Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of alternating extremely low frequency ELF magnetic field on structure and function of pancreas in rats

The aim of this study was to estimate the influence on ultrastructure and function of endocrine and excretoric part of pancreas in rats of extremely low frequency alternating magnetic fields with parameters used in therapy in humans. The animals from the two experimental groups were exposed to a rectangular magnetic field waveform at a frequency of 10 Hz and induction of 1.8–3.8 mT—(group P) or a sinusoidal magnetic field at a frequency of 40 Hz and induction of 1.3–2.7 mT—(group S), respectively. The control rats were subjected to sham exposure. The cycle of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 14 daily exposure sessions lasting 30 min was made in all groups. Some of rats after finishing the cycle of 14 exposures were left in the same conditions except for the magnetic field for 3 or 10 days. In both groups of rats exposed to magnetic field, a distinct tendency to decrease glucose concentration, compared to control group, was observed during the exposure cycle. Serum glucose became normal after the end of exposure sessions. The concentrations of insulin in both groups of rats exposed to magnetic field were significantly higher, compared to the controls, during the exposure cycle. After the end of exposure cycle the concentration of insulin in group S became normal. In contrast, in group P the concentration of insulin decreased significantly on the last day of exposure, with a subsequent increase in the following days. The activity of α‐lamylase and lipase in the serum of experimental and control rats was not affected. In both groups of exposed rats, reversible changes of ultrastructure of the pancreatic islets, including expansion of the Golgi apparatus, extension of rough endoplasmatic reticulum, mitochondrial swelling, expansion of β‐granules and increase in number of empty vesicles in β cells, occurred during the exposure. In acinar cells of exposed animals, a slight extension of rough endoplasmatic reticulum and mitochondrial swelling as transitory changes were observed. The structural and functional changes in pancreas are probably adaptative ones. Bioelectromagnetics 23:49–58, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Previously Unknown Maltose Transporter Essential for Starch Degradation in Leaves

A previously unknown maltose transporter is essential for the conversion of starch to sucrose in Arabidopsis leaves at night. The transporter was identified by isolating two allelic mutants with high starch levels and very high maltose, an intermediate of starch breakdown. The mutations affect a gene of previously unknown function, MEX1. We show that MEX1is a maltose transporter that is unrelated to other sugar transporters. The severe mex1 phenotype demonstrates that MEX1is the predominant route of carbohydrate export from chloroplasts at night. Homologous genes in plants including rice and potato indicate that maltose export is of widespread significance.
Presenilin function and γ‐secretase activity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized pathologically by the accumulation of β‐amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Genetic studies of AD first highlighted the importance of the presenilins (PS). Subsequent functional studies have demonstrated that PS form the catalytic subunit of the γ‐secretase complex that produces the Aβ peptide, confirming the central role of PS in AD biology. Here, we review the studies that have characterized PS function in the γ‐secretase complex in Caenorhabditis elegans, mice and in in vitro cell culture systems, including studies of PS structure, PS interactions with substrates and other γ‐secretase complex members, and the evidence supporting the hypothesis that PS are aspartyl proteases that are active in intramembranous proteolysis. A thorough knowledge of the mechanism of PS cleavage in the context of the γ‐secretase complex will further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that cause AD, and may allow the development of therapeutics that can alter Aβ production and modify the risk for AD.
Glutathione S‐transferase omega‐2 polymorphism Asn142Asp modifies the risk of age‐related cataract in smokers and subjects exposed to ultraviolet irradiation

Glutathione S‐transferase omega‐1 and 2 have a unique range of enzymatic activities, including the regeneration of ascorbate by their dehydroascorbate reductase activities. Because these enzymes could have a protective role from oxidative damage in the lens, the question of whether the two coding glutathione S‐transferase omega polymorphisms confer the risk of age‐related cataract was addressed.
Antiretroviral treatment for children.

OBJECTIVE To describe the response of children during their first year on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). DESIGN Retrospective, descriptive. SETTING Tertiary, referral hospital. SUBJECTS All HIV-infected children commenced on HAART from 1 August 2002 until 31 December 2004. OUTCOME MEASURES Children were retrospectively restaged using the WHO 4-stage clinical classification and CDC immunological staging system. After commencing HAART, patients were assessed at monthly intervals for the first 6 months and thereafter mostly 3-monthly. Baseline and 6- monthly CD4 counts and viral loads were performed. RESULTS Of 409 children commenced on HAART, 50.6% were < 2 years old, 62.7% had severe clinical disease and 76.6% had severe immune suppression. After 1 year, 65.8% were alive and continued HAART at the hospital, 11.2% had been transferred to another antiretroviral site, 15.4% had died, 4.6% were lost to follow-up and treatment had been discontinued in 2.9%. Kaplan-Meier survival estimate for 407 children at 1 year was 84% (95% confidence interval (CI) 80 - 87%). On multivariate analysis, survival was adversely affected in children with WHO stage 4 v. stage 2 and 3 disease (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 5.26 (95% CI 2.25 - 12.32), p = 0.000), age < 12 months (adjusted HR: 2.46 (95% CI 1.48 - 4.09), p = 0.001) and CD4 absolute count (per 100 cell increase) (adjusted HR: 0.93 (95% CI 0.88 - 0.98), p = 0.013). In a separate multivariate model including only children with an initial viral load (N = 367), viral load > or = 1 million copies/ml (adjusted HR: 1.84 (95% CI 1.03 - 3.29)) and taking a protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimen (adjusted HR: 2.25 (95% CI 1.10 - 4.61)) were additionally independently associated with poorer survival; however, young age was not a significant predictor of mortality, after adjusting for viral load (p = 0.119). After 1 year of HAART 184/264 (69.7%) of children had a viral load < 400 copies/ml. Comparative analysis showed significant improvements in growth, immunological status and virological control. CONCLUSION HAART can improve the health of many HIV-infected children with advanced disease, including those aged less than 2 years in resource-limited settings.
Comparison of men and women with binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE This study examined gender differences in individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) on eating-related psychopathology and general psychological functioning. METHOD Subjects were age-matched men (n = 21) and women (n = 21) with BED who were administered the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) and SCID II, and who completed the Emotional Eating Scale (EES) and other questionnaires regarding psychological functioning. RESULTS Men and women did not differ on measures of eating disturbance, shape and weight concerns, interpersonal problems, or self-esteem, but more men than women met criteria for at least one Axis I diagnosis and had a lifetime diagnosis of substance dependence. Women were more likely to report eating in response to negative emotions, particularly anxiety, anger and frustration, and depression. DISCUSSION Results from our study suggest that while men and women presenting for treatment for BED are very similar, males may have more Axis I psychiatric disturbance and less emotional eating than their female counterparts. These findings are discussed in terms of the role of gender in BED and possible treatment implications are explored.
Electronic laboratory-based reporting: opportunities and challenges for surveillance.

Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol. 7, No. 3 Supplement, June 2001 538 Public health surveillance has been defined as the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and feedback of outcome-specific data used for public health practice (1). Laboratory reports are critical to public health surveillance because they initiate investigations of cases of reportable diseases or outbreaks of infections. The current system of laboratory reporting, which often relies on paper reports delivered by mail, is slow and incomplete. Electronic laboratorybased reporting (ELR) is likely to be more timely and complete (2). A number of challenges must be addressed before ELR can be used effectively, but recent activities are encouraging, and new opportunities for ELR implementation have arisen.
A Mobile Communication Base Station Antenna Using a Genetic Algorithm Based Fabry-Pérot Resonance Optimization

We proposed a high-gain wideband resonant-type mobile communication base station antenna using a Fabry-Pérot cavity (FPC) technique. To overcome inherent narrow radiation bandwidth of FPC-type antennas while keeping relatively high gain, we introduced a new superstrate structure composed of square patches and loops, which satisfies an FPC resonance condition at a target frequency region. To do that, we optimized the superstrate geometry with the help of a real-value coding hybrid genetic algorithm (RHGA). The optimized superstrate is very thin, and therefore, it can be fabricated with a single dielectric substrate, which is a fairly strong point in practical applications. Moreover, we enclosed four openings of the antenna in lateral directions to increase antenna gain with a limited aperture area. Therefore, a modified prediction method of an FPC resonance is used, which reduced the effort of complicated three-dimensional antenna optimization. Consequently, our antenna is able to operate in a wide band-width with a relatively high realized gain. Furthermore, good agreement between measured results and prediction ones confirms the validity of our design approach.
A Novel Imaging Method for Cell Phone Camera in Low Ambient Light Conditions Using Flash and No-Flash Image Pairs

SUMMARY In lowlight conditions, images taken by phone cameras usually have too much noise, while images taken using a ﬂash have a high signal-noise ratio (SNR) and look unnatural. This paper proposes a novel imaging method using ﬂash / no-ﬂash image pairs. Through transferring the natural tone of the former to the latter, the resulting image has a high SNR and maintains a natural appearance. For realtime implementation, we use two preview images, which are taken with and without ﬂash, to estimate the transformation function in advance. Then we use this function to adjust the tone of the image captured with ﬂash in real time. Thus, the method does not require a frame memory and it is suitable for cell phone cameras.
High-molecular-weight polysaccharide antigen from Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 2

Previously, we isolated a high-molecular-weight immunogenic polysaccharide (designated PS) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 1 (IT-1). The method which we used was modified to permit the isolation of a similar PS from P. aeruginosa IT-2. This antigen was composed primarily of carbohydrate, had a complex monosaccharide composition, including sugars not found in the lipopolysaccharide, and was nonpyrogenic in rabbits and nontoxic in mice at high doses. This material protected mice from challenges with live homologous cells. P. aeruginosa IT-2 PS gave a line of identity with the O side chain of the lipopolysaccharide, but different from this polysaccharide in molecular weight, chemical composition, and ability to immunize mice actively. Lipopolysaccharide from P. aeruginosa IT-2 contained an immunological determinant not found on P. aeruginosa IT-2 PS, which was detected due to its stability during treatment with dilute alkali. Thus, we recovered a high-molecular-weight PS antigen from P. aeruginosa IT-2, which was serologically identical to the lipopolysaccharide O side chain but was chemically and physically distinct. Also, like P. aeruginosa IT-1 strains, P. aeruginosa IT-2 contains an alkali-stable immunodeterminant on the lipopolysaccharide that may represent a core-like antigen.
Modulation of cone horizontal cell activity in the teleost fish retina. III. Effects of prolonged darkness and dopamine on electrical coupling between horizontal cells

The effects of prolonged darkness and dopamine on the coupling between horizontal cells in the isolated, superfused white perch retina were studied. Two assays of coupling were employed; area versus amplitude relationships (area-response curves) and the diffusion of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow from intracellularly injected cells to neighboring cells. In prolonged dark-adapted retinas, area-response curves were difficult to determine because of the small light responses; however, light-evoked responses did not increase in size when light spots were larger than 0.8 mm in diameter. Following the presentation of dim background illumination that partially sensitized the retina, responses to light spots of various sizes were enhanced and an area-response curve could be constructed. Subsequent presentation of moderate background illumination that more fully sensitized the retina resulted in reduced responses to small spots (less than 1.6 mm in diameter) and enhanced responses to large spot or full-field stimuli. In retinas exposed to moderate background illumination, Lucifer yellow injected intracellularly into cone horizontal cells diffused into many neighboring horizontal cells. The coupled cells were very similar in morphology, suggesting they were of the same type. In prolonged dark- adapted retinas, on the other hand, the dye was usually restricted to the injected cell and a few adjacent cells. These results indicate that coupling between cone horizontal cells is modulated by prolonged darkness and background illumination. Following dopamine (50 microM) application, in both 6-OHDA-treated and untreated retinas, changes in area-response curves of cone horizontal cells were observed just opposite to those that occurred when prolonged dark-adapted retinas were exposed to background illumination. That is, following 5 min application of dopamine to the retina, responses to small spots (less than 2 mm in diameter) increased in size while responses to larger spots decreased in amplitude compared with control responses. Following 20 min of superfusion with dopamine, the recorded responses were very small, and an accurate area-response curve could not be determined. Following dopamine application to light-sensitized retinas, Lucifer yellow was restricted to the injected cells or to the injected cell and a few neighboring cells. The results suggest that the modulation of coupling between cone horizontal cells by prolonged darkness and background illumination may be mediated by dopamine. Spatial properties of rod horizontal cells were also examined. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Mit CSR zum Unternehmenserfolg

Inhaltlich unveranderte Neuauflage. Mussen Unternehmen eigentlich „gut“ sein? Reicht es nicht aus, wenn Sie Ren­dite erwirtschaften? Welche Verantwortung hat ein Unternehmen ge­gen­u­ber der Gesellschaft und was passiert, wenn es sich dieser Ver­ant­wor­tung entzieht? Der Autor geht diesen Fragen nach und entwickelt zunachst aus den verschiedenen Ansatzen ein einheitliches CSR-Definitionsmodell als me­thodische Grundlage. Einem historischen Ansatz, in dem Wuhle die Entstehungsgeschichte von CSR bis auf Aristoteles zuruckverfolgt, schliest sich die Auswertung verschiedener Unter­suchungen an, die den Nutzennachweis von CSR zum Ziel hatten, eine ul­tima ratio fand sich jedoch nicht. Ist die Idee der CSR deshalb gescheitert? Keines­wegs, denn am Schlus ersetzt Wuhle den theoretischen Nutzen­nach­weis durch einen praktischen. In der Praxis finden sich vielfaltige An­wen­dungs­moglichkeiten von CSR, die er den klassischen Arbeitsbereichen Mar­ke­ting und PR, aber auch direkt der strategischen Unternehmensfuhrung zu­ord­net. Fuh­rungskrafte in den Feldern Marketing und Offentlichkeitsarbeit, sowie stra­tegische Entscheider sollten sich also in erster Linie bei der Lekture dieses Bu­ches angesprochen fuhlen. Desweiteren ist dieses Thema auch fur Stu­die­ren­de und Wirtschaftswissenschaftler interessant, die ein Inter­es­se daran ha­ben, an der Erforschung dieser noch relativ jungen Disziplin mit­zu­wirken.
Infinite latent process decomposition

This paper presents infinite latent process decomposition (iLPD), a new microarray analysis method, as an extension of latent process decomposition [1]. Our method assumes an infinite number of latent processes. Further, our new collapsed variational) Bayesian inference improves the inference proposed in [2] in the treatment of Dirichlet hyperparameters. We also give the results of the comparison experiment.
Sound implementation of human papillomavirus vaccination as a community-randomized trial

To be (most) effective, the very efficacious vaccines against oncogenic human papillomaviruses have to be implemented into national vaccination programs. Inferences from mathematical modeling studies can be made as to the most effective vaccination strategy in an ideal world. In addition, the best strategies can be evaluated against each other in community randomized trials. Results of such trials can hopefully guide vaccination implementation, which naturally varies owing to country-specific differences in economics, values (cultural and religious) and health policy.
Metabolic anatomy of brain: A comparison of regional capillary density, glucose metabolism, and enzyme activities

Regional variations in capillary density, glucose utilization rate, and activities of the glycolytic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome oxidase were compared in the rat brain. The distributions of capillaries and enzymes were studied by means of histochemical staining techniques, and glucose metabolism was measured by means of [14C]2‐deoxyglucose autoradiography. Analysis of 18 gray and five white matter regions revealed a positive correlation between capillary density and glucose utilization rate. A negative correlation was found between capillary density and lactate dehydrogenase among gray matter structures. Analysis of capillaries and enzymes was also performed within laminated histological fields: hippocampus, olfactory bulb, and olfactory cortex. In general, this revealed reciprocal patterns of staining for lactate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase. Capillary density paralleled cytochrome oxidase activity. The zones of intense staining for lactate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase corresponded to the synaptic terminal fields of different input pathways. These findings demonstrate distinct distributions of a glycolytic and an oxidative enzyme within the brain which are at least partly associated with pathway specificity.
Anti-oncogenic potentials of a plant coumarin (7-hydroxy-6-methoxy coumarin) against 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene-induced skin papilloma in mice: the possible role of several key signal proteins.

OBJECTIVE Anti-cancer potentials of scopoletin (7-hydroxy-6-methoxy coumarin) separated from plant extract (Gelsemium sempervirens) were demonstrated earlier from our in vitro studies. In the present study, its in vivo effects have been evaluated in mice. METHODS Mice were chronically administered 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) once a week and croton oil twice a week on their back, which resulted in the development of fully grown finger-like projections (papilloma) after 24 weeks. Two subgroups of mice (drug-treated) were treated with two doses of scopoletin (50 mg and 100 mg/kg body weight) respectively while control received 2% ethyl alcohol (the "vehicle" of scopoletin). After the 24-week drug administration, expressions of several key receptors such as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and signal proteins like p53, cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat-3), survivin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), cyclin D1, c-myc, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and caspase-3, and some anti-oxidant markers were studied. Lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase in supernatant were also detected. RESULTS Carcinogens induced toxicity, and over-expression of AhR, CYP1A1, PCNA, Stat-3, survivin, MMP-2, cyclin D1 and c-myc and down-regulation of p53, caspase-3 and TIMP-2. In mice treated with scopoletin, the expressions of these proteins and toxicity biomarkers were reverted. CONCLUSION Since AhR is known to be ligand-activated by DMBA to release signals for several downstream proteins initiating reactive oxygen species generation, the down-regulation of AhR by scopoletin appeared to play a significant role in subsequent down-regulation of some key signal proteins. One possible mechanism of down-regulation of AhR may be through competitive inhibition by scopoletin. Mitogen-activated protein kinases may also have some critical role. This compound can be considered as a possible candidate for chemoprevention.
A MATLAB implementation of elliptic curve cryptography

The ultimate purpose of this project has been the implementation in MATLAB of an Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) system, primarily the Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) key exchange. We first introduce the fundamentals of Elliptic Curves, over both the real numbers and the integers modulo p where p is prime. Then the theoretical underpinnings of the ECDH system are covered, including a brief look at how this system is broken. Next we develop the individual elements that will be needed in the implementation of ECDH, such as functions for calculating modular square roots and the addition of points on an EO. We then bring these elements together to create a working ECDH program, and discuss the limitations of the MATLAB environment in which it was created. Finally we look at the real world application of ECC and its future in the realm of cryptography.