Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urinary platelet factor four (Pf4) levels in mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis and thin basement membrane disease.

The aim of this study was to assess the significance of platelet factor four (Pf4) excretion in the urine of patients with mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis (IgAGN) and thin basement membrane disease (TBMD), and ascertain if Pf4 is a useful parameter to distinguish these diseases. The concentration of Pf4 in urine (Pf4) was determined by an enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with IgAGN (n = 80), TBMD (n = 37), membranous nephropathy (MN) (n = 12), minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) (n = 3), crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) (n = 6) and in healthy controls (n = 20), and then compared with urinalysis and renal function. An immunoperoxidase method was used to examine urine sediments for the presence of platelets. Urinary Pf4 was detected in 35 out of 80 patients with IgAGN (median 0.15, range 0.07-2.5 ng/ml, n = 35), in only 2 out of 37 patients with TBMD (p less than 0.005), in all patients with CGN and in no patients from MN, MCNS or control groups. A positive correlation between urinary Pf4 levels and red blood cell counts was observed in patients with IgAGN (r = 0.876, p less than 0.001), but not in TBMD. Pf4 did not correlate with proteinuria or plasma creatinine in either group. Platelets were detected in urine in 10 out of 15 patients with IgAGN but in only 1 out of 9 patients with TBMD. Urinary red blood cell counts in all of these 24 patients were over 100,000/ml. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Time‐Dependence of Appropriate Implantable Defibrillator Therapy in Patients with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Little is known about the risk of appropriate implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) therapy outside the context of controlled clinical trials where routine practice patients are followed for longer durations and questions of device replacement frequently arise. We assessed the incidence and time‐dependence of appropriate ICD therapy in a routine clinical practice primary prevention population with prior myocardial infarction (MI) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Decimation-in-Time FFT Subblocking for Partial Transmit Sequence OFDM

We consider an IFFT-based technique for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. The intermediate signals in a radix decimation-in-time (DIT) algorithm is used for subblock partitioning in the partial transmit sequence (PTS) technique. We present a new subblocking technique which significantly reduces the computational complexity while providing PAPR reduction comparable to that with ordinary PTS.
A Necessary and Sufficient Determinant for Protein-selective Glycosylation in Vivo*

A limited number of glycoproteins including luteinizing hormone and carbonic anhydrase-VI (CA6) bear N-linked oligosaccharides that are modified with β1,4-linked N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). The selective addition of GalNAc to these glycoproteins requires that the β1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (βGT) recognize both the oligosaccharide acceptor and a peptide recognition determinant on the substrate glycoprotein. We report here that two recently cloned βGTs, βGT3 and βGT4, that are able to transfer GalNAc to GlcNAc in β1,4-linkage display the necessary glycoprotein specificity in vivo. Both βGTs transfer GalNAc to N-linked oligosaccharides on the luteinizing hormone α subunit and CA6 but not to those on transferrin (Trf). A single peptide recognition determinant encoded in the carboxyl-terminal 19-amino acid sequence of bovine CA6 mediates transfer of GalNAc to each of its two N-linked oligosaccharides. The addition of this 19-amino acid sequence to the carboxyl terminus of Trf confers full acceptor activity onto Trf for both βGT3 and βGT4 in vivo. The complete 19-amino acid sequence is required for optimal GalNAc addition in vivo, indicating that the peptide sequence is both necessary and sufficient for recognition by βGT3 and βGT4.
Aphid Acceptance of Barley Exposed to Volatile Phytochemicals Differs Between Plants Exposed in Daylight and Darkness

It is well known that volatile cues from damaged plants may induce resistance in neighbouring plants. Much less is known about the effects of volatile interaction between undamaged plants. In this study, barley plants, Hordeum vulgare cv. Kara, were exposed to volatiles from undamaged plants of barley cv. Alva or thistle Cirsium vulgare, and to the volatile phytochemicals, and to methyl salicylate or methyl jasmonate. Exposures were made either during natural daylight or darkness. Acceptance of exposed plants by the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi was assessed, as well as the expression of putative marker genes for the different treatments. Aphid acceptance of plants exposed to either barley or C. vulgare was significantly reduced, and an effect of the volatiles from undamaged plants was confirmed by the induction of pathogenesis-related protein, PR1a in exposed plants. However the effect on aphid acceptance was seen only when plants were exposed during darkness, whereas PR1a was induced only after treatment during daylight. Aphid acceptance of plants exposed to either methyl salicylate or methyl jasmonate was significantly reduced, but only when plants were exposed to the chemicals during daylight. AOS2 (allene oxide synthase) was induced by methyl jasmonate and BCI-4 (barley chemical inducible gene-4) by methyl salicylate in both daylight and darkness. It is concluded that (a) the effects on aphids of exposing barley to volatile phytochemicals was influenced by the presence or absence of light and (b) the response of barley to methyl salicylate/methyl jasmonate and to volatiles from undamaged plants differed at the gene and herbivore level.
Transient NMDA Receptor Inactivation Provides Long-Term Protection to Cultured Cortical Neurons from a Variety of Death Signals

NMDA receptor antagonists, such as (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), potently block glutamate-induced neuronal death in myriad in vitro cell models and effectively attenuate ischemic damage in vivo. In this report, a novel role for MK-801 and other NMDA receptor antagonists in preconditioning neurons to withstand a wide range of subsequent lethal insults is described. A brief 30 min exposure to 0.1 μmMK-801, applied up to 96 hr before a “lethal” insult, protected primary cortical neurons from a diverse group of neurotoxic agents, including NMDA, β-amyloid, staurosporine, etoposide, and oxygen–glucose deprivation. This neuroprotective preconditioning by MK-801 arose from transient NMDA receptor inactivation, because the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists memantine and nylindin and the competitive antagonist AP-5 gave similar effects. MK-801 protection was dependent on new protein synthesis during the first 2 hr, but not from 2 to 5 hr, after MK-801 exposure. The MK-801 transient did not alter the ability of NMDA to trigger normally lethal [Ca2+]i influx 48 hr later, but it did block early downstream signaling events coupled to NMDA neurotoxicity, including PKC inactivation and the activation of calpain. Moreover, MK-801 protected neurons from staurosporine-induced apoptosis, although caspase activation in these cells was unimpeded. It is likely that the stress associated with transient inactivation of NMDA receptors triggered a rapid compensatory survival response that provided long-term protection from a spectrum of insults, inducing apoptotic and nonapoptotic death. The possibility that MK-801 preconditioning blocks an event common to seemingly diverse death mechanisms suggests it will be an important tool for obtaining a clearer understanding of the salient molecular events at work in neuronal death and survival pathways.
Tai Chi for Stroke Rehabilitation: A Focused Review

ABSTRACT This focused review summarizes and critically evaluates clinical trial evidence for the effectiveness of Tai Chi as a supportive therapy for stroke rehabilitation. All prospective, controlled clinical trials published in English or Chinese and involving the use of Tai Chi by survivors of stroke were searched in eight electronic databases. Information from the included studies was extracted and synthesized. The methodological quality of all studies was assessed with the Jadad score. Five randomized controlled trials, four in English and one in Chinese, met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The methodological quality of the trials was moderate (Jadad score, range, 1–4; average score, 2.6). Meta-analysis was not performed because of the heterogeneity of the study conditions and outcome measures. Three studies reported benefits of Tai Chi with respect to improved balance in participants who have had a stroke. Three studies assessed mobility function and reported no improvement after Tai Chi intervention in survivors of stroke. Improvements in quality-of-life and mental health were reported in three trials. This focused review suggests that Tai Chi exercise might be beneficial with respect to balance, quality-of-life, and mental health in survivors of stroke. More rigorous randomized controlled trials are required to determine whether Tai Chi is effective in stroke rehabilitation.
Geographical variation in relationships between parental body size and offspring phenotype at birth

Background. Size and body proportions at birth are partly determined by maternal body composition, but most studies of mother–baby relationships have only considered the effects of maternal height and weight on offspring birth weight, and few have examined the size of effects. Paternal size and body composition also play a role, primarily through the fetal genome, although few studies have investigated relationships with neonatal phenotype. Methods. Data from the UK, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, China, DR Congo, Nigeria and Jamaica were used to investigate the effects of maternal measures (derived at 30 weeks’ gestation, n=16,418), and also paternal size (n=3,733) on neonatal phenotype, for singleton, live‐born, term births. Results. After accounting for variation in maternal size and shape across populations, differences in neonatal phenotype were markedly reduced. Mother–baby relationships were similar across populations, although some were stronger in developing countries. Maternal height was generally the strongest predictor of neonatal length, maternal head circumference of neonatal head and maternal skinfold thickness of neonatal skinfolds. Relationships with maternal arm muscle area were generally weak. Effects of paternal height and body mass index were weaker than the equivalent maternal measurements in most studies. Conclusions. Differences in maternal body composition account for a large part of the geographical variation in neonatal phenotype. The size of the effects of all maternal measures on neonatal phenotype suggests that nutrition at every stage of the mother's life cycle may influence fetal growth. Further research is needed into father–baby relationships and the genetic mechanisms that influence fetal growth.
Dealing in desire

This is a review of Kimberly Kay Hoang’s (2015) Dealing in Desire . Her ethnographic study observes four different bars in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: 1) Kong Sao Bar, 2) Naught Girls, 3) Secrets, and 4) Lavender. Hoang traces different representations of the global financial sector after the 2008 financial crisis and explores the relationship between Asian ascendancy and Western decline. From the local to the international, interactions with clients and hostesses in the bars of Ho Chi Minh City demonstrate a new global trend: the rise in transactions occurring among a global financial sector undefined by traditional social structures (e.g., commercial or national banks). By moving from observer to participant, Hoang develops a deeper understanding of the capital and labour practices that these men and women engage in, highlighting how their everyday experiences demonstrate that nightlife in the city is a way for locals to move up the socio-economic ladder.
Novel approach to reflow oven design to control and optimise lead free soldering process

Much research has been carried out to understand the impact of lead-free soldering on electronics manufacture. The magnitude of the impact extends to the business, mechanics, product and processes supported by companies. Surveys have showed that most companies may be able to cope with the new legislation if they can meet the cost of process changes and capital investments required for the new facilities and the knowledge required. The main influenced areas are the soldering process using the conventional ovens, maintaining quality of solders and achieving flexible production. Researchers at Loughborough University have been investigating an innovative soldering oven that not only eliminates the high investment cost of existing reflow ovens, but it can also improve the productivity of the production line by providing the ability to solder smaller and more variable batch size and types. The new oven has ability to control temperature accurately in an enclosed chamber. The oven is also capable of applying inert gas for rapid cooling down of products. In this paper, a set of laboratory experiments are described that examine the microstructure and the quality of solders in such ovens by testing heating profiles, heating times, cooling rates, and ageing processes. The authors conclude by proposing a set of recommendations for soldering profiles, materials and cooling rates to be used for lead-free soldering that adopted by the new oven
POU5F1, encoding a key regulator of stem cell pluripotency, is fused to EWSR1 in hidradenoma of the skin and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands

The EWSR1 gene is known to play a crucial role in the development of a number of different bone and soft tissue tumours, notably Ewing's sarcoma. POU5F1 is expressed during early development to maintain the totipotent status of embryonic stem and germ cells. In the present study, we report the fusion of EWSR1 and POU5F1 in two types of epithelial tumours: hidradenoma of the skin and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands. This finding not only broadens considerably the spectrum of neoplasms associated with EWSR1 fusion genes but also strengthens the evidence for shared pathogenetic mechanisms in the development of adnexal and salivary gland tumours. Reminiscent of the previously reported fusion genes involving EWSR1, the identified transcript is predicted to encode a chimeric protein consisting of the EWSR1 amino‐terminal domain and the POU5F1 carboxy‐terminal domain. We assessed the transcriptional activation potential of the chimera compared to the wild‐type proteins, as well as activation of transcription through the oct/sox composite element known to bind POU5F1. Among other POU5F1 target genes, this element is present in the promoter of NANOG and in the distal enhancer of POU5F1 itself. Our results show that although the chimera is capable of significant transcriptional activation, it may in fact convey a negative regulatory effect on target genes. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Altered Expression Patterns of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins A2 and B1 in the Adrenal Cortex

Several proteins implicated in hormonogenesis of the adrenal cortex have alternatively spliced isoforms, which respond differently to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2 and B1 are among the abundant pre-mRNA-binding proteins involved in alternative splicing. We examined the expression of A2 and B1 in normal adrenal cortex and tumors. B1 was variably expressed in the zona fasciculata-reticularis, although A2 was diffusely expressed in the three zones. B1 was more abundant in compact cells than clear cells, and B1 expression was frequent in the zona reticularis, which consists mainly of compact cells. In three kinds of cortical adenomas autonomously producing hormones, B1 was generally overexpressed and there were no significant differences among them. In cortisol-producing tumors, non-tumor parts of the cortex, which were generally atrophic due to low ACTH, had less B1 protein than normal adrenals. These results suggested a correlation between B1 expression and the hormonal activity responding to ACTH. In vitro ACTH stimulation induced a biphasic expression of B1 in an H295R cortical carcinoma cell line, and it paralleled hormonogenesis. Conclusively, B1 expression varied in relation to the hormonal activity responding to the ACTH, and it may provide a key to elucidating the splicing mechanisms involved in hormonogenesis.
Active Videogaming in Youth with Physical Disability: Gameplay and Enjoyment.

OBJECTIVE For active videogaming (AVG) to be a meaningful, health-enhancing physical activity option for youth with physical disability, factors related to game performance and enjoyment must be understood. The objective was to explore associations between quality of gameplay, controller usage, heart rate (HR), physical function, and enjoyment during AVG play in youth with physical disability. METHODS Participants (5 girls, 11 boys, mean age 13.8 ± 2.7 years) played four AVGs on three platforms (Nintendo® Wii™, Sony PlayStation3 Move, and Microsoft Xbox® Kinect), across three sessions. Participants' primary means of mobility were manual (n = 13) and power (n = 3) wheelchairs; majority were diagnosed with cerebral palsy or spina bifida. Functional level was assessed using 17 International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health mobility items. Participants played each AVG for 8 minutes with a 5-minute rest. Quality of gameplay and ability to use controller were recorded on a five-point Likert scale. HR was recorded immediately following each game and participants completed the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). PACES scores were compared across games and correlations were examined among the variables. RESULTS PACES scores were significantly greater for Wii Punch-Out compared to Xbox Fitness, Sports Rivals, and Zumba, and for PS3 Sports Champions compared to Xbox Zumba. Higher HR was associated with higher quality of gameplay and a higher PACES score. As quality of gameplay increased, the PACES score increased. CONCLUSION Game performance and exercise intensity were positively correlated with AVG enjoyment in youth with physical disability, specifically mobility impairments. Further research is warranted to examine the capacity of AVG play to be an enjoyable health-enhancing activity for individuals with physical disability.
Smooth muscle caveolae differentially regulate specific agonist induced bladder contractions

Caveolae are cholesterol‐rich plasmalemmal microdomains that serve as sites for sequestration of signaling proteins and thus may facilitate, organize, and integrate responses to extracellular stimuli. While previous studies in the bladder have demonstrated alterations in caveolae with particular physiologic or pathologic conditions, little attention has been focused on the functional significance of these organelles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of caveolae in the modulation of receptor‐mediated signal transduction and determine the presence and localization of caveolin proteins in bladder tissue.
The dynamic effects of shocks in a clean surplus model

The paper derives some implications for the price-book value model of Ohlson [1995] and Feltham and Ohlson [1995] when earnings and dividends are subject to shocks (random disturbances). The paper’s main conclusion is that a one-time autoregressive earnings shock has a permanent effect on earnings, book value and dividends. Under a particular parameterization, a positive earnings shock increases book value only to the extent that its effect on productivity is transitory.
NMR solution structure of a complex of calmodulin with a binding peptide of the Ca2+ pump.

The three-dimensional structure of the complex between calmodulin (CaM) and a peptide corresponding to the N-terminal portion of the CaM-binding domain of the plasma membrane calcium pump, the peptide C20W, has been solved by heteronuclear three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The structure calculation is based on a total of 1808 intramolecular NOEs and 49 intermolecular NOEs between the peptide C20W and calmodulin from heteronuclear-filtered NOESY spectra and a half-filtered experiment, respectively. Chemical shift differences between free Ca(2+)-saturated CaM and its complex with C20W as well as the structure calculation reveal that C20W binds solely to the C-terminal half of CaM. In addition, comparison of the methyl resonances of the nine assigned methionine residues of free Ca(2+)-saturated CaM with those of the CaM/C20W complex revealed a significant difference between the N-terminal and the C-terminal domain; i.e., resonances in the N-terminal domain of the complex were much more similar to those reported for free CaM in contrast to those in the C-terminal half which were significantly different not only from the resonances of free CaM but also from those reported for the CaM/M13 complex. As a consequence, the global structure of the CaM/C20W complex is unusual, i.e., different from other peptide calmodulin complexes, since we find no indication for a collapsed structure. The fine modulation in the peptide protein interface shows a number of differences to the CaM/M13 complex studied by Ikura et al. [Ikura, M. , Clore, G. M. , Gronenborn, A. M. , Zhu, G. , Klee, C. B. , and Bax, A. (1992) Science 256, 632-638]. The unusual binding mode to only the C-terminal half of CaM is in agreement with the biochemical observation that the calcium pump can be activated by the C-terminal half of CaM alone [Guerini, D. , Krebs, J., and Carafoli, E. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 15172-15177].
Estimating the Cost‐of‐Equity Capital Using Empirical Asset Pricing Models

Empirical asset pricing models seek to capture characteristic&#8208;based patterns in the cross&#8208;section of average stock returns. I propose a new approach for constructing these models, and investigate its performance with respect to estimating the cost&#8208;of&#8208;equity capital. Using a model that accounts for the cross&#8208;sectional relation between five characteristics and average stock returns, I obtain cost&#8208;of&#8208;equity estimates that outperform those produced by the Fama&#8208;French five&#8208;factor model in out&#8208;of&#8208;sample tests. Because the proposed approach builds directly on standard cross&#8208;sectional regression techniques, it provides complete flexibility in choosing the firm characteristics used to formulate the cost&#8208;of&#8208;equity estimates.
Enabling Early HARQ Feedback in 5G Networks

Besides coping with the increasing demand of broadband services, 5th Generation (5G) radio access technology is expected to support mission critical communication (MCC) services targeting very low latencies. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of the usage of an early Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback for reducing the latency of acknowledged transmissions without disregaring spectral efficiency. As enabler of such early feedback, a new technique for predicting the decoder outcome before decoding occurs, is proposed. This technique is intended to generate an early ACK/NACK, or an uncertain feedback in case a reliable prediction cannot be achieved. Simulation results show a very limited occurrence of false positives and false negatives, and uncertain feedback rates not exceeding 6% when adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) and a 10% Block Error Rate (BLER) target is assumed. A correct early ACK/NACK can be generated for around 90% of the transmissions or more.