Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A study of glutathione status in the blood and tissues of patients with breast cancer

Glutathione plays an important role in the antioxidant system that is required for the maintenance of the redox status of the cell, defence against free radicals and detoxification of toxic compounds. Reduced glutathione (redGSH) can be converted to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) during oxidative stress. The ratio of redGSH/total glutathione can be regarded as an index of the redox status and a useful indicator of disease risks. We conducted experiments by the capillary zone electrophoresis method to investigate the alterations of the glutathione status in the blood and tissue samples from patients with breast cancer. The results showed that the levels of redGSH, GSSG, total glutathione and the ratio of redGSH/total glutathione were significantly decreased in the blood of the patients with breast cancer compared to those of the control subjects. The levels of various forms of glutathione were lower and more pronounced in stage III. In contrast, the levels of redGSH, GSSG, total glutathione and the redGSH/total glutathione ratio in breast cancer tissues were significantly increased relative to those of the adjacent cancer‐free tissues, especially in stage II. We suggest that the high redGSH levels are associated with the enhancement of cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in the cancer cells, and the loss of the large amount of erythrocyte redGSH may be due to increased detoxification capacities and defence against oxidative stress. We propose that redGSH should be regarded as an important biochemical parameter for detecting breast malignancy. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrafast photoresponse in microbridges and pulse propagation in transmission lines made from high-T/sub c/ superconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films

We report our femtosecond time-resolved measurements of the photoresponse of microbridges in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ (YBCO) thin films, performed using an electrooptic sampling technique. Our test structures consisted of 5-/spl mu/m-wide, 7-/spl mu/m-long microbridges, incorporated in 4-mm-long coplanar waveguides, fabricated in 100-nm-thick, high-quality epitaxial YBCO films grown on LaAlO/sub 3/ substrates by laser deposition. When varying the biasing conditions between the superconducting and switched states, we observed transients of single-picosecond duration that corresponded to the nonequilibrium kinetic-inductance and the electron-heating response mechanisms, respectively. In both cases, experimental waveforms could be accurately simulated using a nonequilibrium (two-temperature) electron-heating model. From the fits, the YBCO intrinsic temporal parameters associated with the nonequilibrium conditions were extracted. The electron thermalization time was found to be 0.56 ps in the state above the material's critical temperature (T/sub c/=89 K) and 0.9/spl plusmn/0.1 ps in the superconducting state at temperatures ranging from 20 to 80 K. The electron-phonon energy relaxation time was found to be 1.1 ps. The single-picosecond pulse distortion due to propagation on a YBCO coplanar waveguide was also studied. Our results show that a YBCO microbridge can intrinsically operate as a photodetector at rates exceeding 100 Gb/s, making it useful as an optical-to-electrical transducer for optoelectronic interfaces in YBCO digital electronics. Simultaneously, YBCO mixers, based on hot-electron effects, should exhibit an intrinsic bandwidth exceeding 100 GHz.
Efficiency and rationality in the planning of health care for people with AIDS: an application of the balance of care approach

Objective:To demonstrate the application of an approach for assessing efficiency and rationality in the use of resources for the care of patients with AIDS (PWA), using data for north-east Italy. Design:An economic methodology, the balance of care (BoC) approach, enabled identification of scenarios for the current, planned and recommended provision of care in the study region. Methods:Data on the supply and utilization of care by PWA across four locations (inpatient care, day care, home care and sheltered accommodation) was collected for a 6-month period during 1994. The current BoC measured in care contacts across the locations was compared with a planned BoC scenario, derived from the Italian AIDS Health Plan, and a recommended BoC scenario based on a delphi expert panel judgement of the appropriate care location according to sets of hypothetical clinical and social characteristics of PWA. The cost consequences of reallocating patient contacts between the current BoC to the recommended BoC was assessed for inpatient and day care contacts. Results:There is an overprovision of home care in the planned BoC scenario if applied to the study region. The cost consequences of a shift of care contacts according to the recommended scenario results in a potential cost reduction of 9.2% compared with the current scenario, and hence an expected efficiency improvement. Conclusion:The BoC approach can be applied to improve the efficiency and rationality of resource use in planning care provision for PWA.
Close Integration of a UHF-RFID Transponder Into a Limb Prosthesis for Tracking and Sensing

The technology of structural radio systems that is well assessed in the avionic and naval communications is here applied to obtain antenna functionality out of a limb prosthesis with minimal changes to the device, in specific, an orthopedic nail. A microchip transponder based on the ultrahigh frequency-radio-frequency identification (RFID) communication standard is connected to the nail by means of a central notch forming a towel-bar-like antenna. The resulting device, called prosthetic structural tag, is such to preserve the mechanical continuity of the original nail, but it is also capable of energy harvesting and RFID. The electrical and geometrical control parameters for impedance tuning were identified using computer simulation and laboratory tests. The radiation performance is mostly dependent on the geometry of the notch, while it is rather unaffected by the length of the nail, so that the proposed layout may also be applied to different kinds of prosthesis. The experimented read distance at 870-960 MHz was more than 35-cm far from the limb surface. The augmented smart prosthesis is, hence, suitable to be monitored using an external non-contacting antenna for application to tracking and, in the near future, to monitor the prosthesis health status.
Metering Self-Reported Adherence to Clinical Outcomes in Malaysian Patients With Hypertension

The CORFIS (Community-Based Cardiovascular Risk Factors Intervention Strategies) program was piloted in community clinics in Malaysia to address the lack of health education in chronic disease management. The stages of change model was applied in a multicenter quasi-experimental design to evaluate adherence to advocated behaviors in CORFIS patients with hypertension. Based on submitted diet and exercise records (n = 209), adherence to sodium reduction, regular exercise, and increasing fruit and vegetable intake behaviors were quantified against weight, waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) changes. Patients were categorized at 6 months into nonadherent/N-A (Precontemplation, Contemplation, and Preparation), newly adherent/NA (Action) and totally adherent/TA (Maintenance) groups. Self-reported adherence records did not meet recommended targets for healthful behaviors, but clinical benefits were achieved by adherent groups as indicated by effect size (Cohen’s d) comparisons. SBP reduction was associated with adherence to sodium reduction in NA (d = 0.60, p < .001) and TA (d = 0.45, p < .001) compared to N-A (d = 0.13, p > .05). Marginally increasing fruit and vegetable consumption (Δ = 0.41 servings) resulted in sizeable reductions in weight for NA (d = 0.81, p < .001) > TA (d = 0.54, p < .001) > N-A (d = 0.21, p > .05) and in WC for NA (d = 0.68, p < .00) > TA (d = 0.53, p < .001) > N-A (d = 0.52, p > .05). Exercise behavior was least successful as pedometer counting was below 10,000 steps but sizeable weight and WC reductions were largest for NA (d = 0.71 and 0.79, respectively) > TA (d = 0.60 and 0.53, respectively) > N-A (d = 0.33 and 0.35, respectively). Patients reporting a shift to positive stages of change behaviors enjoyed clinically beneficial reductions in SBP, DBP, weight, and WC.
Serial concatenation of Hermitian codes with ring‐TCM codes

Hermitian codes are a class of very long algebraic‐geometric (AG) codes constructed from Hermitian curves, which outperform Reed–Solomon codes defined over the same finite fields and with the same code rates, as recently demonstrated by the authors. However, since there are no soft‐decision decoding algorithms for AG codes in the literature, the performance of Hermitian codes is limited and their potential is yet to be realized. An alternative method for achieving more significant coding gains is presented in this paper by serially concatenating long Hermitian codes with ring‐trellis‐coded modulation codes over the ring of integers ℤ4 and evaluating their performance through simulation results on the AWGN and Rayleigh fading channels. The scheme achieves large coding gains over single Hermitian and Reed–Solomon codes with no increase in bandwidth use and a performance comparable with the well‐known capacity‐approaching codes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perinatal outcomes, including mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and child mortality and their association with maternal vitamin D status in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D is a strong immunomodulator and may protect against adverse pregnancy outcomes, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and child mortality. METHODS A total of 884 HIV-infected pregnant women who were participating in a vitamin supplementation trial in Tanzania were monitored to assess pregnancy outcomes and child mortality. The association of these outcomes with maternal vitamin D status at enrollment was examined in an observational analysis. RESULTS No association was observed between maternal vitamin D status and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birth weight and preterm birth. In multivariate models, a low maternal vitamin D level (<32 ng/mL) was associated with a 50% higher risk (95% confidence interval [CI], 2%-120%) of MTCT of HIV at 6 weeks, a 2-fold higher risk of MTCT of HIV through breast-feeding among children who were HIV uninfected at 6 weeks (95% CI, 1.08-3.82), and a 46% higher overall risk of HIV infection (95% CI, 11%-91%). Children born to women with a low vitamin D level had a 61% higher risk of dying during follow-up (95% CI, 25%-107%). CONCLUSIONS If found to be efficacious in randomized trials, vitamin D supplementation could prove to be an inexpensive method of reducing the burden of HIV infection and death among children, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Assembly and Function of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) I Peptide-loading Complex Are Conserved Across Higher Vertebrates*

Background: The transporter associated with antigen-processing TAP is crucial for the adaptive immune response against infected cells. Results: Avian and mammalian TAP1, TAP2, and tapasin assemble a functional translocation and peptide-loading complex (PLC). Conclusion: Assembly of the PLC is conserved, whereas elements of antigen translocation diverged later in evolution. Significance: This specification provides important insights in how the antigen-processing machinery adapted in different species. Antigen presentation to cytotoxic T lymphocytes via major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) molecules depends on the heterodimeric transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). For efficient antigen supply to MHC I molecules in the ER, TAP assembles a macromolecular peptide-loading complex (PLC) by recruiting tapasin. In evolution, TAP appeared together with effector cells of adaptive immunity at the transition from jawless to jawed vertebrates and diversified further within the jawed vertebrates. Here, we compared TAP function and interaction with tapasin of a range of species within two classes of jawed vertebrates. We found that avian and mammalian TAP1 and TAP2 form heterodimeric complexes across taxa. Moreover, the extra N-terminal domain TMD0 of mammalian TAP1 and TAP2 as well as avian TAP2 recruits tapasin. Strikingly, however, only TAP1 and TAP2 from the same taxon can form a functional heterodimeric translocation complex. These data demonstrate that the dimerization interface between TAP1 and TAP2 and the tapasin docking sites for PLC assembly are conserved in evolution, whereas elements of antigen translocation diverged later in evolution and are thus taxon specific.
Indirect and direct somatic embryogenesis from aerial stem explants of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Protocols for direct and indirect somatic embryogenesis from aerial stem explants of ginger have been developed. Aerial stem explants of two ginger varieties were cultured on different concentrations of 2,4-D induced callus. An in vitro aerial stem produced hard, nodular and yellowish callus (Type I) and an in planta aerial stem gave rise to soft, sticky callus with pale white color (Type II). The proliferated Type II calli were subject to stress for 40–60 days without subculturing. The desiccated calli produced white friable calli which turned embryogenic and then produced somatic embryos in a medium containing 2 mg L –1 benzyl amino purine. The mature, club-shaped somatic embryos were germinated on a medium containing benzyl amino purine and a – naphthalene acetic acid in different concentrations. Type I callus of neither variety turned embryogenic but produced roots in all the cultures. Direct somatic embryogenesis was observed from the in planta aerial stem and leaf base explants with the use of thidiazuron alone or in combination with indole, 3-butyric acid. Histological studies revealed that the somatic embryos in ginger have a distinct single layered epidermis, scutellum, coleoptile, shoot apex and root apex.
Hybrid Planning: Task-Space Control and Sampling-Based Planning

We propose a hybrid approach to motion planning for redundant robots, which combines a powerful control framework with a sampling-based planner. We argue that a suitably chosen task controller already manages a huge amount of trajectory planning work. However, due to its local approach to obstacle avoidance, it may get stuck in local minima. Therefore we augment it with a globally acting planner, which operates in a lower-dimensional search space, thus circumventing the curse of dimensionality afflicting modern, many-DoF robots.
A Q-band RF-MEMS tapered true time delay line for fusion plasma diagnostics systems

In this work, we present the design and demonstration of a novel MEMS-based true-time delay (TTD) unit for microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) diagnostics of thermonuclear fusion plasmas. The TTD unit is designed using a coplanar waveguide loaded with extended tuning range cantilever-type varactors. The capacitance value of the varactors are tapered at the input and output ports, allowing for better impedance matching in the highly loaded case. More than 360° and 600° phaseshift was demonstrated at 30GHz and 50 GHz, respectively with a figure of merit better than 60°/dB over the entire frequency range. As a TTD unit, the device can provide near constant delay of 0-33 ps adjustable in an analog fashion. To the authors' knowledge, this is the best TTD unit demonstrated to date in terms of maximum adjustable delay range and FoM in Q-band.
Early aspirin desensitization in unstable patients with acute coronary syndrome: Short and long-term efficacy and safety

Background: Aspirin hypersensitivity is not a rare condition among patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, despite the publication of several successful desensitization protocols, the procedure is not as widespread as expected. We present a cohort of patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing aspirin desensitization to evaluate its short- and long-term efficacy and safety and to reinforce data from previous studies. Methods: Of 1306 patients admitted to our Coronary Care Unit between February 2011 and February 2013, 24 (1.8%) had a history of aspirin hypersensitivity. All 24 patients underwent an eight-dose aspirin desensitization protocol (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg of aspirin given by mouth every 15 minutes) after premedication with antihistamines and corticosteroids or antileucotrienes. Previously prescribed β blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were not discontinued. All patients were desensitized within 72 hours of admission. Those requiring urgent catheterization (five patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) were desensitized within 12 hours of catheterization and the remainder before catheterization. Results: All patients were successfully desensitized and only one presented with an urticarial reaction. The five patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction were treated with abciximab until desensitization was complete. All but one patient underwent catheterization and 20 underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, most (66%) with the implantation of a bare metal stent. At follow-up (a minimum of 6–24 months), only two patients had discontinued aspirin, both due to gastrointestinal bleeding, and no hypersensitivy reaction had occurred. Conclusions: Aspirin desensitization is effective and safe in unstable patients with acute coronary syndrome in both the short and long term.
Angiogenesis of the heart

Despite continued advances in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease, there are still a large number of patients who are not candidates for the conventional revascularization techniques of balloon angioplasty and stenting, or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Therapeutic angiogenesis, in the form of the administration of growth factor protein or gene therapy, has emerged as a promising new method of treatment for patients with coronary artery disease. The goal of this strategy is to promote the development of supplemental blood conduits that will act as endogenous bypass vessels. New vessel formation occurs through the processes of angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and arteriogenesis, under the control of growth factors such as those that belong to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and angiopoeitin (Ang) families of molecules. Preclinical studies have suggested that such an approach is both feasible and effective; however many questions remain to be answered. This review will address the elements of pharmacologic revascularization, focusing on gene and protein‐based therapy. The important growth factors, the vector (for gene therapy), routes of delivery, the desired therapeutic effect, and quantifiable clinical end points for trials of angiogenesis will all be addressed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 60:138–158, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Simple Radiation Model for Micristrip Antennas

An approach that uses a combined theoretical and experimental best-fit technique for developing radiation models for patch type microstrip antennas is proposed. Far-field expressions involving two major parameters relating the equivalent electric and magnetic type sources in the model are derived. The appropriate values of these parameters are obtained by comparing the computed patterns with the measured ones. Using the proposed model, some antenna characteristics may be more accurately determined compared to the results of some previous studies.
A time Petri net-based approach for synchronization, analysis and management of multimedia scenarios

In this paper we propose an approach of multimedia scenarios management in an object-relational database system that considers three main aspects: an object-oriented method for multimedia scenarios modeling, time-interval and causal relations models for the specification of multimedia objects with fixed or unknown playout durations, and interactive and dependency temporal relations. Based on the user's temporal specification, a time Petri net (PN) is automatically generated and translated to the formalism of the verification tool Tina, which allows analyzing multimedia scenarios specification. Finally, we evaluate our approach with an experimental system prototype. The originality of the approach proposed is to consider: a temporal specification that combines interval-based model and temporal dependency (causality) between intervals; temporal specification based on PN, that extracts errors that are too difficult to extract manually; and finally temporal intervals with known or unknown time.
A wide pull-in range fast acquisition hardware-sharing two-fold carrier recovery loop

This paper proposes a two-fold carrier recovery loop that possesses /spl plusmn/25000-ppm pull-in range and 7-ms acquisition time for 64-QAM blind adaptive system. The carrier recovery system contains a prior wide-band loop to acquire a coarse carrier frequency and a posterior narrow-band loop to achieve -82 dBc jitter suppression. It can be applied to a 4.035-MHz low-IF cable modem system with the /spl plusmn/100-kHz frequency offset tolerance requirement. The two-fold carrier recovery loop operates in consecutive three stages, which are Costas carrier phase estimation, DDML carrier phase estimation, and DD-MMSE carrier phase estimation. The proposed architecture is hardware efficient since the three-staged operation shares most of the circuit functions.
Characterization of 21 newly established esophageal cancer cell lines

Twenty‐one esophageal cancer cell lines (KYSE series) have been established from the resected specimens of patients with esophageal cancer. Three lines, KYSE‐30, KYSE‐50, and KYSE‐70, were derived from the implanted tumor of nude mice (initial passage); others were derived from resected specimens. Each cell line was morphologically distinct. Detailed cytogenetic analysis indicated that each cell line was karyotypically unique, and DNA fingerprint analysis showed no cross‐contamination among cells. Doubling time ranged from 13.7 to 75.5 hours, and modal chromosome numbers ranged from 46 to 120. Most cell lines grew in monolayer, but two cell lines (KYSE‐50 and KYSE‐360) grew as floating cell aggregates. No correlation was demonstrated between the establishment of cell lines and cell differentiation. These cell lines are the first reported to be homogeneous and individually unique and may provide a useful model for the study of human esophageal cancer.
Staff expectations and views of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for adults with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND The role of support workers and other professionals in the psychotherapeutic process has been commented upon but not as yet been systematically investigated. METHOD To explore their views and expectations of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for adults with intellectual disabilities, eleven paid support workers and professionals were recruited and interviewed before the CBT sessions commenced for their service users and nine took part in the second interview that took place after nine sessions. RESULTS Thematic Analysis of the interview transcripts indicates that staff members do not perceive CBT as a long-term solution for psychological problems have little knowledge of CBT and do not feel included in the process. Nevertheless, after nine sessions, most participants reported improved psychological well-being for their service users and expressed a wish for longer-term involvement of the therapist. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that for CBT to be effective in the longer term, the therapist is required to consider a wider systemic approach including staff training and supervision, staff and management consultancy and creating a delicate balance between confidentiality and sharing the psychological formulation with 'significant others' to ensure maintenance and generalisation of improved psychological well-being.