Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequence Conservation in Plasmodium falciparum α-Helical Coiled Coil Domains Proposed for Vaccine Development

Background The availability of the P. falciparum genome has led to novel ways to identify potential vaccine candidates. A new approach for antigen discovery based on the bioinformatic selection of heptad repeat motifs corresponding to α-helical coiled coil structures yielded promising results. To elucidate the question about the relationship between the coiled coil motifs and their sequence conservation, we have assessed the extent of polymorphism in putative α-helical coiled coil domains in culture strains, in natural populations and in the single nucleotide polymorphism data available at PlasmoDB. Methodology/Principal Findings 14 α-helical coiled coil domains were selected based on preclinical experimental evaluation. They were tested by PCR amplification and sequencing of different P. falciparum culture strains and field isolates. We found that only 3 out of 14 α-helical coiled coils showed point mutations and/or length polymorphisms. Based on promising immunological results 5 of these peptides were selected for further analysis. Direct sequencing of field samples from Papua New Guinea and Tanzania showed that 3 out of these 5 peptides were completely conserved. An in silico analysis of polymorphism was performed for all 166 putative α-helical coiled coil domains originally identified in the P. falciparum genome. We found that 82% (137/166) of these peptides were conserved, and for one peptide only the detected SNPs decreased substantially the probability score for α-helical coiled coil formation. More SNPs were found in arrays of almost perfect tandem repeats. In summary, the coiled coil structure prediction was rarely modified by SNPs. The analysis revealed a number of peptides with strictly conserved α-helical coiled coil motifs. Conclusion/Significance We conclude that the selection of α-helical coiled coil structural motifs is a valuable approach to identify potential vaccine targets showing a high degree of conservation.
The Relation of Locus of Control, Anger, and Impulsivity to Boys’ Aggressive Behavior

This study attempted to discover how anger, locus of control, and impulsivity are related to aggression. Two pathways to aggression were examined: a cognitive/schema pathway and an emotion/impulsivity pathway. The sample included 242 fourth- and fifth-grade boys. Using data from several questionnaires, teachers reported on levels of reactive and proactive aggressive behaviors, parents reported on the participants’ impulsivity, and the participants reported on locus of control and anger. Results indicated that anger and impulsivity were positively associated with aggression. Internal locus of control for success was negatively associated with aggression. In addition, impulsivity mediated the relation between anger and aggression. Implications for intervention are also discussed based on the mediation results.
Higher fibrinogen concentrations for reduction of transfusion requirements during major paediatric surgery: A prospective randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Hypofibrinogenaemia is one of the main reasons for development of perioperative coagulopathy during major paediatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess whether prophylactic maintenance of higher fibrinogen concentrations through administration of fibrinogen concentrate would decrease the volume of transfused red blood cell (RBCs). METHODS In this prospective, randomised, clinical trial, patients aged 6 months to 17 yr undergoing craniosynostosis and scoliosis surgery received fibrinogen concentrate (30 mg kg(-1)) at two predefined intraoperative fibrinogen concentrations [ROTEM(®) FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF) of <8 mm (conventional) or <13 mm (early substitution)]. Total volume of transfused RBCs was recorded over 24 h after start of surgery. RESULTS Thirty children who underwent craniosynostosis surgery and 19 children who underwent scoliosis surgery were treated per protocol. During craniosynostosis surgery, children in the early substitution group received significantly less RBCs (median, 28 ml kg(-1); IQR, 21 to 50 ml kg(-1)) compared with the conventional fibrinogen trigger of <8 mm (median, 56 ml kg(-1); IQR, 28 to 62 ml kg(-1)) (P=0.03). Calculated blood loss as per cent of estimated total blood volume decreased from a median of 160% (IQR, 110-190%) to a median of 90% (IQR, 78-110%) (P=0.017). No significant changes were observed in the scoliosis surgery population. No bleeding events requiring surgical intervention, postoperative transfusions of RBCs, or treatment-related adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS Intraoperative administration of fibrinogen concentrate using a FIBTEM MCF trigger level of <13 mm can be successfully used to significantly decrease bleeding, and transfusion requirements in the setting of craniosynostosis surgery, but not scoliosis. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01487837.
SmartInjector: Exploiting intelligent fault injection for SDC rate analysis

Recently, researchers have shown that exploiting symptom-based solutions provides a promising way to achieve low-cost fault tolerance. However, these solutions cannot provide enough reliability due to lack of ability to handle silent data corruptions (SDCs). To address SDCs efficiently, it is important to identify them effectively. This paper presents an intelligent fault injection framework, SmartInjector, which can analyze the SDC rates of the instructions in an application accurately with affordable fault simulation efforts. Based on program analysis, SmartInjector firstly prunes the faults whose outcome can be known without fault simulation or the faults which are considered to be equivalent to other faults. SmartInjector also employs the fault outcome prediction technique to reduce the time for a single fault simulation. The decreased requirement of computational resources allows SmartInjector to perform detailed fault injection experiments to analyze SDC rate for each instruction in an application. Validation results show that the fault simulation time needed by SmartInjector is only about 0.15% of the time required for simulating all possible faults, while the analysis accuracy of SDC rate reaches to 94% on average. Unlike existing fault injection frameworks, SmartInjector is the first to exploit fault outcome prediction to reduce the single simulation time.
Sports-Related Sudden Death in the General Population

Background— Although such data are available for young competitive athletes, the prevalence, characteristics, and outcome of sports-related sudden death have not been assessed previously in the general population. Methods and Results— A prospective and comprehensive national survey was performed throughout France from 2005 to 2010, involving subjects 10 to 75 years of age. Case detection for sports-related sudden death, including resuscitated cardiac arrest, was undertaken via national ambulance service reporting and Web-based screening of media releases. The overall burden of sports-related sudden death was 4.6 cases per million population per year, with 6% of cases occurring in young competitive athletes. Sensitivity analyses used to address suspected underreporting demonstrated an incidence ranging from 5 to 17 new cases per million population per year. More than 90% of cases occurred in the context of recreational sports. The age of subjects was relatively young (mean±SD 46±15 years), with a predominance of men (95%). Although most cases were witnessed (93%), bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation was only commenced in 30.7% of cases. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (odds ratio 3.73, 95% confidence interval 2.19 to 6.39, P<0.0001) and initial use of cardiac defibrillation (odds ratio 3.71, 95% confidence interval 2.07 to 6.64, P<0.0001) were the strongest independent predictors for survival to hospital discharge (15.7%, 95% confidence interval 13.2% to 18.2%). Conclusions— Sports-related sudden death in the general population is considerably more common than previously suspected. Most cases are witnessed, yet bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation was only initiated in one third of cases. Given the often predictable setting of sports-related sudden death and that prompt interventions were significantly associated with improved survival, these data have implications for health services planning.
Evidence for a second wave of oligodendrogenesis in the postnatal cerebral cortex of the mouse

The existing view is that cortical oligodendrocytes (OLs) in rodents are born from the cortical subventricular zone (SVZ) after birth, but recent data suggest that many forebrain oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are specified much earlier (between E9.5 and E13.5 in the mouse) in the ventricular zone of the ventral forebrain under the control of sonic hedgehog (Shh) and migrate into the cortex afterward. We examined expression of specific early OL markers (PDGFRα, PLP/DM20, Olig2, and NG2) in the developing forebrain to clarify this issue. We propose that OPCs colonize the developing cortex in two temporally distinct waves. The gray matter is at least partially populated by a first wave of OPCs that arises in the medial ganglionic eminence and the entopeduncular area and spreads into the cortex via the developing cortical plate. The cerebral cortex benefits from the second wave of OPCs coming from residential SVZ. In the second wave, there might be two different types of precursor cells: PLP/DM20+ cells populating only inner layers and PDGFRα+ cells, which might eventually myelinate the outer regions as well. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adaptive control of systems with backlash acting on the input

Two different adaptive controllers for systems with backlash acting on the input are discussed: one in continuous time and one in discrete time. Both schemes are based on a backlash inverse and a linear controller. The unknown plant parameters and the backlash width are estimated. The estimated parameters are used for pole placement design of the controller and for backlash compensation in the backlash inverse. Some analysis of the estimator convergence is done. Simulations of a second order plant show that both schemes give a nice behavior.
Responding to Student Poems: Applications of Critical Theory

Urging teachers of poetry writing to better understand themselves as writers and readers, this book "interrogates" a strategy teachers might employ in reading and evaluating student poems. A thoughtful study of a teacher is presented while in the process of evaluating student poetry through the lenses of four different contemporary critical theories: New Criticism, reader-response criticism, deconstruction, and feminist criticism. Chapters in the book are: (1) Literary Theory, Composition Theory, and the Reading of Poetry Writing; (2) The Teacher as Writer, Reader, and Editor; (3) The Authority cf the Text: Some Applications of the New Criticism; (4) Intezaction and Assessment: Some Applications of Reader-Response Criticism; (5) Intentional and Unintentioni.1 Exclusions: Some Applications of Deconstruction; (6) On Becoming a "Resisting Reader": Some Applications of Feminist Criticism; (7) Reading the Course in Poetry Writing: Preparing Students for the Workshop; (8) Grading Student Poems: Adaptations of the New Criticism and Reader-Response Criticism; and (9) The Teacher's Many Selves: Negotiating the Course in Poetry Writing. (Contains 149 references.) (RS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ************************************A**********************************
Is guardianship a successful intervention for people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder

Understanding and treating individuals who have a combination of borderline personality disorders, self-injurious behaviours and sometimes suicidality, presents one of the most confusing and problematic challenges to mental health professionals. While the use of mental health legislation for this group is considered unusual, guardianship legislation in Australia is sometimes additionally utilised. To date, there has been no examination of the effectiveness of guardianship for people with borderline personality disorder in the Victorian context. This study aims to examine the role of guardianship for this population by assessing the contributing factors that led to the appointment of a guardian including the mental health responses prior to a guardianship application being made, subsequent service responses provided and finally to enhance current knowledge by determining whether guardianship is an effective intervention. This research has two phases. Phase one assessed guardianship as an intervention by the examination of case materials held by the Office of the Public Advocate. In phase two some participants from phase one were interviewed to elicit their experience of such an intervention. Findings indicated that the combination of high level self-injurious behaviours and refusal of treatment led to the appointment of a guardian. Service and system responses were quite diverse for this cohort, particularly regarding the ongoing provision of case management. Empathic responses were often not forthcoming from health professionals. Combined results indicated that advocacy rather than guardianship was more beneficial. Recommendations to improve the legal and healthcare framework are suggested.
Management of Lung Metastases from Colorectal Cancer: Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery versus Thoracotomy—A Case-Matched Study

Abstract Objectives The benefits of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for performing pulmonary metastasectomy are considered controversial. This case-matched study aimed to compare long-term outcomes after surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer using different approaches (VATS vs. thoracotomy). Methods Between 1997 and 2008, 143 patients with colorectal cancer who had received their first pulmonary metastasectomy were selected. Fifty-three patients underwent a surgical procedure that utilized a thoracotomy approach (Group 1), and 90 patients underwent a surgical procedure that used a VATS-based approach (Group 2). After being matched for tumor number, diameter (measured by computed tomography), and surgical procedure (wedge resection or lobectomy), 35 pairs of patients were finally enrolled. Study endpoints included tumor recurrence and survival. Results There was no hospital mortality in both groups. Within the mean follow-up period of 50 months, 47.1% patients developed a recurrence (52% at the pulmonary level and 48% at systemic level), and 52.9% of the patients were alive at the time of analysis. There was no difference between Groups 1 and 2 in terms of overall recurrences (54 vs. 40%, p = 0.23), all pulmonary recurrences (25.7 vs. 22.9%, p = 0.78), and same side lung recurrences (14.3 vs. 20%, p = 0.75). The 5-year overall survival (OS) after lung resection was 43 and 51% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.21). Conclusions Our case-matched study showed that survival outcome of pulmonary metastasectomy using VATS is not inferior to that of open thoracotomy in selected cases.
BLOCH INVARIANTS OF HYPERBOLIC 3-MANIFOLDS

We define an invariant \beta(M) of a finite volume hyperbolic 3-manifold M in the Bloch group B(C) and show it is determined by the simplex parameters of any degree one ideal triangulation of M. \beta(M) lies in a subgroup of \B(\C) of finite \Q-rank determined by the invariant trace field of M. Moreover, the Chern-Simons invariant of M is determined modulo rationals by \beta(M). This leads to a simplicial formula and rationality results for the Chern Simons invariant which appear elsewhere. Generalizations of \beta(M) are also described, as well as several interesting examples. An appendix describes a scissors congruence interpretation of B(C).
Why do festival goers drink? Assessment of drinking motives using the DMQ-R SF in a recreational setting.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS The aim of this study is to confirm the four-dimensional structure and other measurement properties of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire Revised Short Form (DMQ-R SF) among young Hungarian adults in a recreational setting. DESIGN AND METHODS In a 'Health Tent' at Europe's biggest music and cultural festival, 390 attendees (mean age 23.6, SD = 4.4) completed the DMQ-R SF and answered other alcohol-related questions. Data were analysed by confirmatory factor analysis, repeated measures anova and structural equation modelling. RESULTS The results confirmed the good measurement properties of the DMQ-R SF in terms of factor loadings, model fit and internal consistency. These statistics were similar for men and women. For both genders, social motives were the most frequently indicated motivational dimension, followed by coping, conformity and enhancement. Social motives were consistently related to drinking, and coping to alcohol-related problems. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS It seems that the DMQ-R SF is a useful instrument for measuring the motivation to engage in drinking in recreational settings, such as parties, clubs and festivals, where hard-to-reach target groups vulnerable to risky drinking behaviour are present, but time for filling out questionnaires is restricted.
Exact and approximate reasoning about temporal relations 1

Allen gives an algebra for representing qualitative temporal information about the relationships between pairs of intervals. In this paper, we address a fundamental reasoning task that arises in applications of the algebra: Given (possibly indefinite) knowledge about the relationships between intervals, find all feasible relationships between two intervals. We call this the minimal labels problem. Finding the minimal labels can be viewed as computing the deductive consequences of our knowledge. Determining exact solutions to this problem has been shown to be (almost assuredly) intractable. Allen gives an approximation algorithm based on constraint propagation. We present new approximation algorithms; determine analytically under what conditions the algorithms are exact; and examine, through some computational experiments, the quality of the approximate solutions produced by the algorithms. We also give a simple test for predicting when the approximation algorithms will and will not produce good quality approximations. Finally, we survey three example applications of the interval algebra chosen from the literature to show where the results of this paper could be useful.
Supplementation of iron in pulmonary hypertension: Rationale and design of a phase II clinical trial in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Our aim is to assess the safety and potential clinical benefit of intravenous iron (Ferinject) infusion in iron deficient patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Iron deficiency in the absence of anemia (1) is common in patients with IPAH; (2) is associated with inappropriately raised levels of hepcidin, the key regulator of iron homeostasis; and (3) correlates with disease severity and worse clinical outcomes. Oral iron absorption may be impeded by reduced absorption due to elevated hepcidin levels. The safety and benefits of parenteral iron replacement in IPAH are unknown. Supplementation of Iron in Pulmonary Hypertension (SIPHON) is a Phase II, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial of iron in IPAH. At least 60 patients will be randomized to intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject) or saline placebo with a crossover point after 12 weeks of treatment. The primary outcome will be the change in resting pulmonary vascular resistance from baseline at 12 weeks, measured by cardiac catheterization. Secondary measures include resting and exercise hemodynamics and exercise performance from serial bicycle incremental and endurance cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Other secondary measurements include serum iron indices, 6-Minute Walk Distance, WHO functional class, quality of life score, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and cardiac anatomy and function from cardiac magnetic resonance. We propose that intravenous iron replacement will improve hemodynamics and clinical outcomes in IPAH. If the data supports a potentially useful therapeutic effect and suggest this drug is safe, the study will be used to power a Phase III study to address efficacy.
The role of autoimmune T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Autoimmune T cells play a key role as regulators and effectors of autoimmune disease.In multiple sclerosis (MS), activated T cells specific for myelin components or other locally expressed autoantigens enter the CNS and recognize their antigen(s) on local antigen-presenting cells. After local stimulation, the T cells produce a plethora of cytokines and inflammatory mediators that have profound effects on the local cellular environment, induce and recruit additional inflammatory cells, and contribute to myelin damage. An increasingly detailed knowledge of these processes will greatly facilitate the development of new immunotherapies. This article focuses on the role of T cells in MS. We provide a brief overview of the principles of T-cell immunology, discuss the experimental techniques available for studying T cells, address the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of MS, and highlight modern concepts for immunotherapy. NEUROLOGY 1995;45(Suppl 6): S33-S38
A Novel Oncostatin M-inducible Gene OIG37 Forms a Gene Family with MyD118 and GADD45 and Negatively Regulates Cell Growth*

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a member of the IL-6 family cytokines that use gp130 as a common signal transducer and exhibits both growth stimulatory as well as growth inhibitory activity depending on the cells. To analyze the mechanism of OSM function, we isolated immediate early responsive genes upon OSM stimulation. Here we describe the novel OSM-inducible gene OIG37 that is related to MyD118 and GADD45. The MyD118 gene has been described as an immediate early gene induced by IL-6 in M1 monocytic cells, and GADD45 was identified as a gene induced by UV or γ-ray irradiation. Both are considered to function in growth arrest and/or DNA repair. Although the expression of OIG37, MyD118, and GADD45 was rather ubiquitous, it was differentially regulated. As the gp130 mutant defective for activating the STAT3 pathway showed the reduced induction of OIG37 by cytokine stimulation and expression of dominant negative STAT3 inhibited the induction of OIG37 by OSM, STAT3 is involved in OIG37 induction by IL-6 family cytokines. To examine the function of OIG37, we expressed it in NIH3T3 and IL-3-dependent BaF3 cells and found that OIG37 suppressed cell growth without any evidence of apoptosis. Whereas both MyD118 and OIG37 suppressed cell growth in both cell lines, suppression by OIG37 was more efficient than by MyD118. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that OIG37 associates with p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen.