Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lupus Anticoagulant Testing in Europe: An Analysis of Results from the First European Concerted Action on Thrombophilia (ECAT) Survey Using Plasmas Spiked with Monoclonal Antibodies against Human β2-Glycoprotein I

Summary Lupus anticoagulants (LA) are immunoglobulins directed to either prothrombin or Beta-2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) bound to phospholipids. Most patients with LA have both β2GPI- and prothrombin-dependent antibodies. Several recent reports have shown that LA is more strongly associated with thrombosis than anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). Therefore, an accurate detection of LA is of utmost importance in patients suspected of an antiphospholipid syndrome. We recently raised a series of murine monoclonal antibodies against human Beta-2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) with LA activity similar to affinity purified human β2GPI-dependent LAs. A normal plasma pool, and the same pool spiked with LA positive anti-β2GPI antibodies at two potency levels, were used as materials in an external quality assessment scheme organised by the European Concerted Action on Thrombosis (ECAT). Fifty nine laboratories participating in this trial were asked to test for the presence of a LA in the 3 samples submitted. The majority (82%) of the participants found the high potency LA sample to be positive. Only 37% of the laboratories considered the weak potency LA sample to be positive. The submission of a normal sample, a weakly positive sample and a clearly positive sample enabled us to compare the relative LA responsiveness of the different screening assays used. Clotting time ratios varied from 0.81 to 3.28 for sample B and from 0.66 to 5.32 for sample D. In general, the highest clotting time ratios were found with the dilute prothrombin time (dPT), the dilute Russell Viper Venom time (dRVVT) and the Kaolin Clotting time. The most frequently used screening tests were the aPTT and the dRVVT. With the various assay systems, LA responsiveness varied largely according to the reagents used. For the β2GPI-dependent LA used in this study, PTT LA clearly showed the highest responsiveness among the aPTT reagents and Innovin among the dPT reagents. The present study also shows that many laboratories still rely on poorly responsive screening assays for their LA tests. Other laboratories rely on sensitive and more specific integrated test systems based on a sensitive screening assay with a low phospholipid content and a confirmatory test employing high phospholipid concentrations. The most used integrated system was dRVVT based. However, also here the LA responsiveness was largely reagent dependent. In conclusion, many laboratories still rely on poorly responsive screening assays by which weakly positive LA samples are misdiagnosed. LA positive anti-β2GPI moabs have a potential for the unlimited production of LA control specimens, that may help hemostasis laboratories choose more LA responsive assay systems and to assess intra-laboratory precision of their LA testing.
Numerical Simulation of N+ Source Pocket PIN-GAA-Tunnel FET: Impact of Interface Trap Charges and Temperature

This paper investigates the reliability of PIN-gate-all-around (GAA)-tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) with N<sup>+</sup> source pocket. The reliability of the PNIN-GAA-TFET is examined by analyzing: 1) the impact of interface trap charge (ITC) density and polarity and 2) the temperature affectability on analog/RF performance of the device. It is realized that the interface traps existing at the Si/SiO<sub>2</sub> interface modifies the flatband voltage and, thereby, alters the analog and RF characteristics of the device. The analysis is done at various trap charge densities and polarities. The results, thus, obtained reveal that, at higher trap charge density, the device performance alters significantly. It is obtained that, for a donor trap charge density of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3 \times 10^{{12}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, the off-state current of the device degrades tremendously (increases from an order of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10^{-17}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>–<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10^{-9}\text{A}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>). The temperature affectability over the device reveals that, at lower gate bias, the Shockley–Read–Hall phenomenon dominates and degrades the subthreshold current of the device at elevated temperatures. However, for the superthreshold regime, the band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) mechanism dominates. Furthermore, the results show enormous degradation in the off-state current at elevated temperatures, such that, with an increase in the ambient temperature from 200 K to 400 K, the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$I_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> degrades by an order of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10^{5}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, i.e., increases from <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10^{-18}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> A to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10^{-13}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> A. The results specify that the PNIN-GAA-TFET is insusceptible to the acceptor traps existing at the Si/SiO<sub>2</sub> interface in comparison with the donor traps.
AN EMPIRICAL COMPARISON OF TWO CHOICE AGGREGATION METHODS IN THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS

This paper builds on the theoretical discussion presented in an earlier paper (this issue) on the importance of and several problems related to participative group decision-making. A variation of how the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) can be applied to address the problems and aid participative decision-making is suggested. An empirical study in which the suggested method was tested is discussed.
Clear-Cut Detection in Swedish Boreal Forest Using Multi-Temporal ALOS PALSAR Backscatter Data

An extensive dataset of images acquired by the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) is investigated for clear-cut detection in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden. Strong forest/non-forest contrast and temporal consistency were found for the Fine Beam Dual HV-polarized backscatter in summer/fall. In consequence of a clear-cut between image acquisitions, the HV-backscatter dropped in most cases between 2 and 3 dB. Thus, a simple thresholding algorithm that exploits the temporal consistency of time series of HV-backscatter measurements has been developed for clear-cut detection. The detection algorithm was applied at pixel level to ALOS PALSAR strip images with a pixel size of 50 m. The performance of the detection algorithm was tested with three different threshold values (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 dB). The classification accuracy increased from 57.4% to 78.2% for decreasing value of the threshold. Conversely, the classification error increased from 3.0% to 9.7%. For about 90% of the clear-felled polygons used for accuracy assessment the proportion of pixels correctly detected as clear-felled was above 50% when using a threshold value of 2.0 dB. For the threshold values of 2.5 and 3.0 dB the corresponding figures were 80% and 65%, respectively. The total area classified as clear-felled during the time frame of the ALOS PALSAR data differed by 5% compared to an estimate of notified fellings for the same period of time when using a detection threshold of 2.5 dB. The performance of the simple detection algorithm is reasonable when aiming at detecting clear-cuts, whereas there are shortcomings in terms of delineation.
Left ventricular function and perfusion in elderly endurance athletes.

PURPOSE To study the extent to which lifelong physical training can affect cardiovascular capacity, left ventricular function, and myocardial perfusion in elderly men. METHODS AND RESULTS Ten healthy male veteran endurance athletes aged 73 +/- 3 yr (mean +/- SD) and a control group of 12 sedentary or moderately physically active healthy subjects aged 75 +/- 2 yr were studied. Echocardiographic examinations at rest and exercise stress tests were performed. Gated blood pool scans and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were recorded at rest and during exercise. Maximal VO2 was 41 +/- 7 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the athletes and 26 +/- 5 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the controls (P < 0.001). Echocardiographic measures of systolic and diastolic function at rest were better in the athletes. The ejection fraction during exercise was also higher in the athletes (P = 0.003). Seven of the 10 athletes, but none of the controls, had pathological myocardial perfusion findings. CONCLUSIONS By endurance training, a high level of physical capacity can be maintained late in life. The superior cardiovascular function in the veteran athletes, compared with the untrained controls was due to both better systolic and diastolic left ventricular function. Myocardial perfusion defects in athletes should be judged with caution, as this finding is common both in veteran athletes and as previously shown, in young athletes.
methylation Epigenetics and Metabolism

Living organisms and individual cells manage environmental variations with rapid and stable alterations in gene expression. The key to this adaptive agency is the chromatin polymer, a dynamic constituent assembly of DNA and various nucleoproteins that spatially regulates transcriptional competency by structural adaptation and genome compartmentalization. Covalent epigenetic modification imparting functional modulation and structural chromatin reorganization that potentiate a wide range of adaptive phenotypes are increasingly examined in human health and disease. The immediate cellular environment provides the contextual determinants of epigenetic chromatin architecture. Evidence for the integration of subcellular, global, and external metabolic information into this intricate system of gene regulation has recently begun to emerge. Chromatin modification as a stable system of metabolic information can be observed at regulatory and coding elements of many genes implicated in metabolism. Postreplicative methylation of DNA predominantly at the 5-carbon ring of cytosine Review
Mode of Delivery at Term and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between mode of delivery and serious adverse neonatal outcomes in term, singleton, cephalic neonates. METHODS: A 10-year study of 64,555 term neonates reaching the second stage of labor in a single tertiary obstetric unit from 2000 to 2009. Multiple pregnancies, preterm deliveries (before 37 weeks of gestation), and lethal congenital anomalies were excluded. The primary outcome was the rate of peripartum death by mode of delivery. Secondary outcomes were rates of neonatal encephalopathy, intracranial hemorrhage-related mortality, and the relationship between instrument choice and adverse outcomes. Categorical data were compared using the &khgr;2 test, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals included when appropriate. RESULTS: Compared with neonates delivered by second-stage cesarean, there were no differences in the rates of either peripartum neonatal death (OR 0.42; P=.37) or neonatal encephalopathy (OR 1.07; P>.99) after operative vaginal delivery. The rates of neonatal encephalopathy associated with operative vaginal and second-stage cesarean delivery were 4.2 and 3.9 per 1,000 term neonates, respectively. No significant differences in adverse neonatal outcomes were demonstrated between vacuum-assisted and forceps-assisted deliveries, although subanalysis is limited by the small numbers of serious adverse outcomes. The absolute risk of neonatal death secondary to intracranial hemorrhage is 3–4 per 10,000 operative vaginal deliveries for both instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Operative vaginal delivery is associated with similar rates of serious neonatal complications compared with cesarean delivery at full dilatation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
MglA, a small GTPase, interacts with a tyrosine kinase to control type IV pili‐mediated motility and development of Myxococcus xanthus

The mglA gene encodes a 22 kDa GTPase that is critical for single‐cell (A) gliding, type IV pili‐mediated (S) gliding and development of Myxococcus xanthus. To identify components that interact with MglA to control these processes, second‐site mutations that restore movement to non‐motile mglA mutants were sought. An allele‐specific extragenic suppressor of mglA8, named mas815 (mglA8 suppressor 15), was obtained. mas815 does not bypass the requirement for MglA, yet it restores type IV pili‐mediated motility and starvation‐induced development. Single‐cell (A) motility is not restored. The suppressing mutation maps to the 3′ end of a gene, masK, in an operon immediately upstream of the mglBA operon. masK encodes a protein of the STY kinase family. When the masK gene was used as bait against a library carrying M. xanthus DNA in the yeast two‐hybrid system, eight positive, independent clones containing fusions of mglA to GAL4 were obtained, thus confirming the interaction between MglA and MasK. MasK, expressed in Escherichia coli, was shown to phosphorylate at a tyrosine residue(s). The gain‐of‐function in the masK815 mutant was correlated with increased production of extracellular fibrils, which are required for adhesion, cell–cell contact and sensing phosphatidylethanolamine chemoattractants. These data suggest that the interaction between MasK and MglA is an essential part of a signal transduction pathway controlling motility and development.
Genital human papillomavirus infection in men: incidence and risk factors in a cohort of university students.

BACKGROUND In contrast to the wealth of data on human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in women, much less is known about HPV in men. METHODS Between June 2003 and March 2006, a total of 240 heterosexually active male university students 18-20 years of age were recruited for participation in a cohort study of HPV infection. Genital cell samples were collected, at 4-month intervals, for HPV-DNA analysis by polymerase chain reaction. The subjects maintained a Web-based journal of sexual activity. RESULTS At 24 months, the cumulative incidence of new infection of any genital HPV type was 62.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.6%-72.2%). Acquisition rates did not differ by genital site (i.e., glans, penile shaft, or scrotum) of initial detection (P=.86). The most commonly detected types were HPV-84 and HPV-16. In multivariate analysis, a report of a new sex partner during the prior 0-4 (hazards ratio [HR], 2.0 [95% CI, 1.3-3.0]) and 5-8 (HR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.2-2.7]) months and a history of smoking (HR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.1-2.4]) were associated with an elevated risk of HPV acquisition. CONCLUSION Genital HPV infection is common and multifocal in young men, and its incidence is higher than that reported for similar cohorts of young women. The high rates of HPV infection in men should be considered when strategies for the prevention of HPV infection in female adolescents and young women are being developed.
Research on supplier performance evaluation system based on data mining with triangular fuzzy information

From the beginning of 21th, enterprise's competition predominance depends on capability of green supply chain. Suppliers are fountains of green supply chain, and the performance will directly influence the whole supply chain performance. The green supplier performance management is a key and difficult question in green supply chain manage system, which contains two cores, supplier performance evaluation and performance improvement. With the practice of two items, enterprise can control supplier performance continuously, and take improve actions in time, make the supplier performance to achieve requested level. Finally, enterprise can optimize the competition capability. In this paper, we investigate the multiple attribute decision making (MADM) problems for supplier performance evaluation with triangular fuzzy information. Motivated by the idea of Bonferroni mean and Einstein operations, we develop the aggregation techniques called the triangular fuzzy Einstein Bonferroni mean (TFEBM) operator for aggregating the triangular fuzzy information. For the situations where the input arguments have different importance, we then define the triangular fuzzy weighted Einstein Bonferroni mean (TFWEBM) operator, based on which we develop the procedure for multiple attribute decision making under the triangular fuzzy environments. Finally, a practical example for supplier performance evaluation is given to verify the developed approach.
TP53 Mutation Analysis of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors

Mutations in TP53 underlie the development of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) in animal models, but there is controversy regarding the extent of TP53 mutations in human MPNSTs. We assessed the TP53 mutation frequency in 145 consecutive cases from our department over 36 years; 88 cases were histologically confirmed as MPNSTs, and corresponding clinical data were reviewed. Mutation analysis of TP53 Exons 4 to 9 on DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens was performed by bidirectional DNA sequencing. Tumors were localized in the extremities (n = 34), trunk (n = 34), or head and neck (n = 20). A minority of patients (n = 26, 30%) had neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1); in these patients, the diagnosis of MPNST was made at younger ages (33 [SD, 3.6] years vs 49 [SD, 2.9] years in NF1 vs non-NF1; p = 0.003). High p53 protein expression was detected in 18 (21%) of 86 cases by immunohistochemistry. TP53 mutations were detected in 17 (24%) of 72 evaluable tumors, of which 36% were from NF1 patients. TP53 mutation and strong p53 immunostaining were positively correlated (p = 0.002); high proliferation indices correlated with cellular epithelioid and storiform growth patterns. These results indicate that TP53 mutations are relatively rare in human MPNST and that they are not positively correlated with the presence of NF1.
Simulated Car Crashes at Intersections in Drivers With Alzheimer Disease

Current evidence suggests that car crashes in cognitively impaired older drivers often occur because of failure to notice other drivers at intersections. We tested whether licensed drivers with mild to moderate cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer disease (AD) are at greater risk for intersection crashes. In this experiment, 30 participants drove on a virtual highway in a simulator scenario where the approach to within 3.6 seconds of an intersection triggered an illegal incursion by another vehicle. To avoid collision with the incurring vehicle, the driver had to perceive, attend to, and interpret the roadway situation; formulate an evasive plan; and then exert appropriate action on the accelerator, brake, or steering controls, all under pressure of time. The results showed that 6 of 18 drivers with AD (33%) experienced crashes versus none of 12 nondemented drivers of similar age. Use of a visual tool that plots control over steering wheel position, brake and accelerator pedals, vehicle speed, and vehicle position during the 5 seconds preceding a crash event showed inattention and control responses that were either inappropriate or too slow. The findings were combined with those in another recent study of collision avoidance in drivers with AD that focused on potential rear end collisions. Predictors of crashes in the combined studies included visuospatial impairment, disordered attention, reduced processing of visual motion cues, and overall cognitive decline. The results help to specify the linkage between decline in certain cognitive domains and increased crash risk in AD and also support the use of high-fidelity simulation and neuropsychologic assessment in an effort to standardize the assessment of fitness to drive in persons with medical impairments.
Stone formation is proportional to papillary surface coverage by Randall's plaque.

PURPOSE Randall's plaques are common in calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone formers (SF). Plaque coverage correlates directly with urine calcium excretion and inversely with urine volume. We hypothesize that plaque coverage should increase proportionally with increasing stone number. We measured plaque areas in idiopathic CaOx stone formers and nonstone formers (NSF), and identified significant relationships with quantified stone histories. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 13 SFs and 4 control NSFs underwent nephroscopic papillary mapping with representative still images and MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) movies used to identify plaque and papillary borders. Stone histories were obtained through patient interviews, and from medical records and radiographs. The relationship of plaque coverage to clinical stone events was assessed by general multivariate linear modeling. Log transformation normalized the distribution of percent plaque coverage and stone number. RESULTS Plaque surface area in SFs differed significantly from that in NSFs (p <0.0001). The duration of stone disease and the log transformed percent plaque coverage correlated significantly with the number of stones (0.677 and 0.620, p = 0.003 and 0.008, respectively). On multivariate analysis and correcting for the duration of stone disease total percent plaque coverage correlated significantly with the number of stones (R = 0.496, p = 0.05). Disease duration and plaque coverage did not correlate significantly (p = 0.257). CONCLUSIONS Percent plaque coverage directly correlates with the number of stones formed even when corrected for the duration of stone disease. However, plaque coverage does not correlate with the duration of stone disease. These results support the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of CaOx stones begins with Randall's plaques.
Knee extensor fatigue resistance of young and older men and women performing sustained and brief intermittent isometric contractions

Introduction: Susceptibility to muscle fatigue during aging could depend on muscle activation patterns. Methods: Young (mean age, 22 years) and older (mean age 70 years) men and women completed two fatigue tests of knee extensor muscles using voluntary and electrically stimulated contractions. Results: Older subjects displayed a shift to the left of the torque‐frequency relationship and held a sustained voluntary isometric contraction at 50% maximal strength for significantly longer than young (P < 0.001). Young and old showed similar fatigue during electrically induced, intermittent isometric contractions (1‐s on, 1‐s off for 2 min), but women fatigued less than men (P = 0.001). Stronger muscles fatigued more quickly, and slower contractile properties were associated with longer sustained contractions. Conclusions: The slowing and weakness of older muscle was associated with superior fatigue resistance during sustained isometric contractions. Young and old showed similar fatigue following a series of brief, intermittent contractions, but women fatigued less than men. Muscle Nerve 50: 393–400, 2014
The Otter (Lutra lutra) in Sweden : Contaminants and Health

The spermatic ducts (vasa deferentia) of 235 otters (Lutra lutra) found dead between 1999 and 2012 in Sweden were examined for presence of paraductular cysts. Single or multiple elongated uni- or bilateral cysts parallel to the spermatic duct were noted in 72% of the examined males. The cysts were adjacent to, but did not communicate with the lumen of the spermatic duct, and were usually located within a few centimeters of the testis and epididymis. The cysts are proposed to be congenital Mullerian duct remnants. Other morphologic abnormalities in the reproductive organs were not noted within this study. Possible causes of the incomplete regression of the embryonic female gonadal duct are exposure to environmental contaminants such as elevated concentrations of estrogen-like compounds (endocrine disrupting chemicals), inbreeding, or a naturally occurring anatomic defect. No obvious geographical pattern was observed for otters with or without cysts. This is the first study and description of cysts on the spermatic duct in otters.