Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the value of p53 protein expression in the extra-capsular extension of prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to identify the nuclear expression of the p53 protein in prostate cancer and to determine its relationship with clinico-pathological variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research included 83 patients, 43 of whom are patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy and a control group of 40 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate in whom a transurethral resection or a transvesical prostatectomy was undertaken. In all cases the nuclear expression of p53 protein was evaluated. A hystopatological evaluation of the tumour characteristics and the data of the local progression of the cancer were undertaken in the research group. RESULTS The results show that the expression of the p53 protein does not have an important correlation with the preoperative PSA, but that it is in direct correlation with the malign potential of the cancer (Gleason score, Gleason sum, primary tumour) and with the features of the disease (metastatic lymph nodes, stage of the disease). CONCLUSION p53 protein could be used as a valid biomarker in determining the malignant potential of the tumour and the prognosis of the disease. There is no practical use in predicting the extraprostatic extension.
ADCS Prevention Instrument Project: Pilot Testing of a Book Club as a Psychosocial Intervention and Recruitment and Retention Strategy

Both psychosocial and biologic interventions may delay or prevent Alzheimer disease. Staying mentally active may help older people maintain their cognitive abilities. In the Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Study Prevention Instrument Project a book club was introduced as a recruitment and retention device. A 3-arm study was designed and included: a nonrandomized, self-selected group (n=211) who chose not to participate in the book club, and 2 groups randomly assigned to receive 2 books per year in individual self-improvement (n=210) or community involvement (n=207) categories. Participants reported their reactions to the selections and other reading behaviors. Results from the first 2 years revealed that most book club participants agreed with Likert-type statements indicating the readings were enjoyable (P<0.001), had an impact on their thinking (P=0.01), and were shared by them with others (P=0.002). Respondents in the community involvement group agreed more strongly with these statements than those in the self-improvement category. Comments from participants in response to open-ended questions in the reader survey revealed such themes as developing plans for successful aging and reflecting on attitudes and behaviors in their own lives. Further longitudinal analyses are planned to determine whether the book club influenced retention and whether participation was associated with slowing cognitive decline.
Development of observation system to investigate both intracellular calcium concentration and mechanical stimuli to mammalian embryos

Using an air-actuating device, we investigated the cellular response to mechanical stimuli (MS) in mouse blastocysts. Both MS and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were quantified based on time-resolved confocal microscopy images in the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels by deforming a 0.1-mm membrane. [Ca2+]i was measured in a stained mouse embryo with Fluo-4 AM using confocal fluorescence microscopy. We captured a z-series stack of sections encompassing the entire embryo. When translocation velocities of the embryo and shear stress were 40 µm/s and 0.01 dyne/cm2, respectively, a 10% increase in the sum of fluorescent intensities (FI) was observed. When blastocysts were compressed, FI also increased in response to the applied MS. Compressive force estimated from the shape of the blastocysts was approximately 0.5–2.0 µN according to a force deformation curve for the mouse embryo. The average FI and sum of FIs increased by a factor of 1.1–1.2 times compared with those observed before MS. The increase in the sum of FI indicated that enhancement of [Ca2+]i would be induced by these MS.
Automated Verification of Critical Systems ( AVoCS 2015 ) Transforming Event-B Models to Dafny Contracts

Our work aims to build a bridge between constructive (top-down) and analytical (bottom-up) approaches to software verification. This paper presents a tool-supported method for linking two existing verification methods: Event-B (constructive) and Dafny (analytical). This method combines Event-B abstraction and refinement with the code-level verification features of Dafny. The link transforms Event-B models to Dafny contracts by providing a framework in which Event-B models can be implemented correctly. The paper presents a method for transformation of Event-B models of abstract data types to Dafny contracts. Also a prototype tool implementing the transformation method is outlined. The paper also defines and proves a formal link between property verification in Event-B and Dafny. Our approach is illustrated with a small case study.
Metaproteome analysis of sewage sludge from membrane bioreactors

Microbial dynamics and enzymatic activities of activated sludge processes are not completely understood yet. A better understanding about the biology is indispensable for further process optimization. Since proteins play a key role as catalysts in sludge processes, a protocol for protein extraction and analysis by 2‐D PAGE was established. It is based on phenol extraction of alkaline extracts and on a subsequent precipitation with ammonium sulphate. 2‐D protein patterns obtained from different sludges collected from membrane bioreactors showed – besides common spots – significant differences. Selected proteins were identified with nano‐HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS. All membrane biological reactor (MBR) sludge samples investigated in this study contained elastase 3A, which implies that this human serine protease is a significant constituent of municipal wastewater. Although the identification of proteins from ammonia‐oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea was expected, the detection of a protein with homology to the marine bacterium Saprospira grandis in MBR1 was surprising.
Enumeration of Bifidobacteria in Gastrointestinal Samples from Piglets

ABSTRACT The population of Bifidobacterium spp. in fecal samples from suckling piglets was investigated, and Beerens, raffinose-bifidobacterium (RB), and modified Wilkins-Chalgren (MW) agar media were evaluated with regard to the enumeration of bifidobacteria in porcine intestinal samples. The results demonstrated that the population of bifidobacteria in the feces of suckling piglets is numerically low, and a phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene from bifidobacterial isolates suggested that a possibly new Bifidobacterium species was isolated. Beerens, RB, and MW agar media were not selective for bifidobacteria in the fecal samples. The highest recovery and diversity of bifidobacteria were obtained for MW agar. Nonbifidobacterial isolates from the three agar media were identified and may contribute to the future formulation of improved selective media for the enumeration of bifidobacteria.
DENSITY‐DEPENDENT SEXUAL SELECTION IN THE FUNGUS BEETLE, BOLITOTHERUS CORNUTUS

The hypothesis that population density can affect sexual selection on male horn size was tested in a three‐year study of a fungus beetle, Bolitotherus cornutus. Males of this species have horns that vary greatly in length. These horns are used in fights over females; longer‐horned males win the majority of fights, regardless of population density. However, density does affect the relationship between horn length and access to females. In six populations of naturally and experimentally varying densities, longer‐horned males gained a greater advantage in access to females in low‐density populations than at high density. This increase in access to females causes an increase in the number of females inseminated by longer‐horned males; thus, sexual selection for longer horns is stronger at lower densities.
Effects of Silviculture and Genetics on Branch/Knot Attributes of Coastal Pacific Northwest Douglas-Fir and Implications for Wood Quality—A Synthesis

Douglas-fir is the most commercially important timber species in the US Pacific Northwest due to its ecological prevalence and its superior wood attributes, especially strength and stiffness properties that make it highly prized for structural applications. Its economic significance has led to extensive establishment and management of plantations over the last few decades. Cultural treatments and genetic improvement designed to increase production of utilizable wood volume also impact tree morphology and wood properties. Many of these impacts are mediated by crown development, particularly the amount and distribution of foliage and size and geometry of branches. Natural selection for branch architecture that optimizes reproductive fitness may not necessarily be optimal for stem volume growth rate or for wood properties controlling the quality of manufactured solid wood products. Furthermore, Douglas-fir does not self-prune within the rotation lengths currently practiced. This paper synthesizes extensive Douglas-fir research in the Pacific Northwest addressing: (1) the effects of silviculture and genetics on branch structure and associated consequences for wood quality and the product value chain; and (2) methods to measure, monitor, modify, and model branch attributes to assist managers in selecting appropriate silvicultural techniques to achieve wood quality objectives and improve the value of their Douglas-fir resource.
Structures of Toxoplasma gondiiTachyzoites, Bradyzoites, and Sporozoites and Biology and Development of Tissue Cysts

SUMMARY Infections by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent worldwide in animals and humans. This paper reviews the life cycle; the structure of tachyzoites, bradyzoites, oocysts, sporocysts, sporozoites and enteroepithelial stages of T. gondii; and the mode of penetration of T. gondii. The review provides a detailed account of the biology of tissue cysts and bradyzoites including in vivo and in vitro development, methods of separation from host tissue, tissue cyst rupture, and relapse. The mechanism of in vivo and in vitro stage conversion from sporozoites to tachyzoites to bradyzoites and from bradyzoites to tachyzoites to bradyzoites is also discussed.
Proteolytic Activities of Human ADAMTS-5

Aggrecanases have been characterized as proteinases that cleave the Glu373-Ala374 bond of the aggrecan core protein, and they are multidomain metalloproteinases belonging to the ADAMTS (adamalysin with thrombospondin type 1 motifs) family. The first aggrecanases discovered were ADAMTS-4 (aggrecanase 1) and ADAMTS-5 (aggrecanase 2). They contain a zinc catalytic domain followed by non-catalytic ancillary domains, including a disintegrin domain, a thrombospondin domain, a cysteine-rich domain, and a spacer domain. In the case of ADAMTS-5, a second thrombospondin domain follows the spacer domain. We previously reported that the non-catalytic domains of ADAMTS-4 influence both its extracellular matrix interaction and proteolytic abilities. Here we report the effects of these domains of ADAMTS-5 on the extracellular matrix interaction and proteolytic activities and compare them with those of ADAMTS-4. Although the spacer domain was critical for ADAMTS-4 localization in the matrix, the cysteine-rich domain influenced ADAMTS-5 localization. Similar to previous reports of other ADAMTS family members, very little proteolytic activity was detected with the ADAMTS-5 catalytic domain alone. The sequential inclusion of each carboxyl-terminal domain enhanced its activity against aggrecan, carboxymethylated transferrin, fibromodulin, decorin, biglycan, and fibronectin. Both ADAMTS-4 and -5 had a broad optimal activity at pH 7.0–9.5. Aggrecanolytic activities were sensitive to the NaCl concentration, but activities on non-aggrecan substrates, e.g. carboxymethylated transferrin, were not affected. Although ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 had similar general proteolytic activities, the aggrecanase activity of ADAMTS-5 was at least 1,000-fold greater than that of ADAMTS-4 under physiological conditions. Our studies suggest that ADAMTS-5 is a major aggrecanase in cartilage metabolism and pathology.
Usage des antibiotiques et résistance bactérienne en élevage de volailles

La resistance bacterienne aux antibiotiques est un probleme majeur de sante publique. La production avicole francaise contribue a cette problematique, par son usage des antibiotiques, ses interactions avec l'homme et l'environnement. Afin d'analyser l'usage des antibiotiques en aviculture et son impact sur l'antibioresistance, des travaux ont ete conduits, selon une approche pharmaco-epidemiologique. Un dispositif de surveillance des utilisations d'antibiotiques a ete concu et mis en oeuvre. Des pratiques et caracteristiques d'elevage associees a la variation des consommations ont ete recherchees. L'influence des differents outils de quantification des usagers sur leur caracterisation et leur analyse a ete evaluee. Afin d'etudier les consequences de l'usage sur la resistance bacterienne aux antibiotiques, la relation entre exposition des animaux aux antibiotiques et portage de bacteries commensales resistantes a ete mise en evidence et mesuree par des analyses de type cas-temoin.
Security Authentication Method of Speech Perceptual Hashing Based on Fuzzy Commitment Scheme

Existing speech perceptual hashing authentication algorithms generally encrypt the perceptual hash value to protect the security of the algorithms. But under the principle of Kerckhoffs, the algorithm becomes transparent and fragile. And it can be seen that the secret key may be estimated when the number of times that reuses the secret key reache to a limit through the safety analysis of Shannon unicity distance. To solve these problems, we present a novel security authentication scheme of speech perceptual hashing based on the fuzzy commitment scheme (FCS). Firstly, in sender, the randomly selected BCH code word and the extracted perceptual hash value are sent to the Cmt() function to calculate and the final secure perceptual hash value (h(c),) can be obtained. Secondly, in receiver, the perceptual hash value is calculated again from the received speech information and then the calculated perceptual hash value with the received information  (commitment) are sent to the Decmt() function to calculate to get the h(c′). Finally, the h(c) and h(c′) are matched. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme effectively avoids the probability that an attacker obtains the plaintext/ciphertext pairs without affecting the performance of original algorithm, and at the same time it ensures the security of perceptual hashing algorithm.
A Direct Dynamic Dose-Response Model of Propofol for Individualized Anesthesia Care

In an effort to open up new opportunities in individualized anesthesia care, this paper presents a dynamic dose-response model of propofol that relates propofol dose (i.e., infusion rate) directly to a clinical effect. The proposed model consists of a first-order equilibration dynamics plus a nonlinear Hill equation model, each representing the transient distribution of propofol dose from the plasma to the effect site and the steady-state dose-effect relationship. Compared to traditional pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) models, the proposed model has structural parsimony and comparable predictive capability, making it more attractive than its PKPD counterpart for identifying an individualized dose-response model in real-time. The efficacy of the direct dynamic dose-response model over a traditional PKPD model was assessed using a mixed effects modeling analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG)-based state entropty (SE) response to intravenous propofol administration in 34 pediatric subjects. An improvement in the mean-squared error and r2 value of individual prediction, as well as the Akaike's information criterion (AIC) was seen with the direct dynamic dose-response model.
Selenium Occurrence in Certain Soils in the United States, With a Discussion of Related Topics; Fourth Report

Page Summary 1 Previous investigations 2 Selenium survey in North Dakota 3 Discussion of data by counties_ 12 General discussion 18 Selenium in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon 20 Discussion of data for Utah__ 25 Page Selenium in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon—Con. Discussion of data for Nevada_ 26 Discussion of data for Idaho__ 27 Discussion of data for Oregon, 28 Selenium in.pyritic mine slimes at Park City, Utah 29 General discussion 34 Literature cited 35
Factors related to antiretroviral therapy adherence in children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS in Cuba.

INTRODUCTION In recent years, global initiatives to address the AIDS epidemic have produced promising advances through access to effective treatment programs. However, lack of adherence to antiretroviral therapy is a problem for pediatric patients. OBJECTIVE Explore antiretroviral therapy adherence in children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Cuba and examine its relationship with psychosocial, individual and treatment factors. METHODS A qualitative study was carried out of 21 caregivers of children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. Demographics and information on treatment regimen were collected by chart review. In-depth interviews were conducted to assess adherence and examine its relationship with psychosocial, individual and treatment factors. Interviews were transcribed and the information was grouped by factor category. Adherence was analyzed in relation to these three sets of factors. RESULTS Caregivers interviewed reported adequate adherence in 17 of the 21 children. Lack of adherence was linked primarily to psychosocial factors such as additional responsibility taken on by the caregiver while grappling with his or her own illness, the presence of untreated psychological symptoms in the caregiver, perceived difficulties with family support, the child's age, and assigning treatment responsibilities to the child without taking into account his/her psychological maturity. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed a high level of antiretroviral therapy adherence. It reconfirmed the fundamental importance of the caregiver and family support for therapeutic success in children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. These results, as well as the factors identified in cases of nonadherence, can contribute to a framework for assessment and specialized interventions to optimize pediatric antiretroviral adherence.
Elektroschrott ist wertvoll: Ein praktischer Einblick in die spielerische Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema Ressourcenschutz

Zusammenfassung Ziel des pb.re. pc-Projektes ist es, sozial benachteiligten Kindern und Jugendlichen einen Zugang zu neuen Medien zu ermoglichen. Das im Folgenden vorgestellte Teilprojekt „Elektroschrott ist wertvoll“ erweitert den Projektschwerpunkt der Medienkompetenz durch einen Workshop zum Thema Ressourcenschutz, in dem mit Hilfe eines speziell konzipierten Ressourcen-Memorys und -Quiz’ ein spielerischer Zugang geschaffen wird. Schlusselworter: Ressourcenschutz, Bildung fur nachhaltige Entwicklung, Memory, Quiz ----- Bibliographie: Masan, Heike/Zanker, Dorte: Elektroschrott ist wertvoll: Ein praktischer Einblick in die spielerische Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema Ressourcenschutz, HiBiFo, 2-2014, S. 85-95. https://doi.org/10.3224/hibifo.v3i2. 16315
Pharmacokinetic Profile of the Oral Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Dabigatran Etexilate in Healthy Volunteers and Patients Undergoing Total Hip Replacement

Dabigatran etexilate is an oral low‐molecular‐weight direct thrombin inhibitor. Following oral administration, dabigatran etexilate is rapidly converted to its active form, dabigatran. The authors investigated the absorption, distribution, and elimination of a single 150‐mg dose capsule formulation of dabigatran etexilate in healthy volunteers and patients undergoing total hip replacement. In an open‐label, 3‐way crossover study, dabigatran etexilate was administered to 18 male volunteers in the fasted state, after administration of food and with coadministration of the proton pump inhibitor, pantoprazole. In a subsequent multicenter, open‐label study, 59 patients received a single dose of dabigatran etexilate, administered 1 to 3 hours following total hip replacement. In healthy volunteers, food had no effect on the extent of absorption of dabigatran etexilate, although there was reduced interindividual variability for dabigatran maximum plasma concentration and AUC0‐∞. A decrease in the mean dabigatran AUC0‐∞ (904 to 705 ng•h/mL) occurred with coadministration of pantoprazole. In patients undergoing total hip replacement, immediate onset of absorption was seen with the maximum plasma concentration of dabigatran occurring after 6 hours. The AUC0–24 of dabigatran was 88% of the steady‐state AUC using a preliminary tablet formulation and 106% of that seen in the healthy volunteer study. Compared with healthy volunteers, the postoperative profile was flattened with delayed peak concentrations. In summary, administration of the dabigatran etexilate capsule with food has no effect on the extent of dabigatran absorption, with a moderate decrease when coadministered with pantoprazole. Adequate plasma concentrations of dabigatran were seen with early postoperative administration of the dabigatran etexilate capsule. These pharmacokinetic characteristics confirm the suitability of this oral solid dosage form for use in future clinical trials.
Enkephalins Are Transported by a Novel Eukaryotic Peptide Uptake System*

We have identified an oligopeptide transporter in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which mediates the uptake of tetra- and pentapeptides, including the endogenous opioids leucine enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu) and methionine enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met). The transporter is encoded by the geneOPT1. Yeast expressing OPT1 can utilize enkephalins to satisfy amino acid auxotrophic requirements for growth. The transport of radiolabeled leucine enkephalin exhibits saturable kinetics, with a K m of 310 μm. Transport activity is optimum at acidic pH and sensitive to reagents which uncouple oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting an energy dependence on the proton gradient. Growth, transport, and chromatographic data indicate that leucine enkephalin is not hydrolyzed in the extracellular medium and as such is translocated intact across the cell membrane. The system is specific for tetra- and pentapeptides and can be inhibited by the opioid receptor antagonists naloxone and naltrexone. To date, this is the first example of a eukaryotic transport system which can use enkephalins as a substrate, opening the possibility that a homologue exists in higher eukaryotes.