Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The myocardial protective effect of dexmedetomidine in high-risk patients undergoing aortic vascular surgery

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine in high-risk patients undergoing aortic vascular surgery. Design: A randomized prospective study. Setting: Cairo University, Egypt. Materials and Methods: The study included 150 patients undergoing aortic vascular surgery. Intervention: The patients were classified into two groups (n = 75). Group D: The patients received a loading dose of 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine over 15 min before induction and maintained as an infusion of 0.3 μg/kg/h to the end of the procedure. Group C: The patients received an equal volume of normal saline. The medication was prepared by the nursing staff and given to anesthetist blindly. Measurements: The monitors included the heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), serum troponin I level, end-tidal sevoflurane, and total dose of morphine in addition transthoracic echocardiography to the postoperative in cases with elevated serum troponin I level. Main Results: The dexmedetomidine decreased heart rate and minimized the changes in blood pressure compared to control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, it decreased the incidence of myocardial ischemia reflected by troponin I level, ECG changes, and the development of new regional wall motion abnormalities (P < 0.05). Dexmedetomidine decreased the requirement for nitroglycerin and norepinephrine compared to control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of hypotension and bradycardia was significantly higher with dexmedetomidine (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The dexmedetomidine is safe and effective in patients undergoing aortic vascular surgery. It decreases the changes in heart rate and blood pressure during the procedures. It provides cardiac protection in high-risk patients reflected by decreasing the incidence of myocardial ischemia and serum level of troponin. The main side effects of dexmedetomidine were hypotension and bradycardia.
A Novel N-Methyltransferase in Arabidopsis Appears to Feed a Conserved Pathway for Nicotinate Detoxification among Land Plants and Is Associated with Lignin Biosynthesis1[OPEN]

N-Methylated nicotinate, produced by NANMT and COMT, is a conserved nicotinate detoxification in land plants. The Preiss-Handler pathway, which salvages nicotinate (NA) for NAD synthesis, is an indispensable biochemical pathway in land plants. Various NA conjugations (mainly methylation and glycosylation) have been detected and have long been proposed for NA detoxification in plants. Previously, we demonstrated that NA O-glucosylation functions as a mobilizable storage form for NAD biosynthesis in the Brassicaceae. However, little is known about the functions of other NA conjugations in plants. In this study, we first found that N-methylnicotinate is a ubiquitous NA conjugation in land plants. Furthermore, we functionally identified a novel methyltransferase (At3g53140; NANMT), which is mainly responsible for N-methylnicotinate formation, from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We also established that trigonelline is a detoxification form of endogenous NA in plants. Combined phylogenetic analysis and enzymatic assays revealed that NA N-methylation activity was likely derived from the duplication and subfunctionalization of an ancestral caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene in the course of land plant evolution. COMT enzymes, which function in S-lignin biosynthesis, also have weak NANMT activity. Our data suggest that NA detoxification conferred by NANMT and COMT might have facilitated the retention of the Preiss-Handler pathway in land plants.
C-reactive protein of serum and peritoneal fluid in endometriosis

Background: Endometriosis is defined as the existence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Diagnosis of endometriosis is a challenging theme. Despite the broad search for innovative laboratory tests and advances in imaging technologies, there are still no easy, non-invasive diagnostic tests available. Due to inflammatory process of endometriosis, still C-reactive protein (CRP) level may be the target of initial screening. The aim of this study was to investigate CRP levels as a marker of inflammatory process in serum and peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis. Materials and Methods: In a case control study, 179 patients with endometriosis (N = 90) and without endometriosis (N = 89) were evaluated. The venous blood samples were obtained from all patients before laparoscopy and the peritoneal fluid samples were collected from pelvis before any manipulation. Student’s t-test was applied to compare the parameters between two groups. Findings: There was no significant difference between the CRP serum level in patients with endometriosis and infertile women without endometriosis. There was a significant difference in peritoneal level of CRP between case and control groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggested that measurement of this marker in patients’ serum or plasma cannot be used to diagnose endometriosis. It is further recommended that a combination of different markers might be helpful in this regard that could be studied in future.
Exploring the Potential of Laser Ablation Carbon Isotope Analysis for Examining Ecology during the Ontogeny of Middle Pleistocene Hominins from Sima de los Huesos (Northern Spain)

Laser ablation of tooth enamel was used to analyze stable carbon isotope compositions of teeth of hominins, red deer, and bears from middle Pleistocene sites in the Sierra de Atapuerca in northern Spain, to investigate the possibility that this technique could be used as an additional tool to identify periods of physiological change that are not detectable as changes in tooth morphology. Most of the specimens were found to have minimal intra-tooth variation in carbon isotopes (< 2.3‰), suggesting isotopically uniform diets through time and revealing no obvious periods of physiological change. However, one of the two sampled hominin teeth displayed a temporal carbon isotope shift (3.2‰) that was significantly greater than observed for co-occurring specimens. The δ13C value of this individual averaged about -16‰ early in life, and -13‰ later in life. This isotopic change occurred on the canine crown about 4.2 mm from the root, which corresponds to an approximate age of two to four years old in modern humans. Our dataset is perforce small owing to the precious nature of hominid teeth, but it demonstrates the potential utility of the intra-tooth isotope profile method for extracting ontogenetic histories of human ancestors.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Education supply in universities of most European countries has for the last ten years become a strategic matter. At present, French universities consider education supply as an investment. But they do not utilize all incentive mechanisms in order to drive their strategies. At the beginning of the year 2006, the public sector reform will tend to impose performance measurements of research and educational activities, in order to improve organizational efficiency. The aim of this reform in the French context is to provide driving elements to increase internal efficiency, social and economic impact of higher education system and to reinforce international attractiveness of public education institutions. The substitution of resources management by result management involves an agent's performance responsibility measurement. Evaluation becomes a central factor and is articulated with incentives system. The weakening of the property right system drives project bearers to maximize their utility instead of their incomes. In such a context, the understanding of individual strategies permits to understand constraints of management within universities, and to take into account the impact of stakeholders who take part in the value generation process. The major risk is to constraint the utility function of projects bearers by increasing their burden and their motivation. The result could be the limitation of the number of projects, and as well, the decreasing of university investments.
Liver Function Parameters in Hip Fracture Patients: Relations to Age, Adipokines, Comorbidities and Outcomes

Aim: To asses liver markers in older patients with hip fracture (HF) in relation to age, comorbidities, metabolic characteristics and short-term outcomes. Methods: In 294 patients with HF (mean age 82.0±7.9 years, 72.1% women) serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, bilirubin, 25(OH)vitaminD, PTH, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, thyroid function and cardiac troponin I were measured. Results: Elevated ALT, GGT, ALP or bilirubin levels on admission were observed in 1.7% - 9.9% of patients. With age GGT, ALT and leptin decrease, while PTH and adiponectin concentrations increase. Higher GGT (>30U/L, median level) was associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and alcohol overuse; lower ALT (≤20U/L, median level) with dementia; total bilirubin >20μmol/L with CAD and alcohol overuse; and albumin >33g/L with CAD. Multivariate adjusted regression analyses revealed ALT, ALP, adiponectin, alcohol overuse and DM as independent and significant determinants of GGT (as continuous or categorical variable); GGT for each other liver marker; and PTH for adiponectin. The risk of prolonged hospital stay (>20 days) was about two times higher in patients with GGT>30U/L or adiponectin >17.14 ng/L (median level) and 4.7 times higher if both conditions coexisted. The risk of in-hospital death was 3 times higher if albumin was <33g/L. Conclusions: In older HF patients liver markers even within the normal range are associated with age-related disorders and outcomes. Adiponectin (but not 25(OH)vitaminD, PTH, leptin or resistin) is an independent contributor to higher GGT. Serum GGT and albumin predict prolonged hospital stay and in-hospital death, respectively. A unifying hypothesis of the findings presented.
Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome in the urban Chinese population: prevalence and disease burden using the 2010, 2012, and 2013 China National Health and Wellness Surveys

Background Research has suggested a significant burden for patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS). However, few studies have studied this population in the People’s Republic of China, a region in the midst of rapid epidemiological change with respect to respiratory disease. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ACOS and its association with patient outcomes in urban China. Methods Data from the 2010, 2012, and 2013 China National Health and Wellness Survey, an Internet-based survey of adults in urban China, were used (N=59,935). Respondents were categorized into one of four groups based on self-reported physician diagnoses: ACOS, asthma only, COPD only, or control (ie, no asthma or COPD). A propensity score matching procedure was conducted to cull the control group into a subgroup (ie, matched controls) who resembled patients with ACOS, asthma only, and COPD only. These four groups (ACOS, asthma only, COPD only, matched controls) were then compared with respect to health status (Short Form-12 version 2/Short Form-36 version 2), work productivity, and health care resource use using generalized linear models. Results Patients with ACOS (N=366) comprised 0.61% of the adult population, 30.73% of the asthma population, and 18.60% of the COPD population in the People’s Republic of China. Patients with ACOS reported significantly worse health status (eg, health utilities =0.63, 0.66, 0.63, and 0.69 for ACOS, COPD only, asthma only, and matched controls, respectively) and significantly greater work impairment (eg, overall work impairment =43.65%, 35.19%, 48.55%, and 29.80%, respectively) and health care resource use (eg, physician visits in the past 6 months =5.13, 3.84, 4.65, and 2.39, respectively) compared with matched controls and patients with COPD only. Few significant differences were observed between patients with ACOS and asthma only. Conclusion Patients with ACOS have a greater comorbidity burden and significantly worse health outcomes compared with COPD only patients and matched controls. Better management of these patients may help to improve their outcomes.
Research Article Factors Associated with Hepatitis a Vaccination Receipt in One-year-olds in the State of Michigan

The objectives of this study were to determine factors associated with hepatitis A vaccination and to assess overall hepatitis A vaccination coverage levels among one-year-olds in Michigan. The study population was the first hepatitis A vaccination-eligible birth cohort (n = 134 226) enrolled in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) after 2006 recommendations were made to routinely vaccinate all one-year-olds. All children whose first birthday occurred on or between May 1, 2006 and April 31, 2007 were included in the study population. Racial/ethnic minorities had increased odds of receiving the hepatitis A vaccination in Michigan, and Medicaid and WIC status modified this relationship. Fully understanding these relationships will be useful in targeting vaccination outreach and education programs.
Comparative evaluation of three identification systems for anaerobes

The accuracy of two new 4-h identification systems for anaerobes, the AN-IDENT (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) and the RapID ANA (Innovative Diagnostic Systems, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.) was compared with that of the API 20A system (Analytab Products). A total of 132 clinical isolates were tested in each of the three systems. The overall accuracies at the genus and species level for the three systems were: API 20A, 68.9 and 56.8%, respectively; AN-IDENT, 90.2 and 73.5%; and RapID ANA, 93.9 and 81.8%. Improved identification of anaerobes with the AN-IDENT and the RapID ANA systems was observed for isolates of the genus Fusobacterium, Clostridium species other than Clostridium perfringens, non-spore-forming bacilli, and isolates of the genus Peptostreptococcus. Reproducibility studies demonstrated that the results of the individual test reactions in all three identification systems were reproducible when the interpretive guidelines of the manufacturer were followed precisely.
Long-term evolution of compact binaries with irradiation feedback

We resume the discussion about irradiation-driven mass transfer cycles in semi-detached compact binary systems. The analytical model that describes the onset of these cycles, which occur on a thermal timescale of the donor star, is reexam- ined. We take into account a contribution of the thermal relaxation which is not related to the irradiation of the donor star and which was neglected in previous studies. Cataclysmic variables (CVs) containing extended giant donors are more stable than previously thought. CVs close to the upper edge of the period gap can undergo cycles at low angular momentum loss rates, as has been suggested by recent magnetic braking prescriptions, while they are stable for high braking rates. A model for the irradiation geometry that takes into account surface elements near the terminator of the donor star indicates that possibly also low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) can undergo mass transfer cycles. Regarding the braking rate, which is necessary to drive cycles, the same restrictions apply for short period LMXBs as for short period CVs. We confirm that LMXBs containing giants can undergo cyles. In terms of the irradiation efficiency parameter α, CVs are susceptible to irradiation instability for α 0.1 while LMXBs are susceptible for α 0.1. The predictions of the analytical model are checked by the first long-term evolutionary computations of systems undergoing mass transfer cycles with full 1D stellar models. For unevolved main sequence (MS) and giant donors the analytic model provides reasonable values for the boundaries of the stable and unstable regions while CVs containing highly evolved MS donors are more stable than expected at high braking rates. Taking into account irradiation, the minimum period of CVs is increased by up to 1−2 min, depending on α.
Regional and Hemispheric Variation in Cortical Thickness in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Recent advances in structural magnetic resonance imaging technology and analysis now allows for accurate in vivo measurement of cortical thickness, an important aspect of cortical organization that has historically only been conducted on postmortem brains. In this study, for the first time, we examined regional and lateralized cortical thickness in a sample of 71 chimpanzees for comparison with previously reported findings in humans. We also measured gray and white matter volumes for each subject. The results indicated that chimpanzees showed significant regional variation in cortical thickness with lower values in primary motor and sensory cortex compared with association cortex. Furthermore, chimpanzees showed significant rightward asymmetries in cortical thickness for a number of regions of interest throughout the cortex and leftward asymmetries in white but not gray matter volume. We also found that total and region-specific cortical thickness was significantly negatively correlated with white matter volume. Thus, chimpanzees with greater white matter volumes had thinner cortical thickness. The collective findings are discussed within the context of previous findings in humans and theories on the evolution of cortical organization and lateralization in primates.
Intra-pulmonary arterial development during fetal life-branching pattern and structure.

The development of the bronchial branching pattern during fetal life was described by Bucher & Reid (1961). They showed that all pre-acinar branching was complete at the end of 16 weeks' gestation and that further changes in the airways were confined to an increase in size and the appearance of cartilage and glands. By contrast, the alveolar region of the acinus develops mainly after birth (Loosli & Potter, 1951; Boyden & Tompsett, 1965), though some respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts are present at birth. The early embryonic development of the pulmonary arteries was described by Congdon (1922), who used wax-plate reconstruction. By 50 days the pulmonary arteries are connected with the pulmonary arch, which by then has assumed adult form save for a patent ductus arteriosus. The development of the branching pattern of the intrapulmonary arteries has not previously been described. The muscularity of the arteries during fetal life has been assessed by several workers using various methods of measurement. They all demonstrated a relatively greater amount of arterial muscle in vessels of a given size than in the adult. O'Neal, Ahlvin, Bauer & Thomas (1957) studied uninjected arterioles, which they described as lying between the arteries accompanying the bronchioles and the capillaries, and found that they had thicker walls than those in the adult and that muscle was found in smaller vessels than in the adult. This extension increased with fetal age. Naeye (1961), using planimetry, reported that in vessels less than 50 ,um there was a progressive increase in the area of muscle in their walls (medial area) between 20 weeks' gestation and birth. Wagenvoort & Wagenvoort (1965), who measured the total medial area of arteries per unit area of lung tissue and the wall thickness of uninjected arteries, reported that from 21 weeks' gestation until birth muscle was present in smaller vessels than in the adult and that throughout intra-uterine development there was an increased wall thickness which did not alter. None of the above methods of measurement is as precise as those used by Elliott (1964) on the adult lung. He distended the arteries by injection under pressure with a barium sulphate and gelatine mixture and so was able to make accurate measurements of wall thickness and the extension of muscle into small vessels, as well as to record the type of vessel wall associated with different levels of the bronchial tree. In the present study Elliott's methods have been applied to the pulmonary artery of the fetal lung, and its branching pattern and structure are described.
Evaluating the controller capacity in software defined networking

The flow-based OpenFlow architecture decouples the control plane and data plane, and it has involved great evolution towards traditional networks. A particular important issue in OpenFlow architecture is controller capacity, which can be defined as the number of switches a controller can manage. In this paper, we model the flow set-up requests from switches to controller as a batch arrival process Mk/M /1. Further, we analyze the controller performance with queuing theory, and derive the expression of average flow service time. Under the circumstance of a limited flow set-up time, the number of switches is determined, this provides a method to evaluate the controller capacity. Moreover, we extend the scene of a single controller to multiple controllers. All of these results are meaningful to large scale OpenFlow network deployment in the future.
Cloned, CD117 Selected Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Are Capable of Modulating the Immune Response

Amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells are broadly multipotent, can be expanded extensively in culture, are not tumorigenic and can be readily cryopreserved for cell banking. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) show immunomodulatory activity and secrete a wide spectrum of cytokines and chemokines that suppress inflammatory responses, block mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and other immune reactions, and have proven therapeutic against conditions such as graft-versus-host disease. AFS cells resemble MSCs in many respects including surface marker expression and differentiation potential. We therefore hypothesized that AFS cells may exhibit similar immunomodulatory capabilities. We present data to demonstrate that direct contact with AFS cells inhibits lymphocyte activation. In addition, we show that cell-free supernatants derived from AFS cells primed with total blood monocytes or IL-1β, a cytokine released by monocytes and essential in mediation of the inflammatory response, also inhibited lymphocyte activation. Further investigation of AFS cell-free supernatants by protein array revealed secretion of multiple factors in common with MSCs that are known to be involved in immune regulation including growth related oncogene (GRO) and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP) family members as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6). AFS cells activated by PBMCs released several additional cytokines as compared to BM-MSCs, including macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α), MIP-1α and Activin. AFS cells also released higher levels of MCP-1 and lower levels of MCP-2 compared to BM-MSCs in response to IL-1β activation. This suggests that there may be some AFS-specific mechanisms of inhibition of lymphocyte activation. Our results indicate that AFS cells are able to suppress inflammatory responses in vitro and that soluble factors are an essential component in the communication between lymphocytes and AFS cells. Their extensive self-renewal capacity, possibility for banking and absence of tumorigenicity may make AFS cells a superior source of stable, well characterized “off the shelf” immunomodulatory cells for a variety of immunotherapies.