Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enzyme immunoassays for the investigation of protein nitration by air pollutants.

Two enzyme immunoassays have been developed, characterised, and applied to investigate protein nitration in birch pollen extract (BPE) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) samples exposed to air pollutants. The monoclonal antibody CAY-189542 against nitrotyrosine (raised against peroxynitrite-treated keyhole limpet hemocyanine) was characterised in an indirect competitive assay (affinity and cross-reactivities) and applied in a new one-sided enzyme immunoassay for nitrated proteins. The one-sided assay was calibrated against a nitrated BSA standard with an average of 14 nitrotyrosine residues per molecule (nitro-(14)-BSA; detection limit 8.3 pmol L(-1)), and the sensitivity of the test was found to be significantly enhanced by a multivalent binding mode of the monoclonal antibody (bonus effect of multivalency). The same antibody and a polyclonal antibody against Bet v 1, the most prominent birch pollen allergen, were used in a new sandwich immunoassay for specific determination of nitrated Bet v 1. This assay was calibrated against a nitrated Bet v 1 standard with an average of 3 nitrotyrosine residues per molecule (nitro-(3)-Bet v 1; detection limit 0.2 nmol L(-1)). Bet v 1 and BSA exposed to polluted urban outdoor air and to synthetic gas mixtures containing NO2 and O3 at atmospherically relevant concentration levels were found to be efficiently nitrated within hours to days. Pronounced correlations of nitro-(14)-BSA equivalent concentrations with exposure time and with nitro-(3)-Bet v 1 equivalent concentrations in nitrated BPE samples were observed. Test experiments indicated that the efficiency of protein nitration was strongly enhanced by reactive species formed upon interaction of NO2 with O3 and H2O (e.g. NO3 and HNO3). Potential implications of protein nitration by air pollutants are outlined and discussed.
Secretor status and human leucocyte antigens in coeliac disease.

BACKGROUND The ability to secrete blood group antigens into body fluids and secretions is controlled by a single gene on chromosome 19. By means of erythrocyte Lewis (Le) antigen phenotype secretor status can be inferred. An increase prevalence of non-secretors of blood group antigens among coeliac patients has recently been described. METHODS Blood was collected from 112 coeliac patients and 103 controls and tested for secretor status. Secretor status was correlated with human leucocyte antigens (HLA) in coeliac patients, thus evaluating a proposed interaction of susceptibility genes--that is, the secretor gene on chromosome 19 and HLA-linked genes on chromosome 6. Case notes for coeliacs were reviewed with regard to clinical outcome. RESULTS Of 112 coeliacs who had either Le(a) or Le(b) antigens, 36 (32%) were non-secretors Le(a+, b-), compared with 27% (28) of 103 disease-free controls (P = 0.313). Recessive Lewis phenotype Le(a-, b-) was found in 9% of coeliacs versus 2% of controls. Prevalence of HLA-A1, B8, DR3, and DQ2 was unrelated to secretor status in coeliac versus patients. An increased prevalence of complications and coeliac-associated abnormalities was found in the non-secreting and recessive coeliac groups. CONCLUSIONS This study shows no firm relationship between the non-secretor state and coeliac disease, nor any difference in the distribution of HLA markers among secretor and non-secretor coeliacs. It is unlikely, therefore, that the secretor gene is the much sought-after second coeliac gene.
Comparison of clomiphene citrate and letrozole for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective randomized trial

Abstract To compare the therapeutic efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole (LE) on ovulation, pregnancy, and live birth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); and to ensure if LE can replace CC as the first-line therapy for ovulation induction in these women. This is a prospectively, randomized, controlled trial in the tertiary hospital. Two-hundred and sixty-eight anovulatory PCOS patients were treated by CC or CC plus metformin and LE or LE plus metformin for three continuous cycles or conception; their ovulation rates, pregnancy rates, and live birth rates were calculated and compared. No significant difference was noted among the four groups regarding to the baseline data of clinical manifestations, serum sex hormone levels, and serum insulin levels. A total of 240 patients completed the therapies. The ovulation rate was significantly higher in the group LE than the group CC; however, no significant difference was noted between the groups LE and CC, CC, and CC + MET, or LE and LE + MET in the pregnancy rate, abortion rate, and live birth rate. No birth defect was found in the total of 63 newborns. CC regimen was still recommended to be the first-line therapy of ovulation induction for PCOS.
Characterization of Avian Paramyxoviruses Isolated from Feral Ducks in Northern Japan: The Presence of Three Distinct Viruses in Nature

Seventy‐eight strains of avian paramyxoviruses (PMV) were isolated from cloacal and/or tracheal swabs taken from 1,342 feral ducks, comprised of spot‐bill ducks, mallards, pintails, teals, falcated teals, wigeons and buffie‐heads, in Wakuya‐cho, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, between 1976 and 1979. Five and a half percent of the ducks were positive for virus. Serological and structural characterization indicated that three different avian paramyxoviruses arc prevalent in the Japanese feral duck population. The first group of PMV was Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and in vivo pathogenecity tests in embryonated chicken eggs and 1‐day‐old chicks revealed that all the NDV strains isolated were avirulent. The second and most prevalent strain was closely related to PMV‐4, duck/Hong Kong/D3/75 strain. The viruses of the third group were recovered only from pintails. They cross‐reacted antigenically with PMV‐3 when antisera to the PMV‐3 reference strains, turkey/Wisconsin/68 and parakeet/Netherlands/449/75, were employed. However, no cross‐reaction was observed when antiserum to pintail/ Wakuya/20/78, the prototype of this group, was used. The viruses of the third group also differed in viral polypeptide profile from the reference strains of PMV‐3.
Immediate single-tooth implants in the anterior maxilla: 3-year results of a case series on hard and soft tissue response and aesthetics.

PURPOSE The objective of this prospective study was to assess the overall outcome of immediate single implant treatment in the anterior maxilla after a 3-year observation period. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty consecutively treated patients with a thick gingival biotype, ideal gingival level/contour and intact socket walls at the time of tooth extraction were treated for single-tooth replacement in the aesthetic zone by two experienced clinicians. Treatment included minimal mucoperiosteal flap elevation, immediate implant placement (NobelReplace TiUnite(®)), insertion of a grafting material between the implant and the socket wall and connection of a screw-retained provisional restoration. The latter was replaced by a cemented crown 6 months thereafter. Patients were clinically and radiographically re-examined after 3 years to assess implant survival, complications and hard and soft tissue conditions. The aesthetic outcome was objectively rated using the Pink Esthetic Score (PES) and White Esthetic Score (WES) by a blinded clinician who had not been involved in the treatment. RESULTS Twenty-five patients could be re-evaluated after 3 years. One early implant failure had occurred resulting in an implant survival rate of 96%. Radiographic examination yielded on average 1.13 mm mesial, respectively 0.86 mm distal bone loss. The clinical conditions showed fairly low peri-implant plaque (18%) and bleeding (24%) and mean probing depth was 3.17 mm. Mean mesial/distal papilla shrinkage and midfacial soft tissue recession in reference to the pre-operative status accounted for 0.05, 0.08 and 0.34 mm, respectively. Between the 1- and 3-year reassessment mesial papillae showed significant re-growth (0.36 mm; p=0.015). Advanced midfacial recession (>1 mm) was found in 2/25 (8%) cases. Five (21%) cases were aesthetic failures (PES<8 and/or WES<6) and 5/24 (21%) showed an (almost) perfect outcome (PES≥12 and WES≥9). The remainder (14/24 or 58%) demonstrated acceptable aesthetics. CONCLUSIONS The proposed strategy seems a valuable and predictable treatment option for well-selected patients in the mid-long term as shown by almost full papillary re-growth and a low risk for advanced midfacial recession.
MULTIVARIATE QUANTITATIVE GENETICS AND THE LEK PARADOX: GENETIC VARIANCE IN MALE SEXUALLY SELECTED TRAITS OF DROSOPHILA SERRATA UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract Single male sexually selected traits have been found to exhibit substantial genetic variance, even though natural and sexual selection are predicted to deplete genetic variance in these traits. We tested whether genetic variance in multiple male display traits of Drosophila serrata was maintained under field conditions. A breeding design involving 300 field-reared males and their laboratory-reared offspring allowed the estimation of the genetic variance-covariance matrix for six male cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) under field conditions. Despite individual CHCs displaying substantial genetic variance under field conditions, the vast majority of genetic variance in CHCs was not closely associated with the direction of sexual selection measured on field phenotypes. Relative concentrations of three CHCs correlated positively with body size in the field, but not under laboratory conditions, suggesting condition-dependent expression of CHCs under field conditions. Therefore condition dependence may not maintain genetic variance in preferred combinations of male CHCs under field conditions, suggesting that the large mutational target supplied by the evolution of condition dependence may not provide a solution to the lek paradox in this species. Sustained sexual selection may be adequate to deplete genetic variance in the direction of selection, perhaps as a consequence of the low rate of favorable mutations expected in multiple trait systems.
Potent agonist action of 2‐thioether derivatives of adenine nucleotides at adenylyl cyclase‐linked P2y‐purinoceptors

1 . Analogues of adenine nucleotides inhibited)β‐adrenoceptor‐stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in C6 rat glioma cells with a pharmacological selectivity consistent with that for involvement of a P2y‐purinoceptor. 2 . The inhibitory effect of adenine nucleotides was completely prevented by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. 3 . The capacity of a series of recently synthesized 2‐thioether analogues of adenine nucleotides to inhibit cyclic AMP accumulation was examined. Several ATP analogues, e.g. 2‐cyclohexylthio and 2‐hexylthio ATP, inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation with EC50 values of approximately 30 pM. These values represent 100,000 fold increases in potency over ATP. 4 . Analogues of ADP exhibited the same remarkable increase in potency relative to their natural congener and diphosphates were at least as potent as the corresponding triphosphates at the C6 cell P2Y‐purinoceptor. 5 . The relative potencies of a broad series of agonists at the C6 cell receptor did not correspond to the relative potencies of the same compounds for activation of P2Y‐purinoceptors on turkey erythrocyte membranes. Some agonists, particularly 2‐thioether derivatives were more potent for stimulation of the C6 cell receptor, whereas other agonists were more potent in the turkey erythrocyte system. 6 . These results add further support to the view that the adenylyl cyclase‐linked P2Y‐purinoceptor of C6 rat glioma cells is a different subtype from the phospholipase C‐linked P2Y‐purinoceptor of turkey erythrocyte membranes and several mammalian tissues
A method using acoustic features to detect inadequate utterances in medical communication

We previously proposed a method that uses grammatical features to detect inadequate utterances of doctors. However, nonverbal information such as that conveyed by gestures, facial expression, and tone of voice are also important. In this paper, we propose a method that uses eight acoustic features to detect three types of mental states (sincerity, confidence, and doubtfulness/acceptance). A Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used to learn these features. Experiments showed that the system's accuracy and recall rates respectively ranged from 0.79-0.91 and 0.80-0.94.
RESTRICTED BARGAINING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES

In this paper we show that a bargaining game will yield a negotiated solution with certain reasonable properties if the rules of the game are appropriately restricted. The basic idea is to provide an incentive for all the group components to engage in a process of concessions until the point where some agreement is reached. The incentive consists of the threat of a preannounced "imposed" solution which will be enforced if no settlement can be reached. ORGANIZATIONAL DECISION MAKING is characterized by a multiplicity of partially conflicting objectives, all of which are desirable to some extent. Although the presence of multiple goal structures has been recognized for a long time in economic theory, the assumption of a unique goal of profit maximization has been made in nearly every analytical study of firm behavior, except in a few recent contributions.2 There are many reasons for this apparent lack of interest in the problem of multiple objectives and the failure to introduce them explicitly in models of firm behavior, though most of these are probably related to the difficulty of handling such objectives in a satisfactory way. For instance, a group utility-if one exists-will generally fail to be a scalar function; more often it will be a multidimensional function.3 Furthermore, one must face the problem of aggregating the preferences of individual group members into a "group ordering" which satisfies certain reasonable requirements.4 Several approaches have been developed to deal with the problem of resource allocation under multiple objectives; however, none are really satisfactory. Such
5′ End-independent RNase J1 Endonuclease Cleavage of Bacillus subtilis Model RNA*

Background: Endonuclease cleavage initiates messenger RNA decay in bacteria. Result: Cleavage of a model RNA by the endonuclease RNase J1 is unaffected by strong secondary structure at the 5′ end. Conclusion: RNase J1-initiated RNA decay occurs by endonuclease cleavage independent of the 5′ end. Significance: Although mRNA stability is generally 5′ end-dependent, mRNAs may contain sites that circumvent this dependence. Bacillus subtilis trp leader RNA is a small (140-nucleotide) RNA that results from attenuation of trp operon transcription upon binding of the regulatory TRAP complex. Previously, endonucleolytic cleavage by ribonuclease RNase J1 in a 3′-proximal, single-stranded region was shown to be critical for initiation of trp leader RNA decay. RNase J1 is a dual-specificity enzyme, with both 5′ exonucleolytic and endonucleolytic activities. Here, we provide in vivo and in vitro evidence that RNase J1 accesses its internal target site on trp leader RNA in a 5′ end-independent manner. This has important implications for the role of RNase J1 in RNA decay. We also tested the involvement in trp leader RNA decay of the more recently discovered endonuclease RNase Y. Half-lives of several trp leader RNA constructs, which were designed to probe pathways of endonucleolytic versus exonucleolytic decay, were measured in an RNase Y-deficient mutant. Remarkably, the half-lives of these constructs were indistinguishable from their half-lives in an RNase J1-deficient mutant. These results suggest that lowering RNase Y concentration may affect RNA decay indirectly via an effect on RNase J1, which is thought to exist with RNase Y in a degradosome complex. To generalize our findings with trp leader RNA to other RNAs, we show that the mechanism of trp leader RNA decay is not dependent on TRAP binding.
Role of sphingolipids in murine radiation‐induced lung injury: protection by sphingosine 1‐phosphate analogs

Clinically significant radiation‐induced lung injury (RILI) is a common toxicity in patients administered thoracic radiotherapy. Although the molecular etiology is poorly understood, we previously characterized a murine model of RILI in which alterations in lung barrier integrity surfaced as a potentially important pathobiological event and genome‐wide lung gene mRNA levels identified dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolic pathway genes. We hypothesized that sphingolipid signaling components serve as modulators and novel therapeutic targets of RILI. Sphingolipid involvement in murine RILI was confirmed by radiation‐induced increases in lung expression of sphingosine kinase (SphK) isoforms 1 and 2 and increases in the ratio of ceramide to sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) and dihydro‐S1P (DHS1P) levels in plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissue. Mice with a targeted deletion of SphK1 (SphK1–/–) or with reduced expression of S1P receptors (S1PR1+/–, S1PR2–/–, and S1PR3–/–) exhibited marked RILI susceptibility. Finally, studies of 3 potent vascular barrier‐protective S1P analogs, FTY720, (S)‐FTY720‐phosphonate (fTyS), and SEW‐2871, identified significant RILI attenuation and radiation‐induced gene dysregulation by the phosphonate analog, fTyS (0.1 and 1 mg/kg i.p., 2×/wk) and to a lesser degree by SEW‐2871 (1 mg/kg i.p., 2×/wk), compared with those in controls. These results support the targeting of S1P signaling as a novel therapeutic strategy in RILI. —Mathew, B. , Jacobson, J. R. , Berdyshev, E. , Huang, Y. , Sun, X. , Zhao, Y. , Gerhold, L. M. , Siegler, J., Evenoski, C. , Wang, T. , Zhou, T. , Zaidi, R. , Moreno‐Vinasco, L. , Bittman, R. , Chen, C. T. , LaRiviere, P. J., Sammani, S. , Lussier, Y. A. , Dudek, S. M. , Natarajan, V. , Weichselbaum, R. R. , Garcia, J. G. N. Role of sphingolipids in murine radiation‐induced lung injury: protection by sphingosine 1‐phosphate analogs. FASEB J. 25, 3388–3400 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Intra-organisational drivers of purchasing social responsibility

Purpose This study aims to identify intra-organisational drivers that enhance the implementation of a purchasing social responsibility (PSR) approach and drivers that influence PSR throughout the phases of the process. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual framework presents PSR as a process, rather than merely a decision. It focuses on three dimensions (centralisation, specialisation and formalisation) to highlight the role and evolution of key drivers through a three-phase process (set-up, operating and sustaining). The empirical analysis is based on a single qualitative case study of Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais (SNCF), France’s state-owned railway company, which is particularly advanced in its PSR-related practices. Findings The intra-organisational drivers differ according to the phase of the PSR process. Transitions across the three phases entail organisational adaptation, which require the company to transform from a mechanistic to an organic structure. Research limitations/implications This research contributes to a better understanding of the PSR implementation process through an in-depth study focused on intra-organisational drivers. Although relatively understudied, these drivers play important roles. Practical implications This study identifies operational, intra-organisational leverage actions that can benefit firms that aim to adopt or maintain a PSR approach. It also provides comprehensive guidance for activating these leverages throughout the PSR implementation process, and it helps firms identify their level of PSR. Originality/value This study proposes the first processual, organisational interpretation of PSR approaches.
Developing Non-Somatotopic Phantom Finger Sensation to Comparable Levels of Somatotopic Sensation through User Training With Electrotactile Stimulation

Cutaneous electrical stimulation can provide tactile feedback for upper-limb amputees through somatotopic feedback (SF) or non-somatotopic feedback (NF). The SF delivers electrotactile stimulus to projection finger maps (PFMs) on the stumps of amputees, which outperforms NF that transfers stimulus to other human intact skin areas in general. However, the SF areas on stumps are very limited and often occupied by electromyography (EMG) sensors in application of myoelectric prosthesis. This work aims at improving NF performance on human upper arms through user training with electrotactile stimulation. The experiments were conducted over seven consecutive days on nine able-bodied subjects and two forearm amputees. The performance measures of NF/SF included the correct identification rates (CIRs), the response time and the NASA-TLX questionnaire. The between-day CIR s on NF sites increased logarithmically with a mean course of 3-day rapid-improving phase and plateaued in the relative-steady phase. The response time and NASA-TLX scores could also rapidly reduce to the comparable levels of the SF areas during the same mean period of 3-day rapid-improving phase, respectively. These results indicated that the performance of NF could be highly improved to the equivalent level as that of SF through 3-day electrotactile training, which we named as “3-day effect”. It provides important insights that intact skin areas without phantom sensations can effectively replace SF sites to transfer tactile feedback after continuous user training, which validates effectiveness of non-invasive interfaces of tactile feedback for upper-limb amputees in practice.
Brain tumour classification and abnormality detection using neuro-fuzzy technique and Otsu thresholding

Abstract Brain tumour is one of the main causes for an increase in transience among children and adults. This paper proposes an improved method based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain image classification and image segmentation approach. Automated classification is encouraged by the need of high accuracy when dealing with a human life. The detection of the brain tumour is a challenging problem, due to high diversity in tumour appearance and ambiguous tumour boundaries. MRI images are chosen for detection of brain tumours, as they are used in soft tissue determinations. First of all, image pre-processing is used to enhance the image quality. Second, dual-tree complex wavelet transform multi-scale decomposition is used to analyse texture of an image. Feature extraction extracts features from an image using gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Then, the Neuro-Fuzzy technique is used to classify the stages of brain tumour as benign, malignant or normal based on texture features. Finally, tumour location is detected using Otsu thresholding. The classifier performance is evaluated based on classification accuracies. The simulated results show that the proposed classifier provides better accuracy than previous method.
Respiration and Ethylene Production During Ontogeny of Fruit1

Respiration (ml CO2/kg/hour) decreased as fruits matured in mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Haden), avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv. unknown), and lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn. cv. Kwai Mi). With ripening, a respiratory rise commenced in the climacteric mango and avocado, but not in the nonclimacteric lychee. Ethylene (μl/mg/hour) production in all species also decreased as the fruit matured, became undetectable, then reappeared upon fruit ripening (mango and avocado) or senescence (lychee). The possible relationship between respiration and ethylene production in the ontogeny of fruit is discussed.