Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunoglobulin gene ‘fingerprinting’: an approach to analysis of B lymphoid clonality in lymphoproliferative disorders

Rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene is widely exploited as a marker of B cell lineage and clonality in the pathology of lymphoproliferative disorders. We have developed a simple, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method for detecting IgH gene rearrangement which relies on the observation that by using a panel of PCR amplimers specific for each of the six heavy chain variable region families in conjunction with a common joining region amplimer, clonal rearrangement can be detected in over 90% of cases of B lymphoid malignancy. By using radiolabelled amplimers and exploiting the size heterogeneity resulting from independent IgH rearrangement events. we show that high resolution gel electrophoresis can be used to generate a‘fingerprint’representing the spectrum of B cell clonality in complex populations of B lymphocytes. The method effectively scans the entire IgH gene rearrangement repertoire and is capable of detecting rare clonal or oligoclonal B lymphoid cell populations. In normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. clonal IgH rearrangement could be readily detected at a sensitivity of 10−3. We illustrate the application of the method in assessing the spectrum of B cell clonality occurring in an autoimmune condition, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and in a malignant B cell disorder, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. In addition, we explore the potential application of the technique in tracking minimal residual disease and for monitoring clonal evolution in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Ridge waveguide branch-line directional couplers for wideband applications and LTCC technology

A new branch-line directional coupler is proposed for achieving wide bandwidth. The device is implemented in ridge waveguide to exploit its wide monomode band. It can be physically realized either in empty ridge waveguide or in LTCC for integration in a chip module. Two prototypes of two and five branches are designed following a systematic procedure. An appropriate equivalent circuit provides initial dimensions and the desired optimum response is obtained by means of a final full-wave optimization based on the rigorous and efficient mode-matching method. The results are verified with the finite element method of the HFSS software and a prototype will be manufactured for testing
Significance of defect severity in technetium-99m-MIBI SPECT at rest to assess myocardial viability: comparison with fluorine-18-FDG PET.

UNLABELLED The pathophysiological significance of 99mTc-MIBI uptake at rest for assessing myocardial viability in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is still controversial. Therefore, we studied the relationship of 99mTc-MIBI uptake at rest and preserved or absent uptake of 18FDG as assessed with PET in 111 consecutive patients after overnight withdrawal of their antianginal medication. METHODS Each ventricle was evaluated in 13 segments derived from 25 regions of interest (ROIs) in short-axis cuts and 18FDG uptake was normalized to the intraindividual normal reference ROI (ROI with maximal = 100% 99mTc-MIBI uptake). Segments with a normalized 18FDG uptake > 70% were defined as viable while segments with a 18FDG uptake < 50% were defined as nonviable. RESULTS Five to 11% of segments with 99mTc-MIBI uptake at rest < or = 30% of peak activity were viable and 80%-84% nonviable. Of moderate to severe 99mTc-MIBI defects at rest (31%-70% of peak), 13%-61% were viable. Segmental 99mTc-MIBI uptake and normalized 18FDG uptake were linearly correlated (r = 0.61, n = 1443, p < 0.001). In segments revealing severely reduced 99mTc-MIBI uptake (< or = 50% of peak) the correlation was considerably lower (r = 0.44, n = 295, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In patients with CAD, 99mTc-MIBI uptake underestimates myocardial viability in comparison to 18FDG-PET. Myocardial 99mTc-MIBI uptake therefore appears to reflect myocardial blood flow rather than myocardial viability. Patients with moderate and severe 99mTc-MIBI defects at rest may benefit from additional metabolic PET imaging prior to final therapeutic decisions.
“Comparison of Nalbuphine Hydrochloride and Fentanyl as an Adjuvant to Bupivacaine for Spinal Anesthesia in Lower Abdominal Surgeries:” A Randomized, Double-blind Study

Background and Aims: Opioids have been favored as adjuvants to local anesthetics during spinal anesthesia. Nalbuphine, a μ-receptor antagonist and ĸ-receptor agonist, seems to be a suitable adjuvant to local anesthetics. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative analgesia and adverse effects of nalbuphine and fentanyl when used as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine during spinal anesthesia. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status I and II were randomly allocated into two groups of thirty each. Patients in bupivacaine nalbuphine group (Group BN) received 0.8 mg (0.3 ml) of nalbuphine with 12.5 mg (2.5 ml) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine diluted to 3 ml and bupivacaine-fentanyl group (Group BF) received 25 μg (0.5 ml) of fentanyl with 12.5 mg (2.5 ml) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Patients were assessed for hemodynamic changes, sensory and motor block, early postoperative analgesia, and adverse effects. Results: Onset, duration of sensory and motor block, and duration of effective analgesia were comparable between both groups. Postoperative visual analog scale score was 4.8 ± 1.12 in Group BN, and in Group BF, it was 3.86 ± 1.04 which was statistically highly significant (P = 0.0007). The number of patients demanding rescue analgesia in early postoperative period was 18 (60.0%) in Group BN and 7 (23.33%) in Group BF which was statistically significant (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Fentanyl was more efficient than nalbuphine in providing early postoperative analgesia when used as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine.
1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy in first episode and chronic schizophrenia patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of this study was to compare metabolite levels of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG), thalamus, and hippocampus in patients with chronic schizophrenia (CSPs) and first psychotic episode patients (FEPs) by the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty CSPs, 20 FEPs, and 30 healthy subjects participated in this study. N-Acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, choline (Cho), and myoinositol levels of the DLPFC, ACG, thalamus, and hippocampus were measured by 1H-MRS. RESULTS It was determined that the NAA/Cho ratio was lower in both the FEPs and CSPs than the healthy controls in the DLPFC. DLPFC Cho levels were also higher in CSPs than healthy controls. NAA levels in CSPs were significantly lower than in the control group in the hippocampus. There was no significant difference in neurometabolite levels and ratios in the ACG and thalamus between the groups. CONCLUSION This study supports neuronal dysfunction or loss of neuronal integrity in the DLPFC and hippocampus in CSPs. FEPs showed less neuronal dysfunction in the DLPFC, but not in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that schizophrenic patients show brain metabolic changes with the onset of the disorder in the DLPFC; these changes could be more apparent in the hippocampus as the disease progresses to chronic stages.
The anatomical basis of dystonia: Current view using neuroimaging

This review will consider the knowledge that neuroimaging studies have provided to the understanding of the anatomy of dystonia. Major advances have occurred in the use of neuroimaging for dystonia in the past 2 decades. At present, the most developed imaging approaches include whole‐brain or region‐specific studies of structural or diffusion changes, functional imaging using fMRI or positron emission tomography (PET), and metabolic imaging using fluorodeoxyglucose PET. These techniques have provided evidence that regions other than the basal ganglia are involved in dystonia. In particular, there is increasing evidence that primary dystonia can be viewed as a circuit disorder, involving the basal ganglia‐thalamo‐cortical and cerebello‐thalamo‐cortical pathways. This suggests that a better understanding of the dysfunction in each region in the network and their interactions are important topics to address. Current views of interpretation of imaging data as cause or consequence of dystonia, and the postmortem correlates of imaging data are presented. The application of imaging as a tool to monitor therapy and its use as an outcome measure will be discussed. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society
‘I’m still here, I’m still alive’: Understanding successful aging in the context of HIV

As people living with HIV (PLWH) live longer, increased understanding of individuals’ values and perceptions of successful aging can assist health providers in working with PLWH to set meaningful goals as they age. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how PLWH define successful aging and their perceptions of contributors to successful aging. Fourteen men and ten women over the age of 50 years (mean age 57 years; mean time since diagnosis 18 years) participated in individual interviews. Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis. Six themes emerged: accepting limitations, staying positive, maintaining social supports, taking responsibility, living a healthy lifestyle, and engaging in meaningful activities. The participants emphasized individual control. This highlights the importance of working with PLWH to understand their values and aspirations, and create patient-centered goals. From a research perspective this reinforces calls to include the subjective experiences of older adults in developing successful aging criteria.
Threat Models and Games for Adversarial Multimedia Forensics

We define a number of threat models to describe the goals, the available information and the actions characterising the behaviour of a possible attacker in multimedia forensic scenarios. We distinguish between an investigative scenario, wherein the forensic analysis is used to guide the investigative action and a use-in-court scenario, wherein forensic evidence must be defended during a lawsuit. We argue that the goals and actions of the attacker in these two cases are very different, thus exposing the forensic analyst to different challenges. Distinction is also made between model-based techniques and techniques based on machine learning, showing how in the latter case the necessity of defining a proper training set enriches the set of actions available to the attacker. By leveraging on the previous analysis, we then introduce some game-theoretic models to describe the interaction between the forensic analyst and the attacker in the investigative and use-in-court scenarios.
An analytical framework and implementation of wireless network inference and optimization

The paper addresses the problem of inference and optimization in wireless networks. An information-geometric framework is presented with scalable solutions to infer the end-to-end rate distributions of stochastic network flows from link rate measurements. Low-complexity solutions are provided by decomposing the network inference problem to smaller-size subproblems that are solved independently. By using the inferred distributions of flow rates, a recursive mechanism is presented to optimize the network performance. The distributions of all links rates are computed first from the inferred distributions of flow rates and then the weighted sum of link outage probabilities is minimized by adapting routing decisions. This approach is iterated between network inference and optimization, and provides link outage and end-to-end throughput gains compared to static approaches with fixed network parameters. The joint network inference and optimization approach is implemented with real radios and the performance is verified with hardware-in-the-loop emulation test results obtained with actual radio transmissions over emulated channels.
How do the new shipping routes affect Asian liquefied natural gas markets and economy? Case of the Northern Sea Route and Panama Canal expansion

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the expected impact of Northern Sea Route (NSR) usage and the Panama Canal (PC) expansion on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports of Asian countries, from not only the macroeconomic viewpoint but also diversification of the supplying countries. First, the amounts saved from shipping costs due to these events are estimated, based on scenarios on the navigable period of the NSR, transit fee of the NSR considering the exchange rate between the Russian ruble and US dollar, and bunker fuel price. Second, a spatial general equilibrium model based on macroeconomic theory is applied to predict changes in LNG trade patterns and measure economic impacts due to the reduction of shipping costs. Finally, the impacts of NSR usage as well as the PC expansion on LNG imports of Asian countries are discussed based on the calculations. The results show that diversification of supplying countries for LNG imports can be observed, especially in Japan, the largest LNG importer in the world, and other Asian countries are secondarily affected by changes in Japan’s import pattern, with limited impacts on these countries’ national economies.
To Change Perceptions of Technology Programs

• Performance or the main characteristic of the product or service. • Aesthetics, which include the “look and feel” of the product or service. • Special features of the product or service. • Conformance or how well the product or service aligns with the customer’s expectations. • Safety, which includes the element of risk of injury or harm. • Reliability or the ability to consistently deliver the intended results. • Durability or the useful life of the product or service. • Reputation of the product or service.
Candida famata modulates toll‐like receptor, β‐defensin, and proinflammatory cytokine expression by normal human epithelial cells

Candida albicans is no longer the only yeast involved in infectious disorders, as others, such as C. famata, commonly associated with foods as well as terrestrial and marine environments, are being recognized as potential emerging pathogens that cause human candidiasis. We investigated the interaction between C. famata and human epithelial cells using monolayer cultures and an engineered human oral mucosa (EHOM). C. famata was able to adhere to gingival epithelial cells but failed to adopt the hyphal form in the presence/absence of proteins. Interestingly, when cultured onto the engineered human oral mucosa (EHOM), C. famata formed a biofilm and invaded the connective tissue. When normal human gingival epithelial cells were put in contact with C. famata, they expressed high levels of Toll‐like receptors (TLR)‐2, ‐4, and ‐6, but not TLR‐9 mARN. The upregulation of TLRs was paralleled by an increase of IL‐1β and TNFα, but not IFNγ mARN expression, suggesting the involvement of specific pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β and TNFα) in the defense against infection with C. famata. The active role of epithelial cells in the innate immunity against C. famata infection was enhanced by their capacity to express high levels of human β‐defensin (HBD)‐1, ‐2, and ‐3. The upregulation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptide expression may explain the growth inhibition of C. famata by the gingival epithelial cells. Overall results provide additional evidence of the involvement of C. famata in the activation of innate immunity and the contribution of human epithelial cells in local defenses against such exogenous stimulations as C. famata infections. J. Cell. Physiol. 222:209–218, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A simple method for the design of a coupler for helix TWTs

This paper describes a simple, fast and accurate method for the design of coupler for helix TWTs, using a simulation approach. It shows that a coupler can be analysed and optimized without modelling of a matching attenuator or user generated perfect matched boundary at the sever end. The proposed method not only considerably reduces the computational time but also provides exact results for the coupler performance.
A case of lead intoxication: Clinical and biochemical studies

A 23‐year‐old Japanese male with severe lead intoxication accompanied by hemolytic anemia was studied. The patient had taken 12 g of lead in about a month. He had moderate hemolytic anemia (Hb 8.9 g/100 ml) with reticulo‐cytosis ranging from 2.5 to 11.7%. Peripheral blood smear showed nucleated red cells (42/200 white blood cells) and marked basophilic stippling in the red cells. Activities of erythrocyte enzymes were either normal or increased except for pyrimidine 5′‐nucleotidase (P5N) and δ‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA‐D) both of which were found to be decreased, being 48.8% and 4.1% of the normal controls respectively. Erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) was high (145.6 mg/100ml RBC). Erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotides were accumulated up to 10.2% of total nucleotides. The level of lead in peripheral blood was 112 μg per 100 ml blood.
Developing a Community-Based Stroke Prevention Intervention Course in Minority Communities: The DC Angels Project

Despite advances in stroke treatment in the United States, stroke remains the third leading cause of death among Americans and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. About 780,000 Americans will have a new or recurrent stroke this year. Each year, about 60,000 more women than men have a stroke. African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared with Whites. Minority populations are less likely to know all stroke symptoms and far less likely to know all heart attack symptoms. There are many benefits of early treatment of stroke, yet most minorities do not get this treatment because they do not recognize the warning signs, risk factors, and prevention of stroke. The objective of this intervention course was to increase the students' knowledge and awareness of stroke, warning signs, risk factors, and prevention. Developing community-based stroke prevention intervention courses in minority communities is a good strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality and help to eliminate health disparities in minority communities.
Enslavement and institutionalized care: the politics of health in nineteenth-century St Croix, Danish West Indies

ABSTRACT This study explores the effects of Danish colonial healthcare policy on enslaved people in St Croix, Danish West Indies. After the slave-trade ban in 1803, colonial administrators and planters implemented healthcare policies to curb demographic decline. This included constructing hospitals at privately owned plantations. Plantation hospitals were overseen by European physicians, but daily care was provided by enslaved nurses. This study draws on previous archaeological research on insitutions and African Diaspora healthcare systems in order to examine how enslaved nurses negotiated the effects of top-down colonial medicine within the context of a plantation hospital at Estate Cane Garden. Archaeological findings indicate that nurses drew from a range of local plant and animal resources to provide care for their patients. The lack of easily definable medical artefacts from the hospital draws into relief the need for archaeologists to reconsider how healthcare and healing in the past are interpreted.
The effect of social capital and knowledge sharing to the small medium enterprise’s performance and sustainability strategies

Purpose The development of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia is one of the national economic development priorities. SMEs have given benefits for society, especially in creating a fair income distribution and supporting economic growth. This paper aims to examine and analyze the impact of social capital and knowledge sharing on the sustainability strategy and performance of SME and to formulate policies about SMEs in the future. Design/methodology/approach This research was carried out in Riau Province, which is the closest province to Malaysia and Singapore. The authors collected data from 56 SMEs in trading and craft industries by using the purposive sampling method. The data were analyzed using partial least square technique. Findings The result of data analysis shows that social capital and knowledge sharing significantly affect the sustainability strategy of SMEs. Furthermore, sustainability strategy and knowledge sharing affects SME performance significantly, whereas social capital does not affect its performance. Originality/value A participatory approach (partial least square) was used, the location of the research was Riau Province, Indonesia and the participants in this study are the perpetrators of the micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. This method and location have not been considered in earlier studies.
Identification of a Precursor Protein to the Major Glycoproteins of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus

Mouse mammary tumor virus-producing cultures of mouse mammary tumor cells synthesize a viral-related polypeptide of molecular weight of 73,000 (gp 73) which is rapidly labeled during a short pulse but disappears during the chase concomitantly with the appearance of label in the virion glycoproteins gp 49 and gp 37.5/33.5. The addition of the protein synthesis-inhibitor cycloheximide to the chase medium has little effect on this conversion. Treatment of the proposed precursor with α-chymotrypsin leads to the formation of a polypeptide of molecular weight 49,000, similar to the major virion glycoprotein. A comparison of tryptic digest maps of the glycoproteins involved supports the hypothesis that both the viral glycoproteins gp 49 and gp 37.5/33.5 are derived from gp 73.
Domain Swapping in Inducible Nitric-oxide Synthase

Cytokine-inducible nitric-oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) contains an oxygenase domain that binds heme, tetrahydrobiopterin, and l-arginine, and a reductase domain that binds FAD, FMN, calmodulin, and NADPH. Dimerization of two oxygenase domains allows electrons to transfer from the flavins to the heme irons, which enables O2 binding and NO synthesis froml-arginine. In an iNOS heterodimer comprised of one full-length subunit and an oxygenase domain partner, the single reductase domain transfers electrons to only one of two hemes (Siddhanta, U., Wu, C., Abu-Soud, H. M., Zhang, J., Ghosh, D. K., and Stuehr, D. J. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 7309–7312). Here, we characterize a pair of heterodimers that contain an l-Arg binding mutation (E371A) in either the full-length or oxygenase domain subunit to identify which heme iron becomes reduced. The E371A mutation prevented l-Arg binding to one oxygenase domain in each heterodimer but did not affect thel-Arg affinity of its oxygenase domain partner and did not prevent heme iron reduction in any case. The mutation prevented NO synthesis when it was located in the oxygenase domain of the adjacent subunit but had no effect when in the oxygenase domain in the same subunit as the reductase domain. Resonance Raman characterization of the heme-l-Arg interaction confirmed that E371A only prevents l-Arg binding in the mutated oxygenase domain. Thus, flavin-to-heme electron transfer proceeds exclusively between adjacent subunits in the heterodimer. This implies that domain swapping occurs in an iNOS dimer to properly align reductase and oxygenase domains for NO synthesis.