Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma homocysteine and malondialdehyde are correlated in an age- and gender-specific manner.

Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for peripheral vascular and coronary artery disease. The exact mechanism by which homocysteine promotes vascular dysfunction is unclear, but it is speculated to involve oxidative stress. Several studies have investigated the role of homocysteine in promoting oxidative stress and have obtained conflicting results. The age and gender of the subject populations in these studies may have influenced the outcome. Therefore, we investigated whether plasma homocysteine concentrations were correlated with plasma malondialdehyde (MDA, a marker of oxidative stress), and if the subject's age and gender affected this correlation. Plasma homocysteine and MDA were measured in 35 premenopausal women, 14 young men, 38 postmenopausal women, and 18 older men. Homocysteine was significantly higher in men than women (P <.01) and in older subjects versus younger. However, MDA was significantly greater only in the young men (P <.01). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between homocysteine and MDA only in these young men (R(2) = 0.50, P <. 01). Lastly, subjects undergoing a methionine load did not exhibit increased MDA despite significant increases in homocysteine. Since oxidative stress correlates with basal homocysteine only in young men and does not increase with acutely increased homocysteine, it is unlikely to be the result of a direct effect of homocysteine.
Comparing primary and secondary generalized anxiety disorder in a long‐term naturalistic study of anxiety disorders

This study explores the potential differences in comorbidity and course between primary generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which develops before other anxiety disorders, and secondary GAD. As part of the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project (HARP), a naturalistic, long‐term, longitudinal study of 711 subjects from a variety of clinic settings with DSM III‐R defined anxiety disorders, 210 subjects with GAD were identified. Of these, 78 (37%) had primary GAD, and 84 (40%) had secondary GAD; of the remainder, 28 (13%) had no other anxiety disorder and 20 (10%) developed GAD within a month of another anxiety disorder and were excluded from the analysis. All subjects were comorbid for at least one other anxiety disorder. Primary GAD subjects were more likely to be in episode at intake (90% vs. 77%, P=.04) and less likely than secondary GAD subjects to have current or past agoraphobia without panic disorder (3% vs. 11%, P=.04), social phobia (19% v. 52%, P=.001), simple phobia (14% v. 30%, P=.02), or post traumatic stress disorder (5% vs. 20%, P=.01). Subjects with primary GAD were also less likely to have current or past alcohol use disorders (17% vs. 37%, P=.004) or major depressive disorder (60% vs. 76%, P=.03). There were no significant differences in either treatment approaches or remission rates for primary compared to secondary GAD. Whether GAD first occurs before or after another anxiety disorder, it is similar in terms of prevalence, treatment, and course. The only significant differences between primary and secondary GAD lie in the rates of comorbidity of both other anxiety disorders and non‐anxiety disorders, including major depression and substance abuse. These results support the concept of GAD as a valid, separate and distinct entity, whether it occurs primarily or secondarily. Depression and Anxiety 10:1–7, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of school closure on incidence of pandemic influenza in Alberta, Canada

This study uses data from the influenza pandemic in Alberta, Canada in 2009 to investigate whether incidence and transmission are affected by weather changes and school closure. During a 9-month period 35, 510 influenza tests were performed in Alberta, of which 19% tested positive for pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1). Using mathematical transmission modelling, …
Characterisation of forces exerted by the entire hand during the power grip: effect of the handle diameter

The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of the handle diameter on the grip forces exerted by the hand during a maximal power grip task. A handle ergometer, combining six instrumented beams and a pressure map, was used to determine the forces exerted by the palm side of the hand regrouping data from 10 anatomical sites (fingertips, phalanges, thumb, palm…). This methodology provided results giving new insight into the effect of the handle diameter on the forces exerted by the hand. First, it appeared that the relationship between the hand length/handle diameter ratio and the maximal grip force fit a U-inverted curve with maximal values observed for a handle diameter measuring 17.9% of the hand length. Second, it was showed that the handle diameter influenced the forces exerted on the anatomical sites of the hand. Finally, it was showed that the handle diameter influenced the finger force sharing particularly for the index and the little fingers. Practitioner Summary: This study analysed the effect of the handle diameter on the grip forces exerted by the hand during a maximal power grip force. This study showed that measurement of the totality of the forces exerted at the hand/handle interface is needed to better understand the ergonomics of handle tools. Our results could be re-used by designers and clinicians in order to develop handle tools which prevent hand pathologies.
Plasmacytoma of the hyoid

Abstract A case of plasmacytoma arising from the hyoid bone is described, this is a distinctly unusual site, as the marrow-containing flat bones are more commonly affected. On a review of the literature this appears to be the first report of plasmacytoma occurring in the hyoid bone. The patient underwent a CT scan and plain radiographs. Histopathology was diagnostic.
New natural urease inhibitors from Ranunculus repens

Phytochemical investigations on the chloroform and ethyl acetate soluble fractions of the roots of Ranunculus repens led to the isolation of methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 1, R(+)- 4-methoxydalbergione 2 and R(+)-dalbergiophenol 3. The structures of these compounds were established through spectral studies including 1D and 2D NMR experiments and by comparison with literature data. These compounds showed potent inhibitory activity against urease.
Dramatic changes in Fis levels upon nutrient upshift in Escherichia coli

Fis is a small basic DNA-binding protein from Escherichia coli that was identified because of its role in site-specific DNA recombination reactions. Recent evidence indicates that Fis also participates in essential cell processes such as rRNA and tRNA transcription and chromosomal DNA replication. In this report, we show that Fis levels vary dramatically during the course of cell growth and in response to changing environmental conditions. When stationary-phase cells are subcultured into a rich medium, Fis levels increase from less than 100 to over 50,000 copies per cell prior to the first cell division. As cells enter exponential growth, nascent synthesis is largely shut off, and intracellular Fis levels decrease as a function of cell division. Fis synthesis also transiently increases when exponentially growing cells are shifted to a richer medium. The magnitude of the peak of Fis synthesis appears to reflect the extent of the nutritional upshift. fis mRNA levels closely resemble the protein expression pattern, suggesting that regulation occurs largely at the transcriptional level. Two RNA polymerase-binding sites and at least six high-affinity Fis-binding sites are present in the fis promoter region. We show that expression of the fis operon is negatively regulated by Fis in vivo and that purified Fis can prevent stable complex formation by RNA polymerase at the fis promoter in vitro. However, autoregulation only partially accounts for the expression pattern of Fis. We suggest that the fluctuations in Fis levels may serve as an early signal of a nutritional upshift and may be important in the physiological roles Fis plays in the cell.
Palaeontology Ecological change in the lower Omo Valley around 2 . 8

Museum für Naturkunde, Invalidenstrasse 43, Berlin 10115, Germany Institut de Paléoprimatologie, Paléontologie Humaine: Évolution et Paléoenvironnements (UMR 7262), CNRS and Université de Poitiers, Bât. B 35 – 6, rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Biogeologie, Universität Tübingen, Hölderlinstrasse 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA Centre Français des Études Éthiopiennes (USR 3137), CNRS and Ambassade de France en Éthiopie, PO Box 5554, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fast electrical battery model builder for embedded systems

When designing embedded systems, industries need to correctly size the battery to guarantee the autonomy and the lifetime required for their application. However, for battery behavior simulation, there is often a lack of accurate and realistic models. To help efficiently the system designer, we propose a strategy in three steps: first by guiding the cell technology choice, second by calibrating battery size and third by proposing a methodology to build an electrical battery model. To obtain such a model rapidly, we have realized a Battery Model Builder (BMB) that automatically reads measurements and builds the model for variable temperature. The resulting model can be used to verify battery sizing or can be integrated for energy estimations of the whole system.
The Gloss Patination of Flint Artifacts

Abstract Gloss patina is a natural post-depositional surface alteration frequently present on flint artifacts. Features of this patina include reduced surface topography, smoothness, and a pronounced luster. Gloss patina is distinct from stain patina, desilication (white) patina, and the dark glossy patina known as desert varnish. Glossy river patina has similar features but is produced by abrasion accelerated dissolution whereas gloss patina is primarily a result of soil solution related chemical processes. Artifact adsorption of amorphous silica from its depositional environment can produce gloss patina but advanced examples of gloss patina have surface topography reduction, smoothness, luster and thickness strongly indicating dissolution and concomitant re-precipitation of artifact surface silica.
Ecological studies of the UVB-vitamin D-cancer hypothesis.

BACKGROUND/AIM This paper reviews ecological studies of the ultraviolet-B (UVB)-vitamin D-cancer hypothesis based on geographical variation of cancer incidence and/or mortality rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS The review is based largely on three ecological studies of cancer rates from the United States; one each from Australia, China, France, Japan, and Spain; and eight multicountry, multifactorial studies of cancer incidence rates from more than 100 countries. RESULTS This review consistently found strong inverse correlations with solar UVB for 15 types of cancer: bladder, breast, cervical, colon, endometrial, esophageal, gastric, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, rectal, renal, and vulvar cancer; and Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Weaker evidence exists for nine other types of cancer: brain, gallbladder, laryngeal, oral/pharyngeal, prostate, and thyroid cancer; leukemia; melanoma; and multiple myeloma. CONCLUSION The evidence for the UVB-vitamin D-cancer hypothesis is very strong in general and for many types of cancer in particular.
A protein required for transcriptional regulation of Agrobacterium virulence genes spans the cytoplasmic membrane

The VirA protein is one of two proteins required for transcriptional activation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulence genes in response to phenolic compounds released by plants during infection. We describe two experimental approaches which indicate that this protein has a transmembrane topology. First, spheroplasts of Escherichia coli or wild-type A. tumefaciens expressing the VirA protein were treated with proteinase K to digest periplasmic proteins, and the remaining proteins were immunologically stained on Western blots (immunoblots) by using anti-VirA antibody. Second, transposon TnphoA was used to generate translational fusions between virA and phoA, the latter of which is the structural gene for alkaline phosphatase. Both techniques indicated that VirA spans the cytoplasmic membrane, with approximately 275 amino acids near the amino terminus being localized in the periplasmic space and the rest of the protein being localized in the cytoplasm. We also show that overexpression of VirA in E. coli is deleterious to cell growth and that this phenomenon depends on the synthesis of either the second hydrophobic core or some nearby portion of the VirA protein.
Sexual function and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence treated by a complete pelvic floor rehabilitation program (biofeedback, functional electrical stimulation, pelvic floor muscles exercises, and vaginal cones).

INTRODUCTION Urinary incontinence (UI) is a debilitating condition that can cause discomfort, embarrassment, loss of confidence; it can lead to withdrawal from social life, and adversely affects physical and mental health, sexual function and quality of life (QoL) in women. AIM The aim is to determine the impact of combined pelvic floor rehabilitation (PFR) on UI, female sexual dysfunction, and QoL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI) and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). METHODS Sixteen patients with UI were selected and underwent a complete PFR program (biofeedback, functional electrical stimulation, pelvic floor muscles exercises, and vaginal cones). Patient filled out the FSFI questionnaire and the KHQ at the baseline and at follow-up. RESULTS After PFR none of the patients reported urine leakage during sexual activity. Resolution of incontinence was achieved in 13 (81.25%) women. Only three (18.75%) patients had positive 1-hour pad test after the treatment. There was significant difference between pad test leakage before and after the PFR (P < 0.001). The mean Stamey incontinence score was 1.37 +/- 0.5 at the baseline vs. 0.25 +/- 0.57 at the follow up (P < 0.001). Before PFR, FSFI total score ranged from 25.8 to 2 (mean 14.65 +/- 6.88), after treatment the FSFI total score ranged from 36 to 2 (mean 22.65 +/- 9.5) (P < 0.001). The improvement of the scores in the six FSFI domains, 5 months after the conclusion of PFR, was statistically significant (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). All the nine domains in the KHQ presented a low average score after treatment and the improvements were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS PFR led to a significant difference in the daily use of pads, 1-hour pad test, and Stamey incontinence scores. The treatment caused an improvement in patient's QoL index and sexual function.
Respect the anaerobic nature of stem cells to exploit their potential in regenerative medicine.

It has been shown that, in a culture of murine bone marrow cells, in spite of respiratory chain saturation, which blocks proliferation of com-mitted progenitors, the stem cells continue to -mitted progenitors. This led to the conclusion that more primitive cells, unlike committed progenitors, have a way of producing the energy needed for proliferation that is not dependent on mitochondrial respiration. Six years later, the same group presented results showing that resistance to hypoxia increases with the degree of primitiveness of HSCs
Wolbachia pipientis Associated With Tephritid Fruit Fly Pests: From Basic Research to Applications

Members of the true fruit flies (family Tephritidae) are among the most serious agricultural pests worldwide, whose control and management demands large and costly international efforts. The need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly integrated pest management (IPM) has led to the development and implementation of autocidal control strategies. These approaches include the widely used sterile insect technique and the incompatible insect technique (IIT). IIT relies on maternally transmitted bacteria (namely Wolbachia) to cause a conditional sterility in crosses between released mass-reared Wolbachia-infected males and wild females, which are either uninfected or infected with a different Wolbachia strain (i.e., cytoplasmic incompatibility; CI). Herein, we review the current state of knowledge on Wolbachia-tephritid interactions including infection prevalence in wild populations, phenotypic consequences, and their impact on life history traits. Numerous pest tephritid species are reported to harbor Wolbachia infections, with a subset exhibiting high prevalence. The phenotypic effects of Wolbachia have been assessed in very few tephritid species, due in part to the difficulty of manipulating Wolbachia infection (removal or transinfection). Based on recent methodological advances (high-throughput DNA sequencing) and breakthroughs concerning the mechanistic basis of CI, we suggest research avenues that could accelerate generation of necessary knowledge for the potential use of Wolbachia-based IIT in area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) strategies for the population control of tephritid pests.
High Performance of Hash-based Signature Schemes

Hash-based signature schemes, whose security is based on properties of the underlying hash functions, are promising candidates to be quantum-safe digital signatures schemes. In this work, we present a software implementation of two recent standard proposals for hash-based signature schemes, Leighton and Micali Signature (LMS) scheme and Extended Merkle Signature Scheme (XMSS), using a set of AVX2 instructions on Intel processors. The implementation uses several optimization techniques for speeding up the underlying hash functions SHA2 or SHA3, and other building block functions which lead to high performance for signature operations on both schemes. On an Intel Skylake processor, using a tree of height 60 with 12 layers, the signing operation for XMSS takes 3,841,199 cycles (1,043 signatures per second) at 128-bit security level (against quantum attacks). For an equivalent security, the LMS system computes a signature in 1,307,376 cycles (3,065 signatures per second). We also provide the first comparative performance results for signing and verification of both schemes using different parameters. The results of our implementation indicate that both schemes LMS and XMSS can achieve high performance using vector instructions on modern processors.
Internal Limiting Membrane Closure of Idiopathic Macular Hole

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification and 23gauge pars plana vitrectomy with Brilliant blue-G (BBG)-assisted ILM peeling in idiopathic macular hole surgery with closure of the hole by an inverted ILM flap.Design: Prospective and interventional case series.Methods: 23 eyes with large (>400 μm) idiopathic macular hole treated by phacoemulsification with posterior chamber IOL and 23-gauge vitrectomy with BBG-assisted ILM peeling with closure of the hole by inverted flap of ILM. Patients were followed up for the 12 months. Outcomes were evaluated in terms of visual improvement, macular hole closure and complications.Results: In 22 (95.6%) patients, the macular hole was closed (21 eye with single procedure and one eye with second surgery), and visual improvement occurred in 19 eyes (82.6%). There were no intraoperative complications. Two patients developed post-operative glaucoma which required medication for a few weeks.Conclusion: Combined phacoemulsification and 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with inverted ILM flap technique using BBG stain and SF6 as retinal tamponade provides good anatomic and visual outcomes in cases of large idiopathic macular holes after one operative interference.
EFEITOS DOS EXERCÍCIOS DO MÉTODO PILATES EM PACIENTES COM DOR LOMBAR CRÔNICA

A dor lombar e uma das disfuncoes musculoesqueleticas mais comuns da atualidade, classificada como uma causa frequente de incapacidade funcional e consequentemente afetando a qualidade de vida do individuo. Objetivo: verificar como um programa de exercicios do Metodo Pilates influencia na intensidade da dor, a flexibilidade e a capacidade funcional em portadores de lombalgia cronica. Materiais e Metodos: foram realizadas 10 sessoes de exercicios visando ao fortalecimento e alongamento das cadeias muscular anterior e posterior com uma frequencia de duas sessoes semanais com duracao de 45 minutos. A coleta de dados foi realizada antes e depois do periodo de treinamento, por meio da aplicacao de um exame fisico-funcional, a Escala Analogo-Visual para dor e o questionario de Roland-Morris. Participaram da pesquisa cinco mulheres, com media de idade de 56,1 anos. Resultados: os resultados indicaram que apos o periodo de tratamento ocorreu um decrescimo significativo (p=0,004) da dor ou a ausencia total de dor na regiao lombar em todos os sujeitos, alem de se observar tambem o aumento significativo (p= 0,04) da flexibilidade dos isquiotibiais e melhora significativa (p=0,007) nos aspectos da capacidade funcional. Conclusao: Os resultados sugerem que o Metodo Pilates pode proporcionar efeitos beneficos em quadros de lombalgia cronica e que este se apresenta como mais um recurso fisioterapeutico disponivel para uma intervencao diferenciada e especifica.
Analysis of Circular RNA-Related Competing Endogenous RNA Identifies the Immune-Related Risk Signature for Colorectal Cancer

Background Recent papers have described circular RNAs (circRNAs) playing important roles in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the expression profiles of circRNAs and their functions in CRC have rarely been studied. The objective was to identify circRNAs involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of CRC and to explore potential molecular mechanisms as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA). Moreover, we aimed to establish an immune-related gene signature for predicting the overall survival (OS) of CRC. Methods The expression patterns of circRNA, miRNA, mRNA, and clinicopathological data were collected from the GEO and TCGA databases. A ceRNA network would be established, and the functional enrichment analyses were performed. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed, and hub genes were identified using a cytohub plugin. Subsequently, an immune-related signature was developed based on mRNAs in the ceRNA network. In addition, OS-nomogram was constructed by combining an immune-related signature and clinicopathological characterization to predict the OS. Results We established a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that the mRNAs were mainly enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Wnt signaling pathway, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and renin secretion. PPI network and module analysis identified 10 hub genes, and the circRNA-miRNA hub gene regulatory modules was established. After univariate and multivariate analysis, seven immune-related genes in the ceRNA network were used to construct the immune-related signature. Patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups, and there were significant differences in the OS. The ROC of the nomogram indicated the satisfactory accuracy and predictive power. Furthermore, we established a prognostic nomogram based on immune-related risk score and clinical characterization. The ROC and calibration curves revealed the accuracy of the nomogram. In addition, the high-risk score was positively correlated with six immune infiltrating cells (P < 0.05). Conclusion We screened the key genes and established a circRNA-related ceRNA network involved in CRC, which will assist in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis and progression. Moreover, our proposed immune-based signature may predict survival and reflect the immune status of CRC patients.