Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Levels of CC-chemokine (MCP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta) in induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and patients with chronic bronchitis].

BACKGROUND MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta are CC-chemokines, which act as chemoattractants for inflammatory cells like macrophages, lymphocytes and eosinophils. These cells are known to be important for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis (CB). METHODS Sputum was obtained from 14 patients with COPD, 12 patients with CB and 14 healthy persons by means of the sputum induction method. The MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta levels were measured in induced sputum via ELISA method. RESULTS MIP-1 alpha levels in sputum were significantly higher in CB patients compared to healthy persons (p = 0.01). Median and (range) were following: CB patients--22.7 pg/ml (9.2-95.9 pg/ml), control subjects--17.5 pg/ml (0-27.1 pg/ml). The MIP-1 beta levels in sputum were significantly higher in COPD patients compared to healthy persons (p = = 0.003). Median and (range) were following: COPD patients--173.2 pg/ml (30.6-1880 pg/ml), control subjects--19.0 pg/ml (0-570.5 pg/ml). No significant differences were detected among studied groups for MCP-1 levels in induced sputum. There was positive correlation in CB group between levels of MIP-1 beta and number of eosinophils in gram of sputum (r = 0.81 and p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS MIP-1 alpha maybe important for development of chronic bronchitis and MIP-1 beta for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MIP-1 beta is probably a chemoattractant for eosinophils in patients with chronic bronchitis.
Neurotransmitters and peptides: whispered secrets and public announcements

The magnocellular oxytocin and vasopressin neurones of the hypothalamus are now understood in exceptional detail. Extensive quantitative details from many independent sources are available describing the electrical activity of the neurones in diverse circumstances, the subcellular localization of vesicles, and rates of hormone secretion from nerve endings into the blood and from dendrites into the brain. These data enable the relationship of electrical (spike) activity to vesicle exocytosis to be inferred with some precision. Such calculations lead to the conclusion that exocytosis of peptide‐containing vesicles is a relatively rare event even in this vesicle‐dense system. At any given release site in the neurohypophysis, it seems that several hundred spikes are needed on average to release a single vesicle. Release from compartments within the brain seems also to be very rare, making it implausible that peptides can act in a temporally precise, anatomically specific manner. However, very large amounts of peptide are released by these infrequent events, consistent with their likely role as neurohormonal messengers.
Behavior coordination for reusable system design in interactive robotics

Robotic systems research is typically a result of a collaborative engineering process in an environment of rapidly changing technologies. It involves a large number of hardware and software components, each of which are problem solutions for differ- ent challenges from different research areas. Systems for Human-Robot Interaction face the additional challenge of having to actually work together with humans in a shared environment. Despite the fact that some single capabilities needed to solve various tasks with robotic systems are well established, however, robots frequently fail when they need to combine these capabilities and demonstrate them in a complex real world scenario. The aspect of coordinating and efficiently combining robots capabilities is one area where robots still fail. The focus of this work is to provide a framework for developers of interactive robot systems that perform in domestic environments, which allows the combina- tion and improvement of building blocks of the robot behavior based on experience gained in real world interaction and make the combination and coordination of these building-blocks easier and more easily reusable for developers. With the framework developed during this thesis there where many occasions where a robot platform was evaluated in a real world environment. This iterative design process documented here helps to answer questions about how to improve the robot performance based on observations from real world interactions, how to enable re-usability of robot behavior building blocks across scenarios and plat- forms and how to combine and coordinate the different robot capabilities from a developers point of view.
A Gospel on the Move: Practice, Proclamation, and Place in Luke-Acts

This essay takes up Luke’s invitation to follow the roads Jesus walked and the roads his followers traveled by exploring the literary and theological functions of movement, travel, hospitality, and place in Luke-Acts. These texts can help shape an imagination and communal identity that sees other communities as partners in faithful discernment, not as foreign threats or strange folks one must merely tolerate. In this way, “a gospel on the move” shapes an imagination of welcome, wonder, and embrace when it comes to migrants, immigrants, and other “people on the move. ”
Toll‐Like Receptor 2 (P631H) Mutant Impairs Membrane Internalization and is a Dominant Negative Allele

We have sequenced 416 Toll‐like receptor‐2 (TLR2) alleles in 208 subjects in a tuberculosis case–control study in Croatian Caucasian population. We found ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) among which three were novel (S97S, T138I and L266F). The genotype containing TLR2‐P631H SNP was significantly overrepresented in patients with tuberculosis when compared to contact controls, suggesting a small yet increased risk to disease. The causative agent of tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can bind to TLR2 with its lipoprotein coat. The TLR2‐P631H mutant has a dominant negative effect on the wild type TLR2 signalling in transfected HEK293 kidney cells using the NF‐κB‐driven luciferase as a reporter gene with ligands like M. avium extracts, Pam3CysSK4 or FSL‐1 that bind TLR2/TLR1 or TLR2/TLR6 heterodimers, respectively. Studies on internalization from the Regular Madine Darby Canine Kidney cell surface into the early endosomal compartments showed a lower rate of the mutant compared to the wild type. Our data, in combination with a report by others show that the TLR2‐P631H allele could be associated with protection to meningococcal meningitis, suggest that by dominantly inhibiting the response of cells important in the immune response this mutant might confer either protection or susceptibility to meningitis or tuberculosis, respectively.
How the impact of medication on psychoanalytic theory and treatment refutes Blass and Carmeli (2015)

Blass and Carmeli (2015) argue that neuroscience has no relevance to psychoanalysis and that the two disciplines concern unrelated data, one objective and the other focused on meaning and subjectivity. Indeed they view neuroscience as potentially dangerous to psychoanalysis. As an author who has written about integrating psychoanalytic treatments with medication (Busch and Sandberg, 2007), I am struck by the similarity between attitudes toward neuroscience expressed by Blass and Carmeli and those expressed by numerous psychoanalysts toward medication in the early years of its growing use (and still presently by some psychoanalysts). Initially believed to be inherently dangerous to psychoanalysis, medications are now welcomed by many practitioners, with provisos, as an inherent part of many psychoanalytic treatments. Indeed it can be argued that this initial exclusionary reaction manifest in analysts’ unwillingness to consider medications for their analysands contributed to stalemated analyses, a backlash against psychoanalysis and a reactive idealization of medication. In addition to helping many patients participate in psychoanalytic treatments through easing of severe symptoms, psychoanalytic theory has also been affected by observation of the impact of medication. In my view, this shows how a “biological” type of intervention can indeed impact our psychoanalytic theories. Medication can lead to rapid changes in many subjective states of interest to psychoanalysts, including a significant reduction in the severity of the superego, diminished negative self and object representations, reduced rage and anxiety, and diminished symptoms previously believed to be caused by unconscious conflict and responsive only to accurate interpretation. I would argue that this is indeed an intervention based on others sciences that has had a major effect on psychoanalytic theory. These interventions do not mean that psychoanalytic theories and treatments are wrong, but they do point to the need to incorporate findings from the biological sciences to most effectively understand and heal our patients. Additionally medication has had a significant effect on how we hear patients and how we understand meaning. When we listen to a patient’s self-criticism we not only hear conflict about intrapsychic fantasies or another psychoanalytic formulation, but if this self-criticism is persistent and severe, it should “mean” that a depressive syndrome treatable by medication should be considered (Wylie and Wylie, 1995). The mechanisms of the piano and music may indeed be different areas of study, but when we hear music being played out of tune, it is important to identify whether it is a problem with the player or the piano. A trained ear that understands the Int J Psychoanal (2016) 97:1151–1153 doi: 10.1111/1745-8315.12575
The Cross-Entropy Method

manent SAS data sets; creating formats; performing conditional and iterative processing; working with dates, arrays, numeric and character functions; and creating subsets and combined SAS data sets. Part 3—Presenting and Summarizing Your Data consists of seven chapters, including 107 example programs and 52 self-test problems. This section presents ways to display and customize the data via the basics like PROC PRINT and PROC SORT, PROC REPORT, PROC TABULATE, a brief introduction to ODS, and PROC GCHART. It also discusses basic summary options such as PROC MEANS and PROC FREQ. Part 4—Advanced Topics consists of six chapters, including 74 example programs and 46 self-test problems. These topics include using advanced INPUT techniques and advanced features of user-defined formats and informats, and restructuring SAS data sets. Cody also introduces the use of SAS macro language and SQL, but quickly recommends other references for further study. While preparing this review, I lent my copy of Learning SAS by Example to a friend, who promptly adopted it for his SAS programming class. Now, approximately a month later, he is pleased with it as a textbook and I am pleased with it as both a reference and a tutorial. I would definitely recommend this book for each of its target audiences.
Lung cancer that harbors an HER2 mutation: epidemiologic characteristics and therapeutic perspectives.

PURPOSE HER2 mutations are identified in approximately 2%of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). There are few data available that describe the clinical course of patients with HER2-mutated NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively identified 65 NSCLC, diagnosed with a HER2 in-frame insertion in exon 20. We collected clinicopathologic characteristics, patients' outcomes, and treatments. RESULTS HER2 mutation was identified in 65 (1.7%) of 3,800 patients tested and was almost an exclusive driver, except for one single case with a concomitant KRAS mutation. Our population presented with a median age of 60 years (range, 31 to 86 years), a high proportion of women (45 women v 20 men; 69%), and a high proportion of never-smokers (n= 34; 52.3%). All tumors were adenocarcinomas and 50% were stage IV at diagnosis. For these latter cases, 22 anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) treatments were administered after conventional chemotherapy in 16 patients. Subsequently, four patients experienced progressive disease, seven experienced disease stabilizations, and 11 experienced partial responses (overall response rate, 50%; disease control rate [DCR], 82%). Specifically, we observed a DCR of 93% for trastuzumab-based therapies (n = 15) and a DCR of 100% for afatinib (n = 3) but no response to other HER2-targeted drugs (n = 3). Progression-free survival for patients with HER2 therapies was 5.1 months. Median survival was of 89.6 and 22.9 months for early-stage and stage IV patients, respectively. CONCLUSION This study, the largest to date dedicated to HER2-mutated NSCLC, reinforces the importance of screening for HER2 mutations in lung adenocarcinomas and suggests the potential efficacy of HER2-targeted drugs in this population.
The Golay convolutional code - Some application aspects

The Golay convolutional code and related block codes are investigated from an application point of view. We calculate the distance spectrum of the Golay convolutional code and the weight distributions of the block codes using the transfer-matrix method. The performance of the considered codes is shown and discussed. Moreover, the codes are applied as component codes of parallel concatenated codes which are iteratively decoded.
Programas de Prevenção para a Ansiedade e Depressão: Avaliação da Perceção dos Estudantes Universitários

Os estudantes universitarios tem apresentando uma elevada prevalencia de problemas associados a saude mental, particularmente, no âmbito da Ansiedade e Depressao. Os estudos indicam que esta problematica pode levar ao abandono do ensino superior. Por conseguinte, e de extrema importância que se desenvolvam no meio academico, iniciativas inovadoras, interativas e apelativas, mas principalmente, eficazes, no sentido, de reduzir esta tendencia. Varios estudos, em contexto academico, tem abordado a eficacia de programas de prevencao para diferentes perturbacoes mentais, com recurso as novas tecnologias, particularmente programas computorizados e baseados na internet, e os resultados tem se verificado promissores. Neste sentido, o presente estudo, pretende avaliar a percecao dos estudantes universitarios portugueses, relativamente a pertinencia e adesao a estes programas de prevencao para a Ansiedade e Depressao, na sua instituicao de Ensino Superior. De igual forma, foram questionados sobre a possibilidade de estes serem disponibilizados via computador e/ou internet.Resultados: foram realizados dois estudos, em anos diferentes, e foi possivel observar que a grande maioria dos estudantes universitarios consideram pertinentes a existencia destes programas, particularmente para a Ansiedade. De igual modo, a maioria dos estudantes, considerou que adeririam a estes programas disponibilizados pela internet, particularmente os estudantes que ja sofreram ou que sofrem de alguma perturbacao mental. De um estudo para o outro, os resultados sao bastante semelhantes, no entanto, e possivel observar uma maior recetividade dos estudantes aos programas baseados na internet.Conclusao: os estudantes universitarios portugueses parecem reconhecer a importância de programas de prevencao, particularmente de Ansiedade, no contexto academico, considerando igualmente a sua adesao. O presente estudo tambem aponta para as novas tecnologias e/ou internet, como uma via promissora e potencializadora de bem-estar no meio academico, particularmente nos estudantes que apresentam alguma perturbacao mental.
Analysis of under- and overprescribing of antibiotics in acute otitis media in general practice.

OBJECTIVES To assess clinical determinants of under- and overprescribing of antibiotics according to the Dutch national guideline for patients with acute otitis media (AOM) in general practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 146 general practitioners (GPs) from the Netherlands included all patients with AOM during a 4 week period in winter, and recorded patient characteristics, clinical presentation and management. Under- and overprescribing of antibiotics in AOM was assessed using the Dutch national guideline. RESULTS A total of 458 AOM consultations were recorded. In seven out of 10 consultations (310/439; excluding 19 consultations in which patients were referred to secondary care), antibiotic prescribing decisions were according to the national guideline. In 11% of all consultations (50/439), there was underprescribing and in 18% (79/439) there was overprescribing. Patients with an antibiotic indication but without an antibiotic prescription (underprescribing; n=50) had more short-term symptoms (OR: 0.93), relatively few inflammation signs (OR: 0.47) and were less severely ill (OR: 0.30), compared with patients with an antibiotic indication and an antibiotic prescription (n=167). Patients without an antibiotic indication but with an antibiotic prescription (overprescribing; n=79) were more often younger than 24 months (OR: 0.34), more severely ill (OR: 3.30) and expected more often an antibiotic as perceived by their GP (OR: 2.11), compared with patients without an antibiotic indication and without an antibiotic prescription (n=143). CONCLUSIONS Clinical determinants which are stated as criteria for antibiotic treatment of AOM in the Dutch national guideline were recognized by GPs as important items, but were frequently given too much weight.
The LRR-Roc-COR module of the Chlorobium tepidum Roco protein: crystallization and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Roco proteins are characterized by the presence of a Roc-COR supradomain harbouring GTPase activity, which is often preceded by an LRR domain. The most notorious member of the Roco protein family is the Parkinson's disease-associated LRRK2. The Roco protein from the bacterium Chlorobium tepidum has been used as a model system to investigate the structure and mechanism of this class of enzymes. Here, the crystallization and crystallographic analysis of the LRR-Roc-COR construct of the C. tepidum Roco protein is reported. The LRR-Roc-COR crystals belonged to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 95.6, b = 129.8, c = 179.5 Å, α = β = γ = 90°, and diffracted to a resolution of 3.3 Å. Based on the calculated Matthews coefficient, Patterson map analysis and an initial molecular-replacement analysis, one protein dimer is present in the asymmetric unit. The crystal structure of this protein will provide valuable insights into the interaction between the Roc-COR and LRR domains within Roco proteins.
Over expression of FGF 7 enhances cell proliferation but fails to cause pathology in corneal epithelium of Kerapr-rtTA / FGF 7 bitransgenic mice

Transgenesis via microinjection of cloned DNA into fertilized mouse eggs was first accomplished nearly simultaneously in the laboratories of Brinster, Costantini, Ruddle, Mintz, and Wagner (for review see [1,2]). Since then, transgenic animal technology has been applied in many situations. Altered phenotypes resulting from transgene expression have demonstrated that introduced genes can exert profound effects on animal physiology. While many transgenic mouse models have proven useful for the identification of growth factors and transcription factors that are important for mouse ocular tissue morphogenesis, their use in further studies is often less successful because of systemic and/or congenital defects resulting from non-tissue specific and constitutive transgene expression. Thus, it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine their roles in ocular surface tissue morphogenesis [3]. Therefore, there is a need for generating mouse lines in which the expression of a transgene is modulated in a specific spatial-temporal manner [4,5]. Fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), a member of the FGF family, is a mesenchyme derived mitogen for epithelial cells. FGF receptors are expressed by epithelial cells of numerous tissues, but FGF7 is produced in adjacent stromal cells. Thus FGF7 is thought to act as a paracrine factor in mediating epithelial cell behavior [6-9]. Recently, transgenic mice that overexpress FGF7, using a lens specific αA-crystalline promoter (αAcpr) have been created. The transgenic mice overexpressing FGF7 exhibit adversely affected ocular organogenesis, and have an abnormal K12 expression pattern during development [10]. The most striking phenotypic development of transgenic mice overexpressing FGF7 by αAcpr was the hyper proliferation of embryonic corneal epithelial cells and their subsequent differentiation into functional lacrimal gland-like tissues. This indicates that stimulation of the FGF7 receptor early in development, in surface ectoderm normally destined to form corneal epithelium, is sufficient to alter the fate of these cells. Furthermore, this suggests that the correct spatial and temporal expression of FGFs plays a critical role in normal lacrimal gland induction. ©2005 Molecular Vision
Attitudes towards highly active antiretroviral therapy are associated with sexual risk taking among HIV-infected and uninfected homosexual men

Objective To determine whether attitudes towards highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are associated with unprotected anal sex among sexually active homosexual men. Design Cross-sectional study nested within an ongoing prospective cohort study. Setting Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, from April through September 1999. Participants Five-hundred and forty-seven homosexual men reporting anal sex (218 HIV-negative and 329 HIV-positive) during study interviews in 1999, including a 20-item validated scale on attitudes toward HAART and HIV risk behaviors (e.g., ‘Because of HAART, I am less concerned about becoming HIV-infected or infecting someone'), and safer sex fatigue (e.g., ‘I am tired of always having safer sex'). Main outcome measures Self-reported unprotected receptive anal sex (RAS) and insertive anal sex (IAS) in the prior 6 months. Results More than 50% of HIV-negative and HIV-positive men who reported having anal sex also reported recent unprotected RAS and/or IAS. HIV-negative men who most agreed that HAART reduced concern about becoming infected were more likely to report unprotected RAS compared to other HIV-negative men [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 3.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27–8.62]. Moreover, HIV-positive men with greatest reduced concern due to HAART or safer sex fatigue were more likely to report unprotected IAS (AOR, 6.05; 95% CI, 2.24–16.63 and AOR, 4.57; 95% CI, 1.70–12.24, respectively) compared to other HIV-positive men. Conclusions Among sexually active homosexual men, lessened concern about HIV transmission due to HAART was strongly associated with sexual risk taking, as was safer sex fatigue among HIV-positive men. Prevention programs should take into account underlying attitudes for unprotected sex in the era of HAART among both HIV-infected and uninfected men.