Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An empiric treatment for idiopathic oligozoospermia revisited: a 20‐year investigative saga

A series of studies aiming at introducing an effective treatment for idiopathic oligozoospermia was conducted in a step‐wise fashion spanning over a 20‐year period. The concept was that co‐administration of an accessory gland‐stimulating androgen, testosterone undecanoate (40 mg t.i.d.) and the FSH raising anti‐oestrogen tamoxifen citrate (10 mg b.i.d.) may improve sperm parameters. A prerequisite for such an effect was the demonstration that testosterone undecanoate had no suppressing action on pituitary‐testicular axis. In this context, initial studies demonstrated no change in basal or stimulated gonadotrophin and testosterone secretion in short‐ or long‐term protocols. Two subsequent trials with this combination showed a marked improvement of sperm parameters and pregnancy incidence, with a seasonal variation noted in response to treatment, this being higher during the cold seasons of autumn and winter. Regarding the mechanism of testosterone undecanoate's action, a recent study from our unit showed that its administration resulted in a marked rise of serum DHT levels. Because this steroid is an epididymal function promoter, it appears that its contribution in the combination is mediated mainly through its DHT raising effect. By and large, this empiric approach for the treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia was satisfactorily documented after a 20‐year investigative saga.
Serum hepatitis C virus RNA quantity and histological features of hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal ALT levels

We studied hepatitis C virus carriers with normal liver function to evaluate the histological features of their livers and the replicative levels of hepatitis C virus. Liver biopsies were performed in 22 hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal ALT levels. Hepatitis C virus RNA in serum was quantified with a competitive assay that combined reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction, which is based on coamplification of the target RNA with known amounts of synthetic mutated RNA. Three patients had normal livers on histological study, whereas the other 19 had chronic persistent hepatitis, with lymphoid infiltrates or aggregates in portal tracts commonly observed but intralobular inflammatory changes absent or minimal. The titer of hepatitis C virus RNA (logarithmic transformed copy number per milliliter of serum) varied from 4.0 to 8.0 (mean ± S.D.: 6.3 ± 1.1); it was significantly lower in the three patients with normal livers (4.3 ± 0.2) than in those with chronic persistent hepatitis with mild (6.4 ± 0.8, n = 11) or moderate (7.1 ± 0.5, n = 8) portal inflammation. The titer of hepatitis C virus RNA was correlated with the total score (r = 0.68) and the score for portal inflammation (r = 0.68) in the histological activity index. These results indicated that there seem to be “healthy carriers” of hepatitis C virus with extremely low levels of viral replication. However, in most hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal ALT levels, there are inflammatory changes in the portal tracts, with severity depending on the replicative levels of hepatitis C virus. (HEPATOLOGY 1994;19:871–875.)
South Korean alcohol free associations: negative expectancy not predicting drinks per occasion.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Cultural and biological particulars existing in East Asian countries are likely to mediate differences in the alcohol consumption experience. Despite this no research to date has directly explored the alcohol free association or expectancy of any East Asian nations. The current research aims to provide a set of South Korean alcohol expectancies. DESIGN AND METHODS Two hundred and thirty-seven South Koreans participated in an alcohol free association test and completed a demographic survey. RESULTS The results both confirmed and contradicted areas of past alcohol expectancy research. There appears to be differences in associates with high probability of recall and alcohol expectancy, where negative, negative sedating and sedating expectancy categories were not found to be predictors of South Korean drinker level. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The results suggest that South Koreans have a more even level of negative expectancy across all drinker categories, possibly due to a combination of linguistic, cultural and biological difference found among this population. The results provide a list of South Korean alcohol free association norms for future alcohol research in the region, with the results also underlining the need for alcohol free association tests among East Asian nations.
A pre-alarm system for visual fatigue in an IC packaging factory

Before shipping the product to customer, maintenance is a back-end department of integrated circuit (IC) production, and yield rate measures whether the product batch is accepted or not. A correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between yield rate and visual fatigue, so reducing visual fatigue can improve operators' comfort as well as the yield rate. In this study, Group Method and Data Handling (GMDH) of neural network was applied to build a visual fatigue prediction model which was implemented in the maintenance section of an IC packaging factory. The implementation result showed that visual fatigue was reduced, and yield rate also improved simultaneously.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vif protein binds to the Pr55Gag precursor

The Vif protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is required for productive replication in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Previous reports suggest that vif-deleted viruses are limited in replication because of a defect in the late steps of the virus life cycle. One of the remaining questions is to determine whether the functional role of Vif involves a specific interaction with virus core proteins. In this study, we demonstrate a direct interaction between Vif and the Pr55Gag precursor in vitro as well as in infected cells. No interaction is observed between Vif and the mature capsid protein. The Pr55Gag-Vif interaction is detected (i) in the glutathione S-transferase system, with in vitro-translated proteins demonstrating a critical role of the NC p7 domain of the Gag precursor; (ii) with proteins expressed in infected cells; and (iii) by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Deletion of the C-terminal 22 amino acids of Vif abolishes its interaction with the Pr55Gag precursor. Furthermore, point mutations in the C-terminal domain of Vif which have been previously shown to abolish virus infectivity and binding to cell membranes dramatically decrease the Gag-Vif interaction. These results suggest that the interaction between Vif and the pr55Gag precursor is a critical determinant of Vif function.
Leishmaniasis: treatment updates and clinical practice guidelines review

Purpose of review This review summarizes recent important and interesting articles investigating the challenging treatment of the parasitic infection, leishmaniasis. In addition, it compares and contrasts leishmaniasis clinical practice treatment guidelines. Recent findings Studies show that, in contrast to experience in India, visceral leishmaniasis in East Africa requires higher doses of liposomal amphotericin for effective treatment results and that pentavalent antimonial drugs remain efficacious. A retrospective study of visceral leishmaniasis in organ transplant patients suggests that there may be a role for secondary prophylaxis after treatment akin to HIV coinfection recommendations. The pros and cons of oral therapy with miltefosine, which cuts across leishmaniasis syndromes in its spectrum, are discussed. Cutaneous leishmaniasis clinical practice guidelines vary, although the recent European guidelines favor species-directed therapy. Summary Leishmaniasis remains a neglected tropical disease, with a need for additional clinical trials with better design and reported endpoints to lead evidence-based treatment recommendations – especially in cutaneous leishmaniasis and leishmaniasis in the immunocompromised host.
A phase I trial evaluating the safety and biological activity of iboctadekin (rhIL-18) in combination with rituximab in patients with CD20+ B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

8566 Background: Iboctadekin (rhIL-18) is an immunostimulatory cytokine that has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in several preclinical models. When administered as monotherapy in phase I clinical studies, rhIL-18 was safe, well tolerated and induced potent biological responses (e.g. Th1 cytokine production and expression of activation markers on NK, CD8+ and CD4+ cells). These data affirm the endogenous role of IL-18 as a co-stimulatory cytokine and suggest that its optimal use would be in a combination with other immune modulators such as rituximab. METHODS Patients with CD20+ B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are being given rituximab (375 mg/m2) IV weekly for 4 consecutive weeks in combination with ascending doses of intravenous rhIL-18 (1 to 100 mcg/kg in 6 cohorts of 3 patients each) IV weekly for 12 weeks to identify a dose that is safe and tolerable and gives a maximum biological effect. Eligible patients must have disease which progressed after standard therapy or for which there is no effective standard treatment. Assessments include safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (serum cytokines, peripheral blood phenotypic markers and tumor biomarkers), immunogenicity and anti-tumor activity. RESULTS To date, thirteen subjects have been enrolled in the first four cohorts (1, 3, 10 and 20 mcg /kg of rhIL-18). The combination is well tolerated with a safety profile similar to that observed with rituximab or rhIL-18 monotherapy. The pharmacodynamic response is as expected with a dose-dependent decrease in circulating activated (CD69+) NK cells within 4 hours after completing the rhIL-18 infusion which rebound to pre-dose levels within 2-4 days. Using the International Working Group response criteria for lymphoma, two subjects had complete responses at 10 and 20 mcg/kg, one subject had a partial response at 10 mcg/kg and three subjects had stable disease at 1, 3 and 3 mcg/kg. CONCLUSIONS These data show that the combination of rhIL-18 and rituximab is safe, well tolerated and induces potent biological activity. This study will define the dose level to be used in a future phase II trial evaluating this combination in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. [Table: see text].
A comparison of the efficacy of mechanical, chemical, and microwave radiation methods in disinfecting complete dentures

Background: Poor denture hygiene can be a potential source of pathogens. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of microwave radiation with that of chemical and mechanical techniques in disinfecting complete dentures contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two sterilized mandibular dentures were separately contaminated with S. aureus (n = 32) and P. aeruginosa (n = 32) and then incubated at 37°C for 48 h. The contaminated dentures were disinfected as follows: chemical disinfection with Corega tablets; chemical disinfection with 2% glutaraldehyde; mechanical disinfection by brushing the denture; and physical disinfection by 650-W microwaves irradiation for 3 min with six samples in each subgroup. Six dentures served as negative control group, and six contaminated dentures with no disinfection served as the positive control group. 10-3–10-6 dilutions were cultured in the nutrient agar, and the colonies were counted after incubation at 37°C for 48 h. To evaluate the lasting time of disinfection, the containers with nutrient agar and dentures were stored for 7 days at 37°C to evaluate turbidity. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U-test (α = 0.05). Results: There was no evidence of bacterial growth in 48 h and turbidity after 7 days of incubation of dentures disinfected by microwaves, glutaraldehyde, and Corega tablets, which was statistically significant compared to the positive controls (P < 0.001). In mechanically disinfected dentures (brushing), bacterial growth was detected after 48 h which was statistically significant compared to the positive controls (P < 0.001) and turbidity was seen in all the nutrient agar plates. Conclusion: Microwave iradiation, 2% glutaraldehyde, and Corega tablets disinfected complete dentures contaminated with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa which lasted for a long and a short terms.
Lysosomal ROS formation

Abstract Ubiquinone is inhomogenously distributed in subcellular biomembranes. Apart from mitochondria, where ubiquinone has bioenergetic and pathophysiological functions, unusually high levels of ubiquinone have also been reported in Golgi vesicles and lysosomes. In lysosomes, the interior differs from other organelles in its low pH value which is important to ensure optimal activity of hydrolytic enzymes. Since redox-cycling of ubiquinone is associated with the acceptance and release of protons, we assumed that ubiquinone is part of a redox chain contributing to unilateral proton distribution. A similar function of ubiquinone was earlier suggested by Crane to operate in Golgi vesicles. Support for the involvement of ubiquinone in a presumed couple of redox carriers came from our observation that almost 70% of total lysosomal ubiquinone was in the divalently reduced state. Further reduction was seen in the presence of external NADH. Analysis of the components involved in the transfer of reducing equivalents from cytosolic NADH to ubiquinone revealed the existence of an FAD-containing NADH dehydrogenase. The latter was found to reduce ubiquinone by means of a b-type cytochrome. Proton translocation into the interior was linked to the activity of the novel lysosomal redox chain. Oxygen was found to be the terminal electron acceptor, thereby also regulating acidification of the lysosomal matrix. In contrast to mitochondrial respiration, oxygen was only trivalently reduced giving rise to the release of HO radicals. The role of this novel proton-pumping redox chain and the significance of the associated ROS formation has to be elucidated.
Trading Hours and Price Efficiency: The Case of Hong Kong

This paper studies the impact of trading-hour adjustment in Hong Kong Stock market and how this change affects the price efficiency in Hong Kong stock market. We find that the extended trading hours in Hong Kong results in a significantly negative cumulative abnormal return. Also, both the stock price synchronicity and the price delay decrease significantly, which represents the improvement of the price efficiency.
Flexibility as a management principle in dementia care: the Adards example.

PURPOSE Flexibility is an essential ingredient of person-centered care. We illustrate the potential impact of flexibility by portraying a nursing home that uses flexibility in its approach to residents and staff members. DESIGNS AND METHODS The paper describes the management strategies, principles, and environmental features used by the Adards nursing home in Australia. RESULTS Adards' flexibility in daily work and task scheduling promotes both resident and staff autonomy, which in turn allows for higher staffing levels, lower staff turnover, and more typical life experiences for residents than is found in many long-term-care facilities in the United States. IMPLICATIONS The article provides an example and a basis for future discussion on this topic, with the hope that it will prompt other institutions to expand the level of flexibility in their policies and procedures.
Macroeconomic fundamentals and exchange rate dynamics in India: Some survey results

The present study examines the relevance of macroeconomic models in exchange rate determination in India. For this, the study has undertaken a primary survey, with the help of structured mailed questionnaire, on the Indian foreign exchange dealers to understand the dynamics of the market. The sample of the study is 91 dealers (24% of the total dealers). The findings from the primary survey is that majority of the dealers feel in the short and medium term, the changes in exchange rate is not influenced by the changes in macro fundamentals, rather is basically influenced by the micro variables like order flow, market movement, speculation, Central Bank intervention etc. But in the long run, still it is the macro fundamentals that determines the exchange rates. Another interesting finding of this study is that the dealers feel speculation would increase volatility, liquidity and efficiency in the market and on the other hand, central bank intervention reduces volatility and market efficiency. • Faculty member, Institute of Economic Growth, University Enclave, Delhi-110 007, India. E-mail: nrbmurthy@yahoo.com This is a part of the study sponsored by ICICI Research Centre. The views expressed here are author’s alone.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN MARINE TURTLE FIBROPAPILLOMATOSIS

Abstract We document three examples of fibropapillomatosis by histology, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and sequence analysis from three different geographic areas. Tumors compatible in morphology with fibropapillomatosis were seen in green turtles from Puerto Rico and San Diego (California) and in a hybrid loggerhead/ hawksbill turtle from Florida Bay (Florida). Tumors were confirmed as fibropapillomas on histology, although severity of disease varied between cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses revealed infection with the fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus (FPTHV) in all cases, albeit at highly variable copy numbers per cell. Alignment of a portion of the polymerase gene from each fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus isolate demonstrated geographic variation in sequence. These cases illustrate geographic variation in both the pathology and the virology of fibropapillomatosis.
African cichlid fish: a model system in adaptive radiation research

The African cichlid fish radiations are the most diverse extant animal radiations and provide a unique system to test predictions of speciation and adaptive radiation theory. The past few years have seen major advances in the phylogenetics, evolutionary biogeography and ecology of cichlid fish. Most of this work has concentrated on the most diverse radiations. Unfortunately, a large number of small radiations and ‘non-radiations’ have been overlooked, potentially limiting the contribution of the cichlid system to our understanding of speciation and adaptive radiation. I have reviewed the literature to identify 33 intralacustrine radiations and 76 failed radiations. For as many as possible I collected information on lake size, age and phylogenetic relationships. I use these data to address two questions: (i) whether the rate of speciation and the resulting species richness are related to temporal and spatial variation in ecological opportunity and (ii) whether the likelihood of undergoing adaptive radiation is similar for different African cichlid lineages. The former is a key prediction of the ecological theory of adaptive radiation that has been presumed true but remains untested for cichlid radiations. The second is based on the hypothesis that the propensity of cichlids to radiate is due to a key evolutionary innovation shared by all African cichlids. The evidence suggests that speciation rate declines through time as niches get filled up during adaptive radiation: young radiations and early stages of old radiations are characterized by high rates of speciation, whereas at least 0.5 Myr into a radiation speciation becomes a lot less frequent. The number of species in cichlid radiations increases with lake size, supporting the prediction that species diversity increases with habitat heterogeneity, but also with opportunity for isolation by distance. Finally, the data suggest that the propensity to radiate within lakes is a derived property that evolved during the evolutionary history of some African cichlids, and the appearance of which does not coincide with the appearance of proposed key innovations in morphology and life history.
Perceptual Demand Modulates Activation of Human Auditory Cortex in Response to Task-irrelevant Sounds

In the visual modality, perceptual demand on a goal-directed task has been shown to modulate the extent to which irrelevant information can be disregarded at a sensory-perceptual stage of processing. In the auditory modality, the effect of perceptual demand on neural representations of task-irrelevant sounds is unclear. We compared simultaneous ERPs and fMRI responses associated with task-irrelevant sounds across parametrically modulated perceptual task demands in a dichotic-listening paradigm. Participants performed a signal detection task in one ear (Attend ear) while ignoring task-irrelevant syllable sounds in the other ear (Ignore ear). Results revealed modulation of syllable processing by auditory perceptual demand in an ROI in middle left superior temporal gyrus and in negative ERP activity 130–230 msec post stimulus onset. Increasing the perceptual demand in the Attend ear was associated with a reduced neural response in both fMRI and ERP to task-irrelevant sounds. These findings are in support of a selection model whereby ongoing perceptual demands modulate task-irrelevant sound processing in auditory cortex.
Light-Dependent Death of Maize lls1 Cells Is Mediated by Mature Chloroplasts1

We reported previously the isolation of a novel cell death-suppressing gene from maize (Zea mays) encoded by the Lls1 (Lethal leaf spot-1) gene. Although the exact metabolic function of LLS1 remains elusive, here we provide insight into mechanisms that underlie the initiation and propagation of cell death associated withlls1 lesions. Our data indicate that lls1lesions are triggered in response to a cell-damaging event caused by any biotic or abiotic agent or intrinsic metabolic imbalance—as long as the leaf tissue is developmentally competent to developlls1 lesions. Continued expansion of these lesions, however, depends on the availability of light, with fluence rate being more important than spectral quality. Double-mutant analysis oflls1 with two maize mutants oil-yellowand iojap, both compromised photosynthetically and unable to accumulate normal levels of chlorophyll, indicated that it was the light harvested by the plant that energized lls1lesion development. Chloroplasts appear to be the key mediators oflls1 cell death; their swelling and distortion occurs before any other changes normally associated with dying cells. In agreement with these results are indications that LLS1 is a chloroplast-localized protein whose transcript was detected only in green tissues. The propagative nature of light-dependentlls1 lesions predicts that cell death associated with these lesions is caused by a mobile agent such as reactive oxidative species. LLS1 may act to prevent reactive oxidative species formation or serve to remove a cell death mediator so as to maintain chloroplast integrity and cell survival.