Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local Cytokines in Endometrial Tissue: The Role of Interleukin‐8 in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

Abstract: Endometriosis, defined by the presence of viable endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, is among the most common gynecologic disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Endometriosis is associated with an inflammatory peritoneal environment, where multiple cytokines and growth factors are found at elevated levels. Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) is a cytokine that induces chemotaxis of neutrophils and is a potent angiogenic agent. In addition, IL‐8 was recently found to stimulate proliferation of various cells. We have observed that IL‐8 is elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis and the levels correlate with the severity of the disease. We hypothesized that IL‐8 may play a role in the growth and maintenance of ectopic endometrial tissue not only by chemoattracting and stimulating leukocytes to secrete growth factors and cytokines, but also by directly affecting endometrial cell proliferation. We found that IL‐8 mRNA and protein levels in the endometrium were significantly higher during early proliferative and late secretory phases than during the mid‐cycle. IL‐8 receptors A and B are also expressed in the endometrium mostly localized in the stroma. Interestingly, IL‐8 receptor expression is higher in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis compared to the endometrium of women without endometriosis. Endometrial cells in culture proliferate significantly when treated with IL‐8, which is inhibited by anti‐IL‐8 neutralizing antibody. More convincingly, IL‐8 antisense oligonucleotide treatment decreases IL‐8 production by endometrial cells as well as cell proliferation when compared to non‐sense oligonucleotide treatment. The addition of IL‐8 reverses the inhibitory effect of IL‐8 antisense oligonucleotides on cell proliferation. These findings suggest that IL‐8 may act as an autocrine growth factor in the endometrium. We have also studied the effect of endometrial cell adhesion on IL‐8 expression and observed that IL‐8 stimulates the adhesion of endometrial cells to fibronectin. Treatment of the cells with anti‐IL‐8 neutralizing antibody inhibited partially the cell adhesion. Thus, IL‐8 may also be relevant for stimulating the attachment of endometrial implants in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In addition, adherence of endometrial cells induced further IL‐8 expression by an integrin‐dependent mechanism. In summary, IL‐8 may act as an autocrine growth factor in the endometrium and may also play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by promoting the vicious circle of endometrial cell attachment, cell growth, and further secretion of this cytokine.
HNF4&agr; as a Marker for Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

A new lung adenocarcinoma classification was recently proposed by IASLC/ATS/ERS. In this classification, invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMC) is placed in a new category because of its unique radiologic, morphologic, and genetic characteristics. Minimal cytologic atypia characterizes this tumor; thus, it is occasionally difficult to make a diagnosis with a biopsy specimen. We used immunohistochemistry to examine HNF4&agr; expression in a tissue microarray consisting of 278 lung adenocarcinoma specimens. In addition, we analyzed the clinicopathologic features, including EGFR, KRAS, and ALK mutation status. HNF4&agr; expression was detected in 33 of the 37 surgically resected IMCs. The tumor cells were uniformly labeled with the molecule in all of the corresponding biopsy specimens, whereas the normal cells were not. Although HNF4&agr; was also expressed in other lung adenocarcinoma subtypes, those with HNF4&agr; expression shared IMC features, including negative TTF-1 expression (P<0.001), positive CDX2 expression (P<0.001), positive KRAS mutation status (P=0.001), and negative EGFR mutation status (P<0.001). Although some ALK-positive adenocarcinomas showed IMC morphology, the tumors were negative for HNF4&agr;, suggesting that they belonged to a different group of tumors. We found that HNF4&agr; labeled all of the IMC tumors except the ALK-positive adenocarcinomas. Thus, HNF4&agr; positivity could serve as a useful marker for overcoming the diagnostic difficulties caused by minimal nuclear atypia and sparse tumor cells in small biopsy samples. Because other adenocarcinoma subtypes with HNF4&agr; expression share clinicopathologic features with IMC, these adenocarcinomas, especially the columnar cell type of acinar-predominant adenocarcinoma, might constitute a biological spectrum of IMC.
VaR Methodology for Non-Gaussian Finance

With the impact of the recent financial crises, more attention must be given to new models in finance rejecting "Black-Scholes-Samuelson" assumptions leading to what is called non-Gaussian finance. With the growing importance of Solvency II, Basel II and III regulatory rules for insurance companies and banks, value at risk (VaR) - one of the most popular risk indicator techniques plays a fundamental role in defining appropriate levels of equities. The aim of this book is to show how new VaR techniques can be built more appropriately for a crisis situation. VaR methodology for non-Gaussian finance looks at the importance of VaR in standard international rules for banks and insurance companies; gives the first non-Gaussian extensions of VaR and applies several basic statistical theories to extend classical results of VaR techniques such as the NP approximation, the Cornish-Fisher approximation, extreme and a Pareto distribution. Several non-Gaussian models using Copula methodology, Levy processes along with particular attention to models with jumps such as the Merton model are presented; as are the consideration of time homogeneous and non-homogeneous Markov and semi-Markov processes and for each of these models.
Women in Latin American Guerrilla Movements: A Comparative Perspective

Guerrilla warfare in Latin American revolutionary movements has until recently been regarded as an exclusively male domain of political behavior. North American analysts have tended to consider Latin American women's political behavior largely in terms of conventional democratic processes such as voting, reflecting both ethnocentricity and gender bias. ' Major works on guerrilla warfare have also failed to provide even cursory information on the role of women.2 Latin American women, however, have contributed to the guerrilla struggles of past revolutionary movements, though not in extensive numbers.3 With the influx of numerous women into the Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan movements, analysts have been forced to acknowledge and reconsider women's contributions to armed struggles. This paper delineates and compares patterns of women's participation in the guerrilla struggles of Latin American revolutionary movements. While some analysts have limited the term '"guerrilla" to forces fighting only in the countryside, others, including guerrilla leaders themselves, refer to both urban and rural forces.4 This paper assumes the latter definition. Guerrillas are members of political organizations operating in both rural and urban areas which use armed warfare for the purpose of changing societal structure.5 Latin America's historically dependent position in the world capitalist system indicates that past revolutionary struggles have been directed at colonial powers as well as internal political elites that arise from each nation's specific pattern of dependency.6 Three questions are discussed in regard to women's participation in guerrilla struggles.7 First, what factors constrain Latin American women's participation as compared to men's? Second, within gender, which classes face the least barriers to participation? Finally, what roles do "guerrilleras" most likely perform'? Expected patterns of participation are delineated in light of these questions. Guerrilla struggles in five nations are then compared to demonstrate the extent that the patterns of participation hold.
Analysis of Nucleotide Alterations in the E6 Genomic Region of Human Papillomavirus Types 6 and 11 in Condyloma Acuminatum Samples from Brazil

Condyloma acuminata (CA), or genital warts, are benign proliferative epidermal or mucous lesions that are caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), mainly the low-risk types 6 and 11. HPV variants are defined as viral sequences that share identity in the nucleotide sequence of the L1 gene greater than 98%. Based on this criterion, HPV6 and 11 variant lineages have been studied, and there are ongoing attempts to correlate these genetic variants with different clinical findings of infection. Therefore, the aims of this study were to detect variants and nucleotide alterations present in the E6 regions of HPV types 6 and 11 found in CA samples, to correlate the HPV presence with the clinical-pathological data of the patients, and to determine phylogenetic relationships with variants from other places in the world. The E6 regions of 25 HPV6 samples and 7 HPV11 samples from CA were amplified using PCR with specific primers. The products were ligated to a cloning vector and five colonies of each sample were sequenced to observe the nucleotide alterations. Twelve samples were identified as the HPV6B3 variant, presenting the mutation (guanine) G474A (adenine), and one of them also showed the mutation (thymine) T369G. The other 13 patients were positive for HPV6B1 without nucleotide alterations. In the analysis of the HPV11 samples, all patients showed the mutations T137C and (cytosine) C380T. One patient also presented the nucleotide alteration T410C. None of the mutations found in the 32 analyzed samples resulted in amino acid changes. Patient age, local occurrence, and HIV infection did not show significant association with HPV infection. Besides, the data found in this study did not show a relationship with the geographical region of isolation when compared to other data from different regions of the world. In this way, despite the nucleotide alterations found, it was not possible to observe amino acid changes and variants grouping according to geographical region.
Outcomes of adrenalectomy for isolated synchronous versus metachronous adrenal metastases in non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

PURPOSE Several small studies have reported that an adrenalectomy for isolated adrenal metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), along with a surgical resection for the primary lung cancer, can be curative. However, some suggest that the survival outcome among patients with a synchronous metastasis is poor. It remains unclear whether this treatment approach is warranted among those with synchronous metastasis. METHODS A search for publications on adrenalectomy for NSCLC was performed via the MEDLINE database. Studies reporting on survival outcomes and containing at least four analyzable patients who had surgery for primary lung cancer were included. Those not allowing separation of outcomes between synchronous and metachronous metastases were excluded. Synchronous metastasis was defined as a disease-free interval (DFI) of 6 months or less. RESULTS There were 10 publications contributing 114 patients; 42% of patients had synchronous metastases and 58% had metachronous metastases. The median DFIs were 0 and 12 months, respectively. Patients in the synchronous group were younger than those in the metachronous group (median age 54 v 68 years). Complications from adrenalectomy were infrequent. Median overall survival was shorter for patients with synchronous metastasis than those with metachronous metastasis (12 months v 31 months, generalized Wilcoxon P value = .02). However, the 5-year survival estimates were equivalent at 26% and 25%, respectively. CONCLUSION For an isolated adrenal metastasis from NSCLC, patients with a synchronous metastasis who underwent adrenalectomy had a shorter median overall survival than those with a metachronous metastasis. However, a durable long-term survival is achieved in approximately 25% in both groups.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome in South African gold miners.

BACKGROUND Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is associated with the use of hand-held vibrating tools. Affected workers may experience symptoms of tingling, numbness, loss of grip strength and pain. Loss of dexterity may impair everyday activities, and potentially increase the risk of occupational accidents. Although high vibration levels (up to 31 m/s(2)) have been measured in association with rock drills, HAVS has not been scientifically evaluated in the South African mining industry. AIMS The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of HAVS in South African gold miners, and to identify the tools responsible. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in a single South African gold-mine. Participants were randomly selected from mineworkers returning from annual leave, comprising 156 subjects with occupational exposure to vibration, and 140 workers with no exposure. Miners who consented to participate underwent a clinical HAVS assessment following the UK Health and Safety Laboratory protocol. RESULTS The prevalence of HAVS in vibration-exposed gold miners was 15%, with a mean latent period of 5.6 years. Among the non-exposed comparison group, 5% had signs and symptoms indistinguishable from HAVS. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). All the cases of HAVS gave a history of exposure to rock drills. CONCLUSIONS The study has diagnosed the first cases of HAVS in the South African mining industry. The prevalence of HAVS was lower than expected, and possible explanations for this may include a survivor population, and lack of vascular symptom reporting due to warm-ambient temperatures.
A BJT-Based Temperature-to-Digital Converter With ±60 mK ( $3~\sigma$ ) Inaccuracy From −55 °C to +125 °C in 0.16-μm CMOS

This paper presents a precision CMOS temperature-to-digital converter (TDC), which senses the temperature-dependent base–emitter voltage of substrate PNPs. Measurements on 20 samples from one batch show that it achieves an inaccuracy of ±60 mK (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3~\sigma $ </tex-math></inline-formula>) from −55 °C to +125 °C, after a single room-temperature trim. This state-of-the-art result is mainly due to the extensive use of dynamic error cancellation techniques to generate the PNP’s collector currents, thus minimizing the spread in their base–emitter voltages, together with a digital PTAT trim to correct for the spread in the PNP’s saturation currents. The effect of process variation on the TDC’s inaccuracy was investigated by measuring 80 samples from three different batches. Using the same calibration parameters, they exhibit a maximum untrimmed inaccuracy of ±2 °C (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3~\sigma $ </tex-math></inline-formula>) from −55 °C to +125 °C. This drops to ±100 mK (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3~\sigma $ </tex-math></inline-formula>) after a single point trim. The proposed TDC thus reduces calibration costs by obviating the need for batch-specific calibration parameters, which would otherwise require the multipoint calibration of several samples. The effect of the PNP’s current gain <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> was also investigated with the help of a novel <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-detection circuit. Implemented in 0.16-μm CMOS, the TDC occupies 0.16 mm<sup>2</sup> and draws 4.6 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{A}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from 1.5 to 2 V supply voltages. It achieves a resolution Figure of Merit of 7.8 pJ°C<sup>2</sup>, and a state-of-the-art supply sensitivity of 0.01 °C/V.
MDL 72222 (a selective 5‐HT3 receptor antagonist) prevents stimulation of intrapulmonary C fibres by pulmonary embolization in anaesthetized rabbits

We have investigated the effects of the intravenous administration of 5‐hydroxytryptamine upon the discharge frequency of pulmonary stretch receptors, irritant receptors and C fibres. Only C fibres were stimulated by this autacoid. MDL 72222 a selective 5‐HT3 receptor antagonist blocks the C fibre stimulation by 5‐hydroxytryptamine. It also blocks the C fibre response to miliary pulmonary embolism. These data confirm the hypothesis that 5‐hydroxytryptamine is the humoral link between pulmonary embolism and tachypnoea.
Can Mock Interviewers' Personalities Influence Their Personality Ratings of Applicants?

The authors examined individual difference and self-regulatory variables to understand how an interviewer rates a candidate's personality. Participants were undergraduate students at a large midwestern university in the United States who completed measures of individual differences, read an employment interview transcript involving a candidate applying for a customer service job, and rated the candidate's personality. Participants' agreeableness, social skills, and communion striving were positively associated with their ratings of the candidate's helpfulness and obedience. The authors provide a foundation for further research on interviewer effectiveness and the processes underlying the employment interview.
Impact of lifestyle in middle-aged women on mortality: evidence from the Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study.

BACKGROUND Although many individuals have multiple lifestyle risk factors, few studies have investigated the impact of lifestyle risk factor combinations among women. AIM To investigate the relationship between individual and combinations of lifestyle risk factors in middle-aged women with subsequent mortality, and to estimate the associated population attributable risks. DESIGN OF STUDY Prospective cohort study. SETTING Royal College of General Practitioners' (RCGP) Oral Contraception Study, UK. METHOD In 1994-1995, women remaining under follow-up in the RCGP Oral Contraception Study were sent a lifestyle survey, from which modifiable risk factors were identified: pack-years smoked, physical inactivity, never drinking versus consuming at least 7 units of alcohol weekly, and being underweight, overweight, or obese. The cohort was followed to December 2006 or death. Population attributable risks were calculated. RESULTS Of 10 059 women studied, 896 died. Pack-years smoked (11-20 years: adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.46 to 2.27; >20 years: adjusted HR = 2.34, 95% CI = 2.00 to 2.74); never drinking alcohol (adjusted HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.34 to 2.05); being underweight (adjusted = HR 1.66, 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.68); and physical inactivity (<15 hours/week: adjusted HR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.46 to 2.04) were significantly associated with mortality compared with their respective reference group. Women with multiple lifestyle risk factors had higher mortality risks than those reporting one factor. The population attributable risk of the combination of smoking, physical inactivity, body mass index outside normal range, and alcohol (never drinking or excess intake) was 59% (95% CI = 31% to 78%). CONCLUSION Assuming a causal relationship between lifestyle and mortality, avoidance of four lifestyle risk factors would have prevented 60% of the deaths. The importance of avoiding smoking and undertaking physical inactivity during midlife should continue to be emphasised.
Improved image watermarking scheme using fast Hadamard and discrete wavelet transforms

We propose a robust image watermarking scheme by applying the fast Hadamard transform (FHT) to small blocks computed from the four discrete wavelet transform (DWT) subbands. Different transforms have different properties that can effectively match various aspects of the signal's frequencies. Our approach consists of four main steps: (1) we decomposed the original image into four subbands, (2) the four subbands are divided into blocks; (3) FHT is applied to each block; and (4) the singular-value decomposition (SVD) is applied to the watermark image prior to distributing the singular values over the DC components of the transformed blocks. The proposed technique improves the data embedding system effectively, the watermark imperceptibility, and its resistance to a wide range of intentional attacks. The experimental results demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed method in comparison with existing techniques in terms of the watermark imperceptibility and the robustness against attacks.
Correlation of serum androgens with anthropometric and metabolic indices in healthy, nonobese postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE The role of testosterone in the regulation of metabolic and physiological function in men is well defined, but its role in women remains enigmatic. Thus, the present study sought to assess the contribution of endogenous circulating androgens to the regulation of metabolic function, body morphometry, and physical function in normal naturally postmenopausal women. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, we measured serum androgens in a cohort of 29 naturally postmenopausal women and correlated the results with metabolic, morphometric, and functional outcome parameters. These included insulin sensitivity, whole-body fat and lean body mass, visceral/abdominal fat areasm and aerobic capacity. RESULTS Higher serum testosterone levels were related to greater maximal aerobic capacity and reduced adiposity. Additionally, higher serum dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and androstenetriol glucuronidate levels were correlated to greater insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSION In naturally postmenopausal women, endogenous androgens may play a role in the maintenance of beneficial patterns of metabolic, morphometric, and functional parameters.
Assessment of donor deferral rates and deferral reasons at the Namibia blood transfusion services

Aims: Despite the need to recruit and retain more blood donors, some are deferred from donating to ensure their safety and that of recipients is maintained. Examination of donor deferrals provides insights into how donor procurement strategies can be improved. Provision of safe and adequate supply of blood products is a major public health issue globally. As a result provision of safe blood should be ensured through proper donation procedures and safe transfusion. to assess the donor deferral rates and reasons for deferral among donors at Namibia blood transfusion services (NAMbts) from 01st April 2012 to 31st March 2015. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the deferred donor records from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2015. results: Out of 50,074 prospective donors, 4302 (8.6%) donors were deferred. the deferral rates for females and males were 74.0% and 26.0%, respectively. Of the deferred donors