Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of peroxisomal fatty acyl-coenzyme A oxidase activity.

It has been postulated that the peroxisomal fatty acid-oxidizing system [Lazarow & de Duve (1976) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 2043--2046; Lazarow (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 1522--1528] resembles that of mitochondria, except for the first oxidative reaction. In this step, O2 would be directly reduced to H2O2 by an oxidase. Two specific procedures developed to detect the activity of the characteristic enzyme fatty acyl-CoA oxidase are presented, namely polarographic detection of palmitoyl-CoA-dependent cyanide-insensitive O2 consumption and palmitoyl-CoA-dependent H2O2 generation coupled to the peroxidation of methanol in an antimycin A-insensitive reaction. Fatty acyl-CoA oxidase activity is stimulated by FAD, which supports the flavoprotein nature postulated for this enzyme. Its activity increases 7-fold per g wet wt. of liver in rats treated with nafenopin, a hypolipidaemic drug. Subcellular fractionation of livers from normal and nafenopin-treated animals provides evidence for its peroxisomal localization. The stoicheiometry for palmitoyl-CoA-dependent O2 consumption, H2O2 generation and NAD+ reduction is 1 : 1 : 1. This suggests that fatty acyl-CoA oxidase is the rate-limiting enzyme of the peroxisomal fatty acid-oxidizing system.
Normative data for optic disc vertical cup-to-disc ratio and intraocular pressure in London 2012 competitors and support teams

Background / Aims The aims of this study were to identify normative values in vertical cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements in a unique sample of competitors and non-competitors at London 2012 according to continents and geographical sub-regions and find a suitable tool for mapping results across the world. Methods Data from all patients seen in the eye clinic for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were used in this study. Patients were categorized into countries using the United Nations Geographical Sub-regions classification. All patients underwent a full optometric eye examination and clinical details including cup-to-disc ratio were recorded. Intraocular pressures were also recorded via non contact methods using the Topcon TRK-1P. Data was analyzed using R statistical software and SPSS. Continent and sub-continent level choropleth maps were produced using GGPlot2 package. Results Our study used a sample of 2,077 patients for analysis. The mean age across all the continents ranged from 43.44 years in the Americas to 47.11 years in Europe with an overall mean age of 45.12 (SD = 13.62 years). A CDR was recorded in 1,566 right eyes (OD). A Games-Howell post-hoc test revealed that Africa had statistically significantly larger CDRs (0.34 +/- 0.16) than both Europe (0.29 +/- 0.12, p = 0.00) and Asia (0.31, 0.15, p = 0.04) in this unique sample. In addition, within geographical sub-regions, Western Africa had statistically larger CDRs (0.36 +/- 0.18) than Western Asia (0.27 +/- 0.14, p = 0.02), Eastern Europe (0.29 +/- 0.12, p = 0.01) and Northern Europe (0.29 +/- 0.13, p = 0.03). A total of 1,621 IOP measurements were recorded for the right eye (OD). A Tukey post-hoc test revealed that Oceania had statistically lower IOPs (15.45 +/- 2.57) than Europe (16.93 +/- 2.98, p = 0.01), Asia (16.95 +/- 2.80, p = 0.01), the Americas (16.53 +/- 2.73, p = 0.02) and Africa (16.41 +/- 3.17, p = 0.05). Within geographical sub-regions, Northern Africa had statistically significantly lower IOPs (15.85 +/- 2.92) than Western Africa (17.18 +/- 2.97, p = 0.02), Western Asia (17.58 +/- 2.83, p = 0.04) and Eastern Europe (17.10 +/- 3.06, p = 0.02). Finally, our study found that competitors had significantly smaller CDRs (U = 66583.50, p = 0.01). and lower IOPs than noncompetitors (U = 79544.50, p = 0.01). Conclusions This is the first study to map out cup-to-disc ratio and intraocular pressure in a unique sample of competitors and non-competitors at London 2012 by continent and geographical sub-regions. The authors hope that this data may have benefits globally and that data from future Olympic and Paralympic Games can be added to this information to produce larger, more comprehensive data sets in the future.
Antibody Complementarity-Determining Regions (CDRs): A Bridge between Adaptive and Innate Immunity

Background It has been documented that, independently from the specificity of the native antibody (Ab) for a given antigen (Ag), complementarity determining regions (CDR)-related peptides may display differential antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor activities. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study we demonstrate that a synthetic peptide with sequence identical to VHCDR3 of a mouse monoclonal Ab (mAb) specific for difucosyl human blood group A is easily taken up by macrophages with subsequent stimulation of: i) proinflammatory cytokine production; ii) PI3K-Akt pathway and iii) TLR-4 expression. Significantly, VHCDR3 exerts therapeutic effect against systemic candidiasis without possessing direct candidacidal properties. Conclusions/Significance These results open a new scenario about the possibility that, beyond the half life of immunoglobulins, Ab fragments may effectively influence the antiinfective cellular immune response in a way reminiscent of regulatory peptides of innate immunity.
The influence of falling, fear of falling, and balance confidence on prosthetic mobility and social activity among individuals with a lower extremity amputation.

OBJECTIVE To assess in amputee patients the relationship between having fallen in the past 12 months, fear of falling, and balance confidence on mobility capability, mobility performance, and social activity. DESIGN Population-based survey and chart review. SETTING Two university-affiliated outpatient amputee programs in southwestern Ontario. PARTICIPANTS Community-living individuals (n = 435) with a unilateral lower limb amputation. INTERVENTIONS Patient chart review and a survey questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-report assessment of prosthetic capability and performance and social activity participation was assessed with the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire mobility subscale, the Houghton Scale, and the Frenchay Activities Index. RESULTS Falling experiences in the past 12 months were not significantly associated with any outcomes. Fear of falling was important in univariate relationships in all 3 outcomes, but not when balance confidence was included in multivariable modeling. Balance confidence was statistically significant with each of the outcomes and remained significant with inclusion of the covariates. There was statistical interaction (balance confidence x automatism; balance confidence x medication count) in modeling mobility capability and in modeling mobility performance (balance confidence x pain + balance confidence x amputation level). The final models accounted for 70%, 60%, and 55% of the variation in mobility capability, mobility performance, and social activity, respectively. CONCLUSION Balance confidence was the only factor associated with mobility capability and performance and social activity in the final adjusted models. Clinicians and researchers should consider this variable in the rehabilitation of amputee patients.
[Experimental evidence of against cough activity of total alkaloids from Guiera senegalensis Lam. in guinea pig;].

INTRODUCTION Against cough activity from Guiera senegalensis' leaves has been previously scientifically studied. However, to the best of our knowledge, active principles responsible of this activity were not yet identified. Thus, we undertook this work with the aim to evaluate the effect of total alkaloids from plant's leaves in cough induced in guinea pig by ammoniac inhalation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Guinea pigs were divided up in 5 groups of 10 and were crammed with distilled water (control), total alkaloids with 10, 25 and 30 mg/kg and codeine with 50 mg/kg. They were then exposed to ammoniac inhalations and the number of coughs was counted every hour, after cramming, during 5 min. RESULTS Our results show, after 5 hours, with the doses of 15, 25 and 30 mg/kg per os, that total alkaloids induce against cough activity, 2 hours after cramming (p < 0.01) and the difference was still significant 3, 4 and 5 hours after (p < 0.001). These alkaloids effects were comparable with codeine activity which was used as reference product. CONCLUSION Total alkaloids of Guiera senegalensis present an against cough activity and would be responsible of against cough activity of the plant.
Prevalence and quantification of Listeria monocytogenes in beef offal at retail level in Selangor, Malaysia

A total of 63 beef offal samples (beef liver = 16; beef lung = 14; beef intestine = 9; beef tripe = 15; beef spleen = 9) from three wet markets (A, B, and C) in Selangor, Malaysia were examined for the prevalence and microbial load of Listeria monocytogenes. A combination of the most probable number and polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) method was employed in this study. It was found that L. monocytogenes detected in 33.33% of the beef offal samples. The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in beef offal purchased from wet markets A, B, and C were 22.73%, 37.50% and 41.18% respectively. The density of L. monocytogenes in all the samples ranged from < 3 up to > 2,400 MPN/g. The findings in this study indicate that beef offal can be a potential vehicle of foodborne listeriosis.
PET/CT Improves the Definition of Complete Response and Allows to Detect Otherwise Unidentifiable Skeletal Progression in Multiple Myeloma

Purpose: To evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in 282 symptomatic multiple myeloma patients treated up-front between 2002 and 2012. Experimental Design: All patients were studied by PET/CT at baseline, during posttreatment follow-up, and at the time of relapse. Their median duration of follow-up was 67 months. Results: Forty-two percent of the patients at diagnosis had >3 focal lesions, and in 50% SUVmax was >4.2; extramedullary disease was present in 5%. On multivariate analysis, ISS stage 3, SUVmax >4.2, and failure to achieve best complete response (CR) were the leading factors independently associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). These 3 variables were used to construct a prognostic scoring system based on the number of risk factors. After treatment, PET/CT negativity (PET-neg) was observed in 70% of patients, whereas conventionally defined CR was achieved in 53%. Attainment of PET-neg favorably influenced PFS and OS. PET-neg was an independent predictor of prolonged PFS and OS for patients with conventionally defined CR. Sixty-three percent of patients experienced relapse or progression; in 12%, skeletal progression was exclusively detected by systematic PET/CT performed during follow-up. A multivariate analysis revealed that persistence of SUVmax >4.2 following first-line treatment was independently associated with exclusive PET/CT progression. Conclusions: PET/CT combined with ISS stage and achievement or not of CR on first-line therapy sorted patients into different prognostic groups. PET/CT led to a more careful evaluation of CR. Finally, in patients with persistent high glucose metabolism after first-line treatment, PET/CT can be recommended during follow-up, to screen for otherwise unidentifiable progression. Clin Cancer Res; 21(19); 4384–90. ©2015 AACR.
Evaluation of various observing systems for the global monitoring of CO2 surface fluxes

Abstract. In the context of rising greenhouse gas concentrations, and the potential feedbacks between climate and the carbon cycle, there is an urgent need to monitor the exchanges of carbon between the atmosphere and both the ocean and the land surfaces. In the so-called top-down approach, the surface fluxes of CO2 are inverted from the observed spatial and temporal concentration gradients. The concentrations of CO2 are measured in-situ at a number of surface stations unevenly distributed over the Earth while several satellite missions may be used to provide a dense and better-distributed set of observations to complement this network. In this paper, we compare the ability of different CO2 concentration observing systems to constrain surface fluxes. The various systems are based on realistic scenarios of sampling and precision for satellite and in-situ measurements. It is shown that satellite measurements based on the differential absorption technique (such as those of SCIAMACHY, GOSAT or OCO) provide more information than the thermal infrared observations (such as those of AIRS or IASI). The OCO observations will provide significantly better information than those of GOSAT. A CO2 monitoring mission based on an active (lidar) technique could potentially provide an even better constraint. This constraint can also be realized with the very dense surface network that could be built with the same funding as that of the active satellite mission. Despite the large uncertainty reductions on the surface fluxes that may be expected from these various observing systems, these reductions are still insufficient to reach the highly demanding requirements for the monitoring of anthropogenic emissions of CO2 or the oceanic fluxes at a spatial scale smaller than that of oceanic basins. The scientific objective of these observing system should therefore focus on the fluxes linked to vegetation and land ecosystem dynamics.
On the Language of Pain

The purpose of this study was to develop new approaches to the problem of describing and measuring pain in human subjects. Words used to describe pain were brought together and categorized, and an attempt was made to scale them on a common intensity dimension. The data show that: 1) there are many words in the English language to describe the varieties of pain experience; 2) there is a high level of agreement that the words fall into classes and subclasses that represent particular dimensions or properties of pain experience; 3) substantial portions of the words have approximately the same relative positions on a common Intensity scale for people who have widely divergent backgrounds. The word lists provide a basis for a questionnaire to study the effects of anesthetic and analgesic agents on the experience of pain.
Efficacy of Acute Intermittent Hypoxia on Physical Function and Health Status in Humans with Spinal Cord Injury: A Brief Review

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a loss of motor and sensory function and is consequent with reductions in locomotion, leading to a relatively sedentary lifestyle which predisposes individuals to premature morbidity and mortality. Many exercise modalities have been employed to improve physical function and health status in SCI, yet they are typically expensive, require many trained clinicians to implement, and are thus relegated to specialized rehabilitation centers. These characteristics of traditional exercise-based rehabilitation in SCI make their application relatively impractical considering the time-intensive nature of these regimens and patients' poor access to exercise. A promising approach to improve physical function in persons with SCI is exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (IH) in the form of a small amount of sessions of brief, repeated exposures to low oxygen gas mixtures interspersed with normoxic breathing. This review summarizes the clinical application of IH in humans with SCI, describes recommended dosing and potential side effects of IH, and reviews existing data concerning the efficacy of relatively brief exposures of IH to modify health and physical function. Potential mechanisms explaining the effects of IH are also discussed. Collectively, IH appears to be a safe, time-efficient, and robust approach to enhance physical function in chronic, incomplete SCI.
ContextPhone: a prototyping platform for context-aware mobile applications

Smart phones are a particularly tempting platform for building context-aware applications because they're programmable and often use well-known operating systems. There's a gap, however, between the operating systems' functionality and the features that application developers need. To fill this gap, we've designed and developed ContextPhone, a software platform consisting of four interconnected modules provided as a set of open source C++ libraries and source code components. ContextPhone runs on off-the-shelf mobile phones using Symbian OS and the Nokia Series 60 Smartphone platform. ContextPhone was developed using an iterative, human-centered design strategy. It thus helps developers more easily create applications that integrate into both existing technologies and users' everyday lives.
Rhesus Monkey Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 Signaling: Enhancement by Monoamine Transporters and Attenuation by the D2 Autoreceptor in Vitro

Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor that directly responds to endogenous monoamines as well as amphetamine-related psychostimulants, including methamphetamine. In the present study, we demonstrate TAAR1 mRNA and protein expression in rhesus monkey brain regions associated with monoaminergic systems, variable cellular distribution of TAAR1 in rhesus monkey brain, and TAAR1 coexpression with the dopamine transporter (DAT) in a subset of dopamine neurons in both rhesus monkey and mouse substantia nigra. On this basis, we evaluated rhesus monkey TAAR1 activation by different compounds and its functional relation with monoamine transporters and the dopamine D2 receptor (D2) short isoform (D2s) autoreceptor in vitro using a cAMP response element-luciferase assay. TAAR1 activation by monoamines and amphetamine-related compounds was greatly enhanced by coexpression of dopamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin transporters, and the activation enhancement was blocked by monoamine transporter inhibitors. This enhancement did not occur in control experiments in which the dopamine D1 receptor (D1) was substituted for TAAR1. Furthermore, activation of TAAR1 by dopamine was completely inhibited by D2s when coexpressed with TAAR1, and this inhibition was blocked by the D2 antagonist raclopride. Last, dopamine activation of TAAR1 could induce c-FOS-luciferase expression but only in the presence of DAT, whereas dopamine activation of D1 resulted in equivalent c-FOS expression in the presence or absence of DAT. Together, these data reveal a broad agonist spectrum for TAAR1, a functional relation of TAAR1 with monoamine transporters and D2s, and a mechanism by which D2 receptor drugs can influence brain monoaminergic function and have efficacy through affecting TAAR1 signaling.
Advanced topics in service delivery over integrated satellite terrestrial networks

This paper focuses on the evolution of communication networks and service delivery. It identifies major trends that will drive the evolution of networks and service delivery in the next years. Among them Software Defined Networking (SDN) is probably the single most important technology evolution trend that will change networking. Based on the identified trends it presents a reference service delivery architecture, which it then translates into selected satellite terrestrial integration scenarios. The paper argues that SDN, originating from data communications is a technology that should be considered in any satellite terrestrial integration scenario, and highlights its potential role in the selected integration scenarios. It concludes that for the successful integration of satellite in such future integrated scenarios that all encompass SDN a further extension of the OpenFlow standard is needed that considers and handles the specificities of the satellite communication links. This is basically a software and implementation issue, which could be handled as part of the continued revision and enhancement within the frame of OpenFlow standardization.
Activities of roxithromycin used alone and in combination with ethambutol, rifampin, amikacin, ofloxacin, and clofazimine against Mycobacterium avium complex

Preliminary studies showed that roxithromycin possessed significant in vitro activity against a variety of atypical mycobacteria such as the Mycobacterium avium complex, M. scrofulaceum, M. szulgai, M. malmoense, M. xenopi, M. marinum, and M. kansasii and rare pathogens such as M. chelonae and M. fortuitum. In this investigation, radiometric MICs of roxithromycin, ethambutol, rifampin, amikacin, ofloxacin, and clofazimine for 10 clinical isolates of the M. avium complex (5 each from human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-positive and HIV-negative patients) were determined. Roxithromycin MICs against all the isolates were below the reported maximum concentration of drug in serum at the routine pH of 6.8, and the MICs were further lowered by 1 to 2 dilutions at a pH of 7.4. In vitro enhancement of roxithromycin activity against all strains was further investigated by the previously established Bactec 460-TB method by combining the drugs at sub-MIC levels. Antibacterial activity of roxithromycin was enhanced in all 10 strains by ethambutol, in 3 strains each by rifampin and clofazimine, in 2 strains by amikacin, and in 1 strain by ofloxacin. In vitro screening of three-drug combinations showed that combinations of roxithromycin, ethambutol, and a third potential anti-M. avium drug (rifampin, amikacin, ofloxacin, or clofazimine) resulted in further enhancement of activity in 13 out of 20 drug combinations screened.
Re: Prospective assessment of estrogen replacement therapy and cognitive functioning: atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

de Moraes et al. (1) recently reported no effect of hormone replacement therapy on cognitive decline in a wellcharacterized sample of 2,859 women (48–67 years of age) participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. The cognitive tests included the Delayed Word Recall Test, the Digit Symbol Subset of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, and the Word Fluency Test. In studies of hormone effects on cognition, it is essential to use tests of verbal memory that are sensitive to age, because evidence suggests that hormone therapy might be most beneficial to verbal memory (2). It is not at all surprising that the authors found no effect of hormone therapy on age-related declines in verbal memory, because the study failed to show decline in verbal memory between the first cognitive assessment (1990–1992) and the follow-up assessment (1996–1998). Specifically, on average estrogen users showed no decline (i.e., 0.0 words on a 10-item list), and nonusers showed a decline of 0.1 words. These data show that the test lacked sufficient sensitivity to detect age-related changes in verbal memory, especially in a relatively young sample of women, some of whom were “premenopausal. ” Without a test that is sensitive to age-related cognitive decline and without a sample that demonstrates memory decline, it is impossible to test the influence of hormone therapy on age-related memory decline. The conclusion that hormone replacement therapy has no effect on age-related changes in verbal memory is misleading. The authors are correct in indicating that there is no consensus on the effects of hormone therapy on age-related cognitive decline. Randomized trials of the effects of hormone therapy on cognition, using memory tests shown to be sensitive to age and hormone therapy (3, 4), are under way through the Women’s Health Initiative Study of Cognitive Aging.