Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduction of heliotrine by a rumen microorganism.

A small Gram-negative coccus, which brings about the reductive fission of the hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, has been isolated from the rumen contents of Australian Merino sheep. The organism was cultured in a partially defined medium, without rumen fluid, but containing yeast extract. Strictly anaerobic conditions and the presence of carbon dioxide were essential for growth. With limiting quantities of yeast extract, growth was greatly stimulated by any of several carbohydrates or moderately stimulated by the alkaloid heliotrine plus hydrogen. The products of the reductive cleavage of heliotrine were heliotric acid and 7()(-hydroxy-l-methylene- 8()(-pyrrolizidine. One mole of hydrogen reduced one mole of heliotrine to produce one mole each of the two products, accounting completely for the substrate consumed. Formate in stoichiometric quantities could replace molecular hydrogen as hydrogen donor in the reaction in which heliotrine acted as hydrogen acceptor. With [UCJformate as hydrogen donor 14CO. was evolved in stoichiometric amounts. The additional growth brought about by the degradation of heliotrine was proportional to the amount of heliotrine degraded, the organism appearing to derive energy from the reaction. Under strictly anaerobic conditions neither growth of the organism nor degradation of heliotrine was dependent on or stimulated by the presence of vitamin B12 in the medium. A method is described for the estimation of heliotrine.
Novel roles for KLF1 in erythropoiesis revealed by mRNA-seq

KLF1 (formerly known as EKLF) regulates the development of erythroid cells from bi-potent progenitor cells via the transcriptional activation of a diverse set of genes. Mice lacking Klf1 die in utero prior to E15 from severe anemia due to the inadequate expression of genes controlling hemoglobin production, cell membrane and cytoskeletal integrity, and the cell cycle. We have recently described the full repertoire of KLF1 binding sites in vivo by performing KLF1 ChIP-seq in primary erythroid tissue (E14.5 fetal liver). Here we describe the KLF1-dependent erythroid transcriptome by comparing mRNA-seq from Klf1+/+ and Klf1−/− erythroid tissue. This has revealed novel target genes not previously obtainable by traditional microarray technology, and provided novel insights into the function of KLF1 as a transcriptional activator. We define a cis-regulatory module bound by KLF1, GATA1, TAL1, and EP300 that coordinates a core set of erythroid genes. We also describe a novel set of erythroid-specific promoters that drive high-level expression of otherwise ubiquitously expressed genes in erythroid cells. Our study has identified two novel lncRNAs that are dynamically expressed during erythroid differentiation, and discovered a role for KLF1 in directing apoptotic gene expression to drive the terminal stages of erythroid maturation.
Beamforming Optimization and Power Allocation for MIMO Asymmetric Multi-Way Relay Channels

A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) multi-way relay channel, where a single base station exchanges independent messages with K users via a relay station, is considered. We propose an iterative beamforming optimization algorithm based on orthogonal projection with signal subspace alignment. Moreover, an optimal power allocation is also designed to maximize the system sum rate. Performance evaluation shows that the proposed scheme produces significant improvement and offers higher sum rate than the existing scheme.
“Click Here”

Research on pornography has distinguished between its violent and nonviolent forms. Analyses of the content of violent pornography have largely focused on readily available soft-core images in adult films and magazines. However, current research has not adequately addressed pornography on the Internet. We show that discussions about violent pornography are incomplete without an understanding of the Internet as a unique and rapidly expanding medium for disseminating images of sexual violence against women. This article attempts to fill that gap by examining violent pornography using a sample of 31 free Internet sites. Each site was analyzed for its portrayal of women victims, male perpetrators, and its story of rape. Please be advised that the analysis contains graphic descriptions of violence toward women found on Internet rape sites.
Cholesterol Lowering With Simvastatin Improves Prognosis of Diabetic Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A subgroup analysis of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S)

OBJECTIVE To assess in diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) the effect of cholesterol lowering with simvastatin on mortality and the risk of CHD and other atherosclerotic events. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A post hoc subgroup analysis was carried out on data from 202 diabetic patients and 4,242 nondiabetic patients with previous myocardial infarction or angina pectoris, serum total cholesterol 5.5–8.0 mmol/l, and serum triglycerides ≤ 2.5 mmol/l who were participating in the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Participants in the 4S were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with simvastatin, 20 mg daily, with blinded dosage titration up to 40 mg daily, according to cholesterol response during the first 6–18 weeks, or placebo. Endpoints were 1) total mortality, 2) major CHD events (CHD death or nonfatal myocardial infarction), 3) other acute atherosclerotic events, 4) myocardial revascularization procedures. RESULTS Over the 5.4-year median follow-up period, simvastatin treatment produced mean changes in serum lipids in diabetic patients similar to those observed in nondiabetic patients. The relative risks (RRs) of main endpoints in simvastatin-treated diabetic patients were as follows: total mortality 0.57 (95% CI, 0.30–1.08; P = 0.087), major CHD events 0.45 (95% CI, 0.27–0.74; P = 0.002), and any atherosclerotic event 0.63 (95% CI, 0.43–0.92; P = 0.018). The corresponding RRs in nondiabetic patients were the following: 0.71 (95% CI, 0.58–0.87; P = 0.001), 0.68 (95% CI, 0.60–0.77; P < 0.0001), and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.68–0.82; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The results strongly suggest that cholesterol lowering with simvastatin improves the prognosis of diabetic patients with CHD. The absolute clinical benefit achieved by cholesterol lowering may be greater in diabetic than in nondiabetic patients with CHD because diabetic patients have a higher absolute risk of recurrent CHD events and other atherosclerotic events.
Variations in the NMDA receptor subunit 2B gene (GRIN2B) and schizophrenia: A case‐control study

A well established model for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia postulates a role for the NMDA‐mediated glutamate transmission. The human gene coding for the 2B subunit of the NMDA receptor (GRIN2B) is considered a candidate based on its selective expression in brain. To evaluate the hypothesis that GRIN2B acts as a major gene in determining susceptibility to schizophrenia, a case‐control association study was performed. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 188 Italian patients and 156 control subjects. The association study showed a marginally significant excess of homozygosity for the polymorphism located in the 3′UTR region (P = 0.04). No other difference in genotype and allele frequencies was found in schizophrenics as compared to the control series. The case‐control study was also carried out on estimated haplotypes, confirming a trend for association (P = 0.04). These results suggest that GRIN2B variations might be linked with susceptibility to schizophrenia. Replication studies on larger samples are warranted to further test this hypothesis. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of exercise and Cimicifuga racemosa (CR BNO 1055) on bone mineral density, 10-year coronary heart disease risk, and menopausal complaints: the randomized controlled Training and Cimicifuga racemosa Erlangen (TRACE) study

Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the effect of periodized exercise training with and without Cimicifuga racemosa (CR) on bone mineral density (BMD) and 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in early postmenopausal women. Methods:A total of 128 women were randomly assigned to three subgroups: exercise (EG, n = 43), exercise and CR supplementation (EGCR, n = 43), and wellness control (control group [CG], n = 42). Both exercise groups performed a periodized exercise program with high-intensity-resistance/high-impact exercise dedicated to bone parameters interspersed by blocks of 10 weeks of training focusing on CHD parameters. In addition to the exercise program, the EGCR was supplemented with 40 mg/day of CR according to the specification of the manufacturer. A low-intensity exercise program of 60 minutes per week for a period of 10 weeks interspersed with 10-week blocks without exercise was performed in the CG. Primary endpoints were BMD and 10-year CHD risk proposed by Wilson. Secondary endpoints were body composition and menopausal symptoms. Results:BMD at the lumbar spine was maintained in both exercise groups (EG, −0.1% ± 2.2%, P = 0.74; EGCR, −0.4% ± 2.4%, P = 0.40) and significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in the CG (2.0% ± 2.0%). Both exercise groups significantly differed from the CG (P = 0.001 and 0.005 for the EG and EGCR, respectively); however, no differences between the exercise groups with and without CR was determined. Although slight increases in femoral neck BMD were determined in both exercise groups (EG, 0.5% ± 3.0%, P = 0.36; EGCR, 0.4% ± 3.1%, P = 0.52), a reduction was assessed in the CG (−0.6% ± 2.7%, P = 0.29). No significant differences were determined between the groups. The 10-year CHD risk significantly increased in the EGCR (12.9% ± 25.1%, P = 0.018) and in the CG (16.5% ± 27.8%, P = 0.007). The EG did not show corresponding changes (−2.7% ± 21.9%, P = 0.60). However, no significant between-group differences were observed. Conclusions:In conclusion our exercise program favorably affected bone, menopausal symptoms, lean body mass, and, to a smaller extent, 10-year CHD risk in early postmenopausal women. Adjuvant supplementation of CR did not enhance these positive effects.
Automated comparative protein structure modeling with SWISS‐MODEL and Swiss‐PdbViewer: A historical perspective

SWISS‐MODEL pioneered the field of automated modeling as the first protein modeling service on the Internet. In combination with the visualization tool Swiss‐PdbViewer, the Internet‐based Workspace and the SWISS‐MODEL Repository, it provides a fully integrated sequence to structure analysis and modeling platform. This computational environment is made freely available to the scientific community with the aim to hide the computational complexity of structural bioinformatics and encourage bench scientists to make use of the ever‐increasing structural information available. Indeed, over the last decade, the availability of structural information has significantly increased for many organisms as a direct consequence of the complementary nature of comparative protein modeling and experimental structure determination. This has a very positive and enabling impact on many different applications in biomedical research as described in this paper.
Low frequency current ripple reduction of a current-fed switched inverter

Input current of a Current Fed Switched Inverter (CFSI) contains the switching frequency component (75 kHz) and a second harmonic component of line frequency (100 Hz) apart from the DC part. In prior designs, the second harmonic component was suppressed by increasing the size of passive components (inductor or capacitor), which makes the inverter implementation bulky. This paper presents a control based approach using which the DC side second harmonic power component of a CFSI is suppressed. Using the proposed scheme, the inductor size of a CFSI can be reduced by 46 % for the same ripple component. The control is validated using a 48 V DC input and 110 V AC output laboratory prototype with 500 W rating and good accuracy is obtained between simulation and experimental results.
Erwinia carotovora Evf antagonizes the elimination of bacteria in the gut of Drosophila larvae

Erwinia Virulence Factor (Evf) has been identified in Erwinia carotovora carotovora 15 (Ecc15) as a virulence factor that promotes colonization of the Drosophila larval gut and provokes the triggering of a systemic immune response. Here we have analysed how Evf promotes persistence and colonization of bacteria inside the larval gut. Erwinia evf mutants do not persist in immune‐deficient Drosophila, indicating that Evf does not act by counteracting immunity. The results indicated that Evf is not a toxin because various Gram‐negative bacteria expressing evf can persist without affecting viability of Drosophila larvae. Evf did not appear to be a factor antagonizing a host‐specific reaction because in vitro assays failed to reveal detoxifying enzymatic activities against various compounds thought to contribute to the hostile environment of the gut. These findings were corroborated by the observation that Evf is not required for survival in midgut organ cultures. By contrast, bacteria expressing evf allow persistence in trans of bacteria lacking evf indicating that Evf promotes the accumulation of Gram‐negative bacteria in the anterior midgut by affecting gut physiology.
Trends in acute renal failure associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the United States

Objective:Acute renal failure remains a major complication of coronary artery bypass graft surgery that is strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. Based on similar observations in other clinical settings, we tested the hypothesis that the diagnosis of acute renal failure associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery is increasing in the United States. Design:Observational cohort study. Setting:The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to test the hypothesis. This database contains discharge information from 20% of U.S. hospitals. Patients:Hospital discharges coded for coronary artery bypass graft surgery from 1988 to 2003 comprised the study population; those also coded for acute renal failure formed the subset of interest. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Multivariable regression models were constructed, including adjustment for risk factors and comorbidities, to identify the relationship between year of surgery and diagnosis of acute renal failure and mortality. The incidence of acute renal failure diagnosis increased significantly during the study period from 1.1% to 4.1% (p < .0001). The proportion of acute renal failure cases that required dialysis decreased from 15.8% to 8.7% (p < .0001). Despite an increase in comorbid disease burden, mortality in the acute renal failure subgroup declined from 39.5% to 17.9% (p < .0001). The percentage of acute renal failure survivors with postdischarge special-care requirements increased from 35.5% to 64.5% (p < .0001). Conclusions:Our findings suggest that the observed increase in acute renal failure diagnosis rates may be partly attributable to less restrictive criteria for acute renal failure diagnosis, consistent with acute renal failure patterns observed in other clinical settings. Although the need for dialysis is a relatively clear benchmark for diagnosing acute renal failure, use of alternate criteria to define this disorder has become more common, perhaps contributing to higher diagnosis rates. We conclude that the nationwide trend of acute renal failure associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery has significantly increased from 1988 to 2003. Despite declining mortality, acute renal failure remains a burden on healthcare resources.
Innovative doctors in Germany: changes through communities of practice.

PURPOSE The healthcare sector faces new financial and managerial accountability demands, along with their clinical accountability. Various studies show strong opposition by clinicians to new accountability tools, new structures and new ways of working. Less attention is paid to the innovative roles doctors can play in leading changes that use new managerial tools and techniques. The purpose of this paper is to analyse two original case studies illustrating how general practitioners (GPs) in Germany have led radical change. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The paper draws upon original research in Germany to present two case studies using a qualitative method, which are analysed using Glaser and Strauss' conventions of grounded theory, structured by Wenger's communities of practice framework, supporting a comprehensive literature review. FINDINGS GPs are found to be able to lead radical change in healthcare delivery models and organisation using entrepreneurial talents developed in their practice businesses and to embrace modernising tools and techniques and in the process redefine their identities to include management process in addition to medical competences. ORIGINALITY/VALUE The paper presents two original case studies of radical change leading to an integration of healthcare services in Germany. The approach adopted by the German GPs reveals important general lessons for practitioners, as does the analytical framework employed in the paper.
Cruciate Retained and Excised Total Knee Arthroplasty A Comparative Study in Patients With Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

A comparative study of posterior cruciate ligament retention and excision was conducted in patients who underwent bilateral total knee arthroplasty using the total condylar modifier prosthesis. The posterior cruciate ligament was excised in one knee and was retained in the other knee in 28 patients. Postoperative results were assessed using the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Evaluation Score. In addition, stair activity was tested to determine whether there was preferential dependence on one of the two knees. There was no significant difference between the posterior cruciate ligament retained or excised knees in terms of postoperative Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Evaluation Score. Patients who ascended and descended stairs with one leg at a time tended to prefer the posterior cruciate ligament retention side. Those who could use each leg in sequence to go up and down stairs, however, did not show preferential dependence on either knee.
ECODANE: A customizable hybrid testbed for green data center networks

In this paper we propose a new testbed architecture that combines hardware network devices with virtual emulation test environment to improve scalability, flexibility and accuracy. The testbed enables to design and experiment new concepts for energy-efficient data center. It is based on OpenFlow, a Software Defined Networking (SDN) technology that facilitates the deployment of energy-aware protocols and mechanisms.
Valuation Of The Prepayment Option In The Banking Book

One of the most important perspectives of interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB) is the valuation of socalled embedded options and the quantification of their impact on the value of bank portfolios. One unequivocal characteristic of mortgage portfolios is the option of prepayment, providing the borrower the possibility of redeeming their debt before maturity. We have created a theoretical model for valuing the prepayment option, based on which it can be demonstrated that, depending on the composition of the given bank portfolio (interest rate level, term to maturity), the prepayment option may have a significant effect on the sum of short-term interest income, as well as on the discount value of the bank portfolio via changing cash flows, and through this the value of economic capital. In this paper we analyse the impact of a possible model specification risk and the impact of changing the composition of banking portfolio under investigation.
Self-Fulfilling Crises in the Eurozone: An Empirical Test

This paper tests the hypothesis that government bond markets in the eurozone are more fragile and more susceptible to self-fulfilling liquidity crises than in stand-alone countries. We find evidence that a significant part of the surge in the spreads of the PIGS countries (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) in the eurozone during 2010-11 was disconnected from underlying increases in the debt-to-GDP ratios and fiscal space variables, and was the result of negative self-fulfilling market sentiments that became very strong since the end of 2010. We argue that this can drive member countries of the eurozone into bad equilibria. We also find evidence that after years of neglecting high government debt, investors became increasingly worried about this in the eurozone, and reacted by raising the spreads. No such worries developed in stand-alone countries despite the fact that debt-to-GDP ratios and fiscal space variables were equally high and increasing in these countries.
Production of antiserum to [D‐Ala2]deltorphin I and its immunohistochemical application to the mouse brain

Antiserum to haptenic [D-Ala2]deltorphin I (DADTI: Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly±NH2), a highly selective ligand for δ opioid receptors, was produced in rabbits. By immunospot assay, the antiserum recognized 62.5 pmol DADTI but failed to react even with 4 nmol carrier protein of the immunogen. Although the antiserum reacted equally with an isomer [L-Ala2]deltorphin I, virtually no cross-reaction occurred with other analogues such as [D-Ala2]deltorphin II (Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Glu-VaI-Val- Gly±NH2) and similar peptides lacking the C-terminal gly- cine amide. Therefore, the major epitope for immunore- cognition appeared to be in the C-terminal region which is known to be the specific domain for δ opioid receptor selectivity. Immunohistochemical study using this antiserum revealed positive neuronal structures in some specific systems of the mouse brain.
Multisite prospective investigation of psychological outcomes following cataract surgery in Vietnam

Background Cataract surgery is a low-cost and effective intervention. There is increasing evidence to suggest that cataract surgery is associated with improvements in mobility, overall functioning and reductions in psychological distress. Within low-income and middle-income countries, cataract surgery has also been documented to lead to reductions in psychological distress; however, differences in economic activity and engagement in paid and domestic work in these countries may moderate such reductions. We aimed to examine the psychological outcomes following cataract surgery among a diverse Vietnamese sample. Methods We report findings from the VISIONARY study, a 12-month multisite prospective study of cataract surgery outcomes conducted in Vietnam (N=462). Generalised estimating equations (GEEs) were used to identify the variables which were associated with reduced psychological distress. Results A high proportion of participants (56.6%) reported psychological distress before surgery and severity of psychological distress had decreased by 12 months following surgery (95% CI (4.13 to 4.95)). There were regional differences in the extent of improvement in psychological distress and change in paid and unpaid work. The extent of improvement in visual acuity, male gender, and increase in paid and unpaid work hours were significant predictors of reductions in psychological distress. Conclusions Cataract surgery appears to result in the greatest reductions in psychological distress in communities where work engagement is highest. Funding The VISIONARY study was funded by a grant provided by the Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia. During the course of this work, BME was in receipt of an Ian Potter Foundation Fellowship and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) fellowship (1072148), SJ received an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship, MLH was in receipt of a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship 100034.