Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Troponin in hematologic oncology

In cardiology practice, the standard method of evaluating patients with suspected ischemic myocardial injury is an assay that measures the release of troponin into the bloodstream. In hematologic oncology practice, troponin has been investigated extensively as a measure of myocardial injury after therapy with radiation and anthracyclines and after myeloablative therapies with stem cell replacement. This review describes the current literature on use of troponin for monitoring early and late complications of systemic chemotherapy. The use of troponin to assess the value of cardioprotective agents (used for prevention of chemotherapy-induced myocardial injury) also is reviewed. Because a number of nonmalignant hematologic disorders such as hypereosinophilic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis can affect the heart, the use of the troponin in assessing these patients' prognoses is also covered.
Dominant Negative N‐Cadherin Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation by Interfering With β‐Catenin Regulation of RANKL, Independent of Cell‐Cell Adhesion

We studied the effects of dominant negative N‐cadherin (NCadΔC) expression in ST2 cells on their ability to support osteoclastogenesis. Expression of NCadΔC in ST2 cells did not decrease cell‐to‐cell adhesion but significantly reduced osteoclast formation when co‐cultured with BMMs. NCadΔC inhibited β‐catenin/TCF signaling, resulting in decreased RANKL expression, which could contribute to the reduced osteoclast formation.
Churg-Strauss syndrome presented as multiple intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage is an uncommon sequel of Churg-Strauss syndrome. We describe a 27 y old Taiwanese male patient who was clinicopathologically diagnosed as Churg-Strauss syndrome. The patient experienced a sudden onset of blurring of vision and slowness of motion and speech. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed lobar hemorrhage on right parieto-occipital and left parietal areas. The cause of cerebral hemorrhage was probably due to poorly controlled high blood pressure and vasculitis. He received pulse therapy of methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide followed by oral prednisolone. His neurological symptoms responded well to such a regimen. Cerebral hemorrhage is a major cause of morbidity and death in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome. Uncontrolled high blood pressure may cause cerebral hemorrhage. Careful monitor of blood pressure is critical for the management of Churg-Strauss syndrome patients.
Survey on the occurrence of photo-initiators and amine synergists in cartonboard packaging on the German market and their migration into the packaged foodstuffs

In a surveillance study from 2008 to 2011, in total 310 food products, predominately packed in cartonboard, were collected from the German market. First, the packaging materials were analysed for their content of six photo-initiators and five amine synergists by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). If high amounts of these substances were detected, subsequently the foodstuffs were analysed by means of HPLC-MS or tandem MS, respectively. Benzophenone (BP) was detected in 49% of the packaging materials and was thus the most often determined compound, followed by 4-methylbenzophenone (MBP, 8%), 1-hydroxy-cyclohexylphenylketone (HCHPK, 7%) and methyl-o-benzoylbenzoate (MOBB, 5%). In total, 99 foodstuffs were analysed and in 20 cases one or more photo-initiators and/or amine synergists were detected in quantities above the legally acceptable limits in food. This resulted in several notifications in the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF); the best known is MBP in breakfast cereals. Contamination of the foodstuff by the photo-initiators and/or amine synergists also occurred when it was in indirect contact with the printed packaging material and no adequate barrier material was used to prevent migration. The data also clearly demonstrate that polyethylene films are not suitable to inhibit migration. Storage of samples until the best before date showed that HCHPK, BP and MBP migrate very easily via the gas phase. In contrast, 4-phenylbenzophenone and 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone migrated only very slowly or, respectively, not in quantifiable amounts into the foodstuffs. Differences in transfer rates for HCHPK, BP and MBP from several packagings into food and Tenax®, respectively, lead to the assumption that both the food matrix as well as the extent of cross-linking of the printing ink during curing may have an influence on the level of migration.
21 tRNA Splicing: An RNA World Add-on or an Ancient Reaction?

Introns are encoded in the genes for tRNA in organisms from all three kingdoms of life. Their removal is an essential step in the maturation of tRNA precursors. In Bacteria, introns are self-splicing and are removed by a group 1 splicing mechanism (Kuhsel et al. 1990; Reinhold-Hurek and Shub 1992; Biniszkiewicz et al. 1994). In Eukaryotes and Archaea, intron removal is mediated enzymatically by proteins. Recent progress in understanding both eukaryotic and archaeal tRNA splicing has revealed that the two processes, previously thought to be unrelated, are in fact similar. Insight gained from the comparison has provided a clearer understanding of intron recognition, the catalysis of intron removal, and has given new insight into the evolution of the tRNA splicing process. INTRON-CONTAINING tRNA tRNA Introns in Eukaryotes Intervening sequences (introns) were discovered 20 years ago in the yeast genes for the tyrosine-inserting non-sense suppressor tRNA (Goodman et al. 1977) and for tRNA Phe (Valenzuela et al. 1978). With the completion of the yeast genome, it is known that of the 274 yeast tRNA genes 61, or 20%, contain introns. Table 1 lists the tRNAs that contain introns. PCR cloning of tRNAs from higher eukaryotes has revealed a similar distribution of intron-containing tRNA (Stange and Beier 1986; Green et al. 1990; Schneider et al. 1993). The introns in all of the genes are small (14–60 bases), and they are all located in the same position, one base to the 3′ side of the anticodon (Fig. 1A). Structure probing revealed that the.
Targeted gene expression in Drosophila dopaminergic cells using regulatory sequences from tyrosine hydroxylase.

Dopamine (DA) is the only catecholaminergic neurotransmitter in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Dopaminergic neurons have been identified in the larval and adult central nervous system (CNS) in Drosophila and other insects, but no specific genetic tool was available to study their development, function, and degeneration in vivo. In Drosophila as in vertebrates, the rate-limiting step in DA biosynthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The Drosophila TH gene (DTH) is specifically expressed in all dopaminergic cells and the corresponding mutant, pale (ple), is embryonic lethal. We have performed ple rescue experiments with modified DTH transgenes. Our results indicate that partially redundant regulatory elements located in DTH introns are required for proper expression of this gene in the CNS. Based on this study, we generated a GAL4 driver transgene, TH-GAL4, containing regulatory sequences from the DTH 5' flanking and downstream coding regions. TH-GAL4 specifically expresses in dopaminergic cells in embryos, larval CNS, and adult brain when introduced into the Drosophila genome. As a first application of this driver, we observed that in vivo inhibition of DA release induces a striking hyperexcitability behavior in adult flies. We propose that TH-GAL4 will be useful for studies of the role of DA in behavior and disease models in Drosophila.
TAX POLICY AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES

This paper provides an analysis of and some evidence relating to the influence of domestic tax policy on foreign direct investment in the United States. First, the potential effects of tax policy are analyzed and found to be very different from those previously recognized. Then, an empirical analysis is performed which, despite substantial measurement difficulties, suggests that foreign investment in the U.S. is strongly affected, in the manner predicted on the basis of the model, by changes in domestic tax policy.
Relating Epicardial to Body Surface Potential Distributions by Means of Transfer Coefficients Based on Geometry Measurements

Although it has been known throughout this century that a complex sequence of electrical events is produced on the body surface by the electrophysiological properties of the heart, the question of how well these body surface events can be explained mathematically on the basis of experimental measurements of cardiac geometry and electrical activity remains unanswered. Recent advances in experimental capabilities have made possible the near simultaneous measurement of both cardiac epicardial and corresponding body surface potential distributions from in vivo animal preparations using chronically implanted electrodes to keep the volume conductor intact. This report provides a method for finding transfer coefficients that relate the epicardial and body surface potential distributions to each other. The method is based on knowing the geometric location of each electrode, and on having enough electrodes to establish the geometric shape and the potential distribution of closed epicardial and body surfaces. However, the method does not require that either the heart or body surfaces have any special shape, such as that of a sphere, or that any electrical quantities, such as voltage gradients, be known in addition to the potentials. The use of potential distributions to represent heart electrical activity is advantageous since such distributions can be directly measured experimentally, without a transformation to any other form, such as multiple current-generating dipoles, being required. This report includes a statement of the underlying integral equations, the procedure. for finding the equations' coefficients from geometry measurements, some considerations for computer algorithms, and an example.
Comparison of the gold standard of hemoglobin measurement with the clinical standard (BGA) and noninvasive hemoglobin measurement (SpHb) in small children: a prospective diagnostic observational study

Collecting a blood sample is usually necessary to measure hemoglobin levels in children. Especially in small children, noninvasively measuring the hemoglobin level could be extraordinarily helpful, but its precision and accuracy in the clinical environment remain unclear. In this study, noninvasive hemoglobin measurement and blood gas analysis were compared to hemoglobin measurement in a clinical laboratory.
The adoption and use of electronic banking by SMEs in Australia: an exploratory study

In the competitive world of commerce SMEs must examine every new enabling technology to not only remain competitive but to stay in business. Information technology is now providing SMEs with basic business tools that will enable them to increase their attention on their core business activities. One activity that can be greatly improved by information technology is electronic banking. In this paper we examine the use and adoption of electronic banking in an Australian context.
The NMR solution structure of the ion channel peptaibol chrysospermin C bound to dodecylphosphocholine micelles.

Chrysospermin C is a 19-residue peptaibol capable of forming transmembrane ion channels in phospholipid bilayers. The conformation of chrysospermin C bound to dodecylphosphocholine micelles has been solved using heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Selective 15N-labeling and 13C-labeling of specific alpha-aminoisobutyric acid residues was used to obtain complete stereospecific assignments for all eight alpha-aminoisobutyric acid residues. Structures were calculated using 339 distance constraints and 40 angle constraints obtained from NMR data. The NMR structures superimpose with mean global rmsd values to the mean structure of 0. 27 A (backbone heavy atoms) and 0.42 A (all heavy atoms). Chrysospermin C bound to decylphosphocholine micelles displays two well-defined helices at the N-terminus (residues Phe1-Aib9) and C-terminus (Aib13-Trp-ol19). A slight bend preceding Pro14, i.e. encompassing residues 10-12, results in an angle of approximately 38 degrees between the mean axes of the two helical regions. The bend structure observed for chrysospermin C is compatible with the sequences of all 18 long peptaibols and may represent a common 'active' conformation. The structure of chrysospermin C shows clear hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces which would be appropriate for the formation of oligomeric ion channels.
The Major Histocompatibility Complex Conserved Extended Haplotype 8.1 in AIDS-Related Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background:Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in adjacent genes, lymphotoxin alpha (LTA +252G, rs909253 A>G) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF −308A, rs1800629 G>A), form the G-A haplotype repeatedly associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in individuals uninfected with HIV-1. This association has been observed alone or in combination with human leukocyte antigens HLA-B*08 or HLA-DRB1*03 in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Which gene variant on this highly conserved extended haplotype (CEH 8.1) in whites most likely represents a true etiologic factor remains uncertain. Objective:We aimed to determine whether the reported association of the G-A haplotype of LTA-TNF with non-AIDS NHL also occurs with AIDS-related NHL. Methods:SNPs in LTA and TNF and in 6 other genes nearby were typed in 140 non-Hispanic European American pairs of AIDS-NHL cases and matched controls selected from HIV-infected men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Results:The G-A haplotype and a 4-SNP haplotype in the neighboring gene cluster (rs537160 (A) rs1270942 (G), rs2072633 (A), and rs6467 (C)) were associated with AIDS-NHL (odds ratio = 2.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.5 to 4.8, P = 0.0009; and odds ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.6 to 6.6, P = 0.0008; respectively). These 2 haplotypes occur in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other on CEH 8.1. Conclusion:The CEH 8.1-specific haplotype association of MHC class III variants with AIDS-NHL closely resembles that observed for non-AIDS NHL. Corroboration of an MHC determinant of AIDS and non-AIDS NHL alike would imply an important pathogenetic mechanism common to both.
Generation of Single-Copy Transposon Insertions in Clostridium perfringens by Electroporation of Phage Mu DNA Transposition Complexes

ABSTRACT Transposon mutagenesis is a tool that is widely used for the identification of genes involved in the virulence of bacteria. Until now, transposon mutagenesis in Clostridium perfringens has been restricted to the use of Tn916-based methods with laboratory reference strains. This system yields primarily multiple transposon insertions in a single genome, thus compromising its use for the identification of virulence genes. The current study describes a new protocol for transposon mutagenesis in C. perfringens, which is based on the bacteriophage Mu transposition system. The protocol was successfully used to generate a single-insertion mutant library both for a laboratory strain and for a field isolate. Thus, it can be used as a tool in large-scale screening to identify virulence genes of C. perfringens.
Improving Database Storage Usability with the Cloud-Based Architecture

Database is widely used for information storage and management. With the explosion of the data size, the requirement of the storage capacity is growing dramatically. Cloud offers clients a scalable solution to meet the demand of the increasing space. A cloud service, if used and managed properly, can increase the resource usability and provide more secure services. In this paper, we propose a cloud-based database architecture that increases the database storage usability meanwhile ensuring the data security. In this architecture, we move the database storage into a shared cloud-based server and leave the database engine at user’s domain. The transmission of database physical files between the cloud and the database engine is achieved through Network File System. To avoid information leakage incurred by attacks on the cloud, the physical files stored in the cloud were encrypted by the database engine. To verify our idea, we used MySQL as our study case and evaluated the performance of this new architecture. A series of experiments indicate that the proposed architecture is promising in improving storage sharing, meanwhile guaranteeing the data security.
Time-domain computing circuits for addition and multiplication computation

This paper presents an addition and multiplication computation cell using pulse train time amplifier (TA) and time register (TR), which could be easily extend to large-scale computation. The proposed pulse train TA exploits a delay cell ring to realize large input range. In TR a gated delay line with MOS capacitor is adopted to achieve both large number computation and high resolution. Finally, a 6-bit addition and multiplication computation cell is designed and implemented in 130nm CMOS process. It achieves 313ps of time resolution with varying multiplier and 1.926ps with varying multiplicand. The static power consumption of the chip is 11.09uW and the area is 0.0324mm2.
A numerical approximation scheme for reachability analysis of stochastic hybrid systems with state-dependent switchings

We describe a methodology for reachability analysis of a certain class of stochastic hybrid systems, whose continuous dynamics is governed by stochastic differential equations and discrete dynamics by state-dependent probabilistic transitions. The main feature of the proposed methodology is that it rests on the weak approximation of the solution to the stochastic differential equation with random mode transitions by a Markov chain. Reachability computations then reduce to propagating the transition probabilities of the approximating Markov chain. An example of applications to system verification is presented.
Design of Affinity Tags for One‐Step Protein Purification from Immobilized Zinc Columns

Affinity tags are often used to accomplish recombinant protein purification using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. Success of the tag depends on the chelated metal used and the elution profile of the host cell proteins. Zn(II)‐iminodiacetic acid (Zn(II)‐IDA) may prove to be superior to either immobilized copper or nickel as a result of its relatively low binding affinity for cellular proteins. For example, almost all Escherichia coli proteins elute from Zn(II)‐IDA columns between pH 7.5 and 7.0 with very little cellular protein emerging at pH values lower than 7.0. Thus, a large portion of the Zn(II)‐IDA elution profile may be free of contaminant proteins, which can be exploited for one‐step purification of a target protein from raw cell extract. In this paper we have identified several fusion tags that can direct the elution of the target protein to the low background region of the Zn(II)‐IDA elution profile. These tags allow targeting of proteins to different regions of the elution profile, facilitating purification under mild conditions.
Screening and Brief Interventions for Illicit Drug Use and Alcohol Use in Methadone Maintained Opiate-Dependent Patients: Results of a Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Feasibility Study

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a single clinician delivered brief intervention (BI) to reduce problem alcohol use and illicit substance use in an opiate-dependent methadone maintained cohort of patients attending for treatment. Methods: Four addiction treatment centers were randomly assigned to either treatment as usual (TAU; control group) or BI (intervention group). Clinicians screened patients using the alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) screening tool at baseline and again at three-month follow up. Fidelity checks were performed to ensure that training was delivered effectively and uniformly across all study sites. Feasibility of administering a BI within daily practice was assessed through intervention fidelity checks, patient satisfaction questionnaires and process evaluation. Results: A total of 465 patients were screened (66% of the overall eligible population) with a total of 433 (93%) ASSIST positive cases. Randomization was effective, with no differences in the control versus the intervention arms at baseline for key demographic or clinical indicators including substance us. There was a statistically significant difference between global risk score for the intervention (x = 39.36, sd = 25.91) group and the control group (x = 45.27, SD = 27.52) at 3-month follow-up (t(341) = −2.07, p < . 05). Conclusions: This trial provides the first evidence that a single clinician delivered BI can result in a reduction in substance use within a methadone maintained opiate-dependent cohort, and this effect is sustained at three month follow up.
ENSO and Short-Term Variability of the South Equatorial Current Entering the Coral Sea

AbstractHistorical section data extending to 1985 are used to estimate the interannual variability of transport entering the Coral Sea between New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. Typical magnitudes of this variability are ±5–8 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) in the 0–400-m layer relative to 400 m, and ±8–12 Sv in the 0–2000-m layer relative to 2000 m, on a mean of close to −30 Sv (relative to 2000 m). Transport increases a few months after an El Nino event and decreases following a La Nina. Interannual transport variability is well simulated by a reduced-gravity long Rossby wave model. Vigorous westward-propagating mesoscale eddies can yield substantial aliasing on individual ship or glider surveys. Since transport variability is surface intensified and well correlated with satellite-derived surface geostrophic currents, a simple index of South Equatorial Current transport based on satellite altimetry is developed.
cDNA cloning of Japanese oyster stress protein homologous to the mammalian 78-kDa glucose regulated protein and its induction by heatshock

The 78-kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78), a member of stress proteins, was cloned from a cDNA library of Japanese oyster Crassostrea gigas. The analysis on Japanese oyster GRP78 clone of approximately 2.6 kb revealed that the entire open reading frame was 1983 bp long and encoded 661 amino acid residues. At the DNA sequence level, the coding region of Japanese oyster GRP78 gene was 72, 62, and 62% identical to those of chicken GRP78, Japanese flounder HSP70, and Japanese flounder HSC71 genes, respectively. Deduced amino acid sequence of Japanese oyster GRP78 was 84, 62, and 62% identical to those of chicken GRP78, Japanese flounder HSP70, and Japanese flounder HSC71, respectively. Japanese oyster GRP78 contained an 18-residue sequence at the N-terminus that exhibits characteristics of a cleavable signal sequence. It also contained an ATPase domain, and a peptide-binding domain in addition to a Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu (KDEL) peptide motif that is involved in determining endoplasmic reticulum localization. Northern blot analysis showed that GRP78 mRNA was induced with heatshock treatment in the oyster tissues.