Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diabetes and Hepatitis C: Two sides of a coin

Background: Hepatitis C virus or HCV is a blood borne pathogen, transmitted primarily via blood, body secretions and by piercing through skin (percutaneous), veins and mucosal surfaces. Prevalence of HCV in Pakistan is 4.5-8%. The prevalence of HCV in diabetic patients is reported to be 14.9% in 2016. Different studies show different prevalence of Hepatitis C in local population of Pakistan. This study was designed to find out the prevalence of HCV in diabetic patients of different age groups and gender. Methods: Blood samples from 259 diabetic patients were collected at Diabetes Testing and Screening Camp arranged by Akhuwat Health Services (AHS) at Township, Lahore. People of all age groups and gender were invited. Results were entered in MS Excel and analyzed on SPSS 19. Results: Out of 259 patients, 53% were females while 47% were males. This study shows the prevalence of HCV in Diabetic Patients as 8%. It was observed in diabetic patients, that females and patients from age group 30-40 years had high prevalence of HCV. Conclusion: The prevalence of Hepatitis C is high in the diabetic patients as compared to general population. HCV has a greater incidence in diabetic females of age group (30-40 years).
Application of the gene dosage balance hypothesis to auxin-related ribosomal mutants in Arabidopsis

Several proteomic studies in Arabidopsis have shown the presence of heterogeneous ribosomal populations in different tissues. However, the phenotypic consequences of the imbalance of those ribosomal populations, and the regulatory mechanisms activated to control specific ratios between them, have yet to be evaluated. In our previous report, the phenotypic characterization of the Arabidopsis ribosomal L4 (RPL4) family suggests that the maintenance of proper auxin-regulated developmental responses requires the simultaneous presence of RPL4A- and RPL4D-containing ribosomes. Based on the analysis of the compensatory mechanisms within the RPL4 family proteins in the rpl4a and rpl4d backgrounds, we propose the Gene Dosage Balance Hypothesis (GDBH) as a regulatory mechanism for ribosomal complexes in Arabidopsis. By using the concepts of dosage compensation and hierarchy, GDBH is able to explain the severity and specificity of different ribosomal mutant phenotypes associated with the same ribosomal complex.
Comment on Lecoultre et al. Ten Nights of Moderate Hypoxia Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Humans. Diabetes Care 2013;36:e197–e198

It has previously been demonstrated that exposure to hypoxic environments may improve whole-body and skeletal muscle glucose uptake (1). To further unravel potential mechanisms underlying enhanced glucose metabolism in response to hypoxia, Lecoultre et al. (2) investigated the effects of exposure to moderate hypoxia (∼15% O2) for 10 consecutive nights (∼10 h/night) on insulin sensitivity in obese men without evidence of sleep apnea or chronic disease. Before and after the intervention period, subjects underwent a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp to assess whole-body insulin sensitivity. In addition, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue biopsies were collected for further analyses. This interesting study demonstrated that 10 nights of moderate hypoxia substantially increased the glucose disposal rate (GDR) during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in …
Differential effects of the oncogenic BRAF inhibitor PLX4032 (vemurafenib) and its progenitor PLX4720 on ABCB1 function.

PURPOSE The clinically approved oncogenic BRAF inhibitor PLX4032 (vemurafenib) was shown to be a substrate of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter ABCB1. Here, we compared PLX4032 and its structurally closely related precursor compound PLX4720 for their interference with ABCB1 and the ABCB1-mediated compound transport using docking and cell culture experiments. METHODS For the docking study of PLX4032 and PLX4720 with ABCB1, we analysed binding of both compounds to mouse Abcb1a and to human ABCB1 using a homology model of human ABCB1 based on the 3D structure of Abcb1a. Naturally ABCB1 expressing cells including V600E BRAF-mutated and BRAF wild-type melanoma cells and cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding for ABCB1 were used as cell culture models. ABCB1 expression and function were studied by the use of fluorescent and cytotoxic ABCB1 substrates in combination with ABCB1 inhibitors. RESULTS Docking experiments predicted PLX4032 to interact stronger with ABCB1 than PLX4720. Experimental studies using different cellular models and structurally different ABCB1 substrates confirmed that PLX4032 interfered stronger with ABCB1 function than PLX4720. For example, PLX4032 (20 µM) induced a 4-fold enhanced rhodamine 123 accumulation compared to PLX4720 (20 µM) in ABCB1-transduced UKF-NB-3 cells and reduced the IC₅₀ for the cytotoxic ABCB1 substrate vincristine in this model by 21-fold in contrast to a 9-fold decrease induced by PLX4720. CONCLUSIONS PLX4032 exerted stronger effects on ABCB1-mediated drug transport than PLX4720. This indicates that small changes in a molecule can substantially modify its interaction with ABCB1, a promiscuous transporter that transports structurally different compounds.
Dignified care for children and young people: nurses' perspectives.

AIM To explore the perspectives of nurses working with children and young people on dignified care and the challenges of providing such care. METHODS A questionnaire was developed including fixed response and free text questions. A survey link was emailed to RCN members. Of the 2,048 respondents, 149 worked mainly with children and young people. From their responses, quantitative data were analysed using a spreadsheet and free text data were analysed thematically according to the question topics. RESULTS Only 34 per cent of respondents reported having enough time to devote to the dignity of patients and clients. Many respondents (74 per cent: sometimes; 8 per cent always) felt distressed or upset that they were unable to give the kind of dignified care they aspired to. The physical care environment and organisation influenced the provision of dignified care but respondents described how they endeavoured to promote dignity during care activities through thoughtful planning, communication and preserving privacy. CONCLUSION Nurses can do much to promote the dignity of children and young people in their care.
Functional analysis of a vacuolar ABC transporter in wild‐type Candida albicans reveals its involvement in virulence

ATP‐driven transport proteins belonging to the ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) superfamily perform important functions in cell metabolism and detoxification. Compounds can be actively transported across membranes, including the plasma membrane or organellar membranes. The vacuole is an important organelle in fungal cells required for compartmentalization of metabolites as well as toxic substances. Sequestration into the vacuole is often energy‐dependent. We present the first isolation and molecular analysis of a vacuolar ABC transporter gene in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The protein encoded by the MLT1 gene is highly similar to Multiple Drug Resistance‐associated Protein (MRP)‐like transporters of yeast and higher organisms that form the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR)/MRP subfamily of ABC transporters, a class of proteins so far not characterized in C. albicans. MLT1 expression is extensively growth phase‐regulated, and gene transcripts are inducible by metabolic poisons. Gene replacement mutants generated in wild‐type C. albicans with the dominant selection marker MPAR showed a profound reduction in virulence in a mouse peritonitis model that was reversed by complementation with an intact MLT1 gene. Hence, this report provides primary evidence for the involvement of vacuolar ABC transporters in fungal virulence.
The Interface of Nursing and Anthropology

Nursing in the Western world developed mainly as an applied field, and has contributed to social-cultural theory only in the past 30 years. The purpose of this presentation is to document (a) the contributions of nursing to medical anthropology, (b) the influence anthropology has had on nursing, (c) the differences between the interface of nursing and anthropology and that of medicine and anthropology, and (d) reasons that these differences have not been a focus in medical anthropology. We mean to draw attention to the special characteristics and aims of the nursing process and profession as they relate to the anthropological enterprise, but first we must describe the nature of nursing and how it differs from medicine. THE NATURE OF NURSING The interface of nursing and anthropology has a different focus than the interface of medicine and anthropology. While there are some similar areas of concern, there are also major and significant areas of divergence. That nursing is not subsumed by medicine is a point not widely understood in anthropology. In Medical Anthropology, Foster & Anderson (77) classically illustrated this point by titling a chapter "Professionalism in Medicine: Nursing. " The term "health care" subsumes both nursing and medicine; unfortunately, anthropologists have frequently equated health care only with medicine. Several factors account for the erroneous categorization of nursing as a part of medicine. First, there is considerable overlap in the contribution of each profession to client health, because all health professionals are generally concerned with the mental and physical well-being of clients. Second, anthropologists may be most familiar with nursing in university hospitals where the
Ovarian cancer in Ibadan: characteristics and management

Ovarian cancer has the highest case fatality rate among gynaecological cancers worldwide because of lack of effective screening methods and non-specific early warning symptoms with late presentation. A reinvigorated study is necessary in the developing countries because of a projected increase in its incidence. The decreasing fertility rate and increasing use of ovulation induction drugs are some of the reasons. The Ovarian Cancer Service of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria commenced the first longitudinal study of this malignancy from 1 December 1998 in order to establish a regional management and research centre. It is a questionnaire survey detailing the demography, clinical and staging laparotomy findings and histology of all confirmed cases. Twenty-one staging laparotomy and histologically confirmed ovarian cancer cases were managed from 1 December 1998 to 31 July 2002, about 1.5% of the 1387 gynaecological admissions. It is the third most common of the gynaecological cancers, representing 9.8% of the 214 cases. More than 60% of the patients were 50 years or younger. Only 19% were nulliparous, with 47.6% having had five or more deliveries. Only two patients (9.5%) had used the oral contraceptive pill, for a maximum period of 1 month. Only one patient (4.8%) had a positive family history of cancer. Abdominal swelling was the most common presenting symptom. Eighty-one per cent of the patients presented in Stages III and IV. Epithelial ovarian cancer constituted about 76.2% of the cases. Only 23.8% had adjuvant therapy, consisting of combination chemotherapy using cisplatin-based regimes. The case fatality rate 6 months after surgery was 76%. The ovarian cancer patients in this environment are younger and of higher parity than expected. The risk factors for this disease require further study.
Novel Cell-Permeable Acyloxymethylketone Inhibitors of Asparaginyl Endopeptidase

Abstract Mammalian asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) or legumain is a recently identified lysosomal cysteine protease belonging to clan CD. To date it has been shown to be involved in antigen presentation within class II MHC positive cells and in pro-protein processing. Further elucidation of the biological functions of the enzyme will require potent and selective inhibitors and thus we describe here new acyloxymethylketone inhibitors of AEP. The most potent of the series is 2,6-dimethylbenzoic acid 3-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-carbamoyl-2-oxobutyl ester (MV026630) with a k(obs)/ value of 1.09 exp5 M[-1] s[-1]. At low M concentrations this compound is able to enter living cells and irreversibly inactivate AEP. We show that this results in inhibition of AEP autoactivation and in perturbation of the processing and presentation of T cell epitopes from both tetanus toxin and myelin basic protein.
An Illustration of Issues in Factor Extraction and Identification of Dimensionality in Psychological Assessment Data

Structural validity has long been regarded as critical to psychological measurement. However, in practical application, issues central to structural validity are often neglected. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the importance of several crucial choices that face researchers attempting to evaluate the structure of data from a given scale. In this study, I compared the structural solutions derived via principal components analysis and principal axis factoring using eigenvalues, scree plots, and traditional parallel analyses with data from the Purpose in Life Test (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1964). I discuss the importance of structural validity for overall construct validity and the importance of carefully considering factor analytic methodology. I provide recommendations for uses of factor analysis.
Introduced Birds and the Fate of Hawaiian Rainforests

Abstract: The Hawaiian Islands have lost nearly all their native seed dispersers, but have gained many frugivorous birds and fleshy‐fruited plants through introductions. Introduced birds may not only aid invasions of exotic plants but also may be the sole dispersers of native plants. We assessed seed dispersal at the ecotone between native‐ and exotic‐dominated forests and quantified bird diets, seed rain from defecated seeds, and plant distributions. Introduced birds were the primary dispersers of native seeds into exotic‐dominated forests, which may have enabled six native understory plant species to become reestablished. Some native plant species are now as common in exotic forest understory as they are in native forest. Introduced birds also dispersed seeds of two exotic plants into native forest, but dispersal was localized or establishment minimal. Seed rain of bird‐dispersed seeds was extensive in both forests, totaling 724 seeds of 9 native species and 2 exotics with over 85% of the seeds coming from native plants. Without suitable native dispersers, most common understory plants in Hawaiian rainforests now depend on introduced birds for dispersal, and these introduced species may actually facilitate perpetuation, and perhaps in some cases restoration, of native forests. We emphasize, however, that restoration of native forests by seed dispersal from introduced birds, as seen in this study, depends on the existence of native forests to provide a source of seeds and protection from the effects of ungulates. Our results further suggest that aggressive control of patches of non‐native plants within otherwise native‐dominated forests may be an important and effective conservation strategy.
Effect of monoclonal antibody to pertussis toxin on toxin activity

Two distinct monoclonal antibodies, one to pertussis toxin subunit S2, called 9G8, and another to subunits S2 and S3, called 11E6, were generated from the hybridomas of myeloma SP2/0 and spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized mainly with the subunit S234 complex. Binding ability of 9G8 and 11E6 to the subunits was confirmed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting analysis. Generation of 11E6 bound to both S2 and S3 might mean that there is common antigenicity between S2 and S3. Neutralizing activities of 9G8 and 11E6 on various biological activities of pertussis toxin, including ADP-ribosyltransferase and leukocytosis-promoting, islet-activating, permeability-increasing. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-clustering, and hemagglutinating activities, were compared with those of anti-S1 monoclonal antibodies 1B7 and 3F10, which were isolated and characterized in a previous study (H. Sato, A. Ito, J. Chiba, and Y. Sato, Infect. Immun. 46:422-428, 1984). 1B7 and 3F10 neutralized ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of pertussis toxin or S1, but 9G8 and 11E6 did not. 1B7 showed very potent neutralization against leukocytosis-promoting, islet-activating, permeability-increasing, and CHO cell-clustering activities of pertussis toxin, but 3F10 did not, although anti-ADP-ribosyltransferase activities of both antibodies were identical. 11E6 neutralized leukocytosis-promoting, islet-activating, CHO cell-clustering, and hemagglutinating activities but not permeability-increasing activity. 9G8 showed slight neutralization of leukocytosis-promoting and CHO cell-clustering activities. Specific activities of 1B7 and 11E6 in each neutralization test were higher than or almost comparable to those of polyclonal antibodies to pertussis toxin. The neutralizing mechanism of 1B7 and 11E6 in leukocytosis-promoting activity was compared. 11E6 seemed to interfere with the binding of pertussis toxin to receptors on mouse spleen cells.
Development of Performance and ERPs in a Flanker Task in Children and Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome—A Follow-Up Study

Background: Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with childhood-onset, with a typical decline in tic severity, as well as an increasing ability to suppress tics in late childhood and adolescence. These processes develop in parallel with general improvement of self-regulatory abilities, and performance monitoring during this age-span. Hence, changes in performance monitoring over time might provide insight into the regulation of tics in children and adolescents with TS. Method: We measured reaction time, reaction time variability, accuracy, and event-related potentials (ERP) in 17 children with TS, including 10 children with comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), 24 children with ADHD, and 29 typically developing children, using a modified Eriksen Flanker task in two testing sessions administered on average 4.5 years apart. We then compared task performance, as well as ERP components across groups, and over time using regression models. Results: Task performance improved in all groups with age, and behavioral differences between children with TS and controls diminished at second assessment, while differences between controls and children with ADHD largely persisted. In terms of ERP, the early P3 developed earlier in children with TS compared with controls at the first assessment, but trajectories converged with maturation. ERP component amplitudes correlated with worst-ever tic scores. Conclusions: Merging trajectories between children with TS and controls are consistent with the development of compensatory self-regulation mechanisms during early adolescence, probably facilitating tic suppression, in contrast to children with ADHD. Correlations between ERP amplitudes and tic scores also support this notion.
Magnetostrictive/Piezoelectric Magnetoelectric Transducer with an Elastic Substrate

The magnetoelectric (ME) effect of magnetostrictive Terfenol-D (Tb1-xDyxFe2-y) and piezoelectric Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 plates bonded on a beryllium bronze substrate is reported. The substrate severs as frequency determining element and dominates the Q-factor of the oscillator. The device can be regard as a driven damped system. Its resonance occurs at multi-modes when the Terfenol-D plate oscillates at frequencies near the allowed frequencies of the substrate, producing a much greater response to finite AC magnetic field input. Our devices show that: (i) there are multiple ME response peaks; (ii) the maximum ME voltage coefficient achieves 1.552 V/Oe ; (iii) the maximum output power in per unit volume of transducing material is 153 muW / cm3 Oe ; and (iv) the quality factor is much higher than that of previously reported laminate structures.
[Renin-angiotensin system genetic polymorphisms and essential hypertension in the Spanish population].

BACKGROUND The goal of this study was to analyse the association between essential hypertension and the main genetic polymorphisms at the renin-angiotensin system in the Spanish population. PATIENTS AND METHOD Case-control study including 185 essential hypertensive subjects(age [SD] 39.6 [7.5] years, 52% women, systolic blood pressure 151.2 [17.4] mmHg, diastolic blood pressure 96.0 [9.4] mmHg) and 350 sex- and age-matched normotensive individuals selected from a sample of the general population of the Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (age 39.4 [8.0] years, 51.7% women, systolic blood pressure 116.0 [12.0] mmHg, diastolic blood pressure 69.6 [8.5] mmHg). A PCR was performed to determine I/D angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism, A-6G and M235T angiotensinogen gene polymorphism and A1166C polymorphism of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor. RESULTS There were no differences between cases and controls with regard to genotypic and allelic distributions. In hypertensive patients,there were no differences in genotypic or allelic distributions after considering the presence or absence of a familial history of hypertension or comparing tertiles of systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. Only in women, the combination of a C allele of A1166C polymorphism with an A-6G angiotensinogen polymorphism A allele (p = 0.007), or an M235T angiotensinogen polymorphism T allele (p = 0.007), was associated with a higher risk of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS We found no association between essential hypertension risk and I/D ACE gene, M235T and A-6G angiotensinogen gene, or A1166C angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphisms. An epistatic effect was observed in young women between angiotensin II type 1 receptor polymorphisms and angiotensinogen polymorphisms.
Midbrain Reticular Influences upon Single Neurons in Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

The effect of electrical stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation upon patterns of discharge of single lateral geniculate neurons was studied. Data were processed by means of a 256-channel scaler analyzer. The rate of spontaneous discharge of geniculate neurons was raised by electrical stimulation of the reticular formation and their ability to respond to intermittent light was enhanced.
Low-Voltage a-InGaZnO Thin-Film Transistors With Anodized Thin HfO2 Gate Dielectric

Low-voltage amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with thin HfO<sub>2</sub> gate dielectric grown by anodic oxidation (anodization) method are investigated. The morphological and electrical properties of the anodized thin HfO<sub>2</sub> film are studied. It is shown that the as-grown HfO<sub>2</sub> film with an equivalent oxide thickness of 3.8 nm has a low leakage current density of 3.6 × 10<sup>-8</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> at 1 MV/cm and high dielectric constant of ~21. The room-temperature fabricated a-IGZO TFTs with the anodized HfO<sub>2</sub> gate dielectrics exhibit a low threshold voltage of -0.15 ± 0.08 V, small subthreshold swing value of 109 ± 4 mV/decade, reasonable saturation mobility of 8.1 ± 0.2 cm<sup>2</sup>/Vs, and an ON/OFF current ratio exceeding 1 × 10<sup>7</sup>.