Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Area at Risk during Coronary Occlusion and Reperfusion by Means of MR Perfusion Imaging

Purpose: Considerable clinical interest has focused on the size of ischemic myocardium. Fast MR imaging in conjunction with MR contrast media has the potential to identify hypoperfused and infarcted myocardium. This study used MR perfusion imaging to detect and quantify reperfused ischemic myocardium during a brief coronary occlusion and reperfusion, and to characterize the spatial extent of ischemic and reperfused ischemic myocardium relative to the “true” size of the area at risk as defined in histochemical morphometry at post mortem. Material and Methods: The left circumflex (LCX) coronary artery in 8 dogs was occluded for 15 min followed by reperfusion in order to produce regional reversible myocardial ischemia. Perivascular Doppler probes were used to measure blood flow in the left anterior descending (LAD) and LCX coronary arteries. Fast inversion recovery-prepared gradient-recalled-echo images were acquired to delineate the ischemic area during occlusion, and the area of reversible ischemic injury at 1 and 30 min of reperfusion. The size of ischemic and reperfused ischemic myocardium were compared with the area at risk as determined by histochemical morphometry at post mortem. Results: During LCX occlusion, LCX flow decreased from 16±1 to 0.2± 0.1 ml/min. On contrast-enhanced images, ischemic myocardium was evident as a zone of relatively low signal intensity (SI) compared to normal myocardium. The size of the ischemic region was significantly smaller (30± 2%) than atpost mortem (36± 3%; p<0.05). Immediately after reperfusion, LCX flow increased to 83±11 ml/min and the contrast medium caused greater enhancement in the reperfused ischemic region than in the normal myocardium (69± 3 vs 42± 3 arbitrary units; p<0.05). The increase in regional SI correlated closely with the increase in regional blood flow (r=0.73). At 1 min of reperfusion, the size of the reperfused ischemic myocardium was larger (48± 3%, p<0.05) than the area at risk measured at post mortem. At 30 min of reperfusion, when the flow returned to baseline values (16± 2 ml/min), contrast bolus produced no differential enhancement between the 2 myocardial territories. Conclusion: MR perfusion imaging has the potential to detect and quantify the size of ischemic myocardium and the region of post-occlusive hyperemia in the early reperfusion period. There is a significant direct linear relationship between the regional contrast enhancement of reperfused ischemic myocardium and the blood flow during post-occlusive hyperemia. The difference in the size of the area at risk at MR perfusion imaging and at histochemical morphometry may reflect an influence of coronary collateral circulation.
Optimal Single Wind Hydro-Pump Storage Bidding in Day-Ahead Markets Including Bilateral Contracts

The present evolution of fuel prices together with the reduction of premiums for renewable energies make it of vital importance to improve renewable production management. This paper proposes a model of a single renewable power producer to compete more efficiently against other generators. The single unit is composed of a wind power producer and a hydro-pump storage power producer. The synergies between both renewable producers make relevant the possibility of mitigating wind power uncertainty, and due to this, the imbalances of the wind power producer will be reduced. The reduction of wind imbalances can come from deviating part of the excess of wind generation through a physical connection toward the pumping system or by increasing hydro generation to mitigate the lack of wind generation. To evaluate the problem, stochastic mixed integer linear programming is proposed to address the problem of selling the energy from the single renewable unit through a bilateral contract and in the day-ahead market, as a new contribution to earlier studies. Furthermore, a balancing market is considered to penalize the imbalances. The decision is made to maximize the profit, considering risk-hedging through the Conditional Value at Risk. The model is tested and analyzed for a case study and relevant conclusions are presented.
Considering power plants mothballing in long-term simulation models for liberalized power markets

This paper proposes a methodology for modeling mothballing decisions in order to better study the different strategies adopted by power plants owners and their impact on power systems (in particular generation adequacy). A system dynamic approach is adopted to build a model which represents investment, mothballing and shutdown decisions in an energy-only market. The results obtained with the proposed modelling methodology highlight the importance of considering mothballing in long term simulation models of power markets. They show how models which neglect mothballing decisions might overestimate or underestimated the level of available capacity, therefore leading to inappropriate policy choices. The proposed methodology could better inform policymakers on their decisions.
Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs): a gene family of novel cancer biomarkers

Abstract Early diagnosis of cancer and early detection of relapse following surgery are critical for the effective treatment of the disease and for a positive clinical outcome. Identification of novel diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers will contribute utmost to clinical decision-making. The human tissue kallikrein and kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs), encoded by the largest contiguous cluster of protease genes in the human genome, are secreted serine proteases with diverse expression patterns and physiological roles. The aberrant expression of KLKs in various malignancies as well as their involvement in many cancer-related processes, such as cell growth regulation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis, has prompted scientists to investigate their potential as cancer biomarkers. Expression of distinct KLKs is associated with clinicopathological parameters of cancer patients. Moreover, several KLKs possess significant favorable or unfavorable prognostic value in various malignancies, with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) being the most widely used biomarker in clinical practice, today. KLKs are also considered as very promising biomarkers for cancer personalized medicine, especially for prediction and monitoring of patients’ response to chemotherapy, therefore opening up new horizons towards effective patient monitoring post-treatment. This review describes the current status of KLKs as tumor biomarkers.
Has the disability discrimination act closed the employment gap?

Study objective. To investigate whether the disparity in employment rates between people with a limiting long-term illness or disability and those without has decreased since the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act in the UK. Design. National cross-sectional data on employment rates for people with and without a limiting long-term illness or disability were obtained from the General Household Survey for a twelve-year period (1990 – 2002; 10 surveys). Representative population samples were analysed. The sample size for the GHS over the study period ranged from 19193 to 24657 and the average response rate ranged from 72% to 82%. Main outcome measure. The relative employment rates of men and women of working age (18 – 60/65 years). Compares people with a limiting long-term illness or disability (‘disabled’) with people with no limiting long-term illness or disability (‘not disabled’). Results. Age standardised employment rates remained relatively stable from 1990 to 2001 for people defined as ‘not disabled’. However, the employment rates of people defined as ‘disabled’ have decreased since 1990, and were at their lowest following the implementation of the employment aspects of the DDA in 1996 (1998 – 2002). In addition the gap between the employment rates of people defined as ‘disabled’ and ‘not disabled’ was most marked after the DDA between 1998 – 2002 (p < 0.05). Conclusions. This appraisal of routine population data pre- and post- the Disability Discrimination Act indicates that the legislation may not have been effective in closing the employment gap that exists in the UK between people with a limiting long-term illness or disability and those without.
Validation of Ionospheric Spatial Decorrelation Observed During Equatorial Plasma Bubble Events

A postprocessing methodology is developed to validate abnormal ionospheric spatial decorrelation observed during the equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) events. While the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) remote sensing techniques have been used to measure the ionospheric gradients, the measurements can be easily corrupted during the ionospheric disturbances. Extremely large ionospheric gradients are required to be validated before being declared real ionospheric events as opposed to the artifacts of erroneous measurements. The use of existing methods is however limited due to the small size of EPBs compared with the baseline distances between GNSS network stations in equatorial regions. This paper proposes a new validation procedure which utilizes a time-step method to estimate gradients over any short distance. Equatorial anomaly events are visualized in multiple time series by combining all available sources, including severe gradients observed from the multiple widely spread stations, the estimated EPB and known satellite motions, and the known station locations. A similar ionospheric pattern over multiple station-satellite pairs supports the fact that they are impacted by the same EPB at different times and locations. An extreme ionospheric gradient of 3.09 TECU/km observed in the Brazilian region during the December 31, 2013 EPB event is validated to be real using this methodology. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology for validating EPB-induced ionospheric spatial decorrelation.
Soy Protein Isolate Reduces Hepatosteatosis in Yellow Avy/a Mice Without Altering Coat Color Phenotype

Agouti (A vy /a) mice fed an AIN-93G diet containing the soy isoflavone genistein (GEN) prior to and during pregnancy were reported to shift coat color and body composition phenotypes from obese-yellow towards lean pseudoagouti, suggesting epigenetic programming. Human consumption of purified GEN is rare and soy protein is the primary source of GEN. Virgin a/a female and Avy/a male mice were fed AIN-93G diets made with casein (CAS) or soy protein isolate (SPI) (the same approximate GEN levels as in the above mentioned study) for 2 wks prior to mating. A vy /a offspring were weaned to the same diets and studied at age 75 d. Coat color distribution did not differ among diets, but SPI-fed, obese A vy /a offspring had lower hepatosteatosis (P < 0.05) and increased (P < 0.05) expression of CYP4a 14, a PPARα-regulated gene compared to CAS controls. Similarly, weanling male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed SPI had elevated hepatic Acyl Co-A Oxidase (ACO) mRNA levels and increased in vitro binding of PPARα to the PPRE promoter response element. In another hepatosteatosis model, adult SD rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet, SPI reduced (P < 0.05) steatosis. Thus, 1) consumption of diets made with SPI partially protected against hepatosteatosis in yellow mice and in SD rats, and this may involve induction of PPARα-regulated genes; and 2) the lifetime (in utero, neonatal and adult) exposure to dietary soy protein did not result in a shift in coat color phenotype of A vy /a mice. These findings, when compared with those of previously published studies of A vy /a mice, lead us to conclude that: 1) the effects of purified GEN differ from those of SPI when GEN equivalents are closely matched; 2) SPI does not epigenetically regulate the agouti locus to shift the coat color phenotype in the same fashion as GEN alone; and 3) SPI may be beneficial in management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Inverse relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and visceral fat area in Chinese men.

OBJECTIVE The relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and body fat distribution remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum osteocalcin levels and visceral fat area (VFA) in Chinese men. DESIGN Total serum osteocalcin levels were measured in 1768 Chinese men (22-75 yr old) by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. VFA was quantified via magnetic resonance imaging. Correlation analyses were carried out for serum osteocalcin levels and clinical parameters. Subgroup analysis was carried out to confirm the correlations using subjects with normal glucose tolerance and normal body mass index chosen from the entire study population. RESULTS Increased serum osteocalcin levels were accompanied by a decreasing trend in all anthropometric indices of obesity, systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin resistance index, triglycerides, free fatty acid, and C-reactive protein levels (all P < 0.05). The 50-75th (osteocalcin level: 16.18-19.88 ng/ml) and 75th (≥19.89 ng/ml) percentile groups had lower VFA than the 25th (≤13.11 ng/ml) and 25-50th (13.12-16.17 ng/ml) percentile groups (96.0 ± 44.4 and 89.8 ± 44.4 cm(2) vs. 108.1 ± 41.9 and 102.9 ± 44.9 cm(2), P < 0.05). A decreasing trend in serum osteocalcin levels was found to accompany the increase in VFA. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that VFA, as an independent factor, was inversely associated with serum osteocalcin levels both in the entire study population and subgroup population (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Serum osteocalcin levels were inversely correlated with VFA in Chinese men.
Increased expression of the pro‐inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase‐2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Mutations in the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (mSOD1) gene are associated with a familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and their expression in transgenic mice produces an ALS‐like syndrome. Recent observations suggest a role for inflammatory‐related events in the progression and propagation of the neurodegenerative process in ALS. Consistent with this view, the present study demonstrates that, during the course of the disease, the expression of cyclooxygenase type 2 (Cox‐2), a key enzyme in the synthesis of prostanoids, which are potent mediators of inflammation, is dramatically increased. In both early symptomatic and end‐stage transgenic mSOD1 mice, neurons and, to a lesser extent, glial cells in the anterior horn of the spinal cord exhibit robust Cox‐2 immunoreactivity. Cox‐2 mRNA and protein levels and catalytic activity are also significantly increased in the spinal cord of the transgenic mSOD1 mice. The time course of the spinal cord Cox‐2 upregulation parallels that of motor neuronal loss in transgenic mSOD1 mice. We also show that Cox‐2 activity is dramatically increased in postmortem spinal cord samples from sporadic ALS patients. We speculate that Cox‐2 upregulation, through its pivotal role in inflammation, is instrumental in the ALS neurodegenerative process and that Cox‐2 inhibition may be a valuable therapeutic avenue for the treatment of ALS. Ann Neurol 2001;49:176–185
Diagnostic value of JAK2 V617F somatic mutation for myeloproliferative cancer in 49 488 individuals from the general population

The JAK2 V617F somatic mutation is present in the majority of patients with myeloproliferative cancer (polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocytosis, and primary myelofibrosis). However, the diagnostic value of the JAK2 V617F somatic mutation for myeloproliferative cancer in the general population is unknown. We examined this question in 49 488 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study. We also examined the association between JAK2 V617F somatic mutation, rs10974944 germline genotype, haematological phenotype, any cancer, haematological cancer, myeloproliferative cancer, ischaemic heart disease, and venous thromboembolism. The JAK2 V617F somatic mutation was present in 0·1% (n = 68), increasing across rs10974944 germline genotypes (P‐trend = 0·001). JAK2 V617F somatic mutation positives versus negatives had higher erythrocyte (P = 2 × 10−5), thrombocyte (P = 2 × 10−16), and leucocyte (P = 4 × 10−9) counts, and had 2·7‐/2·5‐fold risk of cancer (prevalent/incident), 44‐/28‐fold risk of haematological cancer, 221‐/97‐fold risk of myeloproliferative cancer, 2·2‐/1·2‐fold risk of ischaemic heart disease, and 3·1‐/1·0‐fold risk of venous thromboembolism. By combining conventional haematological parameters with a test for the JAK2 V617F somatic mutation, myelo;? >proliferative cancer could be identified or ruled out with a sensitivity of 47–100% and a specificity of 98–100%. In conclusion, in the general population the JAK2 V617F somatic mutation has a high diagnostic value for myeloproliferative cancer when combined with conventional haematological parameters.
Intraoperative Computed Tomography for Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery: Technique and Accuracy Assessment

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) is highly dependent on the accuracy of lead placement. OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) to confirm lead location before surgical closure and to study the accuracy of this technique. METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent awake microelectrode-guided DBS surgery in a stereotactic frame. A portable iCT scanner (Medtronic O-arm) was positioned around the patient's head throughout the procedure and was used to confirm lead location before fixation of the lead to the skull. Images were computationally fused with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lead tip coordinates with respect to the midpoint of the anterior commissure-posterior commissure line were measured. Tip coordinates were compared with those obtained from postoperative MRI. RESULTS: iCT was integrated into standard frame-based microelectrode-guided DBS surgery with a minimal increase in surgical time or complexity. Technically adequate 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images were obtained in all cases. Head positioning and fixation techniques that allow unobstructed imaging are described. Lead tip measurements on iCT fused with preoperative MRI were statistically indistinguishable from those obtained with postoperative MRI. CONCLUSION: iCT can be easily incorporated into standard DBS surgery, replaces the need for C-arm fluoroscopy, and provides accurate intraoperative 3-dimensional confirmation of electrode tip locations relative to preoperative images and surgical plans. iCT fused to preoperative MRI may obviate the need for routine postoperative MRI in DBS surgery. Technical nuances that must be mastered for the efficient use of iCT during DBS implantation are described.
31P and 13C solid‐state NMR spectroscopy to study collagen synthesis and biomineralization in polymer‐based bone implants

A combination of solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and MRI was used to evaluate the formation of extracellular matrix in poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) bone implants. Porous PLGA scaffolds were implanted into rat tibiae and analysed after 2, 4 or 8 weeks. MRI clearly delineated the implants within the cancellous bone. Differences in the trabecular structure of the implanted material and native bone were demonstrated. In addition, implants were analyzed by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy under magic angle spinning. 13C NMR spectra showed the unambiguous signature of collagen formed in the scaffolds, but also the characteristic signals of the PLGA matrix, indicating that resorption was not complete after 8 weeks. Furthermore, 31P NMR spectroscopy detected the inorganic component of the matrix, which is composed of bioapatite. 31P NMR spectra were quantified and this analysis revealed that the amount of inorganic extracellular matrix formed de novo was significantly lower than in native bone. This demonstrates that solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, in particular in combination with MRI, can provide useful information on the composition and structure of the extracellular matrix, and serve as a tool to evaluate the quality of tissue engineering strategies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Megakaryocyte‐Osteoblast Interaction Revealed in Mice Deficient in Transcription Factors GATA‐1 and NF‐E2

Mice deficient in GATA‐1 or NF‐E2 have a 200–300% increase in bone volume and formation parameters. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts generated in vitro from mutant and control animals were similar in number and function. Osteoblast proliferation increased up to 6‐fold when cultured with megakaryocytes. A megakaryocyte‐osteoblast interaction plays a role in the increased bone formation in these mice.
Effects of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists applied into the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei of spontaneously hypertensive rats on urine production.

We investigated effects of beta-adrenoceptor agonists (beta 1-selective: T-1583 and dobutamine, beta 2-selective: fenoterol, non-selective: isoproterenol) on urine outflow rate, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature. The drugs were applied into the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar rats. Fenoterol and isoproterenol markedly decreased the urine outflow rate, compared with T-1583 and dobutamine in the rats. There was no marked difference among the three strains in responsiveness to fenoterol and isoproterenol. The antidiuretic effects of fenoterol were inhibited by a beta 2-selective antagonist, butoxamine, more markedly than a beta 1-selective antagonist, atenolol, in SHR; and the inhibitory effects of these drugs were partial in WKY. In Wistar rats, the effect of fenoterol was inhibited by a non-selective beta-antagonist, timolol, but not by atenolol or butoxamine. A vasopressin antagonist (i.v.) did not diminish the antidiuretic effect of fenoterol. Fenoterol reduced the blood pressure in SHR and WKY, but not in Wistar rats. It was suggested that there were predominantly beta 2-adrenoceptors mediating antidiuresis in SHR. In WKY and Wistar rats, however, the beta-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating antidiuresis have yet to be determined. The ability of beta-adrenoceptor agonists to decrease urine outflow rates in SHR was not altered as compared to that in the control rats. beta-Adrenoceptor-mediated antidiuresis was not due to vasopressin release.