Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial progenitor cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema

Endothelial injury is implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD and emphysema; however the role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a marker of endothelial cell repair, and circulating endothelial cells (CECs), a marker of endothelial cell injury, in COPD and its subphenotypes is unresolved. We hypothesized that endothelial progenitor cell populations would be decreased in COPD and emphysema and that circulating endothelial cells would be increased. Associations with other subphenotypes were examined. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis COPD Study recruited smokers with COPD and controls age 50–79 years without clinical cardiovascular disease. Endothelial progenitor cell populations (CD34+KDR+ and CD34+KDR+CD133+ cells) and circulating endothelial cells (CD45dimCD31+CD146+CD133-) were measured by flow cytometry. COPD was defined by standard spirometric criteria. Emphysema was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively on CT. Full pulmonary function testing and expiratory CTs were measured in a subset. Among 257 participants, both endothelial progenitor cell populations, and particularly CD34+KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells, were reduced in COPD. The CD34+KDR+CD133+ endothelial progenitor cells were associated inversely with emphysema extent. Both endothelial progenitor cell populations were associated inversely with extent of panlobular emphysema and positively with diffusing capacity. Circulating endothelial cells were not significantly altered in COPD but were inversely associated with pulmonary microvascular blood flow on MRI. There was no consistent association of endothelial progenitor cells or circulating endothelial cells with measures of gas trapping. These data provide evidence that endothelial repair is impaired in COPD and suggest that this pathological process is specific to emphysema.
Functional variant (−1304T>G) in the MKK4 promoter is associated with decreased risk of acute myeloid leukemia in a southern Chinese population

As a member of the MAPK kinase family, mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 4 (NM_003010.2) is know to be involved in the regulation of apoptosis, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. Several polymorphisms have been identified in the promoter region of the MKK4 gene and we hypothesized that genetic variations in this region may alter gene expression, and thus cancer risk. In the present study, we genotyped two polymorphisms in the promoter of the MKK4 gene, namely −1304T>G (rs3826392) and −1044A>T (rs3809728), in 433 patients with AML and 600 controls, and assessed the association between those polymorphisms and the risk of AML. Compared with the −1304TT genotype, patients with the −1304TG genotype had a significantly decreased risk of AML (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51−0.87), with the risk decreased even further in those carrying −1304GG (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.31–0.97). Additional experiments, which focused on reporter gene expression driven by MKK4 promoters, demonstrated that the presence of a −1304G allele led to greater transcriptional activity than the presence of a −1304T allele. However, no significant association was observed between the MKK4−1044A>T polymorphism and the risk of AML. These findings suggest that the functional −1304G>T variant may contribute to the risk of AML by enhancing the transcriptional activity of MKK4. Thus, this polymorphism may be a genetic modifier for the development of AML. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 1462–1468)
Back‐propagating action potentials mediate calcium signalling in dendrites of bitufted interneurons in layer 2/3 of rat somatosensory cortex

1 Bitufted interneurons in layer 2/3 of the rat (P14) somatosensory cortex have elongated apical and basal dendritic arbors that can span the entire depth of the cortex. Simultaneous dendritic and somatic whole‐cell voltage recordings combined with Ca2+ fluorescence measurements were made to quantify voltage and Ca2+ signalling in dendritic arbors of bitufted neurons. 2 Action potentials (APs) initiated close to the soma by brief current injection back‐propagated into the apical and basal dendritic arbors and evoked a transient increase in volume‐averaged dendritic Ca2+ concentration (Δ[Ca2+]i) of about 140 nM peak amplitude per AP. The AP evoked Ca2+ signal decayed with a time constant of about 200 ms. 3 A relatively high endogenous Ca2+ binding ratio of ≈285 determines the comparatively small rise in [Ca2+]i of bitufted cell dendrites evoked by a back‐propagating AP. 4 The [Ca2+]i transient evoked by back‐propagating dendritic APs decreased with distance (≤ 50 μm) from the soma in some neurons. At distances greater than 50 μm transients did not show a spatial gradient between the proximal and distal dendritic branches. 5 During trains of APs the mean amplitude of the steady‐state increase in dendritic [Ca2+]i encoded the AP frequency linearly up to 40 Hz with a slope of 20 nM Hz−1. 6 The results suggest that APs initiated in the axon of bitufted neurons back‐propagate and ‘copy’ the pattern of the axon's electrical activity also to the dendritic arbor. The AP pattern is transduced into a transient rise of dendritic [Ca2+]i which, presumably, can regulate the receptive properties of the dendritic arbor for synaptic input.
Clinical Presentation , Treatment and Outcome of Patients with SLE at a Rheumatology Clinic in Douala , Cameroon . Aspects cliniques et thérapeutiques du lupus érythémateux systémique dans une consultation rhumatologique à Douala , Cameroun

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was reported to be rare in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to present our experience on SLE clinical and biological characteristics Patients and methods: We reviewed all the clinical records of patients suspected SLE in the General Hospital, DoualaCameroon from 1999 to 2009. Patients fulfilling the 1987 ACR criteria for SLE were included Results: 83 patients were diagnosed SLE, 39 fulfilling ACR criteria were analyzed: 36 female; mean age 39.2 ± 10.2 (19 – 59) years at the time of diagnosis. Dermatological (n= 25), musculoskeletal (n=23) and renal involvements (n = 7) were the main presenting complains. Clinical features in the course of disease included: musculoskeletal (n=39); hematologic (n=25); skin (n=22); renal (n=12); cardiac (n=16); neuropsychiatric (n=8); Constitutional symptoms included fever (n =20), fatigue (n = 20), weight loss (n = 12), and anorexia (n = 11). Raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (n=35); positive anti nuclear antibodies (n= 31) urinalysis abnormalities (n=16) All patients received corticosteroids at some stage of the disease. Antimalarial were administered to 27 patients. 12 patients with lupus nephritis received Intravenous cyclophosphamide. Improvement was noted in 27 patients. Severe complications included chronic kidney disease (n=3); encephalitis (n=3); infection (n=2). There were 2 deaths, from neurologic involvement and from dialysis-related sepsis Conclusion: Clinical presentation of SLE in Cameroon is similar to data available from other sub-Saharan Africa countries, but complications and mortality rates appear to be lower than previously described. Multicentric prospective studies are needed to better appreciate epidemiology and severity of SLE in sub-Saharan Africa
Genomic Instability and Breast Cancer

Abstract : Genomic instability is one of the key initiating events that lead to breast cancer development. We would like to gain further insights into the regulation of genomic stability and how the disruption of this regulation contributes to tumorigenesis. In the past year, we have identified several new components in the DNA damage pathway that act upstream of BRCA1. We have also discovered a novel link between aging and breast cancer development. In addition, we have established a platform for large-scale purification of protein complexes for the study of networks involved in breast cancer development. On top of these, we are also interested in developing novel agents for cancer treatment. In this arena, we have set up a screen for cytotoxic agents that would target Chfr-deficient tumor cells. In a collaborative study, we identified compounds that would disrupt the interaction between BRCA1 and its binding partners for potential use as radiation sensitizer. Moreover, we have initiated a collection of stable cell lines expressing various protein kinases for the screening of specific kinase inhibitors. Together, these studies will help us understand breast cancer.
Working with Family Caregivers: Case Managers’ Perspectives

The purpose of this study was to explore from the case managers’ perspective how they work with family caregivers. Eighteen social workers from 5 community based case management agencies completed an online survey about their work family caregivers. Case managers indicated involvement with family caregivers in the areas of assessment, creating a care plan, education, making referrals, advocacy and assistance with problem solving. Case managers indicated that they typically complete the assessment with a caregiver present and invite the caregiver to participate in creating the care plan. Respondents indicated they provide updates less than once a month and use email to provide those updates. Case managers provide education materials to caregivers about community resources and assist them with problem solving related to home care services. When offered the opportunity to comment on their work with family caregivers, case managers emphasized the importance of family involvement and the role of the client in making decisions about the nature and level of family involvement as they are able. Implications for practice and research are also addressed.
A comparison of electric and magnetic compound action signals as quantitative assays of peripheralo nerve regeneration

The evaluation of peripheral nerve regeneration is of great interest in clinical as well as in experimental situations. However, there are few techniques that give early and quantitative information on the states of the regeneration process. If quantitative assays would be available, different surgical techniques and medications could be evaluated more accurately in relation to axonal ingrowth and functional recovery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the merits of nerve compound action signals (NCASs) recorded electrically and signals recorded with a novel magnetic recording technique. We compared the two techniques in the rabbit peroneal nerve, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after a nerve reconstruction. Our conclusions are that the signals recorded with the magnetic sensor are far more reproducible and less prone to stimulus artifact than the electrically recorded signals. Furthermore, the magnetic recording shows that the number of axons that have regenerated increases with time. Previously, this could only be determined with histological studies. Other ingrowth parameters that can be quantified are the average ingrowth distance, and the variation between axons in ingrowth velocity. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
High levels of isotope elimination improve precision and allow individual-based measurements of metabolic rates in animals using the doubly labeled water method

Doubly labeled water (DLW) can be used to measure energy expenditure in free‐ranging animals, but questions have been raised about its accuracy in different species or contexts. We investigated whether differences in the extent of isotope elimination affects the precision and accuracy of the DLW method, which can vary according to the experimental design or metabolic rate of the species. Estimated total energy expenditure by the DLW method (TEEdlw) was compared with actual total energy expenditure simultaneously measured via respirometry (TEEresp) in streaked shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas, a pelagic seabird. Subjects were divided into three groups with different experimental conditions: at rest on the ground for 24 h (Group A) or for 48 h (Group B), and at rest on the water for 24 h (Group C). TEEdlw in Group A matched TEEresp, whereas there was an overestimation of TEEdlw in both Groups B and C compared with TEEresp. However, compared with Group A, TEEdlw in Groups B and C had reduced the isotopic analytical variability and thus higher precision. The best regression model (TEEdlw = 1.37 TEEresp − 14.12) showed a high correlation (R2 = 0.82) between TEEdlw and TEEresp and allows a correction factor for field metabolic rates in streaked shearwaters. Our results demonstrate that the commonly made assumption that the DLW method is not appropriate for individual‐based estimates may be incorrect in certain circumstances. Although a correction factor may be necessary when using the DLW method to estimate metabolic rate, greater levels of isotope eliminations provides DLW estimates with high precision, which can adequately represent relative individual estimates. Nevertheless, the DLW method, should be used with caution when characterizing interspecies difference of energy expenditures.
Mixed Convection in a Square Cavity Filled with Porous Medium with Heated Bottom Wall

Two-dimensional unsteady mixed convection in a porous cavity with heated bottom wall is numerically studied in the present paper. The forced flow conditions are imposed by providing a hydrostatic pressure head at the inlet port that is located at the bottom of one of the vertical side walls and an open vent at the top of the other vertical side wall. The Darcy model is adopted to model the fluid flow in the porous medium and the combination effects of hydrostatic pressure head and the heat flux quantity parameters are carefully investigated. These governing parameters are varied over wide ranges and their effect on the heat transfer characteristics is studied in detail. It is found that the time required to reach a desired temperature at the bottom wall decreases with heat flux and pressure head increase. The higher heat flux quantities leaves wider regions near the top wall at lower temperatures which is important in most engineering applications like drying.
Enhanced Macrophage Tribbles-1 Expression in Murine Experimental Atherosclerosis

Development of the atherosclerotic plaque involves a complex interplay between a number of cell types and an extensive inter-cellular communication via cell bound as well as soluble mediators. The family of tribbles proteins has recently been identified as novel controllers of pro-inflammatory signal transduction. The objective of this study was to address the expression pattern of all three tribbles proteins in atherosclerotic plaques from a mouse model of atherosclerosis. Each tribbles were expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells as well as in resident macrophages of mouse atherosclerotic plaques. The role of IL-1 mediated inflammatory events in controlling tribbles expression was also addressed by inducing experimental atherosclerosis in ApoE−/−IL1R1−/− (double knockout) mice. Immunohistochemical analysis of these mice showed a selective decrease in the percentage of trb-1 expressing macrophages, compared to the ApoE−/− cohort (14.7% ± 1.55 vs. 26.3% ± 1.19). The biological significance of this finding was verified in vitro where overexpression of trb-1 in macrophages led to a significant attenuation (~70%) of IL-6 production as well as a suppressed IL-12 expression induced by a proinflammatory stimulus. In this in vitro setting, expression of truncated trb-1 mutants suggests that the kinase domain of this protein is sufficient to exert this inhibitory action.
Avulsion amputation of the ring finger managed by double cross finger flap: 25 years follow-up

Avulsion amputation of the fingers are rare. Current trend is to replant the avulsed tissue in spite of a high rate of failure. There are situations where replantation is not possible. Various salvage procedures have been mentioned. The author is presenting a 25 year follow up of a double cross finger flap done in 1987. A similar procedure has been reported by other authors but with a short term follow up.
Online data-race detection via coherency guarantees

We present the design and evaluation of an on-the-ﬂy data-race-detection technique that handles applications written for the lazy release consistent (LRC) shared memory model. We require no explicit association between synchronization and shared memory. Hence, shared accesses have to be tracked and compared at the minimum granularity of data accesses, which is typically a single word. The novel aspect of this system is that we are able to leverage information used to support the underlying memory abstraction to perform on-the-ﬂy data-race detection, without compiler support. Our system consists of a minimally modiﬁed version of the CVM distributed shared memory system, and instrumentationcode inserted by the ATOM code re-writer. Wepresentan experimental evaluation of our technique by using our system to look for data races in four unaltered programs. Our system correctly foundread-writedataraces in a program that allows unsynchronized read access to a global tour bound, and a write-write race in a program from a standard benchmark suite. Overall, our mechanism reduced program performance by approximately a factor of two.
Boredom at the checkout Causes, coping strategies and outcomes of Workplace Boredom in a Supermarket setting

The current study explores boredom within the context of a retail environment in order to explore ways in which the experience of workplace boredom can be managed. The questionnaire-based study of 117 employees of a national supermarket chain found that although only 17% of participants experienced chronic boredom at work, 40-50% claimed that workplace boredom leads to potentially serious consequences such as making mistakes or leaving their jobs. Multiple regression analysis suggests that routine is the biggest contributor to workplace boredom, followed by the personality trait of Boredom Proneness. Implications for retail organisations are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
NailDisplay: bringing an always available visual display to fingertips

This work presents a novel and always-available nail mounted display known as NailDisplay. The proposed display augments the use of a finger by allowing for always-available visual feedback owing to its fast accessibility and binding user controls with the display, i.e. what you control is what you see (through the display). Potential benefits of NailDisplay are demonstrated in three applications: from displaying to combining it with user controls. In the first application, NailDisplay can reveal what is occluded under a finger touch, making it a solution to operate small UI elements. In the second application, NailDisplay is complementary to an imaginary interface, helping users to learn an imaginary interface (e.g., on the users' arms) and allowing them to reassure the interface when their memory of it becomes unclear. In the third application, NailDisplay is integrated with rich finger interactions, such as swiping in the air. We also report users' feedbacks gathered from an explorative user study.
HEPARIN AND GLUTATHIONE II: CORRELATION BETWEEN DECONDENSATION OF BULL SPERM CELLS AND ITS NUCLEONS

The correlation between the kinetics of bull sperm nuclear and nucleon decondensation induced by the action of physiological concentrations of heparin/GSH was studied. Sperm and nucleon suspensions were incubated at 37°C in salt medium, at a constant concentration of either heparin or GSH and increasing concentrations of the other reagent. Even though nucleons are pretreated with DTT/CTAB, when they are incubated alone with GSH for 96 h, they remain intact, no matter which concentration is employed, and it was impossible to observe the slightest sign of nuclei decondensation. Therefore, rupture of disulfide bridges is not the main mechanism to induce nuclei decondensation and perhaps the GSH role resides in potentate the heparin effect by increasing its negative charge. Nevertheless, nucleons reach 95% of chromatin decondensation in the presence of heparin plus GSH or heparin alone. The fact that the correlation between heparin and GSH concentrations needed to induce sperm nuclei decondensation was 3- to 4-fold greater that in nucleons might be due to the complete lack of nucleon membranes. Heparin/GSH seem to induce nuclei decondensation by an ionic chromatin charge neutralization mechanism.
Data Center Network Virtualization: A Survey

With the growth of data volumes and variety of Internet applications, data centers (DCs) have become an efficient and promising infrastructure for supporting data storage, and providing the platform for the deployment of diversified network services and applications (e.g., video streaming, cloud computing). These applications and services often impose multifarious resource demands (storage, compute power, bandwidth, latency) on the underlying infrastructure. Existing data center architectures lack the flexibility to effectively support these applications, which results in poor support of QoS, deployability, manageability, and defence against security attacks. Data center network virtualization is a promising solution to address these problems. Virtualized data centers are envisioned to provide better management flexibility, lower cost, scalability, better resources utilization, and energy efficiency. In this paper, we present a survey of the current state-of-the-art in data center networks virtualization, and provide a detailed comparison of the surveyed proposals. We discuss the key research challenges for future research and point out some potential directions for tackling the problems related to data center design.
Application of Sigma Point Kalman Filter in deformation monitoring

The Extended Kalman Filter has been one of the most widely used methods for estimation of non-linear systems through the linearization of non-linear models. In recent several decades people have realized that there are a lot of constraints in application of the EKF for its hard implementation and intractability. In this paper a different estimation method is proposed, which takes advantage of the Sigma Point Transformation method thus approximating the true mean and variance more accurately. The new method can be applied to non-linear systems without the linearization process necessary for the EKF, and it does not demand a Gaussian distribution of noise and what's more, its ease of implementation and more accurate estimation features enables it to demonstrate its good performance in the experiment of deformation monitoring. Numerical experiments show that the application of the Sigma Point Kalman Filter in deformation prediction is more effective than that of the EKF.
Early pathogenesis of holoprosencephaly

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is one of the most common malformations encountered in early human embryos. It is assumed that more than 90% of HPE embryos die in utero and are eliminated by spontaneous abortion. Embryonic HPE displays some characteristic craniofacial phenotypes, which are not necessarily comparable to those in postnatal HPE cases. In this article, we summarize our studies on HPE in human embryos and discuss the pathogenesis of HPE malformations. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.