Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nogo-A Expression in Glial CNS Tumors: A Tool to Differentiate Between Oligodendrogliomas and Other Gliomas?

Gliomas are the most frequent primary brain tumors. In a minority of cases, the differentiation between astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas based on morphologic characteristics alone can be difficult; though it is important, as patients with oligodendrogliomas follow a more favorable clinical course. Here we report on the immunohistochemical expression pattern of the oligodendrocytic marker Nogo-A in 113 central nervous system tumors including 28 oligodendrogliomas [15, World Health Organization (WHO) grade II; 13, grade WHO III], 50 astrocytomas [10, grade WHO II; 11, grade WHO III; 29 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)], 11 ependymomas WHO grade II, 7 central neurocytomas, 2 dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs), 5 clear cell meningiomas, and 10 metastases to the brain. The oligodendrocytic marker Nogo-A was found to be strongly expressed in 71% of oligodendrogliomas, but in 0% of ependymomas WHO grade II, astrocytomas WHO grade II or III, DNTs, central neurocytomas, or clear cell meningiomas. In GBM, a subgroup of tumors (24%) showed strong expression of Nogo-A coincidently with Ki67 positivity but glial fibrillary acidic protein-negativity. However, neither in oligodendrogliomas nor GBM was a correlation between the loss of 1p19q and the extent of Nogo-A expression observed. Our findings indicate that Nogo-A is strongly expressed in the majority of oligodendrogliomas and might be a helpful marker to distinguish oligodendrogliomas from astrocytomas WHO grades II and III as well as ependymomas. They also support the hypothesis that GBM may be a heterogeneous group of tumors derived from different progenitor cells.
Health and climate benefits of offshore wind facilities in the Mid-Atlantic United States

Electricity from fossil fuels contributes substantially to both climate change and the health burden of air pollution. Renewable energy sources are capable of displacing electricity from fossil fuels, but the quantity of health and climate benefits depend on site-specific attributes that are not often included in quantitative models. Here, we link an electrical grid simulation model to an air pollution health impact assessment model and US regulatory estimates of the impacts of carbon to estimate the health and climate benefits of offshore wind facilities of different sizes in two different locations. We find that offshore wind in the Mid-Atlantic is capable of producing health and climate benefits of between $54 and $120 per MWh of generation, with the largest simulated facility (3000 MW off the coast of New Jersey) producing approximately $690 million in benefits in 2017. The variability in benefits per unit generation is a function of differences in locations (Maryland versus New Jersey), simulated years (2012 versus 2017), and facility generation capacity, given complexities of the electrical grid and differences in which power plants are offset. This work demonstrates health and climate benefits of offshore wind, provides further evidence of the utility of geographically-refined modeling frameworks, and yields quantitative insights that would allow for inclusion of both climate and public health in benefits assessments of renewable energy.
Cyclic AMP Concentrations in Rat Neocortex and Hippocampus During and Following Incomplete Ischemia: Effects of Central Noradrenergic Neurons, Prostaglandins, and Adenosine

Abstract: The concentrations of cyclic AMP, noradrenaline, glycogen, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, labile phosphate compounds, and free fatty acids were investigated in the rat neocortex and hippocampus during and following cerebral ischemia. An incomplete ischemia of 5 and 15 min duration was induced by bilateral carotid clamping combined with hypotension. The postischemic events were studied after 5, 15, and 60 min of recirculation. Five minutes of ischemia did not significantly alter the neocortical or hippocampal concentrations of cyclic AMP. After 15 min of ischemia the neocortical levels decreased significantly below control values. In the recirculation period following ischemia a significant elevation of the cyclic AMP concentrations was observed. Following 5 min of recirculation after 5 min of ischemia the levels increased from 2.53 ± 0.21 nmol ± g−1 to 5.18 ± 0.09 nmol ± g−1 in the neocortex and from 2.14 ± 0.16 nmol ± g−1 to 3.52 ± 0.35 nmol ± g−1 in the hippocampus. Five minutes of recirculation following 15 min of ischemia led to a significant increase in the levels of cyclic AMP, to 12.86 ± 1.43 nmol ± g−1 in the neocortex to 5.58 ± 0.57 nmol ± g−1 in the hippocampus. With longer recirculation periods the cyclic AMP levels progressively decreased and were similar to control values after 60 min. Depletion of cortical noradrenaline by at least 95% was performed by injections of 6‐hydroxydopamine into the ascending axon bundles from the locus ceruleus. The lesion did not significantly change the ischemic or postischemic neocortical and hippocampal levels of cyclic AMP, glycogen, or free fatty acids including arachidonic acid. Treatment of the animals with theophyllamine (23, 46, and 92 mg ± kg−1) or indomethacin (10 mg ± kg−1) did not affect the postischemic levels of cyclic AMP. It is concluded that central noradrenergic neurons, prostaglandins, and adenosine are not of major importance for the observed postischemic elevations of cyclic AMP and that the changes in the concentrations of free fatty acids measured during and following ischemia are not mediated by noradrenergic neurons.
Biological Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Ginger ( Zingiber Officinale ) Extract

Plant extracts are very cost effective and eco-friendly and thus can be used as an economic and efficient alternative for the large-scale synthesis of nanoparticles. We report on the use of ginger extract for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. Bioactive silver nanoparticle synthesis was byreacting the ginger extract with aqueous silver nitrate solution at room temperature (27±2 C) and at 60 C. Formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV– visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern and Scherrer’s formula. Antibacterial activity of synthesized silver nanoparticles showed inhibitory activity against bacteriaviz. , Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus and Proteus vulgaris.Additionally the toxicity of the produced nanoparticles was checked for phyto and genotoxicity.
Developmental Growth Control Exerted via the Protein A Kinase Tpk2 in Ashbya gossypii

ABSTRACT Sporulation in Ashbya gossypii is induced by nutrient-limited conditions and leads to the formation of haploid spores. Using RNA-seq, we have determined a gene set induced upon sporulation, which bears considerable overlap with that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae but also contains A. gossypii-specific genes. Addition of cyclic AMP (cAMP) to nutrient-limited media blocks sporulation and represses the induction of sporulation specific genes. Deletion of the protein kinase A (PKA) catalytic subunits encoded by TPK1 and TPK2 showed reduced growth in tpk1 but enhanced growth in the tpk2 strain; however, both mutants sporulated well. Sporulation can be blocked by cAMP in tpk1 but not in tpk2 strains. Similarly, TPK2 acts at a second developmental switch promoting the break in spore dormancy. In S. cerevisiae, PKA phosphorylates and inhibits Msn2/4. The transcript profiles of the tpk1 and msn2/4 mutants were very similar to that of the wild type under sporulation conditions. However, deletion of the single A. gossypii MSN2/4 homolog generated a specific sporulation defect. We identified a set of genes involved in spore wall assembly that was downregulated in the msn2/4 mutant, particularly DIT2, suggesting that poor spore viability may be due to lysis of spores. Our results reveal specific functional differences between the two catalytic PKA subunits in A. gossypii and identified Tpk2 as the key A kinase that transduces developmental decisions of growth. Our data also suggest that Msn2/4 is involved only at a late step of sporulation in A. gossypii and is not a major regulator of IME1.
Cryptochrome, Phytochrome, and the Photoregulation of Anthocyanin Production under Blue Light.

The principle of equivalent light action predicts that two light treatments (wavelengths ;lambda(1) and lambda(2)) producing the same Pfr/P ratio (phi(lambda1) = phi(lambda2)) and the same rate of phytochrome photoconversion (k(lambda1) = k(lambda2)) are perceived by phytochrome as being the same and should produce the same effect. The results of experiments based on the principle of equivalent light action indicate that cryptochrome is involved in the photoregulation of anthocyanin production elicited by blue light in tomato seedlings. This was also the case for one strain of cabbage seedlings. For another strain of cabbage seedlings, the results suggest that cryptochrome is either not involved or that the state of phytochrome is the principal limiting factor.
Regulation of nitric oxide synthesis by oxygen in vascular endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells synthesize nitric oxide (NO) in response to agonists that elevate cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations. Once activated, NO synthase (NOS) requires arginine, NADPH, and O2 as cosubstrates. In this study, we investigated the role of O2 in regulating endothelial NOS activity in intact bovine aortic endothelial cells by measuring the rate of nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) production after conversion of NO2- to S-nitrosoglutathione before analysis or after reduction of NO2- and NO3- to NO using acidic vanadium chloride. The basal rate of NO2- production was 6.5 +/- 0.8 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1. Thapsigargin (TG, 1 microM) elevated free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and increased the rate of NO2- synthesis. At maximal concentrations of TG, the rate of stimulated NO2- production was linear for at least 20 min and was eightfold higher than the basal rate (53.5 +/- 1.8 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1). Incubation of cells in gas mixtures chosen to produce PO2 values in the physiological range led to a progressive fall in the rate of TG-stimulated NO2- production, as O2 concentrations were reduced from that of room air. The half-maximal effective concentration for NO2- production by intact cells was found to occur at 38 Torr. PO2 values higher than that of room air did not lead to a change in the rate of TG-stimulated NO2- production. To confirm that measurement of NO2- accurately reflects total NO production, both NO2- plus NO3- were measured in buffer samples from cells incubated in either room air or N2. The sum of these NO oxidation products was inhibited similarly by hypoxia. These findings suggest that O2 is an important determinant of NOS activity in hypoxic tissues or in vascular beds such as the pulmonary arterial or fetal circulation where PO2 values in the range of 40 Torr are encountered normally.
Adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas: determination of surgical unresectability with thin-section pancreatic-phase helical CT.

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to evaluate newly introduced criteria for unresectability of pancreatic cancer with thin-section pancreatic-phase helical CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients with adenocarcinoma in the head of the pancreas underwent thin-section pancreatic-phase helical CT. The major peripancreatic vessels were categorized on a scale of 1-4, according to the degree of circumferential involvement by tumor. The maximum diameters of the small peripancreatic veins--gastrocolic trunk, anterosuperior pancreaticoduodenal vein, and posterosuperior pancreaticoduodenal vein--were recorded. Findings on CT were compared with the results of surgery in each patient. RESULTS Sixteen patients had surgically resectable tumors, and nine patients had surgically unresectable tumors. CT and surgical correlation was available for 98 major peripancreatic vessels; 85 were resectable and 13 were unresectable. Of category 1 vessels, 72 (97%) of 74 were resectable at surgery. Of category 2 vessels, 12 (71%) of 17 were resectable. One (50%) of two category 3 vessels and none (0%) of five category 4 vessels were resectable at surgery. CT showed a dilated gastrocolic trunk in two patients; one of these patients had a surgically resectable tumor, but the other patient had a surgically unresectable tumor. CONCLUSION In patients with adenocarcinoma in the head of the pancreas, the degree of circumferential vessel involvement by tumor as shown by CT is useful in predicting which patients will have surgically unresectable tumors. A dilated gastrocolic trunk should not be used as an independent sign of surgical unresectability.
Rescuing Policy Analysis from PPBS

2. Tables 1 through 4 resulted from a collaborative effort between TEMPO and the Division of Alcoholism, California State Department of Public Health, to explore the feasibility of applying PPB to the alcoholism mission. However, the views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as reflecting views of the Division of Alcoholism. 3. E. M. Jellinek, The Disease Concept of Alcoholism (Highland Park, N. J.: Hillhouse Press, 1960), p. 35. It should be noted that Jellinek did not consider "alcoholism," as he defined the term, a disease. Rather, he felt that only species of alcoholism, i.e., only certain kinds of alcohol usage, qualified as a disease. 4. For a more detailed discussion of the technique to be described in this section, see C. W. Churchman, Hegelian Inquiring System, Internal Working Paper No. 49, University of California, Berkeley, September 1966, and R. 0. Mason, Dialectics in Decision-Making: A Study in the Use of Counterplanning and Structural Debate in Management Information Systems, University of California, Berkeley, June 1968.
Analysis of central nervous system vasculitis with diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of the normal-appearing brain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a novel method of studying the brain that creates tissue contrast secondary to water diffusion. Central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis is a rare inflammatory disease that continues to be difficult to diagnose and evaluate with MR imaging. DWI with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) analysis may demonstrate abnormalities within the brain that would otherwise be undetected by conventional imaging, thus aiding in the diagnosis and evaluation of patients with CNS vasculitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed of patients who were diagnosed with CNS vasculitis and had undergone DWI. A total of 15 patients who had DWI with b = 1000 were analyzed. Regions of interest were drawn in the anterior, central, and posterior regions of white matter (WM) at 3 levels. Regions of interest were also drawn bilaterally in the caudate heads, putamina, thalami, posterior internal capsules, and the cerebellar WM. ADC values were measured and compared with 15 healthy controls who were matched for age, sex, and MR imaging scanner. RESULTS There was a significant increase in the ADC values (P<.00625) for the anterior WM, central WM, thalami, and posterior internal capsules in patients with CNS vasculitis. CONCLUSION Diffuse increase in water diffusion was present in the normal-appearing brain in patients with CNS vasculitis, and these abnormalities were not demonstrated by conventional MR imaging sequences. The detection and quantification of ADC abnormalities may provide useful diagnostic information for patients with CNS vasculitis.
Frailty and Mortality in Kidney Transplant Recipients

We have previously described strong associations between frailty, a measure of physiologic reserve initially described and validated in geriatrics, and early hospital readmission as well as delayed graft function. The goal of this study was to estimate its association with postkidney transplantation (post‐KT) mortality. Frailty was prospectively measured in 537 KT recipients at the time of transplantation between November 2008 and August 2013. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for confounders using a novel approach to substantially improve model efficiency and generalizability in single‐center studies. We precisely estimated the confounder coefficients using the large sample size of the Scientific Registry of Transplantation Recipients (n = 37 858) and introduced these into the single‐center model, which then estimated the adjusted frailty coefficient. At 5 years, the survivals were 91.5%, 86.0% and 77.5% for nonfrail, intermediately frail and frail KT recipients, respectively. Frailty was independently associated with a 2.17‐fold (95% CI: 1.01–4.65, p = 0.047) higher risk of death. In conclusion, regardless of age, frailty is a strong, independent risk factor for post‐KT mortality, even after carefully adjusting for many confounders using a novel, efficient statistical approach.
Clinical Presentation and Ischemic Zone on MRI in Cancer Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical and MRI profiles in acute cancer strokes, and to demonstrate our experience with thrombolytic therapy in cancer stroke patients. Methods: We prospectively studied active cancer patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent MRI within 48 h of the onset of symptoms. Patients were grouped based on the presence of conventional stroke mechanisms (CSM). Clinical characteristics and MRI profiles were evaluated. Results: A total of 70 patients were finally included in this study. Patients without CSM were more frequently presented with encephalopathy than those with CSM (29.4 vs. 2.8%, p = 0.002). The diffusion-perfusion mismatch pattern was more prevalent in patients with CSM (21 patients, 58.3%) than in patients without CSM (8 patients, 23.5%). Patients who had a higher tertiles of D-dimer level were significantly less likely to have the diffusion-perfusion mismatch pattern (p = 0.015). Among patients who presented within 6 h of the onset of stroke, revascularization therapy was performed in 4 of 16 (25%) patients with CSM, but none of the patients without CSM. Conclusion: Based on the stroke mechanisms, the optimal strategy of thrombolytic therapy should be considered differently in cancer patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Unexpected signals in a system subject to kinetic proofreading

When multivalent ligands attach to IgEs bound to the receptors with high affinity for IgE on mast cells, the receptors aggregate, tyrosines on the receptors become phosphorylated, and a variety of cellular responses are stimulated. Prior studies, confirmed here, demonstrated that the efficiency with which later events are generated from earlier ones is inversely related to the dissociation rate of the aggregating ligand. This finding suggests that the cellular responses are constrained by a “kinetic proofreading” regimen. We have now observed an apparent exception to this rule. Doses of the rapidly or slowly dissociating ligands that generated equivalent levels of tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors comparably stimulated a putatively distal event: transcription of the gene for monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. Possible explanations of this apparent anomaly were explored.
Complications of sphincter of Oddi manometry: Biliary-like pain versus acute pancreatitis

Objective Although acute pancreatitis is the most significant complication of sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM), acute biliary-like abdominal pain – similar or identical to the patient's usual recurrent acute episodes of pain and not fulfilling clinical criteria for acute pancreatitis – can also be provoked by SOM. The aim of the article is to determine and compare the relative frequency of occurrence of, and risk factors for, post-manometry biliary-like abdominal pain and post-manometry pancreatitis. Material and methods The clinical and laboratory features, the manometric recordings from the sphincter of Oddi, and the immediate post-manometry outcomes, were examined in 234 consecutive patients undergoing sphincter of Oddi manometry at our Unit. Results Post-manometry pancreatitis occurred in 9% of patients, and was associated with two risk factors on multivariate analysis: a history of post-ERCP pancreatitis (odds ratio [OR] 5.9) and a raised basal sphincter pressure (≥40 mmHg) at SOM (OR 3.5). An increased sphincter phasic wave frequency (≥7/min) at SOM was identified as a significant (p<0.05) risk factor on univariate testing only. Post-manometry biliary-like pain occurred in 12% of patients, and was associated with 3 different risk factors on multivariate analysis: age below 50 years (OR 4.6); less than a 2-year history of recurrent abdominal pain (OR 3.0); and ERCP and/or ES carried out during the SOM procedure (OR 9.3). Conclusions Provocation of biliary-like pain following SOM, without clinical evidence of pancreatitis, occurs at least as frequently as post-manometry acute pancreatitis. In contrast to post-manometry pancreatitis, post-manometry biliary-like pain occurs more often in younger patients with a shorter duration of symptoms and does not appear related to the manometric features of the sphincter documented at SOM; we propose that this clinical entity may reflect the presence of bile duct or duodenal hypersensitivity/hyperalgesia.
Investigation of the thermal transfer coefficient by the energy balance of fault arcs in electrical installations

In order to determine the pressure rise due to fault arcs in electrical installations, the portion of energy heating the surrounding gas of the fault arc has to be known. The ratio of the portion of energy to the electrical energy, the thermal transfer coefficient, well known in literature as k/sub p/-factor, is adopted here. This paper presents a theoretical approach to calculate the thermal transfer coefficient k/sub p/ and to determine the pressure rise in an electrical installation. It is based on the solution of the fundamental hydro- and thermodynamic conservation equations taking into account melting and evaporation of metals as well as chemical reactions with the surrounding gas of the fault arc. The results for closed arc chambers show that factors such as the kinds of insulating gas and of electrode material, the size of the test vessel, and the gas density considerably influence the thermal transfer coefficient and thus the pressure rise. Furthermore it is demonstrated, with an example of a short-circuit in a compact medium-voltage station with heavy metal evaporation, that the mathematical approach is a reliable tool to assess the development of pressure.