Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Septicemia, access and cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients: the USRDS Wave 2 study.

BACKGROUND Microinflammation is linked to cardiovascular disease, and is highly prevalent in dialysis patients. It is logical to postulate that septicemia, a common macroinflammatory occurrence in dialysis patients, contributes to their large burden of cardiovascular disease. METHODS The Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Wave 2 was a randomly selected prospective cohort of incident dialysis patients. Admission claims data were used to define and calculate rates of septicemia or bacteremia and cardiovascular events in those with Medicare as the primary payer. Utilizing Cox proportional hazard models we determined the association between baseline access and the development of bacteremia or sepsis, and also the association between bacteremia or sepsis episodes and subsequent cardiovascular events. RESULTS The 2358 (59%) patients with Medicare as primary payer were older and more likely to have heart failure than those with other payers, but had similar comorbidity-adjusted mortality hazards. Rates of first septicemia, bacteremia, or either condition, were 7.0, 5.9 and 10.4 events per 100-patient years, respectively. Cox regression identified initial dialysis access as the main antecedent of septicemia or bacteremia. Hazards ratios for hemodialysis with permanent catheters, temporary catheters, and grafts were 1.95 (95% CI 1.47-2.57), 1.76 (95% CI 1.29-2.41), and 1.05 (95% CI 0.82-1.35), respectively, while that for peritoneal dialysis was 0.96 (95% CI 0.75-1.23) (reference arteriovenous fistula). After adjustment for baseline factors, septicemia or bacteremia, as a time-dependent covariate, was associated with subsequent death [hazards ratio (HR) 2.33, 95% CI 1.38-2.28], myocardial infarction (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.38-2.28), heart failure (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.39-1.95), peripheral vascular disease (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.34-2.0), and stroke (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.27-3.28). CONCLUSION Septicemia appears to be an important, potentially preventable, cardiovascular risk factor in dialysis patients.
Quality Improvement in Nursing Care Facilities: Extent, Impetus, and Impact

This study examines the extent, motivation, and per formance implications of formal quality improvement (QI) programs in Pennsylvania nursing care facilities. Responses to a 20-item survey sent to facility adminis trators indicate that continuous quality improve ment/total quality management (CQI/TQM) adopters are more motivated by quality of care and human resource concerns in implementing QI, more satisfied with the results of QI efforts, and more aware of a com petitive environment than are non-adopters. There are few differences between adopters and non-adopters with respect to organizational characteristics or per formance on quality of care measures. Comparison with the results of a study of QI implementation in hospitals reveals some differences in motivation, but similarities in satisfaction with results.
Exogenous insulin enhances glucose-stimulated insulin response in healthy humans independent of changes in free fatty acids.

CONTEXT Islet β-cells express both insulin receptors and insulin signaling proteins. Recent studies suggest insulin signaling is physiologically important for glucose sensing. OBJECTIVE Preexposure to insulin enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in healthy humans. We evaluated whether the effect of insulin to potentiate GSIS is modulated through regulation of free fatty acids (FFA). DESIGN AND SETTING Subjects were studied on three occasions in this single-site study at an academic institution clinical research center. PATIENTS Subjects included nine healthy volunteers. INTERVENTIONS Glucose-induced insulin response was assessed on three occasions after 4 h saline (low insulin/sham) or isoglycemic-hyperinsulinemic (high insulin) clamps with or without intralipid and heparin infusion, using B28 Asp-insulin that could be distinguished from endogenous insulin immunologically. During the last 80 min of all three clamps, additional glucose was administered to stimulate insulin secretion (GSIS) with glucose concentrations maintained at similar concentrations during all studies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE β-Cell response to glucose stimulation was assessed. RESULTS Preexposure to exogenous insulin increased the endogenous insulin-secretory response to glucose by 32% compared with sham clamp (P = 0.001). This was accompanied by a drop in FFA during hyperinsulinemic clamp compared with the sham clamp (0.06 ± 0.02 vs. 0.60 ± 0.09 mEq/liter, respectively), which was prevented during the hyperinsulinemic clamp with intralipid/heparin infusion (1.27 ± 0.17 mEq/liter). After preexposure to insulin with intralipid/heparin infusion to maintain FFA concentration, GSIS was 21% higher compared with sham clamp (P < 0.04) and similar to preexposure to insulin without intralipid/heparin (P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS Insulin potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin response independent of FFA concentrations in healthy humans.
Myofibrosarcoma of the Bone: A Clinicopathologic Study

Myofibroblastic tumors are fairly recently established soft tissue neoplasms. Although most of them appear to be benign, myofibrosarcoma of the soft tissue, seemingly their malignant counterpart, have been reported. We describe the clinicopathologic and radiologic features of four cases of myofibrosarcoma arising from the bone. All but one of the patients were women ranging in age from 60 to 71 years. Two tumors occurred in the metaphyses of distal femurs and the others arose in the iliac bones. On radiologic examination all tumors exhibited well-demarcated lytic destructive lesions without periosteal reaction. Two tumors were localized in the bone, whereas the other two extended into surrounding soft tissues. Histologically, all tumors were composed principally of a mixture of a cell-rich fascicular area and a hypocellular fibrous area. In the former area tumor cells had rather eosinophilic spindle-shaped wavy cytoplasm and were arranged in interlacing fascicles and small storiform patterns with variable numbers of inflammatory cells. Tumors occasionally showed prominent pleomorphism, and large cells with hyperchromatic nuclei were seen. In contrast, hypocellular areas had various features, including collagenous, hyalinous scar-like and rarely keloid-like areas. Focal coagulation necroses were present in all but one tumor. Immunohistochemically, the tumors were positive for vimentin, muscle actin (HHF35), alpha-smooth muscle actin, calponin, and desmin, whereas all of them were negative for high molecular weight caldesmon. On follow-up there was one fatal case with distant metastases, whereas the clinical courses of other cases after wide resection were excellent. Myofibrosarcoma of the bone has distinctive histopathologic features, which should be distinguished from those of other bone tumors with myoid differentiation.
NUP98 Dysregulation in Myeloid Leukemogenesis

Abstract: Nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) is a component of the nuclear pore complex that facilitates mRNA export from the nucleus. It is mapped to 11p15.5 and is fused to a number of distinct partners, including nine members of the homeobox family as a consequence of leukemia‐associated chromosomal translocations. NUP98‐HOXA9 is associated with the t(7;11)(p15;p15) translocation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome, and blastic crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia. Expression of NUP98‐HOXA9 in murine bone marrow resulted in a myeloproliferative disease progressing to AML by 7–8 months. Transduction of NUP98 fusion genes into human CD34+ cells confers a proliferative advantage in long‐term cytokine‐stimulated and stromal cocultures and in NOD‐SCID engrafted mice, associated with a five‐ to eight‐fold increase in hematopoietic stem cells. NUP98‐HOXA9 expression inhibited erythroid and myeloid differentiation but enhanced serial progenitor replating. NUP98‐HOXA9 upregulated a number of homeobox genes of the A and B cluster as well as MEIS1 and Pim‐1, and downmodulated globin genes and C/EBPα. The HOXA9 component of the NUP98‐HOXA9 fusion protein was protected from cullin‐4A–mediated ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome‐dependent degradation. In NUP98‐HOX–transduced CD34+ cells and cells from AML patients with t(7;11)(p15;p15) NUP98 was no longer associated with the nuclear pore complex but formed intranuclear aggregation bodies. Analysis of NUP98 allelic expression in AML and myelodysplastic syndrome showed loss of heterozygosity observed in 29% of the former and 8% of the latter. This was associated with poor prognosis.
Translational defects of Escherichia coli mutants deficient in the Um(2552) 23S ribosomal RNA methyltransferase RrmJ/FTSJ.

We recently identified RrmJ (alias FtsJ), the first encoded protein of the rrmJ-hflB heat shock operon, as an Um(2552) methyltransferase of the 23S rRNA. We now report that the rrmJ-deficient strain exhibits growth and translational defects compared to the wild-type strain. Growth rates of the rrmJ mutant are decreased at both low and high temperatures. Protein synthesis activity is reduced up to 65% when S(30) rrmJ mutant extracts are tested in a coupled in vitro transcription/translation assay. In vitro methylation of these extracts by RrmJ partially restores protein synthesis activity. Polysome profile analysis of the rrmJ strain reveals an increase in the proportion of free 30S and 50S subunits at both 30 and 42 degrees C. These results suggest that the RrmJ-catalyzed methylation of Um(2552) in 23S RNA strengthens ribosomal subunit interactions, increases protein synthesis activity, and improves cell growth rates even at non-heat shock temperatures.
The mediating role of intention and stages of change in physical activity among adults with physical disabilities: an integrative framework.

The study's purpose was to identify the mediating role of intention and the stages of change (SOC) in physical activity (PA) over a 6-month period using two models (theory of planned behavior [TPB] and TPB/SOC). Participants were 143 adults with physical disabilities (70.68% response rate; M age = 46.03). The TPB constructs, SOC (time 1), and PA (time 2) were assessed using standardized self-report questionnaires. Based on path analyses, attitude had the highest effect on intention and SOC followed by perceived behavioral control within both well-fit models. The variance in PA explained by the first (TPB) and second (TPB/SOC) models was 16% and 28% respectively. In the just identified model of TPB/SOC, the direct effect of SOC on physical activity remained strong (gamma(soc.pa) = . 45) and SOC approached full mediation through attitude. Health promotion interventions need to include both intention and behavior elements (SOC) reinforcing increased PA value and barrier elimination.
High Speed Imaging of Bubble Clouds Generated in Pulsed Ultrasound Cavitational Therapy - Histotripsy

Our recent studies have demonstrated that mechanical fractionation of tissue structure with sharply demarcated boundaries can be achieved using short (< 20 mus), high intensity ultrasound pulses delivered at low duty cycles. We have called this technique histotripsy. Histotripsy has potential clinical applications where noninvasive tissue fractionation and/or tissue removal are desired. The primary mechanism of histotripsy is thought to be acoustic cavitation, which is supported by a temporally changing acoustic backscatter observed during the histotripsy process. In this paper, a fast-gated digital camera was used to image the hypothesized cavitating bubble cloud generated by histotripsy pulses. The bubble cloud was produced at a tissue-water interface and inside an optically transparent gelatin phantom which mimics bulk tissue. The imaging shows the following: 1) Initiation of a temporally changing acoustic backscatter was due to the formation of a bubble cloud; 2) The pressure threshold to generate a bubble cloud was lower at a tissue-fluid interface than inside bulk tissue; and 3) at higher pulse pressure, the bubble cloud lasted longer and grew larger. The results add further support to the hypothesis that the histotripsy process is due to a cavitating bubble cloud and may provide insight into the sharp boundaries of histotripsy lesions.
An Augmented Probit Model for Missing Predictable Covariates in Quantal Bioassay with Small Sample Size

Summary Quantal bioassay experiments relate the amount or potency of some compound; for example, poison, antibody, or drug to a binary outcome such as death or infection in animals. For infectious diseases, probit regression is commonly used for inference and a key measure of potency is given by the IDP, the amount that results in P% of the animals being infected. In some experiments, a validation set may be used where both direct and proxy measures of the dose are available on a subset of animals with the proxy being available on all. The proxy variable can be viewed as a messy reflection of the direct variable, leading to an errors‐in‐variables problem. We develop a model for the validation set and use a constrained seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model to obtain the distribution of the direct measure conditional on the proxy. We use the conditional distribution to derive a pseudo‐likelihood based on probit regression and use the parametric bootstrap for statistical inference. We re‐evaluate an old experiment in 21 monkeys where neutralizing antibodies (nABs) to HIV were measured using an old (proxy) assay in all monkeys and with a new (direct) assay in a validation set of 11 who had sufficient stored plasma. Using our methods, we obtain an estimate of the ID1 for the new assay, an important target for HIV vaccine candidates. In simulations, we compare the pseudo‐likelihood estimates with regression calibration and a full joint likelihood approach.
Identification of the functional core of the influenza A virus A/M2 proton-selective ion channel

The influenza A virus M2 protein (A/M2) is a homotetrameric pH-activated proton transporter/channel that mediates acidification of the interior of endosomally encapsulated virus. This 97-residue protein has a single transmembrane (TM) helix, which associates to form homotetramers that bind the anti-influenza drug amantadine. However, the minimal fragment required for assembly and proton transport in cellular membranes has not been defined. Therefore, the conductance properties of truncation mutants expressed in Xenopus oocytes were examined. A short fragment spanning residues 21–61, M2(21-61), was inserted into the cytoplasmic membrane and had specific, amantadine-sensitive proton transport activity indistinguishable from that of full-length A/M2; an epitope-tagged version of an even shorter fragment, M2(21-51)-FLAG, had specific activity within a factor of 2 of the full-length protein. Furthermore, synthetic fragments including a peptide spanning residues 22–46 were found to transport protons into liposomes in an amantadine-sensitive manner. In addition, the functionally important His-37 residue pKa values are highly perturbed in the tetrameric form of the protein, a property conserved in the TM peptide and full-length A/M2 in both micelles and bilayers. These data demonstrate that the determinants for folding, drug binding, and proton translocation are packaged in a remarkably small peptide that can now be studied with confidence.
Seasonal Variation in Human Illumination Exposure at Two Different Latitudes

The authors measured ambient illumination exposure in healthy volun teers in San Diego, California (latitude 32° 43' N, n = 30), and Rochester, Minne sota (latitude 44° 1'N, n = 24), during each of the four quarters of the year, which were centered on the solstices and equinoxes. Subjects wore photosensors on their wrists and lapels (or foreheads while in bed) 24 h per day for an average of 5-6 days per quarter. The maximum of the two illumination readings was stored each minute. Annual average time spent per day in outdoor illumination (≥ 1000 lux) was significantly higher in San Diego than it was in Rochester (p <.04). Daily durations of illumination at or exceeding thresholds of 1,10,100,1000, and 10,000 lux were highly seasonal in the sample as a whole (p < .01 at 1 lux, p < .0001 at other thresholds). Seasonal variation in outdoor illumination was far more pronounced in Rochester than it was in San Diego (interaction p < .001) but remained significant in San Diego (p ≤ .03). Seasonal variation in indoor illumi nation was generally similar in the two cities. The median Rochester subject experienced illumination ≥ 1000 lux for 2 h 23 min per day during summer and 23 min per day during winter. The corresponding times in San Diego were 2 h 10 min and 1 h 20 min. Neither age nor gender predicted illumination duration at any level. Both season and geographic location strongly influenced human illumination exposure, and behavior (choice of indoor vs. outdoor environment) was the most important mediating factor.
Incidental Microscopic Foci of Nevic Aggregates in Skin

Microscopic foci of nevic aggregates have been described in normal lymph nodes, where they may pose diagnostic challenges to pathologists. In the course of our practice, we have observed a similar phenomenon in cutaneous tissue. For this reason, we performed a retrospective study of cutaneous excisions over a 1-year period to better characterize this observation. We reviewed 2482 pathology reports of cutaneous excisions, of which 0.8% were associated with such microscopic foci of incidental nevic aggregates. Incidental nevic aggregates were typically dermal in nature and found commonly in excisions from the head and neck region. They were clinically unapparent, with a maximum mean horizontal and vertical diameter of 0.86 mm (0.3-1.5 mm) by 0.46 mm (0.1-1.3 mm). The nevic aggregates were separate and located in normal skin, away from any associated tumors or scar tissue. Although their etiology remains unknown, we hypothesize a derivation from dermal melanocytes, in keeping with the Hochsteigerung theory of nevogenesis. The purpose of this study is to draw attention to the existence of incidental cutaneous nevic aggregates, thereby alerting pathologists and dermatopathologists to their potential as a diagnostic pitfall, especially in the setting of concurrent primary cutaneous malignant melanoma or melanoma in situ.
The Novel Cyclophilin Binding Compound, Sanglifehrin A, Disassociates G1 Cell Cycle Arrest from Tolerance Induction1

T cell anergy has been demonstrated to play a role in maintaining peripheral tolerance to self Ags as well as a means by which tumors can evade immune destruction. Although the precise pathways involved in anergy induction have yet to be elucidated, it has been linked to TCR engagement in the setting of cell cycle arrest. Indeed, rapamycin, which inhibits T cell proliferation in G1, has the ability to promote tolerance even in the presence of costimulation. To better define the role of the cell cycle in regulating anergy induction, we used the novel cyclophilin-binding ligand, sanglifehrin A (SFA). We demonstrate that SFA can inhibit TCR-induced cytokine and chemokine production without preventing TCR-induced anergy. Our data also indicate that despite its ability to induce G1 arrest, SFA does not induce anergy in the presence of costimulation. Furthermore, although SFA blocks proliferation to exogenous IL-2, it does not prevent IL-2-induced reversal of anergy. When we examined the phosphorylation of 4EBP-1, a downstream substrate of the mammalian target of rapamycin, we found that rapamycin, but not SFA, inhibited the mammalian target of rapamycin activity. Based on these data, we propose that the decision as to whether TCR engagement will lead to productive activation or tolerance is dictated by a rapamycin -inhibitable pathway, independent of the G1→S phase cell cycle progression.
UNIVERSITY KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND INNOVATION PERFORMANCE IN FIRMS: THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE

This paper examines the association between university–industry collaboration and firm innovation performance, and the effect of informal mechanisms of knowledge transfer on such an association, using data from a survey of 245 firms in Ghana and employing partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results are of significant relevance to the business community and policy-makers in Ghana and West African. We find that while university–industry collaboration is positively related to innovation performance in firms, informal mechanisms of university knowledge transfer do not and negatively moderate the positive association between university–industry collaboration and innovation performance in firms. It is also found that to facilitate innovation outcomes, formal, legal binding contracts are required. The study recommends that university knowledge generation and innovation policies in Ghana encourage formal collaboration between knowledge exchange actors. It is also suggested that improvements need to be made to the efficacy of intellectual property legislation in Ghana.
Solving Robust Regularization Problems Using Iteratively Re-weighted Least Squares

Many computer vision problems are formulated as an objective function consisting of a sum of functions. In the case of ill-constrained problems, regularization terms are included in the objective function to reduce the ambiguity and noise in the solution. The most commonly used regularization terms are the L2 norm and the L1 norm. Since the last two decades, the class of regularized problems, especially the L1-regularized problems, has received much attention but still many regularized problems are either difficult to solve, or require complex optimization techniques. We propose a method based on an Iteratively Re-weighted Least Squares approach to minimize an objective function comprising a mixture of m-estimator regularization terms. In addition to the proof of convergence of the algorithm to the desired minimum, we show the applicability of the proposed algorithm by solving the problems of edge-preserved image denoising and image super-resolution. In both the cases, our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm gives superior results to the state-of-art regularization methods.
Thin basement membrane nephropathy and IgA glomerulonephritis: Can they be distinguished without renal biopsy?

Background: Thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) and IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA gn) are the most common primary glomerular conditions diagnosed on renal biopsy, performed for microscopic haematuria or microscopic haematuria with proteinuria. While up to 50% of patients with IgA gn will develop chronic renal failure, most patients with TBMN enjoy an excellent prognosis. Because TBMN is estimated to occur in up to 1% of the general population, differentiation between the two conditions without resort to renal biopsy is desirable.
Form and function of the feeding apparatus of Alligator mississippiensis

The architecture of the jaw muscles and their tendons of Alligator mississippiensis is described and their function examined by electromyography. Alligator grabs its prey with forward lunges or rapid lateral movements of the head. It does not engage in regular masticatory cycles. Prey is manipulated by inertial movements and the tongue does not appear to play any role in transport. The Mm. adductor mandibulae externus, adductor mandibulae posterior, and pterygoideus activate bilaterally and simultaneously during rapid closing or crushing. The M. pterygoideus does not act during prey holding whereas the Mm. adductor mandibulae externus, adductor mandibulae posterior continue to be active. The Mm. depressor mandibulae and intramandibularis are variably active during both jaw opening and closing.