Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic management of hepatitis B‐related cirrhosis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has a world‐wide distribution, and may lead to cirrhosis, end‐stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therapeutic strategies for HBV cirrhosis are changing rapidly. Treatment with interferon (IFN)‐α may be hazardous and often can only be administered at low doses. The availability of lamivudine has revolutionized the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and opened up new options for the management of patients with decompensated cirrhosis or recurrent hepatitis B post‐liver transplantation. However, lamivudine therapy should be weighed against the risk of selection of resistant mutants and randomized control trials are needed. Hopefully, in the near future, new antiviral drugs such as adefovir dipivoxil which is active on lamivudine‐resistant mutants will become available. IFN‐α is still the only molecule which may prevent HBV‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis in humans. Whether other antivirals will also prove useful warrants further follow‐up studies.
Scaffolding through the network: analysing the promotion of improved online scaffolds among university students

This article explores how to enrich scaffolding processes among university students using specific Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) software. A longitudinal case study was designed, in which 18 students participated in a 12‐month learning project. During this period the students followed an instructional process, using the CSCL software to support and improve their interaction processes, in particular the processes of giving and receiving assistance. The research analysed the evolution of the quality of the students' interaction processes and their learning results. The effects of the students' participation in the CSCL environment are described in terms of their development of affective, cognitive and metacognitive learning processes. The results showed that the specific activities that students performed while working with the CSCL system triggered specific learning processes, which had a positive incidence on their learning results.
Isolation of lactic acid bacteria strain Staphylococcus piscifermentans from Malaysian traditional fermented shrimp cincaluk.

Lactic acid bacteria is well known for it uses as starter culture in various fermented food, and it functions as a good natural antimicrobial agent. Cincaluk, a Malaysian fermented shrimp product commonly found in traditional dishes is commonly enriched with LAB. Out of 50 colonies from a local cincaluk, 7 strains were successfully isolated and shown to be positive in lactose utilization and catalase tests. The majority of the isolates from cincaluk showed Gram-positive cocci morphology and belonged to the group Staphyloccoccus spp. By using agar disc diffusion method, the anti-bacterial properties of these isolates (namely isolate 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) moderately inhibited the growth of several pathogenic strains, i.e., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus subtilis which were used as indicator bacteria. Other than isolates 1, 2, 3 and 5; the 16S rRNA gene for isolate 6 and 7 were successfully amplified. The 16S rRNA gene fragment from isolate 7 was successfully cloned and sequenced. Based on rRNA sequences, both isolates 6 and 7 belonged to the group Staphylococcus piscifermentans, a rare strain previously reported to be specifically isolated exclusive from fish sources.
[The influence of Ara-C on anti-CD3/anti-Pgp mediating T-lymphocytes activities against multi-drug resistant leukemia cells.].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of Ara-C in regulating anti-CD3/anti-Pgp mediating T-lymphocytes activities against multi-drug resistant leukemia cells. METHODS The diabody of anti-CD3/anti-Pgp was purified by E-tag affinity chromatography. K562 and K562/A02 cells were treated with Ara-C. The expressions of B7-1 and B7-2 on K562 and K562/AO2 cells were detected by FACS. The cytotoxicity of T-lymphocytes combined with anti-CD3/anU-Pgp plus Ara-C was analyzed by CytoTox 96 nonradioactive method. RESULTS The expressions of B7-1 and B7-2 on K562 and K562/A02 cells treated by Ara-C was significantly higher than those untreated. The effect/target ratio was from 0.39:1 to 25:1, and the killing rate of activated T cells to anti-drug-resistant leukemia cells was from (16.44 +/- 1.20)% to (60.49 +/- 2.90)%. The killing rates were increased gradually, with both the effect/target ratio and the antibody concentration increasing (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Ara-C may be an important adjuvant for improving anti-CD3/anti-Pgp mediating T-lymphocytes activities against multi-drug resistant leukemia cells.
Deficiency of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form oxidase enhances hepatocellular injury but attenuates fibrosis after chronic carbon tetrachloride administration

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate hepatic stellate cells and enhance fibrogenesis. This study determined the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH) oxidase deficiency in the development of hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis in relation to fibrosis produced by chronic carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. Wild‐type (WT) mice or mice with deficiency of the gp91phox subunit of NADPH complex (gp91 phox −/− ) were subjected to biweekly CCl4 injections over 8 weeks, whereas controls were given isovolumetric injections of olive oil. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was higher after CCl4 administration in gp91 phox −/− than in WT mice, correlating with increased necrosis on liver histology. By contrast, more hepatocyte apoptosis was found after CCl4 in the WT than in the gp91 phox −/− mice, which was associated with changes in components of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, namely, an increase in the pro‐apoptotic BAX protein in the WT, but not in the gp91 phox −/− mice and also a lower cytosolic cytochrome c in the gp91 phox −/− mice. There were fewer stellate cells and less fibrosis after CCl4 in the gp91 phox −/− as compared with the WT mice. The increase in α1(I) collagen messenger RNA (mRNA), however, was greater after CCl4 in the gp91 phox −/− mice. Matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) and MMP‐9 mRNA increased more in the gp91 phox −/− than in WT mice after CCl4. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP‐1) and TIMP‐2 increased after CCl4 only in the gp91 phox −/− mice. Conclusion: Decreased hepatic fibrosis after chronic CCl4 administration in mice with NADPH oxidase deficiency occurs in the setting of greater necrosis and inflammation but decreased apoptosis. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)
Presystemic Extraction: Mechanisms and Consequences

Many drugs have incomplete systemic availability after oral dosage. This can be attributed to incomplete absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, or to presystemic extraction, in which a fraction of an orally administered dose is biotransformed before reaching the systemic circulation. Presystemic extraction can occur either via biotransformation by gastrointestinal mucosa or enteric flora, or via metabolism during the “first‐pass” through the liver. For drugs with low oral bioavailability due to high presystemic extraction, impaired clearance leads to increased peak plasma levels and greater area under the concentration‐time curve, but minimal change in elimination half‐life.
Polysilicon gate with depletion-or-metallic gate with buried channel: what evil worse ?

Metallic gates are expected to overcome polysilicon's limitations, such as polydepletion. Nevertheless, this option must be associated with buried channel to ensure low V/sub TH/ operation. Taking into account realistic projections on technological capabilities, such as active gate doping, oxide thickness or junction depth, we confirm that the degradation in performances due to the buried channel is definitively much more restrictive than that relative to the polydepletion.
Mycobacteria and Crohn's disease.

Editorial. Reconsideration de l'hypothese d'une etiologie mycobacterienne de la maladie de Crohn. Il s'agirait de mycobacteries paratuberculeuses atypiques. Pour resoudre le probleme il faudrait mieux identifier les bacteries par culture rapide ou hybridisation in situ, et mettre au point des combinaisons de produits plus efficaces que les medicaments antituberculeux actuels
The potential of natural regeneration of rocky outcrop vegetation on rupestrian field soils in "Serra do Cipó", Brazil

An area's innate potential to regenerate represents a crucial factor for its conservation and management. The seed rain and seed bank are important agents in the regeneration process. Seed banks are particularly important in communities where there is a high proportion of obligate seeders. Rocky outcrops are habitats where most part of the plant species depends on their seeds to reproduce and maintain viable populations. Therefore, seed banks ought to be important in this vegetation physiognomy. We test the hypotheses that the seed bank of the rocky outcrops found in the rupestrian fields of "Serra do Cipo", Brazil, is richer in species and denser than those formed on different vegetation physiognomies neighboring the outcrops. We then compared species abundance, species richness and composition in the rocky outcrops' seed banks with those of sandy and peaty bogs, forests, gallery forests, and "cerrados". Furthermore, we report on the natural regeneration potential of these soils by assessing a greenhouse study on seedling emergence. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm of depth. Rocky outcrops had the poorest in species and less dense seed bank and showed segregation in species composition. Emergence was greater in the most superficial layer. However, soils on rocky outcrops showed the greatest proportion of endemic threatened species in their seed banks, demonstrating their importance for biodiversity conservation of the "Serra do Cipo" rupestrian fields.
Transplantation of developing metanephroi into adult rats.

BACKGROUND Transplantation of developing metanephroi into adult hosts has been proposed as a means to augment host renal function. METHODS We implanted whole metanephroi from embryonic day 15 (E15) rats subcapsularly in kidneys or into the omentum of non-immunosupressed adult rat hosts. At the time of implantation, some host rats underwent unilateral nephrectomy (UNX) or unilateral nephrectomy and partial contralateral renal infarction (1 1/2 NX). E15 metanephroi contained only metanephric blastema, segments of ureteric bud, and primitive nephrons with no glomeruli. RESULTS Four to six weeks post-implantation, metanephroi from E15 rats had enlarged, become vascularized, and had formed mature tubules and glomeruli. Ureters of metanephroi transplanted into the omentum were anastomosed to hosts' ureters that remained after UNX. Four weeks following ureteroureterostomy, the contralateral kidney was removed. Inulin clearances of seven metanephroi implanted into UNX hosts averaged 0.11 +/- 0.02 microliters/min/100 g (2.42 +/- 0.70 microliters/min/g kidney wt) and the creatinine clearances averaged 0.65 +/- 0.18 microliters/min/100 g. Metanephroi weighed 71 +/- 15 mg (approximately 4% of the contralateral native kidney). The transplanted metanephroi were vascularized by arteries originating from the omentum. Both weights of transplanted metanephroi (145 +/- 24 mg) and inulin clearances of transplanted metanephroi (30.1 +/- 8.7 microliters/min/g kidney weight) were significantly increased in rats that underwent 1 1/2 NX compared to UNX. In contrast, transplantation of developed kidneys resulted in rejection. CONCLUSIONS Our findings establish that functional chimeric kidneys develop from metanephroi transplanted in adult hosts.
Enantioselectivity of Pregnanolone-Induced γ-Aminobutyric AcidA Receptor Modulation and Anesthesia

This study reports the actions of enantiomer pairs of anesthetic steroids 3α5αP/ ent -3α5αP and 3α5βP/ ent -3α5βP as modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors and as anesthetics. The enantiomers of structurally related 17-carbonitrile analogs also are examined. These studies were aimed at 1) determining whether the steroid recognition site could distinguish between molecules differing in shape, but not other physical properties (enantioselectivity); 2) providing further insight into the structure-activity relationships of anesthetic steroids; and 3) determining whether modulation of GABAA receptor function correlates with anesthetic potency for anesthetic steroid enantiomers. Stereoselective actions of the compounds were evaluated in four different bioassays: 1) noncompetitive displacement of [35S] t -butylbicyclophosphorothionate from the picrotoxin site of GABAA receptors present in rat brain membrane preparations; 2) modulation of GABA currents in cultured rat hippocampal neurons; 3) loss of righting reflex in tadpoles; and 4) loss of righting reflex in mice. The data indicate that 5α-reduced steroids, but not 5β-reduced steroids, show a high degree of enantioselectivity/enantiospecificity in their actions as modulators of GABAA receptors and as anesthetics. For all compounds studied, the effects on GABAA receptor function closely tracked with anesthetic effects. These data show that the anesthetic steroid recognition site is capable of distinguishing enantiomers, suggesting a protein-binding site of specific dimensions and shape. The results are compatible either with a structural model of the binding site that can accommodate 3α5αP, 3α5βP, and ent -3α5βP, but not ent -3α5αP, or with two different binding sites for steroid anesthetics.
Wnt Pathway in Osteosarcoma, from Oncogenic to Therapeutic

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Although pathologic characteristics of this disease are clear and well established, much remains to be understood about this tumor, particularly at the molecular signaling level. Secreted signaling molecules of the Wnt family have been widely investigated and found to play a central role in controlling embryonic bone development, bone mass, and postnatal bone regeneration. A variety of studies also suggest that Wnt signaling pathway is closely associated with bone malignancies, including breast or prostate cancer induced bone metastasis, multiple myeloma, as well as osteosarcoma. Here, we provide an overview of the role of Wnt signaling pathway in osteosarcoma development and progression, highlighting the aberrant activation of Wnt pathway in this bone malignancy. We also discuss the potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of osteosarcoma targeting Wnt pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 625–631, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
RVM with wavelet kernel combined with PSO for short-term load forecasting in electric power systems

This paper presents a new hybrid method for the short-term load forecasting in electric power systems based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and relevance vector machine (RVM). In this method, we firstly develop a type of kernel as the kernel function of the RVM model, and then its parameter is optimized by the PSO, finally the established RVM forecast mode is applied to short-term load forecasting in electric power systems in a city. The simulation results show the parameter of the wavelet kernel is well optimized using the PSO, and the acquired RVM model is more sparse and can obtain higher forecast accuracy compared with the RVM model with Gaussian kernel, so the proposed method is effective for forecasting the short-term load in electric power systems. Streszczenie. W artykule zaprezentowano nową hybrydową metode krotkoterminowego prognozowania obciązen sieci energetycznej bazująca na algorytmie mrowkowym PSO i narzedzia RVM (relevance vector machine). W pierwszym etapie wyznaczane jest falkowe jądro (kernel) jako RVM co znacznie poprawia skutecznośc algorytmu PSO. (Hybrydowe polączenie funkcji PSO i RVM jako narzedzie do krotkoterminowego prognozowania obciązenia sieci energetycznej)
Classic Mediterranean Type of Epiglottic Kaposi Sarcoma

AbstractKaposi sarcoma is a malignant, multifocal, vascular, and low-grade tumor that mostly occurs in mucocutaneous sites. Kaposi sarcoma is usually associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and involves lymphatic nodes and visceral organs. In this report, an 81-year-old man with epiglottic Kaposi sarcoma who screened negative for human immunodeficiency virus is presented.
Residential Segregation and Gonorrhea Rates in US Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 2005–2009

Background The residential segregation of black populations, often in areas of high-economic disadvantage and low social status, may play a crucial role in the observed racial inequities in sexually transmitted disease rates. Methods An ecological analysis of 2005 to 2009 average gonorrhea rates was performed across 277 US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). The black isolation index and Gini index of income inequality were used as proxy measures for racial and economic residential segregation respectively, derived from 2005 to 2009 US Census estimates. We used logistic regression modeling to produce estimates of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between the segregation indices, both independently and in combination, on gonorrhea rates in MSAs. Effect measure modification was assessed by calculating the relative excess risk due to interaction between the 2 indices. Results Compared with MSAs with low levels of racial segregation, MSAs with high levels of racial segregation had increased odds of high gonorrhea rates (adjusted OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.23–9.21). Similarly, higher levels of income inequality predicted higher gonorrhea rates, although this association did not persist after adjustment for potential confounders (adjusted OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.74–3.24). In combined models, the influence of racial residential segregation on gonorrhea rates was stronger than that of income inequality–based segregation; there was no evidence of additivity or a multiplicative interaction. Conclusions Residential segregation by race or income equality may be a key component in the perpetuation of high rates of gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases among black populations in the United States.
Effect of chronic gestational treatment with caffeine or theophylline on Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in maternal and fetal brain

Pregnant rats were treated throughout the gestational period with either caffeine or theophylline, and its effect on the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluRs) signal transduction pathway was studied in both maternal and fetal brain. In maternal brain, radioligand binding assays showed that chronic treatment with methylxanthines caused a significant decrease in the total number of mGluRs. This decrease was accompanied by an increase in receptor affinity. Immunodetection showed that mGluR1a and phospholipase C β1 (PLCβ1) were significantly decreased in response to chronic methylxanthine treatment, whereas αGq/11 was not affected. A loss was also detected of PLC stimulation mediated by (S)‐3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), a selective Group I mGluR agonist, suggesting desensitization of the mGluR/PLC pathway. In fetal brain, a loss in total mGluRs was observed in fetuses from mothers treated with caffeine or theophylline, without variation in receptor affinity. A decrease in mGluR1a, αGq/11 and PLCβ1 levels was also observed in response to treatment. However, changes detected in this immature tissue were not associated with variations in PLC activity. These results suggest that chronic caffeine or theophylline treatment down‐regulates several mGluR/PLC transduction pathway components in both maternal and fetal brain, causing a loss of receptor responsiveness only in maternal brain.
Evaluating training cascade: A methodology and case study

The study was undertaken with the objective of assessing groups influence on management style as related to University governance with University of Agriculture, Makurdi as a case study from academic staff perspective. The management style of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi between the period September 3, 1996 to September 3, 2001 was determined using the Ohio State University and University of Michigan models. Based on a population of 269 academic staff, a sample size of 200 was selected using the purposive and random sampling techniques. Research questionnaire, interview and personal observations were employed as instruments for data collection.Analysis of data indicates that the Vice Chancellor was rated below desirable limits both on the considerate or employee centered management style (Cronbach alpha = 0.978) and on the initiating structure or production centered management style (Cronbach alpha = 0.968), indicating low concern for production and people, which answers to the impoverished management style of the grid model. Similarly, the reliability and internal consistency measures for groups influence and assessment of governance issues associated with management style adopted gave a Cronbach alpha of 0.991 and 0.984 respectively. Chi-square (χ2) test at 5% level of significance showed that there is a relationship between the management style of the Vice Chancellor of University of Agriculture, Makurdi and some of the groups influences and problems associated with University governance. A computation of the mean scores indicated that the Vice Chancellor himself and the in-group were responsible for the management style adopted and the various problems that bedeviled the University such as poor morale of staff and poor attitude to work, psyche and culture of confrontation and strikes, bitterness over issues of promotion, financial crises in the system leading to difficulties in payment of salaries, allowances, staff claims, disbursement of loans, etc as at when due, several court cases of staff against Administration, cases of bounced salaries and other University cheques and inability to organize convocation. The study recommends that mere entry of positions held in curriculum vitae or resumes is not enough indication of good governance ability without reference to proven and verifiable indicators as to how well such individuals had performed or are performing. Key words: Groups influence, management style, University governance
Extrinsic self-calibration of multiple cameras with non-overlapping views in vehicles

Due to decreasing sensor prices and increasing processing performance, the use of multiple cameras in vehicles becomes an attractive possibility for environment perception. This contribution focuses on non-overlapping multi-camera configurations on a mobile platform and its purely vision-based self-calibration as well as its restrictions. The usage of corresponding features between the cameras is very difficult to realize and likely to fail due to different appearances in different views and motion-dependent time delays. Instead, the hand-eye calibration (HEC) technique based on visual odometry is considered to solve this problem by exploiting the cameras motions. For that purpose, this contribution presents an approach to continuously calibrate cameras by making use of the so-called motion adjustment (MA) and an IEKF. Visual odometry in driving vehicles often struggles in estimating the relative magnitudes of the translational motion, which is crucial for the HEC. So, MA simultaneously estimates the extrinsic parameters up to scale as well as the relative motion magnitudes. Furthermore, the estimation process is embedded into a global fusion framework to benefit from the redundant information resulting from multiple cameras in order to yield more robust results. This paper presents results with simulated and real data.