Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agents of hybridity: Class, culture brokers, and the entrepreneurial imagination in cosmopolitan Cairo

Flows of transnational popular culture into Egypt are not so much cases of foreign imperialism imposing itself on helpless Egyptians as they are processes managed by Cairene entrepreneurs whose accomplishments present them as successful agents of modernization, locating the cosmopolitan balance between global brands and goods and local markets and infrastructures. This chapter explores the links between these entrepreneurs, the state's “culture of development,” and class reproduction. Egyptian transnational entrepreneurialism – speculative, profit-oriented enterprises engaged with transnational flows of brands, commodities, and capital – has become yoked to the state's goal of national development through economic liberalization. Upper-class cosmopolitan entrepreneurs are increasingly positioned as agents of hybridity, culture brokers who can creatively forge links between supposedly rational and universal economic practices of market capital, and local cultural beliefs and values. Successful entrepreneurs are construed as possessing an “entrepreneurial imagination” by means of which they can overcome structural and cultural obstacles and contribute to the development of an Egyptian “enterprise culture. ”
Clinical and hematological study for Parvovirus b19 infection in children with acute leukemia

The role of Parvovirus B19 in acute leukemia is under debate. This study aimed to detect parvovirus B19 DNA together with its antibodies in the sera of children with recent acute leukemia and those with acute leukemia receiving chemotherapy to clarify the contribution of this infection to changes observed in hematological and clinical presentations in these populations. Two groups were included: Group I comprised 45 children with acute leukemia receiving chemotherapy and Group II comprised 40 children with recently diagnosed acute leukemia. Serum parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM were investigated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay and the virus DNA was sought by polymerase chain reaction assay. Viral DNA was found in 22.2% of Group I patients and in 45% of Group II patients. Hemoglobin levels were significantly reduced in patients with recent infection, accompanied by statistically significant lymphocytosis in Group I patients. Group II patients with recent infection had marked neutropenia with lymphocytosis and thrombocytopenia. There was statistically significant lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly in patients with recent infection in both groups. Parvovirus B19 infection is an important cause of cytopenia in children with acute leukemia both when recently diagnosed and receiving chemotherapy. This can affect the schedule of chemotherapy. Moreover, the presence of Parvovirus B19 is associated with marked lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly.
Reflectance imaging of the human retina at 810 nm does not suffice to optimize the parameters of hydrodynamic rebalancing laser treatment

Abstract. The hydrodynamic rebalancing laser (HRL) procedure is an ophthalmic therapy based on the administration of subthreshold infrared (810 nm) laser light to selected areas on the retina to treat various retina diseases. Heterogeneities of tissue response are observed, including undesired retinal damages. Variations of tissue absorbance were hypothesized to cause this uneven response. Irradiation parameters (diameter=100 μm; power=1 W; irradiation time: 50 to 200 ms), location and tissue response were studied in 16 patients (20 eyes, 2535 laser spots) to discover any correlation between tissue response and normalized fundus reflectance at 810 nm. The results demonstrate a complex relationship between some pathologies and occurrences of retinal damage, but no clear correlation. One possible reason is that the resolution of reflectance images is insufficient to see “small” (40 μm or less) absorption centers, particularly deep-seated ones. Additionally, tissue parameters other than variations of the fundus optical absorption influence heat diffusion and temperature increases. Monitoring or individualizing the light dose in HRL therapy, or any similar infrared diode laser-based therapy will require more sophisticated technologies, including imaging the retina’s reflectance with an improved resolution, as well as refined methods to detect complex correlations between retinal damage and specific pathologies.
Collagenous Colitis Associated with Rabeprazole in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient

endoscopic appearance of CMV colitis is variable; round-shaped ulcers are the most distinctive features, but not specific. The definitive diagnosis requires histopathologic evidence of viral cytopathic effects, and the sensitivity is augmented by immunohistochemistry or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for CMV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (3,4). The colitis in our patient was not self-limited, but subsequently improved with ganciclovir therapy. A meta-analysis of immunocompetent patients with CMV colitis reported a lower rate of spontaneous remission (18.8%) and a mortality of 56% in individuals with renal failure, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, or untreated cancer (1). Antiviral therapy is probably beneficial to patients with comorbidities or persistent symptoms. In conclusion, the presence of B. fragilis in PD peritonitis is more commonly associated with intra-abdominal pathologic states, and CMV colitis should be considered even in the absence of immunosuppression.
Properties of hybrid enzymes between Synechococcus large subunits and higher plant small subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in Escherichia coli.

To explore the function of small subunits of Rubisco, three hybrid enzymes were synthesized in Escherichia coli by construction of a transcriptionally coupled expression system in which the synthetic small subunit gene of rice, tobacco, and wheat, respectively, was cloned downstream from the large subunit gene of Synechococcus sp. PCC6301. These coexpression products were detected by utilizing SDS-PAGE and confirmed by immunoblotting. The amount of carboxylase activity from the intact cells revealed that each higher plant small subunit was able to assemble with the Synechococcus large subunit octamer core to form an active heterologous enzyme in E. coli. However, in these heterologous enzymes, the interaction between large subunits and small subunits was very weak, the small subunit readily dissociated from the large subunit octamer core. A detailed kinetic assay was carried out with the partially purified hybrid enzymes. Compared to Synechococcus Rubisco, the activity of rice, tobacco, and wheat hybrid Rubisco decreased to 37, 61, and 37% of the original activity, respectively. These hybrid enzymes showed a greater affinity for CO2 and RuBP than Synechococcus Rubisco. The specificity factor of the three hybrid Rubiscos was 98, 84, and 76%, respectively, of the original. These results indicate for the first time that the small subunit contributes to the stability, catalytic efficiency, and CO2/O2 specificity of Rubisco together, which suggests that small subunits may be fruitful targets for engineering an improved Rubisco. Meanwhile, we found that sorbitol in the culture of induced cells promoted the production of active assembled enzyme and shortened the time to reach maximal expression.
Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome after percutaneous transluminal stenting of the craniocervical arteries.

OBJECTIVE Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome is a recognized complication of carotid endarterectomy, with a reported incidence of 0.3 to 1.2%. The incidence of cerebral hyperperfusion after endovascular revascularization procedures of the craniocervical arteries remains unknown. We evaluated the incidence of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome in our endovascular revascularization series. To our knowledge, there are no previous studies evaluating the incidence of hyperperfusion syndrome after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stenting. METHODS Between March 1996 and February 2000, 140 patients underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stenting of the craniocervical arteries at our institution. In all patients, selective bilateral arteriography of the carotid and vertebral arteries was performed to document the sites of craniocervical stenosis and collateral blood flow and the results of the endovascular revascularization procedure. We then reviewed all pertinent medical records, arteriographic films, and sectional imaging studies to determine the incidence of cerebral hyperperfusion in this series. RESULTS Seven patients (5.0%) developed clinical or radiological manifestations of cerebral hyperperfusion. In the target group, percutaneous transluminal stenting achieved a 90 to 100% reduction in stenotic lesions (mean stenosis, 91%) of the carotid (n = 5) and vertebral (n = 2) arteries. All seven patients remained neurologically stable immediately after treatment. There was delayed development of clinical and radiographic findings, suggestive of cerebral hyperperfusion. Six patients showed evidence of ipsilateral hemispheric edema, including two patients who developed intracranial hemorrhage (one parenchymal, one parenchymal and subarachnoid) documented by computed tomographic brain scans. Symptoms resolved within 72 hours in the four patients without hemorrhage. The two patients with hemorrhage recovered during a more protracted period (range, 3 wk to 6 mo). There were no long-term sequelae or deaths during a cumulative follow-up of 84 months (mean follow-up, 12 mo). CONCLUSION Hyperperfusion syndrome is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of extracranial and intracranial angioplasty and stenting procedures. The clinical manifestations are similar to hyperperfusion syndrome after carotid endarterectomy; however, the prevalence may be greater in the high-risk cohort commonly referred for endovascular treatment. Our findings suggest that patients undergoing endovascular stenting procedures should be closely monitored for evidence of hyperperfusion, with careful monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and anticoagulation. Further research is needed to confirm that cerebral hyperperfusion is the pathogenesis of this condition.
Cbl‐family proteins as regulators of cytoskeleton‐dependent phenomena

Although the role of Cbl‐family proteins as key cellular regulators has been established, phenomena regulated in a Cbl‐dependent fashion are multiple and the mechanisms mediating the effects of Cbl proteins are diverse. This finding makes it important to consider different phenomena affected by functions of Cbl proteins individually. Among effects of Cbl on various biological functions there are many cases of regulation of cellular phenomena related to cytoskeletal rearrangements, such as cell adhesion, motility and invasion. Some of these regulatory functions are mediated by adaptor‐type interactions of Cbl, especially by Cbl‐dependent modulation of phosphatidyl‐inositol‐3′ kinase (PI3K), while others are caused by Cbl‐dependent ubiquitylation of various cytoskeletal and regulatory proteins, identified and unidentified. The role of Cbl in regulation of cytoskeleton‐dependent cellular functions is discussed in this review. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 2285–2293, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chimpanzee models for human disease and immunobiology

Summary: Chimpanzees have greater than 98% genomic sequence homology with humans but have significantly more favorable reponses to human imunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and an apparently low incidence of epithelial malignancy. Although there are few shared major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles between human and chimp, there is considerable overlap in binding repertoires for epitopes of HIV‐1 and HBV. This indicates that differences in viral handling may be due to involvement of cells other than T lymphocytes. Similar mechanisms may be involved in host response to dysplastic or malignant cells. In seeking to understand these differences, most attention has been focused on comparing and contrasting well‐characterized steps in immune response. As an additional possibility, alterations in cell–cell interactions dependent upon sialic acid binding proteins known to be involved in immune responses should also be considered. The lack of a particular sialic acid structure (N‐glycolyl neuraminic acid, or Neu5Gc) in humans, due to a gene mutation in an essential synthetic enzyme, has potentially altered the kinetics of cellular responses dependent upon these lectins. The absence of Neu6Gc represents the only known major biochemical difference between humans and chimpanzees.
Opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore induces hypercontracture in Ca2+ overloaded cardiac myocytes

M. Ruiz-Meana, PhD, DVM · A. Abellán, ScD · E. Miró-Casas, ScD · D. Garcia-Dorado, PhD, MD, ( ) Servicio de Cardiologia Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron Pg. Vall d’Hebron, 119–129 08035 Barcelona, Spain Tel. : +34-93/489-4038 Fax: +34-93/489-4032 E-Mail: dgdorado@ir.vhebron. net ■ Abstract After myocardial ischemia, necrotic cell death occurs mainly during the first minutes of reperfusion through ATP-dependent hypercontracture leading to sarcolemmal rupture. Recent studies indicate that opening of a mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is a critical event in reperfusion-induced necrosis. Objective We investigated the hypothesis that mPTP can induce hypercontracture. Methods Both intact and digitonin-permeabilized rat cardiac myocytes were loaded with TMRE and submitted to oxidative damage (intermittent 568 nm laser illumination) to promote mPTP, detected as mitochondrial depolarization. The effect of cytosolic Ca2+ overload (5 mmol/L extracellular Ca2+) and ATP availability on mPTP-induced cell shortening were analyzed, and changes in cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ were simultaneously monitored by confocal microscopy (Fluo-4 and Rhod-2). Results In the absence of Ca2+ overload, induction of mPTP was consistently followed by mitochondrial depolarization and rigor shortening that, in permeabilized cells, was prevented by ATP. Exposure of intact cardiac myocytes to 5 mmol/L Ca2+ induced an increase in cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ content. In Ca2+ overloaded myocytes, induction of mPTP resulted in a further increase in cytosolic Ca2+ and hypercontracture (> 50 % reduction in length with distortion of cell geometry) that started before depolarization involved all mitochondria within the cell and could be prevented by the mPTP inhibitor cyclosporin A. In permeabilized myocytes, mPTP could promote hypercontracture when cytosolic Ca2+ overload was mimicked in the presence of ATP, and was prevented when ATP was removed from the intracellular-like medium. Conclusions mPTP opening may induce ATP-dependent hypercontracture in Ca2+ overloaded myocytes. This phenomenon could reconcile the apparently contradictory hypotheses of hypercontracture and mPTP opening as main determinants of necrosis during the first minutes of reperfusion.
Agent based modelling of land-use with applications to competition between bioenergy and food crops

The awakening awareness about climate change during the last decade have increased the interest for commercial bioenergy. The food price spike in 2008 did however start a debate about the effects that bioenergy production might have on global food prices. The main connection between bioenergy and food production is through land use competition. The aim of this thesis is to create an agent based model based on an already existing conceptual equilibrium model and to compare the two models when applied on global land use competition between food and bioenergy crops. Both models turned out to give similar equilibrium states for the system. An advantage with the agent based model is that it can be used to study dynamic events. It did however prove to be highly unstable with regards to prices and quantities. In order to stabilize the system different mechanisms were introduced. The majority of these mechanisms were intended to target the uncertainty of future prices for the agents. The effects of the mechanisms varied but especially the introduction of a cost for changing production type proved to be efficient in reducing fluctuations. The results of both models show that increased bioenergy production have substantial effects on global food prices.
In-Office Application of Fluoride Gel or Varnish: Cost-Effectiveness and Expected Value of Perfect Information Analysis

Application of fluoride gel/varnish (FG/FV) reduces caries increments but generates costs. Avoiding restorative treatments by preventing caries might compensate for these costs. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of dentists applying FG/FV in office and the expected value of perfect information (EVPI). EVPI analyses estimate the economic value of having perfect knowledge, assisting research resource allocation. A mixed public-private-payer perspective in Germany was adopted. A population of 12-year-olds was followed over their lifetime, with caries increments modelled using wide intervals to reflect the uncertainty of caries risk. Biannual application of FV/FG until age 18 years was compared to no fluoride application. Effectiveness parameters and their uncertainty were derived from systematic reviews. The health outcome was caries increment (decayed, missing, or filled teeth; DMFT). Cost calculations were based on fee catalogs or microcosting, including costs for individual-prophylactic fluoridation and, for FG, an individualized tray, plus material costs. Microsimulations, sensitivity, and EVPI analyses were performed. On average and applied to a largely low-risk population, no application of fluoride was least costly but also least effective (EUR 230; 11 DMFT). FV was more costly and effective (EUR 357; 7 DMFT). FG was less effective than FV and also more costly when using individualized trays. FV was the best choice for payers willing to invest EUR 39 or more per avoided DMFT. This cost-effectiveness will differ in different settings/countries or if FG/FV is applied by other care professionals. The EVPI was mainly driven by the individual's caries risk, as FV/FG were significantly more cost-effective in high-risk populations than in low-risk ones. Future studies should focus on caries risk prediction.
The Entire Small Intestine Mediates the Changes in Glucose Homeostasis After Intestinal Surgery in Goto-Kakizaki Rats

Objective:To investigate the potential interaction between excluding foregut and interposing hindgut and the role of different portions of the small intestine in mediating changes in some glucoregulatory mechanisms and glucose homeostasis after intestinal surgery in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Background:Previous studies have revealed changes in glucoregulatory mechanisms and glucose homeostasis after excluding foregut and interposing hindgut alone and lead to the “foregut hypothesis” and “hindgut hypothesis. ” However, these hypotheses are not mutually exclusive. Methods:Duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB), ileal interposition (IT), duodenal-jejunal bypass with ileal interposition (DJBIT), sub-ileal interposition (sIT), and sham operations were performed on GK rats. Main outcome measures were oral glucose tolerance (studied at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 24 weeks), insulin sensitivity, &bgr;-cell function, and postprandial levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide(GIP) (evaluated at 2 and 24 weeks). Results:Global body weight in the control group was higher than in the operation groups at postoperative week 2, but it was similar among groups at postoperative week 24. The DJBIT procedure induced synergistic improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity (P < 0.05). Generalized linear mixed-model analysis confirmed that glucose tolerance in nonsham operation groups improved over time (P < 0.001), with a significant time × treatment interaction (P < 0.001). Fasting C-peptide, postprandial insulin, GLP-1, and PYY levels increased after nonsham operations (P < 0.05); however, they were not significantly different among the DJBIT, DJB, and IT groups (P > 0.05). Compared with sub-IT, IT induced better glucose tolerance (P < 0.05) and higher postprandial insulin, GLP-1 and PYY levels (P < 0.05), and no significant difference in insulin sensitivity and fasting C-peptide was observed (P > 0.05). None of the surgical procedures affected glucose-stimulated GIP levels (P > 0.05). Conclusions:This study provides experimental evidence that excluding foregut and interposing hindgut provided independent and synergistic changes in glucose homeostasis after intestinal surgery in GK rats and that glucose tolerance improved over time.
Long-term follow-up and phenomenologic differences distinguish among late-onset schizophrenia, late-life depression, and progressive dementia.

OBJECTIVE The diagnosis of patients with late-life onset of hallucinations and delusions but an absence of mood or cognitive disorder remains controversial. The authors used long-term follow-up and phenomenology to assess whether outcome varied by diagnosis. METHODS Twenty-eight individuals with late-life psychosis but no mood or cognitive disorder were compared with 48 individuals with late-life major depression and 47 individuals with psychotic symptoms and late-life dementia. All subjects were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Data from the last time examined were used to determine likelihood of death at 84 months by Kaplan-Meier analysis in all groups and the likelihood of developing dementia in the depression and late-life onset psychosis groups at 120 months. RESULTS Patients with dementia-plus-psychosis were more likely to die at 84 months than those with major depression or late-onset hallucinations and delusions. Subjects with depression or late-onset hallucinations and delusions did not differ in likelihood of developing dementia at 120 months. CONCLUSIONS These results support the hypothesis that a condition characterized by psychiatric symptoms and no mood symptoms can begin in later life and that this disorder is not a precursor to dementia.
Methodology for partial fingerprint enrollment and authentication on mobile devices

The reduced platen area of fingerprint sensors in mobile devices results in acquisition of partial fingerprints. Existing fingerprint enrollment schemes for small area sensors are tedious and have an uncertainty of complete finger coverage during scanning. We propose a novel enrollment protocol for small area rectangular sensors that maximizes finger coverage within few scans. Also, due to presence of insufficient minutiae, accuracy of minutiae-based fingerprint matching algorithms degrades significantly when applied for partial-to-partial fingerprint matching. Instead, we propose a matching algorithm that utilizes multi-scale texture descriptors, namely, Accelerated KAZE (A-KAZE). Experiments on FVC 2000, 2002 and in-house databases indicate that A-KAZE gives promising accuracy. On a Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100 (Quad-core 1.6 GHz, 2GB RAM), average time taken for template generation and 1×1 matching of fingerprint of size 237×117 pixels is 86 ms and 19 ms respectively.