Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ReviewIs Serum Gamma Glutamyltransferase a Marker of Oxidative Stress?

The primary role of cellular gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) is to metabolize extracellular reduced glutathione (GSH), allowing for precursor amino acids to be assimilated and reutilized for intracellular GSH synthesis. Paradoxically, recent experimental studies indicate that cellular GGT may also be involved in the generation of reactive oxygen species in the presence of iron or other transition metals. Although the relationship between cellular GGT and serum GGT is not known and serum GGT activity has been commonly used as a marker for excessive alcohol consumption or liver diseases, our series of epidemiological studies consistently suggest that serum GGT within its normal range might be an early and sensitive enzyme related to oxidative stress. For example, serum and dietary antioxidant vitamins had inverse, dose-response relations to serum GGT level within its normal range, whereas dietary heme iron was positively related to serum GGT level. More importantly, serum GGT level within its normal range positively predicted F2-isoprostanes, an oxidative damage product of arachidonic acid, and fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, markers of inflammation, which were measured 5 or 15 years later, in dose–response manners. These findings suggest that strong associations of serum GGT with many cardiovascular risk factors and/or events might be explained by a mechanism related to oxidative stress. Even though studies on serum and/or cellular GGT is at a beginning stage, our epidemiological findings suggest that serum GGT might be useful in studying oxidative stress-related issues in both epidemiological and clinical settings.
Couple Therapy with Survivors of Childhood Trauma

Traumatic interpersonal life experiences damage relationships by disrupting survivors’ abilities to regulate emotion, form secure attachments, and maintain a coherent positive sense of self. Although there has been tremendous progress in developing therapeutic approaches to help traumatized individuals, most models of couple therapy do not consider the impact that unresolved traumas have on couple relationships. Treatment approaches that focus only on problem-solving, increasing communication, and enhancing positive aspects of relationships do not sufficiently address difficulties that result from traumatic experiences.
L'héritage de la physique stoïcienne dans la pensée juive médiévale (Saadia Gaon, les dévots rhénans, Sefer Ha-Maskil)

Notre propos dans ce bref article est de montrer que la pensee juive medievale a integre des elements provenant de la philosophie stoicienne et plus precisement de sa theorie du pneuma. Cette affirmation va a l'encontre d'une idee recue, car on a l'habitude de penser que, s'agissant de la reception de la philosophie grecque, les penseurs juifs du Moyen Âge ont integre surtout des idees aristoteliciennes et, a un degre moindre, neo-platoniciennes. Or cette vision des choses est fondee tacitement sur la premisse selon laquelle la transmission des idees philosophiques s'est effectuee, au Moyen Âge, par le biais des traductions de textes canoniques. Il s'avere cependant - et dans ce qui suit nous nous efforcerons de demontrer cette these - que les idees empruntent parfois des chemins «souterrains», invisibles. En l'occurrence, le Moyen Âge ne disposait d'aucun ouvrage stoicien et n'avait du stoicisme qu'une connaissance tres fragmentaire, notamment par le biais de citations et de rapports doxographiques; et pourtant, on peut discerner dans la pensee juive medievale certaines idees, ayant trait notamment a l'existence d'un Air (pneuma) subtil originel par le biais duquel s'effectue l'immanence divine dans le monde, dont nous suggererons qu'elles sont l'aboutissement d'une tradition de pensee stoicienne. Nous nous attarderons ici surtout sur le Sefer ha-Maskil (« le Livre du sage »), un ouvrage d'orientation mystique, ecrit en 1294 a Troyes, et qui assimile Dieu a l'Air originel dont le monde tout entier est issu; il presente ainsi des parentes frappantes avec la pensee stoicienne.
Molecular basis of IIq23 rearrangements in hematopoietic malignant proliferations

Chromosomal abnormalities of the 11q23 band occur frequently in various hematopoietic malignant disorders. Because numerous partner chromosomes have been previously described, it is now important to determine the number of genes involved at 11q23 and to clarify the role of the partner genes. Recent efforts in several laboratories have identified a trithorax‐related gene that is involved in most of the 11q23 abnormalities. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent data concerning these 11q23 rearrangements and the understanding of their consequences.
DG Impact on Investment Deferral: Network Planning and Security of Supply

Despite the technical challenges in properly accommodating distributed generation (DG), one of the major and well-recognized benefits is the ability of DG to defer future demand-related network investment. It is, however, often poorly represented in existing planning approaches and analysis ignores the potential security of supply benefits. Here, a novel, more integrated, approach is presented wherein reinforcements required by system security standards (e.g., N - 1) are also taken into account. The DG contributions to system security provided by U.K. Engineering Recommendation P2/6 are adopted, enabling the methodology to quantify the deferment produced by DG considering both demand growth- and system security-related investment. The methodology employs the successive elimination algorithm together with multistage planning and is applied to a generic, meshed, U.K. distribution network. Results show that, despite differences between technology types, significant economic benefits can be harnessed when strategically incorporating DG at the planning stage.
Percepção do Adulto-Jovem sobre o Envelhecer

Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a percepcao de adultos-jovens sobre o envelhecer. A pesquisa foi do tipo descritiva com abordagem qualitativa e procedimento de pesquisa de campo com discentes de uma instituicao de nivel superior no municipio de Vitoria da Conquista-BA. A analise dos dados foi atraves da tecnica da Analise de Conteudo, que consiste em um conjunto de tecnicas de julgamento das comunicacoes que utiliza procedimentos sistematicos e objetivos de descricao de conteudo. A maioria dos entrevistados definiu o envelhecimento abordando principalmente os aspectos biologicos e cronologicos. Entender o processo de envelhecimento e a percepcao de cada um sobre esse assunto e importante, e o quanto mais cedo possivel, melhor, nao somente para ampliar os conhecimentos dos processos degenerativos associados a idade, mas tambem para desenvolver estrategias que amenizem os efeitos fisicos e mentais decorrente da passagem dos anos.
Stability and Ear Advantage for Dichotically Presented Environmental Sound Stimuli: Development during Early Childhood

55 right-handed children with no family history of left-handedness received two dichotic presentations of environmental sounds. The mean test-retest interval was 9 days. Raw accuracy scores yielded acceptable temporal stability (rs>.72). The expected consistent left-ear advantage for environmental sound stimuli was only evident in younger and less mature children. Five- and 6-yr. -old children, particularly those with strong right-hand preferences, had a right-ear advantage for the stimuli. Their computed laterality coefficients showed low and nonsignificant test-retest reliabilities, however. Three- and 4-yr. -old children, particularly those with weak hand preferences, had a left-ear advantage for the same stimuli. Of the 3- and 4-yr. -old children who did not have strong right-hand preferences, 92% demonstrated consistent ear advantages across testing sessions and their laterality coefficient test-retest correlations were significant. In contrast, only 47% of the strongly right-handed 3- and 4-yr. -old children and 71% of the strongly right-handed 5- and 6-yr. -old children had consistent ear advantages for the same stimuli. It is suggested that the 3- and 4-yr. -old children processed these stimuli according to endogenous, stimulus-specific brain mechanisms and that learned processing strategies overrode these mechanisms for the 5-and 6-yr. -old children.
A distanced machinery controlling and monitoring guardian

Every machine has a safe range of operation which includes heat emission, produced sound and vibration which an expert technician can troubleshoot most of the problems just by observing the behavior (sound, vibration, smoke, heat emission etc.) of a machine. But the complex machine operation has a hazardous environment which eventually may cause permanent health damage. Depending upon the machine's purpose burns, electric shocks and limb amputations are also possible. In case of a machine has not been maintained properly, it may malfunction and cause injury to either the operator or other personnel on the ground or in the vicinity. To reduce these problems we are developing a special type of “monitoring system” which will allow us to supervise the condition of machine in real time from a safe distance thoroughly with a full control over it.
The Effect of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockade on an End-Stage Renal Failure Model of Type 2 Diabetes

The effect of olmesartan medoxomil (OLM), an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), on advanced nephropathy and mortality was evaluated in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats, a type 2 diabetes model. OLM was administered from 36 weeks of age, when the animals developed advanced proteinuria. OLM effectively suppressed the progression of proteinuria. The ZDF rats started to die at 50 weeks of age, which was accompanied by abrupt increase in blood urea nitrogen, suggesting that the cause of death was renal insufficiency. OLM suppressed increases in blood urea nitrogen and increased the survival rate of the ZDF rats. The histological examination revealed that the renal damage was ameliorated by OLM. The macrophage infiltration and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression was increased in the glomeruli and tubulointerstitium of the ZDF rat kidneys, and the increase was lessened by OLM. In a separate study, albumin increased MCP-1 release from cultured tubular epithelial cells. These results suggest that protein leakage from the glomeruli stimulates MCP-1 production in tubular cells and that MCP-1 released into the interstitial space induces macrophage infiltration and inflammation. It is conceivable that the beneficial actions of ARB on diabetic nephropathy are, at least in part, due to decrease of proteinuria and the subsequent reduction of inflammatory changes in tubular cells.
Inflammatory processes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Neuroinflammation is a characteristic of pathologically affected tissue in several neurodegenerative disorders. These changes can be observed in the brainstem and spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases and in mouse models of the disease. They include an accumulation of large numbers of activated microglia and astrocytes, as well as small numbers of T cells, mostly adhering to postcapillary venules. Accompanying biochemical alterations include the appearance of numerous molecules characteristic of free‐radical attack, the occurrence of proteins associated with activation of the complement cascade, and a sharp upregulation of the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2). Anti‐inflammatory agents may have a role to play in treating ALS. COX‐2 is a particularly attractive target because of its marked increase in ALS spinal cord. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 459–470, 2002
High-rate tunable ultrasonic force regulated nanomachining lithography with an atomic force microscope

This paper describes a high-rate tunable nanomachining-based nanolithography technique using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Controlled vibration between the cantilever tip and the sample is introduced to increase the lithographical speed and controllability of the nanomachining process. In this approach, an ultrasonic z vibration of the sample and the resulting ultrasonic force from the nonlinear force–distance interaction between the sample and the cantilever tip are utilized to regulate fabrication depth. A high frequency in-plane circular vibration is introduced between the tip and the sample to control the width of the fabricated features, and to improve the speed of nanolithography. Features (e.g. slots) with dimensions spanning from tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers are fabricated in one scan. A lithography speed of tens of microns per second can be achieved, which is significantly higher than other known mechanical-modification-based nanolithography methods. The patterns, that are machined on a thin PMMA film, are transferred to silicon substrate through a reactive ion etching process, which provides a cost-effective tunable approach for the fabrication of nanostructures.
Rhmod, a Second Kindred (Craig) 1

Abstract. Three Rhmod siblings were found to have identical Rh: w1, w2, –3, –4, w5 (D↓ C↓e↓) phenotypes. All had stomatocytic hemolytic anemia. On quantitative hemagglutination studies, as well as on hand tests, all Rh antigens were not equally depressed. Rh17 (Hro, ‘not D’) and Rh29 (RH, ‘total Rh’) were both normal. Rh5 (hr“, e) was only slightly depressed. Rh25 (LW) had 50% of the expression expected in normal Rh:–1 cells. Rh1 (Rho, D), Rh13 (RhA), Rh14 (RhB), Rh15 (RhC), and Rh16 (RhD), were severely depressed. Rh2 (rh‘, C) was depressed, while Rh7 (rhi, Ce) was absent. Both Rh19 (hrS) and Rh31 (hrB) were depressed. Rh12 (rhG, G) was distinctly depressed, scoring considerably less than rGrG red cells.
Gastric cancer: ESMO clinical recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

Although the incidence of gastric cancer is decreasing, there were still 159 900 new cases in Europe in 2006, and 118 200 deaths, representing the fifth highest incidence and fourth highest cause of cancer-related death. The peak incidence is in the seventh decade, and the male:female ratio exceeds 1.5. There is marked geographic variation. Risks include male gender, cigarette smoking, Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic gastritis, Menetrier’s disease and genetic factors such as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis and Peutz Jeghers syndrome.
Avastin withdrawal symptoms

Angiogenesis is an essential requirement for the growth of solid tumors and the inhibition of the angiogenic pathway has become an important therapeutic target. Bevacizumab (Avastin , Genentech), a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), was the first antiangiogenic drug to demonstrate a survival benefit in cancer patients. Initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004 as first-line treatment for metastatic colon cancer, bevacizumab was then designated as ‘the fourth modality for cancer treatment’ [1].
Determinants of compliance with methylphenidate therapy in children

Aim: To get more insight into factors that influence compliance with the use of methylphenidate. Methods: 22 pharmacies detected children who used methylphenidate. Their parents were sent a questionnaire on the use of methylphenidate. In a case‐control study, the influence of patient‐ and drug‐related factors on compliance, as reported by parents, was determined. Results: Parents returned 117 (75%) of 157 questionnaires sent out. Of these, 47.8% of the children missed a dose two times a month or more. Forgetting to take the medication (87.9%) was the most important reason. The case‐control study showed that children of 16–18 y were more likely to miss doses. Other patient‐ and drug‐related factors did not influence the missing of doses.
Um modelo para gerenciamento de históricos de contextos fisiológicos

Com a popularizacao no mercado de consumo de wearables, ou dispositivos vestiveis, a computacao movel e ubiqua vem se tornando presente em diversas areas como educacao, comercio e entretenimento. Na area da saude estes dispositivos tem um importante papel, pois contam com sensores para captura de sinais fisiologicos, como por exemplo, medir a temperatura corporal e batimentos cardiacos do usuario. Em muitos casos nao ha qualquer padronizacao ou comunicacao entre os diferentes sistemas de cuidados ubiquos que administram os dados fisiologicos do usuario. Esse trabalho apresenta uma proposta para gerenciamento de historicos de contextos fisiologicos atraves de um modelo denominado GECONFI. O modelo suporta a coleta de dados atraves de aplicacoes que utilizam dispositivos e sensores de monitoramento, tambem define uma ontologia para o dominio de contextos fisiologicos. Esse trabalho apresenta o uso de tres aplicacoes integradas ao GECONFI que permitiram avaliar e testar os servicos disponibilizados pelo modelo. A primeira aplicacao chamada SiCuide foi aplicada com treze pacientes e um enfermeiro, que apresentaram pareceres positivos em relacao a sua utilidade para o monitoramento fisiologico dos usuarios. Os outros dois sistemas denominados FitBurn e Heart-Control foram aplicados em um cenario baseado em sensibilidade a contexto permitindo o acesso compartilhado de uma mesma trilha. Os resultados obtidos mostraram a viabilidade para que outros sistemas realizem a administracao de historicos contextuais de maneira generica atraves do modelo proposto.
Adaptive channel estimation of OFDM systems using the cyclic prefix with an RLS based algorithm in mobile channels

Channel estimation is very important in wireless mobile orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The channel estimation in slow fading and frequency-selective channels is performed using the cyclic prefix of the guard interval which is used to prevent intersymbol interference instead of using pilot sequences. By such a method, adaptive channel estimation is obtained without needing the use of pilot sequences which results in sacrificing channel efficiency. A recursive least squares (RLS) based adaptive algorithm for online channel estimation is the subject of our investigation. In order to test the algorithm, simulation studies are carried out using both the time-invariant and the Jake's channel model to perform convergence performance studies.
Cognitive Deterioration Rates in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease from Northeastern China

Background/Aims: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the cognitive deterioration rate (CDR) is heterogeneous among PD patients. However, very few studies have reported on the association of PD features and risk factors with rapid CDR. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is considered to be a sensitive and reliable approach to detect mild CI. In the present study, we sought to define and compare the cognitive profiles and clinical features of PD patients with slow or rapid CDRs, and then to identify the PD risk factors associated with rapid CDR. Methods: A cross-sectional study of cognitive rate was performed using the MoCA in a cohort of 73 PD patients and 41 controls matched for age, sex and education level. Results: The rapid CDR group was characterized by older age (58.8 years in slow CDR vs. 64.1 in rapid CDR; p = 0.02), later age at disease onset (52.7 vs. 61.7 years; p < 0.001), a faster deterioration rate of movement symptoms (UPDRS III increment of 12.8 vs. 5.9/year; p < 0.001), a higher rate in multiple-domain CI (38.9 vs. 10.8%), and generally lower MoCA subscores for the Clock Drawing Test, attention, verbal fluency and abstraction. According to the univariate logistic regression model, onset age, movement deterioration rate, multiple domains CI and executive function CI were risk factors for rapid CDR. However, only the movement deterioration rate (p = 0.01) and onset age (p = 0.05) remained independent predictors for rapid CDR according to the multivariate logistic regression model. Conclusions: The CI deterioration in a subset of PD patients appears to progress more rapidly. Identifying those PD patients may not only help to predict the development of PD dementia, but also facilitate therapeutic intervention at early disease stages.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis by acyclovir in pre‐transplant CMV‐positive renal transplant recipients

Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, either primoinfection or reactivation, remain an important problem in organ transplantation. We therefore designed a prospective study in which pre‐transplant CMV‐positive renal transplant (RT) patients were randomized to receive for 3 months starting immediately after transplantation either acyclovir or nothing. Between April 1992 and January 1993, 53 cadaveric renal transplantations were performed in our institution. The immunosuppressive regimen included anti‐thymo‐globulins (ATG), azathioprine, steroids and cyclosporine A. Patients randomized in the acyclovir arm received the drug from day 1 to day 90 (D 90) intravenously as long as the creatinine clearance was not above 10 ml/min and per os afterwards (3200 mg/day if the creatinine clearance was above 50 ml/min). CMV viraemia tests were systematically performed every 2 weeks until day 90 or when febrile episodes occurred. The patients were 53 adults who received a RT during the study period; 37 were included in the study of which 19 received acyclovir prophylaxis (group A) and 18, no prophylaxis (group B). The two groups did not significantly differ according to sex ratio, recipient's age, number of CMV‐negative donors and number of days on ATG (10.76 ± 6.16 vs. 8.28 ± 4.21 days). There were significantly fewer viraemia episodes in group A (n= 6) than in group B (n= 13, P < 0.05); nevertheless, the percentage of symptomatic CMV viraemia was the same in both groups (35% vs. 38.5%). The onset of CMV viraemia occurred in the same period in both groups (39 ± 13.8 days vs. 34.3 ± 15 days; P = NS). The number of rejection episodes in the study period was the same in both groups (8 in each). We conclude from this prospective study that post‐RT acyclovir prophyfaxis reduces significantly the number of CMV viraemia episodes but does not delay their onset. Furthermore, it has no effect upon the percentage of symptomatic viraemias.
Adaptive control of nonlinear uncertain systems using neural network

The robust neural adaptive control scheme is developed for a class of nonlinear MIMO uncertain systems. Two types of uncertainties are considered: parametric uncertainty and unknown nonlinearities. In the control procedure, neural networks are implemented to estimate the uncertain system owing to parametric uncertainty and robust compensating controllers are designed in H∞ sense for attenuating the unmatched nonlinearities, in which no property of uncertainties is assumed and needed for design, only its possible bound which may not unique, is used for analytical purposes. And also relaxes some of restrictive assumptions that are usually made in neural adaptive control schemes, one such assumption is the requirement of a known bound on the network reconstruction error. It is shown that the proposed control is continuous, guarantees global stability and the H∞ performance index. Extensive simulations on the tracking control of a two-link rigid robotic manipulator verify the effectiveness of the design methodology and controller.