Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is There a Correlation Between Organochlorine Compounds and Undescended Testes?

Some pesticides and synthetic chemicals are known to act as hormonal modulators, often possessing oestrogenic activity (xenooestrogens). They are persistent and accumulate in fatty tissue. Aim of our study is to address the question, whether a selection of such compounds is to be found in the fatty tissue of children undergoing surgical procedures and whether there are differences in values obtained from patients with or without undescended testes. Fat samples of 48 patients, 18 of whom had undescended testes, were examined by high-resolution gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for DDT and metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), toxaphenes, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), chlorinated cyclodienes and chlorinated benzenes. We were able to find accumulation of all substances in every patient. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference between patients from the control group and those from the undescended testes group for two compounds, namely heptachloroepoxide (HCE) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), increased values being found in the patients with undescended testes. Since the aetiology of this entity is unknown in most of the cases, prenatal exposure to exogenous oestrogens is an attractive and plausible hypothesis. In order to confirm this, some questions will have to be answered in further studies: effect of exposure to xenooestrogens during a specific period of development, probable role of other substances with proven or suspected hormonal activity, potential synergism of such compounds and differences in individual susceptibility.
Rapid and quantitative activation of Chlamydia trachomatis ribonucleotide reductase by hydrogen peroxide.

We recently showed that the class Ic ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) from the human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis ( Ct) uses a Mn (IV)/Fe (III) cofactor in its R2 subunit to initiate catalysis [Jiang, W. , Yun, D. , Saleh, L. , Barr, E. W. , Xing, G. , Hoffart, L. M. , Maslak, M. -A. , Krebs, C. , and Bollinger, J. M. , Jr. (2007) Science 316, 1188-1191]. The Mn (IV) site of the novel cofactor functionally replaces the tyrosyl radical used by conventional class I RNRs to initiate substrate radical production. As a first step in evaluating the hypothesis that the use of the alternative cofactor could make the RNR more robust to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species [RO(N)S] produced by the host's immune system [Högbom, M. , Stenmark, P., Voevodskaya, N. , McClarty, G. , Gräslund, A. , and Nordlund, P. (2004) Science 305, 245-248], we have examined the reactivities of three stable redox states of the Mn/Fe cluster (Mn (II)/Fe (II), Mn (III)/Fe (III), and Mn (IV)/Fe (III)) toward hydrogen peroxide. Not only is the activity of the Mn (IV)/Fe (III)-R2 intermediate stable to prolonged (>1 h) incubations with as much as 5 mM H 2O 2, but both the fully reduced (Mn (II)/Fe (II)) and one-electron-reduced (Mn (III)/Fe (III)) forms of the protein are also efficiently activated by H 2O 2. The Mn (III)/Fe (III)-R2 species reacts with a second-order rate constant of 8 +/- 1 M (-1) s (-1) to yield the Mn (IV)/Fe (IV)-R2 intermediate previously observed in the reaction of Mn (II)/Fe (II)-R2 with O 2 [Jiang, W. , Hoffart, L. M. , Krebs, C. , and Bollinger, J. M. , Jr. (2007) Biochemistry 46, 8709-8716]. As previously observed, the intermediate decays by reduction of the Fe site to the active Mn (IV)/Fe (III)-R2 complex. The reaction of the Mn (II)/Fe (II)-R2 species with H 2O 2 proceeds in three resolved steps: sequential oxidation to Mn (III)/Fe (III)-R2 ( k = 1.7 +/- 0.3 mM (-1) s (-1)) and Mn (IV)/Fe (IV)-R2, followed by decay of the intermediate to the active Mn (IV)/Fe (III)-R2 product. The efficient reaction of both reduced forms with H 2O 2 contrasts with previous observations on the conventional class I RNR from Escherichia coli, which is efficiently converted from the fully reduced (Fe 2 (II/II)) to the "met" (Fe 2 (III/III)) form [Gerez, C. , and Fontecave, M. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 780-786] but is then only very inefficiently converted from the met to the active (Fe 2 (III/III)-Y (*)) form [Sahlin, M. , Sjöberg, B. -M. , Backes, G. , Loehr, T. , and Sanders-Loehr, J. (1990) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 167, 813-818].
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and 2 Glycoprotein C Prevents Complement-Mediated Neutralization Induced by Natural Immunoglobulin M Antibody

ABSTRACT Glycoprotein C (gC) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) binds complement component C3b and protects virus from complement-mediated neutralization. Differences in complement interacting domains exist between gC of HSV-1 (gC1) and HSV-2 (gC2), since the amino terminus of gC1 blocks complement C5 from binding to C3b, while gC2 fails to interfere with this activity. We previously reported that neutralization of HSV-1 gC-null virus by HSV antibody-negative human serum requires activation of C5 but not of downstream components of the classical complement pathway. In this report, we evaluated whether activation of C5 is sufficient to neutralize HSV-2 gC-null virus, or whether formation of the membrane attack complex by C6 to C9 is required for neutralization. We found that activation of the classical complement pathway up to C5 was sufficient to neutralize HSV-2 gC-null virus by HSV antibody-negative human serum. We evaluated the mechanisms by which complement activation occurred in seronegative human serum. Interestingly, natural immunoglobulin M antibodies bound to virus, which triggered activation of C1q and the classical complement pathway. HSV antibody-negative sera obtained from four individuals differed over an approximately 10-fold range in their potency for complement-mediated virus neutralization. These findings indicate that humans differ in the ability of their innate immune systems to neutralize HSV-1 or HSV-2 gC-null virus and that a critical function of gC1 and gC2 is to prevent C5 activation.
Improved Camshift tracking method based on the edge suppression

In order to improve the tracking performance of the target in complex background, a novel Camshift tracking method based on the edge suppression is proposed. Because the edge of the target is probably most vulnerable to the background, the gray value of the target edge in the back projection image is suppressed by the weighted method according to the position and size in the previous frame. Thus, the disturbance information from the background can be prevented from involving the target tracking. The method is applied to track the actual target and the target in the video of the standard test libraries. Experimental results show that the accuracy and stability of the target recognition and tracking can be improved by suppressing the information of the edge of the tracking target in the back projection image. And the method can also meet the real time tracking requirement of the TV tracking system.
Prevalence and risk factors of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among 6–24-month-old underweight and normal-weight children living in an urban slum of Bangladesh

Abstract Objective We quantified the prevalence of vitamin D status in 6–24-month-old underweight and normal-weight children and identified the socio-economic and dietary predictors for status. Design Cross-sectional, baseline data from a nutritional intervention study were analysed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of being vitamin D deficient or insufficient with the reference being vitamin D sufficient. Setting Urban slum area of Mirpur field site, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Subjects Underweight (weight-for-age Z-score <−2·00) and normal-weight (weight-for-age Z-score ≥−1·00) children aged 6–24 months. Results Among 468 underweight children, 23·1 % were sufficient, 42·3 % insufficient, 31·2 % deficient and 3·4 % severely vitamin D deficient. Among 445 normal-weight children, 14·8 % were sufficient, 39·6 % insufficient and 40·0 % deficient and 5·6 % severely deficient. With adjusted multinominal regression analysis, risk factors (OR (95 % CI)) for vitamin D deficiency in underweight children were: older age group (18–24 months old; 2·9 (1·5–5·7)); measurement of vitamin D status during winter (3·0 (1·4–6·4)) and spring (6·9 (3·0–16·1)); and maternal education (≥6 years of institutional education; 2·2 (1·0–4·9)). In normal-weight children, older age group (3·6 (1·2–10·6)) and living in the richest quintile (3·7 (1·1–12·5)) were found to be significantly associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusions The study demonstrates a significant burden of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in both underweight and normal-weight children <2 years of age from an urban slum of Bangladesh. Identification of risk factors may help in mitigating the important burden in such children.
“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?”: Human proxemic preferences for recognizing robot gestures in physical reality and virtual reality

The use of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) for studying Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) offers many benefits, including decreased cost and risk as well as increased experimental control and repeatability. Previous work has shown that people reliably underestimate distances in VR; however, the effect of this underestimation on gesture recognition has not been characterized. This work contributes to the validation of immersive VR as a platform for HRI investigation and simulation for training in industry. A matched pair of studies compared the location preferences of human participants when viewing gestures generated by a robot in both virtual and physical environments. Participants were asked to select up to three optimal locations within a bounded region at which they perceived the robot's gesture to be the clearest. We found that the use of VR did increase the preferred proxemic distance (χ2 (1) = 18.046, p < 0.001) by approximately 642 ± 96mm. The difference in viewing angle between the virtual and physical environments was not significant, with a 95% confidence interval limiting the difference within −8.6° to +7.9°. Observations relating gesture features to optimal viewing locations are also presented.
Decline in sperm counts: an artefact of changed reference range of “normal”?

Abstract Objective: To investigate a reported fall in sperm counts during 1940–90 in relation to the reduced lower reference value of “normal” during the same period by assuming the null hypothesis that no change had occurred in the probability distribution of the sperm concentration. Design: Analysis by using various mathematical models of the probaility distribution of sperm concentration together with experimental data which supported a model employing a logarithmic distribution. Subjects: 235 men presenting for stimulated in vitro fertilisation at Midland Fertility Services, Aldridge, in 1992 together with samples of 20 ejaculates from each of five men attending the same centre during 1992–3. Results: The effect of the change in lower reference value for the “normal” sperm concentration (from 60x109 to 20x109/l) depended on the probability distribution of the concentration in the population. If that distribution was normal or uniform, then very little of the reported decline was a consequence of the change in lower reference value. If it was heavily skewed, then most or all of the reported decline may have been a consequence of that change. The limited experimental data available indicate that the distribution was heavily skewed. Conclusions: Depending on the actual distribution of sperm concentration in the population, the reported decline in concentration may have been accounted for entirely or in part by the change in lower reference value. The original evidence does not support the hypothesis that the sperm count declined significantly between 1940 and 1990.
Identification of Protein Interactions by Far Western Analysis

This unit describes far western blotting, a method of identifying protein‐protein interactions. In a far western blot, one protein of interest is immobilized on a solid support membrane, then probed with a non‐antibody protein. As described, far western blots can be used to identify specific interacting proteins in a complex mixture of proteins. They are particularly useful for examining interactions between proteins that are difficult to analyze by other methods due to solubility problems or because they are difficult to express in cells. This method is performed totally in vitro, and the proteins of interest can be prepared in a variety of ways. A protocol is also provided for determining the effects of specific peptide residues or post‐translational modifications on protein‐protein interactions. Many different detection techniques, either radioactive or nonradioactive, can be used. For example, the protein probe may be detected indirectly with an antibody, rather than being labeled radioactively.
A Measurement Model of Tourist Satisfaction in World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Site has become an important tourist destination in today's tourism market. The paper takes Zhangjiajie National Forest Park as an example, Building a world – heritage- class- scenic Tourist Satisfaction Index(WTSI) model based on SEM firstly, then we take Partial least squares(PLSs) method to make an empirical test of the model. We found that, the WTSI model which build on the Scenic image, customer expectations, perceived quality,perceived price, visitor satisfaction, visitor trust and tourist loyalty variables is basically set up.
Immunopharmacological activity of Echinacea preparations following simulated digestion on murine macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

We have investigated the immunostimulatory, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of variousEchinacea raw materials and commercially available products on murine macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). To emulate oral dosing, a simulated digestion protocol was employed as a means of sample preparation.Echinacea‐induced macrophage activation was used as a measure of immunostimulatory activity determined via quantitative assays for macrophage‐derived factors including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, and nitric oxide.Echinacea herb and root powders were found to stimulate murine macrophage cytokine secretion as well as to significantly enhance the viability and/or proliferation of human PBMCs in vitro. In contrast, Echinacea extracts chemically standardized to phenolic acid or echinocaside content and fresh pressed juice preparations were found to be inactive as immunostimulatory agents but did display, to varying degrees, anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Dust formation in the winds of AGBs: the contribution at low metallicities

We present new models for the evolution of stars with mass in the range 1Msun < M < 7.5Msun, followed from the pre-main-sequence through the asymptotic giant branch phase. The metallicity adopted is $Z=3*10^{-4} (which, with an alpha-enhancement of +0.4, corresponds to [Fe/H]=-2). Dust formation is described by following the growth of dust grains of various types as the wind expands from the stellar surface. Models with mass M>3Msun experience Hot Bottom Burning, thus maintaining the surface C/O below unity. Unlike higher Z models, the scarcity of silicon available in the envelope prevents the formation of silicates in meaningful quantities, sufficient to trigger the acceleration of the wind via radiation pressure on the dust grains formed. No silicate formation occurs below a threshold metallicity of Z=10^{-3}. Low--mass stars, with M< 2.5Msun become carbon stars, forming solid carbon dust in their surroundings. The total dust mass formed depends on the uncertain extent of the inwards penetration of the convective envelope during the Third Dredge--Up episodes following the Thermal Pulses. Carbon grains have sizes 0.08 micron < a_C < 0.12 micron and the total amount of dust formed (increasing with the mass of the star) is M_C=(2-6)*10^{-4}Msun. Our results imply that AGB stars with Z=3*10^{-4} can only contribute to carbon dust enrichment of the interstellar medium on relatively long timescales, > 300 Myr, comparable to the evolutionary time of a 3Msun star. At lower metallicities the scarcity of silicon available and the presence of Hot Bottom Burning even in M< 2Msun, prevents the formation of silicate and carbon grains. We extrapolate our conclusion to more metal--poor environments, and deduce that at Z < 10^{-4} dust enrichment is mostly due to metal condensation in supernova ejecta.
Performance comparison between MC-CDMA and DS-CDMA for broadband wireless transmissions

This article presents a comparison between DS-CDMA and MC-CDMA systems. The objective is to evaluate these two access techniques with similar assumptions (such as bandwidth, radio channel, number of users), and with the same kind of receivers (MRC, sub-optimal and optimal MMSE). A MC-CDMA system can be viewed as a DS-CDMA system that uses complex codes instead of binary ones. Intuitively, we expect to obtain the same level of performance. Using random matrix theory, it is possible to demonstrate that both systems offer the same performance as long as the spreading factor is sufficiently large (SF>16 typically). Simulation results confirm the accuracy of the asymptotic SINR and also that both techniques offer the same performance.
Calmodulin inhibits entry of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase into animal cells.

Bordetella pertussis, the pathogen responsible for whooping cough, releases a soluble calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase into its culture medium. Recently, Confer and Eaton [Confer, D. , & Eaton, J. (1982) Science (Washington, D.C.) 217, 948-950], as well as Hanski and Farfel [Hanski, E. , & Farfel, Z. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 290, 5526-5536], have shown that crude extracts from B. pertussis containing adenylate cyclase activity cause elevations in intracellular cAMP when incubated with human neutrophils or lymphocytes. These investigators proposed that the bacterial enzyme enters animal cells and catalyzes the formation of cAMP from intracellular ATP. In this study, B. pertussis adenylate cyclase was purified to remove contaminating islet activating protein and examined for its effects on intracellular cAMP levels of human erythrocytes and N1E-115 mouse neuroblastoma cells. In both cases, the enzyme catalyzed the formation of intracellular cAMP. Addition of calmodulin to the adenylate cyclase preparations completely inhibited formation of intracellular cAMP catalyzed by the bacterial enzyme, indicating that cAMP was not synthesized extracellularly and then taken up by the cells. These experiments illustrate that the bacterial enzyme does enter animal cells and that the enzyme-calmodulin complex does not.
A novel compression technique for DNA sequence compaction

Modern Biotechnology produces large amount of genomic data. The explosion of DNA data has given a challenge for understanding genomic structure, the disk storage and computation. It is essential for the development of efficient compression techniques to handle genomic data storage. Data compression is used to store the data in less memory. The properties of DNA sequence offer a chance to build DNA specific compression algorithms. In this paper, a novel compression technique is proposed for genomic data. In the first stage, each base in DNA sequence is converted into binary form using 2-bit encoding system. On the resultant binary string, A Modified run length encoding is applied. The output is compressed again using Huffman encoding technique in second stage. The encoded sequence is converted into ASCII characters. This technique is quite simple and effective.
Textile Pressure Sensor Made of Flexible Plastic Optical Fibers

In this paper we report the successful development of pressure sensitive textile prototypes based on flexible optical fibers technology. Our approach is based on thermoplastic silicone fibers, which can be integrated into woven textiles. As soon as pressure at a certain area of the textile is applied to these fibers they change their cross section reversibly, due to their elastomeric character, and a simultaneous change in transmitted light intensity can be detected. We have successfully manufactured two different woven samples with fibers of 0.51 and 0.98 mm diameter in warp and weft direction, forming a pressure sensitive matrix. Determining their physical behavior when a force is applied shows that pressure measurements are feasible. Their usable working range is between 0 and 30 N. Small drifts in the range of 0.2 to 4.6%, over 25 load cycles, could be measured. Finally, a sensor array of 2 × 2 optical fibers was tested for sensitivity, spatial resolution and light coupling between fibers at intersections.
Oxidation products of alpha-farnesene associated with superficial scald development in d'Anjou pear fruits are conjugated trienols.

Conjugated triene (CT) oxidation products of the acyclic sesquiterpene (E,E)-alpha-farnesene are thought to induce development of the physiological storage disorder superficial scald in apple and pear fruits of susceptible cultivars. CTs that accumulate in peel tissues of Granny Smith and Delicious apples after several weeks of cold storage are known to be conjugated trienols (CTols) rather than the corresponding hydroperoxides produced by in vitro autoxidation of alpha-farnesene. Here, it is shown that CTols are also the predominant in vivo oxidation products of alpha-farnesene in cold-stored pear fruit of the highly scald-susceptible d'Anjou cultivar. Analysis by octadecylsilane reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, gas chromatography with flame ionization detection, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy identified 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,3(E),5(E),10-tetraen-7-ol as the major CT in hexane extracts of peel tissue from d'Anjou pears stored for 3-5 months in air at -1 degrees C. The possible origins of CTols in apples and pears and the hypothesized role of these oxidation products of alpha-farnesene in the induction of scald are discussed.
United States preventive services task force recommendations on breast cancer screening

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) was established in 1984 by the US Department of Health and Human Services to develop recommendations on clinical preventive services based on evidence from published clinical research. Guidelines issued in 1989 addressed 169 preventive services in 60 topic areas. This article reviews the USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screening, which call for annual clinical breast examinations after 40 years of age, mammography every 1 to 2 years beginning at 50 years of age, and early screening of women at increased risk for breast cancer. The USPSTF methodology for evaluating the quality of evidence and the scientific rationale for its recommendations are reviewed.