Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glucose metabolism in liver transplant recipients treated with FK 506 or cyclosporin in the European multicentre study

Abstract From September 1990 to January 1992, 545 liver transplant patients were randomised to treatment with either FK 506 and prednisolone or a conventional cyclosporin‐based immunosuppressive regimen (CBIR). Eight European centres participated in the study. Adverse events were reported as defined by each centre. Hyperglycaemia was reported as an adverse event in 30.7% of patients receiving FK 506 compared with 20.5% in the CBIR group (P < 0.01). Diabetes mellitus was reported in 17.2% of patients treated with FK 506 and 9.5% of CBIR‐treated patients (P < 0.05). Treatment with insulin was required in 12.0% of patients in the DK 506 treatment group and in 5% in the CBIR group at 6 months. Initially, higher doses of FK 506 were used. During the study, the protocol was changed to allow a lower dose of FK 506. When the early and late cohorts of patients were compared, the incidence of diabetes mellitus fell from 23.9% to 10.5% in FK 506‐treated patients but remained relatively constant in the CBIR group (10.4% to 8.7%). The median cumulative doses of i.v. and p. o. corticosteroids were significantly greater in the CBIR group. Thus, in the overall series, the incidence of diabetes mellitus was significantly greater in the FK 506 group as compared with the CBIR group. However, when a lower FK 506 dose was used during the second half of the study, the difference in the incidence of diabetes mellitus disappeared.
Insect Cells Contain an Unusual, Membrane-bound -N-Acetylglucosaminidase Probably Involved in the Processing of Protein N-Glycans (*)

The β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in the lepidopteran insect cell line Sf21 has been studied using pyridylaminated oligosaccharides and chromogenic synthetic glycosides as substrates. Ultracentrifugation experiments indicated that the insect cell β-N-acetylglucosaminidase exists in a soluble and a membrane-bound form. This latter form accounted for two-thirds of the total activity and was associated with vesicles of the same density as those containing GlcNAc-transferase I. Partial membrane association of the enzyme was observed with all substrates tested, i.e. 4-nitrophenyl β-N-acetylglucosaminide, tri-N-acetylchitotriose, and an N-linked biantennary agalactooligosaccharide. Inhibition studies indicated a single enzyme to be responsible for the hydrolysis of all these substrates. With the biantennary substrate, the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase exclusively removed β-N-acetylglucosamine from the α1,3-antenna. GlcNAcMan5GlcNAc2, the primary product of GlcNAc-transferase I, was not perceptibly hydrolyzed. β-N-Acetylglucosaminidases with the same branch specificity were also found in the lepidopteran cell lines Bm-N and Mb-0503. In contrast, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities from rat or frog (Xenopus laevis) liver and from mung bean seedlings were not membrane-bound, and they did not exhibit a strict branch specificity. An involvement of this unusual β-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in insects is suggested.
Competing modes of self‐association in the regulatory domains of Bruton's tyrosine kinase: Intramolecular contact versus asymmetric homodimerization

A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigation of a fragment of the nonreceptor Tec family tyrosine kinase Btk has revealed an intricate set of coupled monomer‐dimer equilibria. The Btk fragment studied contains two consecutive proline‐rich motifs followed by a single Src homology 3 (SH3) domain. We provide evidence for an asymmetric homodimer in which the amino‐terminal proline sequence of one monomer contacts the opposite SH3 binding pocket, whereas the carboxy‐terminal proline sequence of the other monomer is engaged by the second SH3 domain across the dimer interface. We show that the asymmetric homodimer structure is mimicked by a heterodimer formed in an equimolar mixture of complimentary mutants: one carrying mutations in the amino‐terminal proline stretch; the other, in the carboxy‐terminal proline motif. Moreover, a monomeric species characterized by an intramolecular complex between the amino‐terminal proline motif and the SH3 domain predominates at low concentration. Association constants were determined for each of the competing equilibria by NMR titration. The similarity of the determined Ka values reveals a delicate balance between the alternative conformational states available to Btk. Thus, changes in the local concentration of Btk itself, or co‐localization with exogenous signaling molecules that have high affinity for either proline sequence or the SH3 domain, can significantly alter species composition and regulate Btk kinase activity.
Cilengitide inhibits progression of experimental breast cancer bone metastases as imaged noninvasively using VCT, MRI and DCE‐MRI in a longitudinal in vivo study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhibiting αvβ3/αvβ5 integrins by cilengitide in experimentally induced breast cancer bone metastases using noninvasive imaging techniques. For this purpose, nude rats bearing established breast cancer bone metastases were treated with cilengitide, a small molecule inhibitor of αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins (75 mg/kg, five days per week; n = 12 rats) and compared to vehicle‐treated control rats (n = 12). In a longitudinal study, conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and flat panel volumetric computed tomography were used to assess the volume of the soft tissue tumor and osteolysis, respectively, and dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE‐) MRI was performed to determine functional parameters of the tumor vasculature reflecting blood volume and blood vessel permeability. In rats treated with cilengitide, VCT and MRI showed that osteolytic lesions and the respective bone metastatic soft tissue tumors progressed more slowly than in vehicle‐treated controls. DCE‐MRI indicated a decrease in blood volume and an increase in vessel permeability and immunohistology revealed increased numbers of immature vessels in cilengitide‐treated rats compared to vehicle controls. In conclusion, treatment of experimental breast cancer bone metastases with cilengitide resulted in pronounced antiresorptive and antitumor effects, suggesting that αvβ3/αvβ5 inhibition may be a promising therapeutic approach for bone metastases.
An efficient RAKE receiver architecture with pilot signal cancellation for downlink communications in DS-CDMA indoor wireless networks

This paper deals with a RAKE receiver architecture which makes use of a pilot signal broadcast by the base station to obtain channel parameter estimates in a direct-sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) indoor wireless network. A suitable cancellation algorithm, which is different from previous approaches, is used to reduce multipath interference due to the pilot signal. Numerical results are used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed RAKE receiver in terms of the bit error probability under typical multipath fading propagation conditions. Performance comparisons with the ideal case of perfect channel parameter estimation are given in order to highlight the good behavior of the proposed approach.
Standardisation of Factor VIII – V. Calibration of the 2nd International Standard for Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor Activities in Plasma

Summary The proposed 2nd International Standard for Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor activities in plasma, NIBSC code 87/718, was assayed against the 1st IRP, 80/511, and against fresh normal plasma, in 21 laboratories. There were no significant differences between the various assay methods for factor VIII antigen, von Willebrand factor antigen, and von Willebrand factor ristocetin co-factor activity. For factor VIII clotting activity there was a significant difference between the results of one-stage and two-stage assays. Plasma 87/718 has now been established by the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation as the 2nd IS for factor VIII and vWF in plasma with the following potencies: VIII:C 0.60 IU/ampoule; VIII:Ag 0.91 IU/ampoule; vWF:Ag 0.91 IU/ampoule; vWF/RCo 0.84 IU/ampoule.
Process, correlation and parameter fitting in species distribution models: a response to Kriticos et al

In a recent article (Dormann et al., 2012, Journal of Biogeography, 39, 2119–2131), we compared different approaches to species distribution modelling and depicted modelling approaches along an axis from purely ‘correlative’ to ‘forward process‐based’ models. In their correspondence, Kriticos et al. (2013, Journal of Biogeography, doi:10.1111/j.1365‐2699.2012.02791.x) challenge this view, claiming that our continuum representation neglects differences among models and does not consider the ability of fitted process‐based models to combine the advantages of both process‐based and correlative modelling approaches. Here we clarify that the continuum view resulted from recognition of the manifold differences between models. We also reinforce the point that the current trend towards combining different modelling approaches may lead not only to the desired combination of the advantages but also to the accumulation of the disadvantages of those approaches. This point has not been made sufficiently clear previously.
Biomarkers of bone turnover after a short period of steroid therapy in elderly men.

An excess of glucocorticoids is the third most common cause of bone loss after postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis. The iatrogenic form of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, which is more frequent than Cushing syndrome, has uncertain cellular and molecular bases. The lack of consistent information concerning the pathophysiology of corticosteroid-related bone loss is attributable to several coexisting factors, e.g., the heterogeneity of the underlying disease, that may themselves influence skeletal loss, dosage, and duration of treatment (1)(2). A well-known action of steroids on bone is decreased bone formation. There are no consistent findings concerning bone resorption in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a short period of steroid therapy on the serum concentrations of bone biomarkers in elderly men. We studied 14 elderly men (mean age ± SD, 66.1 ± 6.4 years; range, 57–76 years), admitted to our hospital from October 1998 to June 1999, who were suffering from various medical pathologies requiring systemic steroid therapy. Four patients were suffering from pulmonary diseases, four from immunologic, two from cerebral, and four from neoplastic diseases without bone metastases. None of these patients was bedridden. The patients were studied while undergoing treatment, which lasted no more than 30 days (mean ± SD, 9.1 ± 9.6 days), with a cumulative dose of 10–1250 mg of prednisone (mean prednisone equivalent, 338 ± 382 mg) or its equivalent. The patients were compared with 14 hospitalized patients of similar age (67.9 ± 6.7 years) without any history of …
Surface-related drain current dispersion effects in AlGaN-GaN HEMTs

Drain current dispersion effects are investigated in AlGaN-GaN HEMTs by means of pulsed, transient, and small-signal measurements. Gate- and drain-lag effects characterized by time constants in the order of 10/sup -5/-10/sup -4/ s cause dispersion between dc and pulsed output characteristics when the gate or the drain voltage are pulsed. An activation energy of 0.3 eV is extracted from temperature-dependent gate-lag measurements. We show that two-dimensional numerical device simulations accounting only for polarization charges and donor-like traps at the ungated AlGaN surface can quantitatively reproduce all dispersion effects observed experimentally in the different pulsing modes, provided that the measured activation energy is adopted as the energetic distance of surface traps from the valence-band edge. Within this hypothesis, simulations show that surface traps behave as hole traps during transients, interacting with holes attracted at the AlGaN surface by the negative polarization charge.
Novel Layout Technique for Single-Event Transient Mitigation Using Dummy Transistor

In this paper, a novel layout technique for single-event transient (SET) mitigation based on dummy transistors is proposed. Numerical simulations using technology computer-aided design with 90-nm twin-well CMOS technology show that the proposed layout technique can efficiently reduce SET pulsewidths. This layout design methodology is thoroughly discussed for the case of the inverter cell, and the discussion is then extended to other logic cells. We also compare the proposed layout technique with the “guard ring” (for P-hit mitigation) and the “guard drain” (for N-hit mitigation) layout techniques, and we find that not only does the proposed layout technique provide the benefit of greater SET mitigation but it also presents a smaller area penalty.
In vitro reactions of isopropyl methanesulfonate with DNA and with 2'-deoxyribonucleosides.

Isopropyl methanesulfonate (IPMS), an SN1 alkylating agent, is a direct-acting mutagen in bacteria. We recently reported that s.c. and topical administration of IPMS to mice resulted in the rapid induction of thymic lymphomas. Thymic lymphoma induction was not observed following administration of the SN2 alkylating agents methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). We have studied the reactions of IPMS with dAdo, dCyd, dGuo and dThd at pH 6.5 to 7.5 and 37 degrees C for 3 h. IPMS formed the following isopropyl (IP) adducts: 7-IP-Gua (4% yield), O6-IP-Gua (8%), O2-IP-Cyt (1%), O2-IP-dThd (2%), 3-IP-dThd (1%), and O4-IP-dThd (0.4%). Adducts were characterized from UV and mass spectra. IPMS was reacted in vitro with calf thymus DNA (pH 6.5 to 7.5, 37 degrees C, 3 h) and yielded (nmol/mg DNA): 7-IP-Gua (22) O6-IP-dGuo (11), O2-IP-Cyt (9), O2-IP-dThd (2), O4-IP-dThd (2), 3-IP-Ade (0.2) and 3-IP-dThd (0.2). The relatively greater alkylation of exocyclic oxygen atoms in DNA by IPMS compared to values for MMS and EMS reported by others, may play a role in the induction of thymic lymphomas in mice by IPMS and the lack of such activity by MMS and EMS.
Modernization and the cultural practice of consanguineous marriage : A study of four provinces of Iran

Consanguineous marriage has been the culturally preferred form of marriage in Iran. This paper examines the extent to which modernization through education, urbanization and changes in modes of production has affected the incidence of consanguineous marriage and attitudes towards consanguineous marriages. The 2002 Iran Fertility Transition Survey conducted in the four provinces of Gilan, Sistan and Baluchistan, Yazd and West Azarbaijan provides information on the degree of relationship of marriage partners from around 6550 ever-married women aged less than 50. Overall, the level of relative marriage ranged from 23 per cent in Gilan to 78 per cent in Sistan and Baluchistan. Attitudinal data were also obtained. The paper finds that the practice of relative marriage has remained surprisingly resilient in the face of modernization and that ethnicity, province and area of residence remain important determinants. On the other hand, attitudes have shifted towards marriage with a non-relative. Anthropological research would illuminate the processes of consanguineous marriage in Iran. * This paper is based on the findings of a project on Fertility Transition in Iran supported by the Wellcome Trust. 1 Associate Professor and Head, Department of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; and Associate, Demography and Sociology Program, Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, Australia. E-mail: mabbasi@ut.ac. ir 2 Professor and Head, Demography and Sociology Program, ANU 3 PhD scholar, Demography and Sociology Program, ANU
The Value of Admission Glucose and Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Patients with acute Coronary Syndrome

* College of Medicine,University of Baghdad. ****Baghdad Teaching Hospital. complications start taking place long before the patient has overt diabetes. (2) Diabetics have a greater burden of atherogenic risk factors than nondiabetics, including hypertension, obesity, lipid abnormalities, insulin, and elevated plasma fibrinogen . (3) Impaired glucose tolerance or overt diabetes may first be diagnosed in the setting of ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In nondiabetic patients, elevated admission glucose level is a strong predictor of short-term adverse outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Admission glucose may be affected by meals, the circadian cycle, and also the stress response. Glycated hemoglobin A1c is a convenient marker of long-term glucose regulation. However, the prognostic value of diabetic control assessed by HbA1c level in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is still undefined. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between (admission glucose and HbA1c) and short term outcome in patients not known to be diabetics presented with ACS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observational study included 50 consecutive patients without known diabetes mellitus admitted to the coronary care unit with ACS. Patients were sub-divided into three groups: patients with unstable angina (UA, n = 10), those with ST segment elevation myocardial Infarction (STEMI, n = 18) and those with non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, n = 22). Patients were stratified according to their HbA1c into three groups: Group 1: <6.5 (12, 24%), group 2: 6.58.5 (22, 44%) and group 3: > 8.5 (16, 32%). Both glucose and HbA1c were measured on admission. The diagnosis of ‘‘undiagnosed DM’’ was made if patients presented with fasting glucose >7.0 mmol/L or random glucose >11.1 mmol/L together with an admission HbA1c >6.5% according to the latest ADA recommendations. Main outcome measure was left ventricular (LV) systolic function which was assessed by ejection fraction (EF); and the set point was 50%. Data were analyzed separately using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 60.6 ± 6.33 years and 74% were males. Of total, 42% were smokers, 68% were hypertensive, 48% had hyperlipidemia and BMI ≥ 30 in 22%. Eighteen percent of patients were diagnosed as new cases of DM. Mean admission glucose was higher in patients with EF< 50% compared to those with EF> 50% with statistically significant difference (P< 0.05). There was a linear correlation between EF% and HbA1c in all types of presentation. 95.5% of patients in group 2 and 100% of patients in group 3 showed EF<50% with statistically significant difference (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: HbA1c on admission is a powerful predictor of LV systolic dysfunction as a major adverse event of acute coronary syndrome in patients not known to be diabetics. Measurement of HbA1c levels may improve risk assessment in those patients when presenting with ACS.
Induction of Survivin Expression by Taxol (Paclitaxel) Is an Early Event, Which Is Independent of Taxol-mediated G2/M Arrest*

Survivin is a novel anti-apoptotic protein that is highly expressed in cancer but is undetectable in most normal adult tissues. It was reported that taxol-mediated mitotic arrest of cancer cells is associated with survivin induction, which preserves a survival pathway and results in resistance to taxol. In this study, we provide new evidence that induction of survivin by taxol is an early event and is independent of taxol-mediated G2/M arrest. Taxol treatment of MCF-7 cells rapidly up-regulated survivin expression (3.5–15-fold) within 4 h without G2/M arrest. Lengthening the treatment of cells (48 h) with taxol resulted in decreased survivin expression in comparison with early times following taxol treatment, although G2/M cells were significantly increased at later times. Interestingly, 3 nm taxol induces survivin as effectively as 300 nm and more effectively than 3000 nm. As a result, 3 nm taxol is ineffective at inducing cell death. However, inhibition of taxol-mediated survivin induction by small interfering RNA significantly increased taxol-mediated cell death. Taxol rapidly activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and MAPK pathways. Inhibition of these pathways diminished survivin induction and sensitized cells to taxol-mediated cell death. A cis-acting DNA element upstream of -1430 in the survivin pLuc-2840 construct is at least partially responsible for taxol-mediated survivin induction. Together, these data show, for the first time, that taxol-mediated induction of survivin is an early event and independent of taxol-mediated G2/M arrest. This appears to be a new mechanism for cancer cells to evade taxol-induced apoptosis. Targeting this survival pathway may result in novel approaches for cancer therapeutics.
ISSUES AND INNOVATIONS IN NURSING EDUCATION Nurse educators’ workplace empowerment, burnout, and job satisfaction: testing Kanter’s theory

Correspondence: Heather Spence Laschinger, School of Nursing, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada. E-mail: hkl@uwo.ca SARMIENTO T.P. , LASCHINGER H.K. S . & IWASIW C. (2004) Journal of Advanced Nursing 46(2), 134–143 Nurse educators’ workplace empowerment, burnout, and job satisfaction: testing Kanter’s theory Background. Empowerment has become an increasingly important factor in determining college nurse educator burnout, work satisfaction and performance in current restructured college nursing programmes in Canada. Aim. This paper reports a study to test a theoretical model specifying relationships among structural empowerment, burnout and work satisfaction. Method. A descriptive correlational survey design was used to test the model in a sample of 89 Canadian full-time college nurse educators employed in Canadian community colleges. The instruments used were the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire, Job Activities Scale, Organizational Relationship Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory Educator Survey and Global Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results. College nurse educators reported moderate levels of empowerment in their workplaces as well as moderate levels of burnout and job satisfaction. Empowerment was significantly related to all burnout dimensions, most strongly to emotional exhaustion (r 1⁄4 0Æ50) and depersonalization (r 1⁄4 0Æ41). Emotional exhaustion was strongly negatively related to access to resources (r 1⁄4 0Æ481, P 1⁄4 0Æ0001) and support (r 1⁄4 0Æ439, P 1⁄4 0Æ0001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that 60% of the variance in perceptions of job satisfaction was explained by high levels of empowerment and low levels of emotional exhaustion [R 1⁄4 0Æ596, F (1, 86) 1⁄4 25Æ01, P 1⁄4 0Æ0001]. While both were significant predictors of perceived job satisfaction, empowerment was the stronger of the two (b 1⁄4 0Æ49). Conclusions. The results provide support for Kanter’s organizational empowerment theory in the Canadian college nurse educator population. Higher levels of empowerment were associated with lower levels of burnout and greater work satisfaction. These findings have important implications for nurse education administrators.