Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INTENSE ALPINE SKIING EXERCISE ON ANTI OXIDANT STATUS OF MALE SKIERS

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess antioxidant status in elite alpine ski racers during six weeks intensive training. Materials and Methods: Subjects included 12 male alpine ski racers (20 ±±±± 5 years) who underwent 6 weeks of intensive training. For red blood cells glutathione content, plasma uric acid and total anti oxidant determination, blood samples were collected before and just after training. Results: Plasma Uric acid concentration (6.5 ±±±± 1.4 mg/dL, 8.3 ±±±± 1.7 mg/dL) and total antioxidant capacity after six weeks intensive training showed statistically significant increases (2.1 ±±±± 0.2 mM, 2.7 ±±±± 0.3 mM). Red blood cell glutathione content also increased after period of training (5.4 ±±±± 0.7 and 6.1 ±±±± 0.9 nmol/mg Hb). Conclusion: Intensive alpine ski training after six weeks can increase total antioxidant capacity of plasma probably by increasing through uric acid and RBC glutathione content.
Impact of Land-cover Change Trajectories on Water Cycle Dynamics in the Jing-Jin-Ji Region, China, from 2000 to 2015

ABSTRACT Diao, W. ; Zhao, Y. ; Zhai, J.; He, F. ; Wang, Q. , and He, G. , 2019. Impact of land cover change trajectories on water cycle dynamics in the Jing-Jin-Ji region, China, from 2000 to 2015. In: Yu, T. -S. (ed.), Environmental Sustainability: Water Resources Integrated Management and the Development of Coastal Environments. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 96, pp. 76–83. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Terrestrial water cycle refers to the circulation of water on Earth from evapotranspiration (E) to precipitation (P). The water cycle can vary spatially as it is influenced by both climate and human activities. In this study, we examined the effects of different land-use conversion processes on water cycle dynamics in the Jing-Jin-Ji region of China from 2000 to 2015. To isolate the influence of individual factors on water cycle dynamics, we used ΔE+ΔP as an index, where positive values indicated an acceleration of the water cycle, and negative values indicated a deceleration. The contributions of land-cover change were isolated using the trajectory method. There were eight water cycle dynamics patterns—four accelerations and four decelerations—affecting 99.59% of the total study area. Increased evapotranspiration and decreased precipitation were the major water cycle processes, affecting 70.03% of the total study area. Differences in land cover resulted in both positive and negative water cycle dynamics depending on the land transformation over the study period. Urbanization weakened the water cycle, and the earlier that it occurred, the more obvious the weakening effect. For other land-cover conversions, cropland displayed heterogeneity by both weakening and accelerating the water cycle. This study provides insights into water cycle dynamics for water resource managers in varying environments.
Evaluation of molecular typing and serological methods in solving discrepant results of weak and partial D (Rh) in South Egypt

INTRODUCTION: Rh discrepancies produced by partial and weak D phenotypes are a problem during routine testing. Some blood units with weak and partial D expression may be missed by serology. Overcoming the limitations of serology can be achieved by molecular typing. Our objective was to evaluate currently used serologic methods with the molecular analysis in solving discrepant results of weak and partial D (Rh) in South Egypt. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty blood donor and patient samples with undetermined D phenotype were subjected to serology to define their phenotype using identification (ID)-Card “ID-partial RhD typing set” using six monoclonal anti-D panels, followed by molecular typing using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer kit. RESULTS: Molecular typing confirmed most of the serology results; two samples previously resolved as partial D Type 3 and DFR by serological methods were clarified by molecular techniques – one sample as weak Type 4 and the other sample as weak Type 3. Among the weak D alleles found in our study, Type 4 was the most common, with a frequency of 20%, followed by Type 3 (14%), Type 1 (8%), Type 2 (6%), and finally, Type 5 with a frequency of 3%. The most common types of partial D were partial D Type D5 (14%) and Type D3 (10%). CONCLUSION: Our study identified D variants (weak D and partial D categories) of the antigen D and determined the frequency and composition of partial D and weak D alleles in our population. Molecular typing also confirmed most of the results obtained from serological methods.
A Perspective on the Role of Dynamic Alternative RNA Splicing in the Development, Specification, and Function of Axon Initial Segment

Alternative splicing is a powerful mechanism for molecular and functional diversification. In neurons, alternative splicing extensively controls various developmental steps as well as the plasticity and remodeling of neuronal activity in the adult brain. The axon initial segment (AIS) is the specialized compartment of proximal axons that initiates action potential (AP). At the AIS, the ion channels and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) required for AP initiation are densely clustered via the scaffolding and cytoskeletal proteins. Notably, recent studies have elucidated that multiple AIS proteins are controlled by extensive alternative splicing in developing and adult brains. Here, we argue the potential role of dynamic regulation of alternative splicing in the development, specification, and functions of the AIS. In particular, we propose the novel concept that alternative splicing potentially modulates the structural and functional plasticity at the AIS.
Antimicrobial practice Use of a treatment protocol in the management of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection

The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of an antimicrobial prescribing protocol on clinical and economic outcome measures in hospitalized patients with communityacquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). The study was performed as a prospective controlled clinical trial within the medical wards at Antrim Area Hospital, Northern Ireland. Data were collected on all hospitalized adult patients with a primary diagnosis of LRTI during the period December 1994 to February 1995 (normal hospital practice; control group; n 112). After an LRTI management protocol (medical, microbiological and pharmacy staff) had been developed, all hospitalized adult patients with a primary diagnosis of LRTI over the period December 1995 to February 1996 formed the intervention group (treated according to the protocol; n 115). The results showed a statistically significant impact of the protocol in terms of clinical and economic outcome measures. Patients treated using the algorithmic prescribing protocol had significant reductions in length of hospital stay (geometric mean 4.5 versus 9.2 days), iv drug administration (34.8% versus 61.6%), duration of iv therapy (geometric mean 2.1 versus 5.7 days) and treatment failures (7.8% versus 31.3%). Healthcare costs were also significantly reduced. The use of the protocol was a major factor in streamlining the prescribing of antimicrobial therapy for community-acquired LRTI and led to more cost-effective patient management.
Associations Between the Apolipoprotein E ε4 Allele and Reduced Serum Levels of High Density Lipoprotein a Cognitively Normal Aging Han Chinese Population

Background: Previous studies have confirmed that APOE genotype is associated with lipid metabolism, but related studies are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this cross-sectional study to explore the associations between apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes and serum levels of fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and low density lipoprotein in a cognitively normal aging Han Chinese population. Methods: One hundred sixty-nine community elders with normal cognitive function were included in the study. Based on multiplex amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (PCR), these subjects were divided into three groups: (1) E2/2 or E2/3 (APOE E2); (2) E3/3 (APOE E3); and (3) E2/4, E3/4, or E4/4 (APOE E4). Correlations of serum levels of fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and low density lipoprotein with APOE genotypes were assessed. Results: The results of Mann-Whitney analysis showed that the concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in APOE E2 and E3 groups was higher than that in E4 groups (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis also suggested that a lower level of high density lipoprotein was associated with the E4 allele (adjusted odds ratio 0.164, 95% confidence interval 0.031~ 0.876, P = 0.034). Conclusion: APOE E4 is associated with decreased serum high density lipoprotein concentration in healthy elderly. However, the above conclusions need to be further verified.
Oral vitamin D - Is it Necessary to be taken with Meals Containing Fat?

: Vitamin D is fat-soluble. It is suggested to be taken with meals containing fat to enhance its intestinal absorption. However, there are only a few controlled studies which investigate prandial inferences on its absorption. Within a group of 13 general practitioners, during a period of three months, we ran two identical study protocols during winter and early springtime. Blood was taken from the subjects, 60’000 units of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) in 3 ml of oil was ingested, and blood was sampled once again a week later. In a randomized cross-over design, one time the vitamin was ingested postprandially, and another time in a fasting state. The basal levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were 45 (28) (median, interquartile range) before fasting, and 40 (15) nmol/l before postprandial dosing. One week thereafter, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was increased by 13 (21), when the supplement was ingested in a fasting state, while taken after a meal containing fat, the rise was 25 (17) nmol/l (n.s., p=0.13). The other parameters which were tested remained unchanged throughout the study: calcium, phosphate, albumin, and 1,25? dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol). Our preliminary data do not support major influences on vitamin D absorption by the influence of fasting vs. concomitant fatty meal intake. Vitamin D oral loading doses can be applied irrespective of prandial state, while its maintenance dosing by the patients should still take place after a meal containing fat. Absorption of
Quantitative Analysis of Proteome in Non-functional Pituitary Adenomas: Clinical Relevance and Potential Benefits for the Patients

Background: Non-functional pituitary adenoma (NFPA) is a common tumor that occurs in the pituitary gland, and generally without any symptoms at its early stage and without clinical elevation of hormones, which is commonly diagnosed when it grows up to compress its surrounding tissues and organs. Currently, the pathogenesis of NFPA has not been clarified yet. It is necessary to investigate molecular alterations in NFPA, and identify reliable biomarkers and drug therapeutic targets for effective treatments. Methods: Tandem mass tags (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was used to identify and quantify proteins in NFPAs. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to analyze the identified proteins. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between NFPA and control tissues were obtained from GEO datasets. These two sets of protein and gene data were analyzed to obtain overlapped molecules (genes; proteins), followed by further GO and KEGG pathway analyses of these overlapped molecules, and molecular network analysis to obtain the hub molecules with Cytoscape. Two hub molecules (SRC and AKT1) were verified with Western blotting. Results: Totally 6076 proteins in NFPA tissues were identified, and 3598 DEGs between NFPA and control tissues were identified from GEO database. Overlapping analysis of 6076 proteins and 3598 DEGs obtained 1088 overlapped molecules (DEGs; proteins). KEGG pathway analysis of 6076 proteins obtained 114 statistically significant pathways, including endocytosis, and spliceosome signaling pathways. KEGG pathway analysis of 1088 overlapped molecules obtained 52 statistically significant pathways, including focal adhesion, cGMP-PKG pathway, and platelet activation signaling pathways. These pathways play important roles in cell energy supply, adhesion, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment. According to the association degree in Cytoscape, ten hub molecules (DEGs; proteins) were identified, including GAPDH, ALB, ACACA, SRC, ENO2, CALM1, POTEE, HSPA8, DECR1, and AKT1. Western-blotting analysis confirmed the upregulated expressions of SRC and PTMScan experiment confirmed the increased levels of pAKT1, in NFPAs compared to controls. Conclusions: This study established the large-scale quantitative protein profiling of NFPA tissue proteome. It offers a basis for subsequent in-depth proteomics analysis of NFPAs, and insight into the molecular mechanism of NFPAs. It also provided the basic data to discover reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NFPA patients.
Oblivious of the yellow world – A newborn's telltale: ABO hemolytic disease of newborn

The increased destruction of fetal red cells can be immune (allo- or autoantibodies) or nonimmune (hemoglobinopathies, enzyme defects, and membrane defects) in nature and can cause shortened life span of red cells leading to hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Maternofetal ABO incompatibility is common but rarely leads to severe anemia due to poorly developed A or B antigens on fetal red blood cells and neutralization of antibody by tissue and soluble ABO blood group substances in plasma, while RhD hemolytic disease of newborn (HDN) occurring due to D-antigen sensitization in D-negative mothers may lead to severe HDN. Here, we report a case of an inborn neonate who was admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital at day 1 of life with severe hyperbilirubinemia and needed exchange transfusion.
A Slower Age-Related Decline in Treatment Outcomes After the First Ovarian Stimulation for in vitro Fertilization in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients have a better ovarian reserve and age-related improvement in endocrine disturbances than non-PCOS patients. The effects of age on in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment outcomes associated with cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) remain unclear. Objectives: To study the effect of age on CLBR after the first ovarian stimulation in IVF in PCOS patients. Method: This retrospective cohort study included 3,502 PCOS patients and 18,596 patients with tubal factor infertility, who underwent their first IVF cycles and subsequent frozen embryo transfer (ET) attempts. The primary outcome was CLBR associated with a single stimulation cycle and secondary outcomes included the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate (LBR), large for gestational age (LGA) rate, small for gestational age (SGA) rate, and preterm birth (PTB) rate of fresh ET cycles. Results: PCOS patients over 40 years had a higher implantation rate (27.8 vs. 15.7%, P < 0.05), clinical pregnancy rate (51.4 vs. 26.1%, P < 0.05), LBR (42.3 vs. 18.2%, P < 0.05), and CLBR (50.0 vs. 21.5%, P < 0.05) than non-PCOS patients over 40 years. These rates were comparable between PCOS patients aged 35 to 40 years and those aged over 40 years (P = 0.263, 0.385, and 0.112, respectively). The changes in the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and CLBR by age were slower for PCOS patients than for non-PCOS patients (all P < 0.05). Among PCOS patients less than 35 years, BMI was negatively associated with CLBR [aOR: 0.961 (0.939–0.985); P < 0.05]; however, among PCOS patients over 35 years, instead of BMI (P = 0.353), age [aOR: 0.891 (0.803–0.990); P < 0.05] and the number of oocytes retrieved [aOR: 1.093 (1.002–1.078); P < 0.05] were significantly associated with CLBR. No significant differences in LGA, LGA, or PTB were detected between PCOS and non-PCOS patients over 35 years (all P > 0.05). Conclusions: The declines in treatment outcomes with age are slower for PCOS patients than for non-PCOS patients. For patients over 40 years, PCOS patients have reproductive advantages over non-PCOS patients. In contrast to younger PCOS patients (<35 years), older PCOS patients (≥35 years) may benefit less from taking time to lose weight before IVF treatment, and the immediate initiation of assisted reproductive treatment is essential.
Spatially Conditioned Speech Timing: Evidence and Implications

Patterns of relative timing between consonants and vowels appear to be conditioned in part by phonological structure, such as syllables, a finding captured naturally by the two-level feedforward model of Articulatory Phonology (AP). In AP, phonological form – gestures and the coordination relations between them – receive an invariant description at the inter-gestural level. The inter-articulator level actuates gestures, receiving activation from the inter-gestural level and resolving competing demands on articulators. Within this architecture, the inter-gestural level is blind to the location of articulators in space. A key prediction is that intergestural timing is stable across variation in the spatial position of articulators. We tested this prediction by conducting an Electromagnetic Articulography (EMA) study of Mandarin speakers producing CV monosyllables, consisting of labial consonants and back vowels in isolation. Across observed variation in the spatial position of the tongue body before each syllable, we investigated whether inter-gestural timing between the lips, for the consonant, and the tongue body, for the vowel, remained stable, as is predicted by feedforward control, or whether timing varied with the spatial position of the tongue at the onset of movement. Results indicated a correlation between the initial position of the tongue gesture for the vowel and C-V timing, indicating that inter-gestural timing is sensitive to the position of the articulators, possibly relying on somatosensory feedback. Implications of these results and possible accounts within the Articulatory Phonology framework are discussed.
Road Surface Classification with Images Captured From Low-cost Camera - Road Traversing Knowledge (RTK) Dataset

The type of road pavement directly influences the way vehicles are driven. It’s common to find papers that deal with path detection but don’t take into account major changes in road surface patterns. The quality of the road surface has a direct impact on the comfort and especially on the safety of road users. In emerging countries it’s common to find unpaved roads or roads with no maintenance. Unpaved or damaged roads also impact in higher fuel costs and vehicle maintenance. This kind of analysis can be useful for both road maintenance departments as well as for autonomous vehicle navigation systems to verify potential critical points. For the experiments accomplishment upon the surface types and quality classification, we present a new dataset, collected with a low-cost camera. This dataset has examples of good and bad asphalt (with potholes and other damages) other types of pavement and also many examples of unpaved roads (with and without potholes). We also provide several frames from our dataset manually sorted in surface types for tests accuracy verification. Our road type and quality classifier was done through a simple Convolutional Neural Network with few steps and presents promising results in different datasets.
The Practicing Workshop: A Development Project

In music academies and conservatoires, the culture of teaching and learning seems to nurture individuality and hierarchic structures at the cost of collaboration and sense of community. This could indicate a privatized conception of teaching and learning musical skills. As current research suggest that students’ learning may benefit from collaborative learning with their peers, the present article addresses music performance students’ understanding of the learning potential from participating in a specific social learning context. The study investigated students’ perceptions of outcomes from participating in a practicing workshop in a music academy, on both an individual and social level. The workshop aimed at helping music performance students develop their understanding of instrumental practicing. The course allowed for sharing ideas and experiences, and for collaborative exploration, discussion, and reflection. We conducted qualitative interviews with five volunteering students that had followed the workshop. Although identifying direct outcomes of the workshop in general proved to be difficult, we found that the students reported positive learning experiences from planning, implementing, and presenting their individual development projects, and that their awareness of variations in the group strengthened their confidence in how they tailored their own individual practicing. However, they also described more mixed outcomes in relation to learning about practicing directly from other students. The study also revealed that just providing a group forum for students does not in itself lead to positive learning experiences. Implications of the study are discussed.
PTEN Inhibition Protects Against Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage-Induced Brain Injury Through PTEN/E2F1/β-Catenin Pathway

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of stroke with highest mortality and morbidity. We have previously demonstrated that dipotassium bisperoxo (picolinato) oxovanadate (V), (bpV[pic]) inhibits phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. In this study, we examined the effect of bpV[pic] in the rat ICH model in vivo and the hemin-induced injury model in rat cortical cultures. The rat model of ICH was created by injecting autologous blood into the striatum, and bpV[pic] was intraperitoneally injected. The effects of bpV[pic] were evaluated by neurological tests, Fluoro-Jade C (FJC) staining, and Nissl staining. We demonstrate that bpV[pic] attenuates ICH-induced brain injury in vivo and hemin-induced neuron injury in vitro. The expression of E2F1 was increased, but β-catenin expression was decreased after ICH, and the altered expressions of E2F1 and β-catenin after ICH were blocked by bpV[pic] treatment. Our results further show that bpV[pic] increases β-catenin expression through downregulating E2F1 in cortical neurons and prevents hemin-induced neuronal damage through E2F1 downregulation and subsequent upregulation of β-catenin. By testing the effect of PTEN-siRNA, PTEN cDNA, or combined use of ERK1/2 inhibitor and bpV[pic] in cultured cortical neurons after hemin-induced injury, we provide evidence suggesting that PTEN inhibition by bpV[pic] confers neuroprotection through E2F1 and β-catenin pathway, but the neuroprotective role of ERK1/2 activation by bpV[pic] cannot be excluded.