Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinoid-related orphan receptor γ (RORγ) is essential for lymphoid organogenesis and controls apoptosis during thymopoiesis

To identify the physiological functions of the retinoid-related orphan receptor γ (RORγ), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, mice deficient in RORγ function were generated by targeted disruption. RORγ−/− mice lack peripheral and mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches, indicating that RORγ expression is indispensable for lymph node organogenesis. Although the spleen is enlarged, its architecture is normal. The number of peripheral blood CD3+ and CD4+ lymphocytes is reduced 6- and 10-fold, respectively, whereas the number of circulating B cells is normal. The thymus of RORγ−/− mice contains 74.4% ± 8.9% fewer thymocytes than that of wild-type mice. Flow cytometric analysis showed a decrease in the CD4+CD8+ subpopulation. Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining demonstrated a 4-fold increase in apoptotic cells in the cortex of the thymus of RORγ−/− mice. The latter was supported by the observed increase in annexin V-positive cells. RORγ−/− thymocytes placed in culture exhibit a dramatic increase in the rate of “spontaneous” apoptosis. This increase is largely associated with CD4+CD8+ thymocytes and may, at least in part, be related to the greatly reduced level of expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-XL. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated a 6-fold rise in the percentage of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle among thymocytes from RORγ−/− mice. Our observations indicate that RORγ is essential for lymphoid organogenesis and plays an important regulatory role in thymopoiesis. Our findings support a model in which RORγ negatively controls apoptosis in thymocytes.
Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Expression in Inflammatory Pseudotumors

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a hallmark of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, has recently been implicated in the genesis of some inflammatory pseudotumors (inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors) in children and young adults. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of its expression among inflammatory pseudotumors, and to characterize the clinicopathologic features of the positive cases. Sixty-one cases of inflammatory pseudotumors were retrieved from the surgical pathology archives and consultation files. Paraffin sections were immunostained with the antibody ALK1. The patients ranged in age from 0.5 to 79 years (median age, 50 years), with 10 patients (16.4%) younger than 20 years. Five cases (8.2%) were ALK+, including two of six urogenital inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors, none of eight pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors, three (one adrenal, one small bowel, one liver) of 31 extrapulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors, none of nine hepatic/splenic inflammatory pseudotumors expressing follicular dendritic cell markers and harboring Epstein–Barr virus, and none of seven inflammatory pseudotumors of the lymph node. When only those patients 40 years or younger were considered, the ALK positivity rate became 21.7% (five of 23). All five ALK+ cases occurred in young patients aged 0.5 to 37 years, who were alive and well at 3.5 to 17 years. The tumors exhibited a spectrum of histologic features typical of inflammatory pseudotumors/myofibroblastic tumors, but there was at least focal nuclear atypia. Immunostaining for ALK produced fibrillary or granular cytoplasmic staining in the neoplastic cells, sometimes with cell membrane accentuation. This study confirms that ALK is implicated in a proportion of inflammatory pseudotumors, and is generally associated with a favorable outcome. The results also support the heterogeneity of inflammatory pseudotumors, with the follicular dendritic cell/Epstein–Barr virus-positive cases and those occurring in lymph nodes representing different biologic entities.
Premolar hypodontia is a common feature in Sotos syndrome with a mutation in the NSD1 gene

The major diagnostic manifestations in Sotos syndrome include frontal bossing, downward slanting palpebral fissures, a prominent jaw, learning disability, and childhood overgrowth. Over 90% of clinically diagnosed patients have an abnormality in the NSD1 gene. We investigated the dental manifestations of this disorder and found one or several premolar teeth were absent in 9 out of 13 (69%) affected children and adolescents. A heterozygous mutation in the NSD1 gene was identified in 12 patients, including all patients with hypodontia. The severity of the hypodontia seemed to increase with the severity of aberration of the NSD1. More than 50% of the patients had enamel defects or excessive tooth wear. Dental age, based on tooth formation, was within the normal range. A characteristic occlusion for Sotos syndrome could not be identified. As agenesis of premolars was a common feature in these patients affected with Sotos syndrome, we recommend panoramic radiography at the age of 7 years. If premolars are missing, proper preventive and restorative care is necessary to maintain the deciduous molars. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the track of the Red Queen: bark beetles, their nematodes, local climate and geographic parthenogenesis

Geographic parthenogenesis has been explained as resulting from parasite pressure (Red Queen hypothesis): several studies have found high degrees of sexuals where the prevalence of parasites is high. However, it is important to address whether prevalence of parasites mirrors risk of infection. We explored geographic parthenogenesis of Ips acuminatus bark beetles and their nematodes. Local climate is crucial for nematode stages outside the host, in spring and summer, and prevalence should thus be associated with those temperatures if prevalence reliably reflects exposure risk across populations. This was the case; however, high prevalence of a virulent nematode species was not associated with many sexuals, whereas highly sexual populations were characterized by high infection risk of benign nematodes. Low virulence of the latter makes Red Queen dynamics unlikely. Geographical patterns of parthenogenesis were instead associated with winter temperature and variance in temperature.
Implicaciones del abuso de internet en la depresión e identidad de los adolescentes mexicanos

El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer si el abuso de internet influye en los niveles de depresion e identidad en los adolescentes utilizando una metodologia cuantitativa y cualitativa. Los participantes fueron 45 estudiantes de ambos sexos con edades comprendidas entre 17 y 18 anos. Como instrumentos se utilizaron la Escala para el Uso Problematico Generalizado de Internet (GPIUS), el Inventario de Depresion de Beck y la composicion. Los resultados demostraron que mientras mas se abuse del internet mayores niveles de depresion se padeceran. No obstante, a nivel inferencial no hubo una relacion entre el abuso de internet y el nivel de depresion en nuestra muestra. Asimismo, el abuso de internet esta influenciado por cuestiones academicas, de comunicacion y entretenimiento. A manera de prevencion se plantea la creacion de un taller que sera impartido en las preparatorias, sujeto a la aceptacion de los directivos de cada una.
Do Investors Value Sustainability? A Natural Experiment Examining Ranking and Fund Flows

Examining a shock to the salience of the sustainability of the U.S. mutual fund market, we present causal evidence that investors marketwide value sustainability: being categorized as low sustainability resulted in net outflows of more than $12 billion while being categorized as high sustainability led to net inflows of more than $24 billion. Experimental evidence suggests that sustainability is viewed as positively predicting future performance, but we do not find evidence that high‐sustainability funds outperform low‐sustainability funds. The evidence is consistent with positive affect influencing expectations of sustainable fund performance and nonpecuniary motives influencing investment decisions.
Heat shock factor-1 knockout induces multidrug resistance gene, MDR1b, and enhances P-glycoprotein (ABCB1)-based drug extrusion in the heart

Heat-shock factor 1 (HSF-1), a transcription factor for heat-shock proteins (HSPs), is known to interfere with the transcriptional activity of many oncogenic factors. In the present work, we have discovered that HSF-1 ablation induced the multidrug resistance gene, MDR1b, in the heart and increased the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1), an ATP binding cassette that is usually associated with multidrug-resistant cancer cells. The increase in P-gp enhanced the extrusion of doxorubicin (Dox) to alleviate Dox-induced heart failure and reduce mortality in mice. Dox-induced left ventricular (LV) dysfunction was significantly reduced in HSF-1−/− mice. DNA-binding activity of NF-κB was higher in HSF-1−/− mice. IκB, the NF-κB inhibitor, was depleted due to enhanced IκB kinase (IKK)-α activity. In parallel, MDR1b gene expression and a large increase in P-gp and lowering Dox loading were observed in HSF-1−/− mouse hearts. Moreover, application of the P-gp antagonist, verapamil, increased Dox loading in HSF-1−/− cardiomyocytes, deteriorated cardiac function in HSF-1−/− mice, and decreased survival. MDR1 promoter activity was higher in HSF-1−/− cardiomyocytes, whereas a mutant MDR1 promoter with heat-shock element (HSE) mutation showed increased activity only in HSF-1+/+ cardiomyocytes. However, deletion of HSE and NF-κB binding sites diminished luminescence in both HSF-1+/+ and HSF-1−/− cardiomyocytes, suggesting that HSF-1 inhibits MDR1 activity in the heart. Thus, because high levels of HSF-1 are attributed to poor prognosis of cancer, systemic down-regulation of HSF-1 before chemotherapy is a potential therapeutic approach to ameliorate the chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and enhance cancer prognosis.
The on-eye dehydration of proclear compatibles lenses.

PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to evaluate the on-eye dehydration over time, of molded omafilcon A lenses (Proclear Compatibles) compared to a range of frequent replacement lenses. METHODS Ten subjects wore a Proclear Compatibles lens in one eye and a control lens in the other eye for 4-, 8- and 12-hours. The control lenses were Acuvue, Soflens 66 and Optima frequent replacement lenses. Each subject wore three different pairs of lenses for each time period in a masked, randomized fashion. A gravimetric technique was used to determine lens water content. RESULTS The Proclear Compatibles lenses showed significantly less relative dehydration than the Acuvue and Soflens 66 lenses. The Acuvue and Soflens 66 lenses showed a significant increase in relative dehydration with increasing wearing time. Subjective comfort was graded higher with the Proclear Compatibles than with the Acuvue lenses. There was a significant negative correlation between Acuvue dehydration and subjective ratings of comfort. CONCLUSIONS The study showed that Proclear Compatibles lenses dehydrate significantly less than the other frequent replacement high-water content lenses. The Acuvue and Soflens 66 lenses showed increasing dehydration during the 4-12 hour wearing period.
Speed and Rhythm Affect Temporal Structure of Variability in Reaching Poststroke: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Temporal structure reveals the potential adaptive strategies employed during upper extremity movements. The authors compared the temporal structure of upper extremity joints under 3 different reaching conditions: preferred speed, fast speed, and reaching with rhythmic auditory cues in 10 individuals poststroke. They also investigated the temporal structure of these 3 reaching conditions in 8 healthy controls to aid in the interpretation of the observed patterns in the poststroke cohort. Approximate entropy (ApEn) was used to measure the temporal structure of the upper extremity joints. ApEn was similar between conditions in controls. After stroke, ApEn was significantly higher for shoulder, elbow, and wrist both at fast speed and with rhythmic cues compared with preferred speed. ApEn at index finger was significantly higher only with rhythmic cues compared with preferred speed. The authors propose that practice reaching at faster speed and with rhythmic cues as a component of rehabilitation interventions may enhance adaptability after stroke.
The effect of sex hormones on rat liver carbonic anhydrase.

Carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes were purified from erythrocytes and livers of male and female rats. Their inhibition by acetazolamide was studied. Erythrocyte and female rat liver carbonic anhydrases were inhibited by acetazolamide with an I50 of about 10-6 M. Male rat liver isoenzymes were 10,000-fold less sensitive to inhibition by acetazolamide than were the enzymes of female rat liver. Castration of male rats changed 40% of the carbonic anhydrase activity in the liver to an enzyme which was sensitive to inhibition by 10-8 M acetazolamide. Administration of testosterone to female rats changed 40% of the carbonic anhydrase activity in the liver to an enzyme which was 10,000 times less sensitive to inhibition by acetazolamide than the normal or ovariectomized female rat. It is concluded that both male and female rat liver have at least one isoenzyme whose sensitivity to inhibition by sulfonamides is decreased in the presence of testosterone.
Single Umbilical Artery: Correlation of Clinical Status and Umbilical Cord Histology

Although numerous reports are available concerning infants who have single umbilical artery, there are no studies that correlate the incidence of congenital malformations or prognosis of such infants with the presence or absence of an atrophied artery in their associated umbilical cords. For this reason, we studied 48 infants who have single umbilical artery. No significant differences were detected in congenital malformations or neonatal mortality between infants with atrophy of one of their arteries and infants with arterial aplasia.
Analysis and design of divide-by-three LC-CMOS frequency dividers

Divide-by-three frequency dividers, based on a parallel injection, are analyzed and the actual locking phenomenon underlying their operation is shown. Analytical results allow us to predict the output steady-states and the locking range in terms of the circuit parameters, thus obtaining useful design insights. The derived results are shown to be very close to SPICE simulation results for a 0. 13μm RF-CMOS process.
THE CAROTID SINUS REFLEX IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION.

The observation that a state of elevated blood pressure develops in animals after denervation of the carotid sinus and aortic arch (1) has suggested that certain forms of hypertension in man might similarly be due to a failure of the depres-sor mechanism. Several studies have lent some support to this hypothesis (2, 3, 4). The evidence may be summarized briefly as follows: direct stimulation of the carotid sinus endings in hypertensive patients by digital pressure over the walls of the sinus causes a marked fall in blood pressure; however, alteration of pressure within the carotid sinus by digital compression and release of the common carotid artery below the sinus produces only minimal or negligible changes in blood pressure or heart rate. The conclusion has therefore been drawn that in hypertension there exists a certain degree of insensitiveness of the carotid sinus endings to their physiologic stimulus, namely changes in intravascular pressure within the sinus. The suggestion, furthermore, has been made that in these patients this defect is, in part at least, responsible for the development of the elevation of blood pressure (4, 5). The desirability of reexamining the observations which are the basis of these claims concerning the etiology of hypertension in man is apparent. METHODS AND MATERIAL On a number of patients with elevated blood pressure the carotid sinus test was performed essentially in the manner described by Mandelstamm and Lifschitz (3). The procedures may be briefly described as follows: with the individual prone, the carotid sinus is compressed against the transverse processes of the vertebrae for. a period of 30 to 60 seconds. The common carotid artery is compressed as low in the neck as is possible, attempting to avoid traction on the sinus. The carotid artery was obstructed for periods up to 2 1 Godey and Seegar Fellow in Medicine. minutes. Control observations were made by pressure on an indifferent part of the neck. Simultaneous determinations of blood pressure and pulse rate were made before, during and after such procedures. A sufficient number of observations were made to determine the typical reaction of the individual. Bilateral compression was never employed. Blood pressure was estimated by the auscultatory method; pulse rate, either by counting at the wrist or by plethysmographic recording. Thirty-one patients are included in the present series. Rejections were made of those in whom, for anatomical reasons, it was impossible adequately to compress the sinus or …
Detection of hybrids between masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou masou and amago salmon O. m. ishikawae occurred in the Jinzu River using a random amplified polymorphic DNA technique

Identification of masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou masou and amago salmon O. m. ishikawae was accomplished using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Of 80 primers screened, three primers amplified subspecies-specific fragments (OPA11-1095*, OPB5-1618* and OPD5-2038*). Based on fragment patterns, 33 hybrids were detected among 150 upstream-migrating individuals in the Jinzu River, central Japan, a long-time habitat of masu salmon, to which amago salmon were recently introduced. All of the individuals examined in the 2000–2002 cohorts were identified as F1 and Fx as well as pure masu and amago forms. These results indicated continuing hybridization, the genetic pollution of the native masu salmon population by amago salmon possibly being a serious problem in the Jinzu River. Both standard length and body weight in F1 hybrids tended to be less than in pure masu salmon. However, Fx hybrids showed similar body sizes to masu salmon.
Green pharmacy and pharmEcovigilance: prescribing and the planet

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, resulting primarily from excretion and bathing and from disposal of leftover drugs by consumers and healthcare facilities. Although prudent disposal of leftover drugs has attracted the most attention for reducing API levels in the aquatic environment, a more effective approach would prevent the generation of leftover drugs in the first place. Many aspects of the practice of medicine and pharmacy can be targeted for reducing environmental contamination by APIs. These same modifications – focused on treating humans and the environment as a single, integral patient – could also have collateral outcomes with improved therapeutic outcomes, and with a reduced incidence of unintended poisonings, drug interactions and drug diversion, and lower consumer costs.
Current Limiting Characteristics of Transformer Type Superconducting Fault Current Limiter With Shunt Impedance

The transformer type superconducting fault current limiter is one of the fault current limiters which have been proposed to reduce the fault currents in power transmission lines. In this paper, the use of shunt impedance is proposed in order to adjust the amplitude of the fault current and satisfy the required condition as a protective device. The current limiting performance of the transformer type superconducting fault current limiters with the shunt impedance is analysed theoretically. The current limiting performances with inductive shunt and with resistive shunt are compared. The experimental results obtained by using a 5 kVA-class experimental fault current limiter are shown to justify the theoretical analyses.
The chemical cross talk between rice and barnyardgrass

The chemical cross talk between rice and barnyardgrass which is one of the most noxious weeds in rice cultivation was investigated. Allelopathic activity of rice was increased by the presence of barnyardgrass seedlings or barnyardgrass root exudates. Rice allelochemical, mo-milactone B, concentration in rice seedlings and momilactone B secretion level from rice were also increased by the presence of barnyardgrass seedlings or barnyardgrass root exudates. As momilactone B possesses strong growth inhibitory activity and acts as an allelochemical, barnyardgrass-induced rice allelopathy may be due to the increased momilactone B secretion. These results suggest that rice may response to the presence of neighboring barnyardgrass by sensing the chemical components in barnyardgrass root exudates and increase allelopathic ac-tivity by elevated production and secretion levels of momilactone B. Thus, rice allelopathy may be one of the inducible defense mechanisms by chemical-mediated plant interaction be-tween rice and barnyardgrass and the induced-allelopathy may provide a competitive advan-tage for rice through suppression of the growth of barnyardgrass.
Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid gland: Comparative analysis of experience at three hospitals

Fine‐needle cytology is an effective and accurate diagnostic method for the assessment of thyroid lesions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of thyroid cytology at a tertiary where cytopathologists with experience in thyroid cytology participate in the procedure and compare it with results in two community hospitals lacking pathology departments and on‐site cytopathologists. A total of 1,770 specimens were diagnosed between 1998 and 2003. Of these, 425 were from the two local hospitals. The fraction of unsatisfactory specimens was 24% for submitted specimens and 9.5% for those taken in the presence of a cytopathologist. The percentage of malignant specimens was 4.1% at the tertiary center compared with 2.2% of submitted cases. These data highlight the need to centralize thyroid fine needle cytology to specialized centers with experienced cytopathologists. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006; 34:97–100. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protection from Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Absence of CCR2 Signaling1

Pulmonary fibrosis can be modeled in animals by intratracheal instillation of FITC, which results in acute lung injury, inflammation, and extracellular matrix deposition. We have previously shown that despite chronic inflammation, this model of pulmonary fibrosis is lymphocyte independent. The CC chemokine monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 is induced following FITC deposition. Therefore, we have investigated the contribution of the main monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 chemokine receptor, CCR2, to the fibrotic disease process. We demonstrate that CCR2−/− mice are protected from fibrosis in both the FITC and bleomycin pulmonary fibrosis models. The protection is specific for the absence of CCR2, as CCR5−/− mice are not protected. The protection is not explained by differences in acute lung injury, or the magnitude or composition of inflammatory cells. FITC-treated CCR2−/− mice display differential patterns of cellular activation as evidenced by the altered production of cytokines and growth factors following FITC inoculation compared with wild-type controls. CCR2−/− mice have increased levels of GM-CSF and reduced levels of TNF-α compared with FITC-treated CCR2+/+ mice. Thus, CCR2 signaling promotes a profibrotic cytokine cascade following FITC administration.