Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of stair‐climbing on balance, gait, strength, resting heart rate, and submaximal endurance in healthy seniors

Stair‐climbing serves as a feasible opportunity to remain physically active within everyday‐life. Data on neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory performance after regular stair‐climbing in seniors are scarce. Forty‐eight seniors were stratified to a one‐ (taking every step, INT1) or two‐step strategy (every second step, INT2) or a control group (CON). Thirty‐nine seniors [females: n = 22, males: n = 17; age: 70.5 (SD 5.1) years; BMI: 25.8 (3.1) kg/m2] completed the 8‐week intervention (three weekly sessions). Before and after the intervention, balance, gait, strength, and submaximal endurance (at different intensities) were assessed. Maximal strength and explosive power did not improve significantly (0.10 < P < 0.78). Resting heart rate was significantly reduced in INT2 (−8/min) compared with INT1 (0/min, P = 0.02) and CON (0/min, P = 0.03). Compared with CON, perceived exertion for all intensities (0.007 < P < 0.03) and submaximal exercise heart rate during moderate uphill walking significantly decreased (−11/min; P < 0.05) in INT2. Step counts for forward beam balancing (4.5 cm width) increased in INT2 (P = 0.007) compared with CON. With more pronounced effects in INT2, stair‐climbing significantly improved resting and exercise heart rates, perceived exertion, and dynamic balance performance in healthy seniors and may contribute to better overall fitness, reduced fall risk, and less perceived strain during daily life activities.
Predictors of treatment outcome for binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of short-term treatment outcome for individuals with binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD Fifty women who met DSM-IV criteria for BED were enrolled in a manual-based group cognitive-behavioral therapy that consisted of fourteen 1-hr sessions over an 8-week period. Baseline measures included the frequency of self-reported binge eating from the Eating Behaviors-IV (EB-IV), severity of binge eating and dietary restraint using the Binge Eating Scale (BES) and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), depressive symptoms as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and self-esteem as measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire (RSEQ). RESULTS Logistic regression analyses indicated that the baseline frequency of self-reported episodes of binge eating that were objectively large predicted the likelihood of such episodes at the end of treatment. No variables predicted the likelihood of binge eating episodes that were objectively and subjectively large at the conclusion of treatment. DISCUSSION This study indicates that the frequency of binge eating episodes at baseline is predictive of outcome status at the end of treatment, suggesting that meaningful prognostic factors in BED are identifiable.
Use of technology virtual reality for the study of human - operator in extreme conditions

Astronaut's training includes self-forming a mental model of the upcoming flight. In fact, this model consists of images of the actual and forthcoming situation of the upcoming space flight, formed on the basis of information surplus and multiple models, more or less adequate to the situation. In this regard, the article proposes an experimental methodology to develop a conceptual model and study of basic human mental models as a control system in case of perception, accumulation and processing information and knowledge, making decisions and performing control activities in extreme conditions. A discussion is held about the possibilities of applying the technology of virtual reality \VR\ application in modeling and testing the man as a control system.
Prolonged remission in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of prolonged remission in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using strict criteria for remission and to define disease characteristics and prognosis of patients achieving this state. To also determine the frequency of remission utilizing less restrictive definitions, such as allowing shorter period of disease quiescence, persistence of serological activity, or treatment in the absence of clinical disease. METHODS Patients registered in the Lupus Clinic database between 1970 and 1997 with visits no more than 18 months apart were identified. Prolonged remission was defined as a 5-year consecutive period of no disease activity (SLE disease activity index, SLEDAI = 0) and without treatment (corticosteroids, antimalarials, or immunosuppressants). Prolonged serologically active, clinically quiescent (SACQ) was defined as active serology (elevated anti-dsDNA by Farr assay or hypocomplementemia) but no clinical activity on SLEDAI and no treatment. RESULTS Seven hundred and three patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. Of the 703 patients 46 (6.5%) achieved complete remission for at least 1 year, whereas only 12 patients (1.7%) had prolonged complete remission of at least 5 years on no treatment. Although the frequency of disease manifestations was similar to the patients not in remission, the 5-year remission group was distinguished by lower overall disease activity as measured by adjusted mean SLEDAI, lower prevalence of anti-DNA antibodies, and lower use of steroids and antimalarials. CONCLUSION Prolonged complete remission in lupus is rare. Therefore with current therapies continued vigilance for disease recurrence is necessary.
Effects of Hyperbaric Pressure on a Deep-Sea Archaebacterium in Stainless Steel and Glass-Lined Vessels

The effects of hyperbaric helium pressures on the growth and metabolism of the deep-sea isolate ES4 were investigated. In a stainless steel reactor, cell growth was completely inhibited but metabolic gas production was observed. From 85 to 100°C, CO2 production proceeded two to three times faster at 500 atm (1 atm = 101.29 kPa) than at 8 atm. At 105°C, no CO2 was produced until the pressure was increased to 500 atm. Hydrogen and H2S were also produced biotically but were not quantifiable at pressures above 8 atm because of the high concentration of helium. In a glass-lined vessel, growth occurred but the growth rate was not accelerated by pressure. In most cases at temperatures below 100°C, the growth rate was lower at elevated pressures; at 100°C, the growth rates at 8, 250, and 500 atm were nearly identical. Unlike in the stainless steel vessel, CO2 production was exponential during growth and continued for only a short time after growth. In addition, relatively little H2 was produced in the glass-lined vessel, and there was no growth or gas production at 105°C at any pressure. The behavior of ES4 as a function of temperature and pressure was thus very sensitive to the experimental conditions.
Viruses, plasmids and other genetic elements of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic Archaea.

We review and update the work on genetic elements, e.g., viruses and plasmids (exluding IS elements and transposons) in the kingdom Crenarchaeota (Thermoproteales and Sulfolobales) and the orders Thermococcales and Thermoplasmales in the kingdom Euryarchaeota of the archael domain, including unpublished data from our laboratory. The viruses of Crenarchaeota represent four novel virus families. The Fuselloviridae represented by SSVI of S. shibatae and relatives in other Sulfolobus strains have the form of a tailed spindle. The envelope is highly hydrophobic. The DNA is double-stranded and circular. Members of this group have also been found in Methanococcus and Haloarcula. The Lipothrivciridae (e.g., T TV1 to 3) have the form of flexible filaments. They have a core containing linear double-stranded DNA and DNA-binding proteins which is wrapped into a lipid membrane. The "Bacilloviridae" (e.g., TTV4 and SIRV) are stiff rods lacking this membrane, but also featuring linear double-stranded DNA and DNA-binding proteins. Both virus types carry on both ends structures involved in the attachment to receptors. Both types are represented in Thermoproteus and Sulfolobus. The droplet-formed novel Sulfolobus virus SNDV represents the "Guttaviridae" containing circular double-stranded DNA. Though head and tail viruses distantly resembling T phages or lambdoid phages were seen electronmicroscopically in solfataric water samples, no such virus has so far been isolated. SSV1 is temperate, TTV1 causes lysis after induction, the other viruses found so far exist in carrier states. The hosts of all but TTV1 survive virus production. We discuss the implications of the nature of these viruses for understanding virus evolution. The plasmids found so far range in size from 4.5 kb to about 40 kb. Most of them occur in high copy number, probably due to the way of their detection. Most are cryptic, pNOB8 is conjugative, the widespread pDL10 alleviates in an unknown way autotrophic growth of its host Desulfurolobus by sulfur reduction. The plasmid pTIK4 appears to encode a killer function. pNOB8 has been used as a vector for the transfer of the lac S (beta-galactosidase) gene into a mutant of S. solfataricus.
Antimonial-Mediated DNA Fragmentation inLeishmania infantum Amastigotes

ABSTRACT The basic treatment of leishmaniasis consists in the administration of pentavalent antimonials. The mechanisms that contribute to pentavalent antimonial toxicity against the intracellular stage of the parasite (i.e., amastigote) are still unknown. In this study, the combined use of several techniques including DNA fragmentation assay and in situ and cytofluorometry terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling methods and YOPRO-1 staining allowed us to demonstrate that potassium antimonyl tartrate, an Sb(III)-containing drug, was able to induce cell death associated with DNA fragmentation in axenic amastigotes ofLeishmania infantum at low concentrations (10 μg/ml). This observation was in close correlation with the toxicity of Sb(III) species against axenic amastigotes (50% inhibitory concentration of 4.75 μg/ml). Despite some similarities to apoptosis, nuclease activation was not a consequence of caspase-1, caspase-3, calpain, cysteine protease, or proteasome activation. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the antileishmanial toxicity of Sb(III) antimonials is associated with parasite oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, indicative of the occurrence of late events in the overall process of apoptosis. The elucidation of the biochemical pathways leading to cell death could allow the isolation of new therapeutic targets.
DosiKit, a New Portable Immunoassay for Fast External Irradiation Biodosimetry

DosiKit is a new field-radiation biodosimetry immunoassay for rapid triage of individuals exposed to external total-body irradiation. Here, we report on the validation of this immunoassay in human blood cell extracts 0.5 h after in vitro exposure to 137Cs gamma rays, using γ-H2AX analysis. First, calibration curves were established for five donors at doses ranging from 0 to 10 Gy and dose rates ranging from ∼0.8 to ∼3 Gy/min. The calibration curves, together with a γ-H2AX peptide scale, enabled the definition of inter-experimental correction factors. Using previously calculated correction factors, blind dose estimations were performed at 0.5 h postirradiation, and DosiKit performance was compared against concomitant dicentric chromosome assay (DCA), the current gold standard for external irradiation biodosimetry. A prototype was then assembled and field tested. We show that, despite significant inter-individual variations, DosiKit can estimate total-body irradiation doses from 0.5 to 10 Gy with a strong linear dose-dependent signal and can be used to classify potentially exposed individuals into three dose ranges: below 2 Gy, between 2 and 5 Gy and above 5 Gy. The entire protocol can be performed in 45 min, from sampling to dose estimation, with a new patient triaged every 10 min. While DCA enables precise measurement of doses below 5 Gy, it is a long and difficult method. In contrast, DosiKit is a quick test that can be performed directly in the field by operational staff with minimal training, and is relevant for early field triage and identification of individuals most likely to experience acute radiation syndrome. These findings suggest that DosiKit and DCA are complementary and should be combined for triage in a mass scale event. While the proof-of-concept reported here validates the use of DosiKit at 0.5 h postirradiation, further studies are needed to calibrate and evaluate the performance of the DosiKit assay at longer times after irradiation.
Identification of the Mitochondrial GTP/GDP Transporter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

The genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains 35 members of a family of transport proteins that, with a single exception, are found in the inner membranes of mitochondria. The transport functions of the 16 biochemically identified mitochondrial carriers are concerned with shuttling substrates, biosynthetic intermediates, and cofactors across the inner membrane. Here the identification and functional characterization of the mitochondrial GTP/GDP carrier (Ggc1p) is described. The ggc1 gene was overexpressed in bacteria. The purified protein was reconstituted into liposomes, and its transport properties and kinetic parameters were characterized. It transported GTP and GDP and, to a lesser extent, the corresponding deoxynucleotides and the structurally related ITP and IDP by a counter-exchange mechanism. Transport was saturable with an apparent Km of 1 μm for GTP and 5 μm for GDP. It was strongly inhibited by pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, bathophenanthroline, tannic acid, and bromcresol purple but little affected by the inhibitors of the ADP/ATP carrier carboxyatractyloside and bongkrekate. Furthermore, in contrast to the ADP/ATP carrier, the Ggc1p-mediated GTP/GDP heteroexchange is H+-compensated and thus electroneutral. Cells lacking the ggc1 gene had reduced levels of GTP and increased levels of GDP in their mitochondria. Furthermore, the knock-out of ggc1 results in lack of growth on nonfermentable carbon sources and complete loss of mitochondrial DNA. The physiological role of Ggc1p in S. cerevisiae is probably to transport GTP into mitochondria, where it is required for important processes such as nucleic acid and protein synthesis, in exchange for intramitochondrially generated GDP.
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration-induced Expression of Pain-related Molecules: Glial Cell-derived Neurotropic Factor as a Key Factor

Background Discogenic low back pain has been shown to develop into chronic intractable pain due to an unknown pathogenesis. To study the mechanism of discogenic pain, we analyzed the serial expression of pain-related molecules in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and thalamus using a newly developed rat model of disc degeneration. Methods Ten microliters of complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the L5-6 disc of male Sprague-Dawley rats for 10 minutes using a 26-gauge needle. Using a behavioral test, rats with significant pain were selected and subsequently serial gene expression of pain-related molecules in the DRG and the thalamus was analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results The expression of tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and interleukin-1&bgr; significantly increased at 4 and 8 weeks in the DRG of rats with pain. Furthermore, interleukin-6 was significantly increased at 4 weeks in the DRG; however, these cytokines did not show a significant change in the thalamus. Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P were significantly increased in DRG at 4 and 8 weeks and in the thalamus at 2 and 4 weeks. The level of nerve growth factor-&bgr; did not significantly increase in the DRG or thalamus, whereas glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) was significantly increased at 2 weeks and was sustained through 8 weeks in both the DRG and thalamus. Conclusions The disc degeneration rat model described herein led to significant pain of a chronic nature. The gradual and persistent increase of GDNF in both the thalamus and DRG suggests that GDNF might be a key factor in the development of intractable, chronic discogenic pain.
The Meaning of ‘Limited Pluralism’ in Media Reporting under Authoritarian Rule

Research on mass media in authoritarian regimes focuses more on state mechanisms of control than on actual media reporting and on moments of crises much more than on times of stable functioning of the regime. In order to shed more light on the role of journalistic mass media in authoritarian regimes, this article deals with the actual limits of pluralism in media reporting regarding policy issues in ‘ordinary’ authoritarian politics. Looking at pluralism in sources (i.e., actors being quoted) and pluralism in opinion, the article also deals with the often assumed increasing degree of pluralism from TV over print media to the Internet. This study is based on a qualitative content analysis of media reporting on export pipelines in three post-Soviet authoritarian regimes (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan). The text corpus comprises 3,618 media reports from 38 different journalistic media outlets published between 1998 and 2011. Two major results of the study are, first, that concerning the degree of pluralism, the differences between types of media are country specific, and, second, that ‘limited pluralism’ seems to be a misnomer, as the political opposition—at least in our cases—regularly does not have a voice at all.
Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Bone: The Osteoporosis Connection Revisited

Abstract Tremendous advances have been made in knowledge about the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoporosis, a disease that affects more than 25 million Americans. In particular, it has been determined that two major processes are responsible for osteoporotic fractures. These are: 1) bone mass acquisition during adolescence; and 2) bone loss beyond the sixth decade. The former, and possibly the latter, are regulated by genetic and environmental factors. Insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I), a ubiquitous polypeptide, assumes a critical role in both of these processes. Very recent studies have elucidated a complex multifaceted IGF regulatory system in bone and have allowed investigators to consider site-directed approaches to therapy. Even more exciting is the prospect that the genetic regulation of peak bone mass may be controlled by components of the IGF regulatory system. Within the last half decade, tremendous strides have been made in defining the regulatory circuits that determine the expression of skeletal and serum IGF-I. These heritable modulators may be similar or identical to regulators of bone mineral density, thereby joining two distinct pheno-types. This minireview highlights some of the new investigations into the role IGF-I plays in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Although recent clinical trials with growth hormone and IGF-I in this disease have been relatively disappointing, advances on other fronts have generated considerable excitement, and these promise new and innovative approaches to this crippling disease.
Pulmonary hypertension in the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: prevalence, causes and therapeutic consequences.

"Cor pulmonale" is a classic feature of the "Pickwickian syndrome". Earlier studies have reported a high prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients, but this has not been confirmed by recent studies with a more adequate methodology, including larger groups of patients. The first part of this review is devoted to the prevalence of PH in OSA; most recent studies agree on prevalence of 15-20%. The second (and major) part of the study deals with the causes and mechanisms of PH in OSA. Pulmonary hypertension is rarely observed in the absence of day-time hypoxaemia, and the severity of nocturnal events (apnoea index (AI), apnoea+ hypopnoea index (AHI) does not appear to be the determining factor of PH. Diurnal arterial blood gas disturbances and PH are most often explained by the presence of severe obesity (obesity-hypoventilation syndrome) and, principally, by association of OSA with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (the so called "overlap syndrome"). Bronchial obstruction is generally of mild-to-moderate degree and may be asymptomatic. The final part of the review analyses the therapeutic consequences of the presence of PH in OSA patients. Pulmonary hypertension, which is generally mild-to-moderate, does not need a specific treatment. When nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) fails to correct sleep-related hypoxaemia, supplementary oxygen must be administered. In patients with marked daytime hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2), < or = 7.3 kPa (55 mmHg) conventional O2 therapy (nocturnal + diurnal) is required.
Interictal high‐frequency oscillations (80–500 Hz) are an indicator of seizure onset areas independent of spikes in the human epileptic brain

Purpose: High‐frequency oscillations (HFOs) known as ripples (80–250 Hz) and fast ripples (250–500 Hz) can be recorded from macroelectrodes inserted in patients with intractable focal epilepsy. They are most likely linked to epileptogenesis and have been found in the seizure onset zone (SOZ) of human ictal and interictal recordings. HFOs occur frequently at the time of interictal spikes, but were also found independently. This study analyses the relationship between spikes and HFOs and the occurrence of HFOs in nonspiking channels.
Expression of mutant nuclear β‐catenin correlates with non‐invasive hepatocellular carcinoma, absence of portal vein spread, and good prognosis

β‐catenin has functions both in the cadherin‐mediated cell adhesion system and in the signalling pathway that mediates dorsal axis patterning in the embryo; it has been shown to be aberrantly expressed or mutated in diverse types of human tumour, but the biological significance of this remains to be clarified. To elucidate the clinical implications of aberrant β‐catenin expression and the potential differences between mutant and wild‐type β‐catenin protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the protein expression was analysed by immunohistochemical staining, supplemented by the analysis of gene mutation. Among 372 unifocal primary HCCs, β‐catenin was detected in the tumour cell membrane alone in 272 tumours (group A) and also in the nuclei in 100 (group B). In group A, 148 tumours had decreased β‐catenin expression, but the reduction did not correlate with invasion or prognosis. When compared with group A, however, group B had significantly lower frequencies of hepatitis B surface antigen carrier (p=0.015), and α‐fetoprotein elevation (p=0.0003), but more often had non‐invasive HCC (p<0.001) and better survival (p=0.01). Nuclear β‐catenin expression strongly correlated with mutation of the gene (p<0.00001). In group B, HCC with mutant nuclear β‐catenin correlated positively with non‐invasive (stage 1) tumour and inversely with portal vein tumour thrombi (stage 3 HCC), and had significantly better 5‐year survival, p<0.001 and p<0.0003, respectively. These results suggest that β‐catenin mutation plays an important role in the tumourigenesis of a subset of HCC of good prognosis, and that mutant and wild‐type nuclear β‐catenin proteins are not functionally equivalent. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.