Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiology of the Transplanted Heart

The success of cardiac transplantation has allowed for the development of a growing body of evidence regarding the function of the denervated heart, as well as provided insight into the function of the normally innervated heart. An appreciation of the basic physiology and pathophysiology of the denervated, transplanted human heart allows for a rational approach to the perioperative management of cardiac allograft recipients. Understanding the importance of preload, the alteration in the control of heart rate, the altered response to exercise, and potential for coronary artery disease, diastolic dysfunction, and chronic hypertension should assist clinicians in the care of these patients.
Enzymatic recognition of the base pair between isocytidine and isoguanosine.

The ability of various polymerases to catalyze the template-directed formation of a base pair between isoguanine (iso-G) and isocytosine (iso-C) in duplex oligonucleotides has been investigated. A new procedure was developed for preparing derivatives of deoxyisoguanosine suitable for incorporation into DNA using an automated DNA synthesizer. T7 RNA polymerase, AMV reverse transcriptase, and the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase all incorporated iso-G opposite iso-C in a template. T4 DNA polymerase did not. Several polymerases also incorporated iso-G opposite T, presumably through pairing with a minor tautomeric form of iso-G complementary to T. In a template, iso-G directs the incorporation of both iso-C and T when Klenow fragment is the catalyst and only U when T7 RNA polymerase is the catalyst. Further, derivatives of iso-C were found to undergo significant amounts of deamination under alkaline conditions used for base deprotection after automated oligonucleotide synthesis. Both the deamination reaction of iso-C and the ambivalent tautomeric forms of iso-G make it unlikely that the (iso-C). (iso-G) base pair was a part of information storage molecules also containing the A.T and G.C base pairs found in primitive forms of life that emerged on planet earth several billion years ago. Nevertheless, the extra letters in the genetic alphabet can serve useful roles in a contemporary laboratory setting.
[Comparison of the effects of dexmedetomidine and midazolam with fentanyl in patients with anticipated difficult intubation during awake blind nasal intubation].

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of dexmedetomidine and midazolam with fentanyl with anticipated difficult intubation during awake blind nasal intubation on respiration and hemodynamics of patients. METHODS Forty patients (ASA class I to II) undergoing selective oral and maxillofacial surgeries with anticipated difficult intubation were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Experimental group received dexmedetomidine, control group received midazolam and fentanyl. The Ramsay sedation scores, mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and blood oxygen saturation of pulse (SpO2) were recorded at baseline (TI), beginning to intubate (T2), 10 min after beginning to intubate (T3), 20 min after beginning to intubate (T4), and after intubation (T5). The operative time for intubation, intubation times, success rate of intubation, the anesthetic effects and complications were recorded. RESULTS The success rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Intubation times in the experimental group was less than that in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of complications such as nausea, vomiting, cough and throat unwell in the control group was higher. Compared with the T1, RR decreased at T2 in the control group, but RR increased significantly at T4 and T5. RR and SpO2 had no significant change in the experimental group. Compared with T1, MAP and HR increased at T3, T4 and T5 in the control group (P<0.05). MAP and HR showed no significant variations in the experimental group (P>0.05). The Ramsay sedation scores in the control group were lower than those in the experimental group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Appropriate application of dexmedetomidine can be safer and more effective than midazolam with fentanyl for awake blind intubation.
Extremely Low Doses of X-Radiation can Induce Adaptive Responses in Mouse Prostate

The pKZ1 mouse chromosomal inversion assay is the only assay that has detected modulation of a mutagenic endpoint after single whole body X-irradiation with doses lower than 1 mGy. A non-linear dose response for chromosomal inversion has been observed in spleen and prostate between 0.001 mGy and 10 mGy, with doses between 0.005–0.01 mGy causing an increase in inversions and doses between 1–10 mGy causing a reduction below spontaneous inversion frequency. An adaptive response is a decreased biological effect induced by a low radiation dose. Adaptive responses contradict the linear-no-threshold model of risk estimation. We demonstrated that very low (0.001 mGy, 0.01 mGy, 1 mGy and 10 mGy) doses of X-radiation induced a chromosomal inversion adaptive response as measured by a reduction in the frequency of subsequent high dose (1000 mGy) induced inversions in prostate. These are the lowest X-radiation doses reported to induce an adaptive response for any endpoint. Adaptive response experiments were also performed where the high dose was administered four hours prior to a low dose of 0.01 mGy or 10 mGy. In both cases an adaptive response was observed. Identification of the modifying factors involved in the adaptive response may provide candidates for radioprotection.
In vivo apoptosis in Shigella flexneri infections

Shigella flexneri, an etiological agent of bacillary dysentery, causes apoptosis in vitro. Here we show that it also induces apoptosis in vivo. We were able to quantify the number of apoptotic cells in rabbit Peyer's patches infected with S. flexneri by detecting cells with fragmented DNA. Infection with virulent S. flexneri results in massive numbers of apoptotic cells within the lymphoid follicles. In contrast, neither an avirulent strain nor an avirulent strain capable of colonizing Peyer's patches increases the background level of apoptotic cells. Macrophages, T cells, and B cells are shown to undergo apoptosis in vivo. These results indicate that apoptosis may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of shigellosis.
Evidence‐Based Review of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Neurological Disorders

Several neurologic disorders have been treated with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Case reports, case series, and clinical trials have published results regarding the outcomes in such patients. The data gathered have been used to formulate evidence‐based guidelines, which can be used to guide therapy in patients with these neurological disorders. Adequately designed and powered randomized controlled trials have proven the efficacy of TPE in some disease entities, while other diseases are lacking such data. In the latter, decisions for the use of TPE must be made using the limited published data available. In this review, we discuss the published evidence regarding the use of TPE in neurological disorders, focusing on the most recent guidelines published by the American Society of Apheresis in 2010 and the American Academy of Neurology in 2011.
Analysts’ forecasts and uncertainty about firm value

Purpose The purpose of this study is to use implied volatilities from exchange traded options to examine the interaction between analysts’ forecast revisions and the market’s perception of uncertainty about firm value. Design/methodology/approach The authors examine how characteristics of individual forecast revisions, e.g. news and changes in dispersion of forecasts, affect changes in implied volatilities, whether analysts use the observable changes in implied volatilities to inform their forecast revisions and whether changes in dispersion of forecasts are correlated with changes in implied volatilities. Findings The authors find that good (bad) news forecast revisions reduce (increase) investors’ perception of uncertainty about firm value, analysts do not appear to use changes in implied volatilities to shade their forecast revisions to good/bad news and dispersion of forecasts are a reasonable proxy for uncertainty about firm value as indicated by their correlation with implied volatilities. Originality/value Recent research on analysts’ forecast revisions and management forecasts has focused on risk perception rather than value. This paper extends this work with a risk metric based on market transactions in both a short and long window analysis, as well as univariate and multivariate analysis.
Overlapping octamer and TAATGARAT motifs in the VF65-response elements in herpes simplex virus immediate-early promoters represent independent binding sites for cellular nuclear factor III

Expression of the immediate-early (IE) genes of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is specifically stimulated by a 65-kilodalton virion transcription factor (VF65 or VP16) that is introduced as a component of infecting virions. In both the IE175(ICP4) and IE110(ICP0) promoters, this activation requires an upstream cis-acting target response element that contains a single TAATGARAT consensus element. Furthermore, many HSV IE TAATGARAT elements overlap with ATGCTAAT octamer motifs that are similar to the OTF-1-binding sites found in both immunoglobulin and histone H2b genes and to the nuclear factor III (NFIII)-binding site within the adenovirus type 2 origin of DNA replication. Purified HeLa cell NFIII protein proved to form specific DNA-protein complexes with several upstream regions from both the IE110 and IE175 promoters, and this interaction was subject to efficient competition with an adenovirus type 2 DNA fragment containing an intact NFIII-binding site. Surprisingly, the NFIII protein bound to synthetic oligonucleotides containing only the TAATGARAT consensus elements as well as to those containing the ATGCTAAT octamer sequence, although the former exhibited lower affinity and gave complexes with slightly different electrophoretic mobility. The ATGCTAAT oligonucleotide also competed more efficiently than the TAATGARAT sequence itself for binding to a TAATGARAT probe, indicating that the same protein species binds to both sites. The oligonucleotides also formed novel supershifted complexes with lysed virion proteins, but only in the presence of a crude nuclear extract and not with affinity-purified NFIII alone. We conclude that the cellular NFIII protein can recognize both the ATGCTAAT and TAATGARAT elements independently but that only the interaction with TAATGARAT represents an intermediate step in the transcriptional stimulation of IE genes by the HSV virion factor.
Cardiomyocyte dysfunction in sucrose-fed rats is associated with insulin resistance.

Diabetes is associated with impaired cardiac dysfunction in both humans and animals. Specific phenotypic changes-prolonged action potentials, slowed cytosolic Ca2+ clearing, and slowed relaxation-that contribute to this whole heart dysfunction occur in isolated ventricular myocytes. The present study was designed to determine whether cardiomyocyte abnormalities occur early in the development of type 2 diabetes (in this case, insulin resistance) and whether an insulin-sensitizing drug (metformin) is cardioprotective. In the study, high-sucrose feeding was used to induce whole-body insulin resistance. Wistar rats were maintained for 7-10 weeks on a starch (ST) diet, sucrose (SU) diet, or diet supplemented with metformin (SU + MET). Whole-body insulin resistance was measured in SU and SU + MET rats by performing euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps. Mechanical properties of isolated ventricular myocytes were measured by high-speed video edge detection, and [Ca2+]i transients were evaluated with Fura-2 AM. Untreated SU rats were insulin-resistant (glucose infusion rate [GIR] = 14.5 +/- 1.1 mg.kg(-1). min(-1)); metformin treatment in SU + MET rats prevented this metabolic abnormality (GIR = 20.0 +/- 2.2 mg.kg(-1). min(-1)). Indexes of myocyte shortening and relengthening were significantly longer in SU rats (area under the relaxation phase [AR/peak] = 103 +/- 3 msec) when compared to ST and SU + MET rats (AR/peak = 73 +/- 2 and 80 +/- 1 msec, respectively). The rate of intracellular Ca2+ decay and the integral of the Ca2+ transient through the entire contractile cycle were significantly longer in myocytes from SU than from ST rats (Ca2+ signal normalized to peak amplitude = 152 +/- 8 vs. 135 +/- 5 msec, respectively). Collectively, our data showed the presence of cardiomyocyte abnormalities in an insulin-resistant stage that precedes frank type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, metformin prevented the development of sucrose-induced insulin resistance and the consequent cardiomyocyte dysfunction.
Improving Hypertension Quality Measurement Using Electronic Health Records

Background:Simple hypertension outcome measures may not indicate which patients receive poor care. This could be problematic as incentives increase. Objective:Compare measured quality using simple outcome measures to more sophisticated measures utilizing data available within an electronic health record. Design:Cross-sectional study. Subjects:A total of 5905 hypertensive adults with 3 or more clinic visits between July 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006 at an internal medicine clinic. Measures:We measured simple control as the proportion of diagnosed hypertension patients with their last blood pressure below goal (<140/90 mm Hg or <130/80 if diabetic). We compared this to sequentially more complex measures. Results:Among nondiabetic patients, baseline measurement of control was 58.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 56.5–59.6]. Counting patients as having adequate care whose last or mean blood pressure was at or below goal raised performance to 75.4%. Accounting for patients prescribed aggressive treatment raised it to 82.5%. Accounting for low diastolic blood pressure raised it to 83.6%. Including patients with undiagnosed hypertension lowered it to 80.5%. For diabetes patients, baseline measurement of control was 29.9% (95% CI, 27.6–32.3) and changed to 46.4%, 72.8%, 76.7%, and 73.6%, respectively. Conclusions:It is possible to use electronic health record data to devise hypertension measures that may better reflect who has actionable uncontrolled blood pressure, do not penalize clinicians treating resistant hypertension patients, reduce the encouragement of potentially unsafe practices, and identify patients possibly receiving poor care with no hypertension diagnosis. This could improve the detection of true quality problems and remove incentives to over treat or stop caring for patients with resistant hypertension.
Bosniak category III cysts are more likely to be malignant than we expected in the era of multidetector computed tomography technology

Background: Complex indeterminate Bosniak category III renal cystic masses are traditionally considered to be malignant in 50%. Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the attenuation characteristics in multiphase computed tomography (CT) and to determinate the incidence of malignancy based on histological findings on all Bosniak category III renal cystic masses investigated in our department between April 3, 2007 and November 21, 2013. Materials and Methods: Quadriphasic multidetector CT images of nineteen patients (mean age: 56.5 ± 16.5 years) with radiologically detected Bosniak category III lesions were reviewed retrospectively. All lesions were surgically removed, and the incidence of malignancy, based on pathological results was determined. Results: Calcification was present in four lesions (21%). The mean largest diameter was 48.7 ± 28.8 mm. All lesions were multilobulated and septated. Of the 19 removed lesions, 16 (84%) were malignant, and 3 (16%) were benign (one inflammatory cyst including a nephrolith, one cystic nephroma and one atypical angiomyolipoma). CT and histological findings of 19 Bosniak III cysts were correlated. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated much higher prevalence of malignancy (84%) in radiologically detected Bosniak category III cysts than it has been described before. It may due to the era of modern multidetector CT technology and multiphase protocol.
Black soy peptide supplementation improves glucose control in subjects with prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of black soy peptide supplementation on glucose control in subjects with prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance) and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, subjects with prediabetes and type 2 DM were randomly assigned to the placebo control group or the black soy peptide intervention group. We determined fasting serum concentrations of glucose, hemoglobin A1c, insulin, and free fatty acids, performed a 2-hour postload glucose (2-hour PG) test, and compared serum lipid profiles before and after the 12-week supplementation. In particular, subjects with fasting glucose ≥ 110 mg/dL who consumed black soy peptides tended to have lower fasting glucose levels (two-tailed test, P = .098; one-tailed test, P = .049) and had a significant reduction in 2-hour PG level (two-tailed P = .012, one-tailed P = .006), compared with baseline levels. The changes in 2-hour PG levels were also statistically significant in the intervention group (-41.25 ± 13.67 mg/dL) compared with the placebo group (12.42 ± 9.80 mg/dL; two-tailed P = .015, one-tailed P = .008). In contrast, hemoglobin A1c levels were not significantly improved by the dietary intervention. In conclusion, black soy peptide supplementation may be beneficial for controlling fasting blood glucose levels and 2-hour PG levels.
The impact of Brexit on trade patterns and industry location: a NEG analysis

We explore the effects of Brexit on trade patterns and on the spatial distribution of industry between the United Kingdom and the European Union and within the EU. Our study adopts a new economic geography (NEG) perspective developing a linear model with three regions, the UK and two separated regions composing the EU. The 3-region framework and linear demands allow for different trade patterns. Two possible ante-Brexit situations are possible, depending on the interplay between local market size, local competition and trade costs: industrial agglomeration or dispersion. Considering a soft and a hard Brexit scenario, the ante-Brexit situation is altered substantially, depending on which scenario prevails. UK firms could move to the larger EU market, even in the peripheral region, reacting to the higher trade barriers, relocation representing a substitute for trade. Alternatively, some EU firms could move in the more isolated UK market finding shelter from the competition inside the EU. We also consider the post-Brexit scenario of deeper EU integration, leading to a weakening of trade links between the EU and the UK. Our analysis also reveals a highly complex bifurcation sequence leading to many instances of multistability, intricate basins of attraction and cyclical and chaotic dynamics.
Characterization of Southern Illinois Water Treatment Residues for Sustainable Applications

Although they are abundantly available, the specific applicability of water treatment residues (WTRs) is dictated largely by the favorability of physicochemical characteristic properties and mineralogical composition. We have suggested that WTRs have a high potential for remediation application. In addition, the relevant properties that define the beneficial reuse of WTRs may be widely variable due to the influence of the dose, type of coagulant/softening agent, and quality of source water. This study investigated the physical, chemical, agronomic, and mineralogical characteristics of three different types of WTRs that were collected from treatment plants in the Midwestern U.S, in order to compare and assess their suitability for remediating impacted ecosystems, such as abandoned mine lands (AML). An analysis of the results showed that the differences in the properties of the WTR samples were significant. The total metal concentrations by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed the abundance of Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, and other co-occurring metals. The leachability of metal(loid)s, regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA 8 metals), were below their respective US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowable limits of 5.0, 100, 1.0, 5.0, 5.0, 0.2, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/kg, indicating that the WTRs were non-hazardous to the environment. Comparatively, the Al-WTR showed a significant release of arsenic (As), possibly from livestock waste and pesticide application from farms in the catchment area of the raw water source. The WTRs were alkaline (potential of hydrogen [pH] 7.00–9.10), which suggested a high acidity-neutralizing potential. The Ca:Mg ratio was between 1:7 and 1:1.5 (meq basis), which contributed to a cation exchange capacity (CEC) range of 4.6–16.2 meg/100g. The WTRs also showed adequate capability to supply relevant plant nutrients, such as Zn, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, and Fe, although readily available concentrations of NO3-N, P, and K were generally low. Thus, the alkalinity, significant CEC, low metal concentration and the presence of X-ray diffraction amorphous phases and calcites suggested that WTRs could be safely applied as low-cost sustainable alternatives for soil improvement and remediating contaminants such as metal(loid)s in AML.
Sexual Minority Stress and Suicide Risk: Identifying Resilience through Personality Profile Analysis.

BACKGROUND Sexual minority-based victimization, which includes threats or enacted interpersonal violence, predicts elevated suicide risk among sexual minority individuals. However, research on personality factors that contribute to resilience among sexual minority populations is lacking. Using the Five-Factor Model, we hypothesized that individuals classified as adaptive (versus at-risk) would be at decreased risk for a suicide attempt in the context of reported lifetime victimization. METHOD Sexual minority-identified young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 (N=412) were recruited nationally and asked to complete an online survey containing measures of personality, sexual minority stress, and lifetime suicide attempts. RESULTS A two-stage cluster analytic method was used to empirically derive latent personality profiles and to classify respondents as adaptive (lower neuroticism and higher extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness) or at-risk (higher neuroticism, lower extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness) on the basis of their Five Factor Personality trait scores. Adaptive individuals were slightly older and less likely to conceal their sexual orientation, but reported similar rates of victimization, discrimination, and internalized heterosexism as their at-risk counterparts. Logistic regression results indicate that despite reporting similar rates of victimization, which was a significant predictor of lifetime suicide attempt, adaptive individuals evidenced decreased risk for attempted suicide in the context of victimization, relative to at-risk individuals. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that an adaptive personality profile may confer resilience in the face of sexual minority-based victimization. This study adds to our knowledge of sexual minority mental health and highlights new directions for future research.