Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON MICROVESICULAR STEATOTIC LIVERS SUBMITTED TO A PROLONGED COLD ISCHEMIA

Background. The deleterious effect of steatosis on transplanted livers is mainly related to a microcirculation impairment. We investigated the effect of preservation duration on the recovery of isolated perfused rat steatotic livers and tested the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX), known to have a beneficial effect on hepatic microcirculation. Materials and Methods. Fatty rat livers were obtained using a diet able to induce an 80% to 100% microvesicular steatosis within 7 days. We studied the effect of the duration of preservation (12 hr, 18 hr, and 24 hr) on fatty and normal isolated perfused rat liver. PTX was added to University of Wisconsin solution during cold storage (30 mM/kg of weight) and at reperfusion (3 mM) (n=5 livers in each group). Lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bile production, and vascular resistance were evaluated. The liver injury at the end of perfusion was assessed by optical and electron microscopy. Results. For a 24‐hr preservation period, fatty livers demonstrated increased enzymatic release (aspartate aminotransferase: 42±16 vs. 17±5 IU/L/g of liver, P<0.005; alanine aminotransferase: 32±13 vs. 13±3 IU/L/g of liver, P<0.005; lactate dehydrogenase: 1,207±497 vs. 291±195 IU/L/g of liver, P<0.001). Vascular resistance (0.32 vs. 0.15 cm H2O/min/mL, P<0.0005) and bile output (67±24 vs. 141±61 mg/g of liver, P<0.05) were decreased. Peliosis appeared after an 18‐hr preservation period for fatty livers compared with a 24‐hr preservation period for controls. All these negative effects were suppressed by PTX. Conclusion. Diffuse microvesicular steatosis became deleterious only after long preservation times (24 hr). PTX prevented this effect.
White dwarf masses in cataclysmic variables

The white dwarf (WD) mass distribution of cataclysmic variables (CVs) has recently been found to dramatically disagree with the predictions of the standard CV formation model. The high mean WD mass among CVs is not imprinted in the currently observed sample of CV progenitors and cannot be attributed to selection effects. Two possibilities have been put forward: either the WD grows in mass during CV evolution, or in a significant fraction of cases, CV formation is preceded by a (short) phase of thermal time-scale mass transfer (TTMT) in which the WD gains a sufficient amount of mass. We investigate if either of these two scenarios can bring theoretical predictions and observations into agreement. We employed binary population synthesis models to simulate the present intrinsic CV population. We incorporated aspects specific to CV evolution such as an appropriate mass-radius relation of the donor star and a more detailed prescription for the critical mass ratio for dynamically unstable mass transfer. We also implemented a previously suggested wind from the surface of the WD during TTMT and tested the idea of WD mass growth during the CV phase by arbitrarily changing the accretion efficiency. We compare the model predictions with the characteristics of CVs derived from observed samples. We find that mass growth of the WDs in CVs fails to reproduce the observed WD mass distribution. In the case of TTMT, we are able to produce a large number of massive WDs if we assume significant mass loss from the surface of the WD during the TTMT phase. However, the model still produces too many CVs with helium WDs. Moreover, the donor stars are evolved in many of these post-TTMT CVs, which contradicts the observations. We conclude that in our current framework of CV evolution neither TTMT nor WD mass growth can fully explain either the observed WD mass or the period distribution in CVs.
Texture affects color emotion

Several studies have recorded color emotions in subjects viewing uniform color (UC) samples. We conduct an experiment to measure and model how these color emotions change when texture is added to the color samples. Using a computer monitor, our subjects arrange samples along four scales: warm-cool, masculine-feminine, hard-soft, and heavy-light. Three sample types of increasing visual complexity are used: UC, grayscale textures, and color textures (CTs). To assess the intraobserver variability, the experiment is repeated after 1 week. Our results show that texture fully determines the responses on the Hard-Soft scale, and plays a role of decreasing weight for the masculine-feminine, heavy- light, and warm-cool scales. Using some 25,000 observer responses, we derive color emotion functions that predict the group-averaged scale responses from the samples’ color and texture parameters. For UC samples, the accuracy of our functions is significantly higher (average R2 ¼ 0.88) than that of previously reported functions applied to our data. The functions derived for CT samples have an accuracy of R2 ¼ 0.80. We conclude that when textured samples are used in color emotion studies, the psychological responses may be strongly affected by texture.
Central role of mitochondrial injury in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease with no specific treatment. One of the main reasons behind the lack of specific therapy is that the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is poorly understood. During the development of acute pancreatitis, the disease‐inducing factors can damage both cell types of the exocrine pancreas, namely the acinar and ductal cells. Because damage of either of the cell types can contribute to the inflammation, it is crucial to find common intracellular mechanisms that can be targeted by pharmacological therapies. Despite the many differences, recent studies revealed that the most common factors that induce pancreatitis cause mitochondrial damage with the consequent breakdown of bioenergetics, that is, ATP depletion in both cell types. In this review, we summarize our knowledge of mitochondrial function and damage within both pancreatic acinar and ductal cells. We also suggest that colloidal ATP delivery systems for pancreatic energy supply may be able to protect acinar and ductal cells from cellular damage in the early phase of the disease. An effective energy delivery system combined with the prevention of further mitochondrial damage may, for the first time, open up the possibility of pharmacological therapy for acute pancreatitis, leading to reduced disease severity and mortality.
Novel RFID-Based Pose Estimation Using Single Stationary Antenna

In this paper, we propose a novel radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based methodology that can estimate the position and orientation of an object. Unlike other RFID-based localization systems, the proposed method employs a single nonsteered stationary antenna and three passive tags mounted on each object. Our scheme is based on power map matching algorithm that is capable in estimating the location and orientation of objects. Unlike conventional power map matching schemes, which create the map from actual measurements, the proposed power map is automatically generated based on a simple mathematical model. The application under consideration is based on two-dimensional (2-D) open spatial environment where the area of each object is no less than a quarter of a square meter with position estimation errors stretching to tens of centimeters. This work provides an alternative and relatively cheap approach for remotely estimating the pose of an object. As a proof of concept, we justify our scheme analytically and provide numerical and experimental data to substantiate the feasibility of our methodology.
of perforated peptic Diagnostic laparoscopy combined with laparoscopic ultrasonography in staging of cancer of the pancreatic head region

3 Blauensteiner W, Kriwanek S, Blauensteiner I, Beckerhinn P. Late results of gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity. Acta Chir Austriaca 1995; 21: 51-4. 4 Brolin RE, Robertson LB, Kenler HA, Cody RP. Weight loss and dietary intake after vertical banded gastroplasty and Row-en-Y gastric bypass. Ann Surg 1994; 220: 782-9. 5 Kriwanek S, Beckerhinn P, Blauensteiner W, Dittrich K, Armbruster C. Therapeutic failures after gastric bypass operations for morbid obesity. Langenbecks Arch Chir 199.5; 380: 70-4.
Changes in chromatin structure and mobility in living cells at sites of DNA double-strand breaks

The repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is facilitated by the phosphorylation of H2AX, which organizes DNA damage signaling and chromatin remodeling complexes in the vicinity of the lesion (Pilch, D.R., O.A. Sedelnikova, C. Redon, A. Celeste, A. Nussenzweig, and W.M. Bonner. 2003. Biochem. Cell Biol. 81:123–129; Morrison, A.J., and X. Shen. 2005. Cell Cycle. 4:568–571; van Attikum, H., and S.M. Gasser. 2005. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:757–765). The disruption of DNA integrity induces an alteration of chromatin architecture that has been proposed to activate the DNA damage transducing kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM; Bakkenist, C.J., and M.B. Kastan. 2003. Nature. 421:499–506). However, little is known about the physical properties of damaged chromatin. In this study, we use a photoactivatable version of GFP-tagged histone H2B to examine the mobility and structure of chromatin containing DSBs in living cells. We find that chromatin containing DSBs exhibits limited mobility but undergoes an energy-dependent local expansion immediately after DNA damage. The localized expansion observed in real time corresponds to a 30–40% reduction in the density of chromatin fibers in the vicinity of DSBs, as measured by energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy. The observed opening of chromatin occurs independently of H2AX and ATM. We propose that localized adenosine triphosphate–dependent decondensation of chromatin at DSBs establishes an accessible subnuclear environment that facilitates DNA damage signaling and repair.
GUM: a portable parallel implementation of Haskell

GUM is a portable, parallel implementation of the Haskell functional language. Despite sustained research interest in parallel functional programming, GUM is one of the first such systems to be made publicly available.GUM is message-based, and portability is facilitated by using the PVM communications harness that is available on many multi-processors. As a result, GUM is available for both shared-memory (Sun SPARCserver multiprocessors) and distributed-memory (networks of workstations) architectures. The high message-latency of distributed machines is ameliorated by sending messages asynchronously, and by sending large packets of related data in each message.Initial performance figures demonstrate absolute speedups relative to the best sequential compiler technology. To improve the performance of a parallel Haskell program GUM provides tools for monitoring and visualising the behaviour of threads and of processors during execution.
Diversity, margins and non-stationary learning

Ensemble methods are frequently applied to classification problems, and gen-erally improve upon the performance of individual models. Diversity is consideredto be an important factor in this performance improvement; in the literature thereis strong support for the idea that high diversity is crucial in ensembles. Votingmargins provide an alternative explanation of the behaviour of ensembles; theyhave been prominently used in the interpretation of the Adaboost algorithm, andthe literature suggests that large margins are beneficial. In this thesis, we exam-ine these two quantities ? which in both cases the literature suggests should beincreased ? and show that (in 2-class problems) they are inversely related, highdiversity corresponding to small absolute margins. From this it can be seen thatthe views expressed in the literature are contradictory; we argue that ensemblebehaviour can be sufficiently understood without the need to quantify ? diversity? However, in non-stationary learning scenarios ? where we must process datathat is not independent and identically distributed ? the model must not onlygeneralise well, but also adapt to changes in the distribution. Building on thework of Minku, we hypothesise that high diversity might be of special significancein such problems in determining the rate at which the model can adapt. We usethe correspondence between diversity and margins to formulate the reasoning be-hind this intuition formally, and then derive an algorithm that explicitly managesdiversity in order to test this hypothesis. An empirical investigation shows thatmanaging diversity can, under certain conditions, improve the ability of an ensem-ble to adapt to a new concept; however, it typically seems that other aspects ofthe learning algorithm, especially concept change detection, have a substantiallylarger impact on performance than diversity does.
[Research on the selection of embryos for transfer using a combined grading for embryo growth rate and morphology and zygote pronuclear morphology].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the value of using a combined grading for embryo growth rate and morphology and zygote pronuclear morphology, and to select embryos for transfer in clinical in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS In this retrospective study, a total of 2714 normal zygotes (2 pronuclei) from 434 treatment cycles with IVF/ICSI was analyzed between May 2003 and December 2003. These zygotes were divided into two groups (synchronous group and nonsynchronous group) according to the developmental synchrony of pronuclei. The developmental potential of zygotes from these two groups was observed. Embryos for transfer were selected initially by embryo growth rate and morphology, secondarily by zygote grade. The clinical pregnancy rates and implantation rates were compared according to whether the embryos from synchronous group were transferred. RESULTS There were 2714 normal zygotes, the good-quality embryos (> or = 6 cells, grade I - II) rate of the synchronous group (41.88%, 743/1774) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the nonsynchronous group (33.94%, 319/940). Totally 395 cycles transferred at least one embryo from synchronous group, the clinical pregnancy rate was 47.85% (189/395) and implantation rate was 27.49% (273/993). There was no significant difference from 39 cycles which did not transfer embryos from nonsynchronous group. The clinical pregnancy rate was 43.59% (17/39) and implantation rate was 25.00% (21/84). CONCLUSION The data indicate that there are no significant differences in pregnancy rates and implantation rates between different zygote grade when selecting embryos for transfer by combined grading.
Microflora of partially processed lettuce

Bacteria, yeasts, and molds isolated from partially processed iceberg lettuce were taxonomically classified. The majority of bacterial isolates were gram-negative rods. Pseudomonas, Erwinia, and Serratia species were commonly found. Yeasts most frequently isolated from lettuce included members of the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Pichia, Torulaspora, and Trichosporon. Comparatively few molds were isolated; members of the genera Rhizopus, Cladosporium, Phoma, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were identified.
Outcomes of Infants Born at 22 and 23 Weeks’ Gestation

OBJECTIVE: To provide instructive information on death and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born at 22 and 23 weeks’ gestational age. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 1057 infants born at 22 to 25 weeks in the Neonatal Research Network, Japan. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 36 to 42 months’ chronological age was defined as any of the following: cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, visual impairment, and a developmental quotient <70. A systematic review was performed by using databases of publications of cohort studies with neonatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 22 and 23 weeks. RESULTS: Numbers and incidences (%) of infants with death or NDI were 60 (80%) at 22 weeks and 156 (64%) at 23 weeks. In logistic regression analysis, gestational ages of 22 weeks (odds ratio [OR]: 5.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.48–11.76) and 23 weeks (OR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.38–3.32) were associated with increased risk of death or NDI compared with 24 weeks, but a gestational age of 25 weeks (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45–0.95) was associated with decreased risk of death or NDI. In the systematic review, the medians (range) of the incidence of death or NDI in 8 cohorts were 99% (90%–100%) at 22 weeks and 98% (67%–100%) at 23 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Infants born at 22 and 23 weeks’ gestation were at higher risk of death or NDI than infants at born at 24 weeks. However, outcomes were improved compared with those in previous studies. There is a need for additional discussions on interventions for infants born at 22 or 23 weeks’ gestation.
Linear MMSE Multiuser receivers: MAI Conditional weak convergence and network capacity

We explore the performance of minimum mean-square error (MMSE) multiuser receivers in wireless systems where the signatures are modeled as random and take values in complex space. First we study the conditional distribution of the output multiple-access interference (MAI) of the MMSE receiver. By appealing to the notion of conditional weak convergence, we find that the conditional distribution of the output MAI, given the received signatures and received powers, converges in probability to a proper complex Gaussian distribution that does not depend on the signatures. This result indicates that, in a large system, the output interference of the MMSE receiver is approximately Gaussian with high probability, and that systems with MMSE receivers are robust to the randomness of the signatures. Building on the Gaussianity of the output interference, we then take the quality of service (QoS) requirements as meeting the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) constraints and identify the network capacity of single-class systems with random spreading. The network capacity is expressed uniquely in terms of the SIR requirements and received power distributions. Compared to the network capacity corresponding to the optimal signature allocation, we conclude that at the cost of transmission power, the gap between the network capacity corresponding to optimal signatures and that corresponding to random signatures can be made arbitrarily small. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the network capacity, systems with MMSE receivers are robust to the randomness of signatures.
Gene/Cell Therapy Approaches for Immune Dysregulation Polyendocrinopathy Enteropathy X-Linked Syndrome

Immune dysregulation, Polyendocrinopathy, Enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease due to mutations in the gene encoding for Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), a transcription factor fundamental for the function of thymus-derived (t) regulatory T (Treg) cells. The dysfunction of Treg cells results in the development of devastating autoimmune manifestations affecting multiple organs, eventually leading to premature death in infants, if not promptly treated by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Novel gene therapy strategies can be developed for IPEX syndrome as more definitive cure than allogeneic HSCT. Here we describe the therapeutic approaches, alternative to HSCT, currently under development. We described that effector T cells can be converted in regulatory T cells by LV-mediated FOXP3-gene transfer in differentiated T lymphocytes. Despite FOXP3 mutations mainly affect a highly specific T cell subset, manipulation of stem cells could be required for long-term remission of the disease. Therefore, we believe that a more comprehensive strategy should aim at correcting FOXP3-mutated stem cells. Potentials and hurdles of both strategies will be highlighted here.
Smart Antennas for Advanced Communication Systems

Blooming in data-communication applications is beyond all expectations. Smart antennas as now regarded as one of enabling technologies for next-generation wireless communication systems with its promised performance on enhancing network capacity. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the classes of smart antenna systems (SASs), including adaptive arrays, multibeam multiple-input-multiple-output (MB-MIMO) antennas, and diversity-antenna systems. This study also demonstrates practical examples of communication system with developed smart antennas, and shows that using smart antennas instead of traditional antennas highly improves the system performance.
Goal-Directed Movement Enhances Body Representation Updating

Body representation refers to perception, memory, and cognition related to the body and is updated continuously by sensory input. The present study examined the influence of goals on body representation updating with two experiments of the rubber hand paradigm. In the experiments, participants moved their hidden left hands forward and backward either in response to instruction to touch a virtual object or without any specific goal, while a virtual left hand was presented 250 mm above the real hand and moved in synchrony with the real hand. Participants then provided information concerning the perceived heights of their real left hands and rated their sense of agency and ownership of the virtual hand. Results of Experiment 1 showed that when participants moved their hands with the goal of touching a virtual object and received feedback indicating goal attainment, the perceived positions of their real hands shifted more toward that of the virtual hand relative to that in the condition without a goal, indicating that their body representations underwent greater modification. Furthermore, results of Experiment 2 showed that the effect of goal-directed movement occurred in the active condition, in which participants moved their own hands, but did not occur in the passive condition, in which participants’ hands were moved by the experimenter. Therefore, we concluded that the sense of agency probably contributed to the updating of body representation involving goal-directed movement.
Relaxing the actin cytoskeleton for adhesion and movement with Ena/VASP

At cell–cell contacts, as well as at the leading edge of motile cells, the plasticity of actin structures is maintained, in part, through labile connections to the plasma membrane. Here we explain how and why Drosophila enabled/vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) proteins are candidates for driving this cytoskeleton modulation under the membrane.
EVOLUTION AND EVALUATION OF AUTOLOGOUS MINI PUNCH GRAFTING IN VITILIGO

Vitiligo is a result of disrupted epidermal melanization with an undecided etiology and incompletely understood pathogenesis. Various treatment options have resulted in various degrees of success. Various surgical modalities and transplantation techniques have evolved during the last few decades. Of them, miniature punch grafting (PG) has established its place as the easiest, fastest, and least expensive method. Various aspects of this particular procedure have been discussed here. The historical perspective, the instruments, evolution of mini grafting down the ages, and the methodology, advantages, and disadvantages have been discussed. A detailed discussion on the topic along with a review of relevant literature has been provided in this article.