Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth hormone is a cellular senescence target in pituitary and nonpituitary cells

Significance Growth hormone (GH) is secreted to the circulation by anterior pituitary somatotroph cells and is also expressed locally in peripheral tissues. This study identifies GH as a target for p53-induced senescence in both pituitary and nonpituitary cells. We show marked induction of intracellular GH expression and secretion in response to activation of the p53 DNA damage pathway. GH is shown to be a direct transcriptional target for p53, and up-regulated GH protects pituitary tumor cells from apoptosis. The results demonstrate a novel mechanism determining the pathophysiology of GH-secreting pituitary tumors and elucidate a basis for the invariably benign nature of these adenomas. Our findings show that induced GH can serve as a readily measurable marker for p53-induced senescence. Premature proliferative arrest in benign or early-stage tumors induced by oncoproteins, chromosomal instability, or DNA damage is associated with p53/p21 activation, culminating in either senescence or apoptosis, depending on cell context. Growth hormone (GH) elicits direct peripheral metabolic actions as well as growth effects mediated by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Locally produced peripheral tissue GH, in contrast to circulating pituitary-derived endocrine GH, has been proposed to be both proapoptotic and prooncogenic. Pituitary adenomas expressing and secreting GH are invariably benign and exhibit DNA damage and a senescent phenotype. We therefore tested effects of nutlin-induced p53-mediated senescence in rat and human pituitary cells. We show that DNA damage senescence induced by nutlin triggers the p53/p21 senescent pathway, with subsequent marked induction of intracellular pituitary GH in vitro. In contrast, GH is not induced in cells devoid of p53. Furthermore we show that p53 binds specific GH promoter motifs and enhances GH transcription and secretion in senescent pituitary adenoma cells and also in nonpituitary (human breast and colon) cells. In vivo, treatment with nutlin results in up-regulation of both p53 and GH in the pituitary gland, as well as increased GH expression in nonpituitary tissues (lung and liver). Intracrine GH acts in pituitary cells as an apoptosis switch for p53-mediated senescence, likely protecting the pituitary adenoma from progression to malignancy. Unlike in the pituitary, in nonpituitary cells GH exerts antiapoptotic properties. Thus, the results show that GH is a direct p53 transcriptional target and fulfills criteria as a p53 target gene. Induced GH is a readily measurable cell marker for p53-mediated cellular senescence.
Sustaining Legitimacy and Trust in a Data-Driven Society

Securing the continued growth of the digital economy will largely depend on how we manage consumer data, and which operators and tools we use to moderate, analyze and trade that data, according to guest author Stefan Larsson of Lund University Internet Institute. If users were to begin to perceive the collection and handling of their personal data as illegitimate, he argues, their trust in digital services would almost certainly decline, which would have a significant negative impact on service providers and the digital economy as a whole.
Early compensatory sensory re-education.

After a neurorrhaphy, there will be a distal disconnection between the cortex and skin receptors, along with interruption of sensibility information. This report demonstrates the efficacy of a new sensory re-education program for achieving optimal sensation in a relatively short time. Between 1999 and 2001, in the authors' Hand Rehabilitation Department, 11 patients with previous neurorrhaphy were subjected to a program of early "compensatory sensory re-education. " Lesions were caused by clean cut. There were 13 primary digital nerve procedures, 12 at the distal palmar MP level, and one at the radial dorsal branch of the index (just after emerging from the common digital nerve). The technique of compensatory sensory re-education was based on a previous, but modified, sensory re-education method. In order to evaluate the results in the compensatory sensory re-education series described, additional tests for evaluation of achieved functional sensibility were used. The authors' best results were achieved in a maximum of 8 weeks (4-8 weeks), much less time than with the original method (1-2 years). Using the British classification, it was possible to compare the achieved levels of sensibility and the time required for optimal results. The different methods of sensibility re-education may be similar, but with the authors' compensatory sensory re-education method, substantial time is saved.
Modeling Chiral Sculptured Thin Films as Platforms for Surface-Plasmonic-Polaritonic Optical Sensing

Biomimetic nanoengineered metamaterials called chiral sculptured thin films (CSTFs) are attractive platforms for optical sensing because their porosity, morphology, and optical properties can be tailored to order. Furthermore, their ability to support more than one surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) wave at a planar interface with a metal offers functionality beyond that associated with conventional SPP-based sensors. An empirical model was constructed to describe SPP-wave propagation guided by the planar interface of a CSTF-infiltrated with a fluid which supposedly contains analytes to be detected-and a metal. The inverse Bruggeman homogenization formalism was first used to determine the nanoscale model parameters of the CSTF. These parameters then served as inputs to the forward Bruggeman homogenization formalism to determine the reference relative permittivity dyadic of the infiltrated CSTF. By solving the corresponding boundary-value problem for a modified Kretschmann configuration, the characteristics of the multiple SPP modes at the planar interface were investigated as functions of the refractive index of the fluid infiltrating the CSTF and the rise angle of the CSTF. The SPP sensitivities thereby revealed bode well for the implementation of fluid-infiltrated CSTFs as SPP-based optical sensors.
Chagas disease in solid organ and heart transplantation

Purpose of review The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic infections with the microorganism Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease, is important in solid organ transplantation in both endemic and nonendemic countries. In this review, we examine recently published data on the topic of Chagas disease in solid organ transplantation, with an emphasis on data relevant to heart transplantation. Recent findings Most people with chronic T. cruzi infection have the intermediate form of disease, but approximately 2% of infected persons will progress to Chagas cardiomyopathy per year. The risk of T. cruzi transmission with liver or kidney transplantation appears to be substantially less than that with heart transplantation. For patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy undergoing heart transplant, a structured clinical and laboratory monitoring protocol is necessary to monitor for T. cruzi reactivation. Recent data indicate that laboratory monitoring of peripheral blood with polymerase chain reaction testing can identify reactivation prior to the occurrence of symptoms and allograft injury. Summary Transplant clinicians should exercise vigilance in surveillance for Chagas disease in both organ donors and recipients. Although Chagas disease may seem uncommon, it is pervasive in endemic and several nonendemic countries, including the United States and Spain.
The effect of antihistamine, endothelin antagonist and corticosteroid prophylaxis on contrast media induced bronchospasm.

Bronchospasm is a well recognized adverse reaction to radiographic contrast media (RCM) and may occur more frequently in asthmatics and atopics. This study was designed to identify RCM which are most likely to cause bronchospasm and to investigate underlying mechanisms mediating this response. Guinea pigs (mean body weight 550 g, n = 46) were anaesthetized with Hypnorm (5 ml kg-1) and Hypnovel (2 ml kg-1) and tracheal, jugular and pleural cannulae introduced. Total airways resistance (Raw) was calculated from the slope of the pressure/flow relationship. The effects of RCM (diatrizoate 370 mgI ml-1, ioxaglate 320 mgI ml-1, iotrolan 300 mgI ml-1 and iopromide 300 mgI ml-1) at a dose of 4 ml kg-1 body weight or control solutions matched for volume, pH and osmolarity administered via the jugular vein on Raw were studied. The effects of pre-treatment (30 min before the administration of RCM) with antihistamine (Mepyramine (30 mg kg-1 i.p.)) or non-selective endothelin receptor antagonist (SB209670 (1 mg kg-1 i.v.)) were investigated. The effectiveness of corticosteroids prophylaxis (prednisolone (20 mg kg-1 i.p.)) administered 18-24 h and 1 h pre-RCM was also assessed. Control animals received normal saline pre-treatment before RCM administration. Lungs were taken for histological examination 30-40 min post-administration of RCM. Only ioxaglate caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in Raw (5.19 +/- 0.58 to 13.95 +/- 3.53 mmHg ml-1 min-1). Neither mannitol nor saline control solutions had any effect on Raw. Pre-treatment with Mepyramine, SB209670 or prednisolone caused no significant change in the ioxaglate induced increase in Raw. Histological examination of lung tissue from ioxaglate treated animals showed no important abnormalities. In summary, only the ionic dimer ioxaglate caused an increase in Raw. This effect was independent of osmolarity and could be the result of the chemical composition of the contrast agent. It was not an inflammatory response and could not be prevented by prophylactic treatment with antihistamine, endothelin antagonist or corticosteroids. The mechanisms responsible for the increase in Raw remain uncertain.
CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS: VENTRAL OR DORSAL SURGERY

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS IS a result of degenerative changes of the cervical spine. Neurological symptoms of myelopathy result from the narrowing of the spinal canal, causing spinal cord compression. Surgical management of cervical stenosis requires an understanding of the interplay between multiple pathological and biomechanical factors contributing to this disease process. Surgical decompression can be addressed from a ventral, dorsal, or combined approach. The authors discuss the technical aspects of the surgical decision making process regarding the decision to approach the spine from a ventral or dorsal orientation.
Ultrawideband Planar Dipole Antenna With a Modified Taegeuk Structure

This letter presents an ultrawideband (UWB) planar dipole antenna. The initial design of the proposed antenna is patterned after the “taegeuk” structure, which has two curves and a 180° rotational symmetry structure. To achieve UWB impedance matching, the curve of the structure was modified into a tapered curve, and the feed gap was controlled. The measured -10-dB S<sub>11</sub> bandwidth was more than 50:1 (over 0.2-10 GHz). The antenna size was 450 mm ( 0.3λ<sub>L</sub>) × 540 mm ( 0.36λ<sub>L</sub>), where λ<sub>L</sub> is the free-space wavelength at 0.2 GHz. The length of the designed antenna was miniaturized by 22.8% compared to that of a half-wave dipole antenna at 0.2 GHz.
Maximum power point tracking for PV panels using ant colony optimization

Output power of solar panel varies with respect to irradiance and temperature. So maximum power should be extracted from solar panels using Maximum Power Point Tracking. As irradiance changes continuously during the day, many algorithms fail to give maximum power as they get stuck at local maximum. In order to overcome this problem, we propose Ant Colony Optimization which obtains global maximum and improves the efficiency of solar panels. The proposed work has been implemented using Matlab/Simulink. Also, the hardware results obtained indicate the superiority of Ant Colony Optimization over the conventional Maximum Power Point Tracking methods.
Association of portovenographic findings with outcome in dogs receiving surgical treatment for single congenital portosystemic shunts: 45 cases (2000-2004).

OBJECTIVE To determine whether hepatic portal vascularity, as assessed by intraoperative mesenteric portovenography (IMP), is related to outcome in dogs undergoing attenuation of single congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSSs). DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 45 dogs, each with a single CPSS, in which IMP was performed before and after temporary complete occlusion of the shunting vessel and that underwent complete (17 dogs) or partial (28 dogs) CPSS attenuation (surgery 1). PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed for signalment, clinical history, and bile acids stimulation test results. Intrahepatic portal vessel (IPV) opacification in pre- and postocclusion portovenograms was graded to determine whether the degree of opacification was correlated with the degree of shunt attenuation, clinical or biochemical factors, or long-term clinical outcome. In 17 of 28 dogs that had partial CPSS attenuation, these procedures were subsequently repeated (surgery 2) to achieve complete (14 dogs) or further partial (3 dogs) CPSS attenuation. RESULTS Compared with preattenuation findings, IPV opacification increased significantly after partial or complete CPSS attenuation. The degree of IPV opacification before and after CPSS occlusion (surgery 1) was greater in dogs that tolerated complete versus partial CPSS attenuation and was correlated positively with age. The degree of IPV opacification following CPSS occlusion (surgery 1) was maximal in all dogs without encephalopathy and was correlated negatively with follow-up preprandial serum bile acids concentrations and positively with clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Data suggest that IMP can be used to assess changes in IPV blood flow and help predict outcome following attenuation of single CPSSs in dogs.
Induction of interleukin-8 gene expression is associated with herpes simplex virus infection of human corneal keratocytes but not human corneal epithelial cells

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a proinflammatory cytokine released at sites of tissue damage by various cell types. One important function of IL-8 is to recruit neutrophils into sites of inflammation and to activate their biological activity. Stromal keratitis induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is characterized by an initial infiltration of neutrophils. This study was carried out to determine whether cells resident in the cornea synthesize IL-8 after virus infection. Pure cultures of epithelial cells and keratocytes established from human corneas were infected with HSV-1, and the medium overlying the cells was subsequently assayed for IL-8 by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cytokine mRNA levels in cell lysates were monitored by Northern (RNA) blot analysis. It was found that virus infection of keratocyte cultures led to the synthesis of IL-8-specific mRNA with more than 30 ng of IL-8 made per 10(6) cells. Neither UV-inactivated virus nor virus-free filtrates collected from HSV-1-infected keratocytes could induce IL-8 protein or mRNA, suggesting that viral gene expression was needed for induction of IL-8 gene expression. Unlike keratocytes, HSV-1-infected epithelial cells failed to synthesize IL-8 protein or mRNA. However, these cells readily produced both molecules following tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulation. HSV-1 had similar titers in both cell types. Thus, the failure to induce IL-8 synthesis was not due to an inability of the virus to replicate in epithelial cells. The capacity of HSV-1-infected corneal keratocytes to synthesize IL-8 suggests that these cells can contribute to the induction of the acute inflammatory response seen in herpes stromal keratitis.
Strategic planning and firm performance: a comparison across countries and sectors

The level of uncertainty and pace of change in business environments is posing challenges for firms. The developed economies have transformed from the industrial era to the knowledge and service era, while emerging economies thrive with industrial growth. This poses the question of what the key drivers of corporate success are and how far they are different from the old earnings logic. We will focus on one special value-creating resource or capability, namely strategic planning. We empirically examine the performance consequences of strategic planning to determine in what contexts it pays off particularly well. We use data from a large-scale survey of about 2,500 organisations from developed and emerging countries. The survey responses represent a variety of industries from manufacturing to services. The analysis is based on general linear models, and the findings show significant performance differences across countries, industries, and firm size - with strategic planning explaining performance much better than any contextual characteristics.
Overexpression of a Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase Confers Salt and Drought Tolerance in Rice by Preventing Membrane Lipid Peroxidation1[C][W]

A calcium-dependent protein kinase at the plasma membrane prevents membrane lipid peroxidation and confers tolerance to salt and drought stress in rice plants. The OsCPK4 gene is a member of the complex gene family of calcium-dependent protein kinases in rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we report that OsCPK4 expression is induced by high salinity, drought, and the phytohormone abscisic acid. Moreover, a plasma membrane localization of OsCPK4 was observed by transient expression assays of green fluorescent protein-tagged OsCPK4 in onion (Allium cepa) epidermal cells. Overexpression of OsCPK4 in rice plants significantly enhances tolerance to salt and drought stress. Knockdown rice plants, however, are severely impaired in growth and development. Compared with control plants, OsCPK4 overexpressor plants exhibit stronger water-holding capability and reduced levels of membrane lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage under drought or salt stress conditions. Also, salt-treated OsCPK4 seedlings accumulate less Na+ in their roots. We carried out microarray analysis of transgenic rice overexpressing OsCPK4 and found that overexpression of OsCPK4 has a low impact on the rice transcriptome. Moreover, no genes were found to be commonly regulated by OsCPK4 in roots and leaves of rice plants. A significant number of genes involved in lipid metabolism and protection against oxidative stress appear to be up-regulated by OsCPK4 in roots of overexpressor plants. Meanwhile, OsCPK4 overexpression has no effect on the expression of well-characterized abiotic stress-associated transcriptional regulatory networks (i.e. ORYZA SATIVA DEHYDRATION-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING PROTEIN1 and ORYZA SATIVA No Apical Meristem, Arabidopsis Transcription Activation Factor1-2, Cup-Shaped Cotyledon6 genes) and LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT genes in their roots. Taken together, our data show that OsCPK4 functions as a positive regulator of the salt and drought stress responses in rice via the protection of cellular membranes from stress-induced oxidative damage.
Teachers and their professional development

This article addresses the problem of professional development of teachers. It is important to improve the professional development of teachers in a long perspective. It impacts not only the improvement of their professional knowledge but also stimulates students by building the climate of a "learning" organization; therefore, it supports not only students but also the whole school's community. The study focused on the relation between teachers' approach and their professional development. There were 85 subjects who participated in the in the questionnaire survey. They were deliberately selected and took part in an annual course on Educational leadership. The main focus was on teachers and their work values, especially on what influences their decision making process as to participation in various forms of professional development. Also, what are their attitudes towards learning now and in the future. The study also used the GSES (The Self-Efficacy Scale) tool for selfefficacy diagnosis. Research data was collected from respondents at the end of the course. Comparing with other courses organized in this field in Poland, this course has been designed as exceptionally time-consuming for participants. Considering this context allowed us to reflect on how further professional development is perceived by teachers who are seriously burdened with the requirements resulting from participation in such programmed courses. The main conclusion of the conducted research is optimistic. The teachers who participated in the study plan to continue further professional development.
Controlling Diabetes After Liver Transplantation: Room for Improvement

Background Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness with great impact on long-term outcome after liver transplantation (LT). Despite this, the current level of glycemic control and quality of screening strategies for diabetes-associated conditions that are being provided to liver transplant recipients with diabetes have not yet been assessed. Methods We performed a cross-sectional, multicenter study that included 344 liver transplant recipients and examined the level of glycemic control and its associated factors, as well as the quality of screening strategies for diabetes-associated conditions. Results Seventy-five patients (21.8%) suffered from diabetes before transplantation, and 82 (23.8%) developed diabetes mellitus after transplantation. Adequate glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%) was achieved in 66.7% of the patients. Forty-eight percent of patients underwent regular screening for retinopathy, 47.1% for nephropathy, 4.5% for neuropathy, and 5.7% for foot ulcers. Diabetes was associated with higher frequency of cardiovascular disease and dyslipidemia both before and after LT. Multivariate analysis revealed association between poor glycemic control and arterial hypertension, presence of diabetes before transplantation, elevated GGT, and insulin use. Conclusions Glycemic control was inadequate in 33.3% of LT recipients with diabetes, and screening protocols for diabetes-associated conditions did not meet the standards for medical care set by the American Diabetes Association in any of the participating centers. Consequently, this study reveals a clear deficiency in the quality of diabetes care provided to patients after LT and, hence, we predict that future progress in this area will have a significant impact on medium-term to long-term outcome of these patients.
Genetic diversity of Daphnia magna populations enhances resistance to parasites

Letters 898 Mass invariance of population nitrogen flux by terrestrial mammalian herbivores: an extension of the energetic equivalence rule Christopher W. Habeck & Timothy D. Meehan 904 A general framework for the distance–decay of similarity in ecological communities Hélène Morlon, George Chuyong, Richard Condit, Stephen Hubbell, David Kenfack, Duncan Thomas, Renato Valencia & Jessica L. Green 918 Genetic diversity of Daphnia magna populations enhances resistance to parasites Florian Altermatt & Dieter Ebert 929 Positive interactions among competitors can produce species-rich communities Kevin Gross 937 When do host–parasite interactions drive the evolution of non-random mating? Scott L. Nuismer, Sarah P. Otto & François Blanquart 947 The shape of an ecological trade-off varies with environment Christine M. Jessup & Brendan J. M. Bohannan 960 Experimental evidence for extreme dispersal limitation in tropical forest birds R. P. Moore, W. D. Robinson, I. J. Lovette & T. R. Robinson Reviews and Syntheses 969 Toward a better understanding of the regional causes of local community richness Susan Harrison & Howard Cornell 980 Plant–soil feedbacks: a meta-analytical review Andrew Kulmatiski, Karen H. Beard, John R. Stevens & Stephanie M. Cobbold