Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Biochemical Insights into the Mechanisms of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Humans

Diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is difficult due to the lack of specific clinical symptoms and biomarkers, especially at early stages. We compared plasma metabolic fingerprints of PAH patients (n = 20) with matched healthy volunteers (n = 20) using, for the first time, untargeted multiplatform metabolomics approach consisting of high-performance liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed to select metabolites that contribute most to groups’ classification (21 from liquid in both ionization modes and 9 from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). We found metabolites related to energy imbalance, such as glycolysis-derived metabolites, as well as metabolites involved in fatty acid, lipid and amino acid metabolism. We observed statistically significant changes in threitol and aminomalonic acid in PAH patients, which could provide new biochemical insights into the pathogenesis of the disease. The results were externally validated on independent case and control cohorts, confirming up to 16 metabolites as statistically significant in the validation study. Multiplatform metabolomics, followed by multivariate chemometric data analysis has a huge potential for explaining pathogenesis of PAH and for searching potential and new more specific and less invasive markers of the disease.
The “Perfusion Map” of the Unipedicled TRAM Flap to Reduce Postoperative Partial Necrosis

The unipedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap is a well-known technique for breast reconstruction. However, it is clinically difficult to evaluate the blood perfusion of the flap in the operating room. A new technique of blood supply evaluation, employing indocyanine green dye (ICG) fluorescence videoangiography has been performed in 10 cases of unipedicled TRAM flap breast reconstruction. In our series, the ICG measurement was demonstrated to be a safe, quick, and accurate technique of flap perfusion analysis. We confirmed the presence of individual pattern (“perfusion map”) of the flap perfusion, zone II sometimes not being as well perfused as zone III. In this paper, we present our descriptive findings, and the ICG analysis seems to have a predictive value of unipedicled TRAM flap viability.
Pellicle Precursor Protein Crosslinking: Characterization of an Adduct between Acidic Proline-rich Protein (PRP-1) and Statherin Generated by Transglutaminase

Recent work with oral transglutaminase indicated that this enzyme, derived from oral epithelial cells, crosslinked pellicle precursor proteins which may be important in the formation of the acquired enamel pellicle. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether purified acidic PRP-1 can form crosslinks with statherin, and whether such a crosslink is derived from a transglutaminase-catalyzed reaction between glutaminyl and lysyl side-chains, leading to a covalent bond formation. Enzymatic reaction products were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and reverse-phase HPLC. The SDS electrophoretogram revealed a protein band with an apparent molecular weight of 32 kDa, which is consistent with the combined apparent molecular weight of acidic PRP-1 (24 kDa) and statherin (8 kDa). A reaction product isolated by HPLC was characterized by amino acid analysis, which showed a stoichiometry consistent with being an adduct composed of one molecule of acidic PRP-1 and one molecule of statherin. In negative control experiments, it could be shown that this adduct was not detected when the lysines of both substrates were modified by reductive methylation prior to the enzymatic reaction. In addition, amino acid analysis and mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of a γ-glutamyl-∈-lysine dipeptide after enzymatic hydrolysis and the absence of this dipeptide after acid hydrolysis. Analysis of the data obtained indicates that oral transglutaminase is capable of crosslinking acidic PRP-1 and statherin in vitro. In addition, this finding exemplifies the potential of post-secretory processing of salivary proteins, which may represent an additional mechanism to generate new protein species.
PROTEINURIA IN PRE‐ECLAMPSIA

The urine/serum ratios of seven proteins of varying molecular weight have been determined in patients with pre‐eclampsia, using radial immunodiffusion. A linear excretion pattern of protein clearance on molecular weight has been confirmed in pregnancy proteinuria. Protein selectivity indices, based on this relationship have been derived for each patient with pre‐eclampsia and were found to lie in the intermediate range of selectivity.
Empirical Model for the Effective Electron Mobility in Silicon Nanowires

An empirical model for the effective electron mobility in silicon nanowires (SiNWs) is presented. The model is based on published mobility data from numerical simulations of electron transport in SiNWs with different cross sections. Both phonon scattering and surface roughness scattering as well as the impact of the effective vertical field are considered. A comparison with a variety of experimental mobility data from the literature shows that the model can be treated as a reference for benchmarking different NW technologies. The effective field dependence is modeled by a simple expression making our mobility model very efficient for the use in numerical device simulators or in analytical MOSFET models.
Factors influencing independent oral feeding in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE Determine the mean post-menstrual age when preterm infants attain independent oral feeding skills and whether gestational age, common neonatal morbidities, gender, race, delivery route, or birth year affects this reflex. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 2700 preterm infants, born before 37 weeks gestational age admitted to a level III NICU between January 1978 and July 2013, to determine the post-menstrual age when independent oral feedings occur. RESULTS Mean post-menstrual age at achievement of independent oral feeding was 36 + 4/7 weeks ± 14 days. Gestational age under 29 weeks correlated with delayed post-menstrual age at achievement of independent oral feeding at 37 + 3/7 weeks versus 36 + 1/7 weeks for gestational age 29-33 weeks and 36 + 3/7 weeks for late preterm infants (p < 0.0001). Preterm infants with certain morbidities experienced a delay in independent oral feeding: necrotizing enterocolitis at 38 + 6/7 weeks (p < 0.0001), bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 38 + 1/7 weeks (p < 0.0001), severe intraventricular hemorrhage at 37 + 6/7 weeks (p < 0.001). Preterm infants born before the year 2000 achieved independent oral feeding two days later than preterm infants born since the year 2000 (p < 0.0001). Preterm infants delivered vaginally achieved independent oral feeding three days sooner than infants delivered via c-section (p < 0.0001). Female infants orally fed one day sooner than male preterm infants (p = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants achieve independent oral feeding at 36 + 4/7 weeks. Factors negatively influencing when the preterm infant will achieve independent oral feeding include gestational age under 29 weeks and major morbidities, whereas vaginal delivery and ongoing advances in neonatal care may accelerate the transition to independent oral feeding.
Clinical and paraclinical study regarding the macro- and microscopic diagnosis of various anatomo-clinical forms of operated uterine fibromyoma.

UNLABELLED The research focused on a systematic review of 959 cases operated for uterine fibromyoma (24.8%) from 3859 gynecological surgeries performed over a period of 10 years (2000-2010). MATERIALS AND METHODS The important parameters were those related to the general clinical and laboratory data, and especially those focused on the macro- and microscopic histopathological diagnostic methods. Thus, we inserted some details on the methods used for the histopathological examination of surgically removed samples. RESULTS The age of patients operated for uterine fibromyoma was between 20 and 60 years, with the highest incidence in the 40-50 years group (594 cases--62.4%). The most frequent anatomo-clinical forms observed were uterine fibromyoma with menometrorrhagia (78.9%), large uterine fibromyoma associated with compression and metrorrhagia (81.1%), uterine fibromyoma with aseptic necrobiosis (33.6%). The other forms showed a reduced frequency. Uterine fibromyoma associated with infertility was found in patients under 40-year-old, their evolution being initially asymptomatic. The incidence of uterine fibromyoma, which degenerated into a leiomyosarcoma, was "0". DISCUSSION 1/5 of patients operated after the age of 35 years presented with various anatomo-clinical forms of uterine fibromyoma. Several hypotheses are formulated regarding the etiopathogenesis, morphology and embryogenesis of this benign tumor of the myometrium. The estrogen-progestogen hormonal imbalance after this age in correlation with the genetic predisposition lead to the synthesis of various proteins, enzymes, and growth factors, decrease of apoptosis and stimulation of leiomyomatous cells with the development of a large, even gigantic form of fibromyoma, representing the most common form encountered in our study. The medical treatment with progesterone derivatives did not lead to the expected results, radical surgery usually being the final therapeutical approach. CONCLUSIONS Between 31 and 60-year-old, the incidence of operated uterine fibromyoma was 941 cases out of 959 (98.1%). The correlation between the preoperative clinical and laboratory diagnosis, the intra-operative morphological appearance and especially the post-operative histopathological examination was 100%. In all cases of uterine fibromyoma, histopathological examination was and will remain the sovereign exploration for surgical practice in general and for gynecological surgery in particular.
Segmental properties of input to infants: a study of Korean

ABSTRACT Segmental distributions of Korean infant-directed speech (IDS) and adult-directed speech (ADS) were compared. Significant differences were found in both consonant and vowel patterns. Korean-speaking mothers using IDS displayed more frequent labial consonantal place and less frequent coronal and glottal place and fricative manner. They showed more use of mid and low central vowels in IDS as well as more use of language-specific Korean phonemes. Mothers produced significantly more fortis and geminate and less lenis consonant phonemes in IDS than in ADS. Findings suggest that Korean mothers speaking to infants in the IDS speech style use sounds that more closely match infant production propensities as well as highlighting perceptually salient properties. IDS may serve to facilitate infant learning of ambient language phonological regularities.
Strategies for reliable diagnosis of hepatitis C infection: The need for a serological confirmatory assay

The aim of the study was to examine whether the diagnosis of Hepatitis C (HCV) infection can be obtained reliably without using an immunoblot‐based confirmation assay. 1,708 EIA‐reactive serum samples were examined retrospectively for (i) optical density value in the screening assay, (ii) reactivity in an immunoblot assay, and (iii) result by RT PCR. In 1,394 (81.0%) samples positive results were obtained by both the HCV EIA and the confirmation assay. OD‐values ≥2.2 were observed in 1026 of these samples, but covered the range from 0.4 to 2.1 in the other 368 samples. The combination of HCV EIA reactivity and indeterminate immunoblot assay was observed in 134 (7.8%) serum samples. HCV RNA was detected in 58 cases by PCR. The OD‐values of these 58 samples ranged from 0.4 to >2.2. Especially reactivity against the core recombinant protein was indicative of PCR positivity. The reactivity by the HCV EIA could not be confirmed by immunoblot assay or PCR in 180 (10.5%) sera. These false reactive sera showed OD values by EIA from 0.3 to 2.1. It is concluded that no threshold values can be defined which would allow differentiation between positive, indeterminate, and false reactive result by HCV EIA without producing an inacceptably high number of false negative diagnoses. Not using immunoblot‐based confirmation would result in many additional PCR examinations. Therefore, confirmation of reactive HCV EIA results by a serological confirmatory assay must remain an essential part of the diagnostic procedure. J. Med. Virol. 64:320–324, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An EP receptor with a novel pharmacological profile in the T‐cell line Jurkat

1 Comparison of the rank order of potency of the natural prostanoids prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGD2, PGF2a and carbaprostacyclin in stimulating cyclic AMP in Jurkat cells is consistent with the presence of an EP receptor. 2 Lack of responsiveness to the EP1/EP3 selective agonist, sulprostone, and the EP2 agonists, butaprost and AH 13205, indicates that this receptor is not of the EP1, EP2 or EP3 subtypes. 3 Inhibition of PGE2‐stimulated cyclic AMP by the EP4 antagonist, AH 23848 is non‐competitive, unlike the competitive antagonism reported in the pig saphenous vein EP4 preparation. Furthermore, 16,16‐dimethyl PGE2 is 100 fold less potent than PGE2 in Jurkat cells, while these agonists are equipotent in the rabbit jugular vein purported EP4 preparation. In addition, 1‐OH PGE1 which also is active in the rabbit jugular vein preparation, is inactive in Jurkat cells at concentrations up to 1 × 10−4 m. These data are not wholly consistent with any adenylate cyclase coupled EP receptor described to date. 4 It is postulated that an EP receptor, positively coupled to adenylate cyclase, with a unique pharmacological profile is present in Jurkat cells.
Drug Consumption Rooms in Rotterdam: An Explorative Description

The Rotterdam Drug Monitoring System used survey data, fieldnotes and interviews with staff to investigate the functioning of four (out of six) consumption rooms in Rotterdam. The results show that for most drug users, access to the drug consumption room results in less frequent drug use in public places and more time and rest. Pass holders value being able to use drugs safely inside, and make use of the additional services provided, such as refreshments, washing/showering facilities and talking with others about their personal problems. Two ‘weak points’ reported by the drug users are discussed in relation to their personal health situation and public nuisance reduction.
Glucose metabolism by preimplantation pig embryos.

Pig embryos were collected, 2-7 days after oestrus, in modified BMOC-2 containing glucose as the only energy source. Embryos were incubated individually in medium containing [5-(3)H]-, [1-(14)C]- or [6-(14)C]glucose. Total glucose metabolism, as measured by [5-(3)H]glucose use, increased steadily from the 1-cell to the 8-cell stage. Total glucose use increased (P less than 0.05) at the compacted morula stage and was highest (P less than 0.05) at the blastocyst stage. Production of 14CO2 from embryos metabolizing [1-(14)C]glucose increased steadily from the unfertilized ovum to the 8-cell stage. Metabolism of [1-(14)C]glucose increased at the compacted morula stage (P less than 0.05) and continued to increase (P less than 0.05) to the blastocyst stage. Metabolism of [6-(14)C]glucose increased steadily from the unfertilized ovum to the compacted morula stage. Metabolism of [6-(14)C]glucose was highest (P less than 0.05) for the blastocyst stage. Percentage pentose phosphate pathway activity of total glucose metabolism before the 4-cell stage was higher (greater than 5%) than that of 8-cell to blastocyst stage embryos (approximately 1%). When embryo metabolism was determined on a per cell basis for each isotope, the compacted morulae stage (16 cells) had a higher total glucose metabolism than all other embryo stages (P less than 0.05), while early blastocyst (32 cells) and blastocyst (64 cells) stage embryos metabolized more [5-(3)H]glucose than all stages except compacted morulae (P less than 0.05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cloning and characterization of the murine toll-like receptor 5 (Tlr5) gene: sequence and mRNA expression studies in Salmonella-susceptible MOLF/Ei mice.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a group of evolutionarily conserved pattern recognition receptors involved in the activation of the immune system in response to various pathogens. In this paper, we describe the cloning and characterization of the mouse homologue of human TLR5. Mouse Tlr5 encodes a 859-amino-acid protein that contains an N-terminal signal sequence, a leucine-rich repeat extracellular domain, a short transmembrane domain typical of type I transmembrane proteins, and a Toll/interleukin-1R signaling domain characteristic of all TLR proteins. The mouse Tlr5 protein shows 81% homology to human TLR5 and approximately 40% similarity to other TLR family members. Northern blot analysis reveals that Tlr5 is expressed predominantly in liver and lung with low-level expression in most other tissues examined. We have mapped Tlr5 to distal chromosome 1 using the (C57BL/6J x Mus spretus) x C57BL/6J Jackson BSB panel as well as a (C57BL/6J x MOLF/Ei)F(2) panel with the following position: D1Mit112-8.0 cM-Tlr5-9.6 cM-D1Mit17. The presence of a quantitative trait locus for susceptibility to Salmonella typhimurium on distal chromosome 1 prompted the examination of Tlr5 in susceptible MOLF/Ei mice. Polymorphic sequence variants in Tlr5 allowed us to identify a unique 4-allele haplotype in MOLF/Ei. Furthermore, using both Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we have shown a reduced expression of Tlr5 during infection of MOLF/Ei mice with Salmonella. The assignment of Tlr5 to a chromosomal region known to harbor a Salmonella-susceptibility locus together with decreased expression of Tlr5 mRNA in liver of susceptible MOLF/Ei mice suggests the possibility that, as with other members of this family, Tlr5 may play a role in host response to bacterial gram-negative infections.
A PE_PGRS33 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: an ideal target for future tuberculosis vaccine design

It is known that cellular immune response is relevant to fight against tuberculosis (TB); hence, identification of mycobacterial antigens that induce a protective immune cellular response is of great interest, especially for the development of effective TB vaccines. Genomic data have an impact on the identification of potential antigens as new vaccine targets. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the advances in new TB vaccine designs as well as the features reported for the pro-glu_polymorphic GC-rich sequence (PE_PGRS33) protein, considering this molecule as a prototype of the PE_PGRS family to better understand the biological function of this protein family that could be considered an ideal target for future vaccine design.
Assessment of Linear Inverse Problems in Magnetocardiography and Lorentz Force Eddy Current Testing

﻿Lineare inverse Probleme tauchen in vielen Bereichen von Wissenschaft und Technik auf. Effiziente Losungsstrategien fur diese inversen Probleme erfordern Informationen daruber, ob das Problem schlecht-gestellt und in welchem Ausmas dies der Fall ist. In der vorliegenden Dissertation wird eine umfassende theoretische Analyse existierender Bewertungsmase durchgefuhrt. Aus diesen Untersuchungen werden schlieslich zwei neue Bewertungsmase abgeleitet. Beide konnen bei einer Vielzahl linearer inverser Probleme angewendet werden, einschlieslich biomedizinische Anwendungen oder der zerstorungsfreien Materialprufung. Die theoretischen Betrachtungen zur Behandlung linearer inverser Probleme werden auf zwei Beispiele angewendet. Das erste ist die Magnetkardiographie, wo die Optimierung magnetischer Sensoren in einem westenahnlichen Sensorfeld untersucht wird. Fur die Messungen der magnetischen Flussdichte werden ublicherweise monoaxiale Sensoren in einem Feld perfekt parallel angeordnet. Eine zufallige Variation ihrer Ausrichtungen kann die Kondition des entsprechenden linearen inversen Problems verbessern. Eine theoretische Definition des Falls, in dem zufallige Variationen monoaxialer Sensoren den Zustand der Kernmatrix mit einer Wahrscheinlichkeit gleich Eins verbessern wird ebenfalls in der Dissertation vorgestellt. Diese theoretische Beobachtung ist allgemein gultig.Positionen und Orientierungen der Magnetsensoren rund um den Oberkorper wurden mit drei aus der Literatur bekannten Bewertungsmasen und einem neu in dieser Arbeit vorgeschlagenen Mas optimiert. Die besten Ergebnisse ergeben sich bei einer unregelmasigen Verteilung der Sensoren auf der Oberflache des Brustkorbes. Im Vergleich zu fruheren Untersuchungsergebnissen kann daraus geschlussfolgert werden, dass mit geringfugig abweichenden Sensoranordnungen ebenso gute Ergebnisse erzielt werden konnen. Ein zweites Anwendungsbeispiel ist ein Verfahren der zerstorungsfreien Materialprufung, das auch als Lorentzkraft-Wirbelstromprufung bekannt geworden ist. In dieser Arbeit wird eine neue Methode fur die kontaktlose, zerstorungsfreie Untersuchung leitfahiger Materialien vorgestellt. Dabei wird die Lorentzkraft gemessen, die auf einen Dauermagneten wirkt, der relativ zu einem Testkorper bewegt. Es wird eine neue Approximationsmethode fur die Berechnung der magnetischen Felder und der Lorentzkrafte vorgeschlagen.
Sprachverarbeitung: Grundlagen und Methoden der Sprachsynthese und Spracherkennung (Springer-Lehrbuch)

Das Buch erklrt die wesentlichen Anstze zur Sprachsynthese und zur Spracherkennung und vermittelt die dafr relevanten Grundlagen. Dazu gehren insbesondere: Grundkenntnisse ber die menschliche Sprachproduktion und -wahrnehmung; Eigenschaften von Sprachsignalen und ihre Darstellung; Grundkenntnisse in Linguistik, insbes. Phonetik, Morphologie und Syntax; die wichtigsten Transformationen und Methoden der digitalen Sprachsignalverarbeitung; statistische Anstze zur Beschreibung vieldimensionaler Gren und komplexer Zusammenhnge (Markov-Modelle und neuronale Netze) sowie die Formulierung und Anwendung von Wissen in der Form von Regeln. Das Buch geht auch auf viele praktische Probleme ein, die beim Konzipieren von sprachverarbeitenden Systemen zu lsen sind. Dieses gut lesbare Buch wendet sich insbesondere an Studenten und Praktiker im Bereich Sprachverarbeitung. Ein ausfhrliches Glossar und eine Internet-basierte Sammlung von Hrbeispielen ergnzen das Buch.