Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Significance of Diffusely Increased 18F-FDG Uptake in the Thyroid Gland

Our purpose was to determine the clinical significance of diffusely increased 18F-FDG uptake in the thyroid gland as an incidental finding on PET/CT. Methods: All patients who were found to have diffuse thyroid uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT in our institution between November 2004 and June 2006 were investigated and compared with an age- and sex-matched control group. The 18F-FDG uptake in the thyroid was semiquantified using maximum standardized uptake value and correlated to the available serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody levels using regression analysis. Results: Of the 4,732 patients, 138 (2.9%) had diffuse thyroid uptake. Clinical information was available for 133 of the 138 patients. Sixty-three (47.4%) had a prior diagnosis of hypothyroidism or autoimmune thyroiditis, of whom 56 were receiving thyroxine therapy. In the control group, consisting of 133 patients with no thyroid uptake, there were 13 (9.8%) with a prior diagnosis of hypothyroidism, 11 of whom were receiving thyroxine therapy. In the study group, 38 (28.6%) of 133 patients did not undergo any further investigation for thyroid disease, whereas 32 (24.1%) of 133 patients were examined for thyroid disease after PET. Nineteen were found with autoimmune thyroiditis or hypothyroidism, and replacement therapy was initiated in 12. No significant correlation was found between maximum standardized uptake value and TSH (P = 0.09) or TPO antibody (P = 0.68) levels. Conclusion: The incidental finding of increased 18F-FDG uptake in the thyroid gland is associated with chronic lymphocytic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis and does not seem to be affected by thyroid hormone therapy. SUV correlated neither with the degree of hypothyroidism nor with the titer of TPO antibodies.
There is Tin and there is Tin - Characterisation of Tribological and Electrical Properties of Electroplated Tin Surfaces

Electroplated tin surfaces are one of the most used and wide spread contact surfaces for connectors in fields of electrical connectivity and applications. The current study focused on a detailed characterisation of tribological and electrical properties of different electroplated matt and bright tin surfaces to get a deeper insight to the relation of wear failure mechanisms and electrical contact resistance characteristics. The experiments were carried out with a special in-house developed tribometer with variable sliding path, dynamically changeable normal loads and sliding velocities to simulate the sliding motion of connector contacts during insertion and withdrawal. This setup can not only record the occurring friction forces, but has also the capability to measure the contact resistance during every sliding cycle. In a first step we have determined the influence of normal load, sliding distance and velocity on the contact resistance and the friction force by means of a statistical DoE analysis. Hereby we found, that from an electrical point of view matt tin surfaces have a more stable contact resistance characteristic than bright tin surfaces, but under pure tribological aspects bright tin surfaces excel by initially lower friction force values. In the second step the wear tracks were investigated by means of SEM, EDX and optical 3D-microscopy to clarify which major wear failure mechanisms cause the observed different electrical and tribological properties. Within these investigations we were able to identify tin surface specific wear failure mechanisms which can be brought into correlation to the findings of the DoE analysis and can explain the observed contact resistance characteristics.
Children and Adolescents With Gender Identity Disorder Referred to a Pediatric Medical Center

OBJECTIVES: To describe the patients with gender identity disorder referred to a pediatric medical center. We identify changes in patients after creation of the multidisciplinary Gender Management Service by expanding the Disorders of Sex Development clinic to include transgender patients. METHODS: Data gathered on 97 consecutive patients <21 years, with initial visits between January 1998 and February 2010, who fulfilled the following criteria: long-standing cross-gender behaviors, provided letters from current mental health professional, and parental support. Main descriptive measures included gender, age, Tanner stage, history of gender identity development, and psychiatric comorbidity. RESULTS: Genotypic male:female ratio was 43:54 (0.8:1); there was a slight preponderance of female patients but not significant from 1:1. Age of presentation was 14.8 ± 3.4 years (mean ± SD) without sex difference (P = .11). Tanner stage at presentation was 4.1 ± 1.4 for genotypic female patients and 3.6 ± 1.5 for genotypic male patients (P = .02). Age at start of medical treatment was 15.6 ± 2.8 years. Forty-three patients (44.3%) presented with significant psychiatric history, including 20 reporting self-mutilation (20.6%) and suicide attempts (9.3%). CONCLUSIONS: After establishment of a multidisciplinary gender clinic, the gender identity disorder population increased fourfold. Complex clinical presentations required additional mental health support as the patient population grew. Mean age and Tanner Stage were too advanced for pubertal suppressive therapy to be an affordable option for most patients. Two-thirds of patients were started on cross-sex hormone therapy. Greater awareness of the benefit of early medical intervention is needed. Psychological and physical effects of pubertal suppression and/or cross-sex hormones in our patients require further investigation.
The Structure and Receptor Binding Properties of the 1918 Influenza Hemagglutinin

The 1918 influenza pandemic resulted in about 20 million deaths. This enormous impact, coupled with renewed interest in emerging infections, makes characterization of the virus involved a priority. Receptor binding, the initial event in virus infection, is a major determinant of virus transmissibilitythat, for influenza viruses, is mediated by the hemagglutinin (HA) membrane glycoprotein. We have determined the crystal structures of the HA from the 1918 virus and two closelyrelated HAs in complex with receptor analogs. Theyexplain how the 1918 HA, while retaining receptor binding site amino acids characteristic of an avian precursor HA, is able to bind human receptors and how, as a consequence, the virus was able to spread in the human population.
On lateral fractional order controller in auto-parking system

Lateral control in autonomous parking system, which is always at low speed, simultaneously requiring very small following error, is a difficult problem to resolve. To address this problem, fractional order controller is introduced to the lateral control for auto-parking system in this paper. What's more, in order to address the parameters tuning problem in design of the lateral controller, an improved genetic algorithm is adopted. With the proposed method, simulation and real vehicle experiments are carried out. Results show that the fractional order PIλ Dμ controller is very reliable and stable and it can solve the high-precision lateral control problem when the autonomous vehicle is at low speed in auto-parking process.
Sport and Peacebuilding in Israel/Palestine

Abstract Those working in the Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) sector often claim that sport can, and does, make a difference. This article assesses this claim in the context of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. Attention is given to the ‘peace’ component within the SDP initialism and on what ‘peace’ means in this conflict. An assessment is made of the work of thirteen organisations engaged in peacebuilding in this region. The article identifies that many of the sport-for-peace schemes involve Israelis and Palestinians/Arabs within Israel with few schemes seeking to involve Palestinians who live in the West Bank, in Gaza or in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. It is concluded that sport is not an appropriate vehicle for peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians because there is no peace – a necessary precursor for reconciliation. Realpolitik, in the form of Israeli territorial expansion and the Palestinian struggle for basic human rights, leaves sport-for-peace schemes attempting to build a bridge too far. 1 以色列/巴勒斯坦的体育与和平建设 体育促进发展与和平组织（SDP）的官员声称, 体育运动能够并且确实发挥了巨大作用。 本文在巴以冲突的背景下对这一说法提出质疑。 文章认为该组织“SDP”中的字母缩写 “P”代表的“和平”, 但“和平”在这场冲突中苍白无力。 一项对参与该地区体育促进和平建设的十三个组织的评估显示, 许多体育促和平项目只涵盖了以色列境内的以色列人、巴勒斯坦人或阿拉伯人, 而居住在西岸、加沙或邻国难民营的巴勒斯坦人几乎都未能参与到项目中来。 文章得出结论, 体育不适合作为在以色列和巴勒斯坦两国人民之间进行和平建设的工具, 因为和平是双方达成和解的必要前提, 而该地区并无和平可言。 以色列领土扩张问题尚未解决, 而且巴勒斯坦人民的基本人权尚无保障, 在这样的现实政治环境下, 试图通过用体育促和平为两国牵线搭桥的想法, 目前看来是不切实际的
Índice de Desbalance Macroeconómico

La reciente crisis financiera internacional volvio a dar relevancia a la formacion de ciertos desbalances macroeconomicos que pueden aumentar las vulnerabilidades de una economia frente a choques adversos. En el caso de las economias emergentes, flujos elevados de capital podrian exacerbar estos desequilibrios e intensificar sus efectos negativos. Asi, este trabajo se enfoca en cuatro variables que la literatura economica ha identificado como generadoras de senales en la formacion de desbalances macroeconomicos: la cuenta corriente, la tasa de cambio real, el credito y los precios de la vivienda. Para cada una de ellas se calcularon desviaciones sobre sus medidas de largo plazo y a partir de su componente principal se construyo un Indice de Desbalance Macroeconomico (IDM). El IDM para Colombia, al igual que un indice similar para 10 paises, mostro que en 21 episodios de crisis estudiados, se presentaron desbalances macroeconomicos y se observo una relacion positiva entre el nivel acumulado del IDM y la probabilidad de crisis a un ano.
Proteoglycans in Predentin: The Last 15 Micrometers Before Mineralization

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) regulate extracellular matrix organization. In order to investigate the distribution and potential functions of decorin, biglycan (BGN), and fibromodulin (3 SLRPs, potentially related to dentinogenesis), we performed light and electron immunochemistry on teeth from rats, and on wild-type and biglycan knockout mice (BGN KO). Immunohistochemical data demonstrate that chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) and keratan sulfate (KS) distributions displayed reverse gradients in predentin. The decrease of CS/DS labeling from the proximal to the distal predentin contrasted with the sharp decorin increase observed in the distal predentin near the predentin/dentin transition, an effect possibly attributable to the deglycosylation action of stromelysin-1. In contrast, BGN concentration was apparently constant throughout the whole predentin. Additional immunolabelings showed, for the first time, the presence of fibromodulin in predentin. Compared with the wild-type mouse, the mean diameter of collagen fibrils in the BGN KO was smaller in the proximal predentin but larger in the central and distal predentin, the metadentin was broader, and the dentin mineralization appeared altered and heterogeneous. Altogether, our data suggest an important role for BGN in dentin formation and mineralization.
Phosphorylation of Bcl‐xL after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI)‐induced functional impairment results from secondary apoptosis regulated in part by SCI‐induced decreases in the antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐xL. We assessed the role that Bcl‐xL subcellular rerouting and posttranslational phosphorylation play in Bcl‐xL decreases in a contusion model of rat SCI. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of Bcl‐xL in neurons and oligodendrocytes, but not in astrocytes and microglia, whereas phosphorylated Bcl‐xL (P‐ser62‐Bcl‐xL) was present only in neurons. Western blot analyses showed Bcl‐xL present in mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, nuclei, and cytosolic extracts, whereas P‐ser62‐Bcl‐xL was restricted to organelles. During the first 24 hr after SCI, Bcl‐xL levels decreased in all fractions but with a different time course, suggesting an independent regulation of Bcl‐xL shuttling from the cytosol to each compartment after SCI. SCI did not affect P‐ser62‐Bcl‐xL levels in organelles. However, P‐ser62‐Bcl‐xL, which was not detected in the cytosolic fraction of uninjured spinal cord, appeared in the cytosol as early as 15 min postcontusion, suggesting a role for phosphorylation in SCI‐induced Bcl‐xL‐decreases. Using an in vitro model, we observed a correlation between levels of cytosolic phosphorylated Bcl‐xL and neuronal apoptosis, supporting the hypothesis that Bcl‐xL phosphorylation is proapoptotic. Activated microglia/macrophages robustly expressed Bcl‐xL 7 days after SCI, and a subpopulation showing nuclear condensation also expressed P‐ser62‐Bcl‐xL. Therefore, phosphorylation of Bcl‐xL may have opposite effects in injured spinal cords: 1) it may decrease levels of the antiapoptotic Bcl‐xL in neurons contributing to neuronal death, and 2) it may promote apoptosis in activated microglia/macrophages, thus curtailing the inflammatory cascades associated with SCI. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The relation between dietary intake of vegetable oils and serum lipids and apolipoprotein levels in central Iran

BACKGROUND The detrimental effects of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) on apolipoproteins have been reported from several parts of the world. However, little data is available in this regard from the understudied region of the Middle East. The present study therefore tried to evaluate the association between type of vegetable oils and serum lipids and apolipoprotein levels among Iranians. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, data from 1772 people (795 men and 977 women) aged 19-81 years, who were selected with multistage cluster random sampling method from three cities of Isfahan, Najafabad and Arak in "Isfahan Healthy Heart Program" (IHHP) (Iran), was used. To assess participants' usual dietary intakes, a validated food frequency questionnaire was used. Hydrogenated vegetable oil (commonly consumed for cooking in Iran) and margarine were considered as the category of PHVOs. Soy, sunflower, corn, olive and canola oils were considered as non-HVOs. After an overnight fasting, serum cholesterol (total, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol) and triglyceride as well as apolipoproteins A and B were measured using standard methods. RESULTS Participants with the highest intakes of non-HVOs and PHVOs were younger and had lower weight than those with lowest intakes. High consumption of non-HVOs and PHVOs was associated with lower intakes of energy, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, and higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and grains. No overall significant differences were found in serum lipids and apolipoprotein levels across the quartiles of non-HVOs and PHVOs after controlling for potential confounding. CONCLUSION We did not find any significant associations between hydrogenated or nonhydrogenated vegetable oil and serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels. Thus, further studies are needed in this region to explore this association.
Characterization and complete genome sequence analysis of two Myoviral bacteriophages infecting clinical carbapenem‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates

The aim of this study was to characterize phenotypical properties, to analyse whole genomes of novel Acinetobacter baumannii phages infecting carbapenem‐resistant Ac. baumannii (CRAB) and to evaluate their potential as antimicrobial alternatives to control Ac. baumannii in clinical settings.
Vestibular Critical Period, Maturation of Central Vestibular Neurons, and Locomotor Control

Mutant mice are a good model to study to what extent the postnatal activity of sensory afferents is necessary for the maturation of central neurons. In particular, the question arises whether the signals carried by the first‐order vestibular neurons, which encode information on the head movement of pups, are necessary for the maturation of second‐order vestibular neurons. To address that question, juvenile and adult transgenic, vestibular‐deficient mutants where a null mutation of the KCNE1 potassium‐channel gene leads to degeneration of all hair cells of the inner ear just after birth were studied. These KCNE1−/− mutants are deaf and show quasi‐constant head bobbing and a permanent shaker/waltzer phenotype. This behavior is not due to persistent abnormalities of the membrane properties of central vestibular neurons, because their maturation is delayed but not impaired by the absence of sensory vestibular information. On the other hand, the data shed light on how the membrane properties of vestibular neurons might be modified according to functional requirements or following lesions. The expression levels of the protein calretinin that regulates the intracellular free‐calcium concentration in central vestibular neurons could play a major role both in intact animals and following labyrinthectomy. By comparing the KCNE1−/− mutant mice to other vestibular‐deficient animals, it was concluded that the suppression of vestibular inputs during a “critical period” of postnatal development can induce a permanent circling behavior, but that this phenotype is not always due to congenital vestibular deficiency.
The aging ACI/Seg versus Copenhagen male rat as a model system for the study of prostatic carcinogenesis.

In untreated male ACI/Seg rats, the incidence of microscopic cancer of the ventral prostate is zero below the age of 16 months but increases to greater than 80% by 36 months of age, while the incidence of grossly manifest cancer of the ventral prostate is zero before the age of 20 months and increases to 16% by 36 months of age. In contrast, in untreated male Copenhagen rats, the incidence of microscopic prostatic cancer is only 10%, and the incidence of grossly manifest prostatic cancer is less than 1% even at 36 months of age. Analysis of the relationship between ACI/Seg host age and the incidence of microscopic versus grossly manifest prostatic cancer suggests that microscopic prostatic cancer is the result of a multistep process and that additional events are required for the progression of microscopic to grossly manifest prostatic cancer. Comparison of the serum levels of sex steroid hormones between aging male ACI/Seg and Copenhagen rats reveals substantial differences, suggesting that alterations in the serum testosterone:estrogen ratio may be one of the factors involved in prostatic carcinogenesis in the ACI/Seg rat. Chronic elevation of serum testosterone levels in these male ACI/Seg rats by means of exogenous testosterone treatment alone, however, does not induce the precocious development of microscopic prostatic cancer in young (i.e., less than 1 year of age) animals, suggesting that other factors, in addition to alterations in serum levels of testosterone, are required for prostatic carcinogenesis in the male ACI/Seg rat.
Investigation of frequency response of apoptosis induction to budding yeast by burst pulse electric field for cancer treatment

Side effects have become a problem with cancer treatment technology. Therefore, Pulsed power technology attracts attention as a cancer treatment which may little have side effects. Applying a high electric field with nanosecond duration time on cancer cells can cause apoptosis in it. We investigated the influence on a cell by changing the frequency element of pulse electric field in an experiment. Burst pulse with single frequency was used for the experiment. Propidium iodide (PI) and Annexin-V of fluorescent stain has been used for detecting of apoptosis and necrosis for frequencies. The difference in PI and Annexin-V fluorescence staining was investigated at low frequencies and high frequencies. As a preliminary step, we have used a budding yeast, that is an eukaryotic cell, as a model organism of the cancer cell. As the result, it was shown that the apoptosis has been induced to the cells by the pulsed electric field at the frequency of 70 MHz. The cell death by necrosis has been occurred by the pulsed electric field at the frequency of 2 MHz to 45 MHz. The rate of the cell death decreases with heightening of the frequency.
Hfq, a Novel Pleiotropic Regulator of Virulence-Associated Genes in Francisella tularensis

ABSTRACT Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious pathogen that infects animals and humans, causing tularemia. The ability to replicate within macrophages is central for virulence and relies on expression of genes located in the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI), as well as expression of other genes. Regulation of FPI-encoded virulence gene expression in F. tularensis involves at least four regulatory proteins and is not fully understood. Here we studied the RNA-binding protein Hfq in F. tularensis and particularly the role that it plays as a global regulator of gene expression in stress tolerance and pathogenesis. We demonstrate that Hfq promotes resistance to several cellular stresses (including osmotic and membrane stresses). Furthermore, we show that Hfq is important for the ability of the F. tularensis vaccine strain LVS to induce disease and persist in organs of infected mice. We also demonstrate that Hfq is important for stress tolerance and full virulence in a virulent clinical isolate of F. tularensis, FSC200. Finally, microarray analyses revealed that Hfq regulates expression of numerous genes, including genes located in the FPI. Strikingly, Hfq negatively regulates only one of two divergently expressed putative operons in the FPI, in contrast to the other known regulators, which regulate the entire FPI. Hfq thus appears to be a new pleiotropic regulator of virulence in F. tularensis, acting mostly as a repressor, in contrast to the other regulators identified so far. Moreover, the results obtained suggest a novel regulatory mechanism for a subset of FPI genes.
Caspase-dependent apoptosis induction by guggulsterone, a constituent of Ayurvedic medicinal plant Commiphora mukul, in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells is mediated by Bax and Bak

The present study was undertaken to gain insights into the molecular mechanism of cell death (apoptosis) by guggulsterone, a constituent of Ayurvedic medicinal plant Commiphora mukul, using PC-3 human prostate cancer cells as a model. The viability of PC-3 cells, but not a normal prostate epithelial cell line (PrEC), was reduced significantly on treatment with guggulsterone in a concentration-dependent manner. Guggulsterone-mediated suppression of PC-3 cell proliferation was not due to perturbation in cell cycle progression but caused by apoptosis induction characterized by appearance of subdiploid cells and cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragmentation. Guggulsterone-induced apoptosis was associated with induction of multidomain proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bax and Bak. Interestingly, the expression of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL was initially increased in guggulsterone-treated PC-3 cells but declined markedly following a 16- to 24-hour treatment with guggulsterone. Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 in PC-3 cells failed to confer significant protection against guggulsterone-induced cell death. On the other hand, SV40 immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from Bax-Bak double knockout mice were significantly more resistant to guggulsterone-induced cell killing compared with wild-type cells. Guggulsterone treatment resulted in cleavage (activation) of caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3, and guggulsterone-induced cell death was significantly attenuated in the presence of general caspase inhibitor as well as specific inhibitors of caspase-9 and caspase-8. In conclusion, the present study indicates that caspase-dependent apoptosis by guggulsterone is mediated in part by Bax and Bak.