Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor vildagliptin does not accentuate glibenclamide-induced hypoglycemia but reduces glucose-induced glucagon-like peptide 1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide secretion.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 by vildagliptin enhances the concentrations of the active form of the incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). The present study asked whether vildagliptin accentuates glibenclamide-induced hypoglycemia or affects endogenous secretion of GLP-1 and GIP after an oral glucose tolerance test. METHODS There were 16 healthy male subjects studied on four occasions after an overnight fast in a double-blind, four-way crossover study. In random order, vildagliptin (100 mg) or placebo, with and without glibenclamide (5 mg), was administered 30 min before 75 g oral glucose. Blood was sampled to measure glucose, and total (sum of active and inactive) GLP-1 and GIP. Statistical evaluation was done using repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS Glibenclamide provoked hypoglycemia (<or=1.9 mm), but this was not accentuated by the simultaneous administration of vildagliptin (P = 0.25). The integrated incremental responses of total GLP-1 were reduced by vildagliptin by 72% (with glibenclamide) and 48% (without glibenclamide) (effect of vildagliptin: P < 0.0001; glibenclamide: P = 0.31; interaction: P = 0.26). Similarly, integrated incremental responses of total GIP were reduced by vildagliptin by 26 and 21%, with and without glibenclamide, respectively (vildagliptin: P = 0.017; glibenclamide: P = 0.44; interaction: P = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS Sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia after the oral administration of glibenclamide is not accentuated by the coadministration of vildagliptin. This may be explained by a negative feedback regulation of GLP-1 and GIP secretion that limits the degree to which the active incretin levels are enhanced.
Electron microscopic study of tissue cultures infected with simian haemorrhagic fever virus.

Summary The morphology and development of simian haemorrhagic fever virus was studied in tissue cultures infected with low multiplicities of virus. Early cytoplasmic lesions which were observed 24 hr after infection consisted of increased concentrations of polysomes and small vesicles 100 nm. in diameter filled with densely staining fibrillar material. As the lesions progressed, thickened membraneous structures developed at the periphery of the vesicles. The membranes appeared to lengthen and thicken by a process of end-to-end and side-to-side fusion. Serial sections demonstrated that the fused, thickened structures were lamellae. Their role in the morphogenesis of simian haemorrhagic fever virus is not presently known. Spherical virus particles measuring 40 to 45 nm. in diameter appeared in cells by 72 hr after infection. Infected cells contained vacuoles which enclosed accumulations of enveloped spherical particles. Some particles appeared to be budding into vacuoles.
Over‐expression of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha in bone marrow biopsies from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: relationship to anemia and prognosis

Abstract: Objectives: An excessive intramedullar progenitor cell apoptosis, to which elevated expression of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) might contribute, is considered the main cause of inefficient hematopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Enhanced bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis is regarded as an essential cofactor in the progression of MDS to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and microvessel formation may be induced by TNF‐α as well. To investigate TNF‐α signaling and neoangiogenesis as potential molecular pathways for therapeutic intervention in MDS with respect to the various MDS subtypes, we performed a morphological and clinico‐pathological study on a large series of paraffin‐embedded trephine BM biopsies. Methods: TNF‐α expression and BM vessels were immunohistochemically analyzed on 89 paraffin‐embedded BM biopsies from patients with MDS and secondary AML, including 12 control samples. Data were correlated with clinico‐pathological and laboratory parameters and analyzed for their prognostic significance considering overall survival. Results: TNF‐α was over‐expressed in MDS patients, especially in those with refractory anemia and its expression correlated with BM cellularity and with magnitude of anemia as well as with microvessel density (MVD). TNF‐α over‐expression was associated with premature deaths. MVD was increased in MDS and secondary AML and correlated with marrow cellularity and expression of TNF‐α, but was not of prognostic significance. Conclusions: TNF‐α expression and MVD are elevated in MDS and secondary AML. TNF‐α expression in BM progenitor cells appears to negatively impact erythropoiesis and overall survival in MDS, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in patients with hypercellular MDS with marked anemia.
Effects of high-intensity interval training on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight/obese women

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to evaluate two practical interval training protocols on cardiorespiratory fitness, lipids and body composition in overweight/obese women. Thirty women (mean ± SD; weight: 88.1 ± 15.9 kg; BMI: 32.0 ± 6.0 kg · m2) were randomly assigned to ten 1-min high-intensity intervals (90%VO2 peak, 1 min recovery) or five 2-min high-intensity intervals (80–100% VO2 peak, 1 min recovery) or control. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), peak power output (PPO), body composition and fasting blood lipids were evaluated before and after 3 weeks of training, completed 3 days per week. Results from ANCOVA analyses demonstrated no significant training group differences for any primary variables (P > 0.05). When training groups were collapsed, 1MIN and 2MIN resulted in a significant increase in PPO (∆18.9 ± 8.5 watts; P = 0.014) and time to exhaustion (∆55.1 ± 16.4 s; P = 0.001); non-significant increase in VO2 peak (∆2.36 ± 1.34 ml · kg−1 · min−1; P = 0.185); and a significant decrease in fat mass (FM) (−∆1.96 ± 0.99 kg; P = 0.011). Short-term interval exercise training may be effective for decreasing FM and improving exercise tolerance in overweight and obese women.
Patients with computed tomography-proven acute diverticulitis require follow-up to exclude colorectal cancer

Background/Aims Traditionally, patients with acute diverticulitis undergo follow-up endoscopy to exclude colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its usefulness has been debated in this era of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) diagnosis. We assessed the frequency and outcome of endoscopic follow-up for patients with CT-proven acute diverticulitis, according to the confidence in the CT diagnosis. Methods Records of patients with CT-proven acute diverticulitis between October 2007 and March 2014 at Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust were retrieved. The National Cancer Registry confirmed the cases of CRC. Endoscopy quality indicators were compared between these patients and other patients undergoing the same endoscopic examination over the same period. Results We identified 235 patients with CT-proven acute diverticulitis, of which, 187 were managed conservatively. The CT report was confident of the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis in 75% cases. Five of the 235 patients were subsequently diagnosed with CRC (2.1%). Three cases of CRC were detected in the 187 patients managed conservatively (1.6%). Forty-eight percent of the conservatively managed patients underwent follow-up endoscopy; one case of CRC was identified. Endoscopies were often incomplete and caused more discomfort for patients with diverticulitis compared with controls. Conclusions CRC was diagnosed in patients with CT-proven diverticulitis at a higher rate than in screened asymptomatic populations, necessitating follow-up. CT reports contained statements regarding diagnostic uncertainty in 25% cases, associated with an increased risk of CRC. Follow-up endoscopy in patients with CT-proven diverticulitis is associated with increased discomfort and high rates of incompletion. The use of other follow-up modalities should be considered.
No influence on selected parameters of human visual perception of 1970 MHz UMTS‐like exposure

In recent years several studies regarding possible effects of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on cognitive brain function were reported. In many of these studies on awake humans the working tasks were presented visually to the test subjects, e.g., on a computer screen. Therefore, the question of where in the chain of visual perception, brain processing and response a possible effect could be induced seems to be of interest. In this study, possible effects of exposure to a generic 1.97 GHz UMTS‐like signal on human visual perception were investigated in a double blinded, crossover study including 58 healthy volunteer subjects (29 male, 29 female), aged 29 ± 5.1 years (mean ± SD). Each test subject underwent a battery of four different clinical tests three times (two different exposure levels and sham exposure) to assess selected parameters of visual perception. The generic signals applied to the subjects' head represented the RF emissions of an UMTS mobile phone under constant receiving conditions and the under condition of strongly varying transmit power, i.e., the signal envelope contained low frequency components. In the high exposure condition the resulting average exposure of the test subjects in the cortex of the left temporal lobe of the brain was 0.63 W/kg (1 g averaged SAR) and 0.37 W/kg (10 g averaged SAR). Low exposure condition was one tenth of high exposure and sham was at least 50 dB (corresponding to a factor of 100 000) below low exposure. Statistical evaluation of the obtained test results revealed no statistically significant differences in the investigated parameters of visual perception between the exposure conditions and sham exposure. Bioelectromagnetics 26:243–250, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dermatophytosis: fluorostaining enhances speed and sensitivity in direct microscopy of skin, nail and hair specimens from dermatology outpatients

Direct microscopy of keratinised specimens is a standard screening procedure that assists clinicians to differentiate true superficial mycoses from non‐fungal disorders of the skin, nail and hair. Most clinical dermatologists use bright‐field microscopy when searching for dermatophyte fungi in clinical samples while laboratory‐based mycologists increasingly favour fluorescence microscopy in order to optimise visualisation of fungal elements. This study compared the validity and speediness of fluorescence microscopy vs. conventional light microscopy when screening for fungi in 206 dermatological samples from dermatology outpatients. Both senior dermatologist and a less experienced investigator (medical student) attained high and comparable levels of specificity (91.7–93.8%), positive predictive value (77.1–81.4%) and negative predictive value (83.7–89.9%) using either method. Fluorostaining with Blankophor prior to fluorescence microscopy increased the sensitivity by 22 ± 1% as compared to light microscopy of unstained samples. For both investigators, the time required to identify fungal elements by the fluorescence‐based technique was reduced by at least 50%, thus improving the performance of direct microscopy in the clinical setting.
Distinctive Personality Characteristics of 8-, 9-, and 10-Year-Olds With Williams Syndrome

Although previous research and clinical observation have indicated that individuals with Williams syndrome have a distinctive personality, an empirically derived personality profile has not been developed. The objective of the current investigation was to develop a personality profile that is descriptive of and distinctive to children with Williams syndrome. Participants were 23 8- to 10-year-old children with Williams syndrome and 20 8- to 10-year-old children with developmental disabilities of other etiologies. Participant groups had equivalent intellectual abilities. Parents completed measures of childhood temperament (Children's Behavior Questionnaire [CBQ]) and personality (parent report, short form of Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire [MPQ]). Using group comparisons and signal detection theory, we contrasted the personality characteristics of children with Williams syndrome and children with developmental disabilities of other etiologies. On the CBQ, high mean ratings on shyness (reverse-coded) and empathy together characterized 96% of the children in the Williams syndrome group, but only 15% of the mixed etiology group. On the MPQ, high ratings on items measuring certain characteristics combined (gregarious, people-oriented, tense, sensitive, and visible) were characteristic of 96% of the Williams syndrome group but only 15% of the mixed etiology group. The personality profiles emerging from the CBQ and MPQ provide a crucial step toward investigations of genotype/phenotype relations.
Expression and Characterization of the Chitin-Binding Domain of Chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans WL-12

ABSTRACT Chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans WL-12 comprises an N-terminal catalytic domain, two fibronectin type III-like domains, and a C-terminal chitin-binding domain (ChBD). In order to study the biochemical properties and structure of the ChBD, ChBDChiA1 was produced in Escherichia coliusing a pET expression system and purified by chitin affinity column chromatography. Purified ChBDChiA1 specifically bound to various forms of insoluble chitin but not to other polysaccharides, including chitosan, cellulose, and starch. Interaction of soluble chitinous substrates with ChBDChiA1 was not detected by means of nuclear magnetic resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry. In addition, the presence of soluble substrates did not interfere with the binding of ChBDChiA1 to regenerated chitin. These observations suggest that ChBDChiA1recognizes a structure which is present in insoluble or crystalline chitin but not in chito-oligosaccharides or in soluble derivatives of chitin. ChBDChiA1 exhibited binding activity over a wide range of pHs, and the binding activity was enhanced at pHs near its pI and by the presence of NaCl, suggesting that the binding of ChBDChiA1 is mediated mainly by hydrophobic interactions. Hydrolysis of β-chitin microcrystals by intact chitinase A1 and by a deletion derivative lacking the ChBD suggested that the ChBD is not absolutely required for hydrolysis of β-chitin microcrystals but greatly enhances the efficiency of degradation.
Neuropsychological Effects of Childhood Cancer Treatment

The potential neuropsychological effects of treatment were investigated in 124 childhood cancer patients. Children were classified into groups on the basis of treatment modality and treatment status. All patients received systemic chemotherapy. Other treatment modalities included intrathecal chemotherapy and intrathecal chemotherapy plus central nervous system radiation therapy. Treatment status was determined by whether children were newly diagnosed patients in active treatment or long-term survivors of cancer. This classification resulted in five groups; group 1 (n = 29)—children with newly diagnosed disease who were receiving intrathecal chemotherapy; group 2 (n = 21)—children with newly diagnosed disease who were receiving systemic chemotherapy without central nervous system treatment; group 3 (n = 24)—long-term survivors who had received intrathecal chemotherapy; group 4 (n = 25)—long—term survivors who had received intrathecal chemotherapy plus cranial radiotherapy; and group 5 (n = 25)—long—term survivors who had received systemic chemotherapy only (no specific central nervous system treatment). Groups were compared by using multivariate analysis of variance on sets of neuropsychological test variables that represent major cognitive domains. Results of comparisons indicated significant group differences for most dependent-variable sets. Follow-up pairwise comparisons showed that the group of long-term survivors who had received intrathecal chemotherapy plus cranial radiotherapy consistently obtained lower test scores than the other four groups. These findings are consistent with results of previous studies, thus indicating that intrathecal chemotherapy plus cranial radiotherapy is associated with significant effects on neuropsychological performance. Comparisons among newly diagnosed and long-term groups of patients who did not receive cranial radiotherapy yielded null results on measures of higher-order cognitive functions. However, significant group differences were observed on measures of fine-motor and visual-motor skills; newly diagnosed groups obtained lower scores than the nonirradiated long-term survivor groups. Findings were attributed to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy that differentially affected the newly diagnosed groups. (J Child Neurol 1988;3:53-62).
Improved automatic speech recognition system using sparse decomposition by basis pursuit with deep rectifier neural networks and compressed sensing recomposition of speech signals

Research on the common limitations of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems state problems ranging from environmental noise, and channel or speaker variability to the limitations imposed by the measurement device. In mobile applications for automatic speech recognition, the Nyquist criteria imposes more limitations on the sampling rate at which a device can acquire signal, often the lack of fidelity of the acquired signal causing bad speech recognition. This is a specific problem for mobile devices (which are also, nowadays, the prime beneficiaries of speech recognition applications) as in this case the sampling rate is limited. We envisage a way to get the best out of any acquired signal, by use of sparsity decomposition algorithms and compressed sensing recomposition. We focus on the fact that complex sounds can be viewed as an overlapping of a number of sounds coming from simple sparse sources. Therefore, we decompose the measured signal in a linear combination of simple sparse signals and we reconstruct each sparse signal by means of compressed sensing recomposition in order to gain a better signal fidelity. We make use of deep rectifier neural network designed to decompose a training set of signals and compute a specific dictionary with simple sparse signals. The resulted sparse signals are used for decomposing the acquired signal by means of sparse algorithms, and, consequently, the resulted combination of sparse signals will be used for signal reconstruction in a compressed sensing algorithm. We test the framework for different simulated speech signals, as well as its usability in automatic speech recognition, discussing the improvements this upgrade brings to an ASR. In this paper we will describe the framework and the algorithms used and present the experimental results.
Randomized study comparing two techniques of conization: cold knife versus loop excision.

OBJECTIVE To compare the histomorphologic and colposcopic results of cold knife conization and loop excision. METHODS Sixty-six women were randomly allocated to have the cone specimen removed by cold knife excision (n = 38) or loop excision (n = 28). Subjects eligible for inclusion were those who presented histologically verified grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or grade 2 CIN with squamocolumnar junction not seen. RESULTS The mean height of the cone specimens was greater in the cold knife group [18.9 mm (SD = 5. 5) and 12.8 mm (SD = 4.3), respectively; P = 0.0001], as was the frequency of clear margins (100 and 80%, respectively; P = 0.001). In the loop excision group, thermal injuries were present in half of the cone sections. The median (range) thickness of thermal injury was 0.98 mm (0-1.5 mm) in the ectocervix and 0.95 mm (0-1.75 mm) in the endocervix. Histologic evaluation of the endocervical margins was not possible in 2 cases (7%). At follow-up colposcopy, evaluation of the entire squamocolumnar junction was possible in 15 (39%) and 20 (71%) women, respectively (P < 0.01). Four patients in the cold knife group and 6 in the loop group had histologically confirmed persistent dysplasia (P > 0.05), yielding success rates of 90 and 79%, respectively (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Loop excision provides a sample that is adequate for histologic evaluation in most cases, results in the same success rate as cold knife conization, and allows optimal colposcopic surveillance in significantly more cases than cold knife excision.
p38γ Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signals through Phosphorylating Its Phosphatase PTPH1 in Regulating Ras Protein Oncogenesis and Stress Response*

Background: A cross-talk between a kinase and phosphatase plays a critical role in determining cellular fate. Results: We report that p38γ phosphorylates its phosphatase PTPH1 in regulation of Ras oncogenesis and stress response. Conclusion: These results indicate that a MAPK can signal through its phosphatase. Significance: These studies reveal a novel mechanism by which a MAPK signals through its phosphatase to determine cellular outcomes. Phosphatase plays a crucial role in determining cellular fate by inactivating its substrate kinase, but it is not known whether a kinase can vice versa phosphorylate its phosphatase to execute this function. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase H1 (PTPH1) is a specific phosphatase of p38γ mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) through PDZ binding, and here, we show that p38γ is also a PTPH1 kinase through which it executes its oncogenic activity and regulates stress response. PTPH1 was identified as a substrate of p38γ by unbiased proteomic analysis, and its resultant phosphorylation at Ser-459 occurs in vitro and in vivo through their complex formation. Genetic and pharmacological analyses showed further that Ser-459 phosphorylation is directly regulated by Ras signaling and is important for Ras, p38γ, and PTPH1 oncogenic activity. Moreover, experiments with physiological stimuli revealed a novel stress pathway from p38γ to PTPH1/Ser-459 phosphorylation in regulating cell growth and cell death by a mechanism dependent on cellular environments but independent of canonical MAPK activities. These results thus reveal a new mechanism by which a MAPK regulates Ras oncogenesis and stress response through directly phosphorylating its phosphatase.
Developing local wisdom content as ideal ELT materials for Indonesia in globalization era

Realizing that English is an international language, many of us have been oriented that all English teaching materials would be of foreign-culture content basis and overseas topics. Such phenomenon seems to neglect (rich) domestic issues that may result in the occupation of foreign cultures of most of Indonesia learners’ attitudes. Consequently, they seem unresponsive to their social cultures in spite of their knowledge of foreign cultures, ending up in some social sentiment perspectives to English as an important subject in this era. This situation may contradict with the national objectives of education emphasizing on developing national-cultural identity and the national character building along with the need to attain competitive power of human resources for the nation.This paper explores and proposes an ideal English language teaching (ELT) material and resources by which local wisdoms based content is integrated in the ELT materials. This attempt follows the national objectives of education. This paper also discusses how teachers could manage their teaching of such locally-rich materials and resources into an attractive teaching-learning management and ICT based media