Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Bb fragment of complement factor B acts as a B cell growth factor

The process of B cell growth and differentiation into plasma cells is highly regulated and may be influenced by a large number of inflammatory mediators, including complement components. We have studied the regulatory influence of Bb, a 60-kD peptide created during the cleavage of complement Factor B by Factor D and C3b. Purified Bb alone had no effect on proliferation and differentiation of human splenic or tonsillar B cells. However, when B cells were activated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC), Bb enhanced proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Bb also enhanced proliferation when cocultured with SAC and suboptimal concentrations of purified 60-kD B cell growth factor (HMW-BCGF), a previously described lymphokine that is known to possess growth-promoting activity. However, Bb had no effect on cells treated with optimal concentrations of HMW-BCGF. Like HMW-BCGF, Bb's major effect was on the larger in vivo activated B cells. Half-maximal enhancement of proliferation was reached at a Bb concentration of 1-10 nM. Of note is the fact that antibody to Factor B recognized HMW-BCGF, and an mAb to HMW-BCGF also recognized Factor B and Bb, but not Ba. Moreover, radiolabeled Bb bound saturably to activated B cells and to an EBV-transformed human B cell line. The binding of Bb was inhibited by HMW-BCGF but not by Ba or IgG. Thus, Bb is antigenically and functionally related to HMW-BCGF, and can act as a B cell growth and differentiation factor at potentially physiologic concentrations. These data suggest that Bb may be important in amplifying the immune response in areas of inflammation. Since complement activation occurs at inflammatory sites long before induction of HMW-BCGF synthesis, Bb may be an early signal for the clonal expansion of antigen-activated B cells.
MRI of the Coronary Arteries

The critical issue for coronary MRA is to account for multiple sources of motion while maintaining a high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution acquisition. Under optimal circumstances, the spatial resolution of coronary MRA is 700-900 microns for in plane resolution, but slice thickness z-axis) remains at 2-3 mm. This is considerably greater than the 300 micron resolution available from invasive angiography. Besides bulk cardiac motion that is commonly observed with functional studies of the left ventricle, the right and left coronary arteries have complex motion paths influenced by the atria as well as ventricles. Because the heart rests on the diaphragm, bulk cardiac motion related to respiration must be eliminated during the acquisition. Technical factors related to coronary acquisitions are discussed further below.
New selective and differential medium for Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus

Thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose agar has been routinely used for the isolation of pathogenic vibrios, although its selectivity for Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus is inadequate. Therefore, a new plating medium, cellobiose-polymyxin B-colistin agar, was developed for the isolation of these two species. Cellobiose-polymyxin B-colistin agar demonstrated a significant advantage over other media designed for the isolation or differentiation of vibrios: of both the 136 strains representing 19 Vibrio species and the marine isolates of the genera Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, and Photobacterium, only V. vulnificus and V. cholerae were able to grow. Furthermore, the fermentation of cellobiose by V. vulnificus allowed for the easy differentiation of these two species. This medium offers significant potential as a selective and differential medium for these two pathogenic vibrios.
Death-associated Protein Kinase-1 Expression and Autophagy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Are Dependent on Activating Transcription Factor-6 and CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein-β*

Expression of DAPK1, a critical regulator of autophagy and apoptosis, is lost in a wide variety of tumors, although the mechanisms are unclear. A transcription factor complex consisting of ATF6 (an endoplasmic reticulum-resident factor) and C/EBP-β is required for the IFN-γ-induced expression of DAPK1. IFN-γ-induced proteolytic processing of ATF6 and phosphorylation of C/EBP-β are obligatory for the formation of this transcriptional complex. We report that defects in this pathway fail to control growth of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Consistent with these observations, IFN-γ and chemotherapeutics failed to activate autophagy in CLL patient samples lacking ATF6 and/or C/EBP-β. Together, these results identify a molecular basis for the loss of DAPK1 expression in CLL.
Carcinosarcoma of the Parotid

Carcinosarcoma of the parotid is a rare biphasic malignant neoplasm comprised of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components representing approximately 0.4% of all malignant salivary gland neoplasms. We report a case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who presented with a progressively enlarging left facial mass. Histopathological evaluation of the tumoral tissue revealed a high grade, mixed epithelial and mesenchymal malignant tumor, most consistent with a carcinosarcoma of the parotid. Morphoproteomic analysis was performed and revealed expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC); glioma-associated oncogen protein 2 (Gli2); and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (p-STAT3 [Tyr705]) in the carcinomatous and malignant mesenchymal components. These aforementioned markers have been linked to the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in which epithelial cells lose their characteristics and phenotypically become mesenchymal cells. This finding allows us to further understand the biology of the 2 cellular components of the carcinosarcoma as having a monoclonal origin.
HLA-DR+ leukocytes acquire CD1 antigens in embryonic and fetal human skin and contain functional antigen-presenting cells

Adequate numbers and functional maturity are needed for leukocytes to exhibit a protective role in host defense. During intrauterine life, the skin immune system has to acquire these prerequisites to protect the newborn from infection in the hostile external environment after birth. We investigated the quantitative, phenotypic, and functional development of skin leukocytes and analyzed the factors controlling their proliferation and trafficking during skin development. We show that CD45+ leukocytes are scattered in embryonic human skin and that their numbers continuously increase as the developing skin generates an environment that promotes proliferation of skin resident leukocytes as well as the influx of leukocytes from the circulation. We also found that CD45+HLA-DRhighCD1c+ dendritic cells (DCs) are already present in the epidermis and dermis at 9 wk estimated gestational age (EGA) and that transforming growth factor β1 production precedes Langerin and CD1a expression on CD45+CD1c+ Langerhans cell (LC) precursors. Functionally, embryonic antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are able to phagocytose antigen, to up-regulate costimulatory molecules upon culture, and to efficiently stimulate T cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. Collectively, our data provide insight into skin DC biology and the mechanisms through which skin DCs presumably populate the skin during development.
High-Dose Daptomycin Therapy for Left-Sided Infective Endocarditis: a Prospective Study from the International Collaboration on Endocarditis

ABSTRACT The use of daptomycin in Gram-positive left-sided infective endocarditis (IE) has significantly increased. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of high-dose daptomycin on the outcome of left-sided IE due to Gram-positive pathogens. This was a prospective cohort study based on 1,112 cases from the International Collaboration on Endocarditis (ICE)-Plus database and the ICE-Daptomycin Substudy database from 2008 to 2010. Among patients with left-sided IE due to Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Enterococcus faecalis, we compared those treated with daptomycin (cohort A) to those treated with standard-of-care (SOC) antibiotics (cohort B). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Time to clearance of bacteremia, 6-month mortality, and adverse events (AEs) ascribable to daptomycin were also assessed. There were 29 and 149 patients included in cohort A and cohort B, respectively. Baseline comorbidities did not differ between the two cohorts, except for a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes and previous episodes of IE among patients treated with daptomycin. The median daptomycin dose was 9.2 mg/kg of body weight/day. Two-thirds of the patients treated with daptomycin had failed a previous antibiotic regimen. In-hospital and 6-month mortalities were similar in the two cohorts. In cohort A, median time to clearance of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteremia was 1.0 day, irrespective of daptomycin dose, representing a significantly faster bacteremia clearance compared to SOC (1.0 versus 5.0 days; P < 0.01). Regimens with higher daptomycin doses were not associated with increased incidence of AEs. In conclusion, higher-dose daptomycin may be an effective and safe alternative to SOC in the treatment of left-sided IE due to common Gram-positive pathogens.
Microscopic Derivation of Collective Hamiltonian by Means of the Adiabatic Self-Consistent Collective Coordinate Method Shape Mixing in Low-Lying States of 68Se and 72Kr

The microscopic dynamics of oblate-prolate shape coexistence/mixing phenomena in 68 Se and 72 Kr are studied by means of the adiabatic self-consistent collective coordinate (ASCC) method in conjunction with the pairing-plus-quadrupole (P+Q) Hamiltonian, including the quadrupole pairing interaction. A quantum collective Hamiltonian is constructed, and excitation spectra, spectroscopic quadrupole moments and quadrupole transition properties are evaluated. The effect of the time-odd pair field on the collective mass (inertia function) of the large-amplitude vibration and the rotational moments of inertia about three principal axes is evaluated. It is found that the basic properties of the shape coexistence/mixing are qualitatively reproduced. The results of the calculation indicate that the oblate-prolate shape mixing decreases as the angular momentum increases.
Study of the non-liner dynamic system theory for reciprocating compressor fault diagnosis

In this paper, concerning with the reciprocating compressor surface's vibration signals are non-steady and abound of vibration exciters, the property is analyzed and handled based on the nonlinear dynamical system theory, and it is demonstrated that these signals have features of fraction and multifraction. With the wavelet transformation theory, the maximum wavelet module quantum is used to reduce noise, then the multifractal spectrum is calculated,the fault eigenvector is defined,so the different fault can be classified. The result shows that these methods are successful to diagnosis the fault of compressor's air value.
CHAPTER 1 Portfolio Selection

The goal of portfolio selection is the construction of portfolios that maximize expected returns consistent with individually acceptable levels of risk. Using both historical data and investor expectations of future returns, portfolio selection uses modeling techniques to quantify “expected portfolio returns” and “acceptable levels of portfolio risk,” and provides methods to select an optimal portfolio. It would not be an overstatement to say that modern portfolio theory has revolutionized the world of investment management. Allowing managers to quantify the investment risk and expected return of a portfolio has provided the scientific and objective complement to the subjective art of investment management. More importantly, whereas at one time the focus of portfolio management used to be the risk of individual assets, the theory of portfolio selection has shifted the focus to the risk of the entire portfolio. This theory shows that it is possible to combine risky assets and produce a portfolio whose expected return reflects its components, but with considerably lower risk. In other words, it is possible to construct a portfolio whose risk is smaller than the sum of all its individual parts.
Arterial Stiffness and Dialysis Calcium Concentration

Arterial stiffness is the major determinant of isolated systolic hypertension and increased pulse pressure. Aortic stiffness is also associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and general population. Hemodynamically, arterial stiffness results in earlier aortic pulse wave reflection leading to increased cardiac workload and decreased myocardial perfusion. Although the clinical consequence of aortic stiffness has been clearly established, its pathophysiology in various clinical conditions still remains poorly understood. The aim of the present paper is to review the studies that have looked at the impact of dialysis calcium concentration on arterial stiffness. Overall, the results of small short-term studies suggest that higher dialysis calcium is associated with a transient but significant increase in arterial stiffness. This calcium dependant increase in arterial stiffness is potentially explained by increased vascular smooth muscle tone of the conduit arteries and is not solely explained by changes in mean blood pressure. However, the optimal DCa remains to be determined, and long term studies are required to evaluate its impact on the progression of arterial stiffness.
Student-Centric Learning Analytics: Putting Analytics into the Hands of Students

Learning Analytics is growing rapidly across Higher Education institutions across the globe. There are some software solutions to learning analytics which are mainly focusing on intervention, retention and resource allocation, driving institutions to collect and analyse data at an institutional level. Such data only provides a small window into a student and how they spend their time learning. Institutions link progression to specific interactions and neglect students’ self-study, any social factors and any individual learning needs. Therefore, this paper is looking at Learning Analytics and how data can help each student individually. To achieve this, the data should examine and analyse a student providing intuitive data that can be used to reflect and alter learning behaviour. The proposed solution is more than just contributing to a data-driven education system allowing students to add learning activities, set personal targets and interact with members of staff during sessions; this enhances students self-regulated learning skills and their engagement while providing a clearer picture of a student’s learning behaviour.
The Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury Among Children in the United States: Differences by Race

ObjectiveThis report summarizes the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits by race among children aged 0–14 years in the United States. Few other studies have reported the incidence of TBI in this population by race. MethodsData from 3 nationally representative sources maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics were used to report the annual numbers and rates of TBI-related deaths, hospitalizations, and ED visits during 1995–2001 by race, age, and external cause of injury. ResultsAn estimated 475,000 TBIs occurred among children aged 0–14 each year. Rates were highest among children aged 0–4. For children aged 0–9 years, both death and hospitalization rates were significantly higher for blacks than whites for motor vehicle-traffic-related TBIs. ConclusionWith nearly half a million children affected each year, TBI is a serious public health problem. Variation in rates by race suggest the need to more closely examine the factors that contribute to these differences, such as the external causes of the injury and associated modifiable factors (e.g., the use of seatbelts and child safety seats).
Optimal control allocation in vehicle dynamics control for rollover mitigation

Vehicle dynamics control systems, previously only intended for yaw stabilization, are now being extended to incorporate rollover mitigation via braking. Current systems typically use a heuristic approach to control allocation, often utilizing only a subset of the available actuators. In this article a computationally-efficient, optimization-based control allocation strategy is used to map controller commands to braking forces on all four wheels, taking into account actuator constraints. Simulations show that the strategy is capable of preventing vehicle rollover for various standard test manoeuvres.
Mutation in bone morphogenetic protein receptor-IB is associated with increased ovulation rate in Booroola Mérino ewes

Ewes from the Booroola strain of Australian Mérino sheep are characterized by high ovulation rate and litter size. This phenotype is due to the action of the FecBB allele of a major gene named FecB, as determined by statistical analysis of phenotypic data. By genetic analysis of 31 informative half-sib families from heterozygous sires, we showed that the FecB locus is situated in the region of ovine chromosome 6 corresponding to the human chromosome 4q22–23 that contains the bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB (BMPR-IB) gene encoding a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor family. A nonconservative substitution (Q249R) in the BMPR-IB coding sequence was found to be associated fully with the hyperprolificacy phenotype of Booroola ewes. In vitro, ovarian granulosa cells from FecBB/FecBB ewes were less responsive than granulosa cells from FecB+/FecB+ ewes to the inhibitory effect on steroidogenesis of GDF-5 and BMP-4, natural ligands of BMPR-IB. It is suggested that in FecBB/FecBB ewes, BMPR-IB would be inactivated partially, leading to an advanced differentiation of granulosa cells and an advanced maturation of ovulatory follicles.
Development of Representations, Categories and Concepts&#8212;a Hypothesis

A long-standing question in cognitive sciences and machine learning is how a system can develop high-level concepts and categories which are useful for motor and cognitive control. The author proposes an architecture which learns a hierarchy of increasingly abstract, invariant features. Invariance is achieved by selecting information which reflects distinctions present in supervisory signals conveyed by contextual inputs. The main hypothesis is that the right contextual information can be efficiently distributed by associations and attentional process. The original sources of contextual information are specialised systems which reflect the innate, hard-wired behavioural goals of the system. Sensorimotor coordination generates structured sensory stimuli and the intrinsic contextual signals can select the behaviourally significant structures
[Standards, Options and Recommendations for the surgical management of carcinoma of the endometrium].

CONTEXT The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centres and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES To develop clinical practice guidelines according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project for the surgical management of carcinoma of the endometrium. METHODS Data were identified by searching Medline and personal reference lists of members of the expert groups. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to independent reviewers, and to the medical committees of the 20 French Cancer Centres. RESULTS The main recommendations for the surgical management of carcinoma of the endometrium are: 1) where-ever possible, surgery is the primary treatment of both localised and advanced disease; 2) surgery is performed according to the stage of the cancer and the status of the patient; 3) surgery for stages I and II disease entails total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A modified radical hysterectomy is undertaken in cases of macroscopic cervical involvement. An omenectomy is recommended for serous papillary types. Pelvic lymphadenectomy for the purposes of precise staging is undertaken if the patient is of good performance status and without bad pronostic factors. Para-aortic lymphadenectomy can be undertaken to determine involvement of para-aortic nodes; 4) surgery for stages III and IV: radical surgery must be undertaken if at all possible with additional treatment as indicated. In the case of advanced disease, debulking surgery is indicated.
Predictors of cotinine levels in US children: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine what factors predict cotinine levels in US children. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS Nationally representative sample of 5,653 US children, both with and without reported tobacco smoke exposure in their homes. METHODS We stratified the children into those with reported passive smoke exposure at home and those without this exposure. We used regression models to predict the log of the cotinine level of the participants with the following independent covariates: age; race/ethnicity; number of rooms in the home; sex; parental education; family poverty index; family size; region; and, among children with reported passive smoke exposure, the number of cigarettes smoked in the home. RESULTS Children exposed to passive smoke had a mean cotinine level of 1.66 ng/mL, and children not exposed to passive smoke had a mean level of 0.31 ng/mL. Among children with reported smoke exposure, non-Mexican-American race/ethnicity, young age, low number of rooms in the home, low parental education, and an increasing number of cigarettes smoked in the home were predictors of increased serum cotinine levels. Among children with no reported smoke exposure, significant predictors of increased cotinine levels included black race, young age, Midwest region of the United States, low number of rooms in the home, low parental education, large family size, and low family poverty index. CONCLUSION While the reported number of cigarettes smoked in the home is the most important predictor of cotinine levels in children exposed to smoke and may provide an opportunity for clinical intervention, other demographic factors are important among children both with and without reported smoke exposure.
Genetic analysis of Azotobacter vinelandii mutant strains unable to fix nitrogen

Transformation was used to perform ratio test crosses with mutant strains of Azotobacter vinelandii unable to fix N2. Mutations that simultaneously eliminated both components of nitrogenase (nif-1 and nif-2) were tightly linked. The nif-45 mutation that resulted in the absence of an active molybdenum cofactor was closer to nif-1 and nif-2 than to any of the other nif mutations. Strains that lacked component I carried mutations that were closely linked to each other. Mutations that probably were located in the structural genes for components I and II appeared to be relatively close to each other on the A. vinelandii genome.