Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Becoming a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse in the UK: A Qualitative Study Exploring Processes of Identity Formation

Identity studies are well established across the social science literature with mental health nursing beginning to offer evidenced insights into what may, or may not, constitute key identity performances. For mental health nursing these performances remain contested, both from within the profession and from international contexts that favour generic constructions of mental health. This paper offers findings from a qualitative study that focused upon the process of how mental health nursing identity development is influenced, rather than what that identity may or may not be. These findings highlight that mental health nurses (MHNs) not only form their identity around service user centred education and training, but that many also use the education as a means to leave the profession. Through highlighting the impact of informal education (i.e., through work), formal education, and training upon the formation of mental health nursing identity, nurses are potentially alerted to the importance of clinically focussed mental health being prominent within curricula, rewarding mental health nursing skills specialisation, and the importance of the role of the service user in mental health nurse education and, hence, identity formation.
Antracologia, uma nova fonte de informaçoes para a arqueologia brasileira

Antracologia e o estudo dos restos de madeira carbonizados provenientes de solos ou de sitios arqueologicos. Esta disciplina, baseada na identificacao anatomica dos carvoes, pode fornecer informacoes de cunho etnoarqueologico e paleoecologico. Neste artigo, ela e apresentada em linhas gerais, com indicacoes de metodologia, dos principais aspectos que a envolvem e de sua possivel aplicacao, com alguns exemplos. Sugere-se que resultados muito promissores podem ser esperados da associacao de estudos antracologicos a arqueologia brasileira.
The cytoplasmic domain of alphavirus E2 glycoprotein contains a short linear recognition signal required for viral budding.

Intracellular alphavirus nucleocapsids express a binding site for the cytoplasmic domain of the viral E2 spike glycoprotein. This binding site is recognized by the anti‐idiotype monoclonal antibody, F13. The monoclonal anti‐anti‐idiotype antibody, raised against F13 and designated 3G10, recognizes the carboxy‐terminal eight residues of the E2 cytoplasmic domain in Semliki Forest virus (SFV), identifying this as the signal for nucleocapsid interaction. F13 binding to cells infected with SFV or a second alphavirus, Sindbis virus, is inhibited by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the entire 31 residue cytoplasmic domain (E2c), and also by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the eight residue epitope recognized by 3G10. Both E2c and the eight residue peptide inhibited viral budding in microinjection experiments and when conjugated to colloidal gold are bound specifically to nucleocapsids in infected cells. These results identify a short linear signal in the E2 cytoplasmic domain required for the interaction with nucleocapsids which leads to budding of at least two alphaviruses from infected cells.
Chloride intracellular channels modulate acute ethanol behaviors in Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans and mice

Identifying genes that influence behavioral responses to alcohol is critical for understanding the molecular basis of alcoholism and ultimately developing therapeutic interventions for the disease. Using an integrated approach that combined the power of the Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse model systems with bioinformatics analyses, we established a novel, conserved role for chloride intracellular channels (CLICs) in alcohol‐related behavior. CLIC proteins might have several biochemical functions including intracellular chloride channel activity, modulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β signaling, and regulation of ryanodine receptors and A‐kinase anchoring proteins. We initially identified vertebrate Clic4 as a candidate ethanol‐responsive gene via bioinformatic analysis of data from published microarray studies of mouse and human ethanol‐related genes. We confirmed that Clic4 expression was increased by ethanol treatment in mouse prefrontal cortex and also uncovered a correlation between basal expression of Clic4 in prefrontal cortex and the locomotor activating and sedating properties of ethanol across the BXD mouse genetic reference panel. Furthermore, we found that disruption of the sole Clic Drosophila orthologue significantly blunted sensitivity to alcohol in flies, that mutations in two C. elegans Clic orthologues, exc‐4 and exl‐1, altered behavioral responses to acute ethanol in worms and that viral‐mediated overexpression of Clic4 in mouse brain decreased the sedating properties of ethanol. Together, our studies demonstrate key roles for Clic genes in behavioral responses to acute alcohol in Drosophila, C. elegans and mice.
Full-field ERG in patients with Batten/Spielmeyer-Vogt disease caused by mutations in the CLN3 gene

Purpose: To investigate, using full-field ERG, the retinal function in patients with Batten/Spielmeyer-Vogt disease caused by mutations in the CLN3 gene. Methods: Batten disease status of five patients was confirmed by the presence of vacuolated lymphocytes in peripheral blood and the identification of mutations in the Batten disease gene ( CLN3 ). Visual acuity, fundus appearance, and full-field ERG were examined in all patients (age 4-19 years). The examination was repeated in one patient after 16 months. Results: Three unrelated patients were homozygous for the most common mutation in CLN3, the 1.02 kb deletion; two patients (sisters) were heterozygous for the 1.02 kb deletion and an as yet unidentified mutation in the CLN3 gene. Full-field ERG recordings in all five patients demonstrated no rod responses and only small remaining cone responses, which could be detected with 30 Hz-flicker stimulation. Re-examination of a six-year-old girl after 16 months revealed a fast progression of the retinal degeneration. Conclusion: Full-field ERG recordings in Batten disease patients, both homozygous and heterozygous for the 1.02 kb deletion in the CLN3 gene, confirm retinal degeneration to be severe, widespread, and with a rapid progression early in the disease course. The onset of visual failure may be delayed when compared to the classic disease course, particularly in patients who are not homozygous for the most common CLN3 mutation, a 1.02 kb deletion. In that case, the disease progression in terms of other symptoms may also be further delayed.
Effects of losartan on urinary secretion of extracellular matrix and their modulators in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with microalbuminuria.

PURPOSE Angiotensin II receptor Type 1 antagonists postpone the development of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We hypothesize that Losartan may ameliorate renal function in diabetic patients through the regulation on the generation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and fibrinolytic regulators. METHODS Twenty-two type 2 DM patients with microalbuminuria were treated with 50-100 mg/day of Losartan for 6 months. Urinary secretion of TGF-, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue and urokinase plasminogen activators (tPA and uPA) fibronectin, collagen IV and plasma levels of TGF-beta, PAI-1, tPA and uPA of the patients before and after the treatment were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunoabosorbance assay. RESULTS Losartan effectively reduced arterial blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion. The levels of TGF-beta in urine, but not in plasma, were reduced after 2, 4 and 6 months of the treatment (-32% to -48%, P < 0.05 or 0.01). Urinary or plasma levels of PAI-1, tPA or uPA, and urinary secretion of fibronectin or collagen IV were not significantly altered by Losartan treatment. Urinary levels of collagen IV positively correlated with uPA, and that of fibronectin negatively correlated with PAI-1 in the patients (P < 0.01). Urinary TGF-beta negatively correlated uPA in urine of the patients (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Losartan reduced urinary excretion of TGF-beta and albumin in type 2 DM patients with microalbuminuria. Fibrinolytic regulators and TGF-beta are implicated in the regulation of ECM turnover in kidneys of the patients with diabetic nephropathy.
[Cloning and functional analysis of melanocortin 4 receptor mutation gene F261S].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the function change of the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) protein with mutation of F261S. METHODS Human embryonic cells of the HEK293 line were cultured. Wild-type genomic DNA and F261S mutation human melanocortin 4 receptor genes from the genomic DNA of aproband of homozygotic F612 mutation were amplified and cloned into a topo-TA eukaryotic expression plasmid vector. After the wild-type and F261S mutated proteins were expressed in HEK293 cells, alpha-MSH (10(-11) approximately 10(-5) mmol/L) was added, then the intracellular cAMP was detected with dual luciferase reporter assay system. RESULTS When the concentration of alpha-MSH added was 10(-9) approximately 10(-8) mmol/L, the intracellular alpha-MSH concentration of the cells transfected with wild-type MC4R gene was significantly higher than that of the cells transfected with F261S mutation gene (P < 0.05). When the concentration of alpha-MSH added went to 10(-7) approximately 10(-5) mmol/L, the differences became even more significant (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The novel MC4R mutation F261S undermines the signal transduction. It may be the possible reason leading to monogenic mutation obesity in Chinese.
Integrated Zinc oxide-on-silicon tactile-sensor array

A 64-element piezoelectric tactile-sensor array, integrated on a silicon chip, has been fabricated and tested. The sensor array consists of 1µm-thick sputtered ZnO piezoelectric capacitors in an 8 × 8 matrix with each sensing element measuring 70 × 70µm2and spaced with a pitch of 70µm. Each sensor element is connected to an on-chip NMOS buffer-amplifier. The measured piezoelectric coefficient d33in the ZnO films is 14.4 pCN-1. The measured voltage responsivity (at T=300K) is 5.2 mV/gm with a hysteresis-free linear response for loading to 200 gm.
Quantitative Structure–Property Relationship (Correlation Analysis) of Phosphonic Acid‐Based Chelates in Design of MRI Contrast Agent

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is a very useful tool in modern medical diagnostics, especially when gadolinium (III)‐based contrast agents are administered to the patient with the aim of increasing the image contrast between normal and diseased tissues. With the use of soft modelling techniques such as quantitative structure–activity relationship/quantitative structure–property relationship after a suitable description of their molecular structure, we have studied a series of phosphonic acid for designing new MRI contrast agent. Quantitative structure–property relationship studies with multiple linear regression analysis were applied to find correlation between different calculated molecular descriptors of the phosphonic acid‐based chelating agent and their stability constants. The final quantitative structure–property relationship mathematical models were found as – quantitative structure–property relationship Model for phosphonic acid series (Model 1) − log KML = {5.00243(±0.7102)}− MR {0.0263(±0.540)}n = 12 l r l = 0.942 s = 0.183 F = 99.165 quantitative structure–property relationship Model for phosphonic acid series (Model 2) − log KML = {5.06280(±0.3418)}− MR {0.0252(± .198)}n = 12 l r l = 0.956 s = 0.186 F = 99.256.
Characterization of ibrutinib‐sensitive and ‐resistant mantle lymphoma cells

Ibrutinib inhibits Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK), a key component of early B‐cell receptor (BCR) signalling pathways. A multicentre phase 2 trial of ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) demonstrated a remarkable response rate. However, approximately one‐third of patients have primary resistance to the drug while other patients appear to lose response and develop secondary resistance. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying ibrutinib sensitivity is of paramount importance. In this study, we investigated cell lines and primary MCL cells that display differential sensitivity to ibrutinib. We found that the primary cells display a higher BTK activity than normal B cells and MCL cells show differential sensitivity to BTK inhibition. Genetic knockdown of BTK inhibits the growth, survival and proliferation of ibrutinib‐sensitive but not resistant MCL cell lines, suggesting that ibrutinib acts through BTK to produce its anti‐tumour activities. Interestingly, inhibition of ERK1/2 and AKT, but not BTK phosphorylation per se, correlates well with cellular response to BTK inhibition in cell lines as well as in primary tumours. Our study suggests that, to prevent primary resistance or to overcome secondary resistance to BTK inhibition, a combinatory strategy that targets multiple components or multiple pathways may represent the most effective approach.
Clinical Update on Optimal Prandial Insulin Dosing Using a Refined Run-to-Run Control Algorithm

Background: This article provides a clinical update using a novel run-to-run algorithm to optimize prandial insulin dosing based on sparse glucose measurements from the previous day's meals. The objective was to use a refined run-to-run algorithm to calculate prandial insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios (I:CHO) for meals of variable carbohydrate content in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Method: The open-labeled, nonrandomized study took place over a 6-week period in a nonprofit research center. Nine subjects with T1DM using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion participated. Basal insulin rates were optimized using continuous glucose monitoring, with a target fasting blood glucose of 90 mg/dl. Subjects monitored blood glucose concentration at the beginning of the meal and at 60 and 120 minutes after the start of the meal. They were instructed to start meals with blood glucose levels between 70 and 130 mg/dl. Subjects were contacted daily to collect data for the previous 24-hour period and to give them the physician-approved, algorithm-derived I:CHO ratios for the next 24 hours. Subjects calculated the amount of the insulin bolus for each meal based on the corresponding I:CHO and their estimate of the meal's carbohydrate content. One- and 2-hour postprandial glucose concentrations served as the main outcome measures. Results: The mean 1-hour postprandial blood glucose level was 104 ± 19 mg/dl. The 2-hour postprandial levels (96.5 ± 18 mg/dl) approached the preprandial levels (90.1 ± 13 mg/dl). Conclusions: Run-to-run algorithms are able to improve postprandial blood glucose levels in subjects with T1DM.
Reliability Estimators for Classification by Decomposition Method: Experiments in the Medical Domain

The performance of a classification system is sometimes unsatisfactory for the needs of real applications. In these cases, the measure of classification reliability should be useful since it takes into account the many issues that influence the achievement of satisfactory results. The most common choice for confidence evaluation consists in using the confusion matrix estimated during the learning phase. As a consequence, the same reliability value is associated with every decision attributing a sample to the same class. In this respect, this paper proposes and compares three different reliability estimators of each classification act of classification systems that belong to the one-per-class framework. They are based on the reliabilities provided by each dichotomizer and are independent of the binary module design. Their performance have been assessed and ranked on private and public medical datasets, showing that one of the estimators outperforms the others.
Incidental identification of a thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB) gene variant in a family with autoimmune thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a rare condition usually diagnosed in patients with classic thyroid function tests (TFTs) of elevated thyroid hormone levels with nonsuppressed TSH. The presence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) can confound the clinical diagnosis of RTH. A family was evaluated because several members had elevated TSH and normal or low serum T4 concentrations with AITD. While these individuals were initially reported to have RTH, they were found to have a normal thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB) gene sequence, and three other asymptomatic family members were found to harbor the variant TRβ G339S. METHODS The THRB gene was sequenced in 19 members of a large Mexican/Aztec family. In vitro expression of the mutant TRβ protein was performed, as well as computer modeling of the variant compared to known mutations in the flanking codons. RESULTS Investigation of an individual with AITD who was incorrectly diagnosed with RTH led to the fortuitous discovery of a THRB gene variant (G339S) in the proposita's father, paternal aunt, and cousin. This variant was not detected in analysis of 124 unrelated alleles. All individuals harboring G339S had normal TFTs. Normal in vitro expression and function of G339S and molecular modeling predicted that this variant would not have an effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis as determined by thyroid hormone binding in vitro and thyroid function tests in vivo, despite profound effects seen in mutations in the adjacent codons 338 and 340. CONCLUSION We report an individual with normal TFTs and AITD harboring a novel THRB gene variant. In addition to illustrating the importance of accurate diagnosis of thyroid disease so that proper treatment and counseling can be given, TRβ codon 339 is not essential for normal TRβ function.
Working hours as a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction in Japan: case-control study

Abstract Objective: To clarify the extent to which working hours affect the risk of acute myocardial infarction, independent of established risk factors and occupational conditions. Design: Case-control study. Setting: University and general hospitals and routine medical examinations at workplaces in Japan. Subjects: Cases were 195 men aged 30-69 years admitted to hospital with acute myocardial infarction during 1990-3. Controls were 331 men matched at group level for age and occupation who were judged to be free of coronary heart diseases at routine medical examinations in the workplace. Main outcome measures: Odds ratios for myocardial infarction in relation to previous mean daily working hours in a month and changes in mean working hours during previous year. Results: Compared with men with mean working hours of >7-9 hours, the odds ratio of acute myocardial infarction (adjusted for age and occupation) for men with working hours of >11 hours was 2.44 (95% confidence interval 1.26 to 4.73) and for men with working hours of 7 hours was 3.07 (1.77 to 5.32). Compared with men who experienced an increase of 1 hour in mean working hours, the adjusted odds ratio of myocardial infarction for men who experienced an increase of >3 hours was 2.53 (1.34 to 4.77). No appreciable change was observed when odds ratios were adjusted for established and psychosocial risk factors for myocardial infarction. Conclusion: There was a U shaped relation between the mean working hours and the risk of acute myocardial infarction. There also seemed to be a trend for the risk of infarction to increase with greater increases in mean working hours.
Phosphatase of Regenerating Liver-3 Induces Angiogenesis by Increasing Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Phosphorylation in Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) induces angiogenesis in endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues and cells. Methods: We investigated the expression of PRL-3 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in samples from 124 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma using immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between PRL-3 expression and microvessel density (MVD), clinicopathological factors and surgical treatment outcome was also studied. Following this, we studied the effect on cell lines of blocking or upregulating PRL-3. Results: PRL-3 expression in endometrial adenocarcinoma was high, and this overexpression is correlated with advanced clinical stage (p = 0.008), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.016) and poor postoperative survival. PRL-3 overexpression was associated with VEGF (p = 0.001) expression and MVD (p = 0.005). Upregulating PRL-3 expression promoted VEGF and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) expression. Blocking PRL-3 expression inhibited VEGF and pERK expression. Following inhibition of pERK, VEGF expression was downregulated. Conclusions: PRL-3 induces microvascular vessel formation by facilitating VEGF expression in endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues. PRL-3 upregulates pERK expression and activity, facilitating VEGF expression and accelerating angiogenesis.
Macrophages promote muscle membrane repair and muscle fibre growth and regeneration during modified muscle loading in mice in vivo

Muscle injury or modified muscle use can stimulate muscle invasion by leucocytes that have the potential to increase tissue damage or promote tissue growth and repair. In the present investigation, we examined the role of macrophages in muscle injury, repair and regeneration during modified muscle loading. Weight‐bearing was removed from the hindlimbs of mice for 10 days followed by reloading through normal ambulation. During the unloading period, soleus muscle fibre cross‐section decreased by 38%. Prior to the onset of reloading, mice received a series of intraperitoneal injections of anti‐F4/80, which binds a mouse macrophage surface antigen. Although anti‐F4/80 injections did not affect macrophage numbers in soleus muscles at 2 days of reloading, macrophages were reduced by 86% at 4 days of reloading. Muscle membrane lysis during the reloading period did not differ at 2 days of reloading between anti‐F4/80‐treated mice and mice that received isotype control antibody. However, control animals showed large decreases in the number of fibres with membrane lesions at 4 days of reloading, but this membrane repair did not occur in macrophage‐depleted mice. Macrophage‐depletion also reduced muscle regeneration (indicated by central nucleation) and satellite cell differentiation (indicated by reductions in MyoD‐expressing satellite cells) and prevented growth of muscle fibres that normally occurred in control animals between days 2 and 4 of reloading. These findings collectively show that macrophages play a significant role in muscle fibre membrane repair, regeneration and growth during increased muscle use after a period of atrophy.
Human detection and tracking in video surveillance system

The human detection and tracking in a video plays major roll in security systems. This paper proposes an approach to detect and track the persons in a video. This approach uses Gaussian Mixture Model to detect the person and Kalman filter to track the detected person. The processing time to detect the person is reduced by performing the detection operation on down-sampled video. After detecting the person, the original size of the video is reconstructed using Papoulis-Gerchberg method. The performance analysis is carried out by comparing with the state-of-the-art-algorithms. The experimental results show that the proposed method is well suited for detecting and tracking the person in lower processing time.