuous improvement model will produce locally appropriate management strategies that continually are adapted to counter changes in vector population or dengue virus transmission dynamics. We discuss promising proactive vector control approaches and the continued need for the vector and dengue control community to incorporate emerging technologies and to partner with academia, business and the community-at-large to identify new solutions that reduce dengue.
Novel treatments for inflammatory bowel disease

Increased understanding of the immunopathology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has led to the development of targeted therapies and has unlocked a new era in IBD treatment. The development of treatment options aimed at a variety of pathological mechanisms offers new hope for customized therapies. Beyond anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, selective lymphocyte trafficking inhibitors have been proposed as potent drugs for IBD. Among these, vedolizumab has recently been approved for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Numerous other agents for IBD treatment are currently under investigation, including Janus kinase inhibitors, anti-mucosal vascular addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 agents, an anti-SMAD7 antisense oligonucleotide, an anti-interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody, and a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 selective agonist. These agents will likely expand the treatment options available for the management of IBD patients in the future. In this review, we discuss the efficacy and safety of novel agents currently under investigation in IBD clinical trials.
The U.S. Election Hacks, Cybersecurity, and International Law

In October 2016, the United States accused Russia of hacking political organizations involved in the U.S. elections and leaking pilfered information to influence the outcome. In December, President Obama imposed sanctions for the hacking. This incident damaged President Obama's cybersecurity legacy. The “hack and leak” campaign targeted American self-government—a challenge to his administration's promotion of democracy in cyberspace. It created problems for the president's emphasis on international law and norms as “rules of the road” for cybersecurity. The episode exposed failures in his attempts to make deterrence an important instrument of U.S. cybersecurity.