Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tolerability of the SQ-Standardised Grass Sublingual Immunotherapy Tablet in Adult Patients during Routine Administration: A Non-Interventional Observational Study

Objective: The SQ-standardised grass sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet, GRAZAX® (ALK, Denmark) has been shown to be efficacious and well tolerated in a large number of clinical trials performed in Europe and USA. The aim of this study was to investigate the administration of the SQ grass SLIT-tablet in a real life setting. Methods: This study was non-interventional, open-label, observational including 1,109 patients from 434 clinics in Germany treated between November 2006 and February 2009 with the SQ grass SLIT-tablet. Patients were followed at visits every 3 months for 9-12 months after start of therapy. Assessments included tolerability, compliance, patient satisfaction and treatment effect. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported were coded by using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). Results: A total of 534 (48.2%) patients experienced ADRs that were considered to be related to treatment in 299 (27.0%) patients. Treatment was discontinued in 98 (8.8%) patients due to ADRs. ADRs were experienced by 460 (41.5%) patients after first administration and classified in 440 (39.7%) patients as mild tolerable reactions at the application site needing no further treatment and in 20 (1.8%) patients as intolerable reactions and reactions that needed treatment by medication all of which are specified in the summary of product characteristics for GRAZAX®. Most frequently reported ADRs were paraesthesia oral, oedema mouth, oral pruritus, oral discomfort, swollen tongue and throat irritation. Serious ADRs related to treatment were reported by three patients, all patients fully recovered. Compliance (70.9%) and patient satisfaction with the treatment effect (92.6%) were high. Subjective well-being was improved in 74.7% of patients and symptoms and medication use were reduced versus previous seasons without SQ grass SLIT-tablet. Conclusions: Our results confirm that the SQ grass SLIT-tablet is well tolerated during routine administration. Compliance, patient satisfaction, and treatment effect were found to be high.
Structural Features, Biological Functions of the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin and Contribution to Esophageal Cancer

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a member of the serine protease inhibitors (serpin) family. Hepatocytes are the major source of synthesis and secretion of AAT into the blood stream, however macrophages of the lungs also take part in this process to a lower extent [1]. AAT is a proteolytic enzyme which plays major role in the normal physiological processes such as angiogenesis, intravascular fibrinolyis, and wound healing. However it may also participate in pathological conditions such as tumor invasion and metastasis which require degradation of the basement membrane, stimulation of angiogenesis, and migration [2, 3].
Suppression of south Asian summer monsoon precipitation in the 21st century

We used a high‐resolution nested climate modeling system to investigate the response of South Asian summer monsoon dynamics to anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gas concentrations. The simulated dynamical features of the summer monsoon compared well with reanalysis data and observations. Further, we found that enhanced greenhouse forcing resulted in overall suppression of summer precipitation, a delay in monsoon onset, and an increase in the occurrence of monsoon break periods. Weakening of the large‐scale monsoon flow and suppression of the dominant intraseasonal oscillatory modes were instrumental in the overall weakening of the South Asian summer monsoon. Such changes in monsoon dynamics could have substantial impacts by decreasing summer precipitation in key areas of South Asia.
Physiological disposition of 4-C14-cortisol during late pregnancy.

The plasma levels of free 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OH-CS) were found to rise progressively during pregnancy (1-5). In cases of vaginal delivery and "indicated cesarean section," labor and delivery had a tendency to further increase the maternal concentrations (6, 7), while in cases of "elective, repeat cesarean section," the levels were not as high as those observed in cases where labor had taken place (8, 7). The levels of 17-OH-CS in cord blood were observed to be very low in cases of "elective, repeat cesarean section" (8, 7). In cases of vaginal delivery and indicated cesarean section the concentrations were as high or higher than those of normal adults (3, 6-9). Studies involving the intravenous infusion of ACTH or cortisol to patients selected for "elective, repeat cesarean section' strongly suggested that 17-OH-CS could cross the "placental barrier" from the mother to the baby (7). In all cases, there was a direct relationship between maternal and cord levels, the latter values being one-half to one-fifth of those of the corresponding mother (6, 7). These findings suggested that, near term, the fetal adrenals produce little 17-OH-CS and that the increase in cord levels observed in cases of either vaginal delivery or "indicated cesarean section" was the result of elevated maternal concentrations. The present work is an attempt to elucidate further the metabolism of corticosteroids during pregnancy. It was thought that radioactive cortisol might be useful since it would permit a dynamic
Reliability of functional performance in older people with dementia

Research into the benefits of exercise for cognitively compromised adults is promising and the interest in this area is growing [1]. While data are mixed, a number of studies show important benefits through exercise and physical activity for cognitively compromised older adults, including reduced agitation, behavioural symptoms and depression, and improved coordination, memory and capacity in activities of daily living [2–4]. Importantly, exercise has the potential to reduce care-related expenses and dependence issues, and improve quality of life, self-worth and patient dignity.
Remedial applications of silencing ribonucleic acids and modalities for its delivery to the kidneys--a review.

BACKGROUND The Kidney has been the target organ for the delivery of silencing ribonucleic acids (silencing RNA) administered systemically in comparison to other body tissues. MATERIALS AND METHOD In this review, we discussed different approaches made to delivering proteins to the kidneys in different conditions like normal and pathological defects. Data from clinical experiments have been used to discuss and support the administration of silencing RNA for the treatment of kidney diseases. RESULTS Results were achieved using the available genome wide RNA libraries. CONCLUSION The research results are helpful in application to 3D and conventional models to find the involvement of signal pathways in kidney diseases.
Antiviral activity of borage (Echium amoenum)

Introduction Borage (Echium amoenum) is a large annual plant of the Boraginaceae family that grows in most parts of Europe and in northern parts of Iran. The flower of borage is used as a medicinal herb in various countries as an antifebrile and antidepressant, for treatment of stress, circulatory heart diseases and pulmonary complaints, as a poultice for inflammatory swellings, as a diuretic, laxative, emollient and demulcent, and recently as a possible cancer protective factor. The Iranian borage is used in traditional medicine for infectious diseases and influenza and as an antifebrile. In this report, an aqueous extract of dried borage (Echium amoenum) flowers was tested in vitro for its antiviral activity. Material and methods Bacteriophage 3C and its specific host, Staphylococcus aureus 8327 were used Aqueous extract of E. amoenum dried flower was prepared and anti-viral activity was determined by agar overlay method and the burst size was determined by one-step growth experiment. Antibacterial activity was determined by disc diffusion, agar-well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods. Results The extract showed concentration-dependent antiviral activity against free bacteriophage 3C and reduced the yield of phage from the host Staphylococcus aureus 8327. Antiviral activity of the extract is heat resistant. Autoclaving the extract at 110°C for 1 h did not eliminate its antiviral activity and the effect was similar to the extract that was filter sterilized. However, the activity of the freeze-dried extract was diminished during 90 days of storage at 4°C and the activity of the working solution was diminished in a one-week period at 4°C. Conclusions These results may provide a justification for the traditional use of the Iranian borage flower for infectious diseases and antifebrile activity.
Positioning for NLOS Propagation: Algorithm Derivations and Cramer-Rao Bounds

Mobile positioning has drawn significant attention in recent years. Nonline-of-sight (NLOS) propagation error is the dominant error source in mobile positioning. Most previous research in this area has focused on NLOS identification and mitigation. In this paper, we investigate new positioning algorithms to take advantage of the NLOS propagation paths rather than canceling them. Based on a prior information about the NLOS path, a geometrical approach is proposed to estimate mobile location by using two NLOS paths. On top of this, the least-squares (LS)-based position estimation algorithm is developed to take multiple NLOS paths into account, and its performance in terms of root mean-square error (RMSE) is analyzed. A general LS algorithm considering both LOS and NLOS paths is also derived, and the maximum likelihood-based algorithm is presented to jointly estimate the mobile's and scatterers' positions. The Cramer-Rao lower bound on the RMSE is derived for the benchmark of the performance comparison. The performance of the proposed algorithms is evaluated analytically and is done via computer simulations. Numerical results demonstrate that the derived analytical results closely match the simulated results.
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Bougainvillea spectabilis Leaves Extracts

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the qualitative analysis of phytochemicals and antibacterial activity of various solvent extracts of Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves. Antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves were tested against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains by observing the zone of inhibition. The bacteria used in the study were Staphycococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marcescens, Shigella flexneri and Vibrio cholerae. It was observed that ethanolic, methanolic, chloroform and ethylacetate extracts showed maximum inhibitory effect on all tested bacteria except Vibrio cholerae compared to other solvent extracts. The alcoholic extracts were more active against all Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
INNER CHOROIDAL FLOW SIGNAL ATTENUATION IN PACHYCHOROID DISEASE: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Purpose: To study zones of reduced inner choroidal flow signal, foci of reduced inner choroidal thickness, and pathologically dilated Haller layer vessels (pachyvessels) in eyes with pachychoroid disease using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography. Methods: Patients with treatment-naive pachychoroid disease were recruited. All patients prospectively underwent swept-source OCT and OCT angiography. Zones of reduced choriocapillaris flow were labeled and enumerated. Areas where reduced flow signal was attributable to masking/artifacts were excluded. Regions of inner choroidal thinning were identified on structural OCT and labeled. Overlap between reduced choriocapillaris flow and structural inner choroidal attenuation was quantified using Jaccard indices. The relationship of reduced flow to pachyvessels was recorded. Results: Twenty-four eyes of 19 patients were identified. All eyes exhibited at least one zone of reduced flow. A total of 146 flow signal attenuation zones were identified. Sixty-two (42%) of 146 zones showed overlap or proximity with structural inner choroidal thinning. The mean Jaccard index per eye was 0.10 (SD = 0.08). Pachyvessels were spatially related to 100 (68%) of 146 zones of flow attenuation. Conclusion: Zones of reduced choriocapillaris flow are prevalent in eyes with pachychoroid disease. Approximately 60% of these zones anatomically correlate with pachyvessels. Inner choroidal ischemia seems related to the pathogenesis of pachychoroid diseases.
Structural autonomy and aspectual import: A new(er) Spanish Progressive

Abstract The current study analyzes distributional frequencies of the Spanish Progressive construction (ESTAR+Gerund) in a corpus of late-twentieth-century conversational speech in order to assess changes in structure and meaning. The analysis incorporates structural priming as a measure of analyzability and autonomy and utilizes both lexical and contextual measures of aspect to assess the construction’s preferred environment relative to its competing gram: the simple Present. Results of a multivariate analysis (N=1,017) indicate that over the last 100 years, the construction has lost analyzability, further coalescing into a single grammatical unit. This new unit has also acquired the ability to express limited duration (progressive, continuous) aspect with stative as well as dynamic verbs, indicating the consolidation of the construction’s aspectual import. At the same time, its presence in extended duration contexts is attributed to strong effects of Progressive-Progressive priming and, to a lesser extent, licensing by a co-occurring temporal adverbial. By situating these results within the construction’s diachrony, it is concluded that the increased grammaticalization of the Spanish Progressive in the twentieth century, as assessed quantitatively, is markedly distinct from previous centuries.
The ideal attributes of chief nurses in Europe: a Delphi study.

BACKGROUND Policy decisions to advance the role of Chief Nurse in member countries of the World Health Organization European Region will necessitate the systematic selection and recruitment of suitable postholders who can develop the role and status of nursing within a wide range of political frameworks and structures. Such posts are clearly of great importance for providing appropriate care through strategic and policy decisions, both nationally and internationally. The appointment and development of suitable personnel are, therefore, essential elements in the success of these roles. To date, no information exists about the qualities and attributes required for effective delivery of the Chief Nurse role. AIM To identify the characteristics considered to be most relevant in a Chief Nurse, in order to inform and systematize recruitment. METHOD A Delphi study was undertaken of 22 European member states. Consensus was reached by the second round, in which 12 countries participated. RESULTS Sixteen relevant qualities were identified and listed in order of importance. Of the eight countries for which statistical analysis was possible, seven demonstrated a significant level of accord [Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), Iceland, Sweden, Hungary and Switzerland], with only Finland showing no intra-country agreement. CONCLUSIONS To the extent that there is a high level of inter and intra-country consensus on the desirable qualities of Chief Nurses, these could be used to inform the future systematic selection and operational development of this role in European member states.
Significance of Serum TRACP in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Human serum contains two related isoforms of TRACP: TRACP 5a and TRACP 5b. Serum TRACP 5a protein is increased in about one third of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sera. This study was undertaken to examine the significance of serum TRACP isoforms 5a and 5b as disease markers of inflammation and bone destruction in RA. One hundred eighteen patients were recruited including 50 with RA (25 with nodules), 26 with osteoarthritis (OA), and 42 with other rheumatic diseases. Twenty‐six healthy adults served as controls. Serum TRACP 5a activity, TRACP 5a protein, and TRACP 5b activity were determined by in‐house immunoassays. C‐reactive protein (CRP) was determined by in‐house immunoassay using commercial antibodies and CRP. Other commercial markers included bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), C‐telopeptides of type‐I collagen (ICTP), cartilage glycoprotein‐39 (YKL‐40), and IgM rheumatoid factors (IgM‐RF). Mean TRACP 5a protein was significantly elevated only in RA compared with healthy controls and other disease groups. TRACP 5a protein correlated significantly only with IgM‐RF in RA. Among RA patients, mean TRACP 5a protein and IgM RF were significantly higher in nodule formers. In contrast, TRACP 5b activity was slightly elevated in RA and correlated with BALP, ICTP, and YKL‐40 but not with IgM‐RF or CRP. Mean TRACP 5b activity was no different in RA patients with or without nodules. TRACP isoforms could be useful disease markers in RA; TRACP 5a protein may be a measure of systemic inflammatory macrophage burden and disease severity. TRACP 5b activity is a marker for osteoclast number and perhaps local or systemic bone destruction.
An Association of Twenty‐Nail Dystrophy with Vitiligo

A rare association of twenty‐nail dystrophy with segmental vitiligo is described in two patients. Vitiligo preceded the nail dystrophy. In both cases, all twenty nails were uniformly affected with the nail plates showing longitudinal striations and loss of luster. Longitudinal nail biopsy revealed a histological picture suggestive of eczematous changes and lichen planus respectively. Intramatrix injections of triamcinolone acetonide into the proximal and lateral nail folds were administered with considerable improvement.
Asking children to ask; an experimental investigation of the pragmatics of relayed questions

ABSTRACT Children's apparent ‘errors’ in interpreting ask as tell, incidentally uncovered in C. Chomsky's research on syntactic development, and subsequently interpreted in terms of E. Clark's theory of semantic development, are re-interpreted in the framework of pragmatic development. An experiment is reported in which a single coherent discourse framework is imposed and one pragmatic factor is manipulated: children's knowledge of the answers to the questions they are supposed to relay. The results confirm the hypothesis that if the children do not know the information, they relay the question, i.e. ask. If they do know the answer, they supply it, i.e. tell. By literally asking, the children in the ‘don't know’ condition demonstrate that they are capable of decoding ask constructions semantically and syntactically. The tendency of the children in the ‘know’ condition to tell is then interpreted as revealing not semantic confusion but pragmatic skill. The children's responses are discussed in relation to three-person speech acts and indirect requests for information. Children's ability to interpret utterances non-literally has implications for conducting experiments with literal instructions and these are also discussed.
Progressive hip joint subluxation in Saul‐Wilson syndrome

Saul‐Wilson syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital skeletal syndrome characterized by postnatal onset of short stature, relative microcephaly, frontal bossing, prominent eyes with shallow orbits, midface hypoplasia, cataract, and generalized skeletal changes, including spondylar dysplasia, overtubulation of the long bones with metaphyseal flaring and megaepiphyses, coxa valga, elbow deformity, and brachydactyly. We describe a boy with the overall clinical and radiological features fitting the characteristics of SWS, although cataract, elbow deformity, and overt brachydactyly were not seen. He presented with painful hip joint due to hip subluxation in late childhood, which exacerbated with age and ultimately, required surgical intervention. Awareness of this orthopedic complication in SWS is essential in the management of patients with SWS. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of human cytomegalovirus strain with immediate-early (IE) antigen-specific monoclonal antibody is prevented by point mutation in IE gene

In an AIDS patient with a disseminated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, presence of HCMV in blood was repeatedly excluded by the shell vial culture method with the HCMV immediate-early (IE) antigen-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) 5D2 currently employed for rapid HCMV identification, whereas it was repeatedly confirmed by all other assays (conventional virus isolation from blood, antigenemia, and DNAemia). Sequence analysis of the HCMV strain revealed a point mutation in exon 2 of the IE gene, which led to a serine-to-proline substitution at position 20 of the corresponding protein. Cloning and expression of a region of the IE gene containing the mutation showed that this was responsible for the lack of reactivity of MAb 5D2. A pool of IE antigen-reactive MAbs instead of a single MAb must be used for rapid HCMV identification to detect all viral strains.
Advances in mathematical morphology applied to geoscience and remote sensing

By concentrating on the analysis of the spatial relationships between groups of pixels, mathematical morphology provides us with an image processing strategy complementary to those based on the analysis of the spectral signature of single pixels. A wide variety of morphological transformations are available for extracting structural information in spatial data. Accordingly, a stream of successful applications in geoscience and remote sensing have been reported since the mid-1980s as highlighted in a brief survey. However, recent advances in the theory of mathematical morphology still remain largely unexplored. We show in this paper that they can enhance methodologies for the processing and analysis of Earth observation data for tasks as diverse as filtering, simplification, directional segmentation and crest line extraction. We also address important issues overlooked in the past and concerning the applicability of a given morphological filter to Earth observation data. In particular, we point out that self-dual or even self-complementary filters are required in many applications to produce results independent of the local contrast of the searched image structures.
Practical Issues for Spectrum Management With Cognitive Radios

The policy of permanently assigning a frequency band to a single application has led to extremely low utilization of the available spectrum. Cognitive radio, with its ability to be both intelligent and frequency agile, is thought to be one of the prime contenders to provide the necessary capabilities needed for dynamic spectrum access systems. With this in mind, this paper discusses the practical issues inherent to the deployment of spectrum management systems utilizing cognitive radios.
Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on cerebral thrombosis and blood pressure in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. An extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) has been reported to alleviate cerebrovascular problems. In the present study, we investigated the antithrombotic effects of EGb 761 in cerebral blood vessels of stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP/Izm).