Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A GAL4‐inducible transgenic tool kit for the in vivo modulation of Rho GTPase activity in zebrafish

Background: Rho GTPases are small monomeric G‐proteins that play key roles in many cellular processes. Due to Rho GTPases' widespread expression and broad functions, analyses of their function during late development require tissue‐specific modulation of activity. The GAL4/UAS system provides an excellent tool for investigating the function of Rho GTPases in vivo. With this in mind, we created a transgenic tool kit enabling spatial and temporal modulation of Rho GTPase activity in zebrafish. Results: Transgenic constructs were assembled driving dominant‐negative, constitutively active, and wild‐type versions of Cdc42, RhoA, and Rac1 under 10XUAS control. The self‐cleaving viral peptide F2A was utilized to allow bicistronic expression of a fluorescent reporter and Rho GTPase. Global heat shock of hsp70l:gal4+ transgenic embryos confirmed GAL4‐specific construct expression. Western blot analysis indicated myc‐tagged Rho GTPases were expressed only in the presence of GAL4. Construct expression was confined to proper cells when combined with pou4f3:gal4 or ptf1a:gal4. Finally, transgene expression resulted in reproducible defects in lens formation, indicating that the transgenes are functional in vivo. Conclusions: We generated and validated 10 transgenic lines, creating a versatile tool kit for the temporal‐spatial modulation of Cdc42, RhoA, and Rac1 activity in vivo. These lines will enable systematic analysis of Rho GTPase function in any tissue of interest. Developmental Dynamics 245:844–853, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Midlife and late-life obesity and the risk of dementia: cardiovascular health study.

BACKGROUND While high adiposity in middle age appears to be related to greater dementia risk, studies exploring this association in the elderly are conflicting. OBJECTIVE To evaluate associations between midlife and late-life obesity and risk of dementia. DESIGN Prospective study with mean follow-up of 5.4 years (1992-1994 through 1999). SETTING Community-dwelling sample in 4 US sites recruited from Medicare eligibility files. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2798 adults without dementia (mean age, 74.7 years; 59.1% women) participating in the Cardiovascular Health Study who underwent magnetic resonance imaging were measured for height and weight at baseline at age 65 years or older (late life), and self-reported weight at age 50 years (midlife). Body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) was calculated at both times. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Dementia, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia classified by a multidisciplinary committee using standardized criteria. RESULTS Classification resulted in 480 persons with incident dementia, 245 with Alzheimer disease (no vascular dementia), and 213 with vascular dementia (with or without Alzheimer disease). In evaluations of midlife obesity, an increased risk of dementia was found for obese (BMI >30) vs normal-weight (BMI 20-25) persons, adjusted for demographics (hazard ratio [HR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.87) and for cardiovascular risk factors (1.36; 0.94-1.95). The risk estimates were reversed in assessments of late-life BMI. Underweight persons (BMI <20) had an increased risk of dementia (1.62; 1.02-2.64), whereas being overweight (BMI >25-30) was not associated (0.92; 0.72-1.18) and being obese reduced the risk of dementia (0.63; 0.44-0.91) compared with those with normal BMI. CONCLUSION These results help explain the "obesity paradox" as differences in dementia risk across time are consistent with physical changes in the trajectory toward disability.
Surface-Oxidized Amorphous Alloy Powder/Epoxy-Resin Composite Bulk Magnetic Core and Its Application to Megahertz Switching LLC Resonant Converter

To realize a compact, lightweight and high-efficiency megahertz (MHz) switching DC–DC converter using SiC/GaN power device, inductor/transformer core must have small core loss at such high frequency to maintain high efficiency of the converter. This paper focuses on Fe-based amorphous (Fe-AMO) alloy powder used in metal composite bulk magnetic core for MHz switching DC–DC converter, where fine Fe-AMO powder with a mean diameter of $2.56~ {\mu }\text{m}$ was used to suppress MHz band eddy current inside the Fe-AMO powder body. When applying Fe-AMO powder to the closely packed composite core together with epoxy resin, high electrical-resistivity layer must be formed on the Fe-AMO powder surface in order to suppress the overlapped eddy current between adjacent Fe-AMO powders. In this paper, about 10 nm-thick oxidized layer of the Fe-AMO powder surface was successfully formed by using annealing in dry air. This paper describes on the surface-oxidized Fe-AMO powder/epoxy-resin composite bulk core transformer and its application to GaN power device MHz switching LLC resonant DC–DC converter. By using the Fe-AMO composite core transformer, the fabricated 48 V-input/24 V-output LLC resonant converter exhibited 90% over efficiency in the output power range of 24 to 120 W, which was higher efficiency when using the Ni–Zn ferrite core transformer.
The end-to-end rate control in multiple-hop wireless networks: Cross-layer formulation and optimal allocation

In this paper, we study the theoretical problem of the end-to-end rate assignment for multi-hop wireless networks. Specifically, we consider the problem of joint congestion control, random access and power control design with multi-hop transmissions and interference-limited link rates. In order to address both the end-to-end throughput maximization and energy efficiency, we formulate this problem into a cross-layer design problem under a realistic interference-based communication model, which captures the attainable link capacity in practice. There are primarily three challenges in this design: 1) how to formulate the cross-layer design; 2) how to solve the non- convex and non-separable problem efficiently; more importantly 3) under a reasonably complexity, how to design a distributed algorithm that can realize this formulation while maintaining the architectural modularity among different layers. First, we propose a novel method that can convert a non- convex and non-separable programming into an equivalent convex programming problem. The problem is solved by a dual decomposition technique. We show that the resulting algorithm can be practically realized. We then design a distributed algorithm that jointly considers random access and power control to adapt for the transport layer congestion status. Simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm can achieve close to the global optimum within reasonable convergence times.
Escitalopram in the treatment of panic disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Escitalopram, the therapeutically active isomer of the racemic selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant citalopram, has shown significant anxiolytic effects in placebo-controlled clinical trials of social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and anxiety symptoms associated with major depression. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of escitalopram in outpatients diagnosed with panic disorder. METHOD Male and female outpatients between 18 and 80 years of age meeting DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of double-blind treatment with escitalopram, citalopram, or placebo in a study conducted from September 1999 to July 2001. The primary measure of efficacy was panic attack frequency at week 10 relative to baseline, as assessed by the Modified Sheehan Panic and Anticipatory Anxiety Scale. RESULTS A total of 366 subjects (128 escitalopram patients, 119 citalopram patients, and 119 placebo patients) received at least 1 dose of double-blind treatment. The frequency of panic attacks was statistically significantly improved (p =.04), and the increase in percentage of patients with zero panic attacks reached borderline significance (p =.051), in the escitalopram-treated group relative to the placebo-treated group. Both escitalopram and citalopram statistically significantly reduced panic disorder symptoms and severity versus placebo at endpoint (p </=.05), as measured by the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale total score, the Clinical Global Impressions scale, the Patient Global Evaluation, and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Treatment with escitalopram was safe and well tolerated, with a similar incidence of the most common adverse events for the escitalopram and placebo groups. The rate of discontinuation for adverse events was 6.3% for escitalopram, 8.4% for citalopram, and 7.6% for placebo. CONCLUSION Escitalopram is efficacious, safe, and well tolerated in the treatment of panic disorder.
EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS LOAD IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ACTIVE EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS INFECTION

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a rare chronic mononucleosis syndrome involving clonally proliferating EBV-infected T-/NK-cells. EBV DNA was quantified in nonpleocytotic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 9 patients. Three patients with neurologic and/or neuroimaging abnormalities showed high CSF copy numbers. In 1 patient, CSF copy number exceeded the peripheral blood value. CSF EBV-load may predict the central nervous system involvement of EBV+T-/NK-cells.
Intraoperative autotransfusion in abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether intraoperative autotransfusion reduces the percentage of patients undergoing allogeneic blood transfusion. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION Using a public domain database (MEDLINE) and a Web-based search engine (PubMed), all intraoperative autotransfusion vs control prospective randomized controlled trials that enrolled patients undergoing elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery, published between January 1, 1966, and November 30, 2005, were searched. Relevant studies were identified through a manual search of secondary sources including references of initially identified articles. DATA EXTRACTION Data on detailed inclusion criteria, autotransfusion system type, and incidence of allogeneic blood transfusion were abstracted from each study. Sensitivity analyses were performed by excluding individual trials one at a time and recalculating the pooled risk ratio estimates for the remaining studies. DATA SYNTHESIS Our search identified 4 randomized controlled trials including data for 292 patients. Pooled analysis demonstrated a statistically significant 37% reduction in risk of allogeneic blood transfusion with intraoperative autotransfusion compared with control (risk ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.95; P = .03) in a random-effects model. There was statistically significant trial heterogeneity of results (P = .02) but no evidence of statistically significant publication bias (P = .497). Two of 4 sensitivity analyses demonstrated statistically nonsignificant results favoring intraoperative autotransfusion. CONCLUSION Based on a meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials, intraoperative autotransfusion reduces risk of allogeneic blood transfusion in elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.
Comfort, chemical, mechanical, and structural properties of natural and synthetic leathers used for apparel

Natural leather is processed from hides and skins of animals. Synthetic leathers are becoming popular as an alternative material owing to limited availability and varying size of natural leathers. There is a need to understand the properties of natural and synthetic leathers to select proper material for an application. In this study, materials used for apparel application such as natural sheep nappa leather and synthetic polyurethane (PU)-based leather have been chosen and analyzed for comfort, chemical, physical, and structural properties. It was found that natural sheep nappa leather has enhanced water vapor permeability whereas other comfort properties such as softness and drape ability are comparable to synthetic PU leather. Whereas synthetic PU leather dominated most of the physical properties, especially percentage elongation and stitch tear strength, in specific directions on account of polyester knitted base fabric. Chemical properties of natural sheep nappa leather and synthetic PU leather depended on the individual material composition and characteristics. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis provided convincing evidence for some of the quantified comfort and physical properties. The results of this study would be useful in selection of proper material for apparel application as well as in providing directions for future research in synthetic leather manufacture. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Impossibility of distributed consensus with one faulty process

The consensus problem involves an asynchronous system of processes, some of which may be unreliable. The problem is for the reliable processes to agree on a binary value. In this paper, it is shown that every protocol for this problem has the possibility of nontermination, even with only one faulty process. By way of contrast, solutions are known for the synchronous case, the “Byzantine Generals” problem.
Naphthalene metabolism by pseudomonads: purification and properties of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene oxygenase

1,2-Dihydroxynaphthalene oxygenase was purified from Pseudomonas putida NCIB 9816 grown on naphthalene as the sole source of carbon and energy. The enzyme had a subunit molecular weight of 19,000 and in a medium containing phosphate buffer, 1 mM mercaptoethanol, and 10% (vol/vol) ethanol had a native molecular weight greater than 275,000. The enzyme required Fe2+ for activity. It was inactivated slowly on standing, and inactivation was accelerated by dilution with aerated buffers and by H2O2. Bathophenanthroline sulfonate, o-phenanthroline, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and 2,2'-dipyridyl also inhibited the enzyme. The inactive enzyme was reactivated by anaerobic incubation with ferrous sulfate and ferrous ammonium sulfate. Thiol reagents and acetone, ethanol, or glycerol decreased the rate of loss of activity. The enzyme was most active with 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene, for which the Km was 2.8 X 10(-4) M. 3-Methyl- and 4-methylcatechols were oxidized at 3 and 1.5%, respectively, of the rate of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene, and the Km for 3-methylcatechol was 1.5 X 10(-4) M. Purified 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene oxygenase catalyzed the oxidation of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene, leading to the appearance of 2-hydroxychromene-2-carboxylic acid, but 3-methylcatechol was oxidized by this enzyme to 2-hydroxy-6-oxoheptadienoic acid. Thus, a product structurally analogous to 2-hydroxychromene-2-carboxylic acid was not observed when 3-methylcatechol was oxidized. This may indicate that 2-hydroxychromene-2-carboxylic acid results from cyclization of a ring fission product before release from the enzyme.
TITLE : Lumbar Kinematic Pattern Variability during Gait and the Effects of Isolated Lumbar Extension Exercise in Chronic Low Back Pain AUTHORS :

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a multifactorial condition with a variety of symptoms; one being gait variability. The lumbar spine and its musculature are important in controlling gait and in CLBP the lumbar extensors are often deconditioned. Because of this specific exercise for the lumbar extensors is often recommended. It was therefore of interest to examine relationships between lumbar kinematic variability during gait, with pain, disability and isolated lumbar extension (ILEX) strength in CLBP participants in addition to the effects of a 12 week intervention of ILEX exercise upon these variables. Twenty four CLBP participants were assessed for lumbar kinematics during gait, ILEX strength, pain (VAS), and disability (ODI) pre and post a 12 week intervention. Kinematic variability has been previously examined using Winter’s coefficient of variation (CV). We utilised novel methods of differentiating waveform pattern (CVp) and offset (CVo) variability for comparison. Participants were randomised to either a training group undergoing 12 weeks of ILEX exercise 1x/week or a non-training control. Examination of Winters CV, CVp and CVo showed they incorporate largely different sources of variability and that CVp best represents motor repeatability. Baseline comparisons also showed kinematic variables differed across movement planes; displacement and Winter’s CV highest and similar in frontal and transverse planes, and CVp and CVo higher in the sagittal plane compared to frontal and transverse planes which were similar. Spearman’s correlations of baseline data showed significant correlations between transverse plane CVp and ILEX strength (r = -.411) and ODI (r = .401). However, VAS was not correlated with CVp in any plane. These findings contrast with earlier studies utilising Winter’s CV. CVp instead suggests that highest variability occurs in sagittal plane movement during gait in CLBP. After the ILEX intervention the training group showed a significant reduction in sagittal plane CVp (-20.90+43.53%) indicating improved motor pattern replication. Considering the role of the lumbar extensors in gait, the relationship between both ILEX strength and ODI with transverse plane CVp suggests gait variability may result in consequence of lumbar extensor deconditioning or disability accompanying CLBP. The ILEX intervention however appeared to specifically improve sagittal plane variability perhaps due to the plane of movement utilised during the exercise.
miRNA target enrichment analysis reveals directly active miRNAs in health and disease

microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding regulatory RNA molecules. The activity of a miRNA in a biological process can often be reflected in the expression program that characterizes the outcome of the activity. We introduce a computational approach that infers such activity from high-throughput data using a novel statistical methodology, called minimum-mHG (mmHG), that examines mutual enrichment in two ranked lists. Based on this methodology, we provide a user-friendly web application that supports the statistical assessment of miRNA target enrichment analysis (miTEA) in the top of a ranked list of genes or proteins. Using miTEA, we analyze several target prediction tools by examining performance on public miRNA constitutive expression data. We also apply miTEA to analyze several integrative biology data sets, including a novel matched miRNA/mRNA data set covering nine human tissue types. Our novel findings include proposed direct activity of miR-519 in placenta, a direct activity of the oncogenic miR-15 in different healthy tissue types and a direct activity of the poorly characterized miR-768 in both healthy tissue types and cancer cell lines. The miTEA web application is available at http://cbl-gorilla.cs. technion.ac. il/miTEA/.
STAT3 Targets Suggest Mechanisms of Aggressive Tumorigenesis in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that, when dysregulated, becomes a powerful oncogene found in many human cancers, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has two major subtypes: germinal center B-cell−like and activated B–cell—like. Compared with the germinal center B-cell−like form, activated B-cell−like lymphomas respond much more poorly to current therapies and often exhibit overexpression or overactivation of STAT3. To investigate how STAT3 might contribute to this aggressive phenotype, we have integrated genome-wide studies of STAT3 DNA binding using chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing with whole-transcriptome profiling using RNA-sequencing. STAT3 binding sites are present near almost a third of all genes that differ in expression between the two subtypes, and examination of the affected genes identified previously undetected and clinically significant pathways downstream of STAT3 that drive oncogenesis. Novel treatments aimed at these pathways may increase the survivability of activated B-cell−like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Facial geometry and speech analysis for depression detection

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders, burdening many people world-wide. A system with the potential of serving as a decision support system is proposed, based on novel features extracted from facial expression geometry and speech, by interpreting non-verbal manifestations of depression. The proposed system has been tested both in gender independent and gender based modes, and with different fusion methods. The algorithms were evaluated for several combinations of parameters and classification schemes, on the dataset provided by the Audio/Visual Emotion Challenge of 2013 and 2014. The proposed framework achieved a precision of 94.8% for detecting persons achieving high scores on a self-report scale of depressive symptomatology. Optimal system performance was obtained using a nearest neighbour classifier on the decision fusion of geometrical features in the gender independent mode, and audio based features in the gender based mode; single visual and audio decisions were combined with the OR binary operation.
Dual Roles for DNA Polymerase Theta in Alternative End-Joining Repair of Double-Strand Breaks in Drosophila

DNA double-strand breaks are repaired by multiple mechanisms that are roughly grouped into the categories of homology-directed repair and non-homologous end joining. End-joining repair can be further classified as either classical non-homologous end joining, which requires DNA ligase 4, or “alternative” end joining, which does not. Alternative end joining has been associated with genomic deletions and translocations, but its molecular mechanism(s) are largely uncharacterized. Here, we report that Drosophila melanogaster DNA polymerase theta (pol theta), encoded by the mus308 gene and previously implicated in DNA interstrand crosslink repair, plays a crucial role in DNA ligase 4-independent alternative end joining. In the absence of pol theta, end joining is impaired and residual repair often creates large deletions flanking the break site. Analysis of break repair junctions from flies with mus308 separation-of-function alleles suggests that pol theta promotes the use of long microhomologies during alternative end joining and increases the likelihood of complex insertion events. Our results establish pol theta as a key protein in alternative end joining in Drosophila and suggest a potential mechanistic link between alternative end joining and interstrand crosslink repair.
Local complications of thiopentone injection.

SUMMARY Cases of local complications following injection of thiopentone that had been reported to the Medical Defence Union over a recent seven-year period were investigated. There were three cases of gangrene distal to the site of injection; five cases of isolated damage to nerves and muscles; ten cases of local tissue necrosis at the site of injection. It is estimated that the incidence of gangrene is probably less than one case in a million injections. Brief case reports are presented.
Multiplexed detection of protein markers with silicon nanowire FET and sol-gel matrix

A new modified top-down based fabrication method has been developed to obtain highly ordered silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays. With this method, we could produce as many as 500 chips (size dependable) in an 8 inch wafer. The immobilization of multiple proteins on each chip was performed by spotting sol/gel materials encapsulating antibodies on the different regions. The most commonly used protein markers in clinics, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and prostate specific antigen (PSA), were systematically entrapped in sol-gel materials and used for multiplexed testing. Upon formation, the electrical signal of different concentrations of CRP and PSA could be simultaneously determined in the range of 0.12 ~ 10 ng/mL and 0.18 ~ 8.87 ng/mL, respectively.