Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulation of oxidant stress in vivo in chronic cigarette smokers.

BACKGROUND Free radical-induced oxidative damage is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of diseases associated with cigarette smoking. We examined the production of 8-epi-prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, a stable product of lipid peroxidation in vivo, and its modulation by aspirin and antioxidant vitamins in chronic cigarette smokers. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed the following studies: (1) a cross-sectional comparison of smokers and control subjects, (2) an examination of the dose-response relationship, (3) an exploration of the effect of smoking cessation (3 weeks) and nicotine patch supplementation, (4) the effect of aspirin consumption, and (5) the effects of 5 days' dosing with vitamin E (100 and 800 U), vitamin C (2 g), and their combination. 8-epi-PGF2 alpha excretion (in pmol/mmol, mean +/- SEM) was 176.5+/-30.6 in heavy smokers, 92.7+/-4.8 (P<.05) in moderate smokers, and 54.1+/-2.7 (P<.005) in nonsmokers. Urinary levels fell from 145.5+/-24.9 to 114.6+/-27.1 (week 2, P<.05) and 112.6+/-24.9 (week 3, P<.05) on cessation of smoking. Aspirin treatment failed to suppress urinary levels of 8-epi-PGF2 alpha despite a significant reduction in urinary 11-dehydro-TxB2 production and suppression of 8-epi-PGF2 alpha and TxB2 in serum. Vitamin C (pre, 194.6+/-40.9; post, 137.2+/-34.1; P<.05) and a combination of vitamin C and E (pre, 171.0+/-39.8; post, 133.5+/-29.6 P<.05) suppressed urinary 8-epi-PGF2 alpha, whereas vitamin E alone had no effect. CONCLUSIONS Urinary 8-epi-PGF2 alpha may represent a noninvasive, quantitative index of oxidant stress in vivo. Elevated levels of 8-epi-PGF2 alpha in smokers may be modulated by quitting cigarettes and switching to nicotine patches or by antioxidant vitamin therapy.
Elevated aldosterone levels in patients with androgenetic alopecia

Background There is reported to be an elevated prevalence of hypertension among patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), and it has been proposed that both phenomena may be explained by the presence of hyperaldosteronism. However, no data on aldosterone levels in patients with AGA have been published to date.
Localization of mRNAs encoding two forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase in the rat hippocampal formation

The mRNAs for two forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65 and GAD67) were localized in the rat hippocampal formation by nonradioactive in situ hybridization methods with digoxigeninlabeled cRNA probes. Some neurons in all layers of the hippocampus and dentate gyrus were readily labeled for each GAD mRNA, and the patterns of labeling for GAD65 and GAD67 mRNAs were very similar. All major groups of previously described GAD‐and GABA‐containing neurons appeared to be labeled for each GAD mRNA. Such findings suggest that most GABA neurons in the hippocampal formation contain both GAD mRNAs. When the labeling of neurons in the hippocampal formation and cerebral cortex was compared in the same sections, the intensity of neuronal labeling for GAD67 mRNA was generally similar in the two regions. However, the intensity of labeling for GAD65 mRNA was generally stronger for many neurons in the hippocampal formation than for most neurons in the cerebral cortex. Neurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus were particularly well labeled for GAD65.
REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION AND LOCAL ADAPTATION QUANTIFIED FOR A CHROMOSOME INVERSION IN A MALARIA MOSQUITO

Chromosome inversions have long been thought to be involved in speciation and local adaptation. We have little quantitative information, however, about the effects that inversion polymorphisms have on reproductive isolation and viability. Here we provide the first estimates from any organism for the total amount of reproductive isolation associated with an inversion segregating in natural populations. We sampled chromosomes from 751 mosquitoes of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus along a 1421 km transect in Cameroon that traverses savannah, highland, and rainforest ecological zones. We then developed a series of population genetic models that account for selection, migration, and assortative mating, and fit the models to the data using likelihood. Results from the best‐fit models suggest there is strong local adaptation, with relative viabilities of homozygotes ranging from 25% to 130% compared to heterozygotes. Viabilities vary qualitatively between regions: the inversion is underdominant in the savannah, whereas in the highlands it is overdominant. The inversion is also implicated in strong assortative mating. In the savannah, the two homozygote forms show 92% reproductive isolation, suggesting that this one inversion can generate most of the genetic barriers needed for speciation.
Tumor dormancy—from basic mechanisms to clinical practice

The development and progression of malignant tumors is a complex process involving tumor cells and their microenvironment, including local (paracrine) and systemic (endocrine) signaling and local as well as systemic cell recruitment. It has become clear that cancers do not show a linear growth and progression, since periods of a ‘‘steady state’’ might appear and interrupt exponential tumor growth. In such instances, fully transformed tumor cells do not expand into a clinically detectable cancer, possibly due to lack of stimulatory or permissive signals, or due to active inhibitory mechanisms. This state of dormancy might apply to early stages of primary cancers, to remnants of primary tumors which would be ‘‘seeds’’ for disease recurrences, and to ‘‘dormant’’ micrometastases which could, after a latency period, be ‘‘reactivated’’ and evolve into clinically manifested disease. Several mechanisms are involved in this ‘‘lack of tumor progression’’. Studies about tumor dormancy have increased exponentially since the 1970s, especially since the introduction of experimental models, allowing mechanistic studies of the clinical phenomenon of ‘‘latency periods’’ in cancer progression (Fig. 1). The purpose of this special issue is to shed some light on different forms of tumor dormancy and the regulatory mechanisms involved, and to present up-to-date clinical and experimental evidence in support of various hypotheses proposed to explain this phenomenon: from cell cycle arrest to hormonal dependence, lack of tumor neovascularization (angiogenesis), immune surveillance, and the role of the microenvironment. The authors report on observations of human cancers as well as experimental studies of tumor progression and dormancy regulation. This might be relevant for the development and implementation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Seroprevalence , Risk Factors and Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus

Introduction: Parenterally transmitted viruses are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the health care system of the modern world and the most sinister, though not the most common is the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is a major cause of liver disease worldwide and an emerging infection in India. HCV is known to have marked genetic heterogenicity. HCV genotypes exhibit different profiles of pathogenicity, infectivity and response to antiviral therapy. Aims and objectives:The study was aimed at detecting HCV seropositivity, probable risk factors, HIV/HBV co infections and common genotype prevalence in a tertiary care hospital in South India Materials and Methodology:This Cross sectional study was conducted from September 2011 to August 2013 on adult patients clinically suspected of hepatitis, blood donors attending blood bank, pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) clinic, renal dialysis patients and patients whose blood samples were received for pre-operative evaluation. Serum was subjected to ELISA for anti HCV antibody detection. Plasma collected from seropositives, genotyped by Real Time PCR. Results:Out of the 3581 serum samples that were screened, 32 were anti-HCV antibody positive (Seroprevalence0.89%). Highest number of HCV seropositivity were found between 41-50 years of age group. Blood transfusion was found to be highly significant risk factor (p = 0.004). Rate of HCV-HBV co-infection was 6.25% (2/32) and HCV-HIV co-infection was 3.12% (1/32). No concomitant HCV, HIV and HBV infection was detected. 12 samples were HCV Genotype 1(48%), 8 were Genotype 3 (32%) and 5 (20%)were untypeable. Conclusion:The study showed that seroprevalence of HCV is similar to most of the other studies in India. Blood transfusion is a major risk factor for HCV infection. HCV genotype 1 is widespread in this region of southern India along with, and perhaps predominating over, HCV genotype 3.
Comparative blood profile of progesterone, metabolites and minerals in anoestrus, suboestrus, repeat breeding and normal cyclic buffaloes

A comparative study on serum profile of progesterone (P4) and metabolites of 37 anoestrus, 10 suboestrus, 53 repeat breeding and 12 normal cyclic buffaloes revealed that the serum P4 was significantly (P<0.01) higher in suboestrus (3.36±0.50 ng/ml) as compared to anoestrus, repeat breeders and normal cyclic buffaloes (1.24±0.21, 0.45±0.05 and 0.36±0.08 ng/ml). The serum total protein in anoestrus, suboestrus and repeat breeding buffaloes was significantly (P<0.05) lower (8.69±0.25, 9.62±0.59 and 9.06±0.21 g/dl) than that in the normal cyclic buffaloes (11.05±0.30 g/dl). Cholesterol was lower (P<0.01) in anoestrus and repeat breeding buffaloes (168.82±8.14 and 143.97±7.49 mg/dl) as compared to suboestrus and normal cyclic ones (184.84±14.83 and 183.09±11.70 mg/dl). The calcium levels though low in infertile buffaloes did not differ significantly from normal cyclic buffaloes. The serum magnesium content of normal cyclic buffaloes was significantly higher (4.18±0.11 mEq/L) than that of all three categories of infertile animals. The serum trace minerals, zinc, iron and manganese levels did not differ significantly among different groups of infertile and normal cyclic buffaloes. However, the serum copper level in repeat breeders was significantly (P<0.05) higher (1.10±0.06 ppm) and cobalt was lower (0.08±0.01 ppm) as compared to anoestrus, suboestrus and even normal cyclic buffaloes. The findings suggested the importance of the above elements in maintaining normal reproductive rhythm of buffaloes.
Optimized Parameter Extraction Method for Photovoltaic Devices Model

A model that accurately reproduces the electrical behavior of photovoltaic (PV) devices becomes relevant, not only for cell, panel, array and system simulation, but also as an analysis tool that provides an insight of the internal physical mechanisms of PV devices. Consequently, a method based on genetic algorithms is proposed in this paper to obtain the parameters of the one-diode model of PV cells. The proposed method is applicable to I-V curves at several irradiation and temperature levels. Moreover, it simplifies the computation by adjusting the real data to the modeled one, without solving the transcendental equation that describes the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic. Additionally, the presented method combines two approaches; on the one hand, one that relies on the use of fitting algorithms that minimize the error for the entire set of data, and on the other, one that seeks minimization in selected I-V points (open-circuit, short-circuit and maximum power points ). In order to verify the validity of the method, an I-V curve is obtained out of the parameters previously determined and later compared with that offered by the panel manufacturer.
Extremely precise position estimation in sensorless control of permanent magnet synchronous motors using all-pass filter

For the stator flux linkage estimation to realize permanent magnet synchronous motor ssensorless control, a quasi-integrator is often substituted instead of a pure-integrator, resulting the position estimation error in a low speed region. This paper presents a new position estimation for sensorless control of PMSM using all-path filters, which realize extremely precise estimation under transient condition as well as steady state.
Who cares for young carers?

How much do we know of young carers - that is, children under 18 who provide primary care for sick, disabled, or elderly relatives in the home, usually their own parents? 1 Meredith suggested that health professionals have failed to identify such children and have shown interest in them only when the possibility of psychological or physical disorders has been raised.2 Small studies have suggested that there are at least 10 000 young carers in Britain.3,4 Recent research has, however, rejected the usefulness of such data, concentrating instead on the qualitative impact that caring may have on a child's health, psychosocial development, and opportunities. *RF 5-7* A substantial obstacle to addressing the needs and concerns of young carers has been a lack of awareness of their existence. Providers of services - whether health, education, or social services - have consistently failed to identify young carers. As one young carer said, “You can't picture a child picking up an adult, getting them on to the stair lift, taking them up, bathing them. If you can't picture it, it doesn't happen. ”8 Bilsborrow refers …
Cutting Edge: Immunological Consequences and Trafficking of Human Regulatory Macrophages Administered to Renal Transplant Recipients

Regulatory macrophages (M regs) were administered to two living-donor renal transplant recipients. Both patients were minimized to low-dose tacrolimus monotherapy within 24 wk of transplantation and subsequently maintained excellent graft function. After central venous administration, most M regs remained viable and were seen to traffic from the pulmonary vasculature via the blood to liver, spleen, and bone marrow. By 1 y posttransplantation, both patients displayed patterns of peripheral blood gene expression converging upon the IOT-RISET signature. Furthermore, both patients maintained levels of peripheral blood FOXP3 and TOAG-1 mRNA expression within the range consistent with nonrejection. It is concluded that M regs warrant further study as a potential immune-conditioning therapy for use in solid-organ transplantation. The results of this work are being used to inform the design of The ONE Study, a multinational clinical trial of immunomodulatory cell therapy in renal transplantation.
Dynamic Financial Risk Management December 8 , 2005

For many years, financial markets have been part of people’s everyday life. Information on the major securities can be found easily in the daily press or on internet. The different actors of the economy look closely at some fundamental parameters, such as interest rates, currency rates, stock prices. , which may affect the management of their firms, especially after the deregulation process initiated in the United States in the 1970s. The accrued international dimension and efficiency of the communication means have extended this phenomenon to the entire world economy. Small investors savings and pensions are also exposed to the risks generated by variations in these factors. Financial institutions are aware of the importance of managing these risks. They offer different solutions, which will be presented below. For instance, the following product can help small investor to deal with variations of the stock markets: In 2005, bank XYZ offered the following product, which is a 5 years guaranteed capital fund:
Delay and discontinuity--a survey of TB patients' search of a diagnosis in a diversified health care system.

SETTING Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. OBJECTIVES To describe delay to diagnosis; to compare diagnostic procedures and referral routines used by private and public health care providers; and to examine associations between contact with various types of providers and risk of delay to TB diagnosis. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey of new patients in the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP). Retrospective assessment of health seeking and diagnostic procedures used by previously contacted health care providers. RESULTS Four weeks after first symptom, 81% of patients had sought help outside the household. Four weeks after first health care contact, 47% had been diagnosed with TB. Private physicians used X-rays, sputum smears, and referrals significantly less often than public health care providers. Patients who had turned first to a private pharmacy, a private physician or a public hospital were significantly more likely to have a long provider delay than those who turned first to the NTP. CONCLUSION Delay to diagnosis of TB in HCMC is due more to inability among health care providers to detect TB than to under-utilisation of health care services. Diagnostic procedures need to be improved and referral chains need to be strengthened in HCMC, particularly among private providers.
Responses of lactating cows to dietary sodium source and quantity and potassium quantity during heat stress.

Effects of heat stress and added dietary sodium bicarbonate (0 or 1.0% of dry matter), sodium chloride (0 or .73% of dry matter), and total dietary potassium (1.3 or 1.8% of dry matter) on acid-base status, production, and mineral metabolism of lactating Holstein cows were evaluated. Design was split-plot with 24 cows in shade or no shade environments; dietary treatments were arranged as a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial within each environment. Basal diet (38% corn silage:62% concentrate) contained . 18% sodium; sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride treatments were in addition. All dietary treatments were equal in chloride content. Cows in no shade exhibited signs of respiratory alkalosis during the hot part of the day. Daily feed intake was lower in no shade than shade but milk yield and percent milk fat were not affected by environment. Sodium bicarbonate addition increased actual and 4% fat-corrected milk yields and percent milk fat. Sodium chloride addition increased actual and 4% fat-corrected milk yield when adjusted for amount of feed intake, and 1.8% dietary potassium increased feed intake and actual milk yield. Increasing total dietary sodium from . 18 to . 55%, from either supplemental source, enhanced 4% fat-corrected milk production, but combination of sources (.88% total sodium) showed no additional benefit over . 55%.
A 14-bit 20-msamples/s pipelined A/D converter with digital background calibration

This paper describes a 14-bit 20MSPS switched-capacitor pipelined ADC that employs digital background calibration to correct capacitor mismatch. The calibration concept is amenable to implementation in SOC because it is digital in nature. The calibration concept is demonstrated offline though in principle it can be included on-chip. The calibration can also be performed periodically, thus is inherently able to track the operating conditions of the device. Implementation is in a complimentary bipolar process. The prototype exhibits typical INL of /spl plusmn/ 2.0 LSB, DNL of /spl plusmn/ 0.4 LSB, SNR of 73 dB and SFDR of 85 dB with a 2 MHz input signal. Analog power is about 500 mW with 5 V supply.
A Faster Bitcoin Network Semester

Bitcoin is an electronic currency based on a peer-to-peer network for the propagation and verification of the transactions. Nowadays, cashless transactions are becoming increasingly popular and bitcoin could be an established currency for such transactions. Its distributed nature, though, and more specifically the delay overhead in transaction verification, not only makes the use of bitcoin inefficient for instant transactions, but also makes it vulnerable to double spend attacks. In this work we introduce a modified version of the bitcoin protocol and argue its impact on the delay of information dissemination in the bitcoin network. More specifically we examine how pipelining the message exchange between nodes in the bitcoin network as well as encouraging the connection of the geographically closest nodes affect the delay in propagation.
Enhancing children's event recall after long delays

The effects of context reinstatement as means of enhancing 5- and 6-year-old children's event memory in repeated interviews after a 6-month delay were examined. Children were interviewed immediately after the event (baseline interview) and twice at a 6-month delay, with 24 hours between interviews. The first 6-month interview was conducted in a perfect-context reinstatement (n = 15), imperfect-context reinstatement (n = 16), or no-context reinstatement (n = 15) condition. The second 6-month interview was conducted 24 hours later with no-context reinstatement for all children. Context reinstatement attenuated the effects of delay on recall. The accuracy of the details reported was greater in the perfect-context compared to the imperfect-context and no-context conditions. Details repeated between the immediate-baseline interview and in the first 6-month interview were more accurate than details repeated between the first and second 6-month interview. There was no increase in recall (hypermnesia) across the first and second 6-month interviews in any condition. Practical implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Periodontal lesions in slaughtered cattle in the west of Scotland

PERIODONTITIS is a multifactorial infection elicited by a complex of bacterial species that interact with host tissues and cells causing the release of a broad array of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and mediators, some of which lead to destruction of the periodontal structures, including the tooth supporting tissues, alveolar bone and periodontal ligament (Holt and Ebersole 2005). Although cattle are of worldwide economic importance in the dairy and beef industries, their dentition has not been investigated as thoroughly as that of other species. Cattle are diphyodont and hypsodont, and their permanent dentition has 32 teeth. The permanent incisors erupt sequentially between 1.5 and 4 years of age. All permanent premolars and the second and third molars erupt between one and three years of age (Page and Schroeder 1982). The importance of bovine periodontal disease has largely been overlooked by veterinarians and scientists. In Brazil, periodontal disease affects cattle kept in areas where grazing has been recently formed or reformed in the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon biomes (Dobereiner and others 2000). The disease is characterised by a purulent, progressive periodontitis, with periodontal pocket formation, development of a chronic periostitis ossificans and, in some cases, systemic illness. The tooth roots become exposed with eventual loss of teeth (Dobereiner and others 1974). Reported studies in the UK are scarce. Of 501 heads of cows examined …