Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of Thrombophilia in Renal Transplant Patients

Renal allograft recipients with thrombophilia (a hypercoagulable state) are at higher risk for early allograft loss. Following an episode of allograft renal vein thrombosis in a patient subsequently diagnosed with protein C deficiency, we adopted universal screening for hypercoagulable risk factors. Patients with a history of a thromboembolic event underwent laboratory screening for thrombophilia. Eight patients with a defined hypercoagulable disorder or a strong clinical history of thrombosis even in the absence of hematologic abnormalities were treated with anticoagulation following renal transplantation. We reviewed the outcomes of these eight patients and all renal transplant recipients at our center who developed thrombotic complications after renal transplantation.
New findings for phenotype–genotype correlations in a large European series of holoprosencephaly cases

Background Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is the most common forebrain defect in humans. It results from incomplete midline cleavage of the prosencephalon. Methods A large European series of 645 HPE probands (and 699 relatives), consisting of 51% fetuses and 49% liveborn children, is reported. Results Mutations in the four main genes involved in HPE (SHH, ZIC2, SIX3, TGIF) were identified in 25% of cases. The SHH, SIX3, and TGIF mutations were inherited in more than 70% of these cases, whereas 70% of the mutations in ZIC2 occurred de novo. Moreover, rearrangements were detected in 22% of the 260 patients screened by array comparative genomic hybridisation. 15 probands had two mutations providing additional support for the ‘multiple-hit process’ in HPE. There was a positive correlation between the severity of the brain malformation and facial features for SHH, SIX3, and TGIF, but no such correlation was found for ZIC2 mutations. The most severe HPE types were associated with SIX3 and ZIC2 mutations, whereas microforms were associated with SHH mutations. The study focused on the associated brain malformations, including neuronal migration defects, which predominated in individuals with ZIC2 mutations, and neural tube defects, which were frequently associated with ZIC2 (rachischisis) and TGIF mutations. Extracraniofacial features were observed in 27% of the individuals in this series (up to 40% of those with ZIC2 mutations) and a significant correlation was found between renal/urinary defects and mutations of SHH and ZIC2. Conclusions An algorithm is proposed based on these new phenotype–genotype correlations, to facilitate molecular analysis and genetic counselling for HPE.
Home-based management of patients with chronic heart failure--focus on content not just form!

pronounced. This moderate approach is more in keeping with the average dose actually achieved in the large-scale ACE inhibitor survival trials and in our view is a reasonable target. A more attractive future option would be to tailor therapy to the individual patient. This would allow optimization of drugs and dosage to achieve the optimal outcomes for that individual patient. Tailoring therapy to achieve a desired neurohormonal response and improve outcomes has been demonstrated and further large-scale clinical trials are ongoing in this area. In the meanwhile we should ensure that evidence-based therapies are more widely applied in general to all patients with heart failure, continue to debate dosage while supporting additional more definitive studies. R. N. DOUGHTY N. SHARPE Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand References
Innovation and Firm Growth: Is R&D Worth It?

The paper contributes to an emerging literature that critically questions the degree to which R&D, at the centre of national and transnational innovation policies, results in firm growth. The differences in how innovation affects firm growth is explored for small and large publicly quoted US pharmaceutical firms between 1950 and 2008. We observe that the positive impact of R&D on firm growth is highly conditional upon a combination of firm-specific characteristics such as firm size, patenting and persistence in patenting. For small firms, R&D boosts growth for only a subset of firms: namely, those that patent persistently for a minimum of five years. For large pharmaceutical firms, on the other hand, R&D may have a negative impact on growth; potentially resulting from the low R&D productivity these firms have suffered from since the mid-1990s. These results raise important issues around the R&D and firm growth relationship for small and large firms as well the role of persistence in innovation for boosting firm performance.
Altered Erythrocyte Membrane Protein Composition in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 Patients under Haemodialysis and Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Therapy

Our aim was to evaluate red blood cell (RBC) membrane protein composition in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 patients under haemodialysis (HD) and recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy, and its linkage to rhEPO hyporesponsiveness. We evaluated in 63 CKD stage 5 patients (32 responders and 31 non-responders to rhEPO therapy) and in 26 healthy controls RBC count, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, haematimetric indices, reticulocyte count, reticulocyte production index, RBC osmotic fragility test and membrane protein analyses. CKD stage 5 patients presented significant changes in membrane protein composition, namely a reduction in spectrin, associated to altered protein 4.1/spectrin and spectrin/band 3 ratios. Non-responder CKD stage 5 patients were more anaemic, with more microcytic and anisocytic RBCs, than responders; significantly altered ankyrin/band 3 and spectrin/ankyrin ratios were also observed. CKD stage 5 patients under HD are associated with an altered protein membrane structure, which seems to the disease itself and/or to the interaction with HD membranes.
Antimicrobial activity of traditional wines (Sopi and Moke) against Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli

Objective: Sopi and Moke are two traditional wines in Indonesia. The present study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial effects of Sopi and Moke as compared to other commercial disinfectants. Materials and methods: The alcohol level and pH of the traditional wines ( Sopi and Moke ) were determined by alcohol meter and pH meter, respectively. The susceptibility test was perfomed to determine the antimicrobial activity of Sopi against E scherichia c oli which was isolated from cattle, and the activity of Moke was tested against Salmonella sp . which was a local isolate of poultry. Results: In susceptibility test, Sopi showed 17.5 mm in zone of inhibition against E. coli , while Formades ® , a commercial disinfectant showed 16 mm of zone of inhibition against the same bacteria. Moke showed 17.5 mm inhibition zone against Salmonella sp . , whereas Antisep ® , a commercial disinfectant had 28 mm of inhibition zone against the same isolate. Conclusion: The results indicate that Sopi and Moke have antimicrobial effects on E. coli and Salmonella sp. , respectively. The findings of this study suggest that Sopi and Moke can be used as potential antimicrobial agents. http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2016. c166
Analysis of cysteine-X-cysteine motif chemokine ligands 9, 10, and 11, their receptor CXCR3, and their possible role on the recruitment of immune cells at the maternal–conceptus interface in pigs†

Abstract Chemokines play critical roles in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in animals. Cysteine-X-cysteine motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9), CXCL10, and CXCL11 are involved in recruiting immune cells by binding to their shared receptor, CXC receptor 3 (CXCR3), in a variety of tissues. This study examined the expression and regulation of chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, their receptor CXCR3, and their role at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs. The endometrium expressed CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 stage specifically during pregnancy, with the greatest abundance on Day 15 of pregnancy. It was noted that their expression was primarily localized to stromal cells, endothelial cells, or vascular smooth muscle cells in the endometrium. Interferon-γ increased the abundance of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11 mRNAs, but not CXCR3, in endometrial explants. Furthermore, recombinant CXCL9 (rCXCL9), rCXCL10, and rCXCL11 proteins increased migration of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a dose-dependent manner. Recombinant CXCL9 and rCXCL10 caused migration of CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD8+ T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, and rCXCL11 increased migration of CD4+ T and NK cells in PBMCs. The present study demonstrated that interferon-γ-induced CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, and their receptor CXCR3 were expressed in the uterus in stage- and cell-type specific manners and increased the migration of T and NK cells, which showed the greatest endometrial infiltration on Day 15 of pregnancy. These results suggest that CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 may play an important role in the recruitment of immune cells into the endometrium during the implantation period in pigs. Summary Sentence Chemokines CXCL9, 10, and 11 induced by interferon-gamma of conceptus origin in the endometrium are involved in the recruitment of immune cells at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs.
The effect of Qigong on Fibromyalgia (FMS): A controlled randomized study

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of a 7-week Qigong intervention on subjects with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). Methods. The study was a controlled randomized study with repeated measures. Fifty-seven FMS female subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 29) or a waiting-list control group (n = 28). After completion of the experimental part, the control group received the same intervention. Collection of data was made at pre- and post-treatment and at 4-month follow-up for both groups. Results. During the experimental part of the study, significant improvements were found for the intervention group, at post-treatment, regarding different aspects of pain and psychological health and distress. Almost identical results were found for the combined group. At 4-month follow-up, the majority of these results were either maintained or improved. Conclusion. The overall results show that Qigong has positive and reliable effects regarding FMS. A high degree of completion, 93%, and contentment with the intervention further support the potential of the treatment. The results of the study are encouraging and suggest that Qigong intervention could be a useful complement to medical treatment for subjects with FMS.
Analytical model and performance investigation of electric potential for junctionless cylindrical surrounding gate (JLCSG) MOSFET

In this paper expression for surface potential of a junction less cylindrical surrounding gate (JLCSG) MOSFET has been derived using 2D Poisson's equation. The proposed JLCSG MOSFET has no source/drain junction as the doping of channel region is the same as that of source/drain region. The analytical results are compared with the numerical solution using 2D device simulator. The result shows the variation of channel potential with the applied gate and drain bias voltage. The electrostatic parameters of JLCSG MOSFET such as subthreshold swing (SS), ION/IOFF ratio, the threshold voltage (Vt) and drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) are investigated through exhaustive device simulation. Further, in this paper various analog/RF performance parameters have also been investigated. The performance figure of merits (FOMs) shows that the proposed device has bright future in higher speed and low power communication circuit applications.
DESIGN OF MODEL REACTOR SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING DISINFECTANTS AGAINST BIOFILM BACTERIA

Laboratory reactors are devices which grow biofilms under controlled and/or field relevant conditions for the purpose of developing biofilm control strategies. In disinfectant efficacy testing, as well as in research, choosing the best reactor to use is important because different laboratory reactors impart unique characteristics in the biofilm that influence everything from biofilm architecture and protein regulation to the response of biofilm bacteria to disinfection. In this dissertation, three laboratory reactors and associated standard operating protocols were developed to provide a reliable, standardized assessment of disinfectant efficacy against biofilm bacteria that grow: 1) in a moderate to high fluid shear environment, 2) in hot tubs, and 3) in swimming pools. The reactors and protocols were then evaluated for the statistical characteristics of repeatability, ruggedness, and responsiveness, required criteria for the standardization of a method. In the CDC biofilm reactor (CBR), biofilm was engineered to possess the characteristics of a field biofilm grown under moderate to high fluid shear. The laboratory hot tub and swimming pool reactors were each engineered to generate a field-relevant biofilm by modeling the physiochemical and biological characteristics present in such recreational water. Testing demonstrated that the CBR and laboratory hot tub system were repeatable and rugged. The hot tub and swimming pool systems were responsive to disinfectant type and concentration. This research demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating relevant engineering design into practical laboratory methods used to evaluate disinfectant efficacy.
Self-tuning PID controller using quantum neural network with qubit-inspired neurons

This paper investigates the performance of an adaptive controller using a multi-layer quantum neural network QNN comprising qubit-inspired neurons as information processing units. The control system is a self-tuning controller whose control parameters are tuned online by the QNN to track plant output relative to the desired plant output generated by a reference model. A proportional-integral-derivative PID controller is utilized as a conventional controller, with its parameters tuned by the QNN. Computational experiments to control a single-input single-output discrete-time non-linear plant are conducted to evaluate the capability and characteristics of the quantum neural self-tuning controller. The experiment results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Deletion analysis of the 51-kilodalton protein of the Bacillus sphaericus 2362 binary mosquitocidal toxin: construction of derivatives equivalent to the larva-processed toxin

Bacillus sphaericus 2362 produces a binary toxin consisting of 51- and 42-kDa proteins, both of which are required for toxicity to mosquito larvae. Upon ingestion by larvae, these proteins are processed to 43 and 39 kDa, respectively. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have obtained N- and C-terminal deletions of the 51-kDa protein and expressed them in B. subtilis by using the subtilisin promoter. Removal of 21 amino acids from the N terminus and 53 amino acids from the C terminus resulted in a protein with the same electrophoretic properties as the 43-kDa degradation product which accumulates in the guts of mosquito larvae. This protein was toxic only in the presence of the 42-kDa protein. A deletion of 32 amino acids at the N terminus combined with a 53-amino-acid deletion at the C terminus resulted in a protein which retained toxicity. Toxicity was lost upon a further deletion of amino acids at potential chymotrypsin sites (41 at the N terminus, 61 at the C terminus). Comparison of the processing of the 51- and the 42-kDa proteins indicated that in spite of their sequence similarity proteolysis occurred at different sites.
Interference of IgG, IgG aggregates and immune complexes in tests for platelet autoantibodies

Summary. Three techniques, based on the antiglobulin principle, used for the detection of autoantibodies against platelets, were compared; the antiglobulin consumption assay (QACA), the platelet radioactive antiglobulin test (PRAT) and the platelet suspension immunofluorescence test (PSIFT).
3D vertical TaOx/TiO2 RRAM with over 103 self-rectifying ratio and sub-μA operating current

The 3D double-layer vertical RRAM with ultralow sub-μA operating current and high self-rectifying ratio over 103 has been demonstrated for the first time. This Ta/TaOx/TiO2/Ti interfacial switching device overcomes the intrinsic trade-off between operating current and variability in filamentary RRAMs and shows promising potential for high-density data storage.
MARKERS OF CARDIOVASCULAR CO MORBIDITY IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the lipid derangements in COPD because India is one of the most affected countries in the world with COPD and contributes significantly to the mortality and morbidity of the disease. CVD is the most prevalent cause of co morbidities and the second most common cause of mortality, next to respiratory failure. Traditionally, dyslipidemia is considered to be one of the most important risk factors for the development of atherogenesis. Methods: This study was conducted in central Lab, Department of Biochemistry of S.M.S. Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, India from the period of Dec.2013 to Nov.2014. In this study 33 patients of COPD taken as cases and 29 healthy controls. We analysed the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) in COPD patients and control patients. Results: we found in this study that mean value of BMI, LDL,TCH of patients was 16.36 + 2.82 kg/m2, 117.48 + 30.93mg/dl, 177.21 + 30.58mg/dl respectively in cases as compared to 20.00 + 1.71 kg/m 2 101.32 + 15.42 mg/dl, 164.45 + 14.40 mg/dl respectively in controls. These relations are statistically significant. BMI decreases with severity of disease and LDL and TCH increases in COPD. Conclusion: To conclude, this study gives us an idea that the derangement in levels of LDL and TCH may be associated with cardiovascular co morbidities and it needs to be studied further.
A Mycothiol Synthase Mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Has an Altered Thiol-Disulfide Content and Limited Tolerance to Stress

ABSTRACT Mycothiol (MSH) (acetyl-Cys-GlcN-Ins) is the major low-molecular-mass thiol in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MSH has antioxidant activity, can detoxify a variety of toxic compounds, and helps to maintain the reducing environment of the cell. The production of MSH provides a potential novel target for tuberculosis treatment. Biosynthesis of MSH requires at least four genes. To determine which of these genes is essential in M. tuberculosis, we have been constructing targeted gene disruptions. Disruption in the mshC gene is lethal to M. tuberculosis, while disruption in the mshB gene results in MSH levels 20 to 100% of those of the wild type. For this study, we have constructed a targeted gene disruption in the mshD gene that encodes mycothiol synthase, the final enzyme in MSH biosynthesis. The mshD mutant produced ∼1% of normal MSH levels but high levels of the MshD substrate Cys-GlcN-Ins and the novel thiol N-formyl-Cys-GlcN-Ins. Although N-formyl-Cys-GlcN-Ins was maintained in a highly reduced state, Cys-GlcN-Ins was substantially oxidized. In both the wild type and the mshD mutant, cysteine was predominantly oxidized. The M. tuberculosis mshD mutant grew poorly on agar plates lacking catalase and oleic acid and in low-pH media and had heightened sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. The inability of the mshD mutant to survive and grow in macrophages may be associated with its altered thiol-disulfide status. It appears that N-formyl-Cys-GlcN-Ins serves as a weak surrogate for MSH but is not sufficient to support normal growth of M. tuberculosis under stress conditions such as those found within the macrophage.
Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Alternate and Combined Site Pacing in Patients after Cardiac Surgery

We hypothesized that pacing at sites other them the right ventricular (RV) apex or at two or more ventricular sites would activate the myocardium more rapidly and improve cardiac function in patients undergoing coronary revascularization or aortic valve replacement. Epicardial electrodes were placed on the right atrium (A), RV paraseptal area close to the RV apex (B), RV outflow tract (C), LV apex (D), in patients undergoing bypass surgery. At constant rate and AV delay, we measured CO during A pacing, DV1 pacing at B, C, D, and various combinations of sites in random order in ten patients with EF > 50% and 27patients with EF ≤ 50%. When pacing at two sites, we made one electrode a cathode and one an anode and noted two distinct thresholds by careful observation of the 12‐lead ECG. There were no significant differences in CO, systemic vascular resistance, systolic, or mean arterial pressure. Significant differences were noted in QRS duration, which increased progressively going from AAI to 3‐site, 2‐site, and single site pacing (P < 0.05 each comparison). Thus: (1) QRS duration correlated inversely with the number of ventricular sites paced; (2) despite this, CO did not improve irrespective of baseline EF; (3) multisite pacing produced multiple distinct thresholds which appeared to be related to the number of sites paced, and (4) unique ECG patterns confirmed multisite pacing.
On the origin of cancer-associated fibroblasts

of the origin of CAFs in mouse tumors is that only a portion of the CAFs was found to be of a single origin, suggesting that all CAFs are not derived from the same source, but rather originate from several different supplies. Evidence from human tumors is scarce regarding the source(s) from which CAFs are recruited.We recently identified a role for PDGF-CC in the recruitment of CAFs into a syngeneic mouse model of melanoma.
Performance of soft frequency reuse in random cellular networks in Rayleigh-Lognormal fading channels

Soft Frequency Reuse (Soft FR) is an effective resource allocation technique that can improve the instantaneous received Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise ratio (SINR) at a typical user and the spectrum efficiency. In this paper, the performance of Soft FR in Random Cellular network, where the locations of Base Stations (BSs) are random variables of Spatial Point Poisson Process (PPP), is investigated. While most of current works considered the network model with either single RB or frequency reuse with factor of 1, this work assume that the Soft FR with factor of Δ is deployed and there are M users and N (Δ > 1, M > 1, N > 1). The analytical and simulation results show that a network system with high frequency reuse factor create more InterCell Interference than that with low frequency reuse factor. Furthermore, in order to design the parameters to optimize Soft FR, the performance of the Cell-Edge and Cell-Center user should be considered together.
PRINCIPAL DIFFERENTIAL IDEALS AND A GENERIC INVERSE DIFFERENTIAL GALOIS PROBLEM FOR GL n

ABSTRACT We characterize the principal differential ideals of a polynomial ring in indeterminates with coefficients in the ring of differential polynomials in indeterminates and derivation given by a “general” element of and use this characterization to construct a generic Picard-Vessiot extension for . In the case when the differential base field has finite transcendence degree over its field of constants we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for solving the inverse differential Galois problem for these groups via specialization from our generic extension.