Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Altitude Training for Elite Endurance Performance: A 2012 Update

Abstract Altitude training is commonly used by endurance athletes and coaches in pursuit of enhancement of performance on return to sea level. The purpose of the current review article was to update and evaluate recent literature relevant to the practical application of altitude training for endurance athletes. Consequently, the literature can be considered in either of two categories: performance-led investigations or mechanistic advancements/insights. Each section discusses the relevant literature and proposes future directions where appropriate.
Transmissions of Metallic Gratings with Narrow Slots

The coupled-wave method (CWM) has been used for transmission analysis of binary metallic gratings with narrow slots. It is proved that waveguide properties of slot determine the transmission in such gratings. For TE waves at given wavelength a minimum width of slot exists, when a considerable transmission can be achieved. For TM waves such certain minimal width does not exist, thus the considerable transmission factor can be obtained (more than 0.8 for grating with Ag) at subwavelength slot. If TM wavelength is negligible higher than grating's period, a resonance of plasmons can appear on one or two surfaces of grating. Last fact decreases the transmission factor. A spectral dependence of the transmission and the dependence of the transmission on grating's thickness are analogical to characteristics of Fabry-Perot interferometer with absorption
Mars: The Lineament Systems

Analysis of the Mariner 4, Mariner 6, and Mariner 7 photographs shows that Mars has at least two distinct types of lineament systems. The most prominent is a well-developed global-type system. The second consists of radial and concentric lineaments associated with the Hellas and south polar basins.
Adrenal response in severe community-acquired pneumonia: impact on outcomes and disease severity.

BACKGROUND High cortisol levels are frequent in patients with severe infections. However, the predictive value of total cortisol and of the presence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains to be thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of adrenal response in patients with severe CAP admitted to the ICU. METHODS Baseline and postcorticotropin cortisol levels C-reactive protein (CRP), d-dimer, clinical variables, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) II, and CURB-65 (confusion, urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, BP, age > or = 65 years) scores were measured in the first 24 h. Results are shown as median (interquartile range [IQR]). The major outcome measure was hospital mortality. RESULTS Seventy-two patients with severe CAP admitted to the ICU were evaluated. Baseline cortisol levels were 18.1 microg/dL (IQR, 14.4 to 26.7 microg/dL), and the difference between baseline and postcorticotropin cortisol after 250 microg of corticotropin was 19 microg/dL (IQR, 12.8 to 27 microg/dL). Baseline cortisol levels presented positive correlations with scores of disease severity, including CURB-65, APACHE II, and SOFA (p < 0.05). Cortisol levels in nonsurvivors were higher than in survivors. CIRCI was diagnosed in 29 patients (40.8%). In univariate analysis, baseline cortisol, CURB-65, and APACHE II were predictors of death. The discriminative ability of baseline cortisol (area under receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 0.90; best cutoff for cortisol, 25.7 microg/dL) for in-hospital mortality was better than APACHE II, CURB-65, SOFA, d-dimer, or CRP. CONCLUSIONS Baseline cortisol levels are better predictors of severity and outcome in severe CAP than postcorticotropin cortisol or routinely measured laboratory parameters or scores as APACHE II, SOFA, and CURB-65.
Update in neoplastic lung diseases and mesothelioma.

CONTEXT Lung cancer is a common disease frequently seen by the surgical pathologist. Although secondary to improvements in screening and radiologic techniques and aggressive resection of small pulmonary nodules, the diagnosis of preneoplastic lesions is increasing in frequency and importance. Consequently, a greater understanding of their role in the development of lung carcinoma is needed for optimal patient care. Two lesions often encountered as small pulmonary nodules are bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, which can be challenging to distinguish. Recently, updates to the TNM classification of non-small cell lung carcinoma have been reported that directly impact prognosis and treatment algorithms. Identification of new molecular targets in pleural mesothelioma and in preneoplastic lesions may lead to improved therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE To present recent advances in our understanding of neoplastic lung diseases and mesothelioma and to describe how these advances relate to the current practice of pulmonary pathology. DATA SOURCES Published literature from PubMed (National Library of Medicine) and primary material from the authors' institution. CONCLUSIONS It is important for the surgical pathologist to understand current diagnostic classifications of non-small cell lung cancer and to be aware of the range of preneoplastic lesions, as well as the features useful for distinguishing bronchioloalveolar carcinoma from adenocarcinoma in small pulmonary nodules. Although pleural mesothelioma has distinct features, it can also overlap histologically with adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemistry can greatly aid in accurate diagnosis. New therapies targeting molecular markers in both non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma rely on accurate histopathologic diagnosis of these entities.
Biology and Ecology of Flower Thrips in Relation to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) is transmitted exclusively by certain species of thrips. Because TSWV can only be acquired by larvae and transmitted by adults, it is essential to determine the ecology of these different life stages to improve management of thrips and TSWV. Furthermore, interspecific differences among vector species complicate management issues. Herein, aspects of the biology and ecology of thrips vectors of tomato spotted wilt virus are discussed and an overview of vector-pathogens interaction is given. The complex of native and adventive Frankliniella species that occur in the southeastern USA is used as a model system for comparing and contrasting species-specific behavioral attributes that affect large-scale spatial and temporal population dynamics. The common Frankliniella species in the southeastern USA include Frankliniella occidentalis, F. fusca, F. bispinosa, and F. tritici. The western flower thrips, F. occidentalis, is considered the predominant vector of TSWV, but F. bispinosa and F. fusca are also vectors. These Frankliniella species have rapid generation times, and adults are highly polyphagous. Numerous hosts may serve as sources for thrips entering tomato fields, yet tomato is a poor reproductive host. Therefore, most of the thrips infesting fields are immigrants. Consequently, thrips dispersal behavior is a key component of TSWV epidemiology. F. occidentalis is a less mobile species than either F. bispinosa or F. tritici. These interspecific differences in the activity levels of adults affect how the species colonize plants and the field efficacy of insecticides against each species. These results show the importance of understanding interspecific variation among vectors for management of TSWV.
Biological activity of fragments derived from the extracellular slime glycolipoprotein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Glycolipoprotein, obtained from the extracellular slime layer of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was purfied and subjected to chemical and enzymatic treatment in an attempt to assign certain of its biological activities to chemical moieties comprising the glycolipoprotein molecule. Treatment of the glycolipoprotein with phenol, although removing all detectable protein, yielded a fragment capable to exerting the biological activities associated with the untreated glycolipoprotein (leucopenia, lethality, inhibition of phagocytosis, antigenic specificity). Acetic acid treatment resulted in a fragment composed mainly of carbohydrate and a small amount of protein, but no detectable lipid. This fragment was devoid of leucopenic and lethal activity, but retained antigenic specificity and the ability to inhibit phagocytosis. The fragments release from the glycolipoprotein after treatment with phage 2-depolymerase were low-molecular-weight products and were devoid of the biological activities associate with the glycolipoprotein.
Phase II trial of denileukin diftitox for relapsed/refractory T‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

This phase II study evaluated the safety and efficacy of denileukin diftitox, an interleukin‐2–diphtheria toxin fusion protein, in relapsed/refractory T‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (T‐NHL), excluding cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma. Eligible patients received denileukin diftitox 18 μg/kg/d × 5 d every 3 weeks for up to eight cycles. Tumour staging was performed every two cycles and the primary endpoint was the objective response rate [complete response (CR) + partial response (PR)]. For 27 patients enrolled, median age: 55 years (range 26–80 years), 70·4% male, and mean prior therapies: 2·5 (range 1–6). Objective responses (six CRs, seven PRs) were achieved in 13 patients (48·1%), stable disease in eight (29·6%) and six (22·2%) had progressive disease. An objective response was achieved in eight of 13 patients (61·5%) with CD25+ tumours (four CR/four PR) and five of 11 patients (45·5%) with CD25− tumours (two CR/three PR). Median progression‐free survival was 6 months (range, 1–38+ months). Most adverse reactions were grade 1/2 and transient. No grade 4–5 toxicities were reported. Denileukin diftitox had significant activity and was well tolerated in relapsed/refractory T‐NHL, with responses observed in both CD25+ and CD25− tumours. Further studies of denileukin diftitox in combination with other agents are warranted in previously untreated and relapsed/refractory T‐NHL.
An IoT-inspired cloud-based web service architecture for e-Health applications

E-Health services can take advantage of the technological achievements in the area of the Internet of Things (IoT), and of the cost reduction and increasing user-friendliness of health monitoring devices. Homes equipped with environmental sensors, physiological parameters monitoring devices, and home automation devices, could become the “hardware” of an “operating system” for application developers and service providers. The system would expose web services through a unique cloud infrastructure for users' data collection and storage, administration and billing, and healthcare service provisioning applications by possibly multiple third parties. We present an instance of a cloud-based web server which relies on a “home system” for the collection of information from an heterogeneous set of devices, providing a high level description of the proposed overall architectural model, of the induced opportunities from the market perspective, and of how it could be used by healthcare applications developers and service providers, including details on how the web server Application Programming Interfaces (API) is implemented in our instance.
The physical activity of children: a study of 1,602 Irish schoolchildren aged 11-12 years.

The adoption of a physically active lifestyle is widely believed to be a component of preventive medicine best initiated in childhood. Information on the factors that influence activity behaviour is prerequisite to effective health promotion. Data were collected from a cohort of preadolescent children in 5th and 6th classes of 62 Irish national primary school. 1,602 children were interviewed, 810 girls and 792 boys. Gender differences in recreational activity were significant (p <.0001), and a significant decline was observed in girls' activity from 5th to 6th class (p<.0001). Evidence of social class effect on behaviour was not convincing. In regression analysis, primary PE (B,0.016, 95% CI 0.012 to 0.021, p <.0001). gender (B, -.209, 95% CI -.277 to -.141, p < .0001), sports club membership (B,.201, 95% CI .131 to .272, p < .0001), and social integration status (B, .039, 95% CI .024 to .055, p < .0001) were identified as significant independent predictors of recreational activity. Parental support and physical self-perception were weak predictors. Findings suggest that the primary school plays an important role in the socialisation of children into active lifestyles.
The Effect of Aminoguanidine and Tolrestat on Glucose Toxicity in Bovine Retinal Capillary Pericytes

Cultured bovine retinal capillary pericytes (BRP) were used to investigate the effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor, tolrestat, and an inhibitor of advanced glycation end products (AGE) formation, aminoguanidine, on glucose toxicity. Glucose at high concentration reduced the replicative activity of pericytes in a dose-dependent manner. Tolrestat completely inhibited the production of sorbitol in cells exposed to a high concentration of glucose but failed to protect the cells from glucose toxicity. These results suggest that sorbitol accumulation in cells is probably not the major mechanism for glucose toxicity. In contrast, the addition of aminoguanidine at 10 mM concentration to the culture media protected pericytes from glucose toxicity. The degree of protected pericytes from glucose toxicity. The degree of protection was dose-dependent and evident at aminoguanidine concentration as low as 1 mM. The drug was only slightly toxic to BRP but induced morphological changes in pericytes with the loss of cellular processes and decreased cell spreading. This may suggest some action of aminoguanidine on the pericyte cytoskeleton. High concentration of glucose significantly increased the level of early glycation but not fluorescent AGE formation on BRP proteins. This was inhibited by the addition of aminoguanidine suggesting that glycation of cellular/membrane proteins and other mechanisms may play an important role in the toxic action of high glucose levels in cultured pericytes.
Incidencia de ataque cerebrovascular en el departamento de Cerro Largo, Uruguay. Diagnóstico de situación previo al desarrollo de una Unidad de ACV

Stroke is the third cause of death in Uruguay. It has been demonstrated that Stroke Units decrease morbimortality due to stroke. Only in recent years, a few of these units have been developed in Uruguay. Given the temporal limitations of some treatments, regional availability is a key factor.The aim of the study was to unveil the epidemiology of stroke in the department of Cerro Largo, Uruguay, to support the development of a local Stroke Unit. A descriptive, prospective study was performed,with a 12 months follow-up of the cohort of the whole population of the department.Incidence rate was found to be 161,75/100.000 inhabitants/year (137 cases), of which 53.3% were females. The amount of transient ischemic attacks was 4.3% (6 patients), of ischemic strokes 78.9% (108) and 23 (16.8%) were brain hemorrhages. Early mortality was 21.9% and it was associated to hemorrhages.Among ischemic stroke patients 38 were admitted in the first 3 hours after the onset of symptoms, while 7 arrived between 3 and 4.5 hours of clinical onset. Combining temporal and severity criteria (according to NIHSS score), 30% of ischemic stroke patients could have benefited from thrombolytic therapy, if available.Stroke incidence was similar to other studies. Our study showed epidemiological and clinical factors that can be addressed by local dedicated health care policies, including both preventive measures involving the first level of care, and a Stroke Unit with available thrombolytic therapy
The Continuous Femoral Nerve Block Catheter for Postoperative Analgesia: Bacterial Colonization, Infectious Rate and Adverse Effects

We investigated the incidence of bacterial and vascular or neurological complications resulting from femoral nerve catheters used for postoperative analgesia. Patients requiring continuous femoral blockade were consecutively included. Using surgical aseptic procedure, 211 femoral nerve catheters were placed (short-beveled insulated needle, peripheral nerve stimulator). After 48 h, each catheter was removed and semiquantitative bacteriological cultures were performed on each distal catheter tip. Postoperative analgesia and antibiotics were standardized. All complications during the insertion of the catheters and postoperatively (after 48 h and 6 wk) were noted. Few initial complications with no immediate or delayed complications were noted (20 difficult insertions, 3 impossible injections, 3 ineffective catheters, and 12 vascular punctures). After 48 h, 208 catheters were analyzed; 57% had positive bacterial colonization (with a single organism in 53%). The most frequent organisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis (71%), Enteroccus (10%), and Klebsiella (4%). Neither cellulitis nor abscess occurred. Three transitory bacteriemias likely related to the catheter occurred. After 6 wk, no septic complications were noted. One femoral paresthesia, partially recovered 1 yr later, was noted. We conclude that the risk of bacterial complications is small with femoral nerve catheters, although the rate of colonization is frequent.
Fermi Liquid Instabilities in the Spin Channel

We study the Fermi surface instabilities of the Pomeranchuk type in the spin triplet channel with high orbital partial waves (F{sub l}{sup a} (l > 0)). The ordered phases are classified into two classes, dubbed the {alpha} and {beta}-phases by analogy to the superfluid {sup 3}He-A and B-phases. The Fermi surfaces in the {alpha}-phases exhibit spontaneous anisotropic distortions, while those in the {beta}-phases remain circular or spherical with topologically non-trivial spin configurations in momentum space. In the {alpha}-phase, the Goldstone modes in the density channel exhibit anisotropic overdamping. The Goldstone modes in the spin channel have nearly isotropic underdamped dispersion relation at small propagating wavevectors. Due to the coupling to the Goldstone modes, the spin wave spectrum develops resonance peaks in both the {alpha} and {beta}-phases, which can be detected in inelastic neutron scattering experiments. In the p-wave channel {beta}-phase, a chiral ground state inhomogeneity is spontaneously generated due to a Lifshitz-like instability in the originally nonchiral systems. Possible experiments to detect these phases are discussed.
Microarray Analysis and Detection of MicroRNAs Associated with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

The aim of this study was to understand the importance of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension- (CTEPH-) associated microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs differentially expressed in CTEPH samples compared with control samples were identified, and the target genes were predicted. The target genes of the key differentially expressed miRNAs were analyzed, and functional enrichment analyses were carried out. Finally, the miRNAs were detected using RT-PCR. Among the downregulated miRNAs, MiR-3148 regulated the most target genes and was significantly enriched in pathways in cancer, glioma, and ErbB signaling pathway. Furthermore, the number of target genes coregulated by miR-3148 and other miRNAs was the most. AR (androgen receptor), a target gene of hsa-miR-3148, was enriched in pathways in cancer. PRKCA (Protein Kinase C Alpha), also a target gene of hsa-miR-3148, was enriched in 15 of 16 KEGG pathways, such as pathways in cancer, glioma, and ErbB signaling pathway. In addition, the RT-PCR results showed that the expression of hsa-miR-3148 in CTEPH samples was significantly lower than that in control samples (P < 0.01). MiR-3148 may play an important role in the development of CTEPH. The key mechanisms for this miRNA may be hsa-miR-3148-AR-pathways in cancer or hsa-miR-3148-PRKCA-pathways in cancer/glioma/ErbB signaling pathway.
[Inhibitory effects of Kukoamine B on the inflammatory response of small intestine in lipopolysaccharide-induced septic mice and its potential mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE To study the role of Kukoamine B (KB) in inhibiting the inflammatory response of small intestine in septic mice and its molecular mechanisms. METHODS Twenty-four male ICR mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, and KB intervention group (each, n = 8). Sepsis model was reproduced by intra-peritoneal injection of 20 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while equivalent normal saline was given in control group, and 20 μg/kg KB was injected through caudal vein 4 hours after LPS challenge in KB intervention group. The blood/tissue samples (jejunum and ileum) were harvested 8 hours after LPS injection. The levels of plasma LPS, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured. The pathological changes in small intestine tissues were observed under light microscope, while the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in the tissue homogenates (jejunum and ileum) were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured by colorimetry. The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was determined by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA was assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The activation of nuclear factor-Κβ (NF-Κβ) was determined by Western Blot. RESULTS The mice in model group were found to have an increase in microvascular permeability, interstitial edema, and infiltration of white blood cells, and the levels of LPS, TNF-α and IL-1β in their plasma, with an increase in concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β, activity of MPO, positive expression of ICAM-1, expression of iNOS mRNA and NF-ΚB protein in small intestine (jejunum and ileum). Compared with model group, in mice with KB intervention, microvascular permeability, interstitial edema, and infiltration of white blood cells were reduced significantly, while the levels of LPS, TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma, the concentration of TNF-α and IL-1β, the activity of MPO, the positive expression of ICAM-1, the expression of iNOS mRNA and NF-ΚB protein in small intestine (jejunum and ileum) were significantly decreased [plasma LPS (kEU/L): 654.09±28.13 vs. 1 155.65±47.15, TNF-α (ng/L): 12.75±0.47 vs. 30.61±0.71, IL-1β (ng/L): 53.06±5.32 vs. 64.47±2.61; jejunum TNF-α (ng/L): 43.27±1.20 vs. 64.82±2.09, IL-1β (ng/L): 326.38±14.47 vs. 535.22±13.48, MPO (U/g): 0.14±0.01 vs. 0.32±0.02, iNOS mRNA (2(-ΔΔCt)): 2.39±0.13 vs. 10.80±0.22, NF-ΚB protein (gray value): 0.687±0.062 vs. 1.404±0.046; ileum TNF-α (ng/L): 62.75±3.92 vs. 104.24±2.82, IL-1β(ng/L): 408.06±1.70 vs. 521.97±1.16, MPO (U/g): 0.36±0.08 vs. 0.66±0.05, iNOS mRNA (2(-ΔΔCt)): 1.65±0.11 vs. 3.59±0.29, NF-ΚB protein (gray value): 0.830±0.114 vs. 1.609±0.051, all P <0.05]. CONCLUSIONS KB can combine with LPS and inhibit LPS/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway, thereby significantly inhibit the inflammatory response and protect the function of the small intestine in LPS-induced septic mice.
Monte Carlo simulation of a statistical mechanical model of multiple protein sequence alignment

A grand canonical Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm is presented for studying the lattice gas model (LGM) of multiple protein sequence alignment, which coherently combines long-range interactions and variable-length insertions. MC simulations are used for both parameter optimization of the model and production runs to explore the sequence subspace around a given protein family. In this Note, I describe the details of the MC algorithm as well as some preliminary results of MC simulations with various temperatures and chemical potentials, and compare them with the mean-field approximation. The existence of a two-state transition in the sequence space is suggested for the SH3 domain family, and inappropriateness of the mean-field approximation for the LGM is demonstrated.