Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scavenger Receptor BI-mediated Selective Uptake Is Required for the Remodeling of High Density Lipoprotein by Endothelial Lipase*

Endothelial lipase (EL) is a negative regulator of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol plasma levels, and scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) is involved in remodeling of HDL. The present study investigates the requirement of SR-BI for the effects of EL-mediated phospholipid hydrolysis on HDL metabolism in vivo. In vitro, selective uptake from EL-modified HDL was 129% higher than selective uptake from control HDL in SR-BI-overexpressing cells (p = 0.01). In vivo overexpression of human EL by means of recombinant adenovirus decreased HDL plasma levels significantly (p < 0.01). Fast protein liquid chromatography analysis and agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that EL expression resulted in the generation of small pre-β HDL particles in wild-type mice, whereas in SR-BI–/– mice small HDL were preferentially removed. In kinetic experiments the fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of HDL cholesteryl ester increased by 110% (p < 0.001), and the FCR of HDL apolipoproteins increased by 64% (p < 0.001) in response to EL overexpression in wild-type mice. In SR-BI–/– mice a similar increase in the HDL apolipoprotein FCR occurred (p < 0.001); however, there was no further increase in HDL cholesteryl ester catabolism. The apparent whole body selective uptake was increased 3-fold by EL in wild-type mice (p < 0.001), whereas there was no selective uptake in SR-BI knock-out mice. EL overexpression increased hepatic selective uptake as well as holoparticle uptake (each p < 0.01) in wild-type mice, whereas in SR-BI knock-out mice only holoparticle uptake increased (p < 0.01). Our results indicate that SR-BI-mediated selective uptake of HDL cholesteryl ester is essential for the remodeling of large α-migrating HDL particles by EL.
Polyomavirus JC urinary shedding in kidney and liver transplant recipients associated with reduced creatinine clearance.

BACKGROUND Polyomavirus reactivation can cause significant morbidity in solid organ transplant recipients, particularly BK virus (BKV) in kidney transplant patients. Less is known about dynamics of John Cunningham virus (JCV) in nonkidney organ transplant patients. METHODS We examined the frequency of urinary shedding of polyomaviruses BKV and JCV and their relationship to creatinine clearance (CrCl) in a longitudinal study of 41 kidney and 33 liver transplant recipients. RESULTS Any polyomavirus urinary shedding was more frequent in liver than kidney recipients (64% vs 39%; P= .03). JCV was excreted more frequently by liver than kidney recipients (71% vs 38%), whereas BKV was shed more often by kidney than liver patients (69% vs 52%). Mean JCV loads were significantly higher than those of BKV in both patient groups (P< .0001). Lower mean CrCl values were significantly associated with JCV shedding in both kidney and liver recipients (P< .001). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that BKV and JCV display different patterns of reactivation and shedding in kidney and liver transplant patients and that JCV may have a role in renal dysfunction in some solid organ transplant recipients.
Characterization of the Setting Process in Alginate Impression Materials

The functioning of an alginate impression material involves a change in its physical state from a viscous fluid to an elastic solid. (The paste obtained when water and the alginate powder are first mixed is a viscous fluid, since it flows irreversibly under the action of a force.) This change is effected by the reaction of calcium sulphate with the sodium or potassium alginate, thus forming a cross-linked molecular network. ' The purpose of the present study has been to characterize the setting process in terms of easily measured physical parameters, and hence to make a rational study of the effect of those experimental variables that are of importance clinically.
Half-life of blood carboxyhemoglobin after short-term and long-term exposure to carbon monoxide.

BACKGROUND In models of smoke inhalation injury and carbon monoxide poisoning blood carboxy-hemoglobin (COHb) levels decrease faster than predicted by the generally recognized half-life of COHb. We studied the effects of duration of exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) on the subsequent CO elimination. METHODS Each of four sheep were insufflated with CO gas mixtures either for a few minutes (short-term exposure) or for several hours (long-term exposure), then ventilated with air for 3 hours. Serial COHb concentrations were analyzed by using a two-compartment, single central outlet mathematical model. RESULTS Short-term exposures exhibited biphasic decreases of COHb concentration compatible with a two-compartment model; an initial rapid decrease (half-life 5.7 +/- 1.4 minutes) was followed by a slower phase (103 +/- 20.5 minutes). Long-term exposures exhibited almost monophasic decreases, which were nevertheless compatible with the model (half-life, 21.5 +/- 2.1 and 118 +/- 11.2 minutes). CONCLUSION This study demonstrated different patterns of CO elimination curve, which suggests distribution of CO to two compartments having different rates of equilibration.
Terlipressin or norepinephrine in hyperdynamic septic shock: a prospective, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE To compare, in patients with hyperdynamic septic shock, the effects of norepinephrine or terlipressin on hemodynamic variables and renal function. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, open-label study. SETTING Intensive care unit of a university, tertiary, and referral center. PATIENTS Twenty adult patients with hyperdynamic septic shock, after fluid resuscitation. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive norepinephrine or terlipressin. Global hemodynamic variables, oxygen consumption, urine flow, creatinine clearance, and arterial blood lactate levels were measured. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, and left and right ventricular stroke work were significantly increased with both drugs. With terlipressin, but not with norepinephrine, a significant decrease in heart rate (from 113 +/- 17 to 104 +/- 11 beats.min(-1), p < . 01) and cardiac index (from 5.1 +/- 1.7 to 4.2 +/- 1.6 L.min(-1). m(-2)) was observed, with no change in stroke volume. Oxygen delivery index (from 784 +/- 131 to 701 +/- 92 mL.min(-1). m(-2)) and consumption index (from 244 +/- 69 to 210 +/- 54 mL.min(-1). m(-2)) were significantly decreased with terlipressin, but not with norepinephrine. Blood lactate concentrations were significantly decreased with both drugs. Urine flow and creatinine clearance were increased with both drugs. CONCLUSIONS In patients with hyperdynamic septic shock, both norepinephrine and terlipressin were effective to raise mean arterial blood pressure. With terlipressin, but not norepinephrine, the improvement in blood pressure was achieved at the expense of cardiac index and oxygen consumption, which were significantly decreased. Renal function was improved with both drugs. In further studies, alternative strategies to maintain cardiac index should be explored, such as a synergy between low-dose terlipressin and dobutamine.
Factors Affecting Npcr in Hemodialysed Patients

The determination of dialysis adequacy is difficult and definitions are in a state of flux (Lindsay). In fact, after fifteen years from the introduction of urea kinetics into clinical practice, nephrologists still do not agree on recognizing the real utility of it. Gotch and Sargent in their mechanistic analysis of the NCDS indicated that the dose of small molecules removal could be defined by Kt/V urea. The results of the NCDS were depicted in a three-variable plot in which six domains could be seen. Several reports have documented malnutrition as being frequently present in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. It is generally accepted that a suboptimal nutritional status is associated with an increased morbidity and may adversely affect rehabilitation and the quality of life. In 1989 Lindsay et al showed that low levels of Kt/V corresponded with low levels of nPCR and found a direct correlation between the two parameters. On this basis, they suggested the hypothesis of nPCR dependence on Kt/V. The Authors showed a good correlation (r=0.73) between nPCR and Kt/V in 55 patients. This work aims to evaluate the correlation between Kt/V and nPCR, real age and dialytic age in a dialytic population in Southern Italy, during a long period of observation (six years, follow up 2,692 months). One hundred and thirty-four patients were studied in six years of observation. Follow up: 2692 months. Twenty-six patients died during the observation period. The simple regression analysis of nPCR vs. Kt/V, real age and dialytic age was performed in 63 anuric patients. nPCR showed a statistical difference (p<0.01) versus reall age, but no difference versus dialytic age and Kt/V. Our research data show that increasing Kt/V administration does not modify the nPCR of patients with initial and steady low protein intake over a medium time of observation. The same happens in patients with initial and steady high protein intake, when decreasing Kt/V administration in a short period of observation. We confirm that nPCR and Kt/V do not show any mathematical correlation in short and medium times of observation. It is also stressed by the simple regression analysis of data for a selected population of anuric uremics on dialysis thrice weekly for long observation times (between three and six years). Variance analysis (in 8 patients who had used all the membranes) showed differences between Kt/V and dialytic age, but not nPCR and real age. Kt/V and biocompatibility do not appear to be correlated directly with nPCR, because other factors are important in determining the general well-being in uremic patients. Such factors have to be considered when prescribing the dialytic “dose” and in clinically evaluating a uremic patient.
Theoretical Analysis on the PMD-Assisted Pump-to-Signal Noise Transfer in Distributed Fiber Raman Amplifiers

A theoretical analysis on the pump-to-signal noise transfer, in the presence of the polarization mode dispersion in the distributed fiber Raman amplifiers, is presented. We analytically show the impact of temporal fluctuations of the pump state of polarization on the relative intensity noise of the amplified signal. The system performance degradations are then estimated with analytical expressions.
Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Study Tobacco Behavior in Urban India: There’s an App for That

Background Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) uses real-time data collection to assess participants’ behaviors and environments. This paper explores the strengths and limitations of using EMA to examine social and environmental exposure to tobacco in urban India among older adolescents and adults. Objective Objectives of this study were (1) to describe the methods used in an EMA study of tobacco use in urban India using a mobile phone app for data collection, (2) to determine the feasibility of using EMA in the chosen setting by drawing on participant completion and compliance rates with the study protocol, and (3) to provide recommendations on implementing mobile phone EMA research in India and other low- and middle-income countries. Methods Via mobile phones and the Internet, this study used two EMA surveys: (1) a momentary survey, sent multiple times per day at random to participants, which asked about their real-time tobacco use (smoked and smokeless) and exposure to pro- and antitobacco messaging in their location, and 2) an end-of-day survey sent at the end of each study day. Trained participants, from Hyderabad and Kolkata, India, reported on their social and environmental exposure to tobacco over 10 consecutive days. This feasibility study examined participant compliance, exploring factors related to the successful completion of surveys and the validity of EMA data. Results The sample included 205 participants, the majority of whom were male (135/205, 65.9%). Almost half smoked less than daily (56/205, 27.3%) or daily (43/205, 21.0%), and 4.4% (9/205) used smokeless tobacco products. Participants completed and returned 46.87% and 73.02% of momentary and end-of-day surveys, respectively. Significant predictors of momentary survey completion included employment and completion of end-of-day surveys. End-of-day survey completion was only significantly predicted by momentary survey completion. Conclusions This first study of EMA in India offers promising results, although more research is needed on how to increase compliance. End-of-day survey completion, which has a lower research burden, may be the more appropriate approach to understanding behaviors such as tobacco use within vulnerable populations in challenging locations. Compliance may also be improved by increasing the number of study visits, compliance checks, or opportunities for retraining participants before and during data collection.
Plasma Cell Cheilitis Treated with Intralesional Injection of Corticosteroids

Plasma cell cheilitis is an idiopathic, benign, inflammatory condition characterized by a dense band‐like infiltrate of plasma cells in the oral mucosa. In addition to the lips, the disease can affect the penis, vulva, buccal mucosa, palate, gingiva, tongue, epiglottis, and larynx. Some authors have shown the effectiveness of topical or intralesional corticosteroids; however, there have been many reports describing poor therapeutic responses to topical steroids. We describe three patients with plasma cell cheilitis whose clinical condition responded rapidly to the intralesional injection of corticosteroids.
Laguerre functions based model predictive frequency and voltage control of isolated micro-grid

PI controller forms the conventional way of controlling voltage and frequency of a micro-grid. Model predictive controller (MPC) is an alternative and effective approach for micro-grid frequency and voltage control as it predicts the future outputs from the present information of the system and generates the optimized controlled input signal at every sampling instant accordingly. However as the future prediction horizon increases, control horizon should also be increased for better transient performance and stability of the system. This increases the number of variables that are to be optimized at each sample causing more computational burden and slow response of the controller. To overcome this problem Laguerre functions based MPC is employed in this paper for frequency and voltage control of isolated micro-grid instead of conventional MPC. This greatly reduces the number of optimized variables at each sampling instant for the same frequency and voltage controlled response of the micro-grid obtained using conventional MPC. The performance of the Laguerre functions based MPC in the context of frequency and voltage control of an isolated micro-grid is tested using MATLAB software package. Performance of the controller is compared with conventional MPC and discrete-time linear quadratic regulator.
Boundaries and conflict in a NSFW community on tumblr: The meanings and uses of selfies

This article is an exploration of what selfies and other images are and do in Not Safe For Work (NSFW) communities on tumblr.com. By analyzing ethnographic and interview data, images and blog outtakes, this article spotlights four kinds of conflicts that arise around how selfies and images are used. These are about: (a) reactions to photo-shopped images, (b) altering other people’s selfies and/or reposting them as your own, (c) misunderstandings from separating text from image (caption-stripping), (d) disrespecting the self-shooters’ way of curating their blogs. Boundary theory as well as concepts of social afterlife of content and assumed trust are used to illuminate that images, including selfies, have significant, yet different meanings to different people and play an important part in creating and maintaining meaningful relationships and communities.
Strong founder effects and low genetic diversity in introduced populations of Coqui frogs

The success of non‐native species may depend on the genetic resources maintained through the invasion process. The Coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui), a frog endemic to Puerto Rico, was introduced to Hawaii in the late 1980s via the horticulture trade, and has become an aggressive invader. To explore whether genetic diversity and population structure changed with the introduction, we assessed individuals from 15 populations across the Hawaiian Islands and 13 populations across Puerto Rico using six to nine polymorphic microsatellite loci and five dorsolateral colour patterns. Allelic richness (RT) and gene diversity were significantly higher in Puerto Rico than in Hawaii populations. Hawaii also had fewer colour patterns (two versus three to five per population) than Puerto Rico. We found no isolation by distance in the introduced range, even though it exists in the native range. Results suggest extensive mixing among frog populations across Hawaii, and that their spread has been facilitated by humans. Like previous research, our results suggest that Hawaiian Coquis were founded by individuals from sites around San Juan, but unlike previous research the colour pattern and molecular genetic data (nuclear and mtDNA) support two separate introductions, one on the island of Hawaii and one on Maui. Coquis are successful invaders in Hawaii despite the loss of genetic variation. Future introductions may increase genetic variation and potentially its range.
Changing physician behavior: what works?

OBJECTIVES There are various interventions for guideline implementation in clinical practice, but the effects of these interventions are generally unclear. We conducted a systematic review to identify effective methods of implementing clinical research findings and clinical guidelines to change physician practice patterns, in surgical and general practice. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review of reviews. METHODS We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed) for systematic reviews published in English that evaluated the effectiveness of different implementation methods. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility for inclusion and methodological quality, and extracted relevant data. RESULTS Fourteen reviews covering a wide range of interventions were identified. The intervention methods used include: audit and feedback, computerized decision support systems, continuing medical education, financial incentives, local opinion leaders, marketing, passive dissemination of information, patient-mediated interventions, reminders, and multifaceted interventions. Active approaches, such as academic detailing, led to greater effects than traditional passive approaches. According to the findings of 3 reviews, 71% of studies included in these reviews showed positive change in physician behavior when exposed to active educational methods and multifaceted interventions. CONCLUSIONS Active forms of continuing medical education and multifaceted interventions were found to be the most effective methods for implementing guidelines into general practice. Additionally, active approaches to changing physician performance were shown to improve practice to a greater extent than traditional passive methods. Further primary research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these methods in a surgical setting.
Calcium‐binding protein secretagogin‐expressing neurones in the human hippocampus are largely resistant to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease

The pathological findings in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are partly attributed to alterations in calcium‐binding protein (CBP) functions. We showed previously that immunoreactivity of secretagogin, a recently cloned CBP, in the human hippocampus is restricted to pyramidal neurones and that the amount of immunoreactive neurones does not differ between AD cases and controls. In this study we investigate the influence of hippocampal tau pathology on secretagogin expression in more details. The study group consisted of 26 cases with different degrees of neuropathologically confirmed AD pathology. Sections were incubated separately with secretagogin‐ and tau‐specific antibodies, respectively. The amount of immunoreactive neurones and integral optical densities were assessed. In addition, double immunofluorescence for both secretagogin and tau was performed. No difference with respect to secretagogin immunoreactivity was observed in different stages of AD pathology, and similarly no significant associations were seen between the amount of secretagogin and tau immunoreactivity in the different hippocampal subfields. Double immunofluorescence revealed that both proteins rarely colocalize because only 5.3% of tau and 2.9% of secretagogin immunoreactive neurones, respectively, showed colocalization. Because there are no differences in the amount of hippocampal secretagogin expression between AD cases and controls (as we have shown previously), the lack of an association between the amount of secretagogin expression and tau burden together with the low frequency of colocalization of tau and secretagogin in the human hippocampus, suggest that secretagogin‐expressing neurones are largely resistant to neurodegeneration in AD.
Relationship of Urine Output to Dialysis Initiation and Mortality in Acute Renal Failure

Background: A non-oliguric state is considered a good prognostic indicator in acute renal failure (ARF), and may lead to withholding renal replacement therapy in anticipation of recovery. The present study explores the relationship between urine volume and the start of dialysis and hospital mortality in patients with ARF. Methods: In a non-concurrent cohort of patients with ARF treated exclusively with intermittent hemodialysis (IHD), demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected at the time of the first nephrology consultation and at the start of dialysis. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with the time to initiation of dialysis and hospital mortality, respectively. Results: Urine volume correlated with the time from admission to start of dialysis (r = 0.60; p < 0.001). Higher urine volume, lower serum creatinine and lower APACHE II score were independently associated with increased time from admission to start of dialysis. Hospital mortality was independently associated with a higher urine volume (odds ratio, OR 3.8, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.1–12.8, p = 0.03), a higher MOF score (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.1–21.6, p = 0.03) and a higher number of dialysis treatments performed in the 1st week (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.2–11.3, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Among patients with ARF requiring IHD, increased urine output is associated with higher mortality. This observation may reflect physician bias toward later initiation of dialysis in non-oliguric ARF. Further research is needed to help identify patients with non-oliguric ARF who require early dialytic support.
Dopamine deficiency in the cerebral cortex in Parkinson disease

We measured the concentrations of dopamine, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid in several cortical areas from controls and parkinsonian patients. Substantial amounts of dopamine and its metabolites were detected in hippocampus and endocrinal, cingulate, and frontal cortex of controls. In parkinsonian patients the levels of dopamine and its metabolites were reduced in these neo-cortical areas and hippocampus. Diminution of cortical dopaminergic transmission may play a role in the mental impairment of some Parkinson patients.