Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pyruvate-fortified resuscitation stabilizes cardiac electrical activity and energy metabolism during hypovolemia.

AIM To test the hypothesis that fluid resuscitation with Ringer's solution enriched with pyruvate (PR), a physiological antioxidant and energy substrate, affords protection of myocardial metabolism and electrophysiological performance superior to lactated Ringer's (LR) during hypovolemia and hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS Male domestic goats (25-30 kg) were exsanguinated to a mean arterial pressure of 48 ± 1 mmHg. Right hindlimb ischemia was imposed for 90 min by applying a tourniquet and femoral crossclamp. LR or PR, infused iv, delivered 0.05 mmol/kg per minute L-lactate or pyruvate, respectively, from 30 min hindlimb ischemia until 30 min post-ischemia. Time controls (TC) underwent neither hemorrhage, hindlimb ischemia nor resuscitation. Goats were sacrificed and left ventricular myocardium biopsied at 90 min fluid resuscitation (n = 6 per group) or 3.5 h later (n = 9 LR, 10 PR, 8 TC). RESULTS Myocardial 8-isoprostane content, phosphocreatine phosphorylation potential, creatine kinase activity, and heart rate-adjusted QT interval (QTc) variability were evaluated at 90 min resuscitation and 3.5 h post-resuscitation. PR sharply lowered pro-arrhythmic QTc variability vs LR (P < 0.05); this effect persisted 3.5 h post-resuscitation. PR lowered myocardial 8-isoprostane content, a product of oxidative stress, by 39 and 37% during and 3.5 h after resuscitation, respectively, vs LR. Creatine kinase activity fell 42% post-LR vs TC (P < 0.05), but was stable post-PR (P < 0.02 vs post-LR). PR doubled phosphocreatine phosphorylation potential, a measure of ATP free energy state, vs TC and LR (P < 0.05); this energetic enhancement persisted 3.5 h post-resuscitation. CONCLUSION By augmenting myocardial energy state and protecting creatine kinase activity, pyruvate-enriched resuscitation stabilized cardiac electrical function during central hypovolemia and hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion.
Efficacy of Side Airbags in Reducing Driver Deaths in Driver-Side Car and SUV Collisions

Objective. To estimate the efficacy of side airbags in preventing driver deaths in passenger vehicles struck on the driver side. Methods. Risk ratios for driver deaths per driver-side collision were computed for side airbag-equipped cars and SUVs, relative to vehicles without side airbags. Driver fatality ratios also were calculated for the same vehicles in front and rear impacts, and these were used to adjust the side crash risk ratios for differences in fatality risk unrelated to side airbags. Risk ratios were calculated separately for side airbags providing torso-only protection and side airbags with head protection; almost all head protecting airbags also had airbags protecting the torso. Results. Car driver death risk in driver-side crashes was reduced by 37 percent for head protecting airbags and 26 percent for torso-only side airbags. Car driver death risk was reduced for older and younger drivers, males and females, and drivers of small and midsize cars, and when the striking vehicle was an SUV/pickup or a car/minivan. Death risk for drivers of SUVs was reduced by 52 percent with head protecting side airbags and by 30 percent with torso-only airbags. The effectiveness of side airbags could not be assessed for pickups and minivans due to the small number of these vehicles with airbags involved in crashes. Conclusion. Side airbags substantially reduce the risk of car and SUV driver death in driver-side collisions. Making side airbags with head protection available to drivers and right front passengers in all passenger vehicles could reduce the number of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in the United States by about 2,000 each year.
Dynamic modeling of the central carbon metabolism of Escherichia coli.

Application of metabolic engineering principles to the rational design of microbial production processes crucially depends on the ability to describe quantitatively the systemic behavior of the central carbon metabolism to redirect carbon fluxes to the product-forming pathways. Despite the importance for several production processes, development of an essential dynamic model for central carbon metabolism of Escherichia coli has been severely hampered by the current lack of kinetic information on the dynamics of the metabolic reactions. Here we present the design and experimental validation of such a dynamic model, which, for the first time, links the sugar transport system (i.e., phosphotransferase system [PTS]) with the reactions of glycolysis and the pentose-phosphate pathway. Experimental observations of intracellular concentrations of metabolites and cometabolites at transient conditions are used to validate the structure of the model and to estimate the kinetic parameters. Further analysis of the detailed characteristics of the system offers the possibility of studying important questions regarding the stability and control of metabolic fluxes.
T‐cell response relative to genotype and ethnicity during antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Viral genotype and host ethnicity are important predictors of viral clearance during antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Based on the role of T cells in natural HCV clearance, we hypothesized that T cells may contribute to the genotypic and ethnic difference in treatment outcome. To test this hypothesis, T‐cell response to HCV antigens (core, nonstructural NS3/4 and NS5) and control phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was monitored prospectively and was correlated with virological outcome in 41 patients chronically infected with HCV (27 genotype 1, 14 genotype 2 or 3; 19 black persons, 22 white persons) undergoing combined interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy. Interestingly, in patients with genotype 2 or 3 infection, enhanced virological response coincided with a greater T‐cell response to HCV NS3/4 antigen at baseline (50% vs. 15%; P = .026) that augmented further during therapy (29% vs. 4%; P = .035) compared with genotype 1‐infected patients. However, HCV‐specific T‐cell response remained weak in genotype 1‐infected patients regardless of virological outcome or ethnicity. Furthermore, virological outcome was associated with a suppressed baseline proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (P < .03) that increased during therapy (P < .003) independent of ethnicity or genotype. In conclusion, HCV‐specific T‐cell response was associated with HCV genotype but not with therapeutic clearance of HCV infection. The association between treatment outcome and phytohemagglutinin response suggests more global and antigen‐nonspecific mechanisms for therapeutic HCV clearance. (HEPATOLOGY 2005;41:1365–1375.)
Group-Salient Issues and Group Representation: Support for Women Candidates in the 1992 Senate Elections

Theory: Theories of social-group behavior and issue salience are merged to introduce the idea of group-salient issues. Hypotheses: Certain women's issues in the 1992 Senate elections were salient only to women when voting in contests where one of the candidates was a woman. Methods: Logit analysis of voting for U.S. senator from the 1992 National Election Study and from Voter Research and Surveys state exit polls (VRS). Results: Women's voting for female Senate candidates in 1992 was related to issues affecting uniquely women's interests where women might be perceived as more competent than men.
The Longitudinal Course of Posttraumatic Morbidity The Range of Outcomes and Their Predictors

This study examined the longitudinal course, over a 25-month period, of posttraumatic morbidity in a group of 469 firefighters exposed to a bushfire disaster. The patterns of posttraumatic morbidity were defined by the General Health Questionnaire. Contrary to expectation, an acute pattern of morbidity was less common than the delayed-onset or chronic forms. Predisaster variables were found to be as important in the onset and course of the disorder as were the firefighters' losses or extent of exposure to the disaster. These data suggest that exposure to an extreme trauma is necessary but not sufficient to explain the onset and pattern of posttraumatic morbidity.
Small-Signal Modeling and Stability Prediction of Parallel Droop-Controlled Inverters Based on Terminal Characteristics of Individual Inverters

Parallel droop-controlled inverters with renewable energy sources are widely employed in islanded ac microgrids, where dynamic interactions among them may cause small-signal stability issues. Since the active power-frequency droop scheme is applied, the dynamic interactions among inverters exist not only in bus voltage and transmitted current, but also in variable system fundamental frequency. This paper introduces a novel small-signal terminal characteristic model for droop-controlled inverter. Besides conventional impedance and admittance, a new set of terminal characteristics is proposed to characterize the dynamics of fundamental frequency. Furthermore, the small-signal model of parallel inverters is constructed based on the terminal characteristics of individual inverters. Covering the fundamental frequency interactions, a stability prediction approach based on generalized Nyquist criterion is proposed for parallel droop-controlled inverters. Besides the product of impedance and admittance, an additional term is added in the system return ratio, which consists of the proposed terminal characteristics associated with the fundamental frequency. Finally, experimental results validate the effectiveness of this proposed stability prediction approach.
Examining the Double Dividend Effect of Energy Tax with the Overlapping Generations Model

This paper constructed a two-period overlapping generations (OLG) model to investigate the effects of the energy tax on environmental quality (the first dividend) and output level (the second dividend) to review the double dividend effect of the energy tax. According to the results of comparative static analysis, we found that the energy tax can improve environmental quality but cannot affect the output level. This suggests that the double effect of the energy tax is not supported in the OLG model. This is because an agent can only survive two periods, and need to give consideration to the consumption level of two-generation and the environmental quality of second-generation for pursuing the maximization of lifetime utility, therefore, the agent must maintain consumption (output) stability, and the double dividend effect does not exist
Obstructive sleep apnea and risk of motor vehicle crash: systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVES We performed a systematic review of the OSA-related risk of crash in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The primary objective involved determining whether individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at an increased risk for a motor vehicle crash when compared to comparable individuals who do not have the disorder. A secondary objective involved determining what factors are associated with an increased motor vehicle crash risk among individuals with OSA. DESIGN/SETTING Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed (PreMEDLINE), EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, TRIS, and the Cochrane library) were searched (through May 27, 2009), as well as the reference lists of all obtained articles. We included controlled studies (case-control or cohort) that evaluated crash risk in individuals with OSA. We evaluated the quality of each study and the interplay between the quality, quantity, robustness, and consistency of the body of evidence, and tested for publication bias. Data were extracted by 2 independent analysts. When appropriate, data from different studies were combined in a fixed- or random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS Individuals with OSA are clearly at increased risk for crash. The mean crash-rate ratio associated with OSA is likely to fall within the range of 1.21 to 4.89. Characteristics that may predict crash in drivers with OSA include BMI, apnea plus hypopnea index, oxygen saturation, and possibly daytime sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS Untreated sleep apnea is a significant contributor to motor vehicle crashes.
Different modes of stop codon restriction by the Stylonychia and Paramecium eRF1 translation termination factors

In universal-code eukaryotes, a single-translation termination factor, eukaryote class-1 polypeptide release factor (eRF1), decodes the three stop codons: UAA, UAG, and UGA. In some ciliates, like Stylonychia and Paramecium, eRF1s exhibit UGA-only decoding specificity, whereas UAG and UAA are reassigned as sense codons. Because variant-code ciliates may have evolved from universal-code ancestor(s), structural features should exist in ciliate eRF1s that restrict their stop codon recognition. In omnipotent eRF1s, stop codon recognition is associated with the N-terminal domain of the protein. Using both in vitro and in vivo assays, we show here that chimeric molecules composed of the N-terminal domain of Stylonychia eRF1 fused to the core domain (MC domain) of human eRF1 retained specificity toward UGA; this unambiguously associates eRF1 stop codon specificity to the nature of its N-terminal domain. Functional analysis of eRF1 chimeras constructed by swapping ciliate N-terminal domain sequences with the matching ones from the human protein highlighted the crucial role of the tripeptide QFM in restricting Stylonychia eRF1 specificity toward UGA. Using the site-directed mutagenesis, we show that Paramecium eRF1 specificity toward UGA resides within the NIKS (amino acids 61–64) and YxCxxxF (amino acids 124–131) motifs. Thus, we establish that eRF1 from two different ciliates relies on different molecular mechanisms to achieve specificity toward the UGA stop codon. This finding suggests that eRF1 restriction of specificity to only UGA might have been an early event occurring in independent instances in ciliate evolutionary history, possibly facilitating the reassignment of UAG and UAA to sense codons.
Introducing treat-to-target strategies of autoimmune extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C virus infection

ABSTRACT Introduction: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is recognized as one of the hepatic viruses most often associated with extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs). It is currently accepted that cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) is the key autoimmune extrahepatic disease associated with HCV infection. Therapeutic approaches have mainly been based on the use of old antiviral interferon (IFN)-based regimens and immunosuppressive therapies, often with an inadequate balance between therapeutic benefits and excess side effects. Areas covered: Therapeutic management of HCV patients with EHMs, including both non-autoimmune (cardiovascular, hematological, general features) and autoimmune complications (organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases). Therapies included antiviral (IFN, ribavirin, direct-acting antivirals – DAAs-) and non-antiviral (immunosuppressive agents, rituximab, plasma exchanges) options. The review analyses the current evidence for proposing a treat-to-target (T2T) approach for HCV-related autoimmune EHMs based on an organ-by-organ strategy. Expert commentary: Eradication of HCV must be considered the key T2T in the therapeutic approach to HCV-related EHMs, as there has been a disruptive change due to the appearance of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) as game-changers in HCV therapy, with an efficacy reaching nearly 100%. In this scenario, the central role played until now by IFN and ribavirin is not currently supported and they will not be used in the future.
Family Outcomes for Families of 4–5-Year-Old Children on the Autism Spectrum Who Have Received Early Childhood Intervention in Australia

Early childhood intervention (ECI) services for children on the autism spectrum commonly espouse a family-centered approach but outcomes studies often focus solely upon the child. Mothers of 96 children on the spectrum (aged 4–5 years) completed a measure of access to ECI and the Family Outcomes Survey—Revised. Family outcomes after ECI were generally positive, although a notable proportion of mothers rated that their child still did not participate in social, recreational, or religious activities that they would want to (15.6%) and that as parents, they did not know about post-ECI options (14.6%). Family outcomes and perceived helpfulness of ECI did not differ with demographic data with the exception of Accessing the community subscale, which was significantly higher in families with incomes above AUD$80,000.
Speaking in Tongues : The Importance of Language in International Management Processes

This paper considers recent research on language effects in some international management situations, specifically, intraorganizational interactions, such as interunit communication and subsidiary autonomy, and in postmerger integration. Within the multinational corporation (MNC), the need for control and coordination has driven the move toward language standardization, in the form of a common corporate language, with widespread effects on management processes. Our analysis indicates that, while important, language issues have been relatively ignored but may offer a rewarding research avenue regarding the functioning of the MNC, with potentially important implications for management.
Directed Evolution of a Ring-cleaving Dioxygenase for Polychlorinated Biphenyl Degradation*

DoxG, an extradiol dioxygenase involved in the aerobic catabolism of naphthalene, possesses a weak ability to cleave 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyls (3,4-DHB), critical polychlorinated biphenyl metabolites. A directed evolution strategy combining error-prone PCR, saturation mutagenesis, and DNA shuffling was used to improve the polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading potential of DoxG. Screening was facilitated through analysis of filtered, digital imaging of plated colonies. A simple scheme, which is readily adaptable to other activities, enabled the screening of >105 colonies/h. The best variant, designated DoxGSMA2, cleaved 3,4-DHB with an apparent specificity constant of 2.0 ± 0.3 × 106 m-1 s-1, which is 770 times that of wild-type (WT) DoxG. The specificities of DoxGSMA2 for 1,2-DHN and 2,3-DHB were increased by 6.7-fold and reduced by 2-fold, respectively, compared with the WT enzyme. DoxGSMA2 contained three substituted residues with respect to the WT enzyme: L190M, S191W, and L242S. Structural data indicate that the side chains of residues 190 and 242 occur on opposite walls of the substrate binding pocket and may interact directly with the distal ring of 3,4-DHB or influence contacts between this substrate and other residues. Thus, the introduction of two bulkier residues on one side of the substrate binding pocket and a smaller residue on the other may reshape the binding pocket and alter the catalytically relevant interactions of 3,4-DHB with the enzyme and dioxygen. Kinetic analyses reveal that the substitutions are anti-cooperative.
Regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 by astrocytes: Links to HIV‐1 dementia

The neuropathogenesis of HIV‐1‐associated dementia (HAD) revolves around the secretion of toxic molecules from infected and immune‐competent mononuclear phagocytes. Astrocyte activation occurs in parallel but limited insights are available for its role in neurotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction. One means in which astrocytes may affect disease is through their production of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). TIMPs are regulators of matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes that affect blood‐brain barrier integrity through altering the extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that in response to injury and inflammation in HAD, astrocytes regulate the production of TIMP‐1, the inducible type of TIMP that is important in inflammation. To address astrocyte‐mediated TIMP‐1 regulation in HAD, we evaluated the responses of primary human to IL‐1β and HIV‐1. TIMP‐1 levels in plasma, CSF, and brain tissue of control, HIV‐1 infected patients without cognitive impairment, and HAD patients were also studied. Our data show that an upregulation of TIMP‐1 results from astrocytes acutely activated with IL‐1β. In contrast, CSF and brain tissue samples from HAD patients showed reduced TIMP‐1 levels compared to seronegative controls. MMP‐2 levels in brains showed the opposite. Consistent with this, prolonged activation of astrocytes led to a reduction in TIMP‐1 and MMP‐2, but a sustained elevation in MMP‐1. Our data suggest that in diseased brain tissue, the ability of astrocytes to counteract the destructive effects of MMP through expression of TIMP‐1 is diminished by chronic activation. Our studies reveal new opportunities for repair‐based therapeutic strategies in HAD. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Microstructure of Eutectic Au-Sn and In-Sn Solders on Au/Ti and Au/Ni Metallizations during Laser Solder Bonding Process for Optical Fiber Alignment

In this work, two eutectic solders: 80Au20Sn and 52In48Sn were chosen for fiber bonding through laser soldering, and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX) was used to investigate the microstructures of at four interfaces between two solders and two metallizations: Au-Sn/(Au/Ti), Au-Sn/(Au/Ni), In-Sn/ (Au/Ti), In-Sn/(Au/Ni). Results show that as for the Au-Sn solder joint a large amount of xi-phase was formed at the Au-Sn/(Au/Ti) interface with its morphology closely related with laser input energy; while at the Au-Sn/(Au/Ni) interface scallop-like (Au,Ni)Sn appeared with a low input energy and irregular-shaped (Au,Ni) 3Sn2 emerged with a high input energy. As for the In-Sn solder, the IMCs at the In-Sn/ (Au/Ti) interface transformed from a Au(In,Sn)2 layer to isolated AuIn2 cubes with the increase of input energy while at the In-Sn/(Au/Ni) interface a thin layer of Au(In,Sn)2 was formed. As the connecting layer, Ti did not react in the soldering process
Socioeconomic status and type 2 diabetes in African American and non-Hispanic white women and men: evidence from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the associations of poverty income ratio (PIR), education, and occupational status with type 2 diabetes prevalence among African American and non-Hispanic White (White) women and men aged 40 to 74 years. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, controlling for age and examination-related variables. RESULTS Among African American women, there was a strong, graded association between PIR and diabetes, which remained significant after other risk factors were adjusted for. All 3 variables were significantly associated with diabetes among White women. Among White men, only PIR was significantly associated with diabetes. Controlling for risk factors substantially attenuated these associations among White women. There were no significant associations for African American men. CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic status is associated with type 2 diabetes prevalence among women, but not consistently among men. Diabetes prevalence is more strongly associated with PIR than with education or occupational status. These associations are largely independent of other risk factors, especially among African American women. Economic resources should be addressed in efforts to explain and reverse the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the United States.