Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decompressive Hemicraniectomy for Poor-grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients with Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Clinical Outcome and Quality of Life Assessment

OBJECTIVE:Decompressive hemicraniectomy has been proposed as a potential treatment strategy in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage presenting with focal intracerebral hemorrhage causing significant mass effect. Although hemicraniectomy improves overall survival rates, the long-term quality of life (QoL) for survivors in this patient population has not been reported. METHODS:Using adjudicated outcome assessments, we compare long-term clinical outcomes and QoL between a group of patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage receiving decompressive hemicraniectomy (n = 12) and a control group of similar patients managed more conservatively (n = 10). RESULTS:Patients receiving decompressive hemicraniectomy experienced a statistically insignificant decrease in short-term mortality compared with controls (25 versus 42%); however, long-term QoL in hemicraniectomy survivors was generally poor. Furthermore, hemicraniectomy patients did not experience an increase in mean quality-adjusted life years over control patients (2.31 versus 2.22 yr). CONCLUSION:Decompressive hemicraniectomy prolongs short-term survival in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage with associated intracerebral hemorrhage; however, this trend is not statistically significant, and the overall QoL experienced by survivors is poor. Decompressive hemicraniectomy may be indicated if performed early in a select subset of patients. On the basis of our preliminary data, large prospective studies to investigate this issue further may not be warranted.
The conserved phosphoinositide 3‐kinase pathway determines heart size in mice

Phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) has been shown to regulate cell and organ size in Drosophila, but the role of PI3K in vertebrates in vivo is not well understood. To examine the role of PI3K in intact mammalian tissue, we have created and characterized transgenic mice expressing constitutively active or dominant‐negative mutants of PI3K in the heart. Cardiac‐ specific expression of constitutively active PI3K resulted in mice with larger hearts, while dominant‐negative PI3K resulted in mice with smaller hearts. The increase or decrease in heart size was associated with comparable increase or decrease in myocyte size. Cardiomyopathic changes, such as myocyte necrosis, apoptosis, interstitial fibrosis or contractile dysfunction, were not observed in either of the transgenic mice. Thus, the PI3K pathway is necessary and sufficient to promote organ growth in mammals.
Optimal Resource Allocation in Wireless Powered Communication Networks With User Cooperation

This paper investigates the optimal resource allocation in wireless powered communication network with user cooperation, where two single-antenna users first harvest energy from the signals transmitted by a multi-antenna hybrid access point (H-AP) and then cooperatively send information to the H-AP using their harvested energy. To explore the system information transmission performance limit, an optimization problem is formulated to maximize the weighted sum-rate (WSR) by jointly optimizing energy beamforming vector, time assignment, and power allocation. Besides, another optimization problem is also formulated to minimize the total transmission time for given amount of data required to be transmitted at the two sources. Because both problems are non-convex, we first transform them to be convex by using proper variable substitutions and then apply semi-definite relaxation to solve them. We theoretically prove that our proposed methods guarantee the global optimum of both problems. Simulation results show that system WSR and transmission time can be significantly enhanced by using energy beamforming and user cooperation. It is observed that when the total amount of information of two users is fixed, with the increase of the information amount of the user relatively farther away from the H-AP, the transmission time of the user cooperation scheme decreases while that of the direct transmission increases. Besides, the effects of user position on the system performances are also discussed, which provides some useful insights.
A photolabile oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe of the peptidyltransferase center: identification of neighboring ribosomal components.

In this work we report the synthesis of a radioactive, photolabile oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe and its exploitation in identifying 50S ribosomal subunit components neighboring its target site in 23S rRNA. The probe is complementary to 23S rRNA nucleotides 2497-2505, a single-stranded sequence that has been shown to fall within the peptidyltransferase center of Escherichia coli ribosomes [Cooperman, B. S. , Weitzmann, C. J., & Fernandez, C. L. (1990) in The Ribosome: Structure, Function, & Evolution (Hill, W. E., Dahlberg, A., Garrett, R. A., Moore, P. B., Schlesinger, D., & Warner, J. R., Eds.) pp 491-501, American Society of Microbiology, Washington]. On photolysis in the presence of 50S ribosomes, it site-specifically incorporates into protein L3 (identified by both SDS-PAGE and immunological methods) and into three separate 23S rRNA regions: specifically, nucleotides 2454; 2501, 2502, 2505, 2506; and 2583, 2584. These results provide clear evidence that G-2505 in 23S rRNA is within 24 A (the distance between G-2505 and the photogenerated nitrene) of protein L3 and of each of the nucleotides mentioned above and are of obvious importance in the construction of detailed three-dimensional models of ribosomal structure. The approach we present is general and can be applied to determining ribosomal components neighboring regions of rRNA that are susceptible to binding by complementary oligodeoxyribonucleotides, both in intact 30S and 50S subunits and in subunits at various stages of reconstitution.
Disturbance Rejection for a Magnetic Levitation System

In this paper, a position regulation control strategy is developed for a magnetic levitation system operating in the presence of a bounded, periodic disturbance. Specifically, the proposed controller utilizes a saturated control force input in conjunction with a learning-based disturbance estimator to asymptotically regulate the target mass to a desired set point position despite the actuator's unidirectional limitation of exerting only an attractive force on the target mass (i.e., the control input can only generate an attractive force while the earth's gravitational field is utilized to produce the repulsive action). Differing from the previous approaches, the learning-based estimator only requires that the disturbance be bounded and that the period of the disturbance be known (i.e., the structure of the disturbance is not required to be known). Experimental results are included to illustrate the performance of the control strategy
Involvement of MicroRNAs in Hydrogen Peroxide-mediated Gene Regulation and Cellular Injury Response in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells*

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a novel class of endogenous, small, noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate ∼30% of genes in a cell via degradation or translational inhibition of their target mRNAs. However, the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on miRNA expression and the roles of miRNAs in ROS-mediated gene regulation and biological functions of vascular cells are unclear. Using microarray analysis, we demonstrated that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) after treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). H2O2-mediated up-regulation of microRNA-21 (miR-21) was further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. To determine the potential roles of miRNAs in H2O2-mediated gene regulation and cellular effects, miR-21 expression was down-regulated by miR-21 inhibitor and up-regulated by pre-miR-21. H2O2-induced VSMC apoptosis and death were increased by miR-21 inhibitor and decreased by pre-miR-21. Programmed cell death 4(PDCD4) was a direct target of miR-21 that was involved in miR-21-mediated effects on VSMCs. Pre-miR-21-mediated protective effect on VSMC apoptosis and death was blocked via adenovirus-mediated overexpression of PDCD4 without the miR-21 binding site. Moreover, activator protein 1 was a downstream signaling molecule of PDCD4 in miR-21-modulated VSMCs. The results suggest that miRNAs in VSMCs are sensitive to H2O2 stimulation. miRN-21 participates in H2O2-mediated gene regulation and cellular injury response through PDCD4 and the activator protein 1 pathway. miRNAs might play a role in vascular diseases related to ROS.
Phosphatase-mediated bioprecipitation of lead by soil fungi.

Geoactive soil fungi were examined for their ability to release inorganic phosphate (Pi ) and mediate lead bioprecipitation during growth on organic phosphate substrates. Aspergillus niger and Paecilomyces javanicus grew in 5 mM Pb(NO3)2-containing media amended with glycerol 2-phosphate (G2P) or phytic acid (PyA) as sole P sources, and liberated Pi into the medium. This resulted in almost complete removal of Pb from solution and extensive precipitation of lead-containing minerals around the biomass, confirming the importance of the mycelium as a reactive network for biomineralization. The minerals were identified as pyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl), only produced by P. javanicus, and lead oxalate (PbC2O4), produced by A. niger and P. javanicus. Geochemical modelling of lead and lead mineral speciation as a function of pH and oxalate closely correlated with experimental conditions and data. Two main lead biomineralization mechanisms were therefore distinguished: pyromorphite formation depending on organic phosphate hydrolysis and lead oxalate formation depending on oxalate excretion. This also indicated species specificity in biomineralization depending on nutrition and physiology. Our findings provide further understanding of lead geomycology and organic phosphates as a biomineralization substrate, and are also relevant to metal immobilization biotechnologies for bioremediation, metal and P biorecovery, and utilization of waste organic phosphates.
Lectin-reactive Anti-&agr;-Gal in Patients with Crohn's Disease: Correlation with Clinical Phenotypes

Background:Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have higher proportions of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies lacking N-galactose, also called agalactosyl IgG, in their serum. Such agalactosyl IgGs have been associated with disease activity and the immunogenicity of biologics. The aim was to describe the relationship between circulating levels of a subset of agalactosyl IgGs (anti-&agr;-Gal) and Crohn's disease (CD) phenotypes. Methods:Prospectively collected serum samples of a well-characterized cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and controls were used. Serum anti-&agr;-Gal levels were measured by a high-affinity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and referenced to a standard control. Results:Serum samples from 167 subjects were tested; 62 with CD, 76 with ulcerative colitis, and 29 controls. Agalactosyl anti-&agr;-Gal levels were significantly higher in active CD than in active ulcerative colitis (P = 0.0043) or healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Among patients with CD, agalactosyl anti-&agr;-Gal levels were significantly higher in those with a history of arthritis, than those without (P = 0.0002), but lower in those taking immunomodulators (P = 0.03). There was no correlation between agalactosyl anti-&agr;-Gal levels and indices of Crohn's severity, including C-reactive protein levels or Harvey–Bradshaw index. Patients who were primary or secondary nonresponders to infliximab had similar agalactosyl anti-&agr;-Gal levels to clinical responders. Conclusions:Patients with CD have greater amounts of agalactosylated anti-&agr;-Gal antibodies in their serum, particularly in those with associated joint disease. This increase seems to be independent of indices of disease activity, but is influenced by immunomodulator use.
Reliability importance measures for a health-aware control of drinking water networks

This work focuses on a health-aware Model Predictive Control (MPC) scheme, which aims at enhancing the availability of the system. The objective is to extend the uptime of the system by delaying, as much as possible the system reliability decay. The weights of the MPC cost function are set according to some reliability importance measures. This work describes the main reliability importance measures and studies which of them are best suited for a health-aware MPC strategy applied to a Drinking Water Network. The overall system reliability as well as the reliability importance measures are computed online through a Dynamic Bayesian Network.
Risk Perceptions of Wastewater Use for Urban Agriculture in Accra, Ghana

Poor food hygiene is a significant risk to public health globally, but especially in low and middle-income countries where access to sanitation, and general hygiene remain poor. Food hygiene becomes even more pertinent when untreated, or poorly treated wastewater is used in agriculture. In such circumstances the WHO recommends the adoption of a multiple-barrier approach that prescribes health protective measures at different entry points along the food chain. This study sought to assess the knowledge and awareness of wastewater use for crop production, its related health risks, and adoption of health protective measures by farmers, market salespersons and consumers using questionnaires and focus group discussions. In the period from September 2012 to August 2013, 490 respondents were interviewed during two cropping seasons. The study found that awareness of the source of irrigation water was low among consumers and street food vendors, though higher among market vendors. In contrast, health risk awareness was generally high among salespersons and consumers, but low among farmers. The study found that consumers did not prioritize health indicators when buying produce from vendors but were motivated to buy produce, or prepared food based on taste, friendship, cost, convenience and freshness of produce. Similarly, farmers’ awareness of health risk did not influence their adoption of safer farm practices. The study recommends the promotion of interventions that would result in more direct benefits to both producers and vendors, together with hygiene education and enforcement of food safety byelaws in order to influence behaviour change, and increase the uptake of the multiple-barrier approach.
An Investigation of Removed Cultivated Epithelial Transplants in Patients After Allocultivated Corneal Epithelial Transplantation

Objective: To investigate the ultrastructural changes of removed cultivated corneal epithelial transplants using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Methods: Allocultivated corneal epithelial transplantation, using an amniotic membrane carrier, was carried out on 3 patients. The primary diagnoses consisted of 1 with acute-phase chemical burn, one with drug-induced pseudopemphigoid, and 1 with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. After a period of several months the transplants were removed from these patients because of graft opacities. The removed transplants were then prepared for examination by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Results: In all 3 cases there was a similar pattern of findings: the amniotic membrane remained intact, although it had become partially vascularized and invaded by keratocytes. Inflammatory cells were present in the epithelial layer and within the amniotic membrane. Most of the amniotic membrane was covered by conjunctival epithelial cells and goblet cells. Only a few areas of normal cultivated corneal epithelial cells were found. Conclusions: We suggest that the process of allograft rejection is responsible for the corneal epithelial loss and that this is followed by conjunctival invasion onto the amniotic membrane.
The regulator of streptomycin gene expression, StrR, of Streptomyces griseus is a DNA binding activator protein with multiple recognition sites

In Streptomyces griseus the expression of at least one streptomycin biosynthetic gene, strB1, is dependent on the pathway‐specific activator protein StrR. We show here that StrR is a DNA‐binding protein which specifically interacts with the strB1 promoter fragment. Footprinting experiments demonstrate that the StrR protein binds to an inverted repeat located upstream of the strB1 promoter. Further StrR‐binding sites having the consensus sequence GTTCGActG(N)11CagTcGAAc were identified in the str—sts gene clusters of S. griseus and Streptomyces glaucescens by sequence comparison, gel retardation, and footprinting studies. The genetic and biochemical evidence strongly supports the model of the StrR protein activating the expression of streptomycin biosynthetic genes by interacting with multiple binding sites within the str—sts gene clusters of S. griseus and S. glaucescens.
Oxidative stress studies of six TiO2 and two CeO2 nanomaterials: Immuno-spin trapping results with DNA

Abstract Six TiO2 and two CeO2 nanomaterials with dry sizes ranging from 6–410 nm were tested for their ability to cause DNA centered free radicals in vitro in the concentration range of 10–3,000 ug/ml. All eight of the nanomaterials significantly increased the adduction of the spin trap agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyroline N-oxide (DMPO) to DNA as measured by the experimental technique of immuno-spin trapping. The eight nanomaterials differed considerably in their potency, slope, and active concentration. The largest increase in DNA nitrone adducts was caused by a TiO2 nanomaterial (25 nm, anatase) from Alfa Aesar. Some nanomaterials that increased the amount of DNA nitrone adducts at the lowest exposure concentrations (100 ug/ml) were Degussa TiO2 (31 nm), Alfa Aesar TiO2 (25 nm, anatase) and Nanoamor CeO2 (8 nm, cerianite). At exposure concentrations of 10 or 30 ug/ml, no nanomaterials showed significant in vitro formation of DNA nitrone adducts.
Contractile Effect of Aqueous Pleurotus tuberregium Extract on the Isolated Bovine Iris

ABSTRACT Background: Aqueous extract of Pleurotus tuberregium (PT) has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) but the underlying mechanism has not been explained. Purpose: To investigate the effect of PT on the bovine iris in vitro in comparison with acetylcholine (ACh). Method: Strips of the iris were mounted in 10 ml organ baths and exposed to increasing concentrations of PT, ACh and a combination of both agents. The effect of atropine on the responses to the agents was also investigated. Results: PT and ACh separately caused contractile responses on the iris, but their effect reduced with higher concentrations. Combination of PT and ACh did not significantly alter the reduced responses seen with high concentrations of either agent. Atropine completely abolished the contractile responses of the agents. Conclusion: The contractile effect of PT on muscarinic receptor-containing iris muscle may explain its IOP reducing property.
Effects of Age, Sex, and University Status on Life-Satisfaction

Diener, et al.'s 1985 Satisfaction With Life Scale was administered to 1749 adult Australians to examine differences between men and women, university students and nonuniversity students, and among 17- to 22-, 23- to 29-, and 30- to 40-yr. -olds. No significant differences in Life-satisfaction emerged in relation to sex or university status, but age showed a significant effect as higher life-satisfaction characterized older subjects. No interactions were found for any combination of the three variables. The results are interpreted in terms of egalitarian sex-role ideologies regarding sex, status-specific criteria in the assessment and conceptualisation of life-satisfaction for university status, and maturity trends in viewing life events concerning age.
A New Quantitative Analysis Method for Financial Risk Early Warning of Unlisted Small and Medium Enterprise

Although it is practical and significant to analyze the financial risk of the small and medium enterprise (SMEs), most scholars do research on unlisted small and medium enterprisespsila financial situation only with qualitative analysis methods, because it is difficult to get the financial data of unlisted small and medium enterprises. In this paper, a new data acquisition idea is put forward. Through this idea, quantitative analysis method could be taken to study on the financial risk early warning of unlisted SMEs. Data sets of financial risk analysis of unlisted SMEs are selected from listed SMEspsila data sets. Those data sets are disclosed to public and easily obtained. Then listed indicators are omit and decision tree model is made for financial risk early warning of unlisted SMEspsila. 221 listed SMEspsila financial data sets are chosen and models are built in the empirical analysis part of this paper. 30 unlisted SMEspsila financial status (whether in crisis in 2007) have been analyzed by a financial company and the results are generally in line with what are predicted with 30 SMEspsila financial data in 2006 through the models created in this paper. Thus feasibility of the financial risk early warning model is confirmed.
The Interrelationship of Malnutrition and Diarrhea in a Periurban Area Outside Alexandria, Egypt

Background In the developing world, children are often observed to have both diarrhea and malnutrition. This observation has led many researchers to speculate that diarrhea may produce malnutrition and that malnutrition may predispose to diarrhea. In this study, the interrelationship between diarrhea and malnutrition was investigated among 143 Egyptian children less than 3 years of age. Methods For 22 months, children were followed for diarrhea at twice weekly home visits and measured for nutritional status at approximately 3-month intervals. Nutritional measurements were converted to z-scores based on the National Center for Health Statistics/World Health Organization (NCHS/WHO) reference population. Results Three hundred fifty-eight diarrheal episodes were reported with only 1% of episodes lasting 14 days or more. Stunting, wasting, and low weight-for-age were found in 19%, 3%, and 7%, of these children, respectively. When testing whether malnutrition predisposes to diarrhea, a weight-for-age z-score of <−2 standard deviations was associated with increased incidence of diarrhea (RR = 1.7, P < 0.01) but not height-for-age or weight-for-height. Diarrhea itself was associated with a subsequent attack of diarrhea (RR = 2.1, P < 0.001). During short intervals of follow-up (approximately 3 months), an association was detected between diarrhea episodes and growth faltering for height-for-age z-score (−0.16, P < 0.05). This association was reduced, however, when analyzed during 6-month intervals, if no diarrhea was reported in either the first or second half of this interval. Conclusions In a population with moderate malnutrition, both low weight-for-age and diarrhea itself are associated with increased diarrhea risk. Diarrhea alone does not appear to contribute substantially to malnutrition when children have diarrhea-free time for catch-up growth.