Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain Perfusion in Asphyxiated Newborns Treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Induced hypothermia is thought to work partly by mitigating reperfusion injury in asphyxiated term neonates. The purpose of this study was to assess brain perfusion in the first week of life in these neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, MR imaging and ASL-PI were used to assess brain perfusion in these neonates. We measured regional CBF values on 1–2 MR images obtained during the first week of life and compared these with values obtained in control term neonates. The same or later MR imaging scans were obtained to define the extent of brain injury. RESULTS: Eighteen asphyxiated and 4 control term neonates were enrolled; 11 asphyxiated neonates were treated with hypothermia. Those developing brain injury despite being treated with induced hypothermia usually displayed hypoperfusion on DOL 1 and then hyperperfusion on DOL 2–3 in brain areas subsequently exhibiting injury. Asphyxiated neonates not treated with hypothermia who developed brain injury also displayed hyperperfusion on DOL 1–6 in brain areas displaying injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that ASL-PI may be useful for identifying asphyxiated neonates at risk of developing brain injury, whether or not hypothermia is administered. Because hypothermia for 72 hours may not prevent brain injury when hyperperfusion is found early in the course of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, such neonates may be candidates for adjustments in their hypothermia therapy or for adjunctive neuroprotective therapies.
Efficacy of yoga therapy on subjective well-being and basic living skills of patients having chronic schizophrenia

Background: Scientific studies demonstrate efficacy of yogic treatment methods in stress and anxiety related disorders, psychosomatic disorders and physical illness. Very few studies have been conducted on schizophrenic patients. Aims: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of yoga therapy on subjective well-being, basic living skills, self-care, interpersonal, communicational and routine functions of schizophrenic patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty chronic schizophrenic hospitalized patients were selected from Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (yoga therapy along with Pharmacotherapy, n=15), and to control group (Pharmacotherapy alone, n=15). Baseline assessment was done using Post Graduate Institute general well-being measure (GWBM), Checklist for basic living skills and Indian disability evaluation and assessment scale (IDEAS). The experimental group attended yoga therapy every day for about 1½ h including motivational and feedback session. After 1 month post-assessment was done for both the groups. Statistical Analysis: Pearson Chi-square test was used for comparing the results. Results: At the end of 1 month experimental group showed better rating in comparison to control group in PGI GWBM, basic living skills and IDEAS. Conclusion: Yoga could improve patients’ subjective well-being, their daily basic living functioning, personal hygiene, self-care, interpersonal activities and communication, and prompted more involvement in routine work.
The chemokine receptor CX3CR1 controls homing and anti‐viral potencies of CD8 effector‐memory T lymphocytes in HIV‐infected patients

Objectives: We have recently reported that the polymorphism of the fractalkine receptor, CX3CR1, provides a new marker for prognosis in HIV disease. In order to understand the mechanism by which CX3CR1 participates in the regulation of HIV‐immune responses, we investigated its expression and role on T lymphocytes in HIV‐infected patients. Design: For that purpose, we analysed the expression of CX3CR1 on CD4 and CD8 effector‐memory subsets in HIV‐positive individuals by flow cytometric analyses, and studied its potential role in the migration and function of CD8 effector cells. Results: We observed an increased frequency of CD8 cells expressing CX3CR1 that was correlated with disease progression in HIV‐infected patients compared with normal individuals. CX3CR1+ was expressed mainly on activated and differentiated CCR7‐CD45RA‐negative memory lymphocytes. Interestingly, CX3CR1 appeared as the main homing receptor of these cells that have downmodulated most other chemokine receptors. The CD8+CX3CR1+ lymphocytes were engaged in the cytotoxic lineage (perforin+, CD27‐negative and CD57+). Ex‐vivo analysis showed that CX3C ligand‐1 inhibits IFN&ggr; production in response to T cell receptor engagement. Conclusion: CX3CR1 and its ligand could contribute to the specific migratory pattern of late‐stage differentiated CD8 cells and participate in the regulation of effector function of CD8 lymphocytes during HIV infection.
The lectin jacalin triggers CD4‐mediated lymphocyte signaling by binding CD4 through a protein‐protein interaction

The lectin jacalin specifically stimulates lymphocytes expressing the CD4 antigen. Recent studies have also demonstrated that this lectin interacts with CD4, inhibits in vitro HIV infection, and triggers cell signaling directly via CD4. Jacalin as a lectin was suggested to trigger CD4‐mediated cell signaling by interacting with the oligosaccharide side chains of CD4 located on Asn271 and Asn300. Such a hypothesis was of importance because it implied that the glycosylated chains could represent a functional domain directly involved in CD4‐related cell activation. We analyzed this possibility by studying the effect of hapten sugars on jacalin‐induced CD4 cell signaling and jacalin/CD4 interaction, and by studying the binding capacities of the lectin toward glycosylated, deglycosylated, and unglycosylated CD4. The results presented in this study provide evidence that jacalin does not recognize the CD4 oligosaccharide chains and actually binds CD4 through a specific protein‐protein interaction; as a consequence these results rule out the involvement of the CD4 saccharide moieties in CD4‐mediated cell signaling triggered by the lectin.
An immunologist's guide to CD31 function in T-cells

Summary Although it is expressed by all leukocytes, including T-, B-lymphocytes and dendritic cells, the immunoglobulin-like receptor CD31 is generally regarded by immunologists as a marker of endothelial cell lineage that lacks an established functional role in adaptive immunity. This perception has recently been challenged by studies that reveal a key role for this molecule in the regulation of T-cell homeostasis, effector function and trafficking. The complexity of the biological functions of CD31 results from the integration of its adhesive and signaling functions in both the immune and vascular systems. Signaling by means of CD31 is induced by homophilic engagement during the interactions of immune cells and is mediated by phosphatase recruitment or activation through immunoreceptor tyrosine inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) that are located in its cytoplasmic tail. Loss of CD31 function is associated with excessive immunoreactivity and susceptibility to cytotoxic killing. Here, we discuss recent findings that have brought to light a non-redundant, complex role for this molecule in the regulation of T-cell-mediated immune responses, with large impact on our understanding of immunity in health and disease.
An open access database for the evaluation of heart sound algorithms

In the past few decades, analysis of heart sound signals (i.e. the phonocardiogram or PCG), especially for automated heart sound segmentation and classification, has been widely studied and has been reported to have the potential value to detect pathology accurately in clinical applications. However, comparative analyses of algorithms in the literature have been hindered by the lack of high-quality, rigorously validated, and standardized open databases of heart sound recordings. This paper describes a public heart sound database, assembled for an international competition, the PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology (CinC) Challenge 2016. The archive comprises nine different heart sound databases sourced from multiple research groups around the world. It includes 2435 heart sound recordings in total collected from 1297 healthy subjects and patients with a variety of conditions, including heart valve disease and coronary artery disease. The recordings were collected from a variety of clinical or nonclinical (such as in-home visits) environments and equipment. The length of recording varied from several seconds to several minutes. This article reports detailed information about the subjects/patients including demographics (number, age, gender), recordings (number, location, state and time length), associated synchronously recorded signals, sampling frequency and sensor type used. We also provide a brief summary of the commonly used heart sound segmentation and classification methods, including open source code provided concurrently for the Challenge. A description of the PhysioNet/CinC Challenge 2016, including the main aims, the training and test sets, the hand corrected annotations for different heart sound states, the scoring mechanism, and associated open source code are provided. In addition, several potential benefits from the public heart sound database are discussed.
A strategy to detect beta-thalassaemia minor.

Over the past three years 25 302 adults in Kentucky have been tested for haemoglobinopathies, and of these, haemoglobin A2 was measured on 3734, 1973 with microcytosis and 1761 within the normal range. The best methods of detecting beta-thalassaemia minor using red-blood-cell indices were compared. No method detected all heterozygotes. A new method was devised consisting of three parts: (1) haemoglobin electrophoresis, (2) calculation of the product of the square of the mean corpuscular volume (M.C.V.) multiplied by the mean corpuscular haemoglobin (M.C.H.) measured in units of one hundred, (3) A2 determination on all AA samples with (M.C.V.)2 X M.C. H. less than 1530 and on those with variant genotypes consistent with thalassaemia. In this series this new method detected 137 out of 138 heterozygotes with 4-4% false-positives.
Sepsis Workup in Febrile Infants 0–90 Days of Age With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Objectives To ascertain the incidence, determinants, and outcome of sepsis workup in febrile infants aged 0–90 days with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Design Retrospective chart review. Results 191 infants with RSV, 21.5% younger than 28 days, were identified; 101 (52.9%) were febrile and 90 were afebrile. Among the febrile infants, 84.2% had blood cultures, 68.3% had urine cultures, and 58.4% had lumbar punctures. Complete sepsis workup was done in 52.5% of the febrile cohort, including 77.3% of those aged less than 28 days. There were 5 cases of urinary tract infection (UTI) [7.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.4–16.1] and 1 case of bacteremia (1.2%, 95% CI = 0.0–6.4) among the tested febrile patients. There was no case (0%, 95% CI = 0.0–6.1) of meningitis. Age, maximum temperature, irritability, apnea, decreased intake, chest x-ray findings, and white blood cell count were not predictive of a positive culture. Only 7.8% of the afebrile patients had complete sepsis workup. Fever [risk ratio (RR) = 5.8, 95% CI = 2.8–12], absence of wheezing (RR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3–3.6), and age less than 28 days (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.2) were independent predictors of complete sepsis workup. Overall, complete sepsis workup was associated with a higher rate of antibiotic use (RR = 10.7, 95% CI = 4.9–23.4), increased hospitalization (RR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.0–4.7), and prolonged hospital stay (median of 2 days vs. 1 day, P = 0.003) compared with those without complete workup. Conclusion Considerable variability exists in the sepsis workup of febrile infants with suspected RSV infection at our site. Concomitant UTIs are common in febrile, RSV-infected infants.
An Empirical Study of Impact of EVA Momentum on the Shareholders Value Creation as Compared to Traditional Financial Performance Measures ¨C With Special Reference to the UAE

The unawareness of value-based performance measures when allocating investments could lead to destroying value. This paper presents comparison of three groups of performance measures being accounting-traditional measures, market-based measures and value-based measures with special focus on EVA Momentum calculated as (¦¤EVA / Trailing Sales). The study covers UAE stock exchanges from 2008 to 2013. A methodology is designed to determine the right transformation of panel data then deciding on the appropriate regression technique among Fixed Effects, Random Effects or Pooled OLS model. Advanced modeling techniques as Driscoll-Kraay and Prais-Winsten models are used to examine serial correlation and heteroskedasticity.
Bub1p Kinase Activates the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Spindle Assembly Checkpoint

ABSTRACT Saccharomyces cerevisiae BUB1 encodes a protein kinase required for spindle assembly checkpoint function. In the presence of spindle damage, BUB1 is required to prevent cell cycle progression into anaphase. We have identified a dominantly actingBUB1 allele that appears to activate the spindle assembly checkpoint pathway in cells with undamaged spindles. High-level expression of BUB1-5 did not cause detectable spindle damage, yet it delayed yeast cells in mitosis at a stage following bipolar spindle assembly but prior to anaphase spindle elongation. Delayed cells possessed a G2 DNA content and elevated Clb2p mitotic cyclin levels. Unlike cells delayed in mitosis by spindle damage or MPS1 kinase overexpression, hyperphosphorylated forms of the Mad1p checkpoint protein did not accumulate. Similar to cells overexpressing MPS1, the BUB1-5 delay was dependent upon the functions of the other checkpoint genes, includingBUB2 and BUB3 and MAD1,MAD2, and MAD3. We found that the mitotic delay caused by BUB1-5 or MPS1 overexpression was interdependent upon the function of the other. This suggests that the Bub1p and Mps1p kinases act together at an early step in generating the spindle damage signal.
Chemical and immunological characterization of lipopolysaccharides from phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) isolated from phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii (LPS I and LPS II, respectively) were analyzed for chemical compositions, molecular heterogeneity by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunological properties. The yields of crude phenol-water extracts from phase I cells were roughly three to six times higher than those from phase II cells. Purification of LPSs by ultracentrifugation gave similar yields for both LPS I and LPS II. Purified LPS I and LPS II contained roughly 0.8 and 0.6% protein, respectively. The fatty acid constituents of the LPSs were different in composition and content, with branched-chain fatty acids representing about 15% of the total. beta-Hydroxymyristic acid was not detected in either LPS I or LPS II. A thiobarbituric acid-periodate-positive compound was evident in the LPSs; however, this component was not identified as 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid by gas and paper chromatographies. LPS II contained D-mannose, D-glucose, D-glyceromannoheptose, glucosamine, ethanolamine, 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid-like material, phosphate, and fatty acids. LPS I contained the unique disaccharide galactosaminuronyl glucosamine and nine unidentified components in addition to the components of LPS II. The hydrophobic, putative lipid A fraction of LPS I and LPS II contained the above constituents, but the hydrophilic fraction was devoid of ethanolamine. The LPS I disaccharide galactosaminuronyl glucosamine was found in both fractions of the acetic acid hydrolysates. Analysis of LPSs by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining indicated that LPS II was composed of only one band, whereas LPS I consisted of six or more bands with irregular spacing. Ouchterlony immunodiffusion tests demonstrated that LPS I reacted with phase I but not with phase II whole-cell hyperimmune antibody, and LPS II reacted neither with phase I nor phase II hyperimmune antibody. From these results, it was concluded that the chemical structures of LPSs from C. burnetii were different from those of the LPSs of gram-negative bacteria; however, the LPS structural variation in C. burnetii may be similar to the smooth-to-rough mutational variation of saccharide chain length in gram-negative bacteria.
Structure of the Marek's disease virus BamHI-H gene family: genes of putative importance for tumor induction

The BamHI H fragment of Marek's disease virus (MDV), which has been hypothesized to contain a tumor-inducing gene, was partially sequenced and analyzed for transcriptional activity. Transcription of several RNAs was found to initiate within BamHI-H, with the major transcripts initiating on either side of a putative MDV origin of lytic replication. A 1.8-kilobase gene family found to be produced only by pathogenic MDV was detected, and its transcription map was produced. It is hypothesized that the 1.8-kilobase gene family is directly associated with the tumorigenic potential of MDV.
Maximum Minute Ventilation Test for the ProSeal™ Laryngeal Mask Airway

One of the distinguishing features of the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) is that it can cause upper airway obstruction, even when it is correctly inserted behind the cricoid cartilage. We used a hyperventilation test, the maximum minute ventilation test (MMV test), to aid in the diagnosis of upper airway obstruction after PLMA insertion. The patient was briefly hyperventilated for 15 s yielding a MMV value equal to 4 × (breaths/15 s) × (exhaled tidal volume). MMV values were collected in 317 adult women and men over 6 mo. Critical MMV values were obtained in 17 of 317 patients, 15 of 317 (4.7%) of which were due to insertion of the PLMA. The PLMA was removed in seven of 317 (2.2%) patients. The most common cause of upper airway obstruction due to the PLMA was laryngeal obstruction. This refers to compression of supraglottic and glottic structures with resulting narrowing and compromise of the airway. A second, much less common, form of airway obstruction was bilateral cuff infolding with or without downfolding of the epiglottis. Finally, we discuss the margin of safety for minute ventilation, defined as the excess of the MMV over and above basal minute ventilation requirements for the patient. With critical MMV, the margin of safety is drastically reduced or nonexistent.
Genetic Variation of the Y Chromosome in Chibcha-Speaking Amerindians of Costa Rica and Panama

Genetic variation of the Y chromosome in five Chibchan tribes (Bribri, Cabecar, Guaymi, Huetar, and Teribe) of Costa Rica and Panama was analyzed using six microsatellite loci (DYS19, DYS389A, DYS389B, DYS390, DYS391, and DYS393), the Y-chromosome-specific alphoid system (αh), the Y-chromosome Alu polymorphism (YAP), and a specific pre-Columbian transition (C → T) (M3 marker) in the DYS199 locus that defines the Q-M3 haplogroup. Thirty-nine haplotypes were found, resulting in a haplotype diversity of 0.937. The Huetar were the most diverse tribe, probably because of their high levels of interethnic admixture. A candidate founder Y-chromosome haplotype was identified (15.1% of Chibchan chromosomes), with the following constitution: YAP-, DYS199*T, αh-II, DYS19*13, DYS389A*17, DYS389B*10, DYS390*24, DYS391*10, and DYS393*13. This haplotype is the same as the one described previously as one of the most frequent founder paternal lineages in native American populations. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that the between-population variation was smaller than the within-population variation, and the comparison with mtDNA restriction data showed no evidence of differential structuring between maternally and paternally inherited genes in the Chibchan populations. The mismatch-distribution approach indicated estimated coalescence times of the Y chromosomes of the Q-M3 haplogroup of 3,113 and 13,243 years before present; for the mtDNA-restriction haplotypes the estimated coalescence time was between 7,452 and 9,834 years before present. These results are compatible with the suggested time for the origin of the Chibchan group based on archeological, linguistic, and genetic evidence.
Adhesion of Acinetobacter venetianus to Diesel Fuel Droplets Studied with In Situ Electrochemical and Molecular Probes

ABSTRACT The adhesion of a recently described species, Acinetobacter venetianus VE-C3 (F. Di Cello, M. Pepi, F. Baldi, and R. Fani, Res. Microbiol. 148:237–249, 1997), to diesel fuel (a mixture of C12 to C28n-alkanes) andn-hexadecane was studied and compared to that ofAcinetobacter sp. strain RAG-1, which is known to excrete the emulsifying lipopolysaccharide, emulsan. Oxygen consumption rates, biomass, cell hydrophobicity, electrophoretic mobility, and zeta potential were measured for the two strains. The dropping-mercury electrode (DME) was used as an in situ adhesion sensor. In seawater, RAG-1 was hydrophobic, with an electrophoretic mobility (μ) of −0.38 × 10−8 m2V−1 s−1 and zeta potential (ζ) of −4.9 mV, while VE-C3 was hydrophilic, with μ of −0.81 × 10−8 m2 V−1 s−1 and ζ of −10.5 mV. The microbial adhesion to hydrocarbon (MATH) test showed that RAG-1 was always hydrophobic whereas the hydrophilic VE-C3 strain became hydrophobic only after exposure to n-alkanes. Adhesion of VE-C3 cells to diesel fuel was partly due to the production of capsular polysaccharides (CPS), which were stained with the lectin concanavalin A (ConA) conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate and observed in situ by confocal microscopy. The emulsan from RAG-1, which was negative to ConA, was stained with Nile Red fluorochrome instead. Confocal microscope observations at different times showed that VE-C3 underwent two types of adhesion: (i) cell-to-cell interactions, preceding the cell adhesion to the n-alkane, and (ii) incorporation of nanodroplets of n-alkane into the hydrophilic CPS to form a more hydrophobic polysaccharide–n-alkane matrix surrounding the cell wall. The incorporation of n-alkanes as nanodroplets into the CPS of VE-C3 cells might ensure the partitioning of the bulk apolar phase between the aqueous medium and the outer cell membrane and thus sustain a continuous growth rate over a prolonged period.
Metabolism and Metal Binding by Surface-Colonizing Bacteria: Results of Microgradient Measurements

Short-term (65-h) bacterial colonization of 0.2-μm (pore size) filters submerged in water from Lake Charlotte, Nova Scotia, was characterized by a well-defined succession of cell types, in which small cocci gave way to larger, rod-shaped cells. This succession agrees with the concept of attachment as a strategy for survival, in which inactive cocci can attach to a surface and grow into larger, rod-shaped cells by using endogenous nutrients and the nutrients accumulated at the solid-liquid interface. Analyses of oxygen and CO2 microgradients above colonized surfaces indicated that a peak of respiration accompanied the succession of rods from cocci. CO2 fixation then became apparent as the rods began to bind manganese and iron to their surfaces. This means that survival by attachment may not be just the province of heterotrophs. It could also be a strategy adopted by metal-oxidizing chemoautotrophs. Long-term (34-day) colonization of similar filters indicated that, while a succession of attached cell types may indeed be a natural occurrence, other factors (such as the selective grazing of larger cells) tend to obscure the development of this succession.