Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colorimetric detection of anthrax DNA with a Peptide nucleic acid sandwich-hybridization assay.

Technologies for genomic detection most commonly use DNA probes to hybridize to target sequences. To achieve required sensitivity, the use of PCR to amplify target sequences has remained standard practice in many labs. Direct detection methods that eliminate the requirement for a PCR step could afford faster and simpler devices that can be used outside of a laboratory. We have developed a sandwich-hybridization DNA detection system in which the DNA detection probes are replaced with a class of synthetic nucleic acid mimics called peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). There are numerous advantages to using PNA instead of DNA probes in hybridization assays, including complete resistance to degradation by enzymes, increased sequence specificity to complementary DNA, and higher stability when bound with complementary DNA. In this communication, several different strategies are described to improve and fine-tune the properties of PNA so that anthrax DNA can be detected at a 10 zmol limit. Key to the success of these s.
Influence of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of verapamil among healthy Chinese Han ethnic subjects.

AIMS To assess the association between polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene and the pharmacokinetics of verapamil among healthy Chinese Han ethnic subjects. METHODS Based on polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene at positions 2677 and 3435, 24 healthy male participants were divided into three groups: 2677GG/3435CC (n = 6), 2677GT/3435CT (n = 12) and 2677TT/3435TT (n = 6). Each subject had received a single oral dose of verapamil (80 mg) under fasting conditions. Multiple blood samples were collected over 24 h, and plasma concentrations of verapamil were determined by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic characteristics were compared between the different genotypic groups. RESULTS The pharmacokinetics parameters of verapamil differed significantly among the three genotypic groups. AUC(last) was significantly lower among individuals with the 2677TT/3435TT (159.5 +/- 79.0 ng ml(-1) h) and 2677GT/3435CT (189.3 +/- 73.1 ng ml(-1) h) genotypes than those with the 2677GG/3435CC genotype (303.1 +/- 83.7 ng ml(-1) h) (P= 0.004 and P= 0.008, respectively). However, the CL/F value was higher among subjects with the 2677TT/3435TT (523.0 +/- 173.7 l h(-1)) genotype than those with the 2677GT/3435CT (452.2 +/- 188.6 l h(-1)) or 2677GG/3435CC (265.4 +/- 72.8 l h(-1)) genotypes. A significant difference was also found between the latter two groups (P= 0.034). In addition, the C(max) tended to be higher among subjects with the 2677GG/3435CC genotype than those with the 2677GT/3435CT or 2677TT/3435TT genotypes (42.2 +/- 3.9 vs 32.2 +/- 16.2 vs 38.1 +/- 13.7 ng ml(-1)). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed for the first time that verapamil pharmacokinetics may be influenced by particular genetic polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene among healthy Chinese Han ethnic subjects. An individualized dosage regimen design incorporating such information may improve the efficacy of the drug whilst reducing adverse reactions.
Differential expression of chemokines in inflammatory myopathies

Background: Chemokines represent a family of small-molecular-weight cytokines that recruit and activate inflammatory cells in response to inflammation. Invasion of cytotoxic memory T cells and macrophages in nonnecrotic muscle fibers characterizes polymyositis and sporadic inclusion body myositis. Dermatomyositis is a complement-mediated endotheliopathy. Elucidation of the mechanisms guiding lymphocyte diapedesis and trafficking could lead to selective therapeutic interventions. Methods: Immunoblots and multistep immunofluorescence studies with non–cross-reactive antibodies recognizing interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), MCP-3, TARC (thymus and activation regulated cytokine), and RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), using appropriate positive and negative controls. In situ hybridization was used to localize MCP-1 mRNA. Results: MCP-1 protein was strongly expressed on T cells and a subset of macrophages actively invading a proportion of the nonnecrotic muscle fibers in polymyositis and inclusion body myositis alike. Capillaries and arterioles in the vicinity of endomysial inflammatory foci were immunoreactive for MCP-1, with faint or no expression in unaffected parts of the tissue. By contrast, widespread and strong endothelial MCP-1 expression occurred on perifascicular and perimysial endothelia in dermatomyositis, also at sites remote from inflammatory infiltrates. In some control specimens, a subset of capillaries also expressed MCP-1, possibly reflecting a role of this chemokine in normal immune surveillance. MCP-1 mRNA was detected in scattered macrophages in each inflammatory myopathy. All other chemokines were absent. Conclusion: Chemokines are differentially expressed in the symptomatic stage of inflammatory myopathies. MCP-1 plays a major role in the myocytotoxicity in polymyositis and inclusion body myositis. MCP-1 may be induced by membranolytic attack complex binding to endothelial cells in dermatomyositis.
Expression of Decay Accelerating Factor in Endometrial Adenocarcinoma is Inversely Related to the Stage of Tumor

PROBLEM: Decay accelerating factor (DAF) is implicated in protection of cell membrane from toxicity of complement. In this study, we investigated a hypothesis that DAF is up‐regulated in the endometrial adenocarcinoma, which could increase potential of malignant cells to escape destruction by complement. METHODS: DAF density was evaluated in endometrial biopsies of patients with adenocarcinoma at various stages and compared with ten endometrial biopsies from non‐malignant patients at the proliferative phase. RESULTS: DAF expression in normal proliferative endometrium varied between 1 and 30%. While DAF density in patients with stage I cancer was in the range 56–98% (mean 78%), stage III values varied from 28 to 16% (mean 21%), P<0.05. DAF density in the well‐differentiated Ishikawa cell line was two‐fold higher than in metastatic cell line AN3CA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with a hypothesis that endometrial adenocarcinoma of early stage that is exposed to complement attack may up‐regulate DAF to protect malignant cells from complement lysis.
Anatomy of a Phishing Email

This paper discusses the tricks employed by email scammers in “phishing” emails, which are emails that spoof a reputable company in an attempt to defraud the recipient of personal information. These tricks are classified according to whether they are employed in the fraudulent emails or used in the fraudulent Web pages accessed by a link provided in the email. All of the examples used within the paper were taken from fraudulent emails forwarded to MailFrontier, Inc., from its customers.
Hepatitis C virus therapy in liver transplant recipients: Response predictors, effect on fibrosis progression, and importance of the initial stage of fibrosis

Antiviral therapy after liver transplantation (LT) using interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) can achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) rate ranging from 20% to 45%. The aims of our study were to assess efficacy and tolerability of therapy, effect on fibrosis progression and the importance of the initial fibrosis stage to outcome. A total of 113 hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected LT patients received 133 courses of IFN (standard, n = 29, pegylated IFN [pegIFN], n = 104) and RBV (75% genotype 1). Early virological response (EVR), end‐of‐treatment (EOT), and SVR were obtained in 74%, 55%, and 38%, respectively. EVR, completion of treatment, viral load before therapy, genotype non‐1, and use of pegIFN were predictive of SVR, but only EVR remained in the multivariate analysis. SVR was obtained in 45% patients who received a second course of therapy. Paired biopsies at baseline, at EOT and at long‐term were available in 42 patients. The mean fibrosis stage remained stable in patients with SVR and increased in patients without response. Rejection episodes were observed in 6% of patients. Tolerability of therapy decrease in patients with fibrosis stage ≥3 on baseline liver biopsy. A total of 20% of them died or were retransplanted due to liver failure as opposed to 1% of patients who had fibrosis stage <3. In conclusion, IFN and RBV achieved SVR in 38% of patients. EVR is independently associated with SVR. Fibrosis stage remained stable in patients with SVR and increased in nonresponders. Fibrosis stage ≥3 was associated with a high rate of liver failure, arguing for an early introduction of antiviral therapy. Liver Transpl 14:1766–1777, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
Vine and Berry Response of Merlot (Vitis vinifera L.) to Differential Water Stress

Merlot vines were drip-irrigated with 100, 70, or 35% of estimated crop evapotranspiration (ET c ) or 35% ET c until veraison followed by 70% ET c until harvest. Midday leaf water potential (Ψ) differed among irrigation regimes and ranged from −0.9 to −1.7 MPa, with a 0.3 to 0.5 MPa difference between 35 and 100% ET c . Decline in shoot growth, berry size, cluster weight, yield, trunk growth, cluster number, and berry titratable acidity corresponded with a decline in Ψ. Increasing irrigation from 35 to 70% ET c at veraison consumed 30% less water producing similar yield and quality as the 70% ET c treatment.
Novel approaches to biometric security with an emphasis on liveness and coercion detection

Chapter One contains the introduction, sets the context and aims of the research and highlights the original contribution to knowledge along with publications gained from this research. Chapter Two will cover the methodological choice, which is grounded theory, as well as highlighting other potential methodologies that while are viable have not been used. Chapter Three will identify the background to biometric security while identifying some of the key areas that are currently lacking such as an appropriate way of measuring liveness detection techniques as well as the entire coercion detection sub-discipline. Chapter Four discusses the development of a new taxonomy that will classify liveness detection while moving away from the current ordinal measurement system used within the research area. Analysis of these liveness classifiers will then follow leading into the adaptation of the taxonomy of coercion detection techniques. Further development of these new techniques will follow, identifying metrics for coercion detection and an analysis of the proposed classifiers. After the taxonomy development Chapter Five analyses coercion and liveness techniques by 1.6 Published Work 7 applying the taxonomy across a selection of liveness and coercion techniques. This will then be followed by the development of an algorithm to denote the level of security an individual technique has achieved. Explanation of the algorithm development, components and testing will then be included. Finally Chapter Six will contain the final concluding remarks and will cover some of the areas in the future that can be looked into, alongside some focuses for article and conference submission.
Transición nutricional y el impacto sobre el crecimiento y la composición corporal en el noroeste argentino (NOA)

La Argentina atraviesa el proceso de transicion nutri- cional (TN), que afecta a practicamente todas las po- blaciones del mundo, con caracteristicas particulares y una gran heterogeneidad dentro de las provincias y re- giones que la componen. Los cambios en la alimenta- cion, junto a los estilos de vida estan atravesados por las condiciones socioeconomicas cambiantes producto de las crisis economicas vividas por el pais en las ulti- mas decadas. La region del noroeste argentino (NOA) en particular presenta los mas bajos indicadores de de- sarrollo humano que se articulan con una cada vez mas creciente evolucion hacia la obesidad, particular- mente en los estratos mas pobres de la sociedad, en los que ademas de las estrategias alimentarias acordes al presupuesto familiar juegan otros factores, de orden cultural, relacionados a los estratos mas pobres que perciben la gordura como signo de prosperidad
The visna virus long terminal repeat directs expression of a reporter gene in activated macrophages, lymphocytes, and the central nervous systems of transgenic mice

Visna virus is a lentivirus which causes a slow progressive disease involving the immune system and the central nervous system. To determine the role of the viral long terminal repeat (LTR) in targeting the virus to specific host cells and tissues, transgenic mice were constructed which contained the visna virus LTR directing expression of the bacterial gene encoding chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Analysis of the transgenic mouse tissues for CAT activity revealed that the viral LTR was responsible, in part, for the tropism of visna virus for macrophages and the central nervous system. Expression of the LTR required the macrophage to be in an activated state both in vivo and in vitro. Thioglycolate activation of peritoneal macrophages in vivo and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate treatment in vitro induced expression of the visna virus LTR. Lymphocytes from the spleens of the transgenic mice expressed CAT activity, suggesting that visna virus was able to replicate in lymphocytes, as did human immunodeficiency virus and simian immunodeficiency virus. These studies demonstrated that the lentivirus LTR was responsible, in part, for cell and tissue tropism in vivo.
Spatial Variation in the Healthy Human Lung Microbiome and the Adapted Island Model of Lung Biogeography.

RATIONALE The lung microbiome is spatially heterogeneous in advanced airway diseases, but whether it varies spatially in health is unknown. We postulated that the primary determinant of lung microbiome constitution in health is the balance of immigration and elimination of communities from the upper respiratory tract (URT; "adapted island model of lung biogeography"), rather than differences in regional bacterial growth conditions. OBJECTIVES To determine if the lung microbiome is spatially varied in healthy adults. METHODS Bronchoscopy was performed on 15 healthy subjects. Specimens were sequentially collected in the lingula and right middle lobe (by bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL]), then in the right upper lobe, left upper lobe, and supraglottic space (by protected-specimen brush). Bacterial 16S ribosmal RNA-encoding genes were sequenced using MiSeq (Illumina, San Diego, CA). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS There were no significant differences between specimens collected by BAL and protected-specimen brush. Spatially separated intrapulmonary sites, when compared with each other, did not contain consistently distinct microbiota. On average, intrasubject variation was significantly less than intersubject variation (P = 0.00003). By multiple ecologic parameters (community richness, community composition, intersubject variability, and similarity to source community), right upper lobe microbiota more closely resembled those of the URT than did microbiota from more distal sites. As predicted by the adapted island model, community richness decreased with increasing distance from the source community of the URT (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In healthy lungs, spatial variation in microbiota within an individual is significantly less than variation across individuals. The lung microbiome in health is more influenced by microbial immigration and elimination (the adapted island model) than by the effects of local growth conditions on bacterial reproduction rates, which are more determinant in advanced lung diseases. BAL of a single lung segment is an acceptable method of sampling the healthy lung microbiome. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT02392182).
Optimum matriconditioning treatments for improving pepper seed germination

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the second most valuable vegetable crop in value grown in Florida. Therefore, enhancement of pepper seed germination is vital to the Florida agriculture industry. Non-uniform germination of pepper seeds may be a problem in seedling establishment. Matriconditioning is a promising presowing seed hydration technique to improve seed germination. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum duration, temperature, and ratio (seed: carrier: water) of matriconditioning pepper seeds for improved germination percentage and mean germination time. Pepper cv. Long red cayenne seeds were selected due to their most favorable response to MC treatments. Seeds were matriconditioned using synthetic calcium silicate (Micro-Cel E) as a carrier at different matric potentials by altering the water content of the conditioning mixture. Beneficial effect of matriconditioning was most prominent at 30C for five days. Seed, carrier (Micro-Cel E), and water ratio was 1 g, 0.5 g, and 1.5 mL respectively. Matriconditioning increased final germination to 96.7%, compared with 82% in the control seeds. Furthermore, matriconditioning decreased mean germination time 10-fold, compared with a non-primed control. Matriconditioning treatment is recommended to improve seed germination performance of pepper.
Structural Saliency: The Detection Of Globally Salient Structures using A Locally Connected Network

Certain salient structures in images attract our immediate attention without requiring a systematic scan. We present a method for computing saliency by a simple iterative scheme, using a uniform network of locally connected processing elements. The network uses an optimization approach to produce a ``saliency map,'''' a representation of the image emphasizing salient locations. The main properties of the network are: (i) the computations are simple and local, (ii) globally salient structures emerge with a small number of iterations, and (iii) as a by-product of the computations, contours are smoothed and gaps are filled in.
Newborns Referred for Therapeutic Hypothermia: Association between Initial Degree of Encephalopathy and Severity of Brain Injury (What About the Newborns with Mild Encephalopathy on Admission?)

Abstract Objective The aim of this article was to describe the severity of brain injury and/or mortality in a cohort of newborns referred for therapeutic hypothermia, in relation to the degree of encephalopathy on admission, and to especially look at the ones with initial mild encephalopathy. Study Design Term newborns with perinatal depression referred to our neonatal intensive care unit for possible hypothermia treatment from 2008 to 2012 were enrolled prospectively. The modified Sarnat score on admission was correlated with severity of brain injury on brain imaging and/or autopsy. Results A total of 215 newborns were referred for possible cooling. Sixty percent (128/215) were cooled. Most of the not-cooled newborns with an available brain magnetic resonance imaging (85% = 50/59) had an initial mild encephalopathy, and 40% (20/50) developed brain injury. Some cooled newborns had an initial mild encephalopathy (12% = 13/108); only 31% (4/13) developed brain injury. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that several newborns with an initial mild encephalopathy developed subsequent brain injury, especially when they were not cooled.
Development and preliminary validation of a measure for assessing staff perspectives on the quality of clinical group supervision.

BACKGROUND In the UK clinical supervision is regarded as an essential process supporting quality improvement within the clinical governance framework, and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists regards it as a tool for promoting critical reflective practice. There is limited evidence of the impact on practice or improvements in healthcare quality, and the need for an evaluation instrument specifically tailored to group supervision. AIMS To develop a measure for assessing staff perspectives on the quality of clinical group supervision and its impact on the quality of care. METHODS & PROCEDURES A self-completion questionnaire was devised to measure staff perceptions of purpose, process and impact of clinical group supervision. Items were developed through an inductive process of consultation, peer and literature review. The questionnaire's content validity was assessed. The questionnaire was then administered to 57 subjects who had received approximately 1 year of clinical supervision to evaluate acceptability, factor structure and convergent validity. OUTCOMES & RESULTS Response rates were 91% (52/57). Principal component factor analysis suggested a three-factor structure, the first three factors accounting for 72.4% of the total variance. Items loaded appropriately onto purpose, process and impact. These three dimensions were positively and moderately correlated. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) indicated that the 14 items could be regarded as a scale. The overall CSEQ score was positively correlated with a single question assessing 'general opinion' about the CS program (Spearman's rho = 0.79, p < 0.001) giving evidence for convergent validity. CONCLUSIONS The questionnaire is concise, easy to complete and simple to analyse, and appears to be a reliable and valid measure of staff perceptions of quality of clinical group supervision. Further studies with larger sample sizes and including other groups of health professionals are needed to confirm the validity and reliability of the CSEQ.
Major differences in prevalence of overweight according to nationality in preschool children living in Germany: determinants and public health implications

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of overweight according to nationality in preschool children living in Germany, and to establish the determinants responsible for differences in body mass index. Methods: The study was performed within the context of the 2001/2002 obligatory health examination before school entry in the city of Aachen, Germany. Of 2020 eligible children 1979 children were recruited (participation rate: 98%). Children’s height and weight were measured using a standardised protocol. The parents completed a standardised questionnaire on sociodemographic factors and possible determinants of nutritional status. Being overweight was defined according to age and sex specific reference values for German children as well as according to international reference values. Results: The study population included 452 (22.9%) children with other than German nationality. Among these children the prevalence of overweight was twice as high than among German children (14.8% v 7.2%). Prevalence of most known risk factors for overweight, such as low physical activity, high consumption of soft drinks, and frequent visits to fast-food restaurants was higher in the children with other nationalities than in the German children. Multivariate analyses revealed that most of the difference in prevalence of obesity by nationality is explained by known risk factors of overweight, especially education of mother and watching TV. Conclusions: The apparent ethnic differences could be explained by two non-ethnic but socioeconomic factors. In preventing overweight in children, there is the need to identify and deal with high risk environments rather than high risk ethnic groups.
Fanconi's anaemia: report of a patient with significant chromosomal abnormalities in bone marrow cells.

isochromatid breaks. Thus, the proportion of marrow cells with breaks in our FA patient (10%) was greater than the average (5%O) found in individuals many of whom had diseases known to predispose to chromosome aberrations (Sandberg, 1966). A recent study of bone marrow chromosomes in a male control population found incidences of 3-19% and 0 55% for chromatid and chromosome aberrations respectively and a slightly greater than expected proportion of non-modal (hypodiploid) cells (O'Riordan, Berry, and Tough, 1970). The incidence of chromosome breakage in FA bone marrows may therefore be greater than in normals, but we have not been able to establish this conclusively.