Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aromatic DNA adducts in adjacent tissues of breast cancer patients: clues to breast cancer etiology.

The etiology of the majority of human breast cancers is unknown. Environmental factors have long been suspected to play a role, but no specific causative agent has been identified. If the hypothesis that environmental carcinogen exposure contributes to human breast cancer is true, carcinogen-DNA adducts would be expected to be present in human breast tissues. To address this possibility, aromatic DNA adducts were measured in 87 surgical specimens of normal human breast tissues from 87 breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy using the nuclease P1-enhanced version of the 32P postlabeling assay. Breast tissue samples from 29 noncancer patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty served as controls. Whereas aromatic DNA adducts were detected in all tissue samples examined, the total adduct levels in cancer patients were significantly higher than that in noncancer controls [mean +/- SEM, 97.4 +/- 23.4/10(9) nucleotides (range, 3.8-1737.1) versus 18.1 +/- 11.6/10(9) nucleotides (range, 5.6-56.7), respectively; P < 0.01, t test and Mann-Whitney test]. This difference was not affected by the age distribution of the two groups. The typical smoking-related DNA adduct pattern (i.e., a diagonal radioactive zone) was observed in 29 of 87 tissues (17 of 17 current smokers, 5 of 8 former smokers, 4 of 52 nonsmokers, and 3 of 10 patients with unknown smoking status) and in 2 of 10 control tissues. It was of interest that a benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-like DNA adduct was observed in 36 normal adjacent breast tissues (41%), 27 of which were from nonsmokers. Levels of this BP-like adduct were extremely high (> 100/10(9) nucleotides) in 5 patients (4 nonsmokers and 1 smoker) and moderately high (> 10/10(9) nucleotides) in 13 other patients (8 nonsmokers and 5 smokers). One patient exhibited this adduct at a level of 1500/10(9) nucleotides, which is comparable to the highest level of total adducts reported in human tissues related to carcinogen exposure (e.g., cigarette smoking). In contrast, this adduct was absent (< 1/10(9) nucleotides) in all of the control tissues. Cochromatography and rechromatography analysis of DNA samples from human breast tissues and from MCF-7 cells treated with BP revealed that this adduct could be generated by BP exposure but is not the major BP 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide-deoxyguanine adduct detected previously in animal tissues and human mammary epithelial cells. These findings support the hypothesis that environmental carcinogen exposure, in addition to cigarette smoking, may be associated with the etiology of human breast cancer.
Pleural Primary Effusion Lymphoma in a Renal Transplant Recipient

The primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare clinicopathological entity of the serous cavities associated to human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) and, in a large number of cases, to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It occurs rarely in transplant recipients, there being only one previous report of PEL in a renal transplant recipient with peritoneal effusion (but with no pleural involvement) (1–3). Herein, we describe the second case of PEL (being the first with pleural effusion) in a renal transplant recipient. In addition, we discuss the diagnostic methods and the possible immunosuppression role in the onset/evolution of this pathology.
Growth factor regulation of smooth muscle actin expression and contraction of human articular chondrocytes and meniscal cells in a collagen-GAG matrix.

Recent work has demonstrated that human articular chondrocytes and meniscus cells can express the gene for a contractile actin isoform, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), in vivo. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two growth factors, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, on the SMA content of these cells and their contraction of a collagen-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) analog of extracellular matrix in vitro. TGF-beta1 was found to markedly increase SMA content of the cells and PDGF-BB decreased SMA expression, with both findings achieving statistical significance. A notable finding was the increased contraction of the collagen-GAG matrix induced by TGF-beta1 and the decrease in contraction resulting from PDGF-BB treatment, indicating a causal relationship between expression of SMA and the contractility of the cells. A novel cell force monitor, employed to estimate the force exerted per cell, demonstrated a higher force exerted by the TGF-beta1-treated cells. The findings demonstrate that the expression of SMA by articular chondrocytes and meniscal cells and their associated contractile behavior can be regulated by selected growth factors. This work provides a foundation for the rational investigation of the mechanisms underlying SMA-enabled contraction of these cell types and the control of this behavior in tissue engineering.
Health care use of individuals with diabetes in an employer-based insurance population.

BACKGROUND Individuals with diabetes use more health care resources than those without the disease. Much less is known about such differences associated with different forms of diabetes. METHODS People with types 1 and 2 diabetes were identified from claims of a commercial insurer with an enrollment of 828 208. Age- and sex-adjusted rates and observed-to-expected ratios for health care services use, costs, and relative value units were compared for individuals with diabetes and the total plan population. RESULTS We identified 13,563 individuals with diabetes (including 4349 with type 1 and 8810 with type 2 diabetes). The diabetic population was 1.6% of the total population, but had 9.4% of costs. Individuals with both types of diabetes had higher rates for use of inpatient, outpatient, and professional services. Compared with the total population, inpatient rates for the total diabetic population (for those with type 1 diabetes), were 4.9 (8.3) times higher for established complications of diabetes such as acute myocardial infarction, 9.8 (22.1) times higher for heart failure, 5.6 (8.3) times higher for coronary artery bypass, and 5.1 (8.9) times higher for cardiac catheterization (P <.001 for all). The following relative value unit ratios for physician services were substantially higher for the total diabetic population (for those with type 1 diabetes): 13.2 (27.9) times higher for endocrinologists, 6.3 (12.9) for ophthalmologists, and 9.4 (27.8) for nephrologists. CONCLUSIONS Use, costs, and intensity of resources used were substantially higher for individuals with diabetes, and markedly higher for the population with type 1 diabetes. Our findings show that people with type 1 diabetes are at substantially higher risk for serious complications than those with type 2 diabetes.
Feasibility of unobstrusive ambient sensors for fall detections in home environment

Falls are the leading threats of death, injury and hospital admissions of seniors. About one third of seniors fall every year. Real time fall detection is thus critical to support independent livings of seniors by getting timely interventions from carers/family members. Recent years along with the IoT booming, many wearable sensor based fall detection systems have been developed. However privacy concerns or simply forgot-to-wear make wearable sensors not very accepted by seniors in a home environment seeking long term monitoring solutions. This motivates the development of unobtrusive ambient fall detection system. In this paper, we reviewed studies in this area and categorised them into two types of approaches, namely active and passive. We also evaluated their feasibilities within five domains: obtrusiveness, power connectivity, affordability, complexity of installation and being tested in field trials. The evaluation results could be used as guidance in designing new unobtrusive ambient fall detection systems.
The business curriculum and the future employment market: UAE business leaders' views

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to capture some of the challenges and emerging trends in business education.Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 155 business leaders who work in the UAE has responded to the survey.Findings – The results of this study revealed the most important skills and competencies that local business leaders would like to see university graduates now and five years from now. In addition business leaders have pointed out the important level of the management areas to their companies now and five years from now.Originality/value – The paper highlights business leaders' opinions and views in relation to the relative importance of skills needed in their companies.
Relationship of Optimum Stimulation Level to Fashion Behavior

According to optimum stimulation level theory, each individual seeks optimum stimulation. Environmental stimulation may include novelty, excitement, or new experiences. Optimum stimulation level may operate to guide consumer behavior, and particularly, regarding fashion. One way to increase stimulation might be to shop for and adopt new clothing fashions. This study investigated gender differences in (a) fashion behavior, (b) optimum stimulation level (OSL), and (c) the relationship of subjects' OSL to fashion behavior. Subjects were 335 students who filled out a questionnaire containing OSL measures and fashion behavior measures. Females scored higher on fashion leadership and arousal from unusual stimuli while males scored higher on arousal from sensuality and new environments. Fashion behavior was primarily related to three OSL factors: arousals from change (males and females), risk, and unusual stimuli (males).
African primary school teachers‐what ideas do they hold on air and air pressure?

This paper reports on the ideas held by primary school teacher trainees on some concepts about air and air pressure. The teacher trainees at several training institutions were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to establish their ideas before instruction on the topic. Many of the ideas they held were found to be similar to those found in younger people in previous research carried out in developed countries.
Distinctive qualities of expert teachers

This paper attempts to identify the distinctive qualities of successful veteran teachers, referred to as “expert teachers”, which separates them not only from novice teachers but more importantly from experienced non‐expert teachers. Based on earlier case studies, this paper maintains that the critical differences between expert and non‐expert teachers are manifested in three dimensions: their ability to integrate aspects of teacher knowledge in relation to the teaching act; their response to their contexts of work, and their ability to engage in reflection and conscious deliberation. The paper further addresses the question of why some teachers become experts while others remain experienced non‐experts by examining the developmental processes of the experienced teachers in the case studies. The findings suggest that engagement in exploration and experimentation in teaching and learning, in problematizing the unproblematic, and in tasks which challenge teachers to extend their competence are crucial to the development of expertise. The implications for teacher development are discussed.
Orthostatic hypotension and nicotine sensitivity in a case of multiple system atrophy.

Shy and Drager (1960), on the basis of some 40 published case reports, described a clinical syndrome to which their names have subsequently been attached. The complete syndrome includes ortho-static hypotension, anhidrosis, urinary and faecal incontinence, sexual impotence, Parkinsonian signs, external ocular palsies, amyotrophy
Heat Shock Protein 90 Positively Regulates Chikungunya Virus Replication by Stabilizing Viral Non-Structural Protein nsP2 during Infection

Background The high morbidity and socio-economic loss associated with the recent massive global outbreak of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) emphasize the need to understand the biology of the virus for developing effective antiviral therapies. Methods and Findings In this study, an attempt was made to understand the molecular mechanism involved in Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) mediated regulation of CHIKV infection in mammalian cells using CHIKV prototype strain (S 27) and Indian outbreak strain of 2006 (DRDE-06). Our results showed that Hsp90 is required at a very early stage of viral replication and Hsp90 inhibitor Geldanamycin (GA) can abrogate new virus particle formation more effectively in the case of S 27 than that of DRDE-06. Further analysis revealed that CHIKV nsP2 protein level is specifically reduced by GA treatment as well as HSP90-siRNA transfection; however, viral RNA remains unaltered. Immunoprecipitation analysis showed that nsP2 interacts with Hsp90 during infection; however this interaction is reduced in the presence of GA. In addition, our analysis on Hsp90 associated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway demonstrated that CHIKV infection stabilizes Raf1 and activates Hsp90 client protein Akt, which in turn phosphorylates mTOR. Subsequently, this phosphorylation leads to the activation of two important downstream effectors, S6K and 4EBP1, which may facilitate translation of viral as well as cellular mRNAs. Hence, the data suggests that CHIKV infection is regulated by Hsp90 associated Akt phosphorylation and DRDE-06 is more efficient than S 27 in enhancing the activation of host signaling molecules for its efficient replication and virus production. Conclusion Hsp90 positively regulates Chikungunya virus replication by stabilizing CHIKV-nsP2 through its interaction during infection. The study highlights the possible molecular mechanism of GA mediated inhibition of CHIKV replication and differential effect of this drug on S 27 and DRDE-06, which will be informative for developing effective anti-CHIKV therapies in future.
Do Specific Attention Deficits Need Specific Training

The efficacy of game-like computerised adaptive training programmes for intensity aspects of attention (alertness and vigilance) and selectivity aspects of attention (selective and divided attention) was studied in patients with left or right focal brain damage of vascular aetiology. Each patient received consecutive training in the two most impaired of the four attention domains. Control tests were performed by means of a standardised computerised attention test battery comprising tests for the four attention functions. Assessment was carried out at the beginning and after each of two training periods of 14 one-hour sessions each. There were significant specific training effects for both intensity aspects (alertness and vigilance), and also for response time in the selective attention and error rate in the divided attention task. For selectivity aspects of attention, reaction time also improved after training of basic attention domains. The application of inferential single case procedures revealed not o.
Impact of age and pre-existing influenza immune responses in humans receiving split inactivated influenza vaccine on the induction of the breadth of antibodies to influenza A strains

Most humans have pre-existing immunity to influenza viruses. In this study, volunteers (ages of 18–85 years) were vaccinated with split, inactivated Fluzone™ influenza vaccine in four consecutive influenza seasons from 2013 to 2016 seasons. The impact of repeated vaccination on breadth and durability of antibodies was assessed as a result of vaccine strain changes. Total IgG anti-hemagglutinin (HA) binding antibodies and hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) activity increased in all age groups against both influenza A HA components in the vaccine post-vaccination (day 21). However, younger subjects maintained seroprotective titers to the vaccine strains, which resulted in higher seroconversion rates in the elderly, since the HAI titers in elderly subjects were more likely to decline prior to the next season. Young subjects had significant HAI activity against historical, as well as contemporary H1 and H3 vaccine strains from the mid-1980s to present. In contrast, elderly subjects had HAI activity to H1 strains from all years, but were more likely to have HAI activity to older strains from 1918-1950s. They also had a more restricted HAI profile against H3 viruses compared to young subjects recognizing H3N2 influenza viruses from the mid-2000s to present. Vaccine recipients were then categorized by whether subjects seroconverted from a seronegative or seropositive pre-vaccination state. Regardless of age, immunological recall or ‘back-boosting’ to antigenically related strains were associated with seroconversion to the vaccine strain. Overall, both younger and older people have the ability to mount a breadth of immune responses following influenza vaccination. This report describes how imprinting exposure differs across age groups, influences antibody cross-reactivity to past hemagglutinin antigenic variants, and shapes immune responses elicited by current split inactivated influenza vaccines. Understanding how current influenza vaccines are influenced by pre-existing immunity in people of different ages is critical for designing the next-generation of ‘universal’ or broadly-protective influenza vaccines.
Screening for Anti‐inflammatory and Bronchorelaxant Activities of 12 Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines

The use of health supplements derived from medicinal herbs as self‐medication for the relief of respiratory tract pathology symptoms is increasing in Chinese communities as air pollution is worsening. Twelve herbs from two formulae of our previous studies were evaluated for their anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory and bronchorelaxant activities in this study. Among the extracts tested, those of Herba Schizonepetae and Radix Glycyrrhizae showed significant inhibitory effects on LPS‐induced nitric oxide production (p < 0.05) in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells, suggesting their anti‐inflammatory activities. Radix Scutellariae and Radix Glycyrrhizae extracts showed significant inhibitory effects on phytohaemagglutinin‐induced proliferation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p < 0.05). These extracts also showed inhibition of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and IL‐10 production. For the bronchorelaxant assay, Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntonii and Radix Glycyrrhizae extracts showed potent attenuation of the acetylcholine‐ and carbachol‐induced contractions in rat trachea (p < 0.05), implying their relaxant activities.
The Limitations of Non-consociational Federalism: The Example of Pakistan

Pakistan is a federation with a chequered democratic history, but this should not prevent us from analysing the ways in which its federal form has influenced identity formation and articulation. The form of Pakistan's federation has changed radically and Pakistan has experienced several severe ethno-linguistic conflicts. Interestingly however, the community most often associated with nationalist demands, Pashtuns in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), have been remarkably quiescent. Pashtuns in NWFP possess a strong sense of identity, but they have not seen this as incompatible with their membership of Pakistan. One reason for this is their co-option in the core institutions of state. Can this be replicated elsewhere in Pakistan? This paper will contend that it is the absence of consociational mechanisms that has caused much of the conflict in Pakistan even in the absence of democracy.
An Outline of the Role of Brain in Human Cognitive Development

Brain development in humans occurs stagewise in correlation with the onsets of the main Piagetian stages of reasoning development. This allows a description of cognitive development as at least partially resulting from and dependent upon biological events occurring in the brain. Evidence shows that some eventual brain structures depend on a combination of biological events and instructional inputs. This contributes to the instruction dependence of the higher cognitive functions. Such a description thereby permits some novel working hypotheses about normal cognitive development and how to foster it as well as suggests alternative ways of creating intervention programs for children from deprived environments.
Construct validity and reliability of working memory tasks for people with aphasia

Background: Although several studies have examined working memory in people with aphasia, there is little information about the psychometric properties of tasks used to measure working memory in this population. Aims: The aims of this study were (1) to examine the construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of several working memory tasks and (2) to determine which tasks were feasible to use with people with a wide range of aphasia severities. Methods & Procedures: In experiment one, non-brain-damaged adults (n = 47) completed a set of working memory tasks that were designed for use with people with aphasia. The tasks included 1-back, 2-back, listening span and forward and backward versions of picture span and square span. Construct validity was assessed by correlating performance on the new tasks with a composite score based on three well-established working memory tasks with known psychometric properties. Ten older adults completed the testing battery twice to measure test-retest reliability. Internal consistency was estimated using split-half reliability. In experiment two, people with aphasia (n = 12) completed the new working memory tasks. Outcomes & Results: The picture span tasks demonstrated acceptable test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity. Controls showed ceiling effects on 1-back and people with aphasia showed floor effects on listening span. Both the square span tasks and n-back showed poor internal consistency for people with aphasia and age-matched controls. Conclusions: A composite score based on the forward and backward versions of picture span provides a measure of verbal working memory with acceptable construct validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability and can be completed by non-brain-damaged adults and people with aphasia.
Using Group Therapy to Enhance Treatment Compliance in First Episode Schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Group therapy for first episode of schizophrenia patients is examined for its effect on treatment compliance and dropout rates. Results from data collected over a two-year period on 77 patients in the first episode of schizophrenia show that there is a statistically significant link (p < .001, Fischer's Exact) between group participation and lowering the number of dropouts. Clinical case data is used to illustrate strategies for keeping patients in group and compliant with treatment. The statistical and the case data support the conclusion that group participation should be encouraged for patients in the first episode of schizophrenia. This report adds to an increasing awareness in the literature about the benefits of group treatment for schizophrenia.
The experiences of deaf and hard of hearing students at a Queensland University: 1985–2005

This article reports on the experiences of deaf and hard of hearing students at a Queensland university, which offers an extensive deaf student support program. Seventy‐two current students and graduates since the program’s inception twenty years ago completed a survey about their experiences, highlights, challenges and use of communication tools and support services at university. Findings indicate, both quantitatively and qualitatively, that students valued the specialised support services they received, although challenges in accessing the academic curriculum remained for many students. In the important area of social factors, many students reported enjoying satisfying friendships and a sense of belonging with other deaf people, often for the first time, while others experienced feelings of social isolation in a largely hearing peer group. Overall, deaf and hard of hearing students who had attended Griffith over the 20 years had a high rate of graduation, comparing favourably with other university students.