Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Total Phenolics and Total Flavonoids in Selected Indian Medicinal Plants

Plant phenolics and flavonoids have a powerful biological activity, which outlines the necessity of their determination. The phenolics and flavonoids content of 20 medicinal plants were determined in the present investigation. The phenolic content was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The total flavonoids were measured spectrophotometrically by using the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay. The results showed that the family Mimosaceae is the richest source of phenolics, (Acacia nilotica: 80.63 mg gallic acid equivalents, Acacia catechu 78.12 mg gallic acid equivalents, Albizia lebbeck 66.23 mg gallic acid equivalents). The highest total flavonoid content was revealed in Senna tora which belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae. The present study also shows the ratio of flavonoids to the phenolics in each sample for their specificity.
ENSINO DO PORTUGUÊS COMO SEGUNDA LÍNGUA: QUE FAZER?

Sabe-se que o portugues e o espanhol sao linguas proximas, transparentes, embora essa transparencia nao seja simetrica. O resultado dessa proximidade e o tristemente famoso "portunhol" dos aprendizes. A problematica intercultural, sendo uma questao muito complexa, exige a busca de novos rumos para o ensino de linguas. Este trabalho discute o perfil academico do professor de portugues/L2, reflete sobre as especificidades de trabalho com alunos hispanofalantes e defende a urgencia de pesquisas comparadas.
Modern proteomes contain putative imprints of ancient shifts in trace metal geochemistry

Because of the rise in atmospheric oxygen 2.3 billion years ago (Gya) and the subsequent changes in oceanic redox state over the last 2.3–1 Gya, trace metal bioavailability in marine environments has changed dramatically. Although theorized to have influenced the biological usage of metals leaving discernable genomic signals, a thorough and quantitative test of this hypothesis has been lacking. Using structural bioinformatics and whole-genome sequences, the Fe-, Zn-, Mn-, and Co-binding metallomes of 23 Archaea, 233 Bacteria, and 57 Eukarya were constructed. These metallomes reveal that the overall abundances of these metal-binding structures scale to proteome size as power laws with a unique set of slopes for each Superkingdom of Life. The differences in the power describing the abundances of Fe-, Mn-, Zn-, and Co-binding proteins in the proteomes of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes are similar to the theorized changes in the abundances of these metals after the oxygenation of oceanic deep waters. This phenomenon suggests that Prokarya and Eukarya evolved in anoxic and oxic environments, respectively, a hypothesis further supported by structures and functions of Fe-binding proteins in each Superkingdom. Also observed is a proliferation in the diversity of Zn-binding protein structures involved in protein–DNA and protein–protein interactions within Eukarya, an event unlikely to occur in either an anoxic or euxinic environment where Zn concentrations would be vanishingly low. We hypothesize that these conserved trends are proteomic imprints of changes in trace metal bioavailability in the ancient ocean that highlight a major evolutionary shift in biological trace metal usage.
IDB WORKING PAPER SERIES # IDB-WP-125 Institutional Quality and Fiscal Transparency

This paper uses new data on fiscal transparency for a cross-section of countries; these data possess several advantages. First, the data are based on in-depth reports using a standardized methodology and protocol. Second, this study covers 82 countries, more than previous comparable studies. Third, the fiscal measures used have been obtained with the collaboration of government authorities, which makes them particularly reliable. Finally, the data collection has been undertaken at a high level. These new data permit examination of a relevant but little-studied issue, the role of institutional quality in a country’s fiscal transparency. It is shown that there is in fact a causal relationship between institutions and transparency. The findings are robust to changes in specification and a host of transparency sub-measures.
Radical prostatectomy for clinically advanced (cT3) prostate cancer since the advent of prostate‐specific antigen testing: 15‐year outcome

In the first paper in this section, authors from the Mayo Clinic describe their experience and 15‐year outcomes in the controversial subject of radical prostatectomy in patients with clinical T3 prostate cancer. The findings were interesting in many respects, but the authors concluded that radical prostatectomy as part of multimodal treatment for patients with clinical T3 disease offers cancer control and good survival rates.
Cross-cultural communication with patients who use American Sign Language.

BACKGROUND Although American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most commonly used primary language in the United States, physicians are often not adequately prepared for the challenges of conducting an interview with a deafpatient who signs. METHODS A search of MEDLINE and PsychINFO databases for research on physician-patient communication and deaf people who use ASL was performed. Expert opinion helped guide discussion and recommendations. RESULTS Few articles examined physician-patient communication involving ASL. Deaf people and their physicians report difficulties with physician-patient communication. Deaf people also report fear that their health care is substandard because of these difficulties. CONCLUSIONS Preparing residents and medical students for working with patients and families who communicate in ASL presents many opportunities for teaching about physician-patient communication. ASL is quite different from English, and users of ASL often have sociocultural norms that differ from those of the majority culture. In addition to learning how to communicate with patients and families across languages and cultures, students and residents can learn how to collaborate with interpreters and how low literacy impacts physician-patient communication. Opportunities to teach about family dynamics, disability issues, and nonverbal communication also present themselves when working with families with Deaf members. Physician-patient communication involving ASL is an area that is ready for further research.
The effect of fentanyl and clonidine on early postoperative negative behavior in children: a double‐blind placebo controlled trial

Early negative postoperative behavior (e‐PONB) is common in children and manifests itself as emergence agitation (EA), emergence delirium (ED), and pain. The objective of this prospective double blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial was to determine whether IV clonidine or IV fentanyl prior to surgery modifies e‐PONB in children.
Costs and Savings Associated with Implementation of a Police Crisis Intervention Team

Objectives Police crisis intervention teams (CIT) have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing injury to law enforcement personnel and citizens and the criminalization of mental illness; however, their financial effect has not been fully investigated. The objective of the study was to determine the total costs or total savings associated with implementing a CIT program in a medium-size city. Methods The costs and savings associated with the implementation of a CIT program were analyzed in a medium-size city, Louisville, Kentucky, 9 years after the program’s initiation. Costs associated with officer training, increased emergency psychiatry visits, and hospital admissions resulting from CIT activity were compared with the savings associated with diverted hospitalizations and reduced legal bookings. Results Based on an average of 2400 CIT calls annually, the overall costs associated with CIT per year were $2,430,128 ($146,079 for officer training, $1,768,536 for hospitalizations of patients brought in by CIT officers, $508,690 for emergency psychiatry evaluations, and $6823 for arrests). The annual savings of the CIT were $3,455,025 ($1,148,400 in deferred hospitalizations, $2,296,800 in reduced inpatient referrals from jail, and $9825 in avoided bookings and jail time). The balance is $1,024,897 in annual cost savings. Conclusions The net financial effect of a CIT program is of modest benefit; however, much of this analysis was based on estimates and average length of stay. Furthermore, the costs and savings associated with officer or citizen injuries were not included because there was inadequate information about their prevalence and costs. Finally, this analysis does not take into account the nonmonetary gains of a CIT program.
PTSD symptoms in urban adolescent girls: compounded community trauma.

OBJECTIVE To describe the assessments for exposure to violent events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a population of urban adolescent girls. METHOD Seventy-nine urban adolescent girls attending an adolescent medicine clinic were assessed via clinician-assisted self-report measures called the Adolescent Self-Report Trauma Questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered information on demographics, exposure to community and domestic violent events, and PTSD symptoms. RESULTS The adolescents experienced between 8 and 55 different types of community and domestic violent events, with the mean number of violent events being 28. Hyperarousal cluster symptoms were present in 90%, reexperiencing clusters symptoms in 89%, and avoidance cluster symptoms in 80%, while 67% met symptom criteria for PTSD. Increased number of types of violent events was positively correlated with meeting PTSD criteria (p = .01) and with increased PTSD severity scores (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS These urban adolescent girls have experienced prolonged and repeated exposure to multiple types of community as well as domestic violent events, via multiple modalities of contact, over time. They reported a high percentage of PTSD symptoms across all three symptom clusters. The authors propose the concept of "compounded community trauma" and discuss its marked impact on female adolescent development.
The master cell cycle regulator APC-Cdc20 regulates ciliary length and disassembly of the primary cilium

The primary cilium has an important role in signaling; defects in structure are associated with a variety of human diseases. Much of the most basic biology of this organelle is poorly understood, even basic mechanisms, such as control of growth and resorption. We show that the activity of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC), an E3 that regulates the onset of anaphase, destabilizes axonemal microtubules in the primary cilium. Furthermore, the metaphase APC co-activator, Cdc20, is specifically recruited to the basal body of primary cilia. Inhibition of APC-Cdc20 activity increases the ciliary length, while overexpression of Cdc20 suppresses cilium formation. APC-Cdc20 activity is required for the timely resorption of the cilium after serum stimulation. In addition, APC regulates the stability of axonemal microtubules through targeting Nek1, the ciliary kinase, for proteolysis. These data demonstrate a novel function of APC beyond cell cycle control and implicate critical role of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in ciliary disassembly. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.03083. 001
Predictors and Implications of Stent Thrombosis in Non–ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes: The ACUITY Trial

Background— The frequency, predictors, and consequences of stent thrombosis (ST) in patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) have been incompletely studied. We sought to investigate the incidence, predictors, and clinical implications of ST occurring within 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with NSTE-ACS. Methods and Results— The Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage StrategY (ACUITY) trial was a large-scale, prospective, randomized trial of antithrombotic regimens in patients with NSTE-ACS. The present analysis includes 7162 patients in whom stents were implanted. At 1 year, definite/probable ST occurred in 146 patients (2.2%), including 94 definite and 52 probable events. There were 100 episodes (1.4%) of early ST (within the first 30 days) and 46 episodes (0.8%) of late ST (between 30 days and 1 year). The incidence of ST within 1 year was similar in patients treated with drug-eluting stents or bare metal stents (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.62–1.20; P=0.38) and was independent of procedural antithrombotic treatment. Patients with ST compared with those without ST had strikingly higher 1-year rates of cardiac mortality (32.4% versus 2.9%, P<0.0001), myocardial infarction (82.6% versus 7.6%, P<0.0001), and target vessel revascularization (79.6% versus 7.4%, P<0.0001). Independent predictors of 1-year definite/probable ST were insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, number of diseased vessels, and ST-segment deviation ≥1 mm. Conclusions— Compared with elective stent implantation, ST occurs with increased frequency in the first year after stent implantation in patients with NSTE-ACS, especially within the first 30 days, and is associated with marked increases in cardiac mortality and adverse events. Insulin-treated diabetes, number of diseased vessels, and dynamic ST-segment changes were independent predictors of 1-year ST in NSTE-ACS. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00093158.
Método Supervisionado de Classificação e Identificação de Padrões de Pele em Imagens e Vídeos

Neste artigo e apresentado um metodo supervisionado de classificacao e identificacao de padroes de pele em sequencias de video. O usuario treina o sistema atraves da selecao de padroes tipicos de pele em um determinado frame, que sera utilizado como referencia na construcao de uma metrica de distancia nao-linear. Neste processo de aprendizado o otimo global e indutivamente obtido atraves da distancia polinomial de Mahalanobis, extraindo as caracteristicas nao-lineares dos padroes de pele. Estas caracteristicas nao-lineares sao entao utilizadas para classificar os frames capturados de uma camera, identificando todos os padroes de pele e nao-pele na cena. Foi adotada uma estrategia que possibilita ao metodo ser executado em tempo real logo apos algumas iteracoes. O metodo de classificacao foi comparado em relacao a norma vetorial (L 2 ) e distancia de Mahalanobis, demonstrando uma melhor classificacao para os padroes de pele.
Thermal analysis of dental resins cured with blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Thermal analysis was used to measure the characteristics of dental resins cured with the use of a new light-activation unit equipped with high illuminant blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The characteristics were compared with those of resins cured with the use of two conventional halogen lamp units. The prepared base monomer consisted of a mixture of Bis-GMA and TEGDMA (60:40 by weight), with 0.5 wt% CQ/DMPT or CQ/DMAEMA. The two experimental visible-light-cured resins were polymerized for 40 s. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to examine the thermal characteristics of the cured resins. The activation energy for the decomposition of the dental resin was calculated from the peaks of the endothermic curves obtained when the specimens were heated at three different rates (5, 10, and 15 C/min) during DSC. The activation energies calculated for the LED-cured specimens were more than 220 kJ/mol; specimens cured with the use of the halogen units had activation energies of less than 192 kJ/mol. The Knoop hardness number (KHN) of the same specimens was measured, and was higher with the blue LED units than with halogen lamp units. Therefore, dental resins cured using blue LEDs have a higher degree of polymerization and more stable three-dimensional structures than those cured with halogen lamps.
Activation of human natural killer cells cytotoxic for human leukemia cells by purified interferon.

Interferon (IF) inducers and IF-containing preparations of leukocyte origin have recently been reported to augment natural killer (NK) cell activity. Our studies were undertaken to determine whether highly purified human fibroblast interferon (HFIF), induced by polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), would augment human NK cell activity against an NK-sensitive leukemia cell line, K562, and, more importantly, to determine whether HFIF would activate normal lymphocytes to lyse human leukemia cells that have not been adapted to tissue culture or established as cell lines. Pretreatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells for 1 to 16 hr with purified HFIF (150 to 300 units/ml) caused 2.5- to 5-fold increases in cytotoxicity against the K562 cells. Both native and HFIF-augmented cytotoxicities were mediated by FcR+ lymphocytes (lymphocytes expressing receptors for the Fc portion of IgG). Removal of FcR+ lymphocytes, but not monocytes, prevented HFIF from augmenting cytotoxicity, suggesting that HFIF activates preexisting FcR+ NK cells and that monocytes are not required for this effect. Our findings that NK cell activity is augmented by poly I:C-induced fibroblast IF, which lacks lymphokines and viral products present in virus-induced leukocyte IF preparations previously used, together with the fact that our IF preparation was more highly purified than any previously used for such studies, strongly suggest that the IF protein itself augments NK activity. HFIF-treated cells from some individuals lysed many patients' leukemia cells; however, the HFIF-treated cells were not cytotoxic for autologous or allogeneic normal lymphocytes or concanavalin A blasts. FcR+ cells were required for the HFIF-induced cytotoxicity against the patients' leukemia cells. These results thus demonstrate that not only leukemia cell lines, but also human leukemia cells that have not been adapted to tissue culture or established as cell lines, can be lysed by IF-activated human NK cells.
Quantification of hepcidin-25 in human serum by isotope dilution micro-HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry.

Hepcidin-25, a liver-produced peptide hormone, was initially isolated from human urine and blood ultrafiltrate. Hepcidin-25 is thought to be the central regulator of iron metabolism (1). Iron deficiency is associated with low hepcidin-25 concentrations and anemia of chronic disease with high concentrations, but the true diagnostic value of hepcidin-25 is still under investigation. A recently published review(2) stated that only semiquantitative methods for comparative studies based on mass spectrometry (MS) have been used for the determination of hepcidin in serum and urine. Isotope-dilution MS is generally accepted as yielding high analytical specificity and accuracy. We report an isotope-dilution–micro-HPLC–tandem MS (MS/MS) method that allows the quantification of hepcidin-25 present at less than nanomole-per-liter concentrations. During sample preparation, hepcidin-25 undergoes strong nonspecific binding to surfaces. A stable isotope-labeled internal standard helps to compensate for any matrix effects. Micro-HPLC-MS/MS with monolithic capillary columns ensures highest resolution and limits of quantification (3). Native hepcidin-25 ( M r 2789) was purchased from Bachem AG. The internal standard, hepcidin-25 [DTHFPI(13C6 …
Monocyte Tissue Factor Expression Is Enhanced in Women who Smoke and Use Oral Contraceptives

Summary The association between use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and increased risk of thromboembolic disease has been firmly established. This risk increases when use of OCs is combined with cigarette smoking. The cellular mechanism favoring an hypercoagulable state under these behaviours is not known. Circulating monocytes are potent activators of the coagulation cascade through their ability to synthesize procoagulant tissue factor (TF). In the present study we report that monocyte TF expression is increased in women who use OCs and smoke. We studied monocyte TF expression in 4 groups of healthy pre-menopausal women (n = 15 each): (1) non-smoking OC non-users, (2) nonsmoking current OC users, (3) smoking OC non-users and (4) smoking OC users. TF expression was assessed on both mRNA and protein levels in unstimulated and LPS-stimulated cells. Transcriptional activation of the TF gene was assessed by analysis of the transcription factor NF-κB and its inhibitor molecule IκBα. Monocyte TF generation was significantly higher in OC users than in women who did not use OCs. Enhanced monocyte TF generation was also observed in smoking women when compared to non-smokers. Strongest monocyte TF expression occurred in women with combined smoking and use of OCs. The enhanced TF expression in monocytes from women using OCs or smoking was based on an increased TF gene transcription following activation of NF-κB. Experiments on cultured monocytes/macrophages demonstrated enhanced IκBα degradation in the presence of estradiol, suggesting that a direct hormone effect is responsible for the observed increase in monocyte TF expression. This study demonstrates that use of OCs and smoking is associated with an increase in monocyte TF expression in pre-menopausal women. Aberrant TF expression by blood monocytes may favour intravascular clotting activation in women with OC therapy. The further enhancement of TF activity observed in women who smoke and use OCs may explain the synergistic effect of smoking on risk of thromboembolic events associated with contraceptive use.
Emerging drugs for secondary hyperparathyroidism

Introduction: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), a common, serious, and progressive complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), is characterized by elevated serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), parathyroid gland hyperplasia, and mineral metabolism abnormalities. These disturbances may result in CKD–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), which is associated with poor quality of life and short life expectancy. Areas covered: The goal of SHPT treatment is to maintain PTH, calcium, and phosphorus within accepted targeted ranges. This review highlights the pathogenesis of SHPT and current SHPT therapeutic approaches, including the use of low-phosphate diets, phosphate binders, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) and its analogs, calcimimetics, and parathyroidectomy in addition to discussing emerging drugs in development for SHPT. Expert opinion: Numerous studies indicate that mineral abnormalities occur early in the course of CKD, are prevalent by the time patients enter dialysis, and foreshadow a risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Several newly developed compounds may potentially overcome the limitations of current SHPT therapies. If emerging therapies can reduce PTH, normalize mineral metabolism, promote treatment adherence, and reduce the risk of side effects, they may provide the requisite features for improving long-term outcomes in patients with SHPT receiving dialysis and reduce the risks of CKD-MBD.
Configuration Guidelines for DiffServ Service Classes

This paper summarizes the recommended correlation between service classes and their usage, with references to their corresponding recommended Differentiated Service Code Points (DSCP), traffic conditioners, Per-Hop Behaviors (PHB) and Active Queue Management (AQM) mechanism. There is no intrinsic requirement that particular DSCPs, traffic conditioner PHBs and AQM be used for a certain service class, but as a policy it is useful that they be applied consistently across the network.