Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of α-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression and Migration of Pterygium Fibroblasts by Coculture with Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract Purpose: Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of normal conjunctival tissues is a major reason of pterygium generation; α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) is a maker in EMT. In this study, we investigated if human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) can inhibit α-SMA expression and migration of human pterygium fibroblasts (hPFs) in vitro. Materials and methods: Coculture of hAMSCs and hPFs was completed by using a Transwell coculture system. The α-SMA expression of hPFs was detected by immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis. The migration ability of hPFs was measured by means of a migration assay. Immunoreactivity for α-SMA was detected in all pterygium fibroblasts examined. Results: The expression of α-SMA in cocultured hPFs was significantly lower than in hPFs. Similar result was demonstrated in western blot analysis. In addition, migration assay showed that hAMSCs reduce the migration of hPFs. Conclusions: These results suggested that hAMSCs have the potential to inhibit the generation and invasiveness of pterygium in vitro.
Multiobjective scheduling of green-powered datacenters considering QoS and budget objectives

This article presents a multiobjective approach for scheduling green-powered datacenters. We consider a bag of independent deadline-constrained tasks to be executed in a datacenter partially powered by green energy where machines and be powered on/off. The problem consists in scheduling machine state, task execution, and cooling devices to follow an energy consumption profile while simultaneously minimizing the operational budget and the QoS degradation, subject to maintaining the datacenter temperature below its maximum operational threshold. We propose an Evolutionary Algorithm empowered by a Local Search for tackling this problem. Preliminary results show promising budget reductions when compared to a greedy scheduling approach.
Crescent‐Shaped Electron Distributions at the Nonreconnecting Magnetopause: Magnetospheric Multiscale Observations

Crescent‐shaped electron distributions perpendicular to the magnetic field are an important indicator of the electron diffusion region in magnetic reconnection. They can be formed by the electron finite gyroradius effect at plasma boundaries or by demagnetized electron motion. In this study, we present Magnetospheric Multiscale mission observations of electron crescents at the flank magnetopause on 20 September 2017, where reconnection signatures are not observed. These agyrotropic electron distributions are generated by electron gyromotion at the thin electron‐scale magnetic boundaries of a magnetic minimum after magnetic curvature scattering. The variation of their angular range in the perpendicular plane is in good agreement with predictions. Upper hybrid waves are observed to accompany the electron crescents at all four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft as a result of the beam‐plasma instability associated with these agyrotropic electron distributions. This study suggests electron crescents can be more frequently formed at the magnetopause.
A comparative study between swashbuckler approach (Modified Anterior Approach) and lateral approach for the distal femur fractures

Background: Distal femur fractures with intra-articular extension and comminution are challenging injuries, fraught with complications such as mal-union and stiffness. We prospectively evaluated and compared a consecutive series of patients with AO type B and C distal femur fractures to determine the clinico-radiological outcome after fixation with distal femur locking compression plate using Swashbuckler approach and standard lateral approach. Materials and Methods: 60 patients with AO Muller's type B and C distal femur fractures (mostly type C2 and C3) were treated with distal femur locking compression plate (DF-LCP), 30 patients using swashbuckler approach and 30 patients using standard lateral approach. The regular follow-up up to 1 year was done and results were determined using the Neer’s Score. Results: All fractures united at a mean of 14.64 weeks (range 12-20 weeks). In our study mean duration of surgery for lateral approach group was greater (99.6min) than swashbuckler group (85 min). Mean ROM in swashbuckler group was 100.83 degree compared to 83.83 in lateral group. Mean Neer’s score was 76.96 in lateral approach group compared to 81.83 in swashbuckler approach group. Complication rate was similar in both the group. Conclusion: The results of distal femur fractures using a swashbuckler approach are encouraging and comparable to standard lateral approach with a majority of patients achieving good to excellent outcome at 1 year especially in complex AO type C3 fractures.
Experimental Study on the Precise Orbit Determination of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System

The regional service of the Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system is now in operation with a constellation including five Geostationary Earth Orbit satellites (GEO), five Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO) satellites and four Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites. Besides the standard positioning service with positioning accuracy of about 10 m, both precise relative positioning and precise point positioning are already demonstrated. As is well known, precise orbit and clock determination is essential in enhancing precise positioning services. To improve the satellite orbits of the BeiDou regional system, we concentrate on the impact of the tracking geometry and the involvement of MEOs, and on the effect of integer ambiguity resolution as well. About seven weeks of data collected at the BeiDou Experimental Test Service (BETS) network is employed in this experimental study. Several tracking scenarios are defined, various processing schemata are designed and carried out; and then, the estimates are compared and analyzed in detail. The results show that GEO orbits, especially the along-track component, can be significantly improved by extending the tracking network in China along longitude direction, whereas IGSOs gain more improvement if the tracking network extends in latitude. The involvement of MEOs and ambiguity-fixing also make the orbits better.
Nuclear RNA Sequencing of the Mouse Erythroid Cell Transcriptome

In addition to protein coding genes a substantial proportion of mammalian genomes are transcribed. However, most transcriptome studies investigate steady-state mRNA levels, ignoring a considerable fraction of the transcribed genome. In addition, steady-state mRNA levels are influenced by both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms, and thus do not provide a clear picture of transcriptional output. Here, using deep sequencing of nuclear RNAs (nucRNA-Seq) in parallel with chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) of active RNA polymerase II, we compared the nuclear transcriptome of mouse anemic spleen erythroid cells with polymerase occupancy on a genome-wide scale. We demonstrate that unspliced transcripts quantified by nucRNA-seq correlate with primary transcript frequencies measured by RNA FISH, but differ from steady-state mRNA levels measured by poly(A)-enriched RNA-seq. Highly expressed protein coding genes showed good correlation between RNAPII occupancy and transcriptional output; however, genome-wide we observed a poor correlation between transcriptional output and RNAPII association. This poor correlation is due to intergenic regions associated with RNAPII which correspond with transcription factor bound regulatory regions and a group of stable, nuclear-retained long non-coding transcripts. In conclusion, sequencing the nuclear transcriptome provides an opportunity to investigate the transcriptional landscape in a given cell type through quantification of unspliced primary transcripts and the identification of nuclear-retained long non-coding RNAs.
ON Inputs to the OFF Layer: Bipolar Cells That Break the Stratification Rules of the Retina

The vertebrate retina is a distinctly laminar structure. Functionally, the inner plexiform layer, in which bipolar cells synapse onto amacrine and ganglion cells, is subdivided into two sublaminae. Cells that depolarize at light offset ramify in sublamina a; those that depolarize at light onset ramify in sublamina b. The separation of ON and OFF pathways appears to be a fundamental principle of retinal organization that is reflected throughout the entire visual system. We show three clear exceptions to this rule, in which the axons of calbindin-positive ON cone bipolar cells make ribbon synapses as they pass through the OFF layers with three separate cell types: (1) dopaminergic amacrine cells, (2) intrinsically photosensitive ganglion cells, and (3) bistratified diving ganglion cells. The postsynaptic location of the AMPA receptor GluR4 at these sites suggests that ON bipolar cells can make functional synapses as their axons pass through the OFF layers of the inner plexiform layer. These findings resolve a long-standing question regarding the anomalous ON inputs to dopaminergic amacrine cells and suggest that certain ON bipolar cell axons can break the stratification rules of the inner plexiform layer by providing significant synaptic output before their terminal specializations. These outputs are not only to dopaminergic amacrine cells but also to at least two ON ganglion cell types that have dendrites that arborize in sublamina a.
Effects of small peptides or amino acids infused to a perfused area of the skin of Angora goats on mohair growth.

The effect of infusing dipeptides or their amino acids on mohair growth of Angora goats was investigated using a skin perfusion technique. Seven Angora wethers (average BW 24 +/- 2.5 kg) were implanted bilaterally with silicon catheters into the superficial branches of the deep circumflex iliac artery and vein and carotid artery. The experiment consisted of three 28-d phases. In the first 14 d of Phases 1 and 3, saline was infused into deep circumflex iliac arteries supplying skin and in Phase 2 a mixture of dipeptides (methionine-leucine [Met-Leu], lysine-leucine [Lys-Leu]) was infused into the artery on one side, and free amino acids were administered on the other side. Infusion rates of peptides were 0.85 mg/h Met-Leu and 0.85 mg/h Lys-Leu in 2.4 mL saline. Infusion rates of amino acids were 0.474 mg/h Lys, 0.483 mg/h Met, and 0.743 mg/h Leu in 2.4 mL saline. A 100-cm2 area within the perfused region was used to determine mohair growth. Two weeks after the cessation of infusions, perfused areas were shorn. Clean mohair production from the dipeptide- and amino acids-perfused regions were similar (4.21 vs 4.35 g/[100 cm2 +/- 28 d], respectively; P > 0.05). However, clean mohair production during dipeptides and amino acids infusions was greater (P < 0.01) than that observed during saline infusions (3.63 g/[100 cm2 +/- 28 d]). There were no significant differences between dipeptides and free amino acids in concentrations of various hormones and metabolites in blood from deep circumflex iliac veins (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the studied small dipeptides and amino acids similarly increased mohair fiber growth, presumably through supplying limiting amino acids directly to the fiber follicle.
Predictors of Good Clinical Outcomes, Mortality, and Successful Revascularization in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Undergoing Thrombectomy: Pooled Analysis of the Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia (MERCI) and Multi MERCI Trials

Background and Purpose— The Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia (MERCI) and Multi MERCI trials evaluated the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy in the treatment of intracranial arterial occlusions within 8 hours of symptom onset. We sought to determine the predictors of clinical and angiographic outcomes in these patients. Methods— The trial cohorts were combined in a data set of 305 patients. Twenty-eight baseline variables were included in univariate and multivariate analyses to define the independent predictors of good outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2), mortality, and successful revascularization (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Ischemia 2 to 3 flow). Results— In the univariate analysis, final revascularization, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, age, and systolic blood pressure were associated with both good outcomes and mortality at 90 days (P<0.0018 for all). In the multivariate analysis, final revascularization (OR, 20.4; 95% CI, 7.7 to 53.9; P<0.0001), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.92; P<0.0001), and age (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95 to 0.98; P=0.0004) were independent predictors of good outcome. Final revascularization (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.50; P<0.0001), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.14; P=0.0001), age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.07; P<0.0001), and internal carotid artery occlusion (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.22 to 3.86; P=0.0084) were the strongest predictors of mortality. Systolic blood pressure (<150 versus ≥150 mm Hg; OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.70; P=0.0007) and M2 occlusion (OR, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.28 to 11.67; P=0.0168) were independent predictors of revascularization. Conclusion— Final recanalization status represents the strongest predictor of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing thrombectomy. The ability to remove the clot is negatively influenced by systolic blood pressure on presentation perhaps because of the hydraulic forces imposed by higher blood pressures. Although internal carotid artery occlusions are associated with increased mortality, they do not appear to influence the chances of good outcomes. This finding supports the inclusion of internal carotid artery occlusions in future efficacy trials.
Papel de enzimas líticas de la pared celular en la patogenicidad de Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium oxysporum es capaz de colonizar a sus plantas huespedes penetrando a traves de las raices e invadiendo su sistema vascular. Esta especie produce gran variedad de enzimas liticas que depolimerizan todos los componentes de las paredes vegetales, como son la celulosa, el xilano, las pectinas, los acidos poligalacturonicos y las proteinas (extensinas). Nuestro grupo ha purificado y caracterizado bioquimicamente varias enzimas liticas, una endopoligalacturonasa mayoritaria (PG1), dos exopoligalacturonasas (PG2 y PG3), una endoxilanasa (XYL1), y una endopectato-liasa (PL1). Recientemente hemos aislado los genes responsables de algunas de estas enzimas hidroliticas: pg1, pgx4, pg5, xyl2, xyl3, prt1 y pl1. La expresion de los distintos genes se ha determinado mediante analisis Northern del hongo crecido en distintas condiciones de cultivo. Se ha comprobado la existencia de genes homologos en otras formas speciales de F. oxysporum mediante analisis Southern y PCR. Todos los genes estudiados se expresan "in planta" en distintos estadios del proceso de infeccion y en diversos tejidos, lo que indica su posible implicacion en el proceso de patogenesis. Actualmente se esta llevando a cabo la inactivacion dirigida de cada uno de estos genes, mediante transformacion genetica y recombinacion homologa. El analisis patotipico de los mutantes que se obtengan permitira evaluar la importancia de cada gen y su producto en la patogenesis de F. oxysporum.
Neural Substrates of Decision-Making in Economic Games

In economic experiments decisions often differ from game-theoretic predictions. Why are people generous in one-shot ultimatum games with strangers? Is there a benefit to generosity toward strangers? Research on the neural substrates of decisions suggests that some choices are hormone-dependent. By artificially stimulating subjects with neuroactive hormones, we can identify which hormones and brain regions participate in decisionmaking, to what degree and in what direction. Can a hormone make a person generous while another stingy? In this paper, two laboratory experiments are described using the hormones oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Concentrations of these hormones in the brain continuously change in response to external stimuli. OT enhances trust (Michael Kosfeld et al. 2005b), reduce fear from strangers (C. Sue Carter 1998), and has anti-anxiety effects (Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg, Maria Peterson 2005). AVP enhances attachment and bonding with kin in monogamous male mammals (Jennifer N. Ferguson et al. 2002) and increases reactive aggression (C. Sue Carter 2007). Dysfunctions of OT and/or AVP reception have been associated with autism (Miranda M. Lim et al. 2005). In Chapter One I review past experiments with the ultimatum (UG) and dictator (DG) games and visit some of the major results in the literature. In Chapter Two I present the results of my laboratory experiment where I examine why people are generous in one-shot economic games with strangers. I hypothesize that oxytocin would enhance generosity in the UG. Players in the OT group were much more generous than those in the placebo—OT offers in the UG were 80% higher than offers on placebo. Enhanced generosity was not due to altruism as there was no effect on DG offers. This implies that other-regarding preferences are at play in the amount of money sent but only in a reciprocal context. The third chapter presents an experiment on punishment. I hypothesized that AVP would increase rejections and stinginess in the UG and TG. Results show that AVP affects rejections and stinginess in small groups but not in large ones. Chapter Four contains the summary of future research suggestions.
Effects of Hydration in Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury After Primary Angioplasty: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Background— Intravascular volume expansion represents a beneficial measure against contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients undergoing elective angiographic procedures. However, the efficacy of this preventive strategy has not yet been established for patients with ST-elevation–myocardial infarction (STEMI), who are at higher risk of this complication after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this randomized study we investigated the possible beneficial role of periprocedural intravenous volume expansion and we compared the efficacy of 2 different hydration strategies in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. Methods and Results— We randomly assigned 450 STEMI patients to receive (1) preprocedure and postprocedure hydration of sodium bicarbonate (early hydration group), (2) postprocedure hydration of isotonic saline (late hydration group), or (3) no hydration (control group). The primary end point was the development of CI-AKI, defined as an increase in serum creatinine of ≥25% or 0.5 mg/dL over the baseline value within 3 days after administration of the contrast medium. Moreover, we evaluated a possible relationship between the occurrence of CI-AKI and total hydration volume administered. There were no significant differences in baseline clinical, biochemical, and procedural characteristics in the 3 groups. Overall, CI-AKI occurred in 93 patients (20.6%): the incidence was significantly lower in the early hydration group (12%) with respect to both the late hydration group (22.7%) and the control group (27.3%) (P for trend=0.001). In hydrated patients (early and late hydration groups), lower infused volumes were associated with a significant increase in CI-AKI incidence, and the optimal cutoff point of hydration volume that best discriminates patients at higher risk was ⩽960 mL. Conclusions— Adequate intravenous volume expansion may prevent CI-AKI in patients undergoing primary PCI. A regimen of preprocedure and postprocedure hydration therapy with sodium bicarbonate appears to be more efficacious than postprocedure hydration only with isotonic saline. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00770614.
Evidence of direct complementary interactions between messenger RNAs and their cognate proteins

Recently, the ability to interact with messenger RNA (mRNA) has been reported for a number of known RNA-binding proteins, but surprisingly also for different proteins without recognizable RNA binding domains including several transcription factors and metabolic enzymes. Moreover, direct binding to cognate mRNAs has been detected for multiple proteins, thus creating a strong impetus to search for functional significance and basic physico-chemical principles behind such interactions. Here, we derive interaction preferences between amino acids and RNA bases by analyzing binding interfaces in the known 3D structures of protein–RNA complexes. By applying this tool to human proteome, we reveal statistically significant matching between the composition of mRNA sequences and base-binding preferences of protein sequences they code for. For example, purine density profiles of mRNA sequences mirror guanine affinity profiles of cognate protein sequences with quantitative accuracy (median Pearson correlation coefficient R = −0.80 across the entire human proteome). Notably, statistically significant anti-matching is seen only in the case of adenine. Our results provide strong evidence for the stereo-chemical foundation of the genetic code and suggest that mRNAs and cognate proteins may in general be directly complementary to each other and associate, especially if unstructured.
A Simulation Study of the Feasibility of Differentiated Services Framework for QoS in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks ∗

This paper presents a comprehensive simulation study of the feasibility of the Differentiated Services (DiffServ) framework for providing Quality of Service (QoS) in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs). Through extensive simulations, we observe and analyze the performance of the network in terms of throughout and average delay experienced by the packets in a DiffServ domain. A thorough investigation of the performance of both higher and lower priority traffic is presented under different scheduling disciplines, mobility scenarios, traffic loads and traffic classes. These results validate the feasibility of the DiffServ architecture in providing QoS in a mobile ad hoc environment under certain conditions. These results also provide an insight into the level of QoS that can be promised in a MANET environment.
Risk of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Early Case Fatality Associated With Outpatient Antithrombotic Drug Use

Background and Purpose— Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) accounts for <7% of all strokes, but is an enormous individual and societal burden. We investigated the risk of SAH associated with prior use of antithrombotic drugs and their influence on 30-day case fatality. Methods— We conducted a nested case–control study in a cohort of 13.4 million members of the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database. Ten controls were matched to each case hospitalized for SAH between July 2004 and November 2006 by health insurance, year of birth, and sex using risk set sampling. Exposure was assessed for the warfarin analog phenprocoumon, heparin, clopidogrel/ticlopidine, and acetylsalicylic acid. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for SAH were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Risk factors for 30-day case fatality were assessed in patients with SAH by logistic regression. Results— The nested case–control study included 2065 SAH cases and 20 649 matched controls. The risk of SAH was significantly increased for phenprocoumon (OR, 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–2.3), clopidogrel/ticlopidine (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1–2.5), and for acetylsalicylic acid use (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2–2.0), but not for outpatient heparin use (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.5–2.7). The early case fatality of 22.8% was associated with an age >70 years (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.8–3.1) and arterial hypertension (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0–1.6), but not with any of the antithrombotic drugs. Conclusions— Outpatient antithrombotic drug use was associated with an increased risk of SAH, but no association was observed with early case fatality.