Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Aflatoxin on the Proportions of Peripheral Blood Leukocytes and Alpha-Naphtyl Acetate Esterase ( ANAE ) Positive Lymphocytes in the Mouse

In this study detrimental effects of aflatoxin (AF) on the peripheral blood formula and the alpha naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positivity profile of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) on the mice were determined. A total of 40 white mice were randomly divided in to 5 groups each having 8 animals. The first group served as a control and received standard diet. The remaining 4 groups were fed diets containing 200, 400, 800 and 1600 ppb AF, respectively. The results of this study have revealed that AF given by the food caused significant declines both in the proportion of PBL and in the percentages of ANAEpositive peripheral blood lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes) in a dose dependent manner. These results may be concerned as a haematological evidence for immuno-suppressive effect of AF on cell-mediated immunity.
Too Much an Out-Group? How Nonverbal Cues About Gender and Ethnicity Affect Candidate Support

Abstract Previous work on nonverbal cues has demonstrated the influence of candidates’ facial displays on voter preferences. However, the idea that visual cues affect political judgment by signaling the relative social solidarity (in-group vs. out-group status) between candidates and voters has received little attention. We fill this gap by experimentally manipulating facial cues associated with the physical features of gender and ethnicity (Afrocentric vs. Eurocentric-looking) and assessing their effects on candidate support in the context of the Italian 2013 general election. The experimental design is based on a CAWI post-election online survey conducted on a representative sample of Italian voters. We find that group differences between candidates and voters matter, but only among right of center voters, who respond more negatively to party candidates expressing “combined” (party x gender x ethnicity) dissimilarity. Gender- and ethnicity-based differences are, on the contrary, “assimilated” and accepted when the target candidate is from the voter's party.
Putative cancer stem cells in cutaneous malignancies

Abstract: Recent experimental data offer convincing evidence for the existence of cancer stem cells in leukaemia, brain tumors and breast cancer. These cells are responsible for the maintenance of tumor growth and relapses after cytoreductive treatments. This paper provides a brief overview of current data supporting the idea of cancer stem cells in the pathogenesis of cutaneous malignancies, including skin carcinoma, malignant melanoma and cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma. The characterization of putative cancer stem cells is important to develop new therapies selectively targeting these cells.
Glioblastoma in the elderly: treatment patterns and survival.

AIM The optimal treatment for elderly glioblastoma patients is unclear. We conducted a retrospective review of the California Cancer Registry to examine treatment patterns and survival by age. METHODS We identified 2670 adult patients from the California Cancer Registry with glioblastoma. We compared the extent of resection, treatment type and modality. RESULTS Elderly patients had the greatest overall survival (OS) with combined surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. However, they were more likely to undergo biopsy and less likely to receive combined radiation and chemotherapy than patients <70. CONCLUSION OS was maximized in elderly patients who were able to get some surgical resection and undergo combined radiation and chemotherapy. OS survival in some elderly patients may be improved by more extensive therapy.
Percutaneous Cytodiagnosis of Abdominal Masses by Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy

A review was made of 168 ultrasound guided fine needle biopsies on 145 patients. Fifty-seven biopsies were from the pancreas, 40 biopsies from the liver, 28 from the kidney, 26 from the abdomen and 17 from the retroperitoneum. The total accuracy rate was 66 per cent varying from 50 per cent in abdominal lesions to 83 per cent in hepatic lesions. The differences of the results are discussed as are the indications and the role of ultrasound guided fine needle puncture compared with other modalities.
Plasticity and acclimation to light reflected in temporal and spatial changes of small-scale macroalgal distribution in a stream.

The small-scale distribution pattern of macroalgae in the river Ilm, in Germany was monitored. These patterns were then related to abiotic factors and tested to discover whether the distribution of the common macroalgae, Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kütz. and Vaucheria sp. , was linked to differences in their photosynthetic plasticity. Cladophora glomerata revealed higher maximum photosynthetic electron transport rates after acclimation to high light (HL) compared with low light (LL) acclimated samples. By contrast, Vaucheria sp. did not acclimate to different growth light conditions. The photosynthetic performance of both algae also varied according to diurnal conditions. High light caused a reversible decrease of the dark-adapted quantum yield (F(v)/F(m)) in C. glomerata and a concomitant reversible decrease of the light-adapted quantum yield (DeltaF/F'(m)). In Vaucheria sp. , F(v)/F(m) remained mostly unchanged over the day, whereas DeltaF/F'(m) decreased during the morning at low light. Photosynthetic pigments confirmed acclimational differences between the species. HL C. glomerata showed increased chlorophyll a:chlorophyll b ratios, and higher amounts of xanthophyll-cycle pigments compared with LL samples, whereas Vaucheria sp. did not reveal differences between the light treatments. While preferences for substrate size, water velocity, and depth are similar for C. glomerata and Vaucheria sp. , the physiological responses to light conditions are different. It is concluded that light conditions significantly affect the small-scale spatial distribution of macroalgae and that fitness is enhanced in species with a higher plasticity in photosynthetic acclimation in unstable environments.
Prognostic Impact of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure - A Report From the CHART-2 Study.

BACKGROUND The prognostic impact of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is not fully elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined 4,818 consecutive stage C/D chronic heart failure (CHF) patients in the Chronic Heart Failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku District-2 (CHART-2) Study (n=10,219). At enrollment, 1,859 (38.6%) of them had AF. Compared with the 2,953 patients without AF, AF patients were characterized by higher age (71 vs. 68 years), lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (58.9 vs. 61.9 ml/min/1.73 m(2)), higher brain natriuretic peptide (152 vs. 74.5 pg/ml), similar left ventricular ejection fraction (56.8 vs. 56.5%), and a similar prescription rate of β-blockers (48.1 vs. 50.6%) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors (72.9 vs. 71.6%). Among the patients without AF at enrollment, 106 (3.6%) developed new AF during the median 3.2-year follow-up, which was associated with increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.72; P=0.013). In contrast, neither paroxysmal nor chronic AF at enrollment was associated with increased mortality. The mortality rate was significantly high in the first year after the onset of new AF. On inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis using propensity score, RAS inhibitors and statins were associated with reduced incidence of new AF, and diuretics were associated with increase of new AF. CONCLUSIONS Onset of new AF, but not a history of AF, is associated with increased mortality in CHF patients, especially in the first year.
A Resource Allocation Scheme for Cooperative Multiuser OFDM-Based Cognitive Radio Systems

This paper presents a joint subcarrier and power allocation algorithm for cooperative multiuser orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MU-OFDM) cognitive radio (CR) systems. By simplifying a three-node relay network to a two node network with the equivalent channel gain, we formulate the resource allocation problem for a cooperative MU-OFDM CR system in a similar form to that for a non-cooperative MU OFDM CR system. With this problem formulation, a rule is derived for performing subcarrier assignment operations under a given power distribution, where the sum capacity optimization is alternated between the subcarrier and power to form a joint subcarrier and power allocation algorithm. To simplify the high complexity optimal power allocation algorithm (i.e., the iterative partitioned water-filling algorithm) for the joint scheme, we further develop a simple method for updating the water level when each subcarrier is assigned. Simulation results show that, with or without cooperative transmission, using the proposed method to update the water level achieves a system capacity close to that of the joint subcarrier and power allocation algorithm with the optimal power distribution. In addition, if the relay node is at the midpoint between the source and destination, the system capacity can reach its maximum value.
Regions in Ebola virus VP24 that are important for nucleocapsid formation.

Ebola virus (EBOV) VP24, together with nucleoprotein and VP35, is an essential component of viral RNA-protein complexes called "nucleocapsids. " In this study, using a series of deletion mutants of VP24, we identified regions within VP24 that are important for the formation of nucleocapsid-like structures and determined that both termini of VP24 are essential for nucleocapsid formation. This finding advances our knowledge of both EBOV morphogenesis and the nature of VP24 molecules in nucleocapsid formation, which will be useful for the development of antiviral compounds.
First Trimester Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status and Factors Related to Lower Levels in Gravids Living in the Spanish Mediterranean Coast

Objective: To assess first trimester serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status and factors related to deficient levels in pregnant Spanish women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 502 gravids (11 to 14 weeks) living in the Spanish Mediterranean sea coast (near Almería at latitude 36° N, longitude 2° W) to whom serum 25(OH)D levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Logistic and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to assess the influence of ethnicity, immigration status, season of the year at blood sampling, body mass index (BMI), parity and smoking habit over 25(OH)D levels. Results: The median (interquartile range, IQR) serum 25(OH)D levels for the entire sample was 27.4 ng/mL (IQR = 20.9-32.8). Only 35.9% of participants had adequate serum 25(OH)D levels (≥30 ng/mL) whereas in 41.4% and 22.7% these levels were found to be insufficient (20-29.9 ng/mL) and deficient (<20 ng/mL), respectively. Vitamin D status was found to be significantly lower in Arab women as compared to Caucasian women. 25(OH)D levels were positively correlated with gestational age at sampling and inversely with BMI values (univariate analysis). Logistic regression analysis determined that non-Caucasian ethnicity, season at sampling (autumn/winter), and nulliparity were factors related to deficient 25(OH)D levels. Multiple linear regression found a similar model yet also including maternal weight inversely correlating with 25(OH)D levels. Conclusion: Despite living in one of the sunniest, warmest, and driest climates of Europe, gravids displayed a high prevalence of first trimester insufficient/deficient serum 25(OH)D levels related to season at sampling, nulliparity, maternal weight, and non-Caucasian ethnicity.
Towards Automated Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability assessment (VA) is a well established method for determining security weaknesses within a system. The VA process is heavily reliant on expert knowledge, something that is attributed to being in short supply. This paper explores the possibility of automating VA and demonstrates an initial proof-of-concept involving decision-making skills comparable with a human-expert. This is achieved through encoding a domain model to represent expert-like capabilities, and then using model-based VA planning to determine VA tasks. Although security evaluation is a complex task, through the help of such models, we can determine the ways to find potential vulnerabilities without an expert present. This technique allows time constrained assessments, where a 'risk factor' is also encoded to represent the significance of each security flaw. The ultimate goal of this work-in-progress is to realistically simulate a human vulnerability auditor. This paper demonstrates the first step towards that goal; a systematic transformation of the VA knowledge into a PDDL representation, accommodating a broad range of time constrained investigative actions. The output plan and its analysis evidently evinces many potential benefits such as increased feasibility and productivity.
Fast Neural Network Language Model Lookups at N-Gram Speeds

Feed forward Neural Network Language Models (NNLM) have shown consistent gains over backoff word n-gram models in a variety of tasks. However, backoff n-gram models still remain dominant in applications with real time decoding requirements as word probabilities can be computed orders of magnitude faster than the NNLM. In this paper, we present a combination of techniques that allows us to speed up the probability computation from a neural net language model to make it comparable to the word n-gram model without any approximations. We present results on state of the art systems for Broadcast news transcription and conversational speech which demonstrate the speed improvements in real time factor and probability computation while retaining the WER gains from NNLM.
Consultations between patients with breast cancer and surgeons: a pathway from patient-centered communication to reduced hopelessness.

PURPOSE Patient-centered communication (PCC) affects psychosocial health outcomes of patients. However, these effects are rarely direct, and our understanding of such effects are largely based on self-report (v observational) data. More information is needed on the pathways by which concrete PCC behaviors affect specific psychosocial outcomes in cancer care. We hypothesized that PCC behaviors increase the satisfaction of patients with surgeons, which, in turn, reduces the postconsultation hopelessness of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS In Portland, OR, we videotaped consultations between 147 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and nine surgeons and administered surveys to participants immediately preconsultation and postconsultation. Consultations were coded for PCC behaviors. Multivariate regression models analyzed the association between PCC and the satisfaction of patients and between satisfaction and hopelessness. RESULTS Levels of hopelessness of patients significantly decreased from preconsultation to postconsultation (P < .001). Two PCC behaviors (ie, patient asserting treatment preference [odds ratio {OR}, 1.50/log unit; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.23/log unit; P = .042] and surgeon providing good/hopeful news [OR, 1.62/log unit; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.60/log unit; P = .047]) were independently significantly associated with the satisfaction of patients with surgeons, which, in turn, independently predicted reduced levels of postconsultation hopelessness (linear change, -0.78; 95% CI, 1.44 to -0.12; P = .02). CONCLUSION Although additional research is needed with larger and more-diverse data sets, these findings suggest the possibility that concrete and trainable PCC behaviors can lower the hopelessness of patients with breast cancer indirectly through their effects on patient satisfaction with care.
Physiological factors associated with the lower maximal oxygen consumption of master runners.

We examined the hemodynamic factors associated with the lower maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) in older formerly elite distance runners. Heart rate and VO2 were measured during submaximal and maximal treadmill exercise in 11 master [66 +/- 8 (SD) yr] and 11 young (32 +/- 5 yr) male runners. Cardiac output was determined using acetylene rebreathing at 30, 50, 70, and 85% VO2max. Maximal cardiac output was estimated using submaximal stroke volume and maximal heart rate. VO2max was 36% lower in master runners (45.0 +/- 6.9 vs. 70.4 +/- 8.0 ml.kg-1.min-1, P less than or equal to 0.05), because of both a lower maximal cardiac output (18.2 +/- 3.5 vs. 25.4 +/- 1.7 l.min-1) and arteriovenous O2 difference (16.6 +/- 1.6 vs. 18.7 +/- 1.4 ml O2.100 ml blood-1, P less than or equal to 0.05). Reduced maximal heart rate (154.4 +/- 17.4 vs. 185 +/- 5.8 beats.min-1) and stroke volume (117.1 +/- 16.1 vs. 137.2 +/- 8.7 ml.beat-1) contributed to the lower cardiac output in the older athletes (P less than or equal 0.05). These data indicate that VO2max is lower in master runners because of a diminished capacity to deliver and extract O2 during exercise.
National audit of continence care for older people: results of a pilot study*.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM Bladder and bowel problems are common in the elderly and are associated with a considerable morbidity and impact on quality of life. Inequalities in service provision and access to services have been recognized but there has been no systematic approach to measuring the quality of continence care for older people. This study aimed to develop quality standards, to assess the reliability and utility of the resulting audit package and to report on the standards of care provided in primary care, secondary care and care home setting. METHOD Fifteen sites in secondary care, primary care and in long-term care settings were randomly selected to pilot the audit package. Data collectors completed audit questionnaires relating to the structure [organization] of care, the outcomes of care, and the process of care for 20 subjects with urinary incontinence and 10 subjects with faecal or double incontinence. RESULTS The audit tool was reliable (median kappa score of 0.7). Access to integrated continence services, as defined by Good Practice in Continence Services was inadequate. Eighty-five per cent of hospitals had no written policy for continence care. There were deficiencies in obtaining information, in carrying out basic and specialist examinations and investigations and in determining the cause of incontinence. There was a high prevalence of catheter use in secondary care settings. CONCLUSION The pilot has indicated significant inadequacies in continence care and demonstrates that in many sites the National Service Framework milestone for integrated continence services has not been met. A national audit of continence care is required to determine the extent of inadequate continence care.
Identification and Distribution of New Insertion Sequences in the Genome of Alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125

ABSTRACT Fifteen kinds of new insertion sequences (ISs), IS641 to IS643, IS650 to IS658, IS660, IS662, and IS663, and a group II intron (Bh.Int) were identified in the 4,202,352-bp genome of alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125. Out of 120 ISs identified in the C-125 genome, 29 were truncated, indicating the occurrence of internal rearrangements of the genome. The ISs other than IS650, IS653, IS660, and IS663generated a 2- to 9-bp duplication of the target site sequence, and the ISs other than IS650, IS653, and IS657 carry 14- to 64-bp inverted repeats. Sequence analysis revealed that six kinds of ISs (IS642, IS643, IS654, IS655, IS657, and IS658) belong to a separate IS family (IS630, IS21, IS256, IS3, IS200/IS605, and IS30, respectively) as a new member. Also, IS651 and IS652 were characterized as new members of the ISL3 family. Significant similarity was found between the transposase (Tpase) sequences between IS650 and IS653 (78.2%), IS651 and IS652 (56.3%), IS656 and IS662 (71.0%), and IS660 and IS663 (44.5%), but the others showed no similarity to one another. Tpases in 28 members of IS651 in the C-125 genome were found to have become diversified. Most of the IS elements widely distributed throughout the genome were inserted in noncoding regions, although some genes, such as those coding for an ATP-binding cassette transporter/permease, a response regulator, andl-indole 2-dehydrogenase, have been mutated through the insertion of IS elements. It is evident, however, that not all IS elements have transposed and caused rearrangements of the genome in the past 17 years during which strain C-125 was subcultured under neutral and alkaline conditions.
Experimental analysis of a flyback converter with excellent efficiency

Power conversion modules in consumer products are optimised for cost and not for efficiency. On the other side, efficiency has a value when using renewable energies such as photovoltaic. A bidirectional active-clamped flyback converter has been investigated to identify its maximum possible conversion efficiency for the principal use as maximum power point converter. A power train efficiency has been measured from a 200 W prototype that is above 91 % between 10 % and 100 % of the rated power and reaches a peak value of 96 %.
High-resolution records of the beryllium-10 solar activity proxy in ice from Law Dome, East Antarctica: measurement, reproducibility and principal trends

Abstract. Three near-monthly resolution 10Be records are presented from the Dome Summit South (DSS) ice core site, Law Dome, East Antarctica. The chemical preparation and Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) measurement of these records is described. The reproducibility of 10Be records at DSS is assessed through intercomparison of the ice core data with data from two previously published and contemporaneous snow pits. We find generally good agreement between the five records, comparable to that observed between other trace chemical records from the site. This result allays concerns raised by a previous Antarctic study (Moraal et al., 2005) about poor reproducibility of ice core 10Be records. A single composite series is constructed from the three ice cores providing a monthly-resolved record of 10Be concentrations at DSS over the past decade (1999 to 2009). To our knowledge, this is the first published ice core data spanning the recent exceptional solar minimum of solar cycle 23. 10Be concentrations are significantly correlated to the cosmic ray flux recorded by the McMurdo neutron monitor (rxy = 0.64, with 95 % CI of 0.53 to 0.71), suggesting that solar modulation of the atmospheric production rate may explain up to ~40 % of the variance in 10Be concentrations at DSS. Sharp concentration peaks occur in most years during the summer-to-autumn, possibly caused by stratospheric incursions. Our results underscore the presence of both production and meteorological signals in ice core 10Be data.
Prevalence of Multidrug Resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Extended Spectrum β Lactamase Producing Escherichia Coli in Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection is major health problem in Nepal. Considering, the majority of infection cases caused by Enterobacteriaceae with Escherichia coli being a major pathogen, the present study was carried out to investigate and identify the Multidrug Resistant pattern of Enterobacteriaceae and Extended Spectrum βlactamase producing Escherichia coli so that effective strategy for the urinary tract infection treatment can be achieved. A total of 650 specimens were processed at National Public health laboratory (NPHL), Kathmandu Nepal between November 2010 to April 2011. Extended Spectrum β- lactamase screening among multidrug resistant isolates was done using Ceftriaxone, Aztreonam, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime and Cefpodoxime followed by confirmation using MASTDISCTMID D6. Data analysis was done by SPSS 16 software. Enterobacteriaceae remain predominant of the total isolates (78.7%) of which, Escherichia coli was the most common organism with (64.0%) followed by Klebsiella species (17.9%). Among the total 42 multidrug resistant Escherichia coli subjected for Extended Spectrum β-lactamase screening test 18(31.57%) were confirmed as Extended Spectrum β- lactamase producer by at least one combined disk assay. All the isolates were sensitive to Imipenem (100%) followed by Meropenem (94.44%).