Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of multi modality imaging in selecting patients and guiding lead placement for the delivery of cardiac resynchronization therapy

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective pacemaker delivered treatment for selected patients with heart failure with the target of restoring electro-mechanical synchrony. Imaging techniques using echocardiography have as yet failed to find a metric of dyssynchrony to predict CRT response. Current guidelines are thus unchanged in recommending prolonged QRS duration, severe systolic function and refractory heart failure symptoms as criteria for CRT implantation. Evolving strain imaging techniques in 3D echocardiography, cardiac MRI and CT may however, overcome limitations of older methods and yield more powerful CRT response predictors. Areas covered: In this review, we firstly discuss the use of multi modality cardiac imaging in the selection of patients for CRT implantation and predicting the response to CRT. Secondly we examine the clinical evidence on avoiding areas of myocardial scar, targeting areas of dyssynchrony and in doing so, achieving the optimal positioning of the left ventricular lead to deliver CRT. Finally, we present the latest clinical studies which are integrating both clinical and imaging data with X-rays during the implantation in order to improve the accuracy of LV lead placement. Expert commentary: Image integration and fusion of datasets with live X-Ray angiography to guide procedures in real time is now a reality for some implanting centers. Such hybrid facilities will enable users to interact with images, allowing measurement, annotation and manipulation with instantaneous visualization on the catheter laboratory monitor. Such advances will serve as an invaluable adjunct for implanting physicians to accurately deliver pacemaker leads into the optimal position to deliver CRT.
A Broadband Absorber With a Resistive Pattern Made of Ink With Graphene Nano-Platelets

A novel type of a broadband flexible electromagnetic absorbing panel made of a resistive pattern printed on a dielectric spacer backed by a conducting surface is investigated in this paper. It is shown that an appropriate choice of the shape and sheet resistance of the pattern allows extending an absorption spectrum up to an octave and beyond, which is very competitive over alternative solutions. The pattern is made of ink with graphene nano-platelets, which allows achieving expected sheet resistance with decent repeatability, what is confirmed with measurements undertaken with the DC point probe and microwave dielectric resonator techniques. An exemplary sample of the proposed absorber is manufactured and characterized, indicating a very good agreement between theoretical study and experiments.
Novel mutation in VCP gene causes atypical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective: To identify the genetic variant that causes autosomal dominantly inherited motor neuron disease in a 4-generation Israeli-Arab family using genetic linkage and whole exome sequencing. Methods: Genetic linkage analysis was performed in this family using Illumina single nucleotide polymorphism chips. Whole exome sequencing was then undertaken on DNA samples from 2 affected family members using an Illumina 2000 HiSeq platform in pursuit of potentially pathogenic genetic variants that comigrate with the disease in this pedigree. Variants meeting these criteria were then screened in all affected individuals. Results: A novel mutation (p.R191G) in the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene was identified in the index family. Direct sequencing of the VCP gene in a panel of DNA from 274 unrelated individuals with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) revealed 5 additional mutations. Among them, 2 were previously identified in pedigrees with a constellation of inclusion body myopathy with Paget disease of the bone and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD) and in FALS, and 2 other mutations (p.R159C and p.R155C) in IBMPFD alone. We did not detect VCP gene mutations in DNA from 178 cases of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Conclusions: We report a novel VCP mutation identified in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis family (p.R191G) with atypical clinical features. In our experience, VCP mutations arise in approximately 1.5% of FALS cases. Our study supports the view that motor neuron disease is part of the clinical spectrum of VCP-associated disease.
Direct Interaction of the Molecular Scaffolds POSH and JIP Is Required for Apoptotic Activation of JNKs*

A sequential pathway (the JNK pathway) that includes activation of Rac1/Cdc42, mixed lineage kinases, MAP kinase kinases 4 and 7, and JNKs plays a required role in many paradigms of apoptotic cell death. However, the means by which this pathway is assembled and directed toward apoptotic death has been unclear. Here, we report that propagation of the apoptotic JNK pathway requires the cooperative interaction of two molecular scaffolds, POSH and JIPs. POSH (plenty of SH3s) is a multidomain GTP-Rac1-interacting protein that binds and promotes activation of mixed lineage kinases. JIPs are reported to bind MAP kinase kinases 4/7 and JNKs. We find that POSH and JIPs directly associate with one another to form a multiprotein complex, PJAC (POSH-JIP apoptotic complex), that includes all of the known kinase components of the pathway. Our observations indicate that this complex is required for JNK activation and cell death in response to apoptotic stimuli.
Laminar shocks in high power laser plasma interactions

We propose a theory to describe laminar ion sound structures in a collisionless plasma. Reflection of a small fraction of the upstream ions converts the well known ion acoustic soliton into a structure with a steep potential gradient upstream and with downstream oscillations. The theory provides a simple interpretation of results dating back more than forty years but, more importantly, is shown to provide an explanation for recent observations on laser produced plasmas relevant to inertial fusion and to ion acceleration.
Quantile Dependence between Foreign Exchange Market and Stock Market: The Case of Korea

This paper examines quantile dependence and directional predictability between the foreign exchange market and the stock market in Korea. Instead of adopting a multivariate model such as a vector autoregressive model, a multivariate GARCH model or a combination of both models, we apply the cross-quantilogram recently proposed by Han et al. (2016). Considering various quantile ranges, we investigate various spillover effects between two markets. Our findings show that there exists an asymmetric bi-directional spillover between two markets and the interdependence between two markets implies that one market has significant predictive power on the other.
Label‐free LC–MS/MS identification of phosphatidylglycerol‐regulated proteins in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

We present a proteomics dataset combining SDS‐PAGE prefractionation and data‐dependent LC–MS/MS that enables the identification of phosphatidylglycerol‐regulated proteins in the pgsA− mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, a cyanobacterium strain that grows with this indispensable phospholipid added exogenously. We searched the acquired raw data against a composite protein sequence database of Synechocystis using MASCOT, and employed Progenesis LC‐MS software for label‐free quantification based on extracted peptide intensities to detect changes in protein abundances upon phospholipid withdrawal. Protein identifications were validated using rigorous criteria, and our analysis of the dataset revealed 80 phosphatidylglycerol‐regulated proteins involved in various cellular processes including photosynthesis, respiration, metabolism, transport, transcription, and translation. The data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000363 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD000363).
Simultaneous characterization of progenitor cell compartments in adult human liver

The human liver is a complex tissue consisting of epithelial, endothelial, hematopoietic, and mesenchymal elements that probably derive from multiple lineage‐committed progenitors, but no comprehensive study aimed at identifying and characterizing intrahepatic precursors has yet been published. Cell suspensions for this study were obtained by enzymatic digestion of liver specimens taken from 20 patients with chronic liver disease and 13 multiorgan donors. Stem and progenitor cells were first isolated, amplified, and characterized ex vivo according to previously validated methods, and then optimized flow cytometry was used to assess their relative frequencies and characterize their immunophenotypes in the clinical specimens. Stem and progenitor cells committed to hematopoietic, endothelial, epithelial, and mesenchymal lineages were clearly identifiable in livers from both healthy and diseased subjects. Within the mononuclear liver cell compartment, epithelial progenitors [epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+/CD49f+/CD29+/CD45−] accounted for 2.7–3.5% whereas hematopoietic (CD34+/CD45+), endothelial [vascular endothelial growth factor‐2 (KDR)+/CD146+/CD45−], and mesenchymal [CD73+/CD105+/CD90 (Thy‐1)+/CD45 −] stem cells and progenitors accounted for smaller fractions (0.02–0.6%). The patients' livers had higher percentages of hematopoietic and endothelial precursors than those of the donors. In conclusion, we identified and characterized precursors committed to four different lineages in adult human liver. We also optimized a flow cytometry approach that will be useful in exploring the contribution of these cells to the pathogenesis of liver disease. © 2009 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Thermodynamics of folding of the RNA pseudoknot of the T4 gene 32 autoregulatory messenger RNA.

Nucleotides U(-67) to C(-40) at the extreme 5' end of the gene 32 mRNA in bacteriophage T4 have been shown to fold into an RNA pseudoknot proposed to be important for translational autoregulation. The thermal denaturation of three in vitro transcribed RNAs corresponding to the pseudoknot region has been investigated as a function of Mg2+ concentration to begin to elucidate the determinants of the structure and stability of this conformation. T4-35 is a 35-nucleotide RNA containing a 5' G followed by the natural T4 sequence starting with the mature 5' end of the mRNA, nucleotides A(-71) to C(-38). A 32-nucleotide RNA, termed T4-32, contains the native sequence form U(-67) to C(40) with 5'GC and 5'CA single-stranded regions appended to the 5' and 3' ends of the core sequence, respectively. T4-28 contains only the 28 core nucleotides, and the predicted closing U(-67)-A(-52) base pair in stem 1 has been replaced with a phylogenetically allowed G(-67)-C(-52) base pair. Ribonuclease mapping of T4-32 and imino proton NMR experiments of T4-35 show that both sequences adopt a pseudoknotted conformation. At pH 6.9 and 50 mM NaCl, T4-35 and T4-32 RNAs are characterized by a single major melting transition over a wide range of [Mg2+] (0-6 mM). The delta H degree of unfolding for T4-35 and T4-32 shows a large dependence on Mg2+ concentration; the maximum delta H degree occurs at about 2.0 mM Mg2+ with further addition of Mg2+ simply increasing the tm. Investigation of the [Mg2+] dependence of the tm suggests that a net of one Mg2+ ion is released upon denaturation of T4-35 and T4-32 RNAs. Over the entire [Mg2+] range, the delta G degree (37 degrees C) for the folding of T4-35 is consistently 1-1.5 kcal mol(-1) more negative than T4-32 due to a higher stabilization enthalpy for the natural sequence molecule. In contrast to this behavior, T4-28 gives consistently higher tm's but less negative enthalpies and is destabilized (at 37 degrees C) by about 0.5-1.5 kcal mol(-1) relative to T4-32 and by about 2-3 kcal mol(-1) relative to T4-35, depending upon cation concentration. (1)H NMR experiments suggest that, even in the presence of 4.0 mM Mg2+, T4-28 RNA does not adopt a stable pseudoknotted conformation. These data show that the stability of the pseudoknot in the gene 32 mRNA encoded by the 28-nucleotide core sequence is significantly influenced by the number and nature of the immediately adjacent "single-stranded" 5' and/or 3' nucleotides appended to the core structure. These findings are discussed within the context of the structural model for the evolutionarily related phage T2 and T6 gene 32 mRNA pseudoknots presented in the following paper [Du, Z. , Giedroc, D. P., & Hoffman, D. W. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 4187-4198].
The Ubiquinone-binding Site in NADH:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase from Escherichia coli*

An azido-ubiquinone derivative, 3-azido-2-methyl-5-methoxy[3H]-6-decyl-1,4-benzoquinone ([3H]azido-Q), was used to study the ubiquinone/protein interaction and to identify the ubiquinone-binding site in Escherichia coli NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). The purified complex I showed no loss of activity after incubation with a 20-fold molar excess of [3H]azido-Q in the dark. Illumination of the incubated sample with long wavelength UV light for 10 min at 0 °C caused a 40% decrease of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity. SDS-PAGE of the complex labeled with [3H]azido-Q followed by analysis of the radioactivity distribution among the subunits revealed that subunit NuoM was heavily labeled, suggesting that this protein houses the Q-binding site. When the [3H]azido-Q-labeled NuoM was purified from the labeled reductase by means of preparative SDS-PAGE, a 3-azido-2-methyl-5-methoxy-6-decyl-1,4-benzoquinone-linked peptide, with a retention time of 41.4 min, was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography of the protease K digest of the labeled subunit. This peptide had a partial NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of NH2-VMLIAILALV-, which corresponds to amino acid residues 184–193 of NuoM. The secondary structure prediction of NuoM using the Toppred hydropathy analysis showed that the Q-binding peptide overlaps with a proposed Q-binding motif located in the middle of the transmembrane helix 5 toward the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Using the PHDhtm hydropathy plot, the labeled peptide is located in the transmembrane helix 4 toward the periplasmic side of the membrane.
Lateral Semicircular Canal Plugging in Severe Ménière's Disease: A Clinical Prospective Study About 28 Patients

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of the plugging of the lateral semicircular canal to control vertigo in severe Ménière's disease (MD). Study Design: Prospective follow-up study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Twenty-eight patients with MD with refractory vertigo and severe disability (functional scale 5 or 6). Interventions: Lateral canal plugging was performed in pathological ear for each patient. Main Outcome Measures: The evaluation of therapy followed the guidelines for diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in MD (1995). Hearing, frequency of vertigo, and functional disability were assessed in the early follow-up (6 mo) for all the patients and in the late follow-up (2 yr) for 16 patients. In addition, the canal paresis was evaluated by caloric test. Results: No vital complication occurred. The hearing was preserved in 82% of cases. Lateral canal plugging induced in all cases a canal paresis that was persistent after 2 years. After 2 years (n = 16), the control of vertigo was complete or substantial in 75% of cases (A1, restoration of a normal life: 62.5%; B2, no functional restriction: 12.5%). Conclusion: Lateral canal plugging is a safe procedure that induces a canal paresis and allows a good control of vertigo. In view of these results, the lateral canal plugging should be a therapeutic option for controlling rotatory vertigo in severe MD.
e-Wallet Properties

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the design of e-wallets. e-wallets are intended to replace the existing physical wallet, with its notes, coins, photos, plastic cards, loyalty cards etc. Four different user groups, including teenagers, young adults, mothers and businessmen, has been involved in process of identifying, developing and evaluating functional and design properties of e-wallets. Interviews and formative usability evaluations have provided data for the construction of first a conceptual model in the form of sketches, and later a functional model in the form of low-fidelity mock-ups. During the design phases, knowledge was gained on what properties the test users would like the mobile wallet to hold. The identified properties have been clustered as 'Functionality properties' and 'Design properties' in two tables, which are theoretical contributions to the ongoing research in mobile wallets.
Improved survival in lymphoma patients receiving sirolimus for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning.

PURPOSE Inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase have shown clinical activity in several lymphoma subtypes. Sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, also has activity in the treatment and prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). We hypothesized that the use of sirolimus for GVHD prophylaxis in patients with lymphoma might lead to improved survival after transplantation through a decreased incidence of disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 190 patients who underwent transplantation for lymphoma. We compared the outcomes of patients who received sirolimus for GVHD prophylaxis with those of patients who received transplantation with a combination of a calcineurin inhibitor and methotrexate without sirolimus. RESULTS Overall survival (OS) after transplantation was significantly superior in the sirolimus group, which was confirmed in multivariable analysis. The benefit was restricted to patients undergoing reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) HSCT (3-year OS, 66% for sirolimus group v 38% for no-sirolimus group; P = .007; hazard ratio [HR] for mortality in multivariable analysis = 0.5, P = .042). Patients who received sirolimus had a similar incidence of nonrelapse mortality but a decreased incidence of disease progression compared with patients who did not receive sirolimus (3-year cumulative incidence of progression, 42% v 74%, respectively; P < .001; HR for progression in multivariable analysis = 0.4, P = .01). The effect of sirolimus persisted after adjusting for the occurrence of GVHD. No such survival advantage was apparent in a similar comparison of patients who underwent transplantation for diseases other than lymphoma. CONCLUSION This study suggests that sirolimus can independently decrease the risk of lymphoma progression after RIC HSCT, paving the way for prospective clinical trials.
Dietary and Supplemental Folate and the Risk of Left- and Right-Sided Colorectal Cancer

Epidemiological evidence suggests that folate may lower the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) although studies have been inconsistent and some have indicated differences in the effects of naturally occurring dietary folate and the synthetic form of this vitamin, folic acid. Most studies to date have considered CRC as a single disease; however, cancers that develop on the left and right sides of the colorectum display important phenotypic differences, suggesting they may also have different risk factors. A population-based case-control study was conducted in Western Australia to examine the relationship between intake of both natural dietary folate and supplements containing folic acid and the risk of left- and right-sided CRC. Data were available for 850 cases (575 left-sided and 275 right-sided) and 958 controls. Odds ratios were calculated using multinomial logistic regression models. There was no association between natural dietary folate intake and risk of either left-or right-sided CRC. Supplement use similarly had no significant effect on right-sided CRC. However, long-term supplement users (4+ yr) were at lower risk of left-sided CRC than those who had not taken supplements (OR = 0.65, 95% CI, 0.50–0.86) and there was a significant trend in risk reduction as duration of use increased (P < 0.01).
Helicobacter pylori gastritis and epithelial cell proliferation in patients with reflux oesophagitis after treatment with lansoprazole

Background—Helicobacter pylorigastritis may spread proximally in the stomach during profound acid inhibition. Aims—To examine histological gastric body changes and epithelial cell proliferation before and after treatment with lansoprazole. Patients and methods—Patients diagnosed as having reflux oesophagitis grade 1 or 2 were enrolled and treated for 12 weeks with lansoprazole (30 mg every morning). After 12 weeks, 103 of the 118 patients appeared endoscopically healed and were asymptomatic; they then received maintenance treatment with 15 or 30 mg lansoprazole daily. Biopsy specimens obtained from similar sites before and after treatment, were available from 90 patients after a median of 64 weeks (range 15–73 weeks). Epithelial cell proliferation was determined by the number of Ki-67 antigen positive cells per gland. Results—Of these 90 patients, 44 (49%) were found to be infected with H pylori. Their median inflammation score had increased from grade 1 before to grade 2 after treatment (p<0.0001). Initially, the number of Ki-67 antigen positive cells per gland was significantly higher in the H pyloriinfected than in the uninfected group and increased further after treatment (p<0.0001). In uninfected patients, no significant change in inflammation or proliferation occurred during treatment. Conclusions—A marked increase in body gastritis was observed in H pylori infected individuals during long term treatment with the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole. Epithelial cell proliferation and atrophy also increased in infected but not in uninfected patients.
Homing commitment of lymphocytes activated in the human gastric and intestinal mucosa

BACKGROUND Gastric infection with the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori results in a large accumulation of IgA and IgM secreting cells in the gastric mucosa. The molecular mechanisms resulting in B cell migration to the gastric mucosa in H pylori infection are however not known. AIMS To examine expression of the mucosal homing receptor integrin α4β7 and the homing receptor for secondary lymphoid tissues, l-selectin, on lymphocytes activated by gastric, intestinal, or systemic antigens. Furthermore, to examine gastric expression of the mucosal addressin cellular adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1), the endothelial counter-receptor to integrin α4β7. SUBJECTS AND METHODS H pylori infected individuals were immunised by either gastric (n=8) or intestinal (n=8) delivery of an inactivated cholera vaccine. The resulting circulating vaccine specific B cells were sorted according to α4β7 and l-selectin expression and assayed for production of IgA and IgG using an enzyme linked immunospot assay. In addition, circulating CD4+ T cells from seven H pylori infected individuals were fractionated according to α4β7 and l-selectin expression. The resulting T cell fractions were then assayed for specific proliferation againstH pylori or the systemic antigen tetanus toxoid. Finally, gastric expression of MAdCAM-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry in H pylori infected (n=16) and uninfected (n=8) individuals. RESULTS Virtually all B cells induced by both gastric and intestinal antigen delivery expressed α4β7 whereas less then half coexpressedl-selectin. Furthermore, H pylori reactive T cells were mainly found in the α4β7+l-selectin+ T cell fraction whereas tetanus specific T cells were largely α4β7−l-selectin+. MAdCAM-1 was present in similar amounts in gastric mucosa fromH pylori infected and uninfected individuals. CONCLUSIONS B cells and T cells activated by antigens delivered to the gastric mucosa express the mucosal homing receptor integrin α4β7, as do cells activated in the intestine. Together with the observation that gastric endothelial cells express MAdCAM-1, this may partly explain the homing of lymphocytes activated in the stomach or in the small intestine to the gastric mucosa.