Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Water Risks and Solutions Across Select Sites

ABSTRACT Water scarcity involves quantity and quality risks, as well as technological, behavioral, and policy-based factors. This study informs understanding of water scarcity by examining perceived threats and solutions across sites in the United States, New Zealand, Fiji, and Bolivia. Using interview data, we (1) characterize perceived water scarcity risks and solutions for each setting and (2) examine how perceptions differ across countries based on development and water scarcity. Broadly, residents in developed contexts worried more about quality than about quantity, and individual practices (e.g., preventing pollution) were most commonly cited as remedies. Yet significant differences exist across geographies. First, residents in water-scarce regions were relatively concerned about quantity, and they tended to emphasize collective policies and technologies. Second, residents of developed countries were more likely to suggest collective water policies as strategies, whereas those in developing areas stressed behavioral and technological strategies as solutions, primarily to pollution.
Pseudomonas fluorescens Alters the Intestinal Barrier Function by Modulating IL-1&bgr; Expression Through Hematopoietic NOD2 Signaling

Background:Ileal Crohn's disease is related to NOD2 mutations and to a gut barrier dysfunction. Pseudomonas fluorescens has also been associated with ileal Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of P. fluorescens on the paracellular permeability in ileum and Peyer's patches. Methods:To explore this question, in vivo and ex vivo experiments were performed in wild-type, Nod2−/−, Nod22939iC, and IL-1R−/− mice together with in vitro analyses using the Caco-2 (epithelial) and the THP-1 (monocyte) human cell lines. Results:Pseudomonas fluorescens increased the paracellular permeability of the intestinal mucosa through the secretion of IL-1&bgr; by the immune cell populations and the activation of myosin light chain kinase in the epithelial cells. Induction of the IL-1&bgr; pathway required the expression of Nod2 in the hematopoietic compartment, and muramyl dipeptide (a Nod2 ligand) had an inhibitory effect. Conclusions:Pseudomonas fluorescens thus alters the homeostasis of the epithelial barrier function by a mechanism similar to that previously observed for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. This work further documents a putative role of psychrotrophic bacteria in Crohn's disease.
Structural barriers to ART adherence in Southern Africa: Challenges and potential ways forward

Abstract Structural barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence are economic, institutional, political and cultural factors, that collectively influence the extent to which persons living with HIV follow their medication regimens. We identify three sets of structural barriers to ART adherence that are salient in Southern Africa: poverty-related, institutional, and political and cultural. Examples of poverty-related barriers are competing demands in the context of resource-constrained settings, the lack of transport infrastructure, food insecurity, the role of disability grants and poor social support. Examples of institutional factors are logistical barriers, overburdened health care facilities, limited access to mental health services and difficulties in ensuring adequate counselling. Examples of political and cultural barriers are controversies in the provision of treatment for AIDS, migration, traditional beliefs about HIV and AIDS, poor health literacy and gender inequalities. In forging a way forward, we identify ways in which individuals, communities and health care systems may overcome some of these structural barriers. Finally, we make recommendations for further research on structural barriers to ART adherence. In all likelihood, enhancing adherence to ART requires the efforts of a variety of disciplines, including public health, psychology, anthropology, sociology and medicine.
International Accounting Harmonization

With the advent of globalization, international business has grown at a faster pace than the pace of world economy. Falling barriers to trade and investment have allowed companies to seek opportunities in foreign markets and establish their presence in lucrative markets. This ever changing nature of business has called for better accounting measures. Country leaders and the accounting communities around the world have debated over the years to establish a unified standard of accounting in all the countries in order to establish transportability and easy comparability of accounting information.
Association of progesterone receptor and HER2 expressions with the survival time of patient with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the survival time and the expressions of progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 in the tumor tissues of patients with breast cancer, thereby to explore the possibility of using the 2 indices as the indicator for the prognosis of the patients. METHOD Immunohistochemical staining for PR and HER2 was performed on paraffin embedded tumor specimens obtained from 185 patients with breast cancer, and follow-up studies were conducted and the survival time of the patients recorded. RESULTS In the 120 patients (64.9%) with complete followed-up data, 28 patients died (15%), with the record of the other 65 patients (35.1%) not available for this study. Immunohistochemical detection found that the positivity rates for HER2 and PR were 57.8% and 62.7% respectively in the total specimens examined, and HER2 and PR showed significant difference in their respective associations with the survival rate of the patients (P<0.01). Specifically, HER2 was inversely associated with the survival rate, to which PR was positively related. The univariant analysis suggested the hazards posed by HER2 expression to reduce the overall survival of the patients (P<0.01, OR=1.566), while PR, playing the protective role, was associated with a significantly longer overall survival time (P<0.01, OR=0.547). In the multivariate analysis, however, only PR expression was of significant prognostic value in the patients (P 0.012). CONCLUSION Both HER2 and PR can be used as independent indicators for the prognosis of patients with breast cancer, and high HER2 expression may indicate poor prognosis, while PR is associated with a longer survival time and a higher survival rate.
The cyclic alternating pattern as a physiologic component of normal NREM sleep.

The cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) is a long-lasting periodic activity consisting of two alternate electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. This variation in EEG is closely related to fluctuations in the level of arousal that characterize two different functional states in the arousal control mechanism. We studied 20 sleep records of 10 healthy subjects to see if CAP appears under physiologic conditions. During NREM sleep, CAP corresponded to a periodic succession of spontaneous phasic phenomena recurring within every stage, i.e., intermittent alpha rhythm, K-complex sequences, and reactive slow wave sequences. The following analyses were performed. Each EEG specific alternating pattern, defined as a cycle, was subdivided into two phases depending on the arousal response to stimulation. Average cycle length, average duration of each phase, and average ratio phase/cycle were calculated. CAP rate defined as (CAP time/Sleep time) was calculated for total sleep time (TST), (Cap time/TST); for NREM sleep, (CAP time/Total NREM); and for each NREM sleep stage. CAP is the EEG translation of the reorganization of the sleeping brain challenged by the modification of environmental conditions.
DNA barcodes for two scale insect families, mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)

Abstract Although DNA barcode coverage has grown rapidly for many insect orders, there are some groups, such as scale insects, where sequence recovery has been difficult. However, using a recently developed primer set, we recovered barcode records from 373 specimens, providing coverage for 75 species from 31 genera in two families. Overall success was >90% for mealybugs and >80% for armored scale species. The G·C content was very low in most species, averaging just 16.3%. Sequence divergences (K2P) between congeneric species averaged 10.7%, while intra-specific divergences averaged 0.97%. However, the latter value was inflated by high intra-specific divergence in nine taxa, cases that may indicate species overlooked by current taxonomic treatments. Our study establishes the feasibility of developing a comprehensive barcode library for scale insects and indicates that its construction will both create an effective system for identifying scale insects and reveal taxonomic situations worthy of deeper analysis.
Effect of bone size, not density, on the stiffness of the proximal part of normal and osteoporotic human femora

Proximal femur fractures in the elderly lead to a high rate of hospitalization. In studying the operative treatment of such fractures, it is first necessary to understand the relationship between the morphologic properties of this part of the femur (related to both geometry and density) and its mechanical properties. Numerous investigations showed that femoral strength correlates with bone mass; however, the dimension of the bones was not taken into account. We measured the relationship between the stiffness of the proximal femur under physiologic load and its geometry and density. Conventional x‐rays and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) were carried out on pairs of human cadaver femora. Eight pairs were instrumented with strain gauges. Bones were subjected to an eccentric load that simulates moderate weight bearing (single‐leg stance), and the strain parallel to the bone axis was plotted as a function of the load applied. An apparent bone stiffness was calculated as the ratio between the strain gradient within the section and the load applied. Strong correlation was found between x‐ray densitometry and QCT. The bone stiffness also correlates strongly with the geometry (area) and slightly with bone mass; however, an unexpectedly low correlation was found between stiffness and density. We chose stiffness as a mechanical parameter (not strength) because it describes the “normal” bone behavior under load. Our results clearly demonstrate that the cross‐sectional size of the bones must be taken into account when establishing the relationship between the mechanical characteristics of the bone and its morphology. In accordance with previous predictions, our results support that bone loss due to osteoporosis is compensated for by an increase in bone diameter.
The Role of Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4) Gene, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor (TSHR) Gene and Regulatory T-cells as Risk Factors for Relapse in Patients with Graves Disease.

BACKGROUND graves' disease (GD) is the most common condition of thyrotoxicosis. The management of GD is initiated with the administration of antithyroid drugs; however, it requires a long time to achieve remission. In reality more than 50% of patients who had remission may be at risk for relapse after the drug is stopped. This study aimed to evaluate the role of clinical factors such as smoking habit, degree of ophtalmopathy, degree of thyroid enlargement; genetic factors such as CTLA-4 gene on nucleotide 49 at codon 17 of exon 1, CTLA-4 gene of promotor -318, TSHR gene polymorphism rs2268458 of intron 1; and immunological factors such as regulatory T cells (Treg) and thyroid receptor antibody (TRAb); that affecting the relapse of patients with Graves' disease in Indonesia. METHODS this was a case-control study, that compared 72 subjects who had relapse and 72 subjects without relapse at 12 months after cessation of antithyroid treatment, who met the inclusion criteria. Genetic polymorphism examination was performed using PCR-RFLP. The number of regulatory T cells was counted using flow cytometry analysis and ELISA was used to measure TRAb. The logistic regression was used since the dependent variables were categorical variables. RESULTS the analysis of this study demonstrated that there was a correlation between relapse of disease and family factors (p=0.008), age at diagnosis (p=0.021), 2nd degree of Graves' ophthalmopathy (p=0.001), enlarged thyroid gland, which exceeded the lateral edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscles (p=0.040), duration of remission period (p=0.029), GG genotype of CTLA-4 gene on the nucleotide 49 at codon 17 of exon 1 (p=0.016), CC genotype of TSHR gene on the rs2268458 of intron 1 (p=0.003), the number of regulatory T cells (p=0.001) and TRAb levels (p=0.002). CONCLUSION genetic polymorphisms of CTLA-4 gene on the nucleotide 49 at codon 17 of exon 1, TSHR gene SNP rs2268458 of intron 1, number of regulatory T cells and TRAb levels play a role as risk factors for relapse in patients with Graves' disease.
Homeostasis Within the T Cell Compartment Autologous Regulation of Naive T Cell

Naive T cells undergo spontaneous slow proliferation on adoptive transfer into syngeneic T cell (T)-deﬁcient hosts. Recent work has shown that such “homeostatic” T cell proliferation is driven by MHC molecules loaded with self-peptides rather than foreign peptides. Because naive T cells in normal T-sufﬁcient hosts remain in interphase despite continuous contact with self-MHC/peptide ligands, T cells apparently inhibit homeostatic proliferation of neighboring T cells. To address this, we have investigated the requirements necessary for “bystander” T cells to inhibit homeostatic proliferation of other T cells. Three key ﬁndings are reported. First, homeostatic proliferation of T cells only occurs in speciﬁc microenvironments, namely the T cell compartment of the secondary lymphoid tissues. Second, direct entry into T cell compartments is also required for bystander inhibition of homeostatic proliferation. Third, bystander inhibition is mediated largely by naive rather than activated/memory T cells and does not require proliferation or TCR ligation. These ﬁndings suggest that homeostasis of naive T cells is unlikely to be regulated through competition for systemic soluble factors or for speciﬁc stimulatory self-MHC/peptide ligands. Rather, the data favor mechanisms that involve competition for local non-MHC stimulatory factors or direct cell-to-cell interactions between the T cells themselves within the T cell compartment. The Journal of Immunology, 2001, 166: 2460–2468.
Cigarette smoking and benign proliferative epithelial disorders of the breast in women: a case-control study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the possible association between cigarette smoking and benign proliferative epithelial disorders of the breast. DESIGN: This was a case-control study with two different control groups. SETTING: The study was community based and took place in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. SUBJECTS: 506 biopsy proven cases between 18 and 75 years were identified, of whom 39 could not be approached because of surgeon refusal, 66 would not be interviewed and 18 were untraceable, leaving 383 for inclusion in the study. Controls were 192 women who had had a negative breast biopsy, out of a possible 259 (17 surgeon refusals, 39 interview refusals, 11 untraceable); and a randomly selected group of women matched to the index group for age and area of residence (582 subjects were approached to enrol 383 controls). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All breast biopsies were examined by one pathologist and classified using a standard system. Sociodemographic and medical information was collected by trained interviewers using structured questionnaires. Overall, and within menopausal strata, risk of benign proliferative epithelial disease for women who had ever smoked and for current and ex-smokers was similar to that for women who had never smoked. In premenopausal women, using community controls as the comparison group, risk decreased with cigarette-years of exposure, but the trend was not statistically significant. Risk appeared to increase when biopsy controls were used. There was no trend in the association when examined by degree of cytological atypia. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that cigarette smoking is not related to the risk of benign proliferative epithelial breast disease.
Effects of proteinase inhibitors on the growth and differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Three proteinase inhibitors, one peptidyl acyloxymethyl ketone (AMK), Z-Phe-Lys-CH2-OCO-(2,4,6-Me3)Ph.HCl, and two diazomethyl ketones (DMKs), Z-Phe-Phe-DMK and Z-Phe-Ala-DMK, have been studied for their effects in vitro on the four developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. The three inhibitors penetrated living parasites and inhibited the major cysteine proteinase, cruzipain. The AMK was the most potent inhibitor of cruzipain itself and at 20 microM caused lysis of epimastigotes and trypomastigotes. When at lower concentrations, however, it had little effect on epimastigote growth but reduced metacyclogenesis. The DMKs had no effect against epimastigotes but inhibited differentiation to metacyclics. All three inhibitors markedly reduced infection of Vero cells by the parasite and the multiplication of the intracellular amastigotes, whereas release of trypomastigotes was almost entirely prevented. The results confirm the importance of cysteine proteinases in the life cycle of T. cruzi, and suggest that the differentiation steps are the most susceptible to cysteine proteinase inhibitors.
Initial clinical experience with [123I]ioflupane scintigraphy in movement disorders.

AIM The objective of this study was to determine whether dopamine transporter (DAT) scintigraphy influences the management of movement disorders in clinically indeterminate cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventeen patients (ten women, seven men; age range 44-84 years) with a presumptive diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) were referred for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scintigraphy using [(123)I]ioflupane between November 2002 and August 2003. The scintigraphic results, clinical diagnosis, and management intentions pre- and post-examination were recorded. RESULTS Of the 17 patients who underwent scintigraphy, two patients on neuroleptic medication exhibited features of PD; one had an abnormal scintigraphic examination that confirmed PD, the other had a negative examination, confirming drug-induced parkinsonism, and these were managed accordingly. Of the other cases, the results of 10 examinations were compatible with PD. Five were reported as being normal, the final diagnoses in this group included: cerebrovascular disease (CVD); early Alzheimer's; provisional clinical diagnosis of generalized movement disorder; and possible Wilson's disease. One patient was felt to have a parkinsonian syndrome despite the normal result (this patient had a positive apomorphine test). CONCLUSION This series illustrates the value of DAT scintigraphy in the management of clinically indeterminate movement disorders at a tertiary referral centre arguing for its use in the initial diagnostic process. However, it is clear that the use of DAT scintigraphy poses significant resource implications. Further evidence should clarify the exact role of DAT scintigraphy in clinically indeterminate cases.
A Switched Gain Resonant Controller to Minimize Image Artifacts in Intermittent Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy

As the scan speed of the atomic force microscope (AFM) operating in intermittent contact mode is increased, the likelihood of artifacts appearing in the image is increased due to the probe tip losing contact with the sample. This paper presents an analysis of the effects of probe loss and a new method, switched gain resonant control, of reducing the problem of probe loss when imaging at high speed. The switched gain resonant controller is implemented to switch the cantilever quality Q factor according to the sample profile during the scan. If the controller detects that the probe has lost contact with the sample the cantilever Q factor is increased leading to a faster response of the feedback controller, expediting the resumption of contact. A significant reduction in image artifacts due to probe loss is observed when this control technique is employed at high scan speeds.
Replacement of Integration Host Factor Protein-induced DNA Bending by Flexible Regions of DNA*

The Escherichia coliintegration host factor (IHF) protein is required for site-specific recombination of bacteriophage λ DNA. Previously, we had shown that alternative modules of static DNA curvature could partially replace IHF in recombination. Now we use regions of single-stranded DNA as a flexible tether to address whether the function of IHF in recombination is simply to reduce persistence length. Although we find that these modules clearly enhance recombination in the absence of IHF, they are not perfect replacements. In addition, evidence is presented that the efficacy of a flexibility swap is specific to a particular IHF site. This may indicate that additional functions beyond simple deformation of DNA are required of IHF. During the course of these experiments we discovered that these flexible sequences are still specific sites for IHF binding and function.
A structured interdomain linker directs self-polymerization of human uromodulin

Significance Urinary tract infection is the most common nonepidemic bacterial infection in humans, with 150 million cases per year and a global health care cost above $6 billion. Because the urinary tract is not protected by mucus, mammals produce a molecular net that captures pathogenic bacteria in the urine and clears them from the body. By visualizing the 3D structure of its building block, glycoprotein uromodulin, we provide insights into how the net is built, and how it is compromised by mutations in patients with kidney diseases. Our work also explains nonsyndromic deafness due to mutations affecting the tectorial membrane, a similar filamentous structure in the human inner ear. Uromodulin (UMOD)/Tamm–Horsfall protein, the most abundant human urinary protein, plays a key role in chronic kidney diseases and is a promising therapeutic target for hypertension. Via its bipartite zona pellucida module (ZP-N/ZP-C), UMOD forms extracellular filaments that regulate kidney electrolyte balance and innate immunity, as well as protect against renal stones. Moreover, salt-dependent aggregation of UMOD filaments in the urine generates a soluble molecular net that captures uropathogenic bacteria and facilitates their clearance. Despite the functional importance of its homopolymers, no structural information is available on UMOD and how it self-assembles into filaments. Here, we report the crystal structures of polymerization regions of human UMOD and mouse ZP2, an essential sperm receptor protein that is structurally related to UMOD but forms heteropolymers. The structure of UMOD reveals that an extensive hydrophobic interface mediates ZP-N domain homodimerization. This arrangement is required for filament formation and is directed by an ordered ZP-N/ZP-C linker that is not observed in ZP2 but is conserved in the sequence of deafness/Crohn’s disease-associated homopolymeric glycoproteins α-tectorin (TECTA) and glycoprotein 2 (GP2). Our data provide an example of how interdomain linker plasticity can modulate the function of structurally similar multidomain proteins. Moreover, the architecture of UMOD rationalizes numerous pathogenic mutations in both UMOD and TECTA genes.