Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance of EuroSCORE II in a large US database: implications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVES Validation studies of European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation II (EuroSCORE II) have been limited to European datasets. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess the performance of EuroSCORE II in a large multicentre US database, and compare it with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS-PROM). In addition, implications for patient selection for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were explored. METHODS EuroSCORE II and the STS-PROM were calculated for 50 588 patients from a multi-institutional statewide database of all cardiac surgeries performed since 2003. Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC), observed vs expected (O:E) ratios and calibration plots. Analyses were performed for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n = 40 871), aortic valve replacement (AVR) (n = 4107), AVR + CABG (n = 3480), mitral valve (MV) replacement (n = 1071) and MV repair (n = 1059). RESULTS The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 2.1%. EuroSCORE II was outperformed by the STS-PROM in the overall cohort with regard to discrimination (AUC = 0.77 vs 0.81, respectively; P < 0.001) and calibration (O:E = 0.68 vs 0.80, respectively). Discrimination for CABG was worse with EuroSCORE II (AUC = 0.77 vs STS-PROM: 0.81, P < 0.001). For other procedures discrimination was similar: AVR (AUC = 0.71 vs STS-PROM: 0.74, P = 0.40), AVR + CABG (AUC = 0.72 vs STS-PROM: 0.74, P = 0.47), MV repair (AUC = 0.82 vs STS-PROM: 0.86, P = 0.55) and MV replacement (AUC = 0.78 vs STS-PROM: 0.79, P = 0.69). Calibration of EuroSCORE II was worse for CABG (O:E = 0.68 vs STS-PROM: 0.80), similar in AVR + CABG (O:E = 0.76 vs STS-PROM: 0.70) and MV repair (O:E = 0.64 vs STS-PROM: 0.67), while EuroSCORE II may be more accurate in AVR (O:E = 0.96 vs STS-PROM: 0.76). Performance of both models improved when only recent cases (after 1 January 2008) were used. Ongoing TAVI trials aimed at patients with an estimated 4-10% risk of mortality are enrolling patients with mean estimated risks of 6.2% (EuroSCORE II) or 6.0% (STS-PROM), and an actual mortality rate of 4.6% (EuroSCORE II) or 4.8% (STS-PROM). CONCLUSIONS In a large US multicentre database, the STS-PROM performs better than EuroSCORE II for CABG. However, EuroSCORE II is a reasonable alternative in low-risk CABG patients and in those undergoing other cardiac surgical procedures. Clinical trials and physicians that use these scores recruit and treat patients who are at a lower risk than anticipated. This potentially leads to overtreatment with an investigational device. Decision-making should not solely be based on risk scores, but should comprise multidisciplinary heart team discussions.
Inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma growth by blockade of glycosphingolipid synthesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers. In vitro studies suggest that growth and response to therapy of human carcinomas may depend on glycosphingolipid (GSL) expression. Glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), encoded by the gene Ugcg, is the basic enzyme required for the synthesis of GSLs. Gene array analysis implied that Ugcg is significantly overexpressed in human HCC as compared to non-tumorous liver tissue. Therefore we have investigated whether tumor - genesis and - growth is altered in the absence of GSLs. An endogenous liver cancer model has been initiated by application of diethylnitrosamine in mice lacking Ugcg specifically in hepatocytes. We have now shown that hepatocellular tumor initiation and growth in mice is significantly inhibited by hepatic GSL deficiency in vivo. Neither the expression of cell cycle proteins, such as cyclins and pathways such as the MAP-kinase/Erk pathway nor the mTOR/Akt pathway as well as the number of liver infiltrating macrophages and T cells were essentially changed in tumors lacking GSLs. Significantly elevated bi-nucleation of atypical hepatocytes, a feature for impaired cytokinesis, was detected in tumors of mice lacking liver-specific GSLs. A reduction of proliferation and restricted growth of tumor microspheres due to delayed, GSL-dependent cytokinesis, analogous to the histopathologic phenotype in vivo could be demonstrated in vitro. GSL synthesis inhibition may thus constitute a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Quantitative Assessment of Biotic Mortality Factors of the European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Field Corn

Abstract Five treatments were used to exclude naturally occurring predators and parasitoids, based on body size and flight ability, to assess their effect on Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) populations on corn plants. Two initial O. nubilalis egg densities (one egg mass and three egg masses per plant) were assigned to each treatment. Egg predation was higher in uncaged treatments than in caged treatments. Flying insect predators, primarily Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), reduced egg densities by 50%. Thirty-five to 84% of O. nubilalis larvae were infected with Nosema pyrausta (Paillot) (Microspora: Nosematidae). The incidence of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes), ranged from 0 to 21%, whereas larval parasitism, mainly by Macrocentrus cingulum Reinhard (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) ranged from 0 to 31%. In contrast to previous studies, this 3-yr field study documents that egg predation and larval infections of O. nubilalis were significant and consistent biotic mortality factors.
Nyersfoszfátok agronómiai hatékonyságának vizsgálata tenyészedény-kísérletben

Savanyu homoktalajon (Nyirlugos) es savanyu agyagos valyogtalajon (Ragaly) hat, lassan feltarodo nyersfoszfattal (algeriai, floridai, e-karolinai, szenegali, marokkoi nyersfoszfat es hyperfoszfat) beallitott tenyeszedeny-kiserletben teszteltuk a vizoldhato P-tragyak alkalmazasara kidolgozott konvencionalis talaj P-vizsgalati modszereket, valamint egy hazankban kevesse elterjedt modszert, a FeO (Fe-oxidos papircsik) eljarast a talajok P-szolgaltatasanak becslesere. A modszereket szuperfoszfat-, valamint szuperfoszfat+kalcium-karbonat kezelesekben is ertekeltuk. Vizsgaltuk a talajok konnyen oldhato P-tartalma, a nyersfoszfatok P-tartalmanak oldhatosaga es a voros here termese, ill. P-felvetele kozotti osszefuggeseket. Eredmenyeink azt mutattak, hogy a csupan nyersfoszfatokkal kezelt talajokon a FeO modszerrel mert P-tartalom a savanyu homoktalajon az AL-, LE- es H 2 O-P tartalommal kozel azonos, szoros korrelaciot mutatott, es legkevesbe az Olsen-P tartalommal korrelalt. Az agyagos valyogtalajon viszont a F.
A Near-Solar Metallicity, Nitrogen-deficient Lyman Limit Absorber Associated with Two S0 Galaxies

The UV spectrum of the bright quasar PHL 1811 at zem = 0.192 reveals a foreground gas system at z = 0.080923 with log N(H ) = 17.98 ± 0.05. We have determined the abundances of various atomic species in this system from a spectrum covering the wavelength range 1160-1730 Å recorded at 7 km s-1 resolution by the E140M grating of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), supplemented by coverage at shorter wavelengths by the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). The abundances of C II, Si II, S II, and Fe II compared to that of O I indicate that a considerable fraction of the gas is in locations where the hydrogen is ionized. An oxygen abundance [O/H] = -0.19 ± 0.08 in the H I-bearing gas indicates that the chemical enrichment of the gas is unusually high for an extragalactic QSO absorption system. However, this same material has an unusually low abundance of nitrogen, [N/O] < -0.59, indicating that there may not have been enough time during this enrichment for secondary nitrogen to arise from low- and intermediate-mass stars. From the convergence of high Lyman series lines we can determine the velocity width of H I, and after correcting for turbulent broadening shown by the O I absorption feature, we derive a temperature T = 7070 K. We determine a lower bound for the electron density n(e) > 10-3 cm-3 by modeling the ionization by the intergalactic radiation field and an upper bound n(e) < 0.07 cm-3 from the absence of much C II in an excited fine-structure level. The thermal pressure in the range 4 cm-3 K < p/k < 140 cm-3 K could be confined by a warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) structure with ρ/ ~ 20 that might accompany a wall of galaxies at the same redshift, seen in data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. An r-band image of the field surrounding PHL 1811 recorded by the ACS instrument on HST shows that two galaxies at the same redshift as the gas are S0 galaxies, separated by only 34 and 87 h kpc from the line of sight. One or both of these galaxies may be the source of the material in the Lyman limit system, which may have been expelled from them in a fast wind, by tidal stripping, or by ram pressure stripping. Subtraction of the ACS point-spread function from the image of the QSO reveals the presence of a face-on spiral galaxy under the glare of the quasar; while it is possible that this galaxy may be responsible for the Lyman limit absorption, the exact alignment of the QSO with the center of the galaxy suggests that the spiral is the quasar host.
Effects of Interactivity on Website Involvement and Purchase Intention

This study aims to understand how website interactivity (active control and reciprocal communication) can impact purchase intention through website involvement and how the impacts are moderated by the type of products featured on websites. In a laboratory experiment, 186 participants were asked to perform purchasing tasks of non-fictional books or greeting cards on websites of varying levels of interactivity. Results indicate that websites with a high level of active control lead to cognitive involvement and, in some instances, affective involvement. Websites with reciprocal communication lead to affective involvement for functional products but not expressive products. Responses from the participants also reveal that an increase in website involvement leads to higher purchase intention. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Flow Around Steep Topography

Abstract : Strong westward flow in the North Equatorial Current (NEC) encounters tall, steep, submarine topography and islands. During the Flow Encountering Abrupt Topography (FLEAT) DRI, investigators will determine:Whether appreciable energy/momentum is lost from the large-scale NEC flow to smaller scales and through which processes? What limits numerical models/state estimates from making accurate statistical/deterministic predictions at 10 km resolution around submarine topography and islands? How can we improve them?
Circularized Chromosome with a Large Palindromic Structure in Streptomyces griseus Mutants

ABSTRACT Streptomyces linear chromosomes display various types of rearrangements after telomere deletion, including circularization, arm replacement, and amplification. We analyzed the new chromosomal deletion mutants Streptomyces griseus 301-22-L and 301-22-M. In these mutants, chromosomal arm replacement resulted in long terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) at both ends; different sizes were deleted again and recombined inside the TIRs, resulting in a circular chromosome with an extremely large palindrome. Short palindromic sequences were found in parent strain 2247, and these sequences might have played a role in the formation of this unique structure. Dynamic structural changes of Streptomyces linear chromosomes shown by this and previous studies revealed extraordinary strategies of members of this genus to keep a functional chromosome, even if it is linear or circular.
First detection of group C rotavirus in patients with gastroenteritis in Slovenia

Group C rotaviruses are associated with sporadic gastroenteritis and outbreaks of diarrhea in children and adults worldwide. Three cases with group C rotavirus infection are described, and the molecular characterization of the gene for the major capsid protein VP6 is reported. Patients described in this report were 10 years old or more and had mild to moderate clinical symptoms. A high nucleotide (>98%) and amino acid (100%) identity was observed among all three isolated Slovenian group C rotavirus strains. The similar identity is confirmed of Slovenian strains with other human group C rotavirus isolates, which were seen to cluster separately from the animal group C rotavirus isolates by a phylogenetic analysis. This is the first report of group C rotavirus detection in Slovenia. J. Med. Virol. 78:1250–1255, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Strain-Specific Differences in Two Large Mycobacterium tuberculosis Genotype Clusters in Isolates Collected from Homeless Patients in New York City from 2001 to 2004

ABSTRACT We studied two large Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype clusters associated with recent outbreaks in homeless persons to determine factors associated with these tuberculosis (TB) strains. Isolates from all culture-positive TB cases diagnosed from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2004 were genotyped. Patients whose isolates had identical restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns and spoligotypes were considered clustered. Health department records were reviewed and reinterviews attempted for clustered cases. Patients with the Cs30 and BEs75 strains were compared to other genotypically clustered cases and to each other. The two largest genotype clusters among homeless persons were the Cs30 strain (n = 105) and the BEs75 strain (n = 47). Fifty-one (49%) patients with the Cs30 strain and 28 (60%) with the BEs75 strain were homeless. Compared to patients with the BEs75 strain, patients with the Cs30 strain were less likely to be respiratory acid-fast bacillus smear positive (51% versus 72%). Furthermore, patients with the BEs75 strain were more likely to be HIV infected (74% versus 42%), which suggests that most patients with this strain advanced to disease after recent infection. Cases in clusters of strains that have been circulating in the community over a long time period, such as the Cs30 strain, require additional investigation to determine whether clustering is a result of recent transmission or reactivation of remote infection.
Single daily dose of carbimazole in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

BACKGROUND The antithyroid drugs, methimazole and carbimazole, are conventionally used in divided daily doses. However, these drugs have a longer intrathyroidal than a plasma half-life. We undertook this prospective, controlled study, in an area of mild iodine deficiency, to compare the efficacy of a single daily dose of carbimazole with divided doses in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. METHODS Nineteen patients with hyperthyroidism received 30 mg of carbimazole daily at bed time (group A) while 14 received 10 mg of carbimazole every 8 hours (group B). These patients were assessed clinically and biochemically by estimation of serum total thyroxine, total triiodothyronine and thyrotropin before and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after treatment. RESULTS There was no significant difference between mean baseline concentrations of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. After 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks there was a decline in their concentrations which was similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Euthyroidism was achieved in 4.6 +/- 1.4 weeks (range 2-6 weeks) in group A and in 3.8 +/- 1.2 weeks (range 3-6 weeks) in group B (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that carbimazole in a single daily dose is an effective method for treating hyperthyroidism in an area of mild iodine deficiency and its efficacy is comparable to divided dose therapy. This practical and acceptable method of treatment can be specially useful in patients who find it difficult to remember to take divided doses.
Biased Positional Games and Small Hypergraphs with Large Covers

We prove that in the biased $(1:b)$ Hamiltonicity and $k$-connectivity Maker-Breaker games ($k>0$ is a constant), played on the edges of the complete graph $K_n$, Maker has a winning strategy for $b\le(\log 2-o(1))n/\log n$. Also, in the biased $(1:b)$ Avoider-Enforcer game played on $E(K_n)$, Enforcer can force Avoider to create a Hamilton cycle when $b\le (1-o(1))n/\log n$. These results are proved using a new approach, relying on the existence of hypergraphs with few edges and large covering number.
Ginsenoside F1 Ameliorates Endothelial Cell Inflammatory Injury and Prevents Atherosclerosis in Mice through A20-Mediated Suppression of NF-kB Signaling

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease and endothelial cell injury is the initial event. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of ginsenoside F1 (GF1) on AS and the potential molecular mechanisms of ox-LDL induced endothelial injury. ApoE-/- mice were fed a high fat diet and orally treated with GF1 (50 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Atherosclerotic plaque and LOX-1, TLR4, NF-κB expression levels in the aortic root and inflammatory factor MPO in whole body were measured. The treatment with GF1 induced a remarkable reduction in the atherosclerotic lesion area, LOX-1, TLR4 expression and decreased the MPO distribution. Meanwhile, in vitro study, we confirmed that GF1 treatment greatly increased ox-LDL-injured endothelial cell viability, ameliorated LOX-1, TLR4 expression levels and reduced monocytes adhesion. Protein microarray demonstrated that GF1 significantly inhibited G-CSF, ICAM-1, MIP-1δ, IL-1α, IL-15, IL-16 levels. Mechanistically, the GF1 treatment suppressed the NF-κB nuclear translocation. Furthermore, our data indicated that GF1 significantly increased A20 expression level and A20 siRNA markedly abolished the attenuation of GF1 on NF-κB nuclear translocation and inflammatory factors expression. Our results suggest that the GF1 may be a potential drug for anti-atherosclerosis.
Conformational Control of the Binding of the Transactivation Domain of the MLL Protein and c-Myb to the KIX Domain of CREB

The KIX domain of CBP is a transcriptional coactivator. Concomitant binding to the activation domain of proto-oncogene protein c-Myb and the transactivation domain of the trithorax group protein mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) transcription factor lead to the biologically active ternary MLL∶KIX∶c-Myb complex which plays a role in Pol II-mediated transcription. The binding of the activation domain of MLL to KIX enhances c-Myb binding. Here we carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the MLL∶KIX∶c-Myb ternary complex, its binary components and KIX with the goal of providing a mechanistic explanation for the experimental observations. The dynamic behavior revealed that the MLL binding site is allosterically coupled to the c-Myb binding site. MLL binding redistributes the conformational ensemble of KIX, leading to higher populations of states which favor c-Myb binding. The key element in the allosteric communication pathways is the KIX loop, which acts as a control mechanism to enhance subsequent binding events. We tested this conclusion by in silico mutations of loop residues in the KIX∶MLL complex and by comparing wild type and mutant dynamics through MD simulations. The loop assumed MLL binding conformation similar to that observed in the KIX∶c-Myb state which disfavors the allosteric network. The coupling with c-Myb binding site faded, abolishing the positive cooperativity observed in the presence of MLL. Our major conclusion is that by eliciting a loop-mediated allosteric switch between the different states following the binding events, transcriptional activation can be regulated. The KIX system presents an example how nature makes use of conformational control in higher level regulation of transcriptional activity and thus cellular events.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF MAXIMAL FORCE PRODUCTION TO EXPLOSIVE MOVEMENT AMONG YOUNG COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Critical to multidimensional sport conditioning is a systematic knowledge of the interactions between fitness components, as well as the transference relationships to performance. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationships between lower body muscular strength and several fundamental explosive performance measures. Fifty-four men and women collegiate athletes were tested to determine (a) lower-body muscular strength (1 repetition maximum barbell back squat), (b) countermovement vertical jump height and peak power output, (c) standing broad jump distance, (d) agility (cone T-test time), (e) sprint acceleration (m·s−2), and (f) sprint velocity (m·s−1). Analyses were performed using Pearson r correlations to examine these relationships. Partial correlations tested for relationships between performance measures while controlling for muscular strength. T-tests were performed to assess the difference between men and women. Correlation data demonstrated that significant (p < 0.01) strong linear relationships were indicated between muscular strength and power, as well as every sport-performance field tests. However, when controlling for strength with partial correlation, each of these relationships appreciably diminished. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between men and women for each of the performance tests. Muscular strength, peak power output, vertical jumping ability, standing broad jump, agility, sprint acceleration, and sprint velocity were all shown to be very highly related. Further examination demonstrated that body mass–adjusted muscular strength is more highly related to performance measures than is absolute muscular strength. Current correlation data provide a quantified look at the interaction between muscular fitness components, as well as the transfer relationship to several athletic-specific performance measures.
The 9p21 Myocardial Infarction Risk Allele Increases Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease in Older People

Background—A common variant at chromosome 9p21 (tagged by the rs1333049 or rs10757278 single-nucleotide polymorphism) is strongly associated with myocardial infarction and major arterial aneurysms. An association with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was also reported in a sample younger than 75 years, but this disappeared on removal of respondents with a myocardial infarction history, resulting in an odds ratio of 1.09 for PAD (P=0.075). We aimed at estimating the association of this variant with an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) and PAD in 3 older populations. Methods and Results—We used data from the InCHIANTI, Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, and Health, Aging, and Body Composition studies. In 2630 white individuals (mean age, 76.4 years), the C allele at rs1333049 was associated with lower mean ABI measures and with an increased prevalence of PAD. These associations remained after removal of baseline and incident myocardial infarction cases over a 6-year follow-up for both ABI (−0.017 ABI units; 95% CI, −0.03 to −0.01; P=1.3×10−4) and PAD (per allele odds ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.56; P=0.012). These associations also remained after adjustment for known atherosclerosis risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Conclusions—The C allele at rs1333049 is associated with an increased prevalence of PAD and lower mean ABI. This association was independent of the presence of diagnosed myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic risk factors in 3 older white populations.