Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrical alternans and vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias.

BACKGROUND Although electrical alternans (alternating amplitude from beat to beat on the electrocardiogram) has been associated with ventricular arrhythmias in many clinical settings, its physiologic importance and prognostic implications remain unknown. METHODS To test the hypothesis that electrical alternans is a marker of vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias, we developed a technique to detect subtle alternation in the morphologic features of the electrocardiogram (which would not be detectable by visual inspection of the electrocardiogram). In a group of 83 patients referred for diagnostic electrophysiologic testing, we prospectively examined whether levels of alternans predicted vulnerability to arrhythmias as defined by the outcome of electrophysiologic testing and arrhythmia-free survival. RESULTS Sustained ventricular arrhythmias were induced during electrophysiologic testing in 32 of the patients (39 percent). In this group, low-level electrical alternans (a beat-to-beat change in amplitude of < 15 microV) was detected over a broad range of physiologic heart rates (from 95 to 150 beats per minute) and primarily involved the ST segment and the T wave (i.e., the phase of repolarization). Alternans during repolarization was a significant and independent predictor of inducible arrhythmias on electrophysiologic testing (sensitivity, 81 percent; specificity, 84 percent; relative risk, 5.2). Of 66 patients followed for up to 20 months, 13 had arrhythmic events. Alternans affecting the T wave and inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias were significant and essentially equivalent predictors of survival without arrhythmia (P < 0.001). Actuarial survival without arrhythmia at 20 months was significantly lower among the patients with T-wave alternans (19 percent) than among the patients without T-wave alternans (94 percent). CONCLUSIONS Electrical alternans affecting the ST segment and T wave is common among patients at increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Subtle electrical alternans on the electrocardiogram may serve as a noninvasive marker of vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias.
Evolution of Interdependency Model based on Behavioral Analysis of User, Search Engine and Advertiser in Online Advertising

Endeavor of the paper is to analyze the relationship between three participating agents i.e. User, Search Engine, and Advertiser in the web 2.0 based on-line advertising model. It discovers their dependencies on each other and develops an interdependency model In this work, based on the user behavioral analysis, various factors that cause dependencies are identified and their characteristics are analyzed. The paper also reports the inferences that can be drawn by interdependency model and its applications.
Indirect Regeneration and Assessment of Genetic Fidelity of Acclimated Plantlets by SCoT, ISSR, and RAPD Markers in Rauwolfia tetraphylla L.: An Endangered Medicinal Plant

Rauwolfia tetraphylla L. is an important medicinal plant species which is well known for its pharmaceutically important alkaloids. In the present study, we are reporting about its conservation by in vitro clonal multiplication through the standardized protocol of indirect regeneration by using leaf and stem based callus and assessment of genetic fidelity of acclimated plantlets by start codon targeted (SCoT), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker based analysis. Initially friable callus was induced in maximum amounts (378.7, 323.8, and 412.8 in mg) from leaf, root, and stem explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 5.0 mg/L, 3.0 mg/L of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 5.0 mg/L of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), respectively. Shoot regeneration with the maximum number of shoot buds (25 and 20) was obtained from leaf and stem calluses on MS media supplemented with TDZ (0.25 mg/L) + BAP (2 mg/L). The regenerated shoots were rooted successfully with maximum rooting percentage of 98.0 on full strength MS media amended with IAA (1.0 mg/L) and IBA (1.0 mg/L). The regenerated plantlets were hardened using 2:1 ratio of sterile garden soil and sand, followed by acclimatization in field conditions with 86% of survival. SCoT, ISSR, and RAPD primers based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was carried out to check possible genetic variations in micro propagated plants in comparison with mother plant. Among the ten SCoT (S), ISSR (R), and RAPD (OPA) primers used, S2, R10, and OPA3 has given good amplification with scorable DNA bands. The results revealed that the regenerated plants did not have any polymorphism with mother plant. Hence, the in vitro regenerated R. tetraphylla plantlets were confirmed as true-to-type.
Variable length coding over an unknown channel

Burnashev in 1976 gave an exact expression for the reliability function of a discrete memoryless channel (DMC) with noiseless feedback. A coding scheme that achieves this exponent needs, in general, to know the statistics of the channel. Suppose now that the coding scheme is designed knowing only that the channel belongs to a family Q of DMCs. Is there a coding scheme with noiseless feedback that achieves Burnashev's exponent uniformly over Q at a nontrivial rate? We answer the question in the affirmative for two families of channels (binary symmetric, and Z). For these families we show that, for any given fraction, there is a feedback coding strategy such that for any member of the family: i) guarantees this fraction of its capacity as rate, and ii) guarantees the corresponding Burnashev's exponent. Therefore, for these families, in terms of delay and error probability, the knowledge of the channel becomes asymptotically irrelevant in feedback code design: there are blind schemes that perform as well as the best coding scheme designed with the foreknowledge of the channel under use. However, a converse result shows that, in general, even for families that consist of only two channels, such blind schemes do not exist.
Venom-Related Transcripts from Bothrops jararaca Tissues Provide Novel Molecular Insights into the Production and Evolution of Snake Venom

Attempts to reconstruct the evolutionary history of snake toxins in the context of their co-option to the venom gland rarely account for nonvenom snake genes that are paralogous to toxins, and which therefore represent important connectors to ancestral genes. In order to reevaluate this process, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic survey on body tissues from a venomous snake. A nonredundant set of 33,000 unigenes (assembled transcripts of reference genes) was independently assembled from six organs of the medically important viperid snake Bothrops jararaca, providing a reference list of 82 full-length toxins from the venom gland and specific products from other tissues, such as pancreatic digestive enzymes. Unigenes were then screened for nontoxin transcripts paralogous to toxins revealing 1) low level coexpression of approximately 20% of toxin genes (e.g., bradykinin-potentiating peptide, C-type lectin, snake venom metalloproteinase, snake venom nerve growth factor) in body tissues, 2) the identity of the closest paralogs to toxin genes in eight classes of toxins, 3) the location and level of paralog expression, indicating that, in general, co-expression occurs in a higher number of tissues and at lower levels than observed for toxin genes, and 4) strong evidence of a toxin gene reverting back to selective expression in a body tissue. In addition, our differential gene expression analyses identify specific cellular processes that make the venom gland a highly specialized secretory tissue. Our results demonstrate that the evolution and production of venom in snakes is a complex process that can only be understood in the context of comparative data from other snake tissues, including the identification of genes paralogous to venom toxins.
Reproducibility of the incremental shuttle walk test for women with morbid obesity

Abstract Objective: The incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) is a valuable tool for the assessment of functional capacity. However, few studies have used the ISWT in individuals with obesity or have determined its reproducibility in this population. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the ISWT in women with morbid obesity. Methods: Twenty-three women with a body mass index >40 kg/m2 (mean age: 39.1 ± 7.7) performed the ISWT twice on the same day. Results: The mean distance traveled was 313.3 ± 100.2 m on the first test and 322.5 ± 98.9 on the second test, with no significant difference between tests. The intraclass correlation coefficient (0.91) indicated excellent reproducibility. Reliability determined through Bland–Altman analysis revealed a small mean difference between tests (−9.2 m). Conclusion: The practice of repeating the ISWT appears to be unnecessary for women with morbid obesity, as demonstrated by the excellent reproducibility of the test.
Initiation of labor analgesia with injection of local anesthetic through the epidural needle compared to the catheter

Background The rationale for injection of epidural medications through the needle is to promote sooner onset of pain relief relative to dosing through the epidural catheter given that needle injection can be performed immediately after successful location of the epidural space. Some evidence indicates that dosing medications through the epidural needle results in faster onset and improved quality of epidural anesthesia compared to dosing through the catheter, though these dosing techniques have not been compared in laboring women. This investigation was performed to determine whether dosing medication through the epidural needle improves the quality of analgesia, level of sensory blockade, or onset of pain relief measured from the time of epidural medication injection. Methods In this double-blinded prospective investigation, healthy term laboring women (n=60) received labor epidural placement upon request. Epidural analgesia was initiated according to the assigned randomization group: 10 mL loading dose (0.125% bupivacaine with fentanyl 2 µg/mL) through either the epidural needle or the catheter, given in 5 mL increments spaced 2 minutes apart. Verbal rating scale (VRS) pain scores (0–10) and pinprick sensory levels were documented to determine the rates of analgesic and sensory blockade onset. Results No significant differences were observed in onset of analgesia or sensory blockade from the time of injection between study groups. The estimated difference in the rate of pain relief (VRS/minute) was 0.04 (95% CI: −0.01 to 0.11; p=0.109), and the estimated difference in onset of sensory blockade (sensory level/minute) was 0.63 (95% CI: −0.02 to 0.15; p=0.166). The time to VRS ≤3 and level of sensory block 20 minutes after dosing were also similar between groups. No differences in patient satisfaction, or maternal or fetal complications were observed. Conclusion This investigation observed that epidural needle and catheter injection of medications result in similar onset of analgesia and sensory blockade, quality of labor analgesia, patient satisfaction, and complication rates.
MR staging of acute dural sinus thrombosis: correlation with venous pressure measurements and implications for treatment and prognosis.

PURPOSE To correlate parenchymal brain changes, venous sinus pressure measurements, and outcome in 29 patients with acute dural sinus thrombosis. METHODS A retrospective review of 29 patients with angiographically proved acute dural sinus thrombosis was made from January 1989 to December 1993. MR examinations were performed on either a 0.5- or 1.5-T superconductive scanner in multiple planes. Direct dural sinus venography, cerebral angiography, and MR venography were performed. Venous sinus pressure measurements were obtained in 11 of 29 patients. RESULTS We identified five distinct stages of brain parenchymal changes; each stage correlated with increasing intradural sinus pressure. The pressures measured in this study ranged from 20 to 50 mm Hg. Brain parenchymal changes were reversible up to stage III if thrombolytic treatment was performed. Beyond stage III, there were some residual changes, even after thrombolysis. All stage V patients died. CONCLUSION Acute dural sinus thrombosis leads to distinct stages of parenchymal changes, the severity of which depends on the degree of venous congestion, which, in turn, is closely related to intradural sinus pressure. As intradural sinus pressure increases, progression from mild parenchymal change to severe cerebral edema and/or hematoma may occur if thrombolysis is delayed.
Long‐term coenzyme Q10 therapy for a mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency

For 2 years we administered high doses of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) to a patient having mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. Abnormal elevation of the serum lactate per pyruvate ratio and the increased concentration of serum lactate plus pyruvate induced by exercise decreased with CoQ treatment. This therapeutic effect continued for 2 years. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed acceleration of the postexercise recovery of the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate in muscle during CoQ treatment. These observations support the beneficial effect of CoQ on the impaired mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in muscle. Also, impaired central and peripheral nerve conductivities consistently improved during CoQ treatment. These results indicate that CoQ has clinical value in the long-term management of patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, even though there are clinical limitations to the effects of this therapy.
Vladimir Nabokov's pale fire: the lost 'father of all hypertext demos'?

In the mid-sixties, Ted Nelson worked at Brown University on an early hypertext system. In 1969, IBM wanted to show the system at a conference, and Nelson gained permission to use Vladimir Nabokov's highly unconventional and hypertextual novel, Pale Fire (1962) as a technical demonstration of hypertext's potential. Unfortunately, the idea was dismissed in favor of a more technical-looking presentation, and thus was never demonstrated publicly. This paper re-considers Pale Fire's position in hypertext history, and posits that if it was used in this early hypertext demonstration, it would have been the 'father of all hypertext demonstrations' to complement Douglas Engelbart's 'Mother of All Demos' in 1968. In order to demonstrate the significance of Pale Fire's hypertextuality and Nelson's ambitions to use it, this paper will explore its hypertextual structure, the implication thereof for the novel and evaluate its success as a hypertext compared to electronic systems.
Phosphorylation of Large T Antigen Regulates Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Replication

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) was recently discovered as a novel human polyomavirus that is associated with ~80% of Merkel Cell Carcinomas. The Large Tumor antigen (LT) is an early viral protein which has a variety of functions, including manipulation of the cell cycle and initiating viral DNA replication. Phosphorylation plays a critical regulatory role for polyomavirus LT proteins, but no investigation of MCPyV LT phosphorylation has been performed to date. In this report mass spectrometry analysis reveals three unique phosphorylation sites: T271, T297 and T299. In vivo replication assays confirm that phosphorylation of T271 does not play a role in viral replication, while modification at T297 and T299 have dramatic and opposing effects on LT’s ability to initiate replication from the viral origin. We test these mutants for their ability to bind, unwind, and act as a functional helicase at the viral origin. These studies provide a framework for understanding how phosphorylation of LT may dynamically regulate viral replication. Although the natural host cell of MCPyV has not yet been established, this work provides a foundation for understanding how LT activity is regulated and provides tools for better exploring this regulation in both natural host cells and Merkel cells.
Living‐Donor Liver Transplantation in the United States: Identifying Donors at Risk for Perioperative Complications

Donor safety has been scrutinized by both the medical community and the media. Variability exists in reported donor complications and associated risk factors are ill defined. Use of administrative data can overcome the bias of single‐center studies and explore variables associated with untoward events. A retrospective cohort study identifying living liver donors in two large healthcare registries yielded 433 right and left lobe donors from 13 centers between 2001 and 2005. Perioperative complications were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD‐9) coding data and classified according to the Clavien system. Logistic regression models identified factors associated with complications. There was one perioperative death (0.23%). The overall complication rate was 29.1% and major complication rate defined by a Clavien grade ≥3 was 3.5%. Center living‐donor volume (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95–0.99) and the ratio of living‐donors to all donors (living and deceased) (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.92–0.96) were associated with a lower risk of all complications. Donor age >50 years (OR = 4.25, 95% CI = 1.22–14.87) was associated with a higher risk of major complications. Living liver donation is currently performed with a low risk of major morbidity. Use of administrative data represents an important tool to facilitate a better understanding of donor risk factors.
A Focused Review of Smartphone Diet-Tracking Apps: Usability, Functionality, Coherence With Behavior Change Theory, and Comparative Validity of Nutrient Intake and Energy Estimates

Background Smartphone diet-tracking apps may help individuals lose weight, manage chronic conditions, and understand dietary patterns; however, the usabilities and functionalities of these apps have not been well studied. Objective The aim of this study was to review the usability of current iPhone operating system (iOS) and Android diet-tracking apps, the degree to which app features align with behavior change constructs, and to assess variations between apps in nutrient coding. Methods The top 7 diet-tracking apps were identified from the iOS iTunes and Android Play online stores, downloaded and used over a 2-week period. Each app was independently scored by researchers using the System Usability Scale (SUS), and features were compared with the domains in an integrated behavior change theory framework: the Theoretical Domains Framework. An estimated 3-day food diary was completed using each app, and food items were entered into the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Composition Databases to evaluate their differences in nutrient data against the USDA reference. Results Of the apps that were reviewed, LifeSum had the highest average SUS score of 89.2, whereas MyDietCoach had the lowest SUS score of 46.7. Some variations in features were noted between Android and iOS versions of the same apps, mainly for MyDietCoach, which affected the SUS score. App features varied considerably, yet all of the apps had features consistent with Beliefs about Capabilities and thus have the potential to promote self-efficacy by helping individuals track their diet and progress toward goals. None of the apps allowed for tracking of emotional factors that may be associated with diet patterns. The presence of behavior change domain features tended to be weakly correlated with greater usability, with R2 ranging from 0 to . 396. The exception to this was features related to the Reinforcement domain, which were correlated with less usability. Comparing the apps with the USDA reference for a 3-day diet, the average differences were 1.4% for calories, 1.0% for carbohydrates, 10.4% for protein, and −6.5% for fat. Conclusions Almost all reviewed diet-tracking apps scored well with respect to usability, used a variety of behavior change constructs, and accurately coded calories and carbohydrates, allowing them to play a potential role in dietary intervention studies.
Cell‐mediated cyclic thrombocytopenia treated with azathioprine

We studied a male patient with cyclic thrombocytopenia whose bone marrow megakaryocyte count showed cyclic fluctuations in synchrony with cyclic changes of platelet count. He failed to respond to either prednisolone or bolus methylprednisolone therapy, but subsequently he was successfully treated with azathioprine. To investigate the underlying pathogenesis of the cyclic fluctuations in the platelet count. we studied the kinetics of megakaryocyte progenitor cells (CFU‐Meg) and the effects of the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells on CFU‐Meg. In one cycle of the platelet fluctuation, the increase in the CFU‐Meg number preceded an increase in the bone marrow megakaryocyte count and then the platelet count. In the latter half of the cycle, CFU‐Meg, bone marrow megakaryocytes and platelets began to decrease in that order. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from the patient in the thrombo‐cytopenic phase suppressed megakaryocyte colony formation from normal bone marrow cells in a dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, these cells obtained in the phase of a normal platelet count did not suppress megakaryocyte colony formation at all. These findings indicate that the cause of platelet fluctuation is periodic failure of megakaryocytopoiesis at the stage of CFU‐Meg and that the patient's peripheral mononuclear cells are responsible for periodically suppressing the CFU‐Meg.
Analysis of GzmbCre as a Model System for Gene Deletion in the Natural Killer Cell Lineage

The analysis of gene function in mature and activated natural killer cells has been hampered by the lack of model systems for Cre-mediated recombination in these cells. Here we have investigated the utility of GzmbCre for recombination of loxp sequences in these cells predicated on the observation that Gzmb mRNA is highly expressed in mature and activated natural killer cells. Using two different reporter strains we determined that gene function could be investigated in mature natural killer cells after GzmbCre mediated recombination in vitro in conditions that lead to natural killer cell activation such as in the cytokine combination of interleukin 2 and interleukin 12. We demonstrated the utility of this model by creating GzmbCre;Rosa26IKKbca mice in which Cre-mediated recombination resulted in expression of constitutively active IKKβ, which results in activation of the NFκB transcription factor. In vivo and in vitro activation of IKKβ in natural killer cells revealed that constitutive activation of this pathway leads to natural killer cell hyper-activation and altered morphology. As a caveat to the use of GzmbCre we found that this transgene can lead to recombination in all hematopoietic cells the extent of which varies with the particular loxp flanked allele under investigation. We conclude that GzmbCre can be used under some conditions to investigate gene function in mature and activated natural killer cells.