Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thymosin β4: multiple functions in protection, repair and regeneration of the mammalian heart

Introduction: Despite recent improvements in interventional medicine, cardiovascular disease still represents the major cause of morbidity worldwide, with myocardial infarction being the most common cardiac injury. This has sustained the development of several regenerative strategies based on the use of stem cells and tissue engineering approaches in order to achieve cardiac repair and regeneration by enhancing coronary neovascularization, modulating acute inflammation and supporting myocardial regeneration to provide new functional muscle. Areas covered: The actin monomer binding peptide, Thymosin β4 (Tβ4), has recently been described as a powerful regenerative agent with angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects on the heart and which specifically acts on its resident cardiac progenitor cells. In this review we will discuss the state of the art regarding the many roles of Tβ4 in preserving and regenerating the mammalian heart, with specific attention to its ability to activate the quiescent adult epicardium and specific subsets of epicardial progenitor cells for repair. Expert opinion: The therapeutic potential of Tβ4 for the treatment of cardiac failure is herein evaluated alongside existing, emerging and prospective novel treatments.
Unique Role of the WD-40 Repeat Protein 5 (WDR5) Subunit within the Mixed Lineage Leukemia 3 (MLL3) Histone Methyltransferase Complex

Background: The mixed lineage leukemia 3 (MLL3) core complex catalyzes monomethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4). Results: The WDR5 subunit is not required for MLL3 core complex assembly and partially inhibits methyltransferase activity. Conclusion: WDR5 plays a unique role within the MLL3 core complex. Significance: SET1 family complexes retain WDR5 for distinct purposes. The MLL3 (mixed lineage leukemia 3) protein is a member of the human SET1 family of histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferases and contains the conserved WDR5 interaction (Win) motif and the catalytic suppressor of variegation, enhancer of zeste, trithorax (SET) domain. The human SET1 family includes MLL1–4 and SETd1A/B, which all interact with a conserved subcomplex containing WDR5, RbBP5, Ash2L, and DPY-30 (WRAD) to form the minimal core complex required for full methyltransferase activity. However, recent evidence suggests that the WDR5 subunit may not be utilized in an identical manner within all SET1 family core complexes. Although the roles of WDR5 within the MLL1 core complex have been extensively studied, not much is known about the roles of WDR5 in other SET1 family core complexes. In this investigation, we set out to characterize the roles of the WDR5 subunit in the MLL3 core complex. We found that unlike MLL1, the MLL3 SET domain assembles with the RbBP5/Ash2L heterodimer independently of the Win motif-WDR5 interaction. Furthermore, we observed that WDR5 inhibits the monomethylation activity of the MLL3 core complex, which is dependent on the Win motif. We also found evidence suggesting that the WRAD subcomplex catalyzes weak H3K4 monomethylation within the context of the MLL3 core complex. Furthermore, solution structures of the MLL3 core complex assembled with and without WDR5 by small angle x-ray scattering show similar overall topologies. Together, this work demonstrates a unique role for WDR5 in modulating the enzymatic activity of the MLL3 core complex.
The role of credit rationing and collateral in debt financing

Credit rationing and the use of collateral are widely observed in debt financing. To our view there is yet no appropriate theoretical explanation for these facts. In the standard debt financing models the occurrence of credit rationing can be explained based on suitable assumptions. But those are by no means general. Furthermore, the use and the form of collateral is limited. In our model we show that credit rationing and the use of collateral are always necessary for debt financing if lenders are rational. We do so under less strict assumptions which are, to our understanding, much more realistic than those typical for standard adverse selection or moral hazard models. We assume that the borrower's opportunity set is "unbounded", at least from the viewpoint of the lender. This means that no arbitrary restrictions are imposed on the set of possible distributions of future cash flow from which the borrower can unobservably choose one. As a result a rational lender granting a pure debt should never take any risk, neither an exogenous one resulting from the project nor a an endogenous one resulting from the information asymmetry. Furthermore, we extend the set of possible collateral to property rights over physical and non physical assets, and explain how a superior lender's information can work as collateral.
Effects of a novel NMDA antagonist on experimental stroke rapidly and quantitatively assessed by diffusion‐weighted MRI

We employed diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) to identify regions of focal brain ischemia during the first 3 hours after permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats. Using DWI as early as 30 minutes after the onset of ischemia, it was possible to identify the areas of brain destined to progress to infarction over the next 24 hours in untreated animals, as demonstrated by postmortem evaluation. DWT studies revealed the cerebroprotective effects of a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, CNS 1102, administered 15 minutes postocclusion, both on the cortical and caudoputaminal regions during the initial 3 hours of ischemia. Although the treatment effect lessened over the next 21 hours in a few animals with lower plasma drug levels at 3 hours, postmortem studies demonstrated a 66% reduction in the total volume of infarcted tissue with the treatment and confirmed the DWI results. T2-weighted MRT obtained at similar times revealed little or no abnormality. These results suggest that DWI provides a sensitive in vivo measure of focal cerebral ischemic injury and can assess the beneficial effects of cytoprotective therapy. DWI may be useful in the early evaluation of human stroke patients and in monitoring the effects of cerebroprotective therapies in the clinical setting.
Studies on the site of termination of static and dynamic fusimotor fibres within muscle spindles of the tenuissimus muscle of the cat

1. The site of termination of static and dynamic fusimotor fibres has been mapped by finding which intrafusal muscle fibres have been depleted of glycogen as a result of tetanic stimulation of single γ fibres. Long periods of stimulation coupled with occlusion of the blood supply were necessary to cause glycogen depletion.
Genome Analysis Identification of Genes Required for Embryo Development in Arabidopsis 1 [ w ]

A long-term goal of Arabidopsis research is to define the minimal gene set needed to produce a viable plant with a normal phenotype under diverse conditions. This will require both forward and reverse genetics along with novel strategies to characterize multigene families and redundant biochemical pathways. Here we describe an initial dataset of 250 EMB genes required for normal embryo development in Arabidopsis. This represents the first large-scale dataset of essential genes in a flowering plant. When compared with 550 genes with other knockout phenotypes, EMB genes are enriched for basal cellular functions, deficient in transcription factors and signaling components, have fewer paralogs, and are more likely to have counterparts among essential genes of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and worm (Caenorhabditis elegans). EMB genes also represent a valuable source of plant-specific proteins with unknown functions required for growth and development. Analyzing such unknowns is a central objective of genomics efforts worldwide. We focus here on 34 confirmed EMB genes with unknown functions, demonstrate that expression of these genes is not embryo-specific, validate a strategy for identifying interacting proteins through complementation with epitope-tagged proteins, and discuss the value of EMB genes in identifying novel proteins associated with important plant processes. Based on sequence comparison with essential genes in other model eukaryotes, we identify 244 candidate EMB genes without paralogs that represent promising targets for reverse genetics. These candidates should facilitate the recovery of additional genes required for seed development.
Variability of trauma transfer practices among non-tertiary care hospital emergency departments.

OBJECTIVES To assess both the variability of interhospital trauma transfer practices and nonclinical factors associated with the transfer of injured patients from emergency departments (EDs) of non-tertiary care hospitals. METHODS The authors analyzed a retrospective cohort of trauma patients initially presenting to one of 42 non-tertiary care hospitals (Level 3 or 4 hospitals) and requiring admission or transfer from January 1998 to December 2003. Twenty-one clinical, demographic, and hospital-level variables were included in multivariable logistic regression models (outcome = ED transfer to a tertiary care hospital), with hospital and year included as fixed effects to adjust for clustering. Classification and regression tree analysis was used to determine the importance of different covariates in predicting whether or not a patient was transferred from the ED. RESULTS Included in the analysis were 10,176 persons, of whom 3,785 (37%) were transferred to a tertiary care hospital from the ED. The hospital of initial presentation was the factor of greatest importance in predicting transfer, and there was substantial variability in transfer practices between hospitals. Several additional nonclinical variables were independently associated with transfer, including type and level of hospital, patient age, increasing distance from the nearest higher-level hospital (a measure of geographic isolation), and the patient's insurance status (particularly among Level 3 hospitals). CONCLUSIONS The non-tertiary care hospital of initial presentation is the strongest predictor for whether an injured patient is transferred to a tertiary center from the ED. There is substantial variability in transfer practices between hospitals after accounting for important clinical factors, and several nonclinical variables are independently associated with transfer.
Exploring public bus service quality in South Africa: A structural equation modelling approach

This study, which is a deviation from the usual practice of using SERVQUAL or an adaptedversion thereof, uses McKnight, Pagano and Paaswell’s (1986) service quality dimensions,namely reliability; extent of service; comfort; safety; and affordability (RECSA) and structuralequation modelling to determine commuters’ perception of public bus service quality in amajor city in South Africa. The RECSA model was adapted and fitted to the data collectedfrom a convenience sample of bus commuters in Johannesburg, using structural equationmodelling. It was ascertained that reliability, service, comfort and safety influenced thepublic bus commuters’ perception of the overall service quality. The implications of theaforementioned findings for providers of public bus services are explained.
Mechanisms of gene regulation in the general control of amino acid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

INTRODUCTION . 248 GENERAL AMINO ACID CONTROL IN S. CEREVISIAE . 249 Derepression Signal . 249 Amino Acid Biosynthetic Enzymes Subject to General Amino Acid Control . 250 Interplay between Pathway-Specific Regulation and General Amino Acid Control.251 Arginine biosynthetic enzymes . 251 Lysine biosynthetic enzymes . 251 Leucine biosynthetic enzymes. 251 Isoleucine-valine biosynthetic enzymes . 252 Glutamine biosynthetic enzymes . 252 Histidine biosynthetic enzymes . 252 Consequences of General Control-Mediated Derepression of Enzyme Activity on Amino Acid Pools.252 cis-ACTING REGULATORY ELEMENTS AT STRUCTURAL GENES SUBJECT TO THE GENERAL CONTROL . 253 HIS4 Regulatory Region . 253 HIS3 Regulatory Region . 256 TRP5 Regulatory Region. 257 HISS Regulatory Region . 258 ARG3 Regulatory Region . 258 Other Structural Genes . 258 trans-ACTING REGULATORY FACTORS IN GENERAL AMINO ACID CONTROL.258 GCN4 Encodes the Most Direct Positive Regulator in the General Control System . 258 GCN4 Protein Binds to the TGACTC Regulatory Sequences.260 GCN and GCD Factors That Function as Translational Regulators of GCN4 Expression.262 Translational Control of GCN4 Expression Requires the Upstream AUG Codons . 264 Translational Control of GCN4 and the Scanning Hypothesis for Translation Initiation . 266 Comparison of Translational Control Mechanisms for GCN4 and CPAI . 267 Pleiotropy of gcd Mutations . 267 Transcriptional Control of GCN4. 269 GENERAL AMINO ACID CONTROL IN OTHER FUNGI AND IN BACTERIA . 269 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 270 LITERATURE CITED. 270
Morphometry of the mandible in prepubertal craniofacial microsomia patients following an inverted L osteotomy.

The aim of this study was to undertake finite element modeling of craniofacial microsomia (CFM) patients who exhibited a unilateral mandibular deformity that was surgically corrected by an inverted L osteotomy and autogenous bone graft. Preoperative, 1-year, and 3-year postoperative anteroposterior cephalographs of 14 consecutive children (mean age, about 9 years) with CFM were employed. All cephalographs were scanned, and 8 homologous mandibular landmarks were digitized in triplicate (digitization error < 1%; P > 0.05). Average mandibular geometries, scaled to an equivalent size, were generated using Procrustes superimposition and subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that while the mean pre- and early postoperative mandibular configurations marginally failed to differ statistically, finite element modeling of the affected mandibular ramus showed a positive allometry (a lengthening by about 10% to 12%) and marked anisotropy, presumably reflecting the surgical procedure carried out in that region. For the preoperative and late postoperative means, the configurations were statistically different (P < 0.002), showing a lengthening of the ramus (about 14%) while the unoperated side had a high degree of isotropy. The early and late postoperative configurations were also statistically different (P < 0.002). The operated ramus showed an increase in length (about 15%), but the corpus showed a decrease in size (about 10%) and marked anisotropy that reflected remodeling associated with the surgical procedure. Although mandibular morphology is improved in CFM patients who are surgically treated by an inverted L osteotomy, some relapse is evident due to deficient growth, localized in the mandibular ramus and body of the affected side.
16kbps Real time QMF sub-band coding implementation

The availability of medium performance microprocessors, in conjunction with different concepts to generate real time efficient signal processing software on microprocessors without hardwired multipliers, allows the real time implementation of sub-band voice compression algorithms. This paper deals with the implementation of a 16kbps (8kHz, 2 bits per sample) 8 sub-band coder assuming a bank of 40 tap QMF decimator and interpolator filters, an adaptive allocation of the bits resource based on channels activity and a straigth block PCM coding of the decimated samples. The paper focuses on the implementation and software techniques which were used to achieve a complete sub-band coder with about 1.3 million of instructions per second on a processor with a 16 bits instruction and data flow.
Fifteen microsatellite loci for the jungle perch, Kuhlia rupestris

We developed and optimized 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the jungle perch, Kuhlia rupestris. Loci were screened in a single population (n = 24) from Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. Number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 19 and observed heterozygosity from 0.25 to 1. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between any pair of loci. Genotype proportions for these loci in the population sampled were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.
Rapid-quench hydrothermal experiments at mantle pressures and temperatures

New experimental methods for the encapsulation, extraction, and analysis of large volumes of aqueous fluids enable studies of mineral solubilities and dissolution kinetics with the piston-cylinder apparatus. Quench rates and volumes of experimental fluids with these methods are comparable with those used in modern hydrothermal experiments employing cold-seal vessels. Analyses of fluid compositions are reproducible and consistent with independent results. The techniques permit experimental investigations that will better characterize fluid-rock interaction in such environments as subducting slabs, the mantle wedge, Barrovian metamorphic belts, and middle to lower crustal granulites.
A tunable triode-MOSFET transconductor and its application to g/sub m/-C filters

A linear, tunable CMOS transconductance stage is introduced. Drain voltage of the input transistor operating in triode region is settled by a regulation loop and a first-order linear relationship between g/sub m/ and a DC bias voltage is achieved. In addition to easy tuning, this technique offers circuit simplicity, wide dynamic range, high input and output impedances and low consumption. The transconductor is presented on both single-ended and fully-differential versions. A 3rd-order elliptical low-pass g/sub m/-C filter with a nominal roll-off frequency of 2 MHz is used as one example for the many applications of the proposed transconductor. SPICE data describe circuits performances and filter tunability. Passband is tuned at a rate of 2.36 KHz/mV and good linearity is indicated by a 0.89% THD for an 800 mV/sub p-p/ balanced-driven input.
Drastic Calorie Restriction for the Treatment of Massive Obesity

Nearly more than one hundred men and women with massive obesity have been admitted to our clinical unit for the administration of a 6-8 week extremely low calorie diet (300 kcal). Treatment was well tolerated, and led to a weight loss of about 20 kg body weight in men and 15 kg in women. Cardiac, respiratory and orthopedic complications of severe obesity were gradually attenuated with a progressive decrease in the need for hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, analgesic and diuretic drug administrations. This treatment proved to be particularly useful in preparation to bariatric surgery and for improving complications of severe obesity.
Medial femoral condyle morphometrics and subchondral bone density patterns in Thoroughbred racehorses.

OBJECTIVE To characterize medial femoral condyle (MFC) morphometrics and subchondral bone density patterns in Thoroughbred racehorses and to determine whether these variables differ between left and right limbs. SAMPLE Stifle joints harvested from 6 Thoroughbred racehorses euthanized for reasons other than hind limb lameness. PROCEDURES The distal portion of the left and right femurs of each cadaver was scanned via CT. Hounsfield units were converted to dipotassium phosphate equivalent densities through use of a phantom on each specimen. Medial femoral condyle width, length, height, and curvature; subchondral bone plate densities; and subchondral trabecular bone densities were analyzed in multiple sections in 5 frontal planes and 3 sagittal planes and were compared between left and right MFCs. RESULTS MFC width, length, and height did not differ between left and right limbs. Regions of interest in the right caudoaxial subchondral bone plate and subchondral trabecular bone were significantly denser than their corresponding left regions of interest in the frontal and sagittal planes. A concavity in the otherwise convex articular surface of the cranial aspect of the MFC was identified in 11 of 12 specimens. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A disparity was identified between left and right subchondral bone density patterns at the caudoaxial aspect of the MFC, which could be attributable to the repetitive asymmetric cyclic loading that North American Thoroughbred racehorses undergo as they race in a counterclockwise direction. The uneven region at the cranial aspect of the MFC could be associated with the development of subchondral bone cysts in horses.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial comparing docetaxel and prednisone with or without bevacizumab in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: CALGB 90401.

PURPOSE A randomized, placebo-controlled study based on preclinical and clinical data that supports the potential role of vascular endothelial growth factor in prostate cancer was performed to evaluate the addition of bevacizumab to standard docetaxel and prednisone therapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with chemotherapy-naive progressive mCRPC with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 2 and adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function were randomly assigned to receive docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) intravenously (IV) over 1 hour for 21 days plus prednisone 5 mg orally twice per day (DP) with either bevacizumab 15 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks (DP + B) or placebo. The primary end point was overall survival (OS), and secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), 50% decline in prostate-specific antigen, objective response (OR), and toxicity. RESULTS In total, 1,050 patients were randomly assigned. The median OS for patients given DP + B was 22.6 months compared with 21.5 months for patients treated with DP (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.05; stratified log-rank P = .181). The median PFS time was superior in the DP + B arm (9.9 v 7.5 months, stratified log-rank P < .001) as was the proportion of patients with OR (49.4% v 35.5%; P = .0013). Grade 3 or greater treatment-related toxicity was more common with DP + B (75.4% v 56.2%; P ≤ .001), as was the number of treatment-related deaths (4.0% v 1.2%; P = .005). CONCLUSION Despite an improvement in PFS and OR, the addition of bevacizumab to docetaxel and prednisone did not improve OS in men with mCRPC and was associated with greater toxicity.
Persistence and Survivorship Bias In the Performance of Mutual Funds: An Indian Experience

This study utilizes few selected performance evaluation techniques on a sample of 36 Indian mutual fund schemes, over the period of January 2001 to September 2009. The broad based S&P CNX NIFTY is used in the study as a benchmark. The study measures the performance using Capital Asset Pricing Model, Treynor-Mazuy model and Merton-Henriksson model. The results concluded that these 36 mutual fund managers were on average not able to predict security prices well enough to outperform a buy-the-market-and-holdpolicy. There was very little evidence of any individual fund being able to do significantly better than which was expected from random chance. On the other hand, no evidence of curvature of the characteristic lines, indicating superior timing skill, is found for any of the funds.We have also examined the persistence in mutual fund performance with respect to the stock selection ability as well as timing ability of fund managers of the sample funds. The study offers little evidence of persistence in either the stock selection ability or the timing ability of the fund managers. Mutual fund attrition can create problems for a researcher because funds disappear due to presumably poor performance resulting into bias in research outcome. In this study we also revisit the mutual fund performance, including the disappeared mutual fund schemes during sample period. Overall 22 funds were traced which disappeared in due course during the period. By tracking disappearing funds, the study does not find any evidence of survivorship bias.