Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epigastric pain as the initial presentation of undiagnosed HIV and its associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

Introduction: Due to increase in survival of HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapies, longer term complications of HIV infection have started to surface including HIV related pulmonary arterial hypertension (HIV­PAH). In the 1990’s the occurrence of HIV­PAH was estimated to be at 0.5% (1:1200) in HIV positive patients which is 2500 times higher than in the general population (1­2:1,000,000) and seems to remain at the same level despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. Case Report: A case of a 28­year­old African­American female presenting with abdominal pain, increased abdominal girth, weigh gain, and lower extremity swelling of one week duration is presented. She was not previously diagnosed with HIV. Upon admission she was diagnosed with HIV related pulmonary arterial hypertension World Health Organization functional class III. Conclusion: What makes our case unique, is the rarity of the disease entity, unique gastro intestinal presentation, young age and newly diagnosed HIV and associated pulmonary arterial hypertension. The presence of epigastric pain and increased abdominal girth should increase the suspicion of PAH with right heart failure.
Introduction du pois protéagineux dans des rotations à base de céréales à paille et colza : impacts sur les performances économiques et environnementales

Une action multi-partenaires, basee sur des cas d'etude regionaux, avait pour objectif d'evaluer l'interet economique et environnemental d'alternatives a des rotations regionales majoritaires composees de cereales a paille et de colza, en utilisant notamment le pois, accompagne ou non d'une modulation de la fertilisation azotee ou de la protection phytosanitaire. La modelisation a ete utilisee pour quantifier les effets agronomiques et une large serie d'impacts environnementaux des changements de succession culturale (avec itineraire technique associe) dans les comparaisons ex ante des assolements. Les experimentations chez les agriculteurs et en stations experimentales ont apporte des references nouvelles sur certains effets agro-environnementaux de differentes combinaisons culturales a base de pois, colza, ble et orge, en incluant l'innovation du colza apres pois. Les resultats soulignent l'interet de la diversification des rotations et de l'introduction de legumineuses fixatrices d'azote comme le pois proteagineux dans les systemes pour diminuer les impacts negatifs sur l'environnement de systemes initialement bases sur la seule fertilisation azotee minerale.
A Bayesian Approach for Nonlinear Equalization and Signal Detection in Millimeter-Wave Communications

For the emerging 5G millimeter-wave communications, the nonlinearity is inevitable due to RF power amplifiers of the enormous bandwidth operating in extremely high frequency, which, in collusion with frequency-selective propagations, may pose great challenges to signal detections. In contrast to classical schemes, which calibrate nonlinear distortions in transmitters, we suggest a nonlinear equalization algorithm, with which the multipath channel and unknown symbols contaminated by nonlinear distortions and multipath interferences are estimated in receiver-ends. Attributed to the nonlinearity and marginal integration, the involved posterior density is analytically intractable and, unfortunately, most existing linear equalization schemes may become invalid. To solve this problem, the Monte-Carlo sequential importance sampling based particle filtering is suggested, and the non-analytical distribution is approximated numerically by a group of random measures with the evolving probability-mass. By applying the Taylor's series expansion technique, a local-linearization observation model is further constructed to facilitate the practical design of a sequential detector. Thus, the unknown symbols are detected recursively as new observations arrive. Simulation results validate the proposed joint detection scheme. By excluding transmitting pre-distortion of high complexity, the presented algorithm is specially designed for the receiver-end, which provides a promising framework to nonlinear equalization and signal detection in millimeter-wave communications.
Multisegment and Halfscan Reconstruction of 16-Slice Computed Tomography for Assessment of Regional and Global Left Ventricular Myocardial Function

Rationale and Objectives:We sought to prospectively compare multisegment and halfscan reconstruction of 16-slice computed tomography (CT) for the assessment of regional and global left ventricular myocardial function with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard. Materials and Methods:Forty-two patients underwent CT with 16 × 0.5-mm detector collimation. Electrocardiogram-gated reconstructions were generated with multisegment reconstruction (using up to 4 segments correlated with the raw data of up to 4 heartbeats) and standard halfscan reconstruction. Steady-state free-precession cine MRI was acquired within 24 hours. Results:More normal myocardial segments were identified correctly with multisegment (95%, 620/656) compared with halfscan reconstruction (88%, 582/656) of CT (P < 0.001). Also, the accuracy (92% [657/714] vs. 87% [620/714]) and rate of nondiagnostic segments (0% vs. 5% [33/714]) were significantly better when using multisegment reconstruction (P < 0.001). The image quality with multisegment reconstruction was significantly superior to that achieved with halfscan reconstruction (P < 0.001). In the assessment of global left ventricular function, multisegment and halfscan reconstruction of CT showed high correlations for all parameters with MRI, whereas Bland-Altman analysis revealed smaller limits of agreement for assessment of myocardial mass with multisegment reconstruction (P = 0.025), but no significant differences between both reconstruction techniques in the measurement of left ventricular volumes as compared with MRI. Conclusions:Multisegment reconstruction of 16-detector row CT improves image quality and assessment of regional wall motion compared with standard halfscan reconstruction.
Implementation of Compact Polyphase Channel-Select Filters for Multistandard Broadcasting

An 8th-order fully electronically programmable complex filter based on current amplifiers for multistandard mobile TV applications is presented. Its center frequency, pole frequency, and gain are electronically programmable to accommodate both Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) and Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (T-DMB). The proposed solution avoids employing capacitor and resistor arrays leading to a compact design (0.51 mm2). It adopts minimum number of amplifiers for maintaining relatively low power consumption (2.55 mW). The experimental results obtained from a 0.18-μm digital CMOS process show that the proposed design achieves spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of better than 65 dB and image rejection ratios of more than 38 dB.
onium Channel DmAMT 1 Provides NH 4 Uptake Associated with Venus Flytrap ’ s Prey Digestion

Sönke Scherzer,1,5 Elzbieta Krol,1,2 Ines Kreuzer,1 Jörg Kruse,3 Franziska Karl,1 Martin von Rüden,1 Maria Escalante-Perez,1 Thomas Müller,1 Heinz Rennenberg,3 Khaled A.S. Al-Rasheid,4 Erwin Neher,5,* and Rainer Hedrich1 1Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany 2Department of Biophysics, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 20-033 Lublin, Poland 3Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 53/54, 79085 Freiburg, Germany 4Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia 5Department for Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
Six bioabsorbable polymers: in vitro acute toxicity of accumulated degradation products.

Bioabsorbable polymer implants may provide a viable alternative to metal implants for internal fracture fixation. One of the potential difficulties with absorbable implants is the possible toxicity of the polymeric degradation products especially if they accumulate and become concentrated. Accordingly, material evaluation must involve dose-response toxicity data as well as mechanical properties and degradation rates. In this study the toxicity and rates of degradation for six polymers were determined, along with the toxicity of their degradation product components. The polymers studied were poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), two samples of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) having different molecular weights, poly(ortho ester) (POE), poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), and poly(hydroxy butyrate valerate) (5% valerate) (PHBV). Polymeric specimens were incubated at 37 degrees C in 0.05 M Tris buffer (pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C) and sterile deionized water. The solutions were not changed during the incubation intervals, providing a worst-case model of the effects of accumulation of degradation products. The pH and acute toxicity of the incubation solutions and the mass loss and logarithmic viscosity number of the polymer samples were measured at 10 days, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Toxicity was measured using a bioluminescent bacteria, acute toxicity assay system. The acute toxicity of pure PGA, PLA, POE, and PCL degradation product components was also determined. Degradation products for PHBV were not tested. PGA incubation solutions were toxic at 10 days and at all following intervals. The lower molecular weight PLA incubation solutions were not toxic in buffer but were toxic by 4 weeks in water. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sulfur isotopes in coal constrain the evolution of the Phanerozoic sulfur cycle

Sulfate is the second most abundant anion (behind chloride) in modern seawater, and its cycling is intimately coupled to the cycling of organic matter and oxygen at the Earth’s surface. For example, the reduction of sulfide by microbes oxidizes vast amounts of organic carbon and the subsequent reaction of sulfide with iron produces pyrite whose burial in sediments is an important oxygen source to the atmosphere. The concentrations of seawater sulfate and the operation of sulfur cycle have experienced dynamic changes through Earth’s history, and our understanding of this history is based mainly on interpretations of the isotope record of seawater sulfates and sedimentary pyrites. The isotope record, however, does not give a complete picture of the ancient sulfur cycle. This is because, in standard isotope mass balance models, there are more variables than constraints. Typically, in interpretations of the isotope record and in the absence of better information, one assumes that the isotopic composition of the input sulfate to the oceans has remained constant through time. It is argued here that this assumption has a constraint over the last 390 Ma from the isotopic composition of sulfur in coal. Indeed, these compositions do not deviate substantially from the modern surface-water input to the oceans. When applied to mass balance models, these results support previous interpretations of sulfur cycle operation and counter recent suggestions that sulfate has been a minor player in sulfur cycling through the Phanerozoic Eon.
The predominant CD44 splice variant in prostate cancer binds fibronectin, and calcitonin stimulates its expression.

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PC) consistently overexpresses variant the (v) isoform of the cell adhesion protein CD44, and loses expression of the standard (s) isoform. MATERIALS AND METHODS We re-expressed CD44 full-length (exons 1-20) or standard (exons 1-5 + 16-20) or enforced stable RNAi against CD44v, and the examined functional effects on PC. The effect of stable knockout of calcitonin, a paracrine factor, or its receptor, on CD44 was assessed. RESULTS Re-expression of full-length CD44 or CD44s increased the total CD44 mRNA and CD44s protein while suppressing CD44v. These approaches, and RNAi to CD44v, decreased invasion. In adhesion assays, benign prostate cells bound mainly to hyaluronan, whereas PC lost affinity for hyaluronan but bound more strongly to fibronectin. Re-expressing CD44s restored predominant hyaluronan binding. Knockout of the calcitonin receptor in PC-3 derived cells caused marked loss of CD44v expression and reversion to CD44s expression. CONCLUSION Calcitonin influenced PC's balance between CD44s and CD44v. CD44v controlled invasiveness, altered ligand binding, and provides a target for therapeutic intervention.
Note on Response Sets on the Rod-and-Frame Test

Witkin, Lewis, Hertzman, Machover, Meissner, and Wapner (1954) operationally defined the construct of perceptual style in terms of performance on the Rod-and-frame Test ( R F T ) , using magnitude of error (without regard to direction of error) to differentiate individuals as either field dependent or field independent. More recently, Benfari and Vitale (1965) have used the RFT to differentiate "body-oriented" from "frame-oriented" Ss. Barretr and Thornton (1967) have pointed out that the Benfari and Virale conceprualization is not relared to the perceptual style continuum of Witkin, et al. ( 1 9 5 4 ) , and as such perhaps taps an attribute other than perceptual style. However, neither Benfari and Vitale (1965) nor Barrett and Thornton (1967) reported the influence of response sets on the RET, although especially in the case of Benfari and Vitale (1965) direction of error was a critical factor. T o test for response sets, data collected by Barrett and Thornton for a sample of 46 male technical and engineering personnel were reanalyzed. The number of responses to the left o r to the right of true vertical without regard to magnitude of error on the three series of the R F T were counted, and the numbers nf responses to either side were compared for each of the three series using a sign test (S~egel . 1956). Responses on which no error was scored were not counted. Of the 4 6 Ss, 19 showed a significant preference in responding to one side or the other ( p < .05), with 1 6 of these favoring the left over the right. By series, 6 Ss showed a set to respond on Series 1, 9 on Series 2, and 15 on Series 3. Eight Ss showed a set on only a single series, 9 on two of the series, and 1 on all three series. Dividing the sample at the median for average degrees error and using a median test, it was found that there was no significant difference between high and low RFT score and presence of a response set on any of the RFT series. Response sets, then, are not shown by more or fewer of the field independent Ss than the field dependent. The results of the present analysis suggest that in procedures in which direction of error is used as a response measure [such as that of Benfari and Vitale (1965)] , there is a strong possibility of biased results as a consequence of tendencies to respond to one side or the other in orienting the rod ro the vertical.
In vitro skin permeation of sinigrin from its phytosome complex

Sinigrin is a major glucosinolate present in plants of the Brassicaceae family. Recently, sinigrin and its phytosome formulations have been investigated for its wound‐healing actions, by our research group. The aim of this study was to demonstrate sinigrin drug release from its phytosome complex and also to determine whether the phytosome complex enhances the delivery of sinigrin into the skin when compared to free sinigrin.
Resilience to Major Life Stressors Is Not as Common as Thought

We attempted to replicate findings that “most people are resilient” following three events: spousal loss, divorce, and unemployment. We applied growth mixture models to the same longitudinal data set that has previously been used to assert that resilience is ubiquitous. When using identical model specifications, as in prior studies, we found that resilient trajectories were most common, but the number of trajectories identified was different. When we relaxed two assumptions used in prior studies—that (a) all classes have similar variability in levels of postadversity adjustment and (b) there is no variability in changes within classes—we found that a resilience class was least common. Methodologically, our results show how findings on trajectories of change following major life stressors can vary substantially, depending on statistical model specifications. Conceptually, the results underscore the errors inherent in any categorical statements about “rates of resilience” among individuals confronted with major life stressors. Pragmatically, they underscore the dangers in recommending against prophylactic interventions (on the basis of one method of analyzing longitudinal data) for individuals who have experienced major life stressors.
ANALYSIS OF ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH AND POWER AROUND SELECTED MOBILE BASE STATIONS

The analysis of channel power and electric field strength at various locations from mobile base stations using power sensor, spectrum analyzer and log-periodic antenna revealed maximum potential exposure between the range of 61.1 and 254.7 m. Generally, the potential exposure values ranged from 0.0717 to 0.8950 mW m-2 with a maximum deviation of 22.22%. GSM900 was found to be more pronounced than GSM1800 and UMTS2100. Though the results complied with ICNIRP reference levels with a wide margin of 0.01%, it was higher than some previous work and South African mean value of 0.16 mW m-2, agreed with similar work elsewhere but lower than a global average value of 0.730 mW m-2.
Novel evidence of a role for chromosome 1 pericentric heterochromatin in the pathogenesis of B‐cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma

1q rearrangement is a remarkably frequent secondary chromosomal change in both non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM), where it is associated with tumor progression. To gain insight into 1q rearrangement‐associated disease mechanisms, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to search for recurring 1q breaks in 35 lymphoma samples (31 NHL patients and 4 lymphoma‐derived cell lines) as well as 22 MM patients with cytogenetically determined 1q abnormalities. Strikingly, dual‐color FISH analysis with chromosome 1 centromere and 1q12‐specific probes identified constitutive heterochromatin band 1q12 as the single most frequent breakpoint site in both NHL and MM (39% and 89% of 1q breaks, respectively). These rearrangements consistently generated aberrant heterochromatin/euchromatin junctions and gain of 1q12 material. A further 30% of NHL 1q breaks specifically involved two other novel, closely spaced sites (clusters I and II) within a 2.5 Mb region of proximal 1q21 (D1S3620 to D1S3623). A possible association between these sites and NHL subtype was evident; the cluster I rearrangement was frequent in follicular and diffuse large cell lymphoma, whereas the cluster II rearrangement was more frequently observed in diffuse small‐cell lymphoma (2/2 marginal zone lymphomas, 1/2 atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemias, and 1 lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in this series). Candidate oncogenes bordering this interval (BCL9 and AF1Q) were not rearranged in any patient except one (AF1Q). This study provides the first evidence of involvement of 1q12 constitutive heterochromatin in the pathogenesis of NHL and MM and indicates proximal 1q21 to be of specific pathological significance in NHL. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vitro expression of the endothelial phenotype: comparative study of primary isolated cells and cell lines, including the novel cell line HPMEC-ST1.6R.

Endothelial cell lines are commonly used in in vitro studies to avoid problems associated with the use of primary endothelial cells such as the presence of contaminating cells, the difficulty in obtaining larger numbers of cells, as well as the progressive loss of cell viability and expression of endothelial markers in the course of in vitro propagation. We have analyzed the characteristics defining distinctive endothelial phenotypes in the cell lines EA.hy926, ECV304, EVLC2, HAEND, HMEC-1, ISO-HAS-1 and a cell line recently generated in our laboratory, HPMEC-ST1.6R, and have compared these phenotypes with those found in primary human endothelial cells isolated from umbilical vein (HUVEC), lung (HPMEC), and skin (HDMEC). The analysis revealed significant differences in phenotype expression between primary cells and the cell lines. Constitutive expression of von Willebrand factor, CD31, and CD34 and induced expression of cell adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin and cytokines, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and GM-CSF on stimulation with proinflammatory stimuli, as well as the uptake of DiI-Ac-LDL and the formation of cord-like structures on Matrigel, were typically observed in the primary cells. However, most cell lines exhibited only a few of these endothelial characteristics. Only HPMEC-ST1.6R exhibited the major constitutive and inducible endothelial cell characteristics and showed an angiogenic response on Matrigel similar to that of primary HPMEC. Thus, HPMEC-ST1.6R will be a valuable in vitro model system in which to study pathomechanisms and angiogenesis of the mature microvascular endothelium in vitro.
Zinc Nutrition and Inflammation in the Aging Retina.

Zinc is an essential nutrient for human health. It plays key roles in maintaining protein structure and stability, serves as catalytic factor for many enzymes and regulates diverse fundamental cellular processes. Zinc is important in affecting signal transduction and, in particular, in the development and integrity of the immune system, where it affects both innate and adaptive immune responses. The eye, especially the retina/choroid complex, has an unusually high concentration of zinc compared to other tissues. The highest amount of zinc is concentrated in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) (RPE/choroid, 292±98.5 μg/g dry tissue), followed by the retina (123±62.2 μg/g dry tissue). The interplay between zinc and inflammation has been explored in other parts of the body but, so far, has not been extensively researched in the eye. Several lines of evidence suggest that ocular zinc concentration decreases with age, especially in the context of age-related disease. Thus, a hypothesis that retinal function could be modulated by zinc nutrition was proposed, and subsequently trialled clinically. In this review, we outline the distribution and the potential role of zinc in the retina-choroid complex, especially in relation to inflammation and immunity, and summarize the clinical studies to date. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Les forêts de Cassini. Analyse quantitative et comparaison avec les forêts actuelles

En 1747, Louis XV confie a Cassini de Thury la realisation de la « Carte generale et particuliere de la France ». L’objectif est alors d'achever la mesure du Royaume et de determiner la position des innombrables bourgs, villes, lignes principales constituees par les rivieres et par les grands chemins. En 42 ans, 96% de la France actuelle mais aussi 1,8 millions d’ha en position frontaliere ont ainsi ete cartographies. Les forets y sont representees sous differents figures. Utilisee regulierement par les forestiers pour avoir une idee de l’histoire d’une region forestiere, cette carte n’a jamais ete analysee dans son ensemble avec l’aide d’un systeme d’information geographique (SIG). La presente etude cherche a combler cette lacune, notamment dans le but d’explorer et de preciser son interet et ses limites pour les utilisations possibles (identification des noyaux forestiers anciens, etude de l’evolution des paysages, analyse des consequences de l’anciennete sur la biodiversite, la dynamique ou la fertilite…). Sur les parties du territoire francais actuel representees par la carte de Cassini (52,6 millions d’ha), seuls 6,6 millions d’ha sont des forets, soit un taux de boisement egal a 12,6%. Ce rapport et son CD-Rom, qui contient libre de droit les couches SIG redressees a l’echelle nationale, ne constituent qu’un debut des analyses de l’anciennete des boisements de France et presentent de nombreuses perspectives en termes scientifiques (histoire, sciences de la nature) ou de gestion et conservation des forets.