Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benefit of carotid endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic moderate or severe stenosis. North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial Collaborators.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that carotid endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis (defined as stenosis of 70 to 99 percent of the luminal diameter) is beneficial up to two years after the procedure. In this clinical trial, we assessed the benefit of carotid endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic moderate stenosis, defined as stenosis of less than 70 percent. We also studied the durability of the benefit of endarterectomy in patients with severe stenosis over eight years of follow-up. METHODS Patients who had moderate carotid stenosis and transient ischemic attacks or nondisabling strokes on the same side as the stenosis (ipsilateral) within 180 days before study entry were stratified according to the degree of stenosis (50 to 69 percent or <50 percent) and randomly assigned either to undergo carotid endarterectomy (1108 patients) or to receive medical care alone (1118 patients). The average follow-up was five years, and complete data on outcome events were available for 99.7 percent of the patients. The primary outcome event was any fatal or nonfatal stroke ipsilateral to the stenosis for which the patient underwent randomization. RESULTS Among patients with stenosis of 50 to 69 percent, the five-year rate of any ipsilateral stroke (failure rate) was 15.7 percent among patients treated surgically and 22.2 percent among those treated medically (P=0.045); to prevent one ipsilateral stroke during the five-year period, 15 patients would have to be treated with carotid endarterectomy. Among patients with less than 50 percent stenosis, the failure rate was not significantly lower in the group treated with endarterectomy (14.9 percent) than in the medically treated group (18.7 percent, P=0.16). Among the patients with severe stenosis who underwent endarterectomy, the 30-day rate of death or disabling ipsilateral stroke persisting at 90 days was 2.1 percent; this rate increased to only 6.7 percent at 8 years. Benefit was greatest among men, patients with recent stroke as the qualifying event, and patients with hemispheric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic moderate carotid stenosis of 50 to 69 percent yielded only a moderate reduction in the risk of stroke. Decisions about treatment for patients in this category must take into account recognized risk factors, and exceptional surgical skill is obligatory if carotid endarterectomy is to be performed. Patients with stenosis of less than 50 percent did not benefit from surgery. Patients with severe stenosis (> or =70 percent) had a durable benefit from endarterectomy at eight years of follow-up.
Growth and differentiation factor-11 is developmentally regulated in skeletal muscle and inhibits myoblast differentiation

Growth and differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) is a secreted protein that is closely related to myostatin, a known inhibitor of skeletal muscle development. The role of GDF-11 in regulating skeletal muscle growth remains unclear and the pattern of expression during post-natal growth has not been reported. Therefore, we sought to determine the expression of GDF-11 during post-natal growth and its effect on myoblast proliferation and differentiation. We collected gastrocnemius muscles from male and female mice at 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 20 and 32 weeks of age (n = 6 per sex and age). In addition, gastrocnemius muscles were col- lected from male wild-type and myostatin knockout mice at 4, 6, 12 and 20 weeks of age (n = 6 per age and genotype). RNA was extracted and reverse tran- scribed. Northern analysis identified an expected 4.4 kb mRNA transcript for GDF-11 in gastrocnemius muscles of mice. The concentration of GDF-11 mRNA, as determined by quantitative PCR, was increased in gastrocnemius muscles from 2 to 6 weeks—a period of rapid postnatal muscle growth—and remained higher in male than female mice from 4 to 20 weeks of age (P gastrocnemius muscles of myostatin knockout compared with wild-type mice (P < 0.05), which may suggest a compensatory mecha- nism for the lack of myostatin. In support, recombi- nant GDF-11 inhibited differentiation of C2C12 mur- ine myoblasts and those isolated from myostatin knockout and wild-type mice (P < 0.05). Inhibited dif-ferentiation of C2C12 myoblasts was associated with decreased mRNA expression of early and late mo- lecular markers of differentiation (MyoD, myogenin, IGF-II, desmin and MyHC, P < 0.05). Our results suggest that GDF-11 regulates growth of skeletal muscles by inhibiting myoblast differentiation in an autocrine/paracrine manner and, perhaps, also plays a role in regulating sexually dimorphic growth.
The U6 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is transcribed by RNA polymerase C (III) in vivo and in vitro.

Unlike the majority of genes encoding small nuclear RNAs, which are transcribed by RNA polymerase B, the U6 gene contains features found in both class B and class C genes, indicating the involvement of a combination of transcription factors normally specific to each class of genes. We present direct genetic and biochemical evidence that the U6 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is transcribed by RNA polymerase C in vivo as well as in vitro. A mutant strain with a temperature‐sensitive defect in the large subunit of RNA polymerase C that results in defective transcription of tRNA and 5S RNA genes shows a corresponding defect in U6 RNA levels. Also, purified RNA polymerase C transcribes the U6 gene when supplemented with partially purified TFIIIB. The other class C transcription factors, TFIIIA and Tau (TFIIIC), are not required in this system.
Agent Technology in Monitoring Systems

The aim of this paper is to make a brief presentation of the results obtained by the authors regarding agent technology application in distributed monitoring systems development. Consequently, we would like to present MAgeLan and ContTest as monitoring systems based on intelligent agents technology. Formal aspects regarding intelligent agents will be mentioned. Quantitative issues concerning efficiency, maintenance and reengineering are also to be taken into account.
7-week aerobic exercise training reduces adipocyte area and improves insulin sensitivity in Wistar rats fed a highly palatable diet

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect aerobic exercise training on fat pad mass, adipocyte size, leptin release and insulin sensitivity in rats fed with high fat-palatable diet. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (250-260g) were divided into four groups: sedentary control (CTR/SD), trained control (CTR/TR), obese sedentary (OB/SD) and obese trained (OB/TR). Obese groups were fed with high fat-palatable diet (27% of fat) and control groups fed with AIN-93. Our results showed that aerobic exercise training was effective to reduce body weight and epididymal fat mass in CTR/TR and OB/TR. Insulin and glucose levels were increased in OB/TR compared with OB/SD. Aerobic exercise training reduced the average area of adipocytes in CTR/TR and OB/TR and it was associated with reduced plasma insulin and leptin. In conclusion, 7-week aerobic exercise training reduces adipocyte area and improves insulin sensitivity and leptin levels in high fat-palatable diet-fed Wistar rats.
Gender-Inclusiveness Personas vs. Stereotyping: Can We Have it Both Ways?

Personas often aim to improve product designers' ability to "see through the eyes of" target users through the empathy personas can inspire - but personas are also known to promote stereotyping. This tension can be particularly problematic when personas (who, of course as "people" have genders) are used to promote gender inclusiveness - because reinforcing stereotypical perceptions can run counter to gender inclusiveness. In this paper we explicitly investigate this tension through a new approach to personas: one that includes multiple photos (of males and females) for a single persona. We compared this approach to an identical persona with only one photo using a controlled laboratory study and an eye-tracking study. Our goal was to answer the following question: is it possible for personas to encourage product designers to engage with personas while at the same avoiding promoting gender stereotyping? Our results are encouraging about the use of personas with multiple pictures as a way to expand participants' consideration of multiple genders without reducing their engagement with the persona.
The PEPvIII-KLH (CDX-110) vaccine in glioblastoma multiforme patients

Conventional therapies for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) fail to target tumor cells exclusively, resulting in non-specific toxicity. Immune targeting of tumor-specific mutations may allow for more precise eradication of neoplastic cells. EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) is a tumor-specific mutation that is widely expressed in GBM and other neoplasms and its expression enhances tumorigenicity. This in-frame deletion mutation splits a codon, resulting in a novel glycine at the fusion junction producing a tumor-specific epitope target for cellular or humoral immunotherapy. We have previously shown that vaccination with a peptide that spans the EGFRvIII fusion junction (PEPvIII-KLH/CDX-110) is an efficacious immunotherapy in syngeneic murine models. In this review, we summarize our results in GBM patients targeting this mutation in multiple, multi-institutional Phase II immunotherapy trials. These trials demonstrated that a selected population of GBM patients who received vaccines targeting EGFRvIII had an unexpectedly long survival time. Further therapeutic strategies and potential pitfalls of using this approach are discussed.
Anticonvulsant Activity of the Linalool Enantiomers and Racemate: Investigation of Chiral Influence

The anticonvulsant activity of the racemate and enantiomers of linalool have been evaluated. Pretreatment of the mice with (S)-(+)-, (R)-(-)- and rac-linalool increased the latency of convulsions significantly in the PTZ model. Only rac-linalool had an effect at the dose of 200 mg/kg. The enantiomers and their racemic mixture were effective in inhibiting the convulsant effect of PTZ at the dose of 300 mg/kg. The linalools presented pharmacological activity close to that of diazepam. In the PIC seizure model, (R)-(-)-linalool and rac-linalool presented activity at the dose of 200 mg/kg, but the rac-linalool was more potent than (R)-(-)-linalool; (S)-(+)-linalool had no effect at this dose. On the other hand, at the dose of 300 mg/kg this enantiomer was effective, but less potent than (R)-(-)-linalool and rac-linalool. In the MES model, linalools decreased the convulsion time of the mice in the doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg. rac-Linalool presented maximum effect at 300 mg/kg. Surprisingly, it increased significantly the convulsion time at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Using the parameter of tonic hind convulsions, only (R)-(-)-linalool produced protection from tonic extension at the dose of 200 mg/kg. When the (+)- and (-)-enantiomers, and rac-linalool were administered at the dose of 300 mg/kg they were also effective in preventing tonic convulsions induced by transcorneal electroshock in the animals. The (+)- and (-)-forms were equipotent and the rac-linalool was more effective than phenytoin. We have demonstrated that the two enantiomers have similar qualitative anticonvulsant activity, but show different potencies.
A scenario for the development and use of teaching oriented ontologies

In this paper we propose a methodology for the construction and use of Teaching-Oriented Ontologies and present how such ontologies can support the lesson planning phase and the teaching process. We present their pilot use with focus on the Greek secondary-education system. We then present our arguments supporting their use, suggest a methodology for the development of such ontologies and explain how teaching-oriented ontologies can aid the teaching process. Finally, we demonstrate an example of the use of our methodology and discuss the findings of an empirical evaluation of its use by teachers during the lesson planning phase.
Comprehensive review of conventional and non‐conventional methods of management of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a condition what causes women a great deal of discomfort, inconvenience, and sometimes has psychological sequelae. 1 This condition is notoriously difficult to manage. Conventional management is generally favoured by medical practitioners. Some practitioners prefer not to offer other options because of significant possible side‐effects and the lack of research supporting alternative treatments.
Peak Bone Mass After Exposure to Antenatal Betamethasone and Prematurity: Follow‐up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Small birth size is associated with reduced adult bone mass. We determined if antenatal betamethasone exposure, birth weight, or prematurity affects peak bone mass in 174 adults. Antenatal betamethasone exposure did not. Lower birth weight and prematurity predicted reduced adult height. Slower fetal growth rather than prematurity predicted lower bone mass, but this lower bone mass was appropriate for reduced adult height.
Ionic polysaccharide hydrogels via the Passerini and Ugi multicomponent condensations: synthesis, behavior and solid-state NMR characterization.

Original data are provided demonstrating that the title condensations are simple and versatile methods for the synthesis of hydrogels based on a variety of carboxylated polysaccharides. In this work, the biopolymers considered are sodium hyaluronate and sodium alginate. Nonnatural carboxylated polysaccharides were commercial (carboxymethyl)cellulose or were obtained by carboxymethylation or selective oxidation of primary alcohol groups of scleroglucan and dextran. Hydrogels prepared via the Passerini reaction were transparent, alkali labile materials whereas the transparency of the Ugi gels depended on the polysaccharide, the cross-linker, and the degree of cross-linking. The Ugi gels were stable for several months at a pH ranging from 1.3 to 11 and up to temperatures over 90 degrees C. The structure of the networks was studied by means of 13C CP-MAS and 15N CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy. A quantitative NMR analysis and elemental analysis of the dry gels allowed us to estimate the efficiency of the reactions, i.e., the actual degree of cross-linking, which appeared to be about 80% of theoretical. The influence of added salt and pH on the swelling of several Ugi gels with different degrees of cross-linking was studied in a qualitative manner.
Long distance measurement over 30m by high-speed noncontact acoustic inspection method using acoustic irradiation induced vibration

The noncontact acoustic inspection method has been studied using a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) of high sensitivity and a sound source which can generate big sound pressure at a long distance. However, the inspection at the long distance over 10 m was carried out only with the concrete test object. Therefore, for an actual concrete bridge in Japan, the long distance measurement experiment over 30 m was conducted this time. Long range acoustic device (LRAD) was used as the excitation sound source and a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) was used as a measurement LDV, both of which were located at a distance of about 34 m from the surface of target under the bridge. Multi tone burst wave was used as the emitted sound wave. Since the same experimental result using hammer method was obtained, it was confirmed that this method can detect defects even at a distance exceeding 30m.
A partial scan cost estimation method at the system level

Recent progress of data path synthesis has manifested the need to consider design for testability during, not after, the synthesis process. Motivated by the above requirement, the paper describes a partial scan cost estimation scheme for random testing using module level primitives. Starting from interpreting testability at the register transfer level, a model is developed for estimating the required partial scan configuration under a user specified testing time. A mixed integer programming formulation is then presented to derive the location and amount of scan needed. Experimental results have shown the same level of fault coverage as that of the full scan path under the given test time constraint. <<ETX>>
Reflection-type long period grating biosensor for detection of drug resistant bacteria: the OptoBacteria project

In this paper, we report the experimental results on the fabrication and validation of a multilayer coated reflection-type long period fiber grating (LPG) biosensor, useful for the detection of antibiotic resistance bacteria. A standard LPG is first transformed in a practical probe working in reflection mode, then it is coated by two layers: atactic polystyrene (aPS) and (methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PMMA-co-MA). This multilayer strategy allow, at same time, to increase the surrounding refractive index sensitivity of the standard LPG and create the necessary conditions for a correct bio-functionalization. Standard linkage chemistry has been applied to anchor the bioreceptors on the probe surface. The experimental results demonstrate the capability of our LPG biosensor to successfully monitor all the biological steps of the biomolecular experiments, with β-lactamase AmpC binding detection tests obtained using two different ligands characterized by two different β-lactamase affinities.
Mannitol-specific phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system of Enterococcus faecalis: molecular cloning and nucleotide sequences of the enzyme IIIMtl gene and the mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, expression in Escherichia coli, and comparison of the gene products with similar e

Enzyme IIIMtl is part of the mannitol phosphotransferase system of Enterococcus faecalis. It is phosphorylated in a reaction sequence requiring enzyme I and heat-stable phosphocarrier protein (HPr). The phospho group is transferred from enzyme IIIMtl to enzyme IIMtl, which then catalyzes the uptake and concomitant phosphorylation of mannitol. The internalized mannitol-1-phosphate is oxidized to fructose-6-phosphate by mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase. In this report we describe the cloning of the mtlF and mtlD genes, encoding enzyme IIIMtl and mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase of E. faecalis, by a complementation system designed for cloning of gram-positive phosphotransferase system genes. The complete nucleotide sequences of mtlF, mtlD, and flanking regions were determined. From the gene sequences, the primary translation products are deduced to consist of 145 amino acids (enzyme IIIMtl) and 374 amino acids (mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase). Amino acid sequence comparison confirmed a 41% similarity of E. faecalis enzyme IIIMtl to the hydrophilic enzyme IIIMtl-like portion of enzyme IIMtl of Escherichia coli and 45% similarity to enzyme IIIMtl of Staphylococcus carnosus. The putative N-terminal NAD+ binding domain of mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase of E. faecalis shows a high degree of similarity with the N terminus of E. coli mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (T. Davis, M. Yamada, M. Elgort, and M. H. Saier, Jr., Mol. Microbiol. 2:405-412, 1988) and the N-terminal part of the translation product of S. carnosus mtlD, which was also determined in this study. There is 40% similarity between the dehydrogenases of E. faecalis and E. coli over the whole length of the enzymes. The organization of mannitol-specific genes in E. faecalis seems to be similar to the organization in S. carnosus. The open reading frame for enzyme IIIMtl E. faecalis is followed by a stem-loop structure, analogous to a typical Rho-independent terminator. We conclude that the mannitol-specific genes are organized in an operon and that the gene order is mtlA orfX mtlF mtlD.
In Situ Analysis Reveals Physical Interactions Between CD11b+ Dendritic Cells and Antigen-Specific CD4 T Cells After Subcutaneous Injection of Antigen1

In situ staining techniques were used to visualize physical interactions between dendritic cell subsets and naive Ag-specific CD4 T cells in the lymph node. Before injection of Ag, CD8+ dendritic cells and naive OVA-specific CD4 T cells were uniformly distributed throughout the T cell-rich paracortex, whereas CD11b+ dendritic cells were located mainly in the outer edges of the paracortex near the B cell-rich follicles. Many OVA-specific CD4 T cells were in contact with CD8+ dendritic cells in the absence of OVA. Within 24 h after s.c. injection of soluble OVA, the OVA-specific CD4 T cells redistributed to the outer paracortex and interacted with CD11b+, but not CD8+ dendritic cells. This behavior correlated with the uptake of OVA and the presence of peptide-MHC complexes on the surface of CD11b+ dendritic cells, and subsequent IL-2 production by the Ag-specific CD4 T cells. These results are consistent with the possibility that CD11b+ dendritic cells play a central role in the activation of CD4 T cells in response to s.c. Ag.
New D2D Peer Discovery Scheme Based on Spatial Correlation of Wireless Channel

Due to the increasing popularity of device-to-device (D2D) services, it is becoming increasingly important to find efficient means of identifying nearby users, i.e., by peer discovery. Herein, we propose a low-power peer discovery scheme, in which we exploit the tradeoff between the power consumption and the accuracy/scope of peer discovery. In our proposed scheme, the transmission of a proximity beacon is scheduled based on channel values, such that users in close proximity are likely to transmit beacons at similar time instants due to the spatially correlated wireless channel. As a result, users can find nearby peers accurately with a lower power consumption by shortening the reception period for the beacons. The performance of the proposed scheme, in terms of accuracy and power consumption, is derived. By means of simulation results, we show that nearby users can be found with lower power consumption than in conventional schemes, while achieving a high accuracy of peer discovery.
EBG-Based Circular Waveguide Rod Arrays With Improved Scanning Characteristics

A finite linear circular waveguide rod array using electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structure has been studied. Active element patterns and real radiation patterns of the finite array are investigated, instead of the reflection coefficients generally adopted in analyzing infinite phased arrays, to evaluate the effect of EBG applications. From the given results, elimination of scan blindness using EBG structure is well verified.
On 3-Colorable P5-Free Graphs

A graph is $P_5$-free when it does not contain a $P_5$ (that is, a path with five vertices) as an induced subgraph. The class of $P_5$-free graphs is of particular interest, especially with respect to the still unknown complexity status of the maximum stable set problem in that class. We investigate the class of $3$-colorable $P_5$-free graphs. We give a complete description of the structure of those graphs and derive a linear-time algorithm that tests membership in this class. Moreover, the algorithm is able to find a maximum weight stable set of a $3$-colorable $P_5$-free graph in linear time.