Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association study of 3 rheumatoid arthritis risk loci in systemic sclerosis in European Caucasian population.

INTRODUCTION Accumulating evidences show that shared autoimmunity is critical for the pathogenesis of many inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Specific phenotype could arise from specific genes, and/or combination of genetic factors and environment. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) belongs to connective tissue disorders and recent data have highlighted strong associations with some autoimmunity genes shared with other autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVES To determine whether novel risk loci associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may confer susceptibility to SSc. Single nucleotide polymorphism from CCL21, CD244 and CDK6 were tested for association. METHODS SNPs harbouring association with RA, CCL21-rs2812378, CDK6-rs42041 and CD244-rs6682654 were genotyped in a cohort of 1031 SSc patients and 1014 controls. All individuals were of European Caucasian origin. RESULTS The three polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control population and allelic frequencies were similar to those expected in European populations. Allelic and genotypic frequencies for these three polymorphisms were found to be similar in SSc patients and controls. Moreover, sub-phenotype analyses in particular for subgroups having diffuse subcutaneous subtype, specific auto-antibodies or fibrosing alveolitis did not detect any difference between SSc patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS These results obtained through a large cohort of European Caucasian SSc patients do not support the implication of CCL21, CD244 and CDK6 genes in the pathogenesis of SSc although these genes were recently identified as RA susceptibility genes.
Nerve growth factor and pain.

Osteoarthritis, a common, painful condition, occurs at a rate of 1% per year and affects the majority of people who are over 55 years of age. In a proof-of-concept, phase 2 study in this issue of the Journal, Lane and colleagues1 report that blocking the activity of nerve growth factor with a neutralizing humanized monoclonal antibody (tanezumab) can relieve pain from osteoarthritis. This finding raises the possibility of using neutralizing antibodies therapeutically, similar to the use of antibodies against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, recent results of a phase 3 study, mentioned by Lane et .
Requirement for exported proteins in secretion through the invasion-associated type III system of Salmonella typhimurium

The inv and spa loci of Salmonella typhimurium encode a type III protein secretion system which is essential for the ability of this microorganism to gain access to cultured epithelial cells. These loci are located at centisome 63 in the Salmonella chromosome. We have carried out a functional analysis of several genes of these loci and have found that two exported proteins encoded in this region, InvJ and SpaO, are required for secretion through the invasion-associated type III secretion system. These findings suggest the existence of a hierarchy in the export process, since mutations in other targets of this secretory system have no effect on protein secretion. We have also shown that the spaO, spaP, spaQ, and spaR genes are required for protein secretion and for the ability of S. typhimurium to gain access to cultured epithelial cells. In addition, we investigated the ability of an invJ S. typhimurium mutant strain to present the SipB protein to the bacterial surface and demonstrated that, in contrast to Spa32, its putative Shigella homolog, InvJ is not involved in the surface presentation of the Sip proteins.
γ‐Amino‐butyric acid immunoreactivity in intramucosal colonic tumors

Background and Aim: The level of γ‐amino‐butyric acid (GABA) is reported to be increased in colon cancer. Moreover, data suggests that GABA plays a role in the proliferation or maturation of some types of cells. We examined the expression of GABA in intramucosal colonic tumors to clarify the relation between GABA and the degree of atypia.
Design and Optimization of Resonance-Based Efficient Wireless Power Delivery Systems for Biomedical Implants

Resonance-based wireless power delivery is an efficient technique to transfer power over a relatively long distance. This technique typically uses four coils as opposed to two coils used in conventional inductive links. In the four-coil system, the adverse effects of a low coupling coefficient between primary and secondary coils are compensated by using high-quality (Q) factor coils, and the efficiency of the system is improved. Unlike its two-coil counterpart, the efficiency profile of the power transfer is not a monotonically decreasing function of the operating distance and is less sensitive to changes in the distance between the primary and secondary coils. A four-coil energy transfer system can be optimized to provide maximum efficiency at a given operating distance. We have analyzed the four-coil energy transfer systems and outlined the effect of design parameters on power-transfer efficiency. Design steps to obtain the efficient power-transfer system are presented and a design example is provided. A proof-of-concept prototype system is implemented and confirms the validity of the proposed analysis and design techniques. In the prototype system, for a power-link frequency of 700 kHz and a coil distance range of 10 to 20 mm, using a 22-mm diameter implantable coil resonance-based system shows a power-transfer efficiency of more than 80% with an enhanced operating range compared to ~40% efficiency achieved by a conventional two-coil system.
Insights into the Composition and Assembly of the Membrane Arm of Plant Complex I through Analysis of Subcomplexes in Arabidopsis Mutant Lines*

NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I, EC 1.6.5.3) is the largest complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. In eukaryotes, it is composed of more than 40 subunits that are encoded by both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Plant Complex I differs from the enzyme described in other eukaryotes, most notably due to the large number of plant-specific subunits in the membrane arm of the complex. The elucidation of the assembly pathway of Complex I has been a long-standing research aim in cellular biochemistry. We report the study of Arabidopsis mutants in Complex I subunits using a combination of Blue-Native PAGE and immunodetection to identify stable subcomplexes containing Complex I components, along with mass spectrometry analysis of Complex I components in membrane fractions and two-dimensional diagonal Tricine SDS-PAGE to study the composition of the largest subcomplex. Four subcomplexes of the membrane arm of Complex I with apparent molecular masses of 200, 400, 450, and 650 kDa were observed. We propose a working model for the assembly of the membrane arm of Complex I in plants and assign putative roles during the assembly process for two of the subunits studied.
Patrones de juego en el ataque rápido de F. C. Barcelona, Manchester United y F.C. Internazionale Milano -Un enfoque de Mixed Methods

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo detectar y analizar los patrones regulares de juego en ataque rapido de los equipos de futbol, a traves de la combinacion de la tecnica de analisis secuencial y entrevistas semi-estructuradas a entrenadores con experiencia en la primera Liga Portuguesa. La muestra incluyo 36 partidos (12 juegos de las respetivas Ligas de Futbol para cada equipo) del FC Barcelona, Inter de Milan y Manchester United, que han sido codificados con el instrumento observacional validado por Sarmento et al. (2010). Posteriormente los datos se analizaron a traves del analisis secuencial con el programa SDIS-GSEQ 5.0. Tomando como referencia los patrones de juego detectados, se llevaron a cabo entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 8 entrenadores de futbol de alto rendimiento y los datos se analizaron mediante la tecnica de analisis de contenido utilizando el programa Nvivo 10. Los patrones de juego detectados revelaron caracteristicas especificas de los equipos de estudio. La combinacion de los resultados del analisis secuencial con las entrevistas cualitativas a los entrenadores profesionales demostro ser muy fructifera en este ambito de analisis del juego, lo que permite conciliar el conocimiento cientifico con la interpretacion practica de los entrenadores que desarrollan su actividad en el campo.
PREVALENCE AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM β-LACTAMASES IN KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE ISOLATES FROM CANCER PATIENTS AND OTHERS

Objective: Klebsiella pneumoniae is highly prevalent in hospitals and causes many nosocomial infections. The study sought to determine prevalence rates of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae from Cairo, Egypt and to detect the ESBL-encoding genes in the isolates. Methods: K. pneumoniae isolates were collected through two-year period (2011-2012). Identification of K. pneumoniae was carried out using automated Microscan and standard biochemical tests. ESBL pattern and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were detected using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and confirmatory tests. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for ESBL-encoding genes and plasmid profiling were performed. Results: In the present work; 112 isolates, 75 of them from cancer patients, were characterized. High proportion (52 of 112, “46 %”) of ESBLs among the isolates were detected. Highest prevalence of ESBLs was seen among cancer patients, 39 isolates of 75 (52%). Plasmid profile for ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates showed different sizes and numbers of plasmids in all isolates. MICs for all ESBL-producing isolates revealed high resistance rates with tetracycline (100%), cefepime (96%), gentamycin (90%) and ciprofloxacin (79%). Whereas, only two isolates (4%) were resistant to both carbapenem drugs tested, imipenem and meropenem. bla TEM , bla SHV , and bla CTX-M were performed for all ESBL-producing isolates. Five patterns of ESBL-encoding genes were detected. The most prevalent ESBL-encoding gene was bla TEM ;alone in 40% and with other ESBL-encoding gene(s) in 48% of the isolates. Conclusion: High prevalence of ESBL (46%) in our isolates suggesting the need for continuous monitoring of emergence of this pattern in our region.
A new model for contact angle hysteresis

We present a model which explains several experimental observations relating contact angle hysteresis with surface roughness. The model is based on the balance between released capillary energy and dissipation associated with motion of the contact line: it describes the stick–slip behavior of drops on a rough surface using ideas similar to those employed in dry friction, elasto–plasticity and fracture mechanics. The main results of our analysis are formulas giving the interval of stable contact angles as a function of the surface roughness. These formulas show that the difference between advancing and receding angles is much larger for a drop in complete contact with the substrate (Wenzel drop) than for one whose cavities are filled with air (Cassie-Baxter drop). This fact is used as the key tool to interpret the experimental evidence.
VARIABLE NITROGEN RATES AND TIMING EFFECT ON YIELD, NITROGEN UPTAKE AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF MAIZE PRODUCTION

An experiment was conducted during 2010-11 at Research Farms (31°N, 73°E and 184.4m above sea level) of University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan to assess the effect of variable nitrogen rates and timing schemes on growth, yield, nitrogen uptake and economic feasibility of maize production in RCBD with three replications. Application of entire N at seed bed preparation was found to be least effective. Delaying more than 25% of N late up to the V9 stage proved significantly better with respect to all the parameters but the complete exclusion of basal N could not provide the promising results. Nitrogen application @ 200 kg/ha though brought significantly higher leaf area index (3.67), grain yield (6.85 t/ha) and total N uptake (173.86 kg/ha) but could not significantly affect stover yield over 175 kg/ha. Nitrogen @ 175 kg/ha had higher residual effect on soil N status and also when applied following the timing scheme comprising split application, 25% broadcast-incorporated at seed bed preparation and remaining 75% top dressed at V9 growth stage, 175 kg N/ha provided higher value cost ratio (12.17 Rs. Rs.). It is concluded that split application of 175 kg N/ha (25% broadcast-incorporated at planting and 75% top dressed at V9) could be appropriate to attain higher and economical maize production.
Insecticidal Effects of Ethanol Extracts of Capsicum Frutescens and Dennettia Tripetala against Sitophilus Zeamais Motschulsky on Stored Maize

Efficacy of ethanol extracts of Dennettia tripetala and Capsicum frutescens fruits was investigated on Sitophilus zeamais at the Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria under an ambient temperature of 27 ± 2⁰ C and 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The plant extracts at concentrations 10, 20 and 30 %v/v were applied against 50 g of maize grains. Experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomised Design in four replicates and parameters assessed, including adult mortality, number of F1 progeny and percentage seed viability, were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results showed that the two plants had varying degree of insecticidal activities but were both effective against the weevils. Mortality of S. zeamais was highest (80%) at the highest concentration of 30% v/v of D. tripetala at 96 h. The mean number of eggs laid on grains treated with the extracts was reduced from 24.50 in the solvent-treated to 2.75 at 30% v/v D. tripetala extract concentration while adult emergence reduced from a mean of 23.00 in the solvent-treated grains to 3.00 at 30% extract treatment. C. frutescens at 30 %v/v possessed the highest repellent action to S. zeamais and no significant difference was observed in the germination of seeds treated with concentrations of the extracts as well as the control. The results obtained reveal that extracts from the two plants are effective in controlling S. zeamais and could serve as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.
The Value of a Recommendation: The Role of Social Ties in Social Recommender Systems

In the past, the selection of content has been done manually. Nowadays, owing to the new generation of social recommender systems, the automated aggregation of content, based on social information from social networks, might become possible. Social ties provide information about the underlying structure of social networks. This information, integrated into a system, might affect a user's evaluation of a specific recommendation. However, there is no research about the integration of social ties and other determinants that could affect the value of a recommendation. We developed a research model and tested it in an online experiment using Facebook data for the use case of online news with 193 participants. The structural equation model results show that a strong tie relationship has positive influence on the value of a recommendation. The credibility of the recommending person and the recommendation's media source affect the value of a recommendation as well.
Osteochondritis dissecans

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Acetohydroxamic Acid - A Competitive Inhibitor of Urease from Soybean “Glycine max”

The acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), a potent inhibitor of urease, inhibits soybean urease competitively and reversibly. The I 50 and K i value for AHA were 900 μ M and 0.053 mM, respectively at pH 7.0, 37 °C. The variation in pH over the pH 6 - 9 affected K i and therefore binding of AHA in the active site. The affinity of AHA for the active site decreases with lowering of pH (below the pK a value of AHA i.e. 8.7). This behaviour is consistent with the deprotonated AHA acting as a nucleophile or the inhibitory species. The time-dependent inhibition studies were performed at two different concentrations of AHA and the biphasic kinetics was revealed with almost equal amplitudes (50% each) for fast and slow phases. The values of rate constants were 0.1642 ± 0.0013 min -1 (fast phase); 0.0123±0.0012 min -1 (slow phase) at 0.10 mM AHA and 0.2379±0.0017 min -1 (fast phase); 0.0153±0.0010 min -1 (slow phase) at 0.15 mM AHA. These studies established the asymmetric nature of active sites, half being more reactive for AHA than the other half. The spectral studies showed a change in absorbance at the λ max 414 nm, when urease was incubated with AHA, which was consistent with AHA binding to Ni 2+ of active site. Keywords: Urease, Acetohydroxamic Acid, Soybean, Molecular Asymmetry, Inhibition.
Integrated Transformer-Coupled Balun Bandpass Filters With an Optimal Common-Mode Rejection Ratio

This paper describes a compact transformer-coupled balun bandpass filter design based on integrated circuit technology. Using a planar transformer with high-density fully symmetrical wiring not only greatly reduces the component size, but also provides a superior balance at the differential output ports. In addition, applying the tapped feed-line structure to the balun bandpass filter is accomplished by carefully studying the impedance-matching method and transmission-zero mechanism. Interestingly, the proposed balun bandpass filter can guarantee an optimal common-mode rejection ratio level in a specific operating frequency range by precisely controlling the fractional bandwidth of the filter passband.
Computer-Aided Collaboration Environment for Long-Term Cross-Cultural Studies between Korean and Japanese High Schools

We implemented an enhanced long-distance video conferencing system for long-term, cross-cultural studies. The usage of information technology overcame the strained relations and different cultural practices between Japan and Korea resulting in a friendly continuous cross-cultural exchange for over more than three years. Improvements in student learning abilities are linked to increased motivation and enthusiasm as a result of acquiring knowledge by successfully applying information technology systems, Web sites, bulletin board systems, and video conferencing. We enriched the minds of the students over an extended period of time without regard to historical and cultural differences
Post operative radiation therapy in endometrial carcinoma : reducing overtreatment and improving quality of life

This thesis describes the results of the first en second Post Operative Radiation Therapy in Endometrial Cancer (PORTEC) trials. The 15-year results of PORTEC-1 confirm the importance of the prognostic factors age, grade and depth of myometrial invasion for selection of patients with high-intermediate risk (HIR) features. Postoperative pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) reduces the risk of locoregional recurrence (mainly due to a decrease in vaginal recurrences), without a survival benefit compared to no additional therapy. The PORTEC-2 trial has shown that EBRT and vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) offer excellent rates of vaginal control and similar overall survival for HIR patients, while VBT has a clearly more favourable health related quality of life profile, with results similar to an age-matched norm population. EBRT is associated with a higher risk of long-lasting bowel symptoms that impact on patients’ daily lives and physical functioning. Therefore, VBT is the treatment of choice for HIR patients. Finally, a pilot study in PORTEC-2 patients showed that the presence of multiple activated oncogenic pathways was the most powerful independent prognostic factor for decreased disease free survival, indicating that molecular prognostic factors refine the currently used system for risk classification.
Alterations in homeostasis after open surgery. A prospective randomized study.

INTRODUCTION Alterations in homeostasis, and a subsequent increased risk for postoperative thromboembolic complications, are observed as a result of open surgery. Additionally, the stress response to surgical trauma precipitates a transient hypercoagulable state as well as inflammation. This study was conducted to evaluate the patterns in postoperative alterations of blood coagulation, and to detect their correlations with inflammatory markers. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 50 patients with comparable demographic data, who were randomly assigned to undergo abdominal surgery. No previous coagulation disorders were noted. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and 72 h postoperatively. The following parameters were measured: prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT); fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (D-D), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels; and platelet (PLT) count. Prophylactic doses of low molecular weight heparin were administered to all patients. RESULTS The PT mean value significantly changed from 90.38% before surgery to 81.25% after surgery. No statistical difference was observed between APTT values before and after surgery. FIB levels significantly increased from 381.50 mg/dL preoperatively to 462.57 mg/dL postoperatively. Mean D-D levels also significantly increased from 235.54 μg/L preoperatively to 803.59 μg/L postoperatively. PLT count significantly declined after surgery. Mean CRP levels significantly increased from 12.33 mg/L preoperatively to 44.28 mg/L postoperatively. A strong correlation was observed between D-D and C-RP levels after surgery. CONCLUSION These results indicate that, despite administering antithromboembolic prophylaxis, a hypercoagulable state was observed following surgery. This state was enhanced by inflammation.