Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural and Hemostatic Activities of a Sulfated Galactofucan from the Brown Alga Spatoglossum schroederi

The brown alga Spatoglossum schroederi contains three fractions of sulfated polysaccharides. One of them was purified by acetone fractionation, ion exchange, and molecular sieving chromatography. It has a molecular size of 21.5 kDa and contains fucose, xylose, galactose, and sulfate in a molar ratio of 1.0:0.5:2.0:2.0 and contains trace amounts of glucuronic acid. Chemical analyses, methylation studies, and NMR spectroscopy showed that the polysaccharide has a unique structure, composed of a central core formed mainly by 4-linked β-galactose units, partially sulfated at the 3-O position. Approximately 25% of these units contain branches of oligosaccharides (mostly tetrasaccharides) composed of 3-sulfated, 4-linked α-fucose and one or two nonsulfated, 4-linked β-xylose units at the reducing and nonreducing end, respectively. This sulfated galactofucan showed no anticoagulant activity on several “in vitro” assays. Nevertheless, it had a potent antithrombotic activity on an animal model of experimental venous thrombosis. This effect is time-dependent, reaching the maximum 8 h after its administration compared with the more transient action of heparin. The effect was not observed with the desulfated molecule. Furthermore, the sulfated galactofucan was 2-fold more potent than heparin in stimulating the synthesis of an antithrombotic heparan sulfate by endothelial cells. Again, this action was also abolished by desulfation of the polysaccharide. Because this sulfated galactofucan has no anticoagulant activity but strongly stimulates the synthesis of heparan sulfate by endothelial cells, we suggested that this last effect may be related to the “in vivo” antithrombotic activity of this polysaccharide. In this case the highly sulfated heparan sulfate produced by the endothelial cells is in fact the antithrombotic agent. Our results suggested that this sulfated galactofucan may have a potential application as an antithrombotic drug.
Antimicrobial Resistance in More than 100,000 Escherichia coli Isolates According to Culture Site and Patient Age, Gender, and Location

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli and the antimicrobial pressure exerted on this microorganism can be modulated by factors dependent on the host. In this paper, we describe the distribution of antimicrobial resistance to amikacin, tobramycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin clavulanate, cefuroxime, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, imipenem, ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, and trimetoprim-sulfametoxazole in more than 100,000 E. coli isolates according to culture site and patient age, gender, and location. Bayesian inference was planned in all statistical analysis, and Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation was employed to estimate the model parameters. Our findings show the existence of a marked difference in the susceptibility to several antimicrobial agents depending on from where E. coli was isolated, with higher levels of resistance in isolates from medical devices, the respiratory system, and the skin and soft tissues; a higher resistance percentage in men than in women; and the existence of a clear difference in antimicrobial resistance with an age influence that cannot be explained merely by means of an increase of resistance after exposure to antimicrobials. Both men and women show increases in resistance with age, but while women show constant levels of resistance or slight increases during childbearing age and greater increases in the premenopausal age, men show a marked increase in resistance in the pubertal age. In conclusion, an overwhelming amount of data reveals the great adaptation capacity of E. coli and its close interaction with the host. Sex, age, and the origin of infection are determining factors with the ability to modulate antimicrobial resistances.
Incarcerating juveniles in adult prisons as a factor in depression.

BACKGROUND While existing research has shown higher prevalence of depression among incarcerated youths compared with non-incarcerated youths, none has studied incarceration as a cause of depression. AIMS/HYPOTHESIS This study suggests that incarceration, in particular placement of youths in adult incarceration, is a factor in developing depression. METHOD A records based comparison of depression among youths in different types of incarceration with non-incarcerated youths, controlling for other predictors of depression, namely offence type, family poverty, parents' history of incarceration and demographic profile. RESULTS Youths in adult placements were significantly more likely to be depressed than youths in juvenile placements and community-based youths. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS The findings suggest that there are mental health implications against incarcerating youths in adult prisons, a concern that current juvenile justice might not have considered adequately.
Early loss of serum hepatitis C virus RNA can predict a sustained response to interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated whether the loss of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA early in interferon (IFN) therapy would indicate a subsequent response to IFN therapy. METHODS One hundred fourteen patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with IFN-alpha for 24 weeks. All patients were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and serum HCV RNA. Serum HCV RNA was measured by highly sensitive and specific RT-PCR (modified Amplicor HCV). RESULTS Of 114 patients who were treated with IFN-alpha for 24 weeks, 22 of 29 patients (75.9%) who lost HCV RNA at the first week of treatment, 5 of 14 patients (35.7%) who lost HCV RNA at the second week, and 2 of 16 patients (12.5%) who lost HCV RNA at fourth week were judged as sustained responder (SR). The SR rate was significantly higher in patients who lost HCV RNA at the first week of therapy (p < 0.05). On the contrary, none of 55 patients who retained HCV RNA during the first 4 weeks of IFN therapy were judged as SR. Concerning the patients who lost HCV RNA at the first week of therapy, there were no significant differences in the SR rate in either HCV genotype (1b, 2a, and 2b). CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms that the early response to IFN (loss of HCV RNA at the end of the first week of IFN therapy) can be a predictor of the subsequent sustained response to IFN therapy. Additionally, positivity of HCV RNA at the fourth week of IFN therapy can be a predictor of the subsequent nonsustained response to IFN therapy.
Prolactin response to metoclopramide in the castrated male rat.

The effect of castration on the prolacrin (PRL) response to the dopaminergic antagonist metoclopramide (MET) has been examined in the male rat. The mean ± SD PRL Content in pituitaries of intact rats (1802 ± 293 ng/mg) was significantly higher (P<0.00l) than that of rats 10 days after caStration (1170 ± 157 ng/mg). Basal plasma PRL levels, however, were unaffected by castration. In intact animals, the maximum PRL response to metoclopramide (0.25 mg/kg) was 144.2 ± 49.6 nglml, and increasing doses of MET (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/kg) did not augment the response. In the castrated rat, the mean maximum PRL response to MET (0.25 mg/kg) was only 59.8 ± 21.8 ng/ml (P<0.01 compared with intact animals.) Higher doses of MET (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/kg) increased the maximum PRL response, but this was still less (P<0.05) than the peak response in intact animals. With a larger dose of MET (10 mg/kg), a further increase in the peak PRL response was not observed in the castrated rats. These experiments demonstrate that castration can depress pituitary PRL concentration as well as the PRL response to the dopaminergic antagonist metoclopramide without altering basal PRL levels.
Group psychoeducative cognitive-behaviour therapy for mixed anxiety and depression with older adults

Objectives: There is a dearth of older adult evidence regarding the group treatment for co-morbid anxiety and depression. This research evaluated the effectiveness of a low-intensity group psychoeducational approach. Method: Patients attended six sessions of a manualised cognitive-behavioural group. Validated measures of anxiety, depression and psychological well-being were taken at assessment, termination and six-week follow-up from patients, who also rated the alliance and their anxiety/depression at each group session. Staff rated patients regarding their functioning at assessment, termination and six-week follow-up. Outcomes were categorised according to whether patients had recovered, improved, deteriorated or been harmed. Effect sizes were compared to extant group interventions for anxiety and depression. Results: Eight groups were completed with 34 patients, with a drop-out rate of 17%. Staff and patient rated outcome measures showed significant improvements (with small effect sizes) in assessment to termination and assessment to follow-up comparisons. Over one quarter (26.47%) of patients met the recovery criteria at follow-up and no patients were harmed. Outcomes for anxiety were better than for depression with the alliance in groups stable over time. Conclusion: The intervention evaluated shows clinical and organisational promise. The group approach needs to be further developed and tested in research with greater methodological control.
Response to acute hCG stimulation and steroidogenic potential of Leydig cell fibroblastic precursors in humans.

The process of early testosterone (T) secretion and Leydig cell differentiation in humans was studied to explore the steroidogenic capacity of Leydig cell fibroblastic precursors. Seven cryptorchid boys received hCG prior to orchidopexy. Patients CP, PB, and MR received one injection of 1000 IU; patients JR and GG, three daily injections of 1000 IU, and patients MP and MM, five daily injections of 1000 IU. A testicular biopsy was obtained at the time of operation, 24 hours after the last injection. Serum T (ng/dl) before and after hCG stimulation and testicular T (ng/g) were determined by RIA. A control prepubertal testis (tumoral orchidectomy) was incubated in vitro and showed a time-dependent accumulation of T both in the medium and the testicular tissue. Testosterone released into the medium at 1, 2, and 4 hours was 0.76, 1.43, and 4.03 ng/ml, respectively. Tissue T at 0, 1, 2, and 4 hours was 9, 11, 16, and 24 ng/g, respectively. This indicates synthesis and secretion of T into the medium. Control testes showed abundant fibroblastic precursors with scanty cytoplasm, few organelles, heterochromatic nuclei, and minute nucleoli. No Leydig cells were present. After 1 day of hCG stimulation, numerous fibroblasts were activated, displaying enlarged cytoplasms with increased numbers of organelles, nuclei rich in euchromatin, and bigger nucleoli. No Leydig cells were present. Basal serum testosterone was 58.2 +/- 45.3 ng/dl and 87.3 +/- 42.0 after hCG administration, while testicular T was 974.0 +/- 686.0 ng/g (control prepubertal testicular T is 10-50 ng/g). After 3 days of hCG, activated fibroblasts increased and immature Leydig cells appeared. Basal serum T was 35.5 +/- 7.8 ng/dl and 394.0 +/- 24.0 after hCG stimulation, while testicular T rose to 2797.5 +/- 1222.6 ng/g. After 5 days, mature Leydig cells appeared for the first time. Serum T was 58 +/- 59.3 ng/dl (basal) and 641.5 +/- 390 ng/dl (after hCG); testicular T was 789 ng/g (patient MM did not have a value for testicular T). HCG induced numerous coated pits and endocytic vesicles in activated fibroblasts and young Leydig cells, suggesting receptor aggregation and internalization of hormone-receptor complexes. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) localization of T was positive in peritubular fibroblasts and Leydig cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Feature selection for phishing detection: a review of research

Web services motivate phishers to evolve more deceptive websites as their never-ending threats to users. This intricate challenge enforces researchers to develop more proficient phishing detection approaches that incorporate hybrid features, machine learning classifiers, and feature selection methods. However, these detection approaches remain incompetent in classification performance over the vast web. This is attributed to the limited selection of the best features from the massive number of hybrid ones, and to the variant outcomes of applied feature selection methods in the realistic condition. In this topic, this paper surveys prominent researches, highlights their limitations, and emphasises on how they could be improved to escalate detection performance. This survey restates additional peculiarities to promote certain facets of the current research trend with the hope to help researchers on how to develop detection approaches and obtain the best quality outcomes of feature selection.
Effects on hepatocellular carcinoma of doxorubicin-loaded immunoliposomes designed to target the VEGFR-2

To maintain a tumour vasculature in proportion of the tumour growth, the endothelial cells proliferate and up-regulate the expression of the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), whose expression is restricted to this cell type. This specificity implies that one therapeutically target the tumour endothelium. We investigated the use of immunoliposomes (IL), containing conjugated Fab′ fragments of the monoclonal rat anti-VEGFR-2 antibody DC101 (DC101-IL) to cargo doxorubicin to the tumour endothelium. In vitro, fluorescein-labelled IL displayed a 7 fold better binding to VEGFR-2-positive 293T cells in comparison to unspecific liposomes. Balb/C mice were injected subcutaneously with syngeneic hepatocellular carcinoma cells. One set of animals was treated with DC101-IL filled with doxorubicin when the tumours were bigger than 400 mm3. A specific delivery of doxorubicin to endothelial cells of the tumour vessels could be demonstrated by the red fluorescence of doxorubicin with laser scanning microscopy, but neither a delay of tumour growth nor a shrinking of the tumour mass was observed. Yet necrosis in the tumours treated with doxorubicin containing vehicles was larger than in the tumours of the control groups. A second set of animals was treated with DC101-IL filled with doxorubicin when the tumours were smaller than 1 mm3. DC101-IL filled with doxorubicin led to a significant delay in tumour growth up to 7 weeks compared to empty DC101-IL, free doxorubicin, and HEPES/Glucose (HEPES/Glucose vs. DOX-DC101-IL, p = 0.001; unpaired, two-tailed Student's t-test) and to a higher amount of necrotic areas in the tumours (p = 0.053; 1 way ANOVA with 4 groups). These findings suggest that IL designed to bind specifically to VEGFR-2 can be used to deliver doxorubicin to the tumour endothelium and may impair the “angiogenic switch” of the tumours.
Blind multiuser vector channel estimation for space-time diffused signals

A near-far resistant channel estimation technique is proposed for DS-CDMA signals transmitted over a multiuser frequency-selective fading channel. The spatially and temporally diffuse rays for a particular user are considered to arrive in clusters, separated in time and/or space. The proposed technique estimates the DOA mean and variance, and the time delay offset and decay factor for each cluster. The technique is shown to effectively resolve sources even where they are closely located in time and space. Furthermore, unlike many DS-CDMA channel estimators, the technique also performs well in the presence of co-code interferers.
Electrodeposition of hydroxyapatite (HAp) coatings on etched titanium mesh substrate

This study was carried out in order to investigate the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) coatings on etched Ti mesh substrate using electrodeposition technique. The coatings were deposited from solution containing CaCl2 and NH4H2PO4 (with Ca/P ratio being 1.67) by maintaining cathodic potentials for − 0.8 V and − 1.5 V vs Ag/AgCl for 30 min at 80 °C. On the other hand, chitosan solution was also added into bath solution to study its effect on coatings morphology. The surface morphology and the elemental compositions of the Ti surface before and after deposition were observed by FESEM and EDAX, respectively. Etching process has changed the morphology of the Ti surface from smooth to rough surface. HAp coatings deposited at − 0.8 V and − 1.5 V have similar morphology with flower-like structure. However, the coatings are more dense and compact when deposited at higher potential (i.e.: − 1.5 V). When chitosan was added into bath solution, the morphological structure of the coating was significantly changed from flower-like structure to flake-like structure interconnected with net-like structure of chitosan.
Ranking Cases with Classi cation Rules

Many real-world machine learning applications require a ranking of cases, in addition to their classi cation. While classi cation rules are not a good representation for ranking, the human comprehensibility aspect of rules makes them an attractive option for many ranking problems where such model transparency is desired. There have been numerous studies on ranking with decision trees, but not many on ranking with decision rules. Although rules are similar to decision trees in many respects, there are important di erences between them when used for ranking. In this chapter, we propose a framework for ranking with rules. The framework extends and substantially improves on the reported methods for ranking with decision trees. It introduces three types of rulebased ranking methods: post analysis of rules, hybrid methods, and multiple rule set analysis. We also study the impact of rule learning bias on the ranking performance. While traditional measures used for ranking performance evaluation tend to focus on the entire rank ordered list, the aim of many ranking applications is to optimize the performance on only a small portion of the top ranked cases. Accordingly, we propose a simple method for measuring the performance of a classi cation or ranking algorithm that focuses on these top ranked cases. Empirical studies have been conducted to evaluate some of the proposed methods.
Paranoid thinking, cognitive bias and dangerous neighbourhoods: Implications for perception of threat and expectations of victimisation

Background: Paranoid thinking is prevalent in the non-clinical population and cognitive mechanisms of heuristic reasoning and jumping to conclusions bias contributes to its formation and maintenance. Aims: This study investigated the degree to which paranoia, perceived environmental risk, heuristic reasoning and jumping to conclusions bias (measured with the beads task) contribute to misinterpretation of neutral stimuli, and whether this informed judgements regarding vulnerability to threat and crime. It is also investigated whether impulsiveness is a confounding factor on the beads task. Methods: Two hundred participants were recruited using a snowball-sampling method for a quantitative cross-sectional study. Participants reported demographic information, three psychometric questionnaires and two experimental tasks via an online paradigm hosted by the Bristol Online Survey tool. Results: Participants with high paranoia scores perceived their environment to be more dangerous than those with low scores. Participants with high paranoia scores also overestimated threat in neutral stimuli and had high expectations of future victimisation. Jumping to conclusions on the beads task did not predict fear of crime outcomes, but was predicted by impulsivity. Conclusion: Participants who demonstrated paranoid thinking were more likely to reside in perceived dangerous neighbourhoods and overestimate threat. While this could indicate a paranoid heuristic, it is a potentially rational response to prior experiences of crime and victimisation. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The RING‐finger domain of the fungal repressor crgA is essential for accurate light regulation of carotenogenesis

Mucor circinelloides responds to blue light by activating the biosynthesis of carotenoids. Gene crgA acts as a repressor of this light‐regulated process, as its inactivation leads to overaccumulation of carotenoids in both the dark and the light. The predicted CrgA protein contains different recognizable structural domains, including a RING‐finger zinc‐binding motif, several glutamine‐rich regions, a putative nuclear localization signal and an isoprenylation domain. To gain insight into the specific mode of action of the CrgA protein, we sought to define the CrgA domains critical for the light regulation of carotenogenesis. For this, mutant crgA alleles harbouring missense or deletion mutations in conserved residues of those domains were generated, and their functionality was assessed by testing their ability to complement a null crgA mutation. Point mutations of the amino‐terminal RING‐finger domain abrogated the ability of CrgA to repress carotenogenesis in the dark, as did the deletion of a poly glutamine‐rich region at the carboxyl domain of CrgA. In contrast, mutations of the isoprenylation domain only slightly affected the CrgA function in carotenogenesis. The results identify two functional domains presumably involved in protein–protein interaction in the CrgA protein and suggest a role for the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway in the light regulation of carotenogenesis in fungi.
METABOLISM OF ISOLATED FAT CELLS. I. EFFECTS OF HORMONES ON GLUCOSE METABOLISM AND LIPOLYSIS.

This article marks the beginning of Rodbell's interest in cell receptors. In it, he related his discovery that fat cells could be isolated from other cells by treating them with preparations of collagenase, and also found that insulin could stimulate glucose uptake. This had far-reaching implications for the treatment of various diseases, as it was the first demonstration that insulin acted on individual cells.
Expression of Cre recombinase in the developing mouse limb bud driven by a Prxl enhancer

Summary: We have used a Prx1 limb enhancer to drive expression of Cre Recombinase in transgenic mice. This regulatory element leads to Cre expression throughout the early limb bud mesenchyme and in a subset of craniofacial mesenchyme. Crossing a murine line carrying this transgene to a reporter mouse harboring a floxed Cre‐reporter cassette revealed that recombinase activity is first observed in the earliest limb bud at 9.5 dpc. By early to mid bud stages at 10.5 dpc recombination is essentially complete in all mesenchymal cells in the limb. Expression of the Cre recombinase was never detected in the limb bud ectoderm. The use of Prx1–Cre mice should facilitate analysis of gene function in the developing limb. genesis 33:77–80, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adult Cavovarus Foot

&NA; Cavovarus foot deformity, which often results from an imbalance of muscle forces, is commonly caused by hereditary motor sensory neuropathies. Other causes are cerebral palsy, cerebral injury (stroke), anterior horn cell disease (spinal root injury), talar neck injury, and residual clubfoot. In cavovarus foot deformity, the relatively strong peroneus longus and tibialis posterior muscles cause a hindfoot varus and forefoot valgus (pronated) position. Hindfoot varus causes overload of the lateral border of the foot, resulting in ankle instability, peroneal tendinitis, and stress fracture. Degenerative arthritic changes can develop in overloaded joints. Gait examination allows appropriate planning of tendon transfers to correct stance and swing‐phase deficits. Inspection of the forefoot and hindfoot positions determines the need for softtissue release and osteotomy. The Coleman block test is invaluable for assessing the cause of hindfoot varus. Prolonged use of orthoses or supportive footwear can result in muscle imbalance, causing increasing deformity and irreversible damage to tendons and joints. Rebalancing tendons is an early priority to prevent unsalvageable deterioration of the foot. Muscle imbalance can be corrected by tendon transfer, corrective osteotomy, and fusion. Fixed bony deformity can be addressed by fusion and osteotomy.