Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The 16 PF 5 and the NEO-PIR in Spanish and Swiss Samples : A Cross-Cultural Comparison

This study compared the Spanish (Castilian) and French versions of the 16PF5 and of the NEO-PI-R in Spanish and Swiss samples. The five-factor solution for the 16PF5 only seems clear for the Castilian version, but not for the French version. Indeed, the congruence coefficients for the Tough-Mindedness and the Self-Control dimensions are low. On the other hand, the five-factor solutions are highly similar for both countries concerning the NEO-PI-R, and the congruence coefficients are above . 95 for all five dimensions. The low cross-cultural replicability for the 16PF5 makes it difficult to analyze the differences at the mean level for this inventory. For the NEO-PI-R, the differences are generally very small and globally account for 2.6% of the total variance. Spaniards seem to have slightly lower scores on Actions and slightly higher scores on Dutifulness. These differences could either be due to translation problems, sample selection, or cultural differences.
Metode Belajar Menurut Imam Zarnuji: Telaah Kitab Taâ€™lim Al Mutaâ€™alim

Sebelum para pakar Barat memperkenalkan metode belajar kepada dunia secara luas, sebenarnya Islam sudah memiliki metode belajar sendiri untuk para pelajar. Metode belajar tersebut telah ditulis oleh salah satu intelektual muslim abad pertengahan yang bernama Imam Zarnuji dalam kitab berjudul KitAb Taâ€™lA«m al-Mutaâ€™allim. Tulisan ini bertujuan menelaah sekelumit biografi Imam Zarnuji dan metode belajar yang ditawarkan. Adapun metode penulisan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan riset perpustakaan dengan mengambil berbagai literatur yang sesuaiÂ dengan kajian. Tulisan ini menghasilkan dua temuan, yaitu: Pertama, Imam Zarnuji merupakan salah satu intelektual muslim abad pertengahan yang telah menulis metode belajar secara sistematis sebelum para pakar Barat memperkenalkan metode belajar modern. Kedua, dalam pandangan Imam Zarnuji, apabila para pelajar ingin sukses mendapatkan manfaat dari ilmu pengetahuan, maka ada dua hal yang harus dilaksanakan, yaitu: (1) hendaknya melakukan dengan benar ketika menapaki jalan atau metode dalam menempuh ilmu pengetahuan; (2) hendaknya melaksanakan syarat-syarat dalam menempuh ilmu pengetahuan. Dengan melaksanakan kedua hal tersebut, maka para pelajar akan mendapatkan ilmu pengetahuan serta mendapatkan manfaat ilmu pengetahuan yang dicita-citakan,
Effects of pentagastrin and the cold pressor test on the acoustic startle response and pupillary function in man

Pentagastrin, a cholecystokinin2 (CCK2) receptor agonist, evokes autonomic and subjective features of anxiety in healthy volunteers. The present experiments examined the effects of pentagastrin on two responses with known sensitivity to another anxiogenic procedure (threat of electric shock): the acoustic startle response and the pupillary light reflex. The effects of pentagastrin were compared with those of the cold pressor test, a procedure known to elicit sympathetic activation. Twelve healthy males (18–35 years) participated in two experiments each consisting of two sessions in which they received (1) pentagastrin (0.3 µg/kg, i.v.) and a control infusion (saline), and (2) cold pressor test (90 s hand immersion at 4 °C) and a control immersion (37 °C), using a balanced single-blind protocol. Electromyographic responses of the orbicularis oculi to 40 ms, 1 kHz, 115 dB tones (‘startle responses’) [Experiment 1], and miotic responses to 200 ms, 0.43 mW/cm2 light pulses [Experiment 2] were recorded before, during and after the infusions and hand immersions. Heart rate, blood pressure and subjective feelings were also recorded. The amplitude of the startle response was not significantly affected by pentagastrin, but was reduced during the cold pressor test. Resting pupil diameter increased during both pentagastrin infusion and the cold pressor test, but neither procedure altered the amplitude of the light reflex. Tachycardia, increased blood pressure and subjective anxiety were induced by both pentagastrin and the cold pressor test. The cardiovascular and mydriatic effects of pentagastrin and the cold pressor test are consistent with the known ability of these treatments to induce sympathetic activation. The anxiety induced by these treatments, unlike anxiety induced by threat of electric shock, was not accompanied by potentiation of the startle response or reduction of the miotic response. The results indicate that different anxiogenic procedures do not have equivalent effects on these reflexes.
Abnormal Brain Stem Potentials in Infants with Threatened Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Fifteen infants at risk for sudden infant death syndrome by clinical criteria were tested using brain stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) techniques. All infants demonstrated abnormalities on two or more of the seven criteria employed to assess results. The data indicate that BAEP testing may play a significant role in the identification and monitoring of these children.
Phyllotaxis: from patterns of organogenesis at the meristem to shoot architecture

The primary architecture of the aerial part of plants is controlled by the shoot apical meristem, a specialized tissue containing a stem cell niche. The iterative generation of new aerial organs, (leaves, lateral inflorescences, and flowers) at the meristem follows regular patterns, called phyllotaxis. Phyllotaxis has long been proposed to self‐organize from the combined action of growth and of inhibitory fields blocking organogenesis in the vicinity of existing organs in the meristem. In this review, we will highlight how a combination of mathematical/computational modeling and experimental biology has demonstrated that the spatiotemporal distribution of the plant hormone auxin controls both organogenesis and the establishment of inhibitory fields. We will discuss recent advances showing that auxin likely acts through a combination of biochemical and mechanical regulatory mechanisms that control not only the pattern of organogenesis in the meristem but also postmeristematic growth, to shape the shoot. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:460–473. doi: 10.1002/wdev.231
Structure-Dependent Effects of Glucose-Containing Analogs of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) on Membrane Integrity

Abstract Synthetic cholinecontaining phospholipids comprise a new class of compounds with antineoplastic properties. We have investigated the effect of recently synthesized glucosecontaining analogs of lysophosphatidylcholine (glyceroglucophospholipid, GlcPC) and of lysoplatelet activating factor (GlcPAF) and its C16, C14 and C12 derivatives (ET-16, ET-14, and ET-12) on proliferation of immortalized human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The data were compared to the ability of the compounds to intercalate into phosphatidylserine liposomes and to form lesions in planar bilayer membranes. A correlation between bioactivity and membrane activity was found. The number of molecules that intercalated into phosphatidylserine liposomes depended on the chemical structure of the compounds and was in the order GlcPAF [almost equal to] ET-16 [almost equal to] ET-14 [greater than] GlcPC [greater than] ET-12. All compounds induced membrane lesions, and the lesion forming activity was in the same order. Similar activity rankings were found for the release of lactate dehydrogenase from HaCaT cells as a measure of lytic activity and for the influence on cell number as a measure of proliferation. In the latter test, however, proliferation was already inhibited at nontoxic concentrations. From these findings, it may be concluded that the intercalation of the compounds at toxic concentrations leads to the formation of membrane lesions and finally results in membrane rupture leading to cell death.
Bleomycin in the treatment of 50 cases with malignant pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND Patients with symptomatic malignant pleural effusion (MPE) may gain profit from pleurodesis for relief of dyspnea and in preventing the accumulation of ﬂuid or air in the pleural space. Pleurodesis methods are palliative and regard the patient's symptoms and underlying disease condition that are different. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of bleomycin in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion. METHODS From March 2003 to August 2009, 50 cases of malignant pleural effusion referred for chemical pleurodesis. Malignant pleural effusion was diagnosed by cytotogical examination of pleural fluid after thoracosynthesis. Pleurodesis was done by pleural fluid instillation of bleomycin. The severity of effusion with response to treatment was compared. RESULTS Nineteen (38%) cases were males and 31 (62%) were females. The mean age of these patients was 60.3±15.8 years (range=31 to 85 years). The majority of patients had breast cancer and lung adenocarcinoma. The mean volume of pleural fluid drained was 2282±848.69(cc) (range 800-4500 (cc)). Pleural effusion was mild in 2 (4%) patients, moderate in 25 (50%) and severe in 23 (46%). There was no statistically significant difference between the response to treatment and the amount of effusion (p=.087). Complete response was seen in 33 (66%) patients, partial response in 11 (22%) and failure to treatment in 6 (12%). There was no relationship between the response to treatment and tumor type. There was not any complication in 33 (66%) patients, but fever was seen in 2 (4%) and chest pain in 7 (14%) and both of them in 8 (16%). CONCLUSION The results show that pleurodesis with bleomycin has improved the symptoms of 88 percent of patients without causing any significant complications. Although pleurodesis does not have any effect on patients' survival, it has positive impact on their lives continuously by enhancing the quality of life.
Cardiac Transplantation Followed by Dose-Intensive Melphalan and Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation for Light Chain Amyloidosis and Heart Failure

Background. Patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis who present with severe heart failure due to cardiac involvement rarely survive more than 6 months. Survival after cardiac transplantation is markedly reduced due to the progression of amyloidosis. Autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) has become a common therapy for AL amyloidosis, but there is an exceedingly high treatment-related mortality in patients with heart failure. Methods. We developed a treatment strategy of cardiac transplant followed by ASCT. Twenty-six patients were evaluated, and of 18 eligible patients, nine patients underwent cardiac transplantation. Eight of these patients subsequently received an ASCT. Results. Six of seven evaluable patients achieved a complete hematologic remission, and one achieved a partial remission. At a median follow-up of 56 months from cardiac transplant, five of seven patients are alive without recurrent amyloidosis. Their survival is comparable with 17,389 patients who received heart transplants for nonamyloid heart disease: 64% in nonamyloid vs. 60% in amyloid patients at 7 years (P=0.83). Seven of eight transplanted patients have had no evidence of amyloid in their cardiac allograft. Conclusions. This demonstrates that cardiac transplantation followed by ASCT is feasible in selected patients with AL amyloidosis and heart failure, and that such a strategy may lead to improved overall survival.
Combinations of Mutations in the Connection Domain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase: Assessing the Impact on Nucleoside and Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Resistance

ABSTRACT Recent reports have described the effect of mutations in the connection and RNase H domains of reverse transcriptase (RT) on nucleoside and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI and NNRTI, respectively) resistance in the presence of thymidine analog resistance mutations (TAMs) and NNRTI mutations (J. H. Brehm, D. Koontz, J. D. Meteer, V. Pathak, N. Sluis-Cremer, and J. W. Mellors, J. Virol. 81:7852-7859, 2007; K. A. Delviks-Frankenberry, G. N. Nikolenko, R. Barr, and V. K. Pathak, J. Virol. 81:6837-6845, 2007; G. N. Nikolenko, K. A. Delviks-Frankenberry, S. Palmer, F. Maldarelli, M. J. Fivash, Jr., J. M. Coffin, and V. K. Pathak, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 104:317-322, 2007; G. N. Nikolenko, S. Palmer, F. Maldarelli, J. W. Mellors, J. M. Coffin, and V. K. Pathak, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 102:2093-2098, 2005; and S. H. Yap, C. W. Sheen, J. Fahey, M. Zanin, D. Tyssen, V. D. Lima, B. Wynhoven, M. Kuiper, N. Sluis-Cremer, P. R. Harrigan, and G. Tachedjian, PLoS Med. 4:e335, 2007). In the present study, novel mutations in the connection domain of RT (T369I/V), first identified in patient-derived viruses, were characterized, and their effects on NNRTI and NNRTI susceptibility were determined. Furthermore, the effect of N348I on NRTI and NNRTI resistance was confirmed. HIV-1 with either N348I or T369I/V demonstrated reduced susceptibility to nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), delaviridine (DLV), and zidovudine (ZDV) compared to wild-type HIV-1. However, HIV-1 with T369I and N348I demonstrated 10- to 60-fold resistance to these same drugs. In clinical samples, these two connection domain RT mutations were predominantly observed in viruses containing TAMs and NNRTI mutations and did not alter the susceptible-resistant classifications of these samples. Introduction of T369I, N348I, or T369I/N348I also reduced replication capacity (RC). These observations suggest that it may be of scientific interest to test these mutations against new NNRTI candidates.
A prion of yeast metacaspase homolog (Mca1p) detected by a genetic screen

Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be infected with four amyloid-based prions: [URE3], [PSI+], [PIN+], and [SWI+], due to self-propagating aggregation of Ure2p, Sup35p, Rnq1p and Swi1p, respectively. We searched for new prions of yeast by fusing random segments of yeast DNA to SUP35MC, encoding the Sup35 protein lacking its own prion domain, selecting clones in which Sup35MC function was impaired. Three different clones contained parts of the Q/N-rich amino-terminal domain of Mca1p/Yca1p with the Sup35 part of the fusion protein partially inactive. This inactivity was dominant, segregated 4:0 in meiosis, and was efficiently transferred by cytoplasmic mixing. The inactivity was cured by overexpression of Hsp104, but the prion could arise again in the cured strain (reversible curing). Overproduction of the Mca1 N-terminal domain induced the de novo appearance of the prion form of the fusion. The prion state, which we name [MCA], was transmitted to the chromosomally encoded Mca1p based on genetic, cytological and biochemical tests.
The Diminishing Trend of β-Thalassemia in Southern Iran From 1997 to 2011: The Impact of Preventive Strategies

Abstract The marginal zones of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf have a higher prevalence of thalassemia compared to other regions of Iran. This disease has disabled many people and resulted in increasing health care costs. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of β-thalassemia (β-thal) and to evaluate the outcome of applied preventive strategies over a 14-year period in Fars Province, Southern Iran. This cross-sectional study comprised all new cases of β-thal recorded during 1997–2011. The data were obtained from the Non-Communicable Diseases Surveillance Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, and are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The Fars Health Network System screened 840 686 males and females applying for marriage certificates. Among the carriers, 50.5% cancelled their marriages, 42.5% married, and 7.0% did not show up at the clinics. The rate of cancelled marriages has reduced since 2000, when marriage candidates were given the option of prenatal diagnosis. From 2000 to 2011, a total of 3539 married couples were referred for prenatal diagnosis. Of these, 806 fetuses were found to carry thalassemia and 800 aborted. It is impressive to note that while 101 cases of thalassemia were recorded in 1997, this figure was reduced to two cases by 2011. This study has established that an integrated primary health care approach, with good infrastructure for implementing successful strategies, can significantly reduce the incidence of β-thal.
Variation in the FGFR2 Gene and the Effects of Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy on Invasive Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer concern is a major reason for the recent marked reduction in use of postmenopausal hormone therapy, although equally effective means of controlling menopausal symptoms are lacking. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene are substantially associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk and could influence hormone therapy effects. Participants and Methods: We interrogated eight SNPs in intron 2 of the FGFR2 gene for 2,166 invasive breast cancer cases from the Women's Health Initiative clinical trial and one-to-one matched controls to confirm an association with breast cancer risk. We used case-only analyses to examine the dependence of estrogen plus progestin and estrogen-alone odds ratios on SNP genotype. Results: Seven FGFR2 SNPs, including six in a single linkage disequilibrium region, were found to associate strongly (P < 10−7) with breast cancer risk. SNP rs3750817 (minor allele T with frequency 0.39) had an estimated per-minor-allele odds ratio of 0.78, and was not in such strong linkage disequilibrium with the other SNPs. The genotype of this SNP related significantly (P < 0.05) to hormone therapy odds ratios. For estrogen plus progestin, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) at 0, 1, and 2 minor SNP alleles were 1.52 (1.14-2.02), 1.33 (1.01-1.75), and 0.69 (0.41-1.17), whereas the corresponding values for estrogen alone were 0.74 (0.51-1.09), 0.99 (0.68-1.44), and 0.34 (0.15-0.76). Conclusions: Postmenopausal women having TT genotype for SNP rs3750817 have a reduced breast cancer risk and seem to experience comparatively favorable effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(11):3079–85)
The influence of surface functionality of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers on aggregation and propagation of the scrapie prion protein

Accumulation of PrP Sc , an insoluble and protease-resistant pathogenic isoform of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) is a hallmark in prion diseases. Branched polyamines, including PPI (poly(propylene imine)) dendrimers are able to remove protease resistant PrP Sc and abolish infectivity, offering possible applications for therapy. These dendrimer types are thought to act through their positively charged amino surface groups. In the present study the molecular basis of the anti-prion activity of dendrimers was further investigated employing modified PPI dendrimers, in which the positively charged amino surface groups were substituted with neutral carbohydrate units of maltose (mPPI) or maltotriose (m3PPI). Modification of surface groups greatly reduced the toxicity associated with unmodified PPI, but did not abolish its anti-prion activity, suggesting that the presence of cationic surface groups is not essential for dendrimer action. PPI and mPPI dendrimer of generation 5 were equally effective in reducing levels of protease-resistant PrP Sc (PrP res ) in a dose- and time-dependent manner in ScN2a cells, and in preexisting aggregates in homogenates from infected brain. Solubility assays revealed that total levels of PrP Sc in scrapie infected mouse neuroblastoma (ScN2a) cells were reduced by mPPI. Coupled with the known ability of polyamino dendrimers to render protease-resistant PrP Sc in pre-existing aggregates of PrP Sc susceptible to proteolysis, these findings strongly suggest that within infected cells dendrimers reduce total amounts of PrP Sc by mediating its denaturation and subsequent elimination.
SURF algorithm implementation on FPGA

This paper describes the hardware implementation of the modified speeded-up robust features (SURF) algorithm. Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is selected as a hardware platform for implementation of the modified SURF algorithm. FPGA base platform is selected to ensure features extraction in real-time video. A sliding window buffer is used to store shifted pixels of integral video frame at each clock signal. The buffer is shared with Hessian determinant, orientation and descriptor units. The interest points are searched in 8 scales in parallel by applying the non-maximal suppression. The orientation vector and simplified descriptor is computed for each feature in 6 scales. The proposed architecture is implemented using VHDL and achieves real-time orientation and descriptor calculation on 60 fps 640×480 video stream only on 25 MHz clock.
Interrelationship of carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the involuting mammary gland.

Though there have been many studies on the interrelationship of carbohydrate and fat metabolism in lactating rat mammary gland (Folley & McNaught, 1958; Folley & Greenbaum, 1960; Abraham, Hirsch & Chaikoff, 1954; Abraham, Cady & Chaikoff, 1957; Abraham & Chaikoff, 1959; McLean, 1962; Lowenstein, 1961) and it is known that the oxidation of glucose and the incorporation of glucose carbon into lipid falls sharply during mammary involution (Abraham & Chaikoff, 1959; Folley & French, 1949; Balmain & Folley, 1951), little attention has been paid to the early changes and to the sequence of events occurring in the involuting mammary gland. It is possible to study the metabolic changes taking place in the mammary gland during involution by artificially blocking the ducts of one side of the abdominal mammary glands with collodion and leaving the other free, thus allowing lactation to continue. In this way the glands from the same animal may be used for comparison of glucose utilization in lactation and involution, and many of the difficulties in experiments employing mammary gland, a tissue that may have a very wide range of activity even among a closely matched control group (see Abraham & Chaikoff, 1959), may be eliminated. By using such a preparation measurements have been made of the utilization of specifically labelled glucose and acetate as well as the activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose 6phosphate-NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase [6-phospho-D-gluconate-NADP oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.44] in an attempt to determine the sequence of events in the fall in glucose utilization and fat synthesis that occurs with the onset of involution. Particular attention has been paid to the comparison of the rate of [1-14C]glucose oxidation by the tissue slices in the presence and absence of the artificial electron acceptor phenazine methosulphate, since this gives an approximate estimate of the actual and potential rate of the pentose phosphate pathway (McLean, 1960). Comparison of these rates clearly demonstrates the close relationship between the pentose phosphate pathway of glucose oxidation and fatty acid synthesis. EXPERIMENTAL