Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
8 Prognostic Factors in Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown etiology. Inflammation mediated by lymphocytes of Th1 phenotype leads to formation of non-caseating granulomas, consisting of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells. In the majority of patients it affects intrathoracic lymph nodes and lungs, but all organs may be involved (ATS, ERS, WASOG Statement on Sarcoidosis). The overall prognosis is good, and in about 60 % of all cases the disease regresses spontaneously. In the rest of patients, sarcoidosis is a chronic disease, sometimes showing up with relapses, which often follow withdrawal or dose reduction of steroids (Gottlieb et al., 1997; Neville et al., 1983; Scadding, 1961). In about 10-15 % it slowly progresses to lung fibrosis, which is the major cause of death, affecting less than 1 % of patients in Europe and up to 5% in North America. The immunopathological concepts on sarcoidosis describe mechanisms leading to induction of granuloma formation, mechanisms responsible for prolongation and sustaining of inflammation, and mechanisms responsible for fibrosis (the latter are the worse recognized). Although the etiology of sarcoidosis is unknown, it is generally acknowledged that the disease develops in genetically predisposed subjects who were exposed to unidentified (presumably inhaled) antigen(s). This unidentified “sarcoid factor” has the ability to persist in the intracellular milieu of macrophages, which results in the production of cytokines responsible for transformation of Th0 to Th1 cells. In response, lymphocytes produce a variety of cytokines which conversely stimulate macrophages and induce their transformation to granuloma cells. There is premise to speculate that the ability to eliminate the antigen from the intracellular environment is sine qua non of complete and definitive remission (Grunewald, 2002). Although mechanisms regulating these processes are not known, this knowledge seems to be critical for understanding the pathogenesis of persistent and progressive sarcoidosis. Selection of patients at higher risk of lung fibrosis or other unfavorable outcomes at the early stages of disease is a hard task for a physician. There are no objective tests which would be helpful in this matter. Some prognostic factors important for a certain ethnic group may be useless in another. The most important question is whom to treat, and how to treat to achieve the best final cost/effect ratio. Statement on Sarcoidosis, a document published by ATS, ERS and WASOG in 1999, lists a number of clinical factors of prognostic significance. These factors include: lupus pernio, chronic uveitis, age of onset >40 yr, chronic hypercalcemia, nephrocalcinosis, black race, progressive pulmonary sarcoidosis, nasal mucosal involvement, cystic bone lesions, neurosarcoidosis, myocardial involvement and chronic respiratory insufficiency. Different prognostic factors of real or potential clinical relevance will be discussed in this chapter.
Melatonin and the Metabolic Syndrome: Physiopathologic and Therapeutical Implications

Metabolic syndrome (MS) patients exhibit sleep/wake disturbances and other circadian abnormalities, and these may be associated with more rapid weight increase and development of diabetes and atherosclerotic disease. On this basis, the successful management of MS may require an ideal drug that besides antagonizing the trigger factors of MS could also correct the disturbed sleep-wake rhythm. Melatonin is an effective chronobiotic agent able to change the phase and amplitude of circadian rhythms. Melatonin has also significant cytoprotective properties preventing a number of MS sequelae in animal models of diabetes and obesity. A small number of controlled trials indicate that melatonin is useful to treat the metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities of MS. Whether the recently introduced melatonergic agents (ramelteon, agomelatine, tasimelteon) have the potential for treating sleep disorders in MS patients and, more generally, for arresting the progression of disease, merits further investigation.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Alabama: Special Concerns for Black Women

Background Among AIDS case reports from rural and small town areas of the United States, rates are higher in the South than in any other part of the country. Methods For this study, we analyzed AIDS surveillance statistics from the state of Alabama for trends, distributions, and populations affected. We aggregated Alabama AIDS surveillance data in 5-year intervals—1981 to 1985,1986 to 1990,1991 to 1995—and made comparisons based on geographic area of residence of people diagnosed with AIDS. Results Of the 3,558 cases of AIDS reported in Alabama in the period 1981 to 1995, 86% were men and 14% were women. Among women, 69.7% were black and 29.1% were white. Among men, 48.4% were black and 50.9% were white. We compared these figures with 1995 Alabama population estimates of 26.2% black, 73.7% white, and <1% another race. The rates for black women and white women increased 170-fold and 23-fold, respectively, from the 1981 to 1985 period to the 1991 to 1995 period. For the same periods, case rates for black men and white men increased more than 80-fold and 50-fold, respectively. Black women showed a rise per 100,000 population—from 0.3 (1981 to 1985) in both northern and southern Alabama to 37 in northern Alabama and 64 in southern Alabama (1991 to 1995). Conclusion Black women are at disproportionately high risk, particularly in the southern counties of Alabama. HIV is increasingly prevalent in rural and small town communities in Alabama and is more often transmitted heterosexually than it has been previously.
Predicting long‐term survival and treatment response in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy by MR metabolic profiling

This study aimed to evaluate whether MR metabolic profiling can be used for prediction of long‐term survival and monitoring of treatment response in locally advanced breast cancer patients during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: High resolution magic angle spinning (HR MAS) MR spectra of pre‐ and post‐treatment biopsies from 33 patients were acquired. Tissue concentrations of choline‐containing metabolites (tCho), glycine and taurine were assessed using electronic reference to access in vivo concentration (ERETIC) of the signal and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to define their potential to predict patient survival and treatment response. The metabolite profiles obtained by HR MAS spectroscopy were related to long‐term survival and treatment response by genetic algorithm partial least squares discriminant analysis (GA PLS‐DA).
Characterization of N-Nitrosourea-Induced Tumors of the Nervous System; Their Prospective Value for Studies of Neurocarcinogenesis and Brain Tumor Therapy*1

Two decades of research with resorptive neurocarcinogens firmly established the high potency of methyl and ethylnitrosourea (MNU and ENU) as neurocarcinogens, particularly in rats. There are significant differences in susceptibility to these agents among species. There are also differences among age groups. Fetuses are between 50 to 100 times more susceptible than adult rats. One single iv inoculation of 20-50 mg/kg ENU into pregnant rats may produce neurogenic tumors in 100% of the of fspring. The tumors produced by these compounds have been well characterized morphologically, biologically, biochemically and histochem-ically. Tumors produced by both compounds are mostly gliomas and neurinomas (Schwannomas), however, clear differences exist between ENU and MNU produced neoplasms. Transplacental exposure to ENU generally results in a high number of anaplastic neurinomas and mostly differentiated gliomas (astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas or mixed gliomas). In contrast, multiple exposures of adult rats to MNU result in a moderate number of mostly differentiated neurinomas and a high number of anaplastic gliomas. Tumors usually start out as well differentiated oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas. As they grow larger, they become more mixed and anaplastic. In contrast to spontaneous gliomas in old rats, MNU and ENU-induced astrocytomas can be readily identified with well established biomarkers such as the S100 protein and particularly GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein). Neurinomas are also strongly positive for S100 protein. No reliable markers exist for oligodendrogliomas. Neurogenic tumors induced by MNU or ENU, as well as derived cell lines and clones from such tumors, have been successfully used as models for neurocarcinogenesis and therapeutic screening. Extensive research has been directed toward the molecular basis of neoplastic transformation (initiation) of neuroepithelial target cells by N-nitroso-compounds. Selective alkylation of DNA has been recognized as a crucial factor of initiation. More recently, host factors (growth and differentiation factors) have been recognized as prospective reverse transformation agents affecting tumor progression.
The Myotubularin Family of Lipid Phosphatases

The myotubularins (MTMs) constitute a large family of phosphoinositide lipid 3‐phosphatases with specificity for PtdIns3P and PtdIns (3,5)P2. Mutations in MTM proteins are associated with inherited conditions such as myotubular myopathy and Charcot–Marie–Tooth syndrome. The substrate lipids are known to be regulators of the endosomal pathway through recruitment of specific effector proteins. Hydrolysis of PtdIns (3,5)P2 provides a biosynthetic pathway to the production of PtdIns5P, which itself can allosterically activate MTMs. We review the properties of this intriguing family of proteins and discuss potential physiological functions that include regulation of the endocytic pathway.
Host Genetic Influences on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Efficacy and AIDS-Free Survival

We studied the influence of AIDS restriction genes (ARGs) CCR5-Δ32, CCR2-64I, SDF1-3′A, IL10-5′A, CX3CR1-V249I, CX3CR1-T280M, and MDR1-C3435T and haplotypes of the CCR5 P1 promoter and RANTES variants −403A, In1.1C, 3′222C, and −28G among HIV-1 infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and the Multicenter Hemophilia Cohort Study (MHCS). Our results indicate that several ARGs also influence therapy efficacy (ie, the success in viral suppression) and subsequent progression to AIDS while on HAART. CCR5-Δ32 decreased time to viral suppression (<200 HIV RNA copies/mL, relative hazard [RH] = 1.40; P = 0.008) and was protective against AIDS (RH = 0.11; P = <0.0001), whereas the CCR5 P1 haplotype was associated with delayed viral suppression (RNA <50 copies/mL, odds ratio [OR] = 0.65; P = 0.03) and accelerated time to AIDS (RH = 2.68; P = 0.02). SDF1-3′A reduced viral suppression (OR = 0.61; P = 0.02) and accelerated AIDS (RH = 3.18; P = 0.009). Accelerated AIDS progression was also observed with the RANTES haplotype carrying RANTES-IN1.1C and RANTES-3′222C (P = 0.005 to 0.007). In contrast, the RANTES haplotype H1, which lacks suspected deleterious single-nucleotide polymorphisms, was protective against AIDS. CX3CR1-V249I seemed to accelerate viral suppression (RNA <50 copies/mL, OR = 1.27; P = 0.01). ARG influence after HAART suggests residual HIV-1 replication, and spread continues even in patients successfully suppressing detectable viral RNA.
An Automatic Number Plate Recognition of Bangladeshi Vehicles

a-day, the importance of automatic traffic monitoring has drawn the attention to the intelligent transport systems. A number plate is the unique identification of a vehicle. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is designed to locate and recognize the number plate of a moving vehicle automatically. For Bangladeshi Vehicles there are no fixed rules for number plates like other countries. Because of the variety of conditions and patterns, the recognition process of number plates for Bangladeshi vehicles is so difficult. We develop a ANPR system which is divided into three part such as number plate Localization, Extraction and Recognition. After successfully complete localization and extraction of number plate we send that portion to a Bangla OCR to fetch the text of the number plate for further processing. In this paper we present a complete ANPR system for Bangladesh Vehicles using standard algorithms with some customization and with our own algorithm for Number Plate extraction which can detect Number Plate region and successfully extract detected region and then able to recognize that number plate text. KeywordsSobel Operator; Outsu threshold; Hough transform; Bangladeshi vehicles number plate
Service-oriented networking platform on smart devices

This study presents the design of a service-oriented networking platform to offer dynamic networking services in support of mobile group communications among connected smart devices. This platform enables users to access smart services anywhere and anytime with embedded devices while satisfying their requirements of various smart services. The proposed platform adopts a session initiation protocol (SIP) protocol as service signalling protocol that provides high extensibility and compatibility with an existing service system. The overlay network structure suggested in our platform provides an advantage of building a scalable and dynamic service network based on multiple smart zones. Furthermore, the quality of end-to-end service in dynamic network environments is guaranteed by virtue of the smart delivery scheme in the platform.
Diacylglycerol Kinase δ Suppresses ER-to-Golgi Traffic via Its SAM and PH Domains

We report here that the anterograde transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi was markedly suppressed by diacylglycerol kinase δ (DGKδ) that uniquely possesses a pleckstrin homology (PH) and a sterile α motif (SAM) domain. A low-level expression of DGKδ in NIH3T3 cells caused redistribution into the ER of the marker proteins of the Golgi membranes and the vesicular-tubular clusters (VTCs). In this case DGKδ delayed the ER-to-Golgi traffic of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV G) and also the reassembly of the Golgi apparatus after brefeldin A (BFA) treatment and washout. DGKδ was demonstrated to associate with the ER through its C-terminal SAM domain acting as an ER-targeting motif. Both of the SAM domain and the N-terminal PH domain of DGKδ were needed to exert its effects on ER-to-Golgi traffic. Kinase-dead mutants of DGKδ were also effective as the wild-type enzyme, suggesting that the catalytic activity of DGK was not involved in the present observation. Remarkably, the expression of DGKδ abrogated formation of COPII-coated structures labeled with Sec13p without affecting COPI structures. These findings indicate that DGKδ negatively regulates ER-to-Golgi traffic by selectively inhibiting the formation of ER export sites without significantly affecting retrograde transport.
Antibiotic Activity of Lichens.

The production by an organism of organic substances inimical to the life processes of other organisms and inhibiting their growth is known as antibiosis. The phenomenon of antibiosis has attracted wide-spread attention in recent years chiefly because of the remarkable chemotherapeutic effects of penicillin, a product of the mold Penicillium. The anabolic products of many kinds of bacteria,' molds,2 and algae,3 and substances elaborated by certain species of flowering plants4 can be readily demonstrated to have antibiotic properties when small amounts of the active materials are tested on microorganisms with suitable assay procedures. In view of the reported antibacterial activity of the green alga Chlorekla and the many antagonistic substances now known to be produced by numerous kinds of fungi, the lichens seemed to offer favorable material for antibiotic investigations, inasmuch as the bodies of these plants are comprised of mixtures of algae and fungi. Accordingly we have tested a considerable number of lichens for antagonistic action against some common species of bacteria, and offer herewith a preliminary report concerning some of our observations. Methods. -The lichens were brought in fresh condition to the laboratory, placed in shallow pans, and moistened with water for the purpose of allowing them to become physiologically more active. After a few hours of exposure to sunlight, samples of the moist lichens were separated from the substrata with a razor blade and forceps. Extracts were made by grinding, with a glass mortar and pestle, 100 mg. of lichen in 1 ml. of phosphate buffer solution adjusted to pH 7.4. The final aqueous extract was approximately pH 7.0. Extractions were carried out at room temperature and the samples were stored at 1°C. for a short time until the materials could be assayed. No attempt was made to clarify the extracts in these preliminary tests. The aqueous suspensions were assayed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia co/i, Bacillus subtilis or other bacteria by means 250 PROC. N. A. S.
Democratic Text Creation-A Proposal

With the emergence of collaborative knowledge goods such as Wikipedia, the demo­ cratic evolution of documents seems to be a minor step in the further evolution of democracy. However, a proper theory for the development and exploitation of democratic text information systems is missing. We propose the development of a framework for democratic text evolution that includes both techni cal and social aspects.
Evaluation of OxRAM cell variability impact on memory performances through electrical simulations

An investigation in the impact of Oxide-based Resistive Memory RAM devices (OxRRAM) variability on the memory array performances is proposed. Variability in advanced IC designs has emerged as a roadblock and significant efforts of process and design engineers are required to decrease its impact. This is especially true for OxRRAM memory, combining high level of integration with exotic materials. In this study, electrical simulations, based on an OxRRAM compact model, are performed at a circuit level. Simulation results are analyzed in terms of OxRRAM cells electrical characteristic variations to evaluate the robustness of the memory array.
The morphological variability, distribution patterns and endangerment in the Ogulin cave sponge Eunapius subterraneus Sket & Velikonja, 1984 (Demospongiae, Spongillidae)

Biland`ija, H. , Bedek, J., Jal`i}, B. & Gottstein, S. : The morphological variability, distribution patterns and endangerment in the Ogulin cave sponge Eunapius subterraneus Sket & Velikonja, 1984 (Demospongiae, Spongillidae). Nat. Croat. , Vol. 16, No. 1. , 1–17, 2007, Zagreb. The distribution and morphological variability of the troglobiotic freshwater sponge Eunapius subterraneus Sket & Velikonja, 1984 registered in Croatia as a threatened species in the IUCN category Endangered (EN) was investigated. The research area encompassed Velika and Mala Kapela Mountains as well as the upper catchment area of the Dobra and Mre`nica rivers on the NE side of Velika and Mala Kapela Mountains, mostly in the Ogulin–Pla{ki karst plateau. The species was registered in six localities, three previously known from the literature and three constituting new records: Mandelaja pit and the caves Crna~ka {pilja and Izvor {pilja Gojak. For subspecies identification the morphology and dimensions of megascleres and gemmuloscleres of the collected samples were analyzed. Significant differences among sponge populations were indicated by one-way ANOVA (p < 0.001) in width and length of megascleres. The subspecies E. s. mollisparspanis Sket & Velikonja, 1984 was found only at its type locality, in the cave Rudnica {pilja VI. The preliminary variability of other populations after discriminant function analysis of measured morphometric parameters such as the width and length of megaand gemmulo-scleres indicates four groups, but it was not possible to separate them clearly in all cases. Subterranean sponges were not found in two localities known from the past, the \ula – Medvedica cave system and the cave [pilja u kamenolomu Tounj, both under great pressure of groundwater habitat changes because of water pollution, river direction changes and habitat destruction.
Antecedents of User Satisfaction with ERP Systems: Mediation Analyses

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of four important influencing factors on user satisfaction with an in-house developed ERP module in a large oil and gas company in Saudi Arabia. It explores whether communication campaigns, training, benefits, ease of use (EoU) are key antecedents of user satisfaction, and examine the mediating effects of EoU and benefits on satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was developed and distributed to a sample of 104 ERP users who were actively engaged in the ERP system implementation process. The partial least square method was used to test the research model. Baron and Kenny’s approach was used to test the mediating effects. Findings – The proposed research model explained 62.7 percent of the variance in ERP user satisfaction. The results showed that EoU fully mediates the relationship between the training and communications and the benefits. Both EoU and benefits fully mediate the relationship between training and satisfact.
Command Fusion Based Mobile Robot Tracking by Distributed Vision System of Robotic Space

The Robotic Space is able of obtaining information from the observed world where many intelligent sensing and tracking devices, such as computers and multi sensors, are distributed. According to the cooperation of many intelligent devices, the environment, it is very important that the system knows the location information to offer the useful services. In order to achieve these goals, we suggest a method for representing, tracking and human following by fusing distributed multiple vision systems in Robotic Space. And the article presents the integration of color distributions into SOM(Self Organizing Map) based particle filtering. We propose to track the moving objects by generating hypotheses not in the image plan but on the top-view reconstruction of the scene. Comparative results on real video sequences show the advantage of our method for multi-motion tracking. Experiments are carried out to evaluate the proposed performance.
Familial risk of urinary incontinence in women: population based cross sectional study

Abstract Objective To determine whether there is an increased risk of urinary incontinence in daughters and sisters of incontinent women. Design Population based cross sectional study. Setting EPINCONT (the epidemiology of incontinence in the county of Nord-Trøndelag study), a substudy of HUNT 2 (the Norwegian Nord-Trøndelag health survey 2), 1995-7. Participants 6021 mothers, 7629 daughters, 332 granddaughters, and 2104 older sisters of 2426 sisters. Main outcome measures Adjusted relative risks for urinary incontinence. Results The daughters of mothers with urinary incontinence had an increased risk for urinary incontinence (1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 1.4; absolute risk 23.3%), stress incontinence (1.5, 1.3 to 1.8; 14.6%), mixed incontinence (1.6, 1.2 to 2.0; 8.3%), and urge incontinence (1.8, 0.8 to 3.9; 2.6%). If mothers had severe symptoms then their daughters were likely to have such symptoms (1.9, 1.3 to 3.0; 4.0%). The younger sisters of female siblings with urinary incontinence, stress incontinence, or mixed incontinence had increased relative risks of, respectively, 1.6 (1.3 to 1.9; absolute risk 29.6%), 1.8 (1.3 to 2.3; 18.3%), and 1.7 (1.1 to 2.8; 10.8%). Conclusion Women are more likely to develop urinary incontinence if their mother or older sisters are incontinent.