Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Value of transcatheter arterial embolization with coils and n-butyl cyanoacrylate for long-term hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.

PURPOSE To assess the value of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of splanchnic arterial branches to allow continuous application of repeat hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). MATERIALS AND METHODS In 128 patients with unresectable advanced liver cancer, percutaneous implantation of a port catheter system and TAE of splanchnic arteries with coils and/or n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) were performed. Parameters included (a) methods selected for catheter placement; (b) embolic materials used (coils and/or NBCA, number of coils, administration rate of NBCA-iodized oil) for TAE of splanchnic arteries, details of embolized arteries, and frequency of recanalization; (c) ability to prevent gastrointestinal symptoms by avoiding inflow of anticancer drugs into extrahepatic adjacent organs and to maintain distribution of contrast agents in liver, as well as management of difficulties encountered; (d) complications related to catheter system implantation or to long-term HAIC and management of such complications; and (e) final success in performing scheduled HAIC while maintaining distribution over liver via a single route without gastrointestinal symptoms caused by inflow of anticancer drugs. Fisher exact test was used to compare recanalization rate between coil-embolized and NBCA- or NBCA-coil-embolized arteries, and frequency of heterogeneously poor distribution was compared between patients with single and those with multiple hepatic arteries. RESULTS Embolization was successful during first catheterization in 326 arteries and during follow-up in 10. In 119 (93.0%) of 128 patients, repeat HAIC was effective until death or the time of this writing (observation period, 2-47 months). HAIC was continued in two patients, although anticancer drugs did not distribute to all liver tumors. Arteries once embolized with coils alone spontaneously recanalized at a significantly higher rate than those with NBCA (eight of 192 vs one of 144, P =.048). Rate of heterogeneously poor distribution was significantly higher in those with two or more hepatic arteries than in those with one (seven of 17 vs nine of 111, P =.001). CONCLUSION TAE for various splanchnic organs is useful for efficient performance of long-term HAIC.
RF tests of a band overlap free DAW accelerating structure

Results of measurements on a six-cell disk-and-washer structure are considered. The RF structure operating at 3600 MHz is optimized for a beta =1 electron beam, trying to avoid the overlap between the band of the accelerating modes and the bands of the dangerous beam deflecting modes. The cavity geometry was not optimized for the maximum shunt impedance, but nevertheless a characteristic shunt impedance Z/Q of 1500 Omega was obtained. Measurements on the six-cell prototype section built following the design show perfect agreement (in frequency and field distribution) with computations. <<ETX>>
Adenosine, dipyridamole and isosorbide dinitrate are ineffective to prevent the sympathetic initiation of poststenotic myocardial ischemia.

An activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves increases coronary vascular resistance distal to severe stenoses and induces ischemia of the dependent myocardium. The selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist rauwolscine and the calcium antagonist nifedipine prevent both poststenotic vasoconstriction and ischemia. To exclude the possibility that the beneficial action of nifedipine is based on unspecific coronary dilation rather than a functional antagonism against alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated poststenotic vasoconstriction we now tested coronary dilatory drugs with a different underlying mechanism. The left ventrolateral cervical cardiac sympathetic nerve was stimulated in 12 anesthetized, vagotomized dogs. A severe stenosis of left circumflex coronary artery was defined by the absence of a postocclusive reactive hyperemia. Sympathetic stimulation increased end-diastolic poststenotic resistance from 0.45 +/- 0.10 to 0.83 +/- 0.18 mmHg X min X 100 g/ml and induced a net lactate production of the poststenotic myocardium. Adenosine (50 micrograms/kg X min i.c., n = 5), dipyridamole (0.2 mg/kg i.v., n = 3) and isosorbide-dinitrate (1 mg i.c., n = 4) did not prevent the increase in resistance and the net lactate production. Thus the effectiveness to prevent alpha 2-adrenergic poststenotic coronary constriction appears to be specific for alpha 2-antagonists and calcium antagonists.
Nondestructive Spectroscopic and Imaging Techniques for Quality Evaluation and Assessment of Fish and Fish Products

Nowadays, people have increasingly realized the importance of acquiring high quality and nutritional values of fish and fish products in their daily diet. Quality evaluation and assessment are always expected and conducted by using rapid and nondestructive methods in order to satisfy both producers and consumers. During the past two decades, spectroscopic and imaging techniques have been developed to nondestructively estimate and measure quality attributes of fish and fish products. Among these noninvasive methods, visible/near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectroscopy, computer/machine vision, and hyperspectral imaging have been regarded as powerful and effective analytical tools for fish quality analysis and control. VIS/NIR spectroscopy has been widely applied to determine intrinsic quality characteristics of fish samples, such as moisture, protein, fat, and salt. Computer/machine vision on the other hand mainly focuses on the estimation of external features like color, weight, size, and surface defects. Recently, by incorporating both spectroscopy and imaging techniques in one system, hyperspectral imaging cannot only measure the contents of different quality attributes simultaneously, but also obtain the spatial distribution of such attributes when the quality of fish samples are evaluated and measured. This paper systematically reviews the research advances of these three nondestructive optical techniques in the application of fish quality evaluation and determination and discuss future trends in the developments of nondestructive technologies for further quality characterization in fish and fish products.
Differential modulation of B7‐1 and B7‐2 isoform expression on human monocytes by cytokines which influence the development of T helper cell phenotype

The co‐stimulatory molecules B7‐1/B7‐2 expressed on the surface of antigen‐presenting cells have been suggested to influence the development of T helper 1 (Th1)‐versus Th2‐immune responses. These studies were conducted to elucidate the effect of immunoregulatory cytokines which influence the development of Th1/Th2 immune responses on the expression of the B7 isoforms B7‐1 and B7‐2 on resting and activated human monocytes and B cells. Interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐10, which induce the development of Th2 immune responses, down‐regulated B7‐2 and moderately up‐regulated B7‐1 expression on resting CD14+ monocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), which induces the development of Th1 immune responses, enhanced the expression of both B7‐1 and B7‐2 isoforms. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, which elicits both Th1‐ and Th2 characteristics depending on experimental conditions, down‐regulated B7‐2 but did not alter B7‐1 expression. The effect of TNF‐ä and B7‐2 expression is not mediated through endogenously produced IL‐10, as addition of anti‐IL10 antibodies did not restore B7‐2 expression. None of the other cytokines tested, including IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐12, granulocyte/macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐α, modulated the expression of B7 isoforms on resting monocytes. Lipoolysaccharide stimulation of monocytes down‐regulated B7‐2 and up‐regulated B7‐1 expression in a manner similar to IL‐10. The expression of B7‐1 and B7‐2 on purified B cells were not altered by any of the cytokines tested, including IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐12, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, TGF‐α and GM‐CSF. Taken together, our results suggest that the cytokines which induce Th1/Th2 immune responses exert differential effects on B7 isoform expression on resting monocytes but have no effect on resting or activated B cells.
Serology of abnormal fracture healing: the role of PIIINP, PICP, and BsALP.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether poorly healing tibial shaft fractures exhibit a serological response of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BsALP), collagen I carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), collagen III amino-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), and collagen I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) different from that of normally healing fractures. DESIGN Prospective. PARTICIPANTS Twenty consecutive patients with isolated tibial shaft fractures with or without fracture of the fibula. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Assays of BsALP, PICP, PIIINP, and ICTP were performed with serum samples taken at standard intervals from twenty-four hours to twenty weeks after fracture. Fracture healing was assessed at five, ten, fourteen, and twenty weeks for clinical and radiological evidence of union. RESULTS Seventeen fractures united within the twenty-week study period. The three fractures exhibiting delayed union demonstrated significantly lower PICP levels and marginally lower BsALP levels at twenty weeks. PIIINP levels were significantly higher in these three fractures at ten weeks. There was no difference in ICTP between the seventeen united and the three ununited fractures. CONCLUSIONS This study identified three serological features of a poor healing response in tibial shaft fractures. First, matrix collagen I and III production in the first ten weeks of healing was adequate, with evidence of significantly increased production of type III collagen. Second, there was no serological evidence of a deficient osteoblast response, as indicated by normal levels of BsALP and PICP, during this early period. Third, evidence of a deficient osteoblast response appeared only at twenty weeks after injury.
Making accountability work in basic education: reforms, challenges and the role of the government

Abstract Accountability has been increasingly emphasized as a key to improving the quality and inclusiveness of basic education. However, reforms around the world inspired by this line of thinking have only generated lackluster results. The paper examines the gaps between theoretical expectations and the actual practices of individual accountability measures, and explores ways to bridge them. It argues that the more fundamental shortcomings of these reforms are the result of a partial understanding of the concept of accountability, in which the role of the government is either neglected or very narrowly emphasized. It concludes that government stewardship is vital in tackling these informational, incentive, and capacity challenges facing the sector and making education accountability reforms more coherent, coordinated, and practical.
Agglomeration, foreign firms and firm exit in regions under transition: the increasing importance of related variety in Hungary

ABSTRACT Related variety of economic activities is widely recognized to induce regional development; however, it is not clear how this mechanism takes place in regions that go through major structural and institutional transformation. Furthermore, foreign direct investment (FDI) is typically a major source of structural change in these areas; and we still need a better understanding on how foreign-owned (foreign) firms affect the dynamics of domestic-owned (domestic) companies. For these reasons we analyse firm-level exit in Hungarian city regions between 1996 and 2011, over the late post-socialist transition in manufacturing industries, focusing on the difference between foreign and domestic firms. Introducing ownership into the related variety calculation, we estimate the probability of firm exit with the region-level related variety calculated separately for foreign and domestic firms. Our results suggest that related variety of foreign firms decreases the probability of domestic firm exit earlier during the economic transition compared to the related variety of domestic firms. This finding supports the idea that FDI plays a formative role in regions under transition, and shows that domestic firms benefit from being in agglomerations where foreign firms are technologically related to each other.
A mouse model for adult cardiac-specific gene deletion with CRISPR/Cas9

Significance The recent development of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas)9 system has greatly simplified the process of genomic editing. However, it has remained difficult to induce mutations in postnatal animals due to delivery challenges of the CRISPR/Cas9 components. Here, we report the generation of a transgenic mouse line that expresses Cas9 exclusively in cardiomyocytes. By using Adeno-Associated Virus 9 to deliver single-guide RNA (sgRNA) this method can rapidly induce genomic insertions and deletions in the heart. As proof of concept, administration of sgRNA against the Myh6 gene induced Myh6 editing, resulting in cardiomyopathy and heart failure in the cardiac-specific Cas9 mouse. This transgenic mouse model offers a valuable tool for cardiovascular research, as a straightforward strategy to edit genes of interest in the heart. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas)9 genomic editing has revolutionized the generation of mutant animals by simplifying the creation of null alleles in virtually any organism. However, most current approaches with this method require zygote injection, making it difficult to assess the adult, tissue-specific functions of genes that are widely expressed or which cause embryonic lethality when mutated. Here, we describe the generation of cardiac-specific Cas9 transgenic mice, which express high levels of Cas9 in the heart, but display no overt defects. In proof-of-concept experiments, we used Adeno-Associated Virus 9 (AAV9) to deliver single-guide RNA (sgRNA) that targets the Myh6 locus exclusively in cardiomyocytes. Intraperitoneal injection of postnatal cardiac-Cas9 transgenic mice with AAV9 encoding sgRNA against Myh6 resulted in robust editing of the Myh6 locus. These mice displayed severe cardiomyopathy and loss of cardiac function, with elevation of several markers of heart failure, confirming the effectiveness of this method of adult cardiac gene deletion. Mice with cardiac-specific expression of Cas9 provide a tool that will allow rapid and accurate deletion of genes following a single injection of AAV9-sgRNAs, thereby circumventing embryonic lethality. This method will be useful for disease modeling and provides a means of rapidly editing genes of interest in the heart.
Human Werner helicase interacting protein 1 (WRNIP1) functions as a novel modulator for DNA polymerase δ

Human WRNIP1, a Werner DNA helicase interacting protein 1, was expressed in insect cells and E. coli. The purified protein behaved as a homo‐oligomeric complex with a native molecular mass indicative of an octamer, and the complex copurified with an ATPase activity that was stimulated by double‐stranded DNA ends. As suggested by genetic studies of budding yeast WRNIP1/Mgs1, the purified human WRNIP1 complex interacted physically with human DNA polymerase δ (pol δ), stimulating its DNA synthesis activity more than fivefold in the presence or absence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Analysis of reaction products demonstrated the stimulation to be partly due to an increased processivity of pol δ but more importantly to an increase in its initiation frequency. Addition of ATP to reactions partially suppressed stimulation by WRNIP1. Furthermore, a mutant WRNIP1 lacking ATPase activity could stimulate pol δ normally but was insensitive to suppression by ATP. These results indicate that WRNIP1 functions as a modulator for initiation or restart events during pol δ‐mediated DNA synthesis and that its ATPase activity is utilized to sense DNA ends and to regulate the extent of stimulation.
A context-aware mobile learning model for web-based learning environments

In recent years, the importance of providing adaptive learning services has noticeably increased in web-based learning environments. Context-aware learning is an excellent solution to customizing learning, since by taking learners' context information into consideration, learning could be offered in a personalized manner, and as a result, the efficiency of the learning process will increase. Moreover, with mobile and handheld devices being widely used nowadays, mobile learning could be viewed as another option for customization of learning. In this paper, a learning model is introduced, based on which context-aware mobile learning capability is added to a learning management system (LMS). With this goal, learner's context information (i.e. his mood and his desired view of the system) is demanded from him, according to which he is provided with a learning environment appropriately structured for his context. The proposed model was tested on a group of learners to assess the performance of the added component from a user point of view. Comparing the personalized LMS with the original one, the results demonstrated a significant enhancement of learners' satisfaction and the quality of learning. Using the presented approach, learning will be a less time-consuming and more efficient process, leading to a more extensive use of learning management systems.
Cannabis Use and Quality of Life of Adolescents and Young Adults: Findings from an Australian Birth Cohort

Abstract Cannabis is generally used to enhance mood (quality of life), but it is not known whether it has this effect in the medium to longer term. Little is currently known about the temporal sequence between cannabis use and the quality of life (QOL). Data are taken from a prospective longitudinal study of pregnant women recruited at their first antenatal visit in Brisbane, Australia. Offspring data from the follow-ups with 14-year-olds and 21-year-olds are used here. Indicators of QOL, happiness, and satisfaction at 14 years are considered as predictors of subsequent cannabis use. The association between cannabis use and QOL at 21 years, adjusting for prior QOL (14 years), is also examined. Socio-demographic characteristics were included as potential confounders relevant to QOL assessments. In this cohort, lower QOL in the early teenage years predicted subsequent onset of cannabis use in young adulthood. After adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics and for QOL pre-cannabis use, participants who used cannabis more frequently had a lower QOL at the 21-years follow-up. Frequent use of cannabis does not appear to enhance the user’s QOL and appears to be associated with a reduced QOL into young adulthood.
A Vibrio Effector Protein Is an Inositol Phosphatase and Disrupts Host Cell Membrane Integrity

Mr. Blebby Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an important cause of contaminated fish-associated food poisoning, kills infected host cells within hours, using three sequential mechanisms: autophagy, cell rounding, and cell lysis. Broberg et al. (p. 1660, published online 19 August) now describe a molecular mechanism of a bacterial effector protein that facilitates cell lysis by disrupting a target involved in regulating membrane dynamics and the actin cytoskeleton. The Vibrio effector, VPA0450, causes target cell membrane blebbing. The protein acts as an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase and disrupts cytoskeletal binding sites on the inner surface of the plasma membrane of infected cells by hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Altering the homeostasis of membrane-bound signaling molecules allows a bacterial pathogen to corrupt cell function. The marine bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes gastroenteritis in humans and encodes the type III effector protein VPA0450, which contributes to host cell death caused by autophagy, cell rounding, and cell lysis. We found that VPA0450 is an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase that hydrolyzed the D5 phosphate from the plasma membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. VPA0450 disrupted cytoskeletal binding sites on the inner surface of membranes of human cells and caused plasma membrane blebbing, which compromised membrane integrity and probably contributed to cell death by facilitating lysis. Thus, bacterial pathogens can disrupt adaptor protein–binding sites required for proper membrane and cytoskeleton dynamics by altering the homeostasis of membrane-bound inositol-signaling molecules.
Utrophin: A Structural and Functional Comparison to Dystrophin

Utrophin is an autosomally‐encoded homologue of dystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene. Although, Utrophin is very similar in sequence to dystrophin and possesses many of the protein‐binding properties ascribed to dystrophin, both proteins are expressed in an apparently reciprocal manner and may be coordinately regulated. In normal skeletal muscle, Utrophin is found at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) whereas dystrophin predominates at the sarcolemma. However, during development, and in some myopathies including DMD, utrophin is also found at the sarcolemma. This re‐distribution is often associated with a significant increase in the levels of utrophin. At the NMJ utrophin co‐localizes with the acetylcholine receptors (AChR) and may play a role in the stabilization of the synaptic cytoskeleton. Because utrophin and dystrophin are so similar, utrophin may be able to replace dystrophin in dystrophin deficient muscle. This review compares the structure and function of utrophin to dystrophin and discusses the rationale behind the use of utrophin as a potential therapeutic agent.
A Queda dos Preços dos Imóveis no Brasil, os Índices de Preços, e os Working Papers do BIS: uma perspectiva para as políticas econômica e monetária

O setor de real estate vem ganhando relevância no cenario economico e financeiro brasileiro. Essa relevância tem crescido a medida que os financiamentos habitacionais tem aumentado sua participacao nos balancos das instituicoes financeiras. O monitoramento permanente desses ativos passa a ganhar importância, a exemplo de todos os ativos do sistema financeiro, a medida que a higidez dessas instituicoes depende, de forma crescente, desses ativos. O crescimento da importância dos ativos imobiliarios, em especial dos imoveis residenciais, acrescenta uma nova dimensao ao ciclo economico, introduzindo uma possiblidade adicional para a geracao de crises: a desvalorizacao dos imoveis, e sua repercussao sobre o sistema financeiro. A forma universalmente adotada para acompanhamento da evolucao desses ativos sao os indices de precos dos imoveis residenciais, ainda que as maneiras de faze-lo sejam tantas quantos indices existem pelo mundo. A construcao de um indice de precos de imoveis e tarefa muito mais dificil do que de um indice de precos ao consumidor, ja que os precos so se materializam no momento da compra e venda de um imovel, evento pouco frequente, agravado pela singularidade de cada imovel transacionado. A essa ja amplamente reconhecida dificuldade, soma-se a de utilizacao dessa medicao para a elaboracao das politicas economica e monetaria. O BIS-Bank for International Settlements, em associacao com o FMI, promoveu uma conferencia em 2003 para discutir a respeito da construcao e utilizacao desse tipo de indice, com destaque para as dificuldades na sua interpretacao e na elaboracao de politicas economicas e monetarias correspondentes. Tanto essa dificuldade e real, que mesmo com todo o empenho daquelas instituicoes, em 2003, praticamente nada resultou para enfrentar a crise economica de 2008, originada do exacerbamento do ciclo imobiliario nos paises de economia madura. As series temporais de dois indices brasileiros sao comparadas, e sao lancadas hipoteses para as divergencias surgidas dessa comparacao, com base no material elaborado pelo BIS/FMI.