Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cationic surfactant mediated fibrillogenesis in bovine liver catalase: a biophysical approach

Protein aggregation into oligomers and mature fibrils are associated with more than 20 diseases in humans. The interactions between cationic surfactants dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) with varying alkyl chain lengths and bovine liver catalase (BLC) were examined by various biophysical approaches. The delicate coordination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with protein, play imperative role in aggregation. In this article, we have reconnoitered the relation between charge, hydrophobicity and cationic surfactants DTAB and TTAB on BLC at pH 7.4 and 9.4 which are two and four units above pI, respectively. We have used techniques like turbidity, Rayleigh light scattering, far-UV CD, ThT, ANS, Congo red binding assay, DLS, and transmission electron microscopy. The low concentration ranges of DTAB (0–600 μM) and TTAB (0–250 μM) were observed to increase aggregation at pH 9.4. Nevertheless, at pH 7.4 only TTAB was capable of inducing aggregate. DTAB did not produce any significant change in secondary structure at pH 7.4 suggestive of the role of respective charges on surfactants and protein according to the pI and alkyl chain length. The morphology of aggregates was further determined by TEM, which proved the existence of a fibrillar structure. The surfactants interaction with BLC was primarily electrostatic as examined by ITC. Our work demystifies the critical role of charge as well as hydrophobicity in amyloid formation.
Alcohol-Related Problems among Younger Drinkers who Misuse Prescription Drugs: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)

The authors determined whether lifetime prescription drug misuse (PDM) associated with increased risks for alcohol-related problems among 18- to 34-year-old, NESARC respondents. Among 8222 “ever-drinkers,” 15.4% reported ever “misusing sedatives, tranquilizers, painkillers or stimulants … as prescriptions or from indirect sources. ” Outcomes were within two alcohol-related problem domains, “risk-taking behaviors,” including driving while drinking, fights, injuries, and arrests, and “interpersonal troubles,” including problems with jobs, family, or friends. Among all drinkers and among alcohol-dependent and cannabis-using subsamples, those reporting PDM were significantly more likely to report alcohol-related “risk-taking behaviors” or “interpersonal troubles” than were those without PDM. In adjusted analysis, young age drinking onsets, and heavy and dependent drinking independently increased these risks. Results of this cross-sectional analysis support the need for longitudinal data to more clearly define the association between drinking problems and PDM, and which can support prevention, treatment, and harm-reduction efforts for younger, multisubstance users.
On the lack of a universal pattern associated with mammalian domestication: differences in skull growth trajectories across phylogeny

As shown in a taxonomically broad study, domestication modifies postnatal growth. Skull shape across 1128 individuals was characterized by 14 linear measurements, comparing 13 pairs of wild versus domesticated forms. Among wild forms, the boar, the rabbit and the wolf have the highest proportion of allometric growth, explaining in part the great morphological diversity of the domesticated forms of these species. Wild forms exhibit more isometric growth than their domesticated counterparts. Multivariate comparisons show that dogs and llamas exhibit the greatest amount of differences in trajectories with their wild counterparts. The least amount is recorded in the pig–boar, and camel and horse pairs. Bivariate analyses reveal that most domesticated forms have growth trajectories different from their respective wild counterparts with regard to the slopes. In pigs and camels slopes are shared and intercepts are different. There is a trajectory extension in most domesticated herbivores and the contrary pattern in carnivorous forms. However, there is no single, universal and global pattern of paedomorphosis or any other kind of heterochrony behind the morphological diversification that accompanies domestication.
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Functional Connectivity in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as apathy and depression, commonly accompany cognitive and functional decline in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prior studies have shown associations between affective NPS and neurodegeneration of medial frontal and inferior temporal regions in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD dementia. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between functional connectivity in four brain networks and NPS in elderly with MCI. METHODS NPS were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory in 42 subjects with MCI. Resting-state functional connectivity in four networks (default mode network, fronto-parietal control network (FPCN), dorsal attention network, and ventral attention network) was assessed using seed-based magnetic resonance imaging. Factor analysis was used to identify two factors of NPS: Affective and Hyperactivity. Linear regression models were utilized with the neuropsychiatric factors as the dependent variable and the four networks as the predictors of interest. Covariates included age, gender, premorbid intelligence, processing speed, memory, head movement, and signal-to-noise ratio. These analyses were repeated with the individual items of the affective factor, using the same predictors. RESULTS There was a significant association between greater Affective factor symptoms and reduced FPCN connectivity (p = 0.03). There was no association between the Hyperactivity factor and any of the networks. Secondary analyses revealed an association between greater apathy and reduced FPCN connectivity (p = 0.005), but none in other networks. CONCLUSIONS Decreased connectivity in the FPCN may be associated with greater affective symptoms, particularly apathy, early in AD. These findings extend prior studies, using different functional imaging modalities in individuals with greater disease severity.
Assessing emergency shelter patterns to inform community solutions to homelessness

Abstract The goal of this study was to examine individuals’ emergency shelter stay records to gain insight into cycles of homelessness and strategies to end homelessness. We examined over 46 000 records of 4332 unique individuals from six of Victoria, Canada’s adult emergency shelters from May 2010–May 2014. Individuals’ stay records were clustered using the k-means cluster analysis, based on total days stayed and total number of episodes of homelessness over the four-year period. Consistent with other Canadian cities, three significant clusters emerged from the analysis: temporary, episodic and long stay. The episodic and long-stay cluster accounted for more than 50 percent of shelter bed nights. Age and gender were analyzed, with seniors more likely to be represented in the long-stay cluster. These findings highlight the need for prevention and rapid re-housing initiatives for those experiencing temporary shelter use, and housing with intensive supports for those in the episodic and long-stay clusters.
Talking the Good Life: From Free Speech to Democratic Dialogue

Any legal or political theory is a theory about 'the good life'. It is nonsensical to talk of law or politics outside of a social context, or to discuss a social framework separate from its laws or politics. Law, politics and societies are inextricably linked; each helps to define and constitute the others. By striving to provide an account of the terms and conditions of collective and individual life in a social group, the legal or political theorist cannot avoid the abiding and central conundra of human existence – what is the proper and best way to live? How are we to live together? Any legal or political theory worth its normative salt addresses these questions directly and attempts to offer. cogent answers; Consequently, a primary and inescapable issue for political and legal theory is not whether an idea of 'the good life' is relevant to the theoretical project, but what that idea is to consist of, and what weight it is to have in thinking about and criticizing legal and political practice.
Interactions between nutrition and immune function: using inflammation biomarkers to interpret micronutrient status

The immune response promotes a complex series of reactions by the host in an effort to prevent ongoing tissue damage, isolate and destroy the infective organism and activate the repair processes that are necessary for restoring normal function. The homoeostatic process is known as inflammation and the early set of reactions that are induced are known as the acute phase response (APR). The APR has marked effects on the circulation, metabolism in the liver and the plasma concentration of many nutrients. The changes in nutrient concentrations follow a cyclic pattern; occurring before any clinical evidence of disease, being at their most pronounced during the disease and remaining in convalescence when all evidence of disease or trauma has disappeared. Therefore, where susceptibility to disease is high as in people who are HIV+ but still apparently healthy, obtaining an accurate measurement of nutritional status may not be possible. Accurate measurements of status are important for national statistics to plan for the proper utilisation of government resources and they are especially important to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional interventions. Many acute phase proteins (APP) are synthesised during inflammation and they are used to monitor the progress of disease and recovery but, individually, none of their lifecycles compare well with those of the nutritional biomarkers. Nevertheless, recognising the presence of inflammation can help interpret data and, using two APP, this review paper will illustrate the methods we have developed to assist interpretation of plasma retinol, ferritin and zinc concentrations in apparently healthy, HIV+, Kenyan adults.
Efficacy of Epithelium-Off and Epithelium-On Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking in Pediatric Keratoconus

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of riboflavin/ultraviolet A epithelium-off (epi-off) and epithelium-on (epi-on) corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in progressive pediatric keratoconus. Methods: Thirty-six eyes of 27 patients aged 18 years or younger (12–18 years) diagnosed with progressive keratoconus and treated with epi-off (n=18 eyes) or epi-on (n=18 eyes) CXL were included in this study. All patients were followed up for 24 months postoperatively. Results: At 24-month follow-up, the mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) improved from 0.24±0.17 to 0.17±0.11 logMAR in the epi-off group (P=0.032). In the epi-on group, CDVA improved from 0.33±0.23 to 0.26±0.20 logMAR (P=0.012), but the improvement was not significantly different between groups (P>0.05). In the epi-off group, all mean K values improved: K1 (&Dgr;=−0.63 D, P=0.024), K2 (&Dgr;=−0.73 D, P=0.008), and Kmax (&Dgr;=−1.4 D, P=0.035), whereas in the epi-on group, Kmax and K2 did not change significantly and K1 (&Dgr;=0.68 D, P=0.029) significantly worsened. Postoperative mild corneal haze occurred in 5 eyes (28%) in the epi-off group. No postoperative complications were observed in the epi-on group. In 94.4% of the epi-off group, keratoconus regressed (44.4%) or stabilized (50.0%), whereas in the epi-on group, only 66.6% regressed (33.3%) or stabilized (33.3%), and the difference was significant (P=0.038). Conclusions: The efficacy of the epi-on procedure in terms of its ability to halt keratoconus progression appears to be 0.70 of the efficacy of epi-off CXL.
Radiographic landmarks for measurement of cranial tibial subluxation in the canine cruciate ligament deficient stifle

Summary Objectives: The primary objective was to develop a repeatable radiographic technique for assessment of cranial tibial subluxation (CTS) and test the intra-observer and inter-observer repeatability of the chosen landmarks. A secondary objective was to determine the effects of digital radiographic magnification on CTS measurement repeatability. Methods: Twenty-three normal canine pelvic limbs were used to determine the magnitude of CTS before and after transection of the cranial cruciate ligament. Mediolateral radiographs were taken with and without fiduciary markers in place. Three investigators measured the CTS using radiographically visible anatomic landmarks at two different magnifications. The total observed variabilities were assessed by inter-observer and intra-observer differences. Paired t-tests were used to determine the effect of magnification and marker presence on CTS measures. Results: Measurement of the CTS from the caudal margin of the intercondylar fossa on the femur to the intercondylar eminence was the most repeatable. Poor correlation between the anatomic landmarks and the fiduciary bone markers was observed. We found no effect of magnification or presence or absence of bone markers on measurement of CTS. Clinical significance: Cranial tibial subluxation can be detected with the most repeatability by measuring between the caudal margin of the intercondylar fossa and the intercondylar eminence. Magnification of the digitized radiographic image had minimal effect on repeatability. This technique can be used for in vivo analysis of the canine cruciate ligament deficient stifle joint.
Breast dosimetry in transverse and longitudinal field MRI-Linac radiotherapy systems.

PURPOSE In the framework of developing the integration of a MRI-Linac system, configurations of MRI-Linac units were simulated in order to improve the dose distribution in tangential breast radiotherapy using transverse and longitudinal magnetic field geometries of Lorentz force for both medial and lateral tangential fields. METHODS In this work, the geant4 Monte Carlo (MC) code was utilized to compare dose distributions in breast radiotherapy for Linac-MR systems in the transverse and longitudinal geometries within humanoid phantoms across a range of magnetic field strengths of 0.5 and 1.5 T. The dose increment due to scattering from the coils was investigated for both geometries as well. Computed tomography images of two patients were used for MC simulations. One patient had intact breast while the other was mastectomized. In the simulations, planning and methods of chest wall irradiation were similar to the actual clinical planning. RESULTS In a longitudinal geometry, the magnetic field is shown to restrict the lateral spread of secondary electrons to the lung, heart, and contralateral organs, which reduced the mean dose of the ipsilateral lung and heart by means of 17.2% and 6% at 1.5 T, respectively. The transverse configuration exhibits a significant increase in tissue interface effects, which increased dose buildup in the entrance regions of the lateral and medial tangent beams to the planning target volume (PTV) and improved dose homogeneity within the PTV. The improved relative average homogeneity index for two patients to the PTV at magnetic field strength of 1.5 T with respect to no magnetic field case evaluated was 11.79% and 34.45% in the LRBP and TRBP geometries, respectively. In both geometries, the simulations show significant mean dose reductions in the contralateral breast and chest wall skin, respectively, by a mean of 16.6% and 24.9% at 0.5 T and 17.2% and 28.1% at 1.5 T in the transverse geometry, and 10.56% and 14.6% at 0.5 T and 11.3% and 16.3% at 1.5 T in the longitudinal geometry. Considering the scattered photons which reflected from the coils, the average relative dose of each voxel is slightly increased by 0.53% and 0.32% in the LRBP and TRBP geometries, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Orienting the B0 magnetic field parallel to the photon beam axis, LRBP geometry, tends to restrict the radial spread of secondary electrons which resulted in dose reduction to the lung. Dosimetry issues observed in both Linac-MR geometries, such as changes to the lateral dose distribution, significantly exhibited dose reduction in the contralateral organs on a representative breast plan. Further, the results show sharper edge dose volume histogram curves at 1.5 T for both geometries, especially in the LRBP configuration.
Risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a European cohort of young adults.

RATIONALE Few studies have investigated the factors associated with the early inception of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). OBJECTIVES We investigated COPD risk factors in an international cohort of young adults using different spirometric definitions of the disease. METHODS We studied 4,636 subjects without asthma who had prebronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC measured in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey both in 1991 to 1993 (when they were 20-44 yr old) and in 1999 to 2002. COPD was defined according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease fixed cut-off criterion (FEV(1)/FVC < 0.70), and two criteria based on the Quanjer and LuftiBus reference equations (FEV(1)/FVC less than lower limit of normal). COPD determinants were studied using two-level Poisson regression models. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS COPD incidence ranged from 1.85 (lower limit of normal [Quanjer]) to 2.88 (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) cases/1,000/yr. Although about half of the cases had smoked less than 20 pack-years, smoking was the main risk factor for COPD, and it accounted for 29 to 39% of the new cases during the follow-up. Airway hyperresponsiveness was the second strongest risk factor (15-17% of new cases). Other determinants were respiratory infections in childhood and a family history of asthma, whereas the role of sex, age, and of being underweight largely depended on the definition of COPD used. CONCLUSIONS COPD may start early in life. Smoking prevention should be given the highest priority to reduce COPD occurrence. Airway hyperresponsiveness, a family history of asthma, and respiratory infections in childhood are other important determinants of COPD. We suggest the need for a definition of COPD that is not exclusively based on spirometry.
A combination of two immunotoxins exerts synergistic cytotoxic activity against human breast‐cancer cell lines

In previous studies, combinations of immunotoxins reactive with different cell‐surface antigens have exerted additive cytotoxicity against tumor cells in culture. In this report we describe a combination of 2 immunotoxins that produce synergistic cytotoxic activity. Recombinantly derived ricin A chain (RTA) was conjugated with murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 317G5, 260F9, 454A12 and 741F8 that bound to cell‐surface determinants of 42, 55, 180 (transferrin receptor) and 185 kDa (HER‐2/neu) expressed by the SKBr3 human breast‐cancer cell line. When inhibition of clonogenic growth was measured in a limiting dilution assay, the combination of 260F9‐RTA and 454A12‐RTA produced synergistic cytotoxic activity against SKBr3 and 2 other breast‐cancer cell lines. All other combinations produced only additive inhibition of clonogenic growth. Simultaneous binding of 260F9 and 454A12 was not supra‐additive, but sub‐populations of cells which lacked one or the other antigen could be detected. Kinetic studies of internalization, using antibodies conjugated with gold particles, indicated that 454A12 remained within peripheral endosomes for a longer interval in the presence of 260F9. This change in the traffic of the transferrin receptor may contribute to synergy between 260F9‐RTA and 454A12‐RTA. © 1992 Wifey‐Liss, Inc.
Eccentric strengthening effect of hip-adductor training with elastic bands in soccer players: a randomised controlled trial

Background Soccer players with weak hip-adductor muscles are at increased risk of sustaining groin injuries. Therefore, a simple hip-adductor strengthening programme for prevention of groin injuries is needed. Objective We aimed to investigate the effect of an 8-week hip-adductor strengthening programme, including one hip-adduction exercise, on eccentric and isometric hip-adduction strength, using elastic bands as external load. Methods Thirty-four healthy, sub-elite soccer players, mean (±SD) age of 22.1 (±3.3) years, were randomised to either training or control. During the mid-season break, the training group performed 8 weeks of supervised, progressive hip-adduction strength training using elastic bands. The participants performed two training sessions per week (weeks 1–2) with 3×15 repetition maximum loading (RM), three training sessions per week (weeks 3–6) with 3×10 RM and three training sessions per week (weeks 7–8) with 3×8 RM. Eccentric hip-adduction (EHAD), isometric hip-adduction (IHAD) and isometric hip-abduction (IHAB) strength, and the IHAD/IHAB ratio were measured assessor-blinded preintervention and postintervention, using reliable hand-held dynamometry procedures. Results In the training group, EHAD strength increased by 30% (p<0.001). In the control group, EHAD strength increased by 17% (p<0.001), but the increase was significantly larger in the training group compared with the control group (p=0.044). No other significant between-group strength-differences in IHAD, IHAB or the IHAD/IHAB ratio existed (p>0.05). Conclusions 8 weeks of hip-adduction strength training, using elastic bands, induce a relevant increase in eccentric hip-adduction strength in soccer players, and thus may have implications as a promising approach towards prevention of groin injuries in soccer.
Simplified implementation of the windowing method for systematic and random yield calculation

To separate systematic and random yield loss, common implementations of the windowing method use an unweighted fit of the Poisson model. By comparison to a properly weighted fit of the negative binomial model, we show that the unweighted fit of the Poisson model can give highly inaccurate results, especially in the presence of clustering. The unweighted fit of the Poisson model is shown to improve by reducing the number of points included, with the best results given by the very simplest form, which uses two points only.
Using Diurnal Variation in Backscatter to Detect Vegetation Water Stress

A difference has been detected between the C-band wind scatterometer measurements from the morning (descending) and evening (ascending) passes of the European Remote Sensing (ERS) 1/2 satellite. In the West African savanna, for example, these differences correspond to the onset of vegetation water stress. A literature review of the current state of knowledge regarding the diurnal variation in vegetation dielectric properties and its influence on observed backscatter is presented. A numerical sensitivity study using the Michigan microwave canopy scattering model was performed to investigate whether this difference might be explained by diurnal variation in the dielectric properties of the canopy. For vertically copolarized backscatter, as in the case of the ERS wind scatterometer, the greatest sensitivity is to leaf moisture (and, hence, dielectric constant), but the trunk moisture is significant at low values of leaf moisture content. This suggests that the ERS wind scatterometer may well detect changes in vegetation water status. The impact of leaf, branch, trunk, and soil moisture contents on L-band HH, VV, and HV backscatter was also investigated to explore the implications for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's upcoming Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. Results suggest that combining the morning and evening passes of the SMAP radar observations might yield valuable insight into water stress in areas otherwise considered too densely vegetated for traditional soil moisture retrieval.