Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potent phagocytic activity with impaired antigen presentation identifying lipopolysaccharide-tolerant human monocytes: demonstration in isolated monocytes from cystic fibrosis patients

The cellular basis of the transplantation tolerance in a model system of BALB/c (Mls-1b) mice rendered cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced tolerant to DBA/2 (Mls-1a) skin allograft was investigated by assessing V beta 6+ T cells. From our results, three major mechanisms that are essential to the CP-induced skin allograft tolerance were sequentially elucidated. The first mechanism was destruction of donor-Ag-stimulated T cells in the periphery by CP treatment. The second mechanism was intrathymic clonal deletion of donor-reactive T cells, such as V beta 6+ T cells, correlating strongly with intrathymic mixed chimerism. The clonal deletion, however, was not always essential for the maintenance of the skin allografts, because DBA/2 skin survived even after the clonal deletion terminated and V beta 6+ T cells reappeared in the periphery of the recipient BALB/c mice. The third mechanism was generation of tolerogen-specific suppressor T cells, especially in the late stage of the tolerance. In contrast, the clonal anergy that is evidenced by the specific suppression of mixed lymphocyte reaction in the recipient BALB/c mice after injecting with DBA/2 spleen cells alone was not considered as a significant mechanism in prolonging skin allograft survival because such anergic mice showed accelerated rejection of the skin allografts. These results may suggest practical hierarchy of the mechanisms of CP-induced allograft tolerance.
Effects of linoleic acid-rich diet on plasma profiles of eicosanoids and development of colitis in Il-10-/- mice.

Dietary intake of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2ω-6) has risen dramatically in recent decades. Previous studies have suggested high intake of LA could increase tissue concentrations of pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic ω-6-series eicosanoid metabolites, increasing risks of inflammation and associated diseases. However, the effects of LA-rich diet on in vivo profiles of eicosanoids and development of inflammatory diseases are under-studied. Here we treated spontaneous colitis-prone (Il-10-/-) mice with a control diet (~3 Cal% LA) or a LA-rich diet (~9 Cal% LA) for 18 weeks, and analyzed the effects of the LA-rich diet on profiles of eicosanoids and development of colitis. We found that treatment with the LA-rich diet increased tissue level of LA: the liver levels of LA were 5.8 ± 0.6% in control diet-treated mice versus 11.7 ± 0.7% in LA-rich diet-treated mice (P < 0.01). The plasma concentrations of a series of LA-derived metabolites, including 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE), 9,10-dihydroxyoctadecenoic acid (DiHOME), 12,13-DiHOME, and 13-HODE were significantly increased by treatment with the LA-rich diet (P < 0.05). However, LA-rich diet had little effect on the severity of colitis in the treated Il-10-/- mice. These results suggest a limited role of increased consumption of dietary LA on promoting colitis in Il-10-/- model.
Live capture and ownership of lemurs in Madagascar: extent and conservation implications

Abstract Overexploitation is a significant threat to biodiversity, with live capture of millions of animals annually. An improved understanding of live capture of primates is needed, especially for Madagascar's threatened lemurs. Our objectives were to provide the first quantitative estimates of the prevalence, spatial extent, correlates and timing of lemur ownership, procurement methods, within-country movements, and numbers and duration of ownership. Using semi-structured interviews of 1,093 households and 61 transporters, across 17 study sites, we found that lemur ownership was widespread and affected a variety of taxa. We estimate that 28,253 lemurs have been affected since 2010. Most lemurs were caught by owners and kept for either short (≤ 1 week) or long (≥ 3 years) periods. The live capture of lemurs in Madagascar is not highly organized but may threaten several Endangered and Critically Endangered species.
A Reflection on Continuation-Composing Style

We present a study of the continuation-composing style (CCS) that describes the image of the CPS translation of Danvy and Filinski’s shift and reset delimited-control operators. In CCS continu-ations are composable rather than abortive as in the traditional CPS, and, therefore, the structure of terms is considerably more complex. We show that the CPS translation from Moggi’s computational lambda calculus extended with shift and reset has a right inverse and that the two translations form a reﬂection i.e., a Galois connection in which the target is isomorphic to a subset of the source (the orders are given by the reduction relations). Furthermore, we use this result to show that Plotkin’s call-by-value lambda calculus extended with shift and reset is isomorphic to the image of the CPS translation. This result, in particular, provides a ﬁrst direct-style transformation for delimited continuations that is an inverse of the CPS transformation up to syntactic identity.
Release behavior, mechanical properties, and antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin-loaded acrylic bone cement: a mechanistic study

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of ciprofloxacin concentration and cement geometry on release, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of PMMA bone cement. Significance: Cements are used in different geometries and drug concentrations. These can affect cement strength, drug release behavior, and its antibacterial activity. Methods Antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) containing 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 wt% ciprofloxacin were prepared as slab, rectangular prism and short cylinder. Drug release and compression strength of the cements were investigated for 28 days at 37 °C. The ALBC efficacies against prevalent bone infection bacteria, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa, were investigated. Drug determination was by HPLC. Results A two-stage behavior of fast release through dissolution/diffusion (stage A; <96 h) and 2–5 times slower Fickian diffusion (stage B; 96–672 h) was observed. Significant differences for release rate were observed among different geometries in the order of cylinder > prism > slab, in correlation with systems’ thickness, indicating lower drug depletion in thicker systems. Release rates were proportional to concentration for 2.5 and 5% systems. At 10.0% loading, however, apparently interconnected channels and higher porosity reduced the diffusional resistance and provided higher release rates than what expected from concentration increment. Growth of Gram-negative bacteria and S. aureus was inhibited at the lowest dose of drug over 1 and 48 h, respectively. ALBCs with 5.0 and 10.0% ciprofloxacin showed decrease of compression strength to below ISO standard. Conclusions Different properties of acrylic cements are affected by geometry and drug concentration and should be considered for optimized drug therapy.
Effect of substitution of dietary fish meal by soybean meal on different sizes of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio): digestive enzyme gene expressions and activities, and intestinal and hepatic histology

A 7-week growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soybean meal (SBM) on digestive enzyme activity of intestinal mucosa, mRNA levels of digestive enzymes in hepatopancreas, and the mid-intestinal and hepatopancreas histology of gibel carp CAS III (Carassius auratus gibelio). Four different growth phases of gibel carp (initial body weight: fry, 0.8 g; juvenile, 5.0 g; 1-year-old, 62.7 g; and broodstock, 135.6 g) were tested. Seven isonitrogenous and iso-energetic diets were formulated to contain different SBM replacement levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of dietary fish meal protein), and another diet (SBMAA) contained all SBM protein and supplied crystalline amino acids. The results showed that the activities of mid-intestine trypsin, α-amylase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase reduced with increased dietary SBM, while the chymotrypsin activity increased first and then decreased. The ultrastructures of intestinal epithelial cells and hepatopancreas cells in fry and broodstock fish were distinctly affected by 200 g kg-1 dietary SBM. Supplementation of dietary amino acid to the highest replacement groups was not sufficient to improve digestive and absorptive capacities and growth performance. Gibel carp may be adapted to dietary SBM through increase in gene expression of hepatopancreas digestive enzymes and has potential to utilize proceeded SBM as feedstuffs.
Cochrane Corner: Coronavirus (COVID-19): remote care through telehealth.

BACKGROUND: On the 11 of March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. Since then healthcare worldwide has had to rise to the challenge of how to deliver healthcare safely to people with health needs without overtly exposing them to this virus. Telehealth is used to describe interventions delivered over distance and is made up of the following three components. First the patient provides data, second the information is transferred electronically and then third the clinician provides feedback. Cochrane has put together a special collection highlighting all the evidence currently summarised in systematic reviews with relevance to telehealth. This will hopefully assist health care providers in knowing the best ways to offer telehealth in order to gain the most benefit.
Bacillus pumilus LZP02 promotes rice root growth by improving carbohydrate metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis.

Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of plant growth promotion of rhizobacteria is very important. This study explored the mechanism by which Bacillus pumilus LZP02 promotes growth in rice roots through proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic techniques. The results showed that B. pumilus LZP02 promoted the absorption of P, Ca, and Mg ions by colonization of rice roots and enhanced POD, CAT, SOD, and Ca2+Mg2+ATPase activities and chlorophyll contents in rice. The proteomic results showed that most of the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were involved in carbohydrate metabolism and that the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites was also increased. According to RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR analyses, expression of some genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was upregulated in rice roots. Regarding metabolomics, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism were increased. The results indicated that B. pumilus LZP02 promoted the growth of rice roots by enhancing carbohydrate metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis.
Secondary somatosensory area is involved in vibrotactile temporal-structure processing: MEG analysis of slow cortical potential shifts in humans

Abstract Purpose: Temporal-structure discrimination is an essential dimension of tactile processing. Exploring object surface by touch generates vibrotactile input with various temporal dynamics, which gives diversity to tactile percepts. Here, we examined whether slow cortical potential shifts (SCPs) (<1 Hz) evoked by long vibrotactile stimuli can reflect active temporal-structure processing. Materials and methods: Vibrotactile-evoked magnetic brain responses were recorded in 10 right-handed healthy volunteers using a piezoelectric-based stimulator and whole-head magnetoencephalography. A series of vibrotactile train stimuli with various temporal structures were delivered to the right index finger. While all trains consisted of identical number (15) of stimuli delivered within a fixed duration (1500 ms), temporal structures were varied by modulating inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs). Participants judged regularity/irregularity of ISI for each train in the active condition, whereas they ignored the stimuli while performing a visual distraction task in the passive condition. We analysed the spatiotemporal features of SCPs and their behaviour using the minimum norm estimates with the dynamic statistical parametric mapping. Results: SCPs were localized to contralateral primary somatosensory area (S1), contralateral superior temporal gyrus, and contralateral as well as ipsilateral secondary somatosensory areas (S2). A significant enhancement of SCPs was observed in the ipsilateral S2 (S2i) in the active condition, whereas such effects were absent in the other regions. We also found a significant larger amplitude difference between the regular- and irregular-stimulus evoked S2i responses during the active condition than during the passive condition. Conclusions: This study suggests that S2 subserves the temporal dimension of vibrotactile processing.
Effect of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid supplementation on fetal, gestation and parturition in pregnant Sprague Dawley rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different ratio of n-6:n-3 on gestation and parturition as well as to determine the hormone concentration on plasma of the pregnant rats. At the end of the trial period, blood plasma was collected and analysed for progesterone, estradiol and prostaglandin F2α hormone (PGF2 α) concentrations, and fatty acids profile. The results indicated that the group with a very low ratio of n-6:n3 fatty acids (diet 1) showed increased concentration of progesterone in the plasma (P<0.05), while the group with high ratio of n6:n3 fatty acids (diet 3) with high arachidonic acid (AA) showed significantly (P<0.05) increased concentration of estradiol and PGF2 α in the plasma. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma of diet 1 group were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other treatment diet groups. The total n-6 PUFA was significantly higher (P<0.05) in diet 3 group as compared to diet 1 group. In contrast, the number of implanted embryos was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the diet 3 group at 15 days of gestation, while, the litter size were significantly lower in the diet 2 group and diet 3 group by 4.57 and 1.00 folds respectively, as compared to the control group (diet 4). In conclusion, for the rat with very low ratio on diet 1, the n-6:n-3 ratio satisfied the requirement for the growth of mother and fetuses but was inadequate for the normal process of parturition, probably through inadequate production of the prostaglandins involved.
A Comparison Between Diabetic Foot Classifications WIfI, Saint Elian, and Texas: Description of Wounds and Clinical Outcomes

Several wound classification systems are used to assess diabetic foot wounds. The recommendations for their use depend on the authors and foot associations. In this study, we compared Saint Elian score system, WIfI classification and Texas in 101 patients with foot wounds, and we followed them for a median of 149 days, finding differences both in the assigned risk and in the association with major amputation and wound healing. Saint Elian and WIfI scores match when Saint Elian is low or high risk but not when it is moderate. WIfI stages correlate with major amputation and wound healing. Saint Elian III correlates with major amputation. Prevalence of major amputations was 41% for WIfI 4 and 83% for Saint Elian III. WIfI 1 and 2 and Saint Elian I had a rate of wound healing of 80% to 85%. Stages 1 and 2 of WIfI score behave similar with regard to wound healing, 82% and 80% (P = .71), and major amputation, 0% and 10% (P = .68). Stages I and II of Saint Elian have the same rates of major amputation, 0% and 8% (P = .66), but not of wound healing, 85% and 51% (P < .05). The optimal cut point for detecting major amputation in Saint Elian is 18, with a sensitivity of 90.9 and specificity of 84.9, but there is no recommended cut point for wound healing. These classifications are validated for their use in diabetic foot wounds and to assess amputation risk, helping physicians make decisions and talk to the patients about prognosis.
Finger sensory impairment after elbow flexion reconstruction using concomitant nerve transfer from the median and ulnar nerves

Abstract Purpose Single and double fascicular nerve transfer using the ulnar or median nerve is performed to restore elbow flexion following injuries to the brachial plexus or nerve root. However, little is known regarding the postoperative changes involved in the sensory alteration of the hand after a single and double fascicular nerve transfer. We evaluated the sensory alteration of the hand in patients who underwent single and double fascicular nerve transfer for two years. Methods A total of five patients that underwent single or double fascicular nerve transfer participated in this study. The injury mechanism was avulsion (n = 2), stretching (n = 1), open injury (n = 1), and compression (n = 1). The touch sensation of the index and the little fingers before surgery at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after nerve transfer was evaluated using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments test (SWM-t). Muscle strength of the elbow flexion and the wrist flexion was evaluated. Results The touch sensation of the index finger at 24 months was equal to the preoperative evaluation. On the other hand, the touch sensation of the little finger at 24 months slightly improved compared to what it had been at the preoperative evaluation. Moreover, the median of the SWM-t score in the index and little finger at 24 months after surgery was beyond 3.61 that mean diminished light touch level. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that the touch sensory deficit of the index and little fingers persist for up to 2 years after nerve transfer.
Employability in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Job candidate's diagnostic disclosure and asd characteristics and employer's ASD knowledge and social desirability.

Participants assessed the employability of vignette characters whose presentation varied across two dimensions during a job interview: presence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) characteristics (present, absent) and disclosure of diagnosis (ASD, ADHD, diabetes, or no disclosure). Participants more knowledgeable about ASD had more positive perceptions of vignette characters, particularly when they disclosed an ASD diagnosis and did not show ASD characteristics. Participants high in social desirability perceived vignette characters more positively. Participants expressed the most concern about job candidates showing inflexible adherence to a routine and sensory sensitivity, although such concerns may have been context-dependent due to job expectations. Overall, these results emphasize that employer factors, particularly employer knowledge of ASD and social desirability, significantly affect the perceived employability of job candidates with ASD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Book Review

In his statement of editorial policies in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Public Budgeting and Financial Management, Jack Rabin (1989) contended that the discipline of public budgeting cuts a wide intellectual swath: politics, finance, forecasting, history, psychology, sociology, information technology, and central banking policy, among others, all play their role in the study of public budgeting. Collectively, the three works reviewed here confirm Rabin’s assessment of the discipline. More important, they portray the enormity of the budget process, an endeavor that combines technocracy and politics in an era in which many view government as “the enemy” and call into question the wisdom of collective interventions. These works also remind us that although the adoption of a budget is a forward-thinking act, there can be little doubt that budgeting will always encompass a cultural and programmatic legacy that cannot be forgotten. Ultimately, these works suggest that the annual budget passage in even the smallest jurisdictions constitutes something of a miracle—the melding of applied microeconomics and conflict resolution. In broad relief, I would submit that these works also represent a past, present, and future of budgetary research. Class, Tax, and Power deals with budget format and the fact that fiscal stringency of the post-Proposition 13 era has required many jurisdictions to be more outcome oriented in their budgeting while keeping an eye on increasingly constrained budgets. This may be old news, particularly to practitioners. Intellectually, as noted in a prior article and book review in this journal (Frank, 1992, 1998), I am somewhat dubious about the currency of studies related to budget format adoption related to the “alphabet soup” of target-based budgeting
Weight Status Change From Adolescence to Young Adulthood and the Risk of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. It is still unclear whether the risk of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in adulthood remains increased if excess weight in adolescence recedes later in life. This study examines the effect of change in weight status from adolescence to young adulthood on the risk of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. A total of 4454 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years from the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1994–1995) were followed up to young adulthood (25–32 years, 2007–2008). After a median follow-up time of 13 years, compared with normal weight in both adolescence and young adulthood (n=1328, 29.8%), excess weight in the 2 periods (n=1077, 24.2%) was associated with an increased risk of hypertension (odds ratio, 3.72 [95% CI, 2.86–4.84]) and diabetes mellitus (3.32 [2.11–5.21]). Normal weight in adolescence but excess weight in young adulthood (n=1983, 44.5%) was associated with a lower but still significant risk of hypertension (2.49 [1.98–3.15]) and diabetes mellitus (1.59 [1.01–2.51]). In contrast, the risk of hypertension (1.37 [0.64–2.95]) and diabetes mellitus (1.65 [0.45–6.05]) was low in the few participants with excess weight in adolescence but normal weight in young adulthood (n=66, 1.5%). In conclusion, excess weight in young adulthood was associated with an increased risk of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, irrespective of weight status in adolescence. In contrast, excess weight in adolescence but normal weight in young adulthood did not seem to be associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in young adulthood.
Reformulation and food combination as strategies to modulate glycaemia: the case of apple pomace containing biscuits administered with apple juice to healthy rats

Abstract Conventional (CB) and apple-pomace-reformulated (RB) biscuits were administered to healthy rats. Although the areas under curve (AUC) of glucose concentration were comparable between samples, differences in the glycaemic profile of CB and RB were observed. RB caused an initial steeper increase in glycaemia but a shift in the glycaemic peak from 45 to 60 min, as compared to CB. When CB or RB was ingested with apple juice (AJ) no differences were observed as compared to their ingestion with a soft drink (SD) simulating AJ sugar content, indicating that reformulation, more than the presence of AJ, was crucial in affecting the glycaemic response. Consumer acceptability towards reformulation was assessed through conjoint analysis, by simulating labels reporting information on reformulation. Consumers preferred information generally referring to the health-promoting effect (i.e. “low sugar” and “high fibre” contents), despite directly relating to a specific disease (i.e. “suitable for diabetics” and “low glycaemic index”).