Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Species specific isotope dilution versus internal standardization strategies for the determination of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase in red blood cells

Many proteins (more than one third) contain metal ions either within their own structures or bound to some of their active sites. These metals are involved in numerous biological processes and therefore, the quantification of metalloproteins that can serve as clinical biomarkers is of great interest. With this aim, the development of analytical strategies that permit individual (targeted) protein quantitative analysis is attempted in this work. In particular, the evaluation of different strategies for the determination of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD), a metalloprotein present in the first-line antioxidant defence system of the body, is conducted. The first analytical strategy is based on the use of bovine Cu, Zn-SOD as internal standard for the quantitative analysis of human Cu, Zn-SOD. For this aim, the chromatographic separation between both species (bovine and human) has been optimized according to their respective isoelectric point by anion exchange chromatography. Interestingly, the obtained results revealed a faster specific degradation of the bovine standard with respect to human SOD during sample preparation. The second strategy involves the production and evaluation of an isotopically enriched metalloprotein standard to be used as tracer in the species specific isotope dilution (SS-IDA) method by measuring the Cu associated to the protein. This is done by liquid chromatography with online inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) detection and applied to the quantification in bovine erythrocytes. This finding is a good example to illustrate the power of SS-IDA for targeted protein quantification in respect to the commonly used alternative standards.
Ultra-Wideband, True-Time-Delay Reflectarray Antennas Using Ground-Plane-Backed, Miniaturized-Element Frequency Selective Surfaces

We introduce a new method for designing low-profile reflectarray antennas with broadband, true-time-delay (TTD) responses. Such structures are composed of numerous reflective spatial time-delay units distributed over a planar surface. Each spatial time-delay unit is a unit cell of a ground-plane-backed miniaturized-element frequency selective surface (MEFSS) composed of nonresonant elements. Each element is a lowpass type MEFSS composed of a stack of nonresonant patches separated from one another by thin dielectric substrates, and the whole structure is backed with a ground plane. A prototype of the proposed MEFSS-based TTD reflectarray with the focal length to aperture diameter ratio (f/D) of 0.87 operating at the center frequency of 10 GHz is designed, fabricated, and experimentally characterized both in time and frequency domains. It is demonstrated that the fabricated TTD reflectarray operates over a bandwidth of 40% without any significant chromatic aberrations. The proposed antenna provides a realized gain of 23 dB when fed with an X-band horn antenna and shows a gain variation of about 4 dB in the 8-12 GHz range. The antenna also shows consistent radiation characteristics and relatively low side-lobe levels across its entire band of operation.
[Phophorylated Akt protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer].

BACKGROUND The activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) downstream molecule Akt plays an important role in lung carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) expression with EGFR expression and survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS p-Akt and EGFR expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry in 167 NSCLC samples constructed into tissue microarray. RESULTS p-Akt protein positively expressed in 52.1% (87/167) samples. There were no statistically significant association between p-Akt protein expression and gender, age, smoking status, histology, differentiation or pathological stage (P > 0.05). Spearman correlation anylasis failed to show association of positive p-Akt with EGFR protein expression (P=0.122). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed both of the positive p-Akt expression and p-Akt/EGFR co-expression had no impact on the patients' survival (P=0.903 and P=0.894 respectively). Cox regression anylasis indicated that survival time correlated with tumor differentiation and pathological stage (P=0.034 and P=0.003 respectively). CONCLUSIONS In NSCLC patients, positive p-Akt expression does not correlate with any clinicopathological features and has no impact on survival.
Locating online loan applicants for an insurance company

Purpose – This study aims to investigate insurance policy loan applicant characteristics. Additionally, it reveals the behaviour patterns of heavy users who have applied for at least two loans. A policy loan prediction model is established which is designed to increase loan application rates.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed model is implemented using data‐mining techniques and comprises two mechanisms: a business rule generator and a recommendation mechanism. Two analytical approaches, the C.5 and Apriori algorithm, are employed to analyse the profile and browsing log DBs of insured individuals. The prediction model is verified by actual data from a Taiwanese insurance company.Findings – The data‐mining results reveal that five attributes are ultimately used to establish the prediction model, namely: gender, marketing channel, insurance type, area of policy owner, and assumed interest rate. Additionally, the analytical results also indicate that insured individuals apply for loans as a result of.
Group heterogeneity and social validation of everyday knowledge

Studies presented in this article show that participants attribute greater validity to opinions supported by heterogeneous groups than by homogeneous ones, that this effect occurs whether participants anticipate group belonging or not and that the relationship between heterogeneity and the attribution of validity to opinions is mediated by the perception of participation within heterogeneous groups. More specifically, an experimental scenario was tested in a pilot study (N = 299): group heterogeneity was manipulated and perceived group participation as well as perceived validity of group opinions was measured. Results show the expected effect of heterogeneity on the validation of opinions and also a mediating effect of perceived participation. The main study (N = 336) shows that the effect of heterogeneity occurs not only when participants are mere observers of groups but also when they anticipate group belonging. Furthermore, this study shows that whereas the effect of group heterogeneity was mediated by perceived participation, the effect of group belonging on perceived validity of group opinions was mediated by trust.
High doses of corticosteroids in the treatment of septic shock.

High doses of corticosteroids are reported to be beneficial in the treatment of septic shock in many animal species, e.g. dog, rat and rabbit. Recent findings in baboons subjected to E. coli shock indicate that early treatment with a combination of antibiotics and steroids strongly enhance survival rate. In clinical studies the protective effects of steroids are more ambiguous, however. In part this may be explained by variations in the amount of steroids used or by the fact that in some studies the steroid is administered late in shock. The dose recommended, 30 mg/kg bw of methylprednisolone or an equivalent amount of another glucocorticoid given once or twice, is based on animal as well as clinical documentation.
Toxicity of household soap and detergent products and treatment of their ingestion.

Ingestions of household soaps and detergent products account for 4% of all cases reported to the National Clearinghouse for Poison Control Centers. One death has been reported. Although these preparations have a low order of toxicity, their misuse may cause serious consequences. For the purpose of this discussion, the term "detergent" will designate household synthetic detergent preparations. "Surfactant" will refer to the synthetic surface-active agents which are basic ingredients of these preparations. Types of Household Soaps and Detergents Toilet Bars . —These include all bars ordinarily found on the washstand and used in shower or tub. Some are made entirely from soap (salts of fatty acids), while others contain synthetic surface-active agents alone or in combination with soap. 1 When ingested in sufficient quantity, soap may cause gastrointestinal irritation, and vomiting and diarrhea may ensue. Treatment includes administration of demulcents (e.g., milk) and symptomatic measures for diarrhea, should it occur. Because
An Economic Analysis of Captopril in the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

OBJECTIVE The results of a recent clinical trial. The Effect of ACE inhibition on Diabetic Nephropathy, demonstrated that captopril reduced the rate of renal failure, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and death in patients with IDDM and nephropathy. The purpose of this study was to determine the cost-benefitand cost-effectiveness of captopril as a therapy in patients with IDDM as well as the potential savings for all patients with diabetes and nephropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used the results from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial comparing captopril (207 patients) with placebo (202 patients), whose purpose was to determine whether captopril has kidney-protecting properties independent of its effect on blood pressure in diabetic nephropathy to develop a model of medical treatment for patients before progression to ESRD. To model the course of illness after progression to ESRD and to extend the model to patients with NIDDM, we used data from the U.S. Renal Data System and published literature. Medical resource cost data were based predominantly upon Medicare reimbursement levels, published wholesale drug prices, and surveying health care providers. The economic model uses a payer perspective to estimate direct cost. The cost to society (indirect cost) associated with lost patient productivity due to ESRD was also estimated. Using this information, we predicted the costs incurred annually and over a lifetime if patients with IDDM and NIDDM and overt nephropathy were treated with either placebo or captopril. We also constructed a model of the overall prevalence of diabetic nephropathy to estimate the aggregate savings in total U.S. health care expenditures. RESULTS Treatment with captopril resulted in an absolute direct cost savings or benefit of $32,550 per patient with IDDM over the course of a lifetime compared to treatment with placebo. For patients with NIDDM, the direct cost savings totaled $9,900 per patient. Absolute savings were found for indirect costs as well: $84,390 per patient with IDDM and $45,730 per patient with NIDDM. If captopril therapy were initiated in 1995 for patients with either IDDM or NIDDM and nephropathy, the aggregate health care cost savings (i.e. direct cost savings alone) would be $189 million a year for the year 1999 and $475 million a year in 2004, the present value of cumulative health care cost savings for these 10 years would be $2.4 billion. CONCLUSIONS The use of captopril in diabetic nephropathy will provide significant savings in health care costs; in addition, it will result in savings in indirect cost, which reflects the broader societal benefit.
Lipid Peroxidation Process in Meat and Meat Products: A Comparison Study of Malondialdehyde Determination between Modified 2-Thiobarbituric Acid Spectrophotometric Method and Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

The aim of this work was to compare the methods of malondialdehyde detection, as the main secondary product of the lipid peroxidation process, in meat and meat products. Malondialdehyde measurements were performed by two modified methods, the 2-thiobarbituric acid spectrophotometric method and the reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in raw, mechanically-deboned chicken meat and in manufactured frankfurters. The malondialdehyde concentrations measured by the 2-thiobarbituric acid spectrophotometric method were found to be overestimated by more than 25% in raw meat and more than 27% in frankfurters in comparison to the results of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (p < 0.05). The achieved results showed that the presented modified reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was more applicable and more accurate for the quantification of malondialdehyde in samples of meat and meat products.
20 Things You Didn't Know About Type 2 Diabetes in Emerging Adults.

1. Where there"s smoke, there"s fire: Between 1971Y1974 and 2009Y2010, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] Q 30 kg/m) among emerging adults aged 18 to 29 years grew by approximately 400% compared with 200% among the general adult population. This drastic increase in obesity rates during emerging adulthood is associated with the rapid growth of early-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) in those younger than 40 years. Oh, would not the renowned artists of the Baroque to Modern Era be pleased given their emphasis on paintings and sculptures of those with ‘‘generous figures! ’’
Frequent deletions of 6q23–24 in B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Deletions of the long arm of chromosome 6 (6q) are among the most frequent chromosome aberrations in malignant lymphomas and often occur as secondary changes in addition to typical translocations, such as t(14; 18). Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with two YAC probes hybridizing to 6q23–24 and with the centromeric probe D6Z1 as internal control, we studied 31 cases of low‐grade and eight cases of high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma. Deletions of 6q23–24 were detected in 21 patients (56.8%) by FISH, compared to 13 patients (33.3%) by chromosome analysis. Deletions of 6q23–24 were found by FISH in 5 of 13 cases of small lymphocytic lymphoma, in 2 of 3 cases of mantle cell lymphoma, in 10 of 14 cases of t(14; 18) positive low‐grade follicular lymphoma, and in 4 of 8 cases of high‐grade follicular lymphoma. This study shows that deletions of 6q23–24 are more frequent in B‐cell lymphomas than previously suggested and that they can be detected more sensitively by FISH than by chromosome analysis. Contrary to previous reports indicating that the region 6q23–24 is preferentially deleted in low‐grade lymphomas without t(14; 18), our results indicate that deletions of 6q23–24 appear to be common in other pathological subsets of B‐cell lymphoma as well, especially in follicular lymphomas with t(14; 18). Genes Chromosom. Cancer 18:310–313, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long Term Association between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Mortality in a Cohort of 4379 Men

Objective A number of observational studies have shown an inverse association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D and total mortality, but a reverse J-shaped association has also been reported. In a large nested case-control study, serum-25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) was positively associated with incident prostate cancer. Based on the same study population, the primary aim of the present study was to investigate the association between s-25(OH)D and total mortality. Methods Men participating in population based health screenings during 1981–1991 and enrolled in a nested case-control study were followed throughout 2007 with respect to all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results In men with prostate cancer (n = 2282), there was a significant inverse association between s-25(OH)D and total mortality after controlling for potential confounders (HR = 1.25 (95% CI 1.05–1.50), s-25(OH)D <50 nmol/l versus s-25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/l). The corresponding figure among controls (n = 2147) was HR = 1.15 (95% CI 0.88–1.50) and in the total study population HR = 1.19 (95% CI 1.03–1.38). For cause-specific deaths, we found no significant associations. Conclusions In this study population, s-25(OH)D was inversely associated with total mortality during more than two decades of follow-up, despite, as previous reported, high s-25(OH)D was associated with increased risk of prostate cancer.
Cooperative Localization and Object Recognition in Autonomous UWB Sensor Networks

Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio sensor networks promise interesting perspectives for emitter and object position localization, object identification and imaging of environments in short range scenarios. Their fundamental advantage comes from the huge bandwidth which could be up to several GHz depending on the national regulation rules. Consequently, UWB technology allows unprecedented spatial resolution in the geo-localization of active UWB radio devices and high resolution in the detection, localization and tracking of passive objects.
Notice of RetractionStudy on objective evaluation of seam pucker based on wavelet probabilistic neural network

A new method to objectively evaluate seam pucker is brought out in this paper. Firstly, AATCC 88B seam pucker standard pictures are taken by digital camera. After wavelet transform of images, the six parameters that are standard deviation of horizontal, vertical and diagonal detail coefficients on 5th dimension, horizontal detail coefficients and histogram and image entropy are extracted, on 4th are extracted. Then, objective evaluation model of seam pucker based on probabilistic neural network is constructed and its prediction accuracy is more than 90% by test. This prediction model can be used to evaluate seam pucker grades of unknown samples, so that to overcome ambiguity and uncertainty of subjective evaluation.
Global Life Cycle Paper Flows, Recycling Metrics, and Material Efficiency

Despite major improvements in recycling over the last decades, the pulp and paper sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental pressures. Further reduction of virgin material requirements and environmental impacts requires a detailed understanding of the global material flows in paper production and consumption. This study constructs a Sankey diagram of global material flows in the paper life cycle, from primary inputs to end‐of‐life waste treatment, based on a review of publicly available data. It then analyzes potential improvements in material flows and discusses recycling and material efficiency metrics. The article argues that the use of the collection rate as a recycling metric does not directly stimulate avoidance of virgin inputs and associated impacts. An alternative metric compares paper for recycling (recovered paper) with total fibrous inputs and indicates that the current rate is at just over half of the technical potential. Material efficiency metrics are found to be more useful if they relate to the reuse potential of wastes. The material balance developed in this research provides a solid basis for further study of global sustainable production and consumption of paper. The conclusions on recycling and efficiency should be considered for improving environmental assessment and stimulating a shift toward resource efficiency and the circular economy.
Trauma, disease and collateral damage: conflict in cimicids

The bed bugs and bat bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) are unusual in being a gonochorist (separate male and female genders) taxon with obligate traumatic insemination. Males of all the species in this family have a lanceolate paramere (intromittent organ) which they use to pierce the female's body wall and inseminate directly into her haemocoel, despite the presence of a functional female genital tract. Mating is tightly linked to the feeding cycle in Cimex lectularius, the common bed bug. In this paper, I examine key aspects of the reproductive anatomy and behaviour of C. lectularius that underpin the nature of the conflict over mating rate in this species. I then examine the consequences of traumatic insemination for female fitness and examine potential mechanisms that might underpin those costs. Finally, the collateral consequences of the male reproductive tactic on other males of C. lectularius and the African bat bug, Afrocimex constrictus are examined.
Review Article: Vascular and Metabolic Effects of Sex Steroids: New Insights Into Clinical Trials

The early discontinuation of the Women's Health Initiative trials of daily conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone and of conjugated estrogens only was hailed as the “death to the use of hormone replacement regimens” in menopause. The analyses showed risks outweighing benefits of hormone therapy when given broadly to postmenopausal women. The expanding basic science and clinical research on the specific actions of sex steroids at the genomic and nongenomic level, however, shed new insight into these results. This review focuses on the vascular and metabolic effects of sex steroids to illustrate new advances. Understanding the mechanisms of sex steroid receptor action in a tissue-specific manner, ligand-specific dose responses, and the effects of steroid hormones in normal compared to diseased tissues may explain some of the outcomes in the clinical trials. Further research will clarify the potential benefits and risks of hormone therapy after menopause, both in individual patients and in selected populations.
Back enhanced (BE) SOI pMOSFET behavior at high temperatures

This paper reports for the first time the behavior of the new BE SOI pMOSFET at high temperatures up to 125°C. In spite of the conduction mechanism takes place at the back interface in this device, it was obtained an increase of the threshold voltage (up to 1.5 mV/ °C) and a decrease of the transconductance (c-factor up to 1.3) with the temperature increase, which is stronger than the observed for the conventional FD SOI MOSFET. The zero-temperature coefficient (ZTC) was also observed. Furthermore, a simple model was applied to calculate the ZTC bias point, and the model presents a good agreement with experimental data. The body factor is almost negligible within this temperature and the subthreshold slope presents a strong degradation at high temperature.
Statistical Modeling for Radiation Hardness Assurance: Toward Bigger Data

New approaches to statistical modeling in radiation hardness assurance are discussed. These approaches yield quantitative bounds on flight-part radiation performance even in the absence of conventional data sources. This allows the analyst to bound radiation risk at all stages and for all decisions in the RHA process. It also allows optimization of RHA procedures for the project's risk tolerance.