Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activity of Herbal Medicines on Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytes: Implications for Malaria Transmission in Ghana

Background Malaria still remains a major health issue in Ghana despite the introduction of Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) coupled with other preventative measures such as the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs). The global quest for eradication of malaria has heightened the interest of identifying drugs that target the sexual stage of the parasite, referred to as transmission-blocking drugs. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy and gametocydal effects of some commonly used herbal malaria products in Ghana. Methodology/Principal Findings After identifying herbal anti-malarial products frequently purchased on the Ghanaian market, ten of them were selected and lyophilized. In vitro drug sensitivity testing of different concentrations of the herbal products was carried out on asexual and in vitro generated gametocytes of the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. The efficacies of the products were assessed by microscopy. Cultures containing low dose of RT also produced the least number of late stage gametocytes. Two of the herbal products CM and RT inhibited the growth of late stage gametocytes by > 80% at 100 μg/ml whilst KG was the most inhibitory to early stage gametocytes at that same concentration. However at 1 μg/ml, only YF significantly inhibited the survival of late stage gametocytes although at that same concentration YF barely inhibited the survival of early stage gametocytes. Conclusions/Significance Herbal product RT (Aloe schweinfurthii, Khaya senegalensis, Piliostigma thonningii and Cassia siamea) demonstrated properties of a highly efficacious gametocydal product. Low dose of herbal product RT exhibited the highest gametocydal activity and at 100 μg/ml, RT exhibited >80% inhibition of late stage gametocytes. However inhibition of asexual stage parasite by RT was not optimal. Improving the asexual inhibition of RT could convert RT into an ideal antimalarial herbal product. We also found that generally C. sanguinolenta containing herbal products exhibited gametocydal activity in addition to high asexual efficacy. Herbal products with high gametocydal activity can help in the fight to reduce malaria transmission.
A new associate spondyloarthritis. Does 'rheumatoid spondylo arthritis' exist? [Proceedings].

Treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis with synthetic D-peniWcllmine 'Ho-Bay 950'. A. Santamaria, P. Barcel6, M. Mench6n, R. Ruiz de la torre, and M. Ripolls G6mez Twenty patients affected with rheumatoid polyarthritis were treated from 6 to 14 months with synthetic D-penicillaminase (900 mg/d). Clinical improvement was evident, with the decrease of ESR beginning with the third month, thereby permitting the decrease and even the suspension in 7 cases of the dosage of steroids. The Cu and Fe decreased somewhat, but always within the normal physiological limits. Serological values decreased, attaining negativization in 10 cases. Similarly there was a decrease of IgG and IgM; serum Cl and C3 became normal. The 'R rosette' test showed an increase. Histological study of the synovial tissues showed favourable evolution of the inflammatory alterations. All of the changes became manifest beginning with the third or fourth month. The only side effects encountered were light proteinuria in one case, hypogeusia in 2, and skin rash with pruritus in another 2 which did not cause suspension of treatment.
Early marginalist ideas on money: some neglected exceptions to the quantity theory

The quantity theory of money (QTM) is an important building block of neoclassical economics. This has led scholars to believe that all monetary accounts proposed by marginalist economists are inherently based on the QTM. However, within the bimetallic controversy of the last quarter of the 19th century, there were some neoclassical proposals which departed from the framework of the QTM. In this article, I analyse three of these accounts: Alfred Marshall's symmetallism, Irving Fisher's compensated dollar plan, and Knut Wicksell's inconvertible paper standard. These monetary arrangements—especially the first two of them—have rarely been studied in the literature. Still, their relevance should not be neglected in current times in which the economics profession—both orthodox and heterodox approaches—has moved towards an endogenous money view. The proposals studied also show that the neutrality of money does not necessarily imply the QTM, as it is often suggested.
Prognostic Significance of Fascin Overexpression in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: Fascin, an actin bundling protein, induces membrane protrusions and increased cell motility in various transformed cells. The expression of fascin in epithelial neoplasms has been described only recently, and the role of fascin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unknown. Experimental Design: Paraffin sections of 200 patients with ESCC were immunohistochemically investigated. The expression levels of fascin mRNA in 20 ESCC tissues were compared with that in corresponding normal esophageal epithelium by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR. We also examined fascin protein expression in 33 ESCC cell lines. The role of fascin in cell motility and invasiveness in ESCC cells was assessed by the vector-based small interfering RNA. Results: In immunohistochemical study, the intensity of fascin expression was usually increased in the tumor compared with that in normal epithelium. Fascin overexpression was significantly associated with a poor prognosis (immunoreactive rate, P = 0.033; immunoreactive intensity, P = 0.031). The fascin immunoreactive rate was associated with extent of the tumor (P = 0.002) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that fascin expression intensity was an independent prognostic factor, but the immunoreactive rate was not. In addition, up-regulation of fascin mRNA was found in 60% (12 of 20) of patients. In vitro study revealed that all 33 ESCC cell lines expressed fascin protein at a certain level. KYSE170, one of the fascin-overexpressed cells, decreased its motile and invasive properties after down-regulation of fascin expression. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that fascin overexpression may play an important role in the progression of ESCC.
Brain Responses to a 6-Hz Binaural Beat: Effects on General Theta Rhythm and Frontal Midline Theta Activity

A binaural beat is a beat phenomenon that is generated by the dichotic presentation of two almost equivalent pure tones but with slightly different frequencies. The brain responses to binaural beats remain controversial; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate theta activity responses to a binaural beat by controlling factors affecting localization, including beat frequency, carrier tone frequency, exposure duration, and recording procedure. Exposure to a 6-Hz binaural beat on a 250 Hz carrier tone for 30 min was utilized in this study. Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) was utilized as the recording modality. Twenty-eight participants were divided into experimental and control groups. Emotional states were evaluated by Brunel Mood Scale (BRMUS) before and after exposing to the stimulus. The results showed that theta activity was induced in the entire cortex within 10 min of exposure to the stimulus in the experimental group. Compared to the control group, theta activity was also induced at the frontal and parietal-central regions, which included the Fz position, and left hemisphere dominance was presented for other exposure durations. The pattern recorded for 10 min of exposure appeared to be brain functions of a meditative state. Moreover, tension factor of BRUMS was decreased in experimental group compared to control group which resembled the meditation effect. Thus, a 6-Hz binaural beat on a 250 Hz carrier tone was suggested as a stimulus for inducing a meditative state.
On Metrics and Models for Energy-Efficient Design of Wireless Access Networks

The energy efficiency of wireless access networks has attracted significant interest, due to escalating energy cost and environmental concerns. How energy efficiency should be measured is, however, still disputed in the literature. In this letter, we discuss the impact of performance metrics and energy consumption models in network dimensioning. We argue that, using a popular metric, the number of bits/Joule may give misleading results, unless the capacity and coverage requirements of the system are carefully defined. We also claim that the energy consumption in the backhaul and the idle power of the base stations have to be taken into account. To support our claims, we demonstrate in a simple example how misleading results can be obtained by using flawed performance metrics.
Are Family Communication and School Belonging Protective Factors Against Depressive Symptoms in Homeless Youth in Toronto

This study examined the relationship between family communication, school engagement, negative peer behaviours, and depressive symptoms in a sample of youths experiencing homelessness. Interviews were conducted with 123 youths experiencing homelessness. Outcome measures included youth self-reports of negative peer behaviours, family communication levels, school engagement, and depressive symptoms. After controlling for demographic variables, higher family communication (b = -0.38, t = -2.74, p = 0.007) and higher school engagement (b = -4.32, t = -2.61, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Negative peer behaviours were not associated with depressive symptoms in the sample. Family communication and school engagement may serve as protective factors against depressive symptoms in youths experiencing homelessness. Practitioners who work with youths experiencing homelessness may collaborate with the youths, schools, and families to improve school engagement and fami.
Bacterial Succession in a Petroleum Land Treatment Unit

ABSTRACT Bacterial community dynamics were investigated in a land treatment unit (LTU) established at a site contaminated with highly weathered petroleum hydrocarbons in the C10 to C32 range. The treatment plot, 3,000 cubic yards of soil, was supplemented with nutrients and monitored weekly for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), soil water content, nutrient levels, and aerobic heterotrophic bacterial counts. Weekly soil samples were analyzed with 16S rRNA gene terminal restriction fragment (TRF) analysis to monitor bacterial community structure and dynamics during bioremediation. TPH degradation was rapid during the first 3 weeks and slowed for the remainder of the 24-week project. A sharp increase in plate counts was reported during the first 3 weeks, indicating an increase in biomass associated with petroleum degradation. Principal components analysis of TRF patterns revealed a series of sample clusters describing bacterial succession during the study. The largest shifts in bacterial community structure began as the TPH degradation rate slowed and the bacterial cell counts decreased. For the purpose of analyzing bacterial dynamics, phylotypes were generated by associating TRFs from three enzyme digests with 16S rRNA gene clones. Two phylotypes associated with Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas were dominant in TRF patterns from samples during rapid TPH degradation. After the TPH degradation rate slowed, four other phylotypes gained dominance in the community while Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas phylotypes decreased in abundance. These data suggest that specific phylotypes of bacteria were associated with the different phases of petroleum degradation in the LTU.
The Monte Carlo method for the evaluation of automatic recontouring algorithms accuracy

Characterizing the performance of automated contouring algorithm has been a persistent challenge. The accuracy of automated contouring algorithm of medical images has been difficult to quantify because of the absence of a ground truth segmentation of clinical data. A common strategy is to compare the automated contour with the segmentation produced by an expert or by a group of experts. The known problem is that inter-observer and intra-observer variability is very high especially when images to be segmented have low contrast. We present a Monte Carlo method that accounts for this variability and uses it to generate a set of random contours. Then we compare automatic contour with each sampled contours obtaining an estimate of the probability that automatic method is accurate. Our method seems to be able to provide more information than the classical evaluation of similarity between automatic and expert contours does, therefore avoiding the problem of constructing a ground truth.
Nasal nitric oxide

The significance of nitric oxide (NO) in man was first investigated in the late 1980s, and NO has subsequently received great attention from biologists. Initially, this highly reactive gaseous molecule was seen as a mere noxious air pollutant. Closer investigation of its function in physiological processes, however, revealed that it took part in many different biologic processes. This multifunctionality led to its declaration as the molecule of the year in 1992. We now know NO to be a smooth-muscle relaxant in blood vessels, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, a neurotransmitter, and a mediator in local defense (2, 3). In the airways, NO is an important molecule with different functions such as stimulation of ciliary motility, mediation in inflammation, bacteriostatic and virostatic activity, and regulation of bronchial airway tone and even pulmonary vascular tone (4–7). Further studies on other systems will probably reveal more processes in which NO plays a key role. Studies in healthy adults indicate that NO in nasal air is mainly produced in the epithelial cells of the nasal cavity, particularly in the paranasal sinuses (8). Many factors, such as smoking, drugs, physio-logical factors, and nasal and paranasal disorder, influence the level of NO measured in nasal air (6, 9, 10). The measurement technique is also of great importance (10, 11). NO measurement has begun to be used in experimental clinical settings, in order to clarify the clinical value of NO in diagnostic problems and therapeutic strategies for disorders such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and various forms of sinusitis and allergy. The use of NO as a non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic tool is the ultimate goal. Production of NO
A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Impulsive and Compulsive Buying Behaviors among Israeli and U.S. Consumers: The Influence of Personal Traits and Cultural Values

ABSTRACT This study tests a model to investigate the extent to which drivers of compulsive and impulsive buying behaviors overlap. The model includes personal and cultural antecedents for traits of consumer impulsiveness and compulsiveness and impulsive and compulsive buying behaviors as outcomes. Survey results from 336 Israeli and 595 U.S. consumers indicate that the personality antecedents envy, low self-esteem, and fantasizing generally drive consumer traits of impulsiveness and compulsiveness, though some differences exist between consumers in the U.S. and Israel. However, cultural orientations were found to be insignificant in driving traits of impulsiveness or compulsiveness.
PKCδ regulates integrin αVβ3 expression and transformed growth of K-ras dependent lung cancer cells

We have previously shown that Protein Kinase C delta (PKCδ) functions as a tumor promoter in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), specifically in the context of K-ras addiction. Here we define a novel PKCδ -> integrin αVβ3->Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) pathway that regulates the transformed growth of K-ras dependent NSCLC cells. To explore how PKCδ regulates tumorigenesis, we performed mRNA expression analysis in four KRAS mutant NSCLC cell lines that stably express scrambled shRNA or a PKCδ targeted shRNA. Analysis of PKCδ-dependent mRNA expression identified 3183 regulated genes, 210 of which were specifically regulated in K-ras dependent cells. Genes that regulate extracellular matrix and focal adhesion pathways were most highly represented in this later group. In particular, expression of the integrin pair, αVβ3, was specifically reduced in K-ras dependent cells with depletion of PKCδ, and correlated with reduced ERK activation and reduced transformed growth as assayed by clonogenic survival. Re-expression of PKCδ restored ITGAV and ITGB3 mRNA expression, ERK activation and transformed growth, and this could be blocked by pretreatment with a αVβ3 function-blocking antibody, demonstrating a requirement for integrin αVβ3 downstream of PKCδ. Similarly, expression of integrin αV restored ERK activation and transformed growth in PKCδ depleted cells, and this could also be inhibited by pretreatment with PD98059. Our studies demonstrate an essential role for αVβ3 and ERK signalingdownstream of PKCδ in regulating the survival of K-ras dependent NSCLC cells, and identify PKCδ as a novel therapeutic target for the subset of NSCLC patients with K-ras dependent tumors.
The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe: Analysis and Basic Documents, 1972–1993. Edited by Arie Bloed. [Dordrecht: Kluwer. 1993. xxix + 1337 pp. ISBN 0-7923-2593-1 (hb). Dfl.595/US$360/£238]

points out one of the main weaknesses of the present Charter, namely the lack of compulsory jurisdiction of the I d , as well as the fact that only States may be parties in cases before the Court. In this sense, an amendment to Article 36(2) is suggested (p.132), which appears realistic in the present time. A few other complementary amendments are proposed in the following paragraphs. A special category of ab initio binding resolutions, calling on the parties to refer their dispute to the ICJ, is advocated by the author in chapter IV. Experience has shown, however, that this possibility—although desirable—is somewhat remote in the world of today. The third case (opportunity in our changing world) addresses suggestions for the future: inter alia, the gradual expansion of the European Community in membership and function. In a rather frightening final statement, the author refers to the possibility of another world war, which would pave the way for survivors to have a United Nations of the World which, he observes, through lack of wisdom, courage and leadership, they did not set up in time. A number of specific conclusions are formulated by Sloan as an epilogue to his work. The annexes include a resolution of the Instilul de Droit International, opinions of the UN Legal Office, a list of conventions, declarations and other instruments adopted by the UNGA between 1946 and 1989 and the San Francisco Statement on Charter Interpretation. This book is published to a very high standard and the work reveals careful research and clever thinking. It is a praiseworthy effort to darify a question which has concerned international lawyers throughout the years.
Ensuring Police Protection for Battered Women: The Scott v. Hart Suit

more effective enforcement of the criminal laws protecting battered women, this article describes in detail the Scott v. Hart suit (C-76-2395 N.D. Cal.), which challenged the procedures of the Oakland Police Department in responding to calls for assistance from physically abused women. Scott v. Hart was filed in 1976 with two primary goals: to obtain effective police protection for battered women by reversing the department's arrest-avoidance policy and to educate not only the criminal justice system, but also the public, about the problem of domestic violence.
Haptics in computer music : a paradigm shift

With an historical point of view combined with a bibliographic overview, the article discusses the idea that haptic force-feedback transduc- ers correspond with a paradigm shift in our real-time digital tools for creat- ing music. So doing, it shows that Computer Music may be regarded as a ma- jor field of research and application for haptics.
Adult scoliosis.

Adult scoliosis is a complex and difficult area of modern orthopaedics. Thanks to modern techniques of both operative and nonoperative care, treatment is now possible for problems thought of as impossible only a few years ago. Most adult scoliosis problems require a great depth of evaluation and decision making before arriving at the best form of treatment. Failure to do these necessary steps can lead to monumental problems. Nonoperative treatment of painful curves is best done with orthotics and not with physiotherapy. The operative procedure of choice for most patients is posterior instrumentation and fusion, striving for stabilization and pain improvement, not dramatic curve or cosmetic change. Pain is usually significantly improved but is almost never totally eliminated. Special procedures, such as anterior correction and fusion as well as combined anterior and posterior procedures, are appropriate only for very special problems. The complication rate for adult scoliosis surgery is far higher than for children and adolescents and usually increases with age. Surgeons should not attempt treatment of adults until thoroughly competent in the treatment of adolescent scoliosis.
Why service recovery fails: A case study on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage (Hurtigruten)

This paper deals with a service recovery study carried out on the prestigious Norwegian Coastal Voyage (NCV) or the Hurtigruten, which is the brand name. The research is based on a collection of 51 service failure incidents, of which 16 were recovered by the service provider. However, 35 service failure incidents were not recovered, and the paper documents why service recovery failed in these cases on the Hurtigruten. The findings show that the service actors, the service leadership due to lack of service competencies, the service employees due to lack of knowledge, skills and empowerment, and the customers themselves due to their own attitudes and behaviours explain why service recovery failed.
A Single-Trial Estimation of the Feedback-Related Negativity and Its Relation to BOLD Responses in a Time-Estimation Task

An event-related potential (ERP) component reliably associated with feedback processing and well studied in humans is the feedback-related negativity (FRN), which is assumed to indicate activation of midcingulate cortex (MCC) neurons. However, recent approaches have conceptualized this frontocentral ERP component as reflecting at least partially a reward positivity associated with activation in reward-related brain regions, in line with fMRI studies investigating feedback processing in the context of reward evaluation. To discover convergence of electrophysiological and BOLD responses elicited by performance feedback, we concurrently recorded EEG and fMRI during a time-estimation task. The ERP showed relatively more negative amplitudes to negative than to positive feedback. Conventional analyses of fMRI data revealed activation of a number of areas, including ventral striatum, anterior cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex to positive versus negative feedback. Most importantly, when using single-trial amplitudes of electrophysiological feedback signals to estimate hemodynamic responses, we found feedback-related BOLD-responses in ventral striatum, midcingulate, and midfrontal cortices to positive but not to negative feedback associated with feedback signals in the time range of the FRN. Specifically, activation in these areas increased as amplitudes became more positive. These findings suggest that, in the time-estimation task, a positivity elicited by reward is associated with brain activation in several reward-related brain regions and is driving differential ERP responses in the time range of the FRN.