Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge of the Concept of Brain Death Among the Latin-American Population Residing in Spain.

OBJECTIVES The knowledge of brain death is fundamental for being able to understand the organ donation process and for ensuring its acceptance or rejection. Here, we analyzed the level of knowledge of the concept of brain death among Latin-American individuals who are residents of Spain to determine the factors affecting this knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our patient group was a sample of 1314 Latin-American residents of Spain, obtained randomly and stratified according to the respondent's nationality, age, and sex. Their attitude was assessed using a validated questionnaire. The survey was self-administered and completed anonymously. RESULTS The questionnaire completion rate was 94% (n = 1237). Of total respondents, 25% (n = 313) knew the concept of brain death, which they considered to be an individual's death, 56% (n = 697) did not know the term, and 19% (n = 227) believed that it did not mean death. The variables related to knowledge of the brain death concept included (1) country of origin, with a better knowledge among those with Mexican nationality (P < .001); (2) male sex (30% vs 23%; P = .003); (3) having university-level education (35% vs 23%; P = .044); (4) having discussed the matter within the family (29% vs 23%; P = .044); (5) having a partner with a favorable attitude toward donation (39% vs 21%; P = .001); and (6) the respondent's religion (47% vs 7%; P < .001). The following factors persisted in the multivariate analysis: country of origin (odds ratio of 2.972), sex (odds ratio of 1.416), education level (odds ratio of 2.228), attitude of the respondent's partner (odds ratio of 1.835), and religion (odds ratio of 4.490). CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of the concept of brain death is limited among Latin-American residents of Spain, with marked differences among country of origin and other socio-personal factors.
History repeats itself: repeat queries in Yahoo's logs

Thanks to the ubiquity of the Internet search engine search box, users have come to depend on search engines both to find and re-find information. However, re-finding behavior has not been significantly addressed. Here we look at re-finding queries issued to the Yahoo! search engine by 114 users over a year.
Dominant Negative Murine Serum Response Factor: Alternative Splicing within the Activation Domain Inhibits Transactivation of Serum Response Factor Binding Targets

ABSTRACT Primary transcripts encoding the MADS box superfamily of proteins, such as MEF2 in animals and ZEMa in plants, are alternatively spliced, producing several isoformic species. We show here that murine serum response factor (SRF) primary RNA transcripts are alternatively spliced at the fifth exon, deleting approximately one-third of the C-terminal activation domain. Among the different muscle types examined, visceral smooth muscles have a very low ratio of SRFΔ5 to SRF. Increased levels of SRFΔ5 correlates well with reduced smooth muscle contractile gene activity within the elastic aortic arch, suggesting important biological roles for differential expression of SRFΔ5 variant relative to wild-type SRF. SRFΔ5 forms DNA binding-competent homodimers and heterodimers. SRFΔ5 acts as a naturally occurring dominant negative regulatory mutant that blocks SRF-dependent skeletal α-actin, cardiac α-actin, smooth α-actin, SM22α, and SRF promoter-luciferase reporter activities. Expression of SRFΔ5 interferes with differentiation of myogenic C2C12 cells and the appearance of skeletal α-actin and myogenin mRNAs. SRFΔ5 repressed the serum-induced activity of the c-fos serum response element. SRFΔ5 fused to the yeast Gal4 DNA binding domain displayed low transcriptional activity, which was complemented by overexpression of the coactivator ATF6. These results indicate that the absence of exon 5 might be bypassed through recruitment of transcription factors that interact with extra-exon 5 regions in the transcriptional activating domain. The novel alternatively spliced isoform of SRF, SRFΔ5, may play an important regulatory role in modulating SRF-dependent gene expression.
Relationship between mechanical properties and structures of zinc dithiophosphate anti–wear films

The structure and the rheological properties of the anti–wear films from a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDTP) solution generated in a rolling/sliding contact simulating engine valve train conditions have been studied with analytical and surface–force tools. The anti–wear film has a complex structure that has been determined by extensive use of surface analytical techniques that include SEM/EPMA, XPS, ToFSIMS and Auger spectroscopy. The film consists of at least three non–homogeneous layers: on the steel surface there is a sulphide–oxide layer, which is almost completely covered by a protective phosphate layer, with the addition of an overlayer of ZDTP degradation precipitates. This latter layer is removed when the film is washed with an alkane solvent. Therefore, the properties of the ZDTP film layers have been studied both before and after solvent washing with n–heptane. A surface–force apparatus gives, first, the rheological properties of the film, obtained from sphere–plane squeeze experiments, and, second, some mechanical properties obtained from nanoindentation experiments coupled with topographic imaging procedures performed after replacing the sphere by a diamond tip. From the indentation experiments, the properties of the solvent–washed film were determined from the normal stiffness measurements and through the application of a rheological film model. The solvent–washed specimen, comprising sulphide and phosphate layers, exhibits an elastoplastic behaviour. In particular, the mechanical properties of the phosphate layer increase during the loading stage of the indentation to accommodate the increasing applied pressure. From these observations and previous film analyses, a schematic picture of the ‘full’ anti–wear ZDTP film structure and its mechanical properties was obtained. A highly viscous layer of alkyl phosphate covers islands of solid polyphosphates. These islands are partly adherent to the steel surface through a sulphide layer and accommodate the real contact pressure in the tribotest. These results show that the exceptional wear resisting properties of ZDTP films arise from their ability to respond to a wide range of imposed conditions. As the severity of loading increases, so too do the resistive forces within the film. ZDTP anti–wear films can truly be described as SMART materials.
Novel minimally invasive laser treatment of urinary incontinence in women

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common disorder that affects women of various ages and impacts all aspects of life. Our aim was to evaluate the non‐invasive erbium:yttrium‐aluminum‐garnet (Er:YAG) laser that exploits its thermal effect and has been used in reconstructive and rejuvenation surgery as a potential treatment strategy for stress UI (SUI) and mixed UI (MUI).
The effect of inhibitors on the formation of flagella by Salmonella typhimurium.

SUMMARY: The synthesis of flagella by Salmonella typhimurium was used in a study of factors affecting the formation of a single protein. Regeneration of flagella by mechanically deflagellated organisms was completely inhibited by 2:4-dinitrophenol (0.001 m), but not by sodium azide (0.004 m), or by sodium arsenate (0.002 m). Ultraviolet (u.v.) irradiation or treatment with nitrogen mustard in a dose sufficient to result in a 99.99 % decrease in viable count, completely inhibited regeneration of flagella. None of the amino acid, purine or pyrimidine analogues tested, with the exception of p-fluorophenylalanine, prevented the regeneration of functional flagella, although many of them inhibited bacterial growth. Flagella synthesized in the presence of p-fluorophenylalanine were non-functional and the flagella wavelength was half that of the control. Growth of S. typhimurium at 44° resulted in a progressive decrease in the number of flagella/bacterium. On continued incubation at 44° the culture became non-motile. Subsequent incubation at 37° resulted in the recovery of motility after a lag about equal to the mean generation time of the bacteria. Addition of 2-thiouracil or 8-azaguanine to a non-motile culture immediately after transferring from 44° to 37° prevented the recovery of motility. When the addition of 8-azaguanine was delayed for 1 hr. after transferring from 44° to 37°, there was no inhibition of recovery of motility. The growth of S. typhimurium at 37° was not completely inhibited by 2-thiouracil (0.001 m) or 8-azaguanine (0.001 m), but there was a fall in no. flagella/bacterium after the addition of the analogue. Since regeneration of flagella occurred at 44°, these data were interpreted as indicating that the systems responsible for the formation of flagella were absent from cultures grown at 44°, but were synthesized during the lag before the appearance of flagella on transferring the culture to 37°.
Heatsealability of Flexible Web Materials in Hot-Bar Sealing Applications

Heatsealability of flexible web materials is critical to the economics of their use on commercial form-fill-seal machines. Our objective was to determine which factors in the heatsealing process affect seal strength significantly and should be included when testing for heatsealability A recently-available precision laboratory heat sealer was used to study the response of low density polyethylene (LDPE) coextruded film and high density polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate-polybutylene (HDPE/EVA-PB) coextruded film to sealing die configuration, plus the usual variables of temperature, time and pressure. Interface temperature and dwell time were confirmed as primary factors in controlling heatseal strength. Pressure normal to the seal surface had little effect above the level required to flatten the web for good contact. Serrated dies moderately improved seal strength of HDPE/EVA-PB at high die force, but had no advantage with LDPE. Variables in measuring seal strength were critical in interpreting results, particularly with serrated dies Results were gen erally compatible with the theory of chain-end diffusion.
Functional role of the cytoplasmic domain of the integrin alpha 5 subunit

The purpose of this study was to explore the functional role of the cytoplasmic domain of the alpha subunit of the alpha 5/beta 1 integrin, a fibronectin receptor. Mutant CHO cells that express very low levels of endogenous hamster alpha 5 subunit (CHO clone B2) were transfected with an expression vector containing full-length or truncated human alpha 5 cDNAs to form chimeric human alpha 5/hamster beta 1 integrins. Three transfectants were examined: B2a27 expresses a full-length human alpha 5 subunit with 27 amino acids in the cytoplasmic domain; B2a10 expresses an alpha 5 with a 17-amino acid cytoplasmic truncation; B2a1 expresses an alpha 5 with a 26-amino acid truncation. Levels of alpha 5/beta 1 surface expression in B2a27 and B2a10 cells were similar to that in wild type CHO cells. The expression of alpha 5/beta 1 in B2a1 cells was less, amounting to 15-20% of WT levels, despite message levels that were three to five times greater than those of B2a27. The transfectants were used to examine the role of the alpha 5 cytoplasmic domain in cell adhesion, cell motility, cytoskeletal organization, and integrin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation. The adhesion characteristics of B2a27 and B2a10 cells on fibronectin substrata were similar to each other and to wild type CHO cells. B2a1 cells displayed slight reductions in the strength and rate of adhesion to fibronectin. Cell motility in the presence of fibronectin was similar for B2a27, B2a10, and wild type CHO cells, while the B2a1 cells were substantially less motile. Comparable degrees of cell spreading and extensive organization of actin filaments were observed for B2a27, B2a10, and wild type CHO cells on fibronectin substrata. The B2a1 cells spread to a lesser degree, and some organization of actin was observed; the untransfected B2 cells remained round on fibronectin substrata and showed no actin reorganization. Since the reduced motility and cell spreading observed in the B2a1 cells might be due either to reduced surface expression of alpha 5/beta 1 or to the truncation in the alpha 5 cytoplasmic domain, we used flow cytometric cell sorting to select populations of B2a1 and B2a27 cells expressing similar levels of cell surface alpha 5. The deficits in spreading and motility were present in B2a1 cells expressing high levels of alpha 5. Thus the region of the alpha 5 cytoplasmic domain adjacent to the membrane seems to play an important role in cytoskeletal organization and cell motility. We also examined whether alpha subunit truncation would affect integrin- mediated tyrosine phosphorylation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Hydrogen in semiconductors and metals : symposium held April 13-17, 1998, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

The study of hydrogen in condensed matter is of significant importance in modern technology. Hydrogen affects the mechanical, electrical and optical properties of many materials and causes embrittlement of metals; changes the optical properties of rare-earth metals and affects the defect structure of most semiconductors. Because hydrogen often moves easily through most materials, its motion leads to changes in these material properties. Because hydrogen is viewed as a potentially clean fuel source of the future, storage, transport and diffusion are of significant societal importance. The study of hydrogen in condensed matter consists of two major subfields -hydrogen in semiconductors and hydrogen in metals and despite their connection, research has often proceeded independently and advances in one are not fully utilized in the other. This book brings these two subfields together. Topics include: hydrogen on surfaces; theory and thermodynamics; hydrogen transport phenomena; nuclear characterization techniques; compound semiconductors; bulk metal; devices and applications; bulk silicon; and carbon and carbon-like materials.
Docosahexaenoic (DHA) modulates phospholipid-hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (Gpx4) gene expression to ensure self-protection from oxidative damage in hippocampal cells

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is a unique polyunsaturated fatty acid particularly abundant in nerve cell membrane phospholipids. DHA is a pleiotropic molecule that, not only modulates the physicochemical properties and architecture of neuronal plasma membrane, but it is also involved in multiple facets of neuronal biology, from regulation of synaptic function to neuroprotection and modulation of gene expression. As a highly unsaturated fatty acid due to the presence of six double bonds, DHA is susceptible for oxidation, especially in the highly pro-oxidant environment of brain parenchyma. We have recently reported the ability of DHA to regulate the transcriptional program controlling neuronal antioxidant defenses in a hippocampal cell line, especially the glutathione/glutaredoxin system. Within this antioxidant system, DHA was particularly efficient in triggering the upregulation of Gpx4 gene, which encodes for the nuclear, cytosolic, and mitochondrial isoforms of phospholipid-hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PH-GPx/GPx4), the main enzyme protecting cell membranes against lipid peroxidation and capable to reduce oxidized phospholipids in situ. We show here that this novel property of DHA is also significant in the hippocampus of wild-type mice and, to a lesser extent in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, a familial model of Alzheimer's disease. By doing this, DHA stimulates a mechanism to self-protect from oxidative damage even in the neuronal scenario of high aerobic metabolism and in the presence of elevated levels of transition metals, which inevitably favor the generation of reactive oxygen species. Noticeably, DHA also upregulated a Gpx4 CIRT (Cytoplasmic Intron-sequence Retaining Transcripts), a novel Gpx4 splicing variant, harboring part of the first intronic region, which according to the “sentinel RNA hypothesis” would expand the ability of Gpx4 (and DHA) to provide neuronal antioxidant defense independently of conventional nuclear splicing in cellular compartments, like dendritic zones, located away from nuclear compartment. We discuss here, the crucial role of this novel transcriptional regulation triggered by DHA in the context of normal and pathological hippocampal cell.
Whey Protein Supplementation Improves Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Previous literature shows possible benefits of whey protein supplementation in promoting weight loss. However, most studies do not have enough power to show beneficial effects on body composition and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This meta-analysis evaluated effects of whey protein in individuals who are overweight and obese. Methods: We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The inclusion criteria were published randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing whey protein supplementation to placebo or controls in individuals who are overweight or obese. The primary outcome was the differences in the change in body composition (body weight, waist circumference, total fat mass, body lean mass). We also examined the changes in CVD risk factors as secondary outcomes. We calculated pooled mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random effects model. Results: Nine RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. There was a significant reduction of body weight (MD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.30–0.81), lean mass (MD = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.59–0.96), and fat mass (MD = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.77–1.47) favoring the whey protein group. There were improvements in multiple CVD risk factors including levels of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, high-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol (all p values <0.05). Conclusions: Whey protein supplementation seems to improve body weight, total fat mass, and some CVD risk factors in overweight and obese patients. Further studies regarding optimal dosage and duration of whey protein supplementation would be helpful to assess potential favorable effects in individuals who are overweight or obese.
A Reduced Feedback Precoder for MIMO-OFDM Cooperative Diversity Systems

A new precoder that reduces the feedback overhead in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)-based relay network is proposed. A joint singular value decomposition (SVD) and QR decomposition is employed on the source-destination link and the source-relay-destination link. Using the proposed precoder, only one precoding matrix needs to be fed back, independent of the total number of subcarriers. Kernel density estimation is applied to determine approximate forms of unknown distributions of the end-to-end effective channel powers obtained by this precoder. Using approximated probability density functions (pdfs) for these effective channel powers, closed-form expressions for the link achievable average sum-rate and the outage probability can be derived and then their accuracies verified via Monte Carlo simulations. The achievable sum-rates are also compared with that of SVD-based precoders and for varying codebook size.
Routes of Motivation: Stable Psychological Dispositions Are Associated with Dynamic Changes in Cortico-Cortical Functional Connectivity

The present study provides a neurobiological framework to the theory of epistemic motivation that has been extensively studied for the last three decades in the domain of social cognition. Epistemic motivations affect the way people generate and validate hypotheses, and ultimately form and modify knowledge. Strong dispositional measures such as need for cognitive closure (NCC), the desire for a quick firm answer (any answer) to a question, show gross and stable inter-individual differences. The cognitive mechanisms and neural underpinnings of such differences, however, remain largely unexplored. Here we show that high (compared to low) levels of NCC, measured with need for cognitive closure scale, are associated with reduced online adjustment in cognitive control, as indexed by behavioral conflict adaptation. This behavioral effect is mediated by dynamic changes in cortico-cortical functional connectivity between prefrontal regions involved in conflict monitoring and implementation of cognitive control. In particular, these regions show increased functional connectivity after exposure to conflict in low but not high NCC individuals. These results demonstrate that the level of flexibility of functional cortico-cortical connections can mediate stable psychological dispositions.
Methyl-dependent and spatial-specific DNA recognition by the orthologous transcription factors human AP-1 and Epstein-Barr virus Zta

Abstract Activator protein 1 (AP-1) is a transcription factor that recognizes two versions of a 7-base pair response element, either 5΄-TGAGTCA-3΄ or 5΄-MGAGTCA-3΄ (where M = 5-methylcytosine). These two elements share the feature that 5-methylcytosine and thymine both have a methyl group in the same position, 5-carbon of the pyrimidine, so each of them has two methyl groups at nucleotide positions 1 and 5 from the 5΄ end, resulting in four methyl groups symmetrically positioned in duplex DNA. Epstein-Barr Virus Zta is a key transcriptional regulator of the viral lytic cycle that is homologous to AP-1. Zta recognizes several methylated Zta-response elements, including meZRE1 (5΄-TGAGMCA-3΄) and meZRE2 (5΄-TGAGMGA-3΄), where a methylated cytosine occupies one of the inner thymine residues corresponding to the AP-1 element, resulting in the four spatially equivalent methyl groups. Here, we study how AP-1 and Zta recognize these methyl groups within their cognate response elements. These methyl groups are in van der Waals contact with a conserved di-alanine in AP-1 dimer (Ala265 and Ala266 in Jun), or with the corresponding Zta residues Ala185 and Ser186 (via its side chain carbon Cβ atom). Furthermore, the two ZRE elements differ at base pair 6 (C:G versus G:C), forming a pseudo-symmetric sequence (meZRE1) or an asymmetric sequence (meZRE2). In vitro DNA binding assays suggest that Zta has high affinity for all four sequences examined, whereas AP-1 has considerably reduced affinity for the asymmetric sequence (meZRE2). We ascribe this difference to Zta Ser186 (a unique residue for Zta) whose side chain hydroxyl oxygen atom interacts with the two half sites differently, whereas the corresponding Ala266 of AP-1 Jun protein lacks such flexibility. Our analyses demonstrate a novel mechanism of 5mC/T recognition in a methylation-dependent, spatial and sequence-specific approach by basic leucine-zipper transcriptional factors.