Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alteration of S-adenosylmethionine synthetases during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis and in resulting carcinomas.

S -Adenosylmethionine synthetase isozymes (EC 2.5.1.6) were studied in hepatic nodules, primary hepatocellular carcinomas, and various transplantable hepatocellular carcinomas induced by acetylaminofluorene. With the exception of hepatoma 7800, the intermediate-Km isozyme was the only enzyme species detectable in transplantable hepatomas, including 7777, 311c, 253, 252, 56, and Novikoff hepatoma. Although hepatoma 7800 retained all of the hepatic isozymes, the levels of various isozymes were different from those of normal liver. During acetylaminofluorene hepatocarcinogenesis, there was an alteration in enzyme composition that commenced in neoplastic nodules and eventually attained the pattern commonly observed for many primary and transplantable hepatocellular carcinomas. Evidence is presented which indicated that the intermediate-Km isozyme of Novikoff hepatoma was derived from the low-Km isozyme and that protein factors were partly responsible for this higher Km. This alteration of the kinetic properties of tumor isozyme was unique to neoplastic nodules and tumors and therefore may be a significant characteristic of malignant evolution. The existence of s -adenosylmethionine synthetase-tRNA methyltransferase complex was supported by the demonstration of cochromatography of these two enzymes on Sepharose 6B, coprecipitation at pH 5, and a higher efficiency of utilization of S -adenosylmethionine synthesized by S -adenosylmethionine synthetase by tRNA methyltransferases in the enzyme complex than that provided exogenously. After pH 5 treatment, the majority of tumor enzyme complex retained the complex form, whereas liver enzyme complex was almost totally dissociated, indicating that tumor enzyme complex was more stable than liver enzyme complex against pH variations. The difference in the stability of this enzyme complex is probably attributable to the factors characteristically associated only with S -adenosylmethionine synthetase from neoplastic tissues.
A Review of Cognitive Outcomes in Children Following Perinatal Stroke

Perinatal stroke is a significant cause of congenital neurological disability. Although motor deficits and epilepsy are relatively easy to identify, developmental and behavioral co-morbidities are more complex and challenging to define. We provide an overview of perinatal stroke syndromes and theories relating injury in the developing brain to long-term outcomes. We present a comprehensive overview of the effects on intelligence and other specific cognitive domains, as well as investigations relating clinical features and neuroimaging to deficits. Better understanding of the impact of early stroke has potential to elucidate processes of brain development, in addition to providing guidance for prognosis and rehabilitation.
Essays in optimal taxation

Matthew C. Weinzierl Thesis Advisors: Professor Aleh Tsyvinski (chair) Professor N. Gregory Mankiw Professor Caroline M. Hoxby Essays in Optimal Taxation This thesis consists of four essays that span a wide range of topics in, and perspectives on, the dominant modern framework for optimal taxation research. The rst analyzes a potential tax reform based on this framework: age-dependent taxation. Using modern dynamic optimal tax methods, I provide a comprehensive theoretical and quantitative examination of age dependence and compare it to two alternative policies: an age-independent policy and a dynamic optimal policy. Despite its simplicity, age dependence yields a large welfare gain equal to between one and three percent of aggregate annual consumption, and it captures a substantial portion of the gain from reform to the dynamic optimal policy. The second incorporates a factor into this framework that is generally neglected: preference heterogeneity. I avoid technical dif culties that arise with preference heterogeneity in general by focusing on a speci c but important class of
High-Speed Visualization of Bubbles Interacting With a Solid Surface

Bubbles around a solid surface moving in a fluid at high Reynolds number drastically reduce the associated turbulent drag. In this paper, we present experiments on the interaction of air bubbles with a solid wall. The design of an experimental setup is described, that allows generating bubbles with diameters of 0.4 to 2 mm and observes their interaction with a solid wall whose angle with the horizontal can be controlled. Depending on the bubble size and angle of inclination of the solid wall, the bubbles bounce off or slide along the wall. High-speed visualizations of the bubble-wall interactions are performed for values of Reynolds and Weber number ranging from 40 to 560 and 0.04 to 1.80 respectively. Our experimental results are compared with the work of Tsao and Koch [Physics Fluids 9, 44 (1997)]. Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Race, Income, and Environmental Inequality in the United States

This article asks whether the relationship between neighborhood and household income levels and neighborhood hazard levels varies according to neighborhood and household racial composition. Using a national, census tract-level data set, the authors find that black, white, and Hispanic households with similar incomes live in neighborhoods of dissimilar environmental quality, that the association between neighborhood and household income levels and neighborhood hazard levels varies according to neighborhood and household racial composition, and that increases in neighborhood and household income levels are more strongly associated with declining hazard levels in black neighborhoods and households than in white neighborhoods and households. These findings contradict Wilson's claim that the significance of race has declined in the modern industrial period and demonstrate that environmental racial inequality is not the product of racial income inequality. In addition, these findings suggest that the impact of higher incomes on black/white proximity to environmental hazards has less to do with increases in white geographic mobility (relative to black geographic mobility) than with the ability of higher income blacks to escape the highly polluted, disorganized, and deteriorated neighborhoods to which so many low-income blacks are confined.
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Vietnam

This systematic review examined trends in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and identified its risk factors among adults in Vietnam. PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, and Scopus databases were searched to identify relevant literature. The search yielded 10 studies, including 2 national surveys and 8 regional investigations. National prevalence estimates of T2DM were 2.7% in 2002 and 5.4% in 2012. The estimates for the northern region were 1.4% in 1994 and 3.7% in 2012 and those for the southern region were 3.8% in 2004, 7.0% in 2008, and 12.4% in 2010. The major determinants of T2DM included older age, urban residence, high levels of body and abdominal fat, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, genetic factors, and hypertension. The prevalence rate by gender was variable in both national and regional studies. There was insufficient information available on some potentially important risk factors such as smoking, dietary intake, income, and educational level. Our review signifies a rapidly growing prevalence of T2DM in Vietnam and suggests that extra effort is required to prevent and control this disease.
The Living Arrangements of Children of Immigrants

Children of immigrants are a rapidly growing part of the U.S. child population. Their health, development, educational attainment, and social and economic integration into the nation's life will play a defining role in the nation's future.Nancy Landale, Kevin Thomas, and Jennifer Van Hook explore the challenges facing immigrant families as they adapt to the United States, as well as their many strengths, most notably high levels of marriage and family commitment. The authors examine differences by country of origin in the human capital, legal status, and social resources of immigrant families and describe their varied living arrangements, focusing on children of Mexican, Southeast Asian, and black Caribbean origin. Problems such as poverty and discrimination may be offset for children to some extent by living, as many do, in a two-parent family. But the strong parental bonds that initially protect them erode as immigrant families spend more time in the United States and are swept up in the same social forces that are increasing single parenthood among American families. The nation, say the authors, should pay special heed to how this aspect of immigrants' Americanization heightens the vulnerability of their children.One risk factor for immigrant families is the migration itself, which sometimes separates parents from their children. Another is the mixed legal status of family members. Parents' unauthorized status can mire children in poverty and unstable living arrangements. Sometimes unauthorized parents are too fearful of deportation even to claim the public benefits for which their children qualify. A risk factor unique to refugees, such as Southeast Asian immigrants, is the death of family members from war or hardship in refugee camps. The authors conclude by discussing how U.S. immigration policies shape family circumstances and suggest ways to alter policies to strengthen immigrant families. Reducing poverty, they say, is essential. The United States has no explicit immigrant integration policy or programs, so policy makers must direct more attention and resources toward immigrant settlement, especially ensuring that children have access to the social safety net.
Effects of forage species and particle size on bacterial cellulolytic activity and colonization in situ.

Two ruminally cannulated Holstein heifers were used to evaluate effects of three forage species and two particle sizes in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement on in situ fiber disappearance and carboxymethylcellulase activity (CMCase). A second objective was to compare CMCase and 15N as relative bacterial colonization markers. At time zero, 15N-enriched ammonium sulfate was dosed into the rumen. Residues in nylon bags incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 60, and 72 h were analyzed for NDF, ADF, CMCase, and 15N. Rates of NDF and ADF disappearance were faster (P < .05) for red clover (RC) than for gamagrass (GG) or orchardgrass (OG) and for forages ground to pass a 2-mm screen (P < .05) than for those ground to pass a 5-mm screen. Cumulative area under the curve (AUC) of CMCase activity was related to both NDF disappearance (r2 = .93) and 15N AUC (r2 = .99), indicating that CMCase can be used to estimate relative colonization of cellulolytic particle-associated bacteria (PAB). During the first 18 h of incubation, RC had greater (P < .05) CMCase and 15N enrichment of in situ residues than did OG or GG. The RC residues also had a greater (P < .05) ratio of CMCase activity:15N enrichment; this was presumed to indicate that, during this time, RC supported a greater total PAB population and had a greater proportion of cellulolytic PAB than did either GG or OG. Differences in the colonization rate of forage particles by cellulolytic PAB relative to total PAB may account for differences in rate of fiber digestion.
Structure and cohesive properties of sphingomyelin/cholesterol bilayers.

Thermal, structural, and cohesive measurements have been obtained for both bovine brain sphingomyelin (BSM) and N-tetracosanoylsphingomyelin (C24-SM) in the presence and absence of cholesterol. A goal of these experiments has been to clarify the mechanisms responsible for the strong interaction between sphingomyelin and cholesterol. Differential scanning calorimetry shows that fully hydrated bilayers of BSM and C24-SM have main endothermic phase transitions at 39 and 46 degrees C, respectively, that reflect the melting of the acyl chains from a gel to a liquid-crystalline phase. For each lipid, the addition of cholesterol monotonically reduces the enthalpy of this transition, so that at equimolar cholesterol the transition enthalpy is zero. The addition of equimolar cholesterol to either BSM or C24-SM coverts the wide-angle X-ray diffraction reflection at 4.15 A to a broad band centered at 4.5 A. Electron density profiles of gel-phase C24-SM bilayers contain two terminal methyl dips in the center of the bilayer, indicating that the lipid hydrocarbon chains partially interdigitate so that the long saturated 24-carbon acyl chains in one monolayer cross the bilayer center and appose the shorter sphingosine chains from the other monolayer. The incorporation of cholesterol adds electron density to the hydrocarbon chain region near the head group and removes the double terminal methyl dip. These wide- and low-angle X-ray data indicate that cholesterol packs into the hydrocarbon chain region near the sphingomyelin head group, fluidizes the methylene chains near the center of the bilayer compared to the gel phase, and reduces the extent of methylene chain interdigitation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Irinotecan and bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common high grade primary brain tumor in adults. Despite significant advances in treatment, the prognosis remains poor. Bevacizumab (BVZ) and irinotecan (CPT-11) are currently being investigated in the treatment of GBM patients. Although treatment with BVZ and irinotecan provides impressive response rates (RR), it is still uncertain if this treatment translates into improved clinical benefit in GBM patients. Areas covered: This review discusses the clinical efficacy, safety and difficulties regarding response evaluation when treating with BVZ and CPT-11 in recurrent GBM. Particular attention is placed on the literature and a discussion on whether treatment with BVZ and CPT-11 improves clinical outcome. Antiangiogenic treatment has led to difficulties when evaluating objective response by the conventional MacDonald criteria. In the present paper the authors discuss selected key aspects of this treatment modality. A literature search was performed using PubMed in February 2011. Expert opinion: BVZ + irinotecan leads to high RR and to an increased 6-month progression-free survival. However, no improvement in median overall survival has been observed compared with conventional chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the GBM patients who respond to treatment with BVZ and irinotecan have survived significantly longer than non-responders, indicating that it could be beneficial for a selection of patients to receive this treatment.
A controlled clinical trial on the effects of motor intervention on balance and cognition in institutionalized elderly patients with dementia

Purpose: To analyse the effects of two interventions on the cognition and balance of institutionalized elderly people with mixed dementia. Methods: Fifty-four participants were allocated into three groups. Group 1 was assisted by an interdisciplinary programme comprising physiotherapy, occupational therapy and physical education. A physiotherapist alone carried out the intervention in group 2. Group 3 was considered as control. Assessors were blinded to guarantee the absence of bias. Cognitive functions were analysed with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery. Balance was assessed with the Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Get-Up-and-Go Test. Multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to test possible main effects of the interventions. Results: The results showed benefits on the balance of subjects in both groups 1 (F=3.9, P<0.05) and 2 (F=3.1, P<0.05), compared with group 3. MANOVA did not indicate benefits on the cognitive functions between groups 1 and 3 (F=1.1, P>0.05) and groups 2 and 3 (F=1.6, P>0.05). However, univariate analysis indicated some benefits of the interdisciplinary intervention on two specific domains measured by the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (F=26.5, P<0.05; F=4.4, P<0.05). Conclusion: Six months of multidisciplinary or physiotherapeutic intervention were able to improve a person's balance. Although global cognition did not improve through treatment, when the intervention was carried out on a multidisciplinary basis we observed an attenuation in the decline of global cognition on two specific cognitive domains. Exercises applied in different contexts may have positive outcomes for people with dementia.
Obesity and post‐operative cognitive dysfunction: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Post‐operative cognitive dysfunction, a condition distinct from post‐operative delirium (POD), occurs frequently after surgery, and is related to dementia and premature death. Obesity increases the risk of late‐life cognitive impairment, but little is known about its role in post‐operative cognitive dysfunction. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies on the association between obesity and risk of post‐operative cognitive dysfunction.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of vaginal breech delivery for singleton term pregnancies in a carefully selected Cameroonian population: a cohort study

Background and objectives Vaginal breech delivery (VBD) is known to be associated with more perinatal and maternal complications. Very few studies on the subject have been carried out in poor-resource settings. The aim of this study was to determine maternal and neonatal outcomes in carefully selected cases of VBD for singleton term pregnancies in a tertiary centre in Cameroon. Design A retrospective cohort study. Setting A tertiary hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon. Participants Cases of VBD of newborns weighing 2500–3500 g were matched in a ratio of 1:4 to consecutive vaginal cephalic deliveries (VCDs) of newborns weighing 2500–3500 g over a 5-year period. Both groups were matched for maternal age and parity. We excluded cases of multiple gestations, footling breech, clinically inadequate maternal pelvis, preterm delivery, post-term pregnancies, fetal demise prior to the onset of labour, placenta praevia and fetal anomaly incompatible with vaginal delivery. Outcome measures Neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes of VBD observed till 6 weeks after delivery analysed using Bonferroni correction. Results Fifty-three (53) VBDs were matched against 212 VCD. Unlike women who had VCD, those who underwent VBD were more likely to have prolonged labour (OR 8.05; 95% CI 3.00 to 11.47; P<0.001), and their newborns were more likely to suffer from birth asphyxia (OR 10.24; 95% CI 4.92 to 21.31; P<0.001). Conclusion The study infers a strong association between VBD of singleton term pregnancies and maternofetal morbidity when specific protocols are applied. This, however, failed to translate into higher differences in perinatal mortality. This finding does not discount the role of VBD in low-income countries, but we emphasise the need for specific precautions like close monitoring of labour and adequate anticipation for neonatal resuscitation in order to reduce these complications.
Carcinoma of the male breast: a review and recommendations for management.

BACKGROUND Male breast cancer is rare and experience of it in any single institution is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presentation, management and outcome of male patients with breast cancer treated at Concord Repatriation General Hospital hospital over a 38-year period and to determine a best-practice protocol based on the results and a review of the literature. METHODS A total of 42 patients were retrospectively reviewed, pathology slides were re-examined and reclassified where necessary. Outcome was assessed and compared with results obtained from a literature review. RESULTS A trend towards less radical surgery has emerged. Overall 5-year survival was 50%, but, due to the late age at presentation, more than half the deaths were non-breast cancer related. One quarter of the patients presented with locally advanced or metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS The presentation, diagnosis pathology and outcome of breast cancer are similar in men and women, although the disease occurs at a later age in men. Radical surgery is not required in order to gain local control, but knowledge of axillary node status is important in determining prognosis and the need for adjuvant therapy.
Correlation between Peritoneal Equilibration Test and Dialysis Adequacy and Transport Test, for Peritoneal Transport Type Characterization

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between the peritoneal equilibration test (PET) and the dialysis adequacy and transport test (DATT) for peritoneal transport type characterization, and the degree of patients’ acceptance for each test. Design Cross-sectional, observational multicenter study. Setting Five referral (tertiary) dialysis centers of institutional practice. Patients The study included 107 adult continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with a prescription of four exchanges of 2 L per day, irrespective of age, gender, cause of end-stage renal disease, time on dialysis, nutritional status, or residual renal function. Patients on immunosuppressive therapy and those with cancer, hepatitis B, or HIV, and those having a peritonitis episode within the previous 30 days, or three or more episodes during the previous 12 months, were excluded. Main Measures Peritoneal transport type as classified by creatinine and urea dialysis-to-plasma (D/P) ratios by PET and DATT. Results Correlation coefficients between D/P ratios for creatinine and urea, obtained for the PET and the DATT, were 0.73 for D/P creatinine and 0.96 for D/P urea. Patients were classified into high, high-average, low-average, and low transport categories according to the mean and standard deviation of D/P creatinine values obtained from the PET at 4 hours. These values showed excellent concordance with those generated from the DATT data (κ = 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.67 – 0.93). Nineteen percent of patients showed discordance in their category when classified according to the PET versus the DATT. Patients’ acceptance was better for the DATT than for the PET, as evaluated with a questionnaire. Conclusion The DATT is an easy, inexpensive, and reliable test to assess peritoneal transport type, and it also provides information about peritoneal clearance of solutes and ultrafiltration. The DATT has better patient acceptance than the PET. Since the DATT has only been validated for patients on a fixed CAPD daily schedule of 4 x 2 L, the results should be confined only to patients receiving such a prescription.
Prediction governors: Optimal solutions and application to electric power balancing control

This paper focuses on control systems with unknown reference signals, and considers a shaping problem of predicted reference signals under the situation that past actual reference signals are available. We first propose a signal shaping mechanism called prediction governor, and formulate an optimal design problem of prediction governors. The design problem finds a prediction governor such that the system composed of a given plant and the governor is an optimal approximation of a given ideal plant in the sense of input-output relation. Then, we analytically derive an optimal prediction governor which is characterized by plant parameters. Finally, the optimal prediction governor is applied to electric power demand prediction problem for power balancing control, and its usefulness is illustrated by a numerical example.