Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circularly permuted tRNA genes: their expression and implications for their physiological relevance and development

A number of genome analyses and searches using programs that focus on the RNA-specific bulge-helix-bulge (BHB) motif have uncovered a wide variety of disrupted tRNA genes. The results of these analyses have shown that genetic information encoding functional RNAs is described in the genome cryptically and is retrieved using various strategies. One such strategy is represented by circularly permuted tRNA genes, in which the sequences encoding the 5′-half and 3′-half of the specific tRNA are separated and inverted on the genome. Biochemical analyses have defined a processing pathway in which the termini of tRNA precursors (pre-tRNAs) are ligated to form a characteristic circular RNA intermediate, which is then cleaved at the acceptor-stem to generate the typical cloverleaf structure with functional termini. The sequences adjacent to the processing site located between the 3′-half and the 5′-half of pre-tRNAs potentially form a BHB motif, which is the dominant recognition site for the tRNA-intron splicing endonuclease, suggesting that circularization of pre-tRNAs depends on the splicing machinery. Some permuted tRNAs contain a BHB-mediated intron in their 5′- or 3′-half, meaning that removal of an intron, as well as swapping of the 5′- and 3′-halves, are required during maturation of their pre-tRNAs. To date, 34 permuted tRNA genes have been identified from six species of unicellular algae and one archaeon. Although their physiological significance and mechanism of development remain unclear, the splicing system of BHB motifs seems to have played a key role in the formation of permuted tRNA genes. In this review, current knowledge of circularly permuted tRNA genes is presented and some unanswered questions regarding these species are discussed.
Variable stiffness rheological model for interrelating creep and stress relaxation in ligaments

Creep and stress relaxation are two fundamental operational principles of joints that are significant for joint laxity. Modelling and relating creep and stress relaxation of ligaments is important if synthetic grafts (e.g., artificial ligaments) are to be developed and used for reconstructive surgery. This article discusses the use of rheological models to simulate creep and stress relaxation of ligaments. Modelling is performed using theory of linear viscoelasticity. Using principles of system identification, the parameters of constant and variable stiffness rheological models are determined considering experimentally measured stress relaxation of the medial collateral ligaments (MCL). The models are then tested to predict experimentally measured creep of the MCL. The proposed method proves the need to consider collagen fibre recruitment to interrelate creep and stress relaxation of ligaments. The results show that a rheological model with variable stiffness is capable of predicting creep from experimentally measured stress relaxation with a reasonable accuracy.
Saturated and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Reciprocally Modulate Dendritic Cell Functions Mediated through TLR41

TLRs provide critical signals to induce innate immune responses in APCs such as dendritic cells (DCs) that in turn link to adaptive immune responses. Results from our previous studies demonstrated that saturated fatty acids activate TLRs, whereas n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit agonist-induced TLR activation. These results raise a significant question as to whether fatty acids differentially modulate immune responses mediated through TLR activation. The results presented in this study demonstrate that the saturated fatty acid, lauric acid, up-regulates the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, and CD86), MHC class II, and cytokines (IL-12p70 and IL-6) in bone marrow-derived DCs. The dominant negative mutant of TLR4 or its downstream signaling components inhibits lauric acid-induced expression of a CD86 promoter-reporter gene. In contrast, an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid, inhibits TLR4 agonist (LPS)-induced up-regulation of the costimulatory molecules, MHC class II, and cytokine production. Similarly, DCs treated with lauric acid show increased T cell activation capacity, whereas docosahexaenoic acid inhibits T cell activation induced by LPS-treated DCs. Together, our results demonstrate that the reciprocal modulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses by saturated fatty acid and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid is mediated at least in part through TLRs. These results imply that TLRs are involved in sterile inflammation and immune responses induced by nonmicrobial endogenous molecules. These results shed new light in understanding how types of dietary fatty acids differentially modulate immune responses that could alter the risk of many chronic diseases.
Evolution of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in Vietnam between 2001 and 2007

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses have caused dramatic economic losses to the poultry industry of Vietnam and continue to pose a serious threat to public health. As of June 2008, Vietnam had reported nearly one third of worldwide laboratory confirmed human H5N1 infections. To better understand the emergence, spread and evolution of H5N1 in Vietnam we studied over 300 H5N1 avian influenza viruses isolated from Vietnam since their first detection in 2001. Our phylogenetic analyses indicated that six genetically distinct H5N1 viruses were introduced into Vietnam during the past seven years. The H5N1 lineage that evolved following the introduction in 2003 of the A/duck/Hong Kong/821/2002-like viruses, with clade 1 hemagglutinin (HA), continued to predominate in southern Vietnam as of May 2007. A virus with a clade 2.3. 4 HA newly introduced into northern Vietnam in 2007, reassorted with pre-existing clade 1 viruses, resulting in the emergence of novel genotypes with neuraminidase (NA) and/or internal gene segments from clade 1 viruses. A total of nine distinct genotypes have been present in Vietnam since 2001, including five that were circulating in 2007. At least four of these genotypes appear to have originated in Vietnam and represent novel H5N1 viruses not reported elsewhere. Geographic and temporal analyses of H5N1 infection dynamics in poultry suggest that the majority of viruses containing new genes were first detected in northern Vietnam and subsequently spread to southern Vietnam after reassorting with pre-existing local viruses in northern Vietnam. Although the routes of entry and spread of H5N1 in Vietnam remain speculative, enhanced poultry import controls and virologic surveillance efforts may help curb the entry and spread of new HPAI viral genes.
We should care more about intracuff pressure: The actual situation in government sector teaching hospital

Endotracheal tube (ETT) should have intracuff pressure (ICP) in the range of 20 to 30 cm water (H2O). In this observational study, we studied the trend amongst anaesthesiologist in choosing the type of ETT and their ability to assess optimum ICP clinically. After institutional ethics committee approval, we observed 75 patients under general endotracheal anaesthesia in Government Medical College. Anaesthesiologists were blinded to study purpose. The type of ETT used and magnitude of ICP was recorded. ICP was measured using simple aneroid manometer. Once the pressure was measured, it was readjusted to normal range and nitrous oxide was allowed to start. Red rubber tube was used in 18.7% and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in 81.3% cases. The anaesthesiologists were not able to assess ICP in the recommended range clinically in 100% cases when red rubber ETT was used and in 40% cases when portex ETT was used. Red rubber ETT (reusable) with low-volume high-pressure cuff is still in use, though the trend is shifting towards more of using PVC ETT. Anaesthesiologists were not able to inflate the ETT cuff to the recommended range in spite of their clinical expertise (more than 5 years of teaching experience) in significant number of cases. We recommend the use of simple aneroid manometer for objective monitoring of ICP over subjective assessment, not only in red rubber, but also in PVC ETT.
Knowledge and Attitude of the Sports Teachers in Central India towards Oro-facial Injuries and the use of Mouth Guard

Objective: To evaluate the sports teachers’ knowledge and attitude towards sports related oro-facial injuries and the use of mouth guards. Methods: Certified sports teachers from various schools and colleges of Vidarbha region, Central India were exposed to pre-validated questionnaire containing both open ended and closed ended questions. Data obtained was analyzed and expressed as percentage. Results: Total 197 sports teachers from 167 schools and colleges participated in the study. Approximately 67.5% of the sport teachers agreed that sports related oro-facial injuries are common and inline skating (58.4%) was the most common sport. Only 8.1% of the sport teachers were having knowledge regarding first aid to oro-facial injuries. All sport teachers agreed that sport related oro-facial injuries can be prevented, but only 10.1% incorporated protective measures in practice to prevent it. Majority of the sports teachers (85.8%) were aware that mouth guard is used as a protective device to prevent oro-facial injuries but only few recommended in their school. Lack of motivation by the school and college administration was the major reason (50%) for non-recommending. Inline skating (54.8%) was the highly recommended sports for mouth guards by sports teachers, followed by boxing and basketball. Only 29.9% of the sports teachers were aware that dentist are the appropriate specialist to approach for mouth guards. Conclusion: The sports teachers had adequate knowledge regarding the sports related orofacial injuries and the protective devises used to prevent it, but their inappropriate attitude is the main hindrance in the prevention of orofacial injuries.
Exposing video forgeries by detecting MPEG double compression

In this paper, an improved video tampering detection model based on MPEG double compression is proposed. Double compression will import disturbance into Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients, reflecting in the violation of the parametric logarithmic law for first digit distribution of quantized Alternating Current (AC) coefficients. A 12-D feature can be extracted from each group of pictures (GOP) and machine learning framework is adopted to enhance the detection accuracy. Furthermore, a novel approach with a serial Support Vector Machine (SVM) architecture to estimate original bit rate scale in doubly compressed video is proposed. Experiments demonstrate higher accuracy and effectiveness.
Examination of nuclear loci across a zone of mitochondrial introgression between Tamias ruficaudus and T. amoenus

Abstract The importance of hybridization in animal evolution has become controversial. Gene flow between divergent taxa can strongly influence processes of great interest to evolutionary biologists, such as speciation and adaptation. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) introgression is a commonly observed, yet particularly poorly understood consequence of hybridization between divergent taxa. Several known cases of mtDNA introgression exist that are heterogeneous in time and space, and it is unknown whether this represents the influence of extrinsic factors, such as selection and demographic fluctuation, or more intrinsic ones, such as cytonuclear interactions or the mosaic evolution of reproductive isolation. It is usually assumed, on the basis of the apparent lack of hybrids at zones of contact, that this phenomenon is unaccompanied by further admixture at nuclear loci, although this assumption rarely is tested. We present an analysis of population structure and gene flow across a zone of mitochondrial introgression between 2 nonsister species of chipmunk (Sciuridae: Tamias). We examined patterns of variation in 11 nuclear markers (10 microsatellites and 1 sequence-based marker) and compared them with previously identified patterns of mtDNA variation. We found little evidence of nuclear gene flow but some correspondence of introgression with microsatellite population structure. This work suggests that a complex interaction of ecological and genetic factors could have structured introgression of mtDNA in this system.
The work by the developing primary care team in China: a survey in two cities.

BACKGROUND China is in the process of converting its existing primary care resources into general practice. The infrastructure is different from that of many other countries. OBJECTIVES We surveyed patients' reasons for encounter (RFE) and the health providers' diagnoses in the general practice clinics of two large northern cities in order to assess the nature of the work of these practices. METHOD Practices whose staff had a short course of training in the theory and practice of the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) were recruited to document the RFE and diagnoses of patient encounters in two separate winter weeks. RESULTS The practices dealt mainly with chronic illness in older patients. Hypertension-related problems were the most frequent diagnoses, followed by upper respiratory tract infection. Patients also consulted very frequently for dizziness. Overall, there was good agreement between RFE and diagnosis in some organ systems. CONCLUSION In their present form, the Chinese practices surveyed were delivering the full range of general practice care to a self-selected age group of patients. The ICPC was very useful for monitoring the work of general practice from the perspective of both the patients and the providers.
Farm Exposure as a Differential Risk Factor in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

Objective To investigate the association of farm exposure and the development of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods One hundred eighty-nine well defined patients with AAV (n = 119 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA], n = 48 with microscopic polyangiitis [MPA], n = 22 patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis [EGPA]) and 190 controls (n = 119 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, n = 71 with large vessel vasculitis) were interrogated using a structured questionnaire. Factors investigated were occupation, farm exposure, contact to different livestock, participation in harvesting, residence next to a farm, MRSA status, and contact to domestic pets at disease onset or ever before. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval [95%CI] were calculated for each item. Results Univariate analysis revealed a strong association of AAV with regular farm exposure; OR 3.44 [95%CI 1.43–8.27]. AAV was also associated with regular contact to cattle 4.30 (1.43–8.27), pigs 2.75 (1.12–6.75) and MRSA carriage 3.38 (1.11–10.3). This association was stronger in the subgroup of GPA patients. OR in this group for farm exposure was 4.97; [2.02–12.2], for cattle 6.71 [95% CI 2.19–20.7], for pigs 4.34 [1.75–10.9], and MRSA carriage 5.06 [1.62–15.8]). There was no significant association of MPA or EGPA with these parameters. Conclusion A significant association between farm exposure or farm animal exposure and AAV especially in the subgroup of patients with GPA has been identified. This suggests that these entities are distinct and have different triggers for the immune process.
Status of zinc in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND To study the status of zinc as a micronutrient in pulmonary tuberculosis, in our population, with the aim to see the effectiveness of therapy. METHODOLOGY This prospective study includes 50 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 30 subjects as the control group. The patients were placed into three stages (1 to 3) on the basis of chest radiographic findings. Serum zinc levels were estimated before, during, and after completion of antituberculosis therapy. RESULTS Statistically significant fall in serum zinc levels was seen with advanced age and disease, and the levels improved after initiation of antituberculosis therapy. CONCLUSION Estimation of serum zinc levels is an important tool in diagnosis and monitoring of response to treatment in pulmonary tuberculosis, and even a booster of the immunological mechanisms if instituted during the course of treatment.
Simple and Accurate Two-Dimensional Angle Estimation for a Single Source With Uniform Circular Array

A least squares algorithm for two-dimensional (2-D) angle estimation of a single narrowband source impinging on a uniform circular array (UCA) is presented. Utilizing the centrosymmetric array configuration, a new correlation-based method is devised to obtain closed-form estimates of the azimuth and elevation angles. Although the proposed method is computationally simpler than the conventional schemes, computer simulations show that it can approach optimum estimation performance.
Vocal fold immobility after thyroidectomy with intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Intraoperative nerve monitoring has emerged as a valuable tool to facilitate recurrent laryngeal nerve identification during thyroid surgery, thereby avoiding its injury. The aim was to evaluate vocal fold mobility in patients who underwent thyroidectomy with intraoperative nerve monitoring. DESIGN AND SETTING Cohort formed by a consecutive series of patients, at a tertiary cancer hospital. METHODS The subjects were patients who underwent thyroidectomy using intraoperative laryngeal nerve monitoring, between November 2003 and January 2006. Descriptive analysis of the results and comparison with a similar group of patients who did not undergo nerve monitoring were performed. RESULTS A total of 104 patients were studied. Total thyroidectomy was performed on 65 patients. Vocal fold immobility (total or partial) was detected in 12 patients (6.8% of the nerves at risk) at the first postoperative evaluation. Only six (3.4% of the nerves at risk) continued to present vocal fold immobility three months after surgery. Our previous series with 100 similar patients without intraoperative nerve monitoring revealed that 12 patients (7.5%) presented vocal fold immobility at the early examination, and just 5 (3.1%) maintained this immobility three months after surgery, without significant difference between the two series. CONCLUSION In this series, the use of intraoperative nerve monitoring did not decrease the rate of vocal fold immobility.
Synchronization Control for Nonlinear Stochastic Dynamical Networks: Pinning Impulsive Strategy

In this paper, a new control strategy is proposed for the synchronization of stochastic dynamical networks with nonlinear coupling. Pinning state feedback controllers have been proved to be effective for synchronization control of state-coupled dynamical networks. We will show that pinning impulsive controllers are also effective for synchronization control of the above mentioned dynamical networks. Some generic mean square stability criteria are derived in terms of algebraic conditions, which guarantee that the whole state-coupled dynamical network can be forced to some desired trajectory by placing impulsive controllers on a small fraction of nodes. An effective method is given to select the nodes which should be controlled at each impulsive constants. The proportion of the controlled nodes guaranteeing the stability is explicitly obtained, and the synchronization region is also derived and clearly plotted. Numerical simulations are exploited to demonstrate the effectiveness of the pinning impulsive strategy proposed in this paper.
Chlorpromazine in Treatment of Elderly Psychotic Women

states of excitement, agitation, or emotional tension. All patients were classified, therefore, according to their psychomotor state. In the overactive group were classed excited, aggressive, or emotionally unstable schizophrenics, manics, agitated depressives and seniles, and anxious neurotics, while the inhibited group contained catatonic stupors and detached schizophrenics, retarded depressives, and apathetic neurotics. Detached schizophrenics who became periodically impulsive were placed in a separate category. The results shown in Table III are somewhat surprising. Although more patients recovered in the overactive group and more inhibited patients did not improve, if the recovered
Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease

Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (anti-GBM) is a rare but well-characterized cause of glomerulonephritis. It is defined by the presence of autoantibodies directed at specific antigenic targets within the glomerular and/or pulmonary basement membrane. These antibodies bind to the a3 chain of type IV collagen found in these specialized basement membranes. Its importance for the nephrologist lies in that it is a rare yet highly treatable cause of glomerulonephritis, but one in which delay in institution of the correct therapy can be fatal. This pattern of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and lung hemorrhage is often referred to as Goodpasture’s syndrome and can be caused by a number of pathologies (Table 1). Ernest Goodpasture originally described autopsy findings in an 18 yr old with massive hemoptysis and acute renal failure during the influenza epidemic of 1918 (1). Thus, anti-GBM disease is a clearly defined cause of Goodpasture’s syndrome; however, both pulmonary and renal disease can occur in isolation at least at presentation. A more extensive review of the condition has been published elsewhere (2).
Single-Dose AmBisome (Liposomal Amphotericin B) as Prophylaxis for Murine Systemic Candidiasis and Histoplasmosis

ABSTRACT AmBisome is a liposomal formulation of amphotericin B that has broad-spectrum antifungal activity and greatly reduced toxicity compared to the parent drug. In this study, amphotericin B deoxycholate (Fungizone) (1 mg/kg) and AmBisome (1 to 20 mg/kg) were tested as single-dose prophylactic agents in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed C57BL/6 mice challenged with either Candida albicans or Histoplasma capsulatum. Prophylactic efficacy was based on survival and fungal burden in the target organ (kidneys or spleen). At 9 to 10 days after histoplasma challenge, 80 to 90% of both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice in the control and Fungizone groups had died. All AmBisome-treated mice survived, although in the AmBisome groups given 1 mg/kg, the mice became moribund by day 10 to 12. No spleen CFU were detected in the histoplasma-challenged mice given 10 or 20 mg of AmBisome per kg. By 23 to 24 days after histoplasma challenge, fungal growth and/or death had occurred in all immunosuppressed mice except for four mice receiving 20 mg of AmBisome per kg. There were still no detectable fungi in the spleens of immunocompetent mice given 10 or 20 mg of AmBisome per kg. In the C. albicans experiment at 7 days postchallenge, all animals in both untreated and treated groups were alive with culture-positive kidneys. The kidney fungal burdens in AmBisome groups given 5 to 20 mg/kg were at least 1 log unit lower than those in the Fungizone group and significantly lower than those in the untreated control group (P < 0.05). There was a trend toward decreasing fungal growth in the kidneys as the dose of AmBisome was increased. In conclusion, these results show that a single high dose of AmBisome (5 to 20 mg/kg) had prophylactic efficacy in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed murine H. capsulatum and C. albicans models.