Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decreased Leukocyte Telomere Length (LTL) Is Associated with Stroke but Unlikely to Be Causative

Aims Interindividual variability in telomere length is highly heritable. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening has been shown to be associated with the process of atherosclerosis. But whether the inheritance of LTL is related to stroke is still unclear. The aim of this study was to test if telomere shortening was associated with stroke and whether this association was mainly due to inheritance or acquired cardiovascular risk factors. Methods Our study was focused on stroke in patients and their siblings. 450 subjects were recruited into this study: 150 patients with ischemic stroke as case group, 150 siblings of patients free of stroke (sibling group) and 150 healthy people as normal control. LTL was measured by real-time Polymerase Chain Reactions. The association between LTL and the cardiovascular risk factors was also determined. Results A significant decrease of LTL was found in case group when comparing with sibling (0.92±0.77 vs 1.68±1.24, p<0.001) and normal groups (0.92±0.77 vs 1.95±1.07, p<0.001), but no significant difference was found between sibling group and healthy control (p = 0.330). Shorter telomere length was independently associated with hypertension (p = 0.029, OR = 2.189, 95%CI:1.084–4.421), recent social pressure (p = 0.001, OR = 3.121, 95%CI:1.597–6.101), age (p = 0.004, OR = 1.055, 95%CI:1.017–1.093), HDL (p = 0.022, OR = 0.227, 95%CI:0.064–0.810) and diabetes (p = 0.018, OR = 3.174, 95%CI:1.221–8.252). Additionally, shortened length of telomere (p = 0.017, OR = 3.996, 95%CI:1.283–12.774) was an independent risk biomarker for stroke among case and sibling groups. Conclusion The present study has demonstrated that decreased LTL might be associated with ischemic stroke but unlikely to be causative.
Attenuation of Thrombosis by Crude Rice (Oryza sativa) Bran Policosanol Extract: Ex Vivo Platelet Aggregation and Serum Levels of Arachidonic Acid Metabolites

Background. Vascular occlusion or thrombosis was often attributed to uncontrolled platelet activation. Influence of sugarcane policosanol extract on platelet was reported but little was known of rice bran policosanol, particularly its mechanisms of actions on platelet activities. Objective. Antiplatelet mechanisms of rice bran policosanol extract (RBE) were studied using hyperlipidemic Sprague Dawley rats. Ex vivo platelet aggregation, platelet count (PC), bleeding time (BT), and coagulation time were assayed. Serum eicosanoids and other aggregation-related metabolites levels were quantified. Design. Rats were divided into 6 groups for comparisons (vehicle control Tween 20/H2O, high dose policosanol 500 mg/kg, middle dose policosanol 250 mg/kg, low dose policosanol 100 mg/kg, and positive control aspirin 30 mg/kg). Results. Low dose 100 mg/kg of RBE inhibited aggregation by 42.32 ± 4.31% and this was comparable with the effect of 30 mg/kg aspirin, 43.91 ± 5.27%. Results showed that there were no significant differences in PC, BT, and coagulation time among various groups after RBE treatment. Serum thromboxane A2 was attenuated while prostacyclin level increased upon RBE treatment. Conclusions. RBE reduced ex vivo ADP-induced platelet aggregation without giving adverse effects. No changes in full blood count suggested that rice bran policosanol did not disturb biological blood cell production and destruction yet it reduced aggregation through different mechanisms.
Vena cava diameter measurement for estimation of dry weight in haemodialysis patients.

A correct estimation of volume status and so-called dry weight in dialysis patients remains a difficult clinical problem. Clinical status and chest X-ray are not sensitive enough, while invasively measured central venous pressures are not routinely available. Recently, the sonographic determination of the diameter and collapse of the inferior vena cava (IVC) has been proposed as a noninvasive method for estimating intravascular volume. We tried to evaluate the clinical relevance of this method in dialysis patients by comparing it with central venous pressures (CVP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). To establish a normal range and to control for confounding variables, we examined a large number of healthy controls. Furthermore, the influence of tricuspid insufficiency was examined echocardiographically. Measurements of the IVC diameters were well reproducible, with a coefficient of variation for interobserver error of 2.2%, and a coefficient of variation of 1.4% for intraobserver error. The collapse index was less well reproducible and therefore not used for further analysis. In 86 normal controls (age 18 to 76 years), IVC diameters showed a wide variation, and they were not correlated to age, height, weight, or body surface area. However, there was a significant correlation of IVCex to heart rate (r = 0.63, P < 0.001). Therefore, we calculated percentiles of the heart rate-IVCex relation in normals, and compared the results in patients to these. In 10 overhydrated haemodialysis patients, CVP was closely correlated to IVCex (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), but there was a wide interindividual variation of the slope of this relation. An IVCex above the 95th percentile of normal was a good predictor of an elevated CVP (i.e. > 12 cmH2O). In another 39 stable, chronic haemodialysis patients, there was a significant correlation of the intradialytic decrease of ANP and IVCex (r = 0.69, P < 0.001). However, this correlation existed only in patients without tricuspid insufficiency. In summary, sonography of the inferior vena cava is a valuable tool for estimating dry weight in dialysis patients, provided that some caveats are kept in mind: (i) there is a wide variation of IVC diameters in normals, and single measurements are not helpful in individual patients; (ii) there is a significant, inverse correlation between IVC diameters and heart rate, and the precision of intravascular volume assessment is enhanced by interpreting heart rate corrected diameters; (iii) the presence of tricuspid insufficiency leads to unreliable results, as it influences IVC diameters per se. Intravascular volume changes are reflected by IVC measurements, as shown by the correlation to other indices of intravascular volume, such as CVP and alpha-hANP. IVC sonography is noninvasive and easily available; serial measurements allow an estimation of changes of intravascular volume in patients without cardiac filling impairment. However, unlike with body impedance, interstitial volume is not reflected by IVC diameters.
Dengue Virus Inhibits the Production of Type I Interferon in Primary Human Dendritic Cells

ABSTRACT Dengue virus (DENV) infects human immune cells in vitro and likely infects dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo. DENV-2 productive infection induces activation and release of high levels of chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines in monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs), with the notable exception of alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β). Interestingly, DENV-2-infected moDCs fail to prime T cells, most likely due to the lack of IFN-α/β released by moDCs, since this effect was reversed by addition of exogenous IFN-β. Together, our data show that inhibition of IFN-α/β production by DENV in primary human moDCs is a novel mechanism of immune evasion.
Therapeutic Potential to Modify the Mucus Barrier in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Recently, numerous studies have shown that disruption of the mucus barrier plays an important role in the exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly in ulcerative colitis. Alterations in the mucus barrier are well supported by published data and are widely accepted. The use of fluorescence in situ hybridization and Carnoy’s fixation has revealed the importance of the mucus barrier in maintaining a mutualistic relationship between host and bacteria. Studies have raised the possibility that modulation of the mucus barrier may provide therapies for the disease, using agents such as short-chain fatty acids, prebiotics and probiotics. This review describes changes in the mucus barrier of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in animal models of the disease. We also review the involvement of the mucus barrier in the exacerbation of the disease and explore the therapeutic potential of modifying the mucus barrier with short-chain fatty acids, prebiotics, probiotics, fatty acid synthase, H2S, neutrophil elastase inhibitor and phophatidyl choline.
Aging in Puerto Rico: A Comparison of Health Status Among Island Puerto Rican and Mainland U.S. Older Adults

Objective: To characterize the health status of older island Puerto Ricans, a segment of the U.S. population that has been largely overlooked in aging research. Method: Data from the 2002 Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions Project and the 2002 Health and Retirement Study are used to examine differences in disease, disability, and self-rated health among island Puerto Ricans and the mainland U.S.-born older adult population. Differences are further examined by gender. Results: Island Puerto Ricans were less likely to have heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, activities of daily living (ADL) limitations, and poor self-rated health, but more likely to have hypertension and diabetes. Island Puerto Rican women had worse health relative to island Puerto Rican men. Discussion: Recent challenges in the funding and provision of health care in Puerto Rico are worrisome given the large number of aging island adults, many of whom have hypertension and diabetes, two conditions that require long-term medical care.
Opening Behavior of Lockstitch Seams in Woven Fabrics Under Cyclic Loading Conditions

The opening behavior of lockstitch seams (seam type 1.01.01, SSa-1, stitch type 301 ) under cyclic loading conditions has been analyzed, using models of the slippage of yarns in the fabric and the deformation of the stitch itself. The extension properties of the sewing thread under constant cyclic loading conditions were included by using an empirical formula to predict the maximum strain in terms of the applied load and its number of repetitions. Similarly, an empirical formula was used to predict the amount of yarn slippage in woven fabric, in terms of the applied load and its number of repetitions. This formula was obtained from experiments in which the sewing threads in a lockstitch seam were replaced by pins. These results were combined to provide a method for predicting the deformation of a stitch under cyclic loading conditions. The amount of seam opening actually occurring was measured experimentally under different conditions and compared with the calculated values. Reasonable agreement was obtained, with the model explaining the influence of thread properties, stitch density, thread consumption, applied load, and the number of loading cycles. The model was therefore effective in predicting seam opening behavior under cyclic loading conditions.
Microsatellite Analysis of Early Stage (la-Ilb) Uterine Cervical Squamous Carcinoma

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy of the developing world. The oncogenic role of human papilloma virus (HPV) is well known. Attention is now focusing on the complicit genetic changes, which allow progression of these tumors. Regarding these changes, deletion of tumor suppressor genes (loss of heterozygosity [LOH]) is the preferred pathway of progression with only a subset manifesting microsatellite instability (MSI). Implicated loci include 3pl4.1-22. Several studies suggest that the mutator phenotype in cervical cancer may correlate with higher grade tumors, more advanced disease stage, and poor outcome. Unlike colorectal cancer, in which an inverse relationship has been demonstrated between microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity, cervical cancers expressing MSI have been found to coexpress LOH at other loci. In this study we analyzed 8-microsatellite loci including p53, DCC, APC, the MMR gene hMLHI and 2 regions of interest on chromosome 3 in a high-risk population group in which HPV infection is endemic.
Tracking human migrations by the analysis of the distribution of HLA alleles, lineages and haplotypes in closed and open populations

The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) system shows extensive variation in the number and function of loci and the number of alleles present at any one locus. Allele distribution has been analysed in many populations through the course of several decades, and the implementation of molecular typing has significantly increased the level of diversity revealing that many serotypes have multiple functional variants. While the degree of diversity in many populations is equivalent and may result from functional polymorphism(s) in peptide presentation, homogeneous and heterogeneous populations present contrasting numbers of alleles and lineages at the loci with high-density expression products. In spite of these differences, the homozygosity levels are comparable in almost all of them. The balanced distribution of HLA alleles is consistent with overdominant selection. The genetic distances between outbred populations correlate with their geographical locations; the formal genetic distance measurements are larger than expected between inbred populations in the same region. The latter present many unique alleles grouped in a few lineages consistent with limited founder polymorphism in which any novel allele may have been positively selected to enlarge the communal peptide-binding repertoire of a given population. On the other hand, it has been observed that some alleles are found in multiple populations with distinctive haplotypic associations suggesting that convergent evolution events may have taken place as well. It appears that the HLA system has been under strong selection, probably owing to its fundamental role in varying immune responses. Therefore, allelic diversity in HLA should be analysed in conjunction with other genetic markers to accurately track the migrations of modern humans.
A two-level scheme for fault diagnosis based on the comparison model in Wireless Mesh Networks

In this paper, we present a two-level scheme to diagnose faults for Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). The diagnosis approach that we utilized is based on the comparison model, where testing nodes generate tasks and transmit testing tasks to their neighbors, and then the outcomes of these tasks are compared. By comparing these outcomes, all fault-free nodes in the network can complete diagnosis and identify faulty nodes. We partition the WMNs into a two-level architecture that Level-1 is composed of mesh clients and mesh routers constitute Level-2. Our protocol, called Hierarchy-ADSDP, assumes that the WMN's topology could change during the testing phase and uses a BFS (Breadth-First-Search) tree to disseminate local messages throughout the WMNs. We analyze the communication and time complexity of our protocol. Our protocol is compared with related works.
Aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer.

Until recently, tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen, was the mainstay of endocrine treatment of breast cancer. However, new aromatase inhibitors that are many times more potent and specific than the first such agent, aminoglutethimide, are changing the management of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This review discusses the role of aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane in the treatment of breast cancer.
A theory for the membrane potential of cells

We give an explicit formula for the membrane potential of cells in terms of the intracellular and extracellular ionic concentrations, and derive equations for the ionic currents that flow through channels, exchangers and electrogenic pumps based on simple energy considerations and conservation laws. We demonstrate that the work done by the pump is equal to the potential energy of the cell plus the energy loss due to the downhill ionic fluxes through the channels and the exchanger. Our equations predict osmotic pressure variations. The theory is illustrated in a simple model of spontaneously active cells in the cardiac pacemaker. The simulated action potential and the five currents in the model are in excellent agreement with experiments. The model predicts the experimental observed intracellular ionic concentration of potassium, calcium and sodium. We do not see any drift of the values for the concentrations in a long time simulation, instead we can obtain the same asymptotic values starting with equal intracellular and extracellular ionic concentrations.
On Periodic Register Need in Software Pipelining

This paper presents several theoretical and fundamental results on the register need in periodic schedules, also known as MAXLIVE. Our first contribution is a novel formula for computing the exact number of registers needed by a scheduled loop. This formula has two advantages: Its computation can be done by using a polynomial algorithm with O(n lg n) complexity (n is the number of instructions in the loop) and it allows the generalization of a previous result [13]. Second, during software pipelining, we show that the minimal number of registers needed may increase when incrementing the initiation interval (II), which is contrary to intuition. For the case of zero architectural delays in accessing registers, we provide a sufficient condition for keeping the minimal number of registers from increasing when incrementing the II. Third, we prove an interesting property that enables us to optimally compute the minimal periodic register sufficiency of a loop for all its valid periodic schedules, irrespective of II. Fourth and last, we prove that the problem of optimal stage scheduling under register constraints is polynomially solvable for a subclass of data dependence graphs, whereas this problem is known to be NP-complete for arbitrary dependence graphs [7]. Our latter result generalizes a previous achievement [13] which addressed data dependence trees and forest of trees. In this study, we consider cyclic data dependence graphs without taking into account any resource constraints. The aim of our theoretical results on the periodic register need is to help current and future software pipeliners achieve significant performance improvements by making better (if not the best) use of the available resources.
Antioxidant properties of polysaccharides obtained by batch cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium

The antioxidant activity of the exopolysaccharides (EPS) and intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) obtained from the mycelia obtained by submerged culture of two edible Pleurotus ostreatus strains, PQMZ91109 and PSI101109 in a batch bioreactor was determined. EPS and IPS showed significant antioxidant activities (in vitro) especially in the scavenging effect on the DPPH and ABTS radicals, reducing power and chelating effect on ferrous ions. The tests proved the differences between the two mushrooms, concerning the biological activity of polysaccharides. The data sustain that P. ostreatus polysaccharides are natural antioxidant for pharmaceutical and food industries, particularly PSI101109.
Movement‐Related effects in fMRI time‐series

This paper concerns the spatial and intensity transformations that are required to adjust for the confounding effects of subject movement during functional MRI (fMRI) activation studies. An approach is presented that models, and removes, movement‐related artifacts from fMRI time‐series. This approach is predicated on the observation that movement‐related effects are extant even after perfect realignment. Movement‐related effects can be divided into those that are a function of position of the object in the frame of reference of the scanner and those that are due to movement in previous scans. This second component depends on the history of excitation experienced by spins in a small volume and consequent differences in local saturation. The spin excitation history thus will itself be a function of previous positions, suggesting an autoregression‐moving average model for the effects of previous displacements on the current signal. A model is described as well as the adjustments for movement‐related components that ensue. The empirical analyses suggest that (in extreme situations) over 90% of fMRI signal can be attributed to movement, and that this artifactual component can be successfully removed.
SCOPE: easy and efficient parallel processing of massive data sets

Companies providing cloud-scale services have an increasing need to store and analyze massive data sets such as search logs and click streams. For cost and performance reasons, processing is typically done on large clusters of shared-nothing commodity machines. It is imperative to develop a programming model that hides the complexity of the underlying system but provides flexibility by allowing users to extend functionality to meet a variety of requirements. In this paper, we present a new declarative and extensible scripting language, SCOPE (Structured Computations Optimized for Parallel Execution), targeted for this type of massive data analysis. The language is designed for ease of use with no explicit parallelism, while being amenable to efficient parallel execution on large clusters. SCOPE borrows several features from SQL. Data is modeled as sets of rows composed of typed columns. The select statement is retained with inner joins, outer joins, and aggregation allowed. Users can easily define their own functions and implement their own versions of operators: extractors (parsing and constructing rows from a file), processors (row-wise processing), reducers (group-wise processing), and combiners (combining rows from two inputs). SCOPE supports nesting of expressions but also allows a computation to be specified as a series of steps, in a manner often preferred by programmers. We also describe how scripts are compiled into efficient, parallel execution plans and executed on large clusters.
p35 Is Required for CDK5 Activation in Cellular Senescence*

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene (RB-1) is a key regulator of cellular senescence. Expression of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) in human tumor cells that lack it results in senescence-like changes. The induction of the senescent phenotype by pRB requires the postmitotic kinase CDK5, the best known function of which is in neuronal development and postmitotic neuronal activities. Activation of CDK5 in neurons depends on its activators p35 and p39; however, little is known about how CDK5 is activated in non-neuronal senescent cells. Here we report that p35 is required for the activation of CDK5 in the process of cellular senescence. We demonstrate that: (i) p35 is expressed in osteosarcoma cells, (ii) p35 is required for CDK5 activation induced by pRB during senescence, (iii) p35 is required for the senescent morphological changes in which CDK5 is known to be involved as well as for expression of the senescence secretome, and (iv) p35 is up-regulated in senescing cells. Taken together, these results suggest that p35 is at least one of the activators of CDK5 that is mobilized in the process of cellular senescence, which may provide insight into cancer cell proliferation and future cancer therapeutics.