Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence of noncardiac vascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis and relationship to extraarticular disease manifestations.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the incidence of noncardiac vascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its relationship to systemic extraarticular disease in a community-based cohort. METHODS A retrospective medical record review of 609 patients with incident RA diagnosed during 1955-1994 was carried out in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Patients were followed up from 1955 to 2000 (median followup 11.8 years). Incident noncardiac vascular disease and severe extraarticular RA manifestations (including pericarditis, pleuritis, and vasculitis) were recorded according to predefined criteria, and incidence rates were estimated. Using Cox proportional hazards models, the risk (hazard ratio [HR]) of developing vascular events was assessed in patients with and without severe extraarticular RA. RESULTS Cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial events occurred in 139 patients (22.8%). The 30-year cumulative incidence rates of peripheral arterial events, cerebrovascular events, and venous thromboembolic events were estimated to be 19.6%, 21.6%, and 7.2%, respectively. The presence of severe extraarticular RA manifestations was found to be associated with all subgroups of noncardiac vascular disease except cerebrovascular disease alone (HR 2.3, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2-4.3 for peripheral arterial events; HR 3.7, 95% CI 1.3-10.3 for venous thromboembolic events; HR 1.5, 95% CI 0.7-3.2 for cerebrovascular events) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and rheumatoid factor status. CONCLUSION This is the first study to assess the incidence of noncardiac vascular disease in RA. Severe extraarticular RA was associated with all forms of noncardiac vascular disease except cerebrovascular disease alone. Similar to cardiac disease, the excess risk of noncardiac vascular disease in RA is likely to be related, in part, to the systemic inflammation associated with the extraarticular manifestations of RA.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Hip

For patients with osteoarthritis, nonpharmacologic treatment can be an effective adjunct to drug therapy. Patient education is essential; both community-based and independent self-care programs are available. Weight loss can improve function and alleviate symptoms; however, it is more effective when dietary modification is accompanied by increased physical activity.
A 1550nm PbSe quantum dots fiber amplifier excited by evanescent wave

A novel evanescent wave excited PbSe quantum dots fiber amplifier was proposed and studied. The PbSe quantum dots doped film was as the gain material which was dip-coated on to a fusion tapered fiber coupler. With 980nm wavelength LD as pump, optical amplification was observed at 1550nm wavelength.
Transient Increase in Cerebellar Transcriptional Activity Precedes the Expression of GABAA Receptor α6 Subunit mRNA during Postnatal Maturation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the postnatal expression of GABAA receptor α6 subunit genes in the context of cerebellar differentiation. We examined steady-state levels of GABAA receptor α1 and α6 subunit mRNAs, polyadenylated (polyA+) mRNA and β-actin mRNA in7-, 14-, 21-, 28-, 35-, 49- and 120-day-old rats. Messenger RNA expression and splicing were evaluated in parallel using Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry. The expression of mature GABAA receptor α6 subunit mRNA species (2.7 kb) was found 1 week after birth in cerebellar granule cells. Prior to stable expression of the mature α6 subunit gene, we detected large α6 subunit premessengers (3.8 and 3.5 kb) by Northern blot analysis. These premessenger species were detected in prenatal day (PND) 15 and neonatal rat cerebellum, when the mature α6 subunit mRNAs (2.7 kb) were not yet expressed. The maximal expression of mature α6 subunit mRNA species was observed at PND 21 when the peak level of cerebellar transcriptional activity was measured by polyA+ RNA levels. In contrast, β-actin mRNA expression was decreased at PND 21 compared to birth levels. These major transcriptional events take place during a period of about 1 week (between PND 14 and 21), immediately following the most active phase of cell division in the external granule layer and migration of granule cells to the internal granule cell layer. Comparison between the relative abundance of these genes shows that differential regulation of each gene occurs during postnatal development. The induction of GABAA receptor α6 subunit gene expression is preceded by a reduction in β-actin mRNA levels and a transient increase in total transcriptional activity. The expression of α6 subunit mRNA is maintained at the PND 21 level through adulthood, but the α1 subunit mRNA levels decrease drastically within the following week (from PND 21 to 28). These results suggest that tissue-specific expression of the GABAA receptor α6 subunit gene is correlated with a series of developmentally regulated morphologic and transcriptional events.
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Serotype d-Specific Antigen Contains the O Antigen of Lipopolysaccharide

ABSTRACT Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium which is associated especially with aggressive forms of periodontitis. Contradictory results on the localization of the A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype-specific antigen have been reported. The aim of the present study was to characterize the A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype d-specific antigen. The antigen was isolated by affinity chromatography. The affinity column was prepared from immunoglobulin G isolated from rabbit antiserum raised against A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype d. The isolated antigen was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and silver staining, all of which revealed a ladder-like structure typical for the O antigen of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In a displacement enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the isolated antigen displaced in a concentration-dependent manner the binding of the polyclonal rabbit antiserum raised against A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype d to the competing whole-cell serotype d antigen. The isolated antigen contained LPS, and an equal concentration of LPS isolated from A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype d gave a similar displacement curve in the ELISA. In order to test the immunogenic properties of the isolated antigen, it was used to immunize a rabbit. The antiserum raised against the isolated antigen displayed specificity in Western blotting and ELISA similar to that of antibody raised against LPS isolated from A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype d. In conclusion, our results show that the A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype d-specific antigen contains the O-antigenic structure of LPS.
Postsurgical outcome of patients with uncontrolled complex partial seizures and temporal lobe hypometabolism on 18FDG-positron emission tomography.

RATIONAL AND OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relation between a focus of temporal lobe hypometabolism, including comparison between mesial and lateral asymmetry on fluorine-18-labeled-deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) and surgical outcome in patients with uncontrolled partial seizures. METHODS Case histories, electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, radiographic findings, and surgical outcome (36 +/- 11 months of follow-up) were reviewed in 38 consecutive patients who had a interictal 18FDG-PET scan and subsequent temporal resection. RESULTS Among the 36 patients who had a temporal lobe focus of hypometabolism (more than 15% asymmetry to contralateral side), 61% (22 of 36) became seizure-free, 33% (12 of 36) markedly improved and 6% (2 of 36) did not improve. The focus of hypometabolism on PET was in agreement with the epileptic focus on the noninvasive EEG in 30 of 36 patients and in 19 of the 22 patients who underwent an invasive EEG. The asymmetry index for the mesial temporal lobe was significantly higher in the group of patients who became seizure-free compared with the other patients. CONCLUSION This study confirms that a focus of interictal temporal hypometabolism on PET is associated with marked improvement of seizure control after surgery in 94% (34 of 36) of the patients. Hypometabolism in the mesial temporal lobe appears to be associated with a seizure-free outcome.
Influence of the MV/LV Transformer Impedance on the Propagation of the PLC Signal in the Power Grid

Improving the operation of power grid and offering new smart applications, the deployment of a supervisory infrastructure is necessary. One solution to transmit data may be based on the power-line communication (PLC) technology. It consists of the superposition of high-frequency signals with the electrical signal of 50/60 Hz. However, the power grids have not been designed to operate in high frequencies. Therefore, they provide a transmission channel with difficult propagation conditions. This paper deals with the modeling of the medium-voltage/low-voltage (MV/LV) power transformers in PLC frequencies. The proposed models are based on the “lumped model” and “black box model. ” They are performed in the frequency band from 1 kHz to 1 MHz on SPICE and MATLAB software, respectively. These models are based on impedance measurements and validated by experimental data. The advantages and drawbacks of each model are detailed from the presentation of the modeling method and simulation results. The comparison of the simulation results show that “black box model” offers good accuracy. The transmission results show that transformers are an important element in PLC studies because they provide significant losses. Moreover, these losses depend mainly on the values of the impedance terminals of the MV/LV transformer.
Risk Factors and Prognosis of Anterior Commissure versus Posterior Commissure T1-T2 Glottic Cancer

For better understanding of the causation and behavior of T1–T2 commissural glottic laryngeal tumors, we retrospectively analyzed risk factors and outcome related to T class and type of therapy for tumors involving the anterior (184 cases) or the posterior (60 cases) commissure. The patients' smoking habits and alcohol consumption were similar, regardless of involved subsite. The disease-free interval was longer after surgery than after radiotherapy. The survival rates after recovery upon relapse were similar among subsites, T classes, and types of therapy. In anterior commissure tumors, the larynx remained preserved more frequently after partial laryngeal resection than after radiotherapy, and was more frequently preserved the lower the T class. In posterior commissure tumors, larynx preservation was less frequent and apparently independent of type of therapy or T class. In conclusion, smoking and alcohol consumption play similar pathogenetic roles in either subsite; partial laryngeal resection gave a higher rate of laryngeal preservation than did radiotherapy; and anatomic peculiarities of the subsites influence tumor behavior.
Intelligent and universal fast charger for Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries in portable applications

In this paper, a new fast charger is presented for Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries, which are the most frequently used in portable applications. In this charger, the control and supervision of the process has been entrusted to a microcontroller, which provides a powerful and intelligent tool to undertake complex tasks, and reduces the requested circuitry to the microcontroller itself and a few additional components. The resulting charger is able to work out the initial battery state (detecting deteriorated devices), decide the suitable way to charge it (ensuring a long cyclic life), and determine when the charge process must be finished. This way, the state of the battery is always controlled, preventing any damage to it and providing a fully protected operation mode. This paper summarizes the design and construction of the presented charger, as well as shows the experimental results obtained in the prototype tests.
Effect of heparin concentration and infusion rate on the patency of arterial catheters

In a prospective randomized controlled trial involving 470 arterial catheters in 470 children, we studied the effect of changing either the concentration or the flow rate of a heparin infusion. Although catheters tended to remain patent longer with a flow rate of 2 ml/h rather than 1 ml/h, the difference was not statistically significant. Increasing the heparin concentration from 1 to 5 U/ml signficantly prolonged catheter patency.
Chromium occurrence and speciation in Baltimore Harbor sediments and porewater, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Industrial activities in the Baltimore Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, have resulted in widespread chromium contamination of sediments. A comprehensive analysis of Cr speciation in sediment and porewater collected from 22 locations in the Baltimore Harbor was completed to understand Cr bioavailability and probability of toxicity due to Cr in sediments. The analysis employed a reverse‐phase ion‐pair high‐performance liquid chromatography‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐ICP‐MS) method. Sub‐microgram‐per‐liter determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in environmental samples was found, with method validation revealing broad method applicability of HPLC‐ICP‐MS to a wide range of sample types. The major limitation of the method was poor Cr species separation in high ionic strength solutions (greater than 0.1 M NaCl). Total Cr concentrations in Baltimore Harbor sediments ranged from 2.5 to 1,050 mg/kg with 11 of the 22 sites containing total Cr in excess of the 370 mg/ kg effects range‐median (ER‐M) sediment quality guideline. The Cr(VI) concentrations in sediments, however, were markedly lower, ranging from 0.10 to 0.38 mg/kg with Cr(VI) not detected in 14 of the 22 stations. Porewater concentrations, both for total Cr and Cr(VI), were quite low, with total Cr ranging from 0.20 to 2.16 μg/L and Cr(VI) ranging from 0.73 to 1.17 μg/L. The Cr(VI)‐reducing capacity of the sediments, based on a sediment‐spiking experiment, was found to be strongly correlated with the acid volatile sulfides content of the sediment. Overall, our results provide field validation of the hypothesis that Cr(VI) will not persist in sediments with excess acid volatile sulfides. Given the low concentrations of Cr(VI) in sediment and porewater, it appears unlikely that Cr in Baltimore Harbor sediments contributes appreciably to previously observed sediment toxicity.
SOIL SOLARIZATION IN THE CONTROL OF BEAN DISEASES CAUSED BY Sclerotium rolfsii

This study aimed at assessing the effects of soil solarization on diseases caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in bean plants. Treatments consisted of solarization of a soil previously infested with S. rolfsii and a standard treatment (no solarization). A randomized block experimental design was adopted, with four replications. We assessed disease severity by measuring emergence, final stand, incidence, and severity of the disease. Soil microbial activity and number of viable sclerotia were evaluated after the second crop was grown in the first year of the experiment. Soil solarization reduced the incidence and severity of stem rot caused by the fungus S. rolfsii in beans, as well as sclerotia viability. However, solarization was not effective for total control of the pathogen.
Stochastic phase resetting of two coupled phase oscillators stimulated at different times.

A model of two coupled phase oscillators is presented, where the oscillators are subject to random forces and are stimulated at different times. Transient phase dynamics, synchronization, and desynchronization, which are stimulus locked (i.e., tightly time locked to a repetitively administered stimulus), are investigated. Complex coordinated responses, in terms of a noise-induced switching across trials between qualitatively different responses, may occur when the two oscillators are reset close to an unstable fixed point of their relative phases. This can be achieved with an appropriately chosen delay between the two stimuli. The switching of the responses shows up as a coordinated cross-trial (CT) response clustering of the oscillators, where the two oscillators produce two different pairs of responses. By varying noise amplitude and coupling strength we observe a stochastic resonance and a coupling-mediated resonance of the CT response clustering, respectively. The presented data analysis method makes it possible to detect such processes in numerical and experimental signals. Its time resolution is enormous, since it is only restricted by the time resolution of the preprocessing necessary for extracting the phases from experimental data. In contrast, standard data analysis tools applied across trials relative to stimulus onset, such as CT averaging (where an ensemble of poststimulus responses is simply averaged), CT standard deviation, and CT cross correlation, fail in detecting complex coordinated responses and lead to severe misinterpretations and artifacts. The consequences for the analysis of evoked responses in medicine and neuroscience are significant and are discussed in detail.
Inhibition of DNA Damage-induced Apoptosis through Cdc7-mediated Stabilization of Tob*

Background: Preventing unnecessary cell death is essential for DNA-damaged cells to carry out the DNA repair process. Results: Cdc7 inhibits the Cul4-DDB1Cdt2-dependent Tob degradation. Conclusion: Cdc7 enables mild DNA-damaged cells to keep their viability by competing with the Tob degradation system. Significance: Cells deal with moderate DNA damage not only by cessation of the cell cycle but also through direct mediated pro-survival signaling. Cells respond to DNA damage by activating alternate signaling pathways that induce proliferation arrest or apoptosis. The correct balance between these two pathways is important for maintaining genomic integrity and preventing unnecessary cell death. The mechanism by which DNA-damaged cells escape from apoptosis during DNA repair is poorly understood. We show that the DNA replication-initiating kinase Cdc7 actively prevents unnecessary death in DNA-damaged cells. In response to mild DNA damage, Tob levels increase through both a transcriptional mechanism and protein stabilization, resulting in inhibition of pro-apoptotic signaling. Cells lacking Cdc7 expression undergo apoptosis after mild DNA damage, where Cul4-DDB1Cdt2 induces Tob ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Cdc7 phosphorylates and interacts with Tob to inhibit the Cul4-DDB1Cdt2-dependent Tob degradation. Thus, Cdc7 defines an essential pro-survival signaling pathway by contributing to stabilization of Tob, thereby the viability of DNA-damaged cells being maintained.
Estimation of Achievable Power Capacity From Plug-in Electric Vehicles for V2G Frequency Regulation: Case Studies for Market Participation

It is essential to estimate how much power can be delivered from vehicles to grid, called achievable power capacity (APC), for practical vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services. We propose a method of estimating the APC in a probabilistic manner. Its probability distribution is obtained from the normal approximation to the binomial distribution, and hence represented with two parameters, i.e., mean and covariance. Based on the probability distribution of the APC, we calculate the power capacity that V2G regulation providers (or V2G aggregators) are contracted to provide grid operators with, called the contracted power capacity (CPC). Four possible contract types between a grid operator and a V2G regulation provider are suggested and, for each contract type, a profit function is developed from the APC and the penalty imposed to the V2G aggregator. The CPCs for four contract types are chosen to maximize the corresponding profit functions. Finally, simulations are provided to illustrate the accuracy of the estimated probability distribution of APC and the effectiveness of the profit functions.
Identification of a new nonsense mutation (Tyr129Stop) of the SRY gene in a newborn infant with XY sex‐reversal

Point mutations and deletions of SRY gene have been described in several cases of XY gonadal dysgenesis. To date, most of these mutations affect the HMG domain of SRY which plays a central role in DNA binding activity of SRY. We report on a non‐mosaic XY sex‐reversed newborn girl (completely female external genitalia). The direct sequencing of SRY showed a new nonsense mutation in a codon of SRY gene flanking the 3′ end of the HMG domain: a thymine is replaced by a guanine at position +387 in codon 129, resulting in the replacement of the amino acid tyrosine (TAT) by a stop codon (TAG). The new mutation of this patient provides further evidence to support the functional importance of the putative DNA binding activity of the HMG‐box domain. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The north-east-Brazilian Liana, Adenocalymna dichilum (Bignoniaceae) pollinated by bats.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Of the set of syndromes displayed by specialized (euphilic) flowers, adaptation to pollination by bats (chiropterophily) is the least known. Accumulated new evidence reveals that this pollination mode plays a considerable role in tropical communities, especially in the neotropics. One family in which bat-pollinated species are known in several genera is the Bignoniaceae. Here is reported, for the first time, bat pollination and floral ecology in Adenocalymna dichilum (tribe Bignonieae). METHODS Floral features of this species growing in Bahia (north-east Brazil) indicated possible chiropterophily, which was subsequently confirmed by direct observation and from photographs of bat visits. Timing of anthesis and nectar parameters were monitored in the field, and floral morphology was investigated with fixed flowers. KEY RESULTS One to two flowers open per night on the upright, simple racemes of A. dichilum during several weeks in a 'steady state' mode. The bilabiate, cream-coloured corollas are functional for only a single night and wilt during the following day. A stout corolla, with a musky odour, and a large nectary disc with large quantities of watery nectar also conform to the syndrome. Glossophaga soricina (Glossophaginae) visited and pollinated the flowers in a trap-lining manner. Whilst hovering, the bats put their heads into the corolla mouth for less than 1 s to feed, thereby effecting the transfer of pollen which is deposited on their backs. CONCLUSIONS Adenocalymna, a New World genus comprising approx. 50 species, exhibits floral adaptive radiation including species pollinated by bees, birds and possibly moths. The discovery of chiropterophily in A. dichilum adds another facet to the array of floral syndromes represented in the genus.
The RASSF1A Tumor Suppressor Blocks Cell Cycle Progression and Inhibits Cyclin D1 Accumulation

ABSTRACT The RASSF1A locus at 3p21.3 is epigenetically inactivated at high frequency in a variety of solid tumors. Expression of RASSF1A is sufficient to revert the tumorigenicity of human cancer cell lines. We show here that RASSF1A can induce cell cycle arrest by engaging the Rb family cell cycle checkpoint. RASSF1A inhibits accumulation of native cyclin D1, and the RASSF1A-induced cell cycle arrest can be relieved by ectopic expression of cyclin D1 or of other downstream activators of the G1/S-phase transition (cyclin A and E7). Regulation of cyclin D1 is responsive to native RASSF1A activity, because RNA interference-mediated downregulation of endogenous RASSF1A expression in human epithelial cells results in abnormal accumulation of cyclin D1 protein. Inhibition of cyclin D1 by RASSF1A occurs posttranscriptionally and is likely at the level of translational control. Rare alleles of RASSF1A, isolated from tumor cell lines, encode proteins that fail to block cyclin D1 accumulation and cell cycle progression. These results strongly suggest that RASSF1A is an important human tumor suppressor protein acting at the level of G1/S-phase cell cycle progression.