Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CAQ CORNER Live Donor Liver Transplantation

With ever-increasing demand for liver replacement, supply of organs is the limiting factor and a significant number of patients die while waiting. Live donor liver transplantation has emerged as an important option for many patients, particularly small pediatric patients and those adults that are disadvantaged by the current deceased donor allocation system. Ideally there would be no need to subject perfectly healthy people in the prime of their lives to a potentially life-threatening operation to procure transplantable organs. Donor safety is imperative and cannot be compromised regardless of the implication for the intended recipient. The evolution of split liver transplantation is the basis upon which live donor transplantation has become possible. The live donor procedures are considerably more complex than whole organ decreased donor transplantation and there are unique considerations involved in the assessment of any specific recipient and donor. Donor selection and evaluation have become highly specialized. The critical issue of size matching is determined by both the actual size of the donor graft and the recipient as well as the degree of recipient portal hypertension. The outcomes after live donor liver transplantation have been at least comparable to those of deceased donor transplantation. Nevertheless, all efforts should be made to improve deceased donor donation so as to minimize the need for live donors. Transplant physicians, particularly surgeons, must take responsibility for regulating and overseeing these procedures. Liver Transpl 12:499-510, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
high-stress musical performance Complexity of physiological responses decreases in

References http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing. org/content/10/89/20130719.full. html#ref-list-1 This article cites 29 articles, 3 of which can be accessed free Subject collections (229 articles) computational biology  (55 articles) biocomplexity  Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections Email alerting service here right-hand corner of the article or click Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article sign up in the box at the top
Attitudes of Local Communities towards Forest Management Practices in Botswana: The Case Study of Kasane Forest Reserve

Positive attitudes of local communities towards collaborative forest management are an essential prerequisite for local participation in forest management. The purpose of this study was to assess the attitude of local communities towards forest management practices in Botswana and Kasane Forest Reserve (KFR) was used as a case study. In Kasane Forest Reserve, local communities have been restricted some resource utilization since this area was declared a Protected Area in the 1960’s. This has resulted in mistrust, antagonism and conflicts with the Forest Department. Data for the study was generated through household survey comprising of 237 respondents selected through simple random technique. Logistic Regression model was used to assess the effect of socio-economic and demographic factors on the households’ willingness to participate in forest management. The study findings revealed that, generally the respondents held positive attitudes towards KFR. The results also depicted the association between socio-economic features of people living close to the forest and their use of forest resources and demonstrated the basis of attitudes towards those managing the forest. Since Botswana is going through the process of decentralising natural resources management, it is felt that local communities could be empowered to co-manage and benefit from forest resources in their vicinity.
Ductal Cyst Formation in Collagen-Embedded Adult Human Islet Preparations: A Means to the Reproduction of Nesidioblastosis In Vitro

Neogenesis of endocrine islets from ductal epithelium termed nesidioblastosis has been described in vivo after various experimental conditions (90% pancreatectomy or pancreas wrapping in the rodent) and in clinical pathologies. In the adult regenerating pancreas, a proliferation and organization of ductal epithelium into tubular structures precedes its differentiation into endocrine cells. Reproduction of nesidioblastosis in vitro may provide a novel approach to human islet propagation in vitro. With this aim, adult human islet preparations were cultured in diverse three-dimensional (3D) gels in the presence of serum. After 3–5 days in rat tail collagen gels, proliferating (bromodeoxyuridine-positive) cystic structures appeared associated with islets and as isolated spheres. Percentage labeling indexes of the cysts were 4.1, 18.7, 15.4, and 13.3% after 3, 5, 7, and 10 days of culture, respectively. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the ductal (carbohydrate antigen 19–9) and epithelial (keratin-1) nature of the cysts. No cysts were formed in agarose gels or Vitrogen 100, whereas the cyst number was increased by the quantity of serum (20% > 10%) and gels rich in extracellular matrix components and growth factors (Matrigel). The latter lead to tubular networks. Single endocrine islet cells were observed in the ductal cysts after 7 (2.8%) to 10 (5.6%) days in rat tail collagen. Our observations paralleled the changes characteristic of the regenerating pancreas in vivo. 3D culture may permit the identification of matrix and media constituents promoting the neogenesis of islets and may be the means to increase the mass of endocrine tissue obtained from adult cadaveric pancreases for transplantation.
Effect of cellular determination on oncogenic transformation by chemicals and oncogenes

Three developmentally determined myogenic cell lines derived from C3H 10T1/2 C18 (10T1/2) mouse embryo cells treated with 5-azacytidine were compared with the parental 10T1/2 line for their susceptibility to oncogenic transformation by 3-methylcholanthrene or the activated human c-Ha-ras oncogene. Neither the 10T1/2 cells nor the myogenic derivatives grew in soft agar or formed tumors in nude mice. In contrast to 10T1/2 cells, the three myogenic derivatives were not susceptible to transformation by 3-methylcholanthrene, so that cellular determination altered the response of 10T1/2 cells to chemical carcinogen. On the other hand, all cell types were transformed to a tumorigenic phenotype following transfection with the activated c-Ha-ras gene. The transfected myogenic cells expressed both the c-Ha-ras gene and the muscle determination gene MyoD1. In contrast to other reports, the presence of as many as six copies of the c-Ha-ras gene per genome did not prevent the formation of striated muscle cells which expressed immunologically detectable muscle-specific myosin. The expression of the c-Ha-ras gene does not therefore necessarily preclude the expression of the determination gene for myogenesis or prevent end-stage myogenic differentiation.
Overview of the 1st Workshop on Asian Translation

This paper presents the results of the shared tasks from the 3rd workshop on Asian translation (WAT2016) including J ↔ E, J ↔ C scientific paper translation subtasks, C ↔ J, K ↔ J, E ↔ J patent translation subtasks, I ↔ E newswire subtasks and H ↔ E, H ↔ J mixed domain subtasks. For the WAT2016, 15 institutions participated in the shared tasks. About 500 translation results have been submitted to the automatic evaluation server, and selected submissions were manually evaluated.
Altered Acetylcholine and Norepinephrine Concentrations in Diabetic Rat Hearts: Role of Parasympathetic Nervous System in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

The concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh) as a parasympathetic marker and norepinephrine (NE) as a sympathetic marker were investigated in the hearts of rats 2, 4, and 8 wk after the inductionof diabetes by an injection of streptozocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg i.v.). ACh and NE were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Diabetic rats showed low body weight and heart weight at 2, 4, and 8 wk and higher heart-to-body weight ratio and bradycardiaat 8 wk, almost all of which were normalized after insulin treatment. Myocardial ACh and NE concentrations in the diabetic rats at 2 and 4 wk were not significantly different from those in age-matched control rats. However, ACh and NE concentrations in the diabetic rats at 8 wk significantly increased compared with the control rats. Diabetic rats at 8 wk also had increased myocardial choline concentration and choline acetyltransferase activity and decreased acetylcholinesterase activity. Insulin treatment normalized all of these changes in the diabetic rats. Thus, in STZ-induced diabetes (STZ-D), the concentrations of both cholinergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitters in the myocardium increased. The results of this study confirm a previously reported increase in sympathetic activity to the heart and also indicate that there is an increase in the synthesis and a decrease in the metabolism of ACh in STZ-D and that adequate insulin treatment normalizes these changes.
Initiation of HIV-1 Reverse Transcription Is Regulated by a Primer Activation Signal*

Reverse transcription of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA genome appears to be strictly regulated at the level of initiation. The primer binding site (PBS), at which the tRNA 3 Lys molecule anneals and reverse transcription is initiated, is present in a highly structured region of the untranslated leader RNA. Detailed mutational analysis of the U5 leader stem identified a sequence motif in the U5 region that is critical for activation of the PBS-bound tRNA 3 Lys primer. This U5 motif, termed the primer activation signal ( PAS ), may interact with the TΨC arm of the tRNA 3 Lys primer, similar to the additional interaction proposed for the genome of Rous sarcoma virus and its tRNATrp primer. This suggests that reverse transcription is regulated by a common mechanism in all retroviruses. In HIV-1 , the PAS is masked through base pairing in the U5 leader stem. This provides a mechanism for positive and negative regulation of reverse transcription. Based on structure probing of the mutant and wild-type RNAs, an RNA secondary structure model is proposed that juxtaposes the critical PAS and PBS motifs.
The Relationship of Circulating Fetuin-A With Liver Histology and Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammation in Nondiabetic Subjects with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background/Aims: Fetuin-A, a glycoprotein with anti-inflammatory properties, plays an important role in counter-regulating inflammatory responses. It has also been associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. We aimed to investigate circulating concentrations of fetuin-A and its possible association with hepatic and systemic inflammation in nondiabetic subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients and Methods: We included 105 nondiabetic male subjects with NAFLD [nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, n = 86) and simple steatosis (SS, n = 19)]. Plasma levels of fetuin-A and markers of inflammation [high-sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and adiponectin] were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Insulin sensitivity was determined by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. Results: Fetuin-A was negatively correlated with age (r = −0.27, P = 0.006), however there was no association between fetuin-A and body mass index, waist circumference (WC), glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, lipid parameters, and inflammatory markers. In addition, no significant association was observed between fetuin-A and histological findings including liver fibrosis. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that plasma fetuin-A levels are not correlated with the hepatic histology and systemic markers of inflammation in nondiabetic subjects with NAFLD. Our data also suggested that age is significantly associated with fetuin-A in this clinically relevant condition.
Factors Affecting Treatment Outcomes of Tuberculosis in a Tertiary Health Center in Southwestern Nigeria

Tuberculosis kills nearly 3 million persons per year worldwide. This study investigated treatment outcomes of Tuberculosis (TB) among TB cases and the factors affecting them. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using records of all patients seen at the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) Clinic of the Federal Medical Center IdoEkiti, Nigeria in year 2010. Information obtained from the hospital was entered into the Epiinfo computer software. Frequency tables and cross tabulations were generated and a p-value of less than 0.05 was statistically significant. Successful treatment outcomes were seen in 46.1% of cases. All cases under 10 years of age had bacteriological confirmed TB. Of those with poor treatment outcome, 66.7%, 25.0%, and 8.3% were defaulters, died and treatment failure respectively. Factors that affected the TB outcome negatively were smear positive status at diagnosis, failure to give consent for HIV test, HIV co-infection, and Extrapulmonary TB. Just about half of the cases had successful treatment outcomes. HIV coinfection and lack of consent for HIV testing are major factors determining negative treatment outcome. It is recommended that patients with TB be counseled on the need for HIV testing, linking the HIV positive patients to support groups and commencing anti-retroviral medications.
Asymmetric Effects of Regulation FD on Management Earnings Forecasts

ABSTRACT: We document that the effect of Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD) on public management earnings forecasts (MFs) is asymmetric. Our results suggest that FD increased managers' use of MFs as a downward-guidance mechanism to help achieve meeting or beating earnings expectations. This effect is more pronounced when existing analyst forecasts are optimistic and when firms had selective disclosure policies pre-FD. We also find that the increased use of MFs as downward guidance leads to post-FD reductions in MF quality (accuracy and informativeness) for the downward guiding MFs that are most likely meet/beat motivated, while quality improves for upward-guiding MFs. Finally, our evidence suggests that results from prior research about FD-induced changes in information environment variables, such as analyst forecast quality and investor trading activities, depend on whether the firm issues MFs and whether those MFs are downward guiding. Data Availability: All data are available from public databases identif.
Topical pseudocatalase mousse and narrowband UVB phototherapy is not effective for vitiligo: an open, single‐centre study

Summary We report an open single‐centre trial to assess the efficacy of topical pseudocatalase mousse applied twice daily to the hands and face of vitiligo patients, in combination with twice‐weekly suberythemogenic narrowband UVB phototherapy. The regime was generally safe and well tolerated, although several patients experienced mild transient skin rashes in association with application of the mousse and one patient suffered severe pruritus. The primary efficacy variable was the percentage change in area affected by vitiligo as assessed by digital interpretation of standardized photographs of the face and hands. There was no clear evidence of the efficacy of the regime and in fact a slight tendency overall to worsening of the patients' vitiligo.
Determinants, Moderators and Consequences of Organizational Interaction Orientation

Interaction orientation reflects the ability of a company to interact with the individual customer and to gather information from successful interactions. Four dimensions of interaction orientation are identified in the literature: customer concept, interaction response capacity, customer empowerment and customer value management (Ramani and Kumar, 2008). This study shows that indeed a fifth dimension of interaction orientation exists and investigates the determinants, moderators and consequences of this construct. The first notable finding is that B2B companies exhibit a greater degree of interaction orientation than B2C firms. Ramani and Kumar hypothesized that in their study. We show that there are B2C industries such as financial services, whose companies also have a greater interaction orientation. This could be the reason why the authors could not prove their hypothesis. Furthermore, we examine the influence of strategic orientations on organizational performances and compare various orientations with each other.
The cytosolic SycE and SycH chaperones of Yersinia protect the region of YopE and YopH involved in translocation across eukaryotic cell membranes

Yersinia adhering at the surface of eukaryotic cells secrete a set of proteins called Yops. This secretion which occurs via a type III secretion pathway is immediately followed by the injection of some Yops into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. Translocation of YopE and YopH across the eukaryotic cell membranes requires the presence of the translocators YopB and YopD. YopE and YopH are modular proteins composed of an N‐terminal secretion signal, an internalization domain, and an effector domain. Secretion of YopE and YopH requires the presence of the specific cytosolic chaperones SycE and SycH, respectively. In this work, we have mapped the regions of YopE and YopH that are involved in binding of their cognate chaperone. There is only one Syc‐binding domain in YopE (residues 15–50) and YopH (residues 20–70). This domain is localized immediately after the secretion signal and it corresponds to the internalization domain. Removal of this bifunctional domain did not affect secretion of YopE and YopH and even suppressed the need for the chaperone in the secretion process. Thus SycE and SycH are not secretion pilots. Instead, we propose that they prevent intrabacterial interaction of YopE and YopH with proteins involved in translocation of these Yops across eukaryotic cell membranes.
Intérêts et limites de l'approche moléculaire pour aborder la biogéographie et la spéciation : L'exemple de quelques mammifères d'Afrique tropicale

Parmi les approches qui visent a determiner la facon dont les organismes se diversifient dans le temps et dans l'espace, la biogeographie tente de reconstruire l'histoire des peuplements a partir des distributions des taxons, tandis que la phylogeographie analyse l'evolution d'une lignee a la fois. Dans cette etude, nous nous sommes proposes de tester les hypotheses biogeographiques formulees pour la faune tropicale (theorie des refuges, des barrieres fluviales, des gradients environnementaux.), en appliquant l'approche moleculaire a quelques taxons de Mammiferes africains (Insectivores, Rongeurs, Primates). Nous avons cherche a determiner l'apport et les limites de la technique moleculaire la plus couramment employee en biologie evolutive : le sequencage d'ADN mitochondrial. Nous avons d'abord tente d'obtenir une phylogenie moleculaire de quelques taxons potentiellement interessants pour la biogeographie, dans le but de verifier leur monophylie et de calibrer une horloge moleculaire. Puis, nous avons recherche et compare les schemas phylogeographiques de quatre especes de petits mammiferes forestiers et d'une super-espece de primates. Enfin, nous nous sommes interesses aux processus evolutifs impliques dans la speciation. Nous avons evalue le mode geographique de speciation et l'evolution de quelques traits d'histoire de vie chez les primates de la tribu des Cercopithecini. Nos resultats phylogenetiques confirment que l'histoire des genes n'est pas forcement celle des taxons et qu'il est important de prendre en compte plusieurs sources d'information independantes, telles que des genes non lies sur la meme molecule, la morphologie, l'ecologie, et le comportement. L'etude des modalites de la speciation, qui est tributaire de la fiabilite des analyses phylogenetiques, indique une predominance de l'allopatrie et des evenements de vicariance du Miocene et du Pliocene chez les Cercopithecini. Enfin, les analyses phylogeographiques ont revele quatre scenarios phylogeographiques differents pour les quatre modeles retenus, ce qui peut refleter soit des distributions initiales differentes, soit une reponse differentielle aux memes evenements selon les taxons. Ces scenarios presentent une certaine concordance avec les regions fauniques definies pour les forets d'Afrique centrale, mais suggerent que les evenements de divergence intra-specifique remonteraient au Plio-Pleistocene et seraient donc beaucoup plus anciens que les derniers episodes de fragmentation de la foret lies aux cycles glaciaires.
Silver fir and Douglas fir are more tolerant to extreme droughts than Norway spruce in south‐western Germany

Improving our understanding of the potential of forest adaptation is an urgent task in the light of predicted climate change. Long‐term alternatives for susceptible yet economically important tree species such as Norway spruce (Picea abies) are required, if the frequency and intensity of summer droughts will continue to increase. Although Silver fir (Abies alba) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) have both been described as drought‐tolerant species, our understanding of their growth responses to drought extremes is still limited. Here, we use a dendroecological approach to assess the resistance, resilience, and recovery of these important central Europe to conifer species the exceptional droughts in 1976 and 2003. A total of 270 trees per species were sampled in 18 managed mixed‐species stands along an altitudinal gradient (400–1200 m a.s.l.) at the western slopes of the southern and central Black Forest in southwest Germany. While radial growth in all species responded similarly to the 1976 drought, Norway spruce was least resistant and resilient to the 2003 summer drought. Silver fir showed the overall highest resistance to drought, similarly to Douglas fir, which exhibited the widest growth rings. Silver fir trees from lower elevations were more drought prone than trees at higher elevations. Douglas fir and Norway spruce, however, revealed lower drought resilience at higher altitudes. Although the 1976 and 2003 drought extremes were quite different, Douglas fir maintained consistently the highest radial growth. Although our study did not examine population‐level responses, it clearly indicates that Silver fir and Douglas fir are generally more resistant and resilient to previous drought extremes and are therefore suitable alternatives to Norway spruce; Silver fir more so at higher altitudes. Cultivating these species instead of Norway spruce will contribute to maintaining a high level of productivity across many Central European mountain forests under future climate change.