Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Preassay and Sequence Variations on Viral Load Determination by a Multiplex Real‐Time Reverse Transcriptase‐Polymerase Chain Reaction for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Summary: Determination of retroviral load is an important tool in the investigation of the success of therapeutic or vaccination trials in patients infected with lentiviruses such as HIV, or with their simian (SIV) or feline (FIV) counterparts. We have developed an one‐tube quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay based on the ABI Prism 7700 Sequence Detection System (TaqMan) to quantify the viral load of FIV‐infected cats. Two different primer/probe systems were designed to detect a broad range of clade A FIV isolates. Both systems are characterized by excellent reproducibility, high sensitivity, and a wide range of quantification. As a consequence of this improved precision in the quantitative RT‐PCR, preassay variations have greater impact on the accuracy of the viral load estimation. To compensate for these variations, we improved the assay and developed a multiplex real‐time RT‐PCR, which allows simultaneous calculation of the viral copy number and the individual recovery rate in an one‐tube reaction. This enables the rapid and accurate calculation of copy number independent of preassay variations. In further studies, two additional real‐time RT‐PCR assays were designed and used to investigate the influence of sequence variations in the binding regions for either the primers or probe. Sequence mismatches in this region had a significant effect (up to 4 logarithmic decades) on reaction efficiency. In view of the inherent variability of retroviral sequences, these results underline the necessity to check reaction efficiencies before determining viral load.
An Adaptive Localization Method for Autonomous Digging Robot

Digging robot is a kind of autonomous robot, which can move in mud according to the prearranged trajectory. Owing to the bad environment in the mud, the location system is pivotal for digging robot. By the working principle of digging robot, its location system with relative location is designed. The location error of relative location is accumulated with the increase of move distance, so the total error of location system is increased. LMS adaptive algorithm is a data processing algorithm with low quantity of calculation. Therefore LMS adaptive filter is applied to process the location information to improve the accuracy of location system. The adaptive algorithm of location system is simulated in the computer. The simulation result shows that LMS adaptive algorithm can improve the accuracy of location system effectively.
Non-carcinogenic effects of TCDD in animals

Exposure to TCDD and related chemicals leads to a plethora of effects in multiple species, tissues, and stages of development. Responses range from relatively simple biochemical alterations through overtly toxic responses, including lethality. The spectrum of effects shows some species variability, but many effects are seen in multiple wildlife, domestic, and laboratory species, ranging from fish through birds and mammals. The same responses can be generated regardless of the route of exposure, although the administered dose may vary. The body burden appears to be the most appropriate dosimetric. Many of the effects often attributed to TCDD are associated with relatively high doses: lethality, wasting, lymphoid and gonadal atrophy, chloracne, hepatotoxicity, adult neurotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity. Changes in multiple endocrine and growth factor sytems have been reported in a manner which is tissue, sex, and age-dependent. The most sensitive adverse effects observed in multiple species appear to be developmental, including effects on the developing immune, nervous, and reproductive systems. Such effects have been observed at maternal body burdens in the range of 30–80 ng/kg in both non-human primates and rodents. Biochemical effects on cytokine expression and metabolizing enzymes occur at body burdens which are within a factor of ten of the clearly adverse developmental responses. Thus, effects on the immune system, learning, and the developing reproductive system of multiple animals occur at body burdens which are close to those present in the background human population.
Bauhinia Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors: structural characteristics and biological properties

Abstract Plant proteinase inhibitors are involved in the regulation of the activity of many proteinases and, in consequence, in biological processes driven by proteolysis. In this review, we summarize recent results on the activity of native Bauhinia inhibitors and synthetic derivatives. Structural and functional characteristics and the potential therapeutic use of these inhibitors are also discussed.
Video games in therapy: a therapist's perspective

This paper describes a user and task analysis, complemented with participatory design sessions, conducted to examine the role of therapists in the use of video games in therapy. The results show that video games were used often, but improvements could be made to make them more effective for the therapist. From these results, design recommendations for video games were derived. Recommendations include that a therapeutic video game should be easy to start–up and configure, yet support calibration and adaptation for a wide variety of impairments, should allow the therapist to support a patient during play and should support the therapist in tracking a patient's performance and reporting on his performance.
Transformation of NIH 3T3 cells by cotransfection with c-src and nuclear oncogenes

pp60c-src, the cellular homolog of the Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein, does not completely transform cells even when present at high levels, but has been shown to be involved in polyomavirus-induced transformation when activated by polyomavirus middle T (pmt)-antigen binding. Here we show that cotransfection, but not solo transfection, of expression plasmids for c-src and either adenovirus E1A, v-myc, c-myc, or the 5' half of polyomavirus large T (pltN) antigen into NIH 3T3 cells induces anchorage-independent growth, enhanced focus formation, and, for pltN cotransfection, tumorigenicity in adult NFS mice. Enhancement of transformation was not observed with polyomavirus small t (pst) antigen. Cotransfection of c-src with pltN induced modification of pp60c-src that altered its electrophoretic mobility and in vivo phosphorylation state and stimulated its in vitro kinase activity. Similar alterations were not seen after c-src-E1A cotransfection, suggesting that at least two different mechanisms of enhancement are involved.
Global change observation mission (GCOM)

ADEOS II was launched on Dec. 2002. However, after about 10 months operation, it has lost most of its power due to the solar paddle failure. As a follow on of ADEOS II mission, JAXA is now planning GCOM mission which is composed of a series of satellites. They are now called GCOM-W and GCOM-C satellites. Both satellites are composed of 3 satellites with 5 year lifetime. Hence, 13 years of continuous observation can be assured with 1 year overlaps. The first satellite of GCOM-W will be launched in fiscal 2011 while the first one of GCOM-C will be launched in fiscal 2013. GCOM-W will carry AMSR F/O (tentatively called as AMSR2). AMSR2 will be very similar to AMSR on ADEOS II and AMSR-E on EOS-Aqua with some modifications. The orbit of GCOM-W is 700km altitude and 13:30 ascending node time (TBD) to continue the AMSR-E observation. GCOM-C will carry GLI F/O (tentatively called as SGLI). The SGLI will be rather different from GLI. The main targets of SGLI are atmospheric aerosols, coastal zone and land. In order to measure aerosols over both ocean and land, it will have a near ultra violet channel, as well as polarization and bi-directional observation capability. For, coastal zone and land observation, the IFOV of SGLI for these targets will be around 250m. The instrument will be composed of several components. The shorter wavelength region will adopt push broom scanners, while long wave region will use a conventional whisk broom scanner. The orbit of GCOM-C is the same as that of ADEOS II, i.e. around 800km altitude, and 10:30 descending node time.
Chapter 18 Entropy Stable Schemes

We review the topic of entropy stability of discrete schemes, finite-difference and finite-volume schemes, for the approximate solution of nonlinear systems of conservation laws. The question of entropy stability plays an important role in both, the theory and computation of such systems, which is reflected by the extensive literature on this topic. Here we focus on a several key ingredients in the study of entropy stable schemes. Our main theme is the investigation of entropy stability using a comparison principle. Thus for example, the entropy stability of scalar monotone schemes follows from a comparison with constant solutions, and the more general E-schemes are stable Handbook of Numerical Analysis, Vol. 17. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/bs.hna. 2016.09. 006 © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 467 by a comparison with Godunov solvers. For system of conservation laws, entropy stability is investigated by comparing the amount of their numerical viscosity with that of certain entropy conservative fluxes. These ingredients are explored in the context of firstand second-order schemes and lend themselves to higher-order methods and multidimensional schemes on unstructured grids. AMS Classification Codes: 65M12, 35L65, 65M06, 35R06
A Chart Review of Acute Care Inter-Hospital Transfers from Rural WV Hospitals

Objective To document the characteristics of acute care patient transfers from rural West Virginia hospitals. Data Sources/Study Setting Hospital patient charts in rural West Virginia hospitals Design We examined 40 acute care patient transfers from rural West Virginia hospitals for patients’ age, gender, race and primary health insurance, the diagnosis and desired specialty service. We compared patients who were not transferred. For each transfer we collected data on the reason for transfer, the availability of beds of the appropriate acuity level as well as the availability of the relevant specialty at the time of transfer.
Smoothness testing of polynomials over finite fields

We present an analysis of Bernstein's batch integer smoothness test when applied to the case of polynomials over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q. $ We compare the performance of our algorithm with the standard method based on distinct degree factorization from both an analytical and a practical point of view. Our results show that although the batch test is asymptotically better as a function of the degree of the polynomials to test for smoothness, it is unlikely to offer significant practical improvements for cases of practical interest.
Estrogen Therapy for Postmenopausal Symptoms and Prevention of Osteoporosis

Menopausal symptoms are noted as estrogen deficiency affects target tissues during the climacteric and after menopause. With estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), clinical signs, such as vasomotor symptoms and genitourinary atrophy, abate. Estrogen replacement therapy protects against the development of osteoporosis and is used in its treatment. In addition, ERT has a positive effect on serum lipids and appears to he protective against coronary heart disease. More than 75% of all women experience troublesome vasomotor symptoms during the climacteric years, and osteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. In the United States, the current annual cost of treating patients with osteoporosis is $10 billion dollars. With the aging of the baby boom generation, it is estimated that osteoporosis‐associated costs may double in the next 30 years if interventions are not undertaken to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis. It is therefore important for pharmacists and other health care practitioners to educate women about ERT after menopause to reduce the risks of vasomotor symptoms, osteoporosis, and other problems. The incidence, etiology, symptoms, and therapeutic measures used to reduce vasomotor symptoms are discussed, and updates on pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis, with an emphasis on ERT, are reviewed.
In vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant and antiviral effects of Pterocaulon alopecuroides and Bidens segetum extracts

Pterocaulon alopecuroides (Lamark) De Candolle e Bidens segetum Mart. ex Colla sao duas especies pertencentes a familia Asteraceae. Os extratos dessas duas especies foram avaliados quanto as suas atividades citotoxica, antioxidante e antiviral. Todos os extratos analisados apresentaram citotoxidade muito alta contra linhagens de celulas RBL-2H3. O ensaio de atividade antioxidante demonstrou uma alta atividade das fracoes em acetato de etila de B. segetum e P. alopecuroides. Isso pode ser parcialmente explicado pelo alto conteudo de cumarinas, ao menos para P. alopecuroides. Nenhum dos extratos etanolicos totais de B. segetum mostraram atividade significativa contra o virus Herpes simplex (Tipos 1 e 2 resistentes ao aciclovir). O extrato etanolico de P. alopecuroides tambem foi inativo contra o virus Herpes simplex tipo 1 resistente ao aciclovir. Entretanto, este extrato apresentou atividade inibitoria contra o virus Herpes simplex tipo 2 resistente ao aciclovir. Do extrato etanolico bruto de P. alopecuroides foi possivel isolar a 7-(2',3'-dihidroxi-3'-metilbutiloxi)-6-metoxicumarina, a qual foi testada nas mesmas condicoes, demonstrando um indice de inibicao viral quase duas vezes maior do que o da amostra de P. alopecuroides para HSV-2-ACVr. A cumarina tabem foi ativa contra HSV-1-ACVr. Esses resultados evidenciam a importância de Pterocaulon alopecuroides e Bidens segetum como plantas medicinais.
The “cratic correction” and related fallacies

The “cratic correction” for removing the contribution of translational motion from standard free energies and entropies of chemical reactions is examined. Although removal of translational effects is useful in interpreting free energy and entropy changes in molecular terms, this particular correction does not do so. No basis for it is found in thermodynamics or statistical mechanics. The appropriate correction for center‐of‐mass translational motion is derived from classical statistical mechanics. However, the importance of recognizing the proper molecular meaning of the remaining free energy is stressed. In any case, this latter correction, however legitimate, is shown to be futile, since it has long been recognized from classical statistical mechanics that all terms involving momenta (thermal wavelength terms) —be they classified as translational, rotational, vibrational, or whatever—necessarily cancel out informing the standard free energy change of any chemical reaction from the constituent standard chemical potentials. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Are There Race/Ethnicity Differences in Outpatient Congestive Heart Failure Management, Hospital Use, and Mortality Among an Insured Population?

Objective:The objective of this study was to assess the quality of outpatient care received by patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and whether differences in care and outcomes exist by race/ethnicity. Background:Appropriate outpatient CHF management can improve patient well-being and reduce the need for costly inpatient care. Yet, little is known regarding outpatient CHF management or whether differences in this care exist by race/ethnicity. Methods:Using automated data sources, we identified a cohort of insured patients seen in an outpatient setting for CHF between September 1992 and August 1993. Medical record abstraction was used to confirm diagnosis of CHF. Patients (N = 566) were followed until September 1998. Race/ethnicity differences in outpatient management and medical care utilization were assessed using generalized estimating equations. Differences in mortality and hospitalization for CHF, controlling for patient characteristics and outpatient management, were assessed using Cox and Andersen-Gill models, respectively. Results:With the exception of beta blocker use and primary care visit frequency, few differences by race/ethnicity in patient characteristics and CHF management were found. However, older black patients had more hospital use both at baseline and during follow up. These differences persisted after adjusting for patient characteristics and clinical management. No race/ethnicity differences were found in mortality. Conclusions:In an insured population, older black patients with CHF have substantially more hospital use than older white patients. This increased use was not explained by differences in CHF outpatient management. Further research is needed to understand why race/ethnicity differences in hospital use are observed among older patients with CHF.
The effect of light therapy on the sleep quality of the elderly: An intervention study

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the effect of light therapy on the sleep quality of older adults. Design: This interventional study was conducted with a single group pre-test, post-test model. Setting: The study was conducted in a nursing home in Ankara, Turkey. Subjects: Twenty-four older adults with poor sleep quality were included in the study. Intervention: During the study procedure, a 10,000 Lux light was administered continuously for a half-hour duration in the morning over a one-month period. Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures included global and subcomponents of sleep quality, which were assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and were repeatedly measured at the baseline, pre-intervention (four weeks at baseline), post-intervention (at the end of intervention/eight weeks at baseline), and follow-up (four weeks at intervention). Results: At the end of light therapy intervention and during the four-week follow-up period, the global sleep quality scores were found to be higher compared with pre-intervention and baseline scores (p < 0.001). The 'daytime dysfunction' and 'sleep latency' sub-scores were found to be the most positively changed, whereas the change in 'duration of sleep' sub-score was less. Conclusion: Light therapy has been shown to be effective non-pharmacological therapy for improving sleep quality among healthy elders.
Impaired T‐cell development in the absence of Vav1 and Itk

Vav1 and the Tec family kinase Itk act in similar T‐cell activation pathways. Both molecules interact with members of the Cbl family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, and signaling defects in Vav1−/− T cells are rescued upon deletion of Cbl‐b. In this study we investigate the relation between Itk and Cbl‐b or Vav1 by generating Itk/Cbl‐b and Itk/Vav1 double‐deficient mice. Deletion of Cbl‐b in Itk−/− CD4+ T cells restored proliferation and partially IL‐2 production, and also led to a variable rescue of IL‐4 production. Thus, Itk and Vav1 act mechanistically similarly in peripheral T cells, since the defects in Itk−/− T cells, as in Vav1−/− T cells, are rescued if cells are released from the negative regulation mediated by Cbl‐b. In addition, only few peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were present in Vav1−/−Itk−/− mice due to severely impaired thymocyte differentiation. Vav1−/−Itk−/− thymocyte numbers were strongly reduced compared with WT, Itk−/− or Vav1−/− mice, and double‐positive thymocytes displayed increased cell death and impaired positive selection. Therefore, our data also reveal that the combined activity of Vav1 and Itk is required for proper T‐cell development and the generation of the peripheral T‐cell pool.
Y chromosome diversity in a linguistic isolate (Mirandese, NE Portugal)

The purpose of this study was to genetically characterize the male lineages of people who speak Mirandese, an interesting case of a linguistic relict that can still be found in the municipality of Miranda do Douro, NE Portugal. This region lies within the area of the Leonese dialects, which are remnants of the Romance dialects spoken in the Kingdom of Leon currently grouped in the Astur–Leonese linguistic continuum. We intended to disclose affinities with surrounding populations, namely from Spain where the Astur–Leonese is also spoken.
Effects of Estrogen Treatment on Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein Expression and Phosphorylation in Rat Amygdaloid and Hippocampal Structures

Clinical studies indicate an effect of estrogen (E2) on affect and cognition, which may be mediated by the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) pathway and CREB-related gene target brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We investigated the effect of E2 on CREB expression and phosphorylation and BDNF expression in the amygdala and hippocampus, areas involved in emotional processing. Ovariectomized rats were given 10 µg 17β-estradiol or vehicle for 14 days and expression of components of the CREB signaling pathway, i.e., CREB, phosphorylated CREB (pCREB), and BDNF in amygdala and hippocampus were investigated using immunogold labeling. Levels of BDNF mRNA were determined by in situ reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We also examined the effect of E2 on calcium/calmodulin kinase (CaMK IV) immunolabeling in the hippocampus. E2 increased immunolabeling and mRNA levels of BDNF in the medial and basomedial amygdala and CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, but not in any other amygdaloid or hippocampal regions examined. E2 increased immunolabeling of CREB and pCREB in the medial and basomedial, but not central or basolateral amygdala. E2 also increased CaMK IV and pCREB immunolabeling in the CA1 and CA3 regions, but not CA2 region or dentate gyrus, of the hippocampus. There was no change in immunolabeling of CREB in any hippocampal region. These data identify a signaling pathway through which E2 increases BDNF expression that may underlie some actions of E2 on affective behavior and indicate neuroanatomical heterogeneity in the E2 effect within the amygdala and hippocampus.
Evaluating the effectiveness of gloves in reducing the hazards of hand-transmitted vibration.

OBJECTIVES: A method of evaluating the effectiveness of gloves in reducing the hazards of hand-transmitted vibration is proposed. METHOD: The glove isolation effectiveness was calculated from: (a) the measured transmissibility of a glove, (b) the vibration spectrum on the handle of a specific tool (or class of tools), and (c) the frequency weighting indicating the degree to which different frequencies of vibration cause injury. With previously reported tool vibration spectra and glove transmissibilities (from 10-1000 Hz), the method was used to test 10 gloves with 20 different powered tools. RESULTS: The frequency weighting for hand-transmitted vibration advocated in British standard 6842 (1987) and international standard 5349 (1986) greatly influences the apparent isolation effectiveness of gloves. With the frequency weighting, the gloves had little effect on the transmission of vibration to the hand from most of the tools. Only for two or three tools (those dominated by high frequency vibration) did any glove provide useful attenuation. Without the frequency weighting, some gloves showed useful attenuation of the vibration on most powered tools. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the uncertain effect of the vibration frequency in the causation of disorders from hand-transmitted vibration, it is provisionally suggested that the wearing of a glove by the user of a particular vibratory tool could be encouraged if the glove reduces the transmission of vibration when it is evaluated without the frequency weighting and does not increase the vibration when it is evaluated with the frequency weighting. A current international standard for the measurement and evaluation of the vibration transmitted by gloves can classify a glove as an antivibration glove when it provides no useful attenuation of vibration, whereas a glove providing useful attenuation of vibration on a specific tool can fail the test.