Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stem Cell-Associated Marker Expression in Canine Hair Follicles

Functional hair follicle (HF) stem cells (SCs) are crucial to maintain the constant recurring growth of hair. In mice and humans, SC subpopulations with different biomarker expression profiles have been identified in discrete anatomic compartments of the HF. The rare studies investigating canine HF SCs have shown similarities in biomarker expression profiles to that of mouse and human SCs. The aim of our study was to broaden the current repertoire of SC-associated markers and their expression patterns in the dog. We combined analyses on the expression levels of CD34, K15, Sox9, CD200, Nestin, LGR5 and LGR6 in canine skin using RT-qPCR, the corresponding proteins in dog skin lysates, and their expression patterns in canine HFs using immunohistochemistry. Using validated antibodies, we were able to define the location of CD34, Sox9, Keratin15, LGR5 and Nestin in canine HFs and confirm that all tested biomarkers are expressed in canine skin. Our results show similarities between the expression profile of canine, human and mouse HF SC markers. This repertoire of biomarkers will allow us to conduct functional studies and investigate alterations in the canine SC compartment of different diseases, like alopecia or skin cancer with the possibility to extend relevant findings to human patients.
Stanniocalcin 2 expression predicts poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Previous studies have shown that the expression level of stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) is associated with tumor progression. However, to date, the association between STC2 and clinicopathological factors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been investigated. The clinical significance of STC2 was investigated in 30 fresh HCC samples using western blot analysis and in 240 HCC tissues using immunohistochemical analysis. The level of STC2 in cancerous tissue was higher than in the matched non-cancerous tissues. Using immunohistochemistry, the STC2-positive group exhibited a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and venous invasion compared with the STC2-negative group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the positive expression of STC2 correlated with poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival of HCC patients (P<0.01). STC2 expression was observed to be an independent prognostic factor for OS in HCC patients by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 2.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–5.89; P=0.013). These data suggest that STC2 expression may be a useful indicator of poor prognosis in HCC patients.
Exploiting functional dependencies in finite state machine verification

This paper proposes a novel verification method for finite state machines (FSMs), which automatically exploits the relation between the state encodings of the FSMs under consideration. It is based on the detection and utilization of functionally dependent state variables. This significantly extends the ability of the verification method to handle FSMs with similar state encodings. The effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by experimental results on well-known benchmarks.
Predictors of mortality in acute lung injury during the era of lung protective ventilation

Background: Lung protective ventilation has been widely adopted for the management of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Consequently, ventilator associated lung injury and mortality have decreased. It is not known if this ventilation strategy changes the prognostic value of previously identified demographic and pulmonary predictors of mortality, such as respiratory compliance and the arterial oxygen tension to inspired oxygen fraction ratio (Pao2/Fio2). Methods: Demographic, clinical, laboratory and pulmonary variables were recorded in 149 patients with ALI/ARDS. Significant predictors of mortality were identified in bivariate analysis and these were entered into multivariate analysis to identify independent predictors of mortality. Results: Hospital mortality was 41%. In the bivariate analysis, 17 variables were significantly correlated with mortality, including age, APACHE II score and the presence of cirrhosis. Pulmonary parameters associated with death included Pao2/Fio2 and oxygenation index ((mean airway pressure×Fio2×100)÷Pao2). In unadjusted analysis, the odds ratio (OR) of death for Pao2/Fio2 was 1.57 (CI 1.12 to 3.04) per standard deviation decrease. However, in adjusted analysis, Pao2/Fio2 was not a statistically significant predictor of death, with an OR of 1.29 (CI 0.82 to 2.02). In contrast, oxygenation index (OI) was a statistically significant predictor of death in both unadjusted analysis (OR 1.89 (CI 1.28 to 2.78)) and in adjusted analysis (OR 1.84 (CI 1.13 to 2.99)). Conclusions: In this cohort of patients with ALI/ARDS, OI was an independent predictor of mortality, whereas Pao2/Fio2 was not. OI may be a superior predictor because it integrates both airway pressure and oxygenation into a single variable.
Effect of Blast Furnace Profile on Inner Furnace States

The effects of blast furnace profile on operation are investigated. The investigation is made by use of mathematical simulation models that are able to evaluate the operational conditions as follows: pressure drop, fuel rate and stability against channeling. The considerable number of furnace profiles are evaluated under the condition that inner volume, furnace height and hearth diameter have been given. In this investigation, geometrical parameters of furnace profile on furnace condition are clarified, and the better furnace profile for the furnace condition is shown.
Automatic number plate recognition system on an ARM-DSP and FPGA heterogeneous SoC platforms

The ARM-DSP based ANPR system described is designed for commercial applications where the need for low power, low prices and real time systems is vital. A single FPGA can also be added as a plug-in to the ARM-DSP based hardware SoC, depending on the extra resources needed for the application. The overall results have shown that it is possible to use cheaper off-the-shelf ARM-DSPs and FPGAs multicore processors for standalone ANPR systems through device and algorithm optimisation to achieve real-time performance at higher recognition rate using efficient algorithms.
Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (LE) is a heterogeneous, multisystem, autoimmune disease characterized by the production of auto-antibodies against several cell constituents. The skin is one of the target organs most variably affected by the disease can be yield valuable diagnostic & prognostic information. The present study was conducted to evaluate cutaneous manifestations of SLE in Bangladeshi patients. 100 cases of SLE were collected from the Department of Dermatology, BSMMU, Dhaka. The diagnosis was based on American Rheumatism Association Criteria. Cutaneous changes were recorded on a predevised pro forma. LE specific cutaneous changes noted were: Malar rash or butterfly rash (70.0%), maculopapular rash (19.0%), discoid rash (10.0%), and bullous LE (10.0%). Non specific LE lesions noted were: Photosensitivity (75.0%), alopecia (47.0%), oral mucosal lesion (34.0%), hyperpigmentation (20.0%), nail change (15.0%), Raynauds phenomenon (12.0%), Palmar erythema, genital lesion, periungual talangiectesia, leg ulcers, livedo reticularis, erythema multiform were rare. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystem disease that predominantly affects women. Cutaneous lesions are the most important diagnostic tools as reflected by the fact that they account for four of the 11 revised American Rheumatism Association criteria of SLE. The pattern of skin changes may vary from place to place.
Developmental Enamel Defects of the Permanent First Molars and Incisors and Their Association with Dental Caries in the Region of Wielkopolska, Western Poland.

PURPOSE To assess the prevalence of developmental defects of the enamel (DDE) in permanent first molars and incisors and their association with dental caries in two age groups of children living in Wielkopolska, Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample consisted of 225 children ages 6-8 years and 245 children ages 12-14 years (mean age ± SD = 9.9 ± 2.6). Dental defects were described using the modified DDE index. Caries experience was recorded using the DMFT index (number of decayed, missing and filled teeth) for all permanent teeth and for first permanent molars and incisors (DMFT-IM). RESULTS Overall, 25.7% of the subjects had at least one permanent first molar or incisor affected by DDE. Diffuse opacity was the most common type of DDE, while hypoplasia was the least prevalent. The mean number of teeth with caries (DT) and the mean number of molars and incisors with caries (DT-IM) were higher in subjects with enamel hypoplasia and/or demarcated opacity than in subjects without DDE or with diffuse opacities (p < 0.05). Caries prevalence was higher in children with hypoplasia and/or demarcated opacity than in subjects without DDE. The differences were statistically significant only for the younger group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The overall tooth prevalence of DDE in molars and incisors is comparable to that observed in low-fluoride communities. However, a preponderance of diffuse defects suggests the need for further investigation into the aetiology of DDE among Polish children. The results confirm that demarcated opacities and hypoplasia should be considered important caries risk factors.
Factors Affecting Internet Banking Success: A Comparative Investigation between Indonesia and South Korea

Internet banking is a prominent example of Internet-based applications. Previous research has found that satisfaction, trust, commitment, and loyalty are important factors for Internet banking success. Resistance to adopt Internet banking is often attributed to the role of trust, security, and privacy in e-commerce systems. This study proposes a framework to examine behaviors toward Internet banking services in Indonesia and South Korea. A research model was empirically tested with data captured in a large-scale study. The results show that Indonesiansâ€™ use of Internet banking is strongly influenced by perceived security, while Koreans use of Internet banking is strongly influenced by privacy concerns. Trust and user satisfaction have a greater influence on loyalty for Indonesians while commitment has a greater influence on loyalty for Koreans. The study develops related conclusions including a discussion of the research implications.
Peripheral position of CCND1 and HER-2/neu oncogenes within chromosome territories in esophageal and gastric cancers non-related to amplification and overexpression

Interphase chromosomes have been shown to occupy discrete regions of the nucleus denominated chromosome territories (CTs), their active genes being preferentially positioned on the surfaces of these CTs, where they are accessible to transcriptional machinery. By means of FISH (Fluorescence in situ Hybridization), we analyzed the CCND1 and HER-2/neu gene positions within the CTs and their relationship with gene amplification and protein over-expression in esophageal and gastric cancers. The CCND1 and HER-2/Neu genes were more often positioned at the periphery (mean frequency of 60%-83%) of the CTs in tumor tissues of the esophagus and stomach. Moreover, this positioning revealed no association with either gene amplification or the protein over-expression status of these genes, although, in esophageal carcinoma, Kappa statistics showed a moderate agreement between amplification of the CCND1 gene (Kappa = 0.400) and its location within the CT, as well as with over-expression of the corresponding protein (Kappa = 0.444). Thus, our results suggest that gene positioning in interphase chromosomes does not follow a definitive pattern neither does it depend only on gene transcriptional activity. Apparently, this positioning could be both gene- and tissue-specific, and depends on other factors acting together, such as dense-gene, chromosome size, chromatin structure, and the level and stability of its expression.
HIV‐infected Patients with a Large Thymus Maintain Higher CD4 Counts in a 5‐year Follow‐up Study of Patients Treated with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

CD4 recovery in HIV‐infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is in part believed to be dependent on the degree of preserved thymic function. We investigated whether the thymus has a prolonged effect on CD4 recovery. Total and naïve CD4 counts as well as thymic output determined as the number of CD4 + cells containing T‐cell receptor‐rearrangement excision DNA circles were measured prospectively in 25 HIV‐infected patients with known thymic size during 5 years of HAART. Patients with larger thymic size had at all time points of follow‐up significantly higher CD4 counts than patients with minimal thymic size (P = 0.0036). The CD4 increase from time of initiation of HAART until 6 months of follow‐up differed significantly between the two thymic groups (P = 0.045), but did not at later time points. Thymic output remained significantly higher in patients with larger thymic size at follow‐up. However, no difference in the increase in thymic output was seen between thymic groups. In conclusion, the importance of the thymus to the rate of cellular restoration seems primarily to lie within the first two years of HAART. However, patients with larger thymic size are able to maintain higher CD4 counts even after 5 years of HAART.
Direct Involvement of Yeast Type I Myosins in Cdc42-Dependent Actin Polymerization

The generation of cortical actin filaments is necessary for processes such as cell motility and cell polarization. Several recent studies have demonstrated that Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family proteins and the actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex are key factors in the nucleation of actin filaments in diverse eukaryotic organisms. To identify other factors involved in this process, we have isolated proteins that bind to Bee1p/Las17p, the yeast WASP-like protein, by affinity chromatography and mass spectroscopic analysis. The yeast type I myosins, Myo3p and Myo5p, have both been identified as Bee1p-interacting proteins. Like Bee1p, these myosins are essential for cortical actin assembly as assayed by in vitro reconstitution of actin nucleation sites in permeabilized yeast cells. Analysis using this assay further demonstrated that the motor activity of these myosins is required for the polymerization step, and that actin polymerization depends on phosphorylation of myosin motor domain by p21-activated kinases (PAKs), downstream effectors of the small guanosine triphosphatase, Cdc42p. The type I myosins also interact with the Arp2/3 complex through a sequence at the end of the tail domain homologous to the Arp2/3-activating region of WASP-like proteins. Combined deletions of the Arp2/3-interacting domains of Bee1p and the type I myosins abolish actin nucleation sites at the cortex, suggesting that these proteins function redundantly in the activation of the Arp2/3 complex.
Triheptanoin dramatically reduces paroxysmal motor disorder in patients with GLUT1 deficiency

Objective On the basis of our previous work with triheptanoin, which provides key substrates to the Krebs cycle in the brain, we wished to assess its therapeutic effect in patients with glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1-DS) who objected to or did not tolerate ketogenic diets. Methods We performed an open-label pilot study with three phases of 2 months each (baseline, treatment and withdrawal) in eight patients with GLUT1-DS (7–47 years old) with non-epileptic paroxysmal manifestations. We used a comprehensive patient diary to record motor and non-motor paroxysmal events. Functional 31P-NMR spectroscopy was performed to quantify phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) within the occipital cortex during (activation) and after (recovery) a visual stimulus. Results Patients with GLUT1-DS experienced a mean of 30.8 (±27.7) paroxysmal manifestations (52% motor events) at baseline that dropped to 2.8 (±2.9, 76% motor events) during the treatment phase (p=0.028). After withdrawal, paroxysmal manifestations recurred with a mean of 24.2 (±21.9, 52% motor events; p=0.043). Furthermore, brain energy metabolism normalised with triheptanoin, that is, increased Pi/PCr ratio during brain activation compared to the recovery phase (p=0.021), and deteriorated when triheptanoin was withdrawn. Conclusions Treatment with triheptanoin resulted in a 90% clinical improvement in non-epileptic paroxysmal manifestations and a normalised brain bioenergetics profile in patients with GLUT1-DS. Trial registration number NCT02014883.
Esophageal Pacing: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool

The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines for reproducible esophageal pacing of the atria and to determine the incidence of successful initiation and termination of tachycardia using this technique in patients with a history of spontaneous supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Strength-duration curves were performed in 39 patients using a bipolar esophageal lead with a 2.9-cm interelectrode distance. Unlike strength-duration curves normally obtained -in cardiac tissue, which plateau at pulse durations more than 2.0 msec, the esophageal current threshold decreased progressively as pulse duration was increased to the limit of the stimulator (9.9 msec). At pulse durations of 8.0-9.9 msec, atrial capture was achieved in all patients. At progressively shorter pulse durations, capture was achieved in progressively fewer patients despite use of current up to 30 mA. Stable pacing was achieved in 26 of 39 patients with a pulse duration of 1.0 msec (mean threshold 21 mA), in 33 of 39 patients with a pulse duration of 2.0 msec (mean threshold 18 mA), and in 39 of 39 patients with a pulse duration of 9.9 msec (mean threshold 11 mA). The current requirements did not correlate with the amplitude of the unipolar or bipolar atrial electrogram recorded in the group as a whole, but the lowest thresholds in individual patients occurred at the site where the largest and most rapid atrial deflections were recorded. In 38 patients with documented SVT, overdrive pacing from the esophagus was performed at cycle lengths of 240-400 msec using a pulse duration of 7.0-9.9 msec. Reciprocating tachycardia was induced in 35 of 38 patients and was terminated by overdrive pacing in 33 of 38 patients. Atrial fibrillation was induced incidentally in four patients; sinus rhythm returned spontaneously. Other effects included ventricular pacing in two, unmasking of latent preexcitation in three, induction of ventricular tachycardia by atrial pacing in two patients with a history of ventricular tachycardia, and phrenic pacing in one. We conclude that atrial pacing can be achieved from the esophagus with minimal discomfort in the majority of patients; that lower pacing thresholds can be obtained with the use of wide pulse durations (7.0-9.9 msec) and a bipolar electrode with wide interelectrode distance (2.9 cm); that rapid atrial pacing from the esophagus can be used to induce and terminate SVT for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes; and that esophageal pacing provides a convenient way to assess repeatedly the efficacy of long-term drug therapy and to screen patients for preexcitation syndromes.
Geographic variation in diagnosis frequency and risk of death among Medicare beneficiaries.

CONTEXT Because diagnosis is typically thought of as purely a patient attribute, it is considered a critical factor in risk-adjustment policies designed to reward efficient and high-quality care. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between frequency of diagnoses for chronic conditions in geographic areas and case-fatality rate among Medicare beneficiaries. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional analysis of the mean number of 9 serious chronic conditions (cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, peripheral artery disease, severe liver disease, diabetes with end-organ disease, chronic renal failure, and dementia) diagnosed in 306 hospital referral regions (HRRs) in the United States; HRRs were divided into quintiles of diagnosis frequency. Participants were 5,153,877 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Age/sex/race-adjusted case-fatality rates. RESULTS Diagnosis frequency ranged across HRRs from 0.58 chronic conditions in Grand Junction, Colorado, to 1.23 in Miami, Florida (mean, 0.90 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.89-0.91]; median, 0.87 [interquartile range, 0.80-0.96]). The number of conditions diagnosed was related to risk of death: among patients diagnosed with 0, 1, 2, and 3 conditions the case-fatality rate was 16, 45, 93, and 154 per 1000, respectively. As regional diagnosis frequency increased, however, the case fatality associated with a chronic condition became progressively less. Among patients diagnosed with 1 condition, the case-fatality rate decreased in a stepwise fashion across quintiles of diagnosis frequency, from 51 per 1000 in the lowest quintile to 38 per 1000 in the highest quintile (relative rate, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.72-0.76]). For patients diagnosed with 3 conditions, the corresponding case-fatality rates were 168 and 137 per 1000 (relative rate, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.79-0.84]). CONCLUSION Among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, there is an inverse relationship between the regional frequency of diagnoses and the case-fatality rate for chronic conditions.
Type B Response Regulators of Arabidopsis Play Key Roles in Cytokinin Signaling and Plant Development[W]

The type B Arabidopsis Response Regulators (ARRs) of Arabidopsis thaliana are transcription factors that act as positive regulators in the two-component cytokinin signaling pathway. We employed a mutant-based approach to perform a detailed characterization of the roles of ARR1, ARR10, and ARR12 in plant growth and development. The most pronounced phenotype was found in the arr1-3 arr10-5 arr12-1 triple loss-of-function mutant, which showed almost complete insensitivity to high levels of exogenously applied cytokinins. The triple mutant exhibited reduced stature due to decreased cell division in the shoot, enhanced seed size, increased sensitivity to light, altered chlorophyll and anthocyanin concentrations, and an aborted primary root with protoxylem but no metaxylem. Microarray analysis revealed that expression of the majority of cytokinin-regulated genes requires the function of ARR1, ARR10, and ARR12. Characterization of double mutants revealed differing contributions of the type B ARRs to mutant phenotypes. Our results support a model in which cytokinin regulates a wide array of downstream responses through the action of a multistep phosphorelay that culminates in transcriptional regulation by ARR1, ARR10, and ARR12.