Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antiviral Activity of Cyclosaligenyl Prodrugs of Acyclovir, Carbovir and Abacavir

The cyclosaligenyl (cycloSal) derivatives of the monophosphates of three acyclic or carbocyclic guanosine analogues, for example, acyclovir (ACV), carbovir (CBV) and abacavir (ABC), were investigated for their activity against retrovirus (HIV, Moloney sarcoma virus) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) activity in cell culture. The extent of the antiviral potency of the prodrugs depended on the nature of the nucleoside, the substituent on the cycloSal moiety and the virus investigated. Most notably, and unlike the parent compound ACV, cycloSal-ACV monophosphate (MP) prodrugs retained pronounced activity against ACV-resistant (thymidine kinase-deficient) HSV-1 and also gained anti-HIV activity. While the cycloSal-CBVMP prodrugs did not show enhanced activity compared with the parent compound CBV, the cycloSal-ABCMP prodrugs afforded markedly increased potency against both HSV and HIV. Our data indicate that the cycloSal prodrug approach can be useful to deliver directly the MP derivatives of nucleoside analogues into the intact, virus-infected cells, thus improving and extending the antiviral potency and spectrum of the drugs against retro- and herpesvirus strains.
The effect of local fiscal structure on the equilibrium income of central city residents : utilization of a dynamic urban model

Faced with growing disparities between central cities and suburbs, and with New Federalism causing greater competition among local governments, the basic research question o f this dissertation is how to increase the well-being of central city residents. This study focuses on the well-being o f central city residents rather than on central city fiscal health because improving individual well-being is the ultimate target of government intervention. Among various ways to increase the well-being o f central cities despite cumulative urban decline, this study specifically investigates the composition of local fiscal structures. This study focuses on government intervention that benefits central cities because the central cities and their suburbs are complementary rather than substitutive. To demonstrate that local fiscal structures are effective instruments o f government intervention towards determining the long-term economic well-being o f central city residents, we build a dynamic model as an elaboration o f Oates, Howrey, and Baumol (1971). In line with their conceptual structure, this study extends the model with disaggregated fiscal policy variables that cover the three branches o f local fiscal structures: (i) external supports, (ii) self-reliance strategies, and (iii) burden sharing activities. Therefore, we verify that their model is a robust analytical tool, and that disaggregating policy variables can make more detailed policy analysis. Moreover, this study may compensate for the missing aspect o f Ladd and Yinger (1989-a) that examined the effect o f a broader range o f socio-economic and institutional factors on the fiscal health o f cities, but did not estimate their impact on the long-term well-being o f central city residents. With a structural estimation of the two-stage fixed effects model, this study obtains empirical results that robustly support the dynamic stability o f our model. Grounded on the dynamic stability, we predict equilibrium incomes of the central cities caused by the full range o f local fiscal structures. Moreover, we estimate the number o f time periods required for the convergence to equilibrium income. The overall impact o f local fiscal structures is analyzed with quartile estimates of the equilibrium income and the standardized coefficients o f fiscal policy variables. Finally, a hypothetical scenario illustrates how a new composition o f local fiscal structures can improve the equilibrium income.
Weekly gemcitabine in advanced bladder cancer: a preliminary report from a phase I study.

BACKGROUND Gemcitabine (2'2-difluorodeoxycytidine; GEM) is a novel deoxycytidine analogue with promising antitumor activity, currently under phase II investigation at doses > or = 800 mg/m2/week. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present report summarizes the results obtained in a cohort of 15 patients with metastatic bladder cancer included in a larger phase I study, receiving GEM at therapeutically active doses (> or = 875 mg/m2/week x 3 every 28 days). Except for 1 chemotherapy-naive patient, all had received prior chemotherapy with the M-VAC regimen. RESULTS All but 1 patient were given GEM doses exceeding 1,000 mg/m2 (1 case at 875, 3 at 1,095 and 11 at 1,370 mg/m2) for a total of 50 delivered courses. One complete and 2 partial remissions were seen among 14 previously treated patients. Furthermore, 1 additional partial remission was observed in the single case with no prior chemotherapy, for an overall response rate of 27% (90% C.I. 4.3%-49.1%). All responders had visceral sites of disease. Dose-limiting hematologic toxicity was found at 1,370 mg/m2/wk as underscored by the higher number of toxic treatment delays requiring subsequent dose attenuation in 6 of 11 patients. Toxicity was mild and easily managed. It included (patients with WHO grade 2-3): leukopenia (53%), thrombocytopenia (20%), anemia (53%), AST/ALT rise (27%) and (grade 2 only) fever (60%) and emesis (40%). CONCLUSIONS The favourable tolerability and evidence of antitumor activity of GEM in patients with bladder cancer and prior M-VAC at doses > or = 875 mg/m2/wk are encouraging and deserve confirmation in larger phase II studies.
Launching a Journal About and Through Students as Partners

a Department of Education, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK b Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA c University of Gloucestershire and Healey HE Consultants, Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK d Department of Geography and International Development, University of Chester, Chester, UK e MacPherson Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada f University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Prevalence of neuropsychiatric and mucous membrane irritation complaints among Palestinian shoe factory workers exposed to organic solvents and plastic compounds.

BACKGROUND Long-term exposure to organic solvents is associated with neuropsychiatric and mucus membrane irritation. In developing countries, efforts to secure a good working environment are inadequate and protection against chemical exposures is often neglected. METHODS In a cross-sectional survey, the prevalence of self-reported health complaints and the association with long-term exposure to solvents and plastic materials in the work environment was studied among 167 shoe-factory workers. Prevalences and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR)were calculated in Cox regression. 95% confidence intervals were estimated for PRs of adverse health effects. RESULTS Overall, the workers reported high prevalences of neuropsychiatric and mucus membrane complaints: headache (65%), mental irritability (53%), tingling of limbs (46%), and sore eyes (43%). Cleaning work was associated with tingling of limbs (PR = 1.8, 1.0-3.2), sore eyes (PR = 1.9, 1.1-3.3), and breathing difficulty (PR = 2.0, 1.0-3.9); plastic work was associated with tingling of limbs (PR = 1.8, 1.2-2.9)and sore eyes (PR = 1.7, 1.1-2.7); and varnishing was associated with breathing difficulty (PR = 1.9, 1.1-3.5). CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of self-reported health complaints and the exposure-outcome association could be due to volatile organic solvents (dichloromethane, n-hexane)and plastic compounds (isocyanates and polyvinyl chloride). Absence of a satisfactory work environment is likely to contribute to high exposure levels.
Evaluation of infectious complications of the implantable venous access system in a general oncologic population.

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to evaluate the infectious morbidity associated with 2 common types of implantable port systems used in a cancer center in Taiwan. METHODS This study is retrospective and descriptive. Five hundred seventy-two patients who received implantable ports at the cancer center between January 1994 and December 1998 were included. The following 4 types of catheter-related infections were defined in this study: bloodstream, pocket, exit-site, and tunnel. Semiquantitative methods (rolling plate) were used for cultures of removed catheters. RESULTS The average duration for ports after placement in patients was 358 days (range, 1-1742 days), and the median duration was 242 days. The port-related infection rate was 5.6% in 586 ports and 0.15 per 1000 device-days. Our data indicate that when a port is in use, more frequent dressing changes of the needle exit site (every 3 days vs every 7 days) appear to have no significant impact on the catheter-related infection rate (5.2% vs 7.3%, P =.3). Our observation also indicates that if the catheter is used for total parenteral nutrition (TPN), the patient has a significantly increased chance of developing an infection from the Candida species (71% vs 8%, P =.005). Furthermore, the catheters associated with infections caused by the Candida species had a shorter catheter life (median, 44 days). CONCLUSIONS Infection is the most common complication of venous port system use among cancer patients. According to our data, it is safe and cost-effective to change exit-site needles and transparent dressings every 7 days. It is clearly demonstrated by our study that patients with ports used for the administration of TPN had a significantly greater chance of developing infection from the Candida species. Further investigation is needed to compare the relative advantages of using ports versus other devices for the administration of TPN in cancer patients.
Effects of airflow and work load on cardiovascular drift and skin blood flow.

Cardiovascular drift (CVD) can be defined as a progressive increase in heart rate (HR), decreases in stroke volume (SV) and mean arterial pressure (MAP), and a maintained cardiac output (Q) during prolonged exercise. To test the hypothesis that the magnitude of CVD would be related to changes in skin blood flow ( SkBF ), eight healthy, moderately trained males performed 70-min bouts of cycle ergometry in a 2 X 2 assortment of airflows (less than 0.2 and 4.3 m X s-1) and relative work loads (43.4% and 62.2% maximal O2 uptake). Ambient temperature and relative humidity were controlled to mean values of 24.2 +/- 0.8 degrees C and 39.5 +/- 2.4%, respectively. Q, HR, MAP, SkBF , skin and rectal temperatures, and pulmonary gas exchange were measured at 10-min intervals during exercise. Between the 10th and 70th min during exercise at the higher work load with negligible airflow, HR and SkBF increased by 21.6 beats X min-1 and 14.0 ml X 100 ml-1 X min-1, respectively, while SV and MAP decreased by 16.4 ml and 11.3 mmHg. The same work load in the presence of 4.3 m X s-1 airflow resulted in nonsignificant changes of 7.6 beats X min-1, 4.0 ml X (100 ml-1 X min)-1, -2.7 ml, and -1.7 mmHg for HR, SkBF , SV, and MAP. Since nonsignificant changes in HR, SkBF , SV, and MAP were observed at the lower work load in both airflow conditions, the results emphasize that CVD occurs only in conditions which combine high metabolic and thermal circulatory demands. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Working Memory Capacity and Time Course of Predictive Inferences

A naming task assessed activation of inference concepts during reading. A predicting, or a control, context sentence was followed by a target word to be named, which represented the predicted event or an inconsistent event. The interval between the end of the context and the onset of the target word varied between 50 and 1050-msec. Individual differences in working memory capacity were assessed by the reading span task. As reflected by facilitation in naming latencies in the predicting condition, relative to the control condition, (a) inferences were not made within the first 50-msec after the context, regardless of reading span; (b) only the high-span participants drew inferences within a 550-msec interval; and, (c) both the high-and the low-span participants generated them within a 1050-msec interval. These results indicate that high working memory capacity accelerates the time course of predictive inferences, although they do not become automatic. We propose that this effect occurs because these inferences involve time-consuming elaborations that place demands on the effortful and limited resources of working memory. Deficiencies in word knowledge, speed of lexical access, or comprehension of explicit information do not account for low-span readers' difficulties in generating predictive inferences.
Empirically Based, Agent-based models

There is an increasing drive to combine agent-based models with empirical methods. An overview is provided of the various empirical methods that are used for different kinds of questions. Four categories of empirical approaches are identified in which agent-based models have been empirically tested: case studies, stylized facts, role-playing games, and laboratory experiments. We discuss how these different types of empirical studies can be combined. The various ways empirical techniques are used illustrate the main challenges of contemporary social sciences: (1) how to develop models that are generalizable and still applicable in specific cases, and (2) how to scale up the processes of interactions of a few agents to interactions among many agents.
Trends and Topics in Sports Research in the Social Science Citation Index from 1993 to 2008

This descriptive study evaluated behavioral and social science research on sport for 1993 through 2008, examined the characteristics of sport research, and identified mainstream issues appearing during these 16 years. Based on the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) database from 1993 to 2008, 7,655 articles referring to sport or sports were available. The publication analyses showed that 13 core journals published the most articles in the behavioral sciences of sport. By analyzing all titles, author keywords, and KeyWords Plus, the results showed that physical education, athlete performance, and sports participation were the mainstream issues of sport research in the 16-year study period. The words adolescent, youth, and children frequently appeared, indicating that the emphasis of sport research focused on these participant groups. This bibliometric study reviewed global sports research in SSCI, and described certain patterns or trends in prior research on sport.
Expression of decorin, a small leucine‐rich proteoglycan, as a prognostic factor in soft tissue tumors

Decorin is a major extracellular matrix protein which has recently become the focus of various cancer studies. However, there have so far been no reports describing the clinicopathological implications of decorin in soft tissue tumors. The aim of this study was to examine whether decorin expression is a prognostic factor in soft tissue tumors.
Design of a pipelined datapath synthesis system for digital signal processing

In this paper, we describe the design of SODAS-DSP (Sogang Design Automation System-DSP), a pipelined datapath synthesis system targeted for application-specific DSP chip design. Through facilitated user interaction, the design space of pipelined datapaths for given design descriptions can be explored to produce an optimal design which meets design constraints. Taking SFG (Signal Flow Graph) in schematic as inputs, SODAS-DSP generates pipelined datapaths through scheduling and module allocation processes. New scheduling and module allocation algorithms are proposed for efficient synthesis of pipelined hardwares. The proposed scheduling algorithm is of iterative/constructive nature, where the measure of equidistribution of operations among pipeline partitions is adopted as the objective function. Module allocation is performed in two passes: the first pass for initial allocation and the second one for seduction of interconnection cost. In the experiments, we compare the synthesis results for benchmark examples with those of recent pipelined datapath synthesis systems, Sehwa and PISYN, and show the effectiveness of SODAS-DSP. >
Research on ultra short wave method to measure water content of crude oil

The full measuring range and real-time on-line measurement are new requirements for measuring the water content of the crude oil in oil pipeline with the application of the water flooding technique. The ultra short wave method made best use of the relationship between the ultra short wave transmission property in the crude oil medium including the amplitude attenuation and phase difference and the crude oil physical parameters including the electrical conductivity and permittivity to measure the water content of the crude oil. This method can measure the high and low water content of the crude oil in oil pipeline. The parallel conductor sensor was chosen according to the real workstation and the relationship of the amplitude attenuation, phase difference and the water content. The experimental results prove the ultra short method is feasible. The method has the advantages of the wide measurement range, simple sensor structure and easy installation.
Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging Demonstrates that P2X2 Receptors Are Trimers but That P2X6 Receptor Subunits Do Not Oligomerize*

P2X receptors are cation-selective channels activated by extracellular ATP. The architecture of these receptors is still not completely clear. Here we have addressed this issue by both chemical cross-linking and direct imaging of individual receptors by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cross-linking of the P2X2 receptor produced higher order adducts, consistent with the presence of trimers. The mean molecular volume of the receptor determined by AFM (409 nm3) also points to a trimeric structure. P2X2 receptors bearing His6 epitope tags were incubated with anti-His6 antibodies, and the resultant complexes were imaged by AFM. For receptors with two bound antibodies, the mean angle between the antibodies was 123°, again indicating that the receptor is a trimer. In contrast, cross-linking of the P2X6 receptor did not produce higher order adducts, and the mean molecular volume of the receptor was 145 nm3. We conclude that P2X2 receptors are trimers, whereas the P2X6 receptor subunits do not form stable oligomers.
Nickel-resistant bacteria from anthropogenically nickel-polluted and naturally nickel-percolated ecosystems

DNA fragments harboring the nickel resistance determinants from bacteria isolated from anthropogenically polluted ecosystems in Europe and Zaire were compared with those harboring the nickel resistance determinants from bacteria isolated from naturally nickel-percolated soils from New Caledonia by DNA-DNA hybridization. The biotinylated DNA probes were derived from the previously described Alcaligenes eutrophus CH34, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans 31A, Alcaligenes denitrificans 4a-2, and Klebsiella oxytoca CCUG 15788 and four new nickel resistance-determining fragments cloned from strains isolated from soils under nickel-hyperaccumulating trees. Nine probes were hybridized with endonuclease-cleaved plasmid and total DNA samples from 56 nickel-resistant strains. Some of the New Caledonian strains were tentatively identified as Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas mendocina, Comamonas, Hafnia alvei, Burkholderia, Arthrobacter aurescens, and Arthrobacter ramosus strains. The DNA of most strains showed homologies to one or several of the following nickel resistance determinants: the cnr and ncc operons of the strains A. eutrophus CH34 and A. xylosoxidans 31A, respectively, the nre operon of strain 31A, and the nickel resistance determinants of K. oxytoca. On the basis of their hybridization reactions the nickel resistance determinants of the strains could be assigned to four groups: (i) cnr/ncc type, (ii) cnr/ncc/nre type, (iii) K. oxytoca type, and (iv) others. The majority of the strains were assigned to the known groups. Among the strains from Belgium and Zaire, exclusively the cnr/ncc and the cnr/ncc/nre types were found. Among the New Caledonian strains all four types were represented. Homologies to the nre operon were found only in combination with the cnr/ncc operon. The homologies to the cnr/ncc operon were the most abundant and were detected alone or together with homologies to the nre operon. Only the DNA of the strains isolated from soil in Scotland and the United States and that of five of the New Caledonian strains did not show any detectable homologies to any of our probes. The nickel resistance fragment isolated from Burkholderia strain 32W-2 was studied in some detail. This 15-kb BamHI fragment conferred resistance to 1 to 5 mM NiCl(inf2) to Escherichia coli and resistance to up to 25 mM NiCl(inf2) to A. eutrophus. It showed strong homologies to both the cnr/ncc operon and the nre operon and conferred strictly regulated (inducible) nickel resistance to A. eutrophus.
Low temperature blocks exit of pro‐opiomelanocortin from the endoplasmic reticulum but not subsequent delivery to the site of prohormone processing

The effect of reduced temperature on the delivery of the prohormone pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) to the site of prohormone processing was investigated in the mouse anterior pituitary cell line AtT20. At 20°C processing was substantially inhibited and was almost completely arrested at 18°C. Earlier studies with membrane glycoproteins indicated that at these temperatures protein movement was blocked at the level of exit from the Golgi apparatus. In contrast it was found here that the inhibition of processing at reduced temperature was due to the retention of POMC in the endoplasmic reticulum. When POMC was allowed to progress to the Golgi before temperature was reduced, subsequent processing was only slightly retarded by incubation at 18°C. This indicates either that Golgi exit is not inhibited at this temperature, or that the processing apparatus exists in the Golgi. A surprising incidental result was that when held in the endoplasmic reticulum at low temperature POMC is apparently subject to post‐translational N‐linked glycosylation.
Antigen-driven T cell clones can proliferate in vivo, eradicate disseminated leukemia, and provide specific immunologic memory.

The aim of the current study was to determine the ability of antigen-driven cloned helper cell independent cytotoxic T lymphocytes (HITc) to proliferate and to survive in vivo and to mediate tumor therapy. The HITc clone utilized (denoted 1.B6) was specifically cytolytic to FBL-3, a syngeneic Friend virus-induced murine leukemia. Activation in vitro (48 hr) with FBL-3 induced secretion of interleukin 2 (IL 2), expression of IL 2 receptors (IL 2R), and in vitro proliferation. These cells could be "rested" for several weeks without stimulation, which resulted in reduced expression of IL 2R; however, restimulation with antigen resulted in reinduction of IL 2R and proliferation. The ability of cloned HITc to proliferate and to survive in vivo was examined in cyclophosphamide (CY) pretreated donor mice congenic for the Thy-1 gene. Adoptively transferred cloned HITc could be found in large numbers, and were widely distributed in vivo 1 wk after transfer. In tumor therapy, 1.B6 cells when injected into a site of tumor (i.p.) and used as an adjunct to CY were effective against disseminated FBL-3. In this circumstance, cloned 1.B6 cells could be recovered from cured mice 125 days after transfer and were shown to specifically lyse tumor and proliferate in vitro in response to FBL-3. Thus as an adjunct to CY, tumor-specific cloned HITc are capable of eradicating disseminated leukemia, persisting long-term in vivo, and providing specific immunologic memory.