Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heparin-PF4 Antibodies in Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia: Its Relationship with FcgRIIa Polymorphism

We did the pilot study, in an attempt to determine the prevalence of HIT in Indians and determine its relationship, if any, to FcγRIIa polymorphism, the occurrence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) was investigated in 33 Indian patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery (CVS) who received unfractionated heparin (UFH). Platelet counts were performed prior to the initiation of UFH therapy and 5-16 days, post-therapy. The fall in patients' platelet count >35% of the baseline value or <100,000 mL-1 was considered to be suggestive of HIT syndrome. Heparin-induced platelet aggregation (HIPA), Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and Serotonin Release Assay (SRA) tests were performed in all the patients to detect the antibodies formed against the heparin and platelet factor 4 complex (H-PF4). DNA analysis for FcγRIIa polymorphism was done by allele specific PCR. Thrombocytopenia was found to be present in 10 (30%) patients. Of these, 5 patients were found to be positive by HIPA, ELISA and SRA tests. These 5 patients were considered to have classic HIT syndrome. One of these patients had bleeding while the others were asymptomatic. One of the HIT positive patients was found to be homozygous for FcγRIIaHis/ His polymorphism and others were heterozygous, had one defective allele with single amino acid change (Arg 131 His) at FcγRIIa platelet receptor. Frequency of occurrence of homozygous (FcγRIIaHis/ His) and heterozygous (FcγRIIaArg/ His) polymorphism was higher in patients with HIT (100%) than in the normal population (68%). The prevalence of HIT in the pilot study (15%) was higher than that in the west (5%) but comparable to that from Japan (12%) (14). However, the Occurance of FcγRIIa polymorphism in Indian (68%) was higher than in the east (51%) and comparable to that in the west (78%). Thus it appears that the FcγRIIa polymorphism may have some relation to occurrence of HIT. Higher prevalence of FcγRIIa polymorphism in Indian may predispose to higher prevalence of HIT in India. Thus, it is recommended that, heparin-treated patients should be routinely tested for not only aPTT but also for platelet count, HPF4 antibodies and FcγRIIa polymorphism analysis. From the pilot study, it shows that absence of FcγRIIa receptor polymorphism may suggest low or negligible risk of development of HIT antibodies. However, further studies required with more patients using the same protocol.
REV3, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene whose function is required for induced mutagenesis, is predicted to encode a nonessential DNA polymerase

We have cloned the REV3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by complementation of the rev3 defect in UV-induced mutagenesis. The nucleotide sequence of this gene encodes a predicted protein of Mr 172,956 showing significant sequence similarity to Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase and to other members of a class of DNA polymerases including human DNA polymerase alpha and yeast DNA polymerase I. REV3 protein shows less sequence identity, and presumably a more distant evolutionary relationship, to the latter two enzymes than they do to each other. Haploids carrying a complete deletion of REV3 are viable. We suggest that induced mutagenesis in S. cerevisiae depends on a specialized DNA polymerase that is not required for other replicative processes. REV3 is located 2.8 centimorgans from CDC60, on chromosome XVI.
Developmental and osteoarthritic changes in Col6a1-knockout mice: biomechanics of type VI collagen in the cartilage pericellular matrix.

OBJECTIVE Chondrocytes, the sole cell type in articular cartilage, maintain the extracellular matrix (ECM) through a homeostatic balance of anabolic and catabolic activities that are influenced by genetic factors, soluble mediators, and biophysical factors such as mechanical stress. Chondrocytes are encapsulated by a narrow tissue region termed the "pericellular matrix" (PCM), which in normal cartilage is defined by the exclusive presence of type VI collagen. Because the PCM completely surrounds each cell, it has been hypothesized that it serves as a filter or transducer for biochemical and/or biomechanical signals from the cartilage ECM. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether lack of type VI collagen may affect the development and biomechanical function of the PCM and alter the mechanical environment of chondrocytes during joint loading. METHODS Col6a1(-/-) mice, which lack type VI collagen in their organs, were generated for use in these studies. At ages 1, 3, 6, and 11 months, bone mineral density (BMD) was measured, and osteoarthritic (OA) and developmental changes in the femoral head were evaluated histomorphometrically. Mechanical properties of articular cartilage from the hip joints of 1-month-old Col6a1(-/-), Col6a1(+/-), and Col6a1(+/+) mice were assessed using an electromechanical test system, and mechanical properties of the PCM were measured using the micropipette aspiration technique. RESULTS In Col6a1(-/-) and Col6a1(+/-) mice the PCM was structurally intact, but exhibited significantly reduced mechanical properties as compared with wild-type controls. With age, Col6a1(-/-) mice showed accelerated development of OA joint degeneration, as well as other musculoskeletal abnormalities such as delayed secondary ossification and reduced BMD. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that type VI collagen has an important role in regulating the physiology of the synovial joint and provide indirect evidence that alterations in the mechanical environment of chondrocytes, due to either loss of PCM properties or Col6a1(-/-)-derived joint laxity, can lead to progression of OA.
Application of ribotyping and IS200 fingerprinting to distinguish the five Salmonella serotype O6,7[ratio ]c[ratio ]1,5 groups: Choleraesuis sensu stricto, Choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf, Choleraesuis var. Decatur, Paratyphi C, and Typhisuis

Sixty-seven strains of the five described Salmonella serotypes having antigens 6,7[ratio ]c[ratio ]1,5, that is S. enterica serotype Choleraesuis sensu stricto, Choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf, Choleraesuis var. Decatur, Paratyphi C, and Typhisuis, were examined for 16S rrn profile ribotype, presence of IS200 and phenotypic characters, including rate of change of flagellar-antigen phase and nutritional character. Choleraesuis sensu stricto and its Kunzendorf variant had related but distinct ribotypes. Therefore, ribotyping appears to be a suitable method for differentiating Choleraesuis non-Kunzendorf from Choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf. Some strains of Paratyphi C had 16S profiles that resembled that of Choleraesuis non-Kunzendorf, while others resembled that of Choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf. The Typhisuis profiles were like those of Choleraesuis non-Kunzendorf, while the Choleraesuis var. Decatur profiles were unlike those of any of the other four groups. Furthermore, IS200 fingerprinting discriminated between Choleraesuis var. Decatur and the other strains with antigenic formula O6,7[ratio ]c[ratio ]1,5, and comparison of IS200 patterns showed a high degree of genetic divergence within Choleraesuis var. Decatur. Our findings show that ribotyping and IS200 fingerprinting, combined with classical microbiological methods, distinguish the groups Choleraesuis non-Kunzendorf, Choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf, Choleraesuis var. Decatur, Paratyphi C and Typhisuis.
A linearization technique for bipolar amplifiers based on derivative superposition

A linearization technique for bipolar amplifiers based on Derivative Superposition is presented. The proposed technique provides excellent linearity, while having low sensitivity on the bias conditions. A demonstrator circuit, along with a reference circuit using out-of-band linearization for linearity comparison, have been designed and implemented in a 0:25μm SiGe:C BiCMOS technology to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Measured results show a significant IM3 improvement up to compression compared to the reference circuit.
Apprentissage de représentations et robotique développementale : quelques apports de l'apprentissage profond pour la robotique autonome. (Representation learning and developmental robotics : on the use of deep learning for autonomous robots)

La question des representations est un enjeu majeur pour la robotique : afin de pouvoir evoluer de maniere autonome et sure dans leur environnement, les robots doivent etre capables d’en construire un modele fiable et pertinent. Lorsque les tâches sont definies a l’avance ou les environnements restreints, des algorithmes dedies peuvent doter les robots de mecanismes ad-hoc leur permettant de mener a bien leur mission. Cependant, pour des tâches variees dans des environnements complexes, il devient difficile de prevoir de maniere exhaustive les capacites necessaires au robot. Il est alors interessant de doter les robots de mecanismes d’apprentissage leur donnant la possibilite de construire eux-memes des representations adaptees a leur environnement. Se posent alors deux questions : quelle doit etre la nature des representations utilisees et par quels mecanismes peuvent-elles etre apprises ? Cette these aborde le probleme d’un point de vue developpemental, arguant qu’afin de rendre possible une representation de l’environnement permettant de faire face a des situations nouvelles, il est necessaire que les representations soient apprises de maniere autonome et non-supervisee. Nous proposons pour cela l’utilisation de l’hypothese des sous-varietes, definissant les symboles perceptifs et moteurs comme des sous-varietes dans des espaces sensoriels et fonctionnels, afin de developper des architectures permettant de faire emerger une representation symbolique de flux sensorimoteurs bruts. Nous montrons que le paradigme de l’apprentissage profond fournit des mecanismes appropries a l’apprentissage autonome de telles representations. Dans un premier travail, nous demontrons que l’exploitation de la nature multimodale des flux sensorimoteurs permet d’en obtenir une representation symbolique pertinente. Dans un second temps, nous etudions le probleme de l’evolution temporelle des stimuli du point de vue de l’hypothese des sous-varietes et de la robotique developpementale. Nous discutons les defauts de la plupart des approches aujourd’hui utilisees et nous esquissons une approche a partir de laquelle nous approfondissons deux sous-problemes. Nous etudions d’abord l’emergence de representations des transformations entre stimuli successifs, puis nous testons la viabilite de l’hypothese des sous-varietes dans des espaces fonctionnels pour expliquer notamment l’existence de repertoires d’actions. Dans une troisieme partie, nous proposons des pistes de recherche pour permettre le passage des experiences de laboratoire a des environnements naturels. Nous explorons plus particulierement la problematique de la curiosite artificielle dans des reseaux de neurones non supervises.
Double-blind, Randomized Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy and Tolerability of an Apple Pectin-Chamomile Extract in Children with Unspecific Diarrhea

Summary Background: Acute diarrhea is one of the most common childhood diseases. The main aim of therapy is oral rehydration, mostly using a glucose-electrolyte solution. Results from a previous study (DIALOG I) investigating adjuvant treatment with a medicinal preparation containing an apple pectin-chamomile extract (Diarrhoesan®) indicated a significantly reduced duration of diarrhea in children. Objectives: The objective of the present clinical placebo-controlled, double-blind study (DIALOG II) was to assess the clinical efficacy and tolerability of the apple pectin-chamomile extract on a larger number of patients. Methods: The investigation was designed as a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study enrolling 255 patients presenting with acute diarrhea. Patients were aged between 6 months and 6 years and treated on an outpatient basis with either an apple pectin-chamomile preparation or placebo. As a basic medication, each child received a glucose-electrolyte solution on the first day of treatment. Results: The primary outcome (primary efficacy parameter) included a combined analysis of stool frequency, stool consistency and duration of diarrhea. The statistical analysis revealed a superior efficacy of the tested preparation over placebo with a significantly reduced stool frequency in the treatment group compared to the control group. The results were corroborated by efficacy assessment performed by investigators and patients. Treatment was well tolerated, with an incidence of adverse effects similar to placebo. Conclusion: These findings support the concept of a beneficial influence of the investigated vegetable extract in shortening the course of the disease and relieving associated symptoms.
Dynamic Thresholds in Crop Rotations : Burt , Ferris 459 crop is

A dynamic model of nematode populations under a crop rotation that includes both host and nonhost crops is developed and used to conceptualize the problem of economic control. The steady state of the dynamic system is used to devise an approximately optimal decision policy, which is then applied to cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) control in a rotation of sugarbeet with nonhost crops. Long-run economic returns from this approximately optimal decision rule are compared with results from solution of the exact dynamic optimization model. The simple decision rule based on the steady state provides long-run average returns that are similar to the fully optimal solution. For sugarbeet and H. schachtii, the simplified rule can be calculated by maximizing a relatively simple algebraic expression with respect to the number of years in the sequence of nonhost crops. Maximization is easy because only integers are of interest and the number of years in nonhost crops is typically small. Solution of this problem indirectly yields an approximation to the optimal dynamic economic threshold density of nematodes in the soil. The decision rule requires knowledge of annual nematode population change under host and nonhost crops, and the relationship between crop yield and nematode population density.
Remission and recurrence of depression in the maintenance era: long-term outcome in a Cambridge cohort

Background. Long-term studies of severe depression have described high rates of non-recovery, recurrence, chronic incapacity and mortality. A more recent cohort was followed-up to ascertain whether the course had improved given developments in pharmacological and psychological treatments in the last 15 years. Method. Subjects from a cohort of 70 mainly severe recurrent depressives originally recruited to a shorter follow-up study from 1990–1992 were followed-up after 8–11 years. Data included longitudinal information on course of depression and other psychiatric disorders, pharmacological and psychological treatment and social functioning during follow-up. Results. Sixty-nine (99%) subjects were successfully followed-up, with 61 of 66 living subjects interviewed and detailed follow-up data obtained in total on 65. Sixty (92%) of 65 subjects recovered during follow-up, with two-thirds subsequently suffering a recurrence. Eleven (17%) suffered from an episode of chronic depression of at least 2 years duration during follow-up. Social function at follow-up was good and there were high levels of pharmacological and psychological treatment. Greater severity of illness was the most consistent predictor of poor outcome. Times to recovery and recurrence and recovery and recurrence rates were very similar to older studies. Conclusions. The long-term outcome of depression still shows high recurrence rates and does not appear to have changed in the last 20 years.
Retrospective review of children presenting with non cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: HRCT features and clinical relationships

Non cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis in children presents with a spectrum of disease severity. Our aims were to document the extent and severity of disease in children with non‐CF bronchiectasis, to review the inter‐ and intraobserver agreement for the high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features examined, and to assess correlations between HRCT features and clinical measures of severity. We performed a retrospective review of 56 children from the Starship Children's Hospital. HRCT scans were scored by a modified Bhalla system, and the chest X‐rays using the Brasfield score. Scores were correlated with demographics, number of hospitalizations, disease duration, pulmonary function, clinical examination, and chronic sputum infection. The bronchiectasis seen was widespread and severe, particularly in Maori and Pacific Island children. The kappa coefficient for intraobserver agreement was better than that for interobserver agreement. Comparisons between HRCT scan and lung function parameters showed that the strongest relationships were between forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow between 25–75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25–75) with the extent of bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, and air trapping. Children with digital clubbing and chest deformity showed significantly higher scores for extent of bronchiectasis, bronchial wall dilatation and thickness, and overall computed tomography (CT) score. No relationship was demonstrated between chronic sputum infection and CT score. The HRCT score demonstrated a stronger correlation between the extent and severity of bronchiectasis, and spirometry values, than the chest X‐ray score. In conclusion, pediatric non‐CF bronchiectasis in Auckland is extensive and severe. The good intraobserver ratings mean that consistency of scoring is possible on repeated scans. This study cannot comment on the relationships of CT and less severe disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:87–93. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Loss of ERLIN2 function leads to juvenile primary lateral sclerosis

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a motor neuron disorder that exclusively affects upper motor neurons leading to their degeneration. Mutations in the ALS2 gene encoding the protein Alsin have been described previously in the juvenile form of the disease. In this study, we identify mutation of the ERLIN2 gene in juvenile PLS patients and describe an in vitro model for loss of ERLIN2 function.
Translation process research as interaction research: from mental to socio-cognitive processes

The main methodological approaches used in cognitive translation process research have hitherto been inspired by methods originally developed in the behavioural sciences, especially psychology. This article contends that mainstream experimental research in laboratory settings needs to be complemented with other methodological approaches such as qualitative, ethnographic research in order to be able to account for the situated, embedded and extended aspects of cognition – as described in current cognitive science approaches. In addition, it presents the empirical research design and initial results of an ethnographic field study into the socio-cognitive aspects of translation. The results show the complexity of the social network involved in the observed case of freelance translation, the tendency of the translator to externalize parts of the process and thus transform the internal processing into an interaction with self-produced outer stimuli—thereby reconfiguring the cognitive space—and the existence of distinct, iterative interaction patterns that stand out as behavioural and cognitive routines in the way the translator works.
Recognition of Hyponymy and Meronymy Relations in Word Embeddings for Polish

Word embeddings were used for the extraction of hyponymy relation in several approaches, but also it was recently shown that they should not work, in fact. In our work we verified both claims using a very large wordnet of Polish as a gold standard for lexico-semantic relations and word embeddings extracted from a very large corpus of Polish. We showed that a hyponymy extraction method based on linear regression classifiers trained on clusters of vectors can be successfully applied on large scale. We presented also a possible explanation for contradictory findings in the literature. Moreover, in order to show the feasibility of the method we extended it to the recognition of meronymy.
Differentiation of Brucella species by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis

E. TCHERNEVA, N. RIJPENS, B. JERSEK and L. M. F. HERMAN.2000. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used for discrimination between 46 Brucella strains and 14 representatives of the alpha‐2 and alpha‐1 subgroups of Proteobacteria. To evaluate a relatively quick and exact method for Brucella identification, the authors specified the most suitable conditions for RAPD amplification of Brucella DNA with two 10‐mer primers, containing lower and higher percentages of G and C. The software package phylip 3·1 was used for cluster analysis of the RAPD fingerprints. The optimization of RAPD conditions resulted in PCR mixes suitable for reliable typing of Brucellae. The distance‐based methods (Fitch–Margoliash, upgma and Neighbour‐joining) gave clear discrimination between Brucella species. The constructed dendrograms put Br. canis and Br. suis bv. 1 in the same cluster and differentiated Brucella strains according to their host preferences. RAPD can be useful method to distinguish related bacterial species, and under strictly established conditions the reaction appears to be a simple, quick and sensitive technique for the epidemiological investigation of brucellosis.
Anatomical studies on the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis in the pigmented rat. I. Cytoarchitecture, topography, and cerebral cortical afferents

The nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (NRTP) is a precerebellar reticular nucleus that has been found to be related to cerebropontocerebellar pathways and, more recently, to eye movements. The present study investigates the cytoarchitecture, the topography, and the cerebral cortical projections to the NRTP in the pigmented rat. The cytoarchitecture and topography of the NRTP was determined by examination of Nissl‐stained material sectioned in the transverse and sagittal planes. Two cytoarchitectonically distinct portions of the NRTP are apparent; a central subdivision (NRTPc) composed of large multipolar, small spherical, and fusiform neurons, and a pericentral subdivision (NRTPp) composed of loosely packed small fusiform and spherical neurons. The NRTPc is located dorsal to the medial lemniscus and pyramidal tracts over the caudal two‐thirds of the pons. It extends caudodorsally to the region just rostral and ventral to the abducens nucleus. The NRTPp is adjacent to the lateral margins of the NRTPc, rostrally, and lies ventral to the caudal portions of the NRTPc. Large injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were made into the cerebellum in order to determine the degree to which each subdivision of the NRTP contributes to the cerebellar projection. A high percentage of NRTPc neurons and a lower percentage of NRTPp neurons were labeled. These differences in labeling density and neuronal morphology noted above confirm the appropriateness of subdividing the NRTP into central and pericentral subdivisions.