Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Roles of TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3 in Signaling to B Lymphocytes by Carboxyl-Terminal Activating Regions 1 and 2 of the EBV-Encoded Oncoprotein Latent Membrane Protein 11

TNFR-associated factor (TRAF)3, an adaptor protein that binds the cytoplasmic domains of both CD40 and the EBV-encoded oncoprotein latent membrane protein (LMP)1, is required for positive signaling by LMP1 but not CD40 in B lymphocytes. The present study further investigated how TRAF3 participates in LMP1 signaling. We found that TRAF3 mediates signaling both through direct interactions with the C-terminal activating region (CTAR)1 of LMP1 and through indirect interactions with the CTAR2 region of LMP1 in mouse B cells. Notably, our results demonstrated that the CTAR2 region appears to inhibit the recruitment of TRAF1 and TRAF2 to membrane rafts by the CTAR1 region. Additionally, the absence of TRAF2 in B cells resulted in only a modest reduction in CTAR1-mediated signals and no detectable effect on CTAR2-mediated signals. CTAR1 and CTAR2 cooperated to achieve the robust signaling activity of LMP1 when recruited to the same membrane microdomains in B cells. Interestingly, TRAF3 deficiency completely abrogated the cooperation between CTAR1 and CTAR2, supporting the hypothesis that TRAF3 participates in the physical interaction between CTAR1 and CTAR2 of LMP1. Together, our findings highlight the central importance of TRAF3 in LMP1-mediated signaling, which is critical for EBV persistent infection and EBV-associated pathogenesis.
Toward under-millisecond I/O latency in Xen-ARM

This paper addresses the I/O latency issue within Xen-ARM. Although Xen-ARM's split driver presents reliable driver isolation, it requires additional inter-VM scheduling. Consequently, the credit scheduler within Xen-ARM results in unsatisfactory I/O latency for real-time guest OS. This paper analyzes the I/O latency in Xen-ARM's interrupt path, and proposes a new scheduler to bound I/O latency. Our scheduler dynamically assigns priorities to guest OSs so that Xen-ARM ensures to schedule the most urgent task within the system. The experimental results show that Xen-ARM with our new scheduler reduces delay spikes, latency larger than 1ms, from 16% to 1% while retaining the split driver model.
DINÂMICA DE VEGETAÇÃO, BALANÇO CLIMATOLÓGICO, ÍNDICES CLIMÁTICOS, NA SUB-BACIA DO RIO SÃO FRANCISCO

O conhecimento das condicoes reais de uma dada bacia hidrografica e de grande valor para o planejamento agricola adequado. O objetivo foi realizar a analise espaco-temporal detalhada da dinâmica de vegetacao, balanco climatologico e indices climaticos na sub-bacia do rio Sao Francisco. Uma imagem do satelite da Terra (NASA) foi utilizada na data de passagem de 06 a 13 de setembro de 2015 que abrange a area de estudo: bacia do rio Piaui, localizada no semi-arido brasileiro de Alagoas. A imagem foi processada pelo software MODIS13A3. Os dados meteorologicos foram coletados de uma estacao automatica pertencente ao INMET. Os parâmetros biofisicos foram: NDVI, EVI e temperatura superficial (Ts). O balanco hidrico climatico mensal foi estimado pelo metodo proposto por Thornthwaite e Mather (1955) e os resultados obtidos foram as classificacoes climaticas e os indices climaticos. Os indices de vegetacao NDVI e EVI sao os mais expressivos na bacia da bacia, o que favorece o maior vigor das plantas, principalmente nas estacoes mais chuvosas. Os dados de temperatura apresentaram valores maiores em areas menos vegetadas. Ha pronunciada deficiencia hidrica na bacia do rio Piaui em praticamente todos os meses do ano, e o periodo de excedente hidrico ocorre apenas nos meses de junho a julho. O nivel de suscetibilidade ao risco de desertificacao na bacia do rio Piaui e considerado moderado, seguido pela classificacao climatica para a area de estudo como subumido seco, dando origem a um tipo climatico semi-arido.
A case for low-complexity MP architectures

Advances in semiconductor technology have driven shared-memory servers toward processors with multiple cores per die and multiple threads per core. This paper presents simple hardware primitives enabling flexible and low-complexity multi-chip designs supporting an efficient inter-node coherence protocol implemented in software. We argue that our primitives and the example design presented in this paper have lower hardware overhead, have easier (and later) verification requirements, and provide the opportunity for flexible coherence protocols and simpler protocol bug corrections than traditional designs. Our evaluation is based on detailed full-system simulations of modern chip-multiprocessors and both commercial and HPC workloads. We compare a low-complexity system based on the proposed primitives with aggressive hardware multi-chip shared-memory systems and show that the performance is competitive across a large design space.
Antioxidant Activity of Chemical Constituents Isolated from Pithecellobium clypearia

Phytochemical investigation of the aqueous extract of Pithecellobium clypearia afforded one novel compound, clypearoside A (1), and one new stereoisomer, (-)-(2S,3S)-epigallocatechin-7-gallate (2) and four known ones (3-6). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially 2D NMR, HRESIMS and ECD spectra. Compounds 2-4 showed strong activity against DPPH (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) with an IC50 value of 11.9-13.2 μg/mL (DPPH) and 4.5-6.4 μg/mL (ABTS).
Effect of Health Educational Program on Nurses Knowledge and practice Regarding Infection Control in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Pediatric Hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan-2015

The pathogenic organism and various form of illness they are produce can easily spread in an environment such as neonatal intensive care unit. All newborn infants are especially liable to nosocomial infection because of their intrinsic susceptibility to infection as well as the invasive procedures. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational program for nurses knowledge &practice regarding infection control in neonatal intensive care unit in pediatric hospital in Khartoum state in order to reducing morbidity and mortality of newborns by improving the quality of nursing care in neonatal intensive care unit. This was an Intervention study (Quasi-experimental: pre and posttest design). The study was conducted in two pediatric hospitals in Khartoum state, Gaffer Ibn Ouf specialized pediatric hospital and Omdurman Maternity Hospital. The study sample consisted of 61 nurses. Data was collected using a questionnaire (to measure knowledge) and checklist (to measure practice). Data was analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). There were Significant differences were found in knowledge of nurses between the pre test and posttest (P < 0.05) regarding definition of sterilization (36.1% of the nurses gave correct answer about the definition of sterilization before attendance of the program, while, correct answer was mentioned by 95.1% of them after attendance), disinfectant (29.5% of the nurses gave correct answer about the definition of disinfectant before attendance of the program, while, correct answer was mentioned by 78.7% of them after attendance) and the standard precaution, use of PPE at NICU care the nurses who correctly answered the statements about the standard precaution, use of PPE at NICU care were lower percentages before the program compared to the higher percentages of their answers after the program. The mean value of nurses answers regarding their first statement was (0.64±0.48) at pretest measurement, which increased at posttest measurement to (0.87±0.34), with improved knowledge. Also there is significant differences were found regarding correct practices on prevention of infection at NICU care (P < 0.05), with improved practices at posttest than at pretest. Finally educational program had a significant impact related to the improvement of the nurse's knowledge and practical skills post application of the program.
The prevalence of patient safety indicators and hospital-acquired conditions in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms: establishing standard performance measures using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database.

OBJECT The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) patient safety indicators (PSIs) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) are publicly reported metrics used to gauge the quality of health care provided by health care institutions. To better understand the prevalence of these events in hospitalized patients treated for ruptured cerebral aneurysms, the authors determined the incidence rates of PSIs and HACs among patients with a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage and procedure codes for either coiling or clipping in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. METHODS The authors queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, part of the AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, for all hospitalizations between 2002 and 2010 involving coiling or clipping of ruptured cerebral aneurysms. The incidence rate of each PSI and HAC was determined by searching the hospital records for ICD-9 codes. The authors used the SAS statistical software package to calculate incidence rates and perform multivariate analyses to determine the effects of patient variables on the probability of developing each indicator. RESULTS There were 62,972 patient admissions with a diagnosis code of subarachnoid hemorrhage between the years 2002 and 2010; 10,274 (16.3%) underwent clipping and 8248 (13.1%) underwent endovascular coiling. A total of 6547 PSI and HAC events occurred within the 10,274 patients treated with clipping; at least 1 PSI or HAC occurred in 47.9% of these patients. There were 5623 total PSI and HAC events among the 8248 patients treated with coils; at least 1 PSI or HAC occurred in 51.0% of coil-treated patients. Age, sex, comorbidities, hospital size, and hospital type had statistically significant associations with indicator occurrence. Compared with patients without events, those treated by either clipping or coiling and had at least 1 PSI during their hospitalization had significantly longer lengths of stay (p < 0.001), higher hospital costs (p < 0.001), and higher in-hospital mortality rates (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results estimate baseline national rates of PSIs and HACs in patients treated for ruptured cerebral aneurysms. These data may be used to gauge individual institutional quality of care and patient safety metrics in comparison with national data.
Platelets Retain High Levels of Active Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1

The vascular fibrinolytic system is crucial for spontaneous lysis of blood clots. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), the principal inhibitor of the key fibrinolytic enzyme tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), is present in platelets at high concentrations. However, the majority of PAI-1 stored in platelets has been considered to be inactive. Our recent finding (Brogren H, et al. Blood 2004) that PAI-1 de novo synthesized in platelets remained active for over 24 h, suggested that PAI-1 stored in the α-granules might be active to a larger extent than previously reported. To re-evaluate this issue, we performed experiments where the fraction of active PAI-1 was estimated by analyzing the tPA-PAI-1 complex formation. In these experiments platelets were lysed with Triton X-100 in the presence of serial dilutions of tPA and subsequently the tPA-PAI-1 complex was evaluated by Western blot. Also, using a non-immunologic assay, tPA was labeled with 125I, and 125I-tPA and 125I-tPA-PAI-1 was quantified by scintigraphy. Interestingly, both methods demonstrated that the majority (>50%) of platelet PAI-1 is active. Further analyses suggested that pre-analytical procedures used in previous studies (sonication or freezing/thawing) may have substantially reduced the activity of platelet PAI-1, which has lead to an underestimation of the proportion of active PAI-1. Our in vitro results are more compatible with the role of PAI-1 in clot stabilization as demonstrated in physiological and pathophysiological studies.
Association of mild anemia with hospitalization and mortality in the elderly: the Health and Anemia population-based study

Mild anemia is a frequent laboratory finding in the elderly usually disregarded in clinical practice. This study shows that mild anemia is associated with increased risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality in the elderly. See perspective article on page 1. Background Mild anemia is a frequent laboratory finding in the elderly usually disregarded in everyday practice as an innocent bystander. The aim of the present population-based study was to prospectively investigate the association of mild grade anemia with hospitalization and mortality. Design and Methods A prospective population-based study of all 65 to 84 year old residents in Biella, Italy was performed between 2003 and 2007. Data from a total of 7,536 elderly with blood tests were available to estimate mortality; full health information available to evaluate health-related outcomes was available for 4,501 of these elderly subjects. Mild grade anemia was defined as a hemoglobin concentration between 10.0 and 11.9 g/dL in women and between 10.0 and 12.9 g/dL in men. Results The risk of hospitalization in the 3 years following recruitment was higher among the mildly anemic elderly subjects than among subjects who were not anemic (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.09–1.60). Mortality risk in the following 3.5 years was also higher among the mildly anemic elderly (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.86; 95% confidence interval: 1.34–2.53). Similar results were found when slightly elevating the lower limit of normal hemoglobin concentration to 12.2 g/dL in women and to 13.2 g/dL in men. The risk of mortality was significantly increased in mild anemia of chronic disease but not in that due to β-thalassemia minor. Conclusions After controlling for many potential confounders, mild grade anemia was found to be prospectively associated with clinically relevant outcomes such as increased risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Whether raising hemoglobin concentrations can reduce the risks associated with mild anemia should be tested in controlled clinical trials.
Low power HBC PHY baseband transceiver for IEEE 802.15.6 WBAN

The monitoring healthcare systems that can be used by patients wherever they are, has become very important for today efficient healthcare. Wireless body area network is one possible realization of these systems. Based on IEEE 802.15. 6-2012 standard, this paper proposes a low power architecture of Human Body Communication transceiver for Wireless Body Area Network. A new efficient frame synchronization algorithm based on adaptive threshold is adopted. The proposed design is coded and simulated using MATLAB software. Then, the transceiver is implemented using Verilog and synthesized to 90nm CMOS technology. The implemented architecture meets all the standard requirements, consumes 0.63mW, and operates at a clock frequency of 42MHz.
Angiotensin II Activates Signal Transducer and Activators of Transcription 3 via Rac1 in Atrial Myocytes and Fibroblasts: Implication for the Therapeutic Effect of Statin in Atrial Structural Remodeling

Background— Recently, activation of the local renin-angiotensin system and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in atrial myocardium has been found to play an important role in atrial structural remodeling related to atrial fibrillation. Another important mediator of the angiotensin II (Ang II) effect is the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway, which has never been characterized in the atrium. Methods and Results— In cultured atrial myocytes and fibroblasts, Ang II induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 through a Rac1-dependent mechanism, which was inhibited by dominant-negative Rac1, losartan, and simvastatin. In atrial myocytes, activation of STAT3 by Rac1 was mediated by direct association of Rac1 with STAT3; however, in atrial fibroblasts, it was mediated by an indirect paracrine effect. Constitutively active STAT3 increased protein synthesis, and dominant-negative STAT3 abrogated Ang II-induced protein synthesis in atrial myocytes and fibroblasts. Rats infused long term with Ang II exhibited higher levels of activated Rac1, phospho-STAT3, collagen synthesis, and atrial fibrosis in the atria, all of which were attenuated by oral losartan and simvastatin. In human atrial tissues from patients with atrial fibrillation, Ang II and phospho-STAT3 levels were also elevated. Conclusions— The Ang II/Rac1/STAT3 pathway is an important signaling pathway in the atrial myocardium to mediate atrial structural remodeling, and losartan and statin may be able to reverse Ang II-induced atrial structural remodeling in atrial fibrillation.
Cooling for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND Newborn animal and human pilot studies suggest that mild hypothermia following peripartum hypoxia-ischaemia in newborn infants may reduce neurological sequelae, without adverse effects. OBJECTIVES To determine whether therapeutic hypothermia in encephalopathic asphyxiated newborn infants reduces mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental disability, without clinically important side effects. SEARCH STRATEGY The standard search strategy of the Neonatal Review Group as outlined in the Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2003) was used. Randomised controlled trials evaluating therapeutic hypothermia in term newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy were identified by searching the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library Issue Issue 2, 2003), MEDLINE (1966 to July 2003), previous reviews including cross-references, abstracts, conferences, symposia proceedings, expert informants and journal hand searching. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials comparing the use of therapeutic hypothermia with normothermia in encephalopathic newborn infants with evidence of peripartum asphyxia and without recognisable major congenital anomalies were included. The primary outcome measure was death or long-term major neurodevelopmental disability. Other outcomes included adverse effects of cooling and 'early' indicators of neurodevelopmental outcome. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Three reviewers independently selected, assessed the quality of and extracted data from the included studies. Authors were contacted for further information. Meta-analyses were performed using relative risk and risk difference for dichotomous data, and weighted mean difference for continuous data with 95% confidence intervals. MAIN RESULTS Two randomised controlled trials were included in this review, comprising 50 term infants with moderate/ severe encephalopathy and evidence of intrapartum asphyxia. There was no significant effect of therapeutic hypothermia on the combined outcome of death or major neurodevelopmental disability in survivors followed. No adverse effects of hypothermia on short term medical outcomes or on some 'early' indicators of neurodevelopmental outcome were detected. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Although two small randomised controlled trials demonstrated neither evidence of benefit or harm, current evidence is inadequate to assess either safety or efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia in newborn infants with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Therapeutic hypothermia for encephalopathic asphyxiated newborn infants should be further evaluated in well designed randomised controlled trials.
Effect of Compaction Energy on Engineering Properties of Expansive Soil

Swelling of expansive clays is one of the great hazards, a foundation engineer encounters. Each year expansive soils cause severe damage to residences, buildings, highways, pipelines, and other civil engineering structures. Strength and deformation parameters of soils are normally related to soil type and moisture. However, surprisingly limited focus has been directed to the compaction energy applied to the soil. Study presented herein is proposed to examine the effect of varying compaction energy of the engineering properties i.e. compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, California bearing ratio and swell percentage of soil. When compaction energy increased from 237 KJ/m 3 to 1197 KJ/m 3 , MDD increased from 1.61 g/cm 3 to 1.75 g/cm 3 , OMC reduced from 31.55 percent to 21.63 percent, UCS increased from 110.8 to 230.6 KPa, and CBR increased from mere 1 percent to 10.2 percent. Results indicate substantial improvement in these properties. So, compacting soil at higher compaction energy levels can provide an effective approach for stabilization of expansive soils up to a particular limit. But if the soil is compacted more than this limit, an increase in swell potential of soil is noticed due to the reduction in permeability of soil.
Soluble CD93 Levels in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Its Implication on Clinical Outcome

Background Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is unclear whether marker of immune activation will provide prognostic information in these patients. We hypothesized that circulating levels of soluble CD93 (sCD93), a soluble form of transmembrane glycoprotein CD93, is increased in acute MI patients and its level would be associated with clinical outcomes in patients with acute MI. Methods We measured circulating levels of sCD93 in 120 patients with acute MI (63±13 yrs, M∶F = 85∶35) and in 120 age, sex-matched control subjects. In patients with acute MI, clinical characteristics, echocardiographic and laboratory findings were assessed at the time of initial enrollment. The primary outcome was defined as all-cause and cardiovascular death. Results Circulating sCD93 levels were significantly higher in patients with acute MI than in control subjects (552.1±293.7 vs. 429.8±114.2 ng/mL, p<0.0001). Upon in vitro inflammatory stimulation, increased CD93 shedding was demonstrated in acute MI patients but not in control subjects. During follow up period (median 208 days, 3-1058 days), the primary outcome occurred in 18 (15%) patients (9 cardiovascular deaths). Circulating levels of sCD93 were associated with all cause (p<0.0001) and cardiovascular (p<0.0001) mortality in patients with acute MI. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that initial sCD93 level was found to be an independent predictor of all cause (p = 0.002) and cardiovascular mortality (p = 0.033) when controlled for age and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions Circulating levels of sCD93 are elevated in patients with acute MI and their levels were associated with adverse clinical outcomes.