Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stroke mortality and morbidity attributable to passive smoking in Germany

Background Passive smoking is an established risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Epidemiological studies suggest that passive smoking may also be associated with an increased risk of stroke. We estimate the burden of stroke due to passive smoking in Germany. Methods Frequency of passive smoking was derived from the German national health survey. Nonsmokers who reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home were considered for analyses. The relative risk for stroke and passive smoking was derived by means of a meta-analysis from available cohort studies. We computed attributable risks for passive smoking and used data from official statistics to estimate stroke mortality due to ETS. Attributable stroke morbidity was calculated using the WHO-Global-Burden-of-Disease approach. Results Passive smoking may account for 774 stroke-related deaths and 1837 incident first ever strokes in Germany every year. More strokes owing to passive smoking occur among women (1248) than among men (589). The majority of strokes attributable to ETS happen at the age of 65-84 years. Conclusion ETS is a common exposure and stroke is a frequent disease. Though the relative risk of passive smoking on stroke mortality and morbidity is small, the impact on population health is substantial. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 14: 793-795 © 2007 The European Society of Cardiology
Conformational dynamics of human protein kinase CK2α and its effect on function and inhibition

Protein kinase, casein kinase II (CK2), is ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved protein kinase that shows constitutive activity. It phosphorylates a diverse set of proteins and plays crucial role in several cellular processes. The catalytic subunit of this enzyme (CK2α) shows remarkable flexibility as evidenced in numerous crystal structures determined till now. Here, using analysis of multiple crystal structures and long timescale molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the conformational flexibility of CK2α. The enzyme shows considerably higher flexibility in the solution as compared to that observed in crystal structure ensemble. Multiple conformations of hinge region, located near the active site, were observed during the dynamics. We further observed that among these multiple conformations, the most populated conformational state was inadequately represented in the crystal structure ensemble. The catalytic spine, was found to be less dismantled in this state as compared to the “open” hinge/αD state crystal structures. The comparison of dynamics in unbound (Apo) state and inhibitor (CX4945) bound state exhibits inhibitor induced suppression in the overall dynamics of the enzyme. This is especially true for functionally important glycine‐rich loop above the active site. Together, this work gives novel insights into the dynamics of CK2α in solution and relates it to the function. This work also explains the effect of inhibitor on the dynamics of CK2α and paves way for development of better inhibitors.
Schizosaccharomyces pombe RNase MRP RNA is homologous to metazoan RNase MRP RNAs and may provide clues to interrelationships between RNase MRP and RNase P

RNase MRP and RNase P ribonucleoproteins are structurally and functionally similar across a large evolutionary distance. To better characterize possible complex interrelationships between these two enzymes, we have employed the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. pombe is believed to harbour only one genetic locus for the RNA component of RNase P and does not contain a known mitochondrially encoded RNase P RNA. We have identified the single nuclear gene for the RNA component of RNase MRP in S. pombe, mrp‐1, by homology to vertebrate RNase MRP RNAs. The mrp‐1 gene encodes an RNA of maximum mature length 400 nucleotides that shares a high degree of identity, in evolutionarily conserved regions, to both vertebrate RNase MRP RNAs and S. pombe RNase P RNA. Disruption of mrp‐1 in the diploid strain SP826 and sporulation of tetrads resulted in a 2 dead:2 viable segregation, consistent with the gene being essential. Lethality is rescued by a plasmid‐borne copy of mrp‐1. Partially purified ribonucleoprotein RNase MRP activity correctly and efficiently processed all previously characterized heterologous mitochondrial RNA substrates. The compact mitochondrial genome of S. pombe contains sequence elements with >50% identity to mammalian D‐loop CSBI and CSBII elements. The identification of mrp‐1 in S. pombe should facilitate not only comparisons between the related ribonucleoproteins RNase MRP and RNase P, but should also provide an opportunity for genetic elucidation of RNase MRP function in a situation reflective of the animal kingdom.
Accurate differentiation of parkinsonism and essential tremor using visual assessment of [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT imaging: the [123I]-FP-CIT study group.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether visual assessment of [123I]-FP-CIT (DaTSCAN, Nycomed Amersham, plc) single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) images can differentiate between parkinsonism and essential tremor (ET). METHODS [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT imaging was conducted in a six-center study of 158 patients with a clinical diagnosis of parkinsonism compared with 27 ET cases and 35 healthy volunteers. Striatal uptake of the radioligand was graded normal or abnormal, and abnormal images were further graded to three levels of severity. An institutional read whereby each center visually assessed the images blinded to the clinical data and a consensus blinded read by a panel of five was undertaken. RESULTS The institutional reading scored 154 of 158 cases of parkinsonism abnormal, all 27 cases of ET as normal, and 34 of 35 healthy volunteers as normal compared with the consensus blinded read scoring 150 cases of parkinsonism as abnormal, 25 ET cases as normal, and 33 healthy volunteers as normal. Sensitivity for the clinical diagnosis of parkinsonism was 97% and specificity for ET was 100% for the institutional read, whereas sensitivity was 95% and specificity 93% for the consensus blinded read. Semiquantitative analysis of specific: nonspecific caudate and putamen uptake were consistent with the results of visual inspection. CONCLUSION Visual assessment of [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT images is an easily applied diagnostic test which is helpful in the differential diagnosis of tremor disorders and in confirming a clinical diagnosis of a hypokinetic-rigid syndrome.
The sex ratio of Plasmodium gametocytes

SUMMARY Sex ratio theory usually predicts an equilibrium sex ratio and equal proportions of males and females in a population, including the progenitors of the reproductive cells of protozoans. This proposal was tested with three species of malarial parasites of lizards, Plasmodium mexicanum of the western fence lizard, and P. agamae and P. giganteum of the African rainbow lizard, using single samples from naturally infected lizards, repeated samples from free-ranging lizards (P. mexicanum only), and repeated samples from laboratory maintained animals. Macrogametocytes were usually more abundant than microgametocytes, and were slightly larger, revealing a typically greater investment of resources by the progenitors of female reproductive cells. However, the proportion of microgametocytes varied among the three species and among infections within each species of Plasmodium. The sex ratio of gametocytes often remained constant within infections followed over time even if the absolute number of gametocytes was changing. However, the equilibrium sex ratio of gametocytes varied among those infections that had an unchanging microgametocyte proportion. Thus, although an equilibrium sex ratio apparently occurs for most infections, there appears to be no characteristic proportion of microgametocytes for any of the species. Potential explanations for this conflict with theory are presented.
Q-, V-, and W-band power amplifiers utilizing coupled lines for impedance matching

This paper introduces the use of the coupled transmission lines structure for impedance matching networks which is suitable for power amplifier design at millimeter-wave frequency bands. The structure can replace the conventional stub matching networks and MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) capacitors for DC blocking. Five MMIC power amplifiers have been designed based on coupled lines impedance transformers at 35 GHz, 60 GHz and 100 GHz. The fabricated two-stage 35 GHz PA has a small-signal gain of 20 dB and input and output reflection coefficients of less than −10 dB and can deliver 16 dBm output power. The two-stage 60 GHz power amplifier shows 15dB of small-signal gain and less than −10 dB of reflection coefficients with the output power of 16 dBm. The 100 GHz amplifier has small-signal gain of 10 dB and 7 dBm output power.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis L.) Essential Oil. Action of the Essential Oil on the Antioxidant Protection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Model Organism

The essential oil of juniper berries (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae) is traditionally used for medicinal and flavoring purposes. As elucidated by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS methods), the juniper berry oil from Bulgaria is largely comprised of monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α-pinene (51.4%), myrcene (8.3%), sabinene (5.8%), limonene (5.1%) and β-pinene (5.0%). The antioxidant capacity of the essential oil was evaluated in vitro by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging, hydroxyl radical (ОН•) scavenging and chelating capacity, superoxide radical (•O2−) scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effects, hydrogen peroxide scavenging. The antioxidant activity of the oil attributable to electron transfer made juniper berry essential oil a strong antioxidant, whereas the antioxidant activity attributable to hydrogen atom transfer was lower. Lipid peroxidation inhibition by the essential oil in both stages, i.e., hydroperoxide formation and malondialdehyde formation, was less efficient than the inhibition by butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In vivo studies confirmed these effects of the oil which created the possibility of blocking the oxidation processes in yeast cells by increasing activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).
Effect of ion transport inhibitors and methacholine on short-circuit current of isolated guinea pig nasal epithelium.

To clarify the ion/water secretion mechanism in the nasal epithelial cells, the Ussing chamber method was applied to the nasal mucosa isolated from guinea pigs. The preparation, which contained surface epithelial cells, showed a small but consistent potential difference between mucosal and submucosal sides (mucosal surface negative to submucosa). The short-circuit current (Isc) across the epithelial layer was measured, and the effects of Na+ and/or Cl- transport inhibitors and methacholine (MCh) on Isc were analyzed. The basal Isc was almost totally suppressed by the combined application of amiloride (Na+ transport inhibitor) and low-Cl- Krebs Ringer (KR) solution or solutions containing Cl- transport inhibitors (furosemide or DPC). The application of MCh elicited triphasic Isc responses, i.e., initial transient increase (phase 1) followed by a small decrease (phase 2) and further sustained increase (phase 3) in Isc. A possible ionic mechanism underlying phase 1 and 3 responses was analyzed. The Phase 1 response was greatly reduced by low-Cl- KR solution or furosemide but not influenced by amiloride. The Phase 3 response was augmented by amiloride and suppressed by low-Cl- KR solution, furosemide or DPC. These findings indicated that the basal Isc was associated with Cl- secretion and/or Na+ absorption across epithelial cells under short-circuit condition and that MCh increased Isc probably via enhancing Cl- secretion in the nasal surface epithelial cell.
Unifying Fluorescence Microscopy and Mass Spectrometry for Studying Protein Complexes in Cells*

We have developed and applied a method unifying fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry for studying spatial and temporal properties of proteins and protein complexes in yeast cells. To combine the techniques, first we produced a variety of DNA constructs that can be used for genomic tagging of proteins with modular fluorescent and affinity tags. The modular tag consists of one of the multiple versions of monomeric fluorescent proteins fused to a variety of small affinity epitopes. After this step we tested the constructs by tagging two yeast proteins, Pil1 and Lsp1, the core components of eisosomes, the large protein complexes involved in endocytosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a variety of fluorescent and affinity probes. Among the modular tags produced we found several combinations that were optimal for determining subcellular localization and for purifying the tagged proteins and protein complexes for the detailed analysis by mass spectrometry. And finally, we applied the designed method for finding the new protein components of eisosomes and for gaining new insights into molecular mechanisms regulating eisosome assembly and disassembly by reversible phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Our results indicate that this approach combining fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry into a single method provides a unique perspective into molecular mechanisms regulating composition and dynamic properties of the protein complexes in living cells.
Facultative to strict anaerobes ratio in the preterm infant microbiota

During recent years there has been an increasing interest on the development of strategies for modulating the process of microbiota establishment in preterm infants. For successfully developing of such strategies, a detailed knowledge of the microbiota establishment process in these infants is needed. In a previous study we evidenced clear alterations in the process of microbiota establishment in preterm newborns when compared with a control group of full-term breast-fed infants. Here we have analyzed these data more in depth, corroborating a reduced proportion of strict anaerobes with respect to facultatives in the fecal microbiota of preterm infants. The potential benefits, as well as the side effects, of strategies aimed at counterbalancing this alteration in the facultative to strict anaerobes ratio are discussed in this addendum.
Sensory Motor Responses in Virtual Environments: Studying the Effects of Image Latencies for Target-directed Hand Movement

Image latencies occur when a virtual environment (VE) responds to hand movements of its operator. A study has been conducted to investigate the effects of, and interactions among, hand movement related image latencies, target distance, and target width on discrete manual control tasks in a VE. In the presence of latencies, completion times of hand movement tasks have been found to obey Fitts' law. Significant interactions were found between the effect of latency and target width, but not between the effect of latency and target distance. Results suggest that, in the presence of hand movement-related image latencies, the effects of target width and target distance should not be analyzed as a combined single effect of 'index-of-difficulty'
COMBINED INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB AND PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY

Purpose: To clarify the efficacy of combined therapy with intravitreal ranibizumab injections and photodynamic therapy in patients with symptomatic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 28 naive eyes of 28 patients (17 men, 11 women; mean age, 73.4 years; range, 55–85 years) with 20/40 or less baseline visual acuity treated with 3 consecutive monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) and photodynamic therapy and followed-up for at least 12 months. Photodynamic therapy was administered 1 day or 2 days after the initial injection of ranibizumab. Results: The mean best-corrected visual acuity levels significantly (P < 0.0001) improved from 0.33 at baseline to 0.61 at 12 months. The mean improvement in best-corrected visual acuity 12 months from baseline was 2.65 lines. The best-corrected visual acuity at 12 months improved in 15 eyes (53.6%) by ≥3 lines and was stable (defined as a loss of <3 lines of vision) in 13 eyes (46.4%). The central retinal thickness significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased from 366 µm to 151 µm at 12 months. The mean numbers of photodynamic therapy treatments and injections during 12 months including the treatments during the initial regimen were 1.1 and 3.7, respectively. No complications developed. Conclusion: Combined intravitreal ranibizumab and photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy maintained or improved visual acuity and reduced the exudation without adverse events.
The Potential for Oligodendrocyte Proliferation During Demyelinating Disease

The potential for oligodendrocytes to proliferate in response to central nervous system injury was examined. We used intraccrebral infection of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus, a model for multiple sclerosis, which results in chronic demyelinating disease of SJL/J mice. Proliferating cells in spinal cord sections of adult mice were identified using simultaneous immunohistochemistry and in situ autoradiography ([3H]-thymidine incorporation). Seven different cell-specific markers were used to characterize proliferating cells as oligodendrocytes (myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein, galactocerebroside, CNPase), astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein), microglia/macrophages (Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4) or T-lymphocytes (CD3). The average number of proliferating cells per area of spinal cord white matter was 1 I/mm2 in normal young adult mice compared to 6 I/mm2 in chronically infected mice. Most proliferating cells in normal spinal cord were not identified with these markers and were presumed to be progenitor glial cells. However, in spinal cord white matter of mice infected with Theiler's virus for approximately 4 months, 88% of proliferating cells were identified. Approximately one-third of all proliferating cells were in the oligodendrocyte lineage and expressed markers observed late in myelin differentiation. In demyelinated areas as compared to normal white matter, there was an 80- to 211-fold increase in the number of proliferating oligodendrocytes expressing myelin basic protein or proteolipid protein, respectively. The remainder of the proliferating cells in areas of demyelination were astrocytes, microglial cells and T-cells. These experiments support the hypothesis that factors within a demyelinating lesion promote the proliferation and differentiation of cells within the oligodendroglial lineage.
Identifying relevant product quality characteristics in the context of very small organizations

Software process improvement models have been developed to support very small organizations in achieving the software quality expected by their customers. Software quality, however, allows to be studied from process and product perspectives. The aim of this work is to attain insights into the extent to which the product quality view is addressed in very small organizations. A mapping method was therefore applied in order to identify whether the product quality characteristics described in ISO/IEC 25010 are included in the ISO/IEC 29110 basic profile, a process model targeted towards very small organizations. In addition, an empirical study was conducted to discover the quality characteristics that practitioners at very small organizations consider relevant. As a result, it was found that practices in ISO/IEC 29110 are consistent as regards functional correctness quality subcharacteristic, although practitioners are also considering additional product quality characteristics.
Return Predictability and Strategic Trading under Symmetric Information

This paper develops a rational equilibrium model of strategic trading under symmetric information in which there is a liquidity provider and a strategic trader. The strategic trader considers the impact of his trades, the liquidity provider sets the stock price competitively, and there is a possibility that the value of the stock payoff will be revealed perfectly before the terminal date. Under certain conditions, we find that a buy (sale)-order by the strategic trader leads to positive (negative) stock returns in the future and that there exists a positive contemporaneous relationship between the stock return and the trades of the strategic trader. Under other conditions, we demonstrate that the stock exhibits positive (negative) returns following buying (selling) by the liquidity provider. We then introduce a trend chaser into the rational model. If trend chasing is weak, we show that the mechanical trend chaser can actually make a profit. If trend chasing is strong, the strategic trader is able to raise the stock prices by buying initially to attract the trend chaser and sells to the trend chaser later for profits.
On Freeing Interstate Food Grain Trade in India

Governments in developing countries often actively participate in storage and trading activities to allay fears of future scarcity and to control 'collusive practices' and 'speculative activities' of private operators. Imposition of domestic trade restrictions is one such ubiquitous phenomenon. In this paper, we analyse the impacts of relaxation of restrictions on private domestic trade of food grains in India using a spatial equilibrium model of interstate trade. With liberalisation of trade, arbitrage opportunities determine interstate movement of grains. Our findings show that as trade restrictions are relaxed, prices stabilise across states and there are welfare gains to producers and consumers at the national level. Market prices in surplus regions increase with greater opportunities for trade and decline in previously high price, deficit regions. Government costs are lower as there is a reduced need to procure grains for price support purposes. Encouraging investment for better transport infrastructure can provide further welfare gains by reducing costs of private traders.
National pro-poor spending programmes and their effect on income inequality and poverty: Evidence from Vietnam

ABSTRACT This article examines the causal effects of the national (pro-poor) targeted programmes (NTPs) on both poverty incidence and inequality in Vietnam over the period 2002–2010. While the links between NTPs and poverty alleviation and income inequality have previously been analysed independently, this study is the first to offer a comprehensive analysis of NTPs expenditure on poverty and inequality simultaneously. Applying the system generalized method of moments estimator to a panel of Vietnamese regional data, we are unable to establish that NTPs have significantly mitigated poverty incidence. However, we estimate that NTPs have significantly increased inequality. We offer possible explanations why the NTPs have resulted in these unintended outcomes and discuss potential policies which can reduce both poverty and inequality.