Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of cytogenetic and molecular genetic detection of t(8;21) and inv(16) in a prospective series of adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study.

PURPOSE To prospectively compare cytogenetics and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of t(8;21)(q22;q22) and inv(16)(p13q22)/t(16;16)(p13;q22), aberrations characteristic of core-binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in 284 adults newly diagnosed with primary AML. PATIENTS AND METHODS Cytogenetic analyses were performed at local laboratories, with results reviewed centrally. RT-PCR for AML1/ETO and CBFbeta/MYH11 was performed centrally. RESULTS CBF AML was ultimately identified in 48 patients: 21 had t(8;21) or its variant and AML1/ETO, and 27 had inv(16)/t(16;16), CBFbeta/MYH11, or both. Initial cytogenetic and RT-PCR analyses correctly classified 95.7% and 96.1% of patients, respectively (P =.83). Initial cytogenetic results were considered to be false-negative in three AML1/ETO-positive patients with unique variants of t(8;21), and in three CBFbeta/MYH11-positive patients with, respectively, an isolated +22; del(16)(q22),+22; and a normal karyotype. The latter three patients were later confirmed to have inv(16)/t(16;16) cytogenetically. Only one of 124 patients reported initially as cytogenetically normal was ultimately RT-PCR-positive. There was no false-positive cytogenetic result. Initial RT-PCR was falsely negative in two patients with inv(16) and falsely positive for AML1/ETO in two and for CBFbeta/MYH11 in another two patients. Two patients with del(16)(q22) were found to be CBFbeta/MYH11-negative. M4Eo marrow morphology was a good predictor of the presence of inv(16)/t(16;16). CONCLUSION Patients with t(8;21) or inv(16) can be successfully identified in prospective multi-institutional clinical trials. Both cytogenetics and RT-PCR detect most such patients, although each method has limitations. RT-PCR is required when the cytogenetic study fails; it is also required to determine whether patients with suspected variants of t(8;21), del(16)(q22), or +22 represent CBF AML. RT-PCR should not replace cytogenetics and should not be used as the only diagnostic test for detection of CBF AML because of the possibility of obtaining false-positive or false-negative results.
Thrombomodulin Changes the Molecular Surface of Interaction and the Rate of Complex Formation between Thrombin and Protein C*

The interaction of thrombin with protein C triggers a key down-regulatory process of the coagulation cascade. Using a panel of 77 Ala mutants, we have mapped the epitope of thrombin recognizing protein C in the absence or presence of the cofactor thrombomodulin. Residues around the Na+ site (Thr-172, Lys-224, Tyr-225, and Gly-226), the aryl binding site (Tyr-60a), the primary specificity pocket (Asp-189), and the oxyanion hole (Gly-193) hold most of the favorable contributions to protein C recognition by thrombin, whereas a patch of residues in the 30-loop (Arg-35 and Pro-37) and 60-loop (Phe-60h) regions produces unfavorable contributions to binding. The shape of the epitope changes drastically in the presence of thrombomodulin. The unfavorable contributions to binding disappear and the number of residues promoting the thrombin-protein C interaction is reduced to Tyr-60a and Asp-189. Kinetic studies of protein C activation as a function of temperature reveal that thrombomodulin increases >1,000-fold the rate of diffusion of protein C into the thrombin active site and lowers the activation barrier for this process by 4 kcal/mol. We propose that the mechanism of thrombomodulin action is to kinetically facilitate the productive encounter of thrombin and protein C and to allosterically change the conformation of the activation peptide of protein C for optimal presentation to the thrombin active site.
Customized optimal μPMU Placement method for distribution networks

Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) has been applied on power system to improve the performance of power system state estimator for decades. It is anticipated that PMUs will observe distribution networks in future considering the contribution of PMUs to transmission networks. The advent of micro phasor measurement unit (μPMU) makes it possible to employ phasor measurement devices in distribution networks. Optimal PMU Placement (OPP) problem is to determine a minimal set of PMUs such that the whole system is observable. Since PMUs are mostly employed within transmission networks, most OPP algorithms are also designed for transmission networks. However, OPP algorithms designed transmission networks have not considered the radial topology of distribution networks. This paper investigated the different topology of transmission and distribution networks and proposed a customized OPP method for radial networks. The customized OPP method made use of radial topology of distribution networks to equivalently downsize the scale of the networks. Since the solution for OPP is usually difficult for large scale systems, the solution of OPP is accelerated by the customized OPP. The proposed method was tested on various IEEE distribution test feeders and transmission systems.
Performance and cost comparison of NPC, FC and SCHB multilevel converter topologies for high-voltage applications

The rapid increase in global energy consumption and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions have accelerated the renewable energy technology into a more competitive area. Due to the variable nature of renewable energy resources and power demand by the consumers, grid based renewable generation has gained significant popularity in the world. High-voltage converter can interconnect the renewable systems to the grid directly without introducing a lossy, costly and bulky transformer. Three popular multilevel converter topologies: Neutral Point Clamped (NPC), Flying Capacitor (FC) and Series Connected H-Bridge (SCHB) have successfully made their way into the industry and therefore can be considered a mature and proven technology for low and medium voltage applications. But most of them are not suitable for high-voltage applications. This paper presents the comparison of a Five-Level (5L)-NPC, a 5L-FC, a 5L-SCHB, an Eleven-Level (11L)-NPC, an 11L-FC and an 11L-SCHB topologies for an 11 kV Voltage Source Converter (VSC). The comparison is made in terms of number of semiconductors, semiconductor cost, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), filter size and control complexity.
Platelet integrins exhibit anisotropic mechanosensing and harness piconewton forces to mediate platelet aggregation

Significance During initial growth of a clot, it is necessary for platelets to aggregate, which is mediated by binding fibrinogen molecules that bridge platelets through their integrin receptors. How platelet integrin receptors rapidly bind fibrinogen that is attached to the surface of another platelet but yet ignore soluble fibrinogen remains a mystery. This is difficult to understand since fibrinogen is the third most abundant protein in blood plasma. Here we show that differentiation between soluble and immobilized platelet ligands is mediated by mechanical forces. We demonstrate that the platelet integrins apply specific piconewton forces to test their ligands within the platelet junction. Our results provide insights into how clotting functions. Platelet aggregation at the site of vascular injury is essential in clotting. During this process, platelets are bridged by soluble fibrinogen that binds surface integrin receptors. One mystery in the mechanism of platelet aggregation pertains to how resting platelets ignore soluble fibrinogen, the third most abundant protein in the bloodstream, and yet avidly bind immobile fibrinogen on the surface of other platelets at the primary injury site. We speculate that platelet integrins are mechanosensors that test their ligands across the platelet–platelet synapse. To investigate this model, we interrogate human platelets using approaches that include the supported lipid bilayer platform as well as DNA tension sensor technologies. Experiments suggest that platelet integrins require lateral forces to mediate platelet–platelet interactions. Mechanically labile ligands dampen platelet activation, and the onset of piconewton integrin tension coincides with calcium flux. Activated platelets display immobilized fibrinogen on their surface, thus mediating further recruitment of resting platelets. The distribution of integrin tension was shown to be spatially regulated through two myosin-signaling pathways, myosin light chain kinase and Rho-associated kinase. Finally, we discovered that the termination of integrin tension is coupled with the exposure of phosphatidylserine. Our work reveals the highest spatial and temporal resolution maps of platelet integrin mechanics and its role in platelet aggregation, suggesting that platelets are physical substrates for one another that establish mechanical feedback loops of activation. The results are reminiscent of mechanical regulation of the T-cell receptor, E-cadherin, and Notch pathways, suggesting a common feature for signaling at cell junctions.
The power of discretion in IS security

This paper emphasizes the central role of discretion in organizations, and its import ance for understanding Information Systems (IS) security. By way of an introduction to the relevant research field of power and IS security, a brief overview of the literature on power, IS and security is presented. We then embark on developing a theoretical framework for the study of discretion, by analyzing the conceptual interrelationship between power, trust and discretion in the context of IS security. In doing so, we introduce a distinction between 'active' and 'passive' discretion, which is based on how much formal rules eventually influence the use of discretion. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications that the terms power, trust and discretion have for IS security. JISSec 6(2) 2010
IDEA FOR STEGANOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT

The idea behind this technique is to utilize the presence of punctuation marks like , ; : “ etc. in the text for encoding a secret message. The secret message to be communicated will be hidden in any piece of text through binary encoding of punctuation marks. Two punctuation marks can be used to represent binary data or several punctuation marks can be used to represent binary combinations. The encoded message can then be embedded in an image file (BMP, GIF or grayscale) using any of the popular methods like LSB insertion etc. [1] An additional layer of secrecy can be added by first encrypting the message and then encoding it through the use of punctuation marks before embedding in the cover image file.
Novel Bat Influenza Virus NS1 Proteins Bind Double-Stranded RNA and Antagonize Host Innate Immunity

ABSTRACT We demonstrate that novel bat HL17NL10 and HL18NL11 influenza virus NS1 proteins are effective interferon antagonists but do not block general host gene expression. Solving the RNA-binding domain structures revealed the canonical NS1 symmetrical homodimer, and RNA binding required conserved basic residues in this domain. Interferon antagonism was strictly dependent on RNA binding, and chimeric bat influenza viruses expressing NS1s defective in this activity were highly attenuated in interferon-competent cells but not in cells unable to establish antiviral immunity.
A lipophilic derivative of neocarzinostatin. A polymer conjugation of an antitumor protein antibiotic.

A lipophilic derivative of neocarzinostatin (NCS), an antitumor antibiotic, was prepared by reaction with a synthetic water-soluble polymer, [(styrene)1 approximately 3-(maleic acid 4 approximately 7/anhydride 1)]. The reaction was carried out at pH 8.6 for 3 h and aimed at modifying the two nonessential amino groups (alpha-amino of Ala-1, epsilon-amino of Lys-20). The NCS-polystyrene (SMANCS) was purified on a column of Sephadex G-100 in 0.05 M ammonium bicarbonate and the main product was obtained as a single peak. The elemental analysis showed an increased C and a decreased N content. U.v. and i.r. absorption spectra for SMANCS showed the presence of styrene. SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.5 and the decreased N content suggested a molecular weight of about 25 000, indicating the numbers of polymers conjugated to be about six units, two of which were found attached to the two amino groups. SMANCS was soluble in organic solvents, in contrast to NCS, and in water. SMANCS exhibited increased chemical and biological stability and appeared to possess similar in vitro biological activity.
Effect of selection for lean tissue growth on body composition and physiological state of the pig at birth.

The effects of selection for lean tissue growth on the metabolic and physiological state (i.e., level of maturity) of the pig at birth have been examined on newborns from three breeds that markedly differ with respect to birth weight and postnatal muscle growth potential: a primitive Chinese breed (Meishan, MS), a European breed (Large White, LW), and a composite line (CL) highly selected for high rate of gain. Within each breed, 40 pigs from eight litters were used for whole carcass and tissue sampling, blood sampling, and for a fat tolerance test at 2 h of age. The CL pigs were heavier (P < .001) than the LW and MS pigs at birth but exhibited lower percentages of carcass protein, fat, mobilizable fat, and ash than the MS pigs (P < .05). In addition, MS pigs had larger adipose tissue adipocytes than pigs from the two other breeds (P < .001). Despite their 31% higher RNA capacity in longissimus muscle (higher RNA:protein ratio, P < .05), CL pigs exhibited a lower percentage of muscle protein (P < .05) than did MS pigs. Relative liver weight was higher for LW than for CL pigs (P < .05), which had the lowest percentage of liver phospholipids (P < .01). The CL pigs exhibited lower hematocrit (P < .01), glucose (P < .01), albumin (P < .01), cortisol (P < .01), and thyroxine (P < .05) levels than the MS pigs. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
B-type natriuretic peptide can detect silent myocardial ischaemia in asymptomatic type 2 diabetes

Objective: To find out whether B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) detects silent myocardial ischaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, since many of these patients have silent ischaemia leading to unexpected cardiac deaths. Design: Prospective cross-sectional study with consecutive recruitment of patients. Setting: Outpatient, single centre. Patients: 219 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients were excluded if they had a history or evidence of cardiac failure. Outcome measures: BNP, echocardiography and exercise tolerance test (ETT). BNP was compared with the ETT result in all patients and specifically in those who had no apparent ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Results: 121 patients had no history of IHD or cardiac failure and of these patients 85 had a clearly abnormal or normal ETT result. BNP was higher in patients with an abnormal than with a normal ETT (mean 58.2 (SD 46.3) v 24.4 (SD 15.7) pg/ml, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis BNP was an independent predictor of an abnormal ETT (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis BNP remained an independent predictor of the ETT result. BNP concentration over 20 pg/ml predicted an abnormal ETT result with a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 37%, and BNP over 40 pg/ml had a sensitivity of 63% and a specificity of 81%. Conclusion: BNP is of value in predicting silent ischaemia on exercise testing in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.
The potential impact of the fetal genotype on maternal blood pressure during pregnancy

The heritability of pregnancy-induced hypertension (encompassing both gestational hypertension and preeclampsia) is around 0.47, suggesting that there is a genetic component to its development. However, the maternal genetic risk variants discovered so far only account for a small proportion of the heritability. Other genetic variants that may affect maternal blood pressure in pregnancy arise from the fetal genome, for example wild-type pregnant mice carrying offspring with Cdkn1c or Stox1 disrupted develop hypertension and proteinuria. In humans, there is a higher risk for preeclampsia in women carrying fetuses with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (including those fetuses with CDKN1C mutations) and a lower risk for women carrying babies with trisomy 21. Other risk may be associated with imprinted fetal growth genes and genes that are highly expressed in the placenta such as GCM1. This article reviews the current state of knowledge linking the fetal genotype with maternal blood pressure in pregnancy.
[Influence of nuclear factor-kappaB decoy transfection on nuclear factor-kappaB activity and vascular endothelial growth factor/urokinase-type plasminogen activator/intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 level of SKOV3 cells].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) on NF-kappaB activation and expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) of SKOV3 cell. METHODS After transfected with NF-kappaB decoy ODN, SKOV3 cells were stimulated by IL-1beta and cultured for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. NF-kappaB DNA binding activity was measured by gel mobility shift assay and mRNA levels of ICAM-1, uPA, VEGF were analyzed by RT-PCR and VEGF level in supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS (1) SKOV3 cells expressed constitutive NF-kappaB DNA binding activity and stimulation of IL-1beta resulted in a significant increase of the binding activity. NF-kappaB decoy ODN transfection significantly decreased constitutive level and elevated level of NF-kappaB DNA binding activity by IL-1beta at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h in vitro (P < 0.05). (2) The constitutive and activated mRNA levels of uPA, VEGF, ICAM-1 and VEGF levels in the supernatant were significantly inhibited by NF-kappaB decoy ODN transfection especially at 6 h after transfection in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Both NF-kappaB DNA binding activity and expressions of uPA, VEGF, and ICAM-1 at 48 h were upregulated by IL-1beta, and inhibited by transfection with NF-kappaB decoy ODN in SKOV3 cell line. NF-kappaB decoy ODN transfection shows promise as a novel molecular approach for ovarian cancer.
Effects of anodized oxidation or turned implants on bone healing after using conventional drilling or trabecular compaction technique: histomorphometric analysis and RFA.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare the bone healing characteristics adjacent to anodic oxidation and turned surfaces after implant installation using the trabecular compaction technique or the conventional drilling technique in the soft bone area. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 72 implants (36 anodic oxidation surface and 36 turned surface implants) were inserted into the distal end of the femur head of 12 dogs by two different surgical techniques. There were four experimental groups: (1) DT group; drilling+turned, (2) DO group; drilling+oxidation, (3) CT group; compaction+turned, and (4) CO group; compaction+oxidation. The resonance frequency was measured and six specimens/treatment group were obtained at 0, 3 and 8 weeks, postoperatively. Undecalcified ground sections were prepared for histologic and histomorphometric examinations. RESULTS At week 0, the trabecular compaction groups showed a higher bone to implant contact ratio (BIC) than the conventional drilling groups, regardless of surface types. The CT group showed a higher implant stability quotient (ISQ) than the DT group. At week 3, the oxidation groups showed a higher BIC than the turned groups regardless of the surgical technique used. The CO group showed higher ISQ than the CT group. At week 8, there was no statistically significant difference in BIC and ISQ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Surgical technique and implant surface state have an effect on the initial bone response to two-stage implants inserted into trabecular bone regions.
Late cardiac mortality and morbidity in early-stage breast cancer patients after breast-conservation treatment.

PURPOSE Several studies have reported increased cardiac mortality related to the use of left-sided breast or chest-wall irradiation. This study was undertaken as a comprehensive examination of the long-term cardiac mortality and morbidity after breast irradiation using contemporary irradiation techniques. METHODS The medical records of 961 consecutive patients presenting between 1977 and 1994 with stage I or II breast cancer treated with breast conservation treatment were reviewed. Data was recorded on baseline pretreatment patient, tumor and treatment characteristics and on subsequent cancer or cardiac related events. The median follow-up time was 12 years. RESULTS There was no difference in overall mortality from any cardiac cause (P = .25). Death from any cardiac cause occurred in 2% of right-sided patients and 3.5% of left-sided patients. However, in the second decade after treatment, there was a higher rate of cardiac deaths in left-sided patients, with a cumulative risk of 6.4% (95% CI, 3.5% to 11.5%) for left-sided compared with 3.6% (95% CI, 1.8% to 7.2%) for right-sided patients at 20 years. There were statistically higher rates of chest pain, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction diagnosed in left-sided patients (all P < or = .002). The presence of hypertension was associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease in left-sided patients. CONCLUSION Irradiation to the left breast is not associated with a higher risk of cardiac death up to 20 years after treatment, but is associated with an increased rate of diagnoses of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction compared with right breast treatment.
Discussion of Bad News and Differential Market Reactions to Announcements of Earlier-Quarters Versus Fourth-Quarter Earnings

The paper, "Bad News and Differential Market Reactions to Announcements of Earlier-Quarters Versus Fourth-Quarter Earnings," by Mendenhall and Nichols investigates whether the stock market reacts differently to the announcement of earnings in the first three fiscal quarters and in the fourth quarter. The specific hypothesis tested is that the market reacts more negatively to earnings announcements containing bad news in the first three quarters than in the fourth quarter. The paper reports that empirical tests, based on six different earnings expectations models, are generally consistent with this hypothesis. The following discussion focuses on three issues: (1) the study's purpose and scope, (2) sample selection, and (3) results.