Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis B Virus Infection in United States Children

Before the era of routine hepatitis B vaccination, an estimated 24,000 children acquired hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection each year in the United States. Childhood hepatitis B immunization has led to significant declines in the incidence and prevalence of HBV infection in U.S. children. Because the greatest burden of hepatitis B is caused by complications of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in adults who were infected with HBV as children, most of the benefits of vaccination have yet to be realized. Reaching the goal of eliminating HBV transmission to children likely will require increasing vaccination coverage, ensuring timely administration of postexposure immunoprophylaxis to prevent more perinatal infections, and continued evaluation of the impact of immunization recommendations.
A new role for Rrm3 in repair of replication-born DNA breakage by sister chromatid recombination

Replication forks stall at different DNA obstacles such as those originated by transcription. Fork stalling can lead to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that will be preferentially repaired by homologous recombination when the sister chromatid is available. The Rrm3 helicase is a replisome component that promotes replication upon fork stalling, accumulates at highly transcribed regions and prevents not only transcription-induced replication fork stalling but also transcription-associated hyper-recombination. This led us to explore the possible role of Rrm3 in the repair of DSBs when originating at the passage of the replication fork. Using a mini-HO system that induces mainly single-stranded DNA breaks, we show that rrm3Δ cells are defective in DSB repair. The defect is clearly seen in sister chromatid recombination, the major repair pathway of replication-born DSBs. Our results indicate that Rrm3 recruitment to replication-born DSBs is crucial for viability, uncovering a new role for Rrm3 in the repair of broken replication forks.
A Flexible GPS-Based System for Synchronized Phasor Measurement in Electric Distribution Networks

Large-scale distributed measurement systems are the object of several applications and research. The goal of this paper is to develop, by employing global positioning system (GPS) receivers, measurement techniques that are suited to the continuous monitoring of the electrical quantities in distribution networks in terms of synchronized phasors. The proposed measurement procedures, differently from commercially available phasor measurement units, are based on general-purpose acquisition hardware and processing software, thus guaranteeing the possibility of being easily reconfigured and reprogrammed according to the specific requirements of different possible fields of application and to their future developments.
Responses of Hyalella azteca and Ceridaphnia dubia to reservoir sediments following Chelated Copper Herbicide Applications

In response to nuisance growths of algae and vascular plants, such as dioecious hydrilla ( Hydrilla verticillata L.f. Royle), copper formulations have been applied in lakes and reservoirs for a number of years. Concerns have arisen regarding the long-term consequences of copper applications and those concerns have appropriately focused on sediment residues. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of sediments from treated (for a decade) and untreated areas in Lake Murray, South Carolina and estimated the capacity of those sediments to bind additional copper. Two sentinel aquatic invertebrates, Hyalella azteca Saussure and Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard, were used to measure residual toxicity of treated and untreated sediments from the field and after laboratory amendments. The copper concentrations in sediments were not significantly different for the treated and the untreated areas in Lake Murray and no toxicity was observed with either experimental organism or for sediments from either site. Based on the copper binding capacity of the collected Lake Murray sediments, the sediment copper concentration would have to increase eleven fold (from 16.3 to 180 mg Cu/ kg) before adverse effects are observed if no new binding sites accrue. Measures of sediment copper concentrations coupled with toxicity testing using sensitive sentinel invertebrates provide evidence of a lack of bioavailable copper due to excess sediment binding capacity for copper at these sites.
Quercetin sensitizes human hepatoma cells to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis via Sp1‐mediated DR5 up‐regulation and proteasome‐mediated c‐FLIPS down‐regulation

This study demonstrates that combined treatment with subtoxic doses of quercetin (3′,3′,4′,5,7‐pentahydroxyflavone), a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables, plus tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces rapid apoptosis in TRAIL‐resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Effective induction of apoptosis by the combined treatment with quercetin and TRAIL was not blocked by overexpression of Bcl‐xL, which is known to confer resistance to various chemotherapeutic agents. These results suggest that this combined treatment may provide an attractive strategy for treating resistant HCCs. While the proteolytic processing of procaspase‐3 by TRAIL was partially blocked in various HCC cells treated with TRAIL alone, co‐treatment with quercetin efficiently recovered TRAIL‐induced caspase activation. We found that quercetin treatment of HCC cells significantly up‐regulated the mRNA and protein levels of DR5, a death receptor of TRAIL, in a transcription factor Sp1‐dependent manner. Furthermore, treatment with quercetin significantly decreased the protein levels of c‐FLIP, an inhibitor of caspase‐8, through proteasome‐mediated degradation. Finally, administration of small interfering RNA against DR5 or overexpression of c‐FLIPS, but not c‐FLIPL, significantly attenuated quercetin‐stimulated TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Collectively, these findings show that quercetin recovers TRAIL sensitivity in various HCC cells via up‐regulation of DR5 and down‐regulation of c‐FLIPS. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1386–1398, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low liver stiffness among cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B after prolonged treatment with nucleoside analogs

Abstract Objective. Case reports and short-term clinical trials have suggested that treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) may lead to improvement of cirrhosis. The aim of the present study was to measure liver stiffness in patients diagnosed with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis prior to prolonged treatment with nucleoside or nucleotide analogs (NUCs) for CHB. Materials and methods. Patients with CHB and advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis prior to treatment with NUCs for at least 1 year were offered inclusion in the study. We measured liver stiffness using transient elastography (TE) at follow-up. TE cut-off levels to Metavir classification for fibrosis stage F2, F3 and F4 were ≥7.2 kPa, ≥8.1, and ≥11.0 kPa, respectively. Results. Among 66 patients with a successful TE examination at follow-up, 53 patients (80%) had cirrhosis and 13 had (20%) advanced fibrosis (F3) prior to treatment. Median treatment duration was 50.5 months. Among patients with cirrhosis prior to treatment, 26 (49%) had liver stiffness below 11.0 kPa at follow-up, suggesting regression of cirrhosis. Among patients with advanced fibrosis (F3) prior to treatment, 10 (77%) had liver stiffness below 8.1 kPa after treatment, suggesting improvement of fibrosis. Conclusion. Transient elastography examinations demonstrate that prolonged treatment with NUCs in patients with CHB results in low liver stiffness, suggesting regression of fibrosis in a majority of patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Targets and Laminar Distribution of Projection Neurons with ‘Inverted’ Morphology in Rabbit Cortex

This study examines the axonal projections of so‐called inverted pyramids and other neurons with their major dendritic shaft oriented in the direction of the white matter (‘inverted cells’) in the adult rabbit cortex. Single injections of horseradish peroxidase wheat germ agglutinin were made into cortical or subcortical sites. The resulting retrograde labelling in the cortex was analysed and the distribution across areas and layers of inverted cells contributing to each of these projections was estimated. In addition, the radial distribution of inverted cells was independently determined from rapid Golgi‐impregnated and Nissl‐stained material. All three procedures revealed that inverted cells lay overwhelmingly in infragranular layers, but congregated at the border between layers 5 and 6. Inverted cells, identified by retrograde labelling, seldom furnished non‐telencephalic centres; in contrast, these cells constituted a major source for the projections to the ipsi‐ or the contralateral cortex, the claustrum or the nucleus caudatus. In general, each set of inverted cells (when defined by its specific destination as a group) was located below the typically oriented cells whose axons were aimed at the same target. Thus, the inverted cells of the rabbit cortex are characterized not only by their unique morphology and their corticocortical, corticoclaustral and corticostriatal projections, but also by their distinctive radial locations. These findings suggest that inverted cells, even though possibly composed of different cell types, are a specific class of projection neurons.
Heuristic scheduling algorithm for flexible manufacturing systems with partially overlapping machine capabilities

This paper presents a new heuristic scheduling algorithm for flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) with partially overlapping machine capabilities. Unlike traditional 'routing then sequencing' methods, the algorithm solves routing and sequencing sub-problems of FMS scheduling simultaneously by combining several dispatching rules. The primary objective is to take advantage of the system flexibility provided by partially overlapping machine capabilities and various processing speeds associated with different machines in FMS. Simulation results show that for the class of FMS scheduling problems modeled in this paper, the algorithm generate valid schedules and improve solution quality at an average of 30% compared to a variation of the longest processing time first (LPT) rule.
Association of physical activity and human sleep disorders.

BACKGROUND It is generally believed that exercise exerts a beneficial effect on the quality of sleep. However, most studies regarding exercise and sleep have been concerned with the influence of exercise on sleep architecture and efficiency, and not on its effects in the prevention and treatment of sleep disorders. Moreover, epidemiological evidence of the benefits of exercise on sleep are limited. OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of moderate exercise or physical activity on self-reported sleep disorders among a randomly selected population of adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Study subjects were participants in the Tucson Epidemiological Study of Obstructive Airways Disease who in the 12th survey completed health questionnaires that included several questions on physical exercise and sleep disorders. Sleep disorders were classified as disorders in maintaining sleep, excessive daily sleepiness, nightmares, and any sleep disorder. Six questions regarding exercise and physical activity were asked. Analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression models with selected measures of sleep disorders as dependent variables and measures of exercise and physical activity as the independent or predictor variables. RESULTS There were 319 men and 403 women included in the analyses. The results showed that more women than men reported participating in a regular exercise program and having sleep symptoms of disorders in maintaining sleep and nightmares and that more men than women did regular vigorous activity and walking at a brisk pace for more than 6 blocks per day. Both men and women had significantly reduced risk of disorders in maintaining sleep associated with regular activity at least once a week, participating regularly in an exercise program, and walking at a normal pace for more than 6 blocks per day. Reduced risk of any sleep disorder was associated with regular activity at least once a week, and for men, walking at a brisk pace for more than 6 blocks. Among women increases in age also reduced the risk of nightmares. CONCLUSIONS These data provide additional evidence that a program of regular exercise may be a useful therapeutic modality in the treatment of patients with sleep disorders.
A summary of TCP/IP networking software performance for the DECstation 5000

Network software speed is not increasing as rapidly as that of work-station CPUs. The goal of this study is to determine how various components of network software contribute to this bottleneck. In this extended abstract, we summarize the performance of TCPIP and UDPIP networking software for the DECstation 5000/200 workstations connected by an FDDI LAN.
Can we detect non-functional overreaching in young elite soccer players and middle-long distance runners using field performance tests?

Objective To study whether field performance tests can make a valid distinction between non-functionally overreaching (NFO) athletes and control athletes. Design Monthly field performance tests were used to determine a performance decrement (PD) throughout a season. Athletes with a minimum of 1 month PD were compared with control athletes without a PD on mood characteristics and resting levels of stress hormones. Setting Sporting field and sports medical laboratory. Participants 129 young elite athletes, 77 soccer players and 52 middle-long distance runners were followed prospectively during the 2006–2007 season. Fifteen of them were invited to the laboratory. Eight athletes showed a performance decrease lasting longer than 1 month, and seven athletes without a performance decrease acted as their controls. Main outcome measures Performance changes over time were measured using field tests. Profile of Mood States and resting levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in blood were measured in the laboratory. Results PD athletes showed several symptoms typical of the non-functional state of overreaching (OR). The PD group scored higher on depression and anger than controls. They also showed a specific pattern of correlations between negative mood subscales (tension, fatigue and depression), which was absent in controls. ACTH levels at rest were similar, but lower cortisol levels in PD athletes pointed at a blunted cortisol response. Cortisol levels were decoupled from ACTH levels only in PD athletes. Conclusions Implementing performance-related criteria in field tests can help coaches and sports physicians to distinguish NFO athletes from athletes with balanced workload and recovery.
The effect of fasting and insulin treatment on carnitine palmitoyl transferase I and mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase mRNA levels in liver from suckling rats.

Hepatic ketogenesis in adult rats is controlled by two systems: i] entry of fatty acyl-CoA into mitochondria, catalyzed by carnitine palmito 1 transferase [CPT] I and 11; and ii] enzymatic activity o? mitochondrial 3-hydroxy3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] synthase. Carnitine palmito 1 transferase [CPT] I , is a distinct rotein from C d I I . The cDNAs for both genes have gee, characterized [1,2]. Once inside the mitochondria, ac 1 CoA undergoes p-oxidation to yield acet 1 CoA wf%h may then completely oxidized in the tricariox lic acid cycle, or be used for ketone body synthesis. The channelin of acetyl-CoA into acetoacetate is conducted via the H h G C o A c cle, which in turn is controlled at the transcri tional revel by mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase [3,47. p-Oxidation and ketogenesis are absent or very low in the foetal liver, but these metabolic pathways emerge after birth, and so plasma ketone body concentration is ver low in foetus, but increases markedly after birth [5,6y. In the suckling rat, physiological hyperketonemia appears owing to the stimulation of fatty acid oxidation and ketone body synthesis in the liver. Other tissues such as intestine can contribute to the ketone body level in the suckling Period [7]. This process is accompanied by the increase in CPT I [8,9] and HMG-CoA synthase mRNA levels [5]. We have previously shown that there is coordinate liver expression of both CPT I and mitochondrial HMGCoA synthase genes throu hout the suckling period [9]. The pattern of mRNA lev& is quite similar, increasing sharply after the first lactation, reaching a plateau on da 3 and decreasing smoothl until weamng in which bot i CPT I and mitochondria[ HMG-CoA synthase mRNA levels remain at about 25% of the maximal value. attern of expression of both genes is dependent of cLanges in glucagon and insulin, we have carried out several experiments with 12 da -old suckling rats. We determined the levels of CPT l a n d mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase mRNA levels in two conditions leading to chan es in plasma ketone body concentrations. Starvation (22 h) as shown in Fig 1 increased mRNA levels for CPT I 13-fold, while the increase for HMG-CoA synthase was only 20%. U on milk-refeeding of the 24 h starved rats, the m k A levels of CPT I decreased ra idly with time, so that at 8 h the level was 25% that orthe starved rats. A re-bound of the mRNA levels was observed at 24 hours. Mitochondria1 HMG-CoA synthase changed minimally throughout the whole experiment. To cietermine whether the
Topical fluorouracil for actinic keratoses and photoaging: a clinical and molecular analysis.

OBJECTIVE To examine clinical and molecular changes after topical fluorouracil treatment of photodamaged human facial skin for actinic keratoses. DESIGN Nonrandomized, open-label 2-week treatment with fluorouracil cream, 5%, followed by clinical and molecular evaluation. SETTING Academic referral center. PATIENTS Twenty-one healthy volunteers, 56 to 85 years old, with actinic keratoses and photodamage. Interventions Twice-daily application of fluorouracil cream for 2 weeks and biopsies and clinical evaluation at baseline and periodically after treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Gene and protein expression of molecular effectors of epidermal injury, inflammation, and extracellular matrix remodeling 24 hours after fluorouracil treatment; clinical improvement measured by evaluators, photography, and patient questionnaires. RESULTS One day after the final fluorouracil treatment, gene expression of the effectors of epidermal injury (keratin 16), inflammation (interleukin 1beta), and extracellular matrix degradation (matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3) was significantly increased. Types I and III procollagen messenger RNA were induced at week 4 (7-fold and 3-fold, respectively). Type I procollagen protein levels were increased 2-fold at week 24. Actinic keratoses and photoaging were statistically significantly improved. Most patients rated photoaging as improved and were willing to undergo the therapy again. CONCLUSIONS Topical fluorouracil causes epidermal injury, which stimulates wound healing and dermal remodeling resulting in improved appearance. The mechanism of topical fluorouracil in photoaged skin follows a predictable wound healing pattern of events reminiscent of that seen with laser treatment of photoaging.
Distribution of growth hormone‐releasing hormone‐like peptide: Immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The distribution of growth hormone‐releasing hormone‐like peptides (GHRH‐LP) in the central nervous system of the zebrafish was investigated by using immunohistochemical techniques with polyclonal antibodies. ELISAs showed that the antiserum raised against salmon (s)GHRH‐LP recognized both zebrafish GHRH‐LP1 and ‐2, whereas the antiserum raised against carp (c)GHRH‐LP was more sensitive but detected only zebrafish GHRH‐LP1. Neither antiserum detected the true GHRH. Large cells in the nucleus lateralis tuberis were immunoreactive with both antisera, which suggests that they contained zebrafish GHRH‐LP1, but not excluding GHRH‐LP2. Also, immunoreactive fibers, which putatively originated from these hypothalamic neurons, were present in the hypophysis; both antisera detected fibers, although only sGHRH‐LP antiserum stained fibers in the neurointermediate lobe. These fibers may have a neuroendocrine role. Candidates for a role in feeding include several areas in which both antisera labeled cells and fibers, implying a strong reaction for GHRH‐LP1 and possibly GHRH‐LP2. These areas include the isthmus with cells in the secondary gustatory/visceral nucleus, which were also calretinin immunoreactive. Numerous GHRH‐LP‐immunoreactive fibers (also labeled by both antisera) probably originate from the gustatory/visceral nucleus to innervate the ventral area of the telencephalon, preglomerular nuclei, torus lateralis and hypothalamic diffuse nucleus, habenula, torus semicircularis, and dorsolateral funiculus of the spinal cord. Present results in the zebrafish brain suggest involvement of GHRH‐LP in both neuroendocrine and feeding‐associated nervous circuits. The present data on the location of the two GHRH‐LPs are the first clue to the possible functions of these two hormones. J. Comp. Neurol. 513:685–701, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of marital and sexual interactions of Polish infertile couples.

INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization defines infertility as inability to conceive despite regular sexual intercourse sustained for a period exceeding 12 months with no contraceptive methods. AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of infertility on marital and sexual interactions among infertile couples. METHODS Two hundred six infertile couples were qualified to the study as the research group. The control group consisted of 190 fertile couples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES A specific questionnaire was used as a research tool in this study. It included the sociodemographic part, infertility status, and validated scales: Polish version of Index of Marital Satisfaction and Index of Sexual Satisfaction. Statistica 6.0 (Medical University of Silesia; Katowice, Poland) was used in the statistical analysis. The statistical analysis made use of: Mann-Whitney U-test, chi-square with Yates' continuity correction, ancova log-linear analysis of covariance, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The study showed a significantly better partner relationship in female infertile as compared with female fertile. Clinically significant disorders of partnership stability were observed in 11.65% of studied women and in 20% of controls. Marital adjustment and sexual satisfaction were comparable among male groups. The probability of marital disorders increased with: age above 30 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.6), female sex (OR = 1.5), and lower education (OR = 1.7) among the study population. Diagnosed male factor and infertility duration of 3-6 years were connected with the highest relationship instability and the lowest sexual satisfaction both in female and male infertile. CONCLUSIONS The risk factors of marital dissatisfaction in infertility include: female sex, age over 30, lower education level, diagnosis of male infertility, and infertility duration of 3-6 years.