Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypocupremia associated cytopenia and myelopathy: a national retrospective review

Copper is an essential trace element that is involved in a number of important enzymatic processes throughout the body. Recent single case reports and small studies have shown that deficiency of copper can cause reversible haematological changes and irreversible neurological injury. We chose to undertake a national study, looking at all cases of copper deficiency in Scotland over a 5‐yr period using information from a national reference laboratory. From 16 identified patients, we determined that 86% had both haematological and neurological features of copper deficiency, while 18% had haematological features only at presentation. Twelve of the sixteen patients had high serum zinc concentrations (>18 μm/L) nine patients were using zinc‐containing dental fixatives at time of diagnosis. 94% of patients had haematological features as an initial manifestation of copper deficiency, which included anaemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Patients who underwent later bone marrow testing had appearances in keeping with refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia, refractory anaemia with excess of blasts, unclassified marrow dysplasia or probable myelodysplasia (MDS). 75% of patients had neurological symptoms or signs, including progressive walking difficulties and paraesthesia, or gait difficulties without sensory signs. Clinical examination was in keeping with spastic paraparesis (either with or without sensory neuropathy). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multifocal T2 hyper intense foci in the subcortical white matter, and atrophy of the cerebrum and cerebellum was also seen on computerised tomography (CT). MRI of the spinal cord showed signal change in the dorsal columns in either the cervical or thoracic cord. 93% of cytopenias responded to copper replacement and addressing the original cause of the copper deficiency, but only 25% of patients had improvement in their neurological function, while 33% deteriorated and 42% remained unchanged. Our study demonstrates that copper deficiency is an under‐recognised cause of several types of cytopenia, which are reversible but can progress to significant neurological injury if left untreated. We illustrate the importance of identifying these patients early to prevent irreversible neurological injury.
Optimal uniformity index selection and acquisition counts for daily gamma camera quality control

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to investigate the optimized use of common uniformity indices [National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (NEMA) indices (differential and integral), Cox–Diffey and the coefficient of variation (CoV)]. MethodsThe indices were calculated for induced [localized two-dimensional (2D) Gaussian and gradient] artefacts added to three image sets (5, 10 and 15 million counts), each containing 25 extrinsic images, using Matlab. The intensity of the induced artefacts was varied between a 1 and 10% drop in pixel counts. The induced artefacts simulated photomultiplier tube [10 cm full width at half maximum (FWHM)], smaller focused artefacts (2.5 cm FWHM) and gradients artefacts. ResultsFor five million count acquisitions, the Cox–Diffey, CoV and NEMA integral indices detected the 6% 2D Gaussian artefacts [10 cm full-width at half-maximum (FWHM)], whereas the NEMA differential index performed relatively poorly. NEMA differential and integral indices performed equally well at detecting smaller 2D Guassian (2.5 cm FWHM) artefacts. The 10% artefact was the minimum artefact detected by both indices for five million count acquisitions. The Cox–Diffey and CoV indices did not detect any artefacts for five million acquired counts. The CoV index performed best at detecting gradient artefacts at five million acquired counts. ConclusionThis work provides evidence that daily quality control can be acquired with as few as five million counts while maintaining the same ability to detect both chronic and acute nonuniformities compared with higher count acquisitions. A combination of the NEMA integral and the CoV indices gives the optimal selection of uniformity indices for detecting a range of artefact forms and intensities.
A Proteinase from Germinated Barley : II. Hydrolytic Specificity of a 30 Kilodalton Cysteine Proteinase From Green Malt.

The hydrolytic specificity of a 30 kilodalton cysteine proteinase purified from germinated barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Morex) was investigated using high performance liquid chromatography to characterize its hydrolysis of two small barley seed proteins, the alpha- and beta-hordothionins. The reduced and pyridylethylated thionins were rapidly cleaved, resulting in the production of a limited number of peptides. Peptide bonds Gly9-Arg10, Cys 16-Arg17, Cys25-Ala26, and Thr34-Ser35 were most susceptible to hydrolysis, the peptide bonds Arg5-Ser6, Arg19-Gly20 in both thionins and Lys38-Cys39 in beta-hordothionin and Cys29-Arg30 of alpha-hordothionin being broken at much slower rates. The hydrolysis patterns were highly reproducible from assay to assay and with various enzyme preparations. The specificity was apparently defined by the amino acids in the P(2) position, not those immediately adjacent to the susceptible bonds. The P(2) amino acid residues of the released peptides were always either leucine, valine, tyrosine, or pyridylethylcysteine. From these observations and from the rates of release of the various peptides, it appears that the barley 30 kilodalton endoproteinase has an S2 subsite that preferentially binds the leucine side chain: i.e. for hydrolyzing the peptide bond P(1)-P(1)' in the general sequence NH(2)-P(2)-P(1)-P(1)'-COOH, the enzyme is selective for leucine and, to a lesser extent, valine and tyrosine at position P(2). The barley proteinase thus resembles two other cysteine proteinases, papain and Streptococcal proteinase, in its specificity.
Toward a collaborative method for knowledge management of software architectural decisions based on trust

Design and implementation of Architecture is a knowledge-driven process. Evaluation and verification the knowledge, in order to ensure its quality, have important role in improving overall design process. Furthermore, Architectural decision making is a complex and multi-criteria decision making problem in which multiple stakeholders make decisions from their perspectives causing overlaps and conflicts in the adopted decisions. Therefore, the requirement for strategies to manage these issues and also to improve coordination and cooperation among the various stakeholders to improve the overall process design is necessary. In this regard, there have been several activities that focus on increasing the accuracy and reducing costs, but the coordination between multiple different criteria are not covered well. In this paper, presented a method for collaborative architecture knowledge management (KM) that use of trust for evaluation and verification new knowledge and also uses collaborative strategies. Proposed method helps collecting valid knowledge, increasing accuracy, and to reduce costs of architectural design. To evaluate effectiveness of the proposed method, we used ATAM evaluation method and results of the evaluation are provided.
Community structure detection in multipartite networks: a new fitness measure

Community structure detection algorithms are used to identify groups of nodes that are more connected to each other than to the rest of the network. Multipartite networks are a special type of network in which nodes are divided into partitions such that there are no links between nodes in the same partition. However, such nodes may belong to the same community, making the identification of the community structure of a multipartite network computationally challenging. In this paper, we propose a new fitness function that takes into account the information induced by existing links in the network by considering shadowed connections between nodes that have a common neighbor. The existence of a correct fitness function, i.e. one whose optimum values correspond to the community structure of the network, enables the design and use of optimization-based heuristics for solving this problem. We use numerical experiments performed on artificial benchmarks to illustrate the effectiveness of this function used within an extremal optimization based algorithm and compared to existing approaches. As a direct application, a multipartite network constructed from a direct marketing database is analyzed.
Screening colonoscopy from a large single center of Thailand - something needs to be changed?

BACKGROUND Results of screening colonoscopy from Western countries reported adenoma detection rates (ADRs) of 30-40% while those from Asia had ADR as low as 10%. There have been limited data regarding screening colonoscopy in Thailand. The objectives of this study were therefore to determine polyp and adenoma detection rates in Thai people, to evaluate the incidence of colorectal cancer detected during screening colonoscopy and to determine the endoscopic findings of the polyps which might have some impact on endoscopists to perform polypectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was a retrospective electronic chart review of asymptomatic Thai adults who underwent screening colonoscopy in our endoscopic center from June 2007 to October 2010. RESULTS A total of 1,594 cases were reviewed. The patients had an average age of 58.3 ± 10.5 years (range 27-82) and 55.5% were female. Most of the cases (83.8%) were handled by staff who were endoscopists. A total of 488 patients (30.6%) were reported to have colonic polyps. Left-sided colon was the most common site (45.1%), followed by right-sided colon (36.5%) and the rectum (18%). Those polyps were removed in 97.5% of cases and 88.5 % of the polyps were sent for histopathology (data lost 11.5%). Two hundred and sixty three cases had adenomatous polyps, accounting for 16.5 % ADR. Advanced adenomas were detected in 43 cases (2.6%). Hyperplastic polyps were mainly located distal to the splenic flexure of the colon whereas adenomas were found throughout the large intestine. Ten cases (0.6%) were found to have colorectal cancer. Four advanced adenomas and two malignant polyps were reported in lesions ≤ 5 mm. CONCLUSION The polyp detection rate, adenoma detection rate, advanced adenoma detection rate and colorectal cancer detection rate in the screening colonoscopy of Thai adults were 30.9%, 16.5%, 2.6% and 0.6% respectively. Malignant transformation was detected regardless of the size and location of the polyps. Therefore, new technology would play an important role indistinguishing polyps.
β1 Adrenergic Receptor-Mediated Enhancement of Hippocampal CA3 Network Activity

Norepinephrine is an endogenous neurotransmitter distributed throughout the mammalian brain. In higher cortical structures such as the hippocampus, norepinephrine, via β adrenergic receptor (AR) activation, has been shown to reinforce the cognitive processes of attention and memory. In this study, we investigated the effect of β1AR activation on hippocampal cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) network activity. AR expression was first determined using immunocytochemistry with antibodies against β1ARs, which were found to be exceptionally dense in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons. CA3 network activity was then examined in vitro using field potential recordings in rat brain slices. The selective βAR agonist isoproterenol caused an enhancement of hippocampal CA3 network activity, as measured by an increase in frequency of spontaneous burst discharges recorded in the CA3 region. In the presence of αAR blockade, concentration-response curves for isoproterenol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine suggested that a β1AR was involved in this response, and the rank order of potency was isoproterenol > norepinephrine = epinephrine. Finally, equilibrium dissociation constants (pKb) of subtype-selective βAR antagonists were functionally determined to characterize the AR subtype modulating hippocampal CA3 activity. The selective β1AR antagonists atenolol and metoprolol blocked isoproterenol-induced enhancement, with apparent Kb values of 85 ± 36 and 3.9 ± 1.7 nM, respectively. In contrast, the selective β2AR antagonists ICI-118,551 and butoxamine inhibited isoproterenol-mediated enhancement with apparent low affinities (Kb of 222 ± 61 and 9268 ± 512 nM, respectively). Together, this pharmacological profile of subtype-selective βAR antagonists indicates that in this model, β1AR activation is responsible for the enhanced hippocampal CA3 network activity initiated by isoproterenol.
Structural basis for constitutive activity and agonist‐induced activation of the enteroendocrine fat sensor GPR119

GPR119 is a Gαs‐coupled 7TM receptor activated by endogenous lipids such as oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and by the dietary triglyceride metabolite 2‐monoacylglycerol. GPR119 stimulates enteroendocrine hormone and insulin secretion. But despite massive drug discovery efforts in the field, very little is known about the basic molecular pharmacology of GPR119.
Autoinhibition and relief mechanism for Polo-like kinase 4

Significance Polo-like kinases (Plks) are a conserved family of enzymes that function as master regulators for the process of cell division. Among their duties, Plks control the assembly of centrosomes, tiny organelles that facilitate mitotic spindle assembly and maintain the fidelity of chromosome inheritance. Plks are overexpressed in cancer, and therefore it is critical to unravel the normal regulation of these kinases. Here, we studied Plk4 regulation whose activity controls centrosome number. We showed that, as do other Plks, Plk4 autoinhibits its kinase activity. However, Plk4 is unique in its ability to relieve autoinhibition through a third Polo box domain not present in other Plk family members. Moreover, autoinhibition controls Plk4 oligomerization, which ultimately governs its stability and thus centrosome duplication. Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) is a master regulator of centriole duplication, and its hyperactivity induces centriole amplification. Homodimeric Plk4 has been shown to be ubiquitinated as a result of autophosphorylation, thus promoting its own degradation and preventing centriole amplification. Unlike other Plks, Plk4 contains three rather than two Polo box domains, and the function of its third Polo box (PB3) is unclear. Here, we performed a functional analysis of Plk4’s structural domains. Like other Plks, Plk4 possesses a previously unidentified autoinhibitory mechanism mediated by a linker (L1) near the kinase domain. Thus, autoinhibition is a conserved feature of Plks. In the case of Plk4, autoinhibition is relieved after homodimerization and is accomplished by PB3 and by autophosphorylation of L1. In contrast, autophosphorylation of the second linker promotes separation of the Plk4 homodimer. Therefore, autoinhibition delays the multiple consequences of activation until Plk4 dimerizes. These findings reveal a complex mechanism of Plk4 regulation and activation which govern the process of centriole duplication.
Trunk muscle activity during walking in persons with multiple sclerosis: the influence of body weight support.

BACKGROUND Although the trunk is important for maintaining balance during walking only very limited information about the trunk muscle activity during walking with body weight support (BWS) is reported in literature. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to measure the effect of BWS on the trunk muscle activity during treadmill walking. METHODS 14 persons with multiple sclerosis and 14 healthy persons walked on a treadmill with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50% and 70% BWS. Bilateral EMG measurements (surface electrodes) on the m. rectus abdominis, m. obliquus externus, m. erector spinae and m. multifidus were performed. The maximal muscle activation was presented as a percentage of a performance related reference contraction. A repeated measures ANOVA with simple contrasts was applied (SPSS20). RESULTS In general when comparing walking with BWS with walking with 0% BWS there is an increase in m. obliquus externus activity and a decrease in back muscle activity. With increasing percentages of BWS an increase in activity of the abdominal muscles and a decrease in back muscle activity was found, with most changes in high percentages BWS. CONCLUSION Based on the results, it is recommended to decrease the percentage BWS as fast as possible beneath 30% BWS.
Small pulmonary nodules: volumetrically determined growth rates based on CT evaluation.

PURPOSE To determine the accuracy of high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) volumetric measurements of small pulmonary nodules to assess growth and malignancy status. MATERIALS AND METHODS The accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) image extraction and isotropic resampling techniques was assessed by performing three experiments. The first experiment measured volumes in spherical synthetic nodules of two diameters (3.20 and 3.96 mm), the second measured deformable silicone synthetic nodules prior to and after their shape had been altered markedly, and the third measured nodules of various shapes and sizes. Three-dimensional techniques were used to assess growth in 13 patients for whom the final diagnosis was known and whose initial nodule diameters were less than 10 mm. By using the exponential growth model and the calculated nodule volume at two points in time, the doubling time for each subject was calculated. RESULTS The three synthetic nodule studies revealed that the volume could be measured accurately to within +/-3%. All five malignant nodules grew, and all had doubling times less than 177 days. Some malignant nodules had asymmetric patterns of growth identified by using the 3D techniques but not the two-dimensional methods. All eight benign nodules had doubling times of 396 days or greater or showed a decrease in volume. CONCLUSION CT volumetric measurements are highly accurate for determining volume and are useful in assessing growth of small nodules and calculating their doubling times.
Hypoxia-mediated Selective mRNA Translation by an Internal Ribosome Entry Site-independent Mechanism*

Although it is advantageous for hypoxic cells to inhibit protein synthesis and conserve energy, it is also important to translate mRNAs critical for adaptive responses to hypoxic stress. Because internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) have been postulated to mediate this preferential synthesis, we analyzed the 5 ′-untranslated regions from a panel of stress-regulated mRNAs for m7GTP cap-independent translation and identified putative IRES elements in encephalomyocarditis virus, vascular endothelial growth factor, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) 1α and 2α, glucose transporter-like protein 1, p57Kip2, La, BiP, and triose phosphate isomerase transcripts. However, when capped and polyadenylated dicistronic RNAs were synthesized in vitro and transfected into cells, cellular IRES-mediated translation accounted for less than 1% that of the level of cap-dependent translation. Moreover, hypoxic stress failed to activate cap-independent synthesis, indicating that it is unlikely that this is the primary mechanism for the maintenance of the translation of these mRNAs under low O2. Furthermore, although HIF-1α is frequently cited as an example of an mRNA that is preferentially translated, we demonstrate that under different levels and durations of hypoxic stress, changes in newly synthesized HIF-1α and β-actin protein levels mirror alterations in corresponding mRNA abundance. In addition, our data suggest that cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57Kip2 and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNAs are selectively translated by an IRES-independent mechanism under hypoxic stress.
Prospective Study of Major Dietary Patterns and Stroke Risk in Women

Background and Purpose— Many foods have been suggested to influence the risk of stroke. However, no previous studies have examined the relationship between overall dietary patterns and risk of stroke. Methods— Using dietary information collected in 1984 from 71 768 women aged 38 to 63 years without a history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes in 1984, we conducted factor analysis and identified 2 major dietary patterns: “prudent” and “Western. ” We calculated scores for each participant for each pattern and prospectively examined their associations with stroke risk using a proportional hazard model, adjusting for other stroke risk factors. Results— The prudent pattern was characterized by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, and whole grains, whereas the Western pattern by higher intakes of red and processed meats, refined grains, and sweets and desserts. During 14 years of follow-up, we identified 791 incidents of stroke, with 476 ischemic and 189 hemorrhagic strokes. After adjusting for potential confounders, we observed a relative risk (RR) of 1.58 (95% CI, 1.15 to 2.15; P = 0.0002 for trend) for total strokes and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.05 to 2.33; P = 0.02 for trend) for ischemic stroke when comparing the highest with lowest quintiles of the Western pattern. For the prudent pattern, the RRs comparing extreme quintiles were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.61 to 1.01) for total stroke and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.54 to 1.02) for ischemic stroke. Conclusions— These data suggest that a dietary pattern typified by higher intakes of red and processed meats, refined grains, and sweets and desserts may increase stroke risk, whereas a diet higher in fruits and vegetables, fish, and whole grains may protect against stroke.
Retirement and Mental Health

Objectives: This research examines whether retirement is associated with mental health and how one’s daily pursuits mediate this association. It tests two perspectives from the sociology of work and the sociology of mental health. Methods:Using data from two surveys, the 1995 Aging, Status, and Sense of Control and the 1987-1988 National Survey of Families and Households, regression analysis was used to examine retirement, activities, and well-being. Results:In support of the view that work is alienating and retirement liberating, retirees experienced less anxiety and distress and higher positive affect. Retirees’ lower anxiety and distress were explained by activity characteristics. In support of the viewthatwork is empowering and retirement demoralizing, retirement is associated with lower sense of control in both data sets, in part because of the daily pursuits. Retirement was not associated with depressive symptomatology. Discussion:Suggestions for creating opportunities that enhance well-being are discussed.
Hybrid single-carrier and multi-carrier system: Evaluation of throughput with inter-cell interference

We have proposed a hybrid single-carrier (SC) and multi-carrier (MC) system for next-generation mobile communication systems, where both high data rate and wide coverage system are attained by appropriately selecting SC or MC signal. We have confirmed effectiveness of the proposed hybrid system under single-cell environment. In this paper, the uplink throughput performance under multi-cell environment in the presence of inter-cell interference was calculated using computer simulation. The simulation results show that the hybrid system attains more than 10 times higher throughput than orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) at a cumulative probability of 10% and 1.2 times higher throughput than SC-frequency division multiple access (FDMA) at a cumulative probability of 90%. The above result show that the proposed hybrid systems is useful in multi-cell environment as well as single-cell environment.