Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature and ionic effects on the interaction of erythroid spectrin with phosphatidylserine membranes.

Specific binding of human erythroid spectrin to large, unilamellar vesicles of bovine brain phosphatidylserine, made by an extrusion technique (LUVETs), has been measured and characterized by a new gel filtration assay. Vesicle-bound spectrin was separated from free spectrin by Sepharose CL-2B chromatography and detected by its intrinsic (tryptophan) or extrinsic (carboxyfluorescein) fluorescence. That the bound spectrin was not an aberrant, adhesive form was shown by the ability of a portion of free spectrin, which had not bound to PS LUVETs during a previous incubation, to bind during a subsequent incubation. Spectrin binding reached a plateau by 30 min of incubation at room temperature and at 37 degrees C. Binding increased from a low level below 31 degrees C to about twice as much as 37 degrees C and to 4-7 times as much between 40 and 43 degrees C. Similar results were obtained with LUVETs composed of DOPS but not PC. Triton treatment of PS LUVETs and spectrin after incubation of spectrin and vesicles at 40 and 43 degrees C but prior to chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B eliminated the bound spectrin peak, which thus did not consist of large aggregates of covalently associated spectrin. Binding isotherms fit by nonlinear regression gave an apparent Kd of 0.31 microM and an apparent maximum spectrin binding of 33 nM/mM PS at 25 degrees C, an apparent Kd of 0.35 microM and an apparent maximum spectrin binding of 40 nM/mM PS at 31 degrees C, and an apparent Kd of 3.4 microM and an apparent maximum spectrin binding of 113 nM/0.1 mM PS at 37 degrees C. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Spectral structure of laser light scattering revisited: bandwidths of nonresonant scattering lidars.

It is well known that scattering lidars, i.e., Mie, aerosol-wind, Rayleigh, high-spectral-resolution, molecular-wind, rotational Raman, and vibrational Raman lidars, are workhorses for probing atmospheric properties, including the backscatter ratio, aerosol extinction coefficient, temperature, pressure, density, and winds. The spectral structure of molecular scattering (strength and bandwidth) and its constituent spectra associated with Rayleigh and vibrational Raman scattering are reviewed. Revisiting the correct name by distinguishing Cabannes scattering from Rayleigh scattering, and sharpening the definition of each scattering component in the Rayleigh scattering spectrum, the review allows a systematic, logical, and useful comparison in strength and bandwidth between each scattering component and in receiver bandwidths (for both nighttime and daytime operation) between the various scattering lidars for atmospheric sensing.
Endothelin as a regulator of cardiovascular function in health and disease

The endothelins are a family of endothelium-derived peptides that possess characteristically sustained vasoconstrictor properties. Endothelin-1 appears to be the predominant member of the family generated by vascular endothelial cells. In addition to its direct vascular effects, endothelin-1 has inotropic and mitogenic properties, influences homeostasis of salt and water, alters central and peripheral sympathetic activity and stimulates the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system. Studies with endothelin receptor antagonists have indicated that endothelin-1 probably has complex opposing vascular effects mediated through vascular smooth muscle and endothelial ETA and ETB receptors. Endogenous generation of endothelin-1 appears to contribute to maintenance of basal vascular tone and blood pressure through activation of vascular smooth muscle ETA receptors. At the same time, endogenous endothelin-1 acts through endothelial ETB receptors to stimulate formation of nitric oxide tonically and to oppose vasoconstriction. In view of the multiple cardiovascular actions of endothelin-1, there has been much interest in its contribution to the pathophysiology of hypertension. Results of most studies suggest that generation of, or sensitivity to, endothelin-1 is no greater in hypertensive than it is in normotensive subjects. Nonetheless, the deleterious vascular effects of endogenous endothelin-1 may be accentuated by reduced generation of nitric oxide caused by hypertensive endothelial dysfunction. It also appears likely that endothelin participates in the adverse cardiac and vascular remodelling of hypertension, as well as in hypertensive renal damage. Irrespective of whether vascular endothelin activity is increased in hypertension, anti-endothelin agents do produce vasodilatation and lower blood pressure in hypertensive humans. There is more persuasive evidence for increased endothelin-1 activity in secondary forms of hypertension, including pre-eclampsia and renal hypertension. Endothelin-1 also appears to play an important role in pulmonary hypertension, both primary and secondary to diseases such as chronic heart failure. The hypotensive effects of endothelin converting enzyme inhibitors and endothelin receptor antagonists should be useful in the treatment of hypertension and related diseases. Development of such agents will increase knowledge of the physiological and pathological roles of the endothelins, and should generate drugs with novel benefits.
SMTP Service Extension for Remote Message Queue Starting

This memo defines an extension to the SMTP service whereby an SMTP client and server may interact to give the server an opportunity to start the processing of its queues for messages to go to a given host. This extension is meant to be used in startup conditions as well as for mail nodes that have transient connections to their service providers.
Executive dysfunction and apathy predict functional impairment in Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which executive cognitive dysfunction and frontally-mediated behavioral disturbances are associated with functional impairment in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS Patients with AD (N=45) completed the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, and patients' caregivers completed the Frontal Systems Behavioral Inventory and a modified form of the Lawton and Brody Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Questionnaire. RESULTS Multiple-regression analyses revealed that executive cognitive dysfunction and apathy scores accounted for 44% of the variance in instrumental activities of daily living; executive cognitive dysfunction alone explained 17% of the variance in instrumental ADLs, and apathy scores explained an additional 27%. Executive dysfunction and frontal-behavioral impairment explained 28% of the variance in basic ADLs (BADLs), and, after accounting for executive dysfunction, apathy was the only symptom found to explain additional unique variance in BADLs. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that specific cognitive and behavioral symptoms are associated with functional impairment in patients with AD.
Menstrual cycle mediates vastus medialis and vastus medialis oblique muscle activity.

PURPOSE Sports medicine professionals commonly describe two functionally different units of the vastus medialis (VM), the VM, and the vastus medialis oblique (VMO), but the anatomical support is equivocal. The functional difference of the VMO is principle to rehabilitation programs designed to alleviate anterior knee pain, a pathology that is known to have a greater occurrence in women. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the motor units of the VM and VMO are differentially recruited and if this recruitment pattern has an effect of sex or menstrual cycle phase. METHODS Single motor unit recordings from the VM and VMO were obtained for men and women during an isometric ramp knee extension. Eleven men were tested once. Seven women were tested during five different phases of the menstrual cycle, determined by basal body temperature mapping. The recruitment threshold and the initial firing rate at recruitment were determined from 510 motor unit recordings. RESULTS The initial firing rate was lower in the VMO than that in the VM in women (P < 0.001) but not in men. There was no difference in recruitment thresholds for the VM and VMO in either sex or across the menstrual cycle. There was a main effect of menstrual phase on initial firing rate, showing increases from the early follicular to late luteal phase (P = 0.003). The initial firing rate in the VMO was lower than that in the VM during ovulatory (P = 0.009) and midluteal (P = 0.009) phases. CONCLUSION The relative control of the VM and VMO changes across the menstrual cycle. This could influence patellar pathologies that have a higher incidence in women.
Corruption and Environmental Policy: An Alternative Perspective

We construct an overlapping generations model in which agents live through two periods; childhood and adulthood. Each agent makes choices only as an adult, based on her utility that depends on her own consumption and the human capital and environmental quality endowed to her offspring. Entering adulthood, agents choose randomly between two occupations: citizens and politicians. Citizens are the only producers of a single good and choose the proportion of their income to declare to the tax authorities. Politicians decide upon the allocation of the tax revenue between environmental protection and education activities, taking as given the rates of peculation in each activity. In this context, two self-fulfilling stable equilibria can emerge, one associated with high and another with low corruption. Corrupted politicians induce high levels of tax evasion, reducing total public funds and thus environmental protection activities. This result is in accordance with existing empirical evidence and implies that environmental policies may fail in corrupt countries where they are used as means of supporting rent seeking activities instead of protecting the environment. A higher level political authority could intervene and force the low corruption equilibrium by choosing the appropriate tax rate and, through institutional changes, the rates of peculation.
Th17 Cells Induce Colitis and Promote Th1 Cell Responses through IL-17 Induction of Innate IL-12 and IL-23 Production

Both Th1 and Th17 cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and experimental colitis. However, the complex relationship between Th1 and Th17 cells and their relative contributions to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease have not been completely analyzed. Although it has been recently shown that Th17 cells can convert into Th1 cells, the underlying in vivo mechanisms and the role of Th1 cells converted from Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of colitis are still largely unknown. In this study, we report that Th17 cells from CBir1 TCR transgenic mice, which are specific for an immunodominant microbiota Ag, are more potent than Th1 cells in the induction of colitis, as Th17 cells induced severe colitis, whereas Th1 cells induced mild colitis when transferred into TCRβxδ−/− mice. High levels of IL-12 and IL-23 and substantial numbers of IFN-γ+ Th1 cells emerged in the colons of Th17 cell recipients. Administration of anti–IL-17 mAb abrogated Th17 cell-induced colitis development, blocked colonic IL-12 and IL-23 production, and inhibited IFN-γ+ Th1 cell induction. IL-17 promoted dendritic cell production of IL-12 and IL-23. Furthermore, conditioned media from colonic tissues of colitic Th17 cell recipients induced IFN-γ production by Th17 cells, which was inhibited by blockade of IL-12 and IL-23. Collectively, these data indicate that Th17 cells convert to Th1 cells through IL-17 induction of mucosal innate IL-12 and IL-23 production.
An anti-transferrin receptor-avidin fusion protein exhibits both strong proapoptotic activity and the ability to deliver various molecules into cancer cells

We have developed an antibody fusion protein (anti-rat TfR IgG3-Av) with the ability to deliver different molecules into cancer cells. It consists of avidin genetically fused to the CH3 region of a human IgG3 specific for the rat transferrin receptor. It forms strong, noncovalent interactions with biotinylated molecules such as glucose oxidase and β-galactosidase, and delivers them into the rat myeloma cell line Y3-Ag1.2. 3 through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Importantly, the β-galactosidase retains activity after internalization. Furthermore, we have unexpectedly discovered that anti-rat TfR IgG3-Av, but not a recombinant anti-rat TfR IgG3 or a nonspecific IgG3-Av, possesses proapoptotic activities against Y3-Ag1.2. 3 and the rat T cell lymphoma cell line C58 (NT) D.1. G.OVAR. 1. These activities were not observed in two rat cell lines of nonhematopoietic lineage (bladder carcinoma BC47 and gliosarcoma 9L). Anti-human TfR IgG3-Av also demonstrated proapoptotic activity against the human erythroleukemia cell line K562. Studies showed that anti-rat TfR IgG3-Av exists as a dimer, suggesting that cross-linking of the surface transferrin receptor may be responsible for the cytotoxic activity. These findings demonstrate that it is possible to transform an antibody specific for a growth factor receptor that does not exhibit inhibitory activity into a drug with significant intrinsic cytotoxic activity against selected cells by fusing it with avidin. The antitumor activity may be enhanced by delivering biotinylated therapeutics into cancer cells. Further development of this technology may lead to effective therapeutics for in vivo eradication of hematological malignancies, and ex vivo purging of cancer cells in autologous transplantation.
Transient dyserythropoiesis in repopulated human bone marrow following transplantation: an ultrastructural study

Summary. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine marrow samples from 15 patients with aplastic anaemia or acute leukaemia who had been treated with bone marrow transplantation. There were 11 allogeneic, three syngeneic and one autologous graft. The purpose was to estimate the frequency, type and extent of dyserythropoietic change. Transient dyserythropoietic features were substantiated in all cases. Nuclear changes were present in 12 cases, iron laden mitochondria (sideroachrestic phenomena) in 10 and cytoplasmic contacts and/or connections between red cell precursors in 10. Dyserythropoiesis was most conspicuous in the majority of cases between 14 and 28 d after transplantation but it may persist for over 100 d. No deficit in red cell production was noted and it is proposed that dyserythropoiesis in this circumstance is a physiological rather than a pathological phenomenon.
An improved approach to measuring drug innovation finds steady rates of first-in-class pharmaceuticals, 1987-2011.

For more than a decade, industry analysts and policy makers have raised concerns about declining pharmaceutical innovation, citing declining numbers of new molecular entities (NMEs) approved in the United States each year. Yet there is little consensus on whether this is the best measure of "innovation. " We examined NME approvals during 1987-2011 and propose the three distinct subcategories of NMEs--first-in-class, advance-in-class, and addition-to-class--to provide more nuanced and informative insights into underlying trends. We found that trends in NME approvals were largely driven by addition-to-class, or "me too," drug approvals, while first-in-class approvals remained fairly steady over the study period. Moreover, the higher proportion of first-in-class drug approvals over the most recent decade is an encouraging sign of the health of the industry as a whole.
A temperature and disturbance insensitive calibration method for high speed digital to analog converters

The accuracy of a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) is crucial for its operation. Due to production tolerances [1], the DAC static accuracy is limited, increasing the Integral Non-Linearity (INL). Traditionally, various calibration techniques are used to improve the INL [2]. In a Current Steering (CS) DAC, the output signal is generated by switchable current sources, the current cells, see Fig. 1. Typically, calibration techniques incorporate an additional current source (Calibration DAC, CALDAC) in each current cell, which adds a correction current to the main current source thereby cancelling the error of the main current source. However, the response of the CALDAC to voltage disturbances and temperature variations differs from the response of the main current source. In the proposed calibration method, the new current cell contains the same unit transistors for both the main current source and the CALDAC, guaranteeing matched response for all current cells. The CALDAC contains an excess of current source unit transistors. Hence, some of these transistors in the CALDAC must be enabled and others must be disabled. By carefully selecting the enabled transistors, the mismatch of the enabled CalDAC transistors cancel the mismatch of the main current source of the current cell. Therefore, all calibrated current cells feature matched temperature coefficients and disturbance response. For an exemplary 6+6bits segmented current steering DAC, the expected 99% yield INL improves with almost 3 bits while using only 30% additional unit transistors.
Improved Renal Function During Chronic Lisinopril Treatment in Moderate to Severe Primary Hypertension

The effect of the converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril on renal and cardiac hemodynamics was studied in patients with moderate to severe primary hypertension, in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial comparing the antihypertensive effect of lisinopril (LIS) and nifedipine (NIF). After a 2 week placebo run-in period, 15 patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either LIS (20–80 mg q.d., n = 10) or NIF (20–40 mg b.i.d., n = 5). US significantly reduced blood pressure (BP) without changing heart rate or cardiac output. LIS significantly increased renal blood flow: glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not changed. It can be concluded that L1S is an effective antihypertensive agent with a favorable renal hemodynamic profile.
Distributed classification of Persian News (Case study: Hamshahri News dataset)

Classifying the News specifies the most likely topic that the News content refers to it. In this paper, we use distance detection in vector space model for classifying the News articles. In this method, it is calculated distances between weighted frequency vectors of each category, and the News vector determine its category by finding minimum distance with weighted frequency vector of categories. According to volume of the News articles on each topic, extracting keywords, building weighted frequency vectors and determining vector distances are very time consuming operations. So, in order to increase performance, calculation accuracy and decrease execution time, we use MapReduce, a distributed programming model, to implement and execute distributed classification of the News articles. This research is the first attempt to classifying Persian data in distributed manner and results of this research can be used for other text mining areas in any languages. It is worth mentioning that we have successfully implemented our method on the supercomputer of Amirkabir University of Technology.
Self‐Care Actions Taken by Older Adults For Influenza and Golds

The purpose of this study was to examine self-care behaviors that older adults use to manage cold and influenza episodes. Interviews were conducted with 160 adults aged 65 to 94. A large number and a variety of cold-and influenza-related self-care actions were reported. Medication administration was found to be common for colds (79% of subjects) and influenza (95%). Subjects reported more illness-specific preventive behaviors for influenza than for colds. Influenza vaccination behavior was related to experiences with vaccination-associated illness, health state, and talking with physicians about vaccination. Few subjects identified potential hazards associated with influenza or colds.
Analysis of mutational changes at the HLA locus in single human sperm

Using a simple and efficient single sperm PCR and direct sequencing method, we screened for HLA‐DPBl gene mutations that may give rise to new alleles at this highly polymorphic locus. More than 800 single sperm were studied from a heterozygous individual whose two alleles carried 16 nucleotide sequence differences clustered in six polymorphic regions. A potential microgene conversion event was detected. Unrepaired heteroduplex DNA similar to that which gives rise to postmeiotic segregation events in yeast was observed in three cases. Control experiments also revealed unusual sperm from DPBl homozygous individuals. The data may help explain allelic diversity in the MHC and suggest that a possible source of human mosaicism may be incomplete DNA mismatch repair during gameto genesis. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mycophenolate Mofetil for Renal Dysfunction in Liver Transplant Recipients on Cyclosporine or Tacrolimus: Randomized, Prospective, Multicenter Pilot Study Results

Background. Liver transplantation (LTX) recipients with renal dysfunction may benefit from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and reduction or discontinuation of nephrotoxic calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). The authors report the first randomized, multicenter pilot studies of this approach (one study for patients on cyclosporine [CsA] and one for those on tacrolimus [Tac]). Methods. Patients 3 to 27 months post-LTX with greater than 20% reduced renal function since LTX, and creatinine 1.8 to 4.0 mg/dL, creatinine clearance 20 to 60 mL/min, or both, were randomized to discontinuation (group 1) or 50% reduction (group 2) of CNI dose, together with MMF 1.5 g administered twice daily and prednisone. Endpoints included measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 52 weeks after study entry and biopsy-proven rejection. Results. In the CsA and Tac trials, 15 and 12 patients, respectively, completed the 52-week follow-up. In the CsA trial, the mean GFR at baseline and week 52 were 35.0 and 57.8 mL/min (>15% improvement, five of six; unchanged, one of six) for group 1 and 46.0 and 63.8 mL/min (>15% improvement, four of nine; unchanged, three of nine; >15% deterioration, two of nine) for group 2. In the Tac trial, GFRs were 55.4 and 56.0 mL/min (>15% improvement, two of five; unchanged, three of five) for group 1 and 46.7 and 60.2 mL/min (>15% improvement, four of seven; unchanged, three of seven) for group 2. Mild or moderate rejection occurred in 38% and 9% of patients in groups 1 and 2 of the CsA trial and in 14% of each group of the patients in the Tac trial. Conclusions. These pilot studies show that in LTX recipients with renal dysfunction, MMF allows CNI dose reduction or discontinuation, improving or stabilizing GFR in most patients.
Use of povidone–iodine during the first trimester of pregnancy: a correct practice?

Povidone–iodine (PVP‐I) has been widely used as an antiseptic agent during invasive procedures for prenatal diagnosis. Women have been reported of thyroid dysfunction after simple exposure to PVP‐I. We studied the effect on thyroid function and urinary iodine excretion after a single topical application of PVP‐I in 31 women who had a miscarriage during the first trimester of pregnancy. PVP‐I is absorbed through the skin and the vaginal mucosa, resulting in a sudden increase in the urinary excretion of iodine and a short‐term variation in concentrations of thyroid hormones in maternal serum. This metabolic effect could have consequences for the embryo and the fetus during crucial stages of development.