Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combined Effect of Hemostatic Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Patients with Advanced Coronary Atherosclerosis

Background Relative little attention has been devoted until now to the combined effects of gene polymorphisms of the hemostatic pathway as risk factors for Myocardial Infarction (MI), the main thrombotic complication of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of ten common prothrombotic polymorphisms as a determinant of MI. Methodology/Principal Findings We studied a total of 804 subjects, 489 of whom with angiographically proven severe CAD, with or without MI (n = 307; n = 182; respectively). An additive model considering ten common polymorphisms [Prothrombin 20210G>A, PAI-1 4G/5G, Fibrinogen β -455G>A, FV Leiden and “R2”, FVII -402G>A and -323 del/ins, Platelet ADP Receptor P2Y12 -744T>C, Platelet Glycoproteins Ia (873G>A), and IIIa (1565T>C)] was tested. The prevalence of MI increased linearly with an increasing number of unfavorable alleles (χ2 for trend = 10.68; P = 0.001). In a multiple logistic regression model, the number of unfavorable alleles remained significantly associated with MI after adjustment for classical risk factors. As compared to subjects with 3-7 alleles, those with few (≤2) alleles had a decreased MI risk (OR 0.34, 95%CIs 0.13–0.93), while those with more (≥8) alleles had an increased MI risk (OR 2.49, 95%CIs 1.03–6.01). The number of procoagulant alleles correlated directly (r = 0.49, P = 0.006) with endogenous thrombin potential. Conclusions The combination of prothrombotic polymorphisms may help to predict MI in patients with advanced CAD.
The Effects of Maternally Administered Methadone, Buprenorphine and Naltrexone on Offspring: Review of Human and Animal Data

Most women using heroin are of reproductive age with major risks for their infants. We review clinical and experimental data on fetal, neonatal and postnatal complications associated with methadone, the current “gold standard”, and compare these with more recent, but limited, data on developmental effects of buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Methadone is a µ-opioid receptor agonist and is commonly recommended for treatment of opioid dependence during pregnancy. However, it has undesired outcomes including neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Animal studies also indicate detrimental effects on growth, behaviour, neuroanatomy and biochemistry, and increased perinatal mortality. Buprenorphine is a partial µ-opioid receptor agonist and a κ-opioid receptor antagonist. Clinical observations suggest that buprenorphine during pregnancy is similar to methadone on developmental measures but is potentially superior in reducing the incidence and prognosis of NAS. However, small animal studies demonstrate that low doses of buprenorphine during pregnancy and lactation lead to changes in offspring behaviour, neuroanatomy and biochemistry. Naltrexone is a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist. Although data are limited, humans treated with oral or sustained-release implantable naltrexone suggest outcomes potentially superior to those with methadone or buprenorphine. However, animal studies using oral or injectable naltrexone have shown developmental changes following exposure during pregnancy and lactation, raising concerns about its use in humans. Animal studies using chronic exposure, equivalent to clinical depot formulations, are required to evaluate safety. While each treatment is likely to have maternal advantages and disadvantages, studies are urgently required to determine which is optimal for offspring in the short and long term.
Outcomes Following the Use of Nebulized Heparin for Inhalation Injury (HIHI Study)

Inhalation injury (IHI) causes significant morbidity and mortality in burn victims due to both local and systemic effects. Nebulized heparin promotes improvement in lung function and decreased mortality in IHI by reducing the inflammatory response and fibrin cast formation. The study objective was to determine if nebulized heparin 10,000 units improves lung function and decreases mechanical ventilation duration, mortality, and hospitalization length in IHI with minimal systemic adverse events. This retrospective, case–control study evaluated efficacy and safety of nebulized heparin administered to mechanically ventilated adults admitted within 48 hr of confirmed IHI. Nebulized heparin 10,000 units was administered Q4H for 7 days, or until extubation if sooner, alternating with albuterol and a mucolytic. Patients were matched on a case-by-case basis based on percent TBSA burn and age to patients from a historical group with IHI before heparin protocol implementation. The primary outcome was duration of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes included lung injury score, ventilator-free days during the first 28 days, 28-day mortality, hospitalization length, ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence, bronchoscopy incidence, and bleeding events. Data were collected in 72 patients, 36 of which received nebulized heparin and 36 historical controls. Two patients from the heparin group and three patients from the control group died/were discharged while on the ventilator. Data were analyzed separately with 1) all subjects included and 2) with subjects who died/were discharged on the ventilator excluded. In the latter comparison, patients receiving nebulized heparin demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in median (interquartile range) duration of initial mechanical ventilation compared with controls [7.0 (4.0, 13.5) vs. 14.5 (5.3, 22.3) days; P = . 044]. Patients in the heparin group had a significantly increased number of median (interquartile range) ventilator-free days in the first 28 days [21.0 (14.5–24.0) vs 13.5 (4.3–22.8) days; P = . 031]. There were no differences in hospitalization length, lung injury score during the first 7 days post injury, 28-day mortality, ventilator-associated pneumonia rate, or bleeding events. Nebulized heparin 10,000 units in conjunction with a beta-agonist and mucolytic produced a significant decrease in duration of mechanical ventilation and increase in ventilator-free days in adult patients with IHI. Nebulized heparin was safe and did not result in an increase in bleeding events. To our knowledge, this is the first case–control study with matched cohorts based on age and %TBSA which are significant factors contributing to morbidity and mortality in IHI.
Neither Market nor Hierarchy : Networks and Alliances

Research in strategic management has interpreted how companies compete in very diverse ways. Researchers have elaborated different theories or approaches , whose reasoning ranges from explanations oriented towards the interior of the firm to explanations taking the external environment as the point of reference (Hoskisson, Hitt, Wan, & Yiu, 1999). However, the majority of these approaches regard the firm as an independent and autonomous entity that competes with other firms for returns in an impersonal market. But affirming this, categorically, is inappropriate in a world in which firms belong to networks of social, professional, and exchange relationships with other companies These networks consist of lasting ties that have strategic significance for the firms belonging to them. They include strategic alliances, joint ventures, long-term collaboration relationships between suppliers and their customers, and a great number of similar ties (Gulati, Nohria, & Zaheer, 2000).
Software-Controlled Dynamically Swappable Hardware Design in Partially Reconfigurable Systems

We propose two basic wrapper designs and an enhanced wrapper design for arbitrary digital hardware circuit designs such that they can be enhanced with the capability for dynamic swapping controlled by software. A hardware design with either of the proposed wrappers can thus be swapped out of the partially reconfigurable logic at runtime in some intermediate state of computation and then swapped in when required to continue from that state. The context data is saved to a buffer in the wrapper at interruptible states, and then the wrapper takes care of saving the hardware context to communication memory through a peripheral bus, and later restoring the hardware context after the design is swapped in. The overheads of the hardware standardization and the wrapper in terms of additional reconfigurable logic resources and the time for context switching are small and generally acceptable. With the capability for dynamic swapping, high priority hardware tasks can interrupt low-priority tasks in real-time embedded systems so that the utilization of hardware space per unit time is increased.
Modulating Composition and Metabolic Activity of the Gut Microbiota in IBD Patients

The healthy intestine represents a remarkable interface where sterile host tissues come in contact with gut microbiota, in a balanced state of homeostasis. The imbalance of gut homeostasis is associated with the onset of many severe pathological conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic gastrointestinal disorder increasing in incidence and severely influencing affected individuals. Despite the recent development of next generation sequencing and bioinformatics, the current scientific knowledge of specific triggers and diagnostic markers to improve interventional approaches in IBD is still scarce. In this review we present and discuss currently available and emerging therapeutic options in modulating composition and metabolic activity of gut microbiota in patients affected by IBD. Therapeutic approaches at the microbiota level, such as dietary interventions alone or with probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, administration of antibiotics, performing fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and the use of nematodes, all represent a promising opportunities towards establishing and maintaining of well-being as well as improving underlying IBD symptoms.
Routine Changing of Intravenous Administration Sets Does Not Reduce Colonization or Infection in Central Venous Catheters

Abstract Objective: To determine the effect of routine intravenous (IV) administration set changes on central venous catheter (CVC) colonization and catheter-related bacteremia. Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Setting: Eighteen-bed intensive care unit (ICU) in a large metropolitan hospital. Participants: Two hundred fifty-one patients with 404 chlorhexidine gluconate and silver sulfadiazine–coated multilumen CVCs. Interventions: CVCs inserted in the ICU and in situ on day 4 were randomized to have their IV administration sets changed on day 4 (n = 203) or not at all (n = 201). Use of fluid containers and blood product administration sets was limited to 24 hours. CVCs were removed when not required, infection was suspected, or in place on day 7. Catheter cultures were performed on removal by blinded laboratory staff. Catheter-related bacteremia was diagnosed by a blinded intensivist using strict definitions. Data were collected regarding catheter duration, site, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, patient age, diagnosis, hyperglycemia, hypoalbuminemia, immune status, number of fluid containers and IV injections, and administration of propofol, blood, total parenteral nutrition, or lipid infusion. Results: There were 10 colonized CVCs in the group receiving a set change and 19 in the group not receiving one. This difference was not statistically significant on Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. There were 3 cases of catheter-related bacteremia per group. Logistic regression found that burns diagnosis and increased ICU stay significantly predicted colonization. Conclusion: IV administration sets can be used for 7 days in patients with short-term, antiseptic-coated CVCs.
Tumor Necrosis Factor–Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (Trail) Contributes to Interferon γ–Dependent Natural Killer Cell Protection from Tumor Metastasis

Tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is expressed by in vitro activated natural killer (NK) cells, but the relevance of this observation to the biological function of NK cells has been unclear. Herein, we have demonstrated the in vivo induction of mouse TRAIL expression on various tissue NK cells and correlated NK cell activation with TRAIL-mediated antimetastatic function in vivo. Expression of TRAIL was only constitutive on a subset of liver NK cells, and innate NK cell control of Renca carcinoma hepatic metastases in the liver was partially TRAIL dependent. Administration of therapeutic doses of interleukin (IL)-12, a powerful inducer of interferon (IFN)-γ production by NK cells and NKT cells, upregulated TRAIL expression on liver, spleen, and lung NK cells, and IL-12 suppressed metastases in both liver and lung in a TRAIL-dependent fashion. By contrast, α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), a powerful inducer of NKT cell IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion, suppressed both liver and lung metastases but only stimulated NK cell TRAIL-mediated function in the liver. TRAIL expression was not detected on NK cells from IFN-γ–deficient mice and TRAIL-mediated antimetastatic effects of IL-12 and α-GalCer were strictly IFN-γ dependent. These results indicated that TRAIL induction on NK cells plays a critical role in IFN-γ–mediated antimetastatic effects of IL-12 and α-GalCer.
Alternative splicing in the C‐terminus of CaV2.2 controls expression and gating of N‐type calcium channels

N‐type CaV2.2 calcium channels localize to presynaptic nerve terminals of nociceptors where they control neurotransmitter release. Nociceptive neurons express a unique set of ion channels and receptors important for optimizing their role in transmission of noxious stimuli. Included among these is a structurally and functionally distinct N‐type calcium channel splice isoform, CaV2.2e[37a], expressed in a subset of nociceptors and with limited expression in other parts of the nervous system. CaV2.2[e37a] arises from the mutually exclusive replacement of e37a for e37b in the C‐terminus of CaV2.2 mRNA. N‐type current densities in nociceptors that express a combination of CaV2.2e[37a] and CaV2.2e[37b] mRNAs are significantly larger compared to cells that express only CaV2.2e[37b]. Here we show that e37a supports increased expression of functional N‐type channels and an increase in channel open time as compared to CaV2.2 channels that contain e37b. To understand how e37a affects N‐type currents we compared macroscopic and single‐channel ionic currents as well as gating currents in tsA201 cells expressing CaV2.2e[37a] and CaV2.2e[37b]. When activated, CaV2.2e[37a] channels remain open for longer and are expressed at higher density than CaV2.2e[37b] channels. These unique features of the CaV2.2e[37a] isoform combine to augment substantially the amount of calcium that enters cells in response to action potentials. Our studies of the e37a/e37b splice site reveal a multifunctional domain in the C‐terminus of CaV2.2 that regulates the overall activity of N‐type calcium channels in nociceptors.
Antimicrobial Evaluation of N-Alkyl Betaines and N-Alkyl-N,N-Dimethylamine Oxides with Variations in Chain Length

ABSTRACT Alkyl betaines and alkyl dimethylamine oxides have been shown to have pronounced antimicrobial activity when used individually or in combination. Although several studies have been conducted with these compounds in combinations, only equimolar concentrations of the C12/C12 and C16/C14chain lengths for the betaine and the amine oxide, respectively, have been investigated. This study investigates the antimicrobial activity of a wide range of chain lengths (C8 to C18) for both the betaine and amine oxide and attempts to correlate their micelle-forming capabilities with their biological activity. A broth microdilution method was used to determine the MICs of these compounds singly and in various molar ratio combinations. Activity against bothStaphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was investigated. Antimicrobial activity was found to increase with increasing chain length for both homologous series up to a point, exhibiting a cutoff effect at chain lengths of approximately 16 for betaine and 14 for amine oxide. Additionally, the C18 oleyl derivative of both compounds exhibited activity in the same range as the peak alkyl compounds. Critical micelle concentrations were correlated with MICs, inferring that micellar activity may contribute to the cutoff effect in biological activity.
Synonymous Codon Ordering: A Subtle but Prevalent Strategy of Bacteria to Improve Translational Efficiency

Background In yeast coding sequences, once a particular codon has been used, subsequent occurrence of the same amino acid tends to use codons sharing the same tRNA. Such a phenomenon of co-tRNA codons pairing bias (CTCPB) is also found in some other eukaryotes but it is not known whether it occurs in prokaryotes. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we focused on a total of 773 bacterial genomes to investigate their synonymous codon pairing preferences. After calculating the actual frequencies of synonymous codon pairs and comparing them with their expected values, we detected an obvious pairing bias towards identical codon pairs. This seems consistent with the previously reported CTCPB phenomenon, since identical codons are certainly read by the same tRNA. However, among co-tRNA but non-identical codon pairs, only 22 were often found overrepresented, suggesting that many co-tRNA codons actually do not preferentially pair together in prokaryotes. Therefore, the previously reported co-tRNA codons pairing rule needs to be more rigorously defined. The affinity differences between a tRNA anticodon and its readable codons should be taken into account. Moreover, both within-gene-shuffling tests and phylogenetic analyses support the idea that translational selection played an important role in shaping the observed synonymous codon pairing pattern in prokaryotes. Conclusions Overall, a high level of synonymous codon pairing bias was detected in 73% investigated bacterial species, suggesting the synonymous codon ordering strategy has been prevalently adopted by prokaryotes to improve their translational efficiencies. The findings in this study also provide important clues to better understand the complex dynamics of translational process.
Construct Validity of the Dissociative Experiences Scale: II. Its Relationship to Hypnotizability

Undergraduates (n = 311) who volunteered to participate in an experiment on “Hypnotizability and Personality” filled out several personality questionnaires (including the Dissociative Experiences Scale; DES), were administered the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS), and completed a self-rating of hypnotizability. The DES overall score correlated significantly with the HGSHS summary score (r(309) = . 12, p < . 05, two-tailed) and with subject’s self-rating of hypnotizability (r(309) = . 13, p < . 05, two-tailed). The magnitude of these correlations was similar to that observed in a previous study (.14 & .18) and is also similar in magnitude to the correlations typically observed between the HGSHS and the Tellegen Absorption Scale. The potential clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Coarse-to-fine review selection via supervised joint aspect and sentiment model

Online reviews are immensely valuable for customers to make informed purchase decisions and for businesses to improve the quality of their products and services. However, customer reviews grow exponentially while varying greatly in quality. It is generally very tedious and difficult, if not impossible, for users to read though the huge amount of review data. Fortunately, review quality evaluation enables a system to select the most helpful reviews for users' decision-making. Previous studies predict only the overall review utility about a product, and often focus on developing different data features to learn a quality function for addressing the problem. In this paper, we aim to select the most helpful reviews not only at the product level, but also at a fine-grained product aspect level. We propose a novel supervised joint aspect and sentiment model (SJASM), which is a probabilistic topic modeling framework that jointly discovers aspects and sentiments guided by a review helpfulness metric. One key advantage of SJASM is its ability to infer the underlying aspects and sentiments, which are indicative of the helpfulness of a review. We validate SJASM using publicly available review data, and our experimental results demonstrate the superiority of SJASM over several competing models.
Effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition in Low-Risk Patients Early After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Background— Early after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), activation of numerous neurohumoral and endogenous vasodilator systems occurs that could be influenced favorably by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Methods and Results— The Ischemia Management with Accupril post–bypass Graft via Inhibition of the coNverting Enzyme (IMAGINE) trial tested whether early initiation (≤7 days) of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor after CABG reduced cardiovascular events in stable patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. The trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 2553 patients randomly assigned to quinapril, target dose 40 mg/d, or placebo, who were followed up to a maximum of 43 months. The mean (SD) age was 61 (10) years. The incidence of the primary composite end point (cardiovascular death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, unstable angina or heart failure requiring hospitalization, documented angina, and stroke) was 13.7% in the quinapril group and 12.2% in the placebo group (hazard ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.42, P=0.212) over a median follow-up of 2.95 years. The incidence of the primary composite end point increased significantly in the first 3 months after CABG in the quinapril group (hazard ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 2.26, P=0.0356). Adverse events also increased in the quinapril group, particularly during the first 3 months after CABG. Conclusions— In patients at low risk of cardiovascular events after CABG, routine early initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy does not appear to improve clinical outcome up to 3 years after CABG; however, it increases the incidence of adverse events, particularly early after CABG. Thus, early after CABG, initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy should be individualized and continually reassessed over time according to risk.
Short-range order in Al-rich 𝛄-TiAl alloys studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with image processing

The atomic arrangements of short-range order (SRO) in two Al-rich γ-TiAl alloys with 62.5 and 60.0at. %Al respectively have been investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with image processing. For both alloys, SRO structures are formed in Ti-rich (002) layers of the L10 ordered γ-TiAl matrix, in the course of the phase transformation from the Al5 Ti3 long-period superstructure phase at lower temperatures to the h-Al2 Ti phase at higher temperatures. The SRO structures are composed of three types of ordered cluster: Ti4 Al type (square shaped), Ti3 Al type (fat rhombus shaped) and Ti2 Al type (lean rhombus shaped). The ordered clusters form local microdomains of the Al5 Ti3 and Al3 Ti2 superstructures in addition to the Al5 Ti3 and h-Al2 Ti superstructures, by different methods of tiling the ordered clusters. Such ordered clusters or microdomains tend to be in contact with each other through common {310) boundaries. This results in peculiar diffuse streaks in diffraction connecting intensity maxima arising from the long-period superstructures.