Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Albumin and α1-acid glycoprotein: old acquaintances

Introduction: Albumin and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) are two of the most abundant proteins found in plasma. Their effect on the pharmacokinetic profile of exogenous compounds has major implications to clinical practice. Recent exploration into their possible role as diagnostic markers underlines their significance, and provides highlights their potential in medicinal applications. Areas covered: This review summarizes the current understanding behind albumin and AGP. Specifically, the review focuses on their structure, physiological function, and their potential use in diagnostics as biomarkers. The article lists and describes the most common methods, with a specific focus on their use in drug design and clinical practice. Expert opinion: Human serum albumin and AGP play a significant role in clinical practice. Research on human serum albumin and AGP, as potential diagnostic biomarkers, has been so far successful, with the development of novel diagnostic methods for detecting ischemia-modified albumin in cardiac ischemia patients. While research into this particular aspect is still in its infancy, future research should make things somewhat clearer and provide a better insight into the true potential of plasma proteins as a whole.
CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder: primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma followed by lymphomatoid papulosis

CD30+ large anaplastic lymphoid cells are seen in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and also in lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and other lymphoproliferative disorders. It can be difficult precisely to categorize these disorders with CD30+ cells. We report a case of primary cutaneous CD30+ ALCL with systemic metastases in whom the clinical disease subsequently evolved into LyP. The patient was initially administered cisplatin and etoposide and made a good response. Eighteen months later, recurrent, self‐healing cutaneous small nodules appeared around the original tumour site without any systemic involvement. Histopathological examination of the recurrent lesions revealed infiltration with a mixture of cells that included neutrophils, eosinophils and CD30+ large anaplastic cells cytologically identical with those in the primary lesion. The anaplastic cells in both the primary and recurrent lesions were positive for monoclonal antibodies CD30, CD25 and a monoclonal antibody directed against the chimeric protein p80NPM‐ALK. These observations suggest the possibility that the ALCL and the subsequent LyP represent different clinical manifestations of proliferation of the same clone.
Womens empowerment in India and its states. Evidence from the NFHS.

This paper uses data from the NFHS-2 to document womens empowerment as a whole and in each of 26 states with 1999 boundaries. In general it finds that the average woman in India is disempowered absolutely as well as relative to men and there has been little change in her empowerment over time. This result is obvious no matter how empowerment is measured be it in terms of the indicators of the evidence sources or setting for empowerment. However there is great variation in the level of womens empowerment across the different states and across indicators. (authors)
Overview of FTV (Free-viewpoint Television)

We have developed a new type of television named FTV (Free-viewpoint TV). FTV is an innovative visual media that enables us to view a 3D scene by freely changing our viewpoints. FTV is based on the ray-space method that represents one ray in real space with one point in the ray-space. We have also developed new type of ray capture and display technologies such as a 360-degree mirror-scan ray capturing system and a 360 degree ray-reproducing display. The international standardization of FTV has been conducted in MPEG.
Die Bonding for a Nitride Light-Emitting Diode by Low-Temperature Sintering of Micrometer Size Silver Particles

Die-bonding for a nitride light-emitting diode (LED) by sintering of micrometer size Ag particles in air at 200°C was investigated. Micrometer size Ag particles absorb oxygen remarkably well at 200°C and above, and on sintering, they form a porous layer. The activating temperature of the sintering is in good agreement with the oxygen adsorption temperature. Sintering does not progress in the absence of oxygen. A reduction of thermal resistance and an improvement of reliability are achieved by the sintered layer as a die attach to a surface-mount-type LED. This mounting method is useful in the die bonding of electronic components, and is an alternative technique to high-temperature lead soldering.
Effects of Poly-herbal Tablet as Herbal Medicine on Lipid Level

Dyslipidemia is one of the high-risk factors that cause cardiovascular disease and the prevalence is increasing all the time. Garlic (Alii sativi) has been suggested to reduce serum lipid level. Poly-herbal is herbal medicine that has been widely used in Indonesia, and it contains Alii sativi, Belericae fructus, Curcumae aeroginosae, and Amomi fructus extract. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of poly-herbal tablet on lipid levels in dylipidemia subjects. The study was conducted for 6 weeks on 58 dyslipidemic subjects. The subject was divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was given Poly-herbal with the dose 2x1200 mg, and group 2 was not given anti-dyslipidemic drugs (control group). Serum lipid level (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides) were checked before the treatment (H0) and after the treatment (M6). There was a significant difference on the reduction of serum lipids level between the group that given Poly-herbal vs control group, respectively total cholesterol (-12.04±3.2 vs 8.38±4.3; p=.000), LDL (-4.42±2.8 vs 6.93±4.7; p=.049) and HDL (-2.62+1.0 vs 3.31+1.4; p=.005). Triglyceride level on Poly-herbal group is not significantly decreased. In Poly-herbal group there was also a decrease in HDL levels which was not statistically significant (-2.62±1, p=.015). This is probably due to the HDL baseline in the control group included in the normal HDL category (57.38 ± 14.9) so that the HDL levels after being given treatment did not increase. This study suggests that using Poly-herbal in dyslipidemia subjects can reduce the level of total cholesterol and LDL.
Temperature Extremes and Health: Impacts of Climate Variability and Change in the United States

Objective: We evaluated temperature-related morbidity and mortality for the 2007 U.S. national assessment on impacts of climate change and variability on human health. Methods: We assessed literature published since the 2000 national assessment, evaluating epidemiologic studies, surveys, and studies projecting future impacts. Results: Under current climate change projections, heat waves and hot weather are likely to increase in frequency, with the overall temperature distribution shifting away from the colder extremes. Vulnerable subgroups include communities in the northeastern and Midwestern U.S.; urban populations, the poor, the elderly, children, and those with impaired health or limited mobility. Conclusions: Temperature extremes and variability will remain important determinants of health in the United States under climate change. Research needs include estimating exposure to temperature extremes; studying nonfatal temperature-related illness; uniform criteria for reporting heat-related health outcomes; and improving effectiveness of urban heat island reduction and extreme weather response plans.
Cerebral vascular changes during chronic hypertension: good guys and bad guys.

AIM To examine new concepts concerning structural changes in cerebral blood vessels during chronic hypertension, and to examine mechanisms that lead to cerebral vascular complications, in light of the hypothesis that hypertensive vascular hypertrophy may be harmful. METHOD Literature review. RESULTS The evidence suggests that the current view is not correct in relation to the cerebral circulation. Vascular hypertrophy and remodeling appear to protect cerebral vessels during hypertension, instead of being harmful. Major cerebral vascular complications during hypertension may be largely due to endothelial dysfunction. One function of the cerebral endothelium is to serve as the blood-brain barrier. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier appears to mediate hypertensive encephalopathy. A second endothelial function is to modulate vascular tone. Abnormalities in vasoactive factors that are released by the endothelium (impaired vasodilator mechanisms and augmented vasoconstrictor mechanisms) may make an important contribution to the pathophysiology of transient ischemic episodes, and perhaps stroke, in chronic hypertension.
Effects of egg-adaptation on the receptor-binding properties of human influenza A and B viruses.

Propagation of human influenza viruses in embryonated chicken eggs (CE) results in the selection of variants with amino acid substitutions near the receptor-binding site of the hemagglutinin (HA) molecule. To evaluate the mechanisms by which these substitutions enable human virus growth in CE, we studied the binding of 10 human influenza A (H1N1, H3N2) and B strains, isolated and propagated solely in MDCK cells, and of their egg-adapted counterparts to preparations of cellular membranes, gangliosides, sialylglycoproteins, and sialyloligosaccharides. All egg-adapted variants differed from nonadapted strains by increased binding to the plasma membranes of chorio-allantoic (CAM) cells of CE and by the ability to bind to CAM gangliosides. In addition, there was no decrease in affinity for inhibitors within allantoic fluid. These findings indicate that growth of human influenza viruses in CE is restricted because of their inefficient binding to receptors on CAM cells and that gangliosides can play an important role in virus binding and/or penetration. The effects of the egg-adaptation substitutions on the receptor-binding properties of the viruses include (i) enhancement of virus binding to the terminal Sia(alpha2-3)Gal determinant (substitutions in HA positions 190, 225 of H1N1 strains and in position 186 of H3N2 strains); (ii) a decrease of steric interference with more distant parts of the Sia(alpha2-3Gal)-containing receptors (a loss of glycosylation sites in positions 163 of H1 HA and 187 of type B HA); and (iii) enhanced ionic interactions with the negatively charged molecules due to charged substitutions at the tip of the HA [187, 189, 190 (H1), and 145, 156 (H3)]. Concomitantly with enhanced binding to Sia(alpha2-3)Gal-terminated receptors, all egg-adapted variants decreased their affinity for equine macroglobulin, a glycoprotein bearing terminal 6'-sialyl(N-acetyllactosamine)-moieties.
In Vivo Fitness Cost of the M184V Mutation in Multidrug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in the Absence of Lamivudine

ABSTRACT Lamivudine therapy selects for the M184V mutation. Although this mutation reduces the replicative capacity of human immunodeficiency virus in vitro, its impact on viral fitness in vivo has not been well defined. We used quantitative allele-specific PCR to precisely calculate the fitness differences between the mutated M184V virus and one that had reverted to the wild type in a cohort of patients by selectively interrupting reverse transcriptase inhibitor therapy, and we found that the M184V variants were consistently 4 to 8% less fit than the wild type in the absence of drug. After a lag phase of variable duration, wild-type variants emerged due to continued evolution of pol and back mutation rather than through emergence of an archived wild-type variant.
[Quantitative detection of APC/RASSF1A promoter methylation in the plasma of patients with cervical diseases].

OBJECTIVE To quantitatively detect adenomatous polyposis coli(APC) and Ras association domain family 1A( RASSF1A) promoter methylation levels in the plasma of patients with cervical disease and to determine the diagnostic value of the indicators of cervical disease. METHODS Preoperative blood samples were collected from 25 cases of healthy women and 118 cases of cervical disease, and tissue samples were also collected from 31 cases of them. The APC/RASSF1A promoter methylation levels of plasma and tissue were determined by duplex real-time quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMSP). RESULTS Among 31 paired plasma and tissue samples, true negative rate of APC and RASSF1A genes were all 100%, and true positive rate of APC and RASSF1A genes were 3/5 and 7/9, respectively. In 143 cases of plasma samples, total positive rate of APC and (or) RASSF1A methylation was 3% (2/59) for control/low-grade lesions groups and 48% (40/84) for high-grade lesions/tumor groups (P < 0.01) . RASSF1A methylation rate was related to lymph node metastasis and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The plasma APC/RASSF1A methylation detection may be with some application prospect in the diagnosis of cervical diseases.
Can histopathologists diagnose bronchopneumonia?

OBJECTIVES--To assess histopathologists' ability to accurately diagnose bronchopneumonia, both on naked eye and microscopic examination; to extrapolate from the error rate to determine whether the role of the necropsy in monitoring the epidemiology of clinical error might be compromised. METHODS--Review of archival histological sections and necropsy reports from two teaching hospitals in Manchester. The main outcome measures identified were the proportions of macroscopic diagnoses of bronchopneumonia which were confirmed by the original pathologist on histological examination, and which could be confirmed on histological review by independent pathologists, together with the proportion of discrepant diagnoses remedied in the final report by the original pathologist. RESULTS--Of 279 cases where a macroscopic diagnosis of bronchopneumonia had been noted in the original provisional necropsy report, the original histopathologist described bronchopneumonia in only 206 (73.8%) in the subsequent final report, which took histology into account. Bronchopneumonia could be confirmed on independent histological review in only 193 (69.2%) of these cases. The original histopathologist diagnosed 74 cases of bronchopneumonia on histological grounds only, of which only 57 (77.0%) could be confirmed on review. Of a total of 160 discrepancies between the original naked eye diagnoses and the final reviewed diagnoses, only 130 (81.3%) had been remedied by the original pathologist. CONCLUSIONS--There is a considerable discrepancy rate between naked eye diagnoses of bronchopneumonia at necropsy and diagnoses confirmed on microscopy. If this discrepancy rate is extrapolated to other common lesions, then the role of the necropsy in clinical audit may be compromised. Pathologists need to take steps to monitor and improve their own diagnostic standards.
Estimation of The Willingness-to-Pay for Preserving The Football Arena in Gdansk

Abstract The European Football Championship (Euro 2012) organized in Poland became the pretext for a number of infrastructural changes. A high level of expenditure makes the Polish event the most expensive among events of this magnitude. The fact that these changes were 100% financed by public funds raises the question of whether these funds were used in a substantiated way. Therefore, the aim of this study is to estimate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) among the community of the Pomeranian region, in connection with the construction of the stadium in Gdansk. A survey conducted among 299 respondents was the source of information. The results of the study show that the average value of WTP for the whole sample was 6.71 EUR2012, while the aggregate value for the whole region was 15.4 million EUR2012. The regression analysis showed that the level of WTP is determined in particular by income levels. The results thus confirm the existence of intangible benefits associated with the constructed facilities. However, it should be noted that the importance of these benefits is insignificant and does not compensate for the massive expenditure from public sources.
Accuracy in Estimating Repetitions to Failure During Resistance Exercise

Abstract Hackett, DA, Cobley, SP, Davies, TB, Michael, SW, and Halaki, M. Accuracy in estimating repetitions to failure during resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2162–2168, 2017—The primary aim of this study was to assess the accuracy in estimation of repetitions to failure (ERF) during resistance exercise. Furthermore, this investigation examined whether the accuracy in ERF was affected by training status, sex, or exercise type. Eighty-one adults (men, n = 53 and women, n = 28) with broad range of resistance training experience participated in this study. Subjects performed up to 10 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and 80% 1RM for the chest press and leg press, respectively. At the completion of each set, subjects reported their ERF and then continued repetitions to failure to determine actual repetitions to failure (ARF). The accuracy (amount of error) of ERF was determined over an ARF 0–10. Significant differences were found for error of ERF among ARF (p < 0.001), with the error of ERF ∼1 repetition at ARF 0–5 compared with >2 repetitions at ARF 7–10. Greater accuracy was found for the chest press compared with leg press, with the error of ERF ⩽1 repetition for ARF 0–5 and ARF 0–3, respectively (p = 0.012). Men were found to be more accurate than women at specific ARFs for the leg press (p = 0.008), whereas no interaction was found for the chest press. Resistance training experience did not affect the accuracy in ERF. These results suggest that resistance trainers can accurately estimate repetitions to failure when close to failure and that ERF could importantly be practically used for prescription and monitoring of resistance exercise.
Discriminants of Casson–Gordon invariants

Casson–Gordon invariants were first used to prove that certain algebraically slice knots in S3 are not slice knots [2, 3]. Since then they have been applied to a wide range of problems, including embedding problems and questions relating to boundary links [2, 10, 21, 25]. The most general Casson–Gordon invariant takes its value in L0(ℚ(ζd)(t)) ⊗ ℚ; here ζd denotes a primitive dth root of unity. Litherland [20] observed that one could usually tensor with ℤ(2) instead of ℚ, and in this way preserve the 2-torsion in the Witt group. He then constructed new examples of non-slice genus two knots which were detected with torsion classes in L0(ℚ(ζd)) ⊗ ℤ(2) modulo the image of L0(ℚ(ζd)) ⊗ ℤ(2).
Establishing a telemedicine clinic for HIV patients in a correctional facility.

Approximately 1.2 million U.S. residents are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite extensive education and prevention efforts, 1 in 5 infected individuals is unaware of his or her HIV status, and approximately 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with HIV annually. [1][1] The estimated
Assessing the Sustainable Nature of Housing-Related Taxation Receipts: The Case of Ireland

Even by international standards, Ireland? s fiscal position was particularly affected by the recent financial crisis. As budgetary surpluses quickly gave way to significant deficits post 2007, the deterioration in the Irish public finances culminated in an Excessive Deficit Procedure being launched in 2009 and entry into a formal EU/IMF assistance programme in late 2010. Much of this deterioration was caused by the sudden and sharp decline in the Irish housing market as property-related taxes dried up. In this paper we quantify the extent of housing related tax windfall gains and losses. We find that at various times over the past three decades, there have been instances where dis-equilibrium in the Irish housing market has had significant implications for the associated taxation receipts. Examining taxation aggregates in this manner can be seen as an important complement to recent policy responses aimed at improving fiscal governance.
Association between birth conditions and glucose and cortisol profiles of periparturient dairy cows and neonatal calves

Parturition in cattle is a stressful event for both the dam and the offspring. Stress and pain can alter the energy profile of calves and calving cows, producing a metabolic imbalance at birth. This study aimed to assess the effects of dystocia and oxytocin and calcium infusion on metabolic homeostasis in dairy cows and calves. Thirty Holstein cows and their calves were divided into three groups: an eutocia group (n=10), in which no calving assistance was needed; a dystocia group, which required mild-to-severe obstetric assistance (n=10); and a uterine inertia group, which was treated with oxytocin and calcium (n=10). To assess serum cortisol and blood glucose levels, blood samples were collected during the peripartum period from cows and during the first hour since birth from calves. All groups were hyperglycaemic following parturition. Infusion of oxytocin and calcium resulted in lower maternal glucose concentrations and lower levels of stress than in cows in the dystocia group. Birth condition was significantly associated with blood glucose and cortisol concentrations in calves. Glucose concentration was lower in calves born with oxytocin and calcium infusion than those born with fetal extraction. In conclusion, assisted calving with fetal extraction causes important metabolic changes for the dam and calf. Conversely, the practice of oxytocin and calcium infusion for hypotonic cows has no harmful effects on metabolic balance and can be safely employed as a medical treatment.
Regulation of Rap GTPases in mammalian neurons

Abstract Small GTPases are central regulators of many cellular processes. The highly conserved Rap GTPases perform essential functions in the mammalian nervous system during development and in mature neurons. During neocortical development, Rap1 is required to regulate cadherin- and integrin-mediated adhesion. In the adult nervous system Rap1 and Rap2 regulate the maturation and plasticity of dendritic spine and synapses. Although genetic studies have revealed important roles of Rap GTPases in neurons, their regulation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate them and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) that inactivate them by stimulating their intrinsic GTPase activity is just beginning to be explored in vivo. Here we review how GEFs and GAPs regulate Rap GTPases in the nervous system with a focus on their in vivo function.