Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TNF‐α–induced NF‐κB signaling reverses age‐related declines in VEGF induction and angiogenic activity in intervertebral disc tissues

We previously demonstrated that VEGF and its receptors were expressed in human herniated discs (HD). TNF‐α induced VEGF, resulting in neovascularization of disc tissues in a model of HD. The goal of the current research was to investigate the precise role of TNF‐α–induced VEGF and the mechanism of angiogenesis in disc tissues. We performed ELISAs, Western blots, and immunohistological examinations to assess the role of TNF‐α–induced VEGF using organ disc cultures with wild type, TNF receptor 1‐null (TNF‐RInull), or TNF receptor 2‐null (TNF‐RIInull) mice. VEGF induction was inhibited when we used TNF‐RInull‐derived disc tissues. NF‐κB pathway inhibitors also strongly suppressed VEGF induction. Thus, TNF‐α induced VEGF expression in disc cells primarily through the NF‐κB pathway. In addition, VEGF immunoreactivity was detected predominantly in annulus fibrosus cells and increased after TNF‐α stimulation. TNF‐α treatment also resulted in CD31 expression on endothelial cells and formation of an anastomosing network. In contrast, angiogenic activity was strongly inhibited in the presence of NF‐κB inhibitors or anti‐VEGF antibody. Our data show angiogenesis activity in disc tissues is regulated by VEGF and the NF‐κB pathway, both of which are induced by TNF‐α. The level of angiogenic activity in disc tissues was closely related to aging. Because neovascularization of HD is indispensable for HD resorption, the prognosis of HD and the rate of the resorption process in patients may vary as a function of the patient's age. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:229–235, 2009
An Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) for the Aquarius/SAC-D soil moisture product

An Observing System Simulation Experiment for the Aquarius/SAC-D mission is being developed for assessing the accuracy of soil moisture retrieval from passive and active L-band remote sensing. The implementation of the OSSE is based on: a 1-km land surface model over the Red-Arkansas River Basin, a backscatter model and a forward microwave emission model to simulate the radiometer and scatterometer observations, a realistic orbital and sensor model to resample the measurements, and an inverse soil moisture retrieval model. The simulation implements zero-order radiative transfer model for emission and Dubois model for backscattering. Retrieval is done by direct inversion. The Aquarius OSSE attempts to capture the influence of different error sources: land surface heterogeneity, instrument noise and retrieval ancillary parameter uncertainty. In order to assess the impact of these error sources on the estimated volumetric soil moisture, a quantitative error analysis is performed through the comparison between of footprint-scale synthetic soil moisture product and high spatial resolution degraded at coarse resolution `true' soil moisture product. The root mean squared errors are evaluated for all the conditions.
CCR5Delta32 mutation does not influence the susceptibility to HCV infection, severity of liver disease and response to therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

AIM To study whether CCR5Delta32 mutation was associated with viral infection and severity of liver disease. METHODS Two hundred and fifty two histologically proven, chronic HCV patients (mean age: 41 +/- 14 years; M/F: 164/88) were genotyped. PCR based genotyping of 32 bp deletion at the CCR5 locus was done. Four-hundred and eight matched healthy controls were studied to assess susceptibility to HCV infection. To assess correlation of immune gene polymorphism with severity of HCV related liver disease, patients with chronic HCV infection were divided into those with a fibrosis score of <= 2 (mild) or > 2 (severe) and histological activity index (HAI) of <= 5 or > 5. For correlation between CCR5Delta32 mutations and response to therapy, 129 patients who completed therapy were evaluated. RESULTS The majority (89.4%) of the patients were infected with genotype 3. The frequency of homozygous CCR5Delta32 mutants was comparable to HCV patients as compared to the healthy controls (0.7% vs 0%, P = 0.1). Further more, the frequency of CCR5Delta32 mutation was comparable in patients with mild or severe liver disease. (P = NS). There was also no association observed with response to therapy and CCR5Delta32 mutation. CONCLUSION CCR5Delta32 mutation does not have a role in disease susceptibility, severity or response to therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.
Telecommunications Network Design - Comparison of Alternative Approaches

The design and development of the network infrastructure to support mission-critical applications has become a critical and-complex activity. This study explores the use of genetic algorithms (GA) for network design in the context of degree-constrained minimal spanning tree (DCMST) problem; compares for small networks the performance of GA with a mathematical model that provides optimal solutions; and for larger networks, compares GA's performance with two heuristic methods—edge exchange and primal algorithm. Two performance measures, solution quality and computation time, are used for evaluation. The algorithms are evaluated on a wide variety of network sizes with both static and dynamic degree constraints on the network nodes. The results indicate that GA provides optimal solutions for small networks. For larger networks it provides better solution quality compared to edge exchange and primal method, but is worse than the two methods in computation time.
Sequence of reperfusion influences ischemia/reperfusion injury and primary graft function following porcine liver transplantation

The impact of 3 different reperfusion sequences following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in pigs were evaluated. The reperfusion technique commonly performed is primary portal in order to shorten warm ischemic times (WITs). Experimental and clinical data, usually comparing 2 out of 3 possible reperfusion sequences, provide controversial results. OLT was performed in 24 pigs randomized into 3 groups: primary arterial (A), simultaneous (SIM), and primary portal (P) reperfusion. Hemodynamics were continuously monitored and reperfusion injury and primary graft function were assessed by standard serum parameters, histopathological findings, immunohistochemistry for heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT) following reperfusion were significantly increased for group A when compared to groups SIM and P. Hemodynamics showed significant differences after reperfusion compared to physiological data; differences in group comparisons were not significant. The bile production/100 g liver/hr was significantly higher for group SIM (1.15 mL) compared to group P (0.66 mL) and group A (0.62 mL). Histology and immunohistochemistry significantly correlated with functional results and outcome. Histological score was best for group SIM and worst for group A. HSP 70, being visualized mainly in the hepatocytes, showed higher expression for groups SIM and P. Inversely, HO‐1, found in perisinusoidal cells, showed highest expression after primary arterial reperfusion. In conclusion, although associated with a 10‐minute longer warm ischemic time, simultaneous reperfusion causes the least reperfusion injury with superior primary transplant function. Primary arterial reperfusion showed the worst overall outcome and highest degree of HO‐1 expression. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:1214–1222.)
A Profound Alteration of Blood TCRB Repertoire Allows Prediction of Cerebral Malaria1

Cerebral malaria (CM) is one of the severe complications of Plasmodium infection. In murine models of CM, Tαβ cells have been implicated in the neuropathogenesis. To obtain insights into the TCRB repertoire during CM, we used high throughput CDR3 spectratyping and set up new methods and software tools to analyze data. We compared PBL and spleen repertoires of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA that developed CM (CM+) or not (CM−) to evidence modifications of the TCRB repertoire associated with neuropathology. Using distinct statistical multivariate methods, the PBL repertoires of CM+ mice were found to be specifically altered. This alteration is partly due to recurrently expanded T cell clones. Strikingly, alteration of the PBL repertoire can be used to distinguish between CM+ and CM−. This study provides the first ex vivo demonstration of modifications of Tαβ cell compartment during CM. Finally, our original approach for deciphering lymphocyte repertoires can be transposed to various pathological conditions.
Away from a single theory of engineering management

Academics in the scientific and engineering disciplines are accustomed to framing unified theories for their area of interest. This is meaningful for narrow research disciplines but can create a worldview in engineering students and academics that this is the most desirable approach to research in general. Engineering management, however, covers a vast range of topics such as project management, team building, scheduling, finance, etc. Engineers who concentrate on engineering management are influenced by their formation and tend to conduct their research from a perspective similar to that applied to engineering science. This paper argues that while this approach is appropriate for many engineering management investigations, for others, alternative research worldviews and methodologies are indicated. We propose that instead of seeking a unified engineering management framework, a better way would be to follow the tenets of postmodern thinking and apply research approaches that best match the engineering management issue under investigation. An overarching framework can still be formed but this would arise from pluralist multi-methodology thinking rather than through developing a single unified theory.
Activation of murine polymorphonuclear neutrophils for fungicidal activity with supernatants from antigen-stimulated immune spleen cell cultures

An in vitro model of in vivo immunological activation of murine polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was developed. Culture supernatants of spleen cells from Blastomyces dermatitidis-immunized mice stimulated with B. dermatitidis antigens in vitro were studied. Incubation of the supernatants with thioglycolate-elicited PMN enabled the cells to significantly reduce (31 +/- 6%) B. dermatitidis inoculum CFU. Optimum production of active supernatants occurred after 4 to 6 days of stimulation in vitro and required 200 micrograms of nonviable B. dermatitidis cells per ml. Generation of activity by immune spleen cells was shown to be antigen specific in that stimulation with a heterologous antigen or stimulation of nonimmune spleen cells with B. dermatitidis antigen did not produce active supernatants. The activity in supernatants was dose dependent, nondialyzable (molecular weight greater than or equal to 14,000), and relatively heat labile (80 degrees C, 30 min). Activation of PMN by supernatants for fungicidal activity against B. dermatitidis required only a short incubation period (1 h) followed by a 2-h coculture (challenge) period. Stimulation of normal spleen cells with concanavalin A also resulted in the production of supernatants capable of activating PMN for significant fungicidal activity (31.1 +/- 8.5%). These findings demonstrate for the first time a link between soluble factors produced by antigen stimulation of sensitized lymphoid cells and activation of PMN for enhanced microbicidal activity. Such a process defines an additional immune defense mechanism whereby the immune host may clear specific microorganisms.
An integrated approach to design novel therapeutic interventions for demyelinating disorders

Therapeutic strategies are often based on two general principles: interference with the pathogenic process and repair of the damaged tissues. Recent studies, however, have suggested that several pathological conditions may result from the interplay between genetic susceptibility traits and environmental influences that, by modulating the epigenome, also affect disease onset and progression. Based on lessons from neural development, it is conceivable that new lines of preventive and possibly therapeutic intervention might be developed to modulate disease onset or decrease the severity of the symptoms. This review will discuss these concepts within the context of multiple sclerosis, the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and the leading cause of progressive neurological disability in young adults.
The protective effects of carvacrol and thymol against paracetamol–induced toxicity on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2)

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose could induce liver damage and lead to acute liver failure. The treatment of APAP overdoses could be improved by new therapeutic strategies. Thymus spp. , which has many beneficial effects and has been used in folk medicine, is one such potential strategy. In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of the main constituents of Thymus spp. , carvacrol and thymol, were evaluated in light of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. We hoped to understand the hepatoprotective mechanism of these agents on the antioxidant system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Dose-dependent effects of thymol and carvacrol (25, 50, and 100 µM) were tested on cultured HepG2 cells. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) was tested as positive control. We showed that APAP inhibited HepG2 cell growth by inducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Incubating APAP-exposed HepG2 cells with carvacrol and thymol for 24 h ameliorated this inflammation and oxidative stress. We also evaluated alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase levels of HepG2 cells. We found that thymol and carvacrol protected against APAP-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells by increasing antioxidant activity and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β. Taking together high-dose thymol and carvacrol treatment has an effect close to NAC treatment in APAP toxicity, but thymol has better treatment effect than carvacrol.
Endoscopic biliary stent insertion through specialized duodenal stent for combined malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction facilitated by stent or PTBD guidance

Abstract Objectives: Endoscopic stenting for combined malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction is technically demanding. However, this procedure can be facilitated when there is guidance from previously inserted stent or PTBD tube. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and clinical success rate of endoscopic placement of biliary self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) through duodenal SEMS in patients with combined biliary and duodenal obstruction due to inoperable or metastatic periampullary malignancy. Materials and methods: A total of 12 patients with combined malignant biliary and duodenal stricture underwent insertion of biliary SEMS through the mesh of specialized duodenal SEMS from July 2012 to October 2016. Technical and clinical success rate, adverse events and survival after completion of SEMS insertion were evaluated. Results: The duodenal strictures were located in the first portion of the duodenum in four patients (Type I), in the second portion in three patients (Type II), and in the third portion in five patients (Type III). Technical success rate of combined metallic stenting was 91.7%. Insertion of biliary SEMS was guided by previously inserted biliary SEMS in nine patients, plastic stent in one patient, and PTBD in two patients. Clinical success rate was 90.9%. There were no early adverse events after the procedure. Mean survival period after combined metallic stenting was 91.9 days (range: 15–245 days). Conclusions: Endoscopic placement of biliary SEMS through duodenal SEMS is feasible with high success rates and relatively easy when there is guidance. This method can be a good alternative for palliation in patients with combined biliary and duodenal obstruction.
Controlled clinical comparison of Isolator and BACTEC 9240 Aerobic/F resin bottle for detection of bloodstream infections

A controlled clinical comparison was carried out with the BACTEC 9240 Aerobic/F resin bottle and the Isolator system with adult patients suspected of having bloodstream infections. A total of 10,500 paired specimens were collected, of which 1,122 from 520 patients were positive. There were 68 false-positive BACTEC bottles; 259 positive cultures that were excluded from analysis because the bottle, the Isolator, or both failed to meet the minimum volume criterion of 8 ml of blood; and 207 positive cultures that were excluded because the isolates were found to be clinically insignificant or of indeterminate clinical significance on the basis of patient assessment. A total of 656 positive cultures from 258 patients formed the basis of the analysis. Significantly more Staphylococcus aureus isolates (P = 0.03), Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates (P = 0.03), members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.03), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (P = 0.04) were recovered from the resin bottle, and there was no category of organism that was recovered significantly more frequently from the Isolator system. With patients receiving antibiotics at the time of blood culture, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and gram-negative bacilli were recovered significantly more frequently from the resin bottle. No significant differences between systems were found with cultures from patients not receiving antibiotics at the time of blood culture. Only 12 clinically significant organisms were recovered from the bottle on terminal subcultures, and only 1 of these had not been previously isolated from another blood culture set (10 of the 12) or from the companion Isolator (1 of 12). The Aerobic/F resin bottle continuously monitored in the BACTEC 9240 instrument proved to be superior to the Isolator in overall yield of organisms causing bloodstream infection in adults and required less technician time for specimen processing and examination than the Isolator system.
The Relationship Between Depression and the Dexamethasone Suppression Test Following Alcohol Withdrawal in a Psychiatric Population

The authors administered at least one dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) simultaneously to 30 psychiatric inpatients following detoxification from alcohol. Twenty-five of these were also interviewed using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Fifteen patients had two or three sequential DSTs at weekly intervals. Seven of the patients were clinically diagnosed as having a major depressive episode based on close observation over 2 to 4 inpatient weeks free of psychotropic medications. Fifty-eight percent of the initial Cortisol determinations with the first 2 weeks showed nonsuppression, as did 60% after 2 weeks. While the level of depressive symptoms was initially high (HRSD score > 20) for 48% of the 27 patients interviewed within 2 weeks of abstinence, depressive symptoms cleared within 2 weeks in half of these cases. There were no associations between DST results and the presence of DSM-III major depressive disorder (lifetime or current) as assessed by the NIMH DIS, scores on the HRSD, or the presence of liver disease (elevated admission SGOT or SGPT). By the 15th-day of abstinence an examination of the clinical course of depressive symptoms differentiated those patients with a persistent major depressive episode from those with transient, alcohol-related depressive symptoms. An early positive DST had a positive predictive value of 20% for a clinical diagnosis of a major depressive episode, and a negative predictive value of 73%. After 2 weeks the positive and negative predictive values were each 50%. (J Clin Psychopharmacol 1986;6:343–349)
Polarization-Diversity Ring Slot Antenna With Frequency Agility

A design for polarization-diversity slot antennas with switchable frequency is described. The antenna structure is mainly composed of a radiating annular slot backed with a reflector and a quasi-lumped coupler with two different operating modes, quadrature hybrid mode and T-junction power divider mode. The resonant frequency of the slot antenna and the operating frequencies of the two modes of the coupler can be tuned with variable capacitors. First, the effects of changing capacitance values on the performances of the antenna and coupler are respectively analyzed. Then, according to the simulation results, validated with experiments, a reconfigurable antenna prototype integrating with several diodes and their related dc-bias networks is constructed. The prototype is designed to be with three working frequencies, and moreover it can provide one linear polarization and two circular polarizations at each working frequency. Details of measured antenna performances are shown.
Structure and Determinants of Intra-Industry Trade in the U.S. Auto-Industry

The present paper examines composition of trade patterns, and development of intra- industry trade (IIT) between the US and its 37 trading partners in auto-industry for 1989-2006 period. This paper analyzes trade patterns and the extent of IIT in the US auto-industry by decomposing the US auto-industry trade into inter-industry trade, horizontal IIT, and vertical IIT and tests empirically various country-specific factors concerning the determinants of IIT and its components between the US and its major trading partners using the gravity model. The results show that a substantial part of IIT in the US auto-industry was vertical IIT and vertical IIT increased over the data period. Increase in vertical IIT in auto-industry indicates that the international fragmentation of production process has become important in the US auto-industry. The econometric results mainly support the hypothesis derived from the literature and also confirms the fact that determinants of horizontal IIT and vertical IIT differ. In particular, the findings show that the extent of the US horizontal IIT in auto-industry is positively correlated with difference in per capita GDP and outward FDI variable while it is negatively correlated with distance and bilateral exchange rate. On the other hand, vertical IIT is positively associated with the average market size, differences in market size, differences in per capita GDP, and outward FDI, and distance while it is negatively correlated with the bilateral exchange rate variable.
Multiple BCR‐related gene products and their proposed involvement in ligand‐induced signal transduction pathways

The BCR gene was discovered because of its involvement with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph’)-positive leukemias [ I ] . Ph’ results from the reciprocal translocation of the ends of the long arms of chromosomes 9 and 22. As a direct result of this exchange, a large portion of the ABL gene, which is normally located on chromosome 9, is translocated to chromosome 22 and becomes fused to the 5’ portion of a gene called BCR. The remainder of the BCR gene is usually translocated to chromosome 9. The product of this gene fusion is a BCR-ABL protein [21. Recent studies have demonstrated that BCR-ABL genes can confer a leukemia phenotype to mice receiving bone marrow transplants expressing p210 BCR-ABL 131.