Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth hormone decreases protein catabolism in children with cystic fibrosis.

Despite aggressive nutritional therapy, low body weight and protein catabolism are common problems in children with cystic fibrosis. Previous studies by our group and others have demonstrated improvement in both height and weight in children with cystic fibrosis who were treated with human recombinant GH, and our group has recently documented improved clinical status and lean tissue mass as well. The purpose of this report is to summarize our findings of the effect of GH on whole body protein kinetics in cystic fibrosis and to relate these findings to changes in TNF-alpha levels. We conducted a 1-yr study of 19 prepubertal children with cystic fibrosis (age 7-12 yr, all <94% of ideal body weight). Ten children were randomly assigned to take daily injections of GH (0.3 mg/kg.wk), and nine were randomly assigned to be controls. Baseline results from the subjects with cystic fibrosis were compared with results obtained from nine age- and gender-matched healthy children. Whole body protein turnover was measured at baseline and every 6 months using the stable isotope [1-(13)C]leucine and mass spectrometric analysis. Leucine rate of appearance, a measure of protein catabolism, was similar in both cystic fibrosis subgroups at baseline and was significantly higher than in the control children without cystic fibrosis. Treatment with GH resulted in a significantly lower leucine rate of appearance, as well as significantly lower leucine oxidation. The rate of protein synthesis, as calculated from these numbers, actually decreased in the cystic fibrosis subgroup. TNF-alpha levels were higher in both cystic fibrosis subgroups than in controls and correlated with leucine rate of appearance. The results of this study suggest that one reason GH improves body weight and lean tissue mass is due to improved whole body protein catabolism and improved efficiency of whole body protein kinetics.
The information content in profit warnings and the implications for market rationality

This paper investigates whether investors react rationally to the announcements of profit warnings in the Norwegian stock market by examining abnormal returns, information leakage and post-announcement drift. A classification of the warnings has been made to analyze whether the information content inherent in quantitativeand qualitative warnings has an effect on the market reaction. The sample includes 184 profit warnings from 2005 to 2012, where 144 of them are quantitative and 40 qualitative. The mean price reaction to the profit warnings on the announcement day was -5.25% and we report a mean CAR of -6.36% in the event window [-1, +1]. Contrary to many existing studies, this paper provides evidence of a greater market reaction to quantitative warnings than qualitative. This disparity decreases somewhat over time as qualitative warnings experience a significant one-day delayed market reaction of CAAR equal to -2.1%. Distinguishing between positive and negative disclosures reveals that bad news result in a greater market reaction than good news.
Neurologic complications and sequellae of infectious diseases in Uganda and Kenya: Analysis of 288 cases from two rural hospitals.

OBJECTIVE Many infections occurring in area of Sub-Saharan Africa are associated with more or less serious neurologic symptoms or complications. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of selected infectious diseases in the equatorial part of Uganda and Kenya and to monitor potential neurological complications of these infections. METHODS The study was performed for May - August 2008. Patients suffering from cerebral malaria, AIDS, meningitis, typhoid, tuberculosis (TB), syphilis, leprosy, and trypanosomiasis patients were enrolled. Besides of standard examination, lumbar puncture (LP) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination was performed, and the occurrence of neurological disorders and sequellae was recorded and assessed. RESULTS Altogether 288 patients with neurological manifestation were enrolled. Malaria was the most prevalent disease in this study (102 cases, 35.42%), followed by typhoid (47 cases, 16.2%) and meningitis (38 cases, 13.2%). Leprosy and trypanosomiasis were only rarely detected (2.3% and 1.4%, respectively). CONCLUSION In malaria and HIV hyper-endemic area of rural Uganda, cerebral malaria is the leading tropical neuroinfection. Also, meningitis is still frequent probably due to insufficient access to vaccination.
Expression of DNA mismatch repair proteins in transformed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Relationship to smoking

It has been hypothesized that defects in DNA-mismatch repair are associated with smoking in certain types of transformed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We have analyzed biopsy samples from two indolent B-cell lymphomas, follicular lymphoma (FL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia (CLL/SLL), that have transformed to diffuse-large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We correlated the presence or absence of DNA-mismatch repair enzymes by immunostaining as well as the p53 status to smoking history. Of all patients (n = 30), 37% showed negative immunostaining of MLH1, 16% showed negative immunostaining of MSH2 and 63% had p53 mutations and/or protein expression. Eighteen out of 20 transformed follicular lymphomas and seven out of 10 CLL/SLL that have transformed to DLBCL (Richter's syndrome) were informative for smoking histories. We found that the relative risk of negative immunostaining for either MLH1 or MSH2 was 2.2 times higher in smokers than non-smokers (relative risk = 2.2041, 95% confidence interval: 0.89714, 5.41491). No direct correlation was found between smoking and the mutations in the p53 gene. These results suggest that cigarette smoking may play a role in the development of transformed lymphomas through defective mismatch repair.
Cooperative relaying techniques for energy efficient wireless communications

It has been shown that cooperative communication schemes can solve many of the issues faced by future broadband WWAN and WLAN networks. It is about communication concept based on resource sharing and coordination among terminals in wireless network that provides significant performance improvements in terms of increased coverage, data rates, capacity, reliability, spectral and energy efficiency. This paper gives detailed overview of cooperative communication concept based on replacement of direct communication link between source and destination with several shorter links using network terminals called relays. Several, so called fixed relaying techniques, are described: amplify-and-forward fixed gain (AF FG), amplify-and-forward variable gain (AF VG) and decode-and-forward (DF). Appropriate analytical models for bit error rate and system capacity values are presented. Further on, assuming Rayleigh fading channels, comparison of the presented relaying techniques are performed, enabling identification of optimal signal transmission scenarios for cooperative communication systems.
Transketolase activity modulates glycerol‐3‐phosphate levels in Escherichia coli

Transketolase activity provides an important link between the metabolic pathways of glycolysis and pentose phosphate shunt and catalyzes inter‐conversions between pentose phosphates and glycolytic intermediates. It is widely conserved in life forms. A genetic screen for suppression of the growth defect of Escherichia coli tktA tktB mutant in LB medium revealed two mutations, one that rendered the glpK expression constitutive and another that inactivated deoB. Characterizing these mutations aided in uncovering the role of ribose‐5‐P (a transketolase substrate) as an inhibitor of glycerol assimilation and de novo glycerol‐3‐P synthesis. Using lacZ fusions, we show that ribose‐5‐P enhances GlpR–mediated repression of the glpFKX operon and inhibits glycerol assimilation. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) showed ribose‐5‐P made the DNA‐GlpR complex less sensitive to the inducer glycerol‐3‐P. In addition to inhibition of glycerol assimilation, obstruction of ribose‐5‐P metabolism retards growth from glycerol‐3‐P limitation. Glucose helps to overcome this limitation through a mechanism involving catabolite repression. To our knowledge, this report is the first to show ribose‐5‐P can modulate glycerol‐3‐P concentration in the cell by regulation of glycerol assimilation as well as its de novo synthesis. This regulation could be prevalent in other organisms.
Development of a French-Canadian version of the Life-Space Assessment (LSA-F): content validity, reliability and applicability for power mobility device users

Purpose. To examine the measurement properties of the French-Canadian version of the Life-Space Assessment questionnaire (LSA-F) for power mobility device (PMD) users. Methods. Content validity, test–retest reliability of telephone interviews (2-week interval) and applicability were examined with PMD users presenting neurological, orthopedic or medically complex conditions. Translation/back-translation from English to French and cultural adaptation was performed and pretested with five bilingual users. Test–retest reliability was examined with 40 French-speaking users, age 50 and over, who had been using a subsidised PMD for 2–15 months. Audio-taped interviews were coded to judge content validity and applicability. Results. Content validity results confirmed equivalent meaning for most questions. The test–retest reliability was excellent for the composite score (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.87) and revealed moderate to substantial concordance for 18/20 items (k = 0.47–0.73; Pa > 57.5%). The applicability of the LSA-F is satisfactory considering an acceptable burden of assessment, low refusal of the telephone interview format (8%; n = 4), reasonable administration time (9.2 ± 3.9 min) and a normally distributed composite score. Conclusions. The LSA-F is a valid measure with regards to its content, stable over a period of 2 weeks and applicable for a population of middle-aged and older French-Canadian speaking adults who use PMDs.
Creating Structural Patterns for At-Speed Testing: A Case Study

Speed binning (or testing for functional frequency) often requires at-speed testing with functional patterns. Using structural patterns instead is an interesting alternative with respect to cost and overall coverage of nodes. This study analyzes the efficiency of structural test patterns when testing for frequency. Experiments with both path delay and transition delay patterns are discussed for multiple devices. The author shows how the tests are designed and what elements are taken into account to determine the best type of structural patterns.
Effect of atorvastatin in patients with chronic heart failure – insights from randomized clinical trials

Introduction Recent large clinical trials have yielded disappointing results of rosuvastatin in the chronic heart failure (CHF) population. The question that remains is whether these results of rosuvastatin studies could be extended to other statins. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis based on all currently available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the clinical efficacy of atorvastatin in CHF patients. Material and methods The published literature was scanned by formal searches of electronic databases up to January 2010. RCTs were eligible for inclusion if they compared atorvastatin versus placebo treatment in patients with CHF and reported the clinical outcomes. Results Pre-specified criteria were met by 7 trials involving 540 patients. The primary endpoint, all-cause mortality, was significantly reduced with atorvastatin therapy compared with placebo in CHF patients (odds ratio [OR] 0.39, P = 0.002), with similar results in cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.28, P = 0.002) and sudden cardiac death (OR 0.24, P = 0.01). There was also a significant decrease in hospitalization for worsening CHF with atorvastatin therapy compared with placebo (OR 0.30, P < 0.001). Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests the effectiveness of atorvastatin treatment in reducing the risks of all-cause mortality and worsening CHF hospitalization in patients with CHF. Further large, well-conducted randomized trials are needed to confirm the benefits of atorvastatin or other statins for CHF relative to placebo or rosuvastatin.
Visceral Fat Deposition and Insulin Sensitivity in Depressed Women With and Without Comorbid Borderline Personality Disorder

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased intra-abdominal fat, an important antecedent of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore, MDD is commonly accompanied by endocrine and immune dysregulation that has also been discussed in connection with the pathogenesis of NIDDM and ischemic heart disease. In borderline personality disorder (BPD), a dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal system has also been described. Therefore, our study aimed at examining visceral fat, insulin resistance, and alterations of cortisol and cytokines in young depressed women with and without comorbid BPD. Methods: Visceral fat was measured in 18 premenopausal women with MDD and in 18 women comorbid with MDD and BPD by means of magnetic resonance tomography at the level of the first lumbar vertebral body. Twelve BPD patients without MDD and 20 healthy women served as the comparison groups. Concentrations of fasting cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, and interleukin-6 were measured, and indicators of insulin resistance and &bgr;-cell sensitivity were calculated according to the homeostasis assessment model. Results: We found increased visceral fat in women comorbid with MDD and BPD, and to a lesser extent, in women with MDD but without BPD. Insulin sensitivity was reduced in comorbid patients. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-&agr; concentrations were significantly increased in both groups of depressed patients. Reduced insulin sensitivity correlated with the amount of visceral fat and with serum concentrations of IL-6. Conclusion: Young depressed women with and without comorbid BPD display increased visceral fat and may constitute a risk group for the development of NIDDM and the metabolic syndrome. Our data support the hypothesis that the immune and endocrine alterations associated with MDD and BPD may contribute to the pathophysiologic processes associated with NIDDM. BMI = body mass index; BPD = borderline personality disorder; ES = effect size; HOMA = homeostasis model assessment (-IR: insulin resistance; −S: &bgr;-cell sensitivity); IL-6 = interleukin-6; MDD = major depressive disorder; NIDDM = noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; TNF-&agr; = tumor necrosis factor-&agr;; VF/L = visceral fat at the level of the first lumbar vertebral body (VF/L1-: 10 mm below L1; VF/L1+ = 10 mm above L1).
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer at a single institution

Objective: The seventh TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours will be published in 2009. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer has proposed a revision of the current pathologic staging system. We illustrated the effects of this new system and pointed out potential problems using a retrospective study of surgical cases of non–small cell lung cancer at our institution. Methods: Subjects were 1532 patients for whom current pathologic staging was possible. These data were migrated into the new staging system. The numbers of patients at various stages determined by using the current and new staging systems were, respectively, as follows: IA (n ¼ 700, n ¼ 700), IB (n ¼ 338, n ¼ 249), IIA (n ¼ 49, n ¼ 164), IIB (n ¼ 129, n ¼ 116), IIIA (n ¼ 204, n ¼ 234), IIIB (n ¼ 77, n ¼ 17), and IV (n ¼ 35, n ¼ 52). Prognoses were compared by using the current and the new systems. Results: By using the new staging system, 5-year survivals by T classifications were as follows: T1a, 82.6%; T1b, 73.3%; T2a, 63.5%; T2b, 50.1%; T3, 40.6%; and T4, 34.6%. There were significant differences between the new T1a and T1b (P ¼ .0026), T1b and T2a (P ¼ .0027), and T2a and T2b (P ¼ .0062) classifications. In the current system 5-year survivals based on pathologic stages were as follows: IA, 84.8%; IB, 72.9%; IIA, 53.8%; IIB, 53.7%; IIIA, 31.8%; IIIB, 34.0%; and IV, 27.1%. There were significant differences between stages IA and IB (P < .0001) and stages IIB and IIIA (P ¼ .0006). In the new system these were as follows: IA, 84.8%; IB, 75.2%; IIA, 62.4%; IIB, 52.1%; IIIA, 32.4%; IIIB, 15.2%; and IV, 30.6%. There were significant differences between stages IA and IB (P ¼ .0004), IB and IIA (P ¼ .0195), IIA and IIB (P ¼ .0257), IIB and IIIA (P ¼ .0040), and IIIA and IIIB (P ¼ .0399). Conclusion: Although the outcomes for stages IIIB and IV were reversed, the new pathologic staging system was considered valid based on our single-institution evaluation.
Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and taxonomic implications of the flagellin gene of Roseburia cecicola

The gene coding for the flagellin protein of Roseburia cecicola, an oxygen-intolerant, gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium indigenous to the murine cecum, has been cloned and sequenced. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence data from the flagellin protein were used as a basis for the synthesis of two mixed-sequence deoxyoligonucleotides. The oligonucleotides were used to identify and clone the flagellin structural gene. DNA sequence analysis of M13mp8 and mp9 subclones revealed a protein with a length of 293 amino acids and a molecular weight of 31,370. Comparisons with the sequences of flagellins of other species revealed conserved regions and suggested that although R. cecicola has structural characteristics of a gram-negative bacterium, it may be most closely related to the gram-positive bacteria.
Families of Distributed Memory Parallel Graph Algorithms from Self-Stabilizing Kernels-An SSSP Case Study

Self-stabilizing algorithms are an important because of their robustness and guaranteed convergence. Starting from any arbitrary state, a self-stabilizing algorithm is guaranteed to converge to a legitimate state.Those algorithms are not directly amenable to solving distributed graph processing problems when performance and scalability are important. In this paper, we show the "Abstract Graph Machine" (AGM) model that can be used to convert self-stabilizing algorithms into forms suitable for distributed graph processing. An AGM is a mathematical model of parallel computation on graphs that adds work dependency and ordering to self-stabilizing algorithms. Using the AGM model we show that some of the existing distributed Single Source Shortest Path (SSSP) algorithms are actually specializations of self-stabilizing SSSP. We extend the AGM model to apply more fine-grained orderings at different spatial levels to derive additional scalable variants of SSSP algorithms, essentially enabling the algorithm to be generated for a specific target architecture. Experimental results show that this approach can generate new algorithmic variants that out-perform standard distributed algorithms for SSSP.
Predictors of 10-year outcome of first-episode psychosis

Background Predictors of outcome for psychosis are poorly understood. Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) appears to predict short-term outcome although its medium- to long-term role remains unclear. Neurodevelopmental indices such as pre-morbid function and/or neurological soft signs may predict longer-term outcome. We aimed to assess the impact of a range of clinical and demographic variables on long-term outcome of a geographically defined, epidemiological first-episode psychosis cohort. Method A 10-year follow-up was undertaken of a consecutively presenting sample of 109 cases of first-episode psychosis aged 16–50 years. Baseline assessments included positive, negative and depression symptoms, DUP, neurological soft signs and pre-morbid functioning. Multi-dimensional outcomes were assessed blind to baseline data. Results All participants were traced at a mean of 10.5 years post-index admission: 11 had died, 10 from non-natural causes. Of the surviving cases, 70% were comprehensively re-assessed by interview. Summary data on the remainder were collected from their family practitioner and chart review. Poor 10-year outcomes were predicted independently by poor pre-morbid functioning, baseline negative symptoms and longer DUP. The same measures, plus neurological soft signs, appeared to predict outcomes in a DSM-IV schizophrenia/schizo-affective subgroup. Conclusions Poor pre-morbid functioning, baseline symptoms, DUP and neurological soft signs at onset independently predict poor long-term outcome in first-episode psychosis.
Increased Light Extraction From Vertical GaN Light-Emitting Diodes With Ordered, Cone-Shaped Deep-Pillar Nanostructures

In this paper, improved light extraction using cone-shaped deep-pillar nanostructures is demonstrated on the Honeycomb-type vertical GaN light-emitting diodes (VLEDs). In order to produce ordered, cone-shaped deep-pillar patterns on the surface of an n-type GaN, double-layered polystyrene (PS) nanospheres of 500-nm size were coated onto the n-GaN layer by a simple spin-coating. Then, immediately after the O2 plasma ashing for double-layered PS beads, the Ni metal was deposited and lifted off to form a hard mask for deep pillar etching. Then, the three VLEDs-the reference VLED with no patterns and the two VLEDs with ordered, cone-shaped pillar patterns of 1.0 and 1.5 μm depth on the n-type GaN surface-were prepared for comparison. As a result, the output power for the proposed VLEDs with 1.0- and 1.5-μm-deep cone-shaped patterns has been increased by 200% and 214%, respectively, at 350 mA as compared to the reference VLED. There was a slight sacrifice of operational voltage and leakage current. The improved optical properties are attributed to the multiple scattering of light from the sidewall of the cone-shaped patterns and the increased surface dimension.
Vectors and strategies for nonviral cancer gene therapy

SUMMARY Introduction: This review presents recent developments in the use of nonviral vectors and transfer technologies in cancer gene therapy. Tremendous progress has been made in developing cancer gene therapy in ways that could be applicable to treatments. Numerous efforts are focused on methods of attacking known and novel targets more efficiently and specifically. In parallel to progress in nonviral vector design and delivery technologies, important achievements have been accomplished for suicide, gene replacement, gene suppression and immunostimulatory therapies. New nonviral cancer gene therapies have been developed based on emerging RNAi (si/shRNA-, miRNA) or ODN. Areas covered: This review provides an overview of recent gene therapeutic strategies in which nonviral vectors have been used experimentally and in clinical trials. Furthermore, we present current developments in nonviral vector systems in association with important chemical and physical gene delivery technologies and their potential for the future. Expert opinion: Nonviral gene therapy has maintained its position as an approach for treating cancer. This is reflected by the fact that more than 17% of all gene therapy trials employ nonviral approaches. Thus, nonviral vectors have emerged as a clinical alternative to viral vectors for the appropriate expression and delivery of therapeutic genes.