Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
REVEALING COMPANIONS TO NEARBY STARS WITH ASTROMETRIC ACCELERATION

A subset of 51 Hipparcos astrometric binaries among FG dwarfs within 67 pc has been surveyed with the Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager adaptive optics system at Gemini-S, directly resolving for the first time 17 subarcsecond companions and 7 wider ones. Using these data together with published speckle interferometry of 57 stars, we compare the statistics of resolved astrometric companions with those of a simulated binary population. The fraction of resolved companions is slightly lower than expected from binary statistics. About 10% of astrometric companions could be “dark” (white dwarfs and close pairs of late M-dwarfs). To our surprise, several binaries are found with companions too wide to explain the acceleration. Re-analysis of selected intermediate astrometric data shows that some acceleration solutions in the original Hipparcos catalog are spurious.
The Human Cell Surfaceome of Breast Tumors

Introduction. Cell surface proteins are ideal targets for cancer therapy and diagnosis. We have identified a set of more than 3700 genes that code for transmembrane proteins believed to be at human cell surface. Methods. We used a high-throuput qPCR system for the analysis of 573 cell surface protein-coding genes in 12 primary breast tumors, 8 breast cell lines, and 21 normal human tissues including breast. To better understand the role of these genes in breast tumors, we used a series of bioinformatics strategies to integrates different type, of the datasets, such as KEGG, protein-protein interaction databases, ONCOMINE, and data from, literature. Results. We found that at least 77 genes are overexpressed in breast primary tumors while at least 2 of them have also a restricted expression pattern in normal tissues. We found common signaling pathways that may be regulated in breast tumors through the overexpression of these cell surface protein-coding genes. Furthermore, a comparison was made between the genes found in this report and other genes associated with features clinically relevant for breast tumorigenesis. Conclusions. The expression profiling generated in this study, together with an integrative bioinformatics analysis, allowed us to identify putative targets for breast tumors.
INCREASED FACTOR VIII AS AN INDEX OF VASCULAR INJURY IN CYCLOSPORINE NEPHROTOXICITY

Very high plasma concentrations of factor-VIII-related antigen (RAG) (VIII-RAG) were found in renal allograft recipients during periods of nephrotoxicity induced by cyclosporine. In eight recipients, who were investigated at weekly intervals, levels of factor-VIII-RAG fell toward normal as the dose of cyclosporine was reduced. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein, an acute phase reactant protein, were never raised in these recipients. These findings are further evidence that toxic dosed of cyclosporine are associated with voscular injury.
Using unstructured diaries for primary data collection.

AIM To give a reflective account of using unstructured handwritten diaries as a method of collecting qualitative data. BACKGROUND Diaries are primarily used in research as a method of collecting qualitative data. There are some challenges associated with their use, including compliance rates. However, they can provide a rich source of meaningful data and can avoid the difficulties of participants trying to precisely recall events after some time has elapsed. DATA SOURCES The author used unstructured handwritten diaries as her primary method of collecting data during her grounded theory doctoral study, when she examined the professional socialisation of nursing students. Over two years, 26 participants selected from four consecutive recruited groups of nursing students volunteered to take part in the study and were asked to keep a daily diary throughout their first five weeks of clinical experience. REVIEW METHODS When using open-ended research questions, grounded theory's pragmatic approach permits the examination of processes thereby creating conceptual interpretive understanding of data. DISCUSSION A wealth of rich, detailed data was obtained from the diaries that permitted the development of new theories regarding the effects early clinical experiences have on nursing students' professional socialisation. CONCLUSION Diaries were found to provide insightful in-depth qualitative data in a resource-friendly manner. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH/PRACTICE Nurse researchers should consider using diaries as an alternative to more commonly used approaches to collecting qualitative data.
Comparative binding and disintegrating property of Echinochloa colona starch (difra starch) against maize, sorghum, and cassava starch

Abstract Context: Starch obtained from different botanical sources exhibit different characteristics due to variation in amylase–amylopectin ratio, which results in different binder substrate interactions. Objective: The present study characterized Echinochloa colona (L.) Link (Poaceae) starch and evaluated its compressional characteristics for use as tablet excipient against commonly used maize, sorghum, and cassava starch. Materials and methods: Three experimental design studies were performed to determine the effects of the maize starch and povidone on physical properties of paracetamol (250 mg) tablets. The effect of superdisintegrants sodium starch glycolate and croscarmellose sodium on the optimized composition obtained in the preceding experiments was evaluated in two factorial experimental studies. The maize starch in the optimum formulations was replaced with difra, sorghum, and cassava starch, and tablets prepared from these starches were compared for their compressional characteristics, lubrication sensitivity, moisture uptake, and drug release. Results: Tablets prepared from maize starch and povidone (30:9, w/w) blend which was previously mixed for 8 min disintegrated (DT) in 10 min. Superdisintegrants decreased DT of tablets significantly (p < 0.05) to 2.2 min. The Hausner ratios of co-processed mixtures containing sorghum, maize, and difra starch were 1.19, 1.21, and 1.26, respectively, with equilibrium moisture content of 8–9%. The DT of sorghum and difra starch formulations which related directly to their higher hydration capacity (difra > sorghum > maize starch) and swelling property was 1.5 min and 2.5 min, respectively, with a friability of 0.32%. The effect of lubrication on the DT and friability of tablets containing maize and difra starch was significant (p < 0.05). However, more than 90% drug was released in vitro dissolution studies. Conclusion: Difra starch can replace maize and sorghum starch as tablet excipient.
Financial Dependence, Banking Sector Competition, and Economic Growth

The relationships among competition in the financial sector, access of firms to external financing, and associated economic growth are ambiguous in theory. Moreover, measuring competition in the financial sector can be complex. In this paper the authors first estimate for 16 countries a measure of banking system competition based on industrial organization theory. They then relate this competition measure to growth of industries and find that greater competition in countries'banking systems allows financially dependent industries to grow faster. These results are robust under a variety of tests. Their results suggest that the degree of competition is an important aspect of financial sector functioning.
Measuring Breast Cancer and Mammography Screening Beliefs Among Chinese American Immigrants

Disparities in breast cancer outcomes persist among Asian American women. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Chinese American women. This article describes the psychometric evaluation of an instrument measuring knowledge and beliefs related to breast cancer and screening among Chinese American women aged 40 or older. A sample of 100 foreign-born Chinese American women were recruited from an Asian community. Guided by the health belief model, a questionnaire was adapted from three existing questionnaires. Principal axis factoring analyses yielded a three-factor solution that accounted for 53% of the variance in the breast cancer items and a four-factor solution that accounted for 69% of the variance in the cultural items (Cronbach's alphas = .71—.89). Whereas these findings contribute to the understanding of the psychometric properties of an instrument targeted for Chinese American women, additional research is needed to evaluate its utility and efficacy for other Asian Americans.
Efficacy of heartworm removal in dogs with dirofilarial hemoglobinuria using flexible alligator forceps.

Heartworms were removed from the right atrium and the pulmonary arteries through the jugular vein using a flexible alligator forceps in dogs with dirofilarial hemoglobinuria (caval syndrome). In 23 outpatient dogs (without autopsy), the heartworms in the right atrium and the tricuspid valve orifice were removed completely. Moreover, 1 to 36 worms were removed from the pulmonary artefy in 16 of 23 dogs (69.9%). In 9 experimental dogs with autopsy, 8 to 34 worms were removed from the right atrium, and 1 to 21 worms were removed from the pulmonary artery in all dogs. Zero to 11 worms remained in the pulmonary arteries, and mean removal efficacy was 89.3% in 9 dogs. Cardiopulmonary values were measured before and 24 hr after heartworm removal in 9 experimental dogs. Right cardiac output, cardiac index and stroke volume tended to increase in 5 dogs which recovered after heartworm removal. These parameters tended to decrease in 3 of 4 dogs with poor prognosis. Pressures in the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle ranged variously from normal value to extremely higher level (>100 mmHg) before heartworm removal. The pressures showed varying changes after heartworm removal without correlation to the prognosis. The heartworm removal with a flexible alligator forceps was safer and more available than that with a hard forceps as therapy for canine dirofilarial hemoglobinuria, because the worms in the right atrium and the tricuspid valve orifice could be removed completely, and the worms in the pulmonary artery were also removed with high efficacy and no harm.
Cytochalasin B: effect on lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes.

The morphological and biochemical consequences of treatment of human peripheral blood leukocytes with cytochalasin B were studied. Incubation of human polymorphs with cytochalasin B resulted in nuclear and cytoplasmic spreading, but not in spontaneous release of lysosomal enzymes. Cytochalasin B inhibited particle uptake. Consequently, phagocytic vacuoles were not observed; instead, granule contents were discharged directly into the surrounding medium when cytochalasin B-treated cells were challenged with zymosan particles. Cytochalasin B enhanced the release of lysosomal enzymes from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes whether these encountered zymosan particles or immune complexes on a nonphagocytosable Millipore filter. Cytochalasin B-treated leukocytes thus constitute a model system for quantitative study of lysosome fusion. Augmented enzyme release was blocked by prior treatment of cells with pharmacological doses of agents that influence the accumulation of cyclic nucleotides (cyclic nucleotides themselves, prostaglandin E(1)) or by compounds that interfere with microtubule function (e.g., colchicine, vinblastine). These observations suggest that one action of cytochalasin B on phagocytic cells is to remove the normal constraints to merger of granules, either with each other or with the plasma membrane, and that intact microtubule function is required for translocation of lysosomes.
Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation Use on Oxidant/Antioxidant Status and DNA Turn-over Enzyme Activities in Erythrocytes and Heart, Kidney, Liver, and Ovary Tissues From Rats: Possible Protective Role of Vitamin C

ABSTRACT In this study, the aim was to investigate possible effects of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) use on oxidant and antioxidant status in erythrocytes and kidney, heart, liver, and ovary tissues from rats, and possible protective role of vitamin C. For this aim, 40 Wistar albino female rats were used throughout the study. The treatment group was exposed to EMR in a frequency of 900 MHz, the EMR plus vitamin C group was exposed to the same EMR frequency and given vitamin C (250 mg/kg/day) orally for 4 weeks. There were 10 animals in each group including control and vitamin C groups. At the end of the study period, blood samples were obtained from the animals to get erythrocyte sediments. Then the animals were sacrificed and heart, kidney, liver, and ovary tissues were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), xanthine oxidase (XO), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzyme activities were measured in the tissues and erythrocytes. It was observed that MDA level, XO, and GSH-Px activities significantly increased in the EMR group as compared with those of the control group in the erythrocytes. In the kidney tissues, it was found that MDA level and CAT activity significantly increased, whereas XO and ADA activities decreased in the cellular phone group as compared with those of the control group. However, in the heart tissues it was observed that MDA level, ADA, and XO activities significantly decreased in the cellular phone group as compared with those of the control group. The results suggest that EMR at the frequency generated by a cell phone causes oxidative stress and peroxidation in the erythrocytes and kidney tissues from rats. In the erythrocytes, vitamin C seems to make partial protection against the oxidant stress.
Distributed finite-time tracking control for nonlinear multi-agent systems subject to external disturbances

In this article, distributed finite-time tracking control for nonlinear multi-agent systems subject to external disturbances is investigated. With the aid of sliding-mode control technique, both the finite-time consensus tracking in the presence of a single leader and the finite-time containment control with multiple leaders are in detail analysed. A distinctive feature of this work is that the communication topology among the followers can be directed. It is shown that the states of the followers can track that of the leader when there exists a single leader, and converge to a convex hull spanned by those of the leaders when there exist multiple leaders, both in finite time. Moreover, the finite convergence time is explicitly presented. Numerical examples are finally given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Comparative Anatomy, Evolution, and Homologies of Tetrapod Hindlimb Muscles, Comparison with Forelimb Muscles, and Deconstruction of the Forelimb‐Hindlimb Serial Homology Hypothesis

For more than two centuries, the idea that the forelimb and hindlimb are serially homologous structures has been accepted without serious question. This study presents the first detailed analysis of the evolution and homologies of all hindlimb muscles in representatives of each major tetrapod group and proposes a unifying nomenclature for these muscles. These data are compared with information obtained previously about the forelimb muscles of tetrapods and the muscles of other gnathostomes in order to address one of the most central and enigmatic questions in evolutionary and comparative anatomy: why are the pelvic and pectoral appendages of gnathostomes generally so similar to each other? An integrative analysis of the new myological data, combined with a review of recent paleontological, developmental, and genetic works and of older studies, does not support serial homology between the structures of these appendages. For instance, many of the strikingly similar forelimb and hindlimb muscles found in each major extant tetrapod taxon were acquired at different geological times and/or have different embryonic origins. These similar muscles are not serial homologues, but the result of evolutionary parallelism/convergence due to a complex interplay of ontogenetic, functional, topological, and phylogenetic constraints/factors. Anat Rec, 297:1047–1075, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Role of Community Health Centers in Assessing the Social Determinants of Health for Planning and Policy: The Example of Frontier New Mexico

This article examines the experience of a frontier-based community health center when it utilized the Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) for assessing social determinants of health with a local health consortium. Community members (N = 357) rated safety, jobs, housing, and education among the top health issues. Community leaders integrated these health priorities in a countywide strategic planning process. This example of a frontier county in New Mexico demonstrates the critical role that community health centers play when engaging with local residents to assess community health needs for strategic planning and policy development.
Simplified acetylcysteine-alkali digestion-decontamination procedure for isolation of mycobacteria from clinical specimens

During our attempts to reevaluate and improve mycobacteriology laboratory procedures, we found that isolation of mycobacteria from undecontaminated specimens through the use of selective media was unrewarding and that specimen decontamination was an essential step. A reevaluation of the N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium hydroxide (NALC-NaOH) decontamination procedure (G. P. Kubica, W. E. Dye, M. L. Cohn, and G. Middlebrook, Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 87:775-779, 1963) indicated that this method could be simplified and shortened without affecting the isolation rate or growth and without increasing the contamination rate. The modified NALC-NaOH procedure effectively combines the decontamination step with the concentration step: specimens are mixed with the NALC-NaOH solution on a Vortex mixer and, without any waiting or addition of buffer or water to the digested specimens, centrifuged at 3,000 X g for 15 min, and the sediment is suspended in phosphate buffer (pH 5.3). The modified method is simpler, faster, and safer than the original procedure, and the reduced manipulation is also likely to minimize the chance for cross-contamination in sequential specimen processing. The total alkali exposure time in the modified NALC-NaOH method should be kept to a minimum; if necessary or feasible, the concentration of NaOH in the digestion solution may be reduced from the usual strength of 2% to about 1.5% to compensate for the longer alkali exposure time in the modified method to maintain the isolation rate or to improve it.
Nutritional Characteristics of Calystegia japonica

In the present study, the proximate composition, sugar, minerals, total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and amino acids in Calystegia japonica (C. japonica) were measured to determine if it can be used as a nutritional and functional material for the development of valuable foods. The mean crude protein, fat, and ash contents of the leaves were 5.75, 2.46, and 7.77%, respectively. The soluble-protein contents of the leaves and roots were 146.78 and 33.67 mg%, respectively. The reducing-sugar and free-sugar contents of the leaves were 682.70 and 166.00 mg%, respectively, and those of the roots were 2,934.89 and 37.70 mg%. The mineral content of the leaves was 3,122.13 mg%, and that of the roots was 1,540.85 mg%. The three elements Ca, K, and Mg were very rich in all their parts, with minerals accounting for 96-99% of their total mineral contents. The total phenolic compound of the leaves was 3,028.89 mg%, and the total flavonoid compound was 382.67 mg%. The phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the leaves were more than 7.6 times those in the roots. The free-amino acid levels in the leaves and roots were 2,467.15 and 1,334.81 mg%, respectively. The results of the comparison of the leaves and roots of C. japonica showed that the leaves had a rich proximate composition consisting of minerals, total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and amino acid. This suggests that C. japonica leaves are potentially useful sources of functional and favorite foods and nutraceuticals.
Quantification of TEL–AML1 transcript for minimal residual disease assessment in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Strategies currently used for residual disease detection in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) rely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of immunoglobulin and T‐cell receptor rearrangements. The TEL–AML1 fusion transcript, which is associated with t(12;21) (p13;q22), is found in 25% of childhood B‐cell precursor ALL, and represents an interesting alternative target. We compared two methods for quantitating TEL–AML1 fusion transcripts: competitive PCR and real‐time PCR. These techniques showed similar sensitivity (5 × 10−5) and reproducibility. Giving highly correlated results, both techniques can be conveniently used for TEL–AML1 transcript quantification. The constancy of TEL–AML1 expression was evaluated by measuring TEL–AML1 transcripts at different steps of the cell cycle, and in 21 cases of ALL at diagnosis. No major variation in TEL–AML1 expression was observed during the cell cycle or in 20/21 of the ALL patients. Residual disease was then determined after completion of induction therapy in 20 patients with a TEL–AML1‐positive ALL. Seven patients out of 20 (35%) were still positive, including two patients with high level of residual blasts (close to or beyond 10−2). When comparison was possible, results obtained using TEL–AML1 quantification were in accordance with those obtained using T‐cell receptor rearrangements analysis.
Peripheral levels of glutathione and protein oxidation as markers in the development of Alzheimer's disease from Mild Cognitive Impairment

There is a great interest in the relationship between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and the progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several studies show the importance of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of AD. The purpose of this study was the link between oxidative damage, MCI and AD. It analysed protein carbonyls and erythrocyte glutathione system plasma levels of 34 subjects with MCI, 45 subjects with AD and 28 age-matched control subjects. The results showed an increase in protein modification, a decrease in GSH levels and GSH/GSSG ratio in AD and MCI patients compared to age-matched control subjects (p<0.05). The present study shows that some peripheral markers of oxidative stress appear in MCI with a similar pattern to that observed in AD, which suggests that oxidative stress might represent a signal of the AD pathology. AD and MCI are biochemically equivalent. MCI does not necessarily need to progress to AD on a biochemical level.
Wavelet-based estimation of 1/f-type signal parameters: confidence intervals using the bootstrap

We propose to construct confidence intervals of parameters of 1/f-type signals using a nonparametric wavelet-based bootstrap method. Bootstrap-based confidence intervals of maximum likelihood parameter estimates are compared to the confidence intervals derived from the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB). For moderately large data sample sizes, the bootstrap approach achieves the nominal coverage and may perform better than the CRLB-based parametric approach.