Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simvastatin in the acute phase of ischemic stroke: a safety and efficacy pilot trial

Although statins are being used for secondary prevention of ischemic stroke, recent experimental data have shown new pleiotropic effects of these drugs responsible for their role in neuroprotection. We conducted a pilot, double‐blind, randomized, multicenter clinical trial to study for the first time safety and efficacy of simvastatin in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. Simvastatin/placebo was given at 3–12 h from symptom onset to 60 patients with cortical strokes. Efficacy on the evolution of several inflammation markers [interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, C‐reactive protein, sApo/Fas, tumor necrosis factor‐α, E‐selectin, L‐selectin and nitrites+nitrates] and neurological outcome was evaluated at baseline, day 1, 3, 5, 7 and 90. No differences were found amongst the biomarkers studied regarding treatment allocation. Although simvastatin patients improved significantly by the third day (46.4% vs. 17.9%, P = 0.022), a non‐significant increase in mortality and greater proportion of infections (odds ratio 2.4, confidence interval 1.06–5.4) in the simvastatin group were the main safety concerns. Therefore, a larger clinical trial is needed to confirm the net benefit of this therapeutic approach.
954 MHz microwaves enhance the mutagenic properties of mitomycin C

This paper focuses on the combined effects of microwaves from mobile communication frequencies and a chemical DNA damaging agent mitomycin C (MMC). The investigation was performed in vitro by exposing whole blood samples to a 954 MHz emitting antenna from a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) base station, followed by lymphocyte cultivation in the presence of MMC. A highly reproducible synergistic effect was observed as based on the frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges in metaphase figures. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self-Similar Traffic and Buffer Overflow: A Bounded Buffer Allocation Approach

Long range dependence (LRD) in network traffic is known for sometime. Numerous efforts have been made to model and analyze effect of such traffic on user experience, resource management etc. Buffer management is one of the key element of such resource management. It has long been established that LRD traffic causes higher buffer overflow probability and number of studies confirms this. Although, many models have been proposed for predicting such overflow probability, less attempts have been made in utilizing such behaviour of network traffic for better management of buffer. In this paper we show that any process which can not look into the future and decide about its strategy, satisfies semi- martingle property. Further, such a process behaves as a local martingle when they are considered within smaller time periods with bounded operating domain. On the other hand, fractional Brownian Motion (fBM) is known for its persistent self-similarity with ability to look into the future based on present performance. This immediately forces loss of semimartingle property and in turn allows one to devise an algorithm for buffer allocation. In this paper we propose one such algorithm where the buffer allocation strategy is allowed to review its decision depending on its performance during last period. We show that such strategy works well guaranteeing lower bound on free buffer availability provided the driving process is LRD.
Review of network intrusion detection

Computer network security is an international problem, Economic losses caused by breakage of computer network security system up to several billions of dollars on a global scale every year. After entering the new century, the loss will reach over 200 billion U.S. dollars. Inofrmation thieves in the past 5 years have been growing to 250%, 99% of large companies have been big in the invasion according to the statistics. World-famous commercial websites, such as Yahoo, Buy, EBay, Amazon, and CNN have been hacked, resulting in huge economic losses. Even RSA, specializes in network security web sites, has been attacked by hackers at some time in the past. Effective security policy or program development is the primary goal of network information security. Network security technology include authentication and authorization, data encryption, access control, security auditing. This paper focuses on intrusion detection technology which is the core technology in the security audit that is one of the network security protections of the important part.
Aortic and hepatic enhancement and tumor-to-liver contrast: analysis of the effect of different concentrations of contrast material at multi-detector row helical CT.

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of different iodine concentrations of contrast material on aortic and hepatic enhancement and the detectability of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) and a uniphasic contrast material injection technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred one patients with known or who were suspected of having HCC underwent multi-detector row CT; 58 patients with hypervascular HCC were identified. First-, second-, and third-phase scanning was started with the aortic arrival times plus 15 seconds, plus 30 seconds, and plus 105 seconds, respectively. All patients were assigned randomly into two groups. Patients in groups A and B received iopamidol with an iodine concentration of 300 mg/mL and 370 mg/mL, respectively, with the same total iodine load per patient per body weight. The liver and aorta enhancement and tumor-to-liver contrast (TLC) were measured. Depiction of hepatic arteries was evaluated visually by two radiologists. RESULTS During the first phase, aortic enhancement was significantly (P <.01) higher in group B, with no significant difference in hepatic enhancement between the two groups. During the second phase, aortic enhancement was significantly (P <.01) higher in group A, with no significant difference in hepatic enhancement. The TLC was significantly (P <.01) higher in group B during the first phase, but there was no significant difference between the two groups during the second phase. There was no significant difference in any parameters between the two groups during the third phase. Depiction of the hepatic arteries in group B was significantly (P <.05) superior to that in group A. CONCLUSION In the arterial phase, administration of a higher concentration of contrast material is effective for a significantly higher TLC.
Should Tuberculin Skin Test Be Positive to Give Latent Tuberculosis Treatment Before Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitors in Selected Patients in Developing Countries?

To the Editor: We read with interest the report by Malaviya, et al about tuberculosis (TB) and inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor agents1. Mexico also has a “high TB burden,” with estimated prevalence of at least 23 per 100,0002. The tuberculin skin test (TST) has low sensitivity, including in high-risk population groups such as men and patients older than 50 years, in addition to those who have disseminated TB3,4. In immunosuppressed patients (such as those with human immunodeficiency virus), tuberculin anergy is reported to be > 40%, particularly in those with poor body mass index and/or severe lymphopenia5. This could also be true about other immunodeficient persons, including patients with rheumatic disease who are taking disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) and corticosteroids6,7. One … Address correspondence to Dr. Abud-Mendoza; E-mail: c_abud{at}hotmail.com
Fastidious human adenovirus type 40 can propagate efficiently and produce plaques on a human cell line, A549, derived from lung carcinoma

Human adenovirus type 40 (Ad40) cannot propagate in conventional established human cell lines such as KB or HeLa cells. However, it has been shown that Ad40 DNA replicates in KB18 cells which express Ad2 E1B genes, suggesting that Ad40 is defective in the E1B gene function in KB or HeLa cells. We show here that Ad40 can propagate and produce plaques on A549 cells which do not contain Ad E1B genes. Our experiments show that the levels of replication of Ad40 DNA and production of infectious Ad40 virus in A549 cells are the same as or higher than those in 293 or KB18 cells. Dot blot analysis shows that the levels of Ad40 E1A and E1B mRNAs expressed in A549 cells at early to intermediate times postinfection are at least 10-fold higher than those in KB or KB18 cells. Northern (RNA) blot analysis shows that large E1B mRNA species (approximately 24S to 26S) are synthesized prior to the onset of DNA replication in A549 cells. No E1B mRNA species are synthesized in KB or KB18 cells at early times postinfection, and no differences in the expression of E1B mRNAs are seen between KB and KB18 cells. The experiment suggests that A549 cells have a cellular factor(s) which activates Ad40 E1B mRNA synthesis and that the E1B mRNA synthesis helps Ad40 propagation. In contrast, Ad40 can propagate in KB18 cells by using Ad2 E1B gene products that are constitutively expressed in this cell line. Furthermore, this result shows that Ad40 cannot propagate in KB cells because of the failure in the expression of E1B genes at early times postinfection.
Acetalization of Carbonyl Compounds by Using Al2 (HPO4)3 under Green Condition Mg HPO4

Al2(HPO4)3 was easily prepared and used as a solid acid in acetalization of carbonyl compounds at room temperature and under solvent-free conditions. The protection was done in short reaction times and in good to high isolated yields. The cheapness and availability of this reagent with easy procedure and work-up make this method attractive for the organic synthesis. Keywords—Acetalization, acid catalysis, carbonylcompounds, green condition, protection.
Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide can activate 70Z/3 cells via CD14

Helicobacter pylori persistently colonizes the human gastrointestinal tract and is associated with chronic gastritis and, in some cases, peptic ulcer disease or gastric neoplasms. One factor in the persistence of this organism may be its inability to elicit a strong inflammatory response. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a proinflammatory substance found in the cell walls of all gram-negative bacteria. H. pylori LPS has been found by several different measures to be less active than LPS from Enterobacteriaceae. This study addresses the role of CD14 and LPS-binding protein in the cellular response to H. pylori LPS. We report that H. pylori LPS activates mammalian cells expressing CD14 at much lower LPS concentrations than those for control cells not expressing CD14. The maximal activation of CD14-70Z/3 cells by H. pylori LPS also requires LPS-binding protein. H. pylori LPS at concentrations as high as 30 microg/ml does not elicit an interleukin-8 (IL-8) response from the epithelial cell line SW620 in the presence of CD14; 10 ng of Escherichia coli LPS per ml elicits a maximal IL-8 response. Furthermore, in contrast to some other types of LPS with little activity, H. pylori LPS does not inhibit the CD14-70Z/3 cell response to E. coli LPS. From these studies, we conclude that H. pylori LPS, though much less active than E. coli LPS, stimulates cells via CD14.
Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Zolpidem and Carbamazepine in Healthy Volunteers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic interaction between zolpidem and carbamazepine in healthy volunteers. The study consisted of 2 periods: period 1 (reference), when each volunteer received a single dose of 5 mg zolpidem, and period 2 (test), when each volunteer received a single dose of 5 mg zolpidem and 400 mg carbamazepine. Between the 2 periods, the participants were treated for 15 days with a single daily dose of 400 mg carbamazepine. Pharmacokinetic parameters of zolpidem administered in each treatment period were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. In the 2 periods of treatments, the mean peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) were 59 ng/mL (zolpidem alone) and 35 ng/mL (zolpidem after pretreatment with carbamazepine). The tmax, times taken to reach Cmax, were 0.9 hours and 1.0 hour, respectively, and the total areas under the curve (AUC0‐∞) were 234.9 ng·h/mL and 101.5 ng·h/mL, respectively. The half‐life of zolpidem was 2.3 and 1.6 hours, respectively. Carbamazepine interacts with zolpidem in healthy volunteers and lowers its bioavailability by about 57%. The experimental data demonstrate the pharmacokinetic interaction between zolpidem and carbamazepine and suggest that the observed interaction may be clinically significant, but its relevance has to be confirmed.
Hypoxia and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor in the aging kidney.

Renal senescence is characterized by interstitial fibrosis and loss of peritubular capillaries. In this study, we provided evidence of tubulointerstitial hypoxia and the operation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in the aging kidney. Using two distinct methods, pimonidazole immunostaining and the expression of the "hypoxia-responsive" reporter of the transgenic rats, we identified the age-related expansion of hypoxia in all areas of the kidney. Expansion was most prominent in the cortex. Clusters of hypoxic tubules were observed in the superficial cortical zones, areas adjacent to the outer nephrons and expanded in the medullary rays. The degree of hypoxia was positively correlated with the age-related tubulointerstitial injury (R(2) = 0.88, p <. 01), which was associated with the upregulation of HIF-regulated genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) (real-time polymerase chain reaction). These findings point to the involvement of hypoxia and highlight the pathological relevance of HIF and its target genes in the aging kidney.
Risk indicators associated with dental erosion among Jordanian school children aged 12-14 years of age.

AIM To identify potential risk indicators of dental erosion (DE) among 12- to 14-year-old Jordanian school children. DESIGN A random cross-sectional sample was selected from Amman, Irbid, and Al-Karak governorates. A weighted multistage random sampling system was used to yield 3812, 12- to 14-year-old school children from 81 schools. The study utilized a self-reported questionnaire of factors reported in the literature and thought to be associated with DE. Full mouth recording using the tooth wear index modified by Millward et al. (1994) was performed by a single calibrated examiner. RESULTS Logistic regression analysis defined the risk indicators that were simultaneously associated with DE with geographical location, medical condition including frequent mouth dryness, and having frequent bouts of vomiting or using a cortisol inhaler, dietary habits including consumption of carbonated beverages, lemon, sour candies, and sports drinks, keeping soft drinks in the mouth for a long time, brushing teeth following soft beverages or drinking lemon juice at bed time. CONCLUSIONS Dental erosion is a multifactorial condition in which mouth dryness, vomiting, cortisol inhaler use, keeping soft drinks in the mouth, drinking beverages at bed time, consumption of lemon, sour candies, and having confectionary as snacks are risk indicators, and area of residence are all potential factors.
Concordant loss of melanoma differentiation antigens in synchronous and asynchronous melanoma metastases: implications for immunotherapy

Because of its known heterogeneity, the analysis of antigen expression is crucial prior to the initiation of antigen-specific immunotherapy for melanoma. The melanoma differentiation antigens gp100, MART-1 and tyrosinase are involved in a common pathway of melanin synthesis. Peptides derived from these melanoma differentiation antigens are used in the immunotherapy of melanoma and antibodies recognizing these antigens are commonly applied to detect melanocytic lesions. One hundred and ninety-one paraffin-embedded melanoma metastases from 28 patients with 2–19 lesions (mean, 6.8) developing synchronously (n=67) or asynchronously (n=124) were analysed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of the melanoma differentiation antigens, as well as cancer/testis antigens of the melanoma antigen-A (MAGE-A) family (monoclonal antibodies 77B and 57B), anti-S100 and SM5-1. The overall reactivities were 81.6% (gp100), 79.5% (MART-1), 59.6% (tyrosinase), 59.1% (77B), 60.7% (57B), 93.2% (S100) and 91.6% (SM5-1). Twenty-seven lesions (14.1%) were positive for all tumour-associated antigens, 75 lesions (39.2%) were negative for one antigen and 87 lesions (45.5%) were negative for several tumour-associated antigens. Co-ordinated loss was found for lesions negative for gp100 and MART-1 (9.4%, P<0.0005), gp100 and tyrosinase (11.0%, P=0.009), MART-1 and tyrosinase (15.2%, P<0.0005) and gp100, MART-1 and tyrosinase (8.9%, P<0.0005), which is up to six times higher than the expected calculated loss. This co-ordinated loss of melanoma differentiation antigens in melanoma did not include cancer testis antigens and S100 or SM5-1. On average, the melanoma differentiation antigens stained 50–65% of cells within a lesion, and 10–39% of synchronous clusters were heterogeneous for melanoma differentiation antigen expression. In conclusion, broader polypeptide vaccines should be used for melanoma immunotherapy.
Bandwidth Enhancement of a Wide Slot Using Fractal-Shaped Sierpinski

A wideband fractal slot antenna is proposed, designed, and fabricated in this communication. The broadband characteristic is achieved by introducing a Sierpinski fractal into a square wide slot without increasing the overall antenna size. A simple microstrip line is used to excite the Sierpinski-based slot. As the iteration order of the Sierpinski square radiator increases, the number of resonance increases, and the bandwidth of the slot antenna is enhanced. From the measured results, the 10 dB reflection coefficient bandwidth of the 2nd iteration Sierpinski slot antenna is 63.4%.
The foraging benefits of being fat in a highly migratory marine mammal

Foraging theory predicts that breath-hold divers adjust the time spent foraging at depth relative to the energetic cost of swimming, which varies with buoyancy (body density). However, the buoyancy of diving animals varies as a function of their body condition, and the effects of these changes on swimming costs and foraging behaviour have been poorly examined. A novel animal-borne accelerometer was developed that recorded the number of flipper strokes, which allowed us to monitor the number of strokes per metre swam (hereafter, referred to as strokes-per-metre) by female northern elephant seals over their months-long, oceanic foraging migrations. As negatively buoyant seals increased their fat stores and buoyancy, the strokes-per-metre increased slightly in the buoyancy-aided direction (descending), but decreased significantly in the buoyancy-hindered direction (ascending), with associated changes in swim speed and gliding duration. Overall, the round-trip strokes-per-metre decreased and reached a minimum value when seals achieved neutral buoyancy. Consistent with foraging theory, seals stayed longer at foraging depths when their round-trip strokes-per-metre was less. Therefore, neutrally buoyant divers gained an energetic advantage via reduced swimming costs, which resulted in an increase in time spent foraging at depth, suggesting a foraging benefit of being fat.
Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in Italian-style soft cheeses.

AIMS A rapid detection system specific for Listeria monocytogenes and based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed. METHODS AND RESULTS Primers annealing to the coding region of the actA gene, critically involved in virulence and capable of discrimination between two different alleles naturally occurring in L. monocytogenes, have been utilized. The procedure was applied to recover L. monocytogenes cells in artificially contaminated fresh Italian soft cheeses (mozzarella, crescenza and ricotta). Low levels of L. monocytogenes were detected in mozzarella and crescenza homogenates (0.04-0.4 and 4 CFU g(-1), respectively) whereas in ricotta the detection limit was higher (40 CFU g(-1)). CONCLUSIONS This PCR-based assay is highly specific as primers used recognize the DNA from different L. monocytogenes strains of clinical and food origin, while no amplification products result with any other Listeria spp. strains. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study highlighted a low-cost and rapid procedure that can be appropriated for the detection in real time of low L. monocytogenes levels in soft cheese.
Detection of the hepatitis C virus genome in acute and chronic experimental infection in chimpanzees

In order to gain an understanding of the relationship of various markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in acute and chronic cases of the disease, serial blood samples obtained from chimpanzees before and after infection with HCV were analyzed for the presence of the HCV genome by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNA (cDNA PCR) synthesized from plasma- and serum-derived RNA. In a chimpanzee with acute hepatitis C, signals detectable by cDNA PCR appeared 1 week before characteristic ultrastructural changes visualized by electron microscopy, persisted throughout the peak alanine aminotransferase levels, and diminished with the disappearance of alterations visualized by electron microscopy. This was in contrast to the results obtained from chimpanzees with chronic HCV infection, in which the HCV genome was consistently detectable for up to 10 years after infection. The results indicate the usefulness of detection of HCV RNA by cDNA PCR as a sensitive and semiquantitative method for monitoring the course of HCV infection and as a potential marker for differentiating between chronic and acute cases of disease.
Time of Day That Aedes sierrensis Females Enter Oviposition Sites Prior to Laying Eggs

ABSTRACT An ovitrap with a time-segregated entrance was used to separate eggs laid by Aedes sierrensis females according to the time of day that females entered the ovitrap. During a 37-day period in Lake County, CA, females that entered the ovitrap between sunrise and sunset laid 82% of the total number of eggs collected. A daily peak in oviposition (eggs per hour) was produced by females that entered during the 2-h period ending at sunset. Overall, females that oviposited had entered the ovitrap throughout the diel cycle except for a 2-h period ending at sunrise. Those eggs laid by females that entered the ovitrap between 2 h after sunset and 2 h before sunrise provided the 1st evidence that Ae. sierrensis females are capable of locating oviposition sites during the night.