Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical coherence tomography may be used to predict visual acuity in patients with macular edema.

PURPOSE To determine whether the volume of retinal tissue passing between the inner and outer retina in macular edema could be used as an indicator of visual acuity. METHODS Diabetic and uveitic patients with cystoid macular edema (81 subjects, 129 eyes) were recruited. Best corrected logMAR visual acuity and spectral optical coherence tomography (OCT/SLO; OTI, Toronto, ONT, Canada) were performed in all patients. Coronal OCT scans obtained from a cross section of the retina between the plexiform layers were analyzed with a grid of five concentric radii (500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 μm centered on the fovea). The images were analyzed to determine the amount of retinal tissue present within each ring. A linear regression model was developed to determine the relationship between tissue integrity and logMAR visual acuity. RESULTS A linear relationship between tissue integrity and VA was demonstrated. The volume of retinal tissue between the plexiform layers in rings 1 and 2 (up to 1000 μm from the foveal center) predicted 80% of visual acuity. By contrast, central macular thickness within the central 1000 μm predicted only 14% of visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the cross-sectional area of retinal tissue between the plexiform layers in cystoid macular edema, as imaged by OCT, is the best indicator of visual function at baseline. Further prospective treatment trials are needed to investigate this parameter as a predictor of visual outcome after intervention.
Agile hierarchical cluster structure-based cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks

Striking a balance between detection performance and overhead in cooperative spectrum sensing is a very critical design factor. For a conventional cluster-based spectrum sensing (CBSS) algorithms, all cognitive radios (CRs) in one cluster forward their local decisions through only one channel which leads to incur large sensing overhead. In this work the multi-levels hierarchical cluster-based spectrum sensing (MH-CBSS) algorithm is used to investigate sensing agility and total energy consumption. Simulation results show that the MHCBSS algorithm provides higher sensing agility and consumes less energy than that consumed by the conventional CBSS algorithm.
Multiscale complex network of protein conformational fluctuations in single-molecule time series

Conformational dynamics of proteins can be interpreted as itinerant motions as the protein traverses from one state to another on a complex network in conformational space or, more generally, in state space. Here we present a scheme to extract a multiscale state space network (SSN) from a single-molecule time series. Analysis by this method enables us to lift degeneracy—different physical states having the same value for a measured observable—as much as possible. A state or node in the network is defined not by the value of the observable at each time but by a set of subsequences of the observable over time. The length of the subsequence can tell us the extent to which the memory of the system is able to predict the next state. As an illustration, we investigate the conformational fluctutation dynamics probed by single-molecule electron transfer (ET), detected on a photon-by-photon basis. We show that the topographical features of the SSNs depend on the time scale of observation; the longer the time scale, the simpler the underlying SSN becomes, leading to a transition of the dynamics from anomalous diffusion to normal Brownian diffusion.
Potassium channels in the vasculature

Many important cellular functions are regulated by vascular potassium channels, including the resting membrane potential. Recent evidence suggests that the function of these channels is altered in pathophysiologicaldisorders of the cardiovascular system. Using molecular cloning techniques, considerable effort has been made over the past 5 years to elucidate the structure of various types of potassium channels. Several different potassium channel clones have been identified from neuronal and cardiac tissues, although only a few have so far been identified in smooth muscle.
Factors affecting the rate and energetics of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in vivo is dependent on the degree of reduction of the intramitochondrial reducing power ([NADH]/[NAD+], cytoplasmic energy state ([ATP]/[ADP][Pi]) and intracellular oxygen pressure. Each parameter is independently regulated, and increased reducing power by activating the mitochondrial dehydrogenases allows higher energy state at a given rate of ATP synthesis or a higher rate of ATP synthesis at a given energy state. The mitochondrial respiratory rate is determined by demand, i.e., the rate of ATP utilization by the cell, while the cellular energy state at that demand level is determined by supply, i.e., activity of the dehydrogenases expressed as [NADH]/[NAD+] and of cytoplasmic oxygen pressure.
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme gene and diabetes mellitus

Aims The association of the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) gene with cardiovascular disease and diabetic nephropathy remains a controversial issue. This review aims to give an overview of the research to date assessing the impact of the ACE polymorphism in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).
The alcohol use disorders identification test for detecting at-risk drinking: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) for detecting at-risk drinking. METHOD The MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Science Citation Index Expanded, BIOSIS Previews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDION, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies. The criteria for inclusion were a valid reference standard, AUDIT consisting of 10 items, avoiding bias that may result from how the reference standard was obtained, and when and how many participants were tested. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. Data synthesis was performed by applying direct pooling of proportions and random effects model for likelihood ratios and diagnostic odds ratio. RESULTS Twenty-three studies were included in the systematic review, 19 of which were included in the meta-analysis. With a cutoff of 8 points, sensitivity ranged from . 31 to . 89 and specificity ranged from . 83 to . 96 across the eight studies conducted in primary care. A single trial in general hospital inpatients found a sensitivity of . 93 and a specificity of . 94; another trial in emergency-department patients found a sensitivity of . 72 and a specificity of . 88. A study in university students found a sensitivity of . 82 and a specificity of . 78. Three studies in elderly patients found sensitivities between . 55 and . 83 at a pooled specificity of . 96. There was large heterogeneity between study results, which could only partly be explained by setting diversity. The analysis of results with population-specific cutoff points led to similar findings. CONCLUSIONS Findings on the diagnostic performance of the AUDIT proved to be largely heterogeneous. Its use should be restricted to primary care populations, inpatients, and elderly patients.
Repression of bacterial lipoprotein production by Francisella novicida facilitates evasion of innate immune recognition

Innate recognition systems, including the Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), play a critical role in activating host defences and proinflammatory pathways in response to infection. Pathogens have developed strategies to subvert TLRs in order to survive and replicate within the host. The model intracellular pathogen, Francisella novicida, modulates host defences to promote survival and replication in macrophages. TLR2, which recognizes bacterial lipoproteins (BLPs), is critical for activating host defences and proinflammatory cytokine production in response to Francisella infection. Here we show that the F. novicida protein FTN_0757 acts to repress BLP production, dampening TLR2 activation. The ΔFTN_0757 mutant strain induced robust TLR2‐dependent cytokine production in macrophages compared with wild‐type bacteria, and produced increased amounts of BLPs. The deletion of one BLP (FTN_1103) from ΔFTN_0757 decreased the total BLP concentration to near wild‐type level sand correlated with a decrease in the inductionof TLR2 signalling. The overproduction of BLPs also contributed to the in vivo attenuation of the ΔFTN_0757 mutant, which was significantly rescued when FTN_1103 was deleted. Taken together, these data reveal a novel mechanism of immune evasion by the downregulation of BLP expression to subvert TLR2 activation, which is likely used by numerous other intracellular bacterial pathogens.
Estudio de la red accionarial de las empresas del IBEX-35 Study of the shareholding network of companies in the IBEX-35

English) The restructuring process in Spain is concentrating banking financial institutions through mergers and takeovers. In this context, interlocking directorates between entities in the process of restructuring may be functioning as a coordinating mechanism of the processes of mergers or takeovers. We analyse the longitudinal network of interlocking directorates from 2006 to 2010 of Spanish banks and saving banks. The results show that, in many cases, mergers and takeo- vers are preceded by direct interlocking directorates among the entities involved. Resumen (Castellano) La adquisicion de participaciones accionariales de otra empresa puede tener influencia sobre la gestion de esta. Por otro lado, la ubicacion de la sede de las grandes empresas en una comunidad autonoma o, empresas con influencia en estas, puede ser relevante para la comunidad autonoma. En este con- texto, analizaremos mediante tecnicas de redes sociales las propiedades estructura- les de la red de participaciones accionariales de las empresas pertenecientes al IBEX-35 y analizaremos su distribucion sectorial por comunidades autonomas. El estudio muestra una gran concentracion de participaciones accionariales entre las empresas mas importantes del IBEX-35 y Madrid aparece como sede central de Espana, seguida por Catalunya y el Pais Vasco.
Stimulation of P-glycoprotein-mediated drug transport by prazosin and progesterone. Evidence for a third drug-binding site.

P-glycoprotein is a plasma membrane protein of mammalian cells that confers multidrug resistance by acting as a broad-specificity, ATP-dependent efflux transporter of diverse lipophilic neutral or cationic compounds. Previously, we identified two positively cooperative drug-binding sites of P-glycoprotein involved in transport [Shapiro, A. B. & Ling, V. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 250, 130-137]. The H site is selective for Hoechst 33342 and colchicine. The R site is selective for rhodamine 123 and anthracyclines. Substrate binding to one site stimulates transport by the other. In this paper, we show that prazosin and progesterone stimulate the transport of both Hoechst 33342 and rhodamine 123. Rhodamine 123 and prazosin (or progesterone) in combination stimulate Hoechst 33342 transport in an additive manner. In contrast, Hoechst 33342 and either prazosin or progesterone interfere with each other, so that the stimulatory effect of the combination on rhodamine 123 transport is less than that of each individually. Non-P-glycoprotein-specific effects of prazosin on membrane fluidity and permeability were excluded. These results indicate the existence of a third drug-binding site on P-glycoprotein with a positive allosteric effect on drug transport by the H and R sites. This allosteric site appears to be one of the sites of photoaffinity labeling of P-glycoprotein by [125I]iodoarylazidoprazosin [Safa, A. R. , Agresti, M. , Bryk, D. & Tamai, I. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 256-265] and is likely not to be capable of drug transport.
Adaptive Hybrid Quorums in Practical Settings

A series of recent works explore the trade-o between operation latency and data consistency in replicated data stores. In this paper, we build on the improved understandings of this trade-o and provide a new adaptive algorithm that modi es the behaviour of a replicated data store online. We use exploit consistency prediction techniques[3] available in Cassandra and implement the dynamic recon guration of the quorum sizes R and W . Furthermore, we extend the existing ideal model for the consistency-latency trade-o to include the case of a node failure. We demonstrate how our dynamic recon guration of the quorum sizes can be used to enhance the system performance (over 30% decrease in latency) with only a minor sacri ce in consistency.
Human Homolog of the MutY Repair Protein (hMYH) Physically Interacts with Proteins Involved in Long Patch DNA Base Excision Repair*

The human MutY homolog (hMYH) is a DNA glycosylase involved in the removal of adenines or 2-hydroxyadenines misincorporated with template guanines or 7,8-dihydro-8-oxodeoxyguanines. hMYH is associated in vivowith apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and replication protein A (RPA) in HeLa nuclear extracts as shown by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. However, binding of hMYH to DNA polymerases β and δ was not detected. By using constructs containing different portions of hMYH fused to glutathione S-transferase, we have demonstrated that the APE1-binding site is at a region around amino acid residue 300, that the PCNA binding activity is located at the C terminus, and that RPA binds to the N terminus of hMYH. A peptide consisting of residues 505–527 of hMYH that contains a conserved PCNA-binding motif binds PCNA, and subsequent amino acid substitution identified Phe-518 and Phe-519 as essential residues required for PCNA binding. RPA binds to a peptide that consists of residues 6–32 of hMYH and contains a conserved RPA-binding motif. The PCNA- and RPA-binding sites of hMYH are further confirmed by peptide and antibody titration. These results suggest that hMYH repair is a long patch base excision repair pathway.
Two pregnancies shortly after transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning in chronic myeloid leukemia

POI is a relevant late complication after HSCT and occurring more frequently after MAC than after RIC regimens. Reports on the frequency of POI after RIC in a large pediatric and adolescent population are lacking. In this study, we describe a girl affected by CML diagnosed at the age of 15 yr and treated with oncarbide and interferon followed by imatinib and dasatinib. She had two pregnancies shortly after RIC performed according to the CML‐SCT I‐BFM protocol including TT, FLU, and MEL. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism occurred four months after HSCT; menstruations resumed regularly six months after HSCT. Eight and 20 months after HSCT, the patient became pregnant and then delivered, respectively, two babies at term by cesarean section. Both newborns had no neonatal complications. Donor chimerism at time of two pregnancies and five yr after transplantation demonstrated complete donor engraftment. These findings suggest that I‐BFM CML‐SCT protocol could be a promising treatment option for adolescents or young adults with CML eligible for HSCT.
Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. A primarily genital form of cystic fibrosis.

Objective. —Almost all males with cystic fibrosis (CF) have absent vasa deferentia. It has been suggested that otherwise healthy males with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD), previously considered a distinct genetic entity, have an increased frequency of CF gene mutations. This study examined the genetic commonality of these two disorders. Design. —We typed six common CF gene mutations in 25 patients with CBAVD. Additional rare mutations were sought using single-stranded conformation polymorphisms and direct DNA sequencing. When rare mutations were found, they were sought in a large sample of both CF patients and obligate CF carriers to exclude them as polymorphisms. Setting. —All the patients presented to a male infertility clinic of a teaching hospital. Subjects. —Twenty-five unselected, unrelated azoospermic men with CBAVD, most of them of Northern European ancestry. Results. —Sixteen (64%) of the 25 men with CBAVD had at least one detectable CF mutation, 16 times the expected frequency (P Conclusions. —Some, if not all, otherwise healthy men with CBAVD reflect a newly recognized, primarily genital, phenotype of CF. Prior to sperm aspiration to remedy infertility, CF mutation analysis should be recommended for them and their partners, as well as for their relatives. (JAMA. 1992;267:1794-1797)
Swine Flu ( Swine Influenza-A ( H 1 N 1 ) Virus ) : A Review

Swine flu has been confirmed in a number of countries and it is spreading from human to human, which could lead to what is referred to as a pandemic flu outbreak. Pandemic flu is different from ordinary flu because it’s a new flu virus that appears in humans and spreads very quickly from person to person worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring cases of swine flu globally to see whether this virus develops into a pandemic. Because it’s a new virus, no one will have immunity to it and everyone could be at risk of catching it. This includes healthy adults as well as older people, young children and those with existing medical conditions. Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) and Ralenza (Zanamivir) can treat the H N swine flu strain. 1 1 Swine flu virus is never before super flu virus but whenever three known virus such as a swine flu strain, bird flu strain and human flu virus combine with each other than makes H N swine flu virus which is not danger if 1 1 we take some protect against it such as a wear three layer mask on nose, wash the hands after coming home, not involve at place where big crowd attended.
Tunable split rings resonators for reconfigurable metamaterial transmission lines

In this work, it is demonstrated that a microstrip line section loaded with a pair of square shaped split rings resonators (SRRs) and a metallic signal-to-ground via, is a constitutive brick for the fabrication of metamaterial transmission lines with left handed (LH) wave propagation in a narrow band above SRRs resonance. Moreover, it will be shown that the region where the structure is transparent (i.e. exhibits a left handed behavior) can be tuned by merely placing varactor diodes (and the necessary circuitry for biasing) between the inner and outer ring of the SRR. This tunable SRR, called varactor-loaded SRR (VLSRR) by the authors, can open the door to the design of compact reconfigurable resonators and filters based on the metamaterial concept.
Mitigating Heat Dissipation in Near- and Mid-Infrared Silicon-Based Raman Lasers Using CARS—Part I: Theoretical Analysis

We present a novel approach to intrinsically mitigate the heat dissipated in Raman lasers due to the pump-Stokes quantum defect. We explain the principle of this so-called coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS)-based heat mitigation, which is based on decreasing the amount of phonons created in the Raman medium by increasing the ratio of the number of anti- Stokes photons to the number of Stokes photons coupled out of the Raman laser. In addition, we discuss the influence of heat sources, other than the quantum defect, of the CARS-related phase mismatch, and of backward Raman scattering on our CARS-based heat-mitigation technique. Furthermore, we explain how these heat-mitigation-affecting factors should be managed to enhance the effectiveness of our technique. Finally, to illustrate the feasibility of obtaining efficient CARS-based heat mitigation, we discuss to what extent the described effectiveness-enhancing methods can be applied to near- and mid-infrared silicon-based Raman lasers.
Phase I trial of vorinostat in combination with erlotinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations after erlotinib progression.

e19057 Background: Vorinostat (SAHA) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that induces differentiation, growth arrest and apoptosis of malignant cells. In vitro, there is a synergistic interaction of vorinostat in combination with gefitinib in NSCLC cell lines. Moreover, vorinostat increases levels of E-cadherin, p21, and downregulates expression of phospho-AKT and phospho-ERK1/2. These molecular findings could reverse resistance to erlotinib in mutant patients. METHODS We conducted a standard 3+3 Phase I trial of oral erlotinib 150 mg QD in combination with oral vorinostat (dose level 1 [DL1], 300 mg QD on days 1-7 every 21 days; DL2, 400 mg QD on days 1-7 every every 21 days, and; DL3, 400 mg QD on days 1-7 and 15-21 in a 28-day cycle). Cycles were repeated for a maximum of 6 cycles until progressive disease (PD) or intolerable toxicity. Pts with advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutations (Exon 19 and 21) after erlotinib progression and ECOG ≤2 were eligible. The main objectives were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), drug activity and safety of the combination regimen. RESULTS Thirteen patients have been enrolled up to date, with 9 patients available for this interim analysis (median age, 59 years; range 41-77). One patient (DL3 cohort) experienced a dose limiting toxicity (Grade 3 diarrhoea). The MTD has not been reached. The most common drug-related toxicities of any grade in the first cycle of treatment were anemia (77.8%), skin alterations (66.7%), diarrhoea (66.7%), xerostomy (55.6%), asymptomatic changes in liver function tests (55.6%), and asthenia (55.6%). There were no Grade ≥3 drug-related adverse events during first cycle of treatment and the global analysis of cycles showed asthenia (11.1%), somnolence (11.1%) and hyporexia (11.1%). Four pts discontinued treatment, all due to PD. Of 9 evaluable pts for efficacy, 6 had stable disease as best response (median duration of treatment 6.0 months, range 4-12). Final data will be presented at ASCO meeting. CONCLUSIONS Although accrual continues to determine the MTD, the combination of vorinostat and erlotinib appears to be well tolerated and effective in this group of advanced NSCLC pts with EGFR mutations after erlotinib progression. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Group interviews in primary care research: advancing the state of the art or ritualized research?

BACKGROUND Focus groups have become an important data gathering technique in primary care research. OBJECTIVES This study provides an integrated review of recent articles that used focus groups as a data collection method to gather information from family physicians. METHODS Medline was searched for articles that used focus groups with family physicians in a North American setting during the 1990s. Articles that met this criteria were critically evaluated to determine who participated, the number of groups conducted, setting, length, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sampling technique and whether the groups were used as part of a larger study. RESULTS The twenty articles discussed herein revealed tremendous variation in how focus group research is conducted and reported. CONCLUSIONS Focus group research is a popular form of qualitative research in primary care research. Journals reporting qualitative research should require that certain basic information be present, thereby advancing the state of the art and permitting readers to better evaluate these articles.