Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Noradrenaline release and the pathophysiology of primary human hypertension.

Measurements of the overflow of norepinephrine to plasma from individual organs (using radiotracer methodology) were used to delineate the pattern of sympathetic nervous system activation present in primary human hypertension. Mean total norepinephrine (NE) spillover in hypertensive patients was 418 ng/min, 42% (124 ng/min) higher than in subjects with normal blood pressure (BP)(P less than .05). Norepinephrine spillover among hypertensive patients was a function of age, only being elevated in patients under 40 years of age. Half of the excess in total norepinephrine release in hypertensive patients was accounted for by increased cardiorenal spillover. Mean renal norepinephrine spillover was 120 ng/min, compared with 69 ng/min in healthy subjects (P less than .02). Renal spillover was highest in younger patients. Corresponding cardiac norepinephrine spillover values were 12.6 ng/min and 5.1 ng/min (P less than .01). The balance of the excess total norepinephrine spillover comes from undetermined sites, but not the lungs or hepatomesenteric circulation. These measurements of regional norepinephrine overflow suggest that sympathetic nervous outflow to the kidneys and heart is selectively activated in early hypertension.
Impact of fresh‐frozen plasma from male‐only donors versus mixed‐sex donors on postoperative respiratory function in surgical patients: a prospective case‐controlled study

BACKGROUND: To reduce the risk of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI), plasma products are mainly made from male donors in some countries because of the lower possibility of alloimmunization; other countries are considering this policy. The advantage of male‐only fresh‐frozen plasma (FFP) should be examined in a prospective case‐control study.
Identification of human immunodeficiency virus sequences by using in vitro enzymatic amplification and oligomer cleavage detection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and related disorders. Assays to detect antibodies to HIV proteins have been developed and used to screen sera for the identification of individuals who have been exposed to the virus. Although these serological tests have significant sensitivity and specificity for detecting exposure to the virus, they do not provide direct identification of HIV. We report here the application of recently developed nucleic acid amplification and oligonucleotide-based detection procedures for the identification of HIV sequences in established infected cell lines and in cells cultured from infected individuals.
Joint inversion of teleseismic and ambient noise Rayleigh waves for phase velocity maps, an application to Iceland

We present a method for joint inversion of teleseismic and ambient noise Rayleigh wave data for phase velocity maps from 18 to 50 s period. We adapt the two‐plane wave method for teleseismic data to include ambient noise phase data. We apply the method to data from Iceland's ICEMELT and HOTSPOT arrays. Checkerboard tests show that the joint inversion improves phase velocity model recovery over methods that use the data sets independently, particularly at 18 s period. The addition of ambient noise data also extends resolution to shallower depths and shorter periods in comparison to previous teleseismic results beneath Iceland. We show there are significant differences in the phase velocity maps from the joint approach in comparison to other approaches, for instance, using only teleseismic data, only ambient noise data, or the mean of the two. The difference in phase velocities in turn affects the resulting shear velocity models. The advantage of the joint inversion is that it produces a single phase velocity map that satisfies both data sets simultaneously. Our phase velocity maps show a transition from low velocities centered beneath the main volcanic centers in Iceland at 18–25 s period, primarily crustal depths, to a low‐velocity region that traces the rift zones from the Reykjanes Ridge in the south to the Kolbeinsey Ridge in the north at 29–50 s period, greater depths. These results are consistent with previous studies, although with an extended and improved region of resolution, which extends further into the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of γ‐Aminopropyl Silatrane–Acyclovir Hybrids with Immunomodulatory Effects

Several derivatives of γ‐aminopropyl silatrane containing acyclovir in their molecular structure were synthesized and evaluated for their immunomodulatory and antiviral activities. The structures of all these derivatives were confirmed by mass spectra, IR, and 1H NMR. Based on WST‐1 assay in vitro, these compounds could stimulate proliferation of splenic lymphocytes at certain concentrations. Furthermore, compound 3d could also potentiate the expression of IFN‐γ, IL‐2, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ in vivo. Our results show that these derivatives possess antiviral activity against herpes simplex viruses with a similar potency to acyclovir without a cellular immune response.
Robustness of Regular Graphs Based on Natural Connectivity

It has been recently proposed that the natural connectivity can be used to characterize efficiently the robustness of complex networks. The natural connectivity quantifies the redundancy of alternative routes in the network by evaluating the weighted number of closed walks of all lengths and can be seen as an average eigenvalue obtained from the graph spectrum. In this paper, we explore both analytically and numerically the natural connectivity of regular ring lattices and regular random graphs obtained through degree-preserving random rewirings from regular ring lattices. We reformulate the natural connectivity of regular ring lattices in terms of generalized Bessel functions and show that the natural connectivity of regular ring lattices is independent of network size and increases with monotonically. We also show that random regular graphs have lower natural connectivity, and are thus less robust, than regular ring lattices.
Characterization of 107 Genomic DNA Reference Materials for CYP 2 D 6 , CYP 2 C 19 , CYP 2 C 9 , VKORC 1 , and UGT 1 A 1 A GeT-RM and Association for Molecular Pathology Collaborative Project

Victoria M. Pratt,* Barbara Zehnbauer, Jean Amos Wilson, Ruth Baak, Nikolina Babic, Maria Bettinotti,* Arlene Buller,** Ken Butz, Matthew Campbell, Chris Civalier, Abdalla El-Badry, Daniel H. Farkas, Elaine Lyon, Saptarshi Mandal, Jason McKinney, Kasinathan Muralidharan,* LeAnne Noll,*** Tara Sander,*** Junaid Shabbeer, Chingying Smith, Milhan Telatar, Lorraine Toji, Anand Vairavan, Carlos Vance, Karen E. Weck, Alan H.B. Wu, Kiang-Teck J. Yeo, Markus Zeller, and Lisa Kalman
TP53 mutations are associated with a particular pattern of genomic imbalances in breast carcinomas

TP53 mutations play an important role in the development of several cancers and are present in 20–40% of all breast carcinomas, contributing to increased genomic instability. In order to address the relationship of mutated TP53 to genomic complexity, the present study analysed 61 breast carcinomas for TP53 mutations and compared mutation status with the pattern of genomic imbalances as assessed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Twenty per cent of the present series of breast carcinomas harboured TP53 mutations. An increasing number of abnormalities, as identified by CGH (higher genomic complexity), correlated significantly with mutant TP53. Among the chromosome arms most commonly altered (in more than 20% of the tumours), loss of 8p and gain of 8q were associated with TP53 mutations, whereas loss of 16q was associated with wild‐type TP53. By performing supervised hierarchical clustering analysis of the CGH data, a cluster of chromosome imbalances was observed that showed differences between wild‐type and mutant TP53 cases. Among these, loss of chromosome arm 5q revealed the strongest correlation with altered TP53. To investigate further the most commonly deleted region of 5q, gene expression patterns from two publicly available microarray data sets of breast carcinomas were evaluated statistically. The expression data sets identified potential target genes, including genes involved in ubiquitination and the known TP53 target CSPG2. The genomic complexity of breast carcinomas as assessed by CGH is associated with TP53 mutation status; breast cancers with TP53 mutations display more complex genomes than do those with wild‐type TP53. The pattern of genomic imbalances associated with mutant TP53 is non‐random, with loss of chromosome arm 5q being particularly closely associated with TP53 mutations. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specialty Training for General Practice in the United Kingdom

This article describes training for general practice (family medicine) in the United Kingdom. Medical graduates now enter a 2-year Foundation Programme before applying for a 3-year specialty training program in general practice. Selection for training is through a competency-based assessment center process. General practice specialty training is orientated around a curriculum founded on the European definition of general practice with exit from training dependent on satisfactory completion of an assessment process comprising a machine-marked applied knowledge test, clinical skills assessment, and workplace-based assessment. Support for trainees during training includes educational and clinical supervision and educational peer support groups but with little support provided in the immediate postqualification period.
A probabilistic indicator of system stress

This paper argues that probabilistic techniques give a more reliable indication of the level of stress in a power system and also of its inverse, the level of security. It proposes a technique to calculate a probabilistic indicator of the level of stress in a power system. This technique is based on the establishment of a calibrated scale of reference cases and on the use of correlated sampling in a Monte Carlo simulation. Test results obtained using a large power system are presented.
Predictive Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: Their Value in Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) of breast cancer enabled improved outcomes especially in patients with advanced and inflammatory diseases. Biological heterogeneity of these tumors, however, requires better molecular characterization of the malignant tissue with consequent individualization in the selection of appropriate agents. To date, numerous molecular markers have been identified, and some of them (e.g., measurement of hormonal or growth factors receptors) are already routinely used for breast cancer classification before NCT. In the present article, we summarize current knowledge about established as well as promising biomarkers which have demonstrated prognostic or predictive value in NCT of breast cancer.
Alkaline induction of a novel gene locus, alx, in Escherichia coli

A novel pH-regulated locus inducible over 100-fold in alkaline media was identified in Escherichia coli through screening of 93,000 Mu dI1734 (lacZ Kmr) operon fusions at pH 6.5 and pH 8.5. Four lacZ fusions that showed expression only at the higher pH were mapped at 67.5 min by P1 transduction crosses. The locus was designated alx.
Modeling a publication sharing system 2.0

Current publication sharing systems inherit from the Web 2.0 philosophy the idea that users can add reusable information to support other peers, enabling them to insert new resources and to tag the existing ones; but, in their current form, these systems suffer of some limitations, such as the lack of tools for supporting users during the creation and organization of their personal concept spaces, and the poor utilization of tags as information sources for producing personalized recommendations. In this paper we propose a model for organizing dynamic and customizable concept spaces, based on innovative structures, and we introduce a mechanism for recommendation, based on tags and mainly on the way in which users connect resources in their concept spaces. Adaptive recommendations are generated analyzing the users' concept spaces, and evaluating the similarities among them in order to reveal the similarity among their goals and perspectives.
Group interprofessional chronic pain management in the primary care setting: a pilot study of feasibility and effectiveness in a family health team in Ontario.

BACKGROUND Approximately 18.9% of Canadians live with chronic pain. Primary care reform in Ontario presents unique opportunities to assess approaches to help these patients. OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of an interprofessional primary care-based program for patients living with chronic pain, and to examine the potential impact of such a program on quality of life and health resource utilization. METHODS An embedded mixed-methods evaluation (randomized controlled trial with waiting list control and semistructured interviews) of an eight-week series of small group sessions exploring multifactoral aspects of pain management was performed. Participants were randomly assigned to early intervention (EI) or delayed intervention (DI) groups. All participants received the intervention; the DI group served as a control group for comparison with the EI group. Outcomes included the Short Form-36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), medication use and health care utilization. Qualitative interviews were conducted to identify areas for program improvement. RESULTS A total of 240 patients were recruited and 63 agreed to participate. The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 55±14.1 years and 62.3% were female. There was no significant difference in the mean change in SF-36v2 summary scores between the EI and DI groups. However, the SF-36v2 subscale score for bodily pain was significantly improved in the EI group compared with the DI group after six months of observation (mean difference = 13.1 points; P<0.05). There was also significant improvement in this score when both groups were pooled and aggregate preintervention and postintervention scores were compared. There was a significant decrease in the mean number of clinic visits in the six-month period following the intervention compared with the six-month period before the intervention (P=0.043). CONCLUSION An interprofessional program in primary care for patients living with chronic pain may lead to improvements in quality of life and health resource utilization. The challenges to the feasibility of the program and its evaluation are recruitment and retention of patients, leading to the conclusion that the program, as it was conducted in the present study, is not appropriate for this setting.
Regional variation in foliar chemistry and n cycling among forests of diverse history and composition

Although understanding of nitrogen cycling and nitrification in forest ecosystems has improved greatly over the past several decades, our ability to characterize spatial patterns is still quite limited. A number of studies have shown linkages between canopy chemistry and N cycling, but few have considered the degree to which these trends can provide an indicator of forest N status across large, heterogeneous landscapes. In this study, we examined relationships among canopy chemistry, nitrogen cycling, and soil carbon:nitrogen ratios across 30 forested stands in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Plots included a range of species (sugar maple, red maple, American beech, yellow birch, paper birch, red spruce, balsam fir, eastern hemlock) and were broadly grouped into two disturbance categories: those that were historically affected by intensive logging and/or fire and those that experienced minimal human disturbance. Across all plots, rates of net N mineralization and net nitrification were correlated wi.
Role of Conserved Surface Amino Acids in Binding of SmpB Protein to SsrA RNA*

Bacteria possess a unique salvage mechanism for rescuing ribosomes stalled on aberrant mRNAs. A complex of SmpB protein and SsrA RNA orchestrates this salvage process. The specific and direct binding of SmpB facilitates recognition and delivery of SsrA RNA to stalled ribosomes. The SmpB protein is conserved throughout the bacterial kingdom and contains several conserved amino acid sequence motifs. We present evidence to demonstrate that amino acid residues Glu-31, Leu-91, and Lys-124, which are highly conserved and clustered along an exposed surface of the protein, play a crucial role in the SsrA-mediated peptide tagging process. Our analysis suggests that the peptide-tagging defect exhibited by these SmpB variants is due to their inability to facilitate the delivery of SsrA RNA to stalled ribosomes. Moreover, we present evidence to demonstrate that the ribosome association defect of these variants is due to their reduced SsrA binding affinity. Consistent with these findings, we present biochemical evidence to demonstrate that residues Glu-31, Leu-91, and Lys-124 are essential for the SsrA binding activity of SmpB protein. Furthermore, we have investigated the interactions of SmpB·SsrA orthologues from the thermophilic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis. Our investigations demonstrate an analogous role for the equivalent T. tengcongensis residues in SmpB·SsrA interactions, hence further validating our findings for the Escherichia coli SmpB·SsrA system. These results demonstrate the functional significance of this cluster of conserved residues in SmpB binding to SsrA RNA, suggesting they might represent a core contact surface for recognition of SsrA RNA.
Influences of wetland and landscape characteristics on the distribution of carpenter frogs

The distribution of wetland breeding amphibians may be influenced by multiple habitat variables interacting at various scales. We applied a multi-scaled modeling approach to relate the presence and absence of carpenter frogs (Lithobates virgatipes), a species of conservation concern in Maryland, to several wetland and landscape characteristics. We also investigated relationships between wetland habitat quality and adjacent landscape composition using correlation analysis and summarized those relationships in a hierarchical path model. Breeding call surveys were conducted at 40 wetland sites to determine the presence of calling male carpenter frogs. We collected data on aquatic and terrestrial habitat using both on-site measurements and geographic information system analyses. Logistic regression modeling revealed that wetlands occupied by carpenter frogs were significantly more acidic, exhibited intermediate hydroperiods, and had higher proportions of surrounding forest cover than did sites unoccupied by carpenter frogs. Path analysis revealed forest cover exhibited a negative correlation with wetland pH and hydroperiod. Our study corroborates a growing body of research that suggests the distributions of many amphibians are related to forest cover adjacent to wetland habitat and provides evidence on the importance of forest cover for maintaining wetland habitat quality.
The structure of CDK4/cyclin D3 has implications for models of CDK activation

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4)/cyclin D complexes are expressed early in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and stimulate the expression of genes required for G1 progression by phosphorylation of the product of the retinoblastoma gene, pRb. To elaborate the molecular pathway of CDK4 activation and substrate selection we have determined the structure of nonphosphorylated CDK4/cyclin D3. This structure of an authentic CDK/cyclin complex shows that cyclin binding may not be sufficient to drive the CDK active site toward an active conformation. Phosphorylated CDK4/cyclin D3 is active as a pRb kinase and is susceptible to inhibition by p27Kip1. Unlike CDK2/cyclin A, CDK4/cyclin D3 can be inactivated by treatment with λ-phosphatase, implying that phosphorylated T172 is accessible to a generic phosphatase while bound to a cyclin. Taken together, these results suggest that the structural mechanism of CDK4/cyclin D3 activation differs markedly from that of previously studied CDK/cyclin complexes.
Computational Vision Model-based Method to Address Work Zone Conspicuity

A computational means to assess the conspicuity of highway features was developed, verified, then applied to a sample construction work zone scene. This work was conceived as a balance between modeling the complex phenomena within the human visual system and the need for a simple applicationsoriented tool for practitioners to derive a quantitative relative assessment of real world construction work zones in order to rank choices in terms of conspicuity. The results indicate that our vision model-based tool can assess the relative conspicuity of individual elements of a roadway or roadside scene and is relatively straightforward in use. As such, it holds potential value in engaging in “virtual” prototyping of work zone sight lines, colors, and placement of hazard warning cues such as cones, markings and reflective vests. Barton, Misener, Cohn A Computational Vision Model-based Method to Address Work Zone Conspicuity Jay E. Barton, James A. Misener, Theodore E. Cohn California PATH Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California at Berkeley Richmond Field Station 1357 S. 46 Street, Bldg 452 Richmond, CA 94804-4698 Phone: 510-231-9465 Fax: 510-231-9565 Email: jebarton@uclink4.berkeley. edu
A comfortable witness is a good witness: rapport‐building and susceptibility to misinformation in an investigative mock‐crime interview

Summary: Major investigative interviewing protocols such as the Cognitive Interview recommend that investigators build rapport with cooperative adult witnesses at the beginning of a police interview. Although research substantiates the benefits of rapport-building on the accuracy of child witness reports, few studies have examined whether similar benefits apply to adult witnesses. The present study investigated whether verbal rapport-building techniques increase adult witness report accuracy and decrease their susceptibility to post-event misinformation. One-hundred eleven college adults viewed a videotaped mock-crime, received post-event misinformation (or correct information) about the crime, and were subsequently interviewed by a research assistant who built rapport (or did not build rapport) before recalling the mock-crime. Results indicated that rapport-building increased the quality of witness recall by decreasing the percentage of inaccurate and misinformation reported, particularly in response to open-ended questions. We discuss implications and recommendations for law enforcement. Copyright # 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The “pseudo‐craniovertebral articulation” in the deep‐sea fish Stomias boa (Teleostei: Stomiidae)

Many predatory deep‐sea fishes show highly specialized modifications of their feeding apparatus, e.g., elongate jaws studded with long daggerlike teeth, often combined with a very distensible stomach, to be capable of swallowing relatively large prey. These striking features can be observed in members of the marine teleost family Stomiidae. The present study gives a detailed morphological description of the mesopelagic predatory fish, Stomias boa, based on a combined approach of clearing and double staining, serial sections and dissection. In this genus, large pads made of dense connective tissue extend from the first enlarged neural arch to the ventral side of the chordal sheath, embracing the prominent exoccipitals and thus constituting a kind of double ball‐ and socket joint for the head. The notochordal occipito‐vertebral gap is enlarged, probably not by loss of vertebral centra as is proposed for other genera of the stomiid family, e.g., in Astronesthes or Photostomias. We conclude that this “pseudo‐craniovertebral articulation” serves as a functional substitute for the absent vertebrae and strengthens the flexible, anterior part of the vertebral column during extreme dorsal expansion of the gape during prey capture and swallowing. J. Morphol. , 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.