Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydroxyurea in combination with didanosine and stavudine in antiretroviral-experienced HIV-infected subjects with a review of the literature

The safety and efficacy of hydroxyurea with didanosine in combination with stavudine in nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-experienced patients was investigated. Entry criteria included HIV-1 infected, NRTI-experienced adults, with CD4+ counts 50-550 cells/mm3 and viral loads ≥12,500 copies/mL. Subjects were treated with didanosine 200 mg twice a day (BID), stavudine 40 mg BID, and hydroxyurea 1000 mg daily for 16 weeks. Thirty-one HIV-1 subjects with mean bDNA viral load 1×105 log10 copies/mL and mean CD4+ T-cell counts of 231 cells/mm3 were enrolled. A 1.3 log10 decrease in mean viral load was seen at 12 weeks of therapy. Prior didanosine use resulted in a more rapid response to therapy compared with prior zidovudine use. Side effects consisting of neutropenia, pancreatitis, and peripheral neuropathy occurred in four subjects and resolved upon withdrawal of therapy. This non-randomized study in subjects with a mean CD4+ T-cell count of 230 cells/mm3 demonstrates the antiviral activity of hydroxyurea+didanosine and stavudine. Toxicities related to therapy need to be followed closely. The results support the need for a randomized, prospective study to determine the safety and efficacy of hydroxyurea plus didanosine in antiretroviral-experienced patients with CD4+ cell counts below 300 cells/mm3.
Altered brain networks in psychogenic erectile dysfunction: a resting‐state fMRI study

Various neuroimaging studies had identified changes of cerebral activity and structures during the processes of sexual arousal. The identified brain regions were also believed to regulate emotional and cognitive processes. Yet, little was known about the neural mechanisms underlying psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Moreover, brain mechanisms mediating the processing of sexual arousal by these psychological processes were unclear. To investigate this issue, graph theory was applied to evaluate the topological properties of functional brain networks among 24 psychogenic erectile dysfunction patients and 26 healthy controls. Abnormal metrics and correlations with clinical characteristics were further analyzed. Our results showed that psychogenic erectile dysfunction had higher small‐worldness and more modules. Furthermore, psychogenic erectile dysfunction showed altered path length and strength of the right superior frontal gyrus (dorsolateral), superior parietal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and left temporal pole (superior temporal gyrus), post‐central gyrus, mainly located in the cognitive control and emotional regulation subnetworks. And the altered parameters of the small‐worldness and right parahippocampal gyrus were related to the clinical characteristics of psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Together, our results suggested that psychogenic erectile dysfunction was associated with disruptions in the topological structure of functional brain subnetworks underlying the cognitive and emotional processes.
Melting and premelting phenomenon in DNA by laser Raman scattering

Raman spectra of DNA from calf thymus DNA have been taken over a wide range of temperatures (25°–95°) in both D2O and H2O. A study of the temperature dependence of the Raman spectra shows that the temperature profiles of the intensities and frequencies of the various bands fall into four different categories: (1) base bands that show a reversible increase in intensity prior to the melting region, i.e., a definite premelting phenomenon; (2) base bands that show little or no temperature dependence; (3) deoxyribose‐phosphate backbone vibrations that show no temperature dependence up to the melting region, at which point large decreases in intensity occur; and (4) slow frequency changes in certain in‐plane vibrations of guanine and adenine due to deuteration of the C‐8 hydrogen of these purines in D2O.
Intercultural learning on short‐term sojourns

This paper presents an ethnographic case study of advanced second language (L2) students from Hong Kong who took part in a short‐term sojourn in England after 14 weeks of preparation. While abroad, they lived with a host family, took literary/cultural studies courses, visited cultural sites, participated in debriefing sessions, and conducted ethnographic projects. Data consisted of interviews, an intercultural reflections journal, surveys, field notes, ethnographic conversations and a diary. The Intercultural Development Inventory measured their intercultural sensitivity on entry, after the pre‐sojourn preparation, and post‐sojourn. The findings supported the primary assumption that underpins the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity: ‘as one’s experience of cultural difference becomes more complex and sophisticated, one’s competence in intercultural relations increases’.
The Iron Content of Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Its Subcellular Distribution: Studies on Normal, Iron‐Overloaded and Iron‐Deficient Rats

Summary. Small intestinal epithelial cells from normal, iron‐loaded and iron‐deficient rats were homogenized and fractionated by differential centrifugation. The iron content of the fractions was measured together with the activities of two iron containing enzymes, succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase. A comparison of the values obtained from the iron‐overloaded rats with controls showed no significant increase in either the iron content or the enzyme activities. However, the iron‐deficient rats showed a marked decrease in both. In all three cases the concentration of iron was particularly high in the mitochondrial fraction. In irondeficient epithelial cells mitochondrial enzyme activity appeared in the soluble fraction suggesting mitochondrial damage.
Imaging diagnosis and prognostication of hamstring injuries.

OBJECTIVE Hamstring injuries are common in sports. Although management and outcomes are sport specific, clinical evaluation alone is a poor guide for treatment planning and prognostication. Cross-sectional imaging has added value in these cases. CONCLUSION Specifically, the location (tendon attachment, classic or intramuscular myotendinous junction, or extramuscular portion of the tendon), specific muscles involved, and anatomic extent are factors that can influence the immediate treatment, expected convalescent period, and risk of recurrence in these athletes.
Should verrucas be covered while swimming?

The son of one of the authors came home from school with a letter explaining that prior to swimming each term, children would have their feet checked for verrucas. School policy stated that if a verruca was discovered a protective sock must be worn. Many public swimming pools have no restrictions on children swimming with verrucas, and in view of conflicting policies we wondered whether verrucas were transmitted during swimming and if wearing verruca socks was a necessary intervention. In a child [patient] with a verruca (plantar wart), does wearing an occlusive dressing …
Competition of coalescence and"fireball"processes in nonequilibrium emission of light charged particles from p+Au collisions

A.Budzanowski, M.Fidelus, D.Filges, F.Goldenbaum, H.Hodde, L.Jarczyk, B.Kamys, ∗ M.Kistryn, St.Kistryn, St.Kliczewski, A.Kowalczyk, E.Kozik, P.Kulessa, 3 H.Machner, A.Magiera, B.Piskor-Ignatowicz, 3 K.Pysz, 3 Z.Rudy, R.Siudak, 3 and M.Wojciechowski (PISA Proton Induced SpAllation collaboration) H. Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN, Radzikowskiego 152, 31342 Kraków, Poland M. Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagellonian University, Reymonta 4, 30059 Kraków, Poland Institut für Kernphysik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany Institut für Strahlenund Kernphysik, Bonn University, D-53121 Bonn, Germany (Dated: February 4, 2008)
A pioneering study of dental fluorosis in the libyan population.

BACKGROUND Fluorosis is a condition resulting from excessive ingestion of fluoride during early childhood leading to the formation of defective enamel. The increased fluoride content is thought to result in a metabolic alteration of ameloblasts, which results in defective matrix, and improper calcification of teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 6244 patients between the ages of 6yrs to 60yrs, who presented to our outpatient clinic from October 2009 to December 2010 were included in the study. The study subjects were grouped according to their age into the following groups- 6-14 yrs, 15-25 yrs, 26-40 yrs, and 40-60yrs. Only permanent dentition was taken into consideration in this study. RESULTS The overall prevalence of fluorosis in this study was 63.34% (3955 of 6244 patients). Men had a slightly higher prevalence of 64.27% compared to 62.28% among women. CONCLUSION Prevention of fluorosis would require efforts at raising awareness among the people about the harmful effects of their dietary choices on their teeth. They also need to be educated about adequate and proper oral hygiene, such as brushing their teeth at least two times daily. How to cite this article: Sunil T K L, Shetty S, Annapoorna B M, Pujari S C, Reddy P S, Nandlal B. A Pioneering Study of Dental Fluorosis in the Libyan Population. J Int Oral Health 2013; 5(3):67-72.
Preparation and training: the key to better patient involvement

Articles which compare practical examples of different methods of involving users are rare, so the paper by van Wersch and Eccles1 in this issue of Quality in Health Care is of particular interest. It examines four methods of involving patients in the development of clinical guidelines which, in itself, is an area that has received relatively little attention. The four methods tested were: The findings in this specialised area support the results of evaluations of user involvement initiatives more generally, although they also raise a number of questions. For example, at a workshop on user involvement in R&D organised by the West Midlands Regional Office in December 2000, all speakers—including the director of the Consumers in NHS Research Support Unit—drew attention to the time consuming and resource intensive nature of involving users in research in a way that enabled them to make a meaningful contribution, so it is no surprise to see the authors make the same observation. Inevitably …
OX40 (CD134) and OX40 ligand interaction plays an adjuvant role during in vivo Th2 responses

The role of OX40‐OX40 ligand (OX40L) interaction in Th cell differentiation remains contentious. In vitro studies have revealed a Th2‐biased effect by OX40 signals in T cells. However, in vivo studies demonstrated that OX40‐OX40L interaction is involved in responses either Th1 or Th2, or both, which appears to be dependent on the experimental conditions used. We document in our report Th cell differentiation in OX40L‐deficient and OX40L‐transgenic (Tg) mice in response to protein antigens (Ag) and to Leishmania major (L. major) infection. Upon immunization with protein Ag, we demonstrate the adjuvant effect of OX40 signals during in vivo Th2 responses. However, adjuvant treatment to mice ameliorates the Th2‐specific effect of OX40‐OX40L interaction and rather induces concurrent promotion of both Th1 and Th2 responses via OX40 signals. Thus, previous reports showing promotion of Th1 response by OX40‐OX40L interaction may in actual fact be affected by the adjuvant effects mediated by the various experimental conditions. Indeed, constitutive OX40–OX40L interactions in OX40L‐Tg mice converted the normally resistant C57BL/6 strain, into a susceptible status following L. major infection due to an extraordinary elevated Th2 response. These results provide convincing evidence demonstrating that the OX40‐OX40L interaction is paramount in the development of Th2 responses in vivo.
CORRELATION BETWEEN SURVIVIN MRNA LEVELS AND SURVIVAL IN CANCER PATIENTS WITH PLEURAL EFFUSIONS

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, School of Medicine, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Department of Pathology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Department of Pathology, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital and School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
SSP: A semantics-based protocol for real-time data access

We propose a class of real-time data access protocols called SSP (Similarity Stack Protocol). The correctness of SSP schedules is justified by the concept of similarity which allows different but sufficiently timely data to be used in a computation without adversely affecting the outcome. SSP schedules are deadlock-free, subject to limited blocking and do not use locks. We give a schedulability bound for SSP and also report simulation results which show that SSP is especially useful for scheduling real-time data access on multiprocessor systems. Finally, we present a variation of SSP which can be implemented in an autonomous fashion in the sense that scheduling decisions can be made with local information only. <<ETX>>
Neurologic Complications in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Increasing Relevance in the Era of Biologics

Abstract:Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can involve almost every organ system. Neurologic complications are not infrequent in patients with IBD, but are poorly recognized and underreported. Pathophysiologically, these may represent immune-mediated phenomenon, nonimmunologic complications due to micronutrient deficiencies, thromboembolism, or be medication-induced. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common neurologic complication of IBD and may be immune-mediated, or caused by therapy with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&agr;) therapy or metronidazole. Multiple sclerosis occurs with a greater frequency in patients with IBD. Anti-TNF-&agr; therapy can cause neurologic disease characterized by central demyelination that mimics multiple sclerosis. Hence, patients with a history of demyelinating diseases or with symptoms of polyneuropathy should be carefully evaluated before initiation of anti-TNF-&agr; therapy. Natalizumab has been associated with fatal progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy due to reactivation of JC virus, and occurs with greater frequency in patients with previous JC virus infection. Stroke secondary to venous or arterial thromboembolism can be seen in patients with active Crohn's disease. It is important for gastroenterologists to be aware of the neurologic complications in patients with IBD. Neurologic symptoms in these patients should be promptly evaluated.
Mutations in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase or cystathionine β‐syntase gene, or a high‐methionine diet, increase homocysteine thiolactone levels in humans and mice

Genetic disorders of homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism or a high‐methionine diet lead to elevations of plasma Hcy levels. In humans, severe genetic hyperhomocysteinemia results in premature death from vascular complications whereas dietary hyperhomocysteinemia is often used to induce atherosclerosis in animal models. Hcy is mistakenly selected in place of methionine by methionyl‐tRNA synthetase during protein biosynthesis, which results in the formation of Hcy‐thiolactone and initiates a pathophysiolog‐ical pathway that has been implicated in human vascular disease. However, whether genetic deficiencies in Hcy metabolism or a high‐methionine diet affect Hcy‐thio‐lactone levels in mammals has been unknown. Here we show that plasma Hcy‐thiolactone is elevated 59‐fold and 72‐fold in human patients with hyperhomocysteine‐mia secondary to mutations in methylenetetrahydrofo‐late reductase and cystathionine β‐synthase genes, respectively. We also show that mice, like humans, eliminate Hcy‐thiolactone by urinary excretion; in contrast to humans, however, mice also eliminate significant amounts of plasma total Hcy (~38%) by urinary excretion. In mice, hyperhomocysteinemia secondary to a high‐methionine diet leads to 3.7‐fold and 25‐fold increases in plasma and urinary Hcy‐thiolactone levels, respectively. Thus, we conclude that hyperhomocys‐teinemia leads to significant increases in the atherogenic metabolite Hcy‐thiolactone in humans and mice. —Chwatko, G. , Boers, G. H. J., Strauss, K. A. , Shih, D. M. , Jakubowski, H. Mutations in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase or cystathionine β‐syntase gene, or a high‐methionine diet, increase homocysteine thiolactone levels in humans and mice. FASEB J. 21, 1707–1713 (2007)
Semiempirical Quantum Chemical Method and Artificial Neural Networks Applied for lambdamax Computation of Some Azo Dyes

The maximum absorption wavelengths of 31 azo dyes have been calculated by two comprehensive methods using the semiempirical quantum chemical method, PM3, and the weight decay based artificial neural network (WD-ANN) or the early stopping based artificial neural network (ES-ANN). The average absolute errors of WD-ANN and that of ES-ANN are 10.07 nm and 12.40 nm, respectively. These results are much better than the results using ZINDO/S with the default value (0.585) only.
Congeners of SMAP29 Kill Ovine Pathogens and Induce Ultrastructural Damage in Bacterial Cells

ABSTRACT SMAP29, an ovine cathelicidin, was systematically altered to create a family of 23 related peptides for MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration determinations. SMAP28, SMAP29, and a derivative of SMAP29 called ovispirin were all antimicrobial. However, many congeners of SMAP29 and ovispirin were not as active as the parent molecules. With immunoelectron microscopy, SMAP29 was seen on membranes and within the cytoplasm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.
The effect of dietary fatty acids on lactic acid bacteria associated with the epithelial mucosa and from faecalia of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.)

Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), held in fresh water, were fed four experimental diets containing different polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In addition, one group fed a diet containing only coconut oil as sole lipid source served as control. The population of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria associated with the epithelial mucosa and the faecalia was estimated using the dilution plate technique. Generally, the population level of adherent bacteria increased along the digestive tract (stomach, small intestine and large intestine). Adherent Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria seemed to be present at equal levels in all parts of the alimentary tract. Lactic acid bacteria dominated among the Gram‐positive bacteria, and they were detected in all regions of fish fed the PUFA supplemented diets. The frequency of lactic acid bacteria was highest in the digestive tract of fish fed diets with added 7·0% linolenic acid (18:3 n‐3) or 4% of a PUFA mix. A lower frequency of lactic acid bacteria was found in fish fed dietary linoleic acid (18:2 n‐6), and they were absent or present in low numbers in fish fed the coconut oil diet. It is suggested that dietary fatty acids affect the attachment sites for the gastrointestinal microbiota, possibly by modifying the fatty acid composition of the intestine wall. Numerical taxonomy procedures showed that the lactic acid bacteria Carnobacterium spp. and a Carnobacterium piscicola‐like strain were predominant, with smaller numbers of Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus spp. and Leuconostoc mesenteroides present. Seven strains of Carnobacterium spp. were further identified on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and all these strains were identified as Carnobacterium piscicola.
13 Land Administration and Automation in Uganda

Land administration refers to management of land issues that involve keeping custody of the land title records, documentation and ensuring land transactions are secure to promote investments. The land administration system in Uganda prior to automation was paperbased and premised on the Torrens system that guarantees land title by registration. The land administration system was regionally based, providing separate registry offices countrywide and one in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The managerial and technical functions were vested in the Land Registrars.
Theory and experiment validation of radio wave propagation in the forest and its application for extended frequency

A theoretical model for vertical polarized radio wave propagation in the forest is given in this paper. The propagation modes consist of directive wave and reflect wave in the air-forest interface and reflect wave in the forest-ground interface and lateral wave propagating along the upper interface in the air. The expressions of them are given here and the propagation loss can be derived easily from them. And we validate them in the VHF and UHF band using the experiment data measured in typical forest of Central China. Also we extend the formula to the higher frequency such as 1800MHz and 3500MHz. The initial distance where the lateral wave begins to be the predominant propagation mechanism in higher frequency is different from VHF and UHF frequency. It is 600m in 1800MHz and 3500MHz while it is 350m in VHF and UHF band.
Pseudopili Annulati in a Dark‐Haired Individual: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study

Abstract: We report pseudopili annulati for the first time in a dark‐haired Chinese girl. The hair was elliptical in shape and twisted along its long axis. The banded or ringed appearance was due to incident light being reflected by the flattened segments. Banding was also noted under polarized light but was not present under transmitted light. Under transmitted light the whole length of the hair appeared dark and the thickness varied at regular intervals, giving rise to fusiform segments due to the twisted nature of the hair shaft. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic examinations revealed no abnormalities in the cuticle and cortex.
Biological activity of human granulocyte colony stimulating factor with a modified C-terminus.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) undergoes receptor-mediated internalization into target cells which are normally restricted to neutrophilic granulocytes and their committed progenitor cells, suggesting that it may be applicable as a myeloid cell-targeting vehicle. To test this notion, we constructed a cDNA encoding a human G-CSF/murine stem cell factor (mSCF) chimeric molecule in a mammalian expression vector and transfected NIH3T3 cells with this plasmid. The resulting chimeric cytokine consisted of the entire G-CSF sequences fused to Lys148 of mSCF. It can be released from the surface membrane of NIH3T3 transformants through proteolytic cleavage at Ala164 of mSCF. The culture media conditioned by a number of stable transformants, which were confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to secrete an hG-CSF derivative, were examined for their ability to stimulate CFU-G-derived colony formation as well as the proliferation of G-CSF-dependent NFS-60 cells. The results indicated that this C-terminus modified version of hG-CSF is as potent as recombinant hG-CSF in both assays.