Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein and lipoprotein(a) levels in chronic kidney disease patients under hemodialysis: Influence of adiponectin and of a polymorphism in the apolipoprotein(a) gene

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with an abnormal lipid profile. Our aim was to study the interplay between oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL), adiponectin, and blood lipids and lipoproteins in Portuguese patients with CKD under hemodialysis (HD); the influence of the pentanucleotide repeat polymorphism in the apolipoprotein(a) (apo [a]) gene upon lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) levels in these patients. We studied 187 HD patients and 25 healthy individuals. ox‐LDL and adiponectin were measured using enzyme‐linked immunoassays. Apo(a) genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction, followed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. Compared with controls, patients presented with significantly higher levels of adiponectin, Lp(a), and ox‐LDL/low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) ratio; significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDLc, apo A‐I, apo B, ox‐LDL, and TC/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) ratio were also observed. Similar changes were observed for patients with or without statin therapy, as compared with controls, except for Lp(a). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that body mass index, HDLc, time on HD, and triglycerides (TG) were independent determinants of adiponectin levels, and that apo B, TG and LDLc were independent determinants of ox‐LDL concentration. Concerning the apo(a) genotype, the homozygous (TTTTA)8/8 repeats was the most prevalent (50.8%). A raised proportion of LDL particles that are oxidized was observed. Adiponectin almost doubled its values in patients and seems to be an important determinant in HDLc and TG levels, improving the lipid profile in these patients. Apo(a) alleles with a lower number of repetitions are more frequent in patients with higher Lp(a).
Reduced serum uric acid levels in neuromyelitis optica: serum uric acid levels are reduced during relapses in NMO

Uric acid (UA), a product of purine metabolism, is known to be reduced in patients with various neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it has still remained unclear whether there is a close relationship between UA and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum UA levels and disease activity in NMO.
IPv6 adoption rate and performance in the 5G wireless internets

As, the address space of IPv4 is nearly exhausted, big networks are now implementing IPv6. Over the past few years IPv6 has grown significant acknowledgment globally due to exhaustion of IPv4 especially after Internet Assigned Numbers Authority gave out the last batch of remaining IPv4 address blocks in the year 2011, IPv6 thus provides a solution to these problems, nevertheless, there seems to be a general low adoption rate of IPV6. This is majorly attributed to high migration costs, there is no prove on return of IPv6 technology as well as the fact that Network address translation together with Inter-Domain routing that is classless hampering the exhaustion of IPv4. In this paper, we attempts to investigate the adoption rate and performance of IPv6 within 5 generation wireless networks in comparison with IPv4. Within the simulation exercise the study conducted simulation to find throughput within several servers on a wireless network for a period of one week to access IPv6 and IPv4 reliability. Furthermore, we investigated the data and le transfer, transfer of voice data as well as Video streaming transfer over IPv6 and IPv4. The results indicated that generally the adoption rate of IPv6 is a bit slower but then it is rising significantly over time, it also varies greatly per country and largely dictated by small amounts of huge implementations.
Business Strategy and Auditor Reporting

SUMMARY: This study examines whether a firm's business strategy influences auditor reporting. We rely on the organizational literature to develop our prediction that firms utilizing the innovative “prospector” strategy will be more likely than firms utilizing the cost-leadership “defender” strategy to receive both going concern and material weakness opinions. Our empirical evidence supports this prediction. Specifically, we find that, among a sample of financially troubled firms, prospectors are significantly more likely than defenders to receive a going concern opinion. We then analyze a sample of clients who subsequently filed for bankruptcy and find that auditors are less likely to issue going concern opinions to prospector clients. This indicates that auditors commit more Type II errors when auditing prospector clients. We also find that prospectors are significantly more likely than defenders to receive a material weakness opinion. Taken together, the evidence suggests that business strategy is a sig.
Biomechanical Comparison of the Achillon® Tendon Repair System and the Krackow Locking Loop Technique

Background: The Achillon® Achilles tendon repair system combines the benefits of open repair and percutaneous repair and has excellent clinical results with minimal complications. The Krackow locking loop has been the standard suture technique for many surgeons in open Achilles repair. We determined to see how the Achillon® repair compared with the Krackow locking loop in a biomechanical pull-out study. Methods: Paired lower limbs of ten human cadavers were randomly split to receive repair via Krackow locking loop or via Achillon® in concordance with the manufacturer's manual. Following repair, the study groups were subjected to the same tissue processing and tensioned to failure in an Instron® 8841 device. From load-displacement curves, initial linear stiffness, load to failure, and work to failure were determined. Results: The predominant mechanism of failure for the Krackow stitch was the breakage of the sutures or knots. The predominant failure mechanism of the Achillon® repairs was the tearing of the suture loops through the tendon tissue. Repairs using the Krackow stitch possessed an average maximum load to failure of 128.3 ± 30.3 N and a work to failure of 2199.1 ± 669.7 N mm. After excluding outliers, repairs with the Achillon® technique resulted in a maximum failure load of 178 ± 35.4 N and a work to failure of 3999.8 ± 942.7 N mm that were both significantly higher than the Krackow stitch (p < 0.05). The initial stiffness of the repairs was significantly higher using the Krackow stitch (10.4 ± 2.0 N/mm) compared to the Achillon® technique (6.6 ± 2.3 N/mm) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate a properly performed Achillon® repair can be stronger (higher load to failure) and tougher (higher work to failure) than an open repair using the Krackow locking loop, although the Krackow repair tends to be stiffer prior to plastic deformation in this model. Clinical Relevance: Applied correctly, the Achillon® repair system offers an effective, minimally invasive alternative to traditional open repair.
Drug Targeting of Erythropoietin Across the Primate Blood-Brain Barrier with an IgG Molecular Trojan Horse

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a neurotrophic factor that could be developed as a new drug for brain disorders. However, EPO does not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the present study, human EPO was re-engineered by fusion to the carboxyl terminus of the heavy chain of a chimeric monoclonal antibody (MAb) to the human insulin receptor (HIR). The HIRMAb acts as a molecular Trojan horse to ferry the EPO into the brain via receptor-mediated transport on the endogenous BBB insulin receptor. The HIRMAb-EPO fusion protein was immunoreactive with antibodies to both human IgG and EPO. The HIRMAb-EPO fusion protein bound with high affinity to the extracellular domain of both the HIR (ED50 = 0.21 ± 0.05 nM) and the EPO receptor (ED50 = 0.30 ± 0.01 nM) and activated thymidine incorporation into human TF-1 cells with an ED50 of 0.1 nM. Differentially radiolabeled EPO and the HIRMAb-EPO fusion protein were injected intravenously into adult rhesus monkeys. Whereas EPO did not cross the primate BBB, the HIRMAb-EPO fusion protein was rapidly transported into brain, at levels that produce pharmacologic elevations in brain EPO at small systemic doses. The HIRMAb fusion protein selectively targeted the brain relative to peripheral organs. In conclusion, a novel IgG-EPO fusion protein has been engineered, expressed, and shown to be bifunctional with retention of high-affinity binding to both the insulin and EPO receptors. The IgG-EPO fusion protein represents a new class of EPO neurotherapeutics that has been specifically re-engineered to penetrate the human BBB.
Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Substrate 1 Regulates the Migration of Langerhans Cells from the Epidermis to Draining Lymph Nodes

Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate 1 (SHPS-1) is a member of the signal regulatory protein family in which the extracellular region interacts with its ligand, CD47. Recent studies have demonstrated that SHPS-1 plays an important role in cell migration and cell adhesion. We demonstrate in this study, using immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analyses, that murine Langerhans cells (LCs) express SHPS-1. Treatment of mice ears with 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene significantly reduced the number of epidermal LCs, and that reduction could be reversed by pretreatment with mAb to SHPS-1 or the CD47-Fc fusion protein. Treatment with the SHPS-1 mAb in vivo reduced the number of FITC-bearing cells in the lesional lymph nodes after the application of FITC to the skin. The SHPS-1 mAb inhibited the in vivo TNF-α-induced migration of LCs. The emigration of dendritic cells expressing I-Ab+ from skin explants to the medium was also reduced by the SHPS-1 mAb. We further demonstrate that the chemotaxis of a murine dendritic cell line, XS52, by macrophage inflammatory protein-3β was significantly inhibited by treatment with the SHPS-1 mAb or CD47-Fc recombinant protein. Finally, we show that migration of LCs was attenuated in mutant mice that lack the intracellular domain of SHPS-1. These observations show that the ligation of SHPS-1 with the SHPS-1 mAb or with CD47-Fc abrogates the migration of LCs in vivo and in vitro, which suggests that the SHPS-1-CD47 interaction may negatively regulate LC migration.
The clustering conditions for managing creative tourism destinations: the Alqueva region case, Portugal

The paper discusses conditions and format of a cluster model to support the management of a potential creative tourism destination in a setting where regional cross-sectoral collaboration is lacking. Creative tourism development requires a flexible framework and a healthy collaboration environment, more so when associated with resources shared by several stakeholders. This article focuses on the tourism potential of archaeological knowledge discovered during the environmental impact assessment of the Alqueva dam (Alentejo, Portugal). Interviews were conducted with 38 regional actors in the tourism and heritage sectors, as well as the dam developers and the companies responsible for archaeological interventions. Findings indicate that the lack of specific local policy addressing archaeological heritage hampers its potential use for tourism development, which is further aggravated by the absence of stakeholder communication and cooperation. A conceptual cluster model for the management of creative tourism destinations based on heritage resources and other local resources is proposed.
CLaC @ QATS: Quality Assessment for Text Simplification

This paper describes our approach to the 2016 QATS quality assessment shared task. We trained three independent Random Forest classifiers in order to assess the quality of the simplified texts in terms of grammaticality, meaning preservation and simplicity. We used the language model of Google-Ngram as feature to predict the grammaticality. Meaning preservation is predicted using two complementary approaches based on word embedding and WordNet synonyms. A wider range of features including TF-IDF, sentence length and frequency of cue phrases are used to evaluate the simplicity aspect. Overall, the accuracy of the system ranges from 33.33% for the overall aspect to 58.73% for grammaticality.
Quantitation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Breast Milk

ABSTRACT The distribution and stability of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in breast milk (BM) components remain largely unknown. Inhibitory effects, if any, of BM on HIV RNA and DNA PCR amplification are poorly understood. We have addressed these issues by using virus-spiked BM samples from HIV-negative women. BM samples from HIV-negative women were spiked with HIV-1 virions or cells containing a single integrated copy of HIV DNA (8E5/LAV). After incubation under different experimental conditions, viral RNA was detected by the Roche Amplicor UltraSensitive assay in whole-milk, skim milk, and lipid fractions. We found excellent correlation between HIV-1 input copy and recovery in whole milk (r = 0.965, P < 0.0001), skim milk (r = 0.972, P < 0.0001), and the lipid fraction (r = 0.905, P < 0.001). PCR inhibition was observed in less than 10% of the spiked samples. Similar levels of inhibition were noted in BM samples collected from HIV-infected women. HIV proviral DNA was detected in BM samples using real-time PCR (linear correlation between the threshold cycle versus log DNA copy number, >0.982). The effects of incubation duration and temperature and repeated freeze-thaw cycles on HIV RNA recovery were analyzed. HIV RNA levels were remarkably stable in whole milk after three freeze-thaw cycles and for up to 30 h at room temperature. Our findings improve the understanding of the dynamics of HIV detection in BM and the conditions for BM sample collection, storage, and processing.
Studies on the cellular architecture of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis in the rat: I. cytoarchitecture

The cytoarchitecture of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BST) in the adult male rat was examined in the three standard planes of section, and the results were compared with the distribution of immunohistochemical staining for a variety of neuropeptides in a companion paper (Ju et al.: J. Comp. Neurol. 280:603–621, '89). It is clear that the BST is an extremely complex mass of gray matter that can be parcellated most clearly into anterior and posterior divisions, which are separated by a more‐or‐less vertical septum of fibers associated with the stria terminalis. The anterior division can be further parcellated into dorsal, lateral, and ventral areas, and each of these areas, along with the posterior division, can be thought of as containing more‐or‐less discrete nuclei embedded within a relatively undifferentiated region. Thus, we have recognized a central core in the anterodorsal area; oval, juxtacapsular, and rhomboid nuclei in the anterolateral area; and fusiform, dorsomedial, dorsolateral, magnocellular, and ventral nuclei in the anteroventral area. The most obvious cell groups in the posterior division include the principal, interfascicular, transverse, premedullary, and dorsal nuclei. Problems associated with defining the limits of the BST, and with comparing our results with the earlier literature, are discussed.
Walking behavior in Istanbul: Individual attributes, neighborhood context and perceived safety

Walking, for both utilitarian and recreational purposes, is one of the most common physical activities and is an integral part of daily active living. The socio-ecological perspective suggest that built and social environments act together to influence walking behavior. This paper examines how neighborhood and micro-environment safety contexts are associated with utilitarian and recreational walking. Data for this study were obtained from a large quality of life study conducted in metro Istanbul (1635 face-to-face interviews). The results show that utilitarian and recreational walking are influenced by perceived neighborhood safety and signs of territorial functioning (maintenance) in the immediate context. In addition, busy places and an assessment of the area as a good place to walk encourage both types of walking. Several, differences are found, however. The differences between the factors influencing the two types of walking behavior relate to a number of individual attributes and neighborhood social networks, neighborhood density, number of cars in the household, and the overall satisfaction with living in the area. Overall, these findings indicate that the concept of “walking” should not be considered a uni-dimensional construct, but rather there seems to be types of walking behavior, with different “causes” associated with those types. Implications of the research are drawn for possible policy to encourage types of walking behavior.
Exogenous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Can Induce Preeclampsia-Like Symptoms in Pregnant Mice

It is reported that expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in trophoblasts increases in cases with preeclampsia. Recently, we demonstrated that the lack of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p57kip2, expression in the fetus and the placenta plays a role in the development of preeclampsia-like symptoms in pregnant mice. Furthermore, we observed that VEGF mRNA and protein levels, especially VEGF (164), were higher and its expression was stronger in placentas of p57kip2-null embryos than in placentas of wild-type embryos. In this study we investigated whether exogenous murine VEGF (164) induced preeclampsia-like symptoms in pregnant mice, and anti-VEGF neutralized antibody could suppress these symptoms. Administration of VEGF induced hypercoagulation in the placental circulation and a significant elevation of systolic blood pressure in pregnant mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that treatment with anti-VEGF antibody could suppress the hypercoagulability in placenta and the elevation of systolic blood pressure. These data suggest that VEGF is related to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Evidence That IRS-2 Phosphorylation Is Required for Insulin Action in Hepatocytes*

Insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) are tyrosine-phosphorylated following stimulation with insulin, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and interleukins. A key question is whether different IRSs play different roles to mediate insulin’s metabolic and growth-promoting effects. In a novel system of insulin receptor-deficient hepatocytes, insulin fails to (i) stimulate glucose phosphorylation, (ii) enhance glycogen synthesis, (iii) suppress glucose production, and (iv) promote mitogenesis. However, insulin’s ability to induce IRS-1 and gab-1 phosphorylation and binding to phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase is unaffected, by virtue of the compensatory actions of IGF-1 receptors. In contrast, phosphorylation of IRS-2 and generation of IRS-2/PI 3-kinase complexes are markedly reduced. Thus, absence of insulin receptors selectively reduces IRS-2, but not IRS-1 phosphorylation, and the impairment of IRS-2 activation is associated with lack of insulin effects. To address whether phosphorylation of additional IRSs is also affected, we analyzed phosphotyrosine-containing proteins in PI 3-kinase immunoprecipitates from insulin-treated cells. However, these experiments indicate that IRS-1 and IRS-2 are the main PI 3-kinase-bound proteins in hepatocytes. These data identify IRS-2 as the main effector of both the metabolic and growth-promoting actions of insulin through PI 3-kinase in hepatocytes, and IRS-1 as the main substrate mediating the mitogenic actions of IGF-1 receptors.
Types of parent verbal responsiveness that predict language in young children with autism spectrum disorder.

PURPOSE This study examined short-term predictive associations between 5 different types of parent verbal responsiveness and later spoken vocabulary for 32 young children with a confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHOD Parent verbal utterances were coded from videotapes of naturalistic parent-child play sessions using interval and event-based coding. A vocabulary difference score, calculated using the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (L. Fenson et al., 1993), was used as the outcome measure of spoken vocabulary 6 months later. RESULTS Parent follow-in comments and follow-in directives predicted spoken vocabulary after controlling for child engagement. Parent expansions of child verbal utterances predicted spoken vocabulary after controlling for child talkativeness. When entered together into a regression analysis, metrics that represented (a) the number of parent utterances following into the child's focus of attention and (b) the number of parent utterances responding to child verbal communication acts both accounted for unique variance in predicting change in spoken vocabulary from Time 1 to Time 2. CONCLUSION Parent verbal utterances that follow into the child's current focus of attention or respond to child verbal communication acts may facilitate the process of early vocabulary acquisition by mitigating the need for children with ASD to use attention-following as a word-learning strategy.
Technology-Supported Inquiry in STEM Teacher Education: From Old Challenges to New Possibilities

The chapter describes the implementation of collaborative educational technologies in STEM teacher education to support teacher-candidates in acquiring inquiry-based teaching skills and positive attitudes about inquiry learning. The focus is on five different collaborative technology-enhanced pedagogies: (1) Peer Instruction, (2) collaborative design of conceptual questions with PeerWise, (3) data-driven STEM inquiry via using live data collection and analysis, (4) computer modeling-enhanced inquiry, and (5) collaborative reflection on peer teaching. Teacher-candidates experienced these pedagogical approaches first as learners, then reflected on them as future teachers, and lastly incorporated some of them during the practicum. As a result, teacher-candidates gained experience in promoting technology-enhanced inquiry in STEM education and began developing positive attitudes towards technology-enhanced inquiry-based STEM education.
Virtual reality for enhancement of robot-assisted gait training in children with central gait disorders.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of various forms of training interventions, with and without virtual reality, on the initiation and maintenance of active participation during robot-assisted gait training. DESIGN Intervention study at the Rehabilitation Centre Affoltern a. A. , University Children's Hospital, Zurich. SUBJECTS Ten patients (5 males, mean age 12.47 years, standard deviation 1.84 years) with different neurological gait disorders and 14 healthy children (7 males, mean age 11.76 years, standard deviation 2.75 years). METHODS All participants walked in the driven gait orthosis Lokomat® in 4 different randomly-assigned conditions. Biofeedback values calculated during swing phases were the primary outcome measure and secondary outcomes were derived from a questionnaire assessing the participant's motivation. RESULTS Findings revealed a significant main effect for training condition in all participants (p < 0.001), for patients (p < 0.05) and for healthy controls (p < 0.01). Overall, both virtual reality-assisted therapy approaches were equally the most effective in initiating the desired active participation in all children, compared with conventional training conditions. Motivation was very high and differed between the groups only in the virtual navigation condition. CONCLUSION Novel virtual reality-based training conditions represent a valuable approach to enhance active participation during robot-assisted gait training in patients and healthy controls.