Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PHARMACOGNOSTIC RESEARCH ON VIOLA DECLINATA WALDST. ET KIT. (VIOLACEAE)

In order to continue our previous studies on some Viola species from Romania, we have analysed for the first time some active principles from aerial parts of V. declinata Waldst. et Kit. We have performed gravimetric methods for saponins and mucilages, and spectrophotometric determinations and HPLC analysis of carotenoids. We established the content in saponins (4.40%), mucilages (10.26%), and total carotenoids (8.45 mg/100g vegetal product, expressed in β-carotene). In fresh aerial parts we have determined by HPLC: violaxanthin (281 μg/100g), antheraxanthin (283 μg/100g), lutein (896 μg/100g), zeaxanthin (479 μg/100g), β-carotene 5,6-epoxide (48 μg/100g), β-carotene (546 μg/100g), and 9Z-β-carotene (76 μg/100g). Our results showed the presence of the same active principles in Viola declinata and V. tricolor, the differences being only quantitative. Rezumat In continuarea studiilor noastre asupra unor specii de Viola din România, am analizat pentru prima dată unele principii active din părţile aeriene de V. declinata Waldst. et Kit. Am utilizat metode gravimetrice pentru dozarea saponinelor si mucilagiilor si metode spectrofotometrice si cromatografice (HPLC) pentru analiza carotenoidelor. Concentraţia saponinelor a fost de 4,40%, cea de mucilagii de 10,26%, iar cea a carotenoidelor totale de 8,45 mg/100g produs vegetal, exprimată in β-caroten. In părţile aeriene proaspete am determinat prin HPLC: violaxantina (281 μg/100g), anteraxantina (283 μg/100g), luteina (896 μg/100g), zeaxantina (479 μg/100g), β-caroten 5,6-epoxidul (48 μg/100g), β-carotenul (546 μg/100g) si 9Z-β-carotenul (76 μg/100g). Rezultatele au arătat prezenţa acelorasi grupe de principii active in speciile Viola declinata si V. tricolor, diferenţele fiind doar cantitative.
Zoledronic acid inhibits adjuvant letrozole-induced bone loss in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.

PURPOSE Treatment with aromatase inhibitors decreases bone mineral density (BMD) and may increase the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. The addition of zoledronic acid to adjuvant letrozole therapy may protect against bone loss. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients receiving adjuvant letrozole were randomly assigned to receive either upfront or delayed-start zoledronic acid (4 mg intravenously every 6 months). The delayed group received zoledronic acid when lumbar spine (LS) or total hip (TH) T score decreased to less than -2.0 or when a nontraumatic fracture occurred. The primary end point of this study was to compare the change in LS BMD at month 12 between the groups. Secondary end points included change in TH BMD and changes in serum bone turnover markers at month 12. RESULTS The upfront and delayed groups each included 301 patients. At month 12, LS BMD was 4.4% higher in the upfront group than in the delayed group (95% CI, 3.7% to 5.0%; P < .0001), and TH BMD was 3.3% higher (95% CI, 2.8% to 3.8%; P < .0001). In the upfront group, mean serum N-telopeptide and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase concentrations decreased by 15.1% (P < .0001) and 8.8% (P = .0006), respectively, at month 12, whereas concentrations increased significantly in the delayed group by 19.9% (P = .013) and 24.3% (P < .0001), respectively. CONCLUSION With 1 year of follow-up, results of the primary end point of the Zometa-Femara Adjuvant Synergy Trial (Z-FAST) indicate that upfront zoledronic acid therapy prevents bone loss in the LS in postmenopausal women receiving adjuvant letrozole for early-stage breast cancer.
Humic Acid Induces Expression of Tissue Factor by Cultured Endothelial Cells: Regulation by Cytosolic Calcium and Protein Kinase C

Summary Blackfoot disease is a thrombotic peripheral vascular disease causally related to the fluorescent humic acid (HA) found in the drinking water of wells in endemic areas in Taiwan. In this study we examined the effect of HA on tissue factor (TF) expression by vascular endothelial cells. Incubation of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with HA isolated from endemic area drinking water or with a synthetic humic acid polymer (SHA), resulted in enhanced cell surface expression of TF activity by HUVEC. The intracellular calcium level ([Ca24]i) was measured using a calcium-specific fluorescent probe, fura 2. Changes in [Ca24]i level were followed and quantitatively analyzed by spectrofluorometric microscopy, after incubation of the fura 2-loaded HUVEC with HA or SHA in a medium containing 1.8 mM CaCl2. Both HA and SHA increased [Ca2+]i in the presence of extracellular calcium ions, but not in their absence, indicating that influx of extracellular Ca2+ occurred during incubation of HUVEC with HA or SHA. Verapamil, a potent calcium channel blocker, did not abolish the enhancement of [Ca24]i induced by HA or SHA, indicating that specific calcium channels may not be involved in the HA/SHA-induced elevation of [Ca24]i. The elevated [Ca24]i level induced by HA or SHA returned to basal level following removal of HA or SHA and incubation of the washed cells in medium containing 1.8 mM CaCl2. All these changes occurred in the absence of significant cytotoxic effects. The HA/SHA-induced enhancement of cell surface TF activity was inhibited by a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, H7, suggesting that protein kinase C is involved in the process leading to the enhanced expression of TF activity induced by HA or SHA. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that HA and SHA enhance cell surface expression of TF activity by permeabilization of the cell membrane to extracellular Ca24 ions, leading to elevation of [Ca2+]i that functions as a second messenger to activate protein kinase C, leading finally to enhanced cell surface TF expression. Enhancement of vascular endothelial cell surface TF activity by HA may play a role in the HA-induced thrombotic vascular disorders of Blackfoot disease.
Does rifampin prophylaxis prevent disease caused by Hemophilus influenzae type b?

Systemic disease caused by Hemophilus influenzae type b is of major clinical and public health importance in this country. Five epidemiologic studies to date have demonstrated the increased risk of secondary disease among household contacts younger than 4 years, and outbreaks of disease have been reported in child day-care facilities. 1 Initial hopes for preventing both primary and secondary disease with vaccination were dashed when a promising vaccine failed to provide protection to infants. While efforts have continued in the development of improved vaccines, a search has been initiated for a prophylactic antibiotic that would prevent secondary disease. The study by Band and colleagues 2 in this issue presents the only available data addressing the question of efficacy of antimicrobial prophylaxis for disease caused by H influenzae . These data were presented at a national meeting in November 1981 3 and were the basis for recommendations published in 1982 by the American
[Study on the estimation of routine immunization coverage of China, 2005-2007].

OBJECTIVE This study is to estimate the routine immunization coverage of China, and to analyse the effect factors. METHODS The reported routine coverage data in 2005-2007 were collected through China Immunization information system. The estimated coverage method used in this study, which was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). RESULTS The percentage of county reported routine immunization were 79.8%, 92.3% and 92.0% respectively in 2005-2007; the targeted population of routine immunization reported from China immunization information system were 123-140.6 million, the vaccinated population were between 91.3-139.5 million; reported routine immunization coverage of each vaccine dose varied from 89%-100%, and estimated coverage varied from 78%-94%. CONCLUSION The reported and estimated routine immunization coverage increased year by year. However, there is still a large gap between the reported data and the estimated data. It is recognized that the birth cohort and the adjusted index from the WHO recommended method should be used carefully.
POSTTRAUMATIC HEADACHE

Headache is a common symptom after traumatic head injury and is a frequent feature of the postconcussive syndrome. A variety of headache subtypes can be precipitated by head trauma, although posttraumatic headaches most often resemble migraine or tension-type headache. A lack of clinical trials limits evidence-based treatment recommendations for both acute and chronic posttraumatic headaches. However, numerous pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions can be used to successfully manage posttraumatic headaches. This article reviews the classification, epidemiology, prognosis, and pathophysiology of headaches after head trauma and provides a practical clinical approach for evaluating and treating patients with posttraumatic headaches.
A stochastic model for military air-to-ground munitions demand forecasting

Planning for military operations involves the consideration of a number of factors, including the required quantity of munitions. As these items typically require lengthy procurement lead times, stockpile levels must be established and maintained in anticipation of such operations. One of the key aspects of stockpile inventory management is demand forecasting. In this paper, we examine the problem of modeling and forecasting the munitions demand in military operations. We consider a continuous state space time series approach and we model the munitions demand as a non-homogeneous Poisson process with intensity function that depends on a continuous-time Markovian operational tempo process. Such a model is known in stochastic process as a Markov-Modulated Poisson Process (MMPP) and has been successfully applied to queuing and communication network problems. We apply the maximum likelihood estimation method to derive the MMPP model parameters. We illustrate the method with an example based upon air-to-ground munitions. This study provides military planners with a decision support method for forecasting munitions requirements in the face of abrupt changes in demand.
On the Interior of “Fat” Sierpiński Triangles

For λ ∈ [0.6439, 0.6441]∪[0.6458, 0.6466]∪[0.6470, 0.6472], the “fat” Sierpiński triangle—the unique compact invariant set (“attractor”) Λλ of the iterated function system on , where p0 = (0, 0), p1 = (1, 0), p2 = (1/2, 1)—has interior points and hence positive Lebesgue measure and Hausdorff dimension 2. For these λ, standard techniques for determining the Hausdorff dimension (or Lebesgue measure) of Λλ do not apply, and its Hausdorff dimension has not been known for any specific such λ. The novelty of our approach is that instead of extending techniques developed for small λ, we significantly extend geometric methods developed by Broomhead, Montaldi, and Sidorov for larger values of λ.
Contextual interference in movements of the same class: differential effects on program and parameter learning.

Contextual interference effects in motor learning usually were not found when the tasks to be learned presumably required the same generalized motor program (GMP) and differed only with regard to the movement parameters (see Lee, Wulf, & Schmidt, 1992; Magill & Hall, 1990). Thus, tasks requiring different motor programs (e.g., different relative timings) seemed to be a prerequisite for random practice to be more effective than blocked practice. However, the previous studies (that did not find random/blocked differences) used global error measures that confounded errors in relative timing and errors in absolute timing. In the present study, subjects practiced three movement patterns that had the same relative timing (requiring the same GMP) but different overall durations (requiring different parameters). Errors in relative timing and in absolute timing were assessed separately. The results indicate that random practice is more effective for the learning of relative timing (GMP learning) and less effective for the learning of absolute timing (parameter learning) than blocked practice. Preliminary ideas as to the reasons for this effect are discussed.
The prevalence of frontotemporal dementia

Objective To estimate the prevalence of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other degenerative early-onset dementias in a geographically defined population. Background Early-onset dementia (at age <65 years) results in high psychiatric morbidity and caregiver burden. Prevalence figures are available for early-onset AD but not for FTD, a dementia that is almost invariably of early onset. Methods Case ascertainment was by review of case records of three specialist clinic databases and inpatient admissions at a university hospital in Cambridge, United Kingdom, for patients with dementia who were <65 years of age, living in Cambridge City or East or South Cambridgeshire (population 326,019) on May 30, 2000. All the relevant health services in the area were also contacted for potential cases. Diagnosis of various dementias was based on published criteria. All patients with potential FTD were examined by the study investigators and underwent structural neuroimaging. The 1998 population estimates for the area were used to calculate age and sex prevalence with confidence intervals for AD, FTD, and other causes of dementia. Results A total of 108 patients (66 men and 42 women) with dementia with onset before they were 65 years of age were identified, of whom 60 were <65 years on the census date, giving an overall prevalence of 81 (95% CI, 62.8 to 104.5) per 100,000 in the 45- to 64-year age group. The prevalences of early-onset FTD and AD were the same: 15 per 100,000 (8.4 to 27.0) in the 45- to 64-year-old population. The mean age at onset of FTD was 52.8 years and there was a striking male preponderance (14:3). It is possible case ascertainment methods resulted in a relative underrepresentation of some forms of dementia. Conclusions Frontotemporal dementia is a more common cause of early-onset dementia than previously recognized and appears to be more common in men.
Laboratory and clinical basis for hyperthermia as a component of intracavitary chemotherapy

Intraoperative chemotherapy with heat has been identified as a treatment option for patients with cancer spread to peritoneal surfaces. This treatment modality is viewed as a supplement to several other treatments for this group of patients including cytoreductive surgery, systemic chemotherapy, early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and long-term bidirectional chemotherapy. The pharmacologic basis for using heat to supplement chemotherapy effects are related to the increased penetration of chemotherapy into tumor with hyperthermia, the delayed clearance of chemotherapy from the peritoneal cavity after direct instillation, and an increased cytotoxicity that has been documented with selected chemotherapy agents. Data to support the use of perioperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with mucinous appendiceal carcinomatosis comes from a large number of single institution phase II studies. Also, peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma are benefited. In colon cancer carcinomatosis, large phase II multi-institutional trials and a single phase III trial documented an increased median survival of these patients from approximately 1 year to over 2 years. Prophylaxis against peritoneal carcinomatosis in gastric cancer has been demonstrated in phase III trials. In ovarian cancer the rationale for this treatment remains large but its current application is limited. Much work needs to be done to identify a proper clinical perspective on hyperthermia used with chemotherapy in patients with peritoneal surface malignancy.
Technology Evaluation and Imitation: Do They Have Differential or Dichotomous Effects on ERP Adoption and Assimilation in China?

Abstract Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is a platform for innovation with high failure rates due to its complexity. In China, failure rates of ERP are also high, with key differences between China and Western countries in terms of development, cultural, and organizational structure. Even when Chinese firms successfully adopt ERP, many fail to assimilate ERP and consequently never experience the full benefits of the innovation. The purpose of this study is to examine the predictors of adoption versus assimilation in Chinese firms. The existing literature largely assumes a dichotomy of choices when implementing organizational innovations in business: technological evaluation and imitation. We argue that this dichotomy does not apply well to a Chinese ERP context. China has achieved tremendous success in manufacturing and industrial processes through technological leapfrogging offered by imitation. At the same time, Chinese firms are under increasing pressure to innovate. Therefore, we argue that forces of imitation and evaluation are likely both at play when Chinese firms adopt and assimilate innovations—including ERP. Accordingly, we examined how two behaviors, interorganizational social technology imitation and rational technology evaluation, influence Chinese organizations in adopting and assimilating ERP systems. Our findings suggest that both social technology imitation and rational technology evaluation are determinants of Chinese ERP adoption and assimilation. Hence, this study offers new ways for IT and innovation researchers to explore social behavior (i.e., imitation) in IT diffusion processes and to consider the merits or risks of such behavior alongside the conventional rational approach (i.e., evaluation).
Cross-Talk of Breast Cancer Cells with the Immune System

Understanding the pathogenesis of breast and other cancers requires an improved understanding of the local microenvironment in which cancer develops and progresses (Hanahan and Weinberg, 2011). Many cell types have been defined as key components of the tumor stroma that contributes to tumor growth and metastasis, and modulates the response to treatment. In this chapter we will focus on cells of the immune system, critical players with dual function comprising cells that can foster a pro-tumorigenic inflammatory environment as well as reject tumors (Demaria et al., 2010). Importantly, the therapeutic manipulation of the host immune system has a tremendous potential to enhance the response of breast cancer patients to treatment. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the cross-talk between breast cancer cells and cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Several cell communication systems are involved in this cross-talk, including proinflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines, chemokines and endogenous danger signals, known as damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules that bind to Toll-like Receptors (TLR). Some of these factors represent interesting targets for immunotherapy strategies based on their known ability to stimulate the immune system, but in the context of the tumor microenvironment these immune stimulatory agents may also produce unwanted pro-tumorigenic effects by binding to receptors ectopically expressed on the cancer cells. Others are involved in recruiting to the tumor immune cells with regulatory and immune suppressive functions that protect the tumor from immune rejection. Clearly, the cross-talk between epithelial cells and the immune system is distorted in cancer to promote tumor growth and progression. We will review pre-clinical and clinical data in support of the concept that the cross-talk between neoplastic and immune cells is a key determinant of tumor behavior and treatment outcomes. The mediators of this cross-talk that have been identified in breast cancer will be discussed. Ultimately, improved understanding of the potential double-edge sword quality of therapies targeting mediators of this cross-talk is essential for a cautious use of immune response modifiers to harness the positive (anti-tumor immune reactivity) without promoting the negative (tumor growth, immune suppression) effects.
Volumetric Visualization and Analysis of Molecular Interaction Field

Electrostatic and van der Waals interactions are of central importance for many biological processes. Yet it is difficult to visualize and analyze the two interactions with existing graphical representations of proteins such as wireframe, VDW, and molecular surface due to the three-dimensional nature of protein interaction distribution. The molecular interaction field (MIF) is defined as a three-dimensional uniform grid surrounding a protein of known structure with its every grid point storing the interaction of a probe with the protein. It would be more straightforward to volumetrically visualize and analyze the MIF for understanding of protein structure and function than existing graphical representations of proteins. A novel method for volumetrically visualizing and analyzing the MIF of a protein is proposed. The ray-casting algorithm is used to visualize the MIF to achieve convincing rendering effect and produce informative images that reveal the MIF volume features. The volume rendering results are used to analyze two example proteins, i.e., the HIV-1 protease (pdb id: 1a30) and the Dps protein (pdb id: 1dps), with biologically meaningful results being derived. Keywords- MIF; volumetric visualization; transfer function;
On the value of giving a combination of drugs for the treatment of endotoxaemia in pigs.

OBJECTIVE To see if treatment with a combination of drugs each directed at a different mediator was successful in preventing activation of those mediators in experimental endotoxic shock. DESIGN Controlled study. MATERIAL 40 juvenile pigs. INTERVENTIONS 33 animals received 0.01 mg/kg endotoxin infusion, the rest being given the same volume of saline; 10 of the 33 received no treatment. Of the remaining 23, 5 were given combination treatment with methylprednisolone, naloxone, ketanserin, promethazine, C1 esterase inhibitor, antithrombin III and aprotinin; 7 were given methylprednisolone only; 6 were given the three protease inhibitors (C1 esterase inhibitor, antithrombin III and aprotinin); and 5 were given naloxone, ketanserin and promethazine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Assessment of haemodynamic, proteolytic, and cellular effects of endotoxaemia. RESULTS Only the combination treatment totally blocked all the effects of the infusion of endotoxin. CONCLUSION As endotoxin affects several mediators, combination treatment is necessary to block all its deleterious effects in pigs.
Tracking energy consumptions of home appliances using electrical signature data

Smart meter is probably the most visible symbol of the future smart grid. Industry hopes that more energy conservation behaviors will be induced if customers can access their own energy data from the smart meters. However, existing smart meters are not sufficient for providing households with the feedback needed to achieve effective energy saving. This paper presents techniques that have the potential to make the smart meters truly smart in term of metering capability - the tracking of the energy consumptions of home appliances. The electrical signatures of each home appliance such as harmonics and transients play a significant role for this idea, as many appliances inject unique disturbances into power system. In addition to demonstrating a potential application of the smart meters, this paper shows that power disturbances can have positive values and useful information can be extracted from them. This represents a new direction for power quality research.