Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phagocyte dysfunction in polymyalgia rheumatica and other age‐related, chronic, inflammatory conditions

This study was conducted to evaluate phagocyte function in patients with age‐related chronic inflammatory conditions. It included 95 patients with PMR, 17 with GCA, 40 with EORA, and 25 age‐matched HCs. Serum IL‐8 was determined with a bead array. The chemotactic capacity, phagocytic ability, and oxidative burst activity of circulating leukocytes were determined with flow cytometry kits. Patients with active chronic inflammatory diseases showed a significant increase in circulating levels of IL‐8 that remained elevated in patients with PMR or EORA, despite treatment. No correlation was found between circulating IL‐8 and the migratoty capacity of neutrophils. Neutrophils from patients with active EORA without stimulus and after fMLP stimuli showed a higher capacity to migrate than those of the HCs (P=0.033). The phagocytic activity of granulocytes in the patients with GCA was significantly higher than in the HCs and the patients with PMR or EORA (P<0.05). The percentage and MFI of phagocytes that produce ROIs when stimulated with Escherichia coli was significantly reduced in neutrophils and monocytes from the patients with age‐restricted inflammatory conditions. We concluded that the effector functions of phagocytes, determined to be chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and oxidative burst, are deregulated in age‐restricted inflammatory disorders and may have a pathogenic role.
Outcomes and readmissions after transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with cirrhosis: A propensity matched analysis

The data on the comparative outcomes and readmissions after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with cirrhosis are limited. We compared mortality, complications, discharge disposition, 30‐day readmission rates, length of stay, and cost of hospitalization in cirrhotic patients undergoing TAVR and SAVR.
Bile-induced peptidoglycan remodelling in Salmonella enterica.

Changes in the peptidoglycan (PG) structure of Salmonella enterica are detected in the presence of a sublethal concentration of sodium deoxycholate (DOC): (i) lower proportions of Braun lipoprotein (Lpp)-bound muropeptides; (ii) reduced levels of muropeptides cross-linked by L(meso)-diaminopimelyl-D(meso)-diaminopimelic acid (L-D) peptide bridges (3-3 cross-links). Similar structural changes are found in S. enterica cultures adapted to grow in the presence of a lethal concentration of DOC, suggesting that reduced anchoring of Braun protein to PG and low occurrence of 3-3 cross-links may increase S. enterica resistance to bile. This view is further supported by additional observations: (i) A triple mutant lacking L,D-transpeptidases YbiS, ErfK, and YcfS, which does not contain Lpp anchored to PG, is hyper-resistant to bile; (ii) enhanced 3-3 cross-linking upon overexpression of YnhG transpeptidase causes a decrease in bile resistance. These observations suggest that remodelling of the cell wall may be added to the list of adaptive responses that permit survival of S. enterica in the presence of bile.
GENETIC CONTROL OF TWO PRE-ALBUMINS IN PIGS.

HREE loci controlling the synthesis of serum proteins in the pig have been Tidentified to date. KRISTJANSSON ( 1960a, b) has identified two alleles controlling the synthesis of transferrins in the pig and has demonstrated (1961) three alleles involved in the synthesis of pig haptoglobins. ASHTON (1960) has described three Yhread protein” phenotypes and on the basis of preliminary mating data has suggested that two alleles are involved in determining these phenotypes. In the same paper, ASHTON reports three P-globulin phenotypes which appear to be the same as the transferrin types described by KRISTJANSSON. KING (1961, personal communication) has identified a third transferrin allele and a fourth haptoglobin allele. Serum protein polymorphisms in several species have been reviewed by OGDEN (1961). Plasma protein polymorphisms in man have been reviewed by HARRIS ( 1961 ) , In the course of starch gel electrophoresis technique experiments, we have observed differences between individuals with respect to protein fractions (prealbumins) which migrate in advance of the serum albumin fraction. This report describes a starch gel electrophoresis procedure which yields discrete separation of pre-albumins, transferrins and haptoglobins in pig serum, and presents evidence concerning the genetic mechanism underlying the prealbumin polymorphism which has been observed.
CMV Viremia Is Associated With a Decreased Incidence of BKV Reactivation after Kidney and Kidney-Pancreas Transplantation

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and BK virus (BKV) infections can cause significant morbidity after kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant. There are limited data on the epidemiology and interactions between these two viral pathogens. Methods We prospectively screened 609 kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant recipients from January 2007 to June 2011 for BKV and/or CMV viremia. This included 7453 quantitative BKV polymerase chain reaction and 15,496 quantitative CMV polymerase chain reaction tests. We evaluated risk factors and timing of these infections and the impact of treatment of one infection on the other. Results Among 609 recipients, 108 (17.7%) developed CMV viremia, of which 95 (88%) were asymptomatic, 5 (5%) had CMV syndrome, and 8 (7%) developed CMV tissue invasive disease at a median of 5.6 months after transplantation. Risk factors for CMV infection using multivariable analysis were D+R- serogroup (P⩽0.0001), donor age >50 years (P=0.013), and higher mean tacrolimus (P=0.0009) and mycophenolate mofetil (P=0.01) blood levels. The incidence of BKV infection in the total population was 163 of 609 (26.7%), of which 150 (92%) occurred in patents without antecedent CMV viremia. Such patients demonstrated a higher rate of subsequent BKV viremia than patients with antecedent CMV viremia (P=0.003; hazard ratio, 2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–3.4). Moreover, we found that only symptomatic CMV viremia had a significant negative impact on graft survival when compared with asymptomatic CMV viremia and those without CMV viremia (relative risk, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–8.9; P=0.04). Conclusion CMV viremia may indirectly protect against subsequent BK viremia possibly due to a reduction of intensity of immunosuppression after diagnosis of CMV viremia.
The defibrillator in acute myocardial infarction trial (DINAMIT): study protocol.

BACKGROUND The implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) has been shown to be superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Its role in the primary prevention of sudden death after myocardial infarction is unknown. Methods and Results The Defibrillator in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (DINAMIT) is a randomized, open-label, parallel-group comparison of ICD therapy versus no ICD therapy in selected survivors of acute myocardial infarction. It will test the hypothesis that reduction of sudden arrhythmogenic death by means of the ICD will result in reduction of overall mortality rates in patients at high risk after acute myocardial infarction. Accordingly, this international multicenter study aims to enroll patients shortly after their infarction (day 6 to day 40) who have reduced left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction </=0. 35) and impairment of cardiac autonomic function shown by depressed heart rate variability (standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals </=70 ms) or elevated average 24-hour heart rate (mean 24-hour R-R interval </=750 ms, assessed by Holter monitoring). Patients will be followed for approximately 3 years on average with subsequent data analysis based on the intent-to-treat principle. Primary outcome is all-cause death. The trial is expected to be completed in 2003. CONCLUSIONS DINAMIT is the first prospective study to evaluate the benefit of ICD therapy for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients at high risk after acute myocardial infarction.
Probing the Rare Biosphere of the North-West Mediterranean Sea: An Experiment with High Sequencing Effort

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques have suggested the existence of a wealth of species with very low relative abundance: the rare biosphere. We attempted to exhaustively map this rare biosphere in two water samples by performing an exceptionally deep pyrosequencing analysis (~500,000 final reads per sample). Species data were derived by a 97% identity criterion and various parametric distributions were fitted to the observed counts. Using the best-fitting Sichel distribution we estimate a total species richness of 1,568–1,669 (95% Credible Interval) and 5,027–5,196 for surface and deep water samples respectively, implying that 84–89% of the total richness in those two samples was sequenced, and we predict that a quadrupling of the present sequencing effort would suffice to observe 90% of the total richness in both samples. Comparing the HTS results with a culturing approach we found that most of the cultured taxa were not obtained by HTS, despite the high sequencing effort. Culturing therefore remains a useful tool for uncovering marine bacterial diversity, in addition to its other uses for studying the ecology of marine bacteria.
Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty

Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on balloon Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) as a treatment modality for Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). We followed the PRISMA guideline and registered with PROSPERO No. CRD42014009461. Data Sources We searched 12 databases including PubMed and Embase from January 1, 2010, to April 7, 2014, for studies of BET. Endpoints: change in symptoms, middle ear pathology, eardrum status, Eustachian tube function tests, hearing, adverse events, complications, and health-related quality of life. Review Methods Study quality was assessed using the modified Delphi technique quality appraisal tool for case series studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias. Results Nine case series studies with 443 patients (642 tubes) were included. Population size n = 4 (7 tubes) to n = 210 (320 tubes). All studies were of poor quality and featured a high risk of bias. We found reduction of patient symptoms in ETD questionnaire (P < .001), postoperative normalization of the tympanic membrane, conversion of type B or type C into type A tympanograms, reduced mucosal inflammation, increased number of positive Valsalva test and Swallowing tests, improvement in Eustachian tube score, reduction in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22 score (P = .001), and increased quality of life (P = .001). No serious adverse events were found. Conclusion The evidence of BET is poor and biased. No firm conclusions can be made to identify patients who will benefit from the procedure or to accurately predict surgical results. Randomized controlled trials or case-control trials are needed.
Design of 3.3 V rail to rail operational amplifier for high resolution ADC driver amplifier

The design and analysis of a two stage high swing operational amplifier commonly known as rail to rail opamp with 3.3V supply voltage used in high resolution ADC driver amplifier is discussed in this paper. The design uses 0. 35μm CMOS technology with a differential stage for input and a common source stage (CS) as the second stage with output being single ended. The compensation technique used is Miller compensation which is in the form of a capacitor between the differential and CS stage. The open loop gain of the design is 89.87 dB and the achieved voltage swing is 82.42% of the supply rail.
Identifying Usability and Productivity Dimensions for Measuring the Success of Mobile Business Services

This paper reviews existing measures used for evaluating the usability of information systems and those used for evaluating the level of the productivity of a company. We discuss the usefulness of the existing measures in the mobile business context, where both mobility and work-context pose specific demands for the mobile business services. The review showed that the existing measures rarely consider the great contextual variation caused by the mobility of the services and the demands this poses on usability; which, in turn, affects productivity. To build a measurement tool that better meets the requirements of mobile business services, we completed case studies on two mobile business services, one used in passenger transport and the other in construction sites. Based on the understanding gained from the case studies, we propose a list of dimensions and items addressing both usability and productivity aspects that work as the basis for a multidisciplinary measurement tool.
Effects of Roads on Animal Abundance: an Empirical Review and Synthesis

The authors attempted a complete review of the empirical literature on effects of roads and traffic on animal abundance and distribution. They found 79 studies, with results for 131 species and 30 species groups. Overall, the number of documented negative effects of roads on animal abundance outnumbered the number of positive effects by a factor of 5; 114 responses were negative, 22 were positive, and 56 showed no effect. Amphibians and reptiles tended to show negative effects. Birds showed mainly negative or no effects, with a few positive effects for some small birds and for vultures. Small mammals generally showed either positive effects or no effect, mid-sized mammals showed either negative effects or no effect, and large mammals showed predominantly negative effects. The authors synthesized this information, along with information on species attributes, to develop a set of predictions of the conditions that lead to negative or positive effects or no effect of roads on animal abundance. Four species types are predicted to respond negatively to roads: (i) species that are attracted to roads and are unable to avoid individual cars; (ii) species with large movement ranges, low reproductive rates, and low natural densities; and (iii and iv) small animals whose populations are not limited by road-affected predators and either (a) avoid habitat near roads due to traffic disturbance or (b) show no avoidance of roads or traffic disturbance and are unable to avoid oncoming cars. Two species types are predicted to respond positively to roads: (i) species that are attracted to roads for an important resource (e.g., food) and are able to avoid oncoming cars, and (ii) species that do not avoid traffic disturbance but do avoid roads, and whose main predators show negative population-level responses to roads. Other conditions lead to weak or non-existent effects of roads and traffic on animal abundance. The authors identify areas where further research is needed, but they also argue that the evidence for population-level effects of roads and traffic is already strong enough to merit routine consideration of mitigation of these effects in all road construction and maintenance projects.
Threonine‐74 Is a Key Site for the Activity of Clostridium perfringens Alpha‐Toxin

A mutant toxin (MT) that abolished almost 99% of the hemolytic activity of alpha‐toxin was isolated by random polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mutagenesis of the gene for Clostridium perfringens alpha‐toxin. In the mutant toxin, the amino acids at Tyr (Y)‐62, Thr (T)‐74 and Ile (I)‐345 were substituted with His, Ile and Met, respectively. Replacement of T‐74 with Ile by site‐directed mutagenesis resulted in the loss of hemolytic, phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase activities by 1/250‐fold of that of the wild‐type. The replacement of Y‐62 with Ile or I‐345 with Met alone did not affect the activities of the toxin. T74I mutant bound to sheep erythrocyte membranes and specifically bound [65Zn]2+ in Tris‐buffered saline, in the same manner as the wild‐type, and contained 2 mol of zinc ions per mol of protein. These results suggest that the T‐74 residue plays a key role in these biological activities of C. perfringens alpha‐toxin.
Determination of external and internal mass transfer limitation in nitrifying microbial aggregates

In this article we present a study of the effects of external and internal mass transfer limitation of oxygen in a nitrifying system. The oxygen uptake rates (OUR) were measured on both a macro‐scale with a respirometric reactor using off‐gas analysis (Titrimetric and Off‐Gas Analysis (TOGA) sensor) and on a micro‐scale with microsensors. These two methods provide independent, accurate measurements of the reaction rates and concentration profiles around and in the granules. The TOGA sensor and microsensor measurements showed a significant external mass transfer effect at low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in the bulk liquid while it was insignificant at higher DO concentrations. The oxygen distribution with anaerobic or anoxic conditions in the center clearly shows major mass transfer limitation in the aggregate interior. The large drop in DO concentration of 22–80% between the bulk liquid and aggregate surface demonstrates that the external mass transfer resistance is also highly important. The maximum OUR even for floccular biomass was only attained at much higher DO concentrations (≈8 mg/L) than typically used in such systems. For granules, the DO required for maximal activity was estimated to be >20 mg/L, clearly indicating the effects of the major external and internal mass transfer limitations on the overall biomass activity. Smaller aggregates had a larger volumetric OUR indicating that the granules may have a lower activity in the interior part of the aggregate. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Performance Outcomes After Hook of Hamate Fractures in Major League Baseball Players.

CONTEXT Major League Baseball (MLB) players are at risk of hook of hamate fractures. There is a paucity of data assessing the effect of a hook of hamate fracture on MLB players' future athletic performance. OBJECTIVE To determine if MLB players who sustain hook of hamate fractures demonstrate decreased performance upon return to competition when compared with their performance before injury and that of their control-matched peers. DESIGN Retrospective case-control design. SETTING Retrospective database study. PARTICIPANTS 18 MLB players who sustained hook of hamate fractures. METHODS Data for 18 MLB players with hook of hamate fractures incurred over 26 seasons (1989-2014) were obtained from injury reports, press releases, and player profiles ( www.mlb.com and www.baseballreference.com ). Player age, position, number of years in the league, mechanism of injury, and treatment were recorded. Individual season statistics for the 2 seasons immediately prior to injury and the 2 seasons after injury for the main performance variable-Wins Above Replacement-were obtained. Eighteen controls matched by player position, age, and performance statistics were identified. A performance comparison of the cohorts was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Postinjury performance compared with preinjury performance and matched-controls. RESULTS Mean age at the time of injury was 25.1 years with a mean of 4.4 seasons of MLB experience prior to injury. All injuries were sustained to their nondominant batting hand. All players underwent operative intervention. There was no significant change in Wins Above Replacement or isolated power when preinjury and postinjury performance were compared. When compared with matched-controls, no significant decline in performance in Wins Above Replacement the first season and second season after injury was found. CONCLUSION MLB players sustaining hook of hamate fractures can reasonably expect to return to their preinjury performance levels following operative treatment.
Seroprevalencia de "Trypanosoma cruzi" en perros de dos áreas endémicas de Colombia

La tripanosomiasis americana es una enfermedad antropozoonotica causada por Trypanosoma cruzi, parasito flagelado que se anida y se reproduce principalmente en el tejido cardiaco. Se encuentra ampliamente distribuida en el continente americano y en Colombia se estima que un 2% al 3% de la poblacion esta infectado y que cerca del 5% esta bajo riesgo de adquirir la infeccion, debido a la amplia distribucion de los insectos triatominos, sus vectores. El presente estudio reporta la seroprevalencia para T. cruzi en perros (Canis familiaris) de dos areas rurales endemicas del departamento de Boyaca usando la tecnica de inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI) y la caracterizacion molecular de las cepas aisladas. Se procesaron 261 muestras de sueros de perros de diferentes edades obtenidas en los municipios de Soata y Berbeo. La deteccion de anticuerpos anti-T. cruzi se realizo mediante la tecnica de inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI). Se realizo xenodiagnostico a 185 perros con cuatro resultados positivos, de los que se aislaron tres cepas, caracterizadas molecularmente como T. cruzi 1 (TC-I) por medio de la amplificacion del gene miniexon. Los analisis estadisticos mostraron asociaciones significativas entre caracteristicas de las viviendas tales como el tipo de pared, techo, piso y presencia de anexos con el numero de perros positivos para T. cruzi. Un total de 10,72% de los sueros procesados fueron positivos, 11,29% en Soata y 9,5% en Berbeo. Este primer trabajo sobre prevalencia de perros infectados con T. cruzi en Colombia revela la importancia epidemiologica de estos animales como reservorios y la caracterizacion molecular de los aislados contribuye al entendimiento de la dinamica de transmision del parasito.
Indefinites and negative concord in Maltese: towards a dynamic account

(1) a) Don’t say nothing to no one. (nonstandard British English) [=standard English ‘Don’t say anything to anyone’. ] b) What did you say? Nothing! [same interpretation as in standard English] (2) a) It-tifla ma rat xejn. (Maltese) the-girl neg see.prf. 3fs n.thing ‘The girl didn’t see anything. ’ b) X’rat? Xejn! what-see.prf. 3fs n.thing ‘What did she see? ’ ‘Nothing! ’ (3) No one said nothing. (standard English) [double logical negation (¬¬p=p) in interpretation]
Stock Market Performance and Sustainable Economic Growth in Nigeria: A Bounds Testing Co-integration Approach

The study examined the relationship between stock market performance and economic growth in Nigeria. It utilized the bounds testing co-integration procedure also known as autoregressive distributed lag estimation procedure. The empirical model combined key stock market indicators and some traditional macroeconomic variables to estimate the hypothesized relationship in the study. It found that in the long-run, overall output in the Nigerian economy is less sensitive to changes in stock market capitalization as well as the average dividend yield thereby casting doubt on the ability of the Nigerian stock market in its present level of development to serve as a barometer for measuring or predicting the overall health of the Nigerian economy as well as its direction over the long-run horizon. The other major finding in the study is that the long-run growth of the Nigerian economy is highly sensitive to marginal variations in interest rate which is suggestive that macroeconomic variables in the country are at present more useful in shaping the long-run direction of the Nigerian economy.