Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein L1 Gene Variants in Deceased Organ Donors Are Associated With Renal Allograft Failure

Apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) nephropathy variants in African American deceased kidney donors were associated with shorter renal allograft survival in a prior single‐center report. APOL1 G1 and G2 variants were genotyped in newly accrued DNA samples from African American deceased donors of kidneys recovered and/or transplanted in Alabama and North Carolina. APOL1 genotypes and allograft outcomes in subsequent transplants from 55 U.S. centers were linked, adjusting for age, sex and race/ethnicity of recipients, HLA match, cold ischemia time, panel reactive antibody levels, and donor type. For 221 transplantations from kidneys recovered in Alabama, there was a statistical trend toward shorter allograft survival in recipients of two‐APOL1‐nephropathy‐variant kidneys (hazard ratio [HR] 2.71; p = 0.06). For all 675 kidneys transplanted from donors at both centers, APOL1 genotype (HR 2.26; p = 0.001) and African American recipient race/ethnicity (HR 1.60; p = 0.03) were associated with allograft failure. Kidneys from African American deceased donors with two APOL1 nephropathy variants reproducibly associate with higher risk for allograft failure after transplantation. These findings warrant consideration of rapidly genotyping deceased African American kidney donors for APOL1 risk variants at organ recovery and incorporation of results into allocation and informed‐consent processes.
Receptor interacting protein-2 contributes to host defense against Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection.

The Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), an emerging tick-borne infectious disease occurring worldwide. HGA is generally self-limiting; however, the underlying mechanisms, particularly the innate immune pathways that mediate the immune clearance of A. phagocytophilum, are less understood. We herein report an unexpected role for Receptor interacting protein-2 (Rip2), the adaptor protein for the Nod-like receptors (NLRs), Nod1/Nod2, in the host immune response against A. phagocytophilum infection. Although A. phagocytophilum genome is reported to lack the genes encoding the known ligands of Nod1 and Nod2, its infection upregulated the transcription of Rip2 in human primary neutrophils. Our results revealed that Rip2-deficient mice had significantly higher bacterial load than wild-type controls throughout the infection period. In addition, the Rip2-deficient mice took strikingly longer duration to clear A. phagocytophilum infection. Detailed analysis identified that interferon gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-18 but not IL-12, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and KC response were diminished in A. phagocytophilum-challenged Rip2-deficient mice. Together, these results revealed that Rip2 plays important roles in the immune control of A. phagocytophilum and may contribute to our understanding of the host response to Rickettsiales.
Agent based Particle Swarm Optimization for load frequency control of distribution grid

This paper presents a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based on multi-agent controller. Real-time digital simulator (RTDS) is used for modelling the power system, while a PSO based multi-agent LFC algorithm is developed in JAVA for communicating with resource agents and determines the scenario to stabilize the frequency and voltage after the system enters into the islanding operation mode. The proposed algorithm is based on the formulation of an optimization problem using agent based PSO. The modified IEEE 9-bus system is employed to illustrate the performance of the proposed controller via RTDS to verify its practical efficacy. Case studies are presented under different operating conditions.
Impact of environmental and social factors on genotypic and phenotypic diversity of some local Sudanese sheep breeds

This mini review aimed to discuss and compare the findings of a genotypic study done by Gor-nas et al., 2011 and some environmental and social factors discussed previously in Sudan. The main conclusion was the agreement of the genotypic analysis with the previous observations done on the phenotypic part. The important recommendation was to support the nomadic system so as to preserve the biodiversity of livestock in Sudan.
Specificity of In Vivo Tumor Rejection Assessed by Mixing Immune Spleen Cells with Target and Unrelated Tumor Cells 1 2

Summary When myelomonocytic leukemia cells were admixed to spleen cells immune to a fibrosarcoma and the fibrosarcoma target cells, the growth of the leukemic cells was not inhibited. This was demonstrated in in vivo adoptive transfer experiments involving syngeneic animals. It was also shown that T cells are essential for the transfer of immunity to the fibrosarcoma. The results demonstrate that tumor cell rejection was a completely immunologically specific process. The authors thank Drs. Harris, Metcalf, and Szenberg for their interest in the work, and Misses P. Bell and G. Cousins for their excellent technical assistance.
PKC412 normalizes mutation‐related keratin filament disruption and hepatic injury in mice by promoting keratin–myosin binding

Keratins, among other cytoskeletal intermediate filament proteins, are mutated at a highly conserved arginine with consequent severe disease phenotypes due to disruption of keratin filament organization. We screened a kinase inhibitor library, using A549 cells that are transduced with a lentivirus keratin 18 (K18) construct, to identify compounds that normalize filament disruption due to K18 Arg90Cys mutation at the conserved arginine. High‐throughput screening showed that PKC412, a multikinase inhibitor, ameliorated K18 Arg90Cys‐mediated keratin filament disruption in cells and in the livers of previously described transgenic mice that overexpress K18 Arg90Cys. Furthermore, PKC412 protected cultured A549 cells that express mutant or wild‐type K18 and mouse livers of the K18 Arg90Cys‐overexpressing transgenic mice from Fas‐induced apoptosis. Proteomic analysis of proteins that associated with keratins after exposure of K18‐expressing A549 cells to PKC412 showed that nonmuscle myosin heavy chain‐IIA (NMHC‐IIA) partitions with the keratin fraction. The nonmuscle myosin‐IIA (NM‐IIA) association with keratins was confirmed by immune staining and by coimmunoprecipitation. The keratin–myosin association is myosin dephosphorylation–dependent; occurs with K8, the obligate K18 partner; is enhanced by PKC412 in cells and mouse liver; and is blocked by hyperphosphorylation conditions in cultured cells and mouse liver. Furthermore, NMHC‐IIA knockdown inhibits PKC412‐mediated normalization of K18 R90C filaments. Conclusion: The inhibitor PKC412 normalizes K18 Arg90Cys mutation‐induced filament disruption and disorganization by enhancing keratin association with NM‐IIA in a myosin dephosphorylation–regulated manner. Targeting of intermediate filament disorganization by compounds that alter keratin interaction with their associated proteins offers a potential novel therapeutic approach for keratin and possibly other intermediate filament protein–associated diseases. (Hepatology 2015;62:1858–1869)
Health Behavior in Hypochondriasis

Abstract The relationship between health behavior and hypochondriasis has not yet been sufficiently examined, as previous studies investigated only individual dimensions of health behavior. In the present study, we extend current literature by examining multiple dimensions of health behavior. One hundred twenty-six participants, consisting of 40 participants with a primary diagnosis of hypochondriasis, 41 participants with a primary diagnosis of anxiety disorder, and 45 healthy controls, completed a multidimensional questionnaire for the assessment of health behavior and other measures for the evaluation of general psychopathology, illness anxiety, depression, and general anxiety. Patients with hypochondriasis revealed a less active way of life (d = 0.89) and lower hygiene (d = 0.60) than healthy controls, but did not differ from healthy controls regarding their compliance to medical recommendations. No differences were found in substance avoidance, security orientation, and diet. Hypochondriasis-specific behavior should be monitored in the treatment of the disorder.
4xVDD ASK demodulator using standard 3.3 V CMOS device for implantable biomedical micro-stimulator

This paper proposes a 4xVDD ASK demodulator using standard 3.3 V device in 0.35 μm CMOS process for the implantable biomedical micro-stimulator. Traditional implantable biomedical ASK demodulator receives the ASK modulated signal with the maximum voltage of 6 V such that it needs a step-down circuit in the system. On the other hand, in order to drive the high-impedance nerve and micro-electrode, a DC-DC converter and the HV process are required to boost the voltage to be larger than 10 V. By using the rectifier with cascoded diode-connected NMOS transistors, the proposed 4xVDD ASK demodulator can receive the ASK modulated signal with the maximum voltage of 14 V. Thus, it discards the step-down circuit, the boost circuit and HV process in the system. The maximum data rate is simulated to be 1.25 Mbps with the carrier frequency of 12.5 MHz. The core area is 109.515 × 56.925 μm2.
Flagellar filament structure and cell motility of Salmonella typhimurium mutants lacking part of the outer domain of flagellin

We have isolated spontaneous mutants of Salmonella typhimurium which can swim in the presence of antifilament antibodies. The molecular masses of flagellins isolated from these mutants were smaller than that (52 kDa) of wild-type flagellin. Two mutants which produced the smallest flagellins (42 and 41 kDa) were selected, and the domain structures of the flagellins were analyzed by trypsin digestion and then subjected to amino acid sequencing. The two flagellins have deletions at Ala-204 to Lys-292 and Thr-183 to Lys-279, respectively. These deleted parts belong to the outer domain (D3) of flagellin, which is believed to be at the surface of the filament. These mutant filaments aggregated side by side in the presence of salt, resulting in disordered motility.
Sample size calculations for comparative studies of medical tests for detecting presence of disease

Technologic advances give rise to new tests for detecting disease in many fields, including cancer and sexually transmitted disease. Before a new disease screening test is approved for public use, its accuracy should be shown to be better than or at least not inferior to an existing test. Standards do not yet exist for designing and analysing studies to address this issue. Established principles for the design of therapeutic studies can be adapted for studies of screening tests. In particular, drawing upon methods for superiority and non‐inferiority studies of therapeutic agents, we propose that confidence intervals for the relative accuracy of dichotomous tests drive the design of comparative studies of disease screening tests. We derive sample size formulae for a variety of designs, including studies where patients undergo several tests and studies where patients receive only one of the tests under evaluation. Both cohort and case‐control study designs are considered. Modifications to the confidence intervals and sample size formulae are discussed to accommodate studies where, because of the invasive nature of definitive testing, true disease status can only be obtained for subjects who are positive on one or more of the screening tests. The methods proposed are applied to a study comparing a modified pap test to the conventional pap for cervical cancer screening. The impact of error in the gold standard reference test on the design and evaluation of comparative screening test studies is also discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social Predictors of Case Syncretism in New York Hasidic Yiddish

This is a pilot study investigating synchronic variation in New York Hasidic Yiddish (HY) object pronouns. HY is a variety that has been transmitted directly by immigrants from Eastern Europe following the second world war and is presently the everyday language of thousands of Hasidic Jews in New York and other communities around the world. In Yiddish, pronominal forms in the dative case, 'mir' (1SG) 'dir' (2SG), have historically been used in four types of syntactic constructions: 1) when the pronoun referent is the recipient of an action in a double object construction; 2) with a transitive verb that inherently selects for an object in the dative form; 3) with a dative experiencer; and 4) as the object of a preposition. Anecdotal observations suggest an innovative leveled paradigm with accusative forms 'mikh' (1SG) and 'dikh' (2SG) in all four historically dative positions. Moreover, while other Yiddish dialects have dative case marking on definite articles and attributive adjectives, spoken HY has largely lost these. With 'mir' and 'dir' as the sole remaining dative forms in in the pronominal paradigm, learners of HY have less evidence for positing dative case than do learners of other dialects. The data for this study come from an online controlled judgement experiment with 113 native HY speakers from New York. Regression analysis reveals an age effect, with younger speakers tending toward innovative dative forms, and an interaction between age and gender, with younger females innovating more extensively than males. However, sex is confounded with language dominance in this community, largely because of an educational model that supports HY-English bilingualism among girls but gives primacy to HY in the education of boys. The model also selects speakers from Hasidic neighborhoods in Rockland County as the most likely innovators. Overall, the results of this study suggest an emergent reduction in the HY case system where, for some young speakers, the distinction between the accusative and dative case forms has been lost. HY offers linguists a unique opportunity to observe the development of a post-coterritorial Yiddish dialect in a new language contact environment. This investigation into HY in its unique sociocultural context contributes to Yiddish linguistics by highlighting changes that have occurred since its arrival to the US and to general theories of language change by identifying the social factors that may be playing a role in these developments. This working paper is available in University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics: https://repository.upenn. edu/pwpl/vol24/iss2/11
Building a medical home around the patient: what it means for behavior.

A great deal has already been written on "patient-centered health care. " This article aims to organize and make readily visible some of that work in context of the "patient-centered medical home" (PCMH). Patient-centered provider and patient behaviors are both required if PCMH is to become a successful innovation in practice. These behaviors are shown together on one page as dimensions of patient centeredness. A medical home that achieves patient-centered results will require different behaviors and attitudes from both patients and providers.
Dealing with short-term fluctuation in longitudinal research.

OBJECTIVES Many analytical methods are not very sensitive to change because of the difficulty of distinguishing short-term fluctuation from the developmental change of primary interest. The current project investigated one possible solution to this problem in the form of a measurement-burst design in which research participants perform several versions of each test at each measurement occasion. METHODS Over 1,200 adults across a wide-age range performed different versions of cognitive tests on several sessions at each measurement occasion. RESULTS Four methods of incorporating short-term variability were compared with respect to the magnitude of the correlations of the ability measures with each other and with respect to the magnitude of their relations with age. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that more sensitive assessments of change can be obtained by taking short-term fluctuation into account with measurement-burst designs. In particular, capitalizing on the availability of multiple measures at each occasion to form latent constructs representing the level and change in cognitive performance may provide the most sensitive assessment of cognitive change.
Inter‐ and intra‐person cytomegalovirus infection in Malawian families

Sequence polymorphisms in the gN and gO genes of cytomegalovirus (CMV) amplified from mouth rinse and urine samples of 19 Malawian patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and 58 of their first‐degree relatives were investigated. CMV‐DNA was amplified from 41 people (53%) from either the gN or gO region in at least one sample, from 14 people (18%) in both domains in at least one sample, and from 13 (17%) in either domain in both samples. Twenty‐one (51%) were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV). Identical gN sequences were recovered from eight families and non‐identical sequences in six, while identical gO sequences were found in three families and non‐identical sequences in five. Five people, four of whom were children, each carried multitypic gN sequences or gO sequences. The findings are consistent with CMV spread along intra‐ and extra‐household routes, and with multiple intra‐host CMV infection. J. Med. Virol. 75:575–582, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Performance Analysis of Hybrid Network of Indian Traction Power System Using Renewable Energy Sources

Indian Railways have been using electric traction based on DC locomotive motor drives supplied by 25kV. A single phase AC supply rectified by a half control rectifier converter. This system mainly deal with high power and high voltage supply, due to which power quality is major concern, so due to continuously increasing load demand day by day this system can be interfaced with any other source. Nowadays with the limited availability of conventional source and pollution due to burning of fossil fuel, we can use renewable energy sources use as their alternative. In this paper this novel control strategy is shown in which the renewable energy source is interfaced with TPSS. The Wind Energy system is synchronized with the grid and this grid network supplies power to the locomotive loads connected to the traction line fed by their substation. The behavior of Traction power supply system has been analyzed using simulation and experimental test carried out on a developed hybrid system of Renewable energy source and traction to check the performance parameter of both systems. This paper reviews the benefits, constraints of developed configuration.
Embedding-based Representation of Categorical Data by Hierarchical Value Coupling Learning

Learning the representation of categorical data with hierarchical value coupling relationships is very challenging but critical for the effective analysis and learning of such data. This paper proposes a novel coupled unsupervised categorical data representation (CURE) framework and its instantiation, i.e., a coupled data embedding (CDE) method, for representing categorical data by hierarchical value-to-value cluster coupling learning. Unlike existing embedding- and similarity-based representation methods which can capture only a part or none of these complex couplings, CDE explicitly incorporates the hierarchical couplings into its embedding representation. CDE first learns two complementary feature value couplings which are then used to cluster values with different granularities. It further models the couplings in value clusters within the same granularity and with different granularities to embed feature values into a new numerical space with independent dimensions. Substantial experiments show that CDE significantly outperforms three popular unsupervised embedding methods and three state-of-the-art similarity-based representation methods.
Involvement of high mobility group box 1 and the therapeutic effect of recombinant thrombomodulin in a mouse model of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is accompanied by severe lung inflammation induced by various diseases. Despite the severity of the symptoms, therapeutic strategies have been ineffective. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), which was identified originally as a DNA binding protein, has been proposed as a mediator of acute lung injury. In addition to its anti‐coagulant activity, recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) possesses an ability to suppress the inflammatory response through neutralizing HMGB1. T regulatory (Treg) cells in the lungs are reported to modify innate immune responses during resolution of acute lung injury. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of rTM, and the contribution of Treg cells to this effect, in a mouse model of severe ARDS. C57BL/6 mice received sequential intratracheal administration of α‐galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which resulted in the development of severe ARDS. HMGB1 levels in the lungs increased to a higher level in ARDS mice compared to those in mice treated with LPS alone. HMGB1 was expressed in the infiltrating neutrophils and macrophages in lungs. Treg cells were reduced significantly in the lungs of ARDS mice compared to those in mice treated with LPS alone. rTM administration prolonged the survival time and ameliorated the development of ARDS, which was associated with increased Treg cells and synthesis of interleukin (IL)‐10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β in the lungs. These results suggest that HMGB1 is involved in the development of severe ARDS and rTM shows therapeutic effects through promoting the accumulation of Treg cells at the inflammatory sites.
Multiple Streptococcus mutans Genes Are Involved in Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT Streptococcus mutans has been strongly implicated as the principal etiological agent in dental caries. One of the important virulence properties of these organisms is their ability to form biofilms known as dental plaque on tooth surfaces. Since the roles of sucrose and glucosyltransferases in S. mutans biofilm formation have been well documented, we focused our attention on sucrose-independent factors. We have initially identified several mutants that appear to be defective in biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces by an insertional inactivation mutagenesis strategy applied to S. mutans. A total of 27 biofilm-defective mutants were isolated and analyzed in this study. From these mutants, three genes were identified. One of the mutants was defective in the Bacillus subtilis lytR homologue. Another of the biofilm-defective mutants isolated was a yulF homologue, which encodes a hypothetical protein of B. subtilis whose function in biofilm formation is unknown. The vast majority of the mutants were defective in the comB gene required for competence. We therefore have constructed and examined comACDE null mutants. These mutants were also found to be attenuated in biofilm formation. Biofilm formation by several other regulatory gene mutants were also characterized using an in vitro biofilm-forming assay. These results suggest that competence genes as well as the sgp and dgk genes may play important roles in S. mutans biofilm formation.