Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemotactic peptide‐induced cytoplasmic pH changes in incubated human monocytes

Stimulation of phagocytic leukocytes with chemotactic factors results in transient acidification, followed by alkalinization of the cytosol. Human monocytes are known to alter their functional responses to the chemotactic peptide N‐formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP) in a complex fashion as they mature in vitro to macrophages. To examine the evolution of the cytoplasmic pH (pH;) response of monocytes to fMLP as they mature into macrophages, we incubated cells for 0, 24, 48, and 96 h (Medium‐199 + 10% fetal bovine serum; 37°C) and examined pHi using the fluorescent probe 2′, 7′‐bis(carboxyethyl)‐5(6)‐carboxyfluorescein (BCECF; 1 μΜ) and a Perkin‐Elmer 650/10 spectrofluorimeter (λem = 530 nm, λ_ex = 500, 450 nm) as previously described. The resting pH; of fresh (0 h) monocytes was 7.07 ± 0.16 (SD) and was unchanged after incubation for 24, 48, or 96 h (7.09, 7.11, 7.05, respectively). Cells exhibited an fMLP dose‐dependent cytoplasmic acidification, with maximal δpHi occurring 30‐60 s after exposure to 10−7 M fMLP. The response to fMLP did not change with the duration of incubation and, as with neutrophils, cytoplasmic realkalinization was blocked by dimethyl‐ amiloride (20 μΜ). Incubation with 2‐deoxyglucose (10 min, 5 mM), sufficient to inhibit by more than 90% the formyl peptide‐stimulated superoxide generation by monocytes, slowed fMLP‐induced acidification and abrogated the alkalinization. In addition, monocytes isolated from the blood of a patient with X‐linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) underwent fMLP‐induced acidification that was unmasked further by coincubation with di‐ methylamiloride, in a manner quantitatively similar to that of normal monocytes, despite the inability of the CGD cells to produce superoxide. The chemotactic factor‐induced cytoplasmic pH responses of mono‐ cytes/macrophages remained constant as the cells matured in vitro and exhibited a dimethylamiloride‐independent acidification and dependent alkalinization, as did the response in neutrophils. The cytoplasmic acidification of these cells thus did not correlate with the cells' production of superoxide and with the concomitant hexose monophosphate shunt activation, as has been suggested for other leukocyte types.
Hypocalciuria as a Predictor of Reduced Intestinal Calcium Absorption

Impaired intestinal calcium absorption contributes to osteoporosis, but its measurement is limited to research settings. We hypothesized that 24-hour urine calcium (24HUC) values could diagnose low fractional calcium absorption (FCA). We performed a post hoc analysis of clinical trial data to determine whether 24HUC predicted low FCA compared with the gold standard dual calcium isotope method. Two hundred thirty postmenopausal women <75 years old without osteoporosis underwent 445 FCA measurements using calcium isotopes (8 mg of oral 44Ca, 3 mg of intravenous 42Ca) and a 24-hour inpatient urine collection at 0 and 12 months. We determined subjects’ total calcium intake via review of food diaries and supplements. Net calcium absorption (NCA) was total calcium intake × FCA. NCA and 24HUC values demonstrated a positive correlation (r = 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.42; P < 0.001). We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for the ability of 24HUC thresholds to predict calcium malabsorption. When low calcium absorption was defined as <120 mg/d, a 24HUC value <150 mg demonstrated 65% sensitivity, 67% specificity, 31% PPV, and 89% NPV. When calcium malabsorption was defined as <100 mg/d, a 24HUC value <150 mg demonstrated 72% sensitivity, 65% specificity, 22% PPV, and 94% NPV. A 24HUC value <150 mg demonstrated a high NPV for calcium malabsorption. We suggest that 24HUC levels can exclude calcium malabsorption in postmenopausal women.
Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinase/MAP Kinase Phosphatase Regulation: Roles in Cell Growth, Death, and Cancer

Mitogen-activated protein kinase dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (also called MKP-1, DUSP1, ERP, CL100, HVH1, PTPN10, and 3CH134) is a member of the threonine-tyrosine dual-specificity phosphatases, one of more than 100 protein tyrosine phosphatases. It was first identified approximately 20 years ago, and since that time extensive investigations into both mkp-1 mRNA and protein regulation and function in different cells, tissues, and organs have been conducted. However, no general review on the topic of MKP-1 exists. As the subject matter pertaining to MKP-1 encompasses many branches of the biomedical field, we focus on the role of this protein in cancer development and progression, highlighting the potential role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Section II of this article elucidates the MAPK family cross-talk. Section III reviews the structure of the mkp-1 encoding gene, and the known mechanisms regulating the expression and activity of the protein. Section IV is an overview of the MAPK-specific dual-specificity phosphatases and their role in cancer. In sections V and VI, mkp-1 mRNA and protein are examined in relation to cancer biology, therapeutics, and clinical studies, including a discussion of the potential role of the MAPK family. We conclude by proposing an integrated scheme for MKP-1 and MAPK in cancer.
Recombinant human interleukin-3 and recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor administered in vivo after high-dose cyclophosphamide cancer chemotherapy: effect on hematopoiesis and microenvironment in human bone marrow.

The effects on bone marrow (BM) cell proliferation and differentiation of recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) and recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) administered after high-dose (7 g/m2/d) cyclophosphamide (HD-CTX) chemotherapy were studied in nine patients with malignancies without BM involvement and in three control patients. rhIL-3 at a dose of 1 to 5 micrograms/kg/day was administered for 14 to 18 days by continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion and rhGM-CSF was administered at a dose of 5.5 micrograms/kg/day for 14 days. Changes induced by cytokine treatment were assessed by morphoimmunohistochemical analysis of BM biopsies. Comparison was made in the cytokine-treated groups and with control patients who received HD-CTX alone. BM cellularity and the myeloid/erythroid (ME) ratio were lower in rhIL-3-treated than in rhGM-CSF-treated patients, but in both groups it was significantly higher than in the controls. The proportion of BM cells stained by PC10, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) recognizing a proliferation-associated nuclear protein (PCNA), increased from 6.78% to 21.18% (P less than .02) after rhIL-3, and from 5% to 35.33% (P less than .001) after rhGM-CSF; no increase was observed in the control group. The frequency of CD34+ BM cells was unchanged after rhIL-3 (P = NS) and decreased after rhGM-CSF (P less than .001). In both groups, most of the PC10+ cells were represented by promyelocytes and myelocytes with no increase in blast cell numbers. rhIL-3-treated BM showed an increased number of megakaryocytes and increased proliferative activity of erythroid cells as compared with rhGM-CSF cases. BM stroma changes observed in both treated groups included endothelial cell proliferation, increased BM macrophage concentration, and increase in BM fibroblasts as detected with an anti-nerve growth factor receptor antibody. In most rhIL-3-treated cases, BM fibrosis developed after treatment. The same effect was not observed in rhGM-CSF patients.
Credit-Monitoring Damages in Cybersecurity Tort Litigation

This article argues that the costs of credit monitoring should be recoverable in cybersecurity tort litigation. If a data subject’s personal information has been seriously exposed to improper access by a data possessor’s negligence, expenses incurred to detect the opening of unauthorized accounts should be compensable. This issue — which is far from definitively resolved — arises with great frequency in suits against banks, universities, retailers, and employers. Although early court decisions denied recovery of credit monitoring damages on a variety of grounds, recent developments have called that precedent into question. On the one hand, there is increasing recognition that data possessors have a duty to protect the personal information of data subjects from improper access and to reveal information about breaches in data security. On the other hand, businesses now routinely make voluntary offers of credit monitoring to cybersecurity victims; class action settlements often provide compensation for credit monitoring; and courts and administrative agencies impose sanctions which require provision of credit monitoring services or reimbursement for the same. Credit monitoring enables the persons placed at risk by a data security breach to promptly detect the opening of unauthorized accounts and to take remedial action. Thus, the costs of credit monitoring are a reasonable and necessary response to any serious breach of cybersecurity. Recovery of credit monitoring damages is consistent with basic tort rules (including the duty to mitigate damages) and the principles of public policy favoring deterrence of deficient data practices and efficient allocation of losses.
Perturbation Theory for Solar Cell Efficiency II—Delineating Series Resistance

Recently proposed perturbation analysis and reciprocity relations in photovoltaic conversion are demonstrated in 2-D simulations. The main parameters discussed are the current-conversion efficiency, which enables accurate calculation of the sensitivity of maximum power to different recombination parameters, and its derived local series resistance, whose weighted average is exactly equal to the series resistance obtained by the double illumination method. Both parameters can be displayed as spatial maps to visually aid multidimensional computer simulations. Finally, the suitability of mapping the local series resistance from luminescence images is discussed with the help of simulated examples. The experimental and computational procedures to generate these maps are among the easiest proposed so far in the literature and require no ad hoc assumptions.
Nicotine excites corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA-expressing neuron in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in vitro in rats

Nicotine is known to modulate the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis by stimulating corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) release from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). However, the mechanism by which nicotine affects the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis by modulating PVN CRH neuronal activity is currently unclear. Here, we examined the effects of nicotine on PVN CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons in vitro in rats by whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, biocytin staining, and single-cell reverse transcription-multiplex PCR techniques. Of the 146 PVN putative parvocellular neurons, 17.1% (25/146) coexpressed GAPDH mRNA and CRH mRNA. Under current-clamp recording conditions, application of nicotine (1 &mgr;M) induced excitation in 92% (23/25) PVN CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons, which showed a significant increase in the spike firing rate accompanied by a depolarization of the membrane potential. Nicotine induced an increase in the spike firing rate of PVN CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. The half-effective concentration (EC50) of nicotine for increasing the spike firing rate of PVN CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons was 1.6 &mgr;M. Extracellular application of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid (1 mM) abolished the nicotine-induced excitation of PVN CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons. Moreover, application of nicotine induced a significant increase in the spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents frequency, but without significantly altering the spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents amplitude of the CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons. Biocytin staining confirmed that the nicotine-sensitive CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons were located in the PVN parvocellular division. These results indicated that extracellular administration of nicotine indirectly excited PVN CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons, suggesting that nicotine modulated PVN CRH secretion by enhancement of both the presynaptic action potential drive and quantal glutamate release.
True Functional Reconstruction of Total or Subtotal Glossectomy Defects Using a Chimeric Anterolateral Thigh Flap With Both Sensorial and Motor Innervation

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to report the motor functional outcomes and sensory recovery of patients who had undergone total or subtotal glossectomy for oral squamous cell carcinomas reconstructed with chimeric anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps. MethodsSix patients, 4 men and 2 women, with a mean age of 49.5 years (range, 36–73 years) were included in the study. All patients were treated with chimeric ALT, including the vastus lateralis muscle with its motor nerve and skin paddle with its innervating nerve. All patients were administered functional tests involving sensory recovery, intelligibility, and swallowing. Flap sensibility was evaluated using light touch sensation with the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, 2-point discrimination according to the Weber sensitive test, warm and cold temperature sensations, and pain sensation. Intelligibility was scored by a speech therapist on a scale from 1 to 5. Swallowing was assessed by electromyography, deglutition scores (on a scale of 1 to 8), and modified barium swallow. Donor-site morbidities were recorded. ResultsMean follow-up was 26.6 months (6 months-5 years). The flaps were successful in all 6 patients. The donor site was closed primarily and no complications were seen in the follow-up period. Normal extension of the knee joint and no evidence of lateral patella instability occurred. Speech intelligibility was good (4) in 3 patients and acceptable (3) in 3. Deglutition scores were 6 in 2 patients, 5 in 2, and 4 in 2. Modified barium swallow revealed that 4 patients experienced bolus transit, but 2 required a liquid swallow to promote bolus transit. Electromyographic recordings showed innervations of the vastus lateralis muscle with active generation of motor unit potentials in 4 patients when trying to elevate the tongue. This was not performed in 1 patient, and 1 other had macroscopic muscle contractions. All sensory tests were satisfactory in all parameters. ConclusionsThe results of this reconstructive option were satisfactory in terms of motor function and sensitive assessment of the neotongue. This technique is strongly recommended for patients with total or subtotal glossectomy.
Regional Distribution and Concentration of Pancreatic Polypeptide in the Human and Canine Pancreas

The regional concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide (PP), insulin, and glucagon and the cellular distribution of PP were studied in 13 human and nine canine pancreases by radioimmunoassay, immunoperoxidase localization, and cell quantitation. PP concentration was highest in both the uncinate process and the head of the human pancreas and in the right lobe of the canine pancreas. In contrast, glucagon and insulin levels were higher in the body and tail of both the human and canine pancreases. Human F-cells, which contain PP, were located primarily at the periphery of the islets, although a few F-cells were scattered throughout the ducts and acini. Canine F-cells were located in ducts, acini, and islets; the relative proportion of canine F-cells in the endocrine and exocrine tissues differed according to location. Cellular quantitation of F-cells in both species correlated significantly with the tissue concentration of PP in all regions studied, validating the use of morphometric techniques to quantitate the regional distribution of PP.
Full-Duplex Radios for Vehicular Communications

Recent significant advances in self-interference cancellation techniques pave the way for the deployment of full-duplex wireless transceivers capable of concurrent transmission and reception on the same channel. Despite the promise to theoretically double the spectrum efficiency, full-duplex prototyping in off-the-shelf chips of mobile devices is still in its infancy, mainly because of the challenges in mitigating self-interference to a tolerable level and the strict hardware constraints. In this article, we argue in favor of embedding full-duplex radios in onboard units of future vehicles. Unlike the majority of mobile devices, vehicular onboard units are good candidates to host complex full-duplex transceivers because of their virtually unlimited power supply and processing capacity. Taking into account the effect of imperfect self-interference cancellation, we investigate the design implications of full-duplex devices at the higher-layer protocols of next-generation vehicular networks and highlight the benefits they could bring with respect to half-duplex devices in some representative use cases. Early results are also provided that give insight into the impact of self-interference cancellation on vehicle-to-roadside communications, and showcase the benefits of FD-enhanced medium access control protocols for vehicle-to-vehicle communications supporting crucial road safety applications.
Periodontal Disease and NIDDM in Pima Indians

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of periodontal disease and its relationship with non-insulin-dependent diabetesmellitus (NIDDM). Two thousand two hundred seventy-three Pima Indians (949 men, 1324 women) aged ≥15 yr from the Gila River Indian Community in Arizonawere examined between 1983 and 1989. Periodontal disease was diagnosed by tooth loss and by percentage of interproximal crestal alveolar bone loss ascertained from panoramic radiography. Subjects with little or no evidence of periodontal disease were classified as nondiseased. Thus, the incidence of advanced periodontal disease was determined. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of periodontal disease at first dental examination was 60% in subjects with NIDDM and 36% in those without. Twenty-two new cases developed in a subset of 701 subjects (272 men, 429 women) aged 15–54 yr who initially had little or no evidence of periodontal disease and had at least one additional dental examination. The incidence of periodontal disease in this group was similar in men and women (incidence-rate ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval [Cl] 0.5-1.9, controlled for age and diabetes). Higher age predicted a greater incidence of periodontal disease (χ2 = 30.6, df = 3, P < 0.001, controlled for sex and diabetes). The rate of periodontal disease in subjects with diabetes was 2.6 times (95% Cl 1.0–6.6, controlled for age and sex) that observed in those without. Although periodontal disease was common in nondiabetic Pima Indians, in whom most of the incident cases occurred, diabetes clearly conferred a substantially increased risk. Thus, periodontal disease should be considered a nonspecific complication of NIDDM.
CROSS-REACTIVITY OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-SPECIFIC CD8+ T CELLS TO ALLO-MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS I MOLECULES

Background. In transplantation settings, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common complication. CMV infection is associated with a higher incidence of graft rejection in solid organ transplantation and graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplantation. The underlying mechanism of this association could be the generation of CMV-specific CD8+ T cells capable of cross-reacting with alloantigens present on graft and host, respectively. Methods. Whereas as to date, no direct ex vivo analysis can be performed of the CD8+ T-cell repertoire directed at allo-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, virus-specific cells can be readily enumerated by use of MHC-peptide tetrameric complexes. In this study, the authors used this technique to analyze potential overlapping CD8+ T-cell repertoires between self-MHC–viral peptide and allo-MHC complexes by stimulating CMV-specific CD8+ T cells with alloantigens. Results. The authors found that CMV-specific CD8+ T cells are activated and proliferate on stimulation with alloantigens. Conclusions. Although these cells are cytotoxic against CMV-peptide pulsed target cells, no cytotoxicity of CMV-specific cells to alloantigens could be detected, inferring that there are other mechanisms of graft damage by alloantigen-stimulated virus-specific CTL.
Flexible Electrodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Perspectives

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as promising alternatives to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) for large‐scale electrical‐energy‐storage applications due to the wide availability and the low cost of Na resources. Along with the avenues of research on flexible LIBs, flexible SIBs are now being actively developed as one of the most promising power sources for the emerging field of flexible and wearable electronic devices. Here, the recent progress on flexible electrodes based on metal substrates, carbonaceous substrates (i.e., graphene, carbon cloth, and carbon nanofibers), and other materials, as well as their applications in flexible SIBs, are summarized. Also, some future research directions for constructing flexible SIBs are proposed, with the aim of providing inspiration to the further development of advanced flexible SIBs.
Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation following acute exacerbations of COPD

Background Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterised by increased dyspnoea, reduced quality of life and muscle weakness. Re-exacerbation and hospital admission are common. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) administered after hospital admission for an exacerbation can improve quality of life and exercise capacity. Objective To determine whether outpatient post-exacerbation PR (PEPR) could reduce subsequent hospital admission episodes. Methods Patients admitted to hospital for an exacerbation of COPD were randomised to receive either usual follow-up care (UC) or PEPR after discharge. Hospital admission and emergency department attendances for COPD exacerbations were recorded over a 3-month period and analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. Secondary outcomes included exercise capacity and quadriceps strength. Results 60 patients underwent concealed randomisation at the time of their hospital discharge (UC: n=30, mean (SD) age 65 (10) years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 52 (22)% predicted; PEPR: n=30, 67(10) years, 52 (20)% predicted). The proportion of patients re-admitted to hospital with an exacerbation was 33% in the UC group compared with 7% in those receiving PEPR (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.72, p=0.02). The proportion of patients that experienced an exacerbation resulting in an unplanned hospital attendance (either admission or review and discharge from the emergency department) was 57% in the UC group and 27% in those receiving PEPR (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.82, p=0.02). Conclusions Post-exacerbation rehabilitation in COPD can reduce re-exacerbation events that require admission or hospital attendance over a 3-month period. Clinical Trials Registration Number NCT00557115.
Procion Brown: An Intracellular Dye for Light and Electron Microscopy

Procion browvn has been used to inject lamprey giant interneutros. The dye is opaque to both light and electrons, and imparts a pink color to the neuron in situ during iontophoresis. It has the advantage over cobaltolus chloride that postinjection treatment with ammonium sulfide is eliminated and the integrity of the surrounding neuropil is ensured.