Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fully Automated Spectrometric Protocols for Determination of Antioxidant Activity: Advantages and Disadvantages

The aim of this study was to describe behaviour, kinetics, time courses and limitations of the six different fully automated spectrometric methods - DPPH, TEAC, FRAP, DMPD, Free Radicals and Blue CrO5. Absorption curves were measured and absorbance maxima were found. All methods were calibrated using the standard compounds Trolox® and/or gallic acid. Calibration curves were determined (relative standard deviation was within the range from 1.5 to 2.5 %). The obtained characteristics were compared and discussed. Moreover, the data obtained were applied to optimize and to automate all mentioned protocols. Automatic analyzer allowed us to analyse simultaneously larger set of samples, to decrease the measurement time, to eliminate the errors and to provide data of higher quality in comparison to manual analysis. The total time of analysis for one sample was decreased to 10 min for all six methods. In contrary, the total time of manual spectrometric determination was approximately 120 min. The obtained data provided good correlations between studied methods (R = 0.97 – 0.99).
The Determinants of RFID Adoption in the Logistics Industry - A Supply Chain Management Perspective

Despite the literature exploring the factors of adopting information technology (IT) applications for the logistics industry, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is still considered an innovative technology, because of its unique characteristics compared with other IT applications. To avoid the negative effects derived from careless IT investments, companies in Taiwan’s logistics industry must evaluate the factors that could affect the adoption of RFID prior to its introduction. This research employed encoding and utilized a questionnaire survey with the aim of assessing the factors that affect the adoption of this technology within the industry. Based on the results of discriminant analysis and verification, this investigation found that competition in the marketplace, pressure of transaction partners, suppliers’ industry environment, cost, integration of supply chain strategy, complexity of RFID, and mutual standard were among the critical factors. This research anticipates these factors as crucial and beneficial for the initial introduction phase of RFID adoption.
Hepatitis C virus infection in the Maghreb region

Hepatitis C is a global health problem with a worldwide prevalence of about 3% (around 170 million people). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is major concern in the Maghreb countries, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia, but no detailed description of its epidemiology in the region is available. In the present review, a systematic search was undertaken covering HCV data available in peer‐reviewed databases as well as institutional reports and regional conference meeting abstracts from the Maghreb countries. Reports written in English and French were included in this analysis. Estimates of national and regional prevalence of HCV infection (based on anti‐HCV antibody) and of the size of patient populations were performed. In addition, the molecular features of the circulating viral strains in the region are discussed. A substantial proportion, 1.2–1.9% of the Maghreb inhabitants, have anti‐HCV antibodies. Genotype 1b predominates among viral strains in all countries except in Libya, where genotype 4 is dominant as in neighboring Egypt. This epidemiological situation is of significant concern, and requires urgent, broad, and active intervention for the prevention and control of HCV. More specifically, the application of state‐of‐the‐art hygiene procedures and rigorous controls in medical disciplines such as hemodialysis, transfusion, endoscopic procedures, and dentistry is necessary to reduce significantly the number of new infections in the region. J. Med. Virol. 85:1542–1549, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Opportunistic Power Control for Successive Interference Cancellation

This letter proposes an opportunistic power control for increasing the transmission rate of a secondary transmitter (ST) in frequency reused scenario. The environments considered herein have multiple primary transmitter/receiver pairs and one secondary transmitter/receiver pair using the same frequency band. In this scenario, we develop the opportunistic power control method for assisting successive interference cancellation (SIC) and optimal SIC order. Simulation results show that the proposed method improves the ST transmission rate significantly when compared to the method with no power control, and it exhibits a small throughput loss compared to the optimal technique while offering simpler implementation and using less transmission power.
Inhibition by Naloxone Stereoisomers of β-Amyloid Peptide (1–42)-induced Superoxide Production in Microglia and Degeneration of Cortical and Mesencephalic Neurons

Previously we reported that naloxone stereoisomers, in an opioid receptor-independent manner, attenuated the inflammation-mediated degeneration of dopaminergic neurons by inhibition of the activation of microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain. Recently we discovered that β-amyloid peptide Aβ (1–42) exhibited enhanced neurotoxicity toward both cortical and mesencephalic neurons through the activation of microglia and production of superoxide. The purpose of this study was to determine whether naloxone isomers had any effect on Aβ (1–42)-induced neurodegeneration. Pretreatment of either cortical or mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures with 1 to 10 μM (−)-naloxone, prior to treatment for up to 11 days with 0.1 to 3 μM Aβ (1–42), afforded significant neuroprotection as judged by neurotransmitter uptake, immunocytochemical analysis, and cell counting. More importantly, (+)-naloxone, the ineffective enantiomer of (−)-naloxone in binding opioid receptors, was equally effective in affording neuroprotection. Mechanistically, inhibition of Aβ (1–42)-induced production of superoxide in microglia underlay the neuroprotective effect of naloxone stereoisomers. Moreover, neuroprotection and inhibition of Aβ (1–42)-induced superoxide production was also achieved with naloxone methiodide, a charged analog with quaternary amine, suggesting that the site of action for naloxone isomers is at the cell surface of microglia. These results demonstrated that naloxone isomers, through mechanisms unrelated to the opioid receptors, were capable of inhibiting Aβ (1–42)-induced microglial activation and degeneration of both cortical and mesencephalic neurons. Combined with our previous observations with inflammagen-induced neurodegeneration, naloxone analogs, especially (+)-naloxone, may have potential therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Milk Biologically Active Components as Nutraceuticals: Review

Milk contains components that provide critical nutritive elements, immunological protection, and biologically active substances to both neonates and adults. Milk proteins are currently the main source of a range of biologically active peptides. Concentrates of these peptides are potential health-enhancing nutraceuticals for food and pharmaceutical applications. Several bioactive peptides may be used as nutraceuticals, for example, in the treatment of diarrhea, hypertension, thrombosis, dental diseases, as well as mineral malabsorption, and immunodeficiency. Minor whey proteins, such as lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme, and immunoglobulins, are considered antimicrobial proteins. Milk also contains some natural bioactive substances. These include oligosaccharides, fucosylated oligosaccharides, hormones, growth factors, mucin, gangliosides, and endogenous peptides, which are present in milk at secretion. Most of the claimed physiological properties of milk bioactive components have been carried out in vitro or in animal model systems, and these hypothesized properties remain to be proven in humans. Whether these milk bioactive components will replace drugs entirely in the immediate future is still unclear, but the increasing appreciation of “drug foods” or nutraceuticals plays a complementary rather than a substitutional role to the synthetic pharmacological drugs.
The biologic effects of pile radiations.

An extensive biological program was undertaken as a part of the Manhattan Project when it was realized that hazardous amounts of high-energy radiations would frequently be encountered during the production of plutonium and the various radioactive isotopes. The studies undertaken were directed toward a determination of biological effects such as might be encountered on the project. The most immediate need for an investigation was the provision of a more adequate experimental basis for the tolerance levels adopted to protect personnel. Although it was considered important to determine the maximum dose of radiation which could be absorbed with impunity, it was also considered important to determine the effects produced under a wide variety of experimental conditions and, if possible, some features of the mechanism whereby these changes occurred. The latter general objective accordingly consisted of the determination of biologic effects resulting from various radiations and various types of exposure; also it .
Voltage gain of signal transfer from retinal rods to bipolar cells in the tiger salamander.

1. Intracellular recordings of the voltage responses of rods and both functional classes of bipolar cell were made in the isolated, perfused retina of the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum. 2. Brief, dim flashes of 519 nm light delivered to the receptive‐field centres were used to measure the flash sensitivities of twenty‐one on‐centre bipolar cells and thirty‐six off‐centre cells. In each experiment the flash sensitivity of a rod was also measured using diffuse illumination of the same duration and wave‐length. 3. The mean flash sensitivity of the rods (fifty‐nine cells) was 4.47 mV photon‐1 micron 2 flash. The mean flash sensitivity of the off‐centre bipolar cells was 35.4 mV photon‐1 micron 2 flash (thirty‐six cells). The mean flash sensitivity of the on‐centre bipolar cells was 12.5 mV photon‐1 micron 2 flash. 4. The ratio of the flash sensitivity of the bipolar cell to that of a rod recorded in the same retina defined the gain of voltage transfer from rod to bipolar cell. For signal transfer to on‐centre bipolar cells the mean value of the voltage gain was 5.05 +/‐ 1.34 (S.E. of mean). For signal transfer to the off‐centre bipolar cells, the mean value of the gain was 10.4 +/‐ 1.29. 5. The on‐centre cell gain in the salamander was smaller by a factor of 27 than that of the on‐centre cells in the dogfish retina (Ashmore & Falk, 1980 a), while the off‐centre cell gain was comparable in the two species. Possible reasons for the large difference between the voltage gains of on‐centre cells in the dogfish and salamander are considered.
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC SIGNS OF LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY AND STRAIN IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in hypertensive patients can be divided into two main categories (Smirk, 1957). The first consists of abnormalities that can be directly ascribed to left ventricular "overload" (Sokolow and Lyon, 1949). The second category consists of a miscellaneous group of conditions that are less directly related to left ventricular " overload" and are rather to be considered as complications of vascular disease, such as arrhythmias, conduction defects, and myocardial infarction. The present study is concerned only with the first category, the intention being to investigate the relationship of the electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and "strain" to the level of the diastolic blood pressure and to certain other clinical features. Since the advent of multiple-lead electrocardiography, several studies of the changes in hypertension have been reported. Evans et al. (1945) found some correlation between electrocardiographic changes in bipolar chest leads and the diastolic blood pressure. Leishman (1951) found some correlation with diastolic blood pressure, heart size, and retinal grade, but not between electrocardiographic changes and age, sex, body weight, or angina. Doyle (1953), in an investigation mainly concerned with the improvement obtained in the electrocardiograms of hypertensive patients during treatment with ganglion-blocking drugs, also found some correlation between electrocardiographic changes and diastolic blood pressure taken under basal conditions before treatment was started. Hay (1957) in another follow-up investigation on a series of treated patients (which included Doyle's (1953) group) mentions that the severity of the original cardiographic changes was related to the basal blood pressure and the retinal grade. These investigations have, however, not afforded any clear evidence of why patients with apparently comparable hypertension often have such different degrees of electrocardiographic abnormality. The present study has been made in an attempt to throw further light on this problem. The method of classification of the electrocardiograms used differs from that employed by previous workers and is based on a separate analysis of the incidence of each of three main changes seen in left ventricular hypertrophy and strain, namely high voltage in QRS complexes, S-T segment depression, and T wave diphasia or inversion.
The last decade of global anthropogenic sulfur dioxide: 2000–2011 emissions

The evolution of global and regional anthropogenic SO2 emissions in the last decade has been estimated through a bottom-up calculation. After increasing until about 2006, we estimate a declining trend continuing until 2011. However, there is strong spatial variability, with North America and Europe continuing to reduce emissions, with an increasing role of Asia and international shipping. China remains a key contributor, but the introduction of stricter emission limits followed by an ambitious program of installing flue gas desulfurization on power plants resulted in a significant decline in emissions from the energy sector and stabilization of total Chinese SO2 emissions. Comparable mitigation strategies are not yet present in several other Asian countries and industrial sectors in general, while emissions from international shipping are expected to start declining soon following an international agreement to reduce the sulfur content of fuel oil. The estimated trends in global SO2 emissions are within the range of representative concentration pathway (RCP) projections and the uncertainty previously estimated for the year 2005.
Absence of Epstein‐Barr virus‐specific, HLA class II‐restricted CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes in infectious mononucleosis

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with the CD4+ phenotype that recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens are detectable very frequently in cultures of human alloreactive or virus‐specific T cells. The significance of these CD4+ CTL for an immune reaction in vivo is not clear, Since Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) transformed B cells express HLA‐class I and class II antigens equally well both CD8+ and CD4+ CTL should be stimulated during an acute EBV infection. We analysed the MHC specificity and the phenotype of EBV‐specific CTL from patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM). When tested directly without any previous culture, T cells from patients in the acute phase of IM showed specific MHC‐restricted cytotoxicity against the autologous B cell line. Addition of a HLA class I specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb) but not of a HLA class II specific MoAb resulted in a complete blocking of the lytic activity. Cell sorting revealed that the entire cyloloxic activity was present in the CD8+ fraction whereas no specific CTL were detectable in the CD4+ fraction. The absence of cytotoxicity in CD4+ cells was not due to a lack of activation of these cells since both CD8+ and CD4+ cells were activated in situ, showing spontaneous growth in interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and expressing the activation marker TP103. Frequency estimation revealed that 1/300‐1/600 CD8+ but only 1/2000‐1/4000 CD4+ T cells gave rise to a specific CTL colony after 10 days. If CD4+ colonies were tested repeatedly for cytotoxicity we found that CD4+ CTL acquired their cytotoxicity during in vitro culture. In addition, we isolated EBV‐specific CD4 T cell clones able to lyse their stimulator cells in the presence but not in the absence of leclin even after a long period of culture. Taken together our results show that cytotoxicity mediated by CD4+ T cells does not play a role in an anti‐viral immune response.
Increasing maternal obesity and weight gain during pregnancy: the obstetric problems of plentitude.

O does not have to be an epidemiologist to recognize the increasing prevalence of obesity in the population of reproductive-aged women. Although increased pregravid obesity is in and of itself a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, additional weight gain during pregnancy compounds this risk for both the mother and her offspring. These issues are addressed in three separate but related articles in this month’s Obstetrics & Gynecology. DeVader et al (see p. 745) report that women with a normal pregravid body mass index (BMI) who gain more than 35 lb (43% of their population) have an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, such as preeclampsia, failed induction, and large for gestational age infant.1 Similarly, Kiel et al (see p. 752), using the same birth registry, report that in overweight and obese women, gaining less than the recommended 15 lb (only 31%) was associated with a significantly lower risk of preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and large for gestational age births.2 Last, Cedergren (see p. 759) reports a study using the Swedish birth registry, where optimal weight gain was 5–22 lb in women with a pregravid BMI between 20 and 24.9, less than 20 lb for a BMI between 25 and 29.9, and less than 13 lb with a BMI greater than or equal to 30.3 Again, a decrease in adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes was observed with lower weight gain among obese women. Before suggesting that we simply propose to limit weight gain in overweight and obese women during pregnancy, we must first return to the published guidelines on the subject, the 1990 report of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Nutrition During Pregnancy.4 This report was written at a time when concern was focused on the low birth weight infant. Since that time, the focus has shifted to the greater concern of increasing rates of obesity. In 2006, the IOM convened a conference on this subject and published the workshop report, “Influence of Pregnancy Weight on Maternal Child Health. ”5 The goal of the workshop was to report on the available data relating to the recent trends in maternal obesity and weight gain on the health of the mothers and children. Consistent with the three articles in this issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, in the time between 1993 and 2003 there was an increase from 37% to 46% of women gaining greater than the IOM weight gain recommendations and a decrease from 30% to 23% of women gaining less that the IOM weight gain recommendations. The report also noted the increasing trends in maternal complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and cesarean delivery, associated with maternal pregravid obesity and increased weight gain in pregnancy. Given this information, what should be done in the interim? One of the problems in defining the correct amount of weight gain during See related articles on pages 745, 752, and 759.
Variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms of the arginine vasopressin receptor 1A gene and impulsive aggression in patients with borderline personality disorder.

The arginine vasopressin receptor 1A (AVPR1A) has been shown to be involved in attachment (Winslow et al., 1993), behavioural traits and social recognition (Bluthe and Dantzer, 1992). Difficulties in interpersonal relationships are characteristic features of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The disorder and its predominant symptoms are believed to result from interactions between environmental and genetic factors (Lieb et al., 2004).
Prediction of Preterm Delivery by Late Cervical Length Measurement after 24 Weeks

Objective: To examine the value of the cervical length (CL) measurement at 24-30 gestational weeks in the prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery (SPD) between 30 and 34 weeks (SPD<sub>34</sub>) and between 34 and 37 weeks (SPD<sub>37</sub>). Methods: We performed a prospective cross-sectional study. CL was measured once by transvaginal ultrasound examination between 24 and 30 weeks. Results: The study sample consisted of 1,180 low-risk singleton pregnancies. 10 women (0.85%) had a SPD<sub>34</sub> and 60 (5.08%) had a SPD<sub>37</sub>. CL was shorter (p < 0.001) in the women who had a SPD<sub>34</sub> (median 11 mm) compared to the women who delivered after 34 weeks (median 31 mm). CL was shorter (p < 0.001) in the women who had a SPD<sub>37</sub> (median 22 mm) compared to the women who delivered after 37 weeks (median 31 mm). CL predicted SPD<sub>34</sub> (OR = 0.837, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.2768, AUC = 0.9406, p < 0.001) and SPD<sub>37</sub> (OR = 0.907, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.1085, AUC = 0.7584, p < 0.001). The model achieved a sensitivity of 70.0 and 38.3% for 10% false-positive rate for SPD<sub>34</sub> and SPD<sub>37</sub>, respectively. Conclusions: CL after 24 weeks is significantly shorter in women destined to have a SPD. In low-risk singleton pregnancies CL performs very well in predicting SPD<sub>34</sub> and adequately in predicting SPD<sub>37</sub>.
A meta‐analysis of six prospective studies of falling in Parkinson's disease

Recurrent falls are a disabling feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). We have estimated the incidence of falling over a prospective 3 month follow‐up from a large sample size, identified predictors for falling for PD patients repeated this analysis for patients without prior falls, and examined the risk of falling with increasing disease severity. We pooled six prospective studies of falling in PD (n = 473), and examined the predictive power of variables that were common to most studies. The 3‐month fall rate was 46% (95% confidence interval: 38–54%). Interestingly, even among subjects without prior falls, this fall rate was 21% (12–35%). The best predictor of falling was two or more falls in the previous year (sensitivity 68%; specificity 81%). The risk of falling rose as UPDRS increased, to about a 60% chance of falling for UPDRS values 25 to 35, but remained at this level thereafter with a tendency to taper off towards later disease stages. These results confirm the high frequency of falling in PD, as almost 50% of patients fell during a short period of only 3 months. The strongest predictor of falling was prior falls in the preceding year, but even subjects without any prior falls had a considerable risk of sustaining future falls. Disease severity was not a good predictor of falls, possibly due to the complex U‐shaped relation with falls. Early identification of the very first fall therefore remains difficult, and new prediction methods must be developed. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society