Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Karate: Historical perspective and injuries sustained in national and international tournament competitions

Karate injuries sustained in three national and three international tournaments were reviewed. Two hundred and eighty-four athletes participated in 309 matches. Athletes had an average age of 25.5 years, average years of karate practice of 7.7 years, and average years of competitive experience in tournaments of 3.1 years. Athletes were mostly black belts with gradation from brown belt to fourth degree black belt. There were 82 injuries sustained by 76 athletes within 309 matches, with an incidence of one injury in every 3.7 matches or 0.3 injuries per match. There were more injuries among the lower ranked and less experienced athletes, indi cating that injuries became less frequent with increased tournament experience. Punches caused more injuries than kicks. Only 16 of the 76 injured athletes were forced to discontinue competition; one athlete was admitted to the hospital for 1 week due to a cerebral concussion.
Antifungal screening of 61 folkloric medicinal plant extracts against dermatophytic fungi Trichophyton rubrum

Article history: Received on: 04/02/2015 Revised on: 22/02/2015 Accepted on: 18/03/2015 Available online: 27/05/2015 A series 305 extracts from 61 traditional medicinal plants (belonging to 33 different families) used in treating skin diseases in Hyderabad Karnataka region were subjected to antidermatophytic screening against Trichophyton rubrum (MTCC 1344). Pet ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of each plant were tested for their antifungal activity using agar well diffusion method at sample concentration of 5 & 2.5 mg/ml. The results indicated that out of 61 plants, 18 exhibited very effective antidermatophytic activity in methanolic extracts, effective activity observed in 13 plants in different extracts, whereas 26 plants showed moderate activity, 04 plants showed weak activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 18 very effective plants were determined. On the basis of the results obtained, the crude extracts of Allium sativam Linn. , Annona reticulata L. , Annona squamosa L. , Argemone mexicana L. , Butea monosperma, Ceasalpinia bonducella, Citrus medica L. , Corchorus oleterius L. , Emblica officinalis, Euphorbia tirucalli L. , Ficus racemosa L. , Gymnosporia montana, Lawsonia inermis L. , Solanum nigrum L. , Sterculia foetida L. , Tribulus terrestris L. , Vitex negundo L. , and Zingiber officinale exhibited significant antidermatophytic activity (T. rubrum) and properties that support folkloric use in the treatment of skin diseases as broad-spectrum antimycotic agents. This probably explains the use of these plants by the indigenous people against dermatological infections.
Deleterious Role of Superoxide Dismutase in the Mitochondrial Intermembrane Space*

This work demonstrates how increased activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) paradoxically boosts production of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the intermembrane space (IMS) of mitochondria. Even though SOD1 is a cytosolic enzyme, a fraction of it is found in the IMS, where it is thought to provide protection against oxidative damage. We found that SOD1 controls cytochrome c-catalyzed peroxidation in vitro when superoxide is available. The presence of SOD1 significantly increased the rate of ROS production in mitoplasts, which are devoid of outer membrane and IMS. In response to inhibition of respiration with antimycin A, isolated mouse wild-type mitochondria increased ROS production, but the mitochondria from mice lacking SOD1 (SOD1-/-) did not. Also, lymphocytes isolated from SOD1-/- mice produced significantly less ROS than did wild-type cells and were more resistant to apoptosis induced by inhibition of respiration. Moreover, an increased amount of the toxic mutant G93A SOD1 in the IMS increased ROS production. The mitochondrial dysfunction and cell damage paradoxically induced by SOD1-mediated ROS production may be implicated in chronic degenerative diseases.
Endogenously Expressed Truncated P2X7 Receptor Lacking the C-Terminus is Preferentially Upregulated in Epithelial Cancer Cells and Fails to Mediate Ligand-Induced Pore Formation and Apoptosis

A truncated naturally occurring variant of the human purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2X7-R) was found in human cancer cervical cells. The novel protein consists of 258 amino acids, and compared to the wild-type P2X7-R it lacks the entire intracellular carboxy terminus, the second transmembrane domain, and the distal third of the extracellular loop. The truncated P2X7-R failed to form pores and mediate apoptosis, and it interacted with the wild-type P2X7-R in a manner suggesting auto-hetero-oligomerization. In contrast to cancer cells the novel truncated P2X7-R was expressed relatively little in normal cervical cells. These data raise the possibility that coexpression of the truncated form could block P2X7 mediated apoptosis and promote uncontrolled growth of cells.
Epithelial ovarian carcinoma and European birthplace of grandparents.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether the risk of ovarian carcinoma was related to latitude or to genetically based patterns of European geographic origin. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied the countries of origin of European-born grandparents of 168 newly diagnosed patients in two hospitals in New York City, compared with 159 controls from similar neighborhoods. We measured the risk of this cancer associated with having one or more white, non-Jewish grandparents born in North Europe versus none or in South Europe versus none. We also classified geographic origins in other ways to reflect the two main trends in genetic variations between Europeans mapped by Cavalli-Sforza et al. (The History and Geography of Human Genes, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1994). Unconditional logistic regression was used to control for age, parity, years of use of oral contraception, age at menarche, education, Catholic religion, and area of residence and for numbers of Jewish grandparents, siblings, and first-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer. RESULTS Approximately half of the subjects had least one white, non-Jewish grandparent born in Europe. There was no significant effect of ancestral latitude: among women born in the United States the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence limits associated with North European ancestry were 0.87 (0.47--1.63) compared with a reference group of women with no such ancestry. The corresponding OR for South Europe was 0.73 (0.39--1.74). Using the genetically based classifications of countries of origin, however, we found significant differences between cases and controls; ancestries from North West Europe and those from countries concentrically near Spain showed lower risks of ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS The results support the hypothesis that the previously observed effects of latitude must act through environmental effects or through gene-environment interactions. Other variations in risk related to geographic origins are consistent with known patterns of genetic differences, but require confirmation in larger, population-based studies.
Therapy preference and decision‐making among patients with severe sickle cell anemia and their families &

Patients with severe sickle cell anemia (SCA) may benefit from therapeutic intervention with hydroxyurea (HU), chronic red cell transfusion (CT), or stem cell transplantation (SCT). Determination of best treatment is complicated by the tradeoff between each treatment's risks and benefits and the lack of data comparing them to determine efficacy. We explored factors that influenced making decisions regarding interventions and examined the relations between treatment preference and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL).
A Theory of Leadership Selection in Small Groups - With Evidence from Ugandan Farmer Associations

Small groups, such as farmer associations, micro-lending groups, or civic organizations, play an important role in economic, political and social life in all manner of countries and circumstances. This paper studies factors that affect the ability and effort exerted by leaders of these groups, and hence the effectiveness of the groups in providing public goods to their members. We argue that small groups differ from larger political units in a number of important ways, and offer a model adapted to the small group setting. The model suggests that, under certain conditions, groups face a tension when choosing the level of effort to demand from their leaders. If groups demand too little effort, they obtain high ability leaders, but these leaders exert little effort. Increasing effort demands increases the effort exerted by leaders, but may cause high ability members to self-select out of the candidate pool. The overall result is an inverted U-shaped relationship between groups’ effort demands and the value of the public good that their leaders produce. Whether this trade-off exists depends crucially on the level of private income opportunities available to group members outside of the group. These predictions are tested using data gathered for the purpose from a sample of Ugandan farmer associations. The data support the predictions of the model and suggest that variation in the value of the group public good produced by the leader can have a meaningful impact on group member’s welfare.
Plant ABC Transporters

ABC transporters constitute one of the largest protein families found in all living organisms. ABC transporters are driven by ATP hydrolysis and can act as exporters as well as importers. The plant genome encodes for more than 100 ABC transporters, largely exceeding that of other organisms. In Arabidopsis, only 22 out of 130 have been functionally analyzed. They are localized in most membranes of a plant cell such as the plasma membrane, the tonoplast, chloroplasts, mitochondria and peroxisomes and fulfill a multitude of functions. Originally identified as transporters involved in detoxification processes, they have later been shown to be required for organ growth, plant nutrition, plant development, response to abiotic stresses, pathogen resistance and the interaction of the plant with its environment. To fulfill these roles they exhibit different substrate specifies by e.g. depositing surface lipids, accumulating phytate in seeds, and transporting the phytohormones auxin and abscisic acid. The aim of this review is to give an insight into the functions of plant ABC transporters and to show their importance for plant development and survival.
The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system as a biomarker and therapeutic target in human malignancies

ABSTRACT Introduction: The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system, comprising the serine protease uPA, its cognate receptor, uPAR, and two endogenous inhibitors, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2), is a key player in the break-down of extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane. Elevated expression of uPA and uPAR is observed in numerous cancer types and associated with poor prognosis. Areas covered: In addition to the aberrant expression during tumor development, the components of uPA system are functionally involved in various processes that are prerequisite for cancer progression. These processes include, but not limited to, ECM degradation, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. All of these findings implicate uPA system as a target for cancer treatment. Thus, therapeutic agents and approaches to targeting the constituents of uPA system, mainly at their expression level and biological activities, have been extensively used in antineoplastic investigations. Expert opinion: Because of promising results obtained from previous preclinical studies, several clinical trials aimed at inhibiting the expression or function of uPA/uPAR have been completed or are ongoing. In these trials, favorable outcomes in reducing metastatic spread and extending the lifespan of cancer patients have been reported, and no severe adverse events were observed.
Vibrio mimicus attaches to the intestinal mucosa by outer membrane hemagglutinins specific to polypeptide moieties of glycoproteins

Vibrio mimicus is the closest organism to Vibrio cholerae. V. mimicus E-33, which is a highly adhesive and enteropathogenic strain, is known to produce three types of hemagglutinins (HAs), i.e., a 31-kDa exocellular metalloprotease (Vm-HA/protease), lipopolysaccharide (Vm-LPSHA), and a 39-kDa major outer membrane protein (Vm-OMPHA). Hemagglutination induced by Vm-LPSHA and Vm-OMPHA was inhibited by glycoproteins, including mucin, fetuin, and asialofetuin, but not by monosaccharides, disaccharides, or N-acetylated saccharides. The inhibitory potential of each glycoprotein for Vm-OMPHA was greatly augmented by treatment with a glycolytic enzyme such as beta-D-galactosidase or beta-D-glucosidase, while pronase treatment achieved complete abolition of the inhibitory potential. The inhibitory ability of the glycoproteins for Vm-LPSHA was also abolished by pronase treatment; however, glycolytic enzyme treatment showed no effect. Hence, the polypeptide portion of glycoproteins may directly associate with Vm-OMPHA and Vm-LPSHA, but the sugar moiety may act as a barrier to interaction with Vm-OMPHA. The glycoproteins as well as Fab antibodies against Vm-OMPHA and Vm-LPSHA eliminated the ability of E-33 cells to agglutinate rabbit erythrocytes and to attach to rabbit intestinal mucosa. Additionally, expression of the hemagglutinating ability by the bacterial cells was accompanied by efficient bacterial adherence to the intestinal mucosa. Finally, the hemagglutinating activity of Vm-OMPHA was markedly increased by incubation with Vm-HA/protease. These results indicate that all three HAs may have significant roles in the glycoprotein-mediated intestinal adherence of V. mimicus E-33.
Glutamine protects intestinal epithelial cells: role of inducible HSP70.

In this in vitro study, the authors test the premise that glutamine (Gln) protects intestinal epithelial cells under conditions of stress via induction of heat shock proteins. Gln (0-20 mM) or its non-metabolizable analogue, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON, 0400 μM), was added for 2 hours to IEC-18 cells that had previously been grown for two days to near confluence in Gln-free and serum-free culture media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium). Induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) under these conditions was assessed by Western blots using the monoclonal antibody C92, which recognizes only the inducible form of HSP70. HSP70 mRNA abundance was assessed with Northern blot analysis using a cDNA probe specific for inducible HSP70. Radiolabeled cells (51Cr) treated with Gln or DON were subsequently exposed to heat (49°C for 30-240 minutes) or an oxidant, monochloramine (NH2Cl, 2 μM), and cell injury was quantitated by calculating the percent of 51Cr release. Finally, Gln or DON was added to cells cultured .
Molecular Characterization of Ofloxacin-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains from Russia

ABSTRACT In this work, we studied the variation in the gyrA and gyrB genes in ofloxacin- and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains circulating in northwest Russia. Comparison with spoligotyping data suggested that similar to the spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, the spread of fluoroquinolone-resistant tuberculosis in Russia may be due, at least partly, to the prevalence of the Beijing genotype in a local population of M. tuberculosis.
Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐insoluble oligomers are involved in polyglutamine degeneration

In polyglutamine (polyQ) degeneration, disease protein that carries an expanded polyQ tract is neurotoxic. Expanded polyQ protein exists in different conformations that display distinct solubility properties. In this study, an inducible transgenic Drosophila model is established to define the pathogenic form of polyQ protein at an early stage of degeneration in vivo. We show that microscopic polyQ aggregates are neither pathogenic nor protective. Further, no toxic effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) ‐soluble polyQ protein is observed in our model. By means of filtration, 2 forms of SDS‐insoluble protein species are identified according to their size. Coexpression of an ATPase‐defective form of the molecular chaperone Hsc70 (Hsc70‐K71S) selectively reduces the abundance of the large SDS‐insoluble polyQ species, but such modulation has no modifying effects on degeneration. Notably, we detect a distinct Hsc70‐K71S‐resistant, small, SDS‐insoluble polyQ oligomeric species that is closely correlated with degeneration. Our data highlight the toxic role of SDS‐insoluble oligomers in polyQ degeneration in vivo. —Wong, S. L. A. , Chan, W. M. , and Chan, H. Y. E. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐insoluble oligomers are involved in polyglutamine degeneration. FASEB J. 22, 3348–3357 (2008)
Chronobiology of Tako‐Tsubo Cardiomyopathy (Apical Ballooning Syndrome)

dent. Use of general oral healthcare services in the previous year was positively associated with coverage of treatment. Prevalence of tooth loss was significantly lower than previous reports in Mexico, although those studies were not representative of this age group. The findings of the current study show lower prevalence than with international figures of similar populations in the United States, Australia, and Europe but similar to figures reported in a study of older Mexican Americans (27%). Almost half of the older adults studied reported having lost at least half of their total natural teeth, and less than 7% had all of their teeth. This highlights the fact that this is an important problem for this population. In conclusion, although oral health is an important component of overall health, most public healthcare subsystems do not cover all oral health services that populations need (or at least partially cover these services), placing the burden on the private subsystem, wherein households must incur out-of-pocket expenditures and thus increasing the probability of that they will incur catastrophic expenditures. This situation is more dramatic in contexts of extreme poverty such as those under study, in which, according to these results, this oral healthcare need remains unmet.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PIPELINED RADIX-2 SDF-SDC FFT USING MODIFIED CARRY SELECT ADDER

This paper presents the design of power efficient structures of Radix-2 Decimation in Frequency (DIF) pipelined butterflies, aiming the implementation of high speed and low power Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) using modified carry select adder. In the traditional method of FFT, the processing speed is low and large power consumption. So, the pipelined SDF-SDC FFT using carry select adder has been designed. Compared to traditional method, the pipelined SDF-SDC using carry select adder is used to reduce the power consumption. The main goal of this paper is to reduce the hardware slices, LUTs, delay and power consumption. In this paper, we modified the carry select adder by reducing the full adder structure to reduce the hardware slices, delay and power consumption. “Pipelined radix-2 SDF-SDC FFT using modified carry select adder” has been proposed in this paper. The Full adder circuit is shrunk down by reducing number of gates. Finally, the modified carry select adder circuit is integrated into SDF-SDC FFT processor. When compared to traditional equivalents, the proposed architecture which is used to improve the high processing speed and high performances of FFT processor. By using modified carry select adder the FFT processing time is reduced and also the speed can be improved. Simulation of proposed Radix-2 SDF-SDC FFT using modified CSLA architectures are evaluated by using ModelSim 6.3C and performances are validated by using Xilinx ISE10.1 design tool.
Thrombophilic mutations are a main risk factor for placental abruption.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to evaluate inherited thrombophilic factor V Leiden and factor II A20210 mutations in women presenting with abruption of a normally implanted placenta. DESIGN AND METHODS In a multi-center, case-control study, 50 consecutive women requiring immediate delivery because of abruption of the placenta were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were: abruptio placentae requiring immediate delivery, normally implanted placenta, Caucasian ethnic background, parity <3, delivery performed at Institutions. Exclusion criteria were: history of thromboembolism, history of 2 or more spontaneous abortions, uterine leiomyomas with a diameter >5 cm, illicit drug abuse, premature rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancy. One hundred Caucasian women with uneventful pregnancies carried to term, matched for parity and age, served as controls. RESULTS Heterozygotes were found to be significantly more prevalent among women with abruptio placentae than among controls. The carriership of the FV Leiden mutation confers a OR of 9.12 (95% C.I.: 2.18-31.7; p=0.0005). Women carrying F II A20210 mutation have a OR of 12.25 (95% C.I.: 2.36-29.6; p=0.0004). No homozygotes or double heterozygotes were found. Twenty-three patients (46%) also met the criteria for a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia (PE). In such cases the prevalence of mutations (factor V: 6 cases, 26.1%; factor II: 5 cases, 21.7%) was similar to that in women without pre-eclampsia (factor V: 5 cases, 18.7%; factor II: 5 cases, 18.5%). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS The presence of either of the above reported thrombophilic mutations represents a relevant risk factor for the occurrence of placental abruption in Caucasians. This risk is independent of the development of pre-eclampsia. Patients who have had dramatic abruption of a normally implanted placenta should undergo evaluation for the presence of genetic mutations of coagulation factors V and II.
Analytic Validation of RNA In Situ Hybridization (RISH) for AR and AR-V7 Expression in Human Prostate Cancer

Purpose: RNA expression of androgen receptor splice variants may be a biomarker of resistance to novel androgen deprivation therapies in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We analytically validated an RNA in situ hybridization (RISH) assay for total AR and AR-V7 for use in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) prostate tumors. Experimental Design: We used prostate cell lines and xenografts to validate chromogenic RISH to detect RNA containing AR exon 1 (AR-E1, surrogate for total AR RNA species) and cryptic exon 3 (AR-CE3, surrogate for AR-V7 expression). RISH signals were quantified in FFPE primary tumors and CRPC specimens, comparing to known AR and AR-V7 status by IHC and RT-PCR. Results: The quantified RISH results correlated significantly with total AR and AR-V7 levels by RT-PCR in cell lines, xenografts, and autopsy metastases. Both AR-E1 and AR-CE3 RISH signals were localized in nuclear punctae in addition to the expected cytoplasmic speckles. Compared with admixed benign glands, AR-E1 expression was significantly higher in primary tumor cells with a median fold increase of 3.0 and 1.4 in two independent cohorts (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.04, respectively). While AR-CE3 expression was detectable in primary prostatic tumors, levels were substantially higher in a subset of CRPC metastases and cell lines, and were correlated with AR-E1 expression. Conclusions: RISH for AR-E1 and AR-CE3 is an analytically valid method to examine total AR and AR-V7 RNA levels in FFPE tissues. Future clinical validation studies are required to determine whether AR RISH is a prognostic or predictive biomarker in specific clinical contexts. Clin Cancer Res; 22(18); 4651–63. ©2016 AACR.