Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Triclosan inhibits uropathogenic Escherichia coli-stimulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion in T24 bladder cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent commonly used in consumer and medical products that inhibits bacterial fatty acid synthesis. In addition to its bactericidal effects, sublethal concentrations of triclosan reduce local inflammation, inhibit the growth of bacterial uropathogens, induce membrane stress, and inhibit P-fimbrial expression in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). We tested whether sublethal concentrations of triclosan could reduce the adherence of UPEC to bladder and kidney cells and reduce the amount of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produced by these cells during bacterial challenge in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS Assays of bacterial growth, adhesion, and intracellularization were performed using UPEC GR12 incubated for 4 hours on monolayers of human T24 bladder cells or A498 kidney cells with various sublethal concentrations of triclosan. The expression profile of TNF-alpha from bladder cells was evaluated using ELISA. RESULTS No significant decreases were observed in the adherence or invasion percentages of UPEC GR12 with either cell line when treated with sublethal amounts of triclosan. However, treatment with triclosan 0.5 microg/mL led to a significant decrease in the total number of UPEC GR12 recovered from T24 monolayers (P < 0.05). Importantly, a reduction in the expression of TNF-alpha by T24 cells was shown when UPEC GR12 was treated with triclosan (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Sublethal concentrations of triclosan did not inhibit the adhesion or intracellularization of UPEC into kidney or bladder cell lines but did significantly reduce the amount of TNF-alpha secreted by bladder cells. Therefore, the use of triclosan on ureteral stents may prove clinically beneficial, not only by inhibiting bacterial survival and growth within the urinary tract, but by reducing local inflammation as well.
Efficacy of Nurse Case-Managed Intervention for Latent Tuberculosis Among Homeless Subsamples

Background: The efficacy of a nurse case-managed intervention was evaluated in subsamples of participants with one of the following characteristics: female gender, African American ethnicity, recruited from a homeless shelter, a history of military service, lifetime injection drug use, daily alcohol and drug use, poor physical health, and a history of poor mental health. Objective: To determine whether a validated nurse case-managed intervention with incentives and tracking would improve adherence to latent tuberculosis infection treatment in subsamples of homeless persons with characteristics previously identified in the literature as predictive of nonadherence. Methods: A prospective 2-group site-randomized design was conducted with 520 homeless adults residing in 12 homeless shelters and residential recovery sites in the Skid Row region of Los Angeles from 1998 to 2003. Results: Daily drug users, participants with a history of injection drug use, daily alcohol users, and persons who were not of African American race or ethnicity had particularly poor completion rates, even in the nurse case-managed intervention program (48%, 55%, 54%, and 50%, respectively). However, the intervention achieved a 91% completion rate for homeless shelter residents and significantly improved latent tuberculosis infection treatment adherence in 9 of 12 subgroups tested (odds ratios = 2.51-10.41), including daily alcohol and drug users, when potential confounders were controlled using logistic regression analysis. Discussion: Nurse case management with incentives appears to be a good foundation for increasing adherence to 6-month isoniazid treatment in a variety of homeless subgroups and, in particular, for sheltered homeless populations. However, additional social-structural and environmental strategies are needed to address those at greatest risk of nonadherence.
Functional Imaging of Conditioned Aversive Emotional Responses in Antisocial Personality Disorder

Individuals with antisocial personality disorder (n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 12) were examined for cerebral regional activation involved in the processing of negative affect. A differential aversive classical conditioning paradigm was applied with odors as unconditioned stimuli and faces as conditioned stimuli. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) based on echo-planar imaging was used while cerebral activity was studied during habituation, acquisition, and extinction. Individually defined cerebral regions were analyzed. Both groups indicated behavioral conditioning following subjective ratings of emotional valence to conditioned stimuli. Differential effects were found during acquisition in the amygdala and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Controls showed signal decreases, patients signal increases. These preliminary results revealed unexpected signal increases in cortical/subcortical areas of patients. The increases may result from an additional effort put in by these individuals to form negative emotional associations, a pattern of processing that may correspond to their characteristic deviant emotional behavior.
Adjuvant Ovarian Suppression, High-dose Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy for Premenopausal Patients with High-risk Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND Premenopausal patients with breast cancer and more than 10 positive axillary nodes (BC>10) have a poor prognosis: In these patients the best adjuvant therapy (CT) has not yet been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-two BC>10 received, in sequence, the following adjuvant treatments: luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) analog for 5 years; anthracycline-based induction chemotherapy; radiation therapy; platinum-based high-dose CT, with autologous bone marrow transplantation; immunotherapy with interleukin 2 (IL2) and 13-cis retinoic acid (RA); anastrazole given 5 years to estrogen receptor-positive patients. Primary endpoints of the study were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall (OS) survival. A secondary endpoint was toxicity. RESULTS The median age of patients was 41 years, and the mean number of positive axillary nodes was 14. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were positive in 57% and 29% of patients respectively, while 14% of patients had triple-negative disease. With a median follow-up of 120 months for patients remaining alive at the end of study, median DFS and OS, had not yet been reached. The 20-year DFS and OS rates were 63.8%, and 81.6%, respectively. One to two years after the end of the therapy, three patients had had four full-term pregnancies. CONCLUSION Treatment with LH-RH analog, high-dose CT, peripheral blood progenitor cells and IL2 with RA for patients with BC>10 is feasible, has moderate toxicity, while preserving ovarian function, seems to improve the expected DFS and OS for these high-risk patients.
Ultrapulsed fractional CO2 laser for the treatment of post-traumatic and pathological scars.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Scar management is a long-term process. A variety of modalities have been employed and, depending on scar type, treatment may be invasive and/or conservative. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new CO2 laser resurfacing for post-traumatic and pathological scars and to compare this device with classic dermabrasion. The new fractionated ultrapulsed CO2 laser (Ultrapulse Encore, Lumenis Ltd., Santa Clara, CA) is equipped with two types of scanners: the first, ActiveFX, is non-sequential while the second, DeepFX, is sequential and produces microspot. MATERIALS AND METHODS From September 2008 to November 2008, a study on 60 patients was performed. The patients (average age 47.3 years) enrolled in this study had severely scarred skin and were divided into two groups of 30 people. All patients were Caucasian with skin type II or III. Each scar was photographed and scored by the authors using the Manchester Scar Scale (MSS). Follow-up ranged from 12-15 months. RESULTS Sixty patients were analyzed in two homogeneous groups. Significant improvement in skin tone, texture and appearance of skin was noted in all patients treated with CO2 laser, lower improvement resulted with dermabrasion. Both subjects and investigators noted similar aesthetic improvement. No major complications were found for both groups and minor complications included transient erythema and edema. CONCLUSION Fractional ultrapulsed CO2 laser resurfacing has proven to be both safe and effective. The efficacy and favorable side effects profile for this technology, with low incidence of pigmentary changes, make it a viable alternative for the treatment of moderate-to-severe scars.
Tensile behaviour of hybrid fibre architectures of randomly oriented strands combined with laminate groups

In this work, the tensile behaviour of co-moulded hybrid fibre architectures of randomly oriented strands (carbon/PEEK) combined with laminate groups (cross-ply, angle-ply and quasi-isotropic) is studied. The effects of varying the thickness of the laminate group relative to that of randomly oriented strands, stacking sequence of the architectures within a hybrid specimen, and the ply stacking sequences within the laminate group are quantified. Processing benefits of hybridization such as reduction in warpage and strand waviness are discussed. The tensile behaviour of hybrid fibre architectures is quantified and compared with that of randomly oriented strand specimens, base laminate groups and aluminum 7075. In addition, tensile failure modes have been investigated. Significant improvements in the mechanical properties of randomly oriented strands are observed with small proportions of laminate groups in the specimen. In addition, hybrid fibre architectures exhibit a positive synergy or a positive deviation from the rule-of-mixtures in the overall stiffness and strength behaviour when stacked in specific configurations, despite the same fundamental fibre type and matrix system.
Accounting For Income Inequality: An Application Of The Fields Methodology To The Recent Fall Of Inequality In Brazil

The first decade of the 2000s is marked by changes in the labor market and a process of continuous reduction of income inequality in Brazil. But what explains this recent fall in inequality? Following Fields (2002), this article proposes to decompose the level of inequality in orthogonal factors based on variables of income determination equations (mincerian equation). Furthermore, based on measures that satisfy the inequality axioms Shorrocks (1982) proposes the decomposition of the difference of inequality, as well as the components of the relative importance in coefficient effect, standard deviation effect and correlation effect. Based on the sample of the Brazilian Population Census 2000 and 2010 from IBGE, concludes that education is the main factor that explains the 'level' of inequality. Moreover, the variation in education factor is also the main factor that explains the 'difference' of inequality and, for that, the change of the returns to schooling has the largest contribution.
Quantifying CO2 savings from wind power: Ireland

The contribution of wind power generation to operational CO2 savings is investigated for the Irish electricity grid. Wind contributed 17% of electricity demand in 2011 and reduced CO2 emissions by 9%. Wind energy saved 0:28 tCO2/MWh on average, relative to a grid carbon intensity in the absence of wind of 0.53tCO2/MWh. Emissions savings are at the lower end of expectations. It is likely that this reects decreasing eectiveness of wind power as wind penetration increases.
A Year in Structural Signaling: mTOR—The PIKK of the Bunch?

Protein crystallography reveals the secrets to regulation of the kinase mTOR. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–like protein kinases (PIKKs) are large, atypical serine-threonine kinases that function in many important cellular signaling processes. Despite their prominence, and due to the complexity of their architecture and interactions, PIKKs have long managed to evade high-resolution crystallographic analysis. Recent, near–atomic-resolution structures of nucleotide- and inhibitor-bound complexes of a large carboxyl-terminal fragment of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) are set to transform our understanding of the expansive signaling functions of these fascinating molecules and inform efforts to design therapeutic agents against a broad spectrum of human diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer.
Indoor planning and optimization of LTE-U radio access over WiFi

The pursuit of more bandwidth and more efficient spectrum usage has led to consider the use of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in unlicensed frequency bands, a concept known as LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U). This feature would be especially useful in hot-spots and indoors, where short-range pico-base stations could be used. However, indoor WiFi on unlicensed bands calls for coexistence mechanisms between LTE and WiFi. Accordingly, methods including listen-before-talk, advanced channel selection, duty-cycle, and variations of them, have been proposed. While these protocols are of great importance, we are approaching the coexistence issue from the radio access planning/optimization point of view by presenting a statistical system model for LTE-U indoor planning. The proposed optimization framework allows to obtain network topologies that maximize the benefits from the LTE-U deployment and fulfill coverage criteria. The performance of the statistically-optimized network topologies has also been validated by means of system level simulations.
Measurement of anti‐IgA antibodies by a two‐site immunoradiometric assay

To enable the detection of IgG class, anti‐IgA antibodies (IgG‐aIgA) and to investigate the possible occurrence of IgE class, anti‐IgA antibodies (IgE‐aIgA), we developed a solid phase immunoradiometric assay (IRA), which uses purified IgA coupled covalently to microcrystalline cellulose as an immunosorbent. Radiolabeled, Fc specific anti‐IgG and anti‐IgE antibodies were used to detect specific aIgA after incubation of test sera or controls with the immunosorbent. IgG‐aIgA were detected by the IRA in 100 and 67 per cent of control sera with class specific and limited specificity aIgA. The IRA was sensitive to approximately two ng of class specific IgG‐aIgA. IgG‐aIgA also were detected by IRA in 7.9 per cent of sera from patients with urticarial transfusion reactions and 73 per cent of sera from patients with ataxia telangiectasia and IgA deficiency. Sera from 50 normal blood donors did not have detectable IgG‐aIgA. Tests for IgE‐aIgA were negative in all cases, including control sera with class specific IgG‐ aIgA. We conclude that the IRA is a sensitive and reproducible method for detection of class specific and limited specificity IgG‐aIgA, and that IgE‐aIgA do not mediate urticarial transfusion reactions.
Expressing an (E)-β-farnesene synthase in the chloroplast of tobacco affects the preference of green peach aphid and its parasitoid.

(E)-β-Farnesene (EβF) synthase catalyses the production of EβF, which for many aphids is the main or only component of the alarm pheromone causing the repellence of aphids and also functions as a kairomone for aphids' natural enemies. Many plants possess EβF synthase genes and can release EβF to repel aphids. In order to effectively recruit the plant-derived EβF synthase genes for aphid control, by using chloroplast transit peptide (CTP) of the small subunit of Rubisco (rbcS) from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we targeted AaβFS1, an EβF synthase gene from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua L.), to the chloroplast of tobacco to generate CTP + AaβFS1 transgenic lines. The CTP + AaβFS1 transgenic tobacco plants could emit EβF at a level up to 19.25 ng/day per g fresh tissues, 4-12 fold higher than the AaβFS1 transgenic lines without chloroplast targeting. Furthermore, aphid/parasitoid behavioral bioassays demonstrated that the CTP + AaβFS1 transgenic tobacco showed enhanced repellence to green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and attracted response of its parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae, thus affecting aphid infestation at two trophic levels. These data suggest that the chloroplast is an ideal subcellular compartment for metabolic engineering of plant-derived EβF synthase genes to generate a novel type of transgenic plant emitting an alarm pheromone for aphid control.
Hope as a psychological resilience factor in mothers and fathers of children with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND Positive psychology is an area gaining credence within the field of intellectual disability (ID). Hope is one facet of positive psychology that is relatively unstudied in parents of children with ID. In the present study, we explore hope and its relationships with parental well-being in parents of school-aged children with ID. METHOD A total of 138 mothers and 58 fathers of children with ID took part in a questionnaire-based study. Parents reported on their feelings of hope and positive affect, other dimensions of psychological well-being (anxiety, depression and stress), and on their child's behaviour. For this study, hope was measured as a goal driven behaviour comprising two components: agency (the perception that one can reach his/her goals) and pathways (the perception that one can find alternative routes to reach these goals should the need arise). RESULTS For mothers, regression analyses revealed that lower levels of hope (agency and pathways) and more child behaviour problems predicted maternal depression. Positive affect was predicted by less problematic child behaviour and by higher levels of hope agency. For fathers, anxiety and depression were predicted by low hope agency and positive affect was predicted by high hope agency. Hope pathways was not a significant predictor of paternal well-being. Hope agency and pathways interacted in the prediction of maternal depression such that mothers reporting high levels of both hope dimensions reported the lowest levels of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Hope is a construct that merits further investigation within families research, and is potentially a factor that could be utilised in intervention to help increase familial well-being.
Evaluation of the awareness and perception of professional students in medicine, business and law schools of Karachi, regarding the use of (recreational) cannabis.

OBJECTIVE To assess the awareness and perception of students attending professional medicine, law and business schools regarding recreational use of cannabis. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2010 and November 2010. Using convenience sampling, 150 students from medical, business and law schools from both private and public sectors were enrolled. Government institutions included, Sindh Medical College, Institute of Business Administration and S.M. Law College, private schools were Ziauddin Medical College, SZABIST and Lecole for advanced studies. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaire. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 250 students were approached out of which 150(60%) filled the questionnaire. Of them 91(60.7%) were males and the overall mean age of the respondents was 22 ± 2 years. A total of 68 (45.3%) students were from the medical field, 53 (35.3%) from business and 29 (19.3%) from law. The private and public sectors were equally represented at 75 (50%) each. Overall, 93 (62%) agreed that hashish is a serious problem concerning student population. When asked to identify factors encouraging abstinence, 67 (44.7%) respondents each cited religion and health risks. CONCLUSION Our youth is not only concerned about the menace of hashish and but want proper awareness to be provided.
Low-Temperature Cu–Cu Direct Bonding Using Pillar–Concave Structure in Advanced 3-D Heterogeneous Integration

Low-temperature Cu–Cu bonding utilizing pillar and concave on silicon substrate with and without polymer layer is successfully implemented at 200 °C under atmospheric pressure. Finite-element method (FEM) simulations on stress and deformation generated during bonding process are also presented in order to discuss their influence on bonding result of several pillar diameters and of concave sidewall angles originating from the manufacturing process. The alteration of parameters in FEM simulations would also be investigated to enhance the bonding outcome. The parameters include the diameter of pillar, the sidewall angle of concave, the shape of the concave opening, the addition of extra polymer layer under Cu concave layer, the bonding temperature, and the pitch of the pillar–concave structure. The implementation of Cu–Cu bonding using pillar–concave structure could have a prospective effect on existing packaging methods in semiconductor industry with benefits of applicability to various sorts of substrates and low bonding temperature.
Optimal Design of a Novel Two-Branch Spray Painting Robot for Prescribed Process Space

Painting of roadside blocks manually is costly and time-consuming and can cause road accidents for workers. This paper is devoted to the optimum design of a novel two-branch robot utilized as spray painting mechanism for side and top of the roadside blocks simultaneously. Considering painting process conditions and the block displacement pattern which can change both height and lateral location along the road, clear that the process could be carried out properly by means of two nozzles. Two planar process spaces are evolved in favour of two-dimensional paths where nozzles track during the process. A conceptual architecture is formed considering the same movements that nozzles are actuated to compensate the blocks’ horizontal displacements. One parallel and one serial manipulator of the robot structure a relation by common prismatic joint. Actuators are positioned close to the base of the truck so that dynamics of movable parts are to be improved logically. Due to the change in the height and lateral location of the blocks, position of joints be optimized in terms of stroke angle and process space could be best fitted into workspace, optimization problem is arisen and solved using Genetic algorithm (G.A.) which results in less angular stroke for lower nozzle and faster matching with block conditions. The optimized joint position and center of mass are far from the base, resulting in a large torque subjected to the base. To solve the problem, the joint position is shifted toward the base without a change in the optimum situation. Finally, results are studied and detailed further.
Cortical sensorimotor reorganization after spinal cord injury

The aim of this study was to determine if cortical motor representation and generators change after partial or complete paralysis after spinal cord injury (SCI). Previously reported evidence for a change in cortical motor function after SCI was derived from transcranial magnetic stimulation. These studies inferred a reorganization of the cortical motor system. We applied the new technique of high-resolution EEG to measure changes in cortical motor representation directly. We recorded and mapped the motor potential (MP) of the movement-related cortical potentials in 12 SCI patients and 11 control subjects. Results were analyzed using a distance metric to compare MP locations between patients and control subjects. EEG was coregistered with subject-specific MR images and a boundary element model created for dipole source analysis (DSA). When compared with normal control subjects, seven quadriparetics had posteriorly located MPs with finger movements. One paraparetic had a posterior MP with toe movements, but three who could not move the toes had normally located MPs on attempts to move. DSA confirmed the electrical field map distributions of the MPs. We are reporting a reorganization of cortical motor activity to a posterior location after SCI. These results suggest an important role of the somatosensory cortex (SI) in the recovery process after SCI.