Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Risk of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer

Introduction: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) might reduce risks of esophageal and gastric cancer, but previous studies are limited and provide somewhat conflicting results. Methods: We tested these associations in a prospective, nested case-control study based on the General Practitioners Research Database, including over 2 million persons in the United Kingdom between 1994 and 2001. In multivariate analyses we calculated odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Data were stratified by history of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disorders and recalculated using 2 years lag time on data (i.e., excluding all information 2 years before index date). Results: Among 4,340,207 person-years of follow-up, we identified 909 patients with esophageal cancer and 1,023 patients with gastric cancer. We randomly selected 10,000 control subjects. Overall analysis suggested that long-term users of nonaspirin NSAIDs were at reduced risks of esophageal (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.57-1.18) and gastric cancer (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.44-0.94), whereas long-term aspirin users might be at decreased risk of esophageal cancer (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.53-1.08), but not of gastric cancer (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.82-1.45). All estimates of reduced risk were weakened in the 2 years lag time analysis except the association between nonaspirin NSAIDs long-term users and gastric cancer. Potentially protective effects were suggestive of being more marked among subjects with a history of UGI disorders. Conclusions: Nonaspirin NSAIDs long-term use was associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer, whereas no other studied associations could be firmly established. Our results suggest that UGI disorders could distort the associations, although we could not show this with statistical significance. If such bias was to be true, the previously reported inverse associations might, at least partly, be explained by lack of appropriate adjustment for such disorders.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Downregulates MYCN Expression and Promotes Cell Differentiation of Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common malignant disease of infancy. MYCN amplification is a prognostic factor for NB and is a sign of highly malignant disease and poor patient prognosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate novel MYCN-related genes and assess how they affect NB cell behavior. The different gene expression found in 10 MYCN amplification NB tumors and 10 tumors with normal MYCN copy number were analyzed using tissue oligonucleotide microarrays. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was subsequently performed to identify the potential genes involved in MYCN regulation pathways. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a receptor for dioxin-like compounds, was found to be inversely correlated with MYCN expression in NB tissues. This correlation was confirmed in a further 14 human NB samples. Moreover, AHR expression in NB tumors was found to correlate highly with histological grade of differentiation. In vitro studies revealed that AHR overexpression in NB cells induced spontaneous cell differentiation. In addition, it was found that ectopic expression of AHR suppressed MYCN promoter activity resulting in downregulation of MYCN expression. The suppression effect of AHR on the transcription of MYCN was compensated for by E2F1 overexpression, indicating that E2F1 is involved in the AHR-regulating MYCN pathway. Furthermore, AHR shRNA promotes the expression of E2F1 and MYCN in NB cells. These findings suggest that AHR is one of the upstream regulators of MYCN. Through the modulation of E2F1, AHR regulates MYCN gene expression, which may in turn affect NB differentiation.
Motives for parenthood among couples attending a level 3 infertility clinic in the public health sector in South Africa.

BACKGROUND Most African countries are pronatalistic with high total fertility rates and a low prevalence of voluntary childlessness. At present, limited data exist relating to the reasons why men and women desire children. This study explores parenthood motives among infertile couples from an urban community in South Africa. METHODS The parenthood-motivation list, an instrument developed in the Netherlands for the assessment of parenthood motives and strength of desire for a child, was administrated to 50 couples (100 participants) who presented to an infertility clinic in a tertiary referral centre. The instrument discerns six parenthood motives comprising happiness, well-being, identity, parenthood, continuity and social control. RESULTS The majority of participants endorsed most of the motives. The categories happiness and parenthood were the most frequent motives. Women endorsed more motives simultaneously when compared with men. The categories happiness, well-being and social control correlated positively with strength of desire for a child. Most men and women expressed a strong desire for a child. CONCLUSIONS Men and women desired children for many reasons and with similar intensity. This diversity and intensity of parenthood motives appears to be a reflection of the value of children in our communities and further our understanding of the implications of involuntary childlessness.
Effects of prenatal undernutrition on developing rat diaphragm.

The effects of maternal nutritional deprivation (ND) on the proportions and cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of type I and II fibers in the developing rat diaphragm (Dia) were examined. In addition, the effects of ND on in vitro contractile and fatigue properties were also studied. Compared with in the control (CTL) group (from pups of well-nourished mothers), proportions of type II fibers were significantly lower in the ND group during the first 3 postnatal wk. However, this difference did not persist into adulthood. CSAs of type I and II fibers were larger in ND Dia than in CTL Dia during early postnatal development, but in adults type I and II fiber CSAs were larger in CTL than in ND Dia. Interstitial space comprised a smaller fraction of total muscle area in ND Dia throughout postnatal development and persisted in adults. Estimated fiber density (no. of fibers/CSA muscle) was lower in ND groups at all ages. In addition, the total number of fibers was significantly lower in ND Dia at all ages. Optimal muscle fiber length for peak twitch and maximum isometric force generation was shorter in ND Dia at all ages. At postnatal days 7 and 14, specific force (maximum tetanic force in N/cm2) of ND Dia was significantly lower than that of CTL Dia. At day 21, Dia specific force was comparable between the two groups but was significantly lower in adult ND compared with adult CTL Dia. Except for days 0 and 14, ND Dia was more fatigue resistant than CTL Dia. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 isolates more tolerant of heat, acid, or hydrogen peroxide also survive longer on surfaces

In a comparative study of different Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 isolates we found that those isolates with enhanced heat tolerance also survived better than isolates that were heat sensitive either at pH 2.6, in 10 mM H2O2, or on surfaces. Culture to the stationary phase increased the heat tolerance of all isolates and the acid and H2O2 tolerance of heat-tolerant isolates. With heat-sensitive isolates, however, extended culture had no impact on survival in H2O2 and only a marginal impact on acid tolerance. The growth phase had no appreciable impact on the surface survival of any of the isolates.
You can run, but you can't hide: an effective statistical methodology to trace back DDoS attackers

There is currently an urgent need for effective solutions against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks directed at many well-known Web sites. Because of increased sophistication and severity of these attacks, the system administrator of a victim site needs to quickly and accurately identify the probable attackers and eliminate the attack traffic. Our work is based on a probabilistic marking algorithm in which an attack graph can be constructed by a victim site. We extend the basic concept such that one can quickly and efficiently deduce the intensity of the "local traffic" generated at each router in the attack graph based on the volume of received marked packets at the victim site. Given the intensities of these local traffic rates, we can rank the local traffic and identify the network domains generating most of the attack traffic. We present our trace back and attacker identification algorithms. We also provide a theoretical framework to determine the minimum stable time t/sub min/, which is the minimum time needed to accurately determine the locations of attackers and local traffic rates of participating routers in the attack graph. Extensive experiments are carried out to illustrate that one can accurately determine the minimum stable time t/sub min/ and, at the same time, determine the location of attackers under various threshold parameters, network diameters, attack traffic distributions, on/off patterns, and network traffic conditions.
Physiological control of diving behaviour in the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli: a model based on cardiorespiratory control theory

SUMMARY Despite being obligate air breathers, many species of marine mammal are capable of spending most of their lives submerged in water. How they do this has been a subject of intense interest to physiologists for over a century, yet we still do not have a detailed understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying this behaviour. What are the proximate mechanisms that trigger the 'decisions' to submerge and return to the surface? The present study proposes a model intended to address this question, based on fundamental concepts of cardiorespiratory control. Two basic hypotheses are examined by computer simulation, using a mathematical model of the mammalian cardiorespiratory control system with parameter values for an adult Weddell seal: (1) that the control of diving can be considered to be a respiratory control problem, and (2) that dives are initiated and maintained by disfacilitation of respiratory drive, not inhibition. Computer simulations confirmed the plausibility of these hypotheses. Simulated diving behaviour and physiological responses (ventilation, cardiac output, blood and tissue gas tensions) were consistent with published data from freely diving Weddell seals. Dives up to the estimated aerobic dive limit (ADL, 18-25 min) could be simulated without the need for active inhibition of breathing in this model. This theoretical analysis suggests that the most important physiological adjustments occur during the surface interval phase of the dive cycle and include hyperventilation accompanied by high cardiac output, appropriate regulation of cerebral blood flow and central chemoreceptor threshold shifts. During dives, cardiac output, distribution of peripheral blood flow, splenic contraction and peripheral chemoreflex drives were found to modulate physiological and behavioural responses, but were not essential for simulated dives to occur. The main conclusion from this study is that the central chemoreceptor may be an important mechanism involved in the regulation of diving behaviour, implying that CO2, not O2, is the key regulatory variable in this model. This model includes and extends the ADL concept and suggests an explicit mechanism by which the respiratory control system may play a central role in the regulation of diving behaviour. It is likely that respiratory mechanisms are an important component of a hierarchical behavioural control system and further studies are required to test the qualitative and quantitative validity of the model.
Cloning and Characterization of vuuA, a Gene Encoding the Vibrio vulnificus Ferric Vulnibactin Receptor

ABSTRACT The ability of Vibrio vulnificus to acquire iron from the host has been shown to correlate with virulence. Many iron transport genes are regulated by iron, and in V. vulnificus, transcriptional regulation by iron depends on thefur gene. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of a 72-kDa iron-regulated outer membrane protein purified from a V. vulnificus fur mutant had 53% homology with the first 15 amino acids of the mature protein of the Vibrio choleraevibriobactin receptor, ViuA. In this report, we describe the cloning, DNA sequence, mutagenesis, and analysis of transcriptional regulation of the structural gene for VuuA, the vulnibactin receptor of V. vulnificus. Analysis of the DNA sequence of the vuuApromoter region demonstrated a sequence identical to the upstream Fur box of V. cholerae viuA. Northern blot analysis showed that the transcript was strongly regulated by iron. The amino acid sequence of VuuA was 74% identical to the sequence of V. choleraeViuA and was homologous to those of several TonB-dependent outer membrane receptors. An internal deletion of the V. vulnificus vuuA gene resulted in the loss of expression of the 72-kDa protein and the loss of the ability to use transferrin or vulnibactin as a source of iron. This mutant showed reduced virulence in an infant mouse model. Introduction of a plasmid containing the completeviuA coding sequence and 342 bp of upstream DNA into the mutant restored ferric vulnibactin and ferric transferrin utilization to the mutant.
A computed tomography-based morphometric study of thoracic pedicle anatomy in a random United States trauma population.

OBJECT The objective of this study was to establish normative data for thoracic pedicle anatomy in the US adult population. To this end, CT scans chosen at random from an adult database were evaluated to determine the ideal pedicle screw (PS) length, diameter, trajectory, and starting point in the thoracic spine. The role of patient sex and side of screw placement were also assessed. The authors postulated that this information would be of value in guiding safe implant size and placement for surgeons in training. METHODS One hundred patients (50 males and 50 females) were selected via retrospective review of a hospital trauma registry database over a 6-month period. Patients included in the study were older than 18 years of age, had axial bone-window CT images of the thoracic spine, and had no evidence of spinal trauma. For each pedicle, the pedicle width, pedicle-rib width, estimated screw length, trajectory, and ideal entry point were measured using eFilm Lite software. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test. RESULTS The shortest mean estimated PS length was at T-1 (33.9 ± 3.3 mm), and the longest was at T-9 (44.9 ± 4.4 mm). Pedicle screw length was significantly affected by patient sex; men could accommodate a PS from T1-12 a mean of 4.0 ± 1.0 mm longer than in women (p < 0.001). Pedicle width showed marked variation by spinal level, with T-4 (4.4 ± 1.1 mm) having the narrowest width and T-12 (8.3 ± 1.7 mm) having the widest. Pedicle width had an obvious affect on potential screw diameter; 65% of patients had a least 1 pedicle at T-4 that was < 5 mm in diameter and therefore would not accept a 4.0-mm screw with 1.0 mm of clearance, as compared with only 2% of patients with a similar status at T-12. Sex variation was also apparent, as thoracic pedicles from T-1 to T-12 were a mean of 1.4 ± 0.2 mm wider in men than in women (p < 0.001). The PS trajectory in the axial plane was measured, showing a marked decrease from T-1 to T-4, stabilization from T-5 to T-10, followed by a decrease at T11-12. When screw trajectory was stratified by side of placement, a mean of 1.7° ± 0.5° of increased medialization was required for ideal pedicle cannulation from T-3 to T-12 on the left as compared with the right side, presumably because of developmental changes in the vertebral body caused by the aorta (p < 0.05 for T3-12, except for T-5, where p = 0.051). The junction of the superior articular process, lamina, and the superior ridge of the transverse process was shown to be a conserved surface landmark for PS placement. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative CT evaluation is important in choosing PS length, diameter, trajectory, and entry point due to variation based on spinal level, patient sex, and side of placement. These data are valuable for resident and fellow training to guide the safe use of thoracic PSs.
Constitutive Activity and Inverse Agonism at the M2 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor

Introduction of a single-point mutation (Asn to Tyr) at position 410 at the junction between transmembrane domain 6 and the third extracellular loop of the human M2 muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptor generated a mutant receptor (N410Y) that possesses many of the hallmark features of a constitutively active mutant receptor. These included enhanced agonist binding affinity and potency, in addition to agonist-independent accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates in cells coexpressing the chimeric Gαqi5 protein and the N410Y mutant M2 mACh receptor. Constitutive activity was sensitive to inhibition by a range of muscarinic ligands, including those used clinically in the management of overactive bladder (oxybutynin, tolterodine, and darifenacin), indicating that these ligands behave as inverse agonists at the M2 mACh receptor. Long-term (24-h) treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the N410Y mutant M2 mACh receptor with certain mACh receptor inverse agonists (atropine, darifenacin, and pirenzepine) elicited a concentration-dependent up-regulation of cell surface receptor expression. However, not all ligands possessing negative efficacy in the [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation assays were capable of significantly up-regulating receptor expression, perhaps indicating a spectrum of negative efficacies among ligands traditionally defined as mACh receptor antagonists. Finally, structurally distinct agonists exhibited differences in their relative potencies for the activation of Gαi/o versus Gαs, consistent with agonist-directed trafficking of signaling at the N410Y mutant, but not at the wild-type M2 mACh receptor. This indicates that the N410Y mutation of the M2 mACh receptor alters receptor-G-protein coupling in an agonist-dependent manner, in addition to generating a constitutively active receptor phenotype.
FloTrac for monitoring arterial pressure and cardiac output during phaeochromocytoma surgery.

EDITOR: The recently introduced FloTrac device (FloTrac/ Vigileo; Edwards Lifescience, Irvine, CA, USA) has been proposed as a reliable semi-invasive device for cardiac output (CO) measurements. Its technology is based on arterial pressure waveform analysis and needs no calibration. We report its use during a haemodynamically unstable situation where the FloTrac device was compared to a pulmonary arterial catheter (PAC) for the measurement of CO. Case report A 34-yr-old female presented for surgical management of multiple endocrine neoplasia type IIa (MEN IIa). She was scheduled for elective bilateral adrenal tumour removal and total thyroidectomy. After induction of general anaesthesia, radial artery catheter and PAC (continuous CO 7.5 F catheter; Edwards Lifescience) were inserted. The FloTrac device was then attached to the arterial canula and connected to the Vigileo monitor (version 1.10). Concurrent recording of CO indexed to body surface area (cardiac index, CI) were performed on the FloTrac (CI_FloTrac) and the PAC (CI_PAC) during and after the surgery. Additional information collected included heart rate, arterial pressure, anaesthetic and surgical events. During phaeochromocytoma surgery, we observed an episode of severe hypertension (MAP 5140mmHg) treated by deepening of anaesthesia and a bolus of urapidil (25mg). After adrenalectomy, hypotension was treated with ephedrine boluses, neosynephrine and then norepinephrine (up to 0.6 mgkg 21 min 21 )
Assessment of diet in chronic kidney disease female predialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Nutrition is important in the therapy of predialysis patients. The aim of the presented single-centre descriptive study was to assess the diet in chronic kidney disease female predialysis patients with no previous dietary intervention, in comparison with recommendations, as well as the analysis of the energy, protein and phosphate intake in correlation with chosen laboratory measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS The research was carried out in 31 female predialysis patients with CKD of different etiology, aged 29-79 years (GFR: 19.4±9.7 ml/min/1.73 m2). Main outcome measures were self-reported data from three-day dietary recall. Nutrients content and energy value of diet were compared with guidelines for chronic kidney disease patients or, in case of nutrients when they are not settled, with the recommendations for healthy women. RESULTS All patients had a lower energy intake than the recommended level. At the same time, 35.8% of patients were characterised by improper protein intake--too low or too high. The majority of patients had low intake of most of vitamins and minerals. The total, animal and plant protein were positively correlated with the energy value of diet and with amount of most of the nutrients. Values of GFR were positively correlated with animal protein intake, while phosphate and creatinine in blood were negatively correlated with total and animal protein intake. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights that diet of CKD predialysis patients with no previous dietary intervention is not properly balanced.
Mobility-Assisted Relocation for Self-Deployment in Wireless Sensor Networks

Sensor network deployment is very challenging due to the hostile and unpredictable nature of environments. The field coverage of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can be enhanced and consequently network lifetime can be prolonged by optimizing the sensor deployment with a finite number of mobile sensors. In this paper, we introduce a comprehensive taxonomy for WSN self-deployment in which three sensor relocation algorithms are proposed to match the mobility degree of sensor nodes, particle swarm optimization based algorithm (PSOA), relay shift based algorithm (RSBA) and energy efficient fuzzy optimization algorithm (EFOA). PSOA regards the sensors in the network as a swarm, and reorganizes the sensors by the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, in the full sensor mobility case. RSBA and EFOA assume relatively limited sensor mobility, i.e., the movement distance is bounded by a threshold, to further reduce energy consumption. In the zero mobility case, static topology control or scheduling schemes can be used such as optimal cluster formation. Simulation results show that our approaches greatly improve the network coverage as well as energy efficiency compared with related works.
Rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis in black infants in South Africa

From March 1983 to February 1985, rectal swabs were collected from the black infants admitted to the gastroenteritis unit at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, to investigate the prevalence of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis. Overall, 23.1% of the patients tested were found to be positive for rotaviral illness; a definite seasonal pattern emerged, showing a marked increase in the number positive during the autumn. Other factors of importance in terms of rotaviral illness included the age distribution of the patients, the presence of vomiting, and duration of illness.
In Vitro Mutagenesis in Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) for Induction of Resistance to Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Dianthi

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L) is a member of family Caryophyllaceae and a native of Mediterranean area (Dole and Wilkins, 1999). This flower is one of the world's most popular and economic cut flowers due to its keeping quality, wide range of forms, colors and ability to withstand long distance transportation. Carnation is a new introduction to India and with the boom in cut flower industry, its cultivation began in the country targeting the export market along with roses (Tejaswani and Dhananjaya, 2007).