Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal Variation of the Merozoite Surface Protein-2 Gene of Plasmodium falciparum

ABSTRACT Extensive polymorphism of key parasite antigens is likely to hamper the effectiveness of subunit vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum infection. However, little is known about the extent of the antigenic repertoire of naturally circulating strains in different areas where malaria is endemic. To address this question, we conducted a study in which blood samples were collected from parasitemic individuals living within a small hamlet in Western Irian Jaya and subjected to PCR amplification using primers that would allow amplification of the gene encoding merozoite surface protein-2 (MSP2). We determined the nucleotide sequence of the amplified product and compared the deduced amino acid sequences to sequences obtained from samples collected in the same hamlet 29 months previously.MSP2 genes belonging to both major allelic families were observed at both time points. In the case of the FC27 MSP2family, we observed that the majority of individuals were infected by parasites expressing the same form of MSP2. Infections with parasites expressing 3D7 MSP2 family alleles were more heterogeneous. No MSP2 alleles observed at the earlier time point were detectable at the later time point, either for the population as a whole or for individuals who were assayed at both time points. We examined a subset of the infected patients by using blood samples taken between the two major surveys. In no patients could we detect reinfection by a parasite expressing a previously encountered form of MSP2. Our results are consistent with the possibility that infection induces a form of strain-specific immune response against the MSP2 antigen that biases against reinfection by parasites bearing identical forms of MSP2.
Direct and Indirect Intergroup Friendship Effects: Testing the Moderating Role of the Affective-Cognitive Bases of Prejudice

Direct friendship with outgroup members and the knowledge of ingroup—outgroup friendships (indirect friendship) can both reduce outgroup prejudice. Three correlational studies (Ns = 338, 141, and 798) tested the moderating role of the affective—cognitive bases of prejudice, assessing whether the size of the friendship— prejudice relationship depends on the extent to which emotions (vs. thoughts) are relevant to the prejudiced attitudes at stake. In Study 1, direct friendship effects were larger with outgroups generating stronger affective responding than with outgroups generating stronger cognitive responding, whereas indirect friendship effects were larger with cognitive than with affective outgroups. Study 2 detected a similar pattern but with prejudice basis assessed in terms of individual differences. Study 3 replicated Study 2's indirect friendship—cognitive basis moderation in a context of historically polarized intergroup relations and on two new outcome variables, intergroup trust and negative action tendencies.
Hematological studies on black cumin oil from the seeds of Nigella sativa L.

The methanol soluble portion of black cumin oil, which is prepared by compression of seeds of Nigella sativa L. , showed inhibitory effects on arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation and blood coagulation. By bioactive assay of AA-induced platelet aggregation, the methanol soluble part was purified to isolate a new compound 2-(2-methoxypropyl)-5-methyl-1,4-benzenediol (1) and two known compounds, thymol (2), carvacrol (3), having very strong inhibitory activity. Further, we then examined the isolated compounds (1-3) and eight related compounds by the screening test for AA-induced platelet aggregation. Compounds possessing aromatic hydroxyl and acetoxyl group had more potent activity than aspirin, which is well known as a remedy for thrombosis.
International Immunonutrition Workshop Session 5 : Early programming of the immune system and the role of nutrition Immunology of pregnancy

The conceptual framework for reproductive immunology was put in place over 50 years ago when the survival of the fetal semi-allograft within an immunocompetent mother was first considered. During this time, a number of paradigms have emerged and the mechanisms receiving current attention are those related to immune tolerance, such as regulatory T-cells and indoleamine 2,3,-dioxygenase, and innate immunity, such as natural killer cells, trophoblast debris and inflammation. A key consideration is the temporal and spatial variation in any of these pathways (e.g. implantation v. parturition). As fetally derived trophoblasts are the semiallogeneic cells with which the maternal immune system comes into contact, understanding the immune response to these cells is critical. There is much interest in the immunological pathways that support a healthy pregnancy and how they might be perturbed in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, there is increasing awareness that antenatal determinants of the immune function of pregnant women and their offspring have consequences for health and disease in childhood and beyond. Changes in maternal diet over recent decades coincide with the increasing prevalence of allergic and other immune-mediated diseases, and the modification of maternal diet has emerged as a strategy for disease prevention. Approaches undergoing trial at numerous sites around the world include dietary supplementation with fish oil and/or probiotics. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of any positive effect on disease outcomes should reveal further novel strategies for disease prevention.
Systemic physiologic alterations of pregnancy in comparison with nonpregnant women

Pregnancy results in physiologic changes in almost all organ systems in the body mediated mainly by female sex hormones. Physiologic changes of pregnancy influence the dental management of women during pregnancy. Understanding these normal changes is essential for providing quality care for pregnant women. This review article briefly discusses the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, endocrine, and oral physiologic changes that occur during normal gestation. A summary of current scientific knowledge of ionizing radiation is presented. Information about the compatibility, complications, and excretion of the common drugs during pregnancy is provided. Drugs and their usage during breast-feeding are also discussed. Guidelines for the management of a pregnant patient in the dental office are summarized. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2004;97:672-82)
Acquired Cardiovascular Disease : Mitral Valve Kilic et al A C D Trends , clinical outcomes , and cost implications of mitral valve repair versus replacement , concomitant with aortic valve replacement

Methods: Patients who underwent MV surgery concomitant with AVR, between 1999 and 2008, were identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) registry. Mitral stenosis, endocarditis, and emergency cases were excluded. Inpatient clinical outcomes and costs were compared. Costs were derived using cost-to-charge ratios supplied by the dataset for each individual hospital. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were used for risk adjustment.
Oliver Soop Local Information Di usion Patterns in Social and Traditional Media : The Estonian Case Study

Information has become more highly valued among companies and individuals than ever before. With this, the interest in how information di uses among the entities in various structured networks has increased. A number of studies have been published on the di usion process in real-life networks, such as web service network, citation networks, blog networks etc. Majority of researches have focused on one type of network such as Facebook posts, Twitter tweets, Blogspot blog entries etc. A disadvantage of analysing a network containing entities from a single source is that it does not consider the outside in uence on the di usion. Recently, some papers have started to incorporate di erent networks in their study and as such have been able to analyse the e ect of outside in uence on the di usion process. This thesis aims to shed further light into the topic of information di usion in a real world network containing entities from di erent sources, this is achieved by detection of relevant local topological and temporal information di usion patterns. For topological pattern analysis, frequent subgraph mining techniques are used. Temporal patterns are extracted using time series clustering. The dataset used in this thesis is collected from the Estonian setting of mainstream online news media with comments and articles and from social media channels Twitter and Facebook. From this dataset the relations between the entities were extracted and a network for analysis of di usion patterns was constructed. Temporal patterns reveal the high pace of information di usion while topological patterns expose the important role of news media articles and Facebook posts in the information di usion processes. The results of the thesis are applicable in cyber defence, online marketing and campaign management plus information impact estimation, just to mention a few application areas.
Numerical Prediction Of Irregular CyclicVariation Of Temperature In An UndergroundMetro System

In this paper, a first Law of Thermodynamics analysis is made to predict the daily variation of the average temperature in a subterranean railway tunnel system operating under irregular cyclic conditions. The results of the finite difference method used to determine the temperature history indicate that the conjugate heat transfer to and from the tunnel wall attenuates the temperature amplitude and causes a lag in the oscillations. INTRODUCTION In general, unsteady periodic heat transfer takes place with the temperature varying either harmonically or irregularly. Examples in these two categories are, respectively, an air conditioning plant with cosinusoidally varying ambient conditions and trains in transit through an underground tunnel according to a specified timetable. An exact harmonic analysis for the very low frequency and constant mass flow rate through a control volume has been made by Barrow [1]. That work was later extended by Barrow and Pope [2], who developed a numerical approach to allow for variable energy input and a wider frequency range. In both studies, the heat transfer at the wall takes place conjugately as described in detail by Eckert and Drake [3] for example. While the theoretical and numerical harmonic analyses have proved successful, a more universal method is needed to cater for the irregular conditions in a rail tunnel. In the following, a method is developed to predict the average temperature variation in an intensively operated metro system when the traffic and, hence, levels of energy release vary markedly through the day. Variation in traffic also gives rise to a related variation of air flow movement through the system. Further, there Transactions on Engineering Sciences vol 5, © 1994 WIT Press, www.witpress. com, ISSN 1743-3533
Transient Stability Analysis of Multi-Machine AC/DC Power Systems Via Energy-Function Method

In this paper, the direct method of stability analysis using energy functions is applied for single and multi-machine AC/DC power systems. The system loads including the terminal characteristics of the DC link are represented as constant current type loads, and their effects on the generators at the internal nodes are obtained as additional bus power injections using the method of distribution factors, thus avoiding transfer conductance terms. Using the center of angle formulation, a modified form of the energy-function method is used for the swing equations and the DC link dynamical equations to compute the critical clearing time for a given fault. Numerical results of critical clearing time for a single and multi-machine system using the energy-function method agree well with the step-by-step method.
The Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

A broad view is taken of the past, present, and future of the Radiological Society of North America. The Society's concerns are enumerated: concern with cooperation between radiologists and technologists and between radiologists and those in other branches of medicine and allied sciences; concern in providing leadership in the field of radiation measurements and protection; in support of research; in scientific education of radiologists. At the Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting every year, the educational experience is four-pronged with its refresher courses, lectures, scientific exhibits, and technical exhibits.
Acquired Salivary Dysfunction: Drugs and Radiation

Abstract: When considering the effects of drugs on salivary glands, a distinction should be drawn between the complaint of oral dryness (xerostomia), a symptom, and measurable secretory hypofunction, a sign. In general, the symptom of xerostomia is often not accompanied by objective reductions in salivary output, and xerostomia is not a reliable indicator of secretory hypofunction. Whereas therapeutic pharmaceutical side effects represent the most prominent cause of xerostomia, with over 500 drugs associated with this symptom, only a small number of drugs have been demonstrated to reduce salivary output substantially. There are examples in which drugs with a high prevalence of xerostomia complaints do not affect secretory function. The mechanisms responsible for this discrepancy between subjective and objective findings have not been fully identified. It is hypothesized that alterations in systemic or mucosal hydration may play a role. Of the drugs with true salivary hypofunctional actions, most have direct anticholinergic properties. In almost all cases, the salivary effects of pharmaceuticals are not permanent, and function returns to pretreatment levels when the medication is stopped.
Polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase 2 and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 and colorectal cancer risk in Chinese males.

AIM To evaluate the relationship between drinking and polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2) and/or aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) for risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Chinese males. METHODS A case-control study was conducted in 190 cases and 223 population-based controls. ADH2 Arg47His (G-A) and ALDH2 Glu487Lys (G-A) genotypes were identified by PCR and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Information on smoking and drinking was collected and odds ratio (OR) was estimated. RESULTS The ADH2 A/A and ALDH2 G/G genotypes showed moderately increased CRC risk. The age- and smoking-adjusted OR for ADH2 A/A relative to G/A and G/G was 1.60 (95% CI=1.08-2.36), and the adjusted OR for ALDH2 G/G relative to G/A and A/A was 1.79 (95% CI=1.19-2.69). Significant interactions between ADH2, ALDH2 and drinking were observed. As compared to the subjects with ADH2 G and ALDH2 A alleles, those with ADH2 A/A and ALDH2 G/G genotypes had a significantly increased OR (3.05, 95% CI= 1.67-5.57). The OR for CRC among drinkers with the ADH2 A/A genotype was increased to 3.44 (95% CI= 1.84-6.42) compared with non-drinkers with the ADH2 G allele. The OR for CRC among drinkers with the ALDH2 G/G genotype was also increased to 2.70 (95% CI= 1.57-4.66) compared with non-drinkers with the ALDH2 A allele. CONCLUSION Polymorphisms of the ADH2 and ALDH2 genes are significantly associated with CRC risk. There are also significant gene-gene and gene-environment interactions between drinking and ADH2 and ALDH2 polymorphisms regarding CRC risk in Chinese males.
A Low-Cost and Complexity Multibeam RF Transmit Beamformer for Wideband LFM Radar

This letter presents a simple and efficient multibeam radio-frequency (RF) beamformer for wideband linear frequency modulation waveform transmission. A time-varying weighting method instead of the true time delay technique is proposed. The process of beamforming weighting is implemented by quadrature modulators in the transmit (TX) path. As the RF operation frequency changes, the modulating phase-shift coefficients in baseband vary in time series. Since this beamformer is easy to perform at the element level, the simultaneous and independent TX multiple beamforming has become achievable. Moreover, the quality of the output signal and the process of wideband equalization among multiple channels are considered. The channel imbalances over a broad frequency range are compensated by time-varying predistortion coefficients. To validate the practical feasibility of this method, a prototype system with four-element antenna array is designed and tested. Single-beam and simultaneous two-beam patterns steering between ± 30° over 500 MHz at the center frequency 2.45 GHz have been demonstrated experimentally.
OBESITY INDUCED RENAL OXIDATIVE STRESS CONTRIBUTES TO RENAL INJURY IN SALT‐SENSITIVE HYPERTENSION

1 In the present study, we determined the role of hypertension, oxidative stress and inflammation on kidney damage in a rodent model of obesity and diabetes. Hypertension was induced in male obese (db/db) mice and lean (db/m) mice by implantation of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) pellets and mice were allowed to drink water containing 1% salt. Mice were divided into six groups as follows: obese and lean control, obese and lean 1% salt (salt) and obese and lean DOCA plus 1% salt (DOCA‐salt). 2 Blood pressure was significantly increased in lean and obese DOCA‐salt groups relative to their respective controls; however, there was no difference in blood pressure between the lean and obese control and salt groups. Urinary 8‐isoprostane was increased in obese control compared with lean control mice (1464 ± 267 vs 493 ± 53 pg/µmol creatinine, respectively) and this elevation was further increased in the obese DOCA‐salt treated mice (2430 ± 312 pg/µmol creatinine). Urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 excretion and CD68‐positive cells were also increased in both obese and lean DOCA‐salt groups compared with their respective controls. Furthermore, DOCA‐salt treatment increased collagen IV excretion in both obese and lean mice compared with controls, but there was no difference between obese and lean DOCA‐salt groups. Urinary albumin excretion was significantly increased in the obese compared with the lean DOCA‐salt mice (507 ± 160 vs 202 ± 48 µg/day, respectively). 3 These data suggest that obese DOCA‐salt hypertensive mice exhibit greater renal injury than lean DOCA‐salt hypertensive mice in a manner independent of blood pressure and that this renal injury is associated with obesity related pre‐existing renal oxidative stress.
Successful Treatment of Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis With Indomethacin: A Preliminary Report of Five Cases

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a disease of children and young adults. Clinically, the disease is characterized by the insidious onset of local pain and swelling in affected bones. Its course is one of intermittent periods of exacerbation and remission with successive bones affected. The pathogenesis of CRMO remains unknown, although an autoinflammatory disorder may be the cause, with inflammation of bone. This lesion is radiologically characterized as multiple lucencies surrounded by defined zones of patchy but dense sclerosis, cortical thickening from periosteal new bone formation, and increased bone size with different bones involved. Multiple therapeutic regimens had shown only a partial or temporary response. Because indomethacin has been successfully applied in inhibition of ossification and inflammatory processes, we initiated therapy with indomethacin in patients with CRMO. We report on the cases of 5 patients who responded dramatically to treatment with indomethacin. All underwent progressive clinical improvement (mean, 2.8 months). Radiological lesions disappeared after a mean period of 10.5 months. In 1 case where treatment was started late, small osteolytic zones persisted but with no clinical consequences. There were no additional recurrences or new bones affected during follow-up period (mean, 4 years). Our observation indicates that indomethacin may be an effective treatment for CRMO.
A new system for conceptualizing college students' problems: types of crises and the inventory of common problems.

Abstract The authors propose a new system for conceptualizing college students' problems. They see it as a more comprehensive and practical system than those based solely on DSM-III psychiatric diagnoses. The first component of this system consists of three broad types of crises, including situational and developmental crises, as well as crises reflecting psycho-pathology. The other component focuses on students' presenting problems, and includes depression, anxiety, and interpersonal, academic, physical health, and substance-use problems. The authors describe a rationale and method for assessing each of these dimensions. They present preliminary reliability and validity data for the newly developed Inventory of Common Problems, along with means and standard deviations for a large random sample of college students. The authors discuss advantages of this new system for college student counselors and researchers.
Polymeric micelles for drug targeting

Polymeric micelles are nano-delivery systems formed through self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in an aqueous environment. The nanoscopic dimension, stealth properties induced by the hydrophilic polymeric brush on the micellar surface, capacity for stabilized encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs offered by the hydrophobic and rigid micellar core, and finally a possibility for the chemical manipulation of the core/shell structure have made polymeric micelles one of the most promising carriers for drug targeting. To date, three generations of polymeric micellar delivery systems, i.e. polymeric micelles for passive, active and multifunctional drug targeting, have arisen from research efforts, with each subsequent generation displaying greater specificity for the diseased tissue and/or targeting efficiency. The present manuscript aims to review the research efforts made for the development of each generation and provide an assessment on the overall success of polymeric micellar delivery system in drug targeting. The emphasis is placed on the design and development of ligand modified, stimuli responsive and multifunctional polymeric micelles for drug targeting.
Quantitative assessment of divergence eye movements.

PURPOSE This study sought to quantify divergence eye movements and differences between divergence and convergence to smoothly moving ramp, step, and disappearing step stimuli. METHODS Eight visually normal, adult subjects participated in three experiments investigating the dynamics of responses using an infrared limbal eye tracker. RESULTS There were four primary findings: (1) a smooth tracking behavior was observed for slow ramps while the fast ramps elicited smooth tracking combined with a high-velocity, step-like behavior; (2) the high-velocity components observed in the faster ramps had a similar main sequence as divergence steps; (3) divergence dynamics to disappearing steps starting at the subject's near dissociated phoria level were similar to corresponding step responses; and (4) the high-velocity components from divergence ramps were dependent on initial vergence position, whereas the high-velocity components from convergence ramps were not. CONCLUSION The results suggest a preprogrammed component is present in divergence similar to convergence; however, unlike convergence, the high-velocity components from divergence ramp responses are dependent on initial vergence position.