Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phospholipases and Cationic Peptides Inhibit Cryptosporidium parvum Sporozoite Infectivity by Parasiticidal and Non-Parasiticidal Mechanisms

abstract: The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is an important cause of diarrhea in humans and cattle, and it can persistently infect immunocompromised hosts. No consistently effective parasite-specific pharmaceuticals or immunotherapies for control of cryptosporidiosis are presently available. The innate immune system represents the first line of host defense against a range of infectious agents, including parasitic protozoa. Several types of antimicrobial peptides and proteins, collectively referred to herein as biocides, constitute a major effector component of this system. In the present study, we evaluated lactoferrin, lactoferrin hydrolysate, 5 cationic peptides (lactoferricin B, cathelicidin LL37, indolicidin, &bgr;-defensin 1, &bgr;-defensin 2), lysozyme, and 2 phospholipases (phospholipase A2, and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C) for anti-cryptosporidial activity. The biocides were evaluated either alone or in combination with 3E2, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against C. parvum that inhibits sporozoite attachment and invasion. Sporozoite viability and infectivity were used as indices of anti-cryptosporidial activity in vitro. All biocides except lactoferrin had a significant effect on sporozoite viability and infectivity. Lactoferrin hydrolysate and each of the 5 cationic peptides were highly parasiticidal and strongly reduced sporozoite infectivity. While each phospholipase also had parasiticidal activity, it was significantly less than that of lactoferrin hydrolysate and each of the cationic peptides. However, each phospholipase reduced sporozoite infectivity comparably to that observed with lactoferrin hydrolysate and the cationic peptides. Moreover, when 3 of the cationic peptides (cathelicidin LL37, &bgr;-defensin 1, and &bgr;-defensin 2) were individually combined with MAb 3E2, a significantly greater reduction of sporozoite infectivity was observed over that by 3E2 alone. In contrast, reduction of sporozoite infectivity by a combination of either phospholipase with MAb 3E2 was no greater than that by 3E2 alone. These collective observations suggest that cationic peptides and phospholipases neutralize C. parvum by mechanisms that are predominantly either parasiticidal or non-parasiticidal, respectively.
Perceptions of elite coaches and sports scientists of the research needs for elite coaching practice

Abstract A major objective of sports scientists and elite coaches is the enhancement of athletic performance. Despite this common goal, there is a general perception that research in sports science does not meet the needs of coaches. A study using survey and interview examined the perceptions of elite coaches and sports science researchers in Australia regarding the research needs of elite coaching. Congruence was found between coaches and researchers regarding research practice at the elite level. Both groups held common perceptions on the importance and application of research, the methods by which research questions are determined, and the qualities valued in elite coaches and sports science researchers. However, elite coaches perceived a need for more research in the area of sports psychology, dissemination of research findings via coaching clinics and sports-specific magazines, and the use of more appropriate “lay” language in information dissemination.
[Clear cell renal cell carcinoma metastasized by a breast ductal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE To report a clear cell renal cell carcinoma recipient of a metastasizing ductal carcinoma of the breast: A tumor-to-tumor metastasis. METHODS A 71 year-old woman with a past history of breast carcinoma, diagnosed 12 years before, underwent a nephrectomy for an incidental kidney mass found in a routine imaging examination. RESULTS Histological examination revealed foci of ductal carcinoma of the breast in an otherwise typical clear cell renal cell carcinoma of the kidney. Immunohistochemical examination confirmed a metastasis of an infiltrating breast carcinoma to a clear cell renal cell carcinoma (positive to GATA3, hormonal receptors and mamoglobin) in a clear cell renal cell carcinoma (positive to PAX8, CD10 and vimentin). CONCLUSIONS Awareness of this phenomenon should always be kept in mind by urologist in patients with a known history of a previous malignancy and by pathologists when finding a renal tumor with an unusual or dimorphic morphology. Immunohistochemistry plays an important role to establish the exact diagnosis.
Addendum 2: Forum for Injection Technique, India

The second addendum to the Forum for Injection Techniques (FIT), India recommendations, first published in 2012 and followed by an addendum in 2013, covers various important issues. It describes how the impact of the so-called non-modifiable factors, which influence the injection technique, can be modulated; provides fresh information on timing of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist injections, methods of minimizing pain during injections, amyloidosis, and factors that impact adherence to insulin therapy. The addendum also lists semantic changes made to keep the FIT recommendations updated.
Autogenous bone block in the treatment of teeth with hopeless prognosis

Background: Autogenous bone graft, although considered as a gold standard, has been relegated to background because of limited quantity and donor site morbidity. Revival of interest in its use has been reflected by its tremendous capacity for regeneration in less than ideal situation. Bone blocks have been used for implant site augmentation, with varied success. Aim: Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of autogenous bone block in the regeneration of bone, for saving teeth with a hopeless prognosis. Settings and Design: A total of six patients and 12 sites with grade II and III mobile teeth were treated with autogenous bone blocks and fiber splinting. Subjects and Methods: Attachment loss, probing depths, and radiographic bone loss were recorded at baseline and at 12 months interval. Statistical Analysis Used: The Student paired t test was used for evaluation of the changes from baseline to 12 months. Results: At 12 months post-operatively, there was a highly significant amount of bone gain as compared to the baseline. The mean amount of bone loss reduced from 9.41 ± 1.16 to 5.41 ± 1.01. The clinical attachment loss reduced from 7.37 ± 1.24 mm to 3.79 ± 0.89 mm and probing depth reduced from 7 ± 1.67 mm to 5.5 ± 0.63 mm. The grafted bone was observed to have been incorporated with the host bone in most of the sites as evidenced by radiographs. Conclusions: For teeth with hopeless prognosis, this method can be considered to be a very viable alternative to extraction and replacement by costly implants.
Intracellular inositol 1,3,4,5‐tetrakisphosphate enhances the calcium current in hippocampal CA1 neurones of the gerbil after ischaemia.

1. To examine the role of the phosphoinositide cascade triggered by disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis in ischaemic neurones, inositol 1,3,4,5‐tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) was applied to the cytoplasmic face of membrane patches isolated from CA1 pyramidal neurones in the gerbil hippocampus. 2. In outside‐out recordings, InsP4 induced an inward current which was increased by raising the extracellular [Ca2+]. In contrast, no clear channel openings could be observed in patches from neurones of sham‐operated gerbils. 3. Open probabilities of InsP4‐activated channels were significantly decreased upon application of omega‐conotoxin but were not affected by omega‐agatoxin or nifedipine. 4. In inside‐out patches using high concentrations of Ca2+, Ba2+ or Sr2+ in the pipette solution, InsP4 enhanced inward currents. 5. Application of the isomers of InsP4 slightly enhanced the currents, but inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (InsP3) had no effect. 6. In the absence of InsP4 there was a single main Ba2+ current peak of 4.0 pA in amplitude, whereas upon its application two main peaks of 3.0 and 7.2 pA were present. 7. The open probabilities of these channels were apparently increased by InsP4. 8. These findings support the view that a disturbed phosphoinositide cascade occurs in the hippocampal pyramidal neurones after ischaemia and the InsP4 thus formed plays an important role in promoting the Ca2+ accumulation which results in neuronal death.
Salbutamol increases SMN mRNA and protein levels in spinal muscular atrophy cells

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by homozygous absence of the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1). All patients have at least one, usually two to four copies of the related SMN2 gene which, however, produce insufficient levels of functional SMN protein due to the exclusion of exon 7 in the majority of SMN2 transcripts. Here, we show that salbutamol, a β2-adrenoceptor agonist, determines a rapid and significant increase in SMN2-full length mRNA and SMN protein in SMA fibroblasts, predominantly by promoting exon 7 inclusion in SMN2 transcripts. These data, together with previous clinical findings, provide a strong rationale to investigate further the clinical efficacy of salbutamol in SMA patients.
ECONOMICS OF PRODUCING FUEL PELLETS FROM BIOMASS

An engineering economic analysis of a biomass pelleting process was performed for conditions in North America. The pelletization of biomass consists of a series of unit operations: drying, size reduction, densifying, cooling, screening, and warehousing. Capital and operating cost of the pelleting plant was estimated at several plant capacities. Pellet production cost for a base case plant capacity of 6 t/h was about $51/t of pellets. Raw material cost was the largest cost element of the total pellet production cost followed by personnel cost, drying cost, and pelleting mill cost. An increase in raw material cost substantially increased the pellet production cost. Pellet plants with a capacity of more than 10 t/h decreased the costs to roughly $40/t of pellets. Five different burner fuels – wet sawdust, dry sawdust, biomass pellets, natural gas, and coal were tested for their effect on the cost of pellet production. Wet sawdust and coal, the cheapest burner fuels, produced the lowest pellet production cost. The environmental impacts due to the potential emissions of these fuels during the combustion process require further investigation.
Consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages by 2-year-olds: findings from a population-based survey

Abstract Objective To determine risk factors for consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among 2-year-old children. Design The analysis was performed using three linked data sets: the 2004–2005 Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey (PRAMS); its longitudinal follow-up, 2006–2007 Oregon PRAMS-2; and 2004–2005 Oregon birth certificates. Setting PRAMS is a surveillance programme supported by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and implemented by participating state health departments. Using mixed methods, PRAMS surveys women 2–6 months after a live birth. Oregon PRAMS-2 re-interviews respondents shortly after the index child's second birthday. Oregon PRAMS oversamples minority women. Subjects Using monthly cohorts, we randomly selected 5851 women from the 2004–2005 birth certificates. In total 1911 women completed both PRAMS and PRAMS-2. The weighted response rate of PRAMS-2 was 43·5 %. Results Almost half of mothers (49·9 %) reported that their child drank SSB on at least 1 d/week. Mothers whose children drank SSB at least once weekly were more likely to have low income (adjusted OR = 2·83, 95 % CI 2·09, 3·83) and to eat out on ≥2 d/week (OR = 2·11 %, 95 % CI 1·66, 2·70). Hispanic and non-Hispanic black women were most likely to report that their child drank SSB at least once weekly. Conclusions Half of mothers reported that their 2-year-old children drank SSB at least once weekly. Public health interventions and policies should address childhood SSB consumption including educating health-care providers and parents.
A pc-based very large vocabulary isolated word speech recognition system

The Speech Recognition Group at Olivetti has designed an isolated word recognition system for Italian which runs on a MS-DOS personal computer and can accept a very large vocabulary in excess of 60,000 words. The system is speaker adapted rather than fully trained: a new speaker is requested to pronounce only 40 words. The system accepts
N-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1,8-naphthalimide

In the title compound, C18H10ClNO2, the naphthalimide ring system is almost planar, the rings forming dihedral angles of 2.05 (3), 2.26 (3) and 0.80 (3)°. The attached benzene ring of the 4-chlorophenyl substituent is inclined to the mean plane of the naphthalimide ring system by 75.77 (11)°. In the crystal structure, symmetry-related molecules are linked by C—H⋯O interactions. There are also weak π–π contacts between the naphthalimide rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.732 (3) Å].
Financial Sector Development - Futile or Fruitful? An Examination of the Determinants of Savings in Sri Lanka

Using dynamic econometric techniques the paper investigates the determinants of private saving in Sri Lanka with a primary focus on the role of financial sector development. Empirical evidence is obtained indicating the existence of the Ricardian equivalence hypothesis, and the significance of credit constraints on private saving. Most significantly, an index of financial sector development variables is constructed, based on measures of the relative size of the financial sector, the absolute size, and the activity of financial intermediaries. The index is found to have a significant positive influence on the level of private saving, giving support to the hypothesized nexus between saving and financial sector development.
Electrochemical biosensor for investigation of anticancer drugs interactions (doxorubicin and ellipticine) with DNA

The mechanisms of action of chemotherapeutics are different, but very often interfere with processes of cell division and can bind onto DNA. The aim of this work was to investigate interactions of antitumour drugs (ellipticine and doxorubicin) with DNA. For these purposes our experiments the screen-printed nanotube carbon electrodes were used. DNA gives oxidation signals for all bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine). We introduced various ellipticine, doxorubicin and ethidium bromide concentrations to DNA on carbon electrodes fabricated by us and measured the changes in the height of nucleic acid bases signals. In the voltammograms measured the changes associated with the interactions of the target compounds with DNA were evident. The height of DNA signals decreased with increasing ellipticine, doxorubicin and ethidium bromide concentrations. The decrease can be related to changes of DNA structure caused by the intercalation.
Metodología Innovadora para el Trabajo Fin de Grado en Comunicación Audiovisual

El presente trabajo establece una metodologia innovadora para abordar el trabajo de Fin de Grado en los estudios superiores de Comunicacion en Espana fundamentada en un nuevo paradigma competencial de los entornos personales de aprendizaje. Se utiliza un metodo empirico junto con otro holistico, cualitativo e integrador que pone en relacion el TFG como eje en el que confluyen las Competencias, el Entorno Personal de Aprendizaje, y lo Digital y los Contextos de Movilidad. Asimismo, se pone en valor el nuevo rol del profesor universitario, que evoluciona de docente a mentor, y el papel autonomo y central del estudiante.
Drug and alcohol use among patients admitted to a Danish trauma centre: a prospective study from a regional trauma centre in Scandinavia

Objectives: The incidence of drug and alcohol use is unknown among Danish trauma patients, and has not been thoroughly investigated in Europe. Methods: Patients admitted to the regional trauma centre in Aarhus, Denmark, were prospectively screened by blood and urine tests for the presence of alcohol, and legal and illicit drugs. The correlation with the Injury Severity Score, hospitalization time, and mortality after drug or alcohol intake was investigated. Results: A quarter of all patients admitted in 1999 and 2000 had an alcohol level exceeding the national legal driving limit of 50 mg/dl, and one or more drugs were found in one in five patients. The presence of any drug or alcohol correlated positively with the Injury Severity Score, whereas alcohol level, hospitalization time, and mortality did not correlate. Conclusion: The rate of trauma patients with a blood serum level of alcohol greater than 100 mg/dl was similar to a previous European study and to US studies. The prevalence of drugs was less, and benzodiazepines were the most used group of drugs in our study. The routine screening of Danish trauma patients in order to implement preventative measures may be beneficial.
On Privacy-preserving Context-aware Recommender System

Privacy is an important issue in Context-aware recommender systems (CARSs). In this paper, we propose a privacy-preserving CARS in which a user can limit the contextual information submitted to the server without sacrificing a significant recommendation accuracy. Specifically, for users, we introduce a client-side algorithm that the user can employ to generalize its context to some extent, in order to protect her privacy. For the recommendation server, two server-side recommendation algorithms are proposed, which operate under the condition that only a generalized user context is given. The experimental results have shown that, using our approaches, the user context privacy can be achieved without a significant degradation of the recommendation accuracy.
Information systems development by US-Norwegian virtual teams: implications of time and space

We develop an understanding of how collaboration is possible among virtual team-members spread across the globe in time and space. We do so by interpretively examining communication patterns of virtual team-members located in the US and Norway, engaged in systems development projects for actual clients. A number of collaboration inhibitors are identified, along with strategies used by team-members to bridge the time-space divide.
Inhibition of Cdc42-mediated activation of mixed lineage kinase 3 by the tumor suppressor protein merlin

Mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways respond to diverse extracellular signals and coordinate a range of cellular responses. Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a member of the mixed lineage kinase family of MAPK kinase kinases (MAP3Ks) that functions to regulate multiple MAPK signaling pathways. Activated forms of the Rho GTPases, Rac and Cdc42, interact with MLK3 through the Cdc42/Rac-interactive binding (CRIB) motif and promote MLK3 catalytic activity. Our recent findings demonstrate that merlin, the product of the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene, is a physiological inhibitor of MLK3. Our results suggest that merlin inhibits MLK3 activity by blocking the Cdc42-MLK3 interaction. In this commentary, the effect of merlin on Cdc42-mediated activation of MLK3 and MAPK signaling will be discussed.
Low-dose recombinant human growth hormone increases body weight and lean body mass in patients with short bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE The authors investigate the effects of low dose recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on body composition and absorptive capacity in patients with short bowel syndrome from Crohn's disease. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Patients with short bowel syndrome usually are malnourished because of malabsorption. The anabolic effects of high doses of rhGH have been tested in different clinical catabolic conditions, recently including patients with short bowel syndrome. The authors have investigated the effects of low-dose rhGH in short bowel syndrome in a placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial. METHODS Ten patients were treated with daily subcutaneous doses of rhGH/placebo (0.5 international units/kg-1 per week-1 = 0.024 mg/kg-1 per day-1) for 8 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial with a minimum of 12 weeks wash-out. Absorptive capacity and biochemical parameters were investigated in a metabolic ward before treatment and during first and last week of treatment. Body composition was determined by DEXA-Scan (Lunar DPX, Scanexport Medical, Helsingborg, Sweden), impedance analysis, and whole body potassium counting. RESULTS Low-dose rhGH doubled serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and increased body weight, lean body mass, and total body potassium by 5% (p < 0.05). Fat-free mass and total body water increased by 6% (p = 0.008). Increases in IGF-1 levels correlated with increases in fat-free mass (r = 0.77, p < 0.02). No significant changes in absorptive capacity of water, energy, or protein were detected. CONCLUSION Eight weeks of low-dose rhGH treatment leads to increases in body weight, lean body mass, and fat-free mass in patients with short bowel syndrome, correlated to increases in IGF-1 levels.
Development and evaluation of Leishmania infantum rK26 ELISA for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to prepare recombinant K26 antigen from Leishmania infantum and evaluate its performance by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in endemic regions of Iran. The results were compared with those obtained by direct agglutination test (DAT) and whole cell ELISA using crude parasite antigen. Of 93 sera from patients with confirmed VL, 90 sera were positive with rK26 ELISA (sensitivity=96·8%), whereas 85 sera were positive with DAT (sensitivity=91·4%) and 89 sera were positive with whole cell ELISA (sensitivity=95·7%). Of 130 subjects who either had other infectious diseases (n=30) or were healthy (n=100), rK26 ELISA were negative in all cases (specificity=100%), whereas DAT were negative in 116 cases (specificity=89·2%) and whole cell ELISA was negative in 114 cases (specificity=87·7%). The results of this study indicate that the rK26 ELISA is more sensitive and specific than conventional methods and could be used for reliable diagnosis of VL caused by Leishmania infantum.
A multifunctional cytoprotective agent that reduces neurodegeneration after ischemia

Cellular and molecular pathways underlying ischemic neurotoxicity are multifaceted and complex. Although many potentially neuroprotective agents have been investigated, the simplicity of their protective mechanisms has often resulted in insufficient clinical utility. We describe a previously uncharacterized class of potent neuroprotective compounds, represented by PAN-811, that effectively block both ischemic and hypoxic neurotoxicity. PAN-811 disrupts neurotoxic pathways by at least two modes of action. It causes a reduction of intracellular-free calcium as well as free radical scavenging resulting in a significant decrease in necrotic and apoptotic cell death. In a rat model of ischemic stroke, administration of PAN-811 i.c. v. 1 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion resulted in a 59% reduction in the volume of infarction. Human trials of PAN-811 for an unrelated indication have established a favorable safety and pharmacodynamic profile within the dose range required for neuroprotection warranting its clinical trial as a neuroprotective drug.