Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use o f MEBO Scar Ointment in the Treatment and Prevention o f Post-Operative Wound Scars

Received: 28 Apr 2016 Accepted: 20 Jun 2016 Background: Scar formation is a natural part of the wound healing process. The aim of this study was to observe the therapeutic effect of MEBO Scar ointment in the prevention and treatment of incisional scars. Methods: MEBO Scar ointment was applied 3 times daily after surgical stitches were removed in the test group. Warm saline was used in the control group. Clinical efficacy was based on scar quality assessment measuring – itching relief, skin texture, dystrophy and color. The wound was assessed at pre-determined intervals over 120 days post-surgery for therapeutic effectiveness of the ointment. Results: A total of 90 patients, male and female, undergoing elective surgery between February and December, 2013, with mean age of 30 years were included in this study. At 120 days, MEBO Scar was found to be highly effective (scar disappearance, no itching with soft scar, skin colour close to normal tissue) in majority patients (75%); and the overall scar quality was found to be significantly better (p<0.001) for all parameters. Conclusion: When initiated early, standard use of MEBO Scar Ointment for adequate period of time sufficiently softens the scars to prevent proliferation and appearance disturbances, resulting in a cosmetically acceptable scar. Therefore, it may be recommended for the prevention and treatment of scars postsurgery.
Measuring Dementia

Maudsley Tests of the Sensorium (used by clinicians to assess verbal memory and orientation) and Kendall's Memory for Design (used by psychologists to assess visual memory) were employed to differentiate between elderly patients with organic brain damage (neurologic disease, chiefly stroke) and those with functional psychiatric disorders which had been present in youth. There were 25 patients in each group. Both tests differentiated organic from functional disorders. There was no statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of the two tests.
Model Suites For Multi-Layered Database Modelling

Database modelling is classically defining the database dictionary, database structuring and functionality within one singleton paradigm. This approach has led to sophisticated financial services, to enterprise information systems and other database-backed practical solution which are easy to handle, relatively simple to change and to implement and which satisfied the needs of business in the 90ies. At the same time a number of applications have been developed that used the potential within the data for analysis, for exchange and collaboration of systems, e.g. OLTP-OLAP systems, decision support systems, scientific information systems, collaborative information systems and web information systems. These applications do not use a singleton language for data storage, data computation and data delivery. Their languages use different paradigms. We therefore need a way for specification of database applications that provide facilities for appropriate modelling depending on the needs. This paper aims in developing a framework for modelling and implementing layered database applications. It defines a database model for each of the layers and a facility for exchange of data throughout the different layers in a coherent form.
Trajectory Tracking Controls for Non-holonomic Systems Using Dynamic Feedback Linearization Based on Piecewise MultiLinear Models

This paper proposes a trajectory tracking control for non-holonomic systems using dynamic feedback linearization based on piecewise multi-linear (PML) models. The approximated model is fully parametric. Input-output (I/O) dynamic feedback linearization is applied to stabilize PML control system. Although the controller is simpler than the conventional I/O feedback linearization controller, the control performance based on PML model is the same as the conventional one. The proposed methods are applied to a tricycle robot and a quadrotor helicopter. Examples are shown to confirm the feasibility of our proposals by computer simulations.
Cobalt protoporphyrin as a potential therapeutic agent?

Shan et al have recently investigated the role of Bach1 and Nrf-2 in up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) in Huh-7 cells (1). The authors could demonstrate the repression of Bach1 and up-regulation of the Nrf-2 protein by posttranscriptional sites of action. These data obtained in a human liver cell culture system are of high relevance for the understanding of HO-1 up-regulation by CoPP. In the abstract and discussion section, the authors state that “cobalt protoporphyrin might be considered as a potential therapeutic agent where HO-1 upregulation is desired. ” As noted by the authors, CoPP is regarded as the most potent metalloporphyrin inducer of HO-1 identified so far. In addition, numerous publications have shown marked protective effects of HO-1 induced by CoPP in various experimental in vivo and in vitro models (2). Nevertheless and despite these impressive experimental data, CoPP treatment has also a number of side effects which often are not considered. As already noted by Shan et al, CoPP administration can lead to a depletion of hepatic cytochrome P450 levels and induce weight loss in animals (3, 4). Furthermore, CoPP suppresses thyroid and testicular hormone concentrations in serum, affects copper metabolism, elevates plasma ceruloplasmin levels, and has many other side effects (5, 6). In addition, our own unpublished results reveal that a single injection of 5 mg/kg CoPP, which is the most established experimental dose for in vivo experiments conferring protection in a multitude of experimental models, could have at least transient toxic effects on hepatocellular integrity as shown by increased GPT and LDH serum levels 24 hours after treatment in rats. In addition, administration of at least 2.5 M CoPP in in vitro experiments can lead to a significant LDH release, indicating cytotoxicity. All these demonstrated adverse effects of CoPP in animal and cell culture experiments might have been the reason why CoPP so far has not been used as a therapeutic agent in clinical studies in humans. As an alternative for such studies we point to our own recent results on volatile anesthetics (isoflurane, sevoflurane) as potent inducers of HO-1 in the rat liver (7). Up-regulation of hepatic HO-1 by isoflurane exerts beneficial effects under normal and pathological experimental conditions (8, 9). These compounds are approved pharmacologic agents that are used in patients for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia and the therapy of severe asthmatic events because of their bronchodilatatory potency. Furthermore, adverse side effects of these compounds are rare and well characterized, because of their frequent usage in daily clinical anesthesia practice for more than 30 years. These substances would therefore be a realistic alternative for a possible HO-1 induction in humans. Thus, we have recently initiated an approved clinical trial to evaluate this hypothesis.
The mechanism of transcription termination by RNA poiymerase I

Eukaryotic ribosomal gene transcription units are bordered at their 3’ends by short DNA sequences which specify site‐specific termination by RNA polymerase I (poll). Poll terminators from yeast through to mammals appear to follow similar rules: they contain a site for a sequence‐specific DNA‐binding protein; they function only in one orientation; 3’ends are formed upstream of the binding site; and 5’flanking sequences influence the position and efficiency of 3’end formation. Recent progress in understanding the mechanism of RNA chain elongation by other polymerases suggests a model for poll termination in which termination is seen as one of the several outcomes possible when a polymerase encounters a pause site.
Service innovation strategies in Greek hotel sector: an exploratory study using the statistical method of multidimensional analysis

This study aims to gain insight into criteria detailed market study, business/financial analysis, business/financial analysis before promotion, resource allocation that contribute to the success of new service development NSD ventures in sectors of tourism economy and focusing especially on the hospitality sector. A second level analysis based on in-depth structured interviews data collected from hotel CEOs is presented. Collected data refer to NSD processes as implemented in their organisations. Correspondence analysis is being used to analyse exploratory study's results. The presentation layer of the analysis is given in the form of factorial axes and their functions. In conclusion, this study identifies service innovation strategies for hotels to gain competitive advantage. Due to the lack of capitalised knowledge on the pathways of new service development, such projects are prone to high failure rates.
Integrated Test for Silicon Front Ends

Silicon-based technologies have enabled the monolithic integration of transceiver circuits with operational frequencies up into the millimeter-wave regime. While high integration relaxes the requirements on RF chip-to-chip interconnects and external circuitry, it imposes serious challenges upon the traceability of failure mechanisms and functional errors of the individual building blocks that comprise the front-end. Additionally, expensive external measurement equipment in combination with complex, error-prone, and time-consuming calibration procedures, necessitates the development of on-chip test modules. It has been shown that a variety of built-in test schemes are currently the topic of research for both the mixed-signal and microwave domain. Solutions for the individual building blocks that will enable direct verification of performance parameters have been presented throughout this article. Current RF transceiver architectures will require a mixture of both paradigms for successful implementation of integrated test strategies. It is the authors' belief that the application of such concepts is a must for future integrated transceiver systems to meet the stringent requirements of time-to-market and low-cost of mass market consumer products.
Pleuro–peritoneal Shunting: Alternative Therapy for Pleural Effusions

Pleural effusions are resistant to standard therapy, which causes discomfort and can require prolonged hospitalization. As an alternative, pleuroperitoneal shunting for pleural effusions of various etiologies was evaluated. We implanted 36 shunts in 29 patients. Two patients had bilateral shunts and five had shunt revisions. The effusion was related to a malignancy in 22 patients, postoperative chylothorax in two patients, and other causes in five patients. Therapeutic thoracentesis had been attempted in 28 patients, and eight had had chest tube placement previously with attempted sclerosis. Seven patients had a trapped lung syndrome. There was no operative mortality. All patients were deemed ready for discharge from the hospital if they had recovered from the operation within 48 hours. Five patients had poor results, either because of a moribund status or their refusal or inability to pump the shunt. Of the remaining 24 patients, four had good results with temporary improvement, and excellent results were achieved in 20 patients (83.3%), who experienced symptomatic relief and stabilization or regression of pleural effusion until the time of their death. Patients with chylothorax experienced complete resolution. The 14 patients with malignant effusions had a median survival of 4 months, and there were no instances of peritoneal tumor seeding. In conclusion, pleuroperitoneal shunting is an alternative therapy for pleural effusions that requires a limited hospitalization only, is associated with minimal and short-term discomfort, achieves excellent results in properly selected patients, and is the only viable therapy when lung expansion cannot be achieved.
Post‐exercise cold water immersion attenuates acute anabolic signalling and long‐term adaptations in muscle to strength training

Cold water immersion is a popular strategy to recover from exercise. However, whether regular cold water immersion influences muscle adaptations to strength training is not well understood. We compared the effects of cold water immersion and active recovery on changes in muscle mass and strength after 12 weeks of strength training. We also examined the effects of these two treatments on hypertrophy signalling pathways and satellite cell activity in skeletal muscle after acute strength exercise. Cold water immersion attenuated long term gains in muscle mass and strength. It also blunted the activation of key proteins and satellite cells in skeletal muscle up to 2 days after strength exercise. Individuals who use strength training to improve athletic performance, recover from injury or maintain their health should therefore reconsider whether to use cold water immersion as an adjuvant to their training.
Factors affecting effectiveness in e‐learning: An analysis in production management courses

E‐learning may help to open up new channels for the traditional teaching of engineering but there are many questions about what makes e‐learning an effective and satisfactory method, in particular, in the field of industrial engineering. This article evaluates the potential factors affecting the effectiveness of engineering e‐learning courses by applying structural equation modeling in a sample of students of multiple production management courses for industrial engineering students. This way, the gaps and methodological weaknesses detected in prior studies has been avoided. The findings of this study suggest that interaction is key to getting successful outcomes, that the right mixture of human and technology must be found, that it is crucial to teach students to learn online and that special attention must be directed to non‐traditional students who have the additional pressure of resolving time conflicts between e‐learning, work and/or family life. These findings can help engineering colleges and schools offering e‐learning courses to learn more about how to enhance students' success. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 572–581, 2011
A view of interphase chromosomes

Metaphase chromosomes are dynamically modified in interphase. This review focuses on how these structures can be modified, and explores the functional mechanisms and significance of these changes. Current analyses of genes often focus on relatively short stretches of DNA and consider chromatin conformations that incorporate only a few kilobases of DNA. In interphase nuclei, however, orderly transcription and replication can involve highly folded chromosomal domains containing hundreds of kilobases of DNA. Specific "junk" DNA sequences within selected chromosome domains may participate in more complex levels of chromosome folding, and may index different genetic compartments for orderly transcription and replication. Three-dimensional chromosome positions within the nucleus may also contribute to phenotypic expression. Entire chromosomes are maintained as discrete, reasonably compact entities in the nucleus, and heterochromatic coiled domains of several thousand kilobases can acquire unique three-dimensional positions in differentiated cell types. Some aspects of neoplasia may relate to alterations in chromosome structure at several higher levels of organization.
Lupus erythematosus profundus treated with clobetasol propionate under a hydrocolioid dressing

SIR. Lupus erythematosus profundus is a disliguring disease, often requiring systemic therapy. We describe a patient, who was successfully treated with O'()5% w/w clobetaso! propionate cream (Dermovate®. Glaxo) applied under occlusion with a hydrocolioid dressing (Granuflex®. Convatec), A 55-year-old womiin presented with a 10-yearhlstory of a rash behind her ears, on her cheeks and across her anterior chest, and photosensitivity. She had a past history of arthralgia and neuralgia. On examination, she had purplish-red macules with follicular plugging affecting the face, neck and rims ofthe ears. In addition, she had indurated nodules with a purplish surface on the anterior chest and both buttocks. There was no other abnormality.
Induction of a mitogen-responsive gene after expression of the Ha-ras oncogene in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

A cDNA clone, T1, has been isolated whose corresponding mRNA was transiently expressed at highly elevated levels after conditional expression of the Ha-ras(EJ) gene and after mitogenic activation of quiescent NIH 3T3 cells. Glucocorticoid hormone stimulated substantial T1 expression as well but only in proliferating cells. At least two different signaling pathways participate in the regulation of the T1 gene: a protein kinase C-dependent signal is involved in the response of proliferating NIH 3T3 cells to glucocorticoid in the absence but not the presence of p21ras, whereas a protein kinase C-independent mechanism mediates the response to serum factors. Treatment of cells with the protein kinase inhibitor 2-aminopurine blocked induction of expression of the T1 gene. T1 mRNA accumulation is regulated at the transcriptional level.
Bone Marrow Transplantation Reproduces the Tristetraprolin-Deficiency Syndrome in Recombination Activating Gene-2 ( 2 / 2 ) Mice Evidence That Monocyte / Macrophage Progenitors May Be Responsible for TNF a Overproduction

Tristetraprolin-deficient [TTP ( 2 / 2 )] mice exhibit a complex syndrome of myeloid hyperplasia, cachexia, dermatitis, autoimmunity, and erosive arthritis. Virtually the entire syndrome can be prevented by the repeated injection of anti-TNF a antibodies (Taylor, G.A., E. Carballo, D.M. Lee, W.S. Lai, M.J. Thompson, D.D. Patel, D.I. Schenkman, G.S. Gilkeson, H.E. Broxmeyer, B.F. Haynes, and P.J. Blackshear. 1996. Immunity . 4:445–454). In the present study, we transplanted bone marrow from TTP ( 2 / 2 ) and ( 1 / 1 ) mice into recombination activating gene-2 ( 2 / 2 ) mice. After a lag period of several months, marrow transplantation from the ( 2 / 2 ) but not the ( 1 / 1 ) mice resulted in the full syndrome associated with TTP deficiency, suggesting that hematopoietic progenitors are responsible for the development of the syndrome. Western blot analysis of supernatants from cultured TTP-deficient macrophages derived from the peritoneal cavity or bone marrow of adult TTP ( 2 / 2 ) mice, or from fetal liver, demonstrated an increased accumulation of TNF a after stimulation with LPS compared to control cells, and also increased accumulation of TNF a mRNA. This difference was not observed with cultured fibroblasts or T and B lymphocytes. These data suggest that macrophages are among the cells responsible for the effective excess of TNF a that leads to the pathology reported in TTP ( 2 / 2 ) animals, and that macrophage progenitors may be involved in the transplantability of this syndrome. ( J. Clin. Invest. 1997. 100:986–995.)
Treatment of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome and Verbal Auditory Hallucinations Using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Case Report with fMRI Findings

Background: Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare cluster of CNS symptoms characterized by visual distortions (i.e. metamorphopsias), body image distortions, time distortions, and déjà experiences. Verbal auditory hallucinations (VAHs) are the most prevalent type of hallucination in adults with or without a history of psychiatric illness. Here, we report the case of a woman with AIWS, long-lasting VAHs, and various additional perceptual and mood symptoms. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to assess symptoms, and functional MRI (fMRI) was employed to localize cerebral activity during self-reported VAHs. Treatment consisted of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at a frequency of 1 Hz at T3P3, overlying Brodmann’s area 40. Results: Activation during VAHs was observed bilaterally in the basal ganglia, the primary auditory cortex, the association auditory cortex, the temporal poles, and the anterior cingulated gyrus. The left and right inferior frontal gyri (Broca’s area and its contralateral homologue) were involved, along with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Interestingly, synchronized activation was observed in the primary visual cortex (areas V1 and V2), and the bilateral dorsal visual cortex. The higher visual association cortex also showed significant, but less prominent, activation. During the second week of rTMS treatment, not only the VAHs, but also the other sensory deceptions/distortions and mood symptoms showed complete remission. The patient remained free of any symptoms during a 4-month follow-up phase. After 8 months, when many of the original symptoms had returned, a second treatment phase with rTMS was again followed by complete remission. Conclusions: This case indicates that VAHs and metamorphopsias in AIWS are associated with synchronized activation in both auditory and visual cortices. It also indicates that local rTMS treatment may have global therapeutic effects, suggesting an effect on multiple brain regions in a distributed network. Although a placebo effect cannot be ruled out, this case warrants further investigation of the effects of rTMS treatment in AIWS.
Techno-Economic Assessment of Polymeric , Ceramic and Metallic Membranes Integration in an Advanced IGCC Process for H 2 Production and CO 2 Capture

Techno-Economic Assessment of Polymeric, Ceramic and Metallic Membranes Integration in an Advanced IGCC Process for H2 Production and CO2 Capture Dimitris E. Koutsonikolas, Sotiris P. Kaldis, Grigoris T. Pantoleontos, Vasilis T. Zaspalis, George P. Sakellaropoulos Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, CERTH, Greece Department of Engineering Informatics & Telecommunications, UOWM, Greece Chemical Engineering Department, AUTh , Greece dkoutson@eng.auth. gr
Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16INK4A Inhibits Phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II by General Transcription Factor TFIIH*

The cell cycle is regulated by various protein kinases, including cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). D-type CDKs, CDK4, and CDK6, phosphorylate retinoblastoma protein and are believed to regulate through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. CDK inhibitor p16INK4A has been characterized as binding CDK4 and CDK6 and as inhibiting phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein by these CDKs. Thus p16INK4A is implicated in regulating the cell cycle at the G1 phase. The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (pol II) contains an essential C-terminal domain (CTD). General transcription factor TFIIH, which contains CDK7, phosphorylates the CTD in vitro. The CTD phosphorylation is shown to be involved in transcriptional regulationin vivo and in vitro. Phosphorylation of RNA pol II CTD by TFIIH is thought to play an important role in transcriptional regulation. Here we report that p16INK4Aassociates with RNA pol II CTD and TFIIH. p16INK4Ainhibited the CTD phosphorylation by TFIIH. These findings suggest that p16INK4A may regulate transcription via CTD phosphorylation in the cell cycle.