Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxysterols and cholesterol precursors correlate to magnetic resonance imaging measures of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis

Background: Cholesterol homeostasis is important for formation and maintenance of myelin and axonal membranes in the central nervous system (CNS). The concentrations of the brain specific cholesterol metabolite 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24OHC) and cholesterol precursors have been shown to be altered in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, how changes in sterol levels relate to the pathological processes in MS is not clear. Methods: In this study, we compared serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sterol levels between 105 MS (51 relapsing–remitting (RR); 39 secondary progressive (SP) and 15 primary progressive (PP)) and 49 control patients. Sterol levels were correlated to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of disease activity. Results: We found decreased serum 24OHC and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC) and increased CSF lathosterol in MS patients compared to control patients (p=0.018, p=0.002 and p=0.002, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that serum 24OHC levels were negatively correlated to normalized brain volume measurements in relapse-onset MS patients (r= −0.326, p=0.004). Conclusions: These results confirm that cholesterol homeostasis is disturbed in MS and suggest that changes in cholesterol synthesis are related to neurodegenerative pathological processes as seen on the MRI. The data seem to be in line with the recently reported observation that high dose statins may have a positive effect on clinical disability in secondary progressive MS.
Study on Alginate–Chitosan Complex Formed with Different Polymers Ratio

Biomaterials based on polyelectrolyte complexation are an innovative concept of coatings and packaging production to be applied in a wide range of food products. The aim of this study was to obtain and characterize a sodium alginate–chitosan complex material with variable degree of polyion interactions by complexation of oppositely charged polysaccharides. In order to characterize polyelectrolyte complexes, theromogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization technique with time of flight analyzer (MALDI-TOF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. TGA analysis showed that thermal decomposition temperature depends on the polymer ratio (R) and thermal resistance of samples was improved by increasing chitosan dosage. Accordingly to DMTA results, polyelectrolyte complexation led to obtain more flexible and resistant to mechanical deformation materials. Comparative analysis of the FTIR spectra of single polyelectrolytes, chitosan and alginate, and their mixtures indicated the formation of the polyelectrolyte complex without addition of reinforcing substances. MALDI-TOF analysis confirms the creation of polyelectrolyte aggregates (~197 Da) in samples with R ≥ 0.8; and their chemical stability and safety were proven by NMR analysis. The higher R the greater the number of polyanion–polycation aggregates seen in SEM as film morphology roughness.
Dividend Payouts and Information Shocks

We examine changes in firms’ dividend payouts following an exogenous shock to the information asymmetry problem between managers and investors. Agency theories predict a decrease in dividend payments to the extent that improved public information lowers managers’ need to convey their commitment to avoid overinvestment via costly dividend payouts. Conversely, dividends could increase if minority investors are in a better position to extract cash dividends. We test these predictions by analyzing the dividend payment behavior of a global sample of firms around the mandatory adoption of IFRS and the initial enforcement of new insider trading laws. Both events serve as proxies for a general improvement of the information environment and, hence, the corporate governance structure in the economy. We find that, following the two events, firms are less likely to pay (increase) dividends, but more likely to cut (stop) such payments. The changes occur around the time of the informational shock, and only in countries and for firms subject to the regulatory change. They are more pronounced when the inherent agency issues or the informational shocks are stronger. We further find that the information content of dividends decreases after the events. The results highlight the importance of the agency costs of free cash flows (and changes therein) for shaping firms’ payout policies.
Profilin induces lamellipodia by growth factor independent mechanism

Profilin has been implicated in cell mo tility and in a variety of cellular processes, such as membrane extension, endocytosis, and formation of focal complexes. In vivo, profilin replenish the pool of ATP‐actin monomers by increasing the rate of nucleotide exchange of ADP‐actin for ATP‐actin, promoting the incorporation of new actin monomers at the barbed end of actin filaments. For this report, we generated a membrane‐permeable version of profilin I (PTD4‐PfnI) for the alteration of intracellular profilin levels taking advantage of the protein transduction technique. We show that profilin I induces lamellipodia formation independently of growth factor presence in primary bovine trabecular meshwork (BTM) cells. The effects are time‐ and concentration‐dependent and specific to the profilin I isoform. Profilin II, the neuronal isoform, failed to extend lamellipodia in the same degree as profilin I. H133S, a mutation in the polyproline binding domain, showed a reduced ability to induce lamellipo‐ dia. H199E, mutation in the actin binding domain failed to induce membrane spreading and inhibit fetal bovine serum (FBS) ‐induced lamellipodia extension. Incubation with a synthetic polyproline domain peptide (GP5)3, fused to a transduction domain, abolished lamellipodia induction by profilin or FBS. Time‐lapse microscopy confirmed the effects of profilin on lamel‐ lipodia extension with a higher spreading velocity than FBS. PTD4‐Pfn I was found in the inner lamellipodia domain, at the membrane leading edge where it colocalizes with endogenous profilin. While FBS‐induced lamellipodia formation activates Rac1, PTD4‐Pfn I stimulation did not induce Rac1 activation. We propose a role of profilin I favoring lamellipodia formation by a mechanism downstream of growth factor. —Syriani, E. , Gomez‐Cabrero, A. , Bosch, M. , Moya, A. , Abad, E. , Gual, A. , Gasull, X. , Morales, M. Profilin induces lamellipodia by growth factor independent mechanism. FASEB J. 22, 1581–1596 (2008)
[Diagnosis of the Mikulicz-Sjogren syndrome using biopsy of the minor salivary glands].

BACKGROUND Sjögren's syndrome (SS) represents autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, destruction and insufficiency of exocrine glands, particularly salivary and lacrimal glands, accompanied by dryness of mouths and eyes. Diagnostic work-up involves clinical laboratory tests, radiography, scintigraphy and bioptic histopathological examination. Examination of small salivary glands in the biopsy of the lower lip represents a "golden standard" of diagnosis of SS, concerning the fact that the growth and the disfunction of salivary and lacrimal glands occurs in different pathologic states. METHODS Resected specimens of the lower lip were obtained from 47 patients with clinical diagnosis of SS. After standard histopathological treatment, slices were hematoxylin and eosin stained. Immunohistochemistry against smooth muscle actin was performed using LSAB+ method (AHSMA-M7558, DAKO 1:50). On the basis of generally accepted histopathological diagnostic criteria the results were categorized as: findings suspicious for SS; findings compatible with the diagnosis of SS (mild, moderate and high degree of inflammation); nonspecific inflammatory reaction and nonrepresentative biopsy samples. RESULTS Diagnosis of SS was confirmed in 32% of cases. In 2% of cases findings were suspected for SS, in 36% of cases findings were compatible with the diagnosis of nonspecific inflammation, and in 30% of cases material was not representative. CONCLUSIONS By the biopsy of salivary glands of the lower lip the diagnosis of SS was confirmed in 50-60% of cases. Upon the precise diagnostic criteria it was also possible to determine the intensity of inflammation and tissue destruction in SS and identify other pathological conditions, which justified the biopsy. Surgical technique had to be adequate in order to obtain representative number of small salivary glands. In the presented material 30% of specimens were nonrepresentative which was very high percentage compared with literature data. This was most probably the reason why the diagnosis of SS was confirmed in only 32% of cases, i.e., in every third patient.
Hypoxia-Inducible Factors 1α and 2α Regulate Trophoblast Differentiation

ABSTRACT Placental development initially occurs in a low-oxygen (O2) or hypoxic environment. In this report we show that two hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), HIF1α and HIF2α, are essential for determining murine placental cell fates. HIF is a heterodimer composed of HIFα and HIFβ (ARNT) subunits. Placentas from Arnt− / − and Hif1α − / − Hif2α −/− embryos exhibit defective placental vascularization and aberrant cell fate adoption. HIF regulation of Mash2 promotes spongiotrophoblast differentiation, a prerequisite for trophoblast giant cell differentiation. In the absence of Arnt or Hifα, trophoblast stem cells fail to generate these cell types and become labyrinthine trophoblasts instead. Therefore, HIF mediates placental morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and cell fate decisions, demonstrating that O2 tension is a critical regulator of trophoblast lineage determination. This novel genetic approach provides new insights into the role of O2 tension in the development of life-threatening pregnancy-related diseases such as preeclampsia.
Optoelectronic Oscillator Tunable by an SOA Based Slow Light Element

We present a continuously tunable optoelectronic oscillator with an intra cavity slow light element based on coherent population oscillations in a semiconductor optical amplifier. The performance of the oscillator is characterized in terms of its frequency tuning range and phase noise. These two characteristics can be traded for each other by choosing the operating conditions of the slow light element and the oscillator fiber length.
Real-Time Sensing of O-Phenylenediamine Oxidation on Gold Nanoparticles

Real-time monitoring of chemical reactions is still challenging as well as important to study reaction mechanisms and reaction kinetics. Herein, we demonstrated the real-time monitoring of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) oxidation on the surface of gold nanoparticles by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The oxidation mechanism and the reaction kinetics were investigated on the basis of the SERS spectrum variation and the related density functionalized theory calculation. It was shown that the oxidation of OPD in the presence of copper ions was a two-step process of the deprotonation of the amino group on the aromatic rings and the rearrangement of the electron cloud to a π-conjugated system, which may open a new door to comprehensively understand the reaction process.
FUSE and STIS Observations of the Warm-hot Intergalactic Medium toward PG 1259+593

We use Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) spectra to study intergalactic absorption toward the quasar PG 1259+593 (zem = 0.478), with a particular emphasis on the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). The combined FUSE and STIS spectrum of PG 1259+593 covers the full wavelength range between 905 and 1730 Å at a spectral resolution of ∼25 km s-1 for the FUSE bandpass (λ ≤ 1180 Å) and ∼7 km s-1 for the STIS range (λ > 1150 Å). The signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) per resolution element are ∼10-30 (FUSE) and ∼7-17 (STIS). We identify 135 intergalactic absorption lines with equivalent widths ≥10 mÅ, tracing 78 absorption components in 72 Lyα/Lyβ absorption-line systems. Metal-line absorption by species such as C III, C IV, O III, O IV, O VI, and Si III is clearly detected in four systems and is possibly seen in four additional cases. We study the distribution and physical properties of the WHIM as sampled by O VI and intrinsically broad Lyα lines. The number of intervening O VI absorbers for equivalent widths Wτ ≥ 24 mÅ is 3-6 over an unobscured redshift path of Δz ≈ 0.368. This implies a number density of O VI systems, dN/dz, of ∼8-16 above this equivalent width limit along this sight line. A seventh intervening O VI absorber is possibly detected with Wr(O ) ≈ 15 mÅ. The range of dN/dz = 8-16 for Wτ ≥ 24 mÅ is consistent with estimates from other sight lines, supporting the idea that intervening intergalactic O VI absorbers contain an substantial fraction of the baryonic mass in the low-redshift universe. We identify a number of broad Lyα absorbers with large Doppler parameters (b ∼ 40-200 km s-1) and low column densities [N(H ) < 1014 cm-2]. For pure thermal broadening, these widths correspond to temperatures of ∼1 × 105-3 × 106 K. While these broad absorbers could be caused by blends of multiple, unresolved lines, continuum undulations, or by kinematic flows and Hubble broadening, we consider the possibility that some of these features are single-component, thermally broadened Lyα lines. These systems could represent WHIM absorbers that are too weak, too metal-poor, and/or too hot to be detected in O VI. If so, their widths and their frequency in the PG 1259+593 spectrum imply that these absorbers trace an even larger fraction of the baryons in the low-redshift universe than the O VI absorbing systems. A thermal Doppler broadening explanation for one of these broad features is supported by the probable detection of O VI near the velocity of a broad Lyα and Lyβ absorber with an O VI line width ∼4 times smaller than for H I.
Source model of the 2007 Mw 8.0 Pisco, Peru earthquake: Implications for seismogenic behavior of subduction megathrusts

We use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, teleseismic body waves, tsunami waveforms recorded by tsunameters, field observations of coastal uplift, subsidence, and runup to develop and test a refined model of the spatiotemporal history of slip during the Mw 8.0 Pisco earthquake of 15 August 2007. Our preferred solution shows two distinct patches of high slip. One patch is located near the epicenter while another larger patch ruptured 60 km further south, at the latitude of the Paracas peninsula. Slip on the second patch started 60 s after slip initiated on the first patch. We observed a remarkable anticorrelation between the coseismic slip distribution and the aftershock distribution determined from the Peruvian seismic network. The proposed source model is compatible with regional runup measurements and open ocean tsunami records. From the latter data set, we identified the 12 min timing error of the tsunami forecast system as being due to a mislocation of the source, caused by the use of only one tsunameter located in a nonoptimal azimuth. The comparison of our source model with the tsunami observations validate that the rupture did not extend to the trench and confirms that the Pisco event is not a tsunami earthquake despite its low apparent rupture velocity (<1.5 km/s). We favor the interpretation that the earthquake consists of two subevents, each with a conventional rupture velocity (2-4 km/s). The delay between the two subevents might reflect the time for the second shock to nucleate or, alternatively, the time it took for afterslip to increase the stress level on the second asperity to a level necessary for static triggering. The source model predicts uplift offshore and subsidence on land with the pivot line following closely the coastline. This pattern is consistent with our observation of very small vertical displacement along the shoreline when we visited the epicentral area in the days following the event. This earthquake represents, to our knowledge, one of the best examples of a link between the geomorphology of the coastline and the pattern of surface deformation induced by large interplate ruptures.
Optimal service‐capacity allocation in a loss system

We consider a loss system with a fixed budget for servers. The system owner's problem is choosing the price, and selecting the number and quality of the servers, in order to maximize profits, subject to a budget constraint. We solve the problem with identical and different service rates as well as with preemptive and nonpreemptive policies. In addition, when the policy is preemptive, we prove the following conservation law: the distribution of the total service time for a customer entering the slowest server is hyperexponential with expectation equal to the average service rate independent of the allocation of the capacity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 81–97, 2015
Hybrid System Modeling of Human Blood Clotting

The process of human blood clotting involves a complex interaction of continuous-time/continuous-state processes and discrete-event/discrete-state phenomena, where the former comprise the various chemical rate equations (which can be written as differential equations) and the latter comprise both threshold-limited behaviors and qualitative facets of the coagulation cascade. We model this process as a hybrid dynamical system, consisting of both discrete and continuous dynamics. Previous blood clotting models used only continuous dynamics and perforce addressed only portions of the coagulation cascade. The model was implemented as a hybrid Petri net, a graphical modeling language that extends ordinary Petri nets to cover continuous quantities and continuous-time flows. The primary focus is simulation; specifically, we are interested in (1) fidelity of simulation to the actual clotting process in terms of clotting factor concentrations and elapsed time; (2) simulating deficiencies, surfeits, and other perturbations of initial values of blood proteins, and their consequences for clotting factor concentrations and for clotting time, especially in the context of known clotting pathologies; and (3) providing fine-grained predictions which may be used to refine clinical understanding of blood clotting.
The Score Model Containing Chinese Medicine Syndrome Element of Blood Stasis Presented a Better Performance Compared to APRI and FIB-4 in Diagnosing Advanced Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

This study aims to explore a useful noninvasive assessment containing TCM syndrome elements for liver fibrosis in CHB patients. The demographic, clinical, and pathological data were retrospectively collected from 709 CHB patients who had ALT less than 2 times the upper limit of normal from April 2009 to October 2012. Logistical regression and area under receiver-operator curve (AUROC) were used to determine the diagnostic performances of simple tests for advanced fibrosis (Scheuer stage, F ≥ 3). Results showed that the most common TCM syndrome element observed in this CHB population was dampness and Qi stagnation, followed by blood stasis, by heat, and less by Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency. The logistical regression analysis identified AST ≥ 35 IU/L, PLT ≤ 161 × 109/L, and TCM syndrome element of blood stasis as the independent risk factors for advanced fibrosis. Therefore, a score model containing these three factors was established and tested. The score model containing blood stasis resulted in a higher AUC (AUC = 0.936) compared with APRI (AUC = 0.731) and FIB-4 (AUC = 0.709). The study suggested that the score model containing TCM syndrome element of blood stasis could be used as a useful diagnostic tool for advanced fibrosis in CHB patients and presented a better performance compared to APRI and FIB-4.
Radiographic Measurements of the Radio-Carpal Joint in Normal Adults

Radiography of 60 normal wrists was performed in 50 adults to determine the inclination of the distal joint surface of the radius. The central ray was directed 10 degrees proximally in postero-anterior projection and 15 degree proximally in lateral projection. The values obtained were compared with those from perpendicular projections. No dfferences were found between the two p.a. projections. In the lateral projection with the central ray directed proximally the measuring points were better defined, resulting in significantly increased exactness of the measurement. The mean value for the volar inclination was 9 degrees in the latter projection.
Hyperbilirubinemia without common bile duct abnormalities and hyperamylasemia without pancreatitis in patients with gallbladder disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of jaundice and hyperamylasemia in the absence of common bile duct abnormalities or clinical pancreatitis in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. DESIGN A continuous, prospective analysis of a consecutive case series was performed on all patients undergoing cholecystectomy. SETTING An urban, tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS Adult patients with gallbladder disease. INTERVENTION All patients underwent cholecystectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The presence or absence of common bile duct abnormalities was evaluated by cholangiography, and pancreatitis was identified by clinical signs, imaging studies, and direct visual inspection during cholecystectomy. RESULTS All patients (N = 1746) undergoing cholecystectomy were prospectively categorized as having chronic calculous (n = 1410), acute calculous (n = 217), chronic acalculous (n = 70), or acute acalculous (n = 49) gallbladder disease. It was uncommon for patients with chronic calculous cholecystitis to have an elevated bilirubin level with no choledocholithiasis and a normal common bile duct or to have hyperamylasemia without pancreatitis. Twenty-five percent of the patients with acute calculous cholecystitis had a serum bilirubin level between 34 and 86 mumol/L (2.0 and 5.0 mg/dL) with no common bile duct abnormality and 4% had hyperamylasemia without pancreatitis. Over one third of the patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis had an elevated bilirubin level with a normal common bile duct or an elevated amylase level without pancreatitis. CONCLUSION Jaundice and hyperamylasemia can be produced by gallbladder disease alone.
Diffusion, Deformation, and Damage in Lithium-Ion Batteries and Microelectronics

This thesis explores mechanical behavior of microelectronic devices and lithium-ion batteries. We first examine electromigration-induced void formation in solder bumps by constructing a theory that couples electromigration and creep. The theory can predict the critical current density below which voids do not form. Due to the effects of creep, this quantity is found to be independent of the solder size and decrease exponentially with increasing temperature, different from existing theories. We then investigate the interplay between mass transport, deformation, stress, and fracture in lithium-ion battery electrodes. First, we model fracture of elastic electrodes by combining ideas from diffusion kinetics and fracture mechanics. Next, we examine mechanics of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, which demonstrate inelastic deformation, by constructing a model that accounts for diffusion and elastic-plastic deformation. These models suggest that fracture is prevented in small and soft electrode materials that are cycled slowly. To investigate crystalline silicon electrodes, we construct a continuum model of concurrent reaction-controlled kinetics and plasticity. To quantify the kinetics of