Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracts of Scabies Mites (Sarcoptidae: Sarcoptes scabiei) Modulate Cytokine Expression by Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Dendritic Cells

Abstract We performed a series of experiments to determine if human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a healthy donor and dendritic cells (NHDCs) derived from these PBMCs reacted to molecules in a scabies extract. PBMCs extravasate from the circulatory system and enter tissues such as scabietic lesions, where monocytes become macrophages. Cells were cultured in medium alone or medium containing 50 μg/ml of Sarcoptes scabiei (SS) extract, 50 ng/ml E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or SS + LPS together. Supernatants were collected and assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for specific cytokines. PBMCs stimulated with SS or LPS exhibited moderately upregulated production of interleukin (IL)-1β and huge increases in secretions of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Cells co-stimulated with both SS and LPS generally secreted more of these cytokines than cells stimulated with either SS or LPS alone. LPS induced a small amount of IL-1α secretion, whereas SS did not, and neither additive resulted in the production of IL-10. NHDCs did not produce IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, or IL-10 in response to stimulation with SS. These cells did produce IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in response to LPS. When cells were co-stimulated with both LPS and SS, the production of IL-6 and IL-8 was significantly reduced compared with the levels secreted after LPS stimulation alone. These studies show that molecules in a whole body extract of S. scabiei modulate the function of PBMCs (probably monocytes) and dendritic cells.
Motivations, learning and creativity in online citizen science

Online citizen science projects have demonstrated their usefulness for research, however little is known about the potential benefits for volunteers. We conducted 39 interviews (28 volunteers, 11 researchers) to gain a greater understanding of volunteers' motivations, learning and creativity (MLC). In our MLC model we explain that participating and progressing in a project community provides volunteers with many indirect opportunities for learning and creativity. The more aspects that volunteers are involved in, the more likely they are to sustain their participation in the project. These results have implications for the design and management of online citizen science projects. It is important to provide users with tools to communicate in order to supporting social learning, community building and sharing.
Government employers in Sweden, Denmark and Norway: The use of power to control wage and employment conditions

How do government employers exercise power in highly voluntarist bargaining models? In this article, we analyse the potential power of public employers in Sweden, Denmark and Norway and examine how they use this potential. We call attention to three areas in which government employers exercise power: direct political intervention, attempts to decentralize wage bargaining and control of wage movements. We argue that government employers in the three countries have similar institutional capacities for power, but their ways of exercising power vary according to political norms and practice.
Crystal Structure of Swine Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I SLA-1*0401 and Identification of 2009 Pandemic Swine-Origin Influenza A H1N1 Virus Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitope Peptides

ABSTRACT The presentation of viral epitopes to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by swine leukocyte antigen class I (SLA I) is crucial for swine immunity. To illustrate the structural basis of swine CTL epitope presentation, the first SLA crystal structures, SLA-1*0401, complexed with peptides derived from either 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) swine-origin influenza A virus (S-OIVNW9; NSDTVGWSW) or Ebola virus (EbolaAY9; ATAAATEAY) were determined in this study. The overall peptide–SLA-1*0401 structures resemble, as expected, the general conformations of other structure-solved peptide major histocompatibility complexes (pMHC). The major distinction of SLA-1*0401 is that Arg156 has a “one-ballot veto” function in peptide binding, due to its flexible side chain. S-OIVNW9 and EbolaAY9 bind SLA-1*0401 with similar conformations but employ different water molecules to stabilize their binding. The side chain of P7 residues in both peptides is exposed, indicating that the epitopes are “featured” peptides presented by this SLA. Further analyses showed that SLA-1*0401 and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I HLA-A*0101 can present the same peptides, but in different conformations, demonstrating cross-species epitope presentation. CTL epitope peptides derived from 2009 pandemic S-OIV were screened and evaluated by the in vitro refolding method. Three peptides were identified as potential cross-species influenza virus (IV) CTL epitopes. The binding motif of SLA-1*0401 was proposed, and thermostabilities of key peptide–SLA-1*0401 complexes were analyzed by circular dichroism spectra. Our results not only provide the structural basis of peptide presentation by SLA I but also identify some IV CTL epitope peptides. These results will benefit both vaccine development and swine organ-based xenotransplantation.
Outbreaks of Enteric Infections Caused by Multiple Pathogens Associated With Calves at a Farm Day Camp

Background: Transmission of enteric pathogens at venues where the public contacts farm animals is a growing problem, particularly among children. In 2000 and again in 2001, enteric illness outbreaks caused by multiple pathogens occurred at a farm day camp for children in Minnesota. Methods: Camp attendees were interviewed about illness history and potential exposures each year. Stool samples from children and calves at the camp were tested for enteric pathogens. Results: Eighty-four illnesses were documented among camp attendees in the 2 outbreaks; laboratory-confirmed infections included Cryptosporidium parvum (17 cases), Escherichia coli O157:H7 (4), non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) (7) and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni (1 each). Kindergarten–fourth grade children provided 1-on-1 care for a bottle-fed calf. Sixty of 83 calves tested carried at least 1 pathogen, including Giardia spp. (26 calves), C. parvum (25), non-O157 STEC (17), Campylobacter spp. (11), 3 serotypes of Salmonella enterica (10) and E. coli O157:H7 (2). Risk factors among children included caring for an ill calf and getting visible manure on their hands. Always washing hands with soap after touching a calf and washing hands before going home were protective. Prevention measures implemented in 2000 failed to prevent the second outbreak. Conclusions: Calves were the reservoir of multiple enteric pathogens for children at a farm day camp. Health care providers should consider numerous zoonotic pathogens in patients presenting with gastroenteritis after contact with cattle. Public health officials should help venue operators prospectively implement published guidelines to prevent zoonotic disease transmission.
Introduction to fetal echocardiography.

Fetal echocardiography is used to diagnose or exclude cardiac disease before birth. Fetuses known to be at risk for cardiac anomalies may be methodically screened; other fetuses present with abnormalities as pregnancy progresses and are studied as they are discovered. Abnormalities of anatomy as well as function may be detected. Anatomic abnormalities are often associated with additional noncardiac or chromosomal defects. Fetal cardiac disease may progress as gestation advances. Signs of deterioration include cardiac dilatation, increasing valvular insufficiency, and hydrops. Detection of fetal cardiac abnormalities allows the management team to better prepare for possible complications of labor and delivery and, in some cases, allows for treatment before birth.
Structure of the HMG box motif in the B‐domain of HMG1.

The conserved, abundant chromosomal protein HMG1 consists of two highly homologous, folded, basic DNA‐binding domains, each of approximately 80 amino acid residues, and an acidic C‐terminal tail. Each folded domain represents an ‘HMG box’, a sequence motif recently recognized in certain sequence‐specific DNA‐binding proteins and which also occurs in abundant HMG1‐like proteins that bind to DNA without sequence specificity. The HMG box is defined by a set of highly conserved residues (most distinctively aromatic and basic) and appears to define a novel DNA‐binding structural motif. We have expressed the HMG box region of the B‐domain of rat HMG1 (residues 88–164 of the intact protein) in Escherichia coli and we describe here the determination of its structure by 2D 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. There are three alpha‐helices (residues 13–29, 34–48 and 50–74), which together account for approximately 75% of the total residues and contain many of the conserved basic and aromatic residues. Strikingly, the molecule is L‐shaped, the angle of approximately 80 degrees between the two arms being defined by a cluster of conserved, predominantly aromatic, residues. The distinctive shape of the HMG box motif, which is distinct from hitherto characterized DNA‐binding motifs, may be significant in relation to its recognition of four‐way DNA junctions.
Energy-Aware User Association in Energy-Cooperation Enabled HetNets

This paper focuses on user association (UA) in energy- cooperation enabled heterogeneous networks (HetNets). Energy-cooperation enables energy to be transferred between base stations (BSs), which can reduce the unnecessary offloading and mitigate the signaling cost and the interference. However, some of the energy will be lost during the energy transfer process, which implies that there exists a tradeoff between offloading and energy- cooperation. Motivated by these, in this paper, UA is formulated as an optimization problem, aiming at maximizing the number of accepted users by taking advantage of energy-cooperation while minimizing the energy transfer loss between BSs. An energy efficient UA algorithm is proposed based on the primal-dual interior point method. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can greatly increase the energy efficiency and the number of accepted users of the whole network, which highlights the merits of energy-cooperation between BSs. Moreover, the energy efficiency gain achieved in the scenario with energy- cooperation is more significant when the number of users requiring services increases.
Effect of morphine on breathlessness and exercise endurance in advanced COPD: a randomised crossover trial

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of morphine on exertional breathlessness and exercise endurance in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a randomised crossover trial, we compared the acute effect of immediate-release oral morphine versus placebo on physiological and perceptual responses during constant-load cardiopulmonary cycle exercise testing (CPET) in 20 adults with advanced COPD and chronic breathlessness syndrome. Compared with placebo, morphine reduced exertional breathlessness at isotime by 1.2±0.4 Borg units and increased exercise endurance time by 2.5±0.9 min (both p≤0.014). During exercise at isotime, morphine decreased ventilation by 1.3±0.5 L·min−1 and breathing frequency by 2.0±0.9 breaths·min−1 (both p≤0.041). Compared with placebo, morphine decreased exertional breathlessness at isotime by ≥1 Borg unit in 11 participants (responders) and by <1 Borg unit in nine participants (non-responders). Baseline participant characteristics, including pulmonary function and cardiorespiratory fitness, were similar between responders and non-responders. A higher percentage of responders versus non-responders stopped incremental CPET due to intolerable breathlessness: 82 versus 33% (p=0.028). Immediate-release oral morphine improved exertional breathlessness and exercise endurance in some, but not all, adults with advanced COPD. The locus of symptom-limitation on laboratory-based CPET may help to identify patients most likely to benefit from morphine. Immediate-release oral morphine decreased exertional breathlessness and improved exercise endurance in advanced COPD http://ow.ly/mrHQ30dS2qS
The β-Subunit of the Protein-conducting Channel of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Functions as the Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor for the β-Subunit of the Signal Recognition Particle Receptor*

Cotranslational protein transport to the endoplasmic reticulum is controlled by the concerted interaction of three GTPases: the SRP54 subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP) and the α- and β-subunits of the SRP receptor (SR). SRβ is related to ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-type GTPases, and the recently published crystal structure of SRβ-GTP in complex with the binding domain of SRα suggested that SRβ, like all ARF-type GT-Pases, requires a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for function. Searching the sequence data base, we identified significant sequence similarity between the Sec7 domain of ARF-GEFs and the cytosolic domains of the β-subunits of the two homologous heterotrimeric protein-conducting channels in yeast. Using a fluorescence nucleotide exchange assay, we show that the β-subunits of the heterotrimeric protein-conducting channels function as the GEFs for SRβ. Both the cytosolic domain of Sec61β as well as the holo-Sec61β, when part of the isolated trimeric Sec61p complex, function as the GEF for SRβ, whereas the same Sec61β, when part of the heptameric complex that facilitates posttranslational protein transport, is inactive as the GEF for SRβ
Determination of HIV‐1 subtypes in injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand, using peptide‐binding enzyme immunoassay, and heteroduplex mobility assay: evidence of increasing infection with HIV‐1 subtype E

ObjectivesTo evaluate the sensitivity, and specificity of peptide-binding enzyme immunoassay (PEIA), and heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) for the determination of HIV-1 subtypes B, and E; to determine the proportions of infections due to subtypes B, and E over time;, and to generate data on DNA sequences of the C2-V3 region of the env genes. MethodsHIV-1 subtyping was conducted by PEIA, and HMA on blood specimens obtained from 97 injecting drug users (IDU) infected with HIV between 1988, and 1993. Genetic sequencing was performed on 84 specimens. ResultsBoth laboratory methods were highly sensitive, and specific for the determination of HIV-1 subtypes B, and E. The two tests were complementary; samples which could not be typed by HMA were correctly typed by PEIA, and vice versa. While subtype B accounted for 80.4% (78 out of 97) of infections overall, the proportion of new infections due to subtype E increased from 2.6% (one out of 38) in 1988–1989 to 25.6% (11 out of 43) in 1990–1991, and to 43.8% (seven out of 16) in 1992–1993 (4cH2 for linear trend, P< 0.001). ConclusionsHMA, and PEIA are practical, sensitive, and specific laboratory methods for the determination of HIV-1 subtypes in Thailand, and may be useful in other geographic areas to define the molecular epidemiology of the global HIV-1 pandemic. Data suggest that the proportion subtype E infections have increased among Bangkok IDU from 1988 through 1993.
Contribution of the low-threshold T-type calcium current in generating the post-spike depolarizing afterpotential in dentate granule neurons of immature rats.

1. The underlying ionic mechanisms of the postspike depolarizing afterpotential (DAP) in hippocampal dentate granule (DG) neurons of immature rats (postnatal 7- to 17-day-old) were examined using whole cell patch recordings in brain slices. 2. In current-clamp mode, the DAP followed each single action potential. Graded DAP-like responses were also evoked by depolarizing current pulses when the action potential was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX), demonstrating that the TTX-sensitive Na+ conductance is not necessary for DAP generation. The membrane resistance near the DAP peak was lower than at rest, suggesting activation of inward currents rather than blockade of outward currents during the DAP. The DAP peak amplitude showed a strong dependence on voltage, increasing with membrane hyperpolarization and decreasing with depolarization in the range of -90 to -50 mV. Repetitive stimulation at 1-2 Hz did not change the amplitude or decay of the DAP or DAP-like response. 3. Bath application of 2 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and 5 mM tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) prolonged the action potential and enhanced the DAP, suggesting that the DAP waveform is determined by the interaction of voltage-activated outward K+ currents and inward currents. 4. Bath application of 2 mM Co2+ depressed the DAP and the DAP-like potential. Replacement of extracellular Ca2+ with Ba2+ potentiated the DAP. Intracellular Ca2+ chelation with the fast chelator, bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), only slightly enhanced the DAP, suggesting that the DAP is not generated by inward currents activated secondary to Ca2+ influx. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Greenfield Entry Strategy of Multinational Enterprises in the Emerging Markets: Influences of Institutional Distance and International Trade Freedom

ABSTRACT This article addresses greenfield entry strategy of multinational enterprises in emerging markets by analyzing the influences of formal and informal institutional distance as well as international trade freedom. The empirical analysis is based on a sample of 263 greenfield market entries in manufacturing sector undertaken by Finnish firms during 1990–2013. The study results revealed that high formal and informal institutional distances led to the preference of greenfield JVs. The study also found that high level of international trade freedom moderates the influences of formal and informal institutional distances on greenfield entry strategy.
A study of surface defects of GaN during CMP process

The influence of mechanical action and chemistry function during CMP process on the pits, presented to the surface of GaN after polished, was discussed respectively. The relationship between the surface characterization after chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) and the concentration of the silica (SiO2) abrasive used for CMP of gallium nitride (GaN) substrates was investigated in detail. We yielded an ultra smooth surface with the average roughness (Ra) 0.0507 nm in 5×5 μm2 and the processed surface had an atomic step-terrace structure which contained an extremely small number of tiny and shallow pits by CMP with the slurry included SiO2 abrasive and effective oxidizer. Furthermore, we also got a high material removal rate (MRR) of 220nm/h.
Bayesian meta‐analysis of coefficient alpha

The current paper describes and illustrates a Bayesian approach to the meta‐analysis of coefficient alpha. Alpha is the most commonly used estimate of the reliability or consistency (freedom from measurement error) for educational and psychological measures. The conventional approach to meta‐analysis uses inverse variance weights to combine information from independent studies to provide an overall estimate. The Bayesian approach provides similar estimates to the conventional approach if a diffuse prior is used. However, the Bayesian approach also provides ‘shrunken’ local estimates of reliability in each context. The amount of shrinkage depends upon both the variability in the underlying populations and the sampling variance of the local estimates. Advantages of the approach are the estimation of individual studies adjusted for sampling error and the application of meta‐analytic results to new local studies in which the local study ‘borrows strength’ from the meta‐analysis. The ability to borrow strength for the new local studies is particularly useful in applied work in which the estimate of the local parameter is of primary interest. The approach is illustrated by the analysis of studies of the reliability of the General Ethnicity Questionnaire – Abridged, a measure of identification with the culture of one's heritage and the culture of one's host country. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Postlicensure Surveillance for Pneumococcal Invasive Disease After Use of Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Northern California Kaiser Permanente

Objective: To assess the direct and indirect effects of the introduction of routine use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infants and toddlers at risk for invasive disease caused by vaccine serotypes and nonvaccine serotypes in vaccinated children and unvaccinated children of the same age. Secondary objectives included determination of the risk of pneumococcal infections in unvaccinated older children and adults in the same population and the impact of vaccine introduction on patterns of antimicrobial resistance. Methods: Northern California Kaiser Permanente provides integrated comprehensive care to 3.1 million people and has an annual birth cohort of 38,000 infants. Microbiology services use a regional laboratory. Automated laboratory results, immunization records as well as diagnoses for inpatient and outpatient utilization are available from clinical data bases. Beginning in April 2000, the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate (PNCV7) vaccine was introduced into routine use in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente population. Cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were identified from the automated hospital diagnosis as well as laboratory databases for all individuals, vaccinees and nonvaccinees, inpatient and outpatient. For the purpose of these analyses, pneumococcal invasive disease was defined as a positive culture from a normally sterile site. Results: As of March 2003, 157,471 children had received 1 dose or more of PNCV7, but only 24% of those <2 years of age received all 4 doses as a result of shortages of vaccine. During the last year of observation, no cases of vaccine serotype disease were seen in children <1 year of age compared with an incidence ranging between 51.5 and 98.2 cases per 100,000 person-years (16–34 cases per year) in the years before vaccine introduction. Similar reductions were seen in children <5 years of age. There was no evidence of any concomitant increase in pneumococcal disease caused by nonvaccine serotypes. High level resistance of pneumococci to penicillin fell from a peak of 15% in 2000 to 5% in the first half of 2003. Similar trends were seen for other antibiotics. Conclusion: The PNCV7 vaccine is highly effective in reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease in children <5 years of age, and there is evidence of a herd effect as well as a decrease in the antibiotic resistant in strains causing disease. For invasive disease, there is no current evidence of serotype replacement.