Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Altered Mitochondrial Respiration in Selectively Vulnerable Brain Subregions Following Transient Forebrain Ischemia in the Rat

Abstract: Mitochondrial respiratory function, assessed from the rate of oxygen uptake by homogenates of rat brain subregions, was examined after 30 min of forebrain ischemia and at recirculation periods of up to 48 h. Ischemia‐sensitive regions which develop extensive neuronal loss during the recirculation period (dorsal‐lateral striatum, CA1 hippocampus) were compared with ischemia‐resistant areas (paramedian neocortex, CA3 plus CA4 hippocampus). All areas showed reductions (to 53–69% of control) during ischemia for oxygen uptake rates determined in the presence of ADP or an uncoupling agent, which then recovered within 1 h of cerebral recirculation. In the ischemia‐resistant regions, oxygen uptake rates remained similar to control values for at least 48 h of recirculation. After 3 h of recirculation, a significant decrease in respiratory activity (measured in the presence of ADP or uncoupling agent) was observed in the dorsal‐lateral striatum which progressed to reductions of greater than 65% of the initial activity by 24 h. In the CA 1 hippocampus, oxygen uptake rates were unchanged for 24h, but were significantly reduced (by 30% in the presence of uncoupling agent) at 48 h. These alterations parallel the development of histological evidence of ischemic cell change determined previously and apparently precede the appearance of differential changes between sensitive and resistant regions in the content of high‐energy phosphate compounds. These results suggest that alterations of mitochondria activity are a relatively early change in the development of ischemic cell death and provide a sensitive biochemical marker for this process.
Ocular findings in breast cancer patients using tamoxifen

Abstract Aim: To examine ocular findings of breast cancer patients using tamoxifen. Methods: The records of 79 consecutive breast cancer patients were examined, retrospectively. Female patients who had previously been diagnosed to have breast cancer with either stage I, II, or III disease, and were older than 25 years of age were included in the study. Results of the ophthalmic examination, color discrimination, and contrast sensitivity tests were recorded. Short wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) sensitivity values were obtained, and average sensitivity values of test points at 5°, 9°, 15°, and 21° from the fixation were calculated. Results: Forty-nine of the patients had received 20 mg daily dose of tamoxifen therapy (tamoxifen group), while remaining 30 patients had not used tamoxifen (control group). Anterior and posterior segment examination revealed no pathologic findings in both groups. Two patients (5%) in the tamoxifen group had diffuse color loss, while none did in the control group (p = 0.523). Statistically significant differences were not detected between two groups when square roots of total error in color vision, red-green, and blue-yellow partial error scores were compared. Contrast sensitivity values were similar in both groups. Average mean deviation (MD) and average sensitivity values of test points at each 4° were statistically significantly lower in the tamoxifen group than the control group (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 for right eye; p = 0.002, p = 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 for left eye). Strong correlation was detected between MD, and duration (r = −0.832 and r = −0.842 for right and left eyes, respectively) and cumulative dose of tamoxifen use (r = −0.864 and r = −0.854 for right and left eyes, respectively). Conclusion: Clinically significant ocular toxicity is not frequently encountered in breast cancer patients, however, SWAP changes may occur early after tamoxifen utilization.
Space-memory-memory architecture for CLOS-network packet switches

A Clos-network architecture is an attractive alternative for constructing scalable packet switches because of its distributed and modular design. It can be classified according to different buffer (memory) allocation schemes in its switching stages. The most studied architectures are the space-space-space (S3) and the memory-space-memory (MSM) architectures. This paper shows that these two architectures cannot achieve efficient throughput with conventional random dispatching schemes even if the fabric itself is non-blocking. Previous research hence has focused on developing intelligent scheduling algorithms for these architectures so as to improve their throughput. However, we face various challenging problems when we try to actually implement the algorithms. The problems include performance degradation under constrained arbitration time, needs of centralized or complex scheduler hardware, etc. To solve these problems and at the same time be practical, this paper proposes a novel space-memory-memory (SMM) architecture that does not need any schedulers. The SMM architecture has similar hardware complexity as the MSM architecture has, while been proven to achieve 100% throughput under any admissible traffic. Our queuing analysis demonstrates that only small size buffers are needed in the central stage. The only tradeoff for the proposed SMM architecture is to employ small extra resequencing buffers. As a result, the SMM architecture can achieve very high performance, and is readily implemented using current technology.
Evaluation and classification of bovine embryos

Bovine Embryo transfer has been used widely to reproduce the most valuable females in the herd, with about 750,000 embryos produced annually from superovulated donors and more than 450,000 embryos produced using in vitro techniques. Furthermore, embryos are the safest and most cost effective alternatives to move genetics internationally because of their low risk of transmitting diseases. One of most important factors associated with the success and widespread application of this technology is evaluation of the embryos before freezing and/or transfer to a recipient. Embryos are usually classified based on a number code system for their stage of development (1 to 9) and for their quality (1 to 4). The basic principles of embryo evaluation are briefly described.
Active object: an object behavioral pattern for concurrent programming

This paper describes the Active Object pattern, which decouples method execution from method invocation in order to simplify synchronized access to an object that resides in its own thread of control. The Active Object pattern allows one or more independent threads of execution to interleave their access to data modeled as a single object. A broad class of producer/consumer and reader/writer applications are wellsuited to this model of concurrency. This pattern is commonly used in distributed systems requiring multi-threaded servers. In addition, client applications, such as windowing systems and network browsers, employ active objects to simplify concurrent, asynchronous network operations.
Shine: A Step Towards Distributed Multi-Hop Visible Light Communication

Visible light communication (VLC), a novel technology that enables standard Light-Emitting-Diodes (LEDs) to transmit data, is gaining significant attention. In the near future, this technology could enable devices containing LEDs-such as car lights, city lights, screens and home appliances-to form their own networks. VLC, however, is currently limited to point-to-point communication. To unleash VLC's full potential, we need to provide it with more sophisticated networking capabilities. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a novel platform aimed at distributed multi-hop visible light communication. Compared to the state-of-the-art, our platform provides similar data rates and coverage, but adds two unique characteristics: (i) 360° coverage, which is necessary to investigate an important property of LED communication: directionality, and (ii) a flexible design, which allows our platform to be connected to many experimental boards such as Arduino, Beagle bone, Raspberry Pi and sensor nodes. To quantify the communication capabilities of our board, we evaluate three key components: link quality, neighbor discovery and packet forwarding. Overall, we hope that our work will lower the entry barrier for members of the pervasive and networking communities to investigate and exploit future LED-based networks.
NUTRIENT EVALUATION AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF FOUR SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF KHYBER PAKHTOON KHWA, PAKISTAN

The study was carried out to assess the nutritional value and mineral contents of four medicinal plants viz., Aerva javanica Burm.f, Calotropis procera Ait. f, Datura alba Nees, and Nepeta suavis Stapf. , which are traditionally used as medicine in the Northwest Pakistan. Proximate analysis of plant sample determines that protein (21.353%) and ash (18.803%) was highest in Datura alba, carbohydrate (70.123 %) in Aerva javanica, energy (398.496 Kcal/100g), fats (12.595%) and fibre (40.150%) was highest in Nepeta suavis, while highest moisture (11.255%) was reported in Calotropis procera. In comparative assessment of the various species, the results showed that Nepeta suavis is the most significant species having higher concentrations of fat, fibre and energy values compared to the other species. The essential elements such as Fe, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Cr, Mg and Na have been analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometric method from the medicinal plants in variable range.
Predictors of early re-bleeding and mortality after acute variceal haemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis

Background and aims: Risk factors for mortality and re-bleeding following acute variceal haemorrhage (AVH) are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for 6-week mortality, and re-bleeding within 5 days in patients with cirrhosis and AVH. Methods: Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine risk factors among 256 patients with AVH entered into a randomised, prospective trial. Results: Thirty-five patients (14%) died within 6 weeks of AVH; 14 deaths (40%) occurred within 5 days. Only the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfused in the first 24 h were associated with 6-week mortality univariately (HR 1.11, p<0.001; HR 1.22, p<0.001) and bivariately (HR MELD = 1.10, p<0.001; HR per unit of PRBCs transfused = 1.15, p = 0.005). Re-bleeding within 5 days occurred in 37 patients (15%); MELD score (p = 0.01) and a clot on a varix (p = 0.05) predicted re-bleeding. Patients with a MELD score ⩾18; both MELD score ⩾18 and ⩾4 units of PRBCs transfused; both MELD score ⩾18 and active bleeding at index endoscopy; and variceal re-bleeding had increased risk of death 6 weeks post-AVH (HR = 7.4, p<0.001; 11.3, p<0.001; 9.9, p<0.001; 10.2, p<0.001 respectively). Conclusions: Patients with AVH and MELD score ⩾18, requiring ⩾4 units of PRBCs within the first 24 h or with active bleeding at endoscopy are at increased risk of dying within 6 weeks. MELD score ⩾18 is also a strong predictor of variceal re-bleeding within the first 5 days.
Enhanced Angiogenic and Cardiomyocyte Differentiation Capacity of Epigenetically Reprogrammed Mouse and Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells Augments Their Efficacy for Ischemic Myocardial Repair

Rationale: Although bone marrow endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-based therapies improve the symptoms in patients with ischemic heart disease, their limited plasticity and decreased function in patients with existing heart disease limit the full benefit of EPC therapy for cardiac regenerative medicine. Objective: We hypothesized that reprogramming mouse or human EPCs, or both, using small molecules targeting key epigenetic repressive marks would lead to a global increase in active gene transcription, induce their cardiomyogenic potential, and enhance their inherent angiogenic potential. Method and Results: Mouse Lin-Sca1+CD31+ EPCs and human CD34+ cells were treated with inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (5-Azacytidine), histone deacetylases (valproic acid), and G9a histone dimethyltransferase. A 48-hour treatment led to global increase in active transcriptome, including the reactivation of pluripotency-associated and cardiomyocyte-specific mRNA expression, whereas endothelial cell–specific genes were significantly upregulated. When cultured under appropriate differentiation conditions, reprogrammed EPCs showed efficient differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Treatment with epigenetic-modifying agents show marked increase in histone acetylation on cardiomyocyte and pluripotent cell–specific gene promoters. Intramyocardial transplantation of reprogrammed mouse and human EPCs in an acute myocardial infarction mouse model showed significant improvement in ventricular functions, which was histologically supported by their de novo cardiomyocyte differentiation and increased capillary density and reduced fibrosis. Importantly, cell transplantation was safe and did not form teratomas. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that epigenetically reprogrammed EPCs display a safe, more plastic phenotype and improve postinfarct cardiac repair by both neocardiomyogenesis and neovascularization.
Analysts’ Selective Coverage and Subsequent Performance of Newly Public Firms

This study examines the ability of analysts to forecast future firm performance, based on the selective coverage of newly public firms. We hypothesize that the decision to provide coverage contains information about an analyst's underlying expectation of a firm's future prospects. We extract this expectation by obtaining residual analyst coverage from a model of initial analyst following. We document that in the three subsequent years, initial public offerings with high residual coverage have significantly better returns and operating performance than those with low residual coverage. This evidence indicates analysts have superior predictive abilities and selectively provide coverage for firms about which their true expectations are favorable.
HPLC Determination of Chicoric Acid in Leaves of Posidonia oceanica.

Abstract In this study, Posidonia oceanica. (L.) Delile (Posidoniaceae), which is a widely distributed phanerogam in Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, was investigated for the phenolic compounds that have the potential to be used in pharmaceutical sciences. The leaves, separated as young and mature leaves, were extracted and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromotagraphy (HPLC). The younger leaves were found to have higher concentrations of chicoric acid, p.-coumaric acid, vanillin, and ferulic acid, and the amount of gentisic acid, caffeic acid, and cinnamic acid was found to be higher in the mature leaves. Consequently, the plant might be a source of compounds to be investigated for anti-HIV and immunostimulant (caffeic acid, chicoric acid), antitumor (cinnamic acid, ferulic acid), antioxidant, and antibacterial activities.
Improving Machine Translation through Linked Data

Abstract With the ever increasing availability of linked multilingual lexical resources, there is a renewed interest in extending Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications so that they can make use of the vast set of lexical knowledge bases available in the Semantic Web. In the case of Machine Translation, MT systems can potentially benefit from such a resource. Unknown words and ambiguous translations are among the most common sources of error. In this paper, we attempt to minimise these types of errors by interfacing Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) models with Linked Open Data (LOD) resources such as DBpedia and BabelNet. We perform several experiments based on the SMT system Moses and evaluate multiple strategies for exploiting knowledge from multilingual linked data in automatically translating named entities. We conclude with an analysis of best practices for multilingual linked data sets in order to optimise their benefit to multilingual and cross-lingual applications.
A urokinase-activated recombinant anthrax toxin is selectively cytotoxic to many human tumor cell types

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is a tumor-specific protease highly expressed in several types of solid tumors and rarely present on normal cells under physiologic conditions. Due to its high expression on metastatic tumors, several different strategies have been used to target the urokinase system. These have mostly led to tumor growth inhibition rather than tumor regression. A different approach was adopted by replacing the furin activation site on a recombinant anthrax toxin with a urokinase activation site. The resulting toxin, PrAgU2/FP59, was highly potent against tumors both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we show that PrAgU2/FP59 is toxic to a wide range of tumor cell lines, including non–small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and basal-like breast cancer cell lines. Of the few cell lines found to be resistant to PrAgU2/FP59, most became sensitive upon addition of exogenous pro-uPA. PrAgU2/FP59 was much less toxic to normal human cells. The potency of PrAgU2/FP59 was dependent on anthrax toxin receptor, uPA receptor, and uPA levels but not on total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels. In this study, we show that PrAgU2/FP59 is a wide-range, highly potent, and highly selective toxin that is capable of specifically targeting uPA-expressing tumor cells, independently of the tissue of origin of these cells. Furthermore, we identify three molecular markers, anthrax toxin receptor, uPA, and uPA receptor, which can be used as predictors of tumor cell sensitivity to PrAgU2/FP59. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(10):2556–62]
PrEP in Europe – expectations, opportunities and barriers

In contrast to the global trend showing a decline in new HIV infections, the number reported in the World Health Organization (WHO) region of Europe is increasing. Health systems are disparate, but even countries with free access to screening and treatment observe continuing high rates of new infections in key populations, notably men who have sex with men (MSM). Pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is only available in France. This commentary describes the European epidemics and healthcare settings where PrEP could be delivered, how need might be estimated for MSM and the residual barriers to access.
Role of G‐CSF in monophosphoryl lipid A‐mediated augmentation of neutrophil functions after burn injury

Infection is the leading cause of death in severely burned patients that survive the acute phase of injury. Neutrophils are the first line of defense against infections, but hospitalized burn patients frequently cannot mount an appropriate innate response to infection. Thus, immune therapeutic approaches aimed at improving neutrophil functions after burn injury may be beneficial. Prophylactic treatment with the TLR4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A is known to augment resistance to infection by enhancing neutrophil recruitment and facilitating bacterial clearance. This study aimed to define mechanisms by which monophosphoryl lipid A treatment improves bacterial clearance and survival in a model of burn‐wound sepsis. Burn‐injured mice were treated with monophosphoryl lipid A or vehicle, and neutrophil mobilization was evaluated in the presence or absence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Monophosphoryl lipid A treatment induced significant mobilization of neutrophils from the bone marrow into the blood and sites of infection. Neutrophil mobilization was associated with decreased bone marrow neutrophil CXCR4 expression and increased plasma G‐CSF concentrations. Neutralization of G‐CSF before monophosphoryl lipid A administration blocked monophosphoryl lipid A‐induced expansion of bone marrow myeloid progenitors and mobilization of neutrophils into the blood and their recruitment to the site of infection. G‐CSF neutralization ablated the enhanced bacterial clearance and survival benefit endowed by monophosphoryl lipid A in burn‐wound‐infected mice. Our findings provide convincing evidence that monophosphoryl lipid A‐induced G‐CSF facilitates early expansion, mobilization, and recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection after burn injury, allowing for a robust immune response to infection.
PARTICLE CLUMPING AND PLANETESIMAL FORMATION DEPEND STRONGLY ON METALLICITY

We present three-dimensional numerical simulations of particle clumping and planetesimal formation in protoplanetary disks with varying amounts of solid material. As centimeter-size pebbles settle to the mid-plane, turbulence develops through vertical shearing and streaming instabilities. We find that when the pebble-to-gas column density ratio is 0.01, corresponding roughly to solar metallicity, clumping is weak, so the pebble density rarely exceeds the gas density. Doubling the column density ratio leads to a dramatic increase in clumping, with characteristic particle densities more than 10 times the gas density and maximum densities reaching several thousand times the gas density. This is consistent with unstratified simulations of the streaming instability that show strong clumping in particle-dominated flows. The clumps readily contract gravitationally into interacting planetesimals on the order of 100 km in radius. Our results suggest that the correlation between host star metallicity and exoplanets may reflect the early stages of planet formation. We further speculate that initially low-metallicity disks can be particle enriched during the gas dispersal phase, leading to a late burst of planetesimal formation.
Restricted Distribution of the Butyrate Kinase Pathway among Butyrate-Producing Bacteria from the Human Colon

ABSTRACT The final steps in butyrate synthesis by anaerobic bacteria can occur via butyrate kinase and phosphotransbutyrylase or via butyryl-coenzyme A (CoA):acetate CoA-transferase. Degenerate PCR and enzymatic assays were used to assess the presence of butyrate kinase among 38 anaerobic butyrate-producing bacterial isolates from human feces that represent three different clostridial clusters (IV, XIVa, and XVI). Only four strains were found to possess detectable butyrate kinase activity. These were also the only strains to give PCR products (verifiable by sequencing) with degenerate primer pairs designed within the butyrate kinase gene or between the linked butyrate kinase/phosphotransbutyrylase genes. Further analysis of the butyrate kinase/phosphotransbutyrylase genes of one isolate, L2-50, revealed similar organization to that described previously from different groups of clostridia, along with differences in flanking sequences and phylogenetic relationships. Butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase activity was detected in all 38 strains examined, suggesting that it, rather than butyrate kinase, provides the dominant route for butyrate formation in the human colonic ecosystem that contains a constantly high concentration of acetate.
Longitudinal analysis of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B (gB)‐specific and neutralizing antibodies in AIDS patients either with or without cytomegalovirus end‐organ disease

Serum neutralizing and glycoprotein B (gB)‐specific antibody levels were monitored prospectively in AIDS patients who either did or did not develop human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) end‐organ disease, to delineate further the role of antibodies in protecting against HCMV disease. Antibody levels declined substantially (at least 4‐fold) only in patients who developed HCMV disease; this decline in turn occurred concurrently with antigenemia. Nevertheless, AIDS patients who remained free of HCMV disease and did not become antigenemic during the follow‐up period maintained stable levels of serum antibodies, with only minor fluctuations. The impact of HAART on the levels of functional anti‐HCMV antibodies was investigated in a number of AIDS patients. Serum levels and kinetics of gB and neutralizing antibodies did not differ significantly between patients who responded biologically and virologically to therapy and those who failed to respond. In addition, CD4 + cell counts and HIV viral RNA levels did not correlate with anti‐HCMV antibody titers. J. Med. Virol. 64:35–41, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.