Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid ATP‐Dependent Priming of Secretory Granules Precedes Ca2+ ‐Induced Exocytosis in Mouse Pancreatic B‐Cells

1 The glucose and ATP dependence of exocytosis were investigated in single mouse pancreatic B‐cells by monitoring changes in cell capacitance evoked by voltage‐clamp depolarizations, infusion of high‐[Ca2+]i buffers or photorelease of caged Ca2+ or ATP. 2 In intact B‐cells, using the perforated patch whole‐cell technique, glucose (5 mM) increased exocytotic responses evoked by membrane depolarization 5–fold over that observed in the absence of the sugar. Increasing the glucose concentration to 20 mM produced a further doubling of exocytosis. The stimulatory action of glucose was attributable to glucose metabolism and abolished by mannoheptulose, an inhibitor of glucose phosphorylation. 3 Exocytosis triggered by infusion of high [Ca2+]i and ATP was reduced by 80 % when ATP was replaced by its non‐hydrolysable analogue adenosine 5′‐[β,γ‐methylene]triphosphate (AMP‐PCP) in standard whole‐cell experiments. Exocytosis elicited by GTPγS was similarly affected by replacement of ATP with the stable analogue. 4 Photoreleasing ATP in the presence of 170 nm [Ca2+]i following the complete wash‐out of endogenous ATP, produced a prompt (latency, < 400 ms) and biphasic stimulation of exocytosis. 5 Elevation of [Ca2+]i to exocytotic levels by photorelease from Ca2+‐nitrophenyl EGTA preloaded into the cell evoked a biphasic stimulation in the presence of Mg‐ATP. The response consisted of an initial rapid (completed in < 200 ms) phase followed by a slower (lasting ≥ 10 s) sustained component. Replacement of ATP with AMP‐PCP abolished the late component but did not affect the initial phase. The latency between elevation of [Ca2+]i and exocytosis was determined as < 45 ms. Inclusion of N‐ethylmaleimide (NEM; 0.5 mM for 3 min) in the intracellular solution exerted effects similar to those obtained by substituting AMP‐PCP for ATP. 6 We conclude that the B‐cell contains a small pool (40 granules) of primed granules which are immediately available for release and which are capable of undergoing exocytosis in an ATP‐independent fashion. We propose that this pool of granules is preferentially released during first phase glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. The short latency between the application of ATP and the onset of exocytosis finally suggests that priming takes place with sufficient speed to participate in the rapid adjustment of the secretory capacity of the B‐cell.
Neurotrophic corneal ulceration after retinal detachment surgery with retinectomy and endolaser: a case series.

IMPORTANCE Trigeminal nerve lesions at differing levels can result in complete or partial corneal anesthesia and ensuing epithelial breakdown. Disease progression can lead to corneal ulceration, melt, and perforation. To our knowledge, neurotrophic corneal ulceration has not previously been reported after retinal detachment surgery and argon endolaser. OBSERVATION Herein, we report a series of 5 cases of patients without diabetes who developed neuropathic corneal ulceration presumed secondary to long ciliary nerve compromise. This occurred within 5 to 10 weeks following vitrectomy surgery with endolaser and silicone oil tamponade for retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Clinicians should be mindful of the long ciliary nerves intraoperatively and, where possible, avoid heavy confluent treatment at these sites without compromising the need for adequate retinopexy. Where corneal anesthesia occurs, it is important to recognize this early and treat promptly to minimize the risk for ulceration and visual loss.
Fault-resilient NoC router with transparent resource allocation

The current trend of aggressive technology scaling results in a decrease in system's reliability. This motivates investigation of fault-resilient architectures which provide graceful degradation of system's functionality. In this paper, three novel fault-resilient Network-on-Chip (NoC) router architectures are proposed. These architectures, exploit the regularity of the router and reallocate available existing and spare units to maintain functionality of certain turns. The resource reallocation is performed transparently from system's resource manager and is based on predefined priorities. A new metric for architecture reliability comparison based on reliability block diagrams is introduced. In contrast to Silicone Protection Factor (SPF) metric, the proposed metric also takes into account the areas of different units. Area overhead and reliability of proposed architectures are compared with Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) and Unit-Duplication mechanisms. All proposed architectures showed remarkable reliability improvement compared to original, TMR and Unit Duplication architectures; while at the same time, their area overhead is less than or equal to unit-duplication mechanisms.
Functional deactivations: Multiple ipsilateral brain areas engaged in the processing of somatosensory information

Somatosensory signals modulate activity throughout a widespread network in both of the brain hemispheres: the contralateral as well as the ipsilateral side of the brain relative to the stimulated limb. To analyze the ipsilateral somatosensory brain areas that are engaged during limb stimulation, we performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 12 healthy subjects during electrical median nerve stimulation using both a block‐ and an event‐related fMRI design. Data were analyzed through the use of model‐dependent (SPM) and model‐independent (ICA) approaches. Beyond the well‐known positive blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) responses, negative deflections of the BOLD response were found consistently in several ipsilateral brain areas, including the primary somatosensory cortex, the supplementary motor area, the insula, the dorsal part of the posterior cingulate cortex, and the contralateral cerebellum. Compared to their positive counterparts, the negative hemodynamic responses showed a different time course, with an onset time delay of 2.4 s and a peak delay of 0.7 s. This characteristic delay was observed in all investigated areas and verified by a second (purely tactile) event‐related paradigm, suggesting a systematic difference for brain areas involved in the processing of somatosensory information. These findings may indicate that the physiological basis of these deactivations differs from that of the positive BOLD responses. Therefore, an altered model for the negative BOLD response may be beneficial to further model‐dependent fMRI analyses. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identifying House Price Diffusion Patterns Among Australian State Capital Cities

Prior research supports the proposition that house price diffusion shows a ripple effect along the spatial dimension. That is, house price changes in one region would reflect in subsequent house price changes in other regions, showing certain linkages among regions. Using the vector autoregression model and the impulse response function, this study investigates house price diffusion among Australia's state capital cities, examining the response of one market to the innovation of other markets and determining the lagged terms for the maximum absolute value of the other markets' responses. The results show that the most important subnational markets in Australia do not point to Sydney, rather towards Canberra and Hobart, while the Darwin market plays a role of buffer. The safest markets are Sydney and Melbourne. This study helps to predict house price movement trends in eight capital cities.
Molecular Cloning of the Tryptophan Operon from an Aeromonas hydrophila Freshwater Isolate

A genomic library of Aeromonas hydrophila F9 was constructed by using pBR322 as a vector. From that, two DNA fragments (5.8 and 11.6 kb) were isolated containing genetic information to complement trpA and trpB defects (5.8-kb fragment) and to complement trpA, trpB, trpC, trpD, and trpE defects (11.6-kb fragment) in Escherichia coli mutants. Evidence of the existence of a secondary promoter is given.
Topoisomerase Mutations in Fluoroquinolone-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The incidence of the various mutations in the genes encoding topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase in fluoroquinolone-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus is not known. Using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing, we found that in fluoroquinolone- and methicillin-resistant strains, mutations in grlA and gyrA are quite likely to be present together. For fluoroquinolone-resistant but methicillin-susceptible strains, mutations in grlA alone are more common.
Use and abuse of Oswestry Disability Index.

Readers of this journal are well aware of the difficulties we have in measuring clinical outcomes in back pain research. The instruments we have are flawed despite the sterling efforts of many investigators. Although it is essential we continue to develop improved outcome measures, it is important to care for the ones we have in active use. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was first published 27 years ago. Since then it has become one of the leading condition-specific outcome measures in back pain research and clinical practice. In that time, like most such outcome instruments, various modifications have been made. It has been used on a similar basis to computer “freeware. ” The original authors have only sought a royalty when it has been sold as part of a marketed package. As lead author of the original publication, I have tried to keep it clean and reliable. Many studies have been published comparing it to other instruments and investigating its reliability. It has been translated into many languages, and these translations have lead to further validation studies. I have listed all the available versions in English and translations on a website http://www. orthosurg.org. uk/odi/. In 1998, I performed a citation review of the use of ODI, which led to a publication with Paul Pynsent. This included what we called ODI (v2.0), which had a modification of the pain question (Q1) and clarification of the wording of other sections developed for a trial by the MRC in 1984. A typographic error in the traveling section was exposed and v2.1 was born (actually the version we had been using since 1986). A group of translators suggested a single word change in the introductory statement for the sake of clarity (v2.1a—see website). This reflects a careful and measured evolution the instrument to meet modern psychometric criteria. Unfortunately, an alternative version was developed at the Anglo-European Chiropractic College. They changed wording in all the questions. They substituted the sex question (Q8) with a symptom change question that is quite outside the original conception of the instrument. This questionnaire has been used by chiropractors but never validated. It was my mistake to allow the use of the term “revised Oswestry Pain Questionnaire” and I now consider this to be in breach of the copyright held by the authors of the original publication. I was not aware of any major study where this chiropractic version has been used, until the FDA Device Exemption Study of the ProDisc-L Total Disc Replacement was published this year. Their use of this questionnaire has demonstrated why care with instruments is so important. There are 4 main issues: Validation. Zigler’s response at the end of this edition of SPINE would suggest that quoting a reference from an unrefereed book (that readers will only be able obtain with the greatest difficulty), quoting no validation studies, and stating that the chiropractic questionnaire is “essentially the same,” seems to fly in the face of the obsessive work of investigators, referees and editors to get ODI and other outcome measure as inch perfect as possible.
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Spontaneously Occurring Cytolysin-Negative Mutants of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Serotype 7 t

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 strains are shown to spontaneously lose cytolytic activity, with a frequency of approximately 10-4. The phenotypic change is associated with the loss of approximately 8.5 kbp of chromosomal DNA. A genomic fragment encoding the cytolysin and its flanking sequences was cloned and characterized. Also, the corresponding truncated fragment was cloned from a spontaneous mutant. Comparison of the two clones allowed the definition of the excision site. The ends of the excised fragment are composed of 1,201 bp long direct identical repeats, possibly facilitating the genotypic change by homologous recombination. In accordance with this hypothesis, one repeat is conserved in the spontaneous mutant. Each repeat contains one open reading frame preceded by a Shine-Dalgarno consensus sequence, and the ends of each repeat contain 26-bp complementary sequences with four mismatches.
Biocomputing approach in forensic analysis

Abstract Biochemical analysis of biological substances found at a crime scene is an important aspect of forensic investigations, where the objective is to determine the identification of crime victims and suspects/persons-of-interest. One particular biochemistry/molecular biology-based area of interest in forensic analysis is forensic serology; this area focuses on the complex task of gathering information regarding the type, age, ethnicity, and/or gender of the sample originator from the biological fluids (blood, saliva, etc.) found at a crime scene. In this review, we cover various studies involving biocomputing techniques used for the analysis of biological samples – namely blood – in different forensic applications. The studies covered include the differentiation of gender and ethnicity using a biocomputing system that produces a binary result, as well as the determination of blood spot age. Each of the applications showcased in this review produces sometimes ambiguous results that would normally pose major problems for a study, however, the addition of biocomputing logic provides an extra level of certainty and clarity. We hope to convey the advantages of utilizing biocomputing methods in various forms of forensic analysis.
Miniature Internal Combustion Engine-Generator for High Energy Density Portable Power

Abstract : Miniature internal combustion engine/generators provide high energy density for portable power applications, potentially exceeding 1500 Whr/kg for a 72 hr mission. Operation on JP-8 from cold startup to steady operation has been demonstrated at the 300 W scale. Miniature engine/generators can be acoustically silenced for low noise operation.
Prognostic factors for mortality following interhospital transfers to the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary referral center

ObjectiveTo describe characteristics of patients transferred from outside hospitals to a tertiary medical intensive care unit and to identify patient-level and system-level prognostic factors. DesignRetrospective cohort study. SettingTertiary university hospital. PatientsWe studied 3,347 patients who were transferred to the medical intensive care unit from outside hospitals from January 1990 through September 1999. InterventionsNone. Measurements and Main ResultsData collected included patient demographics, insurance type, discharge diagnoses, length of stay, mortality, admitting service, and distance traveled. The Charlson Comorbidity Score was used to adjust for comorbidity and the diagnostic related group risk level for risk of adverse outcome. Multivariate logistic models of early mortality (<72 hrs) and overall hospital mortality rate were developed. The most common major diagnostic categories included neurologic (10%), respiratory (10%), digestive diseases (10%), and drug overdose (10%). Most patients (70%) were transferred from >60 miles away. Mean medical intensive care unit length of stay was 5.3 days vs. 3.9 days for nontransfer patients. Transfer patients accounted for 49% of medical intensive care unit admits and 56% of intensive care unit patient-days. The overall mortality rate for transfer patients to the medical intensive care unit was 25% (95% confidence interval, 23–26), significantly higher than the 21% (95% confidence interval, 19–22) mortality rate among those admitted directly. Independent prognostic factors for early death (<72 hrs) included male gender, summer season, admitting service, diagnostic related group level, Charlson Comorbidity Score, insurance type, and major diagnostic category. Independent prognostic factors for overall hospital mortality rate included length of stay, medical complication, distance traveled, insurance type, and major diagnostic category. ConclusionsInterhospital transfers to the medical intensive care unit are patients at high risk for mortality and other adverse outcomes. System-level and patient-level characteristics influence both early and overall hospital mortality rates. These variables should be considered when risk stratifying medical intensive care unit patients and in studying outcomes of care.
Transcriptional profiling identifies an interferon‐associated host immune response in invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represent the 2 most common types of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Both derive from keratinocytes but show a distinct biological behavior. Here we present transcriptional profiling data of a large cohort of tumor patients (SCC, n = 42; BCC, n = 114). Differentially expressed genes reflect known features of SCC and BCC including the typical cytokeratin pattern as well as upregulation of characteristic cell proliferation genes. Additionally, we found increased expression of interferon (IFN)‐regulated genes (including IFI27, IFI30, Mx1, IRF1 and CXCL9) in SCC, and to a lower extent in BCC. The expression of IFN‐regulated genes correlated with the extent of the lesional immune‐cell infiltrate. Immunohistological examinations confirmed the expression of IFN‐regulated genes in association with a CXCR3+ cytotoxic inflammatory infiltrate on the protein level. Of note, a small subset of SCC samples with low expression of IFN‐regulated genes included most organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive medication. Collectively, our findings support the concept that IFN‐associated host responses play an important role in tumor immunosurveillance in the skin. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Remifentanil patient controlled analgesia for patients unable to tolerate lithotripsy with enteral analgesia

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an effective treatment for kidney stones which does not require general anaesthesia and can be performed as a daycase procedure. The fragmentation of calculi can be painful and various analgesic regimens have been described. A small minority of our patients are unable to tolerate ESWL with enteral analgesia. We offered a repeat ESWL treatment with remifentanil Patient Controlled Analgesia (R-PCA) to this group. Methods: Patients were given oral paracetamol 1g and 100mg rectal diclofenac before ESWL. Remifentanil PCA was prepared to provide a 0.5mcg/kg bolus with 2 minute lockout with dose increase as necessary. The primary outcome measure was ESWL energy level tolerated and was compared between groups with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Secondary outcomes included pain score, sedation score and adverse effects. Results: Twenty-one patients were treated with adjuvant R-PCA for one (n=21), two (n=7) or three (n=1) ESWL sessions. All patient were able to tolerate a significantly higher ESWL power level with R-PCA compared to enteral analgesia (p<0.01). Sedation was minimal (all sedation scores ≥ 3) with a low incidence of side effects. Conclusion: Patients treated with R-PCA tolerated a significantly higher ESWL power level and all patients completed the treatment. These patients were maintained on their intended treatment modality and avoided the operative and anaesthetic risks of alternative procedures such as ureteroscopy. On demand bolus PCA allows accurate titration of opiate to pain and is safe to use with the limited resources available in the ESWL suite. The combination of this delivery method with the minimal sedation and rapid elimination of remifentanil proved effective and safe with few adverse effects.
Age, health, and education determine supportive care needs of men younger than 70 years with prostate cancer.

PURPOSE It is important to meet the supportive care needs of cancer patients to ensure their satisfaction with their care. A population-wide sample of men younger than 70 years and newly diagnosed with prostate cancer was surveyed to determine their unmet needs in five domains and the factors predicting them. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible men were younger than 70 years and residents in New South Wales, Australia, with newly diagnosed histopathologically confirmed prostate cancer. Sixty-seven percent of eligible men diagnosed between October 2000 and October 2001 participated. Demographic, treatment, and self-reported health data were collected. Information on cancer stage, grade, and prostate-specific antigen was obtained from medical records. Logistic regression analyses determined patient and treatment variables that predicted higher unmet needs. RESULTS More than half (54%) of men with prostate cancer expressed some level of unmet psychological need, and 47% expressed unmet sexuality needs. Nearly one fourth expressed a moderate or high level of unmet need with respect to changes in sexuality. Sexuality needs were independently predicted by being younger, having had a secondary school education only, having had surgery, and being married, living as married, or divorced. Uncertainty about the future was also an important area of unmet need. CONCLUSION Attention should be given to sexual and psychological needs in the early months after diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer, particularly in younger men, those with less education, and those having surgery. Research into better ways of meeting these needs will enable us to meet them with as much rigor as we meet clinical treatment needs.
Carbon‐13 Fractionation of Relic Soil Organic Carbon during Mineralization Effects Calculated Half‐Lives

The 13 C natural abundance approach for determining soil organic C (SOC) stability and turnover has been used to determine SOC mineralization kinetics. These calculations generally assume that 13 C fractionation during relic SOC and unharvested biomass mineralization is insignificant. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of this assumption on calculated relic SOC half-lives. Study sites were located in Minnesota and South Dakota. At the Minnesota site, SOC contained in the surface 30 cm of soil in a fallowed area decreased from 90.8 to 73.2 Mg ha -1 during a 22-yr period. Associated with this decrease was a 0.72%o increase in the soil δ 13 C values (from -18.97 to -18.25%o). Based on these values, the Rayleigh fractionation constant (e) of relic SOC was -3.45%o. At the South Dakota site, SOC decreased 10% (2.8 ± 1.8 g kg -1 ) and δ 13 C increased 3.2% (0.548 ± 0.332%o) during a 5-yr period. The Rayleigh fractionation constant for this experiment was -6.94%o (±4.74‰). In a separate experiment, the δ 13 C value of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] residue remained unchanged after 4 mo. The impact of 13 C enrichment during relic C mineralization on calculated C budgets depends on the type of residue returned to the soil. A simulation study showed that for systems where C 4 residues are returned to soil derived from C 3 and C 4 plants, not considering 13 C enrichment during relic SOC mineralization will result in underestimating relic SOC half-lives and overestimating the contribution of fresh C 4 biomass in the SOC. The effect of 13 C enrichment during relic SOC and unharvested biomass mineralization had cumulative impacts on C budgets and did not cancel each other out. The reverse was true for C 3 biomass. To minimize these errors, SOC maintenance rate experiments should measure 13 C enrichment during relic SOC and unharvested biomass mineralization.