Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Reported Weight and Height: Implications for Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Detection. An Italian Multi-Center Study

We examined the difference between self-reported and measured body size values and their impact on detection of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by echocardiographic LV mass indexation. A total of 1963 subjects referred by their practitioners for routine echocardiographic examination to nine outpatient echocardiographic laboratories across Italy were included in the study. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined according to two gender- specific criteria as: A) Left ventricular mass (LVM) index ≥49 g/h2.7 in men and ≥45 g/h2.7 in women; B) LVM index ≥125 g/m2 in men and ≥110 g/m2 in women. Prevalence of LVH was calculated by indexing LVM to both self-reported and measured anthropometric values. In the whole population, LVH tended to be underestimated by self-reported values by 5.4% according to criterion A (48.5% vs. 53.9%, p < 0.001) and by 1.2% according to criterion B (29.6% vs. 30.8%, p < 0.01); similar findings were observed in the hypertensive subgroup encompassing one-half of the sample. Underestimation of LVH was more pronounced in older patients than in younger patients: 8.6% vs. 3.2% (p < 0.001) by criterion A, 3.1% vs. 0.1% (p < 0.001) by criterion B, in women than in men (8.6% vs. 3.3% (p < 0.001) by criterion A and 1.8% vs. 0.5% (p < 0.01) by criterion B. In a sample of outpatients attending echocardiographic laboratories, LVH is misclassified when left ventricular mass is normalized to self-reported weight and height. The error is related to the clinical characteristics of patients and is more pronounced when LVM is normalized to height2.7.
Customizing Modern Portfolio Theory for the Project Portfolio Selection Problem

As organization’s performance depends on the projects it implements, selecting the most appropriate set of projects given limited resources is a crucial decision. In such project portfolio selection decision, the combined analysis of portfolios’ returns and risks, i.e. risk-return optimization, is essential since a project portfolio with a high attractive expected return might also expose the organization to a large loss. Furthermore, as these two variables are influenced by some external threats and opportunities that may affect the returns of one or more projects simultaneously, it is crucial to incorporate such effects into the optimization model. However, the literature is underdeveloped in such critical incorporation. Inspired by “modern portfolio theory”, an effective approach in (financial) portfolio selection problem, in this paper, we propose a new approach to solve the project portfolio selection problem, which comprehensively considers the effects of threats and opportunities around projects in.
Biochemical Characterization of the Human RAD51 Protein

RecA mediated homologous recombination requires cooperative ATP binding and hydrolysis to assume and maintain an active, extended DNA-protein (nucleoprotein) filament. Human RAD51 protein (hRAD51) lacks the magnitude of ATP-induced cooperativity and catalytic efficiency displayed by RecA. Here, we examined hRAD51 binding and ATPase inhibition pattern by ADP and ATP/adenosine 5′-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATPγS). hRAD51 fully saturates with ATP/ATPγS regardless of DNA cofactor (K D ≈ 5 μm; 1 ATP/1 hRAD51). The binding of ADP to hRAD51 appeared bimodal. The first mode was identical to ATP/ATPγS binding (K app1 ≈ 3 μm; 1 ADP/1 hRAD51), while a second mode occurred at elevated ADP concentrations (K app2 ≥ 125 μm; >1 ADP/1 hRAD51). We could detect ADP → ATP exchange in the high affinity ADP binding mode (K app1) but not the low affinity binding mode (K app2). At low ATP concentrations (<0.3 mm), ADP and ATPγS competitively inhibit the hRAD51 ATPase (K m (app) >K m ). However, at high ATP (>0.3 mm), the hRAD51 ATPase was stimulated by concentrations of ATPγS that were 20-fold above the K D . Ammonium sulfate plus spermidine decreased the affinity of hRAD51 for ADP substantially (∼10-fold) and ATP modestly (∼3-fold). Our results suggest that ATP binding is not rate-limiting but that the inability to sustain an active nucleoprotein filament probably restricts the hRAD51 ATPase.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Linked to 19p13 and Associated with ICAM-1

Genome-wide scans have implicated several susceptibility loci, but linkage of 19p13 (IBD6) to Crohn's disease (CD) has not been fully replicated. We report a replication study of IBD6 in a UK Caucasian population. Two hundred eighty-four affected sibling pairs from 234 families were used for the linkage study. Linkage between IBD6 linkage and CD was replicated (LOD score = 1.59). Two candidate genes (DDXL and ICAM-1) within the IBD6 locus were examined in a case/control study with a total of 228 CD and 243 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and 407 healthy controls. No association to either UC or CD was found in three novel intronic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DDXL. For ICAM-1, a significant association was found between K469 homozygosity and CD overall (39.9% vs 29.4%; Pc = 0.0096) and between E469 and fistulating disease (21.8% vs 10.0%, Pc = 0.030). In the UC group, limited disease extent was associated with homozygosity of the G241 allele (82.7% vs 64.7%, Pc = 0.0040). These data support linkage for CD at 19p13 and suggest that the amino acid polymorphisms in ICAM-1 may be associated with IBD.
The role of nitric oxide in portal hypertension caused by extrahepatic portal vein obstruction

Aims: Nitric oxide (NO) in peripheral venous blood has been shown to be elevated in experimental portal hypertension. This study aims to determine the serum NO levels in patients with extrahepatic portal venous hypertension (EHPVO) pre- and postoperatively and to analyze whether these can serve as a reliable and early indicator of shunt blockage or malfunction. Materials and Methods: During the period 2006–2010, 48 children with EHPVO were included in this prospective study; 40 underwent porto-systemic shunt and eight underwent splenectomy with devascularization. NO was evaluated preoperatively, 14 days after surgery, at 3 months and then 6 monthly thereafter. The median follow-up duration was 21 months. Shunt patency was confirmed with Doppler and computed tomography portography. Forty-eight age-matched children with hypospadias served as controls. Results: NO was higher in EHPVO patients as compared with controls (43.16 ± 16.27 vs. 5.76 ± 2.62 μmol/l) (P = 0.0001). There was a significant decline in the NO levels (4.64 ± 3.18 μmol/l) following shunt surgery (P = 0.0001), and it continued to remain low till the shunt was patent. A shunt block was indicated by rising NO levels in all five patients. The devascularization group also demonstrated a significant decline in the NO levels (27.06 ± 3.56 μmol/l) (P = 0.002), but it was less as compared with the shunted patients. The decline in the portal pressure after shunt surgery was found to correlate with the decline in the serum NO levels. Conclusions: The blood levels of NO can be used in the diagnosis of portal hypertension, and are useful for monitoring the patency of the shunt.
Cloning and functional expression of venom prothrombin activator protease from Pseudonaja textilis with whole blood procoagulant activity

The snake venom group C prothrombin activators contain a number of components that enhance the rate of prothrombin activation. The cloning and expression of full‐length cDNA for one of these components, an activated factor X (factor Xa)‐like protease from Pseudonaja textilis as well as the generation of functional chimeric constructs with procoagulant activity were described. The complete cDNA codes for a propeptide, light chain, activation peptide (AP) and heavy chain related in sequence to mammalian factor X. Efficient expression of the protease was achieved with constructs where the AP was deleted and the cleavage sites between the heavy and light chains modified, or where the AP was replaced with a peptide involved in insulin receptor processing. In human kidney cells (H293F) transfected with these constructs, up to 80% of the pro‐form was processed to heavy and light chains. Binding of the protease to barium citrate and use of specific antibodies demonstrated that γ‐carboxylation of glutamic acid residues had occurred on the light chain in both cases, as observed in human factor Xa and the native P. textilis protease. The recombinant protease caused efficient coagulation of whole citrated blood and citrated plasma that was enhanced by the presence of Ca2+. This study identified the complete cDNA sequence of a factor Xa‐like protease from P. textilis and demonstrated for the first time the expression of a recombinant form of P. textilis protease capable of blood coagulation.
Methodological problems in the use of indirect comparisons for evaluating healthcare interventions: survey of published systematic reviews

Objective To investigate basic assumptions and other methodological problems in the application of indirect comparison in systematic reviews of competing healthcare interventions. Design Survey of published systematic reviews. Inclusion criteria Systematic reviews published between 2000 and 2007 in which an indirect approach had been explicitly used. Data extraction Identified reviews were assessed for comprehensiveness of the literature search, method for indirect comparison, and whether assumptions about similarity and consistency were explicitly mentioned. Results The survey included 88 review reports. In 13 reviews, indirect comparison was informal. Results from different trials were naively compared without using a common control in six reviews. Adjusted indirect comparison was usually done using classic frequentist methods (n=49) or more complex methods (n=18). The key assumption of trial similarity was explicitly mentioned in only 40 of the 88 reviews. The consistency assumption was not explicit in most cases where direct and indirect evidence were compared or combined (18/30). Evidence from head to head comparison trials was not systematically searched for or not included in nine cases. Conclusions Identified methodological problems were an unclear understanding of underlying assumptions, inappropriate search and selection of relevant trials, use of inappropriate or flawed methods, lack of objective and validated methods to assess or improve trial similarity, and inadequate comparison or inappropriate combination of direct and indirect evidence. Adequate understanding of basic assumptions underlying indirect and mixed treatment comparison is crucial to resolve these methodological problems. Appendix 1 PubMed search strategy Appendix 2 Characteristics of identified reports Appendix 3 Identified studies References of included studies
Location and Attention

A discrepancy exists in the literature concerning attention and visual localization accuracy. Prinzmetal, Amiri, Allen, and Edwards (1998), and Tsal and Bareket (1999a) found that localization accuracy increases with attention. Using an inattention paradigm, Rock, Linnett, Grant, and Mack (1992) found no difference between localization accuracy in three attention conditions: inattention, divided attention, and control. Using a similar inattention paradigm, the current study addressed this discrepancy. Subjects were instructed to perform a line judgement task, and attention for an additional location task was manipulated. In Experiment 1, location accuracy was worse in the inattention condition than in either the divided attention or the control condition. There was no difference between the divided-attention and control conditions. Experiment 2 controlled for the possibility that improved location accuracy in the divided and control conditions was due to the expectation of performing a location response, rather than the manipulation of attention. Our results are in agreement with previous findings (Prinzmetal et al., 1998; Tsal & Bareket, 1999a) and suggest that the apparent discrepancy is due to coarse coding of the location responses in the study by Rock et al. (1992).
High-Efficiency PCB- and Package-Level Wireless Power Transfer Interconnection Scheme Using Magnetic Field Resonance Coupling

As technology develops, the number of chips increases while the thickness of mobile products continuously decreases, which leads to the need for high-density packaging techniques with high numbers of power and signal lines. By applying wireless power transfer technology at the printed circuit board (PCB) and package levels, the number of power pins can be greatly reduced to produce more space for signal pins and other components in the system. For the first time, in this paper, we propose and demonstrate a high-efficiency PCB- and package-level wireless power transfer interconnection scheme. We enhance the efficiency by applying magnetic field resonance coupling using a matching capacitor. The proposed scheme can replace a high number of power interconnections with rectangular spiral coils to wirelessly transfer power from the source to the receiver at the PCB and package levels. The equivalent circuit model is suggested with analytic equations, which is then analyzed to optimize the test vehicle design. For the experimental verification of the suggested model, the $Z$ -parameter results obtained from the model-based equation and measurement of the designed and fabricated test vehicles are compared at up to 1 GHz. The power transfer efficiency from the source coil to the receiver coil in this scheme is able to reach 85.6%. Finally, we designed and fabricated a CMOS full-bridge rectifier and mounted it on the receiver board to convert the transferred voltage from ac voltage to dc voltage. A measured dc voltage of 2.0 V is sufficient to operate the circuit, which generally consists of 1.5 V devices.
Rangeomorphs, Thectardis (Porifera?) and dissolved organic carbon in the Ediacaran oceans

The mid‐Ediacaran Mistaken Point biota of Newfoundland represents the first morphologically complex organisms in the fossil record. At the classic Mistaken Point localities the biota is dominated by the enigmatic group of “fractally” branching organisms called rangeomorphs. One of the few exceptions to the rangeomorph body plan is the fossil Thectardis avalonensis, which has been reconstructed as an upright, open cone with its apex in the sediment. No biological affinity has been suggested for this fossil, but here we show that its body plan is consistent with the hydrodynamics of the sponge water‐canal system. Further, given the habitat of Thectardis beneath the photic zone, and the apparent absence of an archenteron, movement, or a fractally designed body plan, we suggest that it is a sponge. The recognition of sponges in the Mistaken Point biota provides some of the earliest body fossil evidence for this group, which must have ranged through the Ediacaran based on biomarkers, molecular clocks, and their position on the metazoan tree of life, in spite of their sparse macroscopic fossil record. Should our interpretation be correct, it would imply that the paleoecology of the Mistaken Point biota was dominated by sponges and rangeomorphs, organisms that are either known or hypothesized to feed in large part on dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The biology of these two clades gives insight into the structure of the Ediacaran ocean, and indicates that a non‐uniformitarian mechanism delivered labile DOC to the Mistaken Point seafloor.
Education predicts incidence of preclinical mobility disability in initially high-functioning older women. The Women's Health and Aging Study II.

BACKGROUND To examine the impact of educational attainment on the incidence of preclinical mobility disability (PCD). METHODS The Women's Health and Aging II Study is a prospective observational cohort study of 436 initially high-functioning community-dwelling women aged 70-79 years at baseline in Baltimore, Maryland. We measured the association of highest attained education level with preclinical mobility disability (PCD) over an 11-year period. PCD is defined as self-reported modification in any of four tasks without reporting difficulty in those tasks. The tasks were walking ½ mile, climbing up steps, doing heavy housework, and getting in/out of bed or chair. RESULTS Participants with less than 9 years of education were more likely to acquire incident PCD (hazard ratio: 3.1, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-7.7) than their counterparts with more education after adjusting for income, marital status, number of diseases, and high self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Lower education level is an independent predictor of incident preclinical mobility disability. This association has important implications for primary and secondary prevention and can be easily assessed in clinical encounters.
Slicing embryos gently with laser light sheets

Light sheet microscopy is an easy to implement and extremely powerful alternative to established fluorescence imaging techniques such as laser scanning confocal, multi‐photon and spinning disk microscopy. By illuminating the sample only with a thin slice of light, photo‐bleaching is reduced to a minimum, making light sheet microscopy ideal for non‐destructive imaging of fragile samples over extended periods of time. Millimeter‐sized samples can be imaged rapidly with high resolution and high depth penetration. A large variety of instruments have been developed and optimized for a number of different samples: Bessel beams form thin light sheets for single cells, and selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) offers multi‐view acquisition to image entire embryos with isotropic resolution. This review explains how light sheet microscopy involves a conceptually new microscope design and how it changes modern imaging in biology.
Structural Properties of the Primary Medial Knee Ligaments

Background: The structural properties of the individual components of the superficial medial collateral ligament (MCL), deep MCL, and posterior oblique ligament (POL) have not been studied in isolation. To define the necessary strength requirements for an anatomical medial knee reconstruction, knowledge of these structural properties is necessary. Hypothesis: The components of the superficial MCL, POL, and deep MCL have significantly different structural properties. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: This study used 20 fresh-frozen nonpaired cadaveric knee specimens with a mean age of 54 years (range, 27 to 68 years). These knees provided 8 samples for each tested medial knee structure, which was individually isolated and loaded to failure at 20 mm per minute. Specifically tested were the superficial MCL with intact femoral and detached proximal tibial attachments, the superficial MCL with intact femoral and detached distal tibial attachments, the central arm of the POL, and the isolated deep MCL. Load was recorded as a function of displacement. Stiffness of the ligament at failure was calculated from these measurements. Results: The mean load at failure for the superficial MCL with the intact femoral and distal tibial attachments was 557 N. Mean load at failure was 88 N for the intact femoral and proximal tibial divisions of the superficial MCL, 256 N for the POL, and 101 N for the deep MCL. Stiffness of the ligaments just before failure was 63, 17, 38, and 27 N/mm, in the same order as above. Conclusion: The proximal and distal tibial divisions of the superficial MCL, POL, and deep MCL produced loads of clinical importance. Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of the structural properties of these attachment sites will assist in reconstruction graft choices, fixation method choices, and overall operative treatment of medial knee injury.
Prevalence, nature, and correlates of sleep problems among children with fragile X syndrome based on a large scale parent survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVES This study reports on current child sleep difficulties reported by parents of children with Fragile X syndrome (FXS). We address prevalence and type of sleep problems (e.g., difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings); type and effectiveness of medical and behavioral treatments (e.g., medication, surgery, environmental changes); and explore specific child and family characteristics (e.g., child age, child gender, co-occurring conditions) as possible predictors of child sleep difficulties. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS This study is part of a larger survey addressing needs of families with children with FXS. This article focuses on the families who responded to the survey sleep questions, had one or more children with the full mutation FXS, and who reside in the United States. The mean age for male and female children in this group was 15 years and 16 years respectively (N=1295). RESULTS Parents reported that 32% of the children with FXS currently experience sleep difficulties; 84% of those children are reported to have > or =2 current sleep problems. Problems falling asleep and frequent night awakenings were the most frequently reported difficulties; 47% of males and 40% of females received > or =1 medication to help with sleep. Children with more problematic health or behavioral characteristics had a higher likelihood of having current sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS Our survey provides the most representative sample to date of sleep problems in children with FXS or any other neurodevelopmental disability. This large scale survey establishes a foundation for the prevalence of sleep disorders in children with FXS.
The HyperHotel application built over D.I.C.E. and Co.In.S

Content integration of Web data sources is becoming increasingly important for the next generation information systems. However, all proposed solutions are faced with the same performance bottleneck: the network overhead incurred when contacting the integrated e-sites. With this demo paper, we shall demonstrate the functionality of HyperHotel. HyperHotel is used for finding appropriate hotel rooms when travelling. Its novetlies are that it is designed and implemented as an Internet Web-hotel content integration application and that it is built on top of DICE and CoInS; a novel content integration infrastructure consisting of a domain-independent content integration system and its data integration cache engine. We'll show how the infrastructure of DICE and CoInS can be applied and exploited in HyperHotel in order to improve the response time of complex user queries. This exemplifies the significance of this infrastructure since HyperHotel is representative of a large class of e-commerce, content integration applications.
Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity in patients with cystic fibrosis

What is the central question of this study? Do patients with cystic fibrosis have reduced skeletal muscle oxidative capacity, measured with near‐infrared spectroscopy, compared with demographically matched control subjects? What is the main finding and is its importance? Patients with cystic fibrosis have impairments in skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. This reduced skeletal muscle oxidative capacity not only appears to be accelerated by age, but it may also contribute to exercise intolerance in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Crystal structure of the site‐specific recombinase, XerD

The structure of the site‐specific recombinase, XerD, that functions in circular chromosome separation, has been solved at 2.5 Å resolution and reveals that the protein comprises two domains. The C‐terminal domain contains two conserved sequence motifs that are located in similar positions in the structures of XerD, λ and HP1 integrases. However, the extreme C‐terminal regions of the three proteins, containing the active site tyrosine, are very different. In XerD, the arrangement of active site residues supports a cis cleavage mechanism. Biochemical evidence for DNA bending is encompassed in a model that accommodates extensive biochemical and genetic data, and in which the DNA is wrapped around an α‐helix in a manner similar to that observed for CAP complexed with DNA.