Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of pilin pools in the membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The proteins of purified inner and outer membranes obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PAK and PAK/2Pfs were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose, and treated with antiserum raised against pure pili. Bound antipilus antibodies were visualized by reaction with 125I-labeled protein A from Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that there are pools of pilin in both the inner and outer membranes of P. aeruginosa and that the pool size in the multipiliated strain is comparable with that of the wild-type strain.
Anaerobic Sulfatase-maturating Enzymes, First Dual Substrate Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Enzymes*

Sulfatases are a major group of enzymes involved in many critical physiological processes as reflected by their broad distribution in all three domains of life. This class of hydrolases is unique in requiring an essential post-translational modification of a critical active-site cysteine or serine residue to Cα-formylglycine. This modification is catalyzed by at least three nonhomologous enzymatic systems in bacteria. Each enzymatic system is currently considered to be dedicated to the modification of either cysteine or serine residues encoded in the sulfatase-active site and has been accordingly categorized as Cys-type and Ser-type sulfatase-maturating enzymes. We report here the first detailed characterization of two bacterial anaerobic sulfatase-maturating enzymes (anSMEs) that are physiologically responsible for either Cys-type or Ser-type sulfatase maturation. The activity of both enzymes was investigated in vivo and in vitro using synthetic substrates and the successful purification of both enzymes facilitated the first biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of this class of enzyme. We demonstrate that reconstituted anSMEs are radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine enzymes containing a redox active [4Fe-4S]2+,+ cluster that initiates the radical reaction by binding and reductively cleaving S-adenosyl-l-methionine to yield 5 ′-deoxyadenosine and methionine. Surprisingly, our results show that anSMEs are dual substrate enzymes able to oxidize both cysteine and serine residues to Cα-formylglycine. Taken together, the results support a radical modification mechanism that is initiated by hydrogen abstraction from a serine or cysteine residue located in an appropriate target sequence.
Survey of retinal haemorrhages in neonatal thoroughbred foals

Twenty-seven of 167 neonatal thoroughbred foals (16 per cent) were found to have retinal haemorrhages after a careful examination of the entire fundus. Experience in differentiating haemorrhages from other lesions, and the selection of foals from normal populations, were considered to have an important effect on their apparent incidence. Bilateral haemorrhages were more common and there was a significantly higher incidence in female foals. The numbers of haemorrhages ranged between one and 20; 36 per cent of eyes with retinal haemorrhages had the small punctate type and 56 per cent had the splash-like form. There was no change from one type of haemorrhage to another, and the patterns of resolution were similar. The haemorrhages were in the tapetal fundus, except two that were recorded in the optic disc, and they resolved within 10 days. No short- or long-term ocular or neurological effects of the retinal haemorrhages were detected, and they were not related to the incidence of abnormal foal behaviour.
GnRH antagonist versus long GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders undergoing IVF: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND This is the first published report of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing a fixed, multi-dose GnRH antagonist protocol with a long GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders undergoing IVF. METHODS Sixty-six poor responders were randomized into two groups: the study group received 0.25 mg of cetrorelix daily starting on day 6 of stimulation; the control group received 600 microg of buserelin acetate daily starting in the mid-luteal phase of the preceding cycle. Both groups were given a fixed dose of recombinant FSH (300 IU daily) for stimulation. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the cycle cancellation rates, duration of stimulation, consumption of gonadotrophins, and mean numbers of mature follicles, oocytes and embryos obtained. The implantation rates were similar, but the number of embryos transferred was significantly higher for the antagonist group (2.32 +/- 0.58 versus 1.50 +/- 0.83; P = 0.01). The pregnancy rates were also higher in the antagonist group, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION A fixed multi-dose GnRH antagonist protocol is feasible for patients who are poor responders on a long agonist protocol; however, our study failed to demonstrate an overall improvement in ovarian responsiveness. Clinical outcomes may be improved by developing more flexible antagonist regimens, an approach that requires further evaluation.
Evidence for an X-Ray-emitting Galactic Bulge: Shadows Cast by Distant Molecular Gas

A mosaic of seven ROSAT PSPC pointed observations in the direction of (l, b ~ 10°, 0°) reveals deep X-ray shadows in the 0.5-2.0 keV band cast by dense molecular gas. The comparison between the observed on-cloud and off-cloud X-ray fluxes indicates that ~43% of the diffuse X-ray background in this direction in both the 0.75 and 1.5 keV bands originates behind the molecular gas, which is located at 2-4 kpc from the Sun. Given the short mean free path of X-rays in the 0.75 keV band in the Galactic plane (~1 kpc assuming an average space density of 1 cm-3), this large percentage of the observed flux that originates beyond the molecular gas most likely indicates a strong enhancement in the distribution of X-ray-emitting gas in the Galactic center region, possibly associated with a Galactic X-ray bulge.
Long‐term follow‐up study on SIV intestinal proviral load in rhesus macaques

After experimental infection with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), intestinal endoscopy proved to be an easily tolerated, minimal invasive procedure to obtain biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract of rhesus macaques during all stages of disease. As the GI tract is affected by many opportunistic infections and immunological impairment after SIV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, knowledge on the proviral load is an important parameter for a better understanding of disease pathogenesis. In this paper, we describe the set‐up and evaluation of a quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the quantification of SIV intestinal proviral load in a long‐term follow‐up study of eight rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) after two different routes of virus inoculation. A SIV‐specific signal could be detected as early as day 3 after infection. Of 143 biopsies from the follow‐up study, 85.3% showed a positive PCR. DNA copy numbers ranged from 300 to 15,000 molecules per 100,000 cells. No significant influence of the inoculation route could be shown on either proviral load or survival time, but higher SIV proviral load was associated with a more rapid progression to disease. Therefore, the amount of proviral load in intestinal biopsies may be an important prognostic value for the further course of the disease.
Effects of lymphokines and immune complexes on murine placental cell growth in vitro.

Isolated murine placental cells obtained at Day 16 of allogeneic gestation (C3H x DBA/2J) were cultured for 3 days alone or in coculture with irradiated mouse splenocytes at the end of which 3H-thymidine was added for an additional 18-h culture to assess cell proliferation. Placental cell proliferation was significantly enhanced at spleen cell:placental cell ratios of 10:1 and 25:1 above that observed in the absence of added spleen cells. The stimulatory effect of irradiated allogeneic (C3H plus Balb/cJ) spleen cell cultures was significantly greater (approximately 2-fold) than that of isogeneic spleen cells (C3H alone). Conditioned medium from murine spleen cells cultured with concanavalin A (ConA) to induce lymphokine production had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on proliferation when added to placental cell cultures over a range of concentrations from 10 to 40% (vol:vol). Addition of pseudo "immune complexes" in the form of heat-aggregated human gamma globulin (AHGG) to culture medium failed to alter placental cell proliferation over a range of concentrations from 2 to 200 micrograms/ml either in the absence or presence of ConA-conditioned medium. In contrast to late-gestational stage placental cells, cell suspensions obtained from Days 8-9 murine ectoplacental cone (EPC) outgrowths, or from earlier stage placentas (Days 12-14) responded to low concentrations of conditioned medium from ConA-stimulated splenocytes with increased proliferation. The effect was less impressive on placental cells at gestational ages later than 12 days than on earlier stage preparations. On all placental cell suspensions tested, as well as EPC cells, a clear-cut inhibition of growth was observed at high doses of conditioned medium. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Efficacy and Safety of Antegrade Common Femoral Artery Access Closure Using the Angio-Seal Device: Experience with 1889 Interventions for Critical Limb Ischemia in Diabetic Patients

Purpose: To report a retrospective evaluation of the 6-F Angio-Seal closure device in antegrade and retrograde common femoral artery (CFA) punctures during endovascular procedures in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Methods: From January 2005 to March 2009, 2374 diabetic CLI patients underwent interventional procedures in the lower limbs at a single center under systemic anticoagulation (heparin 70 U/kg). In this population, 2016 patients (1184 men; mean age 69.6±9.1 years) had 2372 CFA punctures treated with either manual compression [205 punctures in 161 (8.0%) patients] or Angio-Seal deployment (2167 punctures in 1855 patients) and were eligible for this analysis. In the study cohort, there were 1889 antegrade CFA punctures closed with the device in 1626 (87.6%) patients compared to 278 retrograde punctures sealed in 229 (12.4%) patients. The complications from the antegrade CFA punctures were compared to those from retrograde closure and manual compression. Results: The success rate for achieving hemostasis after antegrade and retrograde Angio-Seal placement was 97.9% and 97.8%, respectively. Major complications following antegrade Angio-Seal deployment, retrograde Angio-Seal deployment, and manual compression occurred in 20/1889 (1.1%), 5/278 (1.8%), and 4/205 (2.0%) cases, respectively. All complications developed within 24 hours of the procedure. No further complications were recorded in the 18-month follow-up (range 1–36). The overall complication rates after antegrade puncture closure, retrograde puncture closure, and manual compression at 30 days was 2.5%, 4.0%, and 4.9%, respectively (p = NS). Conclusion: This retrospective study shows that the 6-F Angio-Seal is a valuable and safe vascular closure device for percutaneous transfemoral antegrade access in diabetic patients undergoing interventional procedures for CLI.
Integrative Clinical Experience: An Innovative Program to Prepare for Internship

Background: Interns experience tremendous challenges on the transition from student to new physician. There is limited literature describing curriculum that enhances medical students' preparation for internship. Description: To prepare graduating medical students at our institution for the new responsibilities and stressors that they will face as interns, an elective course, Integrative Clinical Experience, was implemented. Over a 2-week period, participating medical students rotate through 1 to 3-hr modules that cover four major domains: managing acutely ill patients, teaching, communicating, and coping with stressors. Evaluation: Participants evaluated the course qualitatively and quantitatively through verbal and written feedback. Students found the course useful and educationally valuable. They also had a statistically significant increase in perceived preparedness for internship upon completion of the course. Conclusions: A 2-week, concentrated course is a feasible and effective method for raising students' perceived preparedness for internship.
A Lithium-Ion Battery-in-the-Loop Approach to Test and Validate Multiscale Dual H Infinity Filters for State-of-Charge and Capacity Estimation

An accurate battery capacity and state estimation method is one of the most significant and difficult techniques to ensure efficient and safe operation of the batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Since capacity and state of charge (SoC) are strongly correlated, the SoC is hardly to be accurately estimated without knowing accurate battery capacity. Thus, a multiscale dual H infinity filter (HIF) has been proposed to estimate battery SoC and capacity in real time with dual timescales in response to slow-varying battery parameters and fast-varying battery state. The proposed method is first evaluated and verified using off-line experimental data and then compared with the single/multiscale dual Kalman filters (KFs). The results show that the proposed multiscale dual HIFs has better robustness and higher estimation accuracy than the single/multiscale dual KFs. To further validate the feasibility of the proposed method for EV applications, a lithium-ion battery-in-the-loop approach is applied to verify the stability and accuracy of the SoC estimation, and it is found that the SoC estimated from the proposed method can converge to the reference value gradually and be stabilized within 2%.
The Nordic welfare model in a European Perspective

Social assistance and minimum income benefits are important indicators for assessing the very basic objective of social policy, namely to mitigate financial hardship and alleviate poverty. The Nordic countries have succeeded well from a comparative point of view in terms of poverty alleviation. However, last-resort safety-nets are changing. Scattered evidence indicate that Nordic social assistance have become less generous. Perhaps are the Nordic countries becoming more similar to the welfare models of Continental Europe or the United Kingdom? This study analyses central dimensions of Nordic social assistance, such as the generosity, scope and effectiveness of benefits. Data for the empirical analyses are from SaMip and LIS. We show that Finland and Sweden, particularly, have suffered from welfare decline, including less generous and effective benefits.
In-Depth Analysis of Pricing Problem Relaxations for the Capacitated Arc-Routing Problem

Recently, Bode and Irnich [Bode C, Irnich S 2012 Cut-first branch-and-price-second for the capacitated arc-routing problem. Oper. Res. 605:1167-1182] presented a cut-first branch-and-price-second algorithm for solving the capacitated arc-routing problem CARP. The fundamental difference to other approaches for exactly solving the CARP is that the entire algorithm works directly on the typically sparse underlying graph representing the street network. This enables the use of highly efficient dynamic programming-based pricing algorithms to solve the column-generation subproblem also known as the pricing problem. The contribution of this paper is the in-depth analysis of the CARP pricing problem and its possible relaxations, including the construction of new labeling algorithms for their solution and comprehensive computational tests on standard benchmark problems. We show that a systematic variation of different relaxations provides a powerful approach to solve knowingly hard instances of the CARP to proven optimality.
Significance of intracystic pressure in abdominal hydatid disease

A prospective study was performed in 32 patients (24 female, eight male) with 50 abdominal hydatid cysts, to assess whether intracystic pressure (ICP) could predict viability. The median ICP, measured during operation, was 35 cmH20 for 31 viable cysts and zero for nine non‐viable cysts located in the liver (P < 0.05). The median ICP was significantly higher in cysts located in the left lobe of the liver than in those in the right (P < 0.05). The ICP was not significantly different in unilocular or multilocular cysts. ICP increased as the diameter of the cysts increased. The sensitivity of the indirect haemagglutination test was 86 per cent and the specificity 75per cent. It is concluded that measurement of ICP is a simple and reliable method for assessment of the viability of abdominal hydatid cysts.
Estrogen-Induced Hypothalamic Synaptic Plasticity and Pituitary Sensitization in the Control of the Estrogen-Induced Gonadotrophin Surge

Proper gonadal function requires coordinated (feedback) interactions between the gonads, adenohypophysis, and brain: the gonads elaborate sex steroids (progestins, androgens, and estrogens) and proteins (inhibin-activin family) during gamete development. In both sexes, the brain-pituitary gonadotrophin-regulating interaction is coordinated by estradiol through its opposing actions on pituitary gonadotrophs (sensitization of the response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone [GnRH]) versus hypothalamic neurons (inhibition of GnRH secretion). This dynamic tension between the gonadotrophs and the GnRH cells in the brain regulates the circulating gonadotrophins and is termed reciprocal/negative feedback. In females, reciprocal/negative feedback dominates ∼90% of the ovarian cycle. In a spectacular exception, the dynamic tension is broken during the surge of circulating estrogen that marks follicle and oocyte(s) maturation. The cause is an estradiol-induced disinhibition of the GnRH neurons that releases GnRH secretion to the highly sensitized pituitary gonadotrophs that in turn release the gonadotrophin surge (the estrogen-induced gonadotrophin surge [EIGS], also known as positive feedback). Studies during the past 4 decades have shown this disinhibition to result from estrogen-induced synaptic plasticity (EISP), including a reversible ∼ 50% loss in arcuate nucleus synapses. The disinhibited GnRH secretion occurs during maximal gonadotroph sensitization and results in the EIGS. Specific immunoneutralization of estradiol blocks the EISP and EIGS. The EISP is accompanied by increases in insulinlike growth factor 1, polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule, and ezrin, 3 proteins that the authors believe are the links between estrogen-induced astroglial extension and the EISP that releases GnRH secretion at the moment of maximal sensitization of the pituitary gonadotrophs. The result is the paradoxical surge of gonadotrophins at the peak of ovarian estrogen secretion and the triggering of ovulation. This enhanced understanding of the mechanics of gonadotrophin control clarifies elements of the involved feedback loops and opens the way to a better understanding of the neurobiology of reproduction.
Morphometric Study of Nuclei in FNAC of Breast Lesion and its Role in Diagnosis of Malignancy

Introduction: Cytological features obtained from fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) are very essential for the preoperative diagnosis in breast carcinoma. The quantitative evaluation of nuclear size and shape using FNAC material can be utilized as a diagnostic tool in breast tumor. The main objectives of our study were (a) to evaluate major axis (MAJX), minor axis (MINX), nuclear area (NA), nuclear perimeter (NP) and nuclear aspect ratio (NAR) using morphometric techniques, (b) to compare these nuclear parameters with their variability in benign and malignant cases and evaluate suitable cut off values and (c) to study the correlation of these parameters with cytological grades. Materials and Methods: Nuclear parameters were assessed in 50 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma and 50 cases of benign breast tumors by image morphometric technique on FNAC slides and statistical analysis was performed. Results: Mean MAJX, MINX, NA, NP and their variability were significantly greater (p 10.70 micron (specificity=0.98), (b) MINX>7.53 micron (specificity=0.94), (c) NA>60.61 micron2 (specificity=0.98) and (d) NP>27.81 micron (specificity=0.96). Conclusion: Morphometric parameters related to nuclear size and variability evaluated from FNAC material were significantly larger in malignant cases than the benign and they can be gainfully exploited in the diagnosis of breast carcinoma. Again these parameters showed mild positive correlation with the cytological grades.
Association of Sp1 Tandem Repeat Polymorphism of ALOX5 with Coronary Artery Disease in Indian Subjects

Lipoxygenases have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) for its potent proinflammatory role. The Sp1 addition/deletion polymorphism in promoter region of the 5‐lipoxygenase gene (ALOX5) has been associated with increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. To determine the role of this polymorphism in our population we performed a case–control‐genetic association study on 117 healthy controls and 119 angiographically verified CAD patients. Biochemical analysis was performed using standard automated assays. High‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and LDL‐C subfraction levels were estimated using precipitation methods. Genotyping of polymorphism in the ALOX5 (Sp1 variants) was done using PCR‐based heteroduplex analysis and automated sequencing. The Sp1 promoter repeat variants were found to be associated with CAD (p < 0.0001, OR = 4.47, 95% confidence interval = 2.58–7.74). Furthermore, the 5/5 genotype of the ALOX5 polymorphism in the healthy subjects was found to be associated with elevated HDL‐C (p= 0.004), HDL3‐C (p= 0.04), apo A1 (p= 0.011) and sdLDL (p= 0.001). We conclude that this polymorphism influences LDL and HDL subfraction levels and is a risk factor for CAD in our population. Clin Trans Sci 2012; Volume 5: 408–411
Bone Loss around a Stable, Partly Threaded Hydroxyapatite-Coated Cup: A Prospective Cohort Study Using Rsa and Dxa

Study purpose Aseptic loosening of the acetabular component is the most common reason for revision after primary THA, and periprosthetic demineralisation has been described as a potential cause for this process. The trabeculae-oriented pattern (TOP)-cup is a flat, hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated titanium shell with a threaded rim that was developed in order to minimise periprosthetic bone loss. We hypothesised that this cup provides good primary stability and improves preservation of periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD). Basic procedures A prospective cohort study on 30 patients receiving the TOP cup was carried out. Preoperative total hip BMD and postoperative periprosthetic BMD in five periprosthetic regions of interest were investigated by dual energy radiographic absorptiometry (DXA), cup migration was analysed by radiostereometry (RSA), and the Harris hips score (HHS) was determined. Main findings Mean HHS increased from 49 (24-79) preoperatively to 99 (92-100) after two years. DXA after one year demonstrated substantial BMD loss in the proximal periprosthetic zones 1 (-18%), zone 2 (-16 %) and zone 3 (-9%, all p≤0.001 when compared with baseline BMD determined immediately postoperatively). The bone loss in these regions did not recover after two years. RSA (performed on 16 patients) showed that only very limited micromotion of the implant occurred: Mean cranial migration was 0.01 mm (95% confidence interval (CI): −0.09-0.12) and mean inclination decreased by 0.02° (CI: −0.43-0.39) after two years. conclusion We conclude that the TOP cup provides good primary stability in the short-term. However, substantial BMD loss in proximal periprosthetic areas indicates that the design of this cup cannot prevent periprosthetic bone loss that has also been observed around other uncemented cups.