Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological evaluation of the U.S. Army one-handed tourniquet.

OBJECTIVE To provide a physiological assessment of the U.S. Army one-handed tourniquet (OHT). METHODS An OHT was self-applied by 26 subjects, to maximal tolerable tightness, to the proximal arm or thigh under different conditions and positions, and the presence of blood flow was assessed using Doppler ultrasonography or occlusion plethysmography. RESULTS Doppler sound was eliminated at the radial artery for all subjects with OHT application but was not stopped at the popliteal or dorsalis pedis artery for any subjects. The OHT reduced forearm blood flow by 79% but decreased leg blood flow by only approximately 50%, regardless of condition and position of application to the thigh. CONCLUSIONS The OHT appears to effectively minimize blood flow in the arm but not in the lower extremities, and clinical assessment of blood flow disappearance by Doppler ultrasonography may underestimate the magnitude of actual blood flow to the limb.
Discriminating factors between completers of and dropouts from online learning courses

This study examined the differences between persistent and dropout students enrolled in an online course with five factors: support from family and work, academic locus of control, academic self-efficacy, time and environment management skills, and metacognitive self-regulation skills. Moreover, this study investigated the most significant factors discriminating students' success in their online course completion. A total of 169 adult students participated in the study. We used online surveys, which consisted of 27 items adopted from the literature, to measure the level of five factors of which students perceive. The analysis showed persistent students had higher levels of academic locus of control and metacognitive self-regulation skills than dropout students. Our finding suggests that these factors are the most significant factors influencing students' persistence in an online course. Practitioner Notes What is already known about this topic Student dropout rates in online learning are much higher than ones in conventional learning environment. , To explain or predict dropout in online courses, several conceptual models were suggested: Tinto's (1975) Student Integration Model, Bean and Metzner's (1985) Student Attrition Mode and Rovai's (2003) Composite Persistence Model. , Research found several significant predictors of dropout: locus of control, metacognitive strategies, self-efficacy, resource management skills, and support from family and work. , What this paper adds This study suggested an integrated approach to assess the effects of multiple predictors simultaneously using multivariate analysis of variance. , Results of this study revealed the relative powers of these factors to predict dropout. , In addition, this study provided empirical results for Rovai's conceptual model, supporting the original design partly. , Implications for practice and/or policy Students' entry characteristics including academic locus of control and metacognitive strategies need to be assessed in the beginning of a semester to better address students' weakness during the course. , Depending on students' preparedness for online courses, teachers and administrators could provide necessary support, such as technical supports, interactive learning activities and student-centered web design. , Interactive web design and learning activities could improve self-regulated learning skills of online students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
The polymorphism of protein phosphatase Z1 gene in Candida albicans

The gene of protein phosphatase Z1 (CaPPZ1)1 that codes a fungus specific regulatory enzyme was investigated in Candida albicans. After cloning and sequencing CaPPZ1 we revealed the heterozygous nature of the ATCC 10231 reference strain, and identified two new alleles termed CaPPZ1‐2 and CaPPZ1‐3. The genetic polymorphism in CaPPZ1 was extended by finding a fourth allele CaPPZ1‐4 in a clinical isolate. Single nucleotide replacements and short in/del mutations were identified in the gene, some of which resulted in amino acid changes in the protein. The analysis of the hypervariable 3′‐noncoding gene region in 27 DNA sequences obtained from reference strains and clinical samples confirmed the presence of four distinct DNA sequence‐groups that correspond to the four main alleles of CaPPZ1. In addition to the allelic combinations, we detected individual mutations elevating genetic variability of the opportunistic pathogen. We utilized the hypervariable gene region for genotyping C. albicans in clinical isolates by sequencing the cloned amplified region, by direct sequencing of the PCR products, or by RFLP analysis. The comparison of the genotypes of the strains originating from different body parts of the same patient proved to be useful in delineating the origin of the infection. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects of policosanol treatment on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) isolated from healthy volunteers to oxidative modification in vitro.

AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of policosanol on the susceptibility of LDL-C to in vitro lipid peroxidation in human healthy volunteers. METHODS The effect of policosanol (5 and 10 mg day(-1) on LDL-C oxidation was studied in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 69 subjects. LDL-C samples isolated at baseline and after 8 weeks were subjected to in vitro tests of LDL-C oxidation. We tested the susceptibility of LDL-C to lipid peroxidation in a cell-free system by the addition of copper ions as well as in a more physiological system, macrophage-mediated oxidation. RESULTS At baseline all groups were well matched regarding all variables. After 8 weeks of therapy policosanol administered at 5 and 10 mg, significantly and in a dose-dependent manner increased the lag phase of conjugated diene generation (mean +/- s.d.) from 83.79+/-29.16 min to 94.90+/-25.50 min (5 mg day(-1)) and from 82.74+/-17.16 min to 129.89+/-35.71 min (10 mg day(-1)), while in the placebo group LDL-C oxidation did not change significantly. Policosanol (10 mg day(-1)), but not placebo, significantly decreased the rate of conjugated diene generation. Comparison with placebo after therapy also showed significant differences. Macrophage mediated-oxidation was also inhibited by policosanol as evident by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Policosanol (10 mg day(-1)) significantly lowered malondialdehyde (MDA) generation from 8.50+/-0.91 to 5.76+/- 1.01 nmol mg(-1) protein. Comparison with placebo after 5 and 10 mg day(-1) showed significant differences. Policosanol significantly lowered total cholesterol by 10.5% (5 mg day(-1)) and 12.4% (10 mg day(-1)) and LDL-C by 16.7% and 20.2%, respectively. Also, policosanol (10 mg day(-1)) increased HDL-C by 15.2%. Five subjects withdrew from the study, none because of adverse experiences. No clinical or blood biochemical drug-related disturbances were found. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated that policosanol administered within its therapeutic dosage for lowering cholesterol (5 and 10 mg day(-1)), decreased the susceptibility of LDL-C to lipid peroxidation in vitro.
A Stability Study of CIOQ Switches with Finite Buffers and Non-Negligible Round-Trip Time

We propose a systematic method to determine the lower bound for internal buffering of practical CIOQ switching systems. To this end we introduce a deterministic traffic scenario that stresses the global stability of finite output queues. We demonstrate its usefulness by dimensioning the buffer capacity of the CIOQ under such traffic patterns. Compliance with this property maximizes the performance achievable with finite buffers.
Contrast-enhanced dynamic and static MRI correlates with quantitative 99Tcm-labelled nanocolloid scintigraphy. Study of early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of contrast-enhanced dynamic and static magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantitative 99Tcm-labelled nanocolloid (NC) scintigraphy in detecting wrist joint inflammation in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS Twenty-eight early RA patients (median symptom duration 5 months, range 1-12 months) underwent MRI, NC scintigraphy, laboratory and clinical examinations. Static wrist MRI scans were retrospectively scored for synovitis, bone oedema and erosions by two independent readers using the recently published rheumatoid arthritis MRI scoring system (RAMRIS). Twenty NC scans were analysed quantitatively by measuring maximum 99Tcm-NC uptake in three small areas of each wrist. From the same locations on the wrists, dynamic MRI gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) enhancement rates (E-rate) were measured. The average 99Tcm-NC uptake of the whole wrist region was also measured and average E-rates were calculated. Correlations between MRI and NC scintigraphy measurements were calculated. Correlations between imaging methods of the wrist and the global measures of inflammation (laboratory and clinical examinations) were also assessed. RESULTS Strong correlations emerged between maximal 99Tcm-NC uptake and MRI E-rates, reflecting similar performance of the methods in detecting local synovial inflammation. 99Tcm-NC uptake and MRI E-rate correlated with semiquantitative scoring of synovitis and bone oedema from static MRI scans. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) correlated with MRI scores, E-rate and 99Tcm-NC uptake. No correlation between the clinical parameters and the imaging methods was detected. Inter-observer reliability for scoring synovial hypertrophy, bone oedema and bone erosions from static MR images were high (single-measure fixed-effects intra-class correlations 0.87, 0.93 and 0.91 respectively). Intra-observer reliability for E-rate and 99Tcm-NC measurements of 10 randomly picked scans was found to be high, with an intra-class correlation of 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-0.96 and 0.99; 95% CI 0.98-1.00, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Objective information about wrist joint inflammation can be obtained with contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI and quantitative 99Tcm-labelled NC scintigraphy. MRI also allows visualization and semiquantitative scoring of bone oedema and erosions of the wrist. Dynamic MRI and NC scintigraphy are safe and easy to perform, and they can be used in a long-term follow-up of rheumatoid patients.
Computational study of the role of calcium in late long-term potentiation induction on the basis of tripartite synapse structure

In the present study, we propose a mathematical model to describe the key role of postsynaptic calcium concentration in Late Long-Term Potentiation (L-LTP) induction. This model is developed based on physiological facts of a typical CA3-CA1 tripartite synapse. In the proposed model, each astrocyte has a bidirectional signaling with pre synaptic neuron and based on its intracellular calcium oscillations sends signals to postsynaptic neuron. An increase in postsynaptic calcium concentration through NMDA receptor channels and voltage gated calcium channels (VGCC) activates calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) auto-phosphorylation. When phosphorylated CaMKII concentration is high enough, conductance of AMPA receptors is intensified and postsynaptic neuron enhances subsequent presynaptic glutamate release through Nitric Oxide (NO) retrograde messenger. This mechanism leads to sustained increase in amplitude of excitatory post synaptic current (EPSC) known as L-LTP. Inasmuch as many studies have suggested that the cognitive decline seen in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be resulted from impaired LTP, we investigated predictions of the proposed model in AD conditions. According to physiological evidence, we assumed that excessive accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) is the main cause of AD. Changes in calcium homeostasis, caused by decrease in NMDA receptor channels activity and increase in VGCC activity, disrupts the induction of L-LTP which is known as the major factor in memory loss in early stages of AD. This model presents the mechanism for increase in L-type VGCCs while NMDARs activity is reduced. According to the results of the present model, VGCCs activity is intensified due to 1) enhancement of presynaptic glutamate release, and 2) making postsynaptic membrane more depolarized, although, enhancement of glutamate release alone is not sufficient for LTP induction.
The INTERSPEECH 2016 Computational Paralinguistics Challenge: Deception, Sincerity & Native Language

The INTERSPEECH 2016 Computational Paralinguistics Challenge addresses three different problems for the ﬁrst time in research competition under well-deﬁned conditions: classiﬁcation of deceptive vs. non-deceptive speech, the estimation of the degree of sincerity, and the identiﬁcation of the native language out of eleven L1 classes of English L2 speakers. In this paper, we describe these sub-challenges, their conditions, the baseline feature extraction and classiﬁers, and the resulting baselines, as provided to the participants.
Isomap nonlinear dimensionality reduction and bimodality of Asian monsoon convection

It is known that the empirical orthogonal function method is unable to detect possible nonlinear structure in climate data. Here, isometric feature mapping (Isomap), as a tool for nonlinear dimensionality reduction, is applied to 1958–2001 ERA‐40 sea‐level pressure anomalies to study nonlinearity of the Asian summer monsoon intraseasonal variability. Using the leading two Isomap time series, the probability density function is shown to be bimodal. A two‐dimensional bivariate Gaussian mixture model is then applied to identify the monsoon phases, the obtained regimes representing enhanced and suppressed phases, respectively. The relationship with the large‐scale seasonal mean monsoon indicates that the frequency of monsoon regime occurrence is significantly perturbed in agreement with conceptual ideas, with preference for enhanced convection on intraseasonal time scales during large‐scale strong monsoons. Trend analysis suggests a shift in concentration of monsoon convection, with less emphasis on South Asia and more on the East China Sea.
Family Resilience Resources in Coping With Child Sexual Abuse in South Africa

The aim of this qualitative study was to identify resources of family resilience that help families cope with child sexual abuse. Data were collected from a purposeful sample of parents representing nine poor families living in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The narratives of the participants were analyzed thematically. The results indicate that the families, despite adverse situations, utilized internal and external resilience resources. Internal resources were the parents’ relationship with their children, their own emotional functioning and attitudes, the children’s ability to cope with the abuse, boundaries in the family, insight into their children’s emotional needs, and sibling relationships. External family resources were the support of extended family members, friends, and a local community-based nonprofit organization working with child sexual abuse and schools. The empowering role of the identified resources for family resilience should be enhanced in interventions, while future studies could further explore these aspects in families confronted with child sexual abuse.
PD-L1 Expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Using tissue microarrays containing 105 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) specimens, Mittendorf and colleagues show that 20% of the TNBC specimens express PD-L1, half have lost PTEN, and inhibitors of PI3K pathway decrease PD-L1 expression, providing a rationale for therapeutic targeting of PD-L1 for TNBC. Early-phase trials targeting the T-cell inhibitory molecule programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have shown clinical efficacy in cancer. This study was undertaken to determine whether PD-L1 is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and to investigate the loss of PTEN as a mechanism of PD-L1 regulation. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA sequencing data showed significantly greater expression of the PD-L1 gene in TNBC (n = 120) compared with non-TNBC (n = 716; P < 0.001). Breast tumor tissue microarrays were evaluated for PD-L1 expression, which was present in 19% (20 of 105) of TNBC specimens. PD-L1+ tumors had greater CD8+ T-cell infiltrate than PD-L1− tumors (688 cells/mm vs. 263 cells/mm; P < 0.0001). To determine the effect of PTEN loss on PD-L1 expression, stable cell lines were generated using PTEN short hairpin RNA (shRNA). PTEN knockdown led to significantly higher cell-surface PD-L1 expression and PD-L1 transcripts, suggesting transcriptional regulation. Moreover, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway inhibition using the AKT inhibitor MK-2206 or rapamycin resulted in decreased PD-L1 expression, further linking PTEN and PI3K signaling to PD-L1 regulation. Coculture experiments were performed to determine the functional effect of altered PD-L1 expression. Increased PD-L1 cell surface expression by tumor cells induced by PTEN loss led to decreased T-cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. PD-L1 is expressed in 20% of TNBCs, suggesting PD-L1 as a therapeutic target in TNBCs. Because PTEN loss is one mechanism regulating PD-L1 expression, agents targeting the PI3K pathway may increase the antitumor adaptive immune responses. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(4); 361–70. ©2014 AACR.
Differential expression and localization of four connexins in the ovary of the ayu (Plecoglossus Altivelis)

The post‐vitellogenic oocytes of teleost fish are generally unresponsive to maturation‐inducing hormone (MIH) until a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge stimulates sensitivity via the acquisition of oocyte‐maturational competence (OMC). Heterologous gap junctions (GJs) between granulosa cells and the oocyte have been previously implicated in the regulation of oocyte maturation in various vertebrate species. Although heterologous GJ are present in ovarian follicles of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis), their role in maturation remains unclear. In the present study, we cloned and characterized complementary DNAs for GJ protein connexin (Cx), and examined the expression pattern of Cx messenger RNAs in the ayu ovary. Four Cx cDNAs with predicted molecular masses of 32.1 (Cx32.1), 34.9 (Cx34.9), 44.1 (Cx44.1), and 44.2 (Cx44.2) kDa, respectively, were cloned. Northern blot analysis revealed that the levels of Cx44.1 and Cx44.2 transcripts were similar during the vitellogenic and ovulatory stages. Cx32.1 transcripts were more abundant during the vitellogenic stage, but their levels declined thereafter. Cx34.9 transcript levels increased during the vitellogenic stage and remained high during the acquisition of OMC. In situ hybridization revealed that Cx44.1 and Cx44.2 signals were restricted to the oocyte, whereas the Cx32.1 and Cx34.9 signals were detected in both cellular fractions. Furthermore, a dye‐transfer assay revealed the presence of functional GJs between the oocytes and follicle cells. These results suggest that Cx34.9 contributes to the formation of heterologous GJs between oocytes and granulosa cells. Moreover, GJs formed by Cx34.9 may function during the LH‐dependent acquisition of OMC and the MIH‐dependent resumption of meiosis in ayu. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 1113–1123, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Purification, Gene Cloning, Gene Expression, and Mutants of Dps from the Obligate Anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis

ABSTRACT The periodontopathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is an obligate anaerobe that is devoid of catalase but exhibits a relatively high degree of resistance to peroxide stress. In the present study, we demonstrate that P. gingivalis contains a Dps homologue that plays an important role in the protection of cells from peroxide stress. The Dps protein isolated from P. gingivalis displayed a ferritin-like spherical polymer consisting of 19-kDa subunits. Molecular cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding this protein revealed that it had a high similarity in nucleotide and amino acid sequences to Dps proteins from other species. The expression of Dps was significantly increased by exposure of P. gingivalis to atmospheric oxygen in an OxyR-dependent manner, indicating that it is regulated by the reactive oxygen species-regulating gene oxyR. The Dps-deficient mutants, including the dps single mutant and the ftn dps double mutant, showed no viability loss upon exposure to atmospheric oxygen for 6 h. In contrast to the wild type, however, these mutants exhibited the high susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide, thereby disrupting the viability. On the other hand, no significant difference in sensitivity to mitomycin C and metronidazole was observed between the wild type and the mutants. Furthermore, the dps single mutant, compared with the wild type, showed a lower viability in infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
The Croonian Lecture, 1977 - Stretch activation of muscle: function and mechanism

Current theories about the mechanism of muscular contraction suppose that the level of enzymic and contractile activity is controlled by the intracellular concentration of calcium ions, the degree of overlap between the myosin and actin filaments and the rate of relative sliding of the filaments. It is now known that in most or all muscles there is a further direct influence of mechanical conditions, usually called stretch activation; changes of length lead to a delayed change of active tension. The effect is large and functionally significant in insect fibrillar flight muscle and in mammalian heart muscle; it is present, but small, in vertebrate skeletal muscle, which probably accounts for its late discovery. In insect fibrillar flight muscle, the delayed tension is responsible for the rhythmic mechanical activity during flight. In mammalian heart muscle it may play a rôle in Starling’s Law. In insect fibrillar muscle, extension produces a maintained increase in actomyosin ATPase and active tension; in vertebrate skeletal muscle, stretch activation is a transient phenomenon. Mammalian heart muscle shows greater maintenance of stretch activation than skeletal muscle; the duration of higher ATPase activity has not yet been determined. The effective mechanical parameter is not overall strain but is probably the strain on an internal structure related to overall stress. Various lines of evidence point to the myosin filament as the location of the sensor. A considerable degree of molecular synchronization occurs during natural insect flight.