Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical performance measures for predicting outcome in cancer patients: a systematic review

Abstract Background: Decision making regarding cancer treatment is challenging and there is a need for clinical parameters that can guide these decisions. As physical performance appears to be a reflection of health status, the aim of this systematic review is to assess whether physical performance tests (PPTs) are predictive of the clinical outcome and treatment tolerance in cancer patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted on 2 April 2015 in the electronic databases Medline and Embase to identify studies focusing on the association between objectively measured PPTs and outcome. No limitations in language or publication dates were applied. Results: The search retrieved 9680 articles, 16 publications were included involving 4187 patients with various cancer types and different treatments. Reported median or mean age varied from 58 to 78 years. Nine studies used the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test, five the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and five studies focused on gait speed. Poorer TUG, SPPB and gait speed outcome were associated with decreased survival. TUG, SPPB and gait speed were also associated with treatment-related complications. Furthermore, two studies reported an association between poorer TUG and SPPB outcome with higher rates of functional decline. Conclusion: PPTs appear to show a significant correlation with survival and these tests could be used as a prognostic tool, particular for older adult patients. A less explicit correlation for treatment-related complications and functional decline was also found. To optimize decision making, future research should focus on developing and validating individualized treatment algorithms that incorporate PPTs in addition to cancer- and treatment-related variables.
Internet banking usage in selected european countries: multiple regression analysis approach

Regression models using six regressors that impact Percentage of Internet users for Internet banking based on EUROSTAT data for EU27 and Croatia for 2011 are studied. Three regression models found to be useful for explanation of the regressand variable. An increase of “GDPpc in PPS” and “Share of GDP for education”, as well as an increase of “Percentage of households with Internet access” and “Broadband penetration rate”, influenced an increase of the regressand variable. Cluster analysis based on seven variables resulted with four clusters of countries.
Design of an interleaved isolated Boost converter with coupled inductors for high step-up applications

This paper analyzes an isolated converter topology that is suitable for high step-up applications, namely the Interleaved Boost with Coupled Inductors (IBCI). An exhaustive steady-state analysis is presented that allows to derive a closed form design procedure for the power stage active and passive components. It is shown that, despite the apparent topological differences, this circuit shares the same energy transfer mechanism with the Single Active Bridge (SAB) converter. Thus, the proposed analysis applies equally to both converter topologies. At the same time, it is able to highlight peculiar features of the IBCI topology, like the existence of two different discontinuous conduction modes. The design procedure is then applied to a single photovoltaic module interface converter, rated for 300 W output power. Measurements taken on a laboratory prototype fully validate the theoretical analysis and the design procedure.
The Effects of Consultation on Over-the-Counter Medication Purchasing Decisions

This article examines factors that predict changes in consumer purchasing decisions of nonprescription medications. Variables corresponding to factors in Andersen's behavioral model are measured, in addition to data regarding characteristics of the 17 pharmacy consultants who provided counseling services. One thousand seven hundred and thirteen consumers in five stores in southern California were provided consultation during a 6-month period, resulting in 25.4% of the patients purchasing a different drug than intended when entering the pharmacy, 1.3% being referred to a physician, and 13.4% not purchasing any over-the-counter medication at all. Logistic regression techniques demonstrated that one enabling variable (availability of generic medications), and four need factors (the discussion of clinical issues, short encounters, cough and cold products, and vitamin products) were significant predictors of the consumer's decision to purchase a different product than intended. Consultant characteristics (introversion, external locus of control) were also important predictors, but opposite the expected direction. Consumers who received information from female consultants were more likely to change their purchasing decisions.
Characterization of human tracheal epithelial cells transformed by an origin-defective simian virus 40.

To facilitate understanding of the mechanisms underlying pulmonary diseases, including lung cancer and cystic fibrosis, we have transformed and characterized cultures of human tracheal epithelial cells. Cells were transfected by calcium phosphate precipitation with a plasmid containing a replication-defective simian virus 40 (SV40) genome. Colonies of cells with enhanced growth potential were isolated and analyzed for transformation- and epithelial-specific characteristics. Precrisis cells were observed to express the SV40 large tumor antigen, produce cytokeratins, have microvilli, and form tight junctions. After crisis, cells continued to express the SV40 large tumor antigen as well as epithelial-specific cytokeratins and to display the apical membrane microvilli. Apical membrane Cl channels were opened in postcrisis cells exposed to 50 microM forskolin. These channels showed electrical properties similar to those observed in primary cultures. The postcrisis cells have been in culture for greater than 250 generations and are potentially "immortal. " In addition to providing a useful in vitro model for the study of ion transport by human airway epithelial cells, the cells can be used to examine stages of neoplastic progression.
CMUT array modeling through free acoustic CMUT modes and analysis of the fluid CMUT interface through Fourier transform methods

A method for analyzing capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) arrays and arrays of elements composed of several CMUTs is proposed. It is based on a combination of a free acoustic mode description of an isolated CMUT, and the coupling of these modes to the fluid in which waves should be excited or detected through an impedance matrix that will depend on frequency. The parameters of the model describing the isolated CMUT is independent of frequency and excitation of neighbor CMUTs, whereas the acoustic impedance matrix describing the coupling to the fluid will depend on both the excitation of neighbor CMUTs and frequency. Hence, this splitting of the calculations has a potential for saving computer time. The analysis gives transfer functions from excitations that vary harmonically with time and space along the array surface to CMUT parameters as current, mode excitations, or output acoustic pressure. Based on this, the response of essentially arbitrary excitations of the CMUTs may be obtained. The method is used to analyze an infinitely large array of circular CMUTs on a rectangular grid. The CMUTs are assumed to be operating in collapsed mode. Sharp resonances are shown to occur that could be significantly damped by adding series resistors to the CMUTs or increasing the water viscosity.
Quantitative correlation between susceptibility and OprJ production in NfxB mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Various Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 NfxB mutants were isolated on agar plates containing cefpirome and ofloxacin. They were classified into type A and type B, based on the degrees of changes in their susceptibilities. Type A mutants were four to eight times more resistant to ofloxacin, erythromycin, and new zwitterionic cephems, i.e., cefpirome, cefclidin, cefozopran, and cefoselis, than was the parent strain, PAO1. In contrast, type B mutants were more resistant to tetracycline and chloramphenicol, as well as ofloxacin, erythromycin, and the new zwitterionic cephems, than was PAO1, and they were four to eight times more susceptible to carbenicillin, sulbenicillin, imipenem, panipenem, biapenem, moxalactam, aztreonam, gentamicin, and kanamycin that was PAO1. The changes in susceptibilities of type B mutants were greater than those of type A mutants. The susceptibilities of both type A and type B mutants were restored to the level of PAO1 by transformation with plasmid pNF111, which contained the wild-type nfxB gene, demonstrating that they are NfxB mutants. Immunoblot analysis with a monoclonal antibody to OprJ revealed that type B mutants produced larger amounts of outer membrane protein OprJ than did type A mutants and that PAO1 produced an undetectable amount of it. Moreover, transconjugants obtained with the different types of NfxB mutants as the donor strains showed almost the same phenotypes as the corresponding donor strains. These results suggest that there are at least two nfxB mutations that show different phenotypes and that production of OprJ is associated with changes in susceptibilities of NfxB mutants.
Improvement of PD location in GIS [gas-insulated switchgear]

The measuring system we used consisted of two UHF sensors with a frequency band of 400 MHz/spl sim/1500 MHz and a digital oscilloscope with maximum 2 GS/s digital rate in its two channels. The difference in arrival times of UHF signals at two sensors can be measured to assist with locating defects in GIS. The test results in the laboratory indicate that the fault location precision depends on the digital rate of the oscilloscope. On the actual site test, if the sample rate is low, there may not be enough sample plots to recover the real pulse wavefronts, which makes it difficult to identify the arrival times at the two sensors of the first peak of the UHF waveform. In this paper, a new algorithm has been described, which applies cubic spline interpolation to increase points between the two real sample points, and improve the location precision of the time-of-flight method. And then the distance difference between the two waves can be determined by using a cross-correlation function. In addition, application software has been developed to help locate the PD source in GIS.
Precision and repeatability of the Optotrak 3020 motion measurement system

Several motion analysis systems are used by researchers to quantify human motion and to perform accurate surgical procedures. The Optotrak 3020 is one of these systems and despite its widespread use there is not any published information on its precision and repeatability. We used a repeated measures design study to evaluate the precision and repeatability of the Optotrak 3020 by measuring distance and angle in three sessions, four distances and three conditions (motion, static vertical, and static tilted). Precision and repeatability were found to be excellent for both angle and distance although they decreased with increasing distance from the sensors and with tilt from the plane of the sensors. Motion did not have a significant effect on the precision of the measurements. In conclusion, the measurement error of the Optotrak is minimal. Further studies are needed to evaluate its precision and repeatability under human motion conditions.
A hybrid model for forecasting wind speed and wind power generation

Forecasting of wind speed and wind power generation is indispensable for the effective operation of a wind farm and the optimal management of revenue and risks. Hybrid forecasting of time series data is considered to be a potentially effective alternative compared with the conventional single forecasting modeling approaches such as autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and artificial neural network (ANN). Hybrid forecasting typically consists of a classic prediction model for the linear component of a time series and a nonlinear forecast model for the nonlinear component. This paper presents a hybrid approach combining ARIMA and radial basis function neural network for forecasting wind speed and wind power. Results obtained by a case study show that the proposed method is suitable for short-term forecasting applications.
Electronic edge-state and space-charge phenomena in long GaN nanowires and nanoribbons

We studied space-charge-distribution phenomena in planar GaN nanowires and nanoribbons (NRs). The results obtained at low voltages demonstrate that the electron concentration changes not only at the edges of the NR, but also in the middle part of the NR. The effect is stronger with decreasing NR width. Moreover, the spatial separation of the positive and negative charges results in electric-field patterns outside the NR. This remarkable feature of electrostatic fields outside the NR may be even stronger in 2D material structures. For larger voltages the space-charge-limited current (SCLC) effect determines the main mechanism of transport in the NR samples. The onset of the SCLC effect clearly correlates with the NR width. The results are confirmed by noise spectroscopy studies of the NR transport. We found that the noise increases with decreasing NR width and the shape of the spectra changes with voltage increase with a tendency toward slope (3/2), reflecting diffusion processes due to the SCLC effect. At higher voltages noise decreases as a result of changes in the scattering mechanisms. We suggest that the features of the electric current and noise found in the NRs are of general character and will have an impact on the development of NR-based devices.
Changes in protein kinase C and cAMP‐dependent kinase in lymphocytes after treatment with 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate or concanavalin A: Quantitation of activities with an in situ gel assay

Primary lymphocytes can be stimulated to proliferate by mitogenic lectins such as concanavalin A (Con A). While the phorbol ester 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) alone is not mitogenic for these cells, it can enhance the response to Con A. Previously, protein kinases and phosphorylation have been reported to be important in lymphocyte proliferation. More recently TPA has been found to bind and activate protein kinase C. Therefore, we examined kinase activity in lymphocytes stimulated with the complete mitogen Con A and the comitogen TPA. In order to monitor more than one kinase we used an in situ gel assay and developed the system to compare both protein kinase C and cAMP‐dependent kinases. When total cell extracts were assayed in the presence of histone five major bands of activity were detected by autoradiography of the gel. The bands corresponding to protein kinase C and to cAMP‐dependent kinases were identified by partial purification of the enzymes, by binding of [20‐3H(N)]7‐phorbol‐12, 13‐dibutyrate (3H‐PDBU), and by photoaffinity labelling with 8‐azidoadenosine‐3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (8‐N3‐[32P]cAMP). Differential extraction of cell lysate allowed comparison of soluble and particulate kinases.
The Association between Hemoglobin A 1 c and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease : The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Division of Prevention and Population Sciences, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
The Production and Characterisation of a Panel of Ten Murine Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Procoagulant Factor VIII

Summary A panel of 10 murine monoclonal antibodies to procoagulant FVIII has been developed from the fusion of a single spleen. Balb/c mice were injected with a purified preparation of FVIII: Ag, and antibody production in sera and hybrid culture supernatants was monitored using a specific radiometric screening assay. The antibodies all inhibit FVIII clotting activity in normal plasma, and when immobilised on agarose retain their ability to recognise and bind the FVIII procoagulant protein. Studies on protein A-purified immunoglobulins demonstrate a range of properties within the panel of antibodies with regard to species crossreactivity, clotting inhibition and immunoadsorption. The panel of antibodies has been used to screen heat-treated FVIII concentrates for the occurrence of heat-induced neoantigens.
The Green State

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Sequence and functional expression of a single alpha subunit of an insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

We report the isolation and sequence of a cDNA clone that encodes a locust (Schistocerca gregaria) nervous system nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunit (alpha L1). The calculated molecular weight of the unglycosylated polypeptide, which contains in the proposed extracellular domain two adjacent cysteine residues which are characteristic of alpha (ligand binding) subunits, is 60,641 daltons. Injection into Xenopus oocytes, of RNA synthesized from this clone in vitro, results in expression of functional nicotinic receptors in the oocyte membrane. In these, nicotine opens a cation channel; the receptors are blocked by both alpha‐bungarotoxin (alpha‐Bgt) and kappa‐bungarotoxin (kappa‐Bgt). Reversible block of the expressed insect AChR by mecamylamine, d‐tubocurarine, tetraethylammonium, bicuculline and strychnine has also been observed. These data are entirely consistent with previously reported electrophysiological studies on in vivo insect nicotinic receptors and also with biochemical studies on an alpha‐Bgt affinity purified locust AChR. Thus, a functional receptor exhibiting the characteristic pharmacology of an in vivo insect nicotinic AChR can be expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection with a single subunit RNA.
Cloning, Expression, and Purification of a Thermostable Nonhomodimeric Restriction Enzyme,BslI

ABSTRACT BslI is a thermostable type II restriction endonuclease with interrupted recognition sequence CCNNNNN/NNGG (/, cleavage position). The BslI restriction-modification system fromBacillus species was cloned and expressed inEscherichia coli. The system is encoded by three genes: the 2,739-bp BslI methylase gene (bslIM), thebslIRα gene, and the bslIRβ gene. The α and β subunits of BslI can be expressed independently inE. coli in the absence of BslI methylase (M.BslI) protection. BslI endonuclease activity can be reconstituted in vitro by mixing the two subunits together. Gel filtration chromatography and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that BslI forms heterodimers (αβ), heterotetramers (α2β2), and possibly oligomers in solution. Two β subunits can be cross-linked by a chemical cross-linking agent, indicating formation of heterotetramerBslI complex (α2β2). In DNA mobility shift assays, neither subunit alone can bind DNA. DNA mobility shift activity was detected after mixing the two subunits together. Because of the symmetric recognition sequence of the BslI endonuclease, we propose that its active form is α2β2. M.BslI contains nine conserved motifs of N-4 cytosine DNA methylases within the β group of aminomethyltransferase. Synthetic duplex deoxyoligonucleotides containing cytosine hemimethylated or fully methylated at N-4 inBslI sites in the first or second cytosine are resistant toBslI digestion. C-5 methylation of the second cytosine on both strands within the recognition sequence also renders the site refractory to BslI digestion. Two putative zinc fingers are found in the α subunit of BslI endonuclease.
Acellular Dermal Matrix Graft as a Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration: A Case Report

Guided bone regeneration has been successfully used to treat several types of bone defects. Problems associated with the procedure, such as premature exposure of the membranes to the oral cavity and, consequently, contamination, may occur. The acellular dermal matrix graft material is presently used to treat several soft tissue problems. It could be used for guided bone regeneration with the advantage of forming soft tissue while acting as a barrier membrane. A patient in need of guided bone regeneration for the staged placement of an implant was treated by using the acellular dermal matrix graft material as a barrier membrane. Healing progressed uneventfully with the formation of adequate new bone and an increase in the width of keratinized tissue.
Hepatitis B Virus Genetic Diversity: Disease Pathogenesis

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem: an estimated two billion people (one-third of the global population) have been infected with HBV at some point in their life; of these, more than 350 million suffer from chronic HBV infection, resulting in over 600,000 deaths each year, mainly from cirrhosis or liver cancer [1]. More than 10% of the global chronic HBV population resides in India [2]; infection may lead to liver damage that results in acute or chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Figure 1). HBV infection was first identified in 1965 when Blumberg and co-workers [3] found the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), originally termed as Australia antigen. Enhanced viral replication leading to a vigorous and extensive immune response may lead to massive liver injury resulting spontaneously into fulminant hepatic failure. The seriousness of disease incidence is mainly related to various host factors (age, gender, duration of infection, immune response) and viral factors (viral load, genotype, quasispecies) (Figure 2). Recent evidence shows that considerable molecular variation occurs throughout the HBV genome, which is correlated with geographical distribution of genotypes and severity of disease.