Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum eosinophil cationic protein in the evaluation of asthma severity in children

To assess the sensitivity and specificity of serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the diagnosis of asthma and evaluation of asthma severity, we conducted a prospective study to compare parameters of asthma severity, peripheral blood eosinophilia, and serum ECP concentrations in 88 children presenting to a university hospital outpatient clinic with suspected (n=59) or recently diagnosed asthma (n=29). Serum ECP correlated significantly (r2=0.676. P=0.0001) with peripheral eosinophil counts, but only weakly with asthma severity (r,=0.21, P=0.046). Serum ECP was significantly higher in atopic children (25±11 μg/l) than in nonatopic children (16±15 μg/l) iP=0.01). Bronchial hyperresponsiveness had no significant correlation (rs=‐0.21, P=0.30) with serum ECP Lung function test results had no (peak flow) or only a weak (FEV) correlation with serum ECP. In distinguishing between children with and without asthma or in assessing asthma severity, serum ECP is not superior to the peripheral blood eosinophil count. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of ECP in serum for detecting symptomatically active asthma, evaluated against the cutoff level of ECP in serum of 16 mg/1, were 54% and 71%, respectively.
Influence of breed and feeding on the main quality characteristics of sheep carcass and meat: A review

This paper reviews two factors (breed and feed) affecting the carcass and meat quality of sheep. The quality of livestock products has acquired greater importance from the distinct perspectives of the different participants in the agricultural food chain. Consumers, producers and the industry give different levels of importance to the parameters of meat and carcass quality. Nevertheless, all the participants in the meat production chain must ensure quality to improve their competitiveness. The quality of the carcass and meat can be influenced by different factors such as breed and type of feed. The breed can influence weight, yields, and the conformation of the carcass, among other variables, as well as the pH level and the fatty acid composition of the meat, whereas the feed mainly affects carcass conformation and several physicochemical and organoleptic parameters of meat quality such as proximal composition, the fatty acid profile, tenderness and color. Consequently, the effects of breed and feed type should be considered to obtain a quality product that satisfies consumer demand.
Both LyF-1 and an Ets protein interact with a critical promoter element in the murine terminal transferase gene

Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT) is a template-independent DNA polymerase that is expressed transiently during the earliest stages of B- and T-cell ontogeny. Previously, we characterized the promoter for the murine TdT gene and identified a novel DNA-binding protein, called LyF-1, that interacts with a DNA sequence element found to be critical for transcriptional activity in lymphoid cell lines. Here, we present a more detailed analysis of this 30-bp control element, called the TdT D' element, which is centered approximately 60 bp upstream of the transcription start site. We found that both the murine and human D' elements are recognized by multiple proteins, including LyF-1 and at least two Ets family proteins, Ets-1 and Fli-1. Additional protein-DNA interactions were identified through studies using unfractionated nuclear extracts, in which the D' element was apparently incorporated into a multiprotein complex, possibly containing an Ets protein as a core component. By analyzing a series of substitution mutations, two adjacent binding sites for LyF-1 were identified in the murine D' element, with the Ets protein binding site closely coinciding with the proximal, lower-affinity LyF-1 site. Transient transfection analysis with these mutations revealed that only a 10-bp region, containing precisely the Ets and proximal LyF-1 binding sites, was needed for D' activity. These results suggest an important role for an Ets family protein in the expression of the TdT gene. The role of LyF-1 is less clear; it might act in conjunction with the Ets protein bound at the D' element or it might be unnecessary for D' activity.
Privatization of Public Housing: Did it Cause the 1998 Recession in Hong Kong?

The authors find evidence that a public housing privatization program produced adverse effects on housing transactions and the economy in Hong Kong. A scheme announced in December 1997, offering tenants an opportunity to buy their units at deeply discounted prices, reduced public housing tenants' bids for private homes and adversely affected home transactions. This effect is more pronounced than the effects of the Asian Financial Crisis. An effect on housing prices is also indirectly shown though a demonstration that a structural break in the housing price relationship occurred at the time the privatization program was introduced. Declines in housing prices further eroded employment and set off a vicious circle. "("JEL "E32, R21, R31)" Copyright 2006 Western Economic Association International.
In vivo Octreotide Administration Acutely Reduces Exocrine Granule Size in the Human Pancreas

Background: Octreotide has been found to be effective in the prevention of postoperative complications of pancreatic surgery, but the benefit of preoperative octreotide administration has not been assessed. Aims: To evaluate the ability of octreotide in reducing the amount of digestive enzymes in the pancreas before surgery, a morphometric ultrastructural study of the gland was undertaken in patients undergoing demolitive pancreatic surgery. Methods: Twenty-three inpatients received saline (n = 8) or octreotide (100 µg s.c.) before surgery either once (n = 5), or three (n = 5) or six (n = 5) times at 8-hour intervals. At surgery, biopsies of the pancreas were taken and processed for electron microscopy. Several parameters were assessed in exocrine cells by means of ultrastructural morphometry. Results: A single administration of octreotide significantly reduced the exocrine granule number and the mean and total granular surface sectional area, and the ratio between granule area and cytoplasmic area. Repeated octreotide administrations were associated with partial (3 administrations) and complete (6 administrations) recovery of all parameters to control values. Conclusion: Preoperative administration of octreotide, the synthetic analogue of somatostatin, acutely reduces exocrine granule number and size in the pancreatic cell. This finding can partially explain the prophylactic effect of the drug on early complications of pancreatic surgery. Such an effect is not maintained over multiple administrations of the somatostatin analogue. Possible explanations for this latter finding are discussed.
IMAGE DENOISING : A MULTI-SCALE FRAMEWORK USING HYBRID GRAPH LAPLACIAN REGULARIZATION

in this paper main aim is to focus on to remove impulse noise from corrupted image. Here present a method for removing noise from digital images corrupted with additive, multiplicative, and mixed noise. Here used hybrid graph Laplacian regularized regression to perform progressive image recovery using unified framework. by using laplacian pyramid here build multi-scale representation of input image and recover noisy image from corser scale to finer scale. Hence smoothness of image can be recovered. Using implicit kernel a graph Laplacian regularization model represented which minimizes the least square error on the measured. A multi-scale Laplacian pyramid which is framework here proposed where the intrascale relationship can be modelled with the implicit kernel graph Laplacian regularization model in input space interscale relationship model with the explicit kernel in feature space. Hence image recovery algorithm recovers the More image details and edges
Dual blockade of PD-1 and CTLA-4 combined with tumor vaccine effectively restores T-cell rejection function in tumors--response.

We thank Binder and Schreiber for their comments and suggestions on our article "Dual Blockade of PD-1 and CTLA-4 Combined with Tumor Vaccine Effectively Restores T-Cell Rejection Function in Tumors" published recently in Cancer Research (1). In this article, we demonstrated a parallel regulation of T effector cells (Teff) and regulatory T cells (Treg) by both PD-1 and CTLA-4 in subcutaneous solid tumor models, CT26 colon carcinoma, and ID8-VEGF ovarian carcinoma. Upon in vivo blockade of PD-1 and CTLA-4 on both Teffs and Tregs combined with whole tumor vaccination, we observed regression of tumors inmice. The authors Binder and Schreiber viewed this tumor rejection function as a preventative rather than a therapeutic effect (2). We agree that tumors were quite small at the time of treatment, which could justify the claim of preventive therapy at a first glance. Many studies, in particular by the Schreiber group, elegantly reported the role of tumor stroma in further promoting tumor progression (3, 4). Their studies also pointed out that established tumors with well-organized stroma prevent effective homing or engraftment of T cells into the tumor, a phenomenon that is still not fully characterized. We also reported on the role of tumor vasculature to provide a barrier function, which we termed the blood–tumor barrier (5). This could be one of the reasons why the recent study by Binder and colleagues (6) did not observe response to PD-1 and/or CTLA-4 blockade in late-stage tumors. In this regard, our recent article (7) describes a time-dependent response to combined immunotherapy (PD-1 blockade, 41BB costimulation, and whole tumor vaccination) in an intraperitoneal orthotopic mouse model of ovarian cancer. When tumor-bearingmicewere treated at a late stage of tumor growth, only minimal effect was observed, with rejection of tumor only in 2 of 12 mice (Fig. 1A). In contrast, when mice were treated at an early stage of tumor growth, 75% of themice
Work-related asthma: prevalence estimates by sex, age and smoking habits in a community sample.

SETTING Two-phased study of a general population sample in Norway. OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of work-related asthma by sex, age and smoking habits. DESIGN The first phase, a mail questionnaire on asthma to a random sample of the general population of Hordaland County, Norway, gave a 90% response. A stratified sample of the responders (n = 1512) was invited to complete an occupational history questionnaire and performing spirometry and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The attendance rate was 84%. Asthmatics were defined as having work-related asthma if they answered positively the questions: "Have you ever had respiratory symptoms in relation to your work? Did the symptoms improve on absence from work? " RESULTS The prevalence of work-related asthma was 0.9% in this population, constituting 28% of all asthmatics (95% confidence interval 25-31). The prevalence of work-related asthma was twice as high in men as in women, and did not differ significantly with age or between smoking groups. CONCLUSION Work-related asthma amounts to a significant proportion of total asthma in this population. This should be taken into account by health planners as it is by definition a preventable disorder.
Sexual compulsivity among heterosexual college students

A growing body of literature suggests that an association exists between sexual compulsivity and participation in sexual behaviors that are high risk in terms of HIV/STD infection. In most of these studies, sexual compulsivity has been measured using the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS; Kalichman & Rompa, 1995). As yet, sexual compulsivity has only been assessed with this scale among individuals who are members of “high risk” groups for HIV infection or who are HIV‐positive. In this study, we found support for reliability and construct validity of the SCS in a sample of 876 heterosexual college students, a group not yet examined in the sexual addiction and compulsivity literature. Construct validity was substantiated by the presence of significant relationships of sexual compulsivity with frequencies of sexual behaviors and numbers of sexual partners. The scale was also related to gender and age. Sexual compulsivity scores were associated with frequency of risky sexual behaviors. The relationships between sexual compulsivity and solo, partner, public, and risky sexual behaviors remained significant when we controlled for demographic variables. Although we found support for construct validity of the SCS in our sample, it is not clear whether the scale distinctly measures sexual compulsivity or taps into other constructs, such as sexual desire and sexual exploration.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Mechanisms of Immunomodulation and Homing

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation has been explored as a new clinical approach to repair injured tissue. A growing corpus of studies have highlighted two important aspects of MSC therapy: 1) MSCs can modulate T-cell-mediated immunological responses, and (2) systemically administered MSCs home to sites of ischemia or injury. In this review, we describe the known mechanisms of immunomodulation and homing of MSCs. First, we examine the low immunogenicity of MSCs and their antigen presentation capabilities. Next, we discuss the paracrine interactions between MSCs and innate [dendritic cells (DC)] and adaptive immune cells (T lymphocytes) with a focus on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), and toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. We transition to outline the steps of activation, rolling/adhesion, and transmigration of MSCs into target tissues during inflammatory or ischemic conditions. These aspects of MSC grafts—immunomodulation and homing—are contextualized to understand a reported side effect of MSC therapy, cancer development.
Disrupted anatomic white matter network in left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Brain imaging studies have shown widespread structural abnormalities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) within and beyond the affected temporal lobe, suggesting an altered network. Graph theoretical analysis based on white matter tractography has provided a new perspective to evaluate the connectivity of the brain. The alterations in the topologic properties of a whole brain white matter network in patients with TLE remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the white matter network in a cohort of patients with left TLE and mesial temporal sclerosis (mTLE) compared to healthy controls.
Mini-review: quorum sensing in the marine environment and its relationship to biofouling

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a cell–cell communication and gene regulatory mechanism that allows bacteria to coordinate swarming, biofilm formation, stress resistance, and production of toxins and secondary metabolites in response to threshold concentrations of QS signals that accumulate within a diffusion-limited environment. This review focuses on the role of QS signaling and QS inhibition in marine bacteria by compounds derived from marine organisms. Since the formation of a biofilm is considered to be an initial step in the development of fouling, direct and indirect effects of QS signals and inhibitors on the process of marine biofouling are discussed. Directions for future investigations and QS-related biotechnological applications are highlighted.
THE FATE OF SKIN AUTOGRAFTS AND HOMOGRAFTS IN SUBLETHALLY IRRADIATED RATS

Autografts transplanted to sublethally irradiated rats (500 and 600 r) show postirradiation haemorrhagic changes resulting in necrosis and partial destruction. By delaying the grafting procedure for several days after irradiation both the incidence and the intensity of post-irradiation damage can be diminished. Homografts in sublethally irradiated hosts show changes similar to those observed in autografts. Prolongation of survival time was found to be limited. The role of post-irradiation injuries in the process of graft breakdown in irradiated animals is discussed.
Sensitivity and specificity of various markers of inflammation for the prediction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in patients with sepsis.

OBJECTIVES To determine correlations and predictive strength of surrogate markers (body temperature, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein [CRP], and procalcitonin [PCT]) with elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in septic patients. DESIGN Prospective consecutive case series. SETTING Surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. PATIENTS A total of 175 patients experiencing intensive care unit stays >48 hrs categorized for sepsis according to ACCP/ SCCM Consensus Conference criteria. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS CRP and PCT were both significantly correlated with TNF-alpha and IL-6. Based on the area-under-the-curve of the receiver operating characteristics curves, predicting capability was highest for PCT (0.814 for TNF-alpha >40 pg/mL and 0.794 for IL-6 >500 pg/mL), moderate with CRP (0.732 and 0.716, respectively), and lowest for leukocyte count (0.493 and 0.483, respectively) and body temperature (0.587 and 0.589, respectively). Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values and test effectiveness all followed this same pattern of being highest for PCT followed by CRP, with leukocyte count and body temperature being lowest. CONCLUSION PCT may be an early and better marker of elevated cytokines than the more classic criteria of inflammation.
Making DC-DC converters easy to understand for undergraduate students

Power electronic laboratory may seem to be a good method of education. Despite the benefits of a laboratory-based education, some serious limitations make it difficult to consider this method as a main educating tool. In addition, power electronic laboratory is one of the most expensive laboratories in both foundation and operation. Moreover, the complexity of power electronic circuits makes it hard to repeat the test for different conditions. The increasing number of students accessing university educational program make the problem even more complicated. Adding probable risks of electrical accidents in laboratory for students, breaking down of circuit equipment due to misuse, limited access to the laboratory for students can clarify other aspects of problem. To overcome such problems, computer-based education have been widely developed and used in universities. Different software programs with different features have been developed to help understanding the concepts and operation of different power electronic circuits. One of the most effective software programs in education context is MATLAB/SIMULINK software, an easy to used software with so many capabilities and tools. Thus, to make students more familiar with power electronic circuits and show the effect of different parameters on the behavior and output of these circuits, our educational classes were based on MATLAB/SIMULINK software. This paper covers “buck-boost” and “cuk” converters taught and simulated in power electronic course.
Effects and mechanisms of silibinin on human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.

AIM To investigate the in vivo effects and mechanisms of silibinin on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenografts in nude mice. METHODS Nude mice bearing HuH7 xenografts were used to assess the anti-HCC effects and mechanisms of silibinin. RESULTS Silibinin resulted in a potent dose-dependent reduction of HuH7 xenografts in association with a significant decrease in Ki-67 and alpha-fetoprotein production, nuclear NF-kappaB content, polo-like kinase 1, Rb phosphorylation, and E2F1/DP1 complex, but increased p27/CDK4 complex and checkpoint kinase 1 expression, suggesting that the in vivo effects of silibinin are mediated by inhibiting G1-S transition of the cell cycle. Silibinin-induced apoptosis of HuH7 xenografts was associated with inhibited survivin phosphorylation. Silibinin-reduced growth of HuH7 xenografts was associated with decreased p-ERK, increased PTEN expression and the activity of silibinin was correlated with decreased p-Akt production, indicating involvement of PTEN/PI(3)K/Akt and ERK pathways in its in vivo anti-HCC effects. Silibinin-reduced growth of HuH7 xenografts was also associated with a significant increase in AC-H3 and AC-H4 expression and the production of superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1. CONCLUSION Silibinin reduces HCC xenograft growth through the inhibition of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and PTEN/P-Akt and ERK signaling, inducing cell apoptosis, and increasing histone acetylation and SOD-1 expression.
Hypophonia in parkinson disease: neural correlates of voice treatment with LSVT revealed by PET

This study investigated the neural correlates of hypophonia in individuals with Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) before and after the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), using 15 O-H 2 O Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes associated with overt speech-motor tasks relative to the resting state were measured in the IPD subjects before and after therapy, and in a group of healthy controls. Before LSVT, patients had strong speech-related activations in motor and premotor cortex, supplementary motor cortex and inferior lateral premotor cortex which were significantly reduced post-LSVT. In addition, significant right-sided activations were present in anterior insular cortex, caudate head, putamen, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex following LSVT. Finally, the LSVT-induced neural changes were not present with transient experimenter-cued increases of loudness in LSVT-untreated patients. This treatment-dependant functional reorganization suggests a shift from an abnormally effortful to a more automatic implementation of speech-motor actions.
Influence of age and duration of infection on bacterial load and immune responses to Helicobacter pylori infection in a murine model

Using a murine model, we previously showed that Helicobacter pylori infects and colonizes offspring via maternal transmission during the nursing period. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age and duration of infection on inflammatory and immune responses to H. pylori in infant and adult mice. During the breast‐feeding period, the number of bacteria was significantly suppressed in 1‐week‐old mice infected with H. pylori at an early stage of nursing, compared with adult mice, suggesting that breast‐milk induces such low colonization. In addition, these mice had weaker gastric inflammation, especially Th1 cytokine and humoral responses than in mice infected with H. pylori after weaning in spite of elevated levels of Th1 cytokines. Although infant mice showed low inflammatory responses against H. pylori, they produced H. pylori‐specific antibodies following vaccination with oral or parenteral adjuvant. Our results suggest the importance of age at the time of primary infection on bacterial load, gastric inflammation and humoral responses in a murine model of H. pylori infection.
Characteristics of Microring Resonators With Waveguide-Resonator Coupling Modulation

The general output characteristics of high quality factor microring resonators with modulated coupling strengths are derived. The results are applied to the case of a microring integrated with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer coupler to investigate the amplitude, linearity, distortion, and chirp of the output. These modulators can be designed to give low-distortion, high extinction ratio, chirp-free outputs at modulation rates only limited by the maximum modulation rate of the coupler or the free spectral range frequency of the resonator.