Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Inflammation in Late-Life Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

INTRODUCTION There is evidence that immune system dysregulation and inflammation may play a role in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous studies have reported elevated levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) in individuals with PTSD. However, it is unclear whether exacerbation of PTSD symptoms late in life is also associated with elevated inflammation. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the relationship between inflammation and late-life PTSD. METHODS We recruited veterans either diagnosed with PTSD after the age of 55 or with no diagnosis of PTSD. Six veterans did not meet all eligibility criteria, including five who did not meet criteria for PTSD and one with celiac disease. The final sample included a total of 32 male veterans (16 veterans diagnosed with PTSD after 55 and 16 veterans without PTSD). The groups were matched as closely as possible on age, body mass index, and combat exposure. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Inflammation was measured using serum CRP level. RESULTS The two groups did not differ on sample characteristics including age, body mass index, tobacco use, medication use, and military history. CRP level was found to be significantly higher in the PTSD group than in the comparison group (Z = -3.047, p = 0.002), which was also observed after adjusting for depression scores (F(1, 27) = 8.30, p = 0.0077). CONCLUSION The results from this pilot study suggest that late-life PTSD may be associated with increased inflammation. Further research in larger samples is needed to corroborate these findings and to clarify the relationship between inflammation and PTSD, which may lead to improved methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Cutting Edge: L-Selectin (CD62L) Expression Distinguishes Small Resting Memory CD4+ T Cells That Preferentially Respond to Recall Antigen

Naive CD4+ T cells use L-selectin (CD62L) expression to facilitate immune surveillance. However, the reasons for its expression on a subset of memory CD4+ T cells are unknown. We show that memory CD4+ T cells expressing CD62L were smaller, proliferated well in response to tetanus toxoid, had longer telomeres, and expressed genes and proteins consistent with immune surveillance function. Conversely, memory CD4+ T cells lacking CD62L expression were larger, proliferated poorly in response to tetanus toxoid, had shorter telomeres, and expressed genes and proteins consistent with effector function. These findings suggest that CD62L expression facilitates immune surveillance by programming CD4+ T cell blood and lymph node recirculation, irrespective of naive or memory CD4+ T cell phenotype.
Clusterin is highly expressed in pancreatic endocrine tumours but not in solid pseudopapillary tumours

Aims: Clusterin is a sulphated glycoprotein, implicated in many processes, including tumorigenesis. Several studies have reported its overexpression in many human neoplasms, including prostatic and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but its expression has not been described previously in other pancreatic tumours. Our aim was to investigate the expression of clusterin by immunohistochemistry in 30 endocrine pancreatic tumours (ENTs) and 22 solid pseudopapillary tumours (SPPTs) to document its potential in differential diagnosis, and the possible correlation between this expression and clinicopathological parameters.
Immunomodulatory properties of vitamins, flavonoids and plant oils and their potential as vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems

Introduction: During the past century, vaccinologists have attempted to mimic pathogens in their immune-enhancing capacity. This led to the development of life-saving vaccines based on live attenuated viruses, bacteria and toxoids. Hence, intense research in vaccine adjuvant discovery has focused on toll like receptors, mutant toxins and viral and bacterial vectors. Nutritive components such as vitamins and select polyphenols also possess immunomodulating properties without the potential toxic and adverse side effects of agents that mimic danger signals. Areas covered: This review pertains to immunomodulatory properties of nutritive components, that is vitamins A, C, D, E, flavonoids and plant oils, as potential vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems, covering Pubmed publication searches from 1980 through 2011. Expert opinion: This relatively unexplored field of the potential of nutritive components as vaccine adjuvants holds great promise to promote the development of effective and above all safe vaccines. Hence the future focus should be placed on enhancing their efficacy, mainly through novel approaches in designing structural derivatives, formulations, delivery systems and routes of administration. As safety has been the major issue in development of novel vaccines, this new approach will probably result in new discoveries in designing safe and effective vaccines.
A 4 dBm IP1dB 20.8 dBm UP3 wideband complementary SF feedback LNTA with derivative superposition method

A wideband low-noise transconductance amplifier (LNTA) with high linearity is proposed for SAW-less applications. Complementary source-follower and common-source stage are adopted to solve the second-order nonlinear feedback problem. Derivative superposition (DS) method is employed to decrease the second- and third-order nonlinearity of the main path. Moreover, large-signal input matching performance is preserved due to the push-pull operation. Designed in a 0.18-μm CMOS process, the simulation results show that it provides a minimum noise figure (NF) of 2.4 dB, and a maximum trans-conductance of 81 mS from 0.17 to 3.17 GHz. An input 1-dB compression/desensitization point of 4.14/1.58 dBm and an IIP3 of 20.8 dBm are obtained, respectively. The input matching performance is maintained even with a 6 dBm blocker, and the blocker NF is 3.1 dB under a 0 dBm blocker. The circuit draws 9.1 mA from a 1.8 V supply and the core area is only 0.068 mm2.
Role of heart rate variability in the production of blood pressure variability in man.

In both normotensive and hypertensive subjects blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) show concordant changes over 24 h. This may depend on a central factor exerting influences of the same nature on cardiac and vascular targets. An alternative explanation, however, is that a cause-effect relationship links these variabilities, i.e. that HR variations induce BP changes [presumably via variations in cardiac output (CO)]. Blood pressure was recorded intra-arterially in five supine and five exercising (walking) essential hypertensive subjects during a control period of 1 h and during an additional hour in which atropine, 0.04 mg/kg body weight, was injected intravenously (i.v.). The same recordings were performed in seven other subjects, in which saline rather than atropine was employed. One-hour BP and HR variabilities (variation coefficients, VC) were computer analysed. In both the supine and the exercising subjects atropine caused a marked reduction in HR VC (-65.3 and -48.4%, respectively). In the supine subjects this reduction was accompanied by only a modest reduction in BP VC whereas in the exercising subjects the BP VC increased by 30.4%. In the seven subjects in which saline was injected no change in BP and HR VC occurred. Thus a marked reduction in HR variability is not accompanied by a comparable attenuation in BP variability, which rules out a cause-effect link between these two phenomena. Indeed, during physical exercise HR stabilization is followed by an increase rather than a reduction in BP variation, which supports the conclusion that under some circumstances HR plays an anti-oscillatory role.
Molecular Inferences Suggest Multiple Host Shifts of Rabies Viruses from Bats to Mesocarnivores in Arizona during 2001–2009

In nature, rabies virus (RABV; genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae) represents an assemblage of phylogenetic lineages, associated with specific mammalian host species. Although it is generally accepted that RABV evolved originally in bats and further shifted to carnivores, mechanisms of such host shifts are poorly understood, and examples are rarely present in surveillance data. Outbreaks in carnivores caused by a RABV variant, associated with big brown bats, occurred repeatedly during 2001–2009 in the Flagstaff area of Arizona. After each outbreak, extensive control campaigns were undertaken, with no reports of further rabies cases in carnivores for the next several years. However, questions remained whether all outbreaks were caused by a single introduction and further perpetuation of bat RABV in carnivore populations, or each outbreak was caused by an independent introduction of a bat virus. Another question of concern was related to adaptive changes in the RABV genome associated with host shifts. To address these questions, we sequenced and analyzed 66 complete and 20 nearly complete RABV genomes, including those from the Flagstaff area and other similar outbreaks in carnivores, caused by bat RABVs, and representatives of the major RABV lineages circulating in North America and worldwide. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that each Flagstaff outbreak was caused by an independent introduction of bat RABV into populations of carnivores. Positive selection analysis confirmed the absence of post-shift changes in RABV genes. In contrast, convergent evolution analysis demonstrated several amino acids in the N, P, G and L proteins, which might be significant for pre-adaptation of bat viruses to cause effective infection in carnivores. The substitution S/T242 in the viral glycoprotein is of particular merit, as a similar substitution was suggested for pathogenicity of Nishigahara RABV strain. Roles of the amino acid changes, detected in our study, require additional investigations, using reverse genetics and other approaches.
Antibiotic resistance pattern of bacterial isolates in neonatal care unit.

INTRODUCTION Bacterial infections account for a huge proportion of neonatal deaths worldwide. The problem of antibiotic resistance among common bacterial pathogens mainly the gram negative bacteria is emerging globally which is of more serious concern in developing countries like Nepal. METHODS A one year retrospective hospital based study was carried out to analyze the results of neonatal blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, stool and surface cultures and to look into the sensitivity pattern of the commonly used antibiotics. RESULTS The positive yield of blood, urine, eye swab and CSF cultures were 19.56%, 38.5%, 60% and 0.36% respectively. The most common isolates in the blood culture were coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and non-haemolytic Streptococcus. A significant percent of the isolates were resistant to the first line antibiotics. Among the gram negative isolates more than 30% are resistant to cefotaxime and more than 50% are resistant to gentamicin. During the one year period we had Nursery outbreaks of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella infections. With the help of environmental cultures we were able to trace the source and intervene appropriately. CONCLUSIONS Continuous surveillance for antibiotic susceptibility, rational use of antibiotics and the strategy of antibiotic cycling can provide some answers to the emerging problem of antibiotic resistance.
The Even/Odd Synchronizer: A Fast, All-Digital, Periodic Synchronizer

We describe an all-digital synchronizer that moves multi-bit signals between two periodic clock domains with an average delay of slightly more than a half cycle and an arbitrarily small probability of synchronization failure. The synchronizer operates by measuring the relative frequency of the two periodic clocks and using this frequency measurement, along with a phase detection, to compute a phase estimate. Interval arithmetic is used for the phase estimate to account for uncertainty. The transmitter writes a pair of registers on alternating clock cycles and the receiver uses the estimate of the transmitter's phase to always select the most recently written value that is safe to sample. We show how to incorporate this design into a FIFO to give a fast periodic synchronizer with flow control. We present a number-theoretic argument that the synchronizer works for all frequency combinations. An implementation of the synchronizer using standard cells is also presented.
Implementation and characterization of a numerical distance relay using a relay test-bench on RTAI-Linux platform

This paper deals with the implementation, evaluation and characterization of a numerical distance relay using a laboratory relay test-bench implemented on real-time application interface (RTAI)-Linux platform. The numerical distance relay has been realized on RTAI-Linux platform based on the full-cycle recursive discrete Fourier series algorithm. This relay provides a selectable relay characteristic such as Mho or Quadrilateral or Elliptical characteristic. The relay test-bench not only can be used to obtain steady-state relay characteristics, but also facilitates to generate any fault signals to perform dynamic testing of the relays. In this paper, Mho and Quadrilateral type numerical relay characteristics have been chosen for demonstration. It is found that such an experimental setup provides a hardware-in-the-loop facility in the lab environment to enhance the understanding about protective systems and thereby augmenting the classroom learning.
Integrated Testing Strategies for Toxicity Employing New and Existing Technologies

We have developed individual, integrated testing strategies (ITS) for predicting the toxicity of general chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, inhaled chemicals, and nanoparticles. These ITS are based on published schemes developed previously for the risk assessment of chemicals to fulfil the requirements of REACH, which have been updated to take account of the latest developments in advanced in chemico modelling and in vitro technologies. In addition, we propose an ITS for neurotoxicity, based on the same principles, for incorporation in the other ITS. The technologies are deployed in a step-wise manner, as a basis for decision-tree approaches, incorporating weight-of-evidence stages. This means that testing can be stopped at the point where a risk assessment and/or classification can be performed, with labelling in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory authority concerned, rather than following a checklist approach to hazard identification. In addition, the strategies are intelligent, in that they are based on the fundamental premise that there is no hazard in the absence of exposure — which is why pharmacokinetic modelling plays a key role in each ITS. The new technologies include the use of complex, three-dimensional human cell tissue culture systems with in vivo-like structural, physiological and biochemical features, as well as dosing conditions. In this way, problems of inter-species extrapolation and in vitro/in vivo extrapolation are minimised. This is reflected in the ITS placing more emphasis on the use of volunteers at the whole organism testing stage, rather than on existing animal testing, which is the current situation.
Delay of M‐phase onset by aphidicolin can retain the nuclear localization of zinc and metallothionein in 3T3‐L1 fibroblasts

The transient nuclear localization of metallothionein during cell growth and differentiation may be related to the increased requirement of zinc for DNA synthesis, activation of metalloenzymes, and transcription factors. Treatment of 3T3‐L1 fibroblasts with aphidicolin, an inhibitor of nuclear DNA synthesis, caused a cell‐cycle block at G1/S phase and a delay in the onset of M phase. This also resulted in the accumulation of both zinc and metallothionein in the nucleus. After removal of aphidicolin, the cells rapidly reentered S phase, and during the G2/M phase of cell cycle both zinc and metallothionein began to relocate to the cytoplasm. Delaying the onset of M phase in 3T3‐L1 cells could prevent the cytoplasmic relocation of metallothionein. The nuclear translocation of both zinc and metallothionein during the cell cycle can be considered as a normal process and this may be a general mechanism in response to mitogenic signals. J. Cell. Physiol. 183:247–253, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Markovian Projection Method for Volatility Calibration

We present the Markovian projection method, a method to obtain closed-form approximations to European option prices on various underlyings that, in principle, is applicable to any (diffusive) model. Successful applications of the method have already appeared in the literature, in particular for interest rate models (short rate and forward Libor models with stochastic volatility), and interest rate/FX hybrid models with FX skew. The purpose of this note is thus not to present other instances where the Markovian projection method is applicable (even though more examples are indeed given) but to distill the essence of the method into a conceptually simple plan of attack, a plan that anyone who wants to obtain European option approximations can follow.
Calcineurin regulatory subunit is essential for virulence and mediates interactions with FKBP12–FK506 in Cryptococcus neoformans

Calcineurin is a Ca2+–calmodulin‐regulated protein phosphatase that is the target of the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin A and FK506. Calcineurin is a heterodimer composed of a catalytic A and a regulatory B subunit. In previous studies, the calcineurin A homologue was identified and shown to be required for growth at 37°C and hence for virulence of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Here, we identify the gene encoding the calcineurin B regulatory subunit and demonstrate that calcineurin B is also required for growth at elevated temperature and virulence. We show that the FKR1‐1 mutation, which confers dominant FK506 resistance, results from a 6 bp duplication generating a two‐amino‐acid insertion in the latch region of calcineurin B. This mutation was found to reduce FKBP12–FK506 binding to calcineurin both in vivo and in vitro. Molecular modelling based on the FKBP12–FK506–calcineurin crystal structure illustrates how this mutation perturbs drug interactions with the phosphatase target. In summary, our studies reveal a central role for calcineurin B in virulence and antifungal drug action in the human fungal pathogen C. neoformans.
The development and use of real-time PCR for the quantification of nitrifiers in activated sludge.

Chemical analytical data has long been used to monitor the performance of activated sludge plants even though the process relies on the performance of microorganisms. It is now evident that a rapid and reliable quantitative method is required, to be able to monitor the organisms responsible for nutrient transformation and their activities, allowing avenues for more efficient nutrient removal. The development of real-time or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) also known as TaqMan or 5'-nuclease assay has allowed the rapid, quantitative analysis of DNA templates, eliminating some of the variability traditionally associated with other quantitative techniques. In this study analysis of Nitrospira spp. , one of the key organisms in nitrite oxidation in wastewater treatment, was used to validate real-time PCR for the their quantification in activated sludge. A probe and primer set, targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Nitrospira spp. was designed according to the constraints of the TaqMan specifications. Samples used to evaluate the method included DNA from the sludge from full-scale wastewater treatment plants and laboratory scale systems. The reproducibility, quantitative efficiency and specificity were assessed in the evaluation. It was concluded that the method is sensitive and reproducible but has some constraints on the quantitative efficiency. A survey of full-scale systems for Nitrospira spp. was carried out and the results are presented here.
Mood Change and Perceptions of Vitality: A Comparison of the Effects of Relaxation, Visualization and Yoga

The effects of three different procedures, relaxation, visualization and yogic breathing and stretch (pranayama) on perceptions of physical and mental energy and on positive and negative mood states have been assessed in a group of normal volunteers (N=71, age range 21–76). Pranayama produced a significantly greater increase in perceptions of mental and physical energy and feelings of alertness and enthusiasm than the other two procedures (P<0.5). Relaxation made subjects significantly more sleepy and sluggish immediately after the session than pranayama (P < 0.05). Visualization made them more sluggish but less content than pranayama (P<0.05) and more upset than relaxation after the second session (P<0.05). Thus, a 30 min programme of yogic stretch and breathing exercises which is simple to learn and which can be practised even by the elderly had a markedly ‘invigorating’ effect on perceptions of both mental and physical energy and increased high positive mood. A more extensive investigation is planned to establish whether such a programme can readily be incorporated into everyday life, and with what long-term results.
Interleukin-13 receptor–targeted nanovesicles are a potential therapy for glioblastoma multiforme

The difficulties associated with treatment of malignant brain tumors are well documented. For example, local infiltration of high-grade astrocytomas prevents the complete resection of all malignant cells. It is, therefore, critical to develop delivery systems for chemotherapeutic agents that ablate individual cancer cells without causing diffuse damage to surrounding brain tissue. Here, we describe sterically stable human interleukin-13 (IL-13)–conjugated liposomes, which efficiently bind to the brain cancer cells that overexpress the IL-13 receptor α2 protein. The conjugated liposomes bind to glioblastoma multiforme tissue specimens but not to normal cortex. Conjugating the liposomes with human IL-13 allows for specific binding to glioma cells and uptake of the liposomes via endocytosis. Delivering doxorubicin to glioma cells by IL-13–conjugated liposomes results in enhanced cytotoxicity and increased accumulation and retention of drug in the glioma cells compared with delivery of free drug. The therapeutic potential and targeting efficacy of the IL-13–conjugated liposomes carrying doxorubicin was tested in vivo using a s.c. glioma tumor mouse model. Animals receiving i.p. injections of IL-13–conjugated liposomes carrying doxorubicin for 7 weeks had a mean tumor volume of 37 mm3 compared with a mean volume of 192 mm3 in animals injected with nontargeted liposomes. These results strongly suggest that IL-13–conjugated liposomes carrying cytotoxic agents are a feasible approach for creating a nanovesicle drug delivery system for brain tumor therapy. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(12):3162–9]