Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Ketogenic regime as anti-epileptic treatment: its use in 29 epileptic children].

INTRODUCTION The ketogenic diet is a treatment option for patient with intractable or refractory epilepsy. It is a high-fat, low protein, low carbohydrate diet developed in 1920s. Recent research publications and media interest have renewed debate on the merits of ketogenic diet. POPULATION We report our experience with 29 children suffering from refractory epilepsy, treated with the ketogenic diet. No surgical option was available. Modalities are explained. RESULTS The ketogenic diet improved seizure control in 12/29 cases. It appeared effective in infants with infantile spasms. Refractory-status epilepticus responded to the ketogenic diet (3/6 cases). Migrating partial seizures in infancy were always refractory to the diet. Compliance with the diet was good. Adverse effects must be compared with the toxicity of antiepileptic drugs. One child had hypokaliemia with cardiac complication. CONCLUSION The ketogenic diet should be continued during one or 2 years when it is effective. It should be considered as an alternative therapy for children with refractory epilepsy.
Nonimmune Complexed HCV RNA Titer in Serum as a Predictor of Interferon Response in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

OBJECTIVE:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported to exist in the circulation of patients in various forms such as free virions, immune complexes, and nucleocapsids. To clarify the clinical significance of serum HCV titers according to the forms of virus particles, we evaluated the immune complexed (IC) and nonimmune complexed (NIC) HCV RNA titers in 77 chronic hepatitis patients treated with interferon (IFN). METHODS:IC and NIC forms in pretreatment serum were separated by immunoprecipitation using antihuman immunoglobulin antibody, and quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:Serum titers of NIC HCV RNA were correlated with those of whole serum HCV RNA (r = 0.96, p < 0.01) and IC HCV RNA (r = 0.98, p < 0.01), but they were not with the aminotransferase levels, γ-globulin concentration, and grading or staging of liver histology. Nonresponders to IFN had significantly high NIC HCV RNA titers compared with sustained responders (104.93 ± 0.81 copies/ml vs 104.06 ± 0.69 copies/ml, p < 0.01). It is noteworthy that the relative amount of NIC HCV RNA to whole serum HCV RNA was also significantly higher in nonresponders than in sustained responders (0.66 ± 0.10 vs 0.50 ± 0.11, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that low NIC HCV RNA titer (p < 0.01) and genotype 2 (p = 0.02) were independent variables contributing to sustained response to IFN, but the whole serum HCV RNA titer was not.CONCLUSIONS:Pretreatment NIC HCV RNA titer is a more reliable predictive marker than genotype or whole serum HCV RNA of a sustained response to IFN monotherapy. This finding suggests that humoral immunity may affect the response to IFN.
Inhibition of DNA replication by an anti-PCNA aptamer/PCNA complex

Abstract Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a multifunctional protein present in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells that plays an important role as a component of the DNA replication machinery, as well as DNA repair systems. PCNA was recently proposed as a potential non-oncogenic target for anti-cancer therapy. In this study, using the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) method, we developed a short DNA aptamer that binds human PCNA. In the presence of PCNA, the anti-PCNA aptamer inhibited the activity of human DNA polymerase δ and ϵ at nM concentrations. Moreover, PCNA protected the anti-PCNA aptamer against the exonucleolytic activity of these DNA polymerases. Investigation of the mechanism of anti-PCNA aptamer-dependent inhibition of DNA replication revealed that the aptamer did not block formation, but was a component of PCNA/DNA polymerase δ or ϵ complexes. Additionally, the anti-PCNA aptamer competed with the primer-template DNA for binding to the PCNA/DNA polymerase δ or ϵ complex. Based on the observations, a model of anti-PCNA aptamer/PCNA complex-dependent inhibition of DNA replication was proposed.
Comprehensive decoupled risk-limiting dispatch

Risk-limiting dispatch (RLD) is a promising approach to deal with the increasing uncertainty in both supply side and demand side of power systems. However, the conventional RLD has two drawbacks: i) it is difficult to set the value of acceptable risk level; ii) it has limitations to address the scenario with more realistic but non-Gaussian and heavy-tailed renewable output forecasting errors. To resolve these drawbacks, a conceptual framework of comprehensive decoupled risk-limiting dispatch (CDRLD) is proposed in this paper. We consider the severity level and the probability level of operating risk in a unified framework. The acceptable probability level which corresponds to the loss of load probability (LOLP) is extended to an interval number, while the acceptable severity level is consistent with the expected demand not supplied (EDNS). The whole dispatch problem is solved in a decoupling scheme, in which the severity level of operating risk is guaranteed through the severity feasibility check. Numerical simulations indicate the effectiveness of the proposed CDRLD for enhancing the economic benefits without loss of operating reliability.
Enumeration and identification of IS3 elements in Escherichia coli strains

Escherichia coli K-12 strains ordinarily contain five IS3 elements. Three of these correspond to previously mapped IS3 elements (R. C. Deonier, G. R. Oh, and M. Hu, J. Bacteriol. 129:1129--1140, 1977; S. Hu, E. Ohtsubo, and N. Davidson, J. Bacteriol. 122:749--763, 1975), and two additional IS3 elements are identified. The distribution of IS3 elements among deoxyribonucleic acid fragments generated by digestion with EcoRI indicates a basic pattern from which deviation is detected.
A low-power sige impulse radio-UWB transmitter with biphase modulation function

In this paper a compact and low-power IR-UWB transmitter is presented. The transmitter is based on a cross-coupled LC oscillator core which is transiently turned on and off by current spikes generated on-chip. A simple phase control circuit enables biphase modulation by controlling the start-up phase condition of the oscillator. The UWB transmitter has a low power consumption of 9.8 mW when biphase modulated with a 200 MHz impulse sequence. The transmitter IC occupies an area of 0.3 mm2 including bond pads.
La relation entre prix agricoles et prix alimentaires : une approche macro-économique en France entre 1978 et 2005

This paper examines the relationships between agriculture, food processing, trade and retail, and consumers at the macro-economic level in France, between 1978 and 2005. The surplus account method is applied using input-output tables (IOT). In order to do so, volume and price indices are calculated for all the elements of the IOTs’ to measure the productivity of agriculture and food processing industries and measure the transfers of purchasing power between various economic agents. Agriculture includes forestry and fishing. Food processing industries are divided into two sub-sectors: meat and dairy, and other food processing industries. Trade and retail activities are measured by marketing margins. To measure relationships between sectors, we use the table of intermediate inputs. Relationships with the rest of the world are taken into account through imports and exports. The subsidies and taxes are introduced either at the stage of production, or at the stage of use of products. Payments of factors in each sector are deducted from income accounts, their volume being calculated like an aggregate of the labour and fixed assets being used.
1 Topics in Asynchronous Circuit Theory ?

This is an introduction to the theory of asynchronous circuits — a survey of some old and new results in this area. The following topics are included: benefits of asynchronous design, gate circuits, Boolean analysis methods, the theory of hazards, ternary and other multi-valued simulations, behaviors of asynchronous circuits, delay-insensitivity, and asynchronous modules used in modern design.
EXAMINING THE TWIN DEFICIT HYPOTHESIS: EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED SADC COUNTRIES (1980-2011)

The dissertation investigates the existence of a causal relationship between fiscal balance and current account balance over the period 1980-2011, for nine SADC countries individually. The analysis is conducted within the framework of Granger causality test and Vector Auto Regression (VAR) approach on time series data for each individual country estimates. The Granger causality test results confirm the twin-deficit relationship, with a causal relation from fiscal deficits to external deficits for two countries: Malawi and Zambia together with SADC group average; inverse link operating from external balance to fiscal balance for another two countries: Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Existence of bi-directional causality was confirmed for Botswana and Ricardian Equivalence Hypothesis was confirmed for Mozambique. Results for Angola, South Africa and Seychelles were ambiguous hence inconclusive. The results point to the existence of a direct causal link from fiscal deficit to external deficit. There are indications that fiscal tightening (budget cuts) tends to correct the current account deficit directly. There is need for government to develop new exports, primary products beneficiation (value addition), use of nanotechnology and nurturing new export industries as a long-term measure. In Zimbabwe and to some extent Swaziland the current account can be used to address the budget balance. Countries such as Malawi and Zambia, which have shown evidence of the twin deficit, imply that policymakers must consider fiscal consolidation. Fiscal consolidation has proved to be effective; however half-hearted fiscal adjustments are doomed to fail. The relationship between the two macroeconomic variables changes over time depending on the dynamics of the economy. Again, given the intricacies that are innate in mixed economies, it may not be possible to authenticate a tight and steady connection between the two deficits.
Development of a Self-Adapting Intelligent Sensor for building energy saving and smart services

In this paper we propose a Self-adapting Intelligent Sensor (SIS) in order to provide the building energy saving and smart services. In order to optimize the system resources the SIS dynamically reconfigures its middleware and network topology according to environmental changes. Our proposed system reduces the power consumption of our real test bed up to 25.7%.
Influence of carbon electrode material on energy recovery from winery wastewater using a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to evaluate three carbon materials as anodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), clarifying their influence on the generation of electricity and on the treatability of winery wastewater, a highly organic-loaded waste. The electrode materials tested were carbon felt, carbon cloth and carbon paper and they were used at the same time as anode and cathode in the tests. The MFC equipped with carbon felt reached the highest voltage and power (72 mV and 420 mW m−2, respectively), while the lowest values were observed when carbon paper was used as electrode (0.2 mV and 8.37·10−6 mW m−2, respectively). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal from the wastewater was observed to depend on the electrode material, as well. When carbon felt was used, the MFC showed the highest average organic matter consumption rate (650 mg COD L−1 d−1), whereas by using carbon paper the rate decreased to 270 mg COD L−1 d−1. Therefore, both electricity generation and organic matter removal are strongly related not to the chemical composition of the electrode (which was graphite carbon in the three electrodes), but to its surface features and, consequently, to the amount of biomass adhered to the electrode surface.
Chromium supplementation in overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials

The increased prevalence of obesity has made the use of dietary supplements as weight reducing agents highly popular, but their efficacy has not been proven. One such supplement is chromium. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the evidence for or against the efficacy of chromium supplementation in overweight and obese individuals. Electronic searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, Amed and The Cochrane Library. The bibliographies of located articles were also searched. No age, gender or language restrictions were imposed. The reporting quality of identified randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was assessed using a methodological checklist adapted from the Consolidated Standard of Reporting Trials Statement and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Thirty‐nine trials were identified and 20 were included. There were variations in reporting quality of included studies. A meta‐analysis of 11 studies showed a statistically significant difference in weight loss favouring chromium over placebo (mean difference (MD): −0.50 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.97, −0.03). There was a high statistical heterogeneity. Adverse events included watery stools, vertigo, headaches and urticaria. The evidence from available RCTs shows that chromium supplementation generates statistically significant reductions in body weight. The magnitude of the effect is small, and the clinical relevance is uncertain. Future trials should last at least 16 weeks and greater uniformity in the measuring and assessment tools for body composition is recommended.
Pre-intervention cerebral blood volume predicts outcomes in patients undergoing endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke

Background Pre-intervention perfusion imaging is increasingly becoming part of stroke triage. Small studies supporting imaging based patient selection have been published. The goal of this larger study was to determine if perfusion imaging could impact on functional outcomes in patients undergoing stroke interventions. Methods All patients who had undergone endovascular therapy for anterior circulation strokes over a 7 year period were retrospectively analyzed. The pre-intervention perfusion imaging was assessed for size of cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow and mean transit time (MTT) abnormalities. A perfusion mismatch for irreversible versus reversible ischemia was based on CBV and MTT. Clinical outcome and mortality were based on the 90 day modified Rankin Scale. An analysis of the pre-intervention perfusion parameters was then performed to determine any impact on functional outcomes. Results 110 patients underwent endovascular therapy for anterior circulation strokes. A younger age and lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score were important clinical predictors of favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale ≤2). The extent of the CBV abnormality and percentage of CBV/MTT mismatch were the strongest imaging predictors of outcome and mortality. A CBV area of 229.5 mm2 (±290) was seen for favorable outcomes versus 968 mm2 (±1173) for poor outcomes (p<0.0001). A CBV/MTT mismatch of 91% (±10.7) was seen for favorable outcomes versus 72.5% (±31.6) for poor outcomes (p=0.0001). The CBV area was 273 mm2 (±392) in patients without mortality versus 1401.1 mm2 (±1310) in patients with mortality (p<0.0001). Patients who survived had a mean CBV/MTT mismatch of 90.2% (±12.5) versus 61.1% (±35.2) for those who did not (p<0.0001). A CBV lesion approximately greater than one-third of the middle cerebral artery distribution predicted a poor outcome and mortality. Conclusion The extent of pre-intervention CBV abnormality is a strong predictor of functional outcomes following endovascular stroke therapy. This information can aid in patient selection and improve procedure efficacy.
Use of Camphor and Essential Oil Balms for Infants in Cambodia

Balms and oils containing terpenic compounds, such as camphor, menthol and eucalyptus, are potentially toxic, and numerous reports of adverse events stemming from their use in infants and young children have been published. During qualitative research on newborn practices in rural Cambodia, these products were found to be commonly applied to the skin of newborns and infants and available in most households. Parents and caregivers of infants in Cambodia and other settings where use of camphor- and menthol-containing products are common should be educated on the risks of these to prevent child morbidity and potential mortality.
A robust GC-MS/MS method for the determination of chlorothalonil in fruits and vegetables

Chlorothalonil is a non-systemic fungicide that is easily degraded in contact with plants and soil or even by the effect of light and pH. A method for the determination of chlorothalonil in courgettes, strawberries, oranges, leeks and tomato by solvent extraction followed by GC-MS/MS with a triple quadrupole analyser was developed. The causes of chlorothalonil degradation during sample treatment were studied and minimised. The final method was based on extraction with acetone in the presence of 0.1 M EDTA sodium salt solution, and clean-up by SPE using OASIS HLB cartridges. Isotope-labelled hexachlorobenzene (HCB-13C6) was added as an internal standard to the SPE extracts before analysis by GC-MS/MS (EI) (QqQ) analysis in order to correct for instrumental deviations. Quantification was performed by matrix-matched standard calibration using relative responses to the internal standard. Two MS/MS transitions were used for mass spectrometric determination of chlorothalonil to ensure reliable quantification and confirmation. The method was validated using blank samples (for all matrices) spiked at two levels. Recoveries between 77% and 110% and an RSD below 20% were obtained for 0.1 and 0.01 mg kg−1 spiking levels (n = 5). The validated method was applied to treated and untreated samples collected from an experimental field where a chlorothalonil formulated was applied.
Mitochondrial ribonuclease P structure provides insight into the evolution of catalytic strategies for precursor-tRNA 5′ processing

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) catalyzes the maturation of the 5′ end of tRNA precursors. Typically these enzymes are ribonucleoproteins with a conserved RNA component responsible for catalysis. However, protein-only RNase P (PRORP) enzymes process precursor tRNAs in human mitochondria and in all tRNA-using compartments of Arabidopsis thaliana. PRORP enzymes are nuclear encoded and conserved among many eukaryotes, having evolved recently as yeast mitochondrial genomes encode an RNase P RNA. Here we report the crystal structure of PRORP1 from A. thaliana at 1.75 Å resolution, revealing a prototypical metallonuclease domain tethered to a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) domain by a structural zinc-binding domain. The metallonuclease domain is a unique high-resolution structure of a Nedd4-BP1, YacP Nucleases (NYN) domain that is a member of the PIN domain-like fold superfamily, including the FLAP nuclease family. The structural similarity between PRORP1 and the FLAP nuclease family suggests that they evolved from a common ancestor. Biochemical data reveal that conserved aspartate residues in PRORP1 are important for catalytic activity and metal binding and that the PPR domain also enhances activity, likely through an interaction with pre-tRNA. These results provide a foundation for understanding tRNA maturation in organelles. Furthermore, these studies allow for a molecular-level comparison of the catalytic strategies used by the only known naturally evolved protein and RNA-based catalysts that perform the same biological function, pre-tRNA maturation, thereby providing insight into the differences between the prebiotic RNA world and the present protein-dominated world.
Effect of wildfires on the genetic microbial diversity in forest soils from Canary Islands (Spain)

16s rRNA clone library Archaea Bacteria DGGE Microbial fingerprinting Soil Wildfires Wildfires produce several ecological and environmental impacts on the physical and chemical soil characteristics, as well as on the properties and dynamics of soil microbial populations. Microorganisms are good indicators of ecosystem function and sustainability and therefore the studies about the impact of fire on microbial communities is relevant to understand the role of fire in ecosystem functioning. Although several authors have provided data about total microbial biomass and activity in soils affected by fires, there is little information about the composition and evolution of soil microbial populations after the passage of fire. In this work the effect of wildfires on the genetic diversity of microbial populations in soils from the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) is studied. The final objective was to get information about the recovery of soil functionality after wildfires.
Anti-Leukemic and Anti-GVHD Effects of Campath-1H in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapsed after Stem-Cell Transplantation

Despite aggressive approaches, including second transplant, donor lymphocyte infusion and several new agents, the prognosis of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) patients relapsing after stem-cell transplantation (SCT) remains poor. Monoclonal-antibodies (moAb) could provide a useful tool in this setting. In particular, anti-CD52 moAb is useful in lymphoid malignancies. We thus treated as compassionate with campath-1H 3 ALL patients relapsed after SCT. In 2 cases we observed a reduction of peripheral blood and/or bone marrow blasts. In 1 case a GVHD grade reduction was observed. Larger trials are required in order to define the role of campath-1H in ALL.
Natriuretic Peptide Testing in Clinical Medicine

Since the discovery of atrial natriuretic factor in 1981 by de Bold et al, there has been tremendous progress in our understanding of natriuretic peptides (NPs). Recently, testing for brain-type NP (BNP) and its amino terminal cleavage equivalent (NT-proBNP) has been rapidly adopted in clinical medicine for numerous indications, including the diagnosis and exclusion of heart failure (HF). In this regard, logical application of BNP or NT-proBNP testing may not only reduce healthcare costs but also potentially reduce adverse clinical outcomes. With respect to this fact, the potential importance of the concentration of the NPs for prognosis and the response of BNP or NT-proBNP to therapeutic intervention in terms of clinical events has been demonstrated. On the basis of these observations it is reasonable to expect that concentrations of these peptides might be useful for the management of patients with HF, acting as a gauge of therapeutic accuracy and/or stability of disease. Besides HF, the prognostic utility of NPs has been explored in other settings, particularly in ischemic heart disease and those conditions that lead to right ventricular dysfunction.
Localization of Surface Immunogenic Protein on Group B Streptococcus

ABSTRACT The localization and accessibility of the group B streptococcus (GBS) surface immunogenic protein (Sip) at the surface of intact GBS cells were studied by flow cytometric assay and immunogold electron microscopy. Antibodies present in pooled sera collected from mice after immunization with purified recombinant Sip efficiently recognized native Sip at the surfaces of the different GBS strains tested, which included representatives of all nine serotypes. Examination of GBS cells by immunogold electron microscopy revealed that the Sip-specific antibodies attached preferentially to polar sites and the septal region. This result confirmed that Sip is exposed at the intact-cell surface, but it also suggests that its distribution is restricted to certain regions of the cell.