Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic risk and carcinogen exposure: a common inherited defect of the carcinogen-metabolism gene glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) that increases susceptibility to bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND Numerous studies have associated bladder cancer with exposure to carcinogens present in tobacco smoke and other environmental or occupational exposures. Approximately 50% of all humans inherit two deleted copies of the GSTM1 gene which encodes for the carcinogen-detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase M1. Recent findings suggest that the GSTM1 gene may modulate the internal dose of environmental carcinogens and thereby affect the risk of developing bladder cancer. PURPOSE We investigated whether the absence of the GSTM1 gene affects bladder cancer risk and whether there are racial differences in GSTM1 genotype frequency. METHODS Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method, we examined the frequency of the homozygous deleted genotype (GSTM1 0/0) in 229 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and 211 control subjects who were enrolled from the Urology Clinics at Duke University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina Hospitals. Control subjects were urology clinic patients who primarily presented with benign prostatic hypertrophy or impotence, who had no history of any cancer other than nonmelanoma skin cancer, and who were frequency matched to case patients on race, sex, and age (10-year age intervals). In order to explore racial differences in GSTM1 gene frequency, genotype was also determined in a community-based sample of 466 paid, healthy, unrelated volunteers from Durham and Chapel Hill, N.C. The presence or absence of the GSTM1 gene locus was determined by using a differential PCR, a semiquantitative technique in which multiple genes are coamplified. RESULTS Overall, the GSTM1 0/0 genotype conferred a 70% increased risk of bladder cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-2.5; P = .004). Absence of the GSTM1 gene encoding the glutathione S-transferase M1 enzyme significantly increased risk to persons with exposure to the carcinogens in tobacco smoke (OR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.2-3.0; P = .01) but poses little increased risk to persons without such exposure. Persons with smoking exposure of more than 50 pack-years who had the GSTM1 0/0 genotype had a sixfold greater risk relative to persons in the lowest risk group (i.e., nonsmokers who were GSTM1 +/+ or +/0). In the pooled clinic control and community sample groups (677 individuals), the GSTM1 0/0 genotype occurred less frequently among Blacks (35%) than among Whites (49%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS These findings support a protective role for the GSTM1 gene in bladder cancer. From these findings, it is estimated that 25% of all bladder cancer may be attributable to the at-risk GSTM1 0/0 genotype.
Recombinant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus expressing vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein

A recombinant S segment RNA (Sr) of the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) where the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVG) was substituted for the glycoprotein of LCMV (LCMV-GP) was produced intracellularly from cDNA under the control of a polymerase I promoter. Coexpression of the LCMV proteins NP and L allowed expression of VSVG from Sr. Infection of transfected cells with WT LCMV (LCMVwt) resulted in reassortment of the L segment of LCMVwt with the Sr at low frequency. Isolation of recombinant LCMV (rLCMV) expressing VSVG (rLCMV/VSVG) was achieved by selection against LCMVwt by using a cell line deficient in the cellular protease S1P. This approach was based on the finding that processing of LCMV-GP by S1P was required for virus infectivity. Characterization of protein and RNA expression of rLCMV/VSVG in infected cells confirmed the expected virus genome organization. rLCMV/VSVG caused syncytium formation in cultured cells and grew to ≈100-fold lower titers than WT virus but, like the parent virus, it persisted in neonatally infected mice without clinical signs of disease.
Framework for a comprehensive description and measurement of emotional states.

The rationale for a general three-dimensional approach to measuring emotions (the Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance, PAD, Emotional-State Model) is described. Evidence bearing on two early versions of the PAD scales is reviewed, and three studies report additional development and refinement of a final set of PAD scales. Factor analysis of 58 PAD items in Study 1, 41 PAD items in Study 2, and 34 PAD items in Study 3 consistently yielded three nearly orthogonal Pleasure, Arousal, and Dominance factors. The final 16-item State Pleasure, 9-item State Arousal, and 9-item State Dominance scales had alpha reliability coefficients of . 97, . 89, and . 80, respectively. Across Studies 2 and 3, intercorrelations among the latter three scales did not exceed . 09 in absolute value, showing that the scales provided a parsimonious base for the general assessment of emotional states. Discriminant and construct validity evidence for the scales were reviewed. Potential applications of the scales were noted.
Inhibition of VirB-mediated transfer of diverse substrates from Agrobacterium tumefaciens by the IncQ plasmid RSF1010

The transfer of DNA from Agrobacterium tumefaciens into a plant cell requires the activities of several virulence (vir) genes that reside on the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid. The putative transferred intermediate is a single-stranded DNA (T strand), covalently attached to the VirD2 protein and coated with the single-stranded DNA-binding protein, VirE2. The movement of this intermediate out of Agrobacterium cells and into plant cells requires the expression of the virB operon, which encodes 11 proteins that localize to the membrane system. Our earlier studies showed that the IncQ broad-host-range plasmid RSF1010, which can be transferred from Agrobacterium cells to plant cells, inhibits the transfer of T-DNA from pTiA6 in a fashion that is reversed by overexpression of virB9, virB10, and virB11. Here, we examined the specificity of this inhibition by following the transfer of other T-DNA molecules. By using extracellular complementation assays, the effects of RSF1010 on movement of either VirE2 or an uncoated T strand from A. tumefaciens were also monitored. The RSF1010 derivative plasmid pJW323 drastically inhibited the capacity of strains to serve as VirE2 donors but only partially inhibited T-strand transfer from virE2 mutants. Further, we show that all the virB genes tested are required for the movement of VirE2 and the uncoated T strand as assayed by extracellular complementation. Our results are consistent with a model in which the RSF1010 plasmid, or intermediates from it, compete with the T strand and VirE2 for a common transport site.
Laryngeal Resistance before and after Minor Surgery: Endotracheal Tube versus Laryngeal Mask Airway™

Background The placement of an endotracheal tube (ETT) may promote laryngeal swelling, which is an important cause of upper airway obstruction after extubation. The authors hypothesized that laryngeal swelling after ETT placement increases laryngeal resistance and tested that hypothesis by comparing postoperative laryngeal patency between patients with ETT placement and those with a Laryngeal Mask Airway™ (LMA™). Methods Fourteen adult patients who underwent elective minor surgeries were randomly allocated to two groups whose airway would be managed through ETTs (the ETT group) or LMAs™ (the LMA™ group) during the surgery. While maintaining at sevoflurane 1 minimum alveolar concentration, the authors measured laryngeal resistance before and after surgery, during both spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation under complete paralysis. In addition, they endoscopically measured the vocal cord angle under complete paralysis. Results In association with marked swelling of the vocal cords, the vocal cord angle significantly decreased after surgery in the ETT group, whereas the angle did not change in the LMA group. Laryngeal resistance during mechanical ventilation significantly increased only in the ETT group. Laryngeal resistance during spontaneous breathing significantly increased after surgeries in both groups. Conclusions Postoperative laryngeal resistance increases at least in part because of laryngeal swelling in patients with ETT placement, whereas alteration of laryngeal neural control mechanisms has been also indicated. The use of the LMA™ has an advantage over ETT placement in order to avoid postoperative laryngeal swelling.
Travel MoCo– A Mobile Community Service for Tourists

The future competitive advantages for a successful travel industry will most probably be built around effective mobile value services. Mobile value services are services which create customer value with the support of context-adapted mobile technology; this in turn is designed to expand the limits of the possible in the structure of everyday routines. The social aspect in tourism is becoming important. Interacting with other people is found to be a source for tourists to seek information and to make decisions both before, during and after the visit. Earlier research shows that people in general rely more on informal sources such as family and friends than on official channels to satisfy their information needs. We have developed a mobile service called Travel MoCo that allows the user to seek travel related information through social interaction with other people and share experiences with each other anytime and anywhere just by using his/her mobile phone.
Reticulate evolution in diploid and tetraploid species of Polystachya (Orchidaceae) as shown by plastid DNA sequences and low-copy nuclear genes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Here evidence for reticulation in the pantropical orchid genus Polystachya is presented, using gene trees from five nuclear and plastid DNA data sets, first among only diploid samples (homoploid hybridization) and then with the inclusion of cloned tetraploid sequences (allopolyploids). Two groups of tetraploids are compared with respect to their origins and phylogenetic relationships. METHODS Sequences from plastid regions, three low-copy nuclear genes and ITS nuclear ribosomal DNA were analysed for 56 diploid and 17 tetraploid accessions using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Reticulation was inferred from incongruence between gene trees using supernetwork and consensus network analyses and from cloning and sequencing duplicated loci in tetraploids. KEY RESULTS Diploid trees from individual loci showed considerable incongruity but little reticulation signal when support from more than one gene tree was required to infer reticulation. This was coupled with generally low support in the individual gene trees. Sequencing the duplicated gene copies in tetraploids showed clearer evidence of hybrid evolution, including multiple origins of one group of tetraploids included in the study. CONCLUSIONS A combination of cloning duplicate gene copies in allotetraploids and consensus network comparison of gene trees allowed a phylogenetic framework for reticulation in Polystachya to be built. There was little evidence for homoploid hybridization, but our knowledge of the origins and relationships of three groups of allotetraploids are greatly improved by this study. One group showed evidence of multiple long-distance dispersals to achieve a pantropical distribution; another showed no evidence of multiple origins or long-distance dispersal but had greater morphological variation, consistent with hybridization between more distantly related parents.
Pilot of non-invasive (oral fluid) testing for HIV within a clinical setting.

BACKGROUND The objectives of the present study were: to determine the sensitivity and specificity of oral fluid testing compared with the performance of standard blood-based HIV enzyme immunoassay; to assess the feasibility of oral fluid specimen collection from clients for the purposes of HIV testing within a clinical setting; and to assess the clinical and laboratory impact regarding staffing, material resources, expertise and funding of oral fluid testing. METHODS A parallel comparative trial of oral fluid and blood testing was conducted among a group of HIV positive clients and a group of unknown HIV serostatus clients where each client was offered both tests. An ambulatory HIV clinic recruited 175 known HIV positive clients and 179 persons were recruited through an inner city sexual health clinic while attending for routine sexual health checks. Client responses to oral fluid collection were assessed. The sensitivity and specificity of oral fluid testing were calculated. RESULTS Of the 176 confirmed HIV reactive blood test results, the OraSure (OraSure Technologies, Beaverton, OR, USA) assay failed to detect only one of these, demonstrating a sensitivity of 99.4%. Of the 178 blood specimens that were tested as non-reactive by the AxSYM (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA) Combo system, OraSure recorded four of the corresponding oral fluid specimens as reactive (assumed to be false-positive), giving a specificity of 97.6%. Although evaluation of patients undergoing the test showed a large proportion (88.6%) preferred the OraSure test to conventional blood testing, a large minority of these (22.6%) made such a preference conditional on the OraSure test being as reliable as current blood testing. CONCLUSIONS This limited clinic based trial of oral fluid testing for HIV antibodies among an outpatient population has demonstrated the potential of oral fluid as a specimen for HIV testing. However, the lower performance of the test compared with current serum-based tests may limit the usefulness of OraSure to epidemiological studies or as an alternative screening tool in outreach settings among higher risk populations.
GOVERNMENT AGENTS IN NIGERIAS INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SYSTEM

A situation of grave concern in Nigeria is that about sixty percent of all industrial disputes results in industrial actions This can be regarded as a failure on the part of relevant agencies, whose statutory role is to proffer solution to industrial disputes. This article examines the functions and lapses of relevant government agencies in their statutory roles, and recommends ways to improve the industrial relations system in Nigeria, which include the review of the roles and functions of the agency; the involvement of organized labour in legislations and the recruitment of qualified personnel to handle industrial matters.
Renal survival and prognostic factors in patients with PR3-ANCA associated vasculitis with renal involvement.

BACKGROUND Severe renal disease is a feature of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated small-vessel vasculitis. We evaluated patient and renal survival and prognostic factors in patients with PR3-ANCA associated vasculitis with renal involvement at diagnosis during long-term follow-up. METHODS Eighty-five patients were diagnosed between 1982 and 1996 and followed until 2001 allowing >or=5 years of follow-up. All patients were treated with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Univariate and multivariate analyses with patient and renal survival as dependent variables were performed. RESULTS Of the 85 patients in this study, 17 (20%) died within one year after diagnosis. Of the 25 patients (29%) who were dialysis dependent at diagnosis, two remained dependent and two again became dialysis dependent after less than one year; nine died early without renal recovery. Risk factors for death occurring within one year in univariate analysis (RR, 95% CI) were age>65 years (6.5, 1.6-13.7) and dialysis dependency at diagnosis (3.6, 1.0-13). Twenty patients died beyond one year during the long-term follow-up. Male gender (4.7, 1.6-10) and developing dialysis dependency during follow-up (4.1, 1.4-12) were associated with poor outcome. Risk factor for renal failure within one year was dialysis dependency at diagnosis (29, 3.6-229). Of 64 patients dialysis independent one year after diagnosis, 12 patients became dialysis dependent during follow-up. A renal relapse was strongly associated with development of renal failure in long-term follow-up (17, 3.5-81). CONCLUSIONS Early death and failure to recover renal function in PR3-ANCA associated vasculitis is associated with age> 65 years and dialysis dependency at diagnosis. Long-term renal survival is determined by renal relapses during follow-up only. Slow, progressive renal failure without relapses is rarely observed in this group.
EFEITOS DA ADOÇÃO DAS IFRS NO CONSERVADORISMO CONTÁBIL DAS SOCIEDADES DE GRANDE PORTE

Esta pesquisa investigou os efeitos da adesao do Brasil as IFRS sobre o conservadorismo contabil em Companhias de Grande Porte. Para alcance dos objetivos propostos buscou-se, enquanto instrumento metodologico de pesquisa, o banco de dados das 1000 maiores empresas em volume de vendas, segundo a Revista Exame Maiores e Melhores, publicacao nacionalmente reconhecida - no periodo de 2005 a 2010. A metodologia se baseou no modelo proposto por Ball e Shivakumar (2005) como medida de reversao assimetrica de resultados provocados positiva e negativamente. Nos resultados identificados, nao foram verificados indicios de mudanca no nivel de conservadorismo existente entre as sociedades de grande porte que publicaram suas demonstracoes no periodo estudado.
Body weight loss during lactation in relation to energy and protein metabolism in standard-fed primiparous sows.

After 5 weeks of lactation 14 standard-fed primiparous sows were divided into a low weight-loss group (L-gr, loss < 25 kg, n = 7) and a high weight-loss group (H-gr, loss > or = 25 kg, n = 7). Body weights of the sows and their litters were recorded on days 2, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 of lactation. Blood samples were collected before the morning feeding on each weighing day. Samples were analysed to determine concentrations of insulin, glucagon, glucose, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), urea and creatinine. The H-gr sows lost weight throughout lactation, whereas the L-gr sows gained weight during the last week. Weight loss was higher in the H-gr than in the L-gr during weeks 2, 3 and 5 of lactation. Litter size and litter weight gain were higher in the H-gr than in the L-gr. Significant changes in levels of insulin, glucagon, glucose, triglycerides and creatinine were observed over lactation. No significant differences in concentrations of any of the parameters were found between the two groups, except for insulin and cholesterol which were higher in the L-gr. Catabolism of adipose tissue and muscle protein was observed in both groups during the first week of lactation. This catabolic state was more pronounced and tended to be prolonged in the H-gr. Concentrations of all parameters seemed to be stable in both groups during the last two weeks of lactation.
Vibration Soccer: Tactile Rendering of Football Game on Mobiles

Vibrotactile sensations to sight and sound cues on mobile handsets make content more realistic, fun and operation more intuitive. In this paper, we propose a new method of rendering live football game on mobile phones by vibration, which offers the better and more entertaining user communications and/or interaction by focusing on the vibrotactile functionality of the mobile. The mobile phone is "synchronized" with the ball in the real-time football game. By holding the phone, users will be able to experience dynamic movements of the ball, to know attacking directions and which team is leading the attack. We examine the possible vibrotactile communication using mobile vibration as a medium alone. The user studies are performed on 36-adult subjects and results are discussed. Finally, the potentials of the tactile channel communications are demonstrated.
New Medical Approaches in Pituitary Adenomas

Recently, the medical approach to patients with secreting and clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas has received great impulse thanks to the availability of new, selective and long-lasting compounds with dopaminergic activity, such as cabergoline, and of somatostatin analogues provided in slow-release formulations, such as lanreotide and octreotide long acting release (LAR). In particular, the use of cabergoline has induced control of hyperprolactinaemia and tumour shrinkage in the great majority of patients with micro- and macroprolactinomas. Cabergoline treatment restores fertility both in women and men, and partially improves osteoporosis, one of the major complications of hyperprolactinaemia. In acromegaly, disease control (growth hormone [GH] <2.5–1.0 μg/l as a fasting or glucose-suppressed value, respectively, together with age-normalised insulin-like growth factor [IGF]-I) is achievable in more than half of patients receiving treatment with lanreotide or octreotide-LAR. Improvement in cardiomyopathy, sleep apnoea and arthropathy has been reported during GH/IGF-I suppression after pharmacotherapy. A synthetic GH analogue, B2036-PEG, that antagonises endogenous GH binding to its receptor-binding sites and a GH-releasing hormone antagonist that blocks the effect of this releasing factor on the hypothalamus and pituitary are presently under investigation in acromegaly. Preliminary studies have clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the GH receptor antagonist in suppressing IGF-I levels in acromegalic patients previously unresponsive to somatostatin analogues. Beneficial effects of subcutaneous octreotide and lanreotide have also been reported in adenomas secreting thyroid-stimulating hormone, while the results of treatment with dopamine agonists or somatostatin analogues remain disappointing in patients with clinically non-functioning adenomas. In these patients the possibility of visualising in vivo the expression of D2 receptors using specific radiotracers such as 123I-methoxybenzamide has allowed selection of patients likely to respond to cabergoline. Scant effects of pharmacotherapy have also been reported in patients with adenomas secreting adrenocorticotropic hormone. However, some preliminary data suggest a potential use of cabergoline in combination with ketoconazole, or alone, in selected cases of Cushing’s disease or Nelson’s syndrome.
Trends in Medicinal Uses of Edible Wild Vertebrates in Brazil

The use of food medicines is a widespread practice worldwide. In Brazil, such use is often associated with wild animals, mostly focusing on vertebrate species. Here we assessed taxonomic and ecological trends in traditional uses of wild edible vertebrates in the country, through an extensive ethnobiological database analysis. Our results showed that at least 165 health conditions are reportedly treated by edible vertebrate species (n = 204), mostly fishes and mammals. However, reptiles stand out presenting a higher plasticity in the treatment of multiple health conditions. Considering the 20 disease categories recorded, treatment prescriptions were similar within continental (i.e., terrestrial and freshwater) and also within coastal and marine habitats, which may reflect locally related trends in occurrence and use of the medicinal fauna. The comprehension of the multiplicity and trends in the therapeutic uses of Brazilian vertebrates is of particular interest from a conservation perspective, as several threatened species were recorded.