Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deciphering intracellular events triggered by mild magnetic hyperthermia in vitro and in vivo.

AIM To assess the cell response to magnetic nanoparticles under an alternating magnetic field by molecular quantification of heat responsive transcripts in two model systems. MATERIALS & METHODS Melanoma cells and Hydra vulgaris treated with magnetic nanoparticles were subjected to an alternating magnetic field or to macroscopic heating. Effect to these treatments were assessed at animal, cellular and molecular levels. RESULTS By comparing hsp70 expression following both treatments, thermotolerance pathways were found in both systems in absence of cell ablation or global temperature increment. CONCLUSION Analysis of hsp70 transcriptional activation can be used as molecular thermometer to sense cells' response to magnetic hyperthermia. Similar responses were found in cells and Hydra, suggesting a general mechanism to the delivery of sublethal thermal doses.
Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii specific immunoglobulin G antibodies among pregnant women in Norway

During one year from June 1992 serum IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii among 35940 pregnant women were measured in a cross-sectional study conducted in Norway. The overall prevalence was 10·9%. The lowest prevalences were detected in the north (6·7%) and in the inland counties (8·2%). A significantly higher prevalence was detected in the southern counties (13·4%) where a mild, coastal climate prevails. Women with foreign names had a higher prevalence (22·6%) than women with Norwegian names (10·0%). The high prevalence among women living in the capital city (Oslo) as compared to other cities and rural areas (13·2% vs. 10·1% and 10·2% respectively), was explained by the higher proportion of foreign women in Oslo. Prevalence significantly increased with age in women over 34 years old. This increase was only detected among women with Norwegian names. An increase in prevalence according to number of children was detected. Women without children had a prevalence of 8·8% while women with three children or more had a prevalence of 14·9%. Multivariate analyses showed that being seropositive was independently associated with county of residence, age, nationality and number of children.
Diabetes Care in the School and Day Care Setting

D iabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood (1). There are ;215,000 individuals ,20 years of age with diabetes in the U.S. (2). The majority of these young people attend school and/or some type of day care and need knowledgeable staff to provide a safe school environment. Both parents and the health care team should work together to provide school systems and day care providers with the information necessary to allow children with diabetes to participate fully and safely in the school experience (3,4).
Improving Readability of Dyslexic Learners through Document Summarization

E-Learning that blends the internet, the web and the educational activities, is becoming one of the prominent ways for defining teaching and learning experiences as anywhere anytime process. Any teaching learning process must be designed to suit the needs of all and must consider all types of learners including people with disabilities. One of the major learning disabilities found related to learners is the problem of reading. Especially for dyslexic reading is a severe problem. In this regard, this paper focuses on the design of a summarization tool that provides a summary of reading material which helps the dyslexic to have a first level understanding of the content.
Matrix metalloproteinase-2 is required for the switch to the angiogenic phenotype in a tumor model.

Among the earliest and most important stages during tumorigenesis is the activation of the angiogenic process, an event that is termed the "switch to the angiogenic phenotype. " We have developed an in vivo system that can reliably recapitulate the stages in tumor development that represent this transition. Using this model, we have harvested and studied tumor nodules that can be distinguished from each other on the basis of their degree of vascularization. Angiogenic tumor nodules were characterized by the presence of capillary vessels as determined by factor VIII immunohistochemistry, and both angiogenic and proteolytic activities in vitro. In contrast, preangiogenic nodules were devoid of microvessels and showed little angiogenic or proteolytic activity in vitro. Addition of a specific metalloproteinase inhibitor resulted in the abrogation of both angiogenic and proteolytic activities of the angiogenic nodules in vitro. Comparative substrate gel electrophoresis detected the presence of a prominent matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) in the angiogenic nodules when compared with the preangiogenic ones. Suppression of MMP-2 activity by antisense oligonucleotides in the vascular nodules resulted in the loss of angiogenic potential both in vitro and in vivo in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Moreover, this suppression of MMP-2 activity in angiogenic nodules inhibited tumor growth in vivo by approximately 70%. These results strongly implicate the activity of MMP-2 as a requirement for the switch to the angiogenic phenotype and validate this model as a reliable and reproducible tool by which to study other cellular and biochemical factors involved in the acquisition of the angiogenic phenotype.
Comparison of Effect of Ephedrine and Priming on the Onset Time of Vecuronium

Background: Succinylcholine has been the neuromuscular blocking drug of choice for laryngoscopy and intubation, but it has several adverse effects. Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs are good alternative provided their onset of action is hastened. Priming technique and use of ephedrine or MgSO4 pretreatment is good options. Aims: To compare the effects of priming and ephedrine pretreatment on the onset time of intubating dose of vecuronium. Settings and Design: A prospective, randomized comparative study was done at a state-owned tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: After obtaining the Institutional Ethical Committee approval and written informed consent, sixty patients of either gender aged 18–60 years, the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Class I/II, weighing 40–70 kg, were randomly divided into two groups of thirty each. Group E received 70 μg/kg ephedrine, and Group P received 0.01 mg/kg of vecuronium 3 min before intubating dose of vecuronium. Intubation was done after getting a train of four zero. Intubation time, clinical intubation grade using Cooper's scale, and hemodynamic parameters were noted. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test and independent t-test were done with PASW statistics 18 to analyze data. Results: The mean time for intubation in ephedrine group (E) was 104 ± 23.282 s and in the priming group (P), it was 142 ± 55.671 s (P = 0.001). All patients had clinically acceptable intubating conditions, and the grades were comparable among groups (P = 0.791). Hemodynamic parameters were comparable between groups at all time frames (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Pretreatment with ephedrine 70 μg/kg shortens the onset time of vecuronium for intubation and is superior to the priming technique. Low-dose ephedrine, when used along with propofol induction, provides hemodynamic stability during induction and intubation.
Tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome with novel SKIV2L gene mutations

Rationale: Tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome (THES) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in the TTC37 or SKIV2L genes and characterized by chronic diarrhea, liver disease, hair abnormalities, and high mortality in early childhood due to severe infection or liver cirrhosis. Patient concerns: The patient is the second child of three siblings born to non-consanguineous healthy Japanese parents. She had intrauterine growth retardation and was delivered at 33 weeks of gestation due to placental abruption. She presented with watery diarrhea, elevated levels of liver enzymes, multiple episodes of recurrent bacterial infection, and mild mental retardation. She had facial dysmorphism, including prominent forehead and hypertelorism, and had woolly hair without trichorrhexis nodosa. Diagnosis: Clinical features led to consideration of THES. Novel compound heterozygous nonsense mutations, c.1420G>T (p.Q474*) and c.3262G>T (p.E1088*), in the SKIV2L gene were identified in the patient, and decreased levels of SKIV2L protein expression were revealed by flow cytometry and confirmed by western blot analysis using patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Interventions: Total parenteral nutrition was required from day 30 to day 100. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis was started at the age of 7 years after multiple episodes of bacterial pneumonia and otitis media. Outcomes: Chronic diarrhea persisted for more than 10 years, but the symptoms gradually improved with age. At the age of 13 years, she started a normal diet in combination with oral nutritional supplementation and her height and weight were just below the 3rd percentile for healthy individuals. She developed secondary sex characteristics, and menarche occurred at the age of 12 years. Facial dysmorphism, including prominent forehead and hypertelorism, and woolly hair without trichorrhexis nodosa became noticeable as she matured. Lessons: Physicians must be aware of THES when they encounter a patient with infantile diarrhea, hair abnormalities, immune deficiency, mental retardation, and liver disease. Moreover, flow cytometric detection of SKIV2L protein in PBMCs may facilitate early diagnosis.
Resolution of SLE-related soft-tissue calcification following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND Calciphylaxis and calcinosis can both cause severe morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been successfully used to treat patients with refractory SLE. It was hypothesized that in calciphylaxis and calcinosis, ongoing inflammatory activity contributes to the calcium deposition in the media of small arteries, as well as perivascular and periarticular tissues. We report three patients whose soft-tissue calcification syndromes dramatically resolved after undergoing HSCT. METHODS Three patients referred for refractory SLE underwent HSCT at a tertiary care medical center. SLE serologies and clinical features before and after HSCT were recorded. RESULTS Despite receiving >6 months of intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC), three SLE patients showed signs of persistent lupus activity, including severe soft-tissue calcification. The first patient was on haemodialysis and developed severe calciphylaxis with large ulcers and tissue necrosis. The second patient had calcinosis, with palpable crystals extruding from ulcers. The third patient had calcinosis characterized by subcutaneous nodules and plaques. Because prior conventional therapies had failed, the three were treated with high-dose CYC, anti-thymocyte globulin and HSCT. They have been followed post-HSCT for 26-38 months, with excellent clinical responses, including sustained resolution of skin abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS The successful treatment of advanced calcium deposition by aggressive immune ablation underscores the contribution of SLE-mediated inflammation to soft-tissue calcification syndromes.
The binding of sulphonylureas to serum albumin

The interaction of tolbutamide, glibenclamide, chlorpropamide and tolazamide with serum albumin has been examined. Glibenclamide, the most strongly bound of the four compounds, is bound to only one class of sites. The other three compounds are bound to at least two. The interaction between glibenclamide and albumin was independent of pH and increased markedly with decreasing temperature suggesting that a non‐ionic mechanism is involved. In contrast, the overall interaction of tolbutamide with albumin showed little temperature dependence and, in addition, binding of both tolbutamide and chlorpropamide decreased with pH. These findings imply that the predominantly bound species is the anion. Binding parameters corrected for electrostatic effects were found to fit binding data for tolbutamide, chlorpropamide and tolazamide better than uncorrected parameters. Electrostatic correction of binding of glibenclamide is unnecessary.
Rearrangement of the BCL6 locus at 3q27 is an independent poor prognostic factor in nodal diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma

Summary. Diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are a heterogeneous group of tumours, varying in clinical features, immunophenotype and cytogenetics. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of BCL6 gene rearrangement at the 3q27 locus in patients with primary nodal disease, and to examine interrelationships with immunophenotype and International Prognostic Index (IPI). We have developed a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)‐based technique for the retrospective analysis of the effect of BCL6 gene rearrangements on survival, using nuclei extracted from paraffin‐embedded tissue. FISH results were obtained in 111 presentation cases of nodal DLBCL. The IPI was calculated and each case was stained immunocytochemically for BCL6, BCL2 and CD10. 3q27 rearrangements were detected in 25% of cases. BCL2 protein and a germinal centre (GC) phenotype (defined as CD10+, BCL6+) were expressed in 56% and 41% of cases respectively. In multivariate analysis, rearrangement of 3q27 and BCL2 expression and the absence of a GC phenotype were associated with a poor prognosis. These factors can be used in conjunction with the IPI to improve risk stratification in nodal DLBCL.
A Two-Stage Wood Chip-Based Biofilter System to Mitigate Odors from a Deep-Pit Swine Building

A mobile biofilter testing laboratory was developed where two-stage biofilters filled with western cedar and hardwood chips were examined to treat odor emissions from a deep-pit swine finishing facility in central Iowa. An automatically controlled water supply system was tested and used to control media moisture content. Odor concentrations from theinlet and biofilter treatments, gas flow pressure drop, leachate pH and ammonia concentration, and water consumption were monitored.Results indicate that the water supply system tested in this study can keep wood chip media at a high and stablemoisture content of 72% ± 3% (western cedar) and 62% ± 3% (hardwood)with a 6.4 L/m3-day water supply. Western cedar (WC) chips achieved an average reduction efficiency of 51%, 83%, and 41% for odor, H2S, and NH3, respectively, when keeping the WC moisture content at 72% and the empty bed residence time (EBRT) between 3.7 and 5.5 s. A linear relationship between media unit pressure drop and unit airflow rate was observed with two-stage biofilters having an advantage in potentially reducing media compaction.Leachate pH and NH3 concentration were measured with pH levels in the 7.2 to 7.9 range with the NH3 concentration in the 198 to 1300 mg/L as N range.The effects of three different levels of media moisture content shows that proper moisture content is a key factor for the success of wood chip biofilters, but is not a substitute for inadequate EBRT.
Sphingolipid Activator Proteins Are Required for Epidermal Permeability Barrier Formation*

The epidermal permeability barrier is maintained by extracellular lipid membranes within the interstices of the stratum corneum. Ceramides, the major components of these multilayered membranes, derive in large part from hydrolysis of glucosylceramides mediated by stratum corneum β-glucocerebrosidase (β-GlcCerase). Prosaposin (pSAP) is a large precursor protein that is proteolytically cleaved to form four distinct sphingolipid activator proteins, which stimulate enzymatic hydrolysis of sphingolipids, including glucosylceramide. Recently, pSAP has been eliminated in a mouse model using targeted deletion and homologous recombination. In addition to the extracutaneous findings noted previously, our present data indicate that pSAP deficiency in the epidermis has significant consequences including: 1) an accumulation of epidermal glucosylceramides together with below normal levels of ceramides; 2) alterations in lipids that are bound by ester linkages to proteins of the cornified cell envelope; 3) a thickened stratum lucidum with evidence of scaling; and 4) a striking abnormality in lamellar membrane maturation within the interstices of the stratum corneum. Together, these results demonstrate that the production of pSAP, and presumably mature sphingolipid activator protein generation, is required for normal epidermal barrier formation and function. Moreover, detection of significant amounts of covalently bound ω-OH-GlcCer in pSAP-deficient epidermis suggests that deglucosylation to ω-OH-Cer is not a requisite step prior to covalent attachment of lipid to cornified envelope proteins.
The Anesthetic Management of Triplet Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Case Series of Maternal Outcomes

Spinal anesthesia for the cesarean delivery of triplets is associated with an increased incidence of maternal hypotension and placental hypoperfusion. We performed a retrospective case series analysis between January 1992 and June 2000 to evaluate the effects of regional anesthetic techniques for cesarean delivery in triplet pregnancies on maternal and neonatal outcome. Spinal and epidural anesthesia were compared with respect to intraoperative hemodynamics and neonatal outcomes. Ninety-six triplet pregnancies were delivered by cesarean section, of which 91 received regional anesthesia. A statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was demonstrated immediately after the induction of spinal as compared with epidural anesthesia. The total volume of IV crystalloid used was significantly larger in the Spinal Anesthesia group. The number of patients receiving more than 15 mg of ephedrine and the cumulative dose of ephedrine was significantly larger in the Spinal group compared with the Epidural group. There were no differences in the rate of perioperative complications between the Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia groups. Neonatal Apgar scores were similar in both groups. The data suggest that both epidural and spinal anesthesia for triplet cesarean delivery are safe techniques, but the latter is associated with a larger initial decrease in systolic blood pressure. This decreasing of systolic blood pressure, however, remained within the physiological range and did not seem to be clinically significant. The need for more crystalloid fluids and ephedrine should be anticipated when spinal anesthesia is used for these cases.
The potential of tyrphostins for the therapy of breast cancer.

The correlation between the EGFR family, in particular Her2/neu but also EGFR/Her1, and breast cancer has already been well established. The overexpression of Her2/neu is associated with 30% of breast cancer patients and approximately 20% of ovarian cancer patients [1, for review see [2]]. Moreover, it has been reported that breast cancer tissue exhibits a 5 to10-fold increase in constitutive protein kinase activity. Analysis reveals that most of the kinase activity can be attributed to pp60 c-Src (Src) [3 and references therein]. Recently, it has been established that the constitutive activity of Src contributes directly to the oncogenic phenotype of the malignant tissue and is a key contributor to the oncogenic state of the tissue [4–5]. These findings persuaded us and others to develop inhibitors from these two kinases as potential therapies for breast cancer and other malignancies in which Her2/neu plays a prominent role. The recent clinical success of the anti-Her2 monoclonal antibody Herceptin [6–8] strengthens the case for developing Her2/neu inhibitors. An abundant number of other erbB receptors such as
Predictors of in-hospital mortality and attributable risks of death after ischemic stroke: the German Stroke Registers Study Group.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of information about factors associated with in-hospital death and the impact of neurological complications on early outcome for patients with stroke treated in community settings. We investigated predictors for in-hospital mortality and attributable risks of death after ischemic stroke in a pooled analysis of large German stroke registers. METHODS Stroke patients admitted to hospitals cooperating within the German Stroke Registers Study Group (ADSR) between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2000, were analyzed. The ADSR is a network of regional stroke registers, combining data from 104 academic and community hospitals throughout Germany. The impact of patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, their comorbid conditions, and the treating hospital expertise in stroke care on in-hospital mortality was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Attributable risks of death for medical and neurological complications were calculated. RESULTS A total of 13 440 ischemic stroke patients were included. Overall in-hospital mortality was 4.9%. In women, higher age (P<.001), severity of stroke defined by number of neurological deficits (P<.001), and atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.6) were independent predictors for in-hospital death. In men, diabetes (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.8) and previous stroke (HR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.9) had a significant negative impact on early outcome in addition to the factors identified for women. The complication with the highest attributable risk proportion was increased intracranial pressure, accounting for 94% (95% CI, 93.9%-94.1%) of deaths among patients with this complication. Pneumonia was the complication with the highest attributable proportion of death in the entire stroke population, accounting for 31.2% (95% CI, 30.9%-31.5%) of all deaths. More than 50% of all in-hospital deaths were caused by serious medical or neurological complications (54.4%; 95% CI, 54.3%-54.5%). CONCLUSIONS Substantial differences were found in the impact of comorbid conditions on early outcome for men and women. Programs aiming at an improvement in short-term outcome after stroke should focus especially on a reduction of pneumonia and an early treatment of increased intracranial pressure.
A Study on Design and Realization of Smart Home Based on the Internet of Things

With the constant improvement of China's economic development level, the Internet of things developed from network technique and information technology has gradually become an emerging technology and widely applied in home furnishing. This paper gives an analysis of the deficiencies in smart home design by the Internet of things and brings forward design of the smart home system based on the Internet of things.
As Políticas para o Desenvolvimento da Agricultura no Brasil e suas Relações com a Pobreza e a Desigualdade Rural

O trabalho tem como objetivo fazer uma analise da implicacao das politicas e dos modelos de desenvolvimento rural e agricola sobre a questao da desigualdade e da pobreza rural. Com base na bibliografia o artigo busca refletir e explicitar tal relacao, desde a modernizacao da agricultura ate as interpretacoes e propostas que ganham forca na atual conjuntura. A analise revela que desde os anos 1960 ate meados da decada de 1990, as politicas publicas para agricultura foram as grandes geradoras de pobreza e desigualdade no meio rural. Nos anos 1990, apos a criacao do Programa nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar, e principalmente depois dos anos 2000, experimentou-se um periodo de intensos e virtuosos debates sobre intervencoes que buscassem a resolucao, ou ao menos a diminuicao da pobreza e da desigualdade no rural. Por outro lado, em paralelo a isso, ha nesse periodo absorcao de duas propostas de desenvolvimento rural pelo Estado brasileiro. Contudo na atual conjuntura se nota o rompimento dessa ordem dual sobre as propostas de desenvolvimento, de modo que hajam diferentes as estrategias sobre como tratar da pobreza e da desigualdade rural. Pelo lado conservador interpreta-se que apenas o assistencialismo seja capaz de remediar esse problema social no campo, enquanto pelo lado oposto e destacado a necessidade da interpretacao multidimensional da pobreza e necessidade de avanco de politicas diferenciadas.