Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the low-frequency EMI response of coincident loops over a conductive and permeable soil and corresponding background reduction schemes

The performance of metal detectors (low-frequency electromagnetic induction (EMI) devices) employed for landmine and ordnance detection is well known to be adversely affected by the soil response, a fact which is, however, not very often considered in the scientific literature. We have, therefore, started from the analytical model of a frequency domain coincident loop system over a homogeneous half-space to calculate directly the voltage induced in the system's receive coil, for a number of scenarios and soil parameters of interest, and with emphasis on the operating conditions prevailing in humanitarian demining applications. The role of the soil's permeability , which heavily affects the real part of the system's response function, has been clearly shown (plateau effect at low-frequencies), as well as the effects of changes in the detector's height . Some of the background rejection techniques used in practice, in particular frequency differencing methods to suppress the effect of magnetic and/or conductive soil, have been described as well, and two of them studied in more detail, including the unavoidable target response reduction. Finally, we have briefly dealt with the effect of a conductive soil on the primary and scattered fields themselves, which could affect in a nonadditive way the target signature. Practical background information and an extensive list of references complement the paper.
Mutagenicity and preclinical safety assessment of the aqueous extract of Clinacanthus nutans leaves

Abstract Context: Clinacanthus nutans (CN) is used traditionally for treating various illnesses. Robust safety data to support its use is lacking. Objective: To evaluate the adverse effects of aqueous extract of CN leaves (AECNL). Materials and methods: The oral toxicity of the AECNL was tested following Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. Mutagenicity (Ames test) of AECNL was evaluated using TA98 and TA100 Salmonella typhimurium strains. Results: No mortality or morbidity was found in the animals upon single and repeated dose administration. However, significant body weight loss was observed at 2000 mg/kg during sub-chronic (90 d) exposure. In addition, increased eosinophil at 500 mg/kg and decreased serum alkaline phosphatase levels at 2000 mg/kg were observed in male rats. Variations in glucose and lipid profiles in treated groups were also observed compared to control. Ames test revealed no evidence of mutagenic or carcinogenic effects at 500 μg/well of AECNL. Conclusion: The median lethal dose (LD50) of the AECNL is >5000 mg/kg and the no-observed-adverse-effect level is identified to be greater than 2000 mg/kg/day in 90-d study.
Thiamine Ameliorates Hepatic, Renal Dysfunction And Dyslipidaemia In Diabetic Rats

This study was carried out to explore the effects of experimental diabetes mellitus (DM) and thiamine on liver and kidney functions as well as on blood glucose and lipid profiles in rats. Forty male wistar albino rats (200-230g) were assigned to four groups, (ten/group). The first group used as control group and injected i.p with citrate buffer (pH 4.5). The second group injected i.p by Streptozotocin, (STZ) at a single dosage of 45 mg/kg b. wt. dissolved in citrate buffer (pH 4.5). The third group was supplemented with Thiamine: (50 mg / kg diet) daily through out the experiment. The fourth group was injected with STZ as second group and after 10 days supplemented with thiamine as third group daily through out the experimental period. The experimental period was extended to sixty day. At the expiration of the 1 and 2 month from starting of experiment, fasted control, diabetic control and diabetic treated rats were anesthetized under diethyl ether, blood samples were collected from the orbital venous sinus. The sera were separated and used for determining of glucose, total protein, albumin, AST, ALT, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL-c, urea, uric acid and creatinine. The obtained data showed that DM caused marked liver and renal injuries reflected in decreased total protein, albumin and increased serum ALT, AST, urea, uric acid and creatinine as well as increased blood glucose level and lipid profiles. In contrast, thiamine additions results in amelioration of the most mentioned adverse effects. Thiamine can protect against diabetes induced hepatic, renal adverse effects as well as correction of dyslipidemia associated with diabetes mellitus.
Laryngeal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Objective Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a malignant minor salivary gland tumor that represents <1% of all laryngeal tumors. The submucosal location of laryngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma (LACC) results in delayed presentation. Here, we present the first systematic review of reported cases of LACC to determine trends in presentation, diagnostic and treatment modalities, and patient outcome. Data Sources PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases. Methods A search of the above databases was done to identify articles reporting cases of LACC. The variables included in the analysis were patient demographics, presenting symptoms, tumor location, imaging, treatment, follow-up time, recurrence, and outcome. Results A total of 50 articles and 120 cases were included in the review. The most common presenting symptom was dyspnea (48.8%), followed by hoarseness (43.9%). LACC arose most frequently from the subglottis (56.7%). At presentation, 14.6% (13 of 89) of patients had regional disease. The average follow-up time was 54.0 months. At follow-up, distant metastasis was reported in 30 cases (33.3%). Surgery alone (43.3%) and surgery with radiotherapy (43.3%) were used most frequently and resulted in 57.1% and 55.3% of patients alive with no evidence disease at follow-up, respectively. Conclusion LACC was most often located in the subglottis. Patients commonly presented with dyspnea and hoarseness. In this systematic review, surgery with radiotherapy and surgery alone were the most commonly employed treatment modalities, and both resulted in slightly more than 50% of patients alive with no evidence of disease at follow-up.
Fluoxetine affords robust neuroprotection in the postischemic brain via its anti‐inflammatory effect

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is widely used in the treatment of major depression including after stroke. In this study, we tested whether fluoxetine protects neuronal death in a rat cerebral ischemia model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The administration of fluoxetine intravenously (10 mg/kg) at 30 min, 3 hr, or 6 hr after MCAO reduced infarct volumes to 21.2 ± 6.7%, 14.5 ± 3.0%, and 22.8 ± 2.9%, respectively, of that of the untreated control. Moreover, the neuroprotective effect of fluoxetine was evident when it was administered as late as 9 hr after MCAO/reperfusion. These neuroprotective effects were accompanied by improvement of motor impairment and neurological deficits. The fluoxetine‐treated brain was found to show marked repressions of microglia activation, neutrophil infiltration, and proinflammatory marker expressions. Moreover, fluoxetine suppressed NF‐κB activity dose‐dependently in the postischemic brain and also in lipopolysaccharide‐treated primary microglia and neutrophil cultures, suggesting that NF‐κB activity inhibition explains in part its anti‐inflammatory effect. These results demonstrate that curative treatment of fluoxetine affords strong protection against delayed cerebral ischemic injury, and that these neuroprotective effects might be associated with its anti‐inflammatory effects. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enterovirus 71 Infection of Human Dendritic Cells

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes death and long-term neurologic sequelae in hundreds of thousands of young children, but its pathogenesis remains elusive. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in antiviral immunity by functioning as professional antigen-presenting cells to prime T cells and by secreting cytokines to modulate immune responses. Here, we show that EV71 productively infected human immature DCs and expressed viral antigen in DCs. EV71 entry into DCs was partially mediated by DC-SIGN. Further analyses revealed that EV71 increased the viability, activation, release of cytokines, interleukin-6, interleukin-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α in DCs. Moreover, EV71 enabled DCs to stimulate T-cell proliferation. Collectively, these findings suggest that EV71 infection of human DCs in vivo is very likely to elicit protective immunity, because in infected mice, both T cells and IL-6 function to reduce mortality.
Direct Solid-Phase Time-Resolved Fluoroimmunoassay of 17 a-Hydroxyprogesterone in Serum and Dried Blood Spots on Filter Paper

We describe a direct, solid-phase time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) for measuring 1 7a-hydroxyprogesterone (1 7OHP) in serum and blood spots on filter paper. We used 1 7OHP-3-carboxymethyloxime (1 7OHP3CMO) coupled to polylysine as the label, which enabled incorporation of up to 34 atoms of europium per molecule of 1 7OHP, for a very high specific activity. The assay is based on competition between labeled 17OHP3CMO and 17OHP in blood specimens for polyclonal rabbit anti-i 7OHP antibodies. The antibody-label complex is separated by binding to anti-rabbit antibodies coated onto microtiter strips. The assay buffer contains danazol to displace 1 7OHP from steroid-binding proteins in serum. For serum samples, the assay is accomplished in 1 h of incubation at room temperature. The blood spot assay with filter paper discs involves incubation overnight at 4 #{176}C. Results for both types of specimens from the same subjects correlated well. The lowest measurable concentrations of 1 7OHP (nmol/L) were 0.10 (3 SD) and 0.75 (3 SD) for serum and dried blood on filter paper, respectively. Intraand interassay CVs were about 5-15% for both types of samples.
Insulin resistance, LDL particle size, and LDL susceptibility to oxidation in pediatric kidney and liver recipients.

BACKGROUND Dyslipidemia is common after solid organ transplantation. We have described hypertriglyceridemia in about 50% of our pediatric kidney, and in about 30% of our liver recipients. The aim of the present study was to find out whether this post-transplantation hypertriglyceridemia after pediatric solid organ transplantation is associated with insulin resistance and the occurrence of small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL). METHODS Fifty kidney and 25 liver recipients (aged 4 to 18 years) on triple immunosuppression, and 181 control children participated in the study for an average of 5.3 and 6.4 years after kidney and liver transplantation (range 1 to 11 years), respectively. Homeostasis model assessments for insulin resistance (HOMA) were calculated and fasting lipoprotein lipid profile, apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations, LDL particle diameter, and indices of LDL susceptibility to copper-induced oxidation determined. RESULTS Kidney patients had significantly higher serum total, high-density, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations than liver patients or control subjects (P < 0.003 for all). HOMA indices higher than the 95th percentile of Canadian normal children were seen in 50.0% of kidney (of liver 41.2%) recipients younger than 11 years, and in 27.3% of older recipients (of liver 37.5%). Smaller sized LDL or LDL of increased oxidizability was not more frequent in patients than in control children. CONCLUSION Pediatric kidney recipients had significantly higher lipid and insulin concentrations than healthy control children. Combined hyperlipidemia and features of the dysmetabolic syndrome were common in children after kidney and liver transplantation. However, no small, dense LDL, or LDL prone to oxidation was seen in either group.
Molecular Characterization of Bovine Enteric Caliciviruses: a Distinct Third Genogroup of Noroviruses (Norwalk-Like Viruses) Unlikely To Be of Risk to Humans

ABSTRACT Bovine enteric caliciviruses (BoCVs) have been classified in the Norovirus (Norwalk-like virus) genus of the Caliciviridae, raising questions about zoonotic transmission and an animal reservoir for the human Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs), an important cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis in humans. We examined the genetic relationship of human NLVs to BoCVs that were identified by using reverse transcription-PCR with primer pairs originally designed to detect human NLVs. Polymerase, capsid, and open reading frame 3 (ORF3) gene sequence analyses of BoCVs that were identified from 1976 to 2000 from throughout the United Kingdom showed that BoCVs formed a distinct third genogroup of closely related viruses distinct from the human genogroup I and II NLVs. Evidence was not obtained to support the concept that BoCVs are circulating in humans and pose a threat to human health.
p53 Binding Protein 53BP1 Is Required for DNA Damage Responses and Tumor Suppression in Mice

ABSTRACT 53BP1 is a p53 binding protein of unknown function that binds to the central DNA-binding domain of p53. It relocates to the sites of DNA strand breaks in response to DNA damage and is a putative substrate of the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) kinase. To study the biological role of 53BP1, we disrupted the 53BP1 gene in the mouse. We show that, similar to ATM−/− mice, 53BP1-deficient mice were growth retarded, immune deficient, radiation sensitive, and cancer prone. 53BP1−/− cells show a slight S-phase checkpoint defect and prolonged G2/M arrest after treatment with ionizing radiation. Moreover, 53BP1−/− cells feature a defective DNA damage response with impaired Chk2 activation. These data indicate that 53BP1 acts downstream of ATM and upstream of Chk2 in the DNA damage response pathway and is involved in tumor suppression.
Drafting during swimming improves efficiency during subsequent cycling.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of drafting (i.e., swimming directly behind a competitor) while swimming with a wet suit on physiological parameters and cadence during subsequent cycling. METHODS Eight well-trained male triathletes underwent two submaximal sessions conducted in a counterbalanced order. One of these sessions (SAC) consisted of a 750-m swim, performed at competition pace, followed by a 15-min ride on a bicycle ergometer at 75% of maximal aerobic power and at a freely chosen cadence. During the other session (SDC) the subjects swam 750 m in a drafting position at the same pace as during SAC and then performed the 15-min cycling test at the same intensity as during SAC. RESULTS The main result indicated that cycling efficiency was significantly improved when the cycling session was preceded by a swimming bout performed in drafting position compared with an isolated swimming bout (+4.8%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION These results could be partly explained by the lower relative intensity observed during swimming in the SDC trial when compared with the SAC trial. This study suggests the relative importance of swimming condition and highlights the advantage of drafting during the swimming portion of a sprint triathlon.
Head–Disk Lubricant Transfer and Deposition During Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording Write Operations

Lubricant accumulation was found on the media surface the instant when the laser is turned OFF during heat-assisted magnetic recording write operations. By changing the write cycles, laser ON/OFF duration, media, and head temperatures, we find that this lubricant accumulation is related to the change in head-media temperatures. The observed lubricant deposition process is restricted to a short time window (1-2 μs) after the laser is turned OFF. An equilibrium model of thermal displacement due to evaporation and condensation processes is presented and used to discuss the effect of the head-media temperature changes on the lubricant accumulation. Possible solutions to minimize the lubricant transfer and deposition are discussed.
The frequency of CLA+ CD8+ T cells in the blood of psoriasis patients correlates closely with the severity of their disease

Psoriasis is thought to be a T cell‐mediated skin disease and the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) is an important skin homing epitope for T cells. We have studied the relationship between disease severity (PASI) and phenotypic analysis of T cells in the blood of 36 patients with psoriasis focusing on the expression of CLA, VLA‐4 and CD25 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The patients had a higher frequency of circulating CLA+ CD8+ cells than healthy controls. Furthermore, a much stronger correlation was observed between PASI and the frequency of CLA+ CD8+ than CLA+ CD4+ T cells. The frequency of CLA+D8+ T cells correlated more strongly with redness, thickness and scaling of the skin lesions than the total affected body surface area. In contrast to CLA the T cell expression of VLA‐4 did not demonstrate any such correlation. Finally, the expression of the activation marker CD25 on CD8+ T cells showed a strong correlation with disease severity in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis (PASI > 10) but such correlation was not observed for CD4+ T cells. These findings support the notion that circulating CLA+ CD8+ T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Two Intermediate States I and J Trapped at Low Temperature in the Photocycles of two BLUF Domain Proteins of Cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP‐1 †

We identified the two intermediate states, I and J, that are common in the photocycles of the cyanobacterial BLUF (sensor of Blue Light Using Flavin) domain proteins of Slr1694 of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and Tll0078 of Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP‐1 by analyzing the absorption spectra at 5 K. Illumination at 5 K accumulated intermediate forms (designated as I5 and I9), which showed 5 and 9 nm redshifts of the absorption bands of flavin in the Tll0078 and Slr1694 proteins, respectively. I5 (I9) was converted into the next intermediate, which have 11 nm (14 nm) red‐shifted absorption bands J11 (J14) after dark annealing at 230 K (240 K). Further dark annealing at 280 K (270 K) of J11 (J14) produced the signal‐transmitting final form F490 (F495), with a small increase in the absorption at around 490 nm (495 nm). The results indicate that the BLUF proteins of Tll0078 and Slr1694 exhibit the common photocycle of D471 (D467) →I5 (I9) →J11 (J14) →F490 (F495) at low temperature. The transition temperatures for these intermediate forms differ for two proteins. The amount of I5 (I9) accumulated at 5 K was small and increased at a higher temperature, suggesting heterogeneity of the protein structure that determines the reaction pathway.
Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue in Middle Ear and Eustachian Tube

The presence of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) was investigated histopathologically in every 20th section from 99 vertically cut, celloidin-embedded temporal bone—eustachian tube (ET) specimens. Among specimens from infants and children between 1 month and 7 years of age, MALT was found in 22 of 44 (50%). However, in 26 adults over 18 years of age, MALT was found in only 2 specimens (7.7%), a significantly lower incidence than that in infants and children. Moreover, MALT did not appear in any of the 21 neonates under the age of 1 month. All 99 specimens were classified into 2 groups: 41 specimens with otitis media (OM) and 58 specimens without OM. The presence of MALT was significantly higher in specimens with OM (43.9%) than in specimens without OM (13.8%). Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue was found in the ET, middle ear, and mastoid process in 18 specimens (43.9%), 5 specimens (12.2%), and 1 specimen (2.4%) with OM, respectively, and in 8 (13.8%), 0, and 0 specimens without OM. In regard to the distribution of MALT, it occurred more frequently in the pharyngeal half of the cartilaginous portion of the ET than in the rest of the ET, middle ear, and mastoid; the presence was significantly greater in the inferior half of the cartilaginous portion of the ET than in the superior half. Inflammatory cell infiltration in the cartilaginous and bony portions of the ET was significantly greater in specimens with OM than in specimens without OM with no MALT. However, even in some specimens without OM, inflammatory cells were found in the ET, particularly in the pharyngeal half of the cartilaginous portion of the ET. These findings suggest that MALT has a close relationship to OM and that it may be a local response to repeated infection.
Nosocomial epiglottitis associated with penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia

We cared for a 4-year-old male with nosocomially acquired epiglottitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. He had been receiving ceftazidime therapy when this infection was recognized. The S. pneumoniae isolate was of serotype 15B and was resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, cephalosporins (including those with extended spectra), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Clinicians and clinical microbiologists must be aware that cephalosporin susceptibility may no longer be assumed for penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates and that susceptibility testing for the extended-spectrum cephalosporins should be performed whenever this species is isolated from a normally sterile body fluid.
Single-level dynamic spiral CT of hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation between imaging features and density of tumor microvessels.

AIM To investigate the correlation of enhancement features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) revealed by single-level dynamic spiral CT scanning (DSCT) with tumor microvessel density (MVD), and to determine the validity of DSCT in assessing in vivo tumor angiogenic activity of HCC. METHODS Twenty six HCC patients were diagnosed histopathologically. DSCT was performed for all patients according to standard scanning protocol. Time-density curves were generated, relevant curve parameters were measured, and gross enhancement morphology was analyzed. Operation was performed to remove HCC lesions 1 to 2 weeks following CT scan. Histopathological slides were carefully prepared for the standard F(8)RA immunohistochemical staining and tumor microvessel counting. Enhancement imaging features of HCC lesions were correlatively studied with tumor MVD and its intra-tumor distribution characteristics. RESULTS On DSCT images of HCC lesions, three patterns of time-density curve and three types of gross enhancement morphology were recognized. Histomorphologically, the distribution of positively stained tumor endothelial cells within tumor was categorized into 3 types. Curve parameters such as peak enhancement value and contrast enhancement ratio were significantly correlated with tumor tissue MVD (r=0.508 and r=0.423, P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). Both the pattern of time-density curve and the gross enhancement morphology of HCC lesions were also correlated with tumor MVD, and reflected the distributive features of tumor microvessels within HCC lesions. Correlation between the likelihood of intrahepatic metastasis of HCC lesions with densely enhanced pseudocapsules and rich pseudocapsular tumor MVD was found. CONCLUSION Enhancement imaging features of HCC lesions on DSCT scanning are correlated with tumor MVD, and reflect the intra-tumor distribution characteristics of tumor microvessels. DSCT is valuable in assessing the angiogenic activity and tumor neovascularity of HCC patients in vivo.