Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abstract 10: Regional Variation in Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival in the United States

Background: Although previous studies have shown marked variation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival across U.S. regions, factors underlying this variation in survival remain unknown. Methods & Results: Using 2005-2013 data from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES), we identified 88,305 adult patients (age >18 years) in 107 U.S. counties with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at home or in a public location, and geo-coded them to a U.S. county using the address where cardiac arrest occurred We constructed a two-level hierarchical regression model (patient & county) and used median odds ratios (MOR) to quantify regional variation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival. Moreover, we examined the proportion of variation in survival that was explained by 1) patient demographics 2) cardiac arrest characteristics 3) county-level rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and hypothermia treatment and 4) county-level socio-demographic factors. The mean rate of survival to discharge was 10.0%, and varied markedly across counties (range: 1.4%-18.4%, MOR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.24-1.38, Figure 1). Compared to counties in the lowest quartile of survival, patients in the highest quartile counties were younger (62.5 vs 61.6 years), more likely to be men (60.8% vs 64.4%), have a shockable rhythm (21.1% vs 26.9%), witnessed arrest (50.3% vs 53.0%), receive bystander CPR (23.4% vs 32.6%), and hypothermia (44.4% vs 62.3%, P for trend < 0.01 for all). County-level rates of survival were positively correlated with rates of bystander CPR (ρ = 0.45, P < 0.0001) and hypothermia treatment (ρ = 0.24, P < 0.0001). Sequential adjustment of demographic and cardiac arrest characteristics explained only 4.3% and 12.4% of the county-level variation in survival, respectively. Inclusion of county-level rates of bystander CPR and hypothermia explained a total of 28.5% of the survival variation, and this proportion increased to 36% after adjustment of other county-level factors. Conclusion: There is substantial variation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival across U.S. counties. Although a large proportion of survival variation was unexplained, most of the variation that could be accounted for was due to county-level differences in rates of bystander CPR and hypothermia treatment. [][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Carbon cycle feedbacks and future climate change

Climate and carbon cycle are tightly coupled on many timescales, from interannual to multi-millennial timescales. Observations always evidence a positive feedback, warming leading to release of carbon to the atmosphere; however, the processes at play differ depending on the timescales. State-of-the-art Earth System Models now represent these climate-carbon cycle feedbacks, always simulating a positive feedback over the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, although with substantial uncertainty. Recent studies now help to reduce this uncertainty. First, on short timescales, El Niño years record larger than average atmospheric CO2 growth rate, with tropical land ecosystems being the main drivers. These climate-carbon cycle anomalies can be used as emerging constraint on the tropical land carbon response to future climate change. Second, centennial variability found in last millennium records can be used to constrain the overall global carbon cycle response to climatic excursions. These independent methods point to climate-carbon cycle feedback at the low-end of the Earth System Models range, indicating that these models overestimate the carbon cycle sensitivity to climate change. These new findings also help to attribute the historical land and ocean carbon sinks to increase in atmospheric CO2 and climate change.
Iniencephaly: sonographic-pathologic correlation of 19 cases

During a four year period (1991-1994), 19 cases of iniencephaly were evaluated at our institution. Associated cranial malformations include anencephaly in 15 (79%), and posterior encephalocele in 5 (26.3%) of the cases. Other associated malformations include diaphragmatic defects with a accompanying hernia, omphalocele, gastrointestinal malformations, cardiovascular and genitourinary malformations, single nostril, facial cleft, spina bifida, hypoplastic lungs, club foot and single umbilical artery. No single causative agent for this group was identified. A brief review of the literature is included regarding categorization of these malformations and also a discussion of the embryological basis for these lesions and possible etiological factors.
14‐3‐3β‐Rac1‐p21 activated kinase signaling regulates Akt1‐mediated cytoskeletal organization, lamellipodia formation and fibronectin matrix assembly

Akt1 belongs to the three‐gene Akt family and functions as a serine–threonine kinase regulating phosphorylation of an array of substrates and mediating cellular processes such as cell migration, proliferation, survival, and cell cycle. Our previous studies have established the importance of Akt1 in angiogenesis and absence of Akt1 resulted in impaired integrin activation, adhesion, migration, and extracellular matrix assembly by endothelial cells and fibroblasts. In this study, we identify the downstream signaling pathways activated by Akt1 in the regulation of these cellular events. We demonstrate here that Akt1 is necessary for the growth factor stimulated activation of 14‐3‐3β‐Rac1‐p21 activated kinase (Pak) pathway in endothelial cells and fibroblasts. While activation of Akt1 resulted in translocation of Rac1 to membrane ruffles, enhanced Rac1 activity, Pak1 phosphorylation, and lamellipodia formation, resulting in enhanced adhesion and assembly of fibronectin, inhibition of Akt1 resulted in inhibition of these processes due to impaired Rac1‐Pak signaling. Formation of lamellipodia, adhesion, and fibronectin assembly by myristoylated Akt1 expression in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts was inhibited by co‐expression with either dominant negative Rac1 or dominant negative Pak1. In contrast, impaired lamellipodia formation, adhesion, and fibronectin assembly by dominant negative‐Akt1 expression was rescued by co‐expression with either constitutively active‐Rac1 or ‐Pak1. Moreover, previously reported defects in adhesion and extracellular matrix assembly by Akt1−/− fibroblasts could be rescued by expression with either active‐Rac1 or ‐Pak1, implying the importance of Rac1‐Pak signaling in growth factor stimulated cytoskeletal assembly, lamellipodia formation and cell migration in endothelial cells and fibroblasts downstream of Akt1 activation. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 394–404, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Appropriateness of Plasma Transfusion: A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes Study of Guidelines, Waste, and Serious Adverse Events.

CONTEXT - Plasma transfusion guidelines support patient care and safety, management of product wastage, and compliance; yet, there is little information across multiple institutions about use of and adherence to plasma transfusion guidelines. OBJECTIVE - To survey multiple institutions regarding their plasma transfusion guidelines and compliance, plasma wastage rates, and incidence of transfusion reactions associated with plasma transfusion. DESIGN - The College of American Pathologists Q-Probes model was used to collect data from 89 participating institutions. Each site was asked to provide data relevant to its most recent 40 adult patient plasma transfusion episodes, and complete a questionnaire regarding plasma transfusion guidelines, utilization and wastage of plasma, and transfusion reactions related to plasma transfusion. RESULTS - The participating institutions reported a total of 3383 evaluable plasma transfusion episodes with transfusion of 9060 units of plasma. Compliance with institution-specific guidelines was seen in 3018 events (89%). Pretransfusion and posttransfusion coagulation testing was done in 3281 (97%) and 3043 (90%) of these episodes, respectively. Inappropriate criteria were noted for more than 100 transfusion episodes. Thirty-two plasma transfusion episodes (1%) were associated with a transfusion reaction. Serious and fatal reactions were reported. Median plasma wastage rate for the year preceding the study was 4.5%. CONCLUSIONS - Most participating institutions are compliant with plasma transfusion guidelines based on published references, supported by appropriate testing. With transfusions for indications that lack evidence of efficacy and incidence of transfusion reactions, there is an ongoing role for transfusion service leaders to continue to update and monitor plasma transfusion practices.
Impaired in-vitro growth of megakaryocytic colonies derived from CD34 cells of HIV-1-infected patients with active viral replication

Objective:To address the mechanisms of the thrombocytopoietic dysfunction that may follow HIV infection and to compare peripheral blood and bone marrow as sources of CD34 progenitor cells in HIV-infected patients. Methods:The study used CD34 progenitor cells from 20 previously untreated HIV-infected individuals, 20 HIV-infected individuals treated with antiretroviral therapy and a control group of 20 HIV-uninfected healthy individuals to examine in-vitro megakaryocytopoiesis. There were no hematological abnormalities at baseline in the study groups. CD34 progenitor cells derived from peripheral blood and bone marrow were purified and cultured in medium containing thrombopoietin, interleukin-3, and interleukin-6. HIV-1 plasma viral load was determined by b-DNA technique. Expression of receptors for thrombopoietin, interleukin-3, and interleukin-6 was assessed on CD34 cells by flow cytometry, and numbers of receptors per single cell were calculated by Quanticalc software. Results:Growth of megakaryocytopoietic colony-forming units (CFU-MK) were impaired in untreated HIV-infected individuals despite normal platelet counts. Viral load levels inversely correlate with CFU-MK growth and platelet counts. Antiretroviral drug-treated individuals showed normal megakaryocyte development. Similar results were obtained whether the CD34 progenitor cells derived from peripheral blood or bone marrow. Conclusions:These findings suggest that megakaryocyte differentiation is impaired before the onset of overt thrombocytopenia in HIV-infected patients and provide evidence for a direct link between viral replication and perturbed megakaryocytopoiesis, which appears to be prevented and/or restored by antiretroviral therapy. The results indicate that peripheral blood represents a suitable source of CD34 hematopoietic progenitors for studies of megakaryocytopoiesis in HIV disease.
A Test of the Job Characteristics Model with Administrative Positions in Physical Education and Sport

This study examined the appropriateness of using Hackman and Oldham's (1976, 1980) Job Characteristics Model with a sample of university physical education and sport administrators (NV = 217). The Job Characteristics Model specifies certain relationships between the design characteristics of a job and the levels of motivation, satisfaction, and productivity experienced by the worker. It also considers the effect of individual differences in moderating the relationships. The results of this study showed strong support for only some components of the theoretical model. In particular some relationships involving growth satisfaction and autonomy were not as predicted by the model. In addition, individual differences did not function as moderators of the relationships in the model. While theoretical models can be useful in helping to explain phenomena in the field of sport management, researchers in the field must continue to test the applicability of models developed in other fields.
Muscle glycogen reduction in man: relationship between surface EMG activity and oxygen uptake kinetics during heavy exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine whether muscle glycogen reduction prior to exercise would alter muscle fibre recruitment pattern and change either on‐transient O2 uptake ( ) kinetics or the slow component. Eight recreational cyclists ( , 55.6 ± 1.3 ml kg −1 min−1) were studied during 8 min of heavy constant‐load cycling performed under control conditions (CON) and under conditions of reduced type I muscle glycogen content (GR). was measured breath‐by‐breath for the determination of kinetics using a double‐exponential model with independent time delays. was higher in the GR trial compared to the CON trial as a result of augmented phase I and II amplitudes, with no difference between trials in the phase II time constant or the magnitude of the slow component. The mean power frequency (MPF) of electromyography activity for the vastus medialis increased over time during both trials, with a greater rate of increase observed in the GR trial compared to the CON trial. The results suggest that the recruitment of additional type II motor units contributed to the slow component in both trials. An increase in fat metabolism and augmented type II motor unit recruitment contributed to the higher in the GR trial. However, the greater rate of increase in the recruitment of type II motor units in the GR trial may not have been of sufficient magnitude to further elevate the slow component when was already high and approaching .
AtPDS overexpression in tomato: exposing unique patterns of carotenoid self‐regulation and an alternative strategy for the enhancement of fruit carotenoid content

Summary The regulation of plant carotenogenesis is an active research area for both biological discovery and practical implementation. In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), we demonstrate additional bottlenecks exist in the poly‐cis‐transformation of phytoene to lycopene in the context of ripening‐induced PSY1 expression and activity and reveal phytoene desaturase (PDS), as a target for manipulation towards elevated lycopene content in maturing tomato fruit. Overexpression of Arabidopsis PDS, AtPDS, elevated PDS transcript abundance in all aerial tissues resulting in both altered carotenoid accumulation and associated pathway gene expression in a tissue‐specific manner. Significant increases in downstream carotenoids (all‐trans‐lycopene and β‐carotene) and minimal changes in carotenogenic gene expression (carotenoid isomerase‐like 1, CRTIL1) suggest overexpression of heterologous AtPDS in tomato circumvents endogenous regulatory mechanism observed with previous strategies. In transgenic leaves, depletion of the PDS substrate, phytoene, was accompanied by minor, but significant increases in xanthophyll production. Alterations in the leaf carotenogenic transcript profile, including the upstream MEP pathway, were observed revealing unique feedback and feedforward regulatory mechanisms in response to AtPDS overexpression. AtPDS overexpression in the background of the tangerine (carotenoid isomerase, CRTISO) mutant exposes its potential in elevating downstream cis‐lycopene accumulation in ripe tomato fruit, as cis‐lycopene is more bioavailable yet less abundant than all‐trans‐lycopene in the wild‐type control. In summary, we demonstrate the limitation of PDS in ripening fruit, its utility in modifying carotenoid profiles towards improved quality, and reveal novel carotenoid pathway feedback regulation.
Risk of malignant neoplasms after liver transplantation: A population‐based study

Posttransplant malignancies have become a serious long‐term complication after liver transplantation. Our aim was to compare the incidence of posttransplant cancers with national cancer incidence rates. The study included all Finnish liver transplant patients transplanted at the Helsinki University Central Hospital between 1982 and 2005. The cohort was linked with the nationwide Finnish Cancer Registry. Observed numbers of cancers were compared to site‐specific expected numbers based on national cancer incidence rates stratified by age, sex, and calendar time. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated as observed‐to‐expected ratios. Thirty‐nine posttransplant de novo cancers and 11 basal cell carcinomas were found in the cohort of 540 patients during 3222 person years of follow‐up. The overall SIR was 2.59 (95% confidence interval 1.84‐3.53). SIR was higher for males (SIR 4.16) than for females (SIR 1.74), higher among children (SIR 18.1) than among adults (SIR 5.77 for ages of 17‐39 years and 2.27 for ages ≥ 40 years), and more elevated in the immediate posttransplant period (SIR 3.71 at < 2 years) compared to later periods (SIR 2.46 at 2‐10 years and 1.53 at >10 years). The most common cancer types were nonmelanoma skin cancer (SIR 38.5) and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR 13.9). Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma was associated with male gender, young age, and the immediate posttransplant period, whereas old age and antibody induction therapy increased skin cancer risk. In conclusion, cancer incidence is increased among liver transplant patients compared to the general population. This study points out the importance of cancer surveillance after liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 14:1428–1436, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
11.2 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor-on-a-chip

The increasing popularity of mobile devices such as smart phones in applications including smart payments and personal health sets a pressing need for improved security without compromised ease of use. Fingerprint recognition has emerged as a particularly attractive option. Unfortunately, present capacitive solutions suffer from poor accuracy in the presence of contamination such as perspiration, and in addition are easily compromised, e.g., with fingerprints recovered from the device surface.
Functional characterization of a bacterial expansin from Bacillus subtilis for enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

Expansin is a plant protein family that induces plant cell wall‐loosening and cellulose disruption without exerting cellulose‐hydrolytic activity. Expansin‐like proteins have also been found in other eukaryotes such as nematodes and fungi. While searching for an expansin produced by bacteria, we found that the BsEXLX1 protein from Bacillus subtilis had a structure that was similar to that of a β‐expansin produced by maize. Therefore, we cloned the BsEXLX1 gene and expressed it in Escherichia coli to evaluate its function. When incubated with filter paper as a cellulose substrate, the recombinant protein exhibited both cellulose‐binding and cellulose‐weakening activities, which are known functions of plant expansins. In addition, evaluation of the enzymatic hydrolysis of filter paper revealed that the recombinant protein also displayed a significant synergism when mixed with cellulase. By comparing the activity of a mixture of cellulase and the bacterial expansin to the additive activity of the individual proteins, the synergistic activity was found to be as high as 240% when filter paper was incubated with cellulase and BsEXLX1, which was 5.7‐fold greater than the activity of cellulase alone. However, this synergistic effect was observed when only a low dosage of cellulase was used. This is the first study to characterize the function of an expansin produced by a non‐eukaryotic source. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 1342–1353. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aniracetam reduces glutamate receptor desensitization and slows the decay of fast excitatory synaptic currents in the hippocampus.

Aniracetam is a nootropic drug that has been shown to selectively enhance quisqualate receptor-mediated responses in Xenopus oocytes injected with brain mRNA and in hippocampal pyramidal cells [Ito, I. , Tanabe, S. , Kohda, A. & Sugiyama, H. (1990) J. Physiol. (London) 424, 533-544]. We have used patch clamp recording techniques in hippocampal slices to elucidate the mechanism for this selective action. We find that aniracetam enhances glutamate-evoked currents in whole-cell recordings and, in outside-out patches, strongly reduces glutamate receptor desensitization. In addition, aniracetam selectively prolongs the time course and increases the peak amplitude of fast synaptic currents. These findings indicate that aniracetam slows the kinetics of fast synaptic transmission and are consistent with the proposal [Trussell, L. O. & Fischbach, G. D. (1989) Neuron 3, 209-218; Tang, C. -M. , Dichter, M. & Morad, M. (1989) Science 243, 1474-1477] that receptor desensitization governs the strength of fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain.
Children's Internet Searching on Complex Problems: Performance and Process Analyses

The research reported here examined the effects of task structure on elementary school students' information seeking on the Internet. Thirty-two 5th- and 6th-grade students searched on 2 tasks (1 well-defined and 1 ill-defined) for information that was relevant to solving 2 problems. Information-seeking process behaviors were analyzed by collecting computer trace data of each students search. Information-seeking performance was measured by 2 adult raters and by students' own judgments of all documents found. Analyses of students' process behaviors illustrated that children are interactive information seekers, preferring to browse rather than plan or employ systematic analytic-based searching strategies. Performance results indicated that children have difficulty finding relevant information on the Internet, however, children did search more effectively on the ill-defined task than on the well-defined one. Further, when judging their own performance, students rated their work equally on both tasks, yet adult judges found that students performed significantly worse on the well-defined task. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Prognostic Value of Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase–Associated Lipocalin for Mortality in Patients With Heart Failure

Background— In patients with heart failure, renal dysfunction is associated with a poor outcome. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of plasma neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL), a novel marker of renal tubular damage, in patients with heart failure with or without renal dysfunction, and compare it with 2 frequently used biomarkers of chronic kidney disease. Methods and Results— Plasma NGAL, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and cystatin C were assessed in 562 patients with heart failure. Chronic kidney disease was defined as eGFR<60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Outcome was all-cause mortality at 36 months. Mean age was 71±11 years, 61% were men, and 97% were in New York Heart Association functional class II/III. Mean baseline eGFR was 54±20 mL/min per 1.73 m2, mean cystatin C was 11.2 (7.7–16.2) mg/L, and median plasma NGAL was 85 (60–123) ng/mL. Higher plasma NGAL levels were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, in patients with and without chronic kidney disease (hazard ratio [per SD increase in log NGAL]=1.45 [1.22–1.72]; P<0.001 and hazard ratio=1.51 [1.06–2.16]; P=0.023, respectively). Similarly, both in patients with high and low cystatin C (median cut-off), higher plasma NGAL levels were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Moreover, when NGAL was entered in the multivariable risk prediction model, eGFR (P=0.616) and cystatin C (P=0.937) were no longer associated with mortality. Conclusions— Plasma NGAL predicts mortality in patients with heart failure, both in patients with and without chronic kidney disease and is a stronger predictor for mortality than the established renal function indices eGFR and cystatin C.