Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary endothelial NO synthase gene expression is decreased in fetal lambs with pulmonary hypertension.

Nitric oxide (NO), produced by endothelial (e) NO synthase (NOS), is critically involved in the cardiopulmonary transition from fetal to neonatal life. We have previously shown that NO-dependent relaxation is attenuated in intrapulmonary arteries from fetal lambs with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) created by prenatal ligation of the ductus arteriosus. In the present study, we determined whether this is due to altered pulmonary eNOS expression. eNOS and neuronal NOS (nNOS) protein expression were assessed in lungs from near-term control lambs and PHT lambs that underwent ductal ligation 10 days earlier. eNOS protein expression was decreased 49% in PHT lung. In contrast, nNOS protein abundance was unchanged. NOS enzymatic activity was also diminished in PHT vs. control lung (60 +/- 3 vs. 110 +/- 7 fmol.mg protein-1.min-1, respectively). Paralleling the declines in eNOS protein and NOS enzymatic activity, eNOS mRNA abundance was decreased 64% in PHT lung. Thus pulmonary eNOS gene expression is attenuated in the lamb model of fetal PHT. Because NO modulates both vasodilation and vascular smooth muscle growth, diminished eNOS expression may contribute to both the abnormal vasoreactivity and the excessive muscularization of the pulmonary circulation in fetal PHT.
Female Readers and the Sources of the Mirror to Devout People

In the early fifteenth century there was increased interest in devotional writing by the laity in England. Educated women of the aristocratic classes were often interested in the commissioning of religious texts and had connections to religious houses and their books. This article focuses on two families, the Chaworths and the Scropes, who were known for their book collections. It also focuses on a book they owned, the Mirror to Devout People, a Middle English life of Christ. John Scrope, Fourth Baron of Masham, and his wife, Elizabeth, used their connections to Syon Abbey, the Birgittine abbey on the royal manor of Sheen, to obtain their copy of the Mirror. An anonymous Carthusian, residing at the monastery across the Thames from Syon, wrote the Mirror for a Birgittine sister. The Mirror relies on female saints—Birgitta of Sweden, Catherine of Siena, and Mechtild of Hackeborn—to relate Christ’s Passion.
Linear regression model for predicting patient-specific total skeletal spongiosa volume for use in molecular radiotherapy dosimetry.

UNLABELLED The toxicity of red bone marrow is widely considered to be a key factor in restricting the activity administered in molecular radiotherapy to suboptimal levels. The assessment of marrow toxicity requires an assessment of the dose absorbed by red bone marrow which, in many cases, requires knowledge of the total red bone marrow mass in a given patient. Previous studies demonstrated, however, that a close surrogate-spongiosa volume (combined tissues of trabecular bone and marrow)-can be used to accurately scale reference patient red marrow dose estimates and that these dose estimates are predictive of marrow toxicity. Consequently, a predictive model of the total skeletal spongiosa volume (TSSV) would be a clinically useful tool for improving patient specificity in skeletal dosimetry. METHODS In this study, 10 male and 10 female cadavers were subjected to whole-body CT scans. Manual image segmentation was used to estimate the TSSV in all 13 active marrow-containing skeletal sites within the adult skeleton. The age, total body height, and 14 CT-based skeletal measurements were obtained for each cadaver. Multiple regression was used with the dependent variables to develop a model to predict the TSSV. RESULTS Os coxae height and width were the 2 skeletal measurements that proved to be the most important parameters for prediction of the TSSV. The multiple R(2) value for the statistical model with these 2 parameters was 0.87. The analysis revealed that these 2 parameters predicted the estimated the TSSV to within approximately +/-10% for 15 of the 20 cadavers and to within approximately +/-20% for all 20 cadavers in this study. CONCLUSION Although the utility of spongiosa volume in estimating patient-specific active marrow mass has been shown, estimation of the TSSV in active marrow-containing skeletal sites via patient-specific image segmentation is not a simple endeavor. However, the alternate approach demonstrated in this study is fairly simple to implement in a clinical setting, as the 2 input measurements (os coxae height and width) can be made with either pelvic CT scanning or skeletal radiography.
Size Distribution and Characterization of Ultrafine Particles in Roadside Atmosphere

Abstract The number concentration and number size distributions of ultrafine particles were measured with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) at a roadside in early autumn and winter, and the results are discussed with regard to the contribution of traffic activity and meteorological conditions. The number concentration of the <50 nm fraction increased in the morning under calm wind conditions, and this increase corresponded with the increase in total traffic volume and nitric oxide. The increase in ultrafine particles was influenced not only by the increase in total traffic but also by the high contribution of diesel engine vehicles. The number concentration decreased around noon as the wind speed increased, although the total traffic and the number of diesel engine vehicles were at the same level as in the morning. The number size distribution in the morning was bimodal, with a first peak diameter of around 30 nm and a second of around 90 nm in both periods. The volatility of ultrafine particles was investigated using a thermal denuder operating at 250°C. The first peak consisted mainly of volatile components, whereas the second one consisted of solid materials plus some volatile components. These results were consistent with the mass size distribution of elemental and organic carbon. The number size distribution with a peak diameter of around 30 nm was also observed in the afternoon at a suburban site; however, it was produced not by vehicle emissions directly but by photochemical reactions. Although a relatively high number concentration was also observed in the morning at the suburban site due to vehicle emission, the peak diameter ranged from 40 to 90 nm, which was larger than at the roadside.
Image-Guided Spine Surgery: A Cadaver Study Comparing Conventional Open Laminoforaminotomy and Two Image-Guided Techniques for Pedicle Screw Placement in Posterolateral Fusion and Nonfusion Models

Study Design. A randomized comparison of conventional and image-guided technology techniques for pedicle screw placement was performed. Objective. To evaluate the accuracy of thoracolumbosacral pedicle screw placement in simulated posterior fusion and nonfusion models via conventional and image-guided surgical techniques. Summary of Background Data. Computer-assisted image-guided technology has been promoted as a means for theoretically improving the accuracy of spinal instrumentation placement, especially when visual landmarks are obscured. Methods. Seven embalmed cadaveric spines were cleared of all posterior soft tissue and mounted. The posterior elements of four spines were obscured so as to simulate a fusion mass using a synthetic bone cement. Three nonobscured spines also were instrumented. Pedicle screws were placed from T6 to S1 in two obscured specimens (24 screws) using a computer-assisted image-guided system, in one obscured specimen from T6 to S1 (12 screws) using a fluoroscopically assisted system, and in one obscured specimen from T6 to S1 (14 screws) using a conventional open laminoforaminotomy technique. In addition, pedicle screws were placed from T6 to S1 using a fluoroscopically assisted technique in two unobscured specimens (36 screws), and from from T6 to S1 (14 screws) via a laminoforaminotomy technique in one unobscured specimen. Pedicle violation was assessed by computed tomography scanning and direct visual inspection. The degree of screw misplacement noted visually was quantified with an electronic caliper. Results. Pedicle screws placed via open laminoforaminotomy resulted in a pedicle cortex breach rate of 21.43% in fused specimens and 14.29% in nonfused specimens. Screws placed in the nonfused model (two cadavers) via fluoroscopically assisted methods had pedicle cortical breaches, respectively, in 6.25% and 10% of the specimens, whereas the same method was noted to have a 8.33% violation rate in the fusion model. Finally, computed tomography–based image-guided placement through a simulated fusion mass resulted in no pedicle wall violations. Conclusions. Accuracy of pedicle screw placement in the thoracolumbosacral spine is improved with the use of image-guided methods, particularly guidance by computed tomography. This is especially relevant clinically when the anatomy is obscured or altered as a result of inflammatory spondyloarthropathy (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis in which spontaneous fusions obscure surgical landmarks for pedicle access), or when used postsurgically in the setting of a posterolateral fusion.
In vivo quantitative magnetization transfer imaging correlates with histology during de‐ and remyelination in cuprizone‐treated mice

The pool size ratio measured by quantitative magnetization transfer MRI is hypothesized to closely reflect myelin density, but their relationship has so far been confirmed mostly in ex vivo conditions. We investigate the correspondence between this parameter measured in vivo at 7.0 T, with Black Gold II staining for myelin fibres, and with myelin basic protein and beta‐tubulin immunofluorescence in a hybrid longitudinal study of C57BL/6 and SJL/J mice treated with cuprizone, a neurotoxicant causing relatively selective myelin loss followed by spontaneous remyelination upon treatment suspension. Our results confirm that pool size ratio measurements correlate with myelin content, with the correlation coefficient depending on strain and staining method, and demonstrate the in vivo applicability of this MRI technique to experimental mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of the spleen during pregnancy: Diagnostic challenges and clinical management

We report the first case of sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) of the spleen diagnosed during pregnancy, discussing differential diagnosis, immunohistochemical profile and treatment. A G2P1 37‐year‐old woman presented during the 19th week of gestation because of pruritus at lower limbs. To exclude cholestasis, an abdominal ultrasound and whole body magnetic resonance were performed and a single solid lesion with intrinsic vascularization was identified. Therefore, at 22 weeks gestation, after normal fetal assessment, the patient was referred for a splenectomy. No further treatment was suggested and the patient gave birth at 42 weeks gestation with a spontaneous delivery. Distinguishing SANT from other vascular neoplasms of the spleen during pregnancy is a difficult task. Surgical excision should be performed to exclude malignancy and to resolve symptoms, if present.
Comparing Approaches for Combining Data Sampling and Feature Selection to Address Key Data Quality Issues in Tweet Sentiment Analysis

When training tweet sentiment classifiers, many data quality challenges must be addressed. One potential issue is class imbalance, where most instances belong to a single majority class. This may negatively impact classifier performance as classifiers trained on imbalanced data may favor classification of new, unseen instances as belonging to the majority class. This issue is accompanied by a second challenge, high-dimesionality, since very large numbers of text based features are used to describe tweet datasets. For datasets where both of these challenges are present, we can combine feature selection and data sampling to address both highdimensionality and class imbalance. However, three potential approaches exist for combining data sampling and feature selection and it is unclear which approach is optimal. In this paper, we seek to determine if there is a best approach for combining data sampling and feature selection. We conduct tests using random undersampling with two post-sampling class ratios (50:50 and 35:65) combined with three feature rankers. Classifiers are trained with each potential combination approach using seven different learners on two datasets. We found that, overall, classifiers trained by performing feature selection followed by data sampling performed better than the other two approaches; however, the differences were only significant for the more imbalanced dataset.
Building bionic skin

One decade ago, my research group at the University of Tokyo created a flexible electronic mesh and wrapped it around the mechanical bones of a robotic hand. We had dreamed of making an electronic skin, embedded with temperature and pressure sensors, that could be worn by a robot. If a robotic health aide shook hands with a human patient, we thought, this sensor-clad e-skin would be able to measure some of the person's vital signs at the same time. Today we're still working intensively on e-skin, but our focus is now on applying it directly to the human body. Such a bionic skin could be used to monitor medical conditions or to provide more sensitive and lifelike prosthetics.
Probing Nuclear Localization Signal-Importin α Binding Equilibria in Living Cells*

The regulated process of protein import into the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell is mediated by specific nuclear localization signals (NLSs) that are recognized by protein-import receptors. In this study, we present fluorescence-based methods to quantitatively address the physicochemical details of NLS recognition by the receptor protein importin α (Impα) in living cells. First, by combining fluorescence recovery after photobleaching measurements and protein-concentration calibration, we quantitatively define nuclear import saturability and afford an affinity value for NLS-Impα binding. Second, by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, we directly monitor the occurrence of NLS-Impα interaction and measure its effective dissociation constant (KD) in the actual cellular environment. Our kinetic and thermodynamic analyses independently indicate that the subsaturation of Impα with the expressed NLS cargo regulates nuclear import rates in living cells, in contrast to what can be predicted on the basis of available in vitro data. Finally, our experiments also provide evidence for the regulation of nuclear import mediated by the intrasteric importin β-binding domain of Impα and yield the first estimate of its autoinhibition energy in living cells.
Assessment in Higher Education: The Potential for a Community of Practice to Improve Inter-marker Reliability

Abstract The design, delivery and assessment of a complete educational scheme, such as a degree programme or a professional qualification course, is a complex matter. Maintaining alignment between the stated aims of the curriculum and the scoring of student achievement is an overarching concern. The potential for drift across individual aspects of an educational scheme (teaching, learning and assessment), together with emerging criticism in extant literature of the reliability of marking processes, suggests that, in practice, maintaining alignment might be more difficult than had previously been assumed. In this paper, the concept of a Community of Practice (CoP) is employed as an analytical lens through which the notion of a markers' standardisation meeting that focuses on maintaining alignment between the curriculum, the marking scheme and the scoring of student scripts can be critically examined. Given that the aims and subject content of management learning are both multidimensional and contextual, such meetings have the potential to develop a shared approach to the elaboration and application of the marking scheme. A further role of the CoP is in the calibration of markers to accommodate further variations in student responses as they arise in the actual marking process. In this respect, the CoP has both descriptive and prescriptive potential in terms of aiding the development of markers of professional accounting examinations and also, we suggest, within accounting education more generally.
Craniosynostosis and Noonan syndrome with KRAS mutations: Expanding the phenotype with a case report and review of the literature

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a multiple congenital anomaly syndrome caused by germline mutations in genes coding for components of the Ras‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase (RAS‐MAPK) pathway. Features include short stature, characteristic facies, congenital heart anomalies, and developmental delay. While there is considerable clinical heterogeneity in NS, craniosynostosis is not a common feature of the condition. Here, we report on a 2 month‐old girl with Noonan syndrome associated with a de novo mutation in KRAS (p.P34Q) and premature closure of the sagittal suture. We provide a review of the literature of germline KRAS mutations and find that approximately 10% of published cases have craniosynostosis. Our findings expand on the NS phenotype and suggest that germline mutations in the KRAS gene are causally involved in craniosynostosis, supporting the role of the RAS‐MAPK pathway as a mediator of aberrant bone growth in cranial sutures. The inclusion of craniosynostosis as a possible phenotype in KRAS‐associated Noonan Syndrome has implications in the differential diagnosis and surgical management of individuals with craniosynostosis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Successful Renal Transplantation in a Patient with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Carrying Mutations in Both Factor I and MCP

Kidney transplantation in patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) carrying mutations in the soluble complement regulators factor H (CFH) or factor I (CFI) is associated with elevated risk of disease recurrence and almost certain graft loss. In contrast, recurrence is unusual in patients with mutations in the membrane‐associated complement regulator membrane cofactor protein (MCP) (CD46). Therefore, a panel of experts recently recommended the combined liver–kidney transplantation to minimize aHUS recurrence in patients with mutations in CFH or CFI. There was, however, very limited information regarding transplantation in patients carrying mutations in both soluble and membrane‐associated complement regulators to support a recommendation. Here, we report the case of an aHUS patient with a heterozygous mutation in both CFI and MCP who received an isolated kidney transplant expressing normal MCP levels. Critically, the patient suffered from a severe antibody‐mediated rejection that was successfully treated with plasmapheresis and IvIgG. Most important, despite the complement activation in the allograft, there was no evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy, suggesting that the normal MCP levels in the grafted kidney were sufficient to prevent the aHUS recurrence. Our results suggest that isolated kidney transplantation may be a good first option for care in aHUS patients carrying CFI/MCP combined heterozygous mutations.
Host-mediated modification of Sau3AI restriction in Listeria monocytogenes: prevalence in epidemic-associated strains

Most major food-related outbreaks of listeriosis have been traced to a cluster of genetically related strains of serovar 4b (epidemic clone). In spite of numerous searches, distinct bacteriologic or virulence-related features unique to these strains have eluded identification, although a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) characteristic of the epidemic clone has previously been described (W. Zheng and S. Kathariou, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:4310-4314, 1995). We found that DNAs from 75 strains which were derived from three separate outbreaks and which had the epidemic clone-specific RFLP were also invariably resistant to digestion by Sau3AI and other restriction endonucleases sensitive to cytosine methylation at 5' GATC 3' sites. This modification of Sau3AI restriction was host mediated, as it did not persist when DNA was cloned and propagated in Escherichia coli, and was uncommon among other Listeria strains. Epidemic-associated strains with this modification were resistant to infection by phage propagated in a serotype 4b strain which was not known to be involved in an epidemic and which lacked the epidemic clone-specific RFLP. Screening for susceptibility to MboI digestion revealed that these epidemic strains lacked methylation of adenines at GATC sites. This type of modification was rare among Listeria strains and was found in only three (of eight screened) strains of serovar 1/2b, possibly representing one clonal lineage.
Winning While Losing: Competition Dynamics in the Presence of Indirect Network Effects

What determines competition dynamics in markets with indirect network effects? We analyze this question in a dynamic hardware-software framework, where software firms compete in quality upgrades. We identify market structure as a major determinant of competition dynamics. Indirect network effects tie together the performance of firms on the same platform: A successful competitor raises the value of all firms on the same platform, where an unsuccessful firm may enjoy a windfall increase in its market value. In contrast to the tipping result in the literature, we find tendencies towards increasing competition across platforms for a wide range of market structures.
A stochastic learning algorithm for neuromemristive systems

In this paper, we present a stochastic learning algorithm for neuromemristive systems. Existing algorithms are based on gradient descent techniques, which require analog multiplications. The proposed algorithm removes the necessity for an analog multiplier by transforming each variable into a random Bernoulli-distributed value. Arithmetic operations on such values are easily implemented using digital circuits, reducing the area cost of the implementation. We tested the proposed algorithm and compared with the least-mean-squares algorithm on both linear and logistic regression problems. Results indicate that the proposed algorithm is able to achieve similar accuracy with up to ≈3.5× less area.
Iridium(I) Complexes with Hemilabile N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Efficient and Versatile Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts

A series of neutral and cationic rhodium and iridium(I) complexes based on hemilabile O-donor- and N-donor-functionalized NHC ligands having methoxy, dimethylamino, and pyridine as donor functions have been synthesized. The hemilabile fragment is coordinated to the iridium center in the cationic complexes [Ir(cod)(MeImR)]+ (R = pyridin-2-ylmethyl, 3-dimethylaminopropyl) but remains uncoordinated in the complexes [MBr(cod)(MeImR)], [M(NCCH3)(cod)(MeImR)]+ (M = Rh, Ir; R = 2-methoxyethyl and 2-methoxybenzyl) and [IrX(cod)(MeImR)] (X = Br, R = pyridin-2-ylmethyl; X = Cl, R = 2-dimethylaminoethyl, 3-dimethylaminopropyl). The structure of [IrBr(cod)(MeIm(2-methoxybenzyl))] has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The iridium complexes are efficient precatalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of cyclohexanone in 2-propanol/KOH. A comparative study has shown that cationic complexes are more efficient than the neutral and also that complexes having O-functionalized NHC ligands provide much more active systems th.