Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of remote ischemic preconditioning with postconditioning in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery--randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Myocardial injury is associated with an adverse outcome after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB). The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) with remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) reduces myocardial injury in patients undergoing OPCAB. METHODS AND RESULTS Seventy patients scheduled for OPCAB were randomly assigned to an RIPC+RIPostC group (n=35) or a control group (n=35). In the RIPC+RIPostC group, 4 cycles of 5-min ischemia and 5-min reperfusion were done on a lower limb before anastomoses (RIPC) and after anastomoses (RIPostC). RIPC+RIPostC significantly reduced postoperative serum troponin I levels (P=0.001). The area under the curve for postoperative troponin I was 48.7% lower in the RIPC+RIPostC group (median [interquartile range], 21.3 h·ng⁻¹·ml⁻¹, 16.5-53.1 h·ng⁻¹·ml⁻¹ vs. 41.5 h·ng⁻¹·ml⁻¹, 24.6-90.2 h·ng⁻¹·ml⁻¹, P=0.020). There was no significant difference in creatinine levels and PaO₂/F(i)O₂ ratios between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS RIPC+RIPostC by lower limb ischemia decreased postoperative myocardial enzyme elevation by almost half postoperatively in patients undergoing OPCAB.
Single-molecule analysis of fluorescently labeled G-protein–coupled receptors reveals complexes with distinct dynamics and organization

G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of receptors and major pharmacological targets. Whereas many GPCRs have been shown to form di-/oligomers, the size and stability of such complexes under physiological conditions are largely unknown. Here, we used direct receptor labeling with SNAP-tags and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to dynamically monitor single receptors on intact cells and thus compare the spatial arrangement, mobility, and supramolecular organization of three prototypical GPCRs: the β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR), the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR), and the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAB) receptor. These GPCRs showed very different degrees of di-/oligomerization, lowest for β1ARs (monomers/dimers) and highest for GABAB receptors (prevalently dimers/tetramers of heterodimers). The size of receptor complexes increased with receptor density as a result of transient receptor–receptor interactions. Whereas β1-/β2ARs were apparently freely diffusing on the cell surface, GABAB receptors were prevalently organized into ordered arrays, via interaction with the actin cytoskeleton. Agonist stimulation did not alter receptor di-/oligomerization, but increased the mobility of GABAB receptor complexes. These data provide a spatiotemporal characterization of β1-/β2ARs and GABAB receptors at single-molecule resolution. The results suggest that GPCRs are present on the cell surface in a dynamic equilibrium, with constant formation and dissociation of new receptor complexes that can be targeted, in a ligand-regulated manner, to different cell-surface microdomains.
Model predictive control for compensation of cyclic organ motions in teleoperated laparoscopic surgery

During teleoperated laparoscopic surgery with robots, periodic deformations of organs due to respiratory movements may be critical disturbances for surgeons manipulating the robot. Indeed, the surgeon has to manually compensate for these motions if accurate gestures are needed, like, e.g., during suturing. This paper proposes a repetitive model predictive control scheme for driving a surgical robot toward the reference trajectory defined by the surgeon while rejecting cyclic disturbances due to the respiratory motion. A new cost function is proposed for an unconstrained generalized predictive control scheme based on a multiple input-output model of the surgical robot. Contributions of the controller output to the reference tracking task and to the disturbance rejection task are split and computed separately, so that their respective efficiency can be independently weighted. The proposed control scheme is validated through simulations and experimental in vivo results using a surgical robot.
EdgeSec: Design of an Edge Layer Security Service to Enhance IoT Security

With the widespread availability of connected smart devices, Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming the world's largest computing platform. These large-scale, heterogeneous and resource-constrained devices bring many significant new challenges to the design of efficient and reliable IoT systems. Security is one of the most crucial ones that need to be effectively addressed for the wide adoption of IoT systems. In this paper, we first present an in-depth analysis of security challenges in IoT. Then, we propose EdgeSec, the design of a novel security service which is deployed at the Edge layer to enhance the security of IoT systems. EdgeSec consists of seven major components that work together to systematically handle specific security challenges in IoT systems. Finally, the effectiveness of EdgeSec is demonstrated in the context of a typical IoT application, Smart Home.
Novel frameshifting mutations of the ZMPSTE24 gene in two siblings affected with restrictive dermopathy and review of the mutations described in the literature

Restrictive dermopathy (RD) is a rare, severe, lethal genodermatosis in which tautness of the skin causes fetal akinesia or hypokinesia deformation sequence. To date, about 60 cases of RD were described. The signs of the disease are very characteristic and include intrauterine growth retardation, thin, tightly adherent translucent skin, superficial vessels, typical facial dysmorphism as well as generalized joint contractures. The syndrome is caused in most cases by ZMPSTE24 autosomal recessive mutations, or, less frequently, by LMNA autosomal dominant mutations. We report on two brothers affected with RD, who died in the neonatal period. Molecular analyses were performed in the second child, for whom biological material was available, and both parents. Compound heterozygous frameshifting mutations were identified in exon 1 (c.50delA) and exon 5 (c.584_585delAT) of the ZMPSTE24 gene. The autosomal recessive inheritance was confirmed by the parents' genomic analysis. Besides, a review of the mutations causing RD is made. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
TinyLink: A Holistic System for Rapid Development of IoT Applications

Rapid development is essential for IoT (Internet of Things) application developers to obtain first-mover advantages and reduce the development cost. In this paper, we present TinyLink, a holistic system for rapid development of IoT applications. The key idea of TinyLink is to use a top-down approach for designing both the hardware and the software of IoT applications. Developers write the application code in a C-like language to specify the key logic of their applications, without dealing with the details of the specific hardware components. Taking the application code as input, TinyLink automatically generates the hardware configuration as well as the binary program executable on the target hardware platform. TinyLink provides unified APIs for applications to interact with the underlying hardware components. We implement TinyLink and evaluate its performance using real-world IoT applications. Results show that: (1) TinyLink achieves rapid development of IoT applications, reducing 52.58% of lines of code in average compared with traditional approaches; (2) TinyLink searches a much larger design space and thus can generate a superior solution for the hardware configuration, compared with the state-of-the-art approach; (3) TinyLink incurs acceptable overhead in terms of execution time and program memory.
Bovine neutrophils ingest but do not kill Haemophilus somnus in vitro

Phagocytosis of Haemophilus somnus by bovine blood neutrophils required opsonization of the bacteria with antibodies against H. somnus. Few bacteria were phagocytosed in the absence of serum; in addition, absorption of immune serum with Formalin-killed H. somnus significantly reduced ingestion of H. somnus. Heat inactivation of antiserum (56 degrees C for 30 min) to eliminate complement activity had little effect on its ability to opsonize H. somnus for uptake by bovine neutrophils. Antiserum from an H. somnus-immunized calf and autologous sera from adult cattle supported equivalent phagocytosis of H. somnus by bovine neutrophils, suggesting that normal, healthy cattle may contain sufficient antibodies in their sera to facilitate phagocytosis of H. somnus. Although bovine neutrophils readily ingested H. somnus, they were unable to kill the bacterium in vitro. These same neutrophils readily killed opsonized Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, suggesting that H. somnus is able to survive and perhaps multiply within bovine neutrophils. Because bovine neutrophils stimulated with opsonized H. somnus demonstrated a reduced oxidative burst (as measured by chemiluminescence) compared with neutrophils stimulated by opsonized E. coli, we suggest that reduced production of reactive oxygen intermediates during the phagocytosis of H. somnus may account, in part, for the enhanced survival of H. somnus in bovine neutrophils.
Chip In Wafer for Integrated System

System integration is clearly a driving force for innovation in packaging. The need for miniaturization has led to new system in package (SiP) architectures, which combine a whole range of different technologies. However, cost is the critical issue in SiP packaging as individual operations are currently necessary to complete each individual package. Taking into account all the developments that have been made to date on wafer level packaging, it has been proposed to establish SiP at wafer level. The process presented in this paper proposes to use silicon wafer as frame. Known Good Dies are fitted into through cavities and sealed with polymer. This process enables coplanar chip active face with the host silicon wafer. Due to the consistency given by the silicon frame, the wafer can be treated in wafer line for the above IC process such as passive integration, via plating and pad redistribution, bumping, testing and dicing. The paper describes technologies developed for chip integration in silicon wafer (CIW) and first results on wafer characterization will be set out.
Statistical analysis to depict the influence of news headlines on stock volatility

A statistical approach to depict stock volatility based on general news headlines by exploiting Machine Learning methods such as sentiment analysis and neural networks. The results from the analysis are then used in the financial market with a particular trading strategy, called a bottom straddle. We conclude that not enough information can be extracted from the general news headlines to make profits using the bottom straddle. However, the general news headlines might still be valuable in combination with time series analysis or other inputs to the model.
Mitogenic roles of Gab1 and Grb10 as direct cellular partners in the regulation of MAP kinase signaling

Functions of signaling mediators Grb10 or Gab1 have been described in mitogenesis but remained disconnected. Here, we report the peptide hormone‐dependent direct association between Grb10 and Gab1 and their functional connection in mitogenic signaling via MAP kinase using cultured fibroblasts as a model. In response to PDGF‐, IGF‐I, or insulin increased levels of Grb10 potentiated cell proliferation or survival whereas dominant‐negative, domain‐specific Grb10 peptide mimetics attenuated cell proliferation. This response was sensitive to p44/42 MAPK inhibitor but not to p38 MAPK inhibitor. In response to IGF‐I or insulin Raf‐1, MEK 1/2, and p44/42 MAPK were regulated by Grb10 but not Ras or p38 MAPK. In response to PDGF MEK 1/2, p44/42 MAPK and p38 MAPK were regulated by Grb10 but not Ras or Raf‐1. Peptide hormone‐dependent co‐immunoprecipitation of Grb10 and Gab1 was demonstrated and specifically blocked by a Grb10 SH2 domain peptide mimetic. This domain was sufficient for direct, peptide hormone‐dependent association with Gab1 via the Crk binding region. In response to PDGF, IGF‐I, or insulin, in a direct comparison, elevated levels of mouse Grb10 delta, or human Grb10 beta or zeta equally potentiated fibroblast proliferation. Proliferation was severely reduced by Gab1 gene disruption whereas an elevated Gab1 gene dose proportionally stimulated Grb10‐potentiated cell proliferation. In conclusion, Gab1 and Grb10 function as direct binding partners in the regulation of the mitogenic MAP kinase signal. In cultured fibroblasts, elevated levels of human Grb10 beta, zeta or mouse Grb10 delta comparably potentiate mitogenesis in response to PDGF, IGF‐I, or insulin. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1172–1182, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low ankle–brachial index predicts an adverse 1‐year outcome after acute coronary and cerebrovascular events

Summary. Background: Low ankle–brachial Index (ABI) identifies patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease. The aim of this study was to correlate ABI value (normal or low) with 1‐year clinical outcome in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndromes or cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: ABI was measured in consecutive patients hospitalized because of acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). An ABI lower than or equal to 0.90 was considered abnormal. The primary outcome of the study was the composite of non‐fatal acute myocardial infarction, non‐fatal ischemic stroke, and death from any cause during the year following the index event. Results: An abnormal ABI was found in 27.2% of 1003 patients with acute coronary syndromes, and in 33.5% of 755 patients with acute CVD. After a median follow‐up of 372 days, the frequency of the primary outcome was 10.8% (57/526) in patients with abnormal ABI and 5.9% (73/1232) in patients with normal ABI [odds ratio (OR) 1.96; 95% CI 1.36–2.81]. Death was more common in patients with abnormal ABI (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.31–3.22). Cardiovascular mortality accounted for 81.7% of overall mortality. ABI was predictive of adverse outcome after adjustment for vascular risk factors in the logistic regression analysis (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.24–3.01). The predictive value of ABI was mainly accounted for by patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndromes (adverse outcome: 12.8% in patients with abnormal ABI and 5.9% in patients with normal ABI, OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.47–3.76). Conclusions: An abnormal ABI can be found in one‐third of patients hospitalized for acute coronary or cerebrovascular events and is a predictor of an adverse 1‐year outcome.
The Socioeconomic Development of Russia: Some Historical Aspects

The study is devoted to the analysis of the socioeconomic development of Russia in the context of changing technological paradigms. The authors determined the main theoretical characteristics of changing technological paradigms in the context of developing socioeconomic systems.They introduce characteristics of technological paradigms, identify processes that occurred during changing technological paradigms in the world's leading countries, and present the analysis of social, technological and economic development in Russia from the late 19th century until now.
Dominant Negative MCP‐1 Blocks Human Osteoclast Differentiation

Human osteoclasts were differentiated using receptor activator of NFκB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M‐CSF) from colony forming unit‐granulocyte macrophage (CFU‐GM) precursors of the myeloid lineage grown from umbilical cord blood. Gene expression profiling using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q‐PCR) showed more than 1,000‐fold induction of chemokine MCP‐1 within 24 h of RANKL treatment. MCP‐1 mRNA content exceeds that of other assayed chemokines (CCL1, 3, 4, and 5) at all time points up to day 14 of treatment. MCP‐1 induction preceded peak induction of calcium signaling activator calmodulin 1 (CALM1) and transcription factors JUN and FOS, which were at 3 days. Key osteoclast related transcription factors NFATc1 and NFATc2 showed peak induction at 7 days, while marker genes for osteoclast function cathepsin K and tartrate resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP) were maximally induced at 14 days, corresponding with mature osteoclast function. To test whether the early and substantial peak in MCP‐1 expression is part of human osteoclast differentiation events, a dominant negative inhibitor of MCP‐1 (7ND) was added simultaneously with RANKL and M‐CSF, resulting in blockade of CALM1, JUN and NFATc2 induction and strong inhibition of human osteoclast differentiation. These data show that a cascade of gene expression leading to osteoclast differentiation depends on intact early MCP‐1 induction and signaling in human osteoclasts. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 303–312, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of the statistical scatter of the complex permittivity of carbon nanotube composite sheets on Salisbury-screen-type radar absorbing structures

This study presents simple statistics based on the normal distribution of the measured complex permittivity of carbon nanocomposite sheets and an analytical approach to estimate its impact on the radar absorbing performance of the Salisbury-screen-type radar absorbing structure of the composite sheet. The composite sheets are fabricated with glass fabric/epoxy prepregs containing dispersed carbon nanotubes. The complex permittivity is measured with a free-space measurement system equipped with horn antennas with focal lenses and a vector network analyzer. The radar absorbing structure designed at a target frequency of 10 GHz has a peak reflection loss at -45 dB, which is obtained on the basis of the average complex permittivity of the composite sheet. The lowest reflection losses are calculated for confidence intervals of 95% and 99% of the normal distribution of the complex permittivity of the composite sheets, which are -34 dB and -31 dB, respectively.
A New Approach to Achieve High Spectral Efficiency in Wavelength-Time OCDMA Network Transmission

We design a new wavelength-time optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) modulation scheme that does not use spreading sequences for information transmission, i.e., the spreading length is N=1. The proposed transmitter sends (error-control) coded data directly through the optical channel and exploits a probabilistic method to reduce the amount of multiuser interference. Simulation results show that by using turbo codes, Reed-Solomon codes, and soft-decision demodulation, the proposed OCDMA scheme can support hundreds of active users at target bit-error rate =10-9. Furthermore, the achieved spectral efficiency of 0.740 bits per channel use is almost twice as large as the best previous OCDMA results
Virtual Colonoscopy in Colorectal Cancer Screening

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed tumor in both males and females in the United States. Current modalities for colorectal cancer screening include fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema, and colonoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy is a promising new method for assessing the entire colon. Vining and Gelfand first described this technique in 1994. Since then, virtual colonoscopy has been shown to be extremely safe and well tolerated by patients. Indications for virtual colonoscopy include screening for polyps, incomplete or failed colonoscopy, and preoperative assessment of the colon proximal to an occlusive cancer or even redundant fixed or stenotic colon that cannot be endoscopically traversed. Virtual colonoscopy may dramatically increase patient participation in screening programs, leading to early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Although virtual colonoscopy seems a potentially attractive screening method for colorectal cancer, the cost-effectiveness of this method is yet to be determined.
Disruption and phenotypic analysis of six open reading frames from the left arm of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome VII

Six open reading frames (ORFs) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome VII were deleted using the kanMX4 module and the long‐flanking homology‐PCR replacement strategy in at least two different backgrounds. Among these ORFs, two of them (YGL100w and YGL094c) are now known genes which encode well‐characterized proteins (Seh1p, a nuclear pore protein, and Pan2p, a component of Pab1p‐stimulated poly(A) ribonuclease, respectively). The other four ORFs (YGL101w, YGL099w, YGL098w and YGL096w) code for proteins of unknown function, although the protein encoded by YGL101w has a strong similarity to the hypothetical protein Ybr242p. Gene disruptions were performed in diploid cells using the KanMX4 cassette, and the geneticin (G418)‐resistant transformants were checked by PCR. Tetrad analysis of heterozygous deletant strains revealed that YGL098w is an essential gene for vegetative growth in three backgrounds, whereas the other five genes are non‐essential, although we have found some phenotypes in one of them. YGL099wΔ strain did not grow at all at 15°C and showed a highly impaired sporulation and a significantly lower mating efficiency. The other three deletants did not reveal any significant differences with respect to their parental strains in our basic phenotypic tests. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Translation Initiation Requires Cell Division Cycle 123 (Cdc123) to Facilitate Biogenesis of the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 (eIF2)

Background: The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) is a heterotrimeric G-protein. Results: Cdc123, a conserved cell proliferation protein, binds the unassembled eIF2γ subunit to promote eIF2 complex formation. Conclusion: Cdc123 is a specific eIF2 assembly factor indispensable for the onset of protein synthesis. Significance: This study describes a novel step in the eukaryotic translation initiation pathway. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) is central to the onset of protein synthesis and its modulation in response to physiological demands. eIF2, a heterotrimeric G-protein, is activated by guanine nucleotide exchange to deliver the initiator methionyl-tRNA to the ribosome. Here we report that assembly of the eIF2 complex in vivo depends on Cdc123, a cell proliferation protein conserved among eukaryotes. Mutations of CDC123 in budding yeast reduced the association of eIF2 subunits, diminished polysome levels, and increased GCN4 expression indicating that Cdc123 is critical for eIF2 activity. Cdc123 bound the unassembled eIF2γ subunit, but not the eIF2 complex, and the C-terminal domain III region of eIF2γ was both necessary and sufficient for Cdc123 binding. Alterations of the binding site revealed a strict correlation between Cdc123 binding, the biological function of eIF2γ, and its ability to assemble with eIF2α and eIF2β. Interestingly, high levels of Cdc123 neutralized the assembly defect and restored the biological function of an eIF2γ mutant. Moreover, the combined overexpression of eIF2 subunits rescued an otherwise inviable cdc123 deletion mutant. Thus, Cdc123 is a specific eIF2 assembly factor indispensable for the onset of protein synthesis. Human Cdc123 is encoded by a disease risk locus, and, therefore, eIF2 biogenesis control by Cdc123 may prove relevant for normal cell physiology and human health. This work identifies a novel step in the eukaryotic translation initiation pathway and assigns a biochemical function to a protein that is essential for growth and viability of eukaryotic cells.