Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural and Functional Diversity of Connexin Genes in the Mouse and Human Genome

Abstract Gap junctions are clustered channels between contacting cells through which direct intercellular communication via diffusion of ions and metabolites can occur. Two hemichannels, each built up of six connexin protein subunits in the plasma membrane of adjacent cells, can dock to each other to form conduits between cells. We have recently screened mouse and human genomic data bases and have found 19 connexin (Cx) genes in the mouse genome and 20 connexin genes in the human genome. One mouse connexin gene and two human connexin genes do not appear to have orthologs in the other genome. With three exceptions, the characterized connexin genes comprise two exons whereby the complete reading frame is located on the second exon. Targeted ablation of eleven mouse connexin genes revealed basic insights into the functional diversity of the connexin gene family. In addition, the phenotypes of human genetic disorders caused by mutated connexin genes further complement our understanding of connexin functions in the human organism. In this review we compare currently identified connexin genes in both the mouse and human genome and discuss the functions of gap junctions deduced from targeted mouse mutants and human genetic disorders.
Lending Technologies and Community Banks: What are the Effects on Italian Households’ Default Risk During Financial Turmoil?

Using data from the Survey on Italian Households’ Income and Wealth gathered by the Bank of Italy, I test the effect of soft and hard information on households’ probability of becoming insolvent during the crisis. I find that both help in reducing defaults, but the effect of hard information is stronger. However, the selection and monitoring processes improve when soft and hard information are combined. Furthermore, I find that a higher presence of community banks in local markets increases bankruptcies. This outcome is mainly driven by households living in small towns, where the competitive pressure from medium-large banks is lower.
Upregulation of ATF3 inhibits expression of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐6 during Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection

Neisseria gonorrhoeae regulates the expression of epithelial cell genes, activates cytoprotective pathways in the infected cell and protects it from apoptosis. Many of these responses are enhanced by the Type IV pilus (Tfp). We tested the hypothesis that N. gonorrhoeae modulates the innate immune response by inducing expression of ATF3, a transcription factor that negatively regulates the expression of many cytokine genes. We further determined whether Tfp are involved in these events. We found that N. gonorrhoeae induces ATF3 expression in mucosal epithelial cells through activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases. Maximal ATF3 expression requires Tfp retraction. Knocking down endogenous levels of ATF3 results in higher levels of IL‐6 transcript. Our findings strongly suggest that ATF3 is involved in suppressing cytokine expression during gonococcal infection. We propose a model for the role of ATF3 in the context of N. gonorrhoeae infection.
Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease in Northern England

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) is a group of inherited disorders of the peripheral nerves.1 Clinical diagnosis of CMT can be made fairly accurately, and the clinical classification is very helpful in the identification of new disease genes. Thus far, approximately 40 genes have been implicated in CMT, but at present only a limited number of genes can be routinely tested worldwide, including the UK (http://www.ukgtn.nhs.uk/). All types of CMT are thought to affect approximately 5–40 per 100 000 individuals.2 A previous epidemiological study in the northeast of England in 1978 identified a lower point prevalence of CMT of 4.9 per 100 000.3 We re-evaluated the prevalence of CMT in this region, and report prevalence data for hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) in Northern England for the first time. The population of Northern England (Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria, parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire) is estimated at 2.99 million people with 259 500 in Newcastle upon Tyne, based on the 2001 UK census (Office of National Statistics; http://www.ons.gov.uk/). The Northern Genetics Service is defined by the boundaries of primary care trusts (online supplementary material) and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust. We identified patients in the Northern region who were alive on the prevalence day (1 September 2010) and had a clinical diagnosis of CMT through three prospective databases curated …
Genetic changes including gene copy number alterations and their relation to prognosis in childhood acute myeloid leukemia

We studied a series of 68 subjects diagnosed with childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using conventional cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze mutations in FLT3 and NPM1 genes, and/or array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Cytogenetic/FISH abnormalities were observed in 71% of subjects, FLT3-ITD mutations in 15%, and NPM1 mutations in 13%. The array CGH alterations (average 3.6 per case) were observed in 96% of the tested subjects. The most frequent alterations were gains of 8q24.3 and 11p15.5-p15.4 in 16% of the samples. Six genes (AKT1, RUNX1, LTB, SDC1, RUNX1T1, and JAK2) from the imbalanced regions have been reported to be involved in AML, whereas other 30 cancer genes, not previously reported in an AML context, were identified as imbalanced. They probably correspond to non passenger alterations that cooperate with the recurrent translocations. The clinical data and genetic changes were tested to find out the possible association with prognosis. Genomic instability (four or more genomic imbalances) was correlated with poor patient outcome (p = 0.029).
Maintaining Tissue Perfusion in High-Risk Surgical Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

BACKGROUND: Surgical patients with limited organic reserve are considered high-risk patients and have an increased perioperative mortality. For this reason, they need a more rigorous perioperative protocol of hemodynamic control to prevent tissue hypoperfusion. In this study, we systematically reviewed the randomized controlled clinical trials that used a hemodynamic protocol to maintain adequate tissue perfusion in the high-risk surgical patient. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and Cochrane databases to identify randomized controlled clinical studies of surgical patients studied using a perioperative hemodynamic protocol of tissue perfusion aiming to reduce mortality and morbidity; the latter characterized at least one dysfunctional organ in the postoperative period. Pooled odds ratio (POR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for categorical outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-two clinical trials were selected, comprising 5056 high-risk surgical patients. Global meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in mortality rate (POR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.55–0.82; P < 0.001) and in postoperative organ dysfunction incidence (POR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.55–0.70; P < 0.00,001) when a hemodynamic protocol was used to maintain tissue perfusion. When the mortality rate was >20% in the control group, the use of a hemodynamic protocol to maintain tissue optimization resulted in a further reduction in mortality (POR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.21–0.47; P < 0.00,001). Monitoring cardiac output with a pulmonary artery catheter and increasing oxygen transport and/or decreasing consumption also significantly reduced mortality (POR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54–0.84; P < 0.001 and POR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.57–0.88; P < 0.05, respectively). Therapy directed at increasing mixed or central venous oxygen saturation did not significantly reduce mortality (POR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.22–2.10; P > 0.05). The only study using lactate as a marker of tissue perfusion failed to demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in mortality (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.07–1.65; P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In high-risk surgical patients, the use of a hemodynamic protocol to maintain tissue perfusion decreased mortality and postoperative organ failure. Monitoring cardiac output calculating oxygen transport and consumption helped to guide therapy. Additional randomized controlled clinical studies are necessary to analyze the value of monitoring mixed or central venous oxygen saturation and lactate in high-risk surgical patients.
Evaluation of the causes for racial disparity in surgical treatment of early stage lung cancer.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Black patients undergo surgical treatment for early stage lung cancer less often than whites. We wanted to determine the causes for the racial difference in resection rates. DESIGN We studied a retrospective cohort of patients who presented to our institution with potentially resectable lung cancer (stage I or II) between the years 1995 and 1998, inclusive. SETTING A tertiary-referral hospital and clinic with a cancer database of all lung cancer patients seen. PATIENTS A total of 281 patients were included: 97 black patients (35%) and 184 white patients (65%). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The surgical rate was significantly lower in blacks than in whites (56 of 97 patients [58%] vs 137 of 184 patients [74%], p = 0.004). We could not find evidence that the rate at which surgical treatment was offered was different between the two racial groups (68 of 97 black patients [70%] and 145 of 184 white patients [79%], p = 0.11). After controlling for preoperative pulmonary function, tumor stage, history of smoking, and significant comorbidities, we were unable to show that race was a predictor of being offered surgical treatment (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.18 to 1.14; p = 0.09). The difference in surgical rates was mainly due to the fact that blacks were found to decline surgical treatment more often than their white counterparts (12 of 68 patients [18%] vs 7 of 145 patients [5%], p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Our analysis suggests that the lower surgical rate among black patients with early stage lung cancer is mainly due to low rates of acceptance of surgical treatment.
Role of CD4+ Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells in Protection Induced by a Live Attenuated, Replicating Type I Vaccine Strain of Toxoplasma gondii

ABSTRACT Vaccination with the live attenuated Toxoplasma gondii Mic1.3KO strain induced long-lasting immunity against challenge with Toxoplasma gondii type I and type II strains. The involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the protection mechanism was investigated. Intraperitoneal injection of Mic1.3KO induced a weak and transient influx of CD4+ Foxp3+ T regulatory cells followed by recruitment/expansion of CD4+ Foxp3− CD25+ effector cells and control of the parasite at the site of infection. The local and systemic cytokine responses associated with this recruitment of Tregs were of the TH1/Treg-like type. In contrast, injection of RH, the wild-type strain from which the vaccinal strain is derived, induced a low CD4+ Foxp3+ cell influx and uncontrolled multiplication of the parasites at this local site, followed by death of the mice. The associated local and systemic cytokine responses were of the TH1/TH17-like type. In addition, in vivo Treg induction in RH-infected mice with interleukin-2 (IL-2)/anti-IL-2 complexes induced control of the parasite and a TH1/Treg cytokine response similar to the response after Mic1.3KO vaccination. These results suggest that Tregs may contribute to the protective response after vaccination with Mic1.3KO.
Prevalence of Diabetes in Mexican Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans From the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982–1984

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes among Mexican Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans in the United States and compare these estimates to data from prior surveys for U.S. non-Hispanic whites and blacks. Data for this study are from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a multipurpose cross-sectional survey of three U.S. Hispanic populations conducted in 1982–1984. The interviewed sample of people aged 20–74 yr included 3935 Mexican Americans in the southwest, 1134 Cubans in Florida, and 1519 Puerto Ricans in the New York City area. The diabetes component consisted of interview questions on diabetes diagnosis and treatment and an oral glucose tolerance test administered to a subsample. The prevalence of diabetes was two to three times greater for Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans than for non-Hispanic whites surveyed in 1976–1980. In Cubans, the prevalence was similar to that for non-Hispanic whites. In men and women 45–74 yr of age, the prevalence of diabetes was extremely high for both Mexican Americans (23.9%) and Puerto Ricans (26.1%) compared with Cubans (15.8%) or non-Hispanic whites (12%). The total prevalence of diabetes was not significantly different for Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans but was significantly lower for Cubans. The relatively lower prevalence of diabetes among Cubans and the high prevalence in both Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans may be related to socioeconomic, genetic, behavioral, or environmental factors.
Complications of Cochlear Implantation in Adults

Objectives: We describe our experience of intraoperative and postoperative complications of cochlear implantation in an adult population. Methods: Between April 1986 and June 2010, the senior author (A.S.) performed 449 cochlear implantations in two different institutions. Of these, 212 implantations were in adults. The operative techniques were similar in all cases. Results: Complications were observed in 12 of the 212 adult cases (5.7%), of which 10 were major (4.7%) and 2 minor (1%). In 7 cases, reimplantation was necessitated by device failure (6 cases; 2.8%) or device extrusion (1 case; 0.5%). In 2 elderly patients (1%), a minor dural injury with a cerebrospinal fluid leak was controlled during the operation with temporalis fascia grafting. In 1 patient (0.5%), a subdural hematoma was observed after bipolar cauterization of a prominent diploic vein. In 2 subjects (1%), a wound infection was noted soon after implantation and was treated successfully on an outpatient basis. Conclusions: Cochlear implantation is generally a safe procedure. The most common complication was device failure. Although complications in this adult population were rather uncommon, some of them were serious, and an immediate intervention was necessary for a successful outcome.
Assessing the Performance Management of National Preparedness - A Conceptual Model

Abstract : Since its creation in 2003, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has allocated more than $40 billion in preparedness and homeland security grant funds to state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions. The primary objectives of these funds are to develop and sustain the essential capabilities necessary to prevent,respond to, and recover from natural and man-caused disasters. Notwithstanding DHSs numerous efforts and initiatives, the ability to quantify and report on the effectiveness of these funds in meeting these objectives falls short of current federal requirements. This thesis examines statutory requirements for assessing and reporting on national preparedness, reviews the history of systems and programs developed by DHS to meet federal performance assessment and reporting requirements, reviews the fundamental principles of performancemanagement, and assesses current elements of the homeland security enterprise. These reviews and assessments formulate a basis to remedy the longstanding shortfalls in preparedness performance management. This inquiry resulted in five overarching findings and twelve recommendations.
Tail Relation between Return and Volume in the US Stock Market: An Analysis Based on Extreme Value Theory

Using daily data of the S&P 500 index from 1950 to 2015, we investigate the relation between return and transaction volume in the statistical distribution tails associated with booms and crashes in the US stock market. We use extreme value theory (peaks-over-threshold method) to study the extreme dependence between the two variables. We show that the extreme correlation between return and volume decreases as we consider larger events in both the left and right distribution tails. From an economic viewpoint, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the activity of market participants during extreme events. Our empirical result is consistent with the economic explanation by Gennotte and Leland (1990) of extreme price movements based on misinterpretation of trades by market participants.
Role of cyclic AMP and inorganic phosphate in the regulation of muscle glycogenolysis during exercise.

The roles of cAMP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) in the regulation of muscle glycogenolysis during exercise have been investigated in humans using the needle biopsy technique. The fraction of phosphorylase a in resting muscle was as a mean 23%, but the rate of glycogenolysis was extremely low. Epinephrine infusion increased cAMP in muscle by 3-fold and transformed 80% of phosphorylase to the a form. Despite this, the rate of glycogenolysis was only 5-10% of the maximum rate of phosphorylase a (Vmax a) determined in vitro. Isometric exercise for 25 s at 66% MVC or electrical stimulation for 50 s at 20 Hz transformed about 53% and 80% of phosphorylase in the a form. The rate of glycogenolysis ranged between 50-90 mmol.kg-1.dm. min-1 and was close to Vmax of phosphorylase a determined in vitro. No significant difference in the rate of glycogenolysis in muscle was observed after isometric exercise to fatigue without and with epinephrine infusion, respectively. Apparently the rate of glycogenolysis in muscle is not solely related to the fraction of phosphorylase in the a form. Several factors could be responsible for allosteric and/or substrate regulation. The results in the present studies can be explained on the basis of substrate regulation of phosphorylase activity, provided that Pi is present in a limiting amount at the active site of phosphorylase in muscle at rest. It is concluded that transformation of phosphorylase b to a is important but alone is not adequate for a high activity and thus for a high rate of glycogenolysis in muscle. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis for Treatment of Ankle Fractures in High‐Risk Patients

ABSTRACT Wound healing problems are the most common complication after open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) of unstable ankle fractures. The incidence is especially high among elderly patients with medical comorbidities and patients with compromised soft tissues. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) might provide a safer alternative to ORIF by preventing extensive soft tissue dissection and preserving the blood supply. We conducted a retrospective review of 44 consecutive patients who had undergone MIPO of unstable ankle fractures. All patients had a minimum 1‐year follow‐up (mean 82 weeks); 80% were aged ≥60 years, 52% had diabetes, and 45% had a compromised soft tissue envelope. Immediate postoperative radiographs were evaluated for the quality of reduction, and clinical records were analyzed for the complication rate. Good to excellent anatomic reduction was achieved in 89% of the patients. The overall complication rate was 27%, including 25% surgical wound dehiscence, 9% infection, and 11% loss of reduction. No patient experienced nerve injury. Those with a history of ankle fracture dislocation and a compromised soft tissue envelope preoperatively had a significantly greater incidence of surgical wound dehiscence and complications overall compared with those without (p = .016 and p = .035; p = .045 and p = .009, respectively). Peripheral vascular disease was a statistically significant predictor of surgical wound dehiscence (p = .010). The overall complication rate in our study was comparable to that seen in similar populations treated with conventional ORIF. In conclusion, our results suggest that MIPO in high‐risk patients is a safe alternative, with predictable outcomes, comparable to those of traditional open techniques. Level of Clinical Evidence: 4
Multichannel integrated lock-in amplifier for low noise measurements

This paper presents the integrated lock-in amplifier dedicated to low noise applications. The proposed circuit provides efficient processing of small, low-frequency signals in conjunction with effective noise minimization. First, the fundamentals of the Phase Sensitive Detection are briefly recalled. Then, the integrated lock-in amplifier is fully presented and described. Deployed IC architecture bases on the chopper amplifier concept with an additional band-pass filtration stage. In the next section, the obtained simulation results are shown and future plans for fabricated chips measurements are presented. At the end, the short discussion about potential applications of the designed circuit has been placed.
Low-frequency approach to target identification

This paper presents a low-frequency method for target identification, and its effectiveness is demonstrated for a large variety of objects varying in complexity from spheres and cubes to modern airplanes. The selection of an appropriate discrete set of frequencies led to a low misclassification error. A number of classification methods are examined using this discrete set of frequencies. It is shown that simple objects can be adequately classified by a linear discriminant method. For more complex targets, such as aircraft, a nearest neighbor approach is required. The introduction of phase and orthogonal polarization components further decreased misclassification error. A discussion of the tradeoff between the increased complexity and improved performance of various classification alternatives is provided.
Microtubule Nucleating Capacity of Centrosomes in Tissue Sections

We used a novel adaptation of methods for microtubule polymerization in vitro to assess the MTOC activity of centrosomes in frozen-sectioned tissues. Remarkably, centrosomes of tissue sections retain the ability to nucleate microtubules even after several years of storage as frozen tissue blocks. Adaptations of these methods allow accurate counts of microtubules from individual cells and the quantitative estimation the MTOC activity of the intact tissue. These methods can be utilized to characterize MTOC activity in normal and diseased tissues and in particular tissues at different stages of development.