Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
No-touch time in donors after cardiac death (nonheart-beating organ donation)

Purpose of reviewTo evaluate arterial pulselessness and the no-touch time of 5 min in defining irreversible cessation of cardiorespiratory functions in nonheart-beating donation (NHBD). Recent findingsExperimental NHBD studies identified compensatory neurohumoral mechanisms elicited in controlled terminal shock after withdrawal of life support. The neurohumoral mechanisms can preserve the viability of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems by: 1) diverting systemic blood flow from nonvital to vital organs; and 2) maintaining the perfusion pressure (arterial to venous pressure gradient minus interstitial tissue pressure) and microcirculation in vital organs. These compensatory mechanisms cause an early onset of splanchnic hypoperfusion and antemortem ischaemia of transplantable organs and preclude irreversible cessation of cardiorespiratory functions after brief periods of circulatory arrest. Allograft ischaemia is associated with primary nonfunction or delayed function in transplant recipients similar in aetiology to organ dysfunction in the postresuscitation phase of shock. SummaryIn-situ perfusion can reverse ceased cardiac and neurological functions after arterial pulselessness and a no-touch time of 5 min in experimental models. Perfusion pressures are superior to arterial pulselessness in determining reversibility of ceased cardiac and neurological functions in circulatory arrest. Utilizing physiologically relevant circulatory and neurological parameters in NHBD protocols is essential for ascertaining irreversible cessation of vital functions in donors.
Inhibition of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Respiratory Burst by Elevated Glucose Concentrations in Vitro

Although impaired polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function may be a cause of infectious complications in diabetic patients, the mechanisms of altered cell function are not understood. Our studies of PMN function in healthy subjects demonstrated significant reduction in the respiratory burst after 30 min of in vitro cell exposure to glucose concentrations >11 mM (200 mg/dl). The respiratory burst was reduced 28 ± 5 and 74 ± 7% in PMNs incubated with 11 and 56 mM glucose, respectively. The impairment was independent of the cell stimulus (chemotactic peptide, calcium ionophore, or phorbol ester) and was not affected by sorbinil or myo-inositol. Because both D- and L-glucose had similar inhibitory effects, a nonenzymatic mechanism appeared to be the cause of impaired PMN function. Although mannitol and sorbitol did not affect cell function, monosaccharides (glucose, mannose, fructose) that form Schiff-base adducts with protein inhibited PMN function. These findings suggest a potential role for protein glycosylation in glucose-induced impairment of PMN function.
Are ongoing cumulative chronic stressors associated with optimism and pessimism in the second half of life?

This study examined the relationship between ongoing cumulative chronic stressors (OCCSs) and optimism and pessimism during the second half of life. The sample comprised of 7166 participants who completed the 2006 Health and Retirement Study's (HRS) psychosocial questionnaire. The association between OCCSs and optimism and pessimism was evaluated among the individuals in the second half of life. The number of OCCSs was associated with both optimism and pessimism. However, the interaction between OCCSs and age was associated with pessimism alone. The relationship between “very upsetting” OCCSs and pessimism was significant among midlife and young old, but not among old–old participants. A larger number of OCCSs in the second half of life has a deleterious association with optimism and pessimism; however, it may be that the large sample allowed small effects to become significant. Nevertheless, the association between OCCSs and pessimism is regulated by age. Old–old participants maintain a stable level of pessimism, which is not related to the number of “very upsetting” OCCSs that they reported. Implications of the results are discussed.
Influence of biotope on the distribution and peak activity of questing ixodid ticks in Hungary

Abstract In order to update the occurrence of hard tick species in Hungary, 3442 questing ticks were collected from the vegetation by the dragging/flagging method in 37 different places in the country, between March and June of 2007. Ixodes ricinus (L.) turned out to be ubiquitous. Dermacentor marginatus (Schulzer) was absent from sampling sites in the southwestern part of the country, but in most places was concomitant and contemporaneous with Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius). These two species, as well as I. ricinus, occurred up to an altitude of 900–1000 m a.s. l. Haemaphysalis inermis (Birula) and Haemaphysalis concinna (Koch) were not confined to any parts of the country, unlike Haemaphysalis punctata (Canestrini & Fanzago) which was found in only one region. The local prevalence of the latter species was also significantly lower than those of the former two in the same habitat (fringes of meadows, paths in forests). Dermacentor spp. and H. inermis were represented only by adults. In most species females were collected more frequently than males, except in H. concinna and H. punctata. Temporal differences between the peak activity of I. ricinus and Dermacentor spp. on dry pastures appeared to equalize on meadows in mountain forests, and a similar phenomenon was observed for the three Haemaphysalis spp. when collected along forest paths with fresh, green vegetation.
A Pentateuchal Redaction in the Book of Numbers?

Abstract: Since a consensus is developing that a Hexateuchal redaction preceded the final Pentateuchal redaction (Blum, Otto, Römer a.o.), the latter must have addressed the problem of removing the book of Joshua from Israel's charter document without abandoning its central theme within the Pentateuch. According to this view Num 25–36 can be ascribed to a Pentateuchal redactor, who created from existing material a well structured composition which focuses on the conquest and the distribution of the promised land as a task for the future (32–34). Thus, the book of Joshua was replaced and factually corrected. The composition was attached to the Balaam story (22–24*), which had been inserted by the Hexateuchal redactor, by means of several redactional links (22,4.7). Résumé: Depuis qu’un consensus a été atteint sur le fait qu’une rédaction de l’Hexateuque a eu lieu avant celle, finale, du Pentateuque (Blum, Otto, Römer, etc.), cette dernière a dû retirer le livre de Josué du document constitutif d’Israël, sans renoncer néanmoins à cette thématique centrale du Pentateuque. Dans cette perspective, on peut attribuer Nombres, chaps. 25–36, à un rédacteur du Pentateuque. Celui-ci a utilisé le matériau disponible pour créer une composition littéraire cohérente et bien structurée, centrée sur la conquête et la distribution de la terre promise (chaps. 32–34). Ainsi le livre de Josué a été remplacé et corrigé de facto. Cette composition est rattachée au cycle de Balaam (chaps. 22–24*) et insérée par le rédacteur de l’Hexateuque au moyen de liaisons rédactionnelles (par ex. Nombr. 22,4.7). Zusammenfassung: Seitdem sich ein Konsens darüber herausschält, dass der Pentateuch- eine Hexateuchredaktion vorausging (Blum, Otto, Römer u. a.), muss erstere mit der Aufgabe befasst gewesen sein, das Buch Josua aus der Gründungsurkunde Israels auszugliedern, ohne dessen zentrale Thematik innerhalb des Pentateuchs aufzugeben. Von dieser Sicht her lassen sich die Kapitel Num 25–36 einem Pentateuchredaktor zuschreiben, der aus vorgegebenem Material an die vom Hexateuchredaktor eingestellte Bileam-Perikope (22–24*; Verknüpfung in 22,4.7) eine literarisch einheitliche und wohl strukturierte Komposition angehängt hat, die um die Eroberung und Verteilung des Landes kreist (32–34), diese aber zu einer Aufgabe für die Zukunft macht. Dadurch wird das Josuabuch ersetzt und zugleich in sachlicher Hinsicht korrigiert.
An Epstein-Barr Virus microRNA Blocks IL-1 Signaling By Targeting the Interleukin-1 Receptor 1 1

8 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encodes >44 viral microRNAs (miRNAs) that are differentially expressed throughout 9 infection, can be detected in EBV-positive tumors, and manipulate several biological processes including cell 10 proliferation, apoptosis, and immune responses. Here, we show that EBV BHRF1-2 miRNAs block NF-kB 11 activation following treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically interleukin-1 beta. Analysis of EBV 12 PAR-CLIP miRNA targetome datasets combined with pathway analysis revealed multiple BHRF1-2 miRNA 13 targets involved in interleukin signaling pathways. By further analyzing changes in cellular gene expression 14 patterns, we identified the interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL1R1) as a direct target of miR-BHRF1-2-5p. Targeting of 15 the IL1R1 3’UTR by EBV miR-BHRF1-2-5p was confirmed using 3’UTR luciferase reporter assays and western 16 blot assays. Manipulation of EBV BHRF1-2 miRNA activity in latently-infected B cells altered steady-state 17 cytokine levels and disrupted IL-1β responsiveness. These studies demonstrate functionally relevant BHRF118 2 miRNA interactions during EBV infection, which is an important step in understanding their roles in 19 pathogenesis. 20
Modeling pulsed magnetization transfer

Modeling the effects of clinical magnetization transfer (MT) scans, which generate contrast using short, shaped radiofrequency (RF) pulses (pulsed MT), is complex and time‐consuming. As a result, several studies have proposed approximate methods for a simplified analysis of the experimental data. However, potential differences in the MT parameters estimated by each method may complicate the comparison of reported results. In this study we evaluated three approximate methods currently used in quantitative MT (qMT) studies. In the first part of the investigation, an MT modeling technique that makes minimal approximations, other than the use of a two‐pool tissue representation, was developed and validated. Subsequently, this technique served as a standard against which to evaluate the other, more approximate models. Each model was used to fit experimental data from samples of wild‐type (WT) and shiverer mouse spinal cord, as well as simulated data generated by our minimal approximation modeling technique. The results of this study demonstrate that the approximations used in pulsed MT modeling are quite robust. In particular, it was shown that the semisolid pool fraction, M0B, which is known to correlate strongly with myelin content, and the transverse relaxation time of macromolecular protons, T2B, could be evaluated with reasonable accuracy regardless of the model used. Magn Reson Med 58:144–155, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of Race and/or Ethnicity in Use of Antiretrovirals and Prophylaxis for Opportunistic Infection: A Review of the Literature

Objective. The authors performed a systematic and critical review of published studies investigating potential associations between race and/or ethnicity and use of HIV-related medications, including antiretroviral medications and medications used for prophylaxis of opportunistic infections. Methods. The authors conducted a Web-based search of the University of California MEDLINE/HealthSTAR database for articles published from January 1, 1985, to October 31, 2001. References cited in articles were used to identify potential additional articles for this review. The authors reviewed articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals that analyzed race/ethnicity as a predictor of antiretroviral or HIV-related prophylactic medication use. Results. The authors identified 28 reports, including: (a) 26 studies published in 1991–2001 that addressed antiretroviral use, spanning data collection periods from 1984 to 1999; (b) 11 studies published in 1994–2001 that addressed prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), reporting on data collected from 1989 to 1998; and (c) three studies published from 1998 to 2001 that addressed prophylaxis for other opportunistic infections, reporting on data collected from 1993 to 1998. Among the studies that addressed antiretroviral use, 14 found a negative association between non-white race and at least one measure of antiretroviral use, three studies found a positive association, and 16 studies found no association; seven studies found mixed results across several measures of antiretroviral use. Only four of 11 studies found a negative association between race/ethnicity and PCP prophylaxis; the remainder found no association. Two out of three studies found a negative association between race/ethnicity and prophylaxis for other infections. Conclusions. There is evidence of racial/ethnic disparities in utilization of antiretrovirals, which are known to be strongly associated with positive HIV health outcomes. It is now imperative for researchers and policy makers to better understand the causes of these disparities, evaluate programs that affect the delivery of HIV medications, and implement program and policy changes necessary to address the disparities.
Inhibition of DMBA/croton oil-induced two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis by diphenylmethyl selenocyanate

Selenium, an essential micronutrient, is associated with antioxidant functions, physiological defence mechanisms against different diseases including several types of cancers. Search for new selenium compounds with more chemopreventive activities and lesser toxicities are in progress. In the present study, the antioxidative roles of a synthetic organoselenium compound, diphenylmethyl selenocyanate, were evaluated against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)/croton oil-induced two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model. The compound was administered orally in carcinogen-induced mice in two different non-toxic doses: 2 mg/kg body weight and 3 mg/kg body weight. Significant inhibition in the incidence of papilloma formation (58–80%) as well as in the cumulative number of papilloma per papilloma-bearing mouse were observed in the treated groups as compared with the carcinogen control group. The compound was also found to significantly upregulate different phase II detoxifying enzymes in liver cytosol such as glutathione-S-transferase (P<0.01), catalase (P<0.01) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P<0.01) when measured after 15 days and also after 12 weeks of first DMBA treatment. Lipid peroxidation measured as the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in liver microsomes was significantly inhibited (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner by diphenylmethyl selenocyanate. Thus the compound exerts its chemopreventive activity by reducing papilloma formation during chemically induced carcinogenesis, which in turn, may be through modulating the level of lipid peroxidation and phase II detoxifying enzyme system at the doses evaluated.
Loss of Daylight Vision in Retinal Degeneration: Are Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Dysregulation to Blame?*

Retinitis pigmentosa is characterized by loss of night vision, followed by complete blindness. Over 40 genetic loci for retinitis pigmentosa have been identified in humans, primarily affecting photoreceptor structure and function. The availability of excellent animal models allows for a mechanistic characterization of the disease. Metabolic dysregulation and oxidative stress have been found to correlate with the loss of vision, particularly in cones, the type of photoreceptors that mediate daylight and color vision. The evidence that these problems actually cause loss of vision and potential therapeutic approaches targeting them are discussed.
An Observational Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Encephalitis

Objective: To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging in encephalitis cases. Methods: The present descriptive study was carried out using a prospective study design. Age group included in the study was above 15 years. Patients clinically presenting with symptoms and signs suggestive of encephalitis were included in the study. MRI scan was performed in all patients. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 37.03 (±21.86) years. Thalami involvement was observed most commonly which is seen in 45% (18) case followed by Temporal lobe involvement in 42.5 %( 17), then Frontal lobe and Basal ganglia in 35%(14),Mid brain in 32.5%(13),Cerebellum in 30%(12),Pons and Medulla both in 27.5%(11),Parietal lobe in 17.5%(7), Occipital lobe 20%(8). Hence most common sites of brain involvement were thalami, temporal lobe, frontal lobe and basal ganglia. Conclusion: Suggestive MRI findings are present in some etiologies of viral encephalitis such as Herpes simplex encephalitis, JE, enterovirus encephalitis MRI may show non-specific features of viral encephalitis such as cortical hyperintensities and cerebral edema. MRI is also useful for diagnosing alternative etiologies such as Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and antibodyassociated encephalopathies.
Slicing the Pie: Quantifying the Aggregate and Distributional Effects of Trade

We develop a multi-sector gravity model with heterogeneous workers to quantify the aggregate and group-level welfare effects of trade. The model generalizes the specific-factors intuition to a setting with labor reallocation, leads to a parsimonious formula for the group-level welfare effects from trade, and nests the aggregate results in Arkolakis et al. (2012). We estimate the model using the structural relationship between China-shock driven changes in manufacturing employment and average earnings across US groups defined as commuting zones. We find that the China shock increases average welfare but some groups experience losses as high as four times the average gain. However, adjusting for plausible measures of inequality aversion barely affects the welfare gains. We also develop and estimate an extension of the model that endogenizes labor force participation and unemployment, finding similar welfare effects from the China shock.
Who Writes What Checkers? - Learning from Bug Repositories

Static code checkers have been useful for finding bugs in large-scale C code. Domain-specific checkers are particularly effective in finding deep/subtle bugs because they can make use of domain-specific knowledge. To develop domain-specific checkers, however, typical bug patterns in certain domains must first be extracted. This paper explores the use of machine learning to help extract bug patterns from bug repositories. We used natural language processing to analyze over 370,000 bug descriptions of Linux and classified them into 66 clusters. Our preliminary work with this approach is encouraging: by investigating one of the 66 clusters, we were able to identify typical bug patterns in PCI device drivers and developed static code checkers to find them. When applied to the latest version of Linux, the developed checkers found two unknown bugs.
Gastric fluid volume: is it really a risk factor for pulmonary aspiration?

I n this issue, Schwartz et al. (1) allude to the link between the risk of pulmonary aspiration and residual gastric fluid volume (GFV) at the time of induction of anesthesia. It has been nearly 25 yr since Roberts and Shirley (2) published their classic article in the pages of this Journal, in which they first advocated using an “arbitrarily defined” surrogate, specifically GFV bO.4 mL/kg, to be indicative of an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration. Since publication, these criteria have been widely accepted as indicating an increase in risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents. Perhaps the most appropriate response to the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the publication of this highly influential article would be to finally lay to rest the myth it created. Since publication, the practice of medicine has been undergoing a paradigm shift; decision making based on experience and pathophysiologic rationale is giving way to reliance on evidence-based medicine (3). The MacMaster University Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group’s publication in Jownal of the American Medical Association of the ongoing series titled “Users’ Guide to the Medical Literature” has further focused attention on the careful evaluation of the medical literature (4). Specifically, each article in the series asks the following questions: What is the validity of the data, what are the results, and what is the relevance of the results to care of patients? The validity of the data relates to the study methodology, the results speak to the size of the treatment effect or strength of association between exposure and the outcome of interest, and relevance to patients corresponds to the magnitude of the effect and impact on practice. Using an evidence-based approach, let’s evaluate the evidence that supports the use of GFV as a surrogate for risk of pulmonary aspiration. What type of evidence would persuasively link a suspected risk factor or exposure to an untoward outcome
Implementation of genomic selection in the poultry industry

Genomic selection using high-density SNP panels was first implemented in dairy cattle breeding programs. It provided benefits in terms of reduced generation intervals, improved accuracies of selecting young animals, and reductions in costs associated with the requirement of progeny testing bulls in traditional breeding programs (Hayes et al., 2009). Several distinct features of the poultry breeding industry differ markedly from dairy cattle breeding and influence the manner in which genomic selection can be used for genetic improvement in poultry breeding: · Traditional genetic improvement programs in poultry already have short generation intervals (multiple overlapping generations per year with selection every 6 wk in broilers, non-overlapping annual generations in layers). There is some scope for shortening the generation interval in layers but not as much as was the case for dairy cattle breeding where bull pathways could be reduced in length from greater than 6 yr to less than 3 yr (Schaeffer, 2006, Schefers and Weigel, 2012).
Resistance to the Soybean Aphid in Soybean Germplasm

With an efficient greenhouse screening method, the first resistance to the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) was found in cultivated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] germplasm. No resistance was found in 1425 current North American soybean cultivars, 106 Maturity Group (MG) 000 through VII Asian cultivars, and in a set of 11 'Clark' isolines possessing different pubescence traits. Dense pubescence did not provide protection against the soybean aphid. Resistance was discovered and established in three ancestors of North American genotypes: 'Dowling', 'Jackson', and PI 71506. Expression of resistance in those genotypes was characterized in choice and nonchoice tests. In choice tests, significantly fewer aphids occurred on Dowling, Jackson, and PI 71506 plants compared with susceptible cultivars (P = 0.05). Aphid populations did not develop on Dowling and Jackson in nonchoice tests, indicating that there was a negative impact on aphid fecundity on those cultivars. That evidence combined with observations of aphid mortality on those cultivars suggested that antibiosis-type resistance contributed to the expression of resistance. Possible donors of resistance to Dowling and Jackson were identified. In nonchoice tests, population development on PI 71506 was not significantly different from development on susceptible cultivars, indicating that antixenosis was more important in that genotype. Resistance was expressed in all plant stages. Dowling provided season-long protection against aphids equal to the use of the systemic insecticide imidacloprid [1-[(6-Chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine) in a field test. Four other germplasm accessions, 'Sugao Zarai', 'Sato', 'T260H', and PI 230977, had levels of resistance not significantly different from Dowling, Jackson, and PI 71506 in a choice test (P = 0.05).