Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Effects of macrophage infiltration and related gene expression on the pathogenesis of early abdominal aortic aneurysm].

OBJECTIVE To detect the pathogenic mechanism of early abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS Pig elastinase was perfused into the abdominal aortae of 40 Wistar rats to construct AAA animal models. The diameter of abdominal aorta was measured and then the abdominal aorta was harvested from 10 rats on the postoperative days 3, 7, 14, and 28 respectively. The thoracic aorta was used as control. HE staining, elastic staining, and CD68 (macrophage specific antigen) immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the distribution of elastic fiber and macrophage infiltration in aortic tissue. In situ hybridization was applied to investigate the mRNA expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). RESULTS Three days after the operation, the expansion of abdominal aorta began to be seen and peaked 2 weeks after operation. Disruption of elastic fiber began to be found in the wall of abdominal aorta since 3 approximately 7 days after operation, and reached the maximum 2 weeks postoperatively. CD68 positive cell was not found in the wall of normal thoracic aorta and began to be found in the wall of abdominal aorta 3 approximately 7 days after operation. The expression of CD68 protein peaked on the day 14 with a significant difference from that on day 3 (t = 5.13, P < 0.01). The number of CD58 positive cells was remarkably decreased 4 weeks after operation in comparison with that 2 weeks after operation (t = 4.27, P < 0.01). The mRNA expression rates of MCP-1 and MMP-2 in the wall of abdominal aorta were at their maximal values, (31.5 +/- 5.7)% and (35.2 +/- 7.8)%, on the postoperative days 7 and 14 respectively, significantly higher than those at other time points (all P < 0.01). The MCP-1 and MMP-2 positive cells began to decrease since the 4th postoperative week. CONCLUSION Macrophage infiltration is parallel to MMP-2 mRNA expression and elastic fiber disruption in aortic tissue. MCP-1 mRNA expression, as a promoting factor, induces the macrophage infiltration, thus contributing to the development and progression of AAA.
Immune factors involved in the cervical immune response in the HIV/HPV co-infection

Aims: Immune factors influencing the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) to cancer remain poorly defined. This study investigates the expression of RANTES, MIP1α, COX1, COX2, STAT3, TGFβRI, IL10R, TNFαRII and TLR4 in the cervical immune response in HIV/HPV (human papillomavirus) co-infected women. Methods: Cervical biopsies of 36 patients were assayed by immunohistochemistry, and the Ventana Benchmark System was used for HIV-nef detection. Results: Cervices from HIV-positive patients exhibited nef in cells mainly around blood vessels, and showed a decreased expression of all the immune factors tested except IL10R and STAT3, while RANTES (5.54 cells/mm2) was highly expressed in comparison with controls (1.41 cells/mm2, p = 0.028). COX1 was decreased in the HIV/HPV- (0.32 cells/mm2, p = 0.017) and HPV-infected patients (0.21 cells/mm2, p = 0.015) compared with controls (3.28 cells/mm2). Conclusions: It is suggested that RANTES in HIV/HPV co-infection may influence the development of CIN leading to progression to cervical cancer.
An update on the pharmacological treatment of obesity

ABSTRACT Objective: To review the commonly utilized pharmacological options for the treatment of overweight and obese patients in the United States. Methods: A MEDLINE and EMBASE search, in English, between January 1995 and November 2005 was conducted using the terms, ‘anti-obesity agents’, ‘orlistat’, ‘sibutramine’, and ‘phentermine’. References cited in relevant studies and reviews were also examined for additional clinical trials to be included in the review. Results: There are several pharmacological options currently available for the treatment of overweight and obese individuals in the United States, including phentermine, sibutramine, and orlistat, with only sibutramine and orlistat being indicated for use in the long term (> 6 months). However, none of these medications have proven to be more effective than another for the indication of weight loss, each with a very similar maximum weight loss potential. Therefore choosing a weight loss medication should be patient specific and based on its pharmacological profile, including mechanism of action and potential adverse effects. Most importantly, it is imperative to realize that these agents are only indicated for use when combined with lifestyle modifications. Most studies have indicated that maximum benefits from any of these medications are only shown when taken in addition to a hypocaloric diet. Conclusion: It has been shown that the combination of lifestyle changes and pharmacological treatment leads to a greater decrease in total body weight loss. Treatment with anti-obesity agents is associated with side effects and an increased cost in health care. These factors must be weighed prior to initiating anti-obesity treatment.
Observational Strategies from the Micro- to Mesoscale

In a changing climate, clouds are perturbed through large-scale variations in the general circulation induced by both greenhouse gases and aerosols. Some aerosols perturb cloud microphysical properties as well. The challenge for microand mesoscale observational studies of perturbed clouds is thus to establish the links between these two contrasting forcings, in an effort to understand how clouds respond to changes in the general circulation and to quantify how this response might be modulated by changes in their microphysical properties. The two generic classes of microto mesoscale observational strategies, the Eulerian column closure and the Lagrangian cloud system evolution approaches, are described using examples of low-level cloud studies, and recommendations are made on how they should be combined with large-scale information to address this issue.
HIV/AIDS in Pakistan.

HIV/AIDS is no more a health problem; it has become a security issue as millions of people are at the verge of extinction. Around 90% of the AIDS victims are living in the developing countries where the incidence rate is aggravated by poverty hunger disease lack of medical facilities illiteracy and under-development. Pakistan is an Islamic Republic in South-Central Asia bordering the Arabian Sea (30 00 N 70 00 E). It is situated between HIV/AIDS high risk countries India on the east China in the north and Afghanistan on the west. Its only low risk neighbor is Iran. The estimated population of Pakistan is 162419946 with an annual population growth rate of 2.03% (July 2005). The population is young the median age being 19.44 years in males and 19.74 years in females. (excerpt)
Effect of avian-human joint attention on allospecific vocal learning by grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

The authors studied whether grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) would learn referential English vocalizations if training lacked full social interaction with humans. In previous studies, grey parrots learned human vocalizations most readily when training simultaneously demonstrated the meaning (full reference) and function (full contextual applicability) of the utterance and actively engaged the subject in learning (full interaction). Those studies, however, did not contrast effects of limited and full interaction or examine how interaction affects contextual applicability. Because an important factor in child language acquisition is joint attention-the social interaction between caretaker and human infant concerning objects and actions in their environment-the authors contrasted training in which joint attention was present or absent (i.e., full vs. limited interaction) and found that 2 parrots did not learn in the absence of joint attention but did learn English labels when full interaction was present.
Colds and influenza-like illnesses in university students: impact on health, academic and work performance, and health care use.

BACKGROUND Upper respiratory tract illnesses (URIs) are a major cause of morbidity among adults, with substantial direct and indirect costs to society, but their impact among university students has not been well described. We sought to assess the impact of URIs (colds and influenza-like illnesses [ILIs]) on the health, academic and work performance, and health care use of university students. METHODS This was a cohort study of college students at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus (Minneapolis-St. Paul), who were recruited during October 2002 and followed up from November 2002 through April 2003. All 42,000 registered students were invited via e-mail to participate. Baseline information was obtained in October 2002. Monthly follow-up information about colds or ILIs was obtained for the period of November 2002 through April 2003. Data were collected by use of Internet-based questionnaires. RESULTS Of 4919 volunteers, 3249 completed all follow-up surveys. The mean age was 22.7 years; 68% of the volunteers were female. Ninety-one percent had > or = 1 URI (83% had > or = 1 cold, and 36.7% had > or = 1 ILI). These URIs caused 6023 bed-days, 4263 missed school days, 3175 missed work days, and 45,219 days of illness. Of the cohort, 22.2% had > or = 1 health care visit, and 15.8% used antibiotics to treat a URI; 27.8% did poorly on a test and 46.3% did poorly on a class assignment. ILIs versus colds had a much greater impact on all parameters (e.g., general health level was 55%-60% lower with ILI vs. no URI and 33%-39% lower for colds vs. no URI; P < .001 for each). CONCLUSION Colds and ILIs were common and associated with substantial morbidity in university students. Enhanced efforts to prevent and control URIs, especially influenza vaccination, could improve the health and well-being of the 17 million college and university students in this country.
In‐depth proteomic analysis of whole testis tissue from the adult rhesus macaque

The rhesus macaque is similar to humans both anatomically and physiologically as a primate, and has therefore been used extensively in medical and biological research, including reproductive physiology. Despite sequencing of the macaque genome, limited postgenomic studies have been performed to date. In studies aimed at characterizing spermatogenesis, we successfully identified 9078 macaque testis proteins corresponding to 8662 genes, using advanced MS and an optimized proteomics platform, indicative of complex protein compositions during macaque spermatogenesis. Immunohistochemistry analysis further revealed the presence of proteins from different types of testicular cells, including Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and various stages of germ cells. Our data provide expression evidence at protein level of 3010 protein‐coding genes in 8662 identified testis genes for the first time. We further identified 421 homologous genes from the proteome already known to be essential for male infertility in mouse. Comparative analysis of the proteome showed high similarity with the published human testis proteome, implying that macaque and human may use similar proteins to regulate spermatogenesis. Our in‐depth analysis of macaque spermatogenesis provides a rich resource for further studies, and supports the utility of macaque as a suitable model for the study of human reproduction.
IL-10 Is Required for Regulatory T Cells to Mediate Tolerance to Alloantigens In Vivo1

We present evidence that donor-reactive CD4+ T cells present in mice tolerant to donor alloantigens are phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous. CD4+ T cells contained within the CD45RBhigh fraction remained capable of mediating graft rejection when transferred to donor alloantigen-grafted T cell-depleted mice. In contrast, the CD45RBlow CD4+ and CD25+CD4+ populations failed to induce rejection, but rather, were able to inhibit rejection initiated by naive CD45RBhigh CD4+ T cells. Analysis of the mechanism of immunoregulation transferred by CD45RBlow CD4+ T cells in vivo revealed that it was donor Ag specific and could be inhibited by neutralizing Abs reactive with IL-10, but not IL-4. CD45RBlow CD4+ T cells from tolerant mice were also immune suppressive in vitro, as coculture of these cells with naive CD45RBhigh CD4+ T cells inhibited proliferation and Th1 cytokine production in response to donor alloantigens presented via the indirect pathway. These results demonstrate that alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells contained within the CD45RBlow CD4+ T cell population are responsible for the maintenance of tolerance to donor alloantigens in vivo and require IL-10 for functional activity.
Total Ionizing Dose Effects on 4 Mbit Phase Change Memory Arrays

We investigate Total Ionizing Dose effects on 4 Mbit Phase Change Memories (PCM) arrays. We demonstrate a high robustness of PCM against ionizing radiation. We irradiated PCM with 8-MeV electrons. Only small variations are measured in the cell distributions after irradiation. The primary cause of these variations is the degradation of the Bit-Line and the Word-Line selector MOSFETs. Finally, radiation does not compromise the functionality of the SET and the RESET operations.
A theoretical characterization of nonlinear distortion effects in OFDM systems

This paper presents a theoretical characterization of nonlinear distortion effects in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission systems. In the theoretical framework developed, it is shown that the effects on the decision variables of the in-band distortion introduced by a bandpass memoryless nonlinearity can be described by means of a complex gain and an additive Gaussian term with zero mean and suitable variance; analytical expressions for gain and variance are given. The conditions which allow this description are emphasized and discussed. As a consequence, a completely analytical procedure to evaluate error probability is also obtained and illustrated using OFDM/discrete multitone modulation (DMT) systems with rectangular pulse shaping; for the soft-envelope limiter nonlinearity, a closed form is derived. A comparison with simulation results is carried out to verify the accuracy of this method.
Das Beweisrecht elektronischer Dokumente

Juristen, die der EDV-Szene nahestehen, gilt das deutsche Beweisrecht als ruckstandig, weil es elektronische Dokumente den Regeln des Augenscheinsbeweises unterwirft und nicht den fur schriftliche Dokumente geltenden Regeln des Urkundenbeweises. Immer wieder wird der Ruf nach dem Gesetzgeber laut, dem elektronischen Dokument unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen (elektronische Unterschrift) Urkundenqualitat zu verleihen^ oder doch wenigstens dem elektronischen Dokument eine dem §416 ZPO nachempfundene Beweisregel zur Seite zu stellen. Die Alternative des Augenscheinsbeweises^ wird fur unzureichend gehalten. Ja, man sieht sogar den Wirtschaftsstandort Deutschland in Gefahr, wenn nicht der Gesetzgeber im Sinne der Proponenten tatig werde. Und Kilian nennt als einen Grund fur die Aufnahme der Schiedsgerichtsklausel in den deutschen EDI-Rahmenvertrag die Ungeeignetheit der Beweisregeln des staatlichen Prozesses. Man verweist auch gern auf auslandische Regelungen, die die elektronischen Dokumente beweisrechtlich den Dokumenten in der traditionellen Schriftform gleichstellen. Leider zeichnen sich die bisher vorgelegten Analysen weder durch eine grundliche Aufarbeitung des deutschen Beweisrechts noch durch eine den Anspruchen ernsthafter Rechtsvergleichung genugende Auswertung auslandischer Beweisrechte aus. Der folgende Beitragt zielt darauf ab, allfallige Misverstandnisse zum deutschen und zu auslandischen Beweisrechten auszuraumen. Sein Fazit wird sein, das eine Anderung des deutschen Beweisrechts durch den Gesetzgeber nicht geboten ist und das die ausdrucklichen Gleichstellungen der elektronischen und der schriftlichen Dokumente in auslandischen Rechten der Uberwindung hausgemachter Probleme dienen, die das deutsche Recht nicht kennt.
Structural and dynamic features of HLA-B27 subtypes

Purpose of reviewThe differential association of HLA-B27 subtypes with ankylosing spondylitis provides the rationale for a comparative investigation of these proteins. Results from the last 2 years of research on minimally distinct HLA-B27 subtypes, primarily using biochemical and biophysical techniques, are presented and discussed. Recent findingsWe summarize evidence that micropolymorphisms within the molecules’ peptide-binding groove influence wide-ranging biochemical, biophysical and antigenic properties of HLA-B27 molecules, and suggest that distinct, subtype and peptide-dependent dynamics of peptide – heavy chain – &bgr;2-microglobulin heterotrimers could be instrumental for an understanding of the initiation of disease processes that are connected with certain HLA-B27 subtypes. SummaryThe results indicate that mAbs that bind only to structurally distinguishable subsets of HLA-B27 molecules as well as techniques that assess the flexibility of these antigens may hold the key to comprehend molecular events contributing to the initial stages of disease pathogenesis in spondyloarthropathies.
TCP and its modeling in wired-cum-wireless networks Cire Sall

This paper aims to revisit the TCP congestion window model already proposed in the literature, and discusses some of its parameters in wired-cum-wireless networks. Clearly, an enhancement of the above mentioned model is proposed following new variants of TCP designed to work in such environments. This issue led us to derive a model estimating the effective throughput of TCP in such environments, which was validated by simulation under NS2. Finally, the efficiency of random marking used by active queue managements (AQM) implemented at base stations linking wired and wireless parts of a network is assessed; our simulation shows that a deterministic (non random) marking leads to better results with respect to a random one.
Efficient Mammalian Protein Synthesis Requires an Intact F-Actin System*

The mammalian protein synthesizing system is highly organized in vivo, and its substrate, tRNA, is channeled throughout the translation process. However, the cellular components responsible for this organization are not known. To examine this question a series of studies was carried out using intact and permeabilized Chinese hamster ovary cells. We show that cold shock dramatically reduces the protein synthetic capacity of these cells by as much as 95%. The loss of activity can be reversed by a short recovery period under conditions that allow energy metabolism to occur; transcription and translation during the recovery period are not needed. While individual components of the translation apparatus are not inactivated by the cold shock, the supramolecular organization of the system appears to be altered and F-actin levels are found to decrease. Resumption of protein synthesis during the recovery period coincides closely with the restoration of F-actin to normal levels. Moreover, disruption of actin filaments, but not microtubules, also leads to a major reduction in translation. These data support the conclusion that the cellular microfilament network plays an important role in the structure and function of the translation system and that perturbations of this network can have profound effects on protein synthesis.
The ‘Dhat syndrome’ : a culturally determined symptom of depression?

The status of the ‘Dhat syndrome’ is called into question by the results of an epidemiological study of men attending general medical clinics in Lahore. The Dhat complaint was reported by 30% of men attending medical clinics, and to an equal extent by patients with ‘functional’ and ‘organic’ diagnoses. It was strongly associated with depressed mood, fatigue symptoms, and a DSM‐III‐R diagnosis of depression. It is argued that the Dhat complaint should be primarily regarded not as the focus of a culture‐bound syndrome, but as a culturally determined symptom associated with depression.
Implementing Truthful Routing Path Generation in WSN through TARF

Wireless device networks are susceptible to a good set of security attacks, together with those targeting the routing protocol practicality. The multi-hop routing in wireless device networks (WSNs) offers very little protection against identity deception through replaying routing data. Associate in Nursing opposer will exploit this defect to launch numerous harmful or perhaps devastating attacks against the routing protocols, together with sink attacks, hollow attacks and Sybil attacks. To face this downside, we tend to propose a truthful routing protocol that adopts the routing principle to address the network dimensions, and depends on a distributed trust model for the detection and dodging of malicious neighbors. true is any aggravated by mobile and harsh network conditions. ancient cryptographical techniques or efforts at developing trust-aware routing protocols don't effectively address this severe downside. Further, we've enforced allow-overhead TARF module in TinyOS; as incontestable , this implementation may be incorporated into existing routing protocols with the smallest amount effort. supported TARF, we tend to additionally incontestable a proof-of-concept mobile target detection application that functions well against Associate in Nursing anti-detection mechanism. To secure the WSNs against adversaries misdirecting the multi-hop routing, we've designed and enforced TARF, a strong trust-aware routing framework for dynamic WSNs.
ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF TACTICAL BEHAVIOR IN SOCCER

Researches about sports performance have been showing that the tactical constraints are vital to the performance of players and teams in Soccer. However, the assessment tools of player behavior have been focused on technical and bio-mechanics aspects. The aims of this paper are to review and to analyze evaluation tools proposed in the literature and to present recommendations of inclusion of tactical principles in systems that seek the analysis and evaluation of the players' behavior in Soccer. The proposal presented comprises ten fundamental tactical principles of Soccer game, the place of action and the action’s outcome.