Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tissue-Engineered Devices in Cardiovascular Surgery

Manufacturing life-long functional cardiovascular (CV) implants is the ultimate goal for researchers and clinicians in the cardiothoracic field. Tissue engineering (TE) is an opportunity to create ideal prostheses that are vital, growing, adaptive, autologous and functionally optimally performing. Today, initial translation from basic science to first clinical trials has begun. The article depicts the state of the art in TE techniques for CV products and describes milestones in the ongoing development of tissue-engineered myocardial, valvular and vascular devices from an experimental and clinical point of view. Artificial CV implants still reveal remarkable limitations but promising advances regarding optimal structural design, the prevention of intimal hyperplasia and the reduction of antigenicity and thrombogenicity. Where applicable, the implantation of vascularized autografts should still be preferred. Apart from that, decellularized allogen bioprostheses currently represent most promising matrix scaffolds that can be autologously cellularized in vitro prior to or in vivo after implantation. Capable biologic alternatives have been described like the decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa. Rising evidence suggests that in vitro endothelialization might be the minimal requirement for improved long-term results of biological tissue-engineered CV grafts.
Differential Roles of Upstream Stimulatory Factors 1 and 2 in the Transcriptional Response of Liver Genes to Glucose*

USF1 and USF2 are ubiquitous transcription factors of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper family. They form homo- and heterodimers and recognize a CACGTG motif termed E box. In the liver, USF binding activity is mainly accounted for by the USF1/USF2 heterodimer, which binds in vitro the glucose/carbohydrate response elements (GlRE/ChoRE) of glucose-responsive genes. To assign a physiological role of USFsin vivo, we have undertaken the disruption of USF1 and USF2 genes in mice. We present here the generation of USF1-deficient mice. In the liver of these mice, we demonstrate that USF2 remaining dimers can compensate for glucose responsiveness, even though the level of total USF binding activity is reduced by half as compared with wild type mice. The residual USF1 binding activity was similarly reduced in the previously reported USF2 −/− mice in which an impaired glucose responsiveness was observed (Vallet, V. S., Henrion, A. A., Bucchini, D., Casado, M., Raymondjean, M., Kahn, A., and Vaulont, S. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 21944–21949). Taken together, these results clearly suggest differential transactivating efficiencies of USF1 and USF2 in promoting the glucose response. Furthermore, they support the view that USF2 is the functional transactivator of the glucose-responsive complex.
Symbolic negotiation: Partial deduction for linear logic with coalition formation

In this paper we present a formalism for symbolic negotiation while regarding symbolic negotiation as cooperative problem solving (CPS). CPS is based on symbolic reasoning and is extended with negotiation and coalition formation rules. We formalize partial deduction for intuitionistic linear logic and use it as a foundation for formalization of symbolic negotiation. We also formalize the process of coalition formation and analyse its effect to symbolic negotiation and CPS. Soundness and compleness proofs for the proposed formalisms are given.
Protein topology from predicted residue contacts

Residue contacts predicted from correlated positions in a multiple sequence alignment are often sparse and uncertain. To some extent, these limitations in the data can be overcome by grouping the contacts by secondary structure elements and enumerating the possible packing arrangements of these elements in a combinatorial manner. Strong interactions appear frequently but inconsistent interactions are down‐weighted and missing interactions up‐weighted. The resulting improved consistency in the predicted interactions has allowed the method to be successfully applied to proteins up to 200 residues in length which is larger than any structure previously predicted using sequence data alone.
Kernel-Based Mapping of Orographic Rainfall Enhancement in the Swiss Alps as Detected by Weather Radar

In this paper, we develop a data-driven methodology to characterize the likelihood of orographic precipitation enhancement using sequences of weather radar images and a digital elevation model (DEM). Geographical locations with topographic characteristics favorable to enforce repeatable and persistent orographic precipitation such as stationary cells, upslope rainfall enhancement, and repeated convective initiation are detected by analyzing the spatial distribution of a set of precipitation cells extracted from radar imagery. Topographic features such as terrain convexity and gradients computed from the DEM at multiple spatial scales as well as velocity fields estimated from sequences of weather radar images are used as explanatory factors to describe the occurrence of localized precipitation enhancement. The latter is represented as a binary process by defining a threshold on the number of cell occurrences at particular locations. Both two-class and one-class support vector machine classifiers are tested to separate the presumed orographic cells from the nonorographic ones in the space of contributing topographic and flow features. Site-based validation is carried out to estimate realistic generalization skills of the obtained spatial prediction models. Due to the high class separability, the decision function of the classifiers can be interpreted as a likelihood or susceptibility of orographic precipitation enhancement. The developed approach can serve as a basis for refining radar-based quantitative precipitation estimates and short-term forecasts or for generating stochastic precipitation ensembles conditioned on the local topography.
A novel adaptive operation of multi-line rate transponder for dedicated protection in WDM network

As the increasingly large amount of traffic are carried out by WDM networks and the era of information society has been clearly shaped, any network failure would cause massive impact. Operators have been therefore paying growing attention to resilience issues and indeed, guaranteeing survivability has become integral part of network design process. Among protection schemes, dedicated one stands out in terms of efficient recovery speed, ease of operation and thus, being widely deployed in practice. The significant progress in flexible optics are inspiring new opportunities in dimensioning optical network with dedicated protection. In this context, the paper investigates the use of multi-line rate (MLR) transponder having two bit-rate options by switching the modulation format for dedicated protection purpose. A novel adaptive operation of MLR is proposed based on the protection-aware configuration. The protection-aware scheme exploits MLR transponders at lower bit-rate for working mode and adaptively tunes them to higher rate to handle temporary protection traffic in case of failure. We formulate the routing and flow allocation in opaque WDM network design with dedicated protection as mixed integer linear programming and propose two transponder allocation algorithms based on protection-aware operation. The benefits of our new protection proposals compared to traditional approach are quantified over extensive simulations on diverse network topologies and random traffic matrices. Encouraging results are observed with a saving of more than 30% number of transponder and promising cost and power consumption gain could be achieved in a wide range of MLR cost and power consumption assumption.
Premature Birth, low Birth Weight and Birth Defects after assisted reproductive therapies. a 18-year comparative study.

BACKGROUND As assisted reproductive therapies (ART) become more common in Tunisia, it was relevant to define the associated perinatal risks. The risk of multiple births and its correlate after ART were well admitted. We aimed to disclose whether ART were associated with increased perinatal risks in singletons and twins from ART comparatively with spontaneous conception. METHODS A retrospective descriptive and comparative study including all newborns conceived by ART and admitted between 1998 and 2015 and spontaneous newborns selected randomly. We compared separately singletons and twins from ART and natural conception for premature birth (PB) and low birth weight (LBW). For birth defects (BD), we compared the two groups condensed. RESULTS We identified 425 ART newborns and 322 controls. The risk of PB was statistically higher, in both ART singletons and twins than in controls. Among singletons, the use of ART was associated with statistically significant increased rates of LBW and VLBW. Among twins, this result was valuable only for VLBW. Newborns conceived with ART had a risk of BD that was three times higher than in controls. BD risk was statistically higher with ICSI (Intra Cytoplasm Sperm Injection), ovulation inductor and in vitro fertilization. BD risks were 2.4 times higher with ICSI than with all others therapies condensed. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted the increased perinatal risks even in singleton from ART comparatively with natural conception. The exact mechanisms underlying all these risks remain unclear. Further studies are required to prove the part of ART underlying parental factors, and sterility itself.
Both the folate cycle and betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase contribute methyl groups for DNA methylation in mouse blastocysts

The embryonic pattern of global DNA methylation is first established in the inner cell mass (ICM) of the mouse blastocyst. The methyl donor S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) is produced in most cells through the folate cycle, but only a few cell types generate SAM from betaine (N,N,N‐trimethylglycine) via betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT)' which is expressed in the mouse ICM. Here, mean ICM cell numbers decreased from 18‐19 in controls to 11‐13 when the folate cycle was inhibited by the antifolate methotrexate and to 12‐14 when BHMT expression was knocked down by antisense morpholinos. Inhibiting both pathways, however, much more severely affected ICM development (7‐8 cells). Total SAM levels in mouse blastocysts decreased significantly only when both pathways were inhibited (from 3.1 to 1.6 pmol/100 blastocysts). DNA methylation, detected as 5‐methylcytosine (5‐MeC) immunofluorescence in isolated ICMs, was minimally affected by inhibition of either pathway alone but decreased by at least 45‐55% when both BHMT and the folate cycle were inhibited simultaneously. Effects on cell numbers and 5‐MeC levels in the ICM were completely rescued by methionine (immediate SAM precursor) or SAM. Both the folate cycle and betaine/BHMT appear to contribute to a methyl pool required for normal ICM development and establishing initial embryonic DNA methylation. —Zhang, B. , Denomme, M.M. , White, C. R. , Leung, K. ‐Y. , Lee, M. B. , Greene, N. D. E. Mann, M. R. W. Trasler, J. M. , Baltz, J. M. , Both the folate cycle and betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase contribute methyl groups for DNA methylation in mouse blastocysts. FASEB J. 29, 1069–1079 (2015). www.fasebj. org
Social Class Differences in Health and Functional Disability among Older Men and Women

The aims of the study were to describe the health of older men and women and to investigate the social patterning of health and functional disability among older men and women, with special reference to social class differences. The data were derived from the 1994 nationwide Finnish Survey on Living Conditions (N = 1,448). Functional disability, limiting long-standing illness, and self-assessed health were used as health measures. Sociodemographic measures were social class, marital status, and urbanization. The age-adjusted social class differences were clear. Farmers and workers reported more functional disability and poorer health than did the white-collar class. Differences were somewhat smaller among women than among men. Social class was a stronger determinant than urbanization and marital status of functional disability and health.
A space-time multiuser receiver with turbo partial parallel interference cancellation and adaptive beamforming for DS-CDMA systems

Direct-sequence code-division multiple access (DS-CDMA) is an important technique for third-generation and beyond wireless mobile communication systems. In DS-CDMA uplink systems, the multiple access interference (MAI) may cause serious degradation of the system performance and a multiuser detector is usually required for the receiver. By placing an antenna array at the base station and employing a beamforming technique for a partial parallel interference cancellation (PPIC) based multiuser detector, we can enhance the system performance appropriately; however, due to the steering vectors and channel fading gains being needed for the reconstruction of MAI in a PPIC-based multiuser detector, the system complexity may be increased by an additional estimation mechanism. For DS-CDMA uplink systems, we present a space-time PPIC-based multiuser receiver with adaptive beamforming based on the normalized least mean-squares algorithm. Using this adaptive mechanism, the channel information can easily be estimated from the beamforming weights. Computer simulation results show that the proposed multiuser receiver structure reaches acceptable performance with reasonable computational complexity in wireless environments.
IEEE 802.16 and WCDMA coverage prediction and feasibility study for suburban Brazilian cities

A technical case study of deployment of IEEE 802.16, also known as mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) networks over suburban to rural areas of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), extreme south of Brazil, is presented. Beyond that, the network profitability was verified by a brief economic analysis. Presented results can help network designers and investors in making decisions and were obtained based on both link level path loss simulations and economic indicators.
Delayed use of hyperbaric oxygen for treatment of a model anterior compartment syndrome

This study examines the effect of delayed exposure to hyperbaric oxygen on muscle necrosis and edema development following compartment syndromes in the canine hindlimb. Compartment syndromes (100 mm Hg for 8 h) were generated in one anterolateral compartment of six anesthetized dogs. After a 2‐h delay, three 1‐h hyperbaric oxygen treatments (2 atm absolute pure oxygen) were given during the next 12 h. Two days later, technetium‐99m stannous pyrophosphate (99mTc Sn‐PYP) was injected intravenously; 3 h later, samples were obtained from the pressurized and contralateral control muscles, weighed for edema development, counted for 99mTC Sn‐PYP uptake, and evaluated histologically. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments, even when delayed 2 h, reduced muscle necrosis and intramuscular edema to negligible levels (p < 0.05) compared with untreated animals. In addition, muscle morphology remained essentially normal in all hyperbaric oxygen‐treated animals. We conclude that even if hyperbaric oxygen treatments are delayed 2 h, edema and muscle necrosis are reduced significantly in a model compartment syndrome.
A-form conformational motifs in ligand-bound DNA structures.

Recognition and biochemical processing of DNA requires that proteins and other ligands are able to distinguish their DNA binding sites from other parts of the molecule. In addition to the direct recognition elements embedded in the linear sequence of bases (i.e. hydrogen bonding sites), these molecular agents seemingly sense and/or induce an "indirect" conformational response in the DNA base-pairs that facilitates close intermolecular fitting. As part of an effort to decipher this sequence-dependent structural code, we have analyzed the extent of B-->A conformational conversion at individual base-pair steps in protein and drug-bound DNA crystal complexes. We take advantage of a novel structural parameter, the position of the phosphorus atom in the dimer reference frame, as well as other documented measures of local helical structure, e.g. torsion angles, base-pair step parameters. Our analysis pinpoints ligand-induced conformational changes that are difficult to detect from the global perspective used in other studies of DNA structure. The collective data provide new structural details on the conformational pathway connecting A and B-form DNA and illustrate how both proteins and drugs take advantage of the intrinsic conformational mechanics of the double helix. Significantly, the base-pair steps which exhibit pure A-DNA conformations in the crystal complexes follow the scale of A-forming tendencies exhibited by synthetic oligonucleotides in solution and the known polymorphism of synthetic DNA fibers. Moreover, most crystallographic examples of complete B-to-A deformations occur in complexes of DNA with enzymes that perform cutting or sealing operations at the (O3'-P) phosphodiester linkage. The B-->A transformation selectively exposes sugar-phosphate atoms, such as the 3'-oxygen atom, ordinarily buried within the chain backbone for enzymatic attack. The forced remodeling of DNA to the A-form also provides a mechanism for smoothly bending the double helix, for controlling the widths of the major and minor grooves, and for accessing the minor groove edges of individual base-pairs.
Duplexsonography of the mesenteric vessels – a critical evaluation of inter observer variability

Abstract Introduction: The number of publications concerning mesenteric Doppler sonography (mesDS) is immense and does not correlate with the frequency of its use in clinical practice. This is astonishing since it provides real time blood flow (perfusion) information without side effects. Despite uncontrollable parameters like the technical limitations in some situations the optimization of (possibly) controllable parameters like standardization, production of normal values and reduction of the investigator variability by evaluating stable parameters could change the situation. Patients and methods: 10 investigators experienced in abdominal sonography (“DEGUM-Seminarleiter”) performed mesenteric Doppler sonography in 5 healthy subjects with 5 different machines. Results: The portal vein at the confluence and the common hepatic artery provide a significant portion of investigations with intromission angles of more than 60°. Values of diameter, resistance index and pulsatility index of the celiac trunc could be obtained with inter-observer variability values below 25 %. The proper and the common hepatic artery show no differences in inter-observer variability values, whereas the intrahepatic measure point of the portal vein showed a higher reproducibility. Discussion: We define frame conditions for future mesenteric Doppler studies: the portal vein should be investigated at the intrahepatic measure point. Pathophysiological studies should refrain from velocity parameters except in the case of larger vessels running in a straight course towards the probe.
Clinical experience with infliximab therapy in 100 patients with Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to assess our clinical experience with infliximab, a monoclonal antitumor necrosis factor antibody, following its approval for treatment of refractory Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS:We followed 100 consecutive patients with CD (53 women and 47 men; mean age, 41 yr) who received a total of 233 infliximab (5 mg/kg) infusions. Adverse events were noted and clinical response assessed every 2 wk for 6 months after each infusion using the Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) for active disease, the Perianal Disease Activity Index (PDAI) for fistulous disease, and steroid withdrawal rates for steroid-sparing efficacy.RESULTS:Indications for therapy were active disease (n = 57), perianal fistulous disease (n = 33), and steroid dependency (n = 10). Significant infusion reactions occurred in 16 patients (6.9% of infusions) including anaphylactic shock in one patient. Fourteen patients experienced infectious adverse events, 13 of whom were on concurrent steroids. Sixty percent of patients with active disease experienced ≥50% HBI reduction at 2 wk; mean duration of response, 8.2 wk. Three of 26 first-time nonresponders with active disease (12%) responded to a second infusion. Sixty-nine percent of patients with fistulous disease experienced >50% reduction in their PDAI at 2 wk; mean duration of response, 10.9 wk. Four of 10 steroid-dependent patients (40%) discontinued steroid therapy, one of whom recommenced steroid therapy at 24 wk.CONCLUSIONS:Our clinical response rates mirror the efficacy reported in the controlled trials for active and fistulous disease. Steroid-sparing efficacy was seen in 40% of steroid-dependent patients. Concurrent steroids did not reduce the risk of significant infusion reactions (6.9%), but did increase the risk of infections.
Serum Levels Of 1,5‐Anhydro‐D‐Glucitol During The Normal And Diabetic Pregnancy And Puerperium

In 25 normally non‐pregnant women, 543 normally pregnent women and 75 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes mellitus, the relationship between the serum concentration of 1,5‐anhydro‐D‐glucitol (1‐deoxy‐glucose) and carbohydrate metabolism was studied. The concentration of 1,5‐anhydro‐D‐glucitol was estimated by means of gas‐liquid chromatography. In normally non‐pregnant women the concentration was found to be 18.6±5.2 mg/l (mean±SD). During the normal pregnancy, from 9 weeks of gestation, a steadily decreasing concentration was observed as the pregnancy progressed and the lowest value (10.214.6 mg/l) was found in the third trimester. After 5 days of puerperium the concentrations were found to be 10.8±3.7 mg/l. On the 30th day postpartum, the level was within the range for non‐pregnant subjects. The values in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus were mostly below 10 mg/l throughout the entire pregnant period. The 1, 5‐anhydro‐D‐glucitol concentration was not affected by meals or oral glucose loading. A concentration below 10 mg/l was found in 36% of the normally pregnant women, where oral glucose tolerance tests and measurement of glycohemoglobin were shown to be within the normal range. The present study suggests that a change of 1,5‐anhydro‐D‐glucitol level during pregnancy may reflect a mild alteration of carbohydrate metabolism that goes undetected by all the other diabetic indicators.
Temporal analysis of archived samples indicates marked genetic changes in declining North Sea cod (Gadus morhua)

Despite increasing evidence that current exploitation rates can contribute to shifts in life–history traits and the collapse of marine fish stocks, few empirical studies have investigated the likely evolutionary impacts. Here, we used DNA recovered from a temporal series of archived North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) otoliths, to investigate genetic diversity within the Flamborough Head population between 1954 and 1998, during which time the population underwent two successive declines. Microsatellite data indicated a significant reduction in genetic diversity between 1954 and 1970 (total number of alleles: 1954, 46; 1960, 42; 1970, 37), and a subsequent recovery between 1970 and 1998 (total number of alleles: 1970, 37; 1981, 42; 1998, 45). Furthermore, estimates of genetic differentiation (F and R) showed a significant divergence between 1998 and earlier samples. Data are consistent with a period of prolonged genetic drift, accompanied by a replacement of the Flamborough Head population through an increased effective migration rate that occurred during a period of high exploitation and appreciable demographic and phenotypic change. Other studies indicate that diversity at neutral microsatellite loci may be correlated with variability at selected genes, thus compromising a population's subsequent recovery and adaptive potential. Such effects are especially pertinent to North Sea cod, which are threatened by continuing exploitation and rising sea temperatures.