Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loss of Complex I due to Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in Renal Oncocytoma

Purpose: Many solid tumors exhibit abnormal aerobic metabolism characterized by increased glycolytic capacity and decreased cellular respiration. Recently, mutations in the nuclear encoded mitochondrial enzymes fumarate hydratase and succinate dehydrogenase have been identified in certain tumor types, thus demonstrating a direct link between mitochondrial energy metabolism and tumorigenesis. Although mutations in the mitochondrial genome (mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA) also can affect aerobic metabolism and mtDNA alterations are frequently observed in tumor cells, evidence linking respiratory chain deficiency in a specific tumor type to a specific mtDNA mutation has been lacking. Experimental Design: To identify mitochondrial alterations in oncocytomas, we investigated the activities of respiratory chain enzymes and sequenced mtDNA in 15 renal oncocytoma tissues. Results: Here, we show that loss of respiratory chain complex I (NADH/ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is associated with renal oncocytoma. Enzymatic activity of complex I was undetectable or greatly reduced in the tumor samples (n = 15). Blue Native gel electrophoresis of the multisubunit enzyme complex revealed a lack of assembled complex I. Mutation analysis of the mtDNA showed frame-shift mutations in the genes of either subunit ND1, ND4, or ND5 of complex I in 9 of the 15 tumors. Conclusion: Our data indicate that isolated loss of complex I is a specific feature of renal oncocytoma and that this deficiency is frequently caused by somatic mtDNA mutations.
Duygusal Zekanın Dönüşümcü Liderlik Üzerine Etkileri

Bu calismada duygusal zekanin donusumcu liderlik uzerindeki etkileri incelenmistir. Arastirma bir yuksek ogretim kurumunda ogrenim goren toplam 724 ogrenci orneklemi kullanilarak gerceklestirilmistir. Arastirma sonuclari duygusal zeka boyutlariyla donusumcu liderlik boyutlari arasinda pozitif ve anlamli iliskiler oldugunu gostermektedir. Ozellikle kisiler arasi iliskiler boyutunun, donusumcu liderlik surecinde onemli bir degisken oldugu saptanmistir.
Isolation and Characterization of the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Terminase Complex

ABSTRACT During herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection, empty procapsids are assembled and subsequently filled with the viral genome by means of a protein complex called the terminase, which is comprised of the HSV-1 UL15, UL28, and UL33 proteins. Biochemical studies of the terminase proteins have been hampered by the inability to purify the intact terminase complex. In this study, terminase complexes were isolated by tandem-affinity purification (TAP) using recombinant viruses expressing either a full-length NTAP-UL28 fusion protein (vFH476) or a C-terminally truncated NTAP-UL28 fusion protein (vFH499). TAP of the UL28 protein from vFH476-infected cells, followed by silver staining, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry, identified the UL15, UL28, and UL33 subunits, while TAP of vFH499-infected cells confirmed previous findings that the C terminus of UL28 is required for UL28 interaction with UL33 and UL15. Analysis of the oligomeric state of the purified complexes by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation revealed that the three proteins formed a complex with a molecular mass that is consistent with the formation of a UL15-UL28-UL33 heterotrimer. In order to assess the importance of conserved regions of the UL15 and UL28 proteins, recombinant NTAP-UL28 viruses with mutations of the putative UL28 metal-binding domain or within the UL15 nuclease domain were generated. TAP of UL28 complexes from cells infected with each domain mutant demonstrated that the conserved cysteine residues of the putative UL28 metal-binding domain and conserved amino acids within the UL15 nuclease domain are required for the cleavage and packaging functions of the viral terminase, but not for terminase complex assembly.
Dynamics of pathomorphological changes in rat ischemic spinal cord after treatment with recombinant erythropoietin: Experimental study

Introduction. There is ample current research on new methods of treatment for spinal cord infarction. In this respect, in recent years recombinant erythropoietin (REP) has been gaining increasing interest among medical professionals; REP is a drug with proven protective activity in response to ischemia of different organs and tissues including the brain and the spinal cord. We aim to study the dynamics of morphological changes in spinal cord ischemic lesion in rats influenced by REP. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 40 mature rats. The animals were divided into two series of experiment 20 animals each. The first series of animals was the group of comparison with spinal cord ischemia model. In the second series the animals were administered intraperitoneally 1000 international units (0.0084 mg) of REP in 3, 24, and 48 hours. After the animals had been sacrificed, the spinal cord was removed for further histologic and morphometric study. The obtained results were processed using analysis of variance. The statistical significance of differences between compared parameters of the groups was assessed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results. The study of the spinal cord specimen showed that REP administration results in significantly higher levels of normal neurons and blood vessels, and in significantly lower count of chromatolytic neurons and ghost cells at all stages of experiment. Conclusion. At the early stages of experiment, REP effect increases ischemic tolerance of neurons and enhances the proliferation rate of gliocytes and endotheliocytes with development of a new blood stream.
Involvement of the Onuf nucleus in Werdnig‐Hoffmann disease

Contrary to contention that Onuf nucleus is spared in Werdnig-Hoffmann disease (WHD) as it is in ALS, we found central chromatolysis in the Onuf neurons of the sacral cord from all five WHD patients. They were less depopulated but the central chromatolysis appeared more frequently than in anterior motor neurons. In contrast, the sacral autonomic neurons were not affected in any of the five cases. This argues against the view that the Onuf nucleus is autonomic and is spared with other autonomic neurons.
Vascular adhesion molecules in vitreous from eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE To investigate whether proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PDR) is associated with a selective increase in vitreous levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules that mediate leukocyte extravasation and interaction with endothelium during processes of inflammation and neovascularization. METHODS Vitreous from 55 patients undergoing vitrectomy for treatment of PDR complicated by vitreous hemorrhage and/or traction retinal detachment was assayed for the presence of the soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Vitreous from 12 cadaveric eyes matching age and sex of the patients were used as control samples. RESULTS Vitreous levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin were significantly higher in eyes with PDR than in control cadaveric vitreous, and levels of all three molecules did not relate to the type or duration of diabetes mellitus. However, eyes with either traction retinal detachment alone or both traction retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage exhibited significantly higher levels of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin than eyes with vitreous hemorrhage alone. Vitreous levels of sVCAM-1 were similar in eyes with either vitreous hemorrhage or traction retinal detachment alone. CONCLUSIONS The present observations suggest that molecular inflammatory mechanisms may contribute to processes of neovascularization and fibrosis observed in PDR, possibly not as the causative event, but as a result of endothelial, Müller, and retinal pigment epithelial cell activation. The results also indicate that retinal detachment amplifies the existing inflammation within the diabetic retina. Identification of any abnormalities in the production and control of specific adhesion molecules could have important implications in the design of new therapeutic regimens to treat and prevent this sight-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus.
Morbid Obesity Impacts Mortality in Blunt Trauma

Twenty-six per cent of adults in the Unites States are obese and trauma remains a major cause of death. We assessed the impact of morbid obesity on mortality in patients with blunt trauma. We reviewed the records of patients with a body mass index 40 kg/m2 or greater injured by blunt trauma from 1993 to 2003 and compared them with a 4:1 control population with a normal body mass index and matched for sex and constellation of injuries. For comparison, patients were categorized by Injury Severity Score 9 or less or Injury Severity Score 10 or greater. Student t test and χ2 were used for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. One hundred seven morbidly obese patients were identified and compared with 458 control subjects with a normal body mass index and matched for sex and constellation of injuries. Although the morbidly obese patients were found to be significantly younger, those who incurred multiorgan injury experienced a significantly longer hospital length of stay and displayed a greater than fourfold increase in mortality when compared with the control subjects. Furthermore, the number of morbidly obese patients admitted over the 10-year period significantly increased by fourfold (0.4% to 1.5%). Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in morbidly obese patients cared for in our trauma center. Although these patients were significantly younger with a similar Glasgow Coma Score as that of the control population, morbid obesity significantly increased mortality when the injury from blunt trauma transitioned from a single to a multiorgan injury.
Automated Agar Plate Streaker: A Linear Plater on Society for Biomolecular Sciences Standard Plates

Several protocols for bacterial isolation and techniques for aerobic plate counting rely on the use of a spiral plater to deposit concentration gradients of microbial suspensions onto a circular agar plate to isolate colony growth. The advantage of applying a gradient of concentrations across the agar surface is that the original microbiological sample can be applied at a single concentration rather than as multiple serial dilutions. The spiral plater gradually dilutes the sample across a compact area and therefore saves time preparing dilutions and multiple agar plates. Commercial spiral platers are not automated and require manual sample loading. Dispensing of the sample volume and rate of gradients are often very limited in range. Furthermore, the spiral sample application cannot be used with rectangular microplates. Another limitation of commercial spiral platers is that they are useful only for dilute, filtered suspensions and cannot plate suspensions of coarse organic particles therefore precluding the use of many kinds of microorganism-containing substrata. An automated agar plate spreader capable of processing 99 rectangular microplates in unattended mode is described. This novel instrument is capable of dispensing discrete volumes of sample in a linear pattern. It can be programmed to dispense a sample suspense at a uniform application rate or across a decreasing concentration gradient.
Association between Glioma and History of Allergies, Asthma, and Eczema: A Case-Control Study with Three Groups of Controls

Because glioma etiology is largely unknown, the inverse association of glioma risk with atopic conditions is promising and deserves close scrutiny. We examined the association between a history of allergies, asthma, and eczema, and glioma risk using sibling, friend, and clinic-based controls. This analysis included 388 incident glioma cases and 80 sibling, 191 friend, and 177 clinic-based controls. Each subject's medical history was assessed via a Web-based or telephone survey. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations with allergies, asthma, eczema, and the overall number of these conditions were calculated from conditional (for sibling and friend controls) and unconditional (for clinic-based controls) logistic models. Allergies were consistently inversely associated with the glioma: ORs were 0.53 (95% CI, 0.15-1.84), 0.54 (95% CI, 0.28-1.07), and 0.34 (95% CI, 0.23-0.50) with sibling, friend, and clinic-based controls, respectively. Asthma showed an inverse association only in the comparison with sibling controls (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19-1.00). Eczema showed an inverse association only in the comparison with friend controls (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.15-1.18). The overall number of these conditions (ordinal score 0, 1, 2, 3) was inversely associated with glioma: The risk decreased 31% to 45% with each addition of an atopic condition. These estimates were the most stable when different control groups were considered. Comparing the prevalence of these conditions in the three control groups with published data, we note that clinic-based controls generally better approximate the prevalence data for population-based groups. These controls seem to present a reasonable choice for clinic-centered case-control studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(4):1232–8)
Tactical Weather Decision Support To Complement "Strategic" Traffic Flow Management for Convective Weather *

Reducing delays due to thunderstorms has become a major objective of the FAA due to the recent growth in convective delays. In 2000 the key new initiative for reducing these convective weather delays was “strategic” traffic flow management (TFM) using collaborative weather forecasts and routing strategy development. This "strategic" approach experienced difficulties on a number of cases where it was not possible to accurately forecast storm impacts on routes. This paper describes a complementary “tactical” capability using contemporary terminal and en route weather prediction systems plus traffic flow management and automation decision support tools. We argue that a major paradigm shift may be required in the method by which aircraft routings are determined when there is convective weather in congested airspace. We propose a system where re routes and, routes for near term departures are frequently revised based on automatically generated storm predictions coupled to traffic flow and traffic conflict decision support systems with review and very limited swapping of routes by pilots and airline dispatch.
Implementation of an end-to-end standard-based patient monitoring solution

A proof-of-concept design of a patient monitoring solution for intensive care unit environments has been presented. It is end-to-end standard-based, using ISO/IEEE 11073 (X73) in the bedside environment and EN13606 to communicate the information to an electronic healthcare record (EHR) server. At the bedside end, the system is a plug-and-play sensor network communicating with a gateway that collects medical information and sends the data to a monitoring server. The monitoring server transforms this information into an EN13606 extract to be stored on the EHR server. The system has been implemented to comply with the last X73 and EN13606 available versions and tested in a laboratory environment to demonstrate the feasibility of an end-to-end standard-based solution.
The effect of angiotensin II receptor blockers on hyperuricemia

The objective of this review was to explore the efficacy of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) for the treatment of hyperuricemia in individuals diagnosed with gout or hyperuricemia defined as ⩾7 mg/dl at baseline. A literature search of MEDLINE (1946 to June 2015) and EMBASE (1947 to June 2015) was conducted. The following search terms were used: ‘uric acid’, ‘urate transporter’, ‘gout’, ‘angiotensin II receptor blockers’, ‘hyperuricemia’ and the names for individual ARBs, as well as any combinations of these terms. Studies were excluded that did not explore fractional excretion or serum uric acid as an endpoint, if patients did not have a diagnosis of gout or hyperuricemia at baseline, or if they were non-English language. A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the eight studies identified, six explored ARB monotherapy and two studies investigated ARBs as adjunct therapy. Losartan demonstrated statistically significant reductions in serum uric acid levels or increases in fractional excretion of uric acid in all studies, whereas no other ARB reached statistical benefit. The effect of ARBs on the occurrence of gout attacks or other clinical outcomes were not represented. Four studies evaluated safety effects of these agents indicating abnormalities such as minor changes in lab values. In conclusion, losartan is the only ARB that has consistently demonstrated a significant reduction in serum uric acid levels, although the significance of impacting clinical outcomes remains unknown. Losartan appears to be a safe and efficacious agent to lower serum uric acid levels in patients with hyperuricemia.
Paradoxical process in the organizational change of the CEO succession: a case study from France

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the paradoxes immanent in CEO succession.Design/methodology/approach – This case study is based on stories of organizational change told by different actors in a family organization that experienced a CEO succession.Findings – Admitting that every organization is complex by nature in the sense that it is an ongoing expression of paradox and uncertainty means that organizations must be complex in order to maintain the relationships with the environment and with employees.Originality/value – This study examines CEO succession in small and medium‐sized firms. A crucial issue for research on organizations, it has been neglected in studies of organizational change.
Combined fluorescent in situ hybridization for detection of microRNAs and immunofluorescent labeling for cell-type markers

Identification of the cell type of origin for normal or aberrant gene expression is critical for many studies, and poses a significant problem for some regulatory RNAs such as microRNAs. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate cellular function by targeting specific mRNAs and reducing the level of their protein product. Aberrant expression of miRNAs in cell-types where they are not normally expressed occurs in several disease conditions. Therefore, it is important to determine not only the expression level of microRNAs, but also where they are expressed. Here we describe a detailed method for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with immunofluorescent labeling for cell-type markers in formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) sections along with modifications required to adapt the protocol for primary neurons grown in culture. We have combined the specificity and stability of locked nucleic acid (LNA) probes with tyramide signal amplification. To prevent loss of small RNA species, we performed post-fixation with ethylcarbodiimide (EDC). Additionally by omitting protease digestion and using only high temperature with sodium citrate buffer for FFPE sections, we were able to perform immunolabeling for proteins concurrently with in situ hybridization without compromising efficacy of either procedure.
Simulating CSF Flow Dynamics in the Normal and the Chiari I Subarachnoid Space during Rest and Exertion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CSF fluid dynamics in healthy subjects and patients with Chiari I have been characterized during rest with phase-contrast MR imaging and CFD. CSF flow velocities and pressures in the nonresting state have not been adequately characterized. We used computer simulations to study CSF dynamics during increased heart rates in the normal and Chiari I subarachnoid space. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyclic CSF flow was simulated for multiple cycles in idealized 3D models of the subarachnoid space for normal and Chiari I malformation subarachnoid spaces, with flow cycles corresponding to 80 or 120 heart beats per minute. Flow velocities and pressures were computed by the Navier-Stokes equations. Synchronous bidirectional flow and flow patterns were displayed in Star-CD and inspected visually. Peak velocities and pressure differences in the 2 models were compared for the 2-cycle frequencies. RESULTS: Elevating the cycle rate from 80 to 120 cpm increased peak superior-inferior pressure gradients (top-bottom) by just 0.01% in the normal model and 2% in the Chiari model. Corresponding average pressure gradients increased by 92% and 100%, respectively. In addition, in both models, the range of synchronous bidirectional flow velocities increased. Systolic velocities had smaller increases with faster cycling. For each cycle rate, peak and average pressure gradients in the Chiari model were greater than in the normal model by 11%–16%. CONCLUSIONS: Raising the cycle rate from 80 to 120 cpm increased superior-inferior average pressure gradients and the range of synchronous bidirectional flow velocities in the normal and Chiari I models.
Comparison of a Norm-Based Versus Criterion-Based Approach to Measuring ADHD Symptomatology in College Students

Objective: The prevalence of ADHD symptomatology in college students is unclear because rates can vary depending on the methodology that is employed. Gender differences in college prevalence have also remained unexplored. Method: Self-reported ADHD symptomatology was assessed in 1,096 college students using the College ADHD Response Evaluation, a measure that has been normed on college students and that also contains the 18 criteria currently used for diagnosis. Results : Almost 20% met the threshold for a modified diagnosis if the 97th percentile was used, whereas 7.48% reported the number of symptoms required for current diagnostic criteria. Few women reported extreme levels of impulsivity, whereas both men and women reported excessive inattention. However, men exceeded women in number and severity of inattentive symptoms. Conclusion: These findings suggest that rates of ADHD symptomatology are higher when college students are compared to their peers, which has implications for using current diagnostic criteria with this population. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 11(6), 677-688)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Σ1278b Has Novel Genes of the N-Acetyltransferase Gene Superfamily Required for l-Proline Analogue Resistance

ABSTRACT We discovered on the chromosome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Σ1278b novel genes involved in l-proline analogue l-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid resistance which are not present in the standard laboratory strains. The 5.4 kb-DNA fragment was cloned from the genomic library of thel-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid-resistant mutant derived from a cross between S. cerevisiae strains S288C and Σ1278b. The nucleotide sequence of a 4.5-kb segment exhibited no identity with the sequence in the genome project involving strain S288C. Deletion analysis indicated that one open reading frame encoding a predicted protein of 229 amino acids is indispensable forl-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid resistance. The protein sequence was found to be a member of theN-acetyltransferase superfamily. Genomic Southern analysis and gene disruption showed that two copies of the novel gene with one amino acid change at position 85 required forl-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid resistance were present on chromosomes X and XIV of Σ1278b background strains. When this novelMPR1 or MPR2 gene (sigma 1278b gene forl-proline analogue resistance) was introduced into the other S. cerevisiae strains, all of the recombinants were resistant to l-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, indicating that both MPR1 and MPR2 are expressed and have a global function in S. cerevisiae.