Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of haemoglobin A1c measurement by an enzymatic method using an automated analyser that has an on-board haemolysis system

Background Enzymatic assays, which can be run on a general automated clinical analyser, have been developed for haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement. The performance of the BM Test HbA1c which is an enzymatic HbA1c assay was evaluated using the Bio Majesty (BM)6010/C, which has an on-board haemolysis system. Methods We evaluated whether the difference in sampling position from the centrifuged erythrocyte layer caused a difference in HbA1c values obtained by the BM6010/C and the Tosoh G7. The performance of the BM Test HbA1c was evaluated. Results The results of the paired t-test showed no significant difference between the values of HbA1c when the tip positions of the sample probe were at 1 mm, 3 mm or 5 mm and the values given by the Tosoh G7. The coefficient of variation (CV) of intra-assay and inter-assay precision were both approximately 1.0%. The correlation coefficient obtained from an analysis of 351 routine laboratory samples with the BM Test HbA1c and the Tosoh G7 was 0.994. The upper limit of linearity was verified up to 17.0 (NGSP%). No interference was observed from chemically modified derivatives of haemoglobin. The presence of haemoglobin variants produced no statistically significant differences in the results between the BM Test HbA1c and the Primus high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Accuracy evaluation using an International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) HbA1C control was within 3.4% relative error (%) of the assigned value. Conclusions The above outcomes prove that the measurement system, the BM Test HbA1c analysed on the BM6010/C, which has an on-board haemolysis system, is effective in laboratory routine tests.
Upconversion Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Properties, Assembly and Applications

Upconversion nanocrystals represent a new class of nonlinear optical materials that can convert low energy radiation into higher energy radiation. Recent advances in synthesis techniques have produced nanocrystals with controllable size and color emission as well as novel surface properties that enable such attributes as water solubility and biological functionality. This in turn has led to an explosion in research activity, primarily targeted towards biological applications. This Review seeks to fill the need for a broad-based introduction to the capabilities of upconversion nanocrystals while emphasizing the properties that could be of use to readers from various disciplines.
Domain-domain interactions in high mobility group 1 protein (HMG1).

The high mobility group protein HMG1 is a conserved chromosomal protein with two homologous DNA-binding domains, A and B, and an acidic carboxy-terminal tail, C. The structure of isolated domains A and B has been previously determined by NMR, but the interactions of the different domains within the complete protein were unknown. By means of differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism we have investigated the thermal stability of HMG1, of the truncated protein A-B (HMG1 without the acidic tail C) and of the isolated domains A and B. In 3 mm sodium acetate buffer, pH 5, the thermal melting of domains A and B are identical (transition temperature tm = 43 degrees C and 41 degrees C, denaturation enthalpies DeltaH = 46 kcal.mol-1). The thermal melting of protein A-B presents two nearly identical transitions (tm = 40 degrees C and 41 degrees C, DeltaH = 44 kcal.mol-1 and 46 kcal.mol-1, respectively). We conclude that the two domains A and B within protein A-B behave as independent domains. The thermal melting of HMG1 is biphasic. The two transitions have a different value of tm (38 degrees C and 55 degrees C) and corresponding values of DeltaH around 40 kcal.mol-1. We conclude that within HMG1, the acidic tail C is interacting with one of the two domains A and B, however, the two domains A and B do not interact with each other. At 37 degrees C, one of the two domains A and B, within HMG1, is partly unfolded, whereas the other which interacts with the acidic tail C, is fully native. The interaction free energy of the acidic tail C is estimated to be in the range of 2.5 kcal.mol-1 based on simulations of the thermograms of HMG1 as a function of the interaction free energy.
Early development of critical illness myopathy and neuropathy in patients with severe sepsis

Objectives: To characterize the prevalence, time of onset, and cause of neuromuscular dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in which participants with severe sepsis underwent weekly neurologic examinations and nerve conduction studies (NCSs) within 72 hours of developing severe sepsis until intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Electromyography was preformed if clinical weakness developed or if there was a significant reduction in nerve conduction response amplitudes. Results: Abnormal NCS were present upon enrollment in 63% of patients (31/48). The presence of abnormal baseline NCS was predictive of hospital mortality (55% vs 0% for patients with normal baseline NCS; p < 0.001). Development of acquired neuromuscular dysfunction could be predicted by NCS done on day 7. Twenty patients remained in the ICU long enough to have serial NCSs; 50% of these patients developed acquired neuromuscular dysfunction. Most patients with acquired neuromuscular dysfunction had electrophysiologic evidence of both critical illness myopathy and critical illness neuropathy. Conclusion: Changes in nerve conduction studies occur in the majority of patients early in the course of severe sepsis and predict the development of acquired neuromuscular dysfunction and mortality in intensive care unit patients. Most patients with acquired neuromuscular dysfunction after sepsis have both critical illness myopathy and critical illness neuropathy.
Specific Sorting and Post-Golgi Trafficking of Dendritic Potassium Channels in Living Neurons*

Background: Voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels are localized in specific dendritic subcompartments of neurons to regulate dendritic excitability. Results: Dendritic Kv channels are sorted and trafficked in distinct populations of post-Golgi transport vesicles. Conclusion: Sorting of Kv channels and their subsequent trafficking by unique mechanisms are crucial for their specific localizations within dendrites. Significance: Our study reveals the existence of novel subcompartment-specific trafficking pathways for dendritic ion channels. Proper membrane localization of ion channels is essential for the function of neuronal cells. Particularly, the computational ability of dendrites depends on the localization of different ion channels in specific subcompartments. However, the molecular mechanisms that control ion channel localization in distinct dendritic subcompartments are largely unknown. Here, we developed a quantitative live cell imaging method to analyze protein sorting and post-Golgi vesicular trafficking. We focused on two dendritic voltage-gated potassium channels that exhibit distinct localizations: Kv2.1 in proximal dendrites and Kv4.2 in distal dendrites. Our results show that Kv2.1 and Kv4.2 channels are sorted into two distinct populations of vesicles at the Golgi apparatus. The targeting of Kv2.1 and Kv4.2 vesicles occurred by distinct mechanisms as evidenced by their requirement for specific peptide motifs, cytoskeletal elements, and motor proteins. By live cell and super-resolution imaging, we identified a novel trafficking machinery important for the localization of Kv2.1 channels. Particularly, we identified non-muscle myosin II as an important factor in Kv2.1 trafficking. These findings reveal that the sorting of ion channels at the Golgi apparatus and their subsequent trafficking by unique molecular mechanisms are crucial for their specific localizations within dendrites.
The Inhibitory Effects of Sevoflurane on Angiotensin II- Induced, p44/42 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Mediated Contraction of Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle

Sevoflurane dilates blood vessels and reduces arterial blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is one of the primary regulators of vascular tension and arterial blood pressure, and the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p44/42 MAPK) are involved in Ang II-mediated vascular smooth muscle contraction. We designed this study to examine the effects of sevoflurane on Ang II-induced, p44/42 MAPK-mediated contraction of rat aortic smooth muscle. The effects of the p44/42 MAPK kinase (MEK1/2) inhibitor, PD 098059 (10−5 molar [M], 5 × 10−5 M and 10−4 M), and sevoflurane (1.7%, 3.4%, and 5.1%) on Ang II-induced contraction and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation were tested in rat aortic smooth muscle, using isometric force measurement and Western blot analysis, respectively. Ang II induced both a transient contractile response and phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK, which were significantly attenuated by PD 098059 (P < 0.05–0.01). Sevoflurane inhibited Ang II-induced contractile response in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05 and 0.01 in response to 3.4% and 5.1% sevoflurane, respectively). Sevoflurane also dose-dependently depressed Ang II-elicited p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation (P < 0.01 in response to 3.4% and 5.1% sevoflurane). These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of sevoflurane on Ang II-induced vasoconstriction is, at least in part, caused by the inhibition of the p44/42 MAPK-mediated signaling pathway.
Étude des propriétés mécaniques des protéines par modélisation moléculaire

Du fait de leur importance pour la fonction, les proprietes mecaniques des proteines font aujourd'hui l'objet d'une attention toute particuliere. Nous avons utilise divers outils de la modelisation moleculaire afin d'ameliorer notre comprehension de ces proprietes. Nous avons etudie, par le biais de simulations de dynamique moleculaire, la dynamique de molecules d'adhesion cellulaire, les E-cadherines. Dans ce cadre, nous nous sommes interesses a l'influence des ions calcium sur la flexibilite de la molecule et sur la dimerisation. Nous avons egalement etudie les trois formes dimeriques observees experimentalement et discute leur role potentiel dans les phenomenes d'adhesion. Nous avons par ailleurs developpe divers outils methodologiques pour l'etude des proteines. Le premier consiste en une nouvelle mesure de la flexibilite des proteines a l'echelle du residu, obtenue par des minimisations d'energie sous contrainte. Cette methode permet en outre de reperer des domaines dynamiques au sein des architectures proteiques par l'etude des deformations engendrees lors de l'application des contraintes. Nous avons egalement developpe un nouveau modele de representation des proteines a mi-chemin entre la representation "tout-atome" et les representations "gros grains", qui devrait permettre l'etude de systemes de grande taille en conservant une precision atomique dans les zones les plus importantes de la proteine.
Beyond Philosophy: Ethics, History, Marxism, and Liberation Theology

Part 1 I. General Hypotheses Chapter 2 Domination-Liberation: A New Approach Chapter 3 The Bread of the Eucharist Celebration as a Sign of Justice in the Community Chapter 4 The "World-System": Europe as "Center" and its "Periphery" Beyond Eurocentrism Part 5 II. Liberating Theology Chapter 6 The Kingdom of God and the Poor Chapter 7 'Populus Dei' in Populo Pauperum: From Vatican II to Medellin and Puebla Chapter 8 Exodus as a Paradigm in Liberation Theology Part 9 III. Ethics and Economics Chapter 10 Racism: A Report on the Situation in Latin America Chapter 11 An Ethics of Liberation: Fundamental Hypotheses Chapter 12 Theology and Economy: The Theological Paradigm of Communicative Action and the Paradigm of the Community of Life as a Theology of Liberation Chapter 13 Ethical Sense of the 1994 Maya Rebellion in Chiapas Part 14 IV. History Chapter 15 From Secularization to Secularism: Science from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment Chapter 16 Modern Christianity in Face of the 'Other'(from The 'Rude' Indian to the 'Noble Savage' Chapter 17 Was America Discovered or Invaded?
Robust operation of double-output AC machine drive

This paper presents strategies for maintaining operation of a double-output AC machine drive in the presence of various component failures. With a short/open-switch fault, the drive is capable of operating the AC machine at a reduced power capability by creating an artificial neutral. The procedures of mode transition are shown to depend on the system configuration. This operating method can be applied to both induction and permanent magnet synchronous machines as long as they can sustain a few cycles of increased current. Robust operation of the drive in case of short-circuit fault in the phase winding is also presented. It is also demonstrated in this paper the operating method when one of the two isolated DC sources is interrupted. This work further discusses the two-phase operation mode in which one faulted phase is isolated from the remaining portion of the circuit. Simulink simulation results are presented.
Resistance mediated by alternative receptor tyrosine kinases in FGFR1-amplified lung cancer

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) amplification has been identified in 10-20% of patients with squamous non-small-cell lung cancer. Preclinical models showed promising activity of specific FGFR inhibitors, but early clinical trials showed that only a small fraction of patients with FGFR1-amplified lung cancer responded to FGFR inhibitors. These unsatisfactory results were partly explained by heterogeneous amplicons around the 8p11 genomic region, leading to false-positive amplification results. Furthermore, discrepancies in the gene amplification and protein expression of FGFR1 were also reported. In this study, we identified the roles of alternative receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in FGFR1-amplified lung cancer. These alternative RTKs dominantly activate phosphoinositide 3-kinase-AKT signaling and also mitigate sustained inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling by FGFR inhibitors. The rebound activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation was associated with sensitivity to the drugs. Combinatorial inhibition of alternative RTKs and FGFR1 was required to suppress both AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and to induce key pro-apoptotic proteins BIM and p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). Furthermore, even in FGFR inhibitor-sensitive NCI-H1581 lung cancer cells, MET-expressing clones were already detectable at a very low frequency before resistance induction. Selection of these pre-existing subclones resulted in FGFR inhibitor resistance because of the activation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase by MET signaling that was mediated by GRB2 associated binding protein 1 (GAB1). These results suggest that incomplete suppression of key survival signals led to intrinsic and acquired resistance to FGFR inhibitors. Our results may help explain the low clinical response rates to FGFR inhibitors in FGFR1-amplified lung cancer.
Topographic Analysis of EEG Photic Driving in Normal and Schizophrenic Subjects

In a 19-channel EEG photic driving paradigm the steady-state evoked response was studied in schizophrenic patients and normal controls. Seventeen drug-free patients and 15 normal controls were compared. Schizophrenic patients had lower EEG photic driving in the alpha range, particularly in the high alpha frequency band (p = 0.08). Topographic analysis revealed that the group differences were primarily located in the mid-frontal, central and parietal areas (p < 0.05). Temporal and lateral frontal lobe alpha remained the same in the two groups. Separate analysis of eye movement (EM) showed an opposite effect on the alpha-frequency photic driving as compared to that on the resting alpha EEG. EM decreased the resting alpha EEG and increased the photic driving. This finding suggested that the lower EEG photic driving in the schizophrenic patients could not be explained by the eye movement artifact. We hypothesize that the 10 Hz range photic driving that reflects the intrinsic EEG spindle generation in the thalamus may play an important role in the psychophysiology of schizophrenia.
Globoid cell leucodystrophy.

defects tested postprandially. Taking a blood glucose rise of more than 35 mg/100 ml as normal for this test, Spencer-Peet et al. (1971) found that 1 out of 3 children with low hepatic phosphorylase activity, and 4 out of 7 with deficiency of amylo-1, 6-glucosidase tested 3 hours after a meal gave only subnormal responses. We are grateful to Professor Huijing for his comments regarding the changes in lactic acid levels after glucagon administration in phosphorylase and debrancher defects. The statement in our table was erroneous in that it did not represent the usual findings as reported by Femandes, Huijing, and van de Kamer (1969). We do not, however, use this test in these two conditions, as a reliable preliminary diagnosis can be made from clinical features, the results of the glucagon test, and the finding of a raised erythrocyte glycogen. We trust that Professor Huijing would agree with us that a definitive diagnosis can only be made by assaying the relevant enzymes in suitable tissue samples. J. R. W. DYKES and J. SPENCER-PEET University of Leeds; and St. Bernard's Hospital, Southall, Middx.
Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of fractional bipolar radiofrequency with high-energy strategy for treatment of acne scars in Chinese

Abstract Background: Fractional technology overcomes several problems of ablative lasers such as a high incidence rate of post- inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). A new technology fractional radiofrequency, which induces deep dermal heating and leaves the epidermal less affected results in less adverse effect in Chinese. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerance of fractional bipolar radiofrequency (RF) in the treatment of acne scars in Asian people with the strategy of high energy. Methods: Twenty-six healthy Asian patients with acne scars received four monthly high energy (85–95mj/pin) treatments with a fractional bipolar RF device. Improvement and tolerance were evaluated at each treatment and a 4-week and 12-week follow-up visit. Results: Twenty-three patients completed the study. Acne score showed a significantly decrease at 4-week and 12-week follow-up visits. Patients’ evaluation of global improvement and satisfaction increased at the 12-week visit compared with baseline. Side effects were limited to transient pain, erythema, dryness and low risk of PIH. Conclusion: Treatment with high energy of fractional bipolar RF is safe and effective for acne scars in Asian people. Common side effects such as PIH, eschars are less than fractional lasers.
Human islet mass, morphology, and survival after cryopreservation using the Edmonton protocol

The aim of this study was to assess recovery, cell death, and cell composition of post-thaw cultured human islets. Cryopreserved islets were provided by the Clinical Islet Transplant Program, Edmonton, Canada. Islets were processed using media prepared in accordance with Pre-Edmonton and Edmonton protocols. Cryopreserved islets were rapidly thawed and cultured for 24 h, 3 d, 5 d, and 7 d, following which they were processed for histology. Islet quantification, integrity, morphology and tissue turnover were studied via hematoxylin and eosin stained sections. Ultrastructure was studied by electron microscopy and endocrine cell composition by immunohistochemistry. Using the Pre-Edmonton protocol, islet recovery was 50.1% and islet survival was 50% at 24 h while for the Edmonton protocol, the islet recovery was 69.4% (p < 0.001) and islet survival, 50% at ≈2.5 d. With an increasing culture duration although the physical integrity was retained there was an increasing loss of cohesivity both at light microscopic and at ultrastructure level regardless of the protocols used. Percentage islet survival and tissue turnover correlated negatively with culture duration in both protocols. The Edmonton protocol appears to preserve the islets better. However, culture duration adversely affects islet survival and quality, indicating the need for more optimal cryopreservation and culture techniques.
Recovering uncaptured citations in a scholarly network: A two‐step citation analysis to estimate publication importance

The citation relationships between publications, which are significant for assessing the importance of scholarly components within a network, have been used for various scientific applications. Missing citation metadata in scholarly databases, however, create problems for classical citation‐based ranking algorithms and challenge the performance of citation‐based retrieval systems. In this research, we utilize a two‐step citation analysis method to investigate the importance of publications for which citation information is partially missing. First, we calculate the importance of the author and then use his importance to estimate the publication importance for some selected articles. To evaluate this method, we designed a simulation experiment—“random citation‐missing”—to test the two‐step citation analysis that we carried out with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital Library (DL). In this experiment, we simulated different scenarios in a large‐scale scientific digital library, from high‐quality citation data, to very poor quality data, The results show that a two‐step citation analysis can effectively uncover the importance of publications in different situations. More importantly, we found that the optimized impact from the importance of an author (first step) is exponentially increased when the quality of citation decreases. The findings from this study can further enhance citation‐based publication‐ranking algorithms for real‐world applications.
Renal vectorial transport of berberine mediated by organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) and multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins 1 (MATE1) in rats

Berberine, a well‐known plant alkaloid derived from Rhizoma coptidis, has potential applications as a therapeutic drug for diabetic nephropathy. However, the transporter‐mediated renal transport of berberine remains largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate the renal transport mechanism of berberine using transfected cells, kidney slices and animal experiments. In Madin‐Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells stably expressing rat OCT2 (MDCK‐rOCT2) and kidney slices, saturable and non‐saturable uptake of berberine was observed, and corticosterone could inhibit the uptake of berberine, with IC50 values of 0.1 μm and 147.9 μm, respectively. In double‐transfected cells, the cellular accumulation of berberine into MDCK‐rOCT2 and MDCK‐rOCT2‐rMATE1 (MDCK cells stably expressing rOCT2 and rMATE1) cells was significantly higher than the uptake into MDCK cells. Meanwhile, berberine transcellular transport was considerably higher in double‐transfected MDCK‐rOCT2‐rMATE1 cells than in MDCK and MDCK‐rOCT2 cells. Corticosterone for MDCK‐rMATE1 and MDCK‐MDR1 and pyrimethamine for MDCK‐rMATE1 at high concentrations could inhibit the efflux of berberine. In animal experiments, compared with the berberine alone group, the cumulative urinary excretion of berberine significantly decreased in the corticosterone or pyrimethamine pretreatment groups. In the rat kidney, pyrimethamine increased, and a low dose of corticosterone (5 mg/kg) decreased, the berberine concentration. However, there was no apparent change in the renal concentration of berberine in rats pretreated with corticosterone (10 or 20 mg/kg). Thus, berberine is not only a substrate of OCT2 and P‐glycoprotein, but is also a substrate of MATE1. Both OCT2 and MATE1 mediate the renal vectorial transport of berberine.