Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of mutations in SNP loci of K-RAS, hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes in neoplastic intestinal polyps and colorectal cancer.

AIM To clarify the molecular mechanism involved in pathogenesis of colorectal cancer as well as clinical significance of genetic analysis of histological samples. METHODS A total of 480 blood and tissue specimens were collected in our hospital from January 2011 to October 2012. In the observation group, there were 120 blood specimens and 120 intestinal tract tissue specimens collected from patients with neoplastic intestinal polyps. In the control group I there were 80 blood specimens and 80 intestinal tract tissue specimens collected from patients with colorectal cancer. In the control group II there were 40 blood specimens and 40 intestinal tract tissue specimens collected from healthy individuals. The gene segments were amplified using PCR and DNA gel electrophoresis along with DNA sequence analysis were employed for the detection of the following single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): K-RAS codons 12 and 13; hMLH1 (human mutS homolog 1) gene missense mutation at Va1384Asp; hMSH2 (human mutS homolog 2) gene missense mutation at 2783C/A. RESULTS The mutation rate of the SNP at Va1384Asp locus of the hMLH1 gene from blood and tissue specimens in the observation group showed no statistical difference from those in the control group I. The mutation rates of SNPs in codons 12 and 13 of K-RAS and at 2783C/A locus of the hMSH2 gene were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group I (χ(2) = 15.476, 29.670, 10.811, 16.618, 33.538, 7.898, P < 0.05). The mutation rate of SNP at Va1384Asp locus of the hMLH1 gene was significantly higher in the observation group when compared to the control group II (χ(2) = 10.486, 4.876, P < 0.05). The mutation rates of SNPs in codons 12 and 13 of K-RAS and at 2783C/A locus of the hMSH2 gene did not show any statistical difference from those in the control group II. CONCLUSION There may be important clinical significance and relevance between neoplastic intestinal polyps and colorectal cancer in terms of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis.
Psychological Explanations and Interventions for Indifference to Greening Hospitals

Abstract: Attention has increasingly been given to "greening" the environment, that is, to engaging in environmentally responsible behavior. Applied to hospitals, greening is collective interdisciplinary organizational behavior that reduces environmental hazards and overconsumption. An environmental crisis in hospitals is described. A number of individual and group psychological phenomena are detailed to explain the current absence of widespread greening in hospitals. Social and environmental psychology concepts for behavior change are combined to provide a model consisting of hospital administration and staff interventions to green this setting. Successful examples of these interventions are provided.
[New approaches to the treatment of patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse].

AIM To assess efficiency of magnerot, magnesium orotate, in patients with idiopathic mitral prolapse (IMP). MATERIAL AND METHODS 84 patients with IMP were randomized to the study group (43 patients) and control group (41 patients). Patients of the study group received magnerot tablets (Germany) containing 500 mg of magnesium orotate (daily dose 3000 mg) for 6 months. The examination performed before the treatment and 6 months after it included: modified clinical and phenotypic records, echocardiography, 24-h ECG and AP monitoring, spectral analysis of cardiac rhythm variability, evaluation of quality of life according to Visual Analog Scale and Disability Scale and of treatment results according to Clinical Global Impression scales, measurements of magnesium in the hair by plasmic nuclear emission spectrometry, histological and histochemical skin tests. RESULTS IMP patients appeared to suffer from magnesium deficiency which is responsible for many symptoms in mitral prolapse. 6-month therapy with magnerot completely or partially reduced the symptoms in more than half the patients. Positive changes were registered primarily in clinicofunctional manifestations. Morphological changes in the skin correlating with the disease severity alleviated. CONCLUSION Good objective and subjective response to magnerot 6-month therapy (3000 mg/day) is demonstrated.
Broad-scale phylogenomics provides insights into retrovirus–host evolution

Significance Retroviruses, such as HIV, are important pathogens of vertebrates, including humans. They are capable of crossing species barriers to infect new hosts, but knowledge about the evolutionary history of retroviruses is limited. However, genomic traces of past retrovirus activities known as “endogenous retroviruses” can be screened from sequenced genomes and analyzed to improve understanding of retrovirus evolution. Here we use a unique approach to address the evolution of one group of retroviruses in a screen of 60 diverse vertebrate host genomes. We find evidence of rampant host-switching across mammalian orders by members of this group throughout their evolutionary history. We also find evidence that the spread of infective retroviruses from this group may be facilitated by rats. Genomic data provide an excellent resource to improve understanding of retrovirus evolution and the complex relationships among viruses and their hosts. In conjunction with broad-scale in silico screening of vertebrate genomes, this resource offers an opportunity to complement data on the evolution and frequency of past retroviral spread and so evaluate future risks and limitations for horizontal transmission between different host species. Here, we develop a methodology for extracting phylogenetic signal from large endogenous retrovirus (ERV) datasets by collapsing information to facilitate broad-scale phylogenomics across a wide sample of hosts. Starting with nearly 90,000 ERVs from 60 vertebrate host genomes, we construct phylogenetic hypotheses and draw inferences regarding the designation, host distribution, origin, and transmission of the Gammaretrovirus genus and associated class I ERVs. Our results uncover remarkable depths in retroviral sequence diversity, supported within a phylogenetic context. This finding suggests that current infectious exogenous retrovirus diversity may be underestimated, adding credence to the possibility that many additional exogenous retroviruses may remain to be discovered in vertebrate taxa. We demonstrate a history of frequent horizontal interorder transmissions from a rodent reservoir and suggest that rats may have acted as important overlooked facilitators of gammaretrovirus spread across diverse mammalian hosts. Together, these results demonstrate the promise of the methodology used here to analyze large ERV datasets and improve understanding of retroviral evolution and diversity for utilization in wider applications.
Association of V89L SRD5A2 polymorphism with prostate cancer development in a Japanese population.

PURPOSE The SRD5A2 gene codes the steroid 5-reductase type II, a critical mediator of androgen action, and the V89L and A49T polymorphisms of this gene may be associated with a distinct enzyme activity. We explored the association among these polymorphisms and the risk of prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a Japanese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 302 patients with prostate cancer, 228 with BPH and 243 male controls. V89L and A49T polymorphisms were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Genotypes were evaluated by electrophoresis on agarose gel. RESULTS For the V89L polymorphism there were no significant differences in genotype frequencies in patients with prostate cancer and controls (p = 0.071) or in patients with BPH and male controls (p = 0.219). However, males with the VV or VL genotype were at significantly increased risk for prostate cancer compared with those with the LL genotype (adjusted OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.65, p = 0.024). The risk of BPH in males with the VV or VL genotype was not significantly elevated in comparison with those with the LL genotype (adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.20, p = 0.194). The V89L variant was not associated with the grade or stage of prostate cancer, or with patient age. For the A49T polymorphism all subjects had the AA genotype. CONCLUSIONS The V allele of the V89L polymorphism in the SRD5A2 gene may dominantly increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Newtonian Model of an Elite Sprinter : How Much Force do Athletes Need to Produce Each Step to be World Class ?

A model is presented of the force and power produced during a world record sprint to provide coaches and athletes with a method to determine how much force to use during strength training and what velocity to train at. In addition to specific velocity of strength training, the coach or athlete can estimate the biomechanical position of the athlete by determining that position for the relevant step so that training can be specific to the movement pattern of actual sprinting. The model is determined by using empirical data to develop relationships between the variables of time, velocity, instantaneous velocity, contact time and distance travelled over each individual step. The formula used for the Newtonian model is applied to an athlete, Matic Osovnikar, and shows weakness in the strength of one particular leg above a certain velocity during steps 6, 8 and 10. The lack of force produced by that leg results in negative velocity of the athlete during steps 8 and 10. From the comparison of data from Matic Osovnikar with the Newtonian model, a suggestion is for the athlete to undertake velocity specific and movement specific strength training of that leg to improve performance during steps 6, 8 and 10. This may improve the overall sprint performance for the athlete.
Education, socio-economic status and age-related macular degeneration in Asians: the Singapore Malay Eye Study

Background/aims: Low socio-economic status is increasingly being identified as a risk marker for chronic diseases, but few studies have investigated the link between socio-economic factors and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The present study aimed to assess the association between socio-economic status and the prevalence of AMD. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of 3280 (78.7% response rate) Malay adults aged 40–80 years residing in 15 south-western districts of Singapore. AMD was graded from retinal photographs at a central reading centre using the modified Wisconsin AMD scale. Early and late AMD signs were graded from retinal photographs following the Wisconsin grading system. Socio-economic status including education, housing type and income were determined from a detailed interview. Results: Of the participants, 3265 had photographs of sufficient quality for grading of AMD. Early AMD was present in 168 (5.1%) and late AMD in 21 (0.6%). After adjusting for age, gender, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and body mass index, participants with lower educational levels were significantly more likely to have early AMD (multivariate OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.0). This association was stronger in persons who had never smoked (multivariate OR 3.6, 95% confidence CI 1.4 to 9.4). However, no association with housing type or income was seen. Conclusions: Low educational level is associated with a higher prevalence of early AMD signs in our Asian population, independent of age, cardiovascular risk factors and cigarette smoking.
"DIFFERENTIAL PROTEIN SYNTHESIS DURING NITROGEN STARVATION OF THE FISSION YEAST,

In an effort to highlight potential "cell division cycle proteins" in the fission yeast, Soh-izosaoaharorrtyces pombe, cultures growing exponentially in defined medium were starved of nitrogen. This treatment causes a semi-synchronous burst of accelerated cell division at a reduced cell size and can thus be envisaged as an uncoupling of 35 the growth cycle from the DNA-division cycle. S-methionine labelling during the period of accelerated division reveals the differential synthesis of two polypeptides of molecular weights 46kd and 27kd. In order to distinguish between the alternative hypotheses that these proteins ( denoted as p46 and p27 ) are a) "division proteins", or b) "stress proteins" (synthesized as a direct result of nitrogen starvation), use was made of the temperature-sensitive mutant of S.pombe, wee 1.50, which, at the restrictive temperature, divides at half the size of wild type cells. This mutant does NOT accelerate into division upon nitrogen starvation at the restrictive temperature for reasons satisfactorily explained by current models of cell cycle 35 control in S.pombe. S-methionine labelling during the period follow­ ing nitrogen starvation does, however, reveal the same differential synthesis of proteins p46 and p27 as seen in wild type. Heat shock analysis reveals the existence of two heat shock proteins in S.pombe of similar sizes to p46 and p27. It was therefore postulated that nitrogen starvation in this yeast induces a subset of the total array of heat shock proteins. The hypothesis is supported by the observation that nitrogen-starved cells acquire thermotolerance at a time only shortly after the transient appearance of proteins p46 and p27. A heat shock protein in Saooharomyces c e v e v is ia e, HSP 48, has recently been identified as the glycolytic enzyme ENOLASE. Furthermore, it has been proposed that this protein may be solely responsible for the acquisition of thermotolerance in pre-heated cells. Using an anti-HSP 48 antiserum the possibility that, in S.pombe, protein p46 is enolase was tested by immunoblotting techniques. While the antiserum reacted specifically to a single polypeptide of S.pombe of approximate molecular weight 50kd, the amount of this antibody-binding protein was not found to increase during nitrogen starvation. On this basis, it was concluded that protein p46 is not enolase. The implied divergence in the heat shock responses of budding and fission yeasts is emphasized further by the suggestion, by similar inmunoblotting techniques, that, in S.pombe, enolase is not a heat shock protein at all.
MEANING OF PUBLIC SPACE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY: The Case of New Neighbourhoods in the Kathmandu Valley

This paper examines the meaning of public space and sense of community among neighbourhood residents in the changing urban context of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Two new neighbourhoods were selected for the purpose of this study with data collected from interviews with the residents. The study has found that most residents of the new neighbourhoods have an understanding of the significance of public space in community life. However, such understandings are based less on the actual use of public space. The existing public spaces in these neighbourhoods are less successful in offering a meaning to the residents, due to their poor development and the lack of active use. Despite these changes, some residents believe they have developed a sense of community, which is an outcome of other individual factors than the use of public space. It is argued that the role of contemporary neighbourhood public space in fostering a sense of community appears to be less significant in the valley’s present context.
Quality of korean ginseng dried by a prototype continuous flow dryer using far infrared radiation and hot air

Kim, M.H. , Kim, S.M. , Kim, C.S. , Park, S.J., Lee, C.H. and Rhee, J.Y. 2002. Quality of Korean ginseng dried by a prototype continuous flow dryer using far infrared radiation and hot air. Canadian Biosystems Engineering/Le génie des biosystèmes au Canada 44: 3.473. 54. This study was performed to examine the effects of infrared (IR)/hot-air combination drying on some quality attributes of Korean white ginseng. Medium-sized ginseng roots were dried in a dryer where both the far infrared radiation and hot air were available as energy sources for drying. Diametral shrinkage, external color, total saponin content, and ginsenosides and free sugar composition of the IR/hot-air combination dried ginseng were measured and compared with those of commercial white ginseng products. The external color became lower in lightness and higher in saturation as the IR radiating plate temperature increased. IR/hot-air combination dried white ginseng at IR plate temperature of 100C was comparable to the commercial white ginseng products in color characteristics. Diametral shrinkage ratios of ginseng roots during drying ranged from 20 to 36% and appeared to be independent of the different drying methods used in the study. No definite evidence could be found whether the IR/hotair combination drying and the conventional hot-air drying practice resulted in white ginseng having different ginsenoside contents and compositions. IR/hot-air combination dried ginseng showed a decrease in sucrose content and an increase in fructose, glucose, and especially maltose content as the IR plate temperature increased. No conclusion could be made on whether the various drying treatments used in the study affected the free sugar contents and compositions of white ginseng.
Interruption and Involvement in Discourse: Can Intercultural Interlocutors be Trained?

____________________________________ Han Z. Li (Ph.D. University of Victoria, 1994) is an Associate Professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, Young-ok Yum (Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University, 2000), is an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University, Robin Yates (Bsc. University of Northern British Columbia, 2004) is a master’s candidate at the University of Victoria, Laura Aguilera (Msc. University of Northern British Columbia, 2005) is doctoral candidate at the University of Northern Britsh Columbia, Ying Mao (M.A. Hebei University, 1998) & Yue Zheng (M.A. Hebei University, 1999) are Lecturers at Heibei University. Please send correspondence to Dr. Han Li, Dept. of Psychology, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, B.C. V2N 4Z9, Canada. Phone: 250960-6502; Fax: 250-960-5536; E-mail: lih@unbc.ca. This research was supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada awarded to the first author. The authors would like to thank Chenoa Ryks and Anna Jewulski for assistance in various stages of this research; and all the participants, for their time and efforts in making this study possible. We would like to thank Editor Neuliep and the two anonymous reviewers for insightful comments on an early version of the manuscript. Interruption and Involvement in Discourse: Can Intercultural Interlocutors be Trained?
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Transposition in Guinea Pigs

Improved control of prosthetic voice aids for laryngectomees might be possible to obtain with residual laryngeal motor nerve signals. We were able to recover motor signals from the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) by transposing it into the ipsilateral denervated sternohyoid muscle (SH) in 8 guinea pigs. Reinnervation was monitored by electromyographic recordings from surface and intramuscular needle electrodes in awake animals. Within 4 to 14 weeks after surgery, all animals demonstrated laryngeal-like motor activity in the reinnervated SH, including activity during respiration, sniffing, swallowing, and/or vocalizing. After 3 to 6 months, the animals were reanesthetized, and nerve stimulation and section experiments confirmed the RLN as the source of reinnervation in all cases. In several animals, activity of the RLN-innervated SH was demonstrated to be correlated with that of contralateral laryngeal muscles. Histochemical analysis of the SH indicated a unilateral transformation from mostly fatigable to mostly fatigue-resistant fiber types ipsilateral to the RLN transposition, a phenotype more typical of laryngeal muscles. Thus, RLN transposition at the time of laryngectomy may be a method for salvaging laryngeal control signals that could be used to control prosthetic voice devices.
High-Isolation X-Band Marine Radar Antenna Design

This paper presents a high-isolation printed antenna array for marine radar applications. The antenna array is composed of 32 identical square microstrip patches operated at a center frequency of 9.35 GHz and includes a 100-MHz bandwidth (subject to a 1.5:1 voltage standing wave ratio [VSWR]). The patch antennas are arranged in four arms, each of which contains eight elements and is series-fed using Chebyshev tapering (25 dB side-lobe level). To apply the antenna in marine radar applications, an antenna with horizontal polarization was employed because, in comparison with vertical polarization, it can relatively reduce the sea clutter reflectivity. Therefore, a slit was carved on each patch element to change the current path, thereby enabling horizontal polarization. The antenna gain, 3-dB beamwidth, side-lobe level, and front-to-back ratio were 22 dBi, 5.3 °, 26.4 dB, and 38.5 dB, respectively. Additionally, metallic baffles were introduced for increasing the isolation between the transmitting and receiving antennas to 60 dB .
EXPRESSION OF HSP 105 AND HSP 60 DURING GERM CELL APOPTOSIS IN THE HEAT-TREATED TESTES OF ADULT CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS ( MACACA FASCICULARIS )

1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Materials and methods 3.1. Animals and experimental protocol 3.2. Semen analysis 3.3. Testicular tissues 3.4. In situ analysis of testicular cell DNA fragmentation 3.5. In situ hybridization analysis 3.6. RT-PCR analysis 3.7. Immunohistochemical analysis 3.8. Western blot analysis 3.9. Statistical analysis 4. Results 4.1. Sperm concentration changes 4.2. Morphological changes of seminiferous tubules after heat stress 4.3. Germ cell apoptosis induced by heat stress 4.4. Hsp105 expression in cynomolgus monkey testes after heat shock 4.5. Hsp60 expression in heat-treated monkey testes 5. Discussion 6. Acknowledgement 7. Reference
FEEDING AND SURVIVAL OF CITRUS SHARPSHOOTERS (HEMIPTERA: CICADELLIDAE) ON HOST PLANTS

Abstract The liquid excretion and survival of the sharpshooters Dilobopterus costalimai Young and Oncometopia facialis (Signoret), vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in citrus, were measured on various host plants as an indirect approach to assess their feeding and performance on these hosts and determine suitable plants for laboratory rearing. Adult females of D. costalimai showed the highest excretion rate on Vernonia condensata (Asteraceae). O. facialisexcreted larger volumes on three species of Vernonia and on Lantana camara (Verbenaceae). On average, single D. costalimai females excreted a liquid volume equivalent to 292 times its body volume per day when feeding on V. condensata, whereas O. facialis females excreted 430 times their body volume on the same host. In contrast, the excretion rates of D. costalimai and O. facialis females on Citrus sinensis did not exceed 248 and 140 times their body volume per day, respectively. The mortality of adults after 96 h was lower on hosts upon which higher liquid volumes were excreted; therefore, there is a positive relationship between the excretion rate by the sharpshooters and their nutritional adequacy to hosts. V. condensata is a suitable host to maintain adult populations of both sharpshooters in the laboratory.
Service Quality: A Measure of Information System Effectiveness

The IS function now includes a significant service component. However, commonly used measures of IS effectiveness focus on the products, rather than the services, of the IS function. Thus, there is the danger that IS researchers will mismeasure IS effectiveness if they do not include in their assessment package a measure of IS service quality. SERVQUAL, an instrument developed by marketing researchers, is offered as a possible measure of IS service quality. SERVQUAL measures service dimensions of tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. The suitability of SERVQUAL was assessed in three different types of organizations in three countries. After examination of content validity, reliability, convergent validity, nomological validity, and discriminant validity, the study concludes that SERVQUAL is an appropriate instrument for researchers seeking a measure of IS service quality.