Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solubility and Digestibility of Milk Proteins in Infant Formulas Exposed to Different Heat Treatments

There are presently several fundamentally different technologies to produce infant formulas (IF), such as sterilization, spray-drying, and treatment at ultrahigh temperature (UHT). The effects of heat treatment on milk proteins in IF were analyzed by column chromatography, gel electrophoresis, and Kjeldahl analysis, revealing strong protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions in processed milk. These interactions were more pronounced in conventionally (in-can) sterilized than in spray-dried (powdered) and UHT products confirming their temperature dependency. Analysis of raw materials, intermediate and end products of IF processing revealed that after homogenization the first indications of protein denaturation occurred, but that in-can sterilization as the final heat treatment caused irreversible denaturation of proteins and strong protein-lipid interactions. Lowering of the pH to 4–5, which is physiological for the stomach of young infants, enhanced the interactions. Support for an impairment of protein digestibility was given by in vitro analysis of protein digestibility, demonstrating significantly lower digestibility of in-can sterilized IF compared to their spray-dried and UHT counterparts. To investigate the effect of heat treatment on chemical reactions, i.e., occurrence of Maillard products, we showed by a fluorimetric assay that the amount of “available” lysine is lower in sterilized than in powdered IF. Our findings suggest that a more differentiated view regarding the protein quality of IF is needed.
Complex Randomness-in-Structured Projections for Compressed Sensing ( Technical Report )

We consider the problem of recovering a k-sparse signal (x) from a limited number of linear, noiseless compressive samples (y) using random sparse projections with some structure. Our approach is based on constructing sparse projections using strategies rooted in combinatorial design. Such sparse projection naturally divides the n-dimensional signal (x) into smaller sub-signals that exhibit some structured overlaps among them. In turn, each sub-signal is mapped onto a sample of the measurement vector (y). We show that when the number of measurement samples/sub-signals (m) is sufficiently large then this mapping leads to the isolation of a significant fraction of the k non-zero coefficients into different sub-signals (and hence measurement samples). We are able to recover the nonzero coefficients iteratively using a low-complexity algorithm that is reminiscent of well-known iterative channel decoding algorithms (e.g. LDPC). We prove that, using this framework, k < m ≤ 2k compressive samples, on average, are sufficient to recover a k-sparse signal perfectly, which is less than the sample requirements for the most complex compressed sensing frameworks. Meanwhile, the complexity of our decoding process is only O ( k log(k) log ( n k )) which is lower than the complexity of many well-known greedy solvers.
Short-and long-term outcomes of minimally invasive es-ophagectomy in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Correspondence to: Hongwei Liu, MD. Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130012, People’s Republic of China. Tel: +86 431 85872601, Fax:+86 431 85872601, E-mail: hwliujp@vip.163. com Received: 15/04/2017; Accepted: 03/05/2017 Shortand long-term outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma Hui Zhao1, Gang Liu1, Shixiong Wei2, Hongwei Liu1
Sequence analysis of the AAA protein family

The AAA protein family, a recently recognized group of Walker‐type ATPases, has been subjected to an extensive sequence analysis. Multiple sequence alignments revealed the existence of a region of sequence similarity, the so‐called AAA cassette. The borders of this cassette were localized and within it, three boxes of a high degree of conservation were identified. Two of these boxes could be assigned to substantial parts of the ATP binding site (namely, to Walker motifs A and B); the third may be a portion of the catalytic center. Phylogenetic trees were calculated to obtain insights into the evolutionary history of the family. Subfamilies with varying degrees of intra‐relatedness could be discriminated; these relationships are also supported by analysis of sequences outside the canonical AAA boxes: within the cassette are regions that are strongly conserved within each subfamily, whereas little or even no similarity between different subfamilies can be observed. These regions are well suited to define fingerprints for subfamilies. A secondary structure prediction utilizing all available sequence information was performed and the result was fitted to the general 3D structure of a Walker A/GTPase. The agreement was unexpectedly high and strongly supports the conclusion that the AAA family belongs to the Walker superfamily of A/GTPases.
The sonographic prediction of invasive carcinoma in unilocular-solid ovarian cysts in premenopausal patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Unilocular-solid ovarian cysts are a rare but challenging pathology in young women, with a desire to spare their fertility. In these cases, the risks of borderline and invasive disease are around 10 and 20%, respectively. No ultrasound rule has yet demonstrated the ability to discriminate with high accuracy, a borderline tumor from a benign tumor or 'invasive tumor'. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive performance of different ultrasound parameters in differentiating benign and borderline tumors versus invasive malignant tumors in premenopausal patients with unilocular-solid ovarian masses. METHODS Women aged ≤ 50 years with unilocular-solid adnexal masses with a maximum diameter ≤ 10 cm, undergoing surgery in our department within 3 months from ultrasound examination, were included in this retrospective study. A standardized ultrasound examination technique and predefined definitions of ultrasound characteristics were used. The results of ultrasound examination using gray scale and color Doppler were compared with the histological examination of the respective surgical specimens. RESULTS The study included 51 patients. On histological examination, 36 (70%) lesions were classified as benign, 10 (20%) as borderline ovarian tumors and 5 (10%) as invasively malignant tumors. In receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the best cut-off for the largest solid component with regard to discriminating non-invasive (benign or borderline) from invasive tumors was 14 mm. A largest solid component >14 mm, the presence of papillation blood flow and the combination of the two parameters provided a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 63, 63 and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Transvaginal ultrasound examination seems to be able to discriminate between invasive and non-invasive tumors in the premenopausal patients with unilocular-solid adnexal masses. Because of the retrospective nature of the study, further prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm the accuracy of the selected sonographic parameters in discriminating the invasive and non-invasive adnexal tumors.
Chapter 2 Effect of lateral positioning on gastroesophageal reflux ( GER ) and underlying mechanisms in GER disease ( GERD ) patients and healthy controls

Background Posture has been shown to influence the number of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESRs) and GER, however the physiology explaining the influence of right lateral position (RLP) and left lateral position (LLP) is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of RLP and LLP on TLESRs and GERD after a meal in GER disease (GERD) patients and healthy controls (HC) while monitoring gastric distension and emptying. Methods Ten GERD patients and ten HC were studied for 90min (30 min test meal infusion, 30min post-prandial in either RLP or LLP (randomly assigned) and 30 min in alternate position). The study was repeated on a separate day in reverse position order. TLESRs, GER and gastric empting rate were recorded using manometry, multichannel intraluminal impedance and C-octanoate breath tests. Gastric distension was visualized by five serial gastric volume scintigraphy scans during the first 30 min. Results GERD patients had increased numbers of TLESRs in RLP compared to LLP in the first postprandial hour (5(4-14) and 4.5(2-6) respectively, p=0.046) whereas the number of TLESRs was not different in RLP and LLP (4(2-4) and 4(3-6) respectively, p=0.7) in HC. Numbers of GER increased similar to TLESRs in GERD patients. In GERD patients gastric emptying reached peak CO 2 excretion faster and proximal gastric distension was more pronounced. Conclusion In GERD patients, TLESRs, GER, distension of proximal stomach and gastric emptying are increased in RLP compared to LLP. This effect is not seen in HC.
Interleukin‐2 gene therapy of surgical minimal residual tumour disease

Our study was designed to examine the effects of IL‐2 gene therapy in a surgical minimal residual tumour disease (SMRTD). Mice were inoculated s.c. with methylcholanthrene (MC)‐induced MC12 sarcoma cells. When the tumours reached 8 to 12 mm in diameter, they were excised, either completely (“microscopic SMRTD”) or incompletely (“macroscopic SMRTD”). On day 90 after surgery, the tumour recurrence rate in untreated mice with microscopic SMRTD was approximately 30%, whereas in those with macroscopic SMRTD it was 75%. After surgery, experimental mice were treated with 2 types of irradiated, IL‐2 gene‐modified, IL‐2‐producing tumour cell vaccine. One type of vaccine was derived from the MC12 sarcoma cells (MC12‐IL2/IV‐3); the other type was derived from an unrelated X63‐Ag8.653 plasmacytoma (X63‐m‐IL‐2). Both types of vaccine failed to cure the macroscopic SMRTD. Whereas the X63‐m‐IL‐2 vaccine was also ineffective in the microscopic SMRTD, the MC12‐IL2/IV‐3 vaccine was capable of preventing growth in all but one mouse (1/64) with microscopic SMRTD when administered 2 to 5 days after surgery. If the vaccination took place 2 days before surgery or later than 5 days after surgery, the therapeutic activity was lost. Vaccination with irradiated parental MC12 cells did not produce any significant benefit compared to the operated‐only mice. The protective effect of the MC12‐IL2/IV‐3 vaccine was specific and comparatively long‐lasting. Vaccinated mice, which had rejected the MC12 tumour residuum, were capable of rejecting a second inoculum of the MC12 sarcoma cells injected on days 35 to 110 after surgery but succumbed to the growth of 2 other unrelated murine sarcomas carrying different tumour‐rejection antigens. Int. J. Cancer 76:115–119, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute Alcohol Intoxication Exacerbates Rhabdomyolysis-Induced Acute Renal Failure in Rats

Traumatic and nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis can lead to acute renal failure (ARF), and acute alcohol intoxication can lead to multiple abnormalities of the renal tubules. We examined the effect of acute alcohol intoxication in a rat model of rhabdomyolysis and ARF. Intravenous injections of 5 g/kg ethanol were given to rats over 3 h, followed by glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis. Biochemical parameters, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK), were measured before and after induction of rhabdomyolysis. Renal tissue injury score, renal tubular cell expression of E-cadherin, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were determined. Relative to rats in the vehicle group, rats in the glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis group had significantly increased serum levels of BUN, Cre, GOT, GPT, and CPK, elevated renal tissue injury scores, increased expression of NF-κB and iNOS, and decreased expression of E-cadherin. Ethanol exacerbated all of these pathological responses. Our results suggest that acute alcohol intoxication exacerbates rhabdomyolysis-induced ARF through its pro-oxidant and inflammatory effects.
A prospective study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy and durability of response of intravesical injection of botulinum toxin type A into detrusor muscle in patients with refractory idiopathic detrusor overactivity

To assess, in a prospective study, whether botulinum toxin A (BTXA) injected into the detrusor muscle is safe and well tolerated, produces significant changes in urodynamic variables, if the effect is durable, as measured by the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Questionnaire (BFLUTS), and to assess changes in quality of life, as measured by the Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ), when it is used to manage idiopathic detrusor overactivity.
Mineral metabolism and inflammation : factors related to left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with diabetic nephropathy

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of LVH with mineral metabolism and inflammation in a population of patients with DN. In an observational study were included 119 type 2 diabetic patients with CKD stages 3 and 4. The population was divided into two groups, according to the presence of LVH: group 1 (G-1) with LVH (left ventricular mass index (LVMI) > 125 g/m2 in male patients and LVMI > 110 g/m2 in female patients) and­group­2­(G‐2)­without­LVH­(LVMI­≤­125­g/m2­in­male­patients­and­LVMI­≤­110­g/m2 in female patients). The patient characteristics of each group were compared regarding several biological and laboratory parameters. Patients­with­LVH­displayed­lower­values­of­estimated­glomerular­filtration­rate­(eGFR)­(p = 0.0001) and albumin (p = 0.046), and higher levels of phosphorus (p = 0.0001), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) (p = 0.0001), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p = 0.0001) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p = 0.0001), compared with patients without LVH. In a logistic regression model, phosphorus (odd ratio (OR) = 1.825 (1.075-4.414), p = 0.038), iPTH (OR = 1.991 (1.098-3.000), p = 0.004) and IL-6 (OR = 3.538 (1.863-6.719), p = 0.0001) were independently related to LVH. In a multiple linear regression model, phosphorus (r = 0.602, p = 0.038), iPTH (r = 1.009, p = 0.044) and IL-6 (r = 1.264, p = 0.0001) were positively related to LVMI. Phosphorus, PTH and IL-6 were related to LVH in our diabetic population with CKD stages 3 and 4.
Why Don't Issuers Get Upset About IPO Underpricing? Evidence from the Loan Market

This paper provides a new rationale for why issuers don't get upset about IPO underpricing by linking underpricing with the benefit of going public from the loan market. We show that higher IPO underpricing is followed by significantly lower borrowing costs of the issuer. The average reduction in the loan interest spread for firms with above-median underpricing doubles that for firms with below-median underpricing. This larger reduction in borrowing costs is on average US$ 2-3 million per year, which is substantial relative to the money left on the table due to higher underpricing (48 million). More importantly, neither price revision before IPO nor other stock returns shortly after IPO have a similar effect, suggesting that the first-day stock return, or IPO underpricing, plays a unique role in driving issuers' borrowing costs. Our findings support the argument that IPO underpricing enhances the role of going public in boasting publicity of the issuer, thereby reducing the issuer's borrowing costs.
[Parameters of oxidative stress in patients with cardiopathies].

BACKGROUND Routine biochemical parameters in the blood of patients with chronic cardiopathies are nonspecific and of no reliable diagnostic value. OBJECTIVES Since marked changes of some biochemical blood parameters concerning the oxidative metabolism of the organism were observed in patients with acute myocardial diseases, the aim of this study was to estimate some antioxidant enzyme activities and metabolites in the blood of patients with cardiopathies-diseases with chronic heart failure of unknown origin. METHODS In 21 hospitalized patients with cardiopathy the venous blood samples were analyzed for plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as representatives of lipid peroxidation, levels of selenium and zinc as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and reduced glutathione (GSH) level in erythrocytes. RESULTS Comparing the group of 25 clinically healthy individuals some marked changes in enzyme activities and metabolite levels were found in patients with cardiopathy: a significant increase of plasma TBARS and-on the other hand-markedly decreased activities of SOD and GPX and of GSH level in erythrocytes. Also a decreased plasma selenium level was observed in patients. CONCLUSIONS A marked decrease of antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels suggest a possible drop in total antioxidant status of patients with cardiopathy. Raised TBARS plasma levels might be regarded as a decreased ability of organism to abolish the produced free reactive oxygen forms leading thus to rise in lipoprotein rare.
‘Lymphoid’ blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia is associated with distinct clinicohaematological features

It has been suggested that in blast crisis (BC) of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) the clinical and laboratory features of patients with ‘lymphoid’ phenotype differ from those of patients with non‐lymphoid BC. In order to assess any differences, 97 patients consecutively diagnosed with BC that followed a known chronic phase of CML were analysed. 19 patients had ‘lymphoid’ BC: in 17 the blasts expressed a B‐lineage phenotype; in the remaining two they corresponded to T lymphoblasts. Four cases of B‐lineage phenotype BC were considered as biphenotypic, due to the co‐expression of myeloperoxidase and one or two other myeloid markers (CD33, CD13 and CD68) on the blast cells; in the other six cases of B‐lineage BC the blasts expressed one or both of the myeloid markers CD33 (n = 4) and CD13 (n = 3). Patients with ‘lymphoid’ BC seldom had an acceler‐ated phase prior to BC (1/19 v 36/78 with non‐lymphoid BC, P = 0.002), had less frequent splenomegaly (9/19 v 59/78, P = 0.03) and hepatomegaly (5/19 v 45/78, P = 0.02) and showed a higher degree of marrow blast infiltration (mean value 74 ± 24% v 38 ± 23%, P < 0.0001), lesser blood basophilia (2.2 ± 2.5% v 8.2 ± 7.8%, P < 0.0001), and higher serum albumin levels (P = 0.001) than those with non‐lymphoid BC. 13 patients with ‘lymphoid’ BC (68.4%) showed a favourable response to chemotherapy regimens including vincristine and prednisone and, overall, ‘lymphoid’ BC patients survived significantly longer than the remainder (median survival 12 months v 4.7 months, P = 0.006). These results indicate that ‘lymphoid’ BC of CML has a distinct clinicohaematological profile and confirm the better prognosis of such patients.
The impact of actively open-minded thinking on social media communication

Online, social media communication is often ambiguous, and it can encourage speed and inattentiveness. We investigated whether Actively Open Minded Thinking (AOT), a dispositional willingness to seek out new or potentially threatening information, may help users avoid these pitfalls. In Study 1, we determined that correctly assessing social media authors’ traits was positively predicted by raters’ AOT. In Study 2, we used data-driven methods to devise a three-dimensional picture of online behaviors of people high or low in AOT, finding that AOT is associated with thoughtful, nuanced, idiosyncratic actions and with resisting the typically fast pace of online interactions. AOT may be an important factor in accurate, socially responsible online behavior.
LDB 1 overexpression is a negative prognostic factor in colorectal cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in western countries and is driven by the Wnt signaling pathway. LIM-domain-binding protein 1 (LDB1) interacts with the Wnt signaling pathway and has been connected to malignant diseases. We therefore aimed to evaluate the role of LDB1 in CRC. Results: Overexpression of LDB1 in CRC is associated with strikingly reduced overall and metastasis free survival in all three independent patient cohorts. The expression of LDB1 positively correlates with genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway (CTNNB1, AXIN2, MYC and CCND1). Overexpression of LDB1 in CRC cell lines induced Wnt pathway upregulation as well as increased invasivity and proliferation. Upon separate analysis, the role of LDB1 proved to be more prominent in proximal CRC, whereas distal CRC seems to be less influenced by LDB1. Materials and Methods: The expression of LDB1 was measured via RT-qPCR in 59 clinical tumor and normal mucosa samples and correlated to clinical end-points. The role of LDB1 was examined in two additional large patient cohorts from publicly available microarray and RNAseq datasets. Functional characterization was done by lentiviral overexpression of LDB1 in CRC cell lines and TOP/FOP, proliferation and
Effects on Essay Scores of Intermingling Handwritten and Words-Processed Essays

A study was undertaken to determine the effects on essay scores of intermingling handwritten and woadprocessed versions of student essays. A sample of 32 examinees, each of whom had produced both a handwritten and a word-processed essay, was drawn from a larger group who had participated in a pilot study of item types for The Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers (TM). Students' original handwritten essays were converted to word-processed versions, and their original word-processed essays were converted to hand-written versions. In a preliminary study, essays were intermingled and rescored. Analyses revealed higher average scores for essays scored in the handwritten mode than for those scored as word-processed, regardless of how they were originally produced. Several hypotheses were advanced to explain the discrepancies batween scores on handwritten and word-processed essays. The training of essay readers war modified based on possible explanations for the discrepancy, and the experiment was repeated. The second study showed about a 25% reduction in the discrepancy. The effects in the second study were small and were predicted to have little if any impact on certification decisions. It is recommended that the scoring be monitored and that the modified training be adopted. Two tables and two figures present study findings, and the appendix contains writing samples. (Contains eight references.) (SLD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *************** *7' *******************************7. ******** Ial was mar mulAis. SERIES Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers' Will They Think Less of My Handwritten Essay if Others Word Process Theirs? Effects on Essay Scores of Intermingling Handwritten and Words-Processed Essays Donald E. Powers Mary E. Fowles Marisa Farnum Paul Ramsey