Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Curcumin (as Meriva) on Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC), NK Cells and T Cell Populations in Patients with Stage 0/1 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Purpose: To determine the effect of curcumin (as Meriva) on absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), T cell populations and NK cells in patients with Rai stage 0/1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) over a period of six months. Experimental Design: Twenty-one patients with significant lympho- cytosis (>20 × 10 9 lymphocytes/L) and stage 0/1 CLL were recruited into the study and received oral curcumin 2 grams/day. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 2 monthly intervals for six months for full blood count, leukocyte surface antigens, liver function, serum biochemistry, immunoglobulins, CRP and ESR. A positive biologic response was defined as a reduction in the ALC of more than 20% from pre-treatment levels. Results: Four patients (20%) demonstrated more than 20% decrease in ALC, three of whom had lower ALC at the end of the study as compared to baseline. The decrease in ALC was accompanied by an increase in CD4, CD8 and NK cells. No de- monstrable response was seen in seventeen patients (80%) who exhibited stable, fluctuating or increasing ALC during the study. Conclusion: A subgroup of stage 0/1 CLL patients may be respon- sive to curcumin therapy. The beneficial response appears to be immunomodulated.
Tracking engineering education research and development: contributions from bibliometric analysis

In recent years, bibliometric analysis of publications has been receiving growing attention in engineering education research as an approach that can bring a number of benefits. In this paper two such forms, taxonomical analysis and citation analysis, are applied to papers from the first 2011 number of IEEE Transactions on Education (21 papers) and from the two 2011 numbers of the ASEEpublished Advances in Engineering Education (22 papers). In the former approach, seven taxonomical dimensions are used to characterize the papers and in the second the references cited in the 43 papers were studied so as to analyze how the researchers were informed by previous studies.The results suggest that the silo effect identified by Wankat for disciplinary engineering education journals in 2009 was still apparent in the IEEE Transactions on Education in 2011. The Advances in Engineering Education papers show a wide range of cited references, including reference disciplines outside of engineering education, and this suggests that research published there is likely to be informed by a broad range of previous studies which may be interpreted as a sign of a growing maturity of engineering education as a research discipline.
Crystal structure of a truncated form of porcine odorant‐binding protein

The odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) are a family of structurally related molecules that are found in high concentrations in the nasal mucus of vertebrates and bind with moderate affinity a large family of hydrophobic odorants. On the basis of their quaternary structure, the OBPs have been classified as monomers, homodimers, and heterodimers. Porcine OBP was believed for a long time to be a monomer under physiological conditions but there are recent data that support the existence of a monomer–dimer equilibrium. We have determined the crystal structure of a monoclinic form of porcine OBP and found that the truncated molecules, which lack the first 8 amino acids, pack in the cell as dimers that appear to have physiological relevance. The presence in the maps of electron density for an endogenous ligand has also let us identify the side chain of the amino acids that are at the ligand‐binding site. In addition, an alternative way of access to the central cavity that binds the ligands is suggested by the particular packing of the molecules in this unit cell. Proteins 2001;42:201–209. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A multiscale model for integrating hyporheic exchange from ripples to meanders

It is necessary to improve our understanding of the exchange of dissolved constituents between surface and subsurface waters in river systems in order to better evaluate the fate of water‐borne contaminants and nutrients and their effects on water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Here we present a model that can predict hyporheic exchange at the bed‐form‐to‐reach scale using readily measurable system characteristics. The objective of this effort was to compare subsurface flow induced at scales ranging from very small scale bed forms up to much larger planform geomorphic features such as meanders. In order to compare exchange consistently over this range of scales, we employed a spectral scaling approach as the basis for a generalized analysis of topography‐induced stream‐subsurface exchange. The spectral model involves a first‐order approximation for local flow‐boundary interactions but is fully three‐dimensional and includes the lateral hyporheic zone in addition to the flow directly beneath the streambed. The primary model input parameters are stream velocity and slope, sediment permeability and porosity, and detailed measurements of the stream channel topography. The primary outputs are the distribution of water flux across the stream channel boundary, the resulting pore water flow paths, and the subsurface residence time distribution. We tested the bed‐form‐exchange component of the model using a highly detailed two‐dimensional data set for exchange with ripples and dunes and then applied the model to a three‐dimensional meandering stream in a laboratory flume. Having spatially explicit information allowed us to evaluate the contributions of both gravitational and current‐driven hyporheic flow through various classes of stream channel features including ripples, dunes, bars, and meanders. The model simulations indicate that all scales of topography between ripples and meanders have a significant effect on pore water flow fields and residence time distributions. Furthermore, complex interactions across the spectrum of topographic features play an important role in controlling the net interfacial flux and spatial distribution of hyporheic exchange. For example, shallow exchange induced by current‐driven interactions with small bed forms dominates the interfacial flux, but local pore water flows are modified significantly by larger‐scale surface‐groundwater interactions. As a result, simplified representations of the stream topography do not adequately characterize patterns and rates of hyporheic exchange.
Clarifications Regarding the 3′ Repeat Region of thecagA Gene in Helicobacter pylori and Clinical Outcome

In a recent issue, Rota et al. (2) reported a study regarding the 3′ repeat region of the cagA gene of Helicobacter pylori in which they classified the cagA 3′ region into three types (A, B/D, and C) according to our previous report (5). They reported no association between 3′ repeat region subtypes and clinical outcome. However, multiple subtypes of the cagA repeat region were associated with gastric ulcer. Unfortunately, the PCR primers they used are located outside of the repeat regions, and strains isolated from East Asian and non-Asian countries are detected by PCR using these primers. As we previously described, the sequences of the second repeat regions in strains from East Asia are completely different from those in strains from non-Asian countries (3, 4). Non-Asian strains possess 102-bp second repeat regions, and East Asian strains possess 162-bp second repeat regions (3–5). Therefore, subtypes A through D cannot be applied to non-Asian strains. In East Asian strains, types A (around 648 bp) and B (around 756 bp) have one second repeat region and types C (around 810 bp) and D (around 756 bp) have two second repeat regions. The expected lengths of the PCR products in East Asian strains are equal to (423 ∼ 432) + (57 × f) + (162 × s), where f is the number of first repeat regions and s is the number of second repeat regions. In contrast, the expected lengths of PCR products in non-Asian strains are equal to (486 ∼ 498) + (57 × f) + (102 × s) bp. We found that typically (>95%) there was only one first repeat region in non-Asian strains (3, 4) such that the expected lengths of the PCR products are (543 ∼ 555) + (102 × s) bp. Thus, 650-, 750-, and 850-bp fragments indicate H. pylori with one, two, and three cagA non-Asian type second repeat regions, respectively, which is in complete agreement with data by Rota et al. confirming that the Brazilian strains have a non-Asian cagA structure. We reported that non-Asian H. pylori strains with three or more second repeat regions were associated with gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (3). Recently, Kidd et al. reported that, compared to the prevalence in patients with gastritis alone, the prevalence of the shortest PCR fragment in the 3′ region of the cagA gene was high in peptic ulcer patients and the prevalence of the longest fragment was high in patients with gastric cancer (1). Rota et al. also noted that the presence of multiple genotypes in the cagA repeat region was associated with gastric ulcer (which is typically associated with pangastritis and some atrophy) but not with duodenal ulcer (which typically has a nonatrophic gastritis) (2). Although neither Rota et al. nor Kidd et al. provided data about the presence of atrophy, both reports are consistent with the hypothesis that cagA second repeat regions are associated with the premalignant condition of gastric atrophy. Finally, the “Japanese methodology” was developed in Houston, Tex. (3).
Research Commentary - Reframing the Dominant Quests of Information Systems Strategy Research for Complex Adaptive Business Systems

We review and reframe three main quests of research on information systems (IS) strategy: (1) the strategic alignment quest, (2) the integration quest, and (3) the sustained competitive advantage quest. The assumptions and logic of these quests have become less relevant in increasingly complex adaptive business systems (CABS), where the competitive performance landscapes of products and services are highly dynamic and co-evolve. We revise the strategic alignment quest to propose a co-evolution quest that addresses not only competitive strategy questions of a firm but also corporate strategy questions. The co-evolution quest seeks to increase a firm's agility and dynamism in repositioning itself, identifying profitable product-market positions as the evolving competitive landscape erodes the profitability of the firm's existing positions. To support the co-evolution quest, we revise the integration quest and propose a reconfiguration quest that encompasses not only business processes but also products and services, as well as the contracts, resources, and transactions associated with them. As the firm makes repositioning moves to co-evolve with the competitive landscape, the reconfiguration quest seeks to increase the firm's agility in disintegrating its existing nexus of contracts, resources, and transactions that support the old positions and in reconfiguring new ones that support the new positions. Finally, we revise the sustained competitive advantage quest to propose a renewal quest that recognizes the temporary nature of competitive advantage in CABS. The renewal quest seeks to destabilize the firm's old sources of competitive advantage when competitive dynamics erode their utility, rapidly create new sources of competitive advantage, and concatenate a series of temporary advantages over time. The three reframed quests provide the foundation for a research agenda on IS strategy in CABS.
GAIP Participates in Budding of Membrane Carriers at the Trans‐Golgi Network

Galpha interacting protein (GAIP) is a regulator of G protein signaling protein that associates dynamically with vesicles and has been implicated in membrane trafficking, although its specific role is not yet known. Using an in vitro budding assay, we show that GAIP is recruited to a specific population of trans‐Golgi network‐derived vesicles and that these are distinct from coatomer or clathrin‐coated vesicles. A truncation mutant (NT‐GAIP) encoding only the N‐terminal half of GAIP is recruited to trans‐Golgi network membranes during the formation of vesicle carriers. Overexpression of NT‐GAIP induces the formation of long, coated tubules, which are stabilized by microtubules. Results from the budding assay and from imaging in live cells show that these tubules remain attached to the Golgi stack rather than being released as carrier vesicles. NT‐GAIP expression blocks membrane budding and results in the accumulation of tubular carrier intermediates. NT‐GAIP‐decorated tubules are competent to load vesicular stomatitis virus protein G‐green fluorescent protein as post‐Golgi, exocytic cargo and in cells expressing NT‐GAIP there is reduced surface delivery of vesicular stomatitis virus protein G‐green fluorescent protein. We conclude that GAIP functions as an essential part of the membrane budding machinery for a subset of post‐Golgi exocytic carriers derived from the trans‐Golgi network.
More oxygen during development enhanced flight performance but not thermal tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster

High temperatures can stress animals by raising the oxygen demand above the oxygen supply. Consequently, animals under hypoxia could be more sensitive to heating than those exposed to normoxia. Although support for this model has been limited to aquatic animals, oxygen supply might limit the heat tolerance of terrestrial animals during energetically demanding activities. We evaluated this model by studying the flight performance and heat tolerance of flies (Drosophila melanogaster) acclimated and tested at different concentrations of oxygen (12%, 21%, and 31%). We expected that flies raised at hypoxia would develop into adults that were more likely to fly under hypoxia than would flies raised at normoxia or hyperoxia. We also expected flies to benefit from greater oxygen supply during testing. These effects should have been most pronounced at high temperatures, which impair locomotor performance. Contrary to our expectations, we found little evidence that flies raised at hypoxia flew better when tested at hypoxia or tolerated extreme heat better than did flies raised at normoxia or hyperoxia. Instead, flies raised at higher oxygen levels performed better at all body temperatures and oxygen concentrations. Moreover, oxygen supply during testing had the greatest effect on flight performance at low temperature, rather than high temperature. Our results poorly support the hypothesis that oxygen supply limits performance at high temperatures, but do support the idea that hyperoxia during development improves performance of flies later in life.
Associations between sports participation, levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in childrenand adolescents

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyse the associations between sports participation, levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). The study comprised 310 participants (183 girls and 127 boys) aged 11–18 years. Sports participation was assessed by questionnaire and habitual physical activity (PA) was measured objectively with accelerometers. The 20-m shuttle-run test was used to estimate CRF. Logistic regression analyses were carried out with CRF as the outcome. The odds ratio (OR) for being fit was greater for those who comply with 60 min · day−1 in MVPA (OR = 2.612; 95%confidence interval [CI] = 1.614–4.225) in comparison with those who do not. Participation in competitive sports at club levels increased the chances of being fit (OR = 13.483; 95%CI = 4.560–39.864), independently of MVPA levels. There were positive and significant trends in CRF and objectively measured PA across the levels of engagement in competitive sports (P < 0.05). Concluding, participation in competitive sports at club level is more effective than other organised or non-organised sports to reach healthier levels of CRF and recommend levels of MVPA.
Single and multiple relay selection schemes with optimum relay factors in wireless sensor networks

Cooperative diversity has been recently proposed as a technique to form virtual antenna arrays in systems with single-antenna nodes. The Amplify-and-Forward (AF) relaying strategy is one of the most popular cooperative diversity schemes due to its low complexity. Selection AF (SAF) relaying, single or multiple relay selection, has recently been proven to achieve the same diversity order as and lower power consumption than All-Participate (AP) networks. Most SAF methods assume constant power for best relay(s), regardless of channel conditions. In these methods relay(s) with weak channels amplify received signal with considerable gain that cause reduction of performance. In this paper, we propose single and multiple relay selection strategies for two-hop relay networks. In the first part of paper, we specify factor of each relay based on MMSE criterion and relay with highest SNR is chosen for cooperation. Our simulation results show that performance of this method is better than previous works. Second part of this paper proposes selection of two, three or any number of relays and uses them. As we see in the simulation results double relay selection has better performance than single relay selection, triple than double and so on and diversity order of all is complete.
Should Years of Schooling Be Used to Guide Treatment of Coronary Risk Factors?

PURPOSE We wanted to compare the risk of death from coronary heart disease (CHD) for patients of low socioeconomic status, measured by educational level, with established risk factors. METHODS We undertook a prospective cohort study. Participants included a representative sample of 6,479 adults aged 25 to 74 years in the United States who were free of CHD at enrollment in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). RESULTS Baseline measures included years of education, age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, total cholesterol level, and smoking. Outcome was death within 10 years from CHD. The relative risk (RR) associated with less than 12 years of education compared with more than 12 years (RR 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–1.8) was comparable to being male (RR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2–1.6), smoking (RR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1–1.6), having a total cholesterol level of greater than 280 mg/dL (RR 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9–2.7), and systolic blood pressure of 130–139 mm Hg (RR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0–2.4). Findings were comparable for estimates of absolute risk. CONCLUSIONS Low educational level is associated with comparable risk as established risk factors for CHD mortality. Incorporation of educational level into risk-based guidelines for treatment could potentially reduce socioeconomic disparities in CHD by lowering thresholds for treatment.
IDEAL

The rivastigmine patch is the first transdermal treatment for Alzheimer disease (AD). By providing continuous delivery of drug into the bloodstream over 24 hours, transdermal delivery may offer benefits superior to those of oral administration. This study compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of rivastigmine patches with capsules and placebo. IDEAL (Investigation of transDermal Exelon in ALzheimer’s disease) was a 24-week, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo- and active-controlled study. Patients with AD were randomized to placebo or one of three active treatment target dose groups: 10-cm2 rivastigmine patch (delivering 9.5 mg/24 hours); 20-cm2 rivastigmine patch (17.4 mg/24 hours); or 6-mg BID rivastigmine capsules. Primary efficacy measures were the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive subscale and Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Clinical Global Impression of Change. Secondary outcome measures assessed a range of domains, including behavior, cognitive performance, attention, executive functions, and activities of daily living. A total of 1,195 AD patients participated. All rivastigmine treatment groups showed significant improvement relative to placebo. The 10-cm2 patch showed similar efficacy to capsules, with approximately two-thirds fewer reports of nausea (7.2% vs 23.1%) and vomiting (6.2% vs 17.0%), incidences statistically not significantly different from placebo (5.0% and 3.3% for nausea and vomiting, respectively). The 20-cm2 patch showed earlier improvement and numerically superior cognitive scores vs the 10-cm2 patch with similar tolerability to capsules. Local skin tolerability was good. The transdermal patch with rivastigmine may offer additional therapeutic benefits and may prove to be the best delivery system for this drug to treat AD.
Dexmedetomidine post-treatment induces neuroprotection via activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in rats with subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine, a sedative agent, provides neuroprotection when administered during or before brain ischaemia. This study was designed to determine whether dexmedetomidine post-treatment induces neuroprotection against subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and the mechanisms for this effect. METHODS Subarachnoid haemorrhage was induced by endovascular perforation to the junction of the right middle and anterior cerebral arteries in adult rats. Dexmedetomidine was applied immediately or 2 h after onset of SAH. Neurological outcome was evaluated 2 days after SAH. Right frontal cortex area 1 was harvested 24 h after SAH for western blotting. RESULTS Subarachnoid haemorrhage reduced neurological scores and increased brain oedema and blood-brain barrier permeability. These effects were attenuated by dexmedetomidine post-treatment. Neuroprotection by dexmedetomidine was abolished by PD98095, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Phospho-ERK, the activated form of ERK, was increased by dexmedetomidine; this activation was inhibited by PD98095. CONCLUSIONS Dexmedetomidine post-treatment provides neuroprotection against SAH. This effect appears to be mediated by ERK.
INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI- INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF COMPOUND ISOLATED FROM MURRAYA KOENIGII

In the present investigation, the compound responsible for antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in methanolic extract of leaves of Murraya koenigii L. was determined by Perkin- Elmer GC Claurus 500 system and Gas Chromatograph interfaced to a Mass Spectrometer GC/MS technique. GC-MS analysis of methanol extract of the leaves of the plant revealed the existence of 1- Methyl-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (69.00%), Ethyl α-d glucopyranoside (13.36%), Isolongifolene, Isolongifolene (3.68%), c-Himachalene (2.88%), 1,2-Ethanediol, monoacetate (2.79%), 1,2- Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-isooctyl ester (2.55%). The pure compounds were separated using a Shimadzo LC 2010 HPLC system (Kyoto, Japan), equipped with a Shimadzo LC 2010 UV-VIS detector with a thermostated flow cell and a selectable two wavelengths of 190 - 370 nm or 371-600nm. These were further screened for their antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. All the compounds possessed some or the other activity. It was found that the compound 9, 12 octadecadienoic acid having the retention time 18.81 and the peak area 0.60 % had potent antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The compound showed potent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, E.coli, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum at MIC value from 0.05-0.56 µg/ml. The compound showed less activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in comparison to other pathogens. The compound possessed to have strong antioxidant activity with IC 50 value of 45.65 µg/ml as measured by DPPH assay. The compound possessed 85 % reduction in paw edema at a dose of 150 µg/ml in reference to standard anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin which showed 68.62 % reduction. The compound was further assayed for cellular toxicity to fresh sheep erythrocytes and found to have no cellular toxicity.