Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis C virus core protein, lipid droplets and steatosis

Summary. Lipid droplets are intracellular organelles involved not only in lipid storage but also in cell signalling and the regulation of intracellular vesicular trafficking. Recent basic studies have suggested that interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein and lipid droplets are required for the HCV infection cycle. In infected cells, the HCV core protein is associated with the surface of lipid droplets and the endoplasmic reticulum membranes closely surrounding these droplets, and its self‐assembly drives virion budding. This interaction also seems to be directly linked to a virus‐induced steatosis, which involves the deposition of triglycerides in the liver and contributes to the progression of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Many clinical studies have reported that virus‐induced steatosis is significantly more severe with HCV genotype 3 than with other genotypes, and this phenomenon has been modelled in recent basic studies based on the production of HCV core proteins of various genotypes in vitro. The association of HCV core protein with lipid droplets seems to play a central role in HCV pathogenesis and morphogenesis, suggesting that virus‐induced steatosis may be essential for the viral life cycle.
Poor muscle coverage delays fracture healing in rats

We undertook this study in rats to ascertain the influence of muscle coverage on tibial fracture healing. 30 rats were randomly assigned to three intervention groups. Following a mid-diaphyseal osteotomy in the left tibia, reamed nailing was performed in all animals. In one group (A), the antero-lateral muscles were detached from the fractured bone, while the anterolateral compartment was excised in another group (B). In the third group (C), the muscle compartment was resected, and the superficial gluteal muscle was mobilized and transposed over the fractured area. Muscle intervention, like that in group A and C, had no effect on the blood flow. The fibular nerve was resected in all the rats. At 4 weeks, we studied the healing bones in each group clinically, radiologically and mechanically. At 4 weeks, radiographs in two planes revealed a clearly visible fracture line in the three experimental groups. Mechanical testing of the healing fractures showed significantly lower bending moment and bending rigidity in group B than in groups A and C. No difference in mechanical characteristics was detected between the healing bones in groups A and C. This animal study indicates that in tibial fractures, an extensive muscle tissue defect may have negative effects on early bone healing.
Selecting Lineup Foils 1 Selection of Lineup Foils in Operational Contexts

It has been argued (Luus & Wells, 1991) that matching lineup foils to the efits to he rate of correct ted ed whether lemented using this new video based system in an ecologically valid experiment. The effect of using moving rather than still video clips was also investigated. Participants witnessed a live staged incident, and attempted to identify the culprit later from police video lineups. r use of a description-matching strategy to select foils nor use of moving images produced a reliable improvement in performance for culprit present or culprit absent lineups. description of the culprit, rather than the appearance of the suspect, brings ben witness performance on identification tasks, in particular by increasing t identifications of the culprit. Recently, live identification procedures in the Uni Kingdom have been replaced by use of video. The reported research investigat use of description matching would improve lineup performance when imp
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in patients with chronic lymphocytic eukaemia treated with 2‐chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine)

Abstract: Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is one of the major complications in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Treatment with alkylating agents and the adenosine analogue, fludarabine, might trigger the development of AIHA in CLL patients despite the reduction of leukaemic clone. The influence of 2‐chlorodeoxyadenosine (2‐CdA) on AIHA in patients with CLL is undefined so far. In a group of 114 patients treated at our clinics with this agent, AIHA with direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positively was observed in 25 (21.9%) patients. In 23 patients AIHA was noticed before the starting of 2‐CdA and in 2 patients DAT became positive after 2‐CdA treatment. In 6 patients the drug caused complete resolution of haemolysis and DAT became negative. Eight patients exhibited partial resolution of haemolysis with significant improvement in haemoglobin level but DAT test remained positive. In 11 patients there was no response to 2‐CdA in relation to autoimmune haemolysis. Two patients with no previous history of haemolysis developed AIHA after 5 and 6 courses of 2‐CdA therapy and their DAT became positive 1–2 months after the last course of the drug. One of them entered severe haemolytic crisis and severe thrombocytopenia and died because of haemorrhagy to the central nervous system. In the other patient AIHA was controlled by steroids and chlorambucil treatment. Our study indicates that 2‐CdA may suppress autoimmunohaemolytic process in some patients with CLL and trigger the development of AIHA in others.
Localization of the calcium‐binding protein secretagogin in cone bipolar cells of the mammalian retina

Secretagogin, a recently cloned member of the EF‐hand family of calcium binding proteins, was localized in the mouse, rat, and rabbit retina using immunofluorescence immunohistochemistry. Secretagogin is expressed in subpopulations of ON and OFF cone bipolar cells; however, no immunoreactivity was observed in rod bipolar cells in any of these species. Using subtype‐specific markers and mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) within specific cell classes, we found that secretagogin is expressed in Types 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and possibly Type 8 cone bipolar cells in the mouse retina. The expression pattern in the rat retina differs slightly with expression in cone bipolar cell Types 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Evaluation of secretagogin in the developing mouse retina revealed expression as early as postnatal day 6, with OFF cone bipolar cells showing secretagogin expression prior to the ON cone bipolar cells. Secretagogin is a useful marker of cone bipolar cells for studying alterations in bipolar cell morphology during development and degeneration. Further work will be necessary to elucidate the functional role of this protein in bipolar cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:513–525, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Complete Genome Sequence of a blaCTX-M-1-Harboring Escherichia coli Isolate Recovered from Cattle in Germany

ABSTRACT We describe here the whole-genome sequence and basic characteristics of Escherichia coli isolate 15-AB01393, recovered from German beef within a national monitoring program in 2015. This isolate was identified as an extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing E. coli strain of multilocus sequence type (MLST) ST58 harboring the antimicrobial resistance genes blaCTX-M-1, mph(A), sul2, dfrA5, strA, and strB.
Thermal Comfort Assessment-A Study Toward Workers Satisfaction in a Low Energy Office Building

Problem statement: The government of Malaysia has raised their concerns towards the issue of workers comfort and workspace quality in a Low Energy Office (LEO) building. New energy efficient building concepts and technologies require a revision of comfort standards, to create a suitable thermal condition in avoiding occupant dissatisfaction, adverse effect on their productivity and overall building performance. Approach: Assessment was conducted using Babuc-A (Portable air quality monitor) and sets of questionnaire adapted from ASHRAE-2004 were 99 respondents selected using a stratified random sampling. Results: This study shows that the thermal comfort zone temperature was identified to be within the range of 21.6-23.6°C and relative humidity of 42-54%. Conclusion: The results suggested that the thermal condition was in the acceptable range of ISO7730 and a lower room temperature was preferred by Malaysian in an office environment compared with the temperature criteria cited in ASHRAE-55. To create an optimum comfortable workplace, temperature between 20-26°C and relative humidity between 40-60% must be maintained. Adequate ventilation must be provided at the minimum rate of 10 l/s of fresh air per person for general office space or every 10 m2 of floor space.
Serum lipoproteins during antihypertensive therapy with beta blockers and diuretics: A controlled long‐term comparative trial

The influence of hydrochlorothiazide and atenolol on serum lipoproteins was investigated in a randomized, prospective study on 68 men with essential hypertension. Cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDH) cholesterol, triglycerides, and the apolipoproteins AI and B were followed up to 42 months after starting therapy. Following atenolol serum (HDL) cholesterol decreased and serum triglycerides increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 6 to 42 months. After hydrochlorothiazide serum triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol all increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 12 to 42 months. The changes were more pronounced under higher doses with beta blockade, but not with diuretics. Thus, both atenolol and hydrochlorothiazide have adverse but different effects on serum lipoproteins after long‐term administration. Continuing investigation is necessary to determine whether these side effects decrease the benefit of blood pressure reduction in patients with hypertension.
Issues of ICNIRP guidelines when determining compliance with LF exposure limits

Safety guidelines for limiting exposure to low-frequency (LF) electric and magnetic fields have been issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 1998, first, and 2010, later. During this transition, the basic restriction moved from induced current density (ICNIRP 1998) to in-situ electric field (ICNIRP 2010). Moreover, the 99th percentile value of the electric field has been introduced in the latter guidelines to avoid staircasing errors associated with sharp corners of the cubical voxels. However, lack of clarity has been reported by several authors when determining compliance with these exposure limits leading to poor reproducibility. The selection of the 99th percentile value does not resolve the intended purpose of eliminating numerical errors and can ignore genuine peaks in the induced electric field. Solutions to these problems are proposed.
A FRICTION DAMPER FOR POST-TENSIONED PRECAST CONCRETE BEAM-TO-COLUMN JOINTS

This paper describes an integrated experimental and analytical research program on the development of a new type of friction damper for unbonded post-tensioned precast concrete building moment frame structures in seismic regions. Previous research has shown that these structures have desirable seismic characteristics such as a self-centering capability and an ability to undergo large nonlinear lateral displacements while sustaining little damage; however, the displacements during a severe earthquake may be larger than acceptable. To reduce the seismic displacement demands, the proposed friction dampers are placed locally at selected beam-to-column joints of a frame, and dissipate energy through the displacements that occur as a result of gap opening between the precast beam and column members. Large scale beam-column specimens with and without dampers were tested under reversed cyclic loading. In addition, isolated friction damper tests were performed to evaluate the effects of dynamic loading rate on the damper behavior. The results show that the dampers can be designed to provide a significant amount of supplemental energy dissipation to a frame, while the self-centering capability of the structure is preserved. The dampers also reduce the beam deterioration under cyclic lateral loading. The experimental results are used to develop an analytical model for friction-damped precast frames.
Surviving the Storm

African American women are at high risk for sexual assault. In addition, many African American women endorse the use of social support and religiosity to cope with trauma. The current study investigates the relationship between these two coping strategies and posttrauma symptoms in a sample of 413 African American female sexual assault survivors using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Findings indicated that survivors with greater social support were less likely to endorse the symptoms of depression and PTSD. Conversely, increased use of religious coping was related to greater endorsement of depression and PTSD symptoms. Counseling and research implications are explored.
Calcitonin gene‐related peptide inhibits exocrine secretion from the rat pancreas by a neurally mediated mechanism

The mechanism by which calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) inhibits exocrine secretion from the rat pancreas was examined in the isolated, vascularly perfused pancreas and in vitro using freshly isolated pancreatic acini. CGRP (10(‐10)‐10(‐7) M) inhibited the volume and protein output from the perfused pancreas, stimulated by a mixture of the cholecystokinin octapeptide CCK8 (10(‐10) M) and secretin (10(‐8) M). The inhibition by CGRP was dose related and maximal at 10(‐8) M (P less than 0.05). CGRP (10(‐8) M) failed to inhibit amylase secretion from isolated pancreatic acini, stimulated by graded concentrations of CCK8 (10(‐13)‐10(‐8) M). This implies an indirect mechanism of inhibition. The mechanism of inhibition was investigated in the isolated, vascularly perfused pancreas using tetrodotoxin, atropine and hexamethonium (all 10(‐7) M). Tetrodotoxin and atropine but not hexamethonium prevented the inhibition of volume and protein secretion by CGRP (10(‐8) M) (P less than 0.05). Tetrodotoxin, atropine and hexamethonium were without effect on exocrine secretion stimulated by CCK8 and secretin (controls). These results indicate that CGRP inhibits pancreatic exocrine secretion by an indirect, neurally mediated mechanism involving cholinergic‐muscarinic transmission.
Adult attachment and gene polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor and serotonin transporter (5-HTT)

Recently, the Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene (DRD4) and the Serotonin Transporter Gene (5-HTT) have been found to be candidate genes for infant attachment disorganization. The present study aimed to explore the relationship of these genes to adult attachment representations. The Adult Attachment Interview was used to assess attachment representations in 167 German adults. DNA from buccal cells was genotyped for the DRD4 VNTR Exon III and 5-HTT LPR polymorphisms with respect to the presence of the 7repeat allele and the short allele, respectively. DRD4 7repeat allele carriers were significantly more likely to be securely attached than those without 7repeat but only for subjects with unloving caregiver recollections. No association between the 5-HTT LPR polymorphism and adult attachment was found. These findings encourage further investigations to explore endophenotypical and mediating psychological processes between the DRD4 Gene and secure attachment patterns.
Antepartum findings in fetal protein C deficiency

A pregnancy with fetal homozygous protein C deficiency was complicated in the third trimester by fetal ventriculomegaly, intraorbital thrombosis and placental infarcts, which could be imaged by combined use of ultrasonography and MRI. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mammalian Prenylcysteine Carboxyl Methyltransferase Is in the Endoplasmic Reticulum*

Prenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (pcCMT) is the third of three enzymes that posttranslationally modify C-terminal CAAX motifs and thereby target CAAXproteins to the plasma membrane. Here we report the molecular characterization and subcellular localization of the first mammalian (human myeloid) pcCMT. The deduced amino acid sequence of mammalian pcCMT predicts a multiple membrane-spanning protein with homologies to the yeast pcCMT, STE14, and the mammalian band 3 anion transporter. The human gene complemented a ste14 mutant. pcCMT mRNAs were ubiquitously expressed in human tissues. An anti-pcCMT antiserum detected a 33-kDa protein in myeloid cell membranes. Ectopically expressed recombinant pcCMT had enzymatic activity identical to that observed in neutrophil membranes. Mammalian pcCMT was not expressed at the plasma membrane but rather restricted to the endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, the final enzyme in the sequence that modifies CAAX motifs is located in membranes topologically removed from the CAAX protein target membrane.
Capillary flow of dense colloidal suspensions

The purpose of this thesis is to study the flow of dense colloidal suspensions into micronsized capillaries at the particle level. Understanding the flow of complex fluids in terms of their constituents (colloids, polymers, or surfactants) poses deep fundamental challenges, and has wide applications in many industrial processes. Through the use of a novel experimental procedure we find results contrasting with the predicted bulk rheological behaviour of dense colloidal systems and propose an alternative approach based on the analogy with granular systems. Quantitative predictions which successfully explain the data are obtained. In order to obtain quantitative information on the dynamics of the system, we image the flow using a fast confocal microscope and identify the trajectories of each particle. Due to the nature of the flow, conventional techniques for locating and tracking the particles fail to yield satisfactory results. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a novel technique which allows us to successfully track the particles in strongly non-uniform flow fields (published, 2006). We focus our attention on three main aspects of the flow: concentration gradients, velocity profiles and time behaviour. We initially discuss the occurrence of concentration gradients along the flow direction and relate them to the local flow profiles. We observe high density regions where the velocity is uniform across the channel (complete plugs) and lower density regions where shear is present. The observed concentration profiles can be qualitatively explained by considering the relative flow between the solvent and the suspended particles. The flow profiles in the presence of shear consist of a plug in the centre while shear occurs localized adjacent to the channel walls, reminiscent of yield-stress fluid behaviour. However, the observed scaling of the velocity profiles with the flow rate strongly contrasts yield-stress fluid predictions. Instead, the velocity profiles can be captured by a theory of stress fluctuations originally developed for chute flow of dry granular media (published ,2007). We extend the model to our case and discuss it as a function of a series of parameters (boundary conditions, volume fraction, channel size, etc.) highlighting differences and similarities with granular media. Finally we discuss the time behaviour of complete plug flows relating it to the microscopic dynamics of the particles. At variance with dilute systems, dense systems exhibit velocity fluctuations when driven into channels by a constant pressure difference. We find that there exists a threshold value of the flow rate below which oscillations in the velocity are absent and above which their frequency scales as a power law of the flow rate. Despite quantitative predictions on this issue that are still missing, we present a microscopic description of the phenomenon highlighting the interplay between the particles and the solvent.
The gap between voluntary admission and detention in mental health units

This paper presents the case of a young man with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, who agreed to inpatient treatment primarily to avoid being formally detained. I draw on Peter Breggin's early critique of coercion of informal patients to supply an updated discussion of the ethical issues raised. Central questions are whether the admission was coercive, and if so, whether unethical. Whether or not involuntary admission would be justified, moral discomfort surrounds its appearance as a threat. This arises in part from ambivalence about autonomy: although a ‘choice’ is made, the threat of detention impinges on the patient's choice. Recent legal developments provide some experience of safeguarding those whose consent is not obtained. This highlights the lack of safeguards in this ‘gap’ and suggests that we have the tools with which to begin to deal with the problem.
Entecavir for the treatment of real-life chronic hepatitis B patients: a study from Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Entecavir is a nucleoside analog used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. The efficacy of ETV has not been studied in the Saudi population. The objective of the study was to find undetectable HBV DNA after 48 weeks completion of ETV treatment in real-life versus clinical trial patients. DESIGN AND SETTING A retrospective study in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia of patients treated from 2006 January to 2010 June. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of 43 eligible patients, 24 patients were treatment-naïve and 19 were treatment refractory. RESULTS Mean HBV DNA viral load was 51 million IU/mL prior to treatment and decreased to 0.16 million IU/mL at 48 weeks. Mean HBV DNA log10 IU/mL was 6.3 before treatment and decreased to 2.3 log10 IU/mL (P=.001) at 48 weeks. After 48 weeks treatment, ALT significantly decreased from a mean ALT of 88.7 U/L before treatment to 37.5U/L (P=.04). After 48 weeks, the HBV DNA was undetectable in 14 (58.4%) in treatment-naïve patients and in 6 (31.6%) treatment-refractory patients. At 48 weeks 17 (60.7%) of HBeAg-negative patients and 3 (20%) HBeAg-positive patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA (P=.003). When the treatment was extended for a median of 24 months (range 12 months to 60 months), 29 (67.4%) achieved undetectable HBV DNA. Among 29 patients who achieved undetectable HBV DNA, the treatment refractory patients reached undetectability within a mean of 32.4 (18.6) months and treatment-naïve patients in a mean of 18.8 (10.5) months (P=.01). Two (13.3%) of HBeAg-reactive patients converted to HBeAg-negative status and one patient (2.3%) lost HBsAg. CONCLUSION After treatment with entecavir, HBV DNA undetectable at 48 weeks in 58.4% of naïve patients. The response rate was better in HBeAg-negative and treatment-naïve patients compared to HBeAg-positive and treatment-refractory patients.
Novel Kac–Moody-type affine extensions of non-crystallographic Coxeter groups

Motivated by recent results in mathematical virology, we present novel asymmetric -integer-valued affine extensions of the non-crystallographic Coxeter groups H2, H3 and H4 derived in a Kac–Moody-type formalism. In particular, we show that the affine reflection planes which extend the Coxeter group H3 generate (twist) translations along two-, three- and five-fold axes of icosahedral symmetry, and we classify these translations in terms of the Fibonacci recursion relation applied to different start values. We thus provide an explanation of previous results concerning affine extensions of icosahedral symmetry in a Coxeter group context, and extend this analysis to the case of the non-crystallographic Coxeter groups H2 and H4. These results will enable new applications of group theory in physics (quasicrystals), biology (viruses) and chemistry (fullerenes).