Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B virus vaccination of voluntary blood donors and immunization status assessment by Anti-Hepatitis B Surface (HBs) antibody titer

study was conducted at the Ahmedabad from 14/06/2009 to 31/03/2010. In our study hepatitis B virus (HBV) negative voluntary blood donors were enrolled and vaccinated. The sero-conversion rate was determined by anti- Anti-Hepatitis B Surface HBs-antibody titer measurement on a small numbers of vaccines’ who received all three doses. All blood donors were thoroughly assessed with detailed history including past exposure or jaundice. The HBV infection status was also confirmed by Hepatitis B Surface Antigen HBsAg antigen testing by Biorad Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay ELISA kits on automated Evolis system, Biorad, USA along with Hepatitis B Virus DNA testing on Cobas s 201, Roche, USA by Taqscreen test kit. For HBV vaccination, recombinant hepatitis B vaccine of Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad (India) was used. For post-hepatitis B vaccination titer assessment, 2 ml of blood sample was collected in a plain vacutainer and anti HBsAg antibody (anti HBsAg antibody) titration was done by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA), Abbott, Germany. A total of 4036 (3990 male and 46 female) voluntary blood donors with mean age of 35.5 years (ranged between 22 years and 59 years) were studied. All enrolled donors were HBsAg non-reactive by the ELISA method and among them 446 donors were also found negative for HBV DNA by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Anti-HBs antibodies titers were done on limited number of donors who had completed all three HBV vaccination doses. All of the samples were collected between 1 month and 3 months of last (3 rd ) dose of hepatitis B vaccination. Of 4036 vaccines’, 2555, 894 and 587 two and three doses respectively.
Protein–protein interaction analysis by C-terminally specific fluorescence labeling and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy

Here, we describe novel puromycin derivatives conjugated with iminobiotin and a fluorescent dye that can be linked covalently to the C-terminus of full-length proteins during cell-free translation. The iminobiotin-labeled proteins can be highly purified by affinity purification with streptavidin beads. We confirmed that the purified fluorescence-labeled proteins are useful for quantitative protein–protein interaction analysis based on fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS). The apparent dissociation constants of model protein pairs such as proto-oncogenes c-Fos/c-Jun and archetypes of the family of Ca2+-modulated calmodulin/related binding proteins were in accordance with the reported values. Further, detailed analysis of the interactions of the components of polycomb group complex, Bmi1, M33, Ring1A and RYBP, was successfully conducted by means of interaction assay for all combinatorial pairs. The results indicate that FCCS analysis with puromycin-based labeling and purification of proteins is effective and convenient for in vitro protein–protein interaction assay, and the method should contribute to a better understanding of protein functions by using the resource of available nucleotide sequences.
Relaxin-3 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis

The hypothalamus plays a key role in the regulation of both energy homeostasis and reproduction. Evidence suggests that relaxin-3, a recently discovered member of the insulin superfamily, is an orexigenic hypothalamic neuropeptide. Relaxin-3 is thought to act in the brain via the RXFP3 receptor, although the RXFP1 receptor may also play a role. Relaxin-3, RXFP3, and RXFP1 are present in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, an area with a well-characterized role in the regulation of energy balance that also modulates reproductive function by providing inputs to hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. Other members of the relaxin family are known to play a role in the regulation of reproduction. However, the effects of relaxin-3 on reproductive function are unknown. We studied the role of relaxin-3 in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Intracerebroventricular (5 nmol) and intraparaventricular (540–1,620 pmol) administration of human relaxin-3 (H3) in adult male Wistar rats significantly increased plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) 30 min postinjection. This effect was blocked by pretreatment with a peripheral GnRH antagonist. Central administration of human relaxin-2 showed no significant effect on plasma LH. H3 dose-dependently stimulated the release of GnRH from hypothalamic explants and GT1-7 cells, which express RXFP1 and RXFP3, but did not influence LH or follicle-stimulating hormone release from pituitary fragments in vitro. We have demonstrated a novel role for relaxin-3 in the stimulation of the HPG axis, putatively via hypothalamic GnRH neurons. Relaxin-3 may act as a central signal linking nutritional status and reproductive function.
A 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS analog turbo decoder for the 40-bit rate 1/3 UMTS channel code

This work presents the design and the test results of an analog decoder for the 40-bit block length, rate 1/3, Turbo Code defined in the UMTS standard. The prototype is fully integrated in a three-metal double-poly 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS technology, and includes an I/O interface that maximizes the decoder throughput. After the successful implementation of proof-of-concept analog iterative decoders by different research groups in both bipolar and CMOS technologies, this is the first reported prototype of an analog decoder for a realistic error-correcting code. The decoder was successfully tested at the maximum data rate defined in the standard (2 Mb/s), with an overall power consumption of 10.3 mW at 3.3 V, going down to 7.6 mW with the decoder core operated at 2 V, and an extremely low energy per decoded bit and trellis state (0.85 nJ for the decoder core alone).
Exploring the fitness hypothesis in ALS: a population-based case-control study of parental cause of death and lifespan

Objective To investigate the theory of premorbid fitness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we studied whether a common genetic profile for physical or cardiovascular fitness was manifest in progenitors leading to less cardiovascular death and a longer lifespan in parents of patients with ALS compared with parents of controls. Methods Patient and disease characteristics, levels of physical activity, parental cause and age of death were obtained using a structured questionnaire from a population-based, case–control study of ALS in the Netherlands. Logistic regression was used for the analyses of parental cause of death and levels of physical activity. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to study the association between parental survival and ALS, or specific patient subgroups. All models were adjusted for age at inclusion, level of education, body mass index, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension. Results 487 patients and 1092 controls were included. Parents of patients died less frequently from a cardiovascular disease compared with parents of controls (OR=0.78, p=0.009). Their survival, however, was neither significantly longer nor shorter. Neither rates of cardiovascular causes of death, nor survival of parents was related to the extent to which patients were physically active in leisure time (all p>0.05). Conclusions Exploring the fitness hypothesis in the pathogenesis of ALS, our findings provide evidence for a shared mechanism underlying a favourable cardiovascular fitness profile and ALS susceptibility.
Letter re: Alterations of functional connectivity of the motor cortex in Fabry disease: An RS-fMRI study

Cocozza et al.1 confirmed, by use of resting-state (RS)–fMRI, previous clinical and electrophysiologic studies showing involvement of cerebral motor circuits in Fabry disease (FD), independently of cerebrovascular signs/symptoms and brain MRI lesions.1–3 In particular, they showed alterations of functional connectivity in a polysynaptic motor circuit involving motor cortices, basal ganglia, and right cerebellar hemisphere.1 In metabolic/lysosomal storage diseases, a subclinical CNS impairment is common and may be related, regardless of brain MRI findings, either to a structural irreversible or to a biochemical reversible brain lesion.4,5 A crucial unsettled question in the article is the usefulness of RS-fMRI in detecting subtle and potentially reversible biochemical brain lesions in patients with FD at a rather early appearance. We investigated this question in a previous study by analyzing the effect of 1 year of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on cortical excitability in 5 patients with FD without brain MRI lesions, and an increase of excitatory neurotransmission in motor cortex circuits, documented by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 3 We observed a reduction in motor cortex hyperexcitability in all patients after ERT, indicating the possible utility of TMS, and likely of other techniques such as RS-fMRI, in monitoring the disease course and the response to therapy.
Temporal and Subjective Work Demands in Office-Based Patient Care: An Exploration of the Dimensions of Physician Work Intensity

Background:Physician work intensity (WI) during office-based patient care affects quality of care and patient safety as well as physician job-satisfaction and reimbursement. Existing, brief work intensity measures have been used in physician studies, but their validity in clinical settings has not been established. Objectives:Document and describe subjective and temporal WI dimensions for physicians in office-based clinical settings. Examine these in relation to the measurement procedures and dimensions of the SWAT and NASA-TLX intensity measures. Design:A focused ethnographic study using interviews and direct observations. Participants:Five family physicians, 5 general internists, 5 neurologists, and 4 surgeons. Methods:Through interviews, each physician was asked to describe low and high intensity work responsibilities, patients, and events. To document time and task allotments, physicians were observed during a routine workday. Notes and transcripts were analyzed using the editing method in which categories are obtained from the data. Results:WI factors identified by physicians matched dimensions assessed by standard, generic instruments of work intensity. Physicians also reported WI factors outside of the direct patient encounter. Across specialties, physician time spent in direct contact with patients averaged 61% for office-based services. Conclusions:Brief work intensity measures such as the SWAT and NASA-TLX can be used to assess WI in the office-based clinical setting. However, because these measures define the physician work “task” in terms of effort in the presence of the patient (ie, intraservice time), substantial physician effort dedicated to pre- and postservice activities is not captured.
Theorizing of spirit 212 in predicting Muslim behavioral intentions: A hypothesized model

Total number of Muslim dominates the population in Indonesia. However, Muslim entrepreneurs only contribute quite small to the Indonesian economy. As a result, these economy benefits couldn’t be perceived directly by dominated Muslims. Action of defending Islam 212 by Muslims is able to evoke spirit of 212 which has positive energy to build solidarity and solidity among Muslims. One of the results from spirit of 212 is campaign to shop to neighborhood store that aimed to develop economic aspect. This is because the owner of these store is dominated by Muslim. This paper investigates the relationship between spirit of 212 and behavioral intentions to shop to neighborhood store. Three factors in Theory of Planned Behavior, they are subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and attitude toward behavior are proposed to explain this relationship. Based on the literature review, religiosity is also added as mediating variable which is considered to explain. Therefore, a conceptual model is built to determine the implications of spirit 212 on Muslim behavioral intentions using these four mediating variables.
Paradoxical Effect of Sibutramine on Autonomic Cardiovascular Regulation

Background—Sibutramine, a serotonin and norepinephrine transporter blocker, is widely used as an adjunctive obesity treatment. Norepinephrine reuptake inhibition with sibutramine conceivably could exacerbate arterial hypertension and promote cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results—In 11 healthy subjects (7 men, age 27±2 years, body mass index 23.1±0.7 kg/m2), we compared the effect of sibutramine or matching placebo (ingested 26, 14, and 2 hours before testing) on cardiovascular responses to autonomic reflex tests and to a graded head-up tilt test. In addition, we tested sibutramine in combination with metoprolol. Testing was conducted in a double-blind and crossover fashion. Supine systolic blood pressure was 113±3 mm Hg with placebo, 121±3 mm Hg with sibutramine (P <0.001 versus placebo), and 111±2 mm Hg with the combination of sibutramine and metoprolol. Similarly, sibutramine increased upright blood pressure. Sibutramine substantially increased upright heart rate. This effect was abolished with metoprolol. The blood pressure response to cold pressor and handgrip testing was attenuated with sibutramine compared with placebo. Furthermore, sibutramine decreased low-frequency oscillations of blood pressure and plasma norepinephrine concentrations in the supine position. Conclusions—The cardiovascular effect of the antiobesity drug sibutramine results from a complex interaction of peripheral and central nervous system effects. The inhibitory clonidine-like action of sibutramine on the central nervous system attenuates the peripheral stimulatory effect. Our findings strongly suggest that current concepts regarding the action of sibutramine on the sympathetic nervous system should be reconsidered.
Circ2Traits: a comprehensive database for circular RNA potentially associated with disease and traits

Circular RNAs are new players in regulation of post transcriptional gene expression. Animal genomes express many circular RNAs from diverse genomic locations. A recent study has validated a fairly large number of circular RNAs in human, mouse, and nematode. Circular RNAs play a crucial role in fine tuning the level of miRNA mediated regulation of gene expression by sequestering the miRNAs. Their interaction with disease associated miRNAs indicates that circular RNAs are important for disease regulation. In this paper we studied the potential association of circular RNAs (circRNA) with human diseases in two different ways. Firstly, the interactions of circRNAs with disease associated miRNAs were identified, following which the likelihood of a circRNA being associated with a disease was calculated. For the miRNAs associated with individual diseases, we constructed a network of predicted interactions between the miRNAs and protein coding, long non-coding and circular RNA genes. We carried out gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis on the set of protein coding genes in the miRNA- circRNA interactome of individual diseases to check the enrichment of genes associated with particular biological processes. Secondly, disease associated SNPs were mapped on circRNA loci, and Argonaute (Ago) interaction sites on circular RNAs were identified. We compiled a database of disease-circRNA association in Circ2Traits (http://gyanxet-beta.com/circdb/), the first comprehensive knowledgebase of potential association of circular RNAs with diseases in human.
Cumulin, an Oocyte-secreted Heterodimer of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Family, Is a Potent Activator of Granulosa Cells and Improves Oocyte Quality*

Background: Cumulin is a newly identified heterodimeric member of the TGF-β family. Results: Mature cumulin potently stimulates granulosa cell signaling and function, whereas pro-cumulin promotes oocyte quality. Conclusion: Formation of cumulin and its potent actions are likely to be central to oocyte paracrine signaling and mammalian fecundity. Significance: The discovery of cumulin provides unique opportunities to improve female fertility in mammals. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are oocyte-specific growth factors with central roles in mammalian reproduction, regulating species-specific fecundity, ovarian follicular somatic cell differentiation, and oocyte quality. In the human, GDF9 is produced in a latent form, the mechanism of activation being an open question. Here, we produced a range of recombinant GDF9 and BMP15 variants, examined their in silico and physical interactions and their effects on ovarian granulosa cells (GC) and oocytes. We found that the potent synergistic actions of GDF9 and BMP15 on GC can be attributed to the formation of a heterodimer, which we have termed cumulin. Structural modeling of cumulin revealed a dimerization interface identical to homodimeric GDF9 and BMP15, indicating likely formation of a stable complex. This was confirmed by generation of recombinant heterodimeric complexes of pro/mature domains (pro-cumulin) and covalent mature domains (cumulin). Both pro-cumulin and cumulin exhibited highly potent bioactivity on GC, activating both SMAD2/3 and SMAD1/5/8 signaling pathways and promoting proliferation and expression of a set of genes associated with oocyte-regulated GC differentiation. Cumulin was more potent than pro-cumulin, pro-GDF9, pro-BMP15, or the two combined on GC. However, on cumulus-oocyte complexes, pro-cumulin was more effective than all other growth factors at notably improving oocyte quality as assessed by subsequent day 7 embryo development. Our results support a model of activation for human GDF9 dependent on cumulin formation through heterodimerization with BMP15. Oocyte-secreted cumulin is likely to be a central regulator of fertility in mono-ovular mammals.
A case of mucolipidosis II presenting with prenatal skeletal dysplasia and severe secondary hyperparathyroidism at birth

Mucolipidosis II (ML II) or inclusion cell disease (I-cell disease) is a rarely occurring autosomal recessive lysosomal enzyme-targeting disease. This disease is usually found to occur in individuals aged between 6 and 12 months, with a clinical phenotype resembling that of Hurler syndrome and radiological findings resembling those of dysostosis multiplex. However, we encountered a rare case of an infant with ML II who presented with prenatal skeletal dysplasia and typical clinical features of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism at birth. A female infant was born at 37+1 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 1,690 g (<3rd percentile). Prenatal ultrasonographic findings revealed intrauterine growth retardation and skeletal dysplasia. At birth, the patient had characteristic features of ML II, and skeletal radiographs revealed dysostosis multiplex, similar to rickets. In addition, the patient had high levels of alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone, consistent with severe secondary neonatal hyperparathyroidism. The activities of β-D-hexosaminidase and α-N-acetylglucosaminidase were moderately decreased in the leukocytes but were 5- to 10-fold higher in the plasma. Examination of a placental biopsy specimen showed foamy vacuolar changes in trophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts. The diagnosis of ML II was confirmed via GNPTAB genetic testing, which revealed compound heterozygosity of c.3091C>T (p.Arg1031X) and c. 3456_3459dupCAAC (p.Ile1154GlnfsX3), the latter being a novel mutation. The infant was treated with vitamin D supplements but expired because of asphyxia at the age of 2 months.
A New Criterion for the Quantification of Broken Rotor Bars in Induction Motors

This paper addresses itself to evaluate quantitatively the severity of broken rotor bar (BRB) fault, i.e., the number of BRBs in induction motors. Sideband components are induced in stator current if BRB fault is present and commonly used for diagnosis purposes. Filippetti criterion has been proposed and developed in the literature to quantify the severity of BRB fault by using sideband components, however, with unsatisfactory universality/accuracy. This paper briefly analyzes Filippetti criterion, and mathematically derives a new criterion for the quantification of BRBs, based on the electromagnetic mechanism of sideband components. Comparing to Filippetti criterion, the universality and accuracy of the new criterion are both improved. Moreover, the new criterion includes the influence from the interbar currents associated with BRB fault. The related experiment on a 3-kW, 380-V, 50-Hz induction motor has been conducted, and results show the superiority of the new criterion over Filippetti criterion.
Hepatoadrenal syndrome in pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease*

Objective: Adrenal insufficiency in patients with liver failure, referred to as hepatoadrenal syndrome, is well characterized in adult patients but has not yet been described in children. We present 22 pediatric subjects with end-stage liver disease and adrenal insufficiency, diagnosed using the cosyntropin stimulation test. Design and Setting: A retrospective chart review using inpatient records from a pediatric intensive care unit in an academic medical center with a busy pediatric transplant program. Patients: Most were infants with anatomical short gut and severe, total parenteral nutrition-induced liver failure awaiting liver transplantation. Many were critically ill; 68% required mechanical ventilation and 59% required vasopressors. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: All patients had low baseline cortisol levels and ten also had an abnormal cosyntropin stimulation test. Cortisol levels at baseline and increments of serum cortisol at 30 and 60 mins post cosyntropin were 9.3 ± 5 &mgr;g/dL, 9.3 ± 4 &mgr;g/dL, and 10.7 ± 6 &mgr;g/dL, respectively, compared to these values in five patients with liver failure and normal adrenal function (21.3 ± 3 &mgr;g/dL, 10.5 ± 5 &mgr;g/dL, and 12.7 ± 3 &mgr;g/dL, respectively). Baseline cortisol levels were higher in patients who required vasopressors (11.1 ± 5 &mgr;g/dL) compared to those who did not (6.6 ± 4.3 &mgr;g/dL, p = .04), and 60-min increment cortisol levels were lower in nonsurvivors compared to survivors (8.6 ± 4.8 &mgr;g/dL vs. 15.1 ± 5.1 &mgr;g/dL, p = .002). The severity of adrenal insufficiency did not correlate with the degree of hepatic decompensation. Clinical characteristics, including serum electrolytes and vasopressor requirements, were similar in patients with hepatoadrenal syndrome and patients with liver failure and normal adrenal function. Twelve (55%) of the patients died in the hospital, 11 without receiving a transplant. Hydrocortisone therapy permitted rapid weaning of vasopressor therapy but did not affect survival. Conclusions: Children with end-stage liver disease are at risk for hepatoadrenal syndrome and should have their cortisol levels monitored since clinical manifestations may not be diagnostic.
An Active Filter Method to Eliminate DC-Side Low-Frequency Power for a Single-Phase Quasi-Z-Source Inverter

The second harmonic pulsating power flows through the dc side of a single-phase quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI), which requires bulky capacitor banks and inductors to suppress low-frequency ripple of dc-link voltage and inductor currents in the passive ripple reduction way. However, the resultant huge qZS network seriously deteriorates the system reliability, efficiency, volume, weight, and cost. This paper proposes an active-filter-integrated single-phase qZSI to transfer low-frequency power ripple directly from ac load to active filter's ac capacitor, so that low-frequency power ripple does not present in dc side anymore and constant inductor currents and constant capacitor voltages are ensured. Thus, much small qZS impedance is employed to only smooth high-frequency ripple and active filter's capacitor supports ac voltage (large ripple allowed) with small capacitance. The operation principle, parameter design method, and modeling and control strategy of the proposed topology are investigated. Comparative evaluation, simulation, and experimental results verify the proposed new topology system.