Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The novel synthetic immune response modifier R-848 (Resiquimod) shifts human allergen-specific CD4+ TH2 lymphocytes into IFN-gamma-producing cells.

BACKGROUND In experimental models, imidazoquinolines exhibit several immunomodulatory activities via Toll-like receptor signaling on cells of the innate immunity. OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to investigate whether R-848 (Resiquimod), a small-molecular-weight synthetic compound belonging to the imidazoquinoline family and known for its ability to substantially delay the onset of recurrent genital herpes lesions in both animals and human beings, could influence, at least in vitro, the cytokine production profile of human hapten- or allergen-specific T cells. METHODS Ampicillin- and Der p 1-specific T-cell lines were derived from peripheral blood of allergic donors in the absence or presence of R-848 and assessed by flow cytometry at the single-cell level for their ability to produce IL-4 and/or IFN-gamma. RESULTS R-848 induced both hapten- and allergen-specific circulating T cells, including T(H)2 effectors, to produce IFN-gamma and even to lose the ability to produce IL-4, thus shifting their phenotype of cytokine production to a type 0 (T(H)0) or even T(H)1 profile. This effect was associated with an increase in the production of IL-12, IFN-alpha, IL-18, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-15 by CD14(+) cells, as well as an increase in the proportions of IFN-gamma-producing CD3(-)CD16(+) (natural killer) cells. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that R-848, and probably other imidazoquinolines, might be used as adjuvants in view of novel allergen-specific immunotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of allergic disorders.
Epidemiological investigation of euthanasia in an Ontario animal shelter

Objectives The objective was to evaluate factors associated with euthanasia in an animal shelter in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Methods Data from 3737 cats admitted to the shelter between January and December 2011 were evaluated. Results Overall, 1989/3737 (53%) of admitted cats were euthanized. Male cats had greater odds of being euthanized than females (odds ratio [OR] 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29–2.05; P <0.001) and surrendered cats were more likely to be euthanized than strays (OR 38.0, 95% CI 14.8–97.69; P <0.001). Black cats were more likely to be euthanized than cats of another color (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16–1.80; P <0.001). Cats that spent >5 days in the shelter were more likely to be euthanized than those that spent <5 days in the shelter (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.25–1.97; P <0.001). Cats that spent >20 days in the shelter were less likely to be euthanized than those that spent <5 days in the shelter (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.19–0.34; P <0.001). Age, an age quadratic term, neuter status and interactions among these variables were statistically significant; the odds of unneutered animals being euthanized was high and relatively stable across age groups, but in neutered animals the odds of being euthanized increased with age before plateauing in older cats. Conclusions and relevance With >50% of the cats admitted to the shelter in 2011 euthanized, it is important to understand the contributing risk factors that predispose shelter cats to euthanasia and what changes can be made to the shelter system and in owner education to lower the incidence of euthanasia.
Effect of amantadine on depressive symptoms in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon: a randomized, controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVE Assess the effect of amantadine on depressive symptoms during interferon alfa therapy for hepatitis C virus infection. METHODS We performed a randomized, controlled trial with 14 hepatitis C virus-infected patients, treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2a 180 microg/wk plus ribavirin 1.200 mg/d. Eight patients were randomized to receive amantadine 200 mg/d, and 6 other individuals were randomized to control group without amantadine. Severity of depression and anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, before starting re-treatment, and 4, 12, and 24 weeks after immunotherapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2a. Evaluations were performed by psychiatrists blinded in reference to the state of amantadine treatment. Friedman chi(2) test for repeated measures and Mann-Whitney test for nonparametric data were used to assess significant differences. RESULTS From baseline to follow-up, no significant increase in mean Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores of depressive symptoms were seen in amantadine group (P = 0.142), meanwhile there was a statistical increase of depression scores in the control group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our randomized pilot study, though small, clearly indicates that interferon alfa-induced depressive symptoms can be prevented by the use of amantadine. However, double-blind placebo-controlled trials with a higher sample size are required to confirm these preliminary findings.
Low Tidal Volume Ventilation during Cardiopulmonary Bypass Reduces Postoperative Chemokine Serum Concentrations

Abstract Background Open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with a generalized immune response and postoperative lung dysfunction. Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of postoperative lung dysfunction. We investigated whether continued mechanical ventilation during CPB has an impact on chemokine serum concentrations. Methods A total of 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft operation were randomized to either continuous ventilated group (n = 15) or nonventilated group (n = 15). Blood samples were drawn at the beginning and at the end of surgery and on the 5 consecutive days. Serum CCL2, CCL4, and CCL20 concentrations were measured and given as mean ± standard deviation. Results Chemokine concentrations were elevated at the end of surgery in both groups. CCL2 and CCL4 levels returned to baseline on postoperative day (POD)-1 in the ventilation group and stayed elevated in the nonventilation group. CCL4 serum levels were significantly lower in ventilated-group patients on POD-1 (10.9 [39.0] vs. 153.2 [168.1]; p = 0.005), POD-2 (16.8 [36.8] vs. 147.9 [165.4]; p = 0.019), POD-3 (14.2 [24.0] vs. 97.9 [87.1]; p = 0.005), and POD-5 (6.5 [25.0] vs. 33.6 [38.4]; p = 0.045). Conclusion Continued mechanical ventilation during CPB results in reduced CCL4 concentrations on POD-1 to -5.
Boosting Incremental Semi-supervised Discriminant Analysis for Tracking

Tracking is recently formulated as a problem of discriminating the object from its nearby background, where the classifier is updated by new samples successively arriving during tracking. Depending on whether labeling the samples or not, the tracker can be designed in a supervised or semi-supervised manner. This paper proposes a novel semi-supervised algorithm for tracking by combining Semi-supervised Discriminant Analysis (SDA) with an online boosting framework. Using the local geometric structure information from the samples, the SDA-based weak classifier is made more robust to outliers. Meanwhile, we design an incremental updating mechanism for SDA so that it can adapt to appearance changes. We further propose an Extended SDA (ESDA) algorithm, which gives better discrimination ability. Results on several challenging video sequences demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Finanzierungsstrukturen und -strategien kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen: Eine Bestandsaufnahme

Das Finanzierungsumfeld fur kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU) befindet sich im Wandel. Die Veranderungen des konjunkturellen Umfelds und der damit verbundenen Niedrigzinspolitik sowie die Basel-Regulierungen zeigen einen deutlichen Einfluss auf die Finanzierungsstrukturen der KMU. So konnten KMU ihre Eigenkapitalquoten deutlich starker als Grosunternehmen erhohen und haben damit ihren Ruckstand vollstandig aufgeholt. Diese Entwicklung erstreckt sich uber alle Regionen und Branchen. Die Untersuchung verschiedener Finanzierungsquellen zeigt, dass der Bankkredit zwar weiterhin das zentrale Fremdfinanzierungsinstrument fur KMU ist, jedoch im Vergleich zur Innenfinanzierung durch einbehaltene Unternehmensgewinne deutlich an Bedeutung verliert.
Physical and relational bullying and victimization: Differential relations with adolescent dating and sexual behavior

Taking an evolutionary psychological perspective, we investigated whether involvement in bullying as a perpetrator or victim was more likely if adolescents reported having more dating and sexual partners than their peers, an indication of greater engagement in competition for mates. A total of 334 adolescents (173 boys, 160 girls) between the ages of 12 and 16 years (M = 13.6, SD = 1.3), recruited from community youth organizations, completed self-report measures of physical and relational bullying and victimization, as well as dating and sexual behavior. As predicted, pure physical bullying was positively associated with the number of dating and sexual partners, primarily for adolescent boys. Adolescent girls with more dating partners had greater odds of being relational bully-victims, in line with predictions. Finally, adolescent girls with more sexual partners were at greater risk of being physically victimized by peers, and greater involvement with dating and sexual partners was associated with higher odds of being a physical bully-victim. Results are discussed with respect to evolutionary theory and research in which adolescent boys may display strength and athleticism through physical bullying to facilitate intersexual selection, whereas relational bullying may be employed as a strategy to engage in intrasexual competition with rivals for mates. Aggr. Behav. 43:111-122, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reset-induced variability of retention characteristics in phase change memory (PCM)

Data retention in phase change memory (PCM) is limited by the metastable nature of the amorphous phase, which transforms into the stable crystalline phase at elevated temperatures. A deeper understanding of PCM retention statistics, carried out through an extensive statistical characterization at array level and a physical-based model, is necessary for proper failure testing and prediction of PCM reliability. This work addresses retention statistics both at array level (cell-to-cell statistics) and at single-cell level (cycle-to-cycle statistics), for which we provide evidences for analog and digital random fluctuations in the retention characteristics. We present a physical-based Monte-Carlo model, based on a gaussian spread in the activation energy, which is capable of explaining both the cell-to-cell and the cycle-to-cycle statistics.
Reduction of functional N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors in neurons by RNase P‐mediated cleavage of the NR1 mRNA

One approach to studying the functional role of individual NMDA receptor subunits involves the reduction in the abundance of the protein subunit in neurons. We have pursued a strategy to achieve this goal that involves the use of a small guide RNA which can lead to the destruction of the mRNA for a specific receptor subunit. We designed a small RNA molecule, termed ‘external guide sequence’ (EGS), which binds to the NR1 mRNA and directs the endonuclease RNase P to cleave the target message. This EGS has exquisite specificity and directed the RNase P‐dependent cleavage at the targeted location within the NR1 mRNA. To improve the efficiency of this EGS, an in vitro evolution strategy was employed which led to a second generation EGS that was 10 times more potent than the parent molecule. We constructed an expression cassette by flanking the EGS with self‐cleaving ribozymes and this permitted generation of the specified EGS RNA sequence from any promoter. Using a recombinant Herpes simplex virus (HSV), we expressed the EGS in neurons and showed the potency of the EGS to reduce NR1 protein within neurons. In an excitotoxicity assay, we showed that expression of the EGS in cortical neurons is neuroprotective. Our results demonstrate the utility of EGSs to reduce the expression of any gene (and potentially any splice variant) in neurons.
Spectacle Wear in Children Given Spectacles Through a School-Based Program

Purpose. To investigate factors associated with spectacle wear in a group of primarily Native-American children provided spectacles free of charge through a school-based vision program. Methods. Spectacle wear was studied in 247 participants provided two pairs of spectacles the previous year. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models assessed whether gender, race, parental education levels, family income, uncorrected distance visual acuity, refractive error, or the children's attitudes and beliefs about their vision and spectacles were associated with spectacle wear. Results. Two thirds of the participants (165/247) were not wearing their spectacles at their annual examination. The most common reasons given for non-wear were lost (44.9%) or broken (35.3%) spectacles. A 1 diopter increase in myopic spherical equivalent was associated with more than a twofold increase in the odds of wearing spectacles [odds ratio (OR) = 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7 to 3.7]. Among non-myopic participants, increasing amounts of astigmatism in the better- and worse-seeing eye were associated with an increased likelihood of spectacle wear (p ≤ 0.02). In multivariate analysis, only poorer uncorrected acuity in the better-seeing eye (p < 0.001) and shorter acceptance time (p = 0.007) were found to be significantly associated with spectacle wear. For each line of poorer uncorrected acuity in the better-seeing eye, the likelihood that the participant was wearing spectacles increased by 60% (adjusted odds ratio = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.4 to 1.8). Not surprisingly, participants who reported never getting used to their spectacles were less likely to be wearing spectacles than those who reported getting used to wearing glasses in a few days (adjusted OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 1.9 to 17.5). Conclusions. Despite being provided with two pairs of spectacles, loss and breakage were the most commonly reported reasons for not wearing spectacles. The best predictive factor for determining whether participants were wearing spectacles was their uncorrected acuity.
Changes in Macular Pigment Optical Density and Serum Lutein Concentration in Japanese Subjects Taking Two Different Lutein Supplements

Purpose To investigate macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and serum concentration changes of lutein in Japanese subjects participating in a clinical trial in which two formulations of lutein and zeaxanthin supplements with different physiochemical properties are used. Methods Thirty-six healthy volunteers were recruited into this prospective, randomized, parallel-group, double-masked comparative study at a single institute. Two products were used, FloraGLO® (Kemin Japan) and XanMax® (Katra Phytochem). The lutein particle size and zeaxanthin concentrations differed between the formulations. The subjects consumed one of the two supplements for a duration of up to 6 months. MPOD levels were measured by resonance Raman spectrometry at baseline and once a month until the end of the study. Serum lutein concentration was measured at baseline, month 3, and month 6. The subjects were also tested for contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity, visual acuity, and in addition had a focal electroretinogram measured. Results The mean serum lutein concentrations increased significantly after the first three months, but the mean MPOD levels in either supplement group did not show any statistically significant increase. A detailed analysis, however, revealed three response patterns in both groups for the increase of MPOD levels and serum lutein concentration, i.e. “retinal responders”, who had an increase of both MPOD levels and serum lutein concentrations (n = 13), “retinal non-responders”, who had only increased serum concentrations and no change in MPOD levels (n = 20), and “retinal and serum non-responders”, who had neither MPOD level nor plasma concentration increases (n = 3). The subjects with low MPOD levels at baseline appeared to show increased MPOD levels at the 6 month time point upon lutein supplementation (r = -0.4090, p = 0.0133). Glare sensitivity improved in retinal responders in both supplement groups, while there were no remarkable changes in contrast sensitivity. Conclusions No statistically significant differences could be detected for MPOD levels and serum lutein concentrations between the two investigated lutein supplement formulations. Responses to lutein supplementation regarding MPOD levels and serum lutein concentrations varied between subjects. Subjects with lower MPOD levels at baseline responded well to lutein supplementation. However, since the number of subjects was low, a further study with more subjects is needed to prove that subjects with low MPOD levels will benefit from lutein supplementation. Trial Registration UMIN-CTR UMIN000004593
A calaxin Gene in the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas and Its Potential Roles in Cilia

calaxin is a newly identified calcium sensor gene that modulates the movement of flagella (and possibly cilia). It was first identified from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, and its orthologs have been observed in a wide range of animals and choanoflagellates. However, no calaxin-ortholog in a Lophotrochozoa species has been reported so far. This leaves open the question of whether the modulation of ciliary motility by calaxin is conserved among animals. We report a calaxin gene from the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. This gene, termed cgi-calaxin, possesses three conserved EF-hand motifs as its orthologs from chordates. A phylogenetic analysis confirmed its orthology. Expression analysis revealed high expression in typical ciliated tissues such as gill and hepatopancreas. The spatiotemporal expression of the gene during early development was investigated using whole mount in situ hybridization. The results revealed that cgi-calaxin mRNA was aggregated in ciliated tissues of early larvae such as prototroch and velum. Immunofluorescence experiment further certified the ciliary localization of Cgi-Calaxin protein in D-veligers. We prepared the recombinant protein of cgi-calaxin and proved it had the capacity to bind to calcium. These results support the conserved roles of cgi-calaxin as a calcium sensor in ciliated cells and enrich the current knowledge on regulatory mechanisms of molluscan cilia. Moreover, we found the gene to be expressed in poorly ciliated tissues, such as adductor muscle, indicating possible roles in non-ciliated cells, which merits further investigation.
Human allogeneic stem cell maintenance and differentiation in a long-term multilineage SCID-hu graft.

The ability to determine the functional capacity of putative human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) populations requires in vivo assays in which long-term multilineage differentiation can be assessed. We hypothesized that if human fetal bone was transplanted adjacent to a fetal thymus fragment in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, a conjoint organ might form in which HSC in the human bone marrow (BM) would mimic human multilineage differentiation into progenitor cells, B cells, and myeloid cells; undergo self-renewal; and migrate to and differentiate into T cells within the thymic microenvironment. To test this possibility, SCID mice were transplanted subcutaneously with HLA class I mismatched fetal bone, thymus, and spleen fragments (SCID-hu BTS). We found that the BM of SCID-hu BTS grafts maintained B cells, myeloid cells, CD34+ cells for at least 36 weeks posttransplant. Assayable hematopoietic progenitors colony-forming units-granulocyte-macrophage were present in 100% (66/66) of grafts over a period of 28 weeks. Cells with a HSC phenotype (CD34+Thy-1+Lin-) were maintained for 20 weeks in SCID-hu BTS grafts. These CD34+Thy-1+Lin- cells had potent secondary multilineage reconstituting potential when isolated and injected into a secondary HLA mismatched SCID-hu bone assay and analyzed 8 weeks later. In addition, early progenitors within the BM of SCID-hu BTS grafts were capable of migrating to the human thymus and undergoing differentiation through immature CD4+CD8+ double-positive T cells and produce mature T cells with a CD4+CD8- or CD8+CD4- phenotype that could be detected for at least 36 weeks. Phenotypically defined human fetal liver (FL) and umbilical cord blood (UCB) hematopoietic stem cell populations were injected into irradiated SCID-hu BTS grafts to assess their multilineage repopulating capacity and to assess the ability of the BTS system to provide an environment where multiple lineages might differentiate from a common stem cell pool. Injection of irradiated grafts with FL HSC or UCB HSC cells resulted in donor-derived B cells, myeloid cells, immature and mature T cells, and CD34+ cells in individual grafts when analyzed 8 weeks postreconstitution, further showing the multipotential nature of these stem cell populations. In addition, a strong correlation was observed between maintenance of host graft-derived CD8+ cells and failure of donor stem cell engraftment. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Contracts and Coalition Formation based on Individual Deviations

This paper revisits the work of Dreze and Greenberg (1980) in a general context-free environment and studies endogenous coalition formation problems based on three stability notions that reflect three different contractual arrangements with respect to one-person deviations. Analyzing coalition formation within the framework of transferable utility games, we propose to modify the original definitions of these stability notions due to some, in our opinion, unwanted characteristics. To emphasize this difference we re-baptize the stability notions into individual stability, contractual stability, and compensation stability. In particular, with the new definition individual rationality is implied by individual stability. We, furthermore, show that any coalition structure of maximum social worth is both contractually and compensation stable. In addition, we analyze existence and study the relations between the stability notions. We show that an individually stable outcome is also contractually stable and that an individually rational and compensation stable outcome is also contractually stable. Applying the general framework to an example of mutual insurance in production, we find that in each type of contractual setting there are stable individually rational pooling outcomes while, on the contrary, individually rational separating outcomes are not stable in general.
Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of women over 20 years old on cervix cancer in Istanbul, Turkey.

PURPOSE The aim of the study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of Turkish women over 20 years old on cervix cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive study was performed at a primary care center covering 246 women using a questionnaire composed of 3 sections and 38 questions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test in univariate analysis and multivariate hierarchical logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Of the 93.7% women who knew about cervical cancer, 68.0% of them had heard pap smear test and 46.1% had actually undergone a Pap smear once or more throughout their lives. According to the results of the hierarchical logistic regression analysis about factors affecting the Pap smear test; in Model 1, increase in age and education levels, in Model 2 and Model 3 increase in age and cervical cancer information points were determined. The most important information source for cervical cancer was TV-radio/media (59.9%) and health care workers (62.8%) for pap smear test. CONCLUSIONS Although most women have heard of cervical cancer, knowledge about cervical cancer and also Pap smear screening rate are significantly lower. Having Pap smear test for women was affected by age and knowledge level about cervical cancer. Informing women about cervical cancer would be an important intervention.