Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE Original Studies Bare-Metal Stent Versus Drug-Eluting Stent in Large Coronary Arteries: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Uncertainties exist with regard to the efficacy of drug-eluting stent (DES) versus bare-metal stent (BMS) in large coronary arteries. Objective and Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of BMS versus DES in terms of clinical events in large coronary vessels ( 3.0 mm) by performing a meta-analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results: Six RCTs with 4,399 patients were included in this study. Overall, there were no significant between-group differences in the risks of the composite of cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (cardiac death/MI), cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis, however, DES was associated with significant reduction in the risk of target vessel revascularization (TVR) compared with BMS [0.48 (0.33, 0.70)] with consistent benefits among patients with reference vessel diameter 3.5 mm, reference vessel diameter 4.0 mm, stent length 15 mm, first-generation DES or second-generation DES. In patients with 3-year follow-up, there were no significant between-group differences in the risk of cardiac death/MI, TVR, cardiac death, myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that DES is superior to BMS in terms of adverse cardiac events in large coronary arteries at the mid-term follow-up. The long-term efficacy of newer-generation DES versus BMS in larger coronary arteries is still worth further evaluation. VC 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Cholesteatomas

Cholesteatomas show histomorphological features like papillary growth and koilocytosis, which are characteristic of lesions induced by human papillomaviruses (HPV). Two previous studies investigating the possible role of HPV in the development of cholesteatoma had detected HPV-6 and HPV-11 DNA with a prevalence differing from 3 to 36%. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the prevalence of different HPV types in cholesteatomas using a sensitive detection system for HPV DNA. Twenty-nine biopsies from cholesteatomas were screened for HPV DNA with a 2-step broad-spectrum PCR (PCR and nested PCR). HPV-positive products were directly sequenced by means of a cycle sequencing approach. Sensitivity of the applied broad-spectrum PCR was 0.1 copy/genome. One out of 29 biopsies showed a positive signal on the nested PCR level. Considering the low prevalence (1/29 biopsies) of detected HPV DNA in cholesteatomas, infections with common HPV types are unlikely to be a causative factor.
Evolution of Human Longevity Uncoupled from Caloric Restriction Mechanisms

Caloric restriction (CR) and chemical agents, such as resveratrol and rapamycin that partially mimic the CR effect, can delay morbidity and mortality across a broad range of species. In humans, however, the effects of CR or other life-extending agents have not yet been investigated systematically. Human maximal lifespan is already substantially greater compared to that of closely related primate species. It is therefore possible that humans have acquired genetic mutations that mimic the CR effect. Here, we tested this notion by comparing transcriptome differences between humans and other primates, with the transcriptome changes observed in mice subjected to CR. We show that the human transcriptome state, relative to other primate transcriptomes, does not match that of the CR mice or mice treated with resveratrol, but resembles the transcriptome state of ad libitum fed mice. At the same time, the transcriptome changes induced by CR in mice are enriched among genes showing age-related changes in primates, concentrated in specific expression patterns, and can be linked with specific functional pathways, including insulin signalling, cancer, and the immune response. These findings indicate that the evolution of human longevity was likely independent of CR-induced lifespan extension mechanisms. Consequently, application of CR or CR-mimicking agents may yet offer a promising direction for the extension of healthy human lifespan.
Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Dysregulation of the Circadian Clock

Circadian rhythm disturbances are frequently reported in patients recovering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Since circadian clock output is mediated by some of the same molecular signaling cascades that regulate memory formation (cAMP/MAPK/CREB), cognitive problems reported by TBI survivors may be related to injury-induced dysregulation of the circadian clock. In laboratory animals, aberrant circadian rhythms in the hippocampus have been linked to cognitive and memory dysfunction. Here, we addressed the hypothesis that circadian rhythm disruption after TBI is mediated by changes in expression of clock genes in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and hippocampus. After fluid-percussion TBI or sham surgery, male Sprague-Dawley rats were euthanized at 4 h intervals, over a 48 h period for tissue collection. Expression of circadian clock genes was measured using quantitative real-time PCR in the SCN and hippocampus obtained by laser capture and manual microdissection respectively. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis were used to correlate TBI-induced changes in circadian gene expression with changes in protein expression. In separate groups of rats, locomotor activity was monitored for 48 h. TBI altered circadian gene expression patterns in both the SCN and the hippocampus. Dysregulated expression of key circadian clock genes, such as Bmal1 and Cry1, was detected, suggesting perturbation of transcriptional-translational feedback loops that are central to circadian timing. In fact, disruption of circadian locomotor activity rhythms in injured animals occurred concurrently. These results provide an explanation for how TBI causes disruption of circadian rhythms as well as a rationale for the consideration of drugs with chronobiotic properties as part of a treatment strategy for TBI.
Pathways and Mechanisms that Prevent Genome Instability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genome rearrangements result in mutations that underlie many human diseases, and ongoing genome instability likely contributes to the development of many cancers. The tools for studying genome instability in mammalian cells are limited, whereas model organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae are more amenable to these studies. Here, we discuss the many genetic assays developed to measure the rate of occurrence of Gross Chromosomal Rearrangements (called GCRs) in S. cerevisiae. These genetic assays have been used to identify many types of GCRs, including translocations, interstitial deletions, and broken chromosomes healed by de novo telomere addition, and have identified genes that act in the suppression and formation of GCRs. Insights from these studies have contributed to the understanding of pathways and mechanisms that suppress genome instability and how these pathways cooperate with each other. Integrated models for the formation and suppression of GCRs are discussed.
Insulin Resistance and Homocysteine Levels in Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Objectives: To assess association in between insulin resistance and homocysteine levels in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods: A case control study. Setting: Hospital based. Patients: Forty females diagnosed with PCOS were matched with 40 normal healthy controls. Intervention: Blood samples for insulin, lipid profile, fasting glucose and homocysteine measurements. Results: Our study suggests that PCOS patients have insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hyperhomocysteinemia when compared with normal healthy controls. Conclusion: To determine the short-term implications of reproductive performance and long-term implications regarding cardiovascular complications associated with PCOS the assessment of insulin resistance, lipid profile along with homocysteine levels in patients of PCOS is warranted.
Response of Visual Cortical Neurons of the cat to moving sinusoidal gratings: response-contrast functions and spatiotemporal interactions.

I. Recordings were obtained from 108 cells near the border of areas 17 and 18 in anesthetized, paralyzed cats. Emphasis was placed on analyzing responses to moving sinusoidal gratings, whose spatial frequency, velocity, and contrast were varied systematically. In the presence of drifting gratings, about 30% of the cells responded with a periodic discharge at virtually all effective spatial and temporal frequencies. These neurons tended to be “simple,” to have very low levels of spontaneous activity, and to have the narrowest spatialand temporal-frequency response functions. Another 30% of the cells responded aperiodically at all but the lowest spatial and temporal frequencies. These cells tended to be “complex” and to have the broadest tuning curves. The remaining cells responded periodically over part of the range of effective frequencies, and could be simple, complex, or intermediate and difficult to classify. 2. For most of the neurons that responded appreciably to both directions of movement at the optimal orientation, the peak frequency (and shape) of spatialand/or temporal-frequency response functions differ by more than 0.3 octave for the two directions of movement. The peak frequency and/or bandwidth of the temporal response function for either direction may also depend on whether there is a pause between movements in the two directions. 3. The response of almost all cells increases linearly with contrast up to a saturation level. The threshold contrast shows little dependence on spatial frequency, but is a function of temporal frequency. The slopes of response-contrast functions are steepest at the optimal spatial or temporal frequencies and diminish at lower or higher frequencies. 4. The peak frequency and shape (bandwidth and high-frequency roll-off) of temporal-frequency response functions do not depend significantly on the spatial frequency used to make the measurement and the converse is true. Accordingly, it is possible to use a spatial-frequency tuning curve measured at fixed temporal frequency and a temporal curve measured at fixed spatial frequency to predict the spatial-frequency tuning curve that is obtained when all spatial frequencies are presented at the same velocity. This implies that knowledge of one spatial an . d one temporal curve of a cell allows one to calcu late its response to any combination of spatial and temporal frequencies. 5. The higher a cell’s best spatial frequency, the lower is the optimal velocity of movement at the best spatial frequency. The equation for the regression line that summarizes this correlation has velocity proportional to spatial frequency raised to the -5/4 power.
Jumping the Gap: The Formation Conditions and Mass Function of 'Pebble-Pile' Planetesimals

In a turbulent proto-planetary disk, dust grains undergo large density fluctuations and under the right circumstances, these grain overdensities can overcome shear, turbulent, and gas pressure support to collapse under self-gravity (forming a “pebble pile” planetesimal). Using a simple analytic model for the fluctuations predicted in simulations, we estimate the rate-of-formation and mass function of self-gravitating, rapidly-collapsing planetesimal-mass bodies formed by this mechanism. The statistics of this process depend sensitively on the size/stopping time of the grains, disk surface density, and turbulent Mach numbers. However, when it occurs, we predict that the resulting planetesimal mass function is broad and quasi-universal, with a slope dN/dM ∝ M^(-(1-2)), spanning a size/mass range ~ 10-10^4 km (10^(-9)-5M_⊕). Collapse to planetesimal through super-Earth masses is possible. The key condition is that grain density fluctuations reach large amplitudes on large scales, where gravitational instability proceeds most easily (collapse of small grains is strongly suppressed by turbulent vorticity). We show this leads to a new criterion for “pebble-pile” formation: Ƭs ≳0.05 ln (Q^(1/2)/Z_d)/ln(1+10ɑ^(1/4))~0. 3ψ(Q,Z,ɑ) where Ƭ_s=t_s Ω is the dimensionless particle stopping time. In a MMSN, this requires grains larger than ɑ = (50, 1, 0.1)cm at r = (1, 30, 100)au. So at large radii (beyond the ice line), this may easily occur and seed core accretion. At small radii, it would depend on the existence of large “boulders. ” However, because density fluctuations depend super-exponentially on T_s (inversely proportional to disk surface density), lower-density disks are more unstable. In fact, we predict that cm-sized grains at ~ 1 au will form pebble piles in a disk with ~ 10% the MMSN density, so planet formation at ~ au may generically occur “late” as disks are evaporating. We also predict that conditions become progressively more favorable for pebble-pile formation around lower-mass, cooler stars.
Breadmaking: an overview.

Abstract: The nature of bread quality and the contribution of the key ingredients are discussed. The principles of the main bread making processes and their relationship with final bread quality are described. The processing of the bulk dough from the mixer through to baked loaf and the contribution that the individual stages make to final product quality are considered.
Effect of rosuvastatin dose-loading on serum sLox-1, hs-CRP, and postoperative prognosis in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of rosuvastatin dose-loading on serum levels of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (Lox-1) and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and postoperative prognosis in patients with diabetes and non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS A total of 72 patients with diabetes and NSTEACS were randomized to either the group treated with 20 mg rosuvastatin 12 hours prior to PCI with a second dose administered just before PCI (n = 33), or a control group treated with standard method according guideline (n = 39). Serum levels of sLox-1, hs-CRP, CK-MB, and cTnI were measured prior to PCI, and at 24 hours and 30 days after PCI. The 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was recorded in both groups. RESULTS Compared to pre-PCI, serum levels of sLox-1 and hs-CRP of the two groups were increased at 24 hours after PCI (P < 0.05); the levels of CK-MB and cTnI were also improved (P < 0.01); however, the ascended values of sLox-1, hs-CRP, CK-MB, and cTnI were significantly lower in the loading-dose rosuvastatin-treated group than in the control-treated group. Serum levels of sLox-1 and hs-CRP were higher in the loading-dose rosuvastatin-treated group than in the control-treated group at 30 days after PCI (P < 0.05); compared to pre-PCI, the levels of TC and LDL-C were not changed at 24 hours after PCI (P > 0.05) until 30 days after PCI (P < 0.05), but there were no difference between the two groups. The levels of ALT and Scr had no significant difference between the two groups before and after PCI; the 30-day incidence of MACE occurred in 6.06% of patients in the loading-dose rosuvastatin-treated group and in 23.08% of patients in the control-treated group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The therapy of dose-loading rosuvastatin for patients with diabetes and non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention can attenuate the increase of serum levels of sLox-1, reduce myocardial injury and inflammatory reaction caused by PCI, and also reduce the occurrence of MACE 30 days after PCI.
MOLECULAR MODELING OF BIOMEMBRANE DEFORMATIONS — THE ROLE OF LIPIDS

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy MOLECULAR MODELING OF BIOMEMBRANE DEFORMATIONS—THE ROLE OF LIPIDS By Eric R. May December 2006 Chair: Atul Narang Major Department: Chemical Engineering Cellular transport processes such as endocytosis and exocytosis involve the budding of vesicles from the donor membrane (fission) and their integration into the membrane of the acceptor compartment (fusion). Both fission and fusion are energetically unfavorable, since they involve the formation of highly curved nonbilayer intermediates. Consequently, these processes do not occur spontaneously; they are under the strict control of specific proteins. In the classical paradigm of fission, membrane deformation was thought to be driven entirely by interactions between proteins. Evidence is now accumulating that these proteins do not act alone. They operate in concert with specific membrane lipids, such as phosphoinositides (PI), which localize in the region of deformation. It is of interest to understand the extent to which the localized phosphoinositides change the mechanical properties of biomembranes. In this work, a coarse grain molecular model is used to conduct molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of mixed lipid systems. The initial part of the work focuses on the verification of the molecular model by comparing simulation data to experimental phase transition data for mixed lipid systems containing dioleoyl
High Expression of Aldolase B Confers a Poor Prognosis for Rectal Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both sex worldwide and it is also the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality. For rectal cancer, neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by radical proctectomy is gold standard treatment for patients with stage II/III rectal cancer. By data mining a documented database of rectal cancer transcriptome (GSE35452) from Gene Expression Omnibus, National Center of Biotechnology Information, we recognized that ALDOB was the most significantly up-regulated transcript among those related to glycolysis (GO: 0006096). Hence, we analyzed the clinicopathological correlation and prognostic effect of ALDOB protein (Aldolase B), which encoded by ALDOB gene. Methods: ALDOB immunostain was performed in 172 rectal adenocarcinomas treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery, which were divided into high- and low-expression groups. Furthermore, statistical analyses were examined to correlate the relationship between ALDOB immunoreactivity and important clinical and pathological characteristics, as well as three survival indices: disease-specific survival (DSS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and metastasis-free survival (MeFS). Results: ALDOB (Aldolase B) over-expression was significantly associated with pre-CCRT and post-CCRT tumor advancement, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion and poor response to CCRT (all P ≤ .023). In addition, ALDOB high expression was linked to adverse DSS, LRFS and MeFS in univariate analysis (P ≤ .0075) and also served as an independent prognosticator indicating dismal DSS and MeFS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.462, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.263-9.495; HR = 2.846, 95% CI: 1.190-6.808, respectively). Conclusion: ALDOB (Aldolase B) may play an imperative role in rectal cancer progression and responsiveness to neoadjuvant CCRT, and serve as a novel prognostic biomarker. Additional researches to clarify the molecular and biochemical pathways are essential for developing promising ALDOB-targeted therapies for patients with rectal cancers.
Numerical analysis of soft clay performance reinforced by geosynthetics encased stone columns

To improve the behavior of stone columns, the Geosynthetics is used for encasing the stone column as reinforcement material. The Geosynthetics Encased Stone Column (GESC) system has been developed to increase the confinement effect of the ordinary stone columns, and consequently to improve the load carrying capacity of stone columns. In this paper, finite element based numerical study has been carried out using ABAQUS program to study the performance of the GESC systems under different conditions. The influences of some effective parameters were studied to show the improvement in soil bearing and settlement decrease for the stone column-soil system. These include the column dimensions, the encasement stiffness and shear strength of the foundation soil.
Effects of short-time power outages and open phase failures on IPMSM sensorless rotor position estimation

Sensorless motor drives are claimed to be more reliable than their sensored counterparts, as they avoid electromechanical sensors, additional wires and circuitries. However, the assertion is true only in normal operations. In fact, if on one hand the elimination of electromechanical, and electronic devices increases the drive reliability as a small number of parts subjected to possible faults are present, a sensorless algorithm needs some extra signals to reconstruct the rotor position. Line voltage drops, inverter failures or other disturbances, which, in general, do not affect the behavior of a conventional position sensor, can heavily perturb these extra signals, decreasing reliability. The robustness of sensorless control techniques in abnormal working conditions has been very little investigated in the past. In the paper an experimental analysis regarding the consistence of the estimation techniques is presented, in case of loss of a motor phase, or utility line disturbances. Focusing on Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM) drives, two main classes of sensorless angular position estimation approaches have been considered: Model-based and HF injection based techniques. Comments on the behavior of these two classes of sensorless approaches are added.
Product ion distributions for the reactions of NO+ with some physiologically significant volatile organosulfur and organoselenium compounds obtained using a selective reagent ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer

RATIONALE The reactions of NO+ with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Selective Reagent Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (SRI-TOF-MS) reactors are relatively poorly known, inhibiting their use for trace gas analysis. The rationale for this product ion distribution study was to identify the major product ions of the reactions of NO+ ions with 13 organosulfur compounds and 2 organoselenium compounds in an SRI-TOF-MS instrument and thus to prepare the way for their analysis in exhaled breath, in skin emanations and in the headspace of urine, blood and cell and bacterial cultures. METHODS Product ion distributions have been investigated by a SRI-TOF-MS instrument at an E/N in the drift tube reactor of 130 Td for both dry air and humid air (4.9% absolute humidity) used as the matrix gas. The investigated species were five monosulfides (dimethyl sulfide, ethyl methyl sulfide, methyl propyl sulfide, allyl methyl sulfide and methyl 5-methyl-2-furyl sulfide), dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, thiophene, 2-methylthiophene, 3-methylthiophene, methanethiol, allyl isothiocyanate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and two selenium compounds – dimethyl selenide and dimethyl diselenide. RESULTS Charge transfer was seen to be the dominant reaction mechanism in all reactions under study forming the M+ cations. For methanethiol and allyl isothiocyanate significant fractions were also observed of the stable adduct ions NO+M, formed by ion-molecule association, and [M–H]+ ions, formed by hydride ion transfer. Several other minor product channels are seen for most reactions indicating that the nascent excited intermediate (NOM)+* adduct ions partially fragment along other channels, most commonly by the elimination of neutral CH3, CH4 and/or C2H4 species that are probably bound to an NO molecule. Humidity had little effect on the product ion distributions. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study are of particular importance for data interpretation in studies of volatile organosulfur and volatile organoselenium compounds employing SRI-TOF-MS in the NO+ mode. © 2014 The Authors. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.