Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DNA Integrity in Plasma and Serum of Patients with Malignant and Benign Diseases

This study aimed to test the diagnostic utility of the DNA integrity index for detection of cancer. Matched serum and plasma samples of 42 patients with various forms of cancer and 17 patients with corresponding benign diseases were analyzed. DNA was isolated from 1 mL serum and plasma using the MagNA Pure LC system. Cell‐free DNA was quantified by real‐time PCR using the reference gene of the LightCycler t(14;18) kit. Subsequently, the DNA integrity index was calculated as the ratio in relative abundance of 347‐bp versus 137‐bp PCR products. We found that DNA concentrations were not different in plasma (median: 4.5 ng/mL) and serum (67.1 ng/mL) of patients with benign diseases when compared with values in plasma (5.1 ng/mL) and serum (65.4 ng/mL) of cancer patients. Similarly, the DNA integrity index in plasma (0.38), and serum of patients with benign diseases (0.29) was comparable to values in plasma (0.33) and serum (0.37) of cancer patients. Diagnostic sensitivity of DNA (AUC 0.53) and DNA integrity (AUC 0.45) was poor in plasma, and was increased only slightly by the combination of both (AUC 0.57). In serum, sensitivity of DNA (AUC 0.52) and DNA integrity (AUC 0.64) was higher and was further improved by the combination of both (AUC 0.72) reaching a sensitivity of 30% at 100% specificity. In conclusion, we could not confirm a high diagnostic utility of the DNA integrity index. However, a combination with other markers such as DNA may enhance sensitivity for cancer detection.
Weight management perceptions and clinical practices among gynaecology providers caring for reproductive‐aged patients

Research suggests that patient and provider conversations about healthy eating and physical activity behaviours may lead to patients' increased health behaviours, access to dietary and physical activity resources, and weight management. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) has a number of weight management intervention options, but it is unclear if providers have conversations about intervention options with their patients who are of reproductive age. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the degree to which gynaecology healthcare providers offer the weight management intervention options as recommended by ACOG.
TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL PARAMETERS OF GAIT IN CHILDREN. II: PATHOLOGICAL GAIT

Temporal and spatial parameters of eait were measured in 72 children with anomalous walking patterns as a result of neuromuscular impairment, 21 with childhood Iiemiplegia, 27 with congenital paraplegia and 24 with miscellaneous neuromotor disorders. Measurements were compared with those for a group of normal children. In all three groups, step length, average maximum footvelocity and.valking speed were reduced, double support time was increased, while cadence deviated from normal in both directions. Hemiplegic children varied considerably in their measured side‐toside gait asymmetries, suggesting a range of gait abnormalities not specified by subjective means alone, bieasured gait parameters were significantly related to Hoffer grade of functional mobility in paraplegic children. Objective gait analysis using established temporal and spatial measuremens is of clinical value in the management of childhood neuroniuscular disorders.
Group II twintron: an intron within an intron in a chloroplast cytochrome b‐559 gene.

The psbF gene of chloroplast DNAs encodes the beta‐subunit of cytochrome b‐559 of the photosystem II reaction center. The psbF locus of Euglena gracilis chloroplast DNA has an unusual 1042 nt group II intron that appears to be formed from the insertion of one group II intron into structural domain V of a second group II intron. Using both direct primer extension cDNA sequencing and cDNA cloning and sequencing, we have determined that a 618 nt internal intron is first excised from the 1042 nt intron of psbF pre‐mRNA, resulting in a partially spliced pre‐mRNA containing a 424 nt group II intron with a spliced domain V. The 424 nt intron is then removed to yield the mature psbF mRNA. Therefore, the 1042 nt intron of psbF is a group II intron within another group II intron. We use the term ‘twintron’ to define this new type of genetic element. Intermediates in the splicing pathway were detected by northern hybridization. Splicing of both the internal and external introns occurs via lariat intermediates. Twintron splicing was found to proceed by a sequential pathway, the internal intron being removed prior to the excision of the external intron. A possible mechanism for twintron formation by intron transposition is discussed.
Reproductive senescence in the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus).

The female Chinese (C.) hamster (Cricetulus griseus) exhibits a progressive decline in litter size after the third litter. The mean number of litters produced was 4.9 +/- . 5 for 25 C. hamsters, and the mean age of the C. hamsters at the time of delivering the last litter was 16.4 +/- . 5 months. Most aged C. hamsters (17 to 20 months old) retained a relatively normal estrous cycle, although fewer ovulated, either spontaneously or after mating, when compared with younger hamsters (5 to 6 months old). Progesterone injections given to aged (16 to 21 months old), otherwise nonproducing, C. hamsters after mating permitted 61% to become pregnant once again and 34% to deliver viable young. Early infant mortality in these litters was greatest, however, and growth of the young was retarded in comparison with earlier litters. It appears as if age-related changes in the ovary and uterus are primarily responsible for reproductive senescence in the female C. hamster.
Electro pump modeling using laboratory system data

Pumps are widely used in various industries and they are mostly driven by induction motors. For purposes such as system control, monitoring and model-based fault detection, a dynamic model of the motor-pump behavior is necessary. We used a nonlinear model to describe the behavior of an electro pump. The main problem to model the pump are the unknown parameters of hydraulic part of the pump. In this paper, two approaches are proposed to identify the hydraulic part of the pump. First, laboratory system data are used to train a neural network which identifies a black-box model for the hydraulic part of the pump. In the second approach, the parameters are estimated via least squares using laboratory system data. The main advantage of the proposed methods is that the impeller vane angel need not be measured to model the hydraulic part of the pump. Finally, the model is simulated with both proposed methods, and results are evaluated on a laboratory system. These results show the model describes the electro pump dynamic with good precision.
Role of the brain in ventricular fibrillation and hypertension: from animal models to early human studies.

S udden cardiac death is caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), not by myocardial ischemia. Ventricular tachycardia, the precursor to VF, results dynamically from a “rotor” that occurs in the excitable medium of the myocardium. The rotor is a self-sustaining vortex with its wave front of depolarization extending outward from a pivot point, with the inner circles moving more slowly than the outer. The rotor is a couple of centimeters in diameter, and the pivot point meanders randomly. When its outer edges strike nonexcitable tissues, such as an artery or an old infarction, the initial rotor breaks up into secondary and tertiary rotors to produce the disorganized excitability of VF.
Motion Planning in Dynamic and Unknown Environment Using an Interval Type-2 TSK Fuzzy Logic Controller

Motion planning of mobile robots in unknown and dynamic environments is faced with a large amount of uncertainties. Such those uncertainties we find; the measurement noise, the membership function's translations, data uncertainties. In fact, the known type of fuzzy logic (FL), Type-1, gave some solutions. But, in the last few years, new trends and theory in FL have been appeared, proposing by thus the Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Systems (Type-2 FLSs) which can handle and minimize the effects of the cited uncertainties with a better performance. This paper deals with the design of an Interval Type-2 fuzzy logic controller for the navigation of mobile robots in unknown and dynamic environments. The obtained results are presented and are compared with the navigation using the Type-1 Fuzzy Logic system. The Type-2 FLSs provide very good results and outperform the correspondent Type-1 FLS.
In vivo chamber angiogenesis assay: an optimized Matrigel plug assay for fast assessment of anti-angiogenic activity.

Efficient in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis assays, to assess and compare anti-angiogenic activity are a prerequisite for the discovery and characterization of anti-angiogenic targets. Here we describe an optimized Matrigel plug assay based on subcutaneously implanted chambers and two fast and reproducible measuring techniques. Plexiglas ring/nylon net filter-chambers (0.2 ml) containing growth factor-reduced Matrigel and 300 ng basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were subcutaneously implanted into the right flank of rats. Chamber angiogenesis was scored on day 5 and day 10 post-implantation by computer image analysis of the chamber, and by optical density reading at 415 nm of a PBS solution of the chamber content. bFGF significantly induced chamber angiogenesis and histological examination confirmed that numerous blood vessels were present in the bFGF-induced chambers. The anti-angiogenic control compound TNP-470 (10 mg/kg/d s.c.) completely inhibited the bFGF-induced angiogenesis. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory or immuno-suppressive compounds cyclosporin A (15 mg/kg/d p.o.), indomethacin (1 mg/kg/d p.o.), and prednisolone (5 mg/kg/d p.o.) showed no anti-angiogenic activity, indicating that the bFGF-induced angiogenesis was not driven by an inflammatory response or by a foreign body reaction. Finally, two candidate anti-angiogenic compounds were tested in the assay. Continuous low-dose therapy with cyclophosphamide (25 mg/kg/d p.o.) significantly inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis, whereas 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (0.5 micro g/kg/d p.o.) showed no significant anti-angiogenic activity. In conclusion, this in vivo chamber angiogenesis assay is a useful new tool for drug evaluation as well as research into anti-angiogenesis.
System-theoretic performance metrics for low-inertia stability of power networks

As bulk synchronous generators in the power grid are replaced by distributed generation interfaced through power electronics, inertia is removed from the system, prompting concerns over grid stability. Different metrics are available for quantifying grid stability and performance; however, no theoretical results are available comparing and contrasting these metrics. This paper presents a rigorous system-theoretic study of performance metrics for low-inertia stability. For networks with uniform parameters, we derive expressions for the eigenvalue damping ratios, and for the H2 and norms of the linearized swing dynamics, from external power disturbances to different phase/frequency performance outputs. These expressions show the dependence of system performance on inertia constants, damping constants, and on the grid topology. We find that the H2 and norms can display contradictory behavior as functions of the system inertia, indicating that low-inertia performance depends strongly on the chosen performance metric.
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Increases Gap Junctional Communication Between Somatic and Germ-Line Follicular Compartments During Murine Oogenesis1

ABSTRACT Germ cells develop in intimate contact and communication with somatic cells of the gonad. In female mammals, oocyte development depends crucially on gap junctions that couple it to the surrounding somatic granulosa cells of the follicle, yet the mechanisms that regulate this essential intercellular communication remain incompletely understood. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) drives the terminal stage of follicular development. We found that FSH increases the steady-state levels of mRNAs encoding the principal connexins that constitute gap junctions and cadherins that mediate cell attachment. This increase occurs both in granulosa cells, which express the FSH-receptor, and in oocytes, which do not. FSH also increased the number of transzonal projections that provide the sites of granulosa cell-oocyte contact. Consistent with increased connexin expression, FSH increased gap junctional communication between granulosa cells and between the oocyte and granulosa cells, and it accelerated oocyte development. These results demonstrate that FSH regulates communication between the female germ cell and its somatic microenvironment. We propose that FSH-regulated gap junctional communication ensures that differentiation processes occurring in distinct cellular compartments within the follicle are precisely coordinated to ensure production of a fertilizable egg.
A modified expectation maximization algorithm for maximum likelihood direction-of-arrival estimation

In this paper a modified expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is proposed for maximum likelihood estimation of direction-of-arrival (DOA). It is based on the expectation, conditional maximization (ECM) algorithm. In the modified algorithm, the M-step is replaced by a sequence of conditional maximization steps which either conditionally maximizes the expectation of the complete data or the actual likelihood. The modified EM algorithm is computationally efficient, and yields a faster convergence rate than the EM algorithm. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
The Hopkins Symptom Checklist‐25 is a sensitive case‐finder of clinically important depressive states in elderly people in primary care

No depression rating scale has yet been designed to identify all clinically important depressive states in elderly. Therefore, this study investigated the Hopkins Symptom Checklist‐25 (HSCL‐25), a self‐rating scale for depression, to see if it was a sensitive indicator of major, minor and subsyndromal depression.
Airway Distensibility by HRCT in Asthmatics and COPD with Comparable Airway Obstruction

Abstract Introduction: Decreased airway distensibility (AD) in response to deep inspirations, as assessed by HRCT, has been associated with the severity of asthma and COPD. Aims: The current study was designed to compare the magnitude of AD by HRCT in individuals with asthma and COPD with comparable degrees of bronchial obstruction, and to explore factors that may influence it. Results: We enrolled a total of 12 asthmatics (M/F:7/5) and 8 COPD (7/1) with comparable degree of bronchial obstruction (FEV1% predicted mean±SEM: 69.1 ± 5.2% and 61.2 ± 5.0%, respectively; p = 0.31). Each subject underwent chest HRCT at FRC and at TLC. A total of 701 airways (range 20 to 38 airway per subject; 2.0 to 23.1 mm in diameter) were analyzed. AD did not differ between asthmatics and COPD (mean ± SEM: 14 ± 3.5% and 17 ± 4.3%, respectively; p = 0.58). In asthmatics, AD was significantly associated with FEV1% predicted (r2 = 0.45, p = 0.018). We found a significant correlation between the change in lung volume and the change in AD by HRCT (r2 = 0.64, p = 0.002). In COPD, we found significant correlations between AD and the RV% predicted (r2 = 0.51, p = 0.046) and the RV/TLC (r2 = 0.68, p = 0.01). Conclusions: AD was primarily affected by the dynamic ability to change lung volumes in asthmatics, and by static lung volumes in COPD.
Quantitation of hepatitis C virus RNA by competitive polymerase chain reaction

Since the amount of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA might be correlated with the degree of severity of hepatitis and response to treatment, quantitation of HCV RNA in serum was established using competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Known amounts of a plasmid containing HCV‐cDNA were co‐amplified with a standard dilution series of a competitive template which shared the primers' sequences but differed from the wild type cDNA in having a deletion. Accurate quantitation was obtained by comparing the amount of both products. Quantitation of serum HCV RNA was carried out in two patients' serum samples which were also used to infect chimpanzees. The concentration of HCV RNA in these two sera was calculated to be 1 pg/ml (non‐infectious at 10−3dilution) and 1–10 pg/ml (infectious at 10−5dilution). The procedure was subsequently used to analyze serial changes in serum HCV RNA in three patients who were treated with a‐interferon. During treatment, the levels of ala‐nine aminotransferase showed a significant decrease in all patients and the amount of HCV RNA fell from 1 fg/ml, 1 pg/ml, and >10 pg/ml to 0.1 fg/ml, 100 fg/ml, and 1 pg/ml, respectively. The decrease in the amount of HCV RNA after treatment was related to the initial amount of serum HCV RNA. These results suggest that quantitation of HCV RNA may be useful not only for understanding the course of HCV infection but also for evaluating treatment for HCV infection. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Being low paid in Germany - springboard or dead end? Evidence from the IAB Employment Sample (IABS)

Since the mid 1990s, the German labour market is characterised by a rising share of full-time low pay jobs. Today, more than one out of six full-time workers is low paid, when using a low pay threshold of two thirds of the median wage. This development added to an ongoing debate whether or not the low pay sector serves as a stepping stone towards sustainable integration into the labour market. Our analysis focuses on two distinct labour market states: full-time employment (both higher pay and low pay sector) and unemployment. In particular, we examine the duration in low wage jobs and unemployment as well as transition rates between low pay sector and unemployment, respectively, into higher wage jobs, controlling for initial conditions and unobserved heterogeneity. The data have been retrieved from the IAB Employment Sample (IABS), which is a 2% sample (longitudinal data) drawn from the German employment register. Relying upon administrative data allows us to exactly map the lower part of the wage distribution of jobs covered by social security, thereby alleviating an analysis of transition out of and into the low wage sector. The data source also records a number of socio-economic and jobrelated information which are used as control variables. Preliminary results show relatively low year-to-year transition rates between the low and high pay sector, suggesting that state dependence plays a crucial role, hence limiting the potential of low pay employment to serve as a stepping stone into stable employment. Whether or not individual characteristics are accountable for low transition rates between low and higher pay sector is highly relevant for policy implications. If idiosyncratic attributes were to prevail when explaining low transition propensities, well-designed labour market instruments would allow more people to make the transition. In case of genuine state dependence, however, persons taking up low wage employment are likely to find themselves trapped in a cycle of low pay jobs and/or unemployment.
Ubiquitination of BST-2 Protein by HIV-1 Vpu Protein Does Not Require Lysine, Serine, or Threonine Residues within the BST-2 Cytoplasmic Domain*

Background: HIV-1 Vpu enhances viral release by down-regulating the host restriction factor BST-2/Tetherin. Results: Vpu targets BST-2 for ubiquitination, and this does not require the BST-2 cytoplasmic Lys, Ser, or Thr residues. Conclusion: BST-2 is degraded within the lysosome as a result of Vpu-mediated ubiquitination. Significance: Understanding how Vpu overcomes BST-2 may lead to anti-HIV-1 therapies. The cellular protein BST-2/CD317/Tetherin has been shown to inhibit the release of HIV-1 and other enveloped viruses from infected cells. The HIV-1 accessory protein Vpu binds to both BST-2 and βTrCP, a substrate-recognition subunit for the SCF (Skip1-Cullin1-F-box protein) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. This interaction leads to both the degradation of BST-2 and the enhancement of viral egress. Recently BST-2 was shown to be ubiquitinated in this process. Here we have confirmed the Vpu- and βTrCP-dependent multi/polyubiquitination of BST-2. Ubiquitinated BST-2 accumulated in cells treated with a lysosomal inhibitor but not a proteasomal inhibitor. Additionally, we observed that a BST-2 mutant deleted for its cytosolically exposed lysine residues is also ubiquitinated. Subsequent experiments suggested that Vpu promotes BST-2 ubiquitination upon amino acid residues bearing hydroxyl- but not thiol-bearing side chains. However, a BST-2 mutant bearing substitutions for its cytoplasmically exposed Ser, Thr, and Lys residues was still down-regulated, ubiquitinated, and degraded in a Vpu-dependent manner. Our results suggest that Vpu may target either the BST-2 cytoplasmic Tyr residues or the NH2 terminus itself for ubiquitination.
Importance of 2nd Harmonic Tuning for Power Amplifier Design

Load pull measurements are widely used to determine matching impedances required for optimum power amplifier design. In the past, this has typically been done at the fundamental frequency only. However, the harmonic terminations can have a significant effect. This paper presents some typical data which indicates the importance of second harmonic tuning to the power amplifier designer.
A Transgenic Dual-Luciferase Reporter Mouse for Longitudinal and Functional Monitoring of T Cells In Vivo

Longitudinal and functional monitoring of T cells in vivo could improve our understanding of immune functions. A transgenic mouse expressing dual-luciferase reporters was tested in tumor models to assess immune reconstitution, graft-versus-host disease, and adoptive T-cell therapy. Adoptive T-cell therapy (ATT) efficacy is limited when targeting large solid tumors. The evaluation of ATT outcomes using accessory treatment would greatly benefit from an in vivo monitoring tool, allowing the detection of functional parameters of transferred T cells. Here, we generated transgenic bioluminescence imaging of T cells (BLITC) mice expressing an NFAT-dependent click-beetle luciferase and a constitutive Renilla luciferase, which supports concomitant in vivo analysis of migration and activation of T cells. Rapid transferability of our system to preestablished tumor models was demonstrated in the SV40-large T antigen model via both crossbreeding of BLITC mice into a T-cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic background and TCR transduction of BLITC T cells. We observed rapid tumor infiltration of BLITC CD8+ T cells followed by a burst-like activation that mirrored rejection kinetics. Using the BLITC reporter in the clinically relevant H-Y model, we performed female to male transfers and detected H-Y-specific alloreactivity (graft-versus-host disease) in vivo. In an H-Y solid tumor model, we found migration of adoptively transferred H-Y TCR-transgenic CD4+ T cells into the tumor, marked by transient activation. This suggests a rapid inactivation of infiltrating T cells by the tumor microenvironment, as confirmed by their expression of inhibitory receptors. In summary, the BLITC reporter system facilitates analysis of therapeutic parameters for ATT, is rapidly transferable to models of interest not restricted to tumor research, and is suitable for rapid screening of TCR clones for tumor rejection kinetics, as well as off-target effects. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(1); 110–20. ©2018 AACR.