Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radial versus femoral approach for high‐speed rotational atherectomy

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare in‐hospital outcomes for patients undergoing high‐speed rotational atherectomy (HSRA) via the radial and femoral route. Background: Transradial access is often avoided for HSRA because of concern over limitations on guide catheter size. No studies have compared a radial and femoral approach for HSRA. Methods: This is a retrospective comparison of in‐hospital outcomes for 151 consecutive patients (75 radial, 76 femoral) undergoing HSRA. Results: Significantly smaller diameter guide catheters (6.3 ± 0.5 Fr vs. 7.1 ± 0.8 Fr, P < 0.001) and burrs (1.6 ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.7 ± 0.2 mm, P = 0.02) were used in the radial compared with the femoral group. Procedural success (93.3% vs. 94.7%, P = 0.75), procedure time (108.7 ± 30.5 min vs. 112.8 ± 35.0 min, P = 0.45), and patient radiation exposure (12125 ± 8373 vs. 12118 ± 7831 cGy cm2, P = 1.00) were similar in radial and femoral groups. There was a trend in favor of radial artery access for major access site bleeding complications (0.0% vs. 5.3%, P = 0.12). The incidence of in‐hospital death or myocardial infarction was low in both groups. Conclusion: This study shows that radial artery access is a feasible, safe, and effective approach for HSRA. Overall complication rates are low and radial access may be associated with a lower risk of major bleeding complications compared with a femoral approach. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Morning Versus Evening Power Output and Repeated‐Sprint Ability

We investigated the effect of time‐of‐day on both maximal sprint power and repeated‐sprint ability (RSA). Nine volunteers (22±4 yrs) performed a RSA test both in the morning (07:00 to 09:00 h) and evening (17:00 to 19:00 h) on different days in a random order. The RSA cycle test consisted of five, 6 sec maximal sprints interspersed by 24 sec of passive recovery. Both blood lactate concentration and heart rate were higher in the evening than morning RSA (lactate values post exercise: 13±3 versus 11±3 mmol/L−1, p<0.05). The peak power developed during the first sprint was higher in the evening than morning (958±112 vs. 915±133 W, p<0.05), but this difference was not apparent in subsequent sprints, leading to a higher power decrement across the 5×6 sec test in the evening (11±2 vs. 7±3%, p<0.05). Both the total work during the RSA cycle test and the power developed during bouts 2 to 5 failed to be influenced by time‐of‐day. This suggests that the beneficial effect of time‐of‐day may be limited to a single expression of muscular power and fails to advantage performance during repeated sprints.
Algorithmic Approaches for Place Recognition in Featureless, Walled Environments

Abstract : This report gives a detailed presentation of three algorithms for automated place recognition by a mobile robot in featureless, walled environments where conventional feature descriptors are ineffective. The robot is assumed to have on it an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a ranging device such as a light detection and ranging system. The environmental descriptors presented here are based on trajectory features and on junction features. The report shows how to derive the descriptor values at each point in the trajectory and how to compare descriptors recorded at different points in the trajectory to determine how closely they match. The output of the algorithms can be fed to an external mapping program and can be used to help correct errors in the map due to IMU drift. These algorithms can be combined with algorithms for fully featured environments to implement a nearly all-environment mapping system.
Occupational Exposure to Veterinary Workers from the Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Agent 64Cu-ATSM

Abstract64Cu-ATSM is an emerging radiopharmaceutical for diagnostic use in positron emission tomography (PET), but to date there are no studies that assess the potential occupational doses to workers in either human or veterinary medicine. This study was aimed at determining the external radiation dose to veterinary workers from clinical PET/CT (PET combined with computed tomography) procedures using 64Cu-ATSM. To determine the dose to the workers, each worker was assigned two Electronic Personal Dosimeters (EPDs) to be worn on the chest and waist during the entirety of each procedure. The workers monitored during this study included a radiobiologist, a nuclear medicine technologist, an anesthesiologist, and a veterinary surgeon. Seven canine patients were imaged with an average mass of 33.7 kg (a range of 20.0–55.1 kg) with an average injected activity of 5 MBq kg−1. The dose range for the radiobiologist was 2–17 &mgr;Sv (mean of 7.1 &mgr;Sv), for the nuclear medicine technologist 0–14 &mgr;Sv (mean of 5.6 &mgr;Sv), for the anesthesiologist 0–12 &mgr;Sv (mean of 4.0 &mgr;Sv), and for the surgeon 0–10 &mgr;Sv (mean of 3.6 &mgr;Sv). In a comparison between the results of this study and published literature on occupational exposures from veterinary FDG PET/CT procedures, 64Cu-ATSM veterinary PET/CT procedures, on a per patient bias, exposed workers to less radiation.
Masquerade: Camouflage Without Crypsis

Caterpillars masquerading as twigs are misidentified by chick predators as inanimate objects, rather than remaining undetected. Masquerade describes the resemblance of an organism to an inedible object and is hypothesized to facilitate misidentification of that organism by its predators or its prey. To date, there has been no empirical demonstration of the benefits of masquerade. Here, we show that two species of caterpillar obtain protection from an avian predator by being misidentified as twigs. By manipulating predators’ previous experience of the putative model but keeping their exposure to the masquerader the same, we determined that predators misidentify masquerading prey as their models, rather than simply failing to detect them.
Author response: PRIMPOL mutation: functional study does not always reveal the truth.

Although the findings reported in this letter by Li and Zhang may challenge the conclusions of Zhao et al., who originally identified a possible link between the PRIMPOL geneand high myopia, it is erroneous and misleading to say that ‘‘functional study does not always reveal the truth. ’’ In our recent article, we set out to establish if a point mutation (Y89D) in a novel human DNA primase-polymerase called PrimPol, identified by others to be potentially associated with high myopia, alters the activity of this polymerase or impacts on DNA replication. Our study clearly and unequivocally establishes that this mutation has a significant impact on the function of this enzyme. The mutant is a poorly processive polymerase, compared to wildtype PrimPol. DNA binding and enzyme kinetic analyses attributes this defect in processivity to a reduction in nucleotide and DNA binding. Examination of protein structural changes indicates that the Y89D mutation alters the enzymes secondary structure, making it less stable than the wild-type domain. Finally, in vivo studies reveal that overexpression of this Y89D variant of PrimPol in PRIMPOL-/deficient cells leads to a significant decrease in unperturbed DNA replication rates. Together, these functional studies reveal the ‘‘truth’’ that this mutation significantly alters the activities of human PrimPol. Whether this mutation has any bearing on the development of high myopia remains to be established, but accessing this potential link was not the subject of our report. There is no doubt that myopia is a complex genetic trait and in our report we state that any ‘‘link between reduced PrimPol polymerase activity and myopigenicity remains unclear’’ and ‘‘further work is required to establish if a direct link exists between replication stress and onset of high myopia. ’’ In summary, it is clear from our functional studies that tyrosine 89 has an important role in the structural integrity of human PrimPol, but further cellular studies are now required to establish if a bona fide link exists between this PrimPol mutation and high myopia.
Environmental Factors in Cancer: Focuson Air Pollution

Environmental factors, in the broad sense, are the primary causes of cancer in the United States, with most being attributable to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, exposure to sunlight and other radiation, and poor diet. A small, but non-negligible contribution to overall cancer risk is believed to come from environmental toxicants and a significant subset of which occurs as air pollutants. This later source of environmental cancer risk is the focus here.
A Review on Tissue Culture Studies in Eclipta alba – An Important Medicinal Plant

Eclipta alba (compositae) is an important medicinal herb found as a weed throughout India. Almost all of its parts are used in traditional system of medicine including seeds, roots and shoots and leaves. The review reveals that a number of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from the plant which possess pharmacological activities like antibacterial, antifungal, diuretic, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-venomous, analgesic, anticancerous and various other important medicinal properties. It is used as a tonic and diuretic in hepatic and spleen enlargement. It is also used in catarrhal jaundice and for skin diseases. For the last few decades or so, extensive research work has been done to confirm its biological activities and pharmacology of its extracts. Since the plant has enormous medicinal properties, there is an increasing worldwide attention towards harnessing the plant products. There is growing demand for plant raw material from herbal industry and therefore needs prime attention for its cultivation and conservation. Tissue culture techniques have been developed for in situ conservation of this plant. The article gives an account of updated information on its phytochemical, pharmacological properties and developments in tissue culture studies on Eclipta alba.
Complex Formation between Junctin, Triadin, Calsequestrin, and the Ryanodine Receptor

Several key proteins have been localized to junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum which are important for Ca2+ release. These include the ryanodine receptor, triadin, and calsequestrin, which may associate into a stable complex at the junctional membrane. We recently purified and cloned a fourth component of this complex, junctin, which exhibits homology with triadin and is the major 125I-calsequestrin-binding protein detected in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles (Jones, L. R., Zhang, L., Sanborn, K., Jorgensen, A. O., and Kelley, J. (1995)J. Biol. Chem. 270, 30787–30796). In the present study, we have examined the binding interactions between the cardiac forms of these four proteins with emphasis placed on the role of junctin. By a combination of approaches including calsequestrin-affinity chromatography, filter overlay, immunoprecipitation assays, and fusion protein binding analyses, we find that junctin binds directly to calsequestrin, triadin, and the ryanodine receptor. This binding interaction is localized to the lumenal domain of junctin, which is highly enriched in charged amino acids organized into “KEKE” motifs. KEKE repeats are also found in the common lumenal domain of triadin, which likewise is capable of binding to calsequestrin and the ryanodine receptor (Guo, W., and Campbell, K. P. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 9027–9030). It appears that junctin and triadin interact directly in the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane and stabilize a complex that anchors calsequestrin to the ryanodine receptor. Taken together, these results suggest that junctin, calsequestrin, triadin, and the ryanodine receptor form a quaternary complex that may be required for normal operation of Ca2+ release.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis associated with liver transplantation, renal failure and gadolinium

A 47‐year‐old man underwent liver transplantation for cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C and alcoholism. This was complicated by primary donor liver dysfunction and acute renal failure requiring dialysis. Gadolinium magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed 2 weeks post transplant, and a second successful liver transplant was performed 1 week later. Shortly after this, the patient developed rapidly progressive erythematous plaques over his abdomen, lower and upper limbs. There was marked oedema and skin induration. Fibrosis severely limited his mobility, leaving him wheelchair‐bound. An abdominal plaque biopsy revealed increased dermal mucin and cellularity, with proliferation of spindled fibroblastic cells. Paraprotein was not detected in the serum. Facial sparing, the absence of serum paraprotein and the histopathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Immunohistochemical stains revealed CD34‐positive spindle‐shaped cells, and electron microscopy did not detect free gadolinium. Following improvement in renal function and various treatments, his plaques softened, fibrosis slowed and mobility partially improved. Gadolinium magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed following this improvement. Six weeks later, further progression of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis occurred despite normal renal function.
Entity matching across stereo cameras for tracking construction workers

While GPS and RFID are dominantly used for tracking construction equipment and materials, 3D vision-based tracking that employs stereo-vision system has been also proposed as an alternative to efficiently track construction resources operating in a congested site. The 3D vision-based tracking requires an entity to be tracked in both cameras of the stereovision system so that two of 2D pixel coordinates are generated for each entity. Its 3D coordinate can be calculated by triangulating two projection rays that go through the 2D pixel coordinates. In order to track multiple entities of the same type simultaneously, the triangulation requires an additional process to match entities across the two camera views. This paper proposes an efficient method of entity matching for tracking construction workers. The method is mainly based on epipolar geometry which represents the geometric relation between two camera views. Two additional strategies - distance ratio thresholding and frame grouping - are introduced to reject false matchings and to ultimately increase precision of the 3D tracking. Experiment results demonstrate its suitability for automated entity matching for 3D vision-based tracking of construction workers.
Binding of calcium is sensed structurally and dynamically throughout the second calcium‐binding domain of the sodium/calcium exchanger

We report the effects of Ca2+ binding on the backbone relaxation rates and chemical shifts of the AD and BD splice variants of the second Ca2+‐binding domain (CBD2) of the sodium–calcium exchanger. Analysis of the Ca2+‐induced chemical shifts perturbations yields similar KD values of 16–24 μM for the two CBD2‐AD Ca2+‐binding sites, and significant effects are observed up to 20 Å away. To quantify the Ca2+‐induced chemical shift changes, we performed a comparative analysis of eight Ca2+‐binding proteins that revealed large differences between different protein folds. The CBD2 15N relaxation data show the CBD2‐AD Ca2+ coordinating loops to be more rigid in the Ca2+‐bound state as well as to affect the FG‐loop located at the opposite site of the domain. The equivalent loops of the CBD2‐BD splice variant do not bind Ca2+ and are much more dynamic relative to both the Ca2+‐bound and apo forms of CBD2‐AD. A more structured FG‐loop in CBD2‐BD is suggested by increased S2 order parameter values relative to both forms of CBD2‐AD. The chemical shift and relaxation data together indicate that, in spite of the small structural changes, the Ca2+‐binding event is felt throughout the molecule. The data suggest that the FG‐loop plays an important role in connecting the Ca2+‐binding event with the other cytosolic domains of the NCX, in line with in vivo and in vitro biochemical data as well as modeling results that connect the CBD2 FG‐loop with the first Ca2+‐binding domain of NCX. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Making data structures and algorithms more understandable by programming sudoku the human way

Data Structures and Algorithms is a module in most Computer Science or Information Technology curricula. It is one of the modules most students identify as being difficult. This paper demonstrates how programming a solution for Sudoku can make abstract concepts more concrete. The paper relates concepts of a typical Data Structures and Algorithms module to a step by step solution for Sudoku in a human type as opposed to a computer oriented solution. Keywords—Data Structures, Algorithms, Sudoku, Object Oriented Programming, Programming Teaching, Education.
Physiologically Aberrant Homologous Recombination Coupled to Synthetic Lethality and especially Viability Pathways in Carcinogenesis within Contextually Active DNA Synthesis and Cell Cycling

It is proposed that synthetic lethality, whereby the cell life-span is terminated by the appearance of a second modulated gene deletion/mutation, is a governing series of mechanisms that operates to induce, in alternative ways, the emergence of a series of potential carcinogenetic pathways implicating processes of aberrant homologous recombination repair. The stalling of replication forks is symptomatic of mechanistic pathways that significantly induce the creation and progression of double strand breaks inherent to physiologic meiotic pathways. It is further to the disruption of pathways of double strand break repair that the DNA synthesis and cell cycling events further establish the importance of aberrant genetic diversity in tumorigenesis and progression. Synthetic viability, in contrast to synthetic lethality, may potentially aid in the understanding of several steps in the malignant transformation process. It would appear necessary to associate synthetic viability with an essential contrasting process of synthetic lethality, although up to date synthetic viability has been insufficiently emphasized in the discussions regarding the mechanics of carcinogenesis. The contextual genetic environment in carcinogenesis has been insufficiently characterized and would include the dynamics of an overwhelming contrast of individual gene action with the underlying mechanisms in tumorigenesis of compound events that include proliferation, invasion and spread of individual and grouped malignant cells. It is to be noted that the dimensions of involvement in carcinogenesis transcend implicated actions of individual oncogenes or of suppressor genes in the orchestration of events. In terms of ongoing events in malignant transformation, synthetic viability may be better understood in comparison and in contrast to its opposite model dysfunctionality induced by synthetic lethality of tumor cells once generated.
Human fetal hepatocytes respond to inflammatory mediators and excrete bile

Under strict observation of the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki Human Research Committee, primary hepatocyte cultures were prepared from second‐trimester fetal liver specimens. We have shown for the first time that fetal hepatocytes have the capacity to produce an acutephase response on treatment with inflammatory mediators. Addition of interleukin‐6 to the cultures resulted in strong induction of C‐reactive protein and α‐1‐antichymotrypsin expression, whereas albumin expression was repressed. In contrast to interleukin‐6, transforming growth factor‐β did not induce C‐reactive protein expression. However, as in adult hepatocytes, fetal cells responded to transforming growth factor‐β by reduced albumin synthesis. We were able to show by virtue of fluorescein excretion into sealed clefts that fetal hepatocytes have the functional capacity to form bile. Our findings indicate that second‐trimester hepatocytes can be regarded as fairly mature liver cells. (HEPATOLOGY 1991;13:1131–1141.)
CD38 low IgG‐secreting cells are precursors of various CD38 high‐expressing plasma cell populations

Despite the important role immunoglobulin G (IgG)‐secreting plasma cells play in memory immune responses, the differentiation and homeostasis of these cells are not completely understood. Here, we studied the differentiation of human IgG‐secreting cells ex vivo and in vitro, identifying these cells by the cellular affinity matrix technology. Several subpopulations of IgG‐secreting cells were identified among the cells isolated from tonsils and bone marrow, particularly differing in the expression levels of CD9, CD19, and CD38. CD38 low IgG‐secreting cells were present exclusively in the tonsils. A major fraction of these cells appeared to be early plasma cell precursors, as upon activation of B cells in vitro, IgG secretion preceded up‐regulation of CD38, and on tonsillar sections, IgG‐containing, CD38 low cells with a plasmacytoid phenotype were found in follicles, where plasma cell differentiation starts. A unitary phenotype of migratory peripheral blood IgG‐secreting cells suggests that all bone marrow plasma cell populations share a common precursor cell. These data are compatible with a multistep model for plasma cell differentiation and imply that a common CD38 low IgG‐secreting precursor gives rise to a diverse plasma cell compartment.
Reduced vibration perception in right hands of normal subjects: an acquired abnormality?

We have measured the vibration perception threshold (VPT) in a large number of normal subjects with the aim of producing accurate age related percentile charts to allow simple, quantitative assessment of neuropathy at the bedside. During this study we noticed that the VPT for right thumbs was often greater than for the left suggesting that in the general population right hands may be less sensitive to vibration than left hands.
Relative CO2/NH3 selectivities of AQP1, AQP4, AQP5, AmtB, and RhAG

The water channel aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and certain Rh-family members are permeable to CO2 and NH3. Here, we use changes in surface pH (pHS) to assess relative CO2 vs. NH3 permeability of Xenopus oocytes expressing members of the AQP or Rh family. Exposed to CO2 or NH3, AQP1 oocytes exhibit a greater maximal magnitude of pHS change (ΔpHS) compared with day-matched controls injected with H2O or with RNA encoding SGLT1, NKCC2, or PepT1. With CO2, AQP1 oocytes also have faster time constants for pHS relaxation (τpHs). Thus, AQP1, but not the other proteins, conduct CO2 and NH3. Oocytes expressing rat AQP4, rat AQP5, human RhAG, or the bacterial Rh homolog AmtB also exhibit greater ΔpHS(CO2) and faster τpHs compared with controls. Oocytes expressing AmtB and RhAG, but not AQP4 or AQP5, exhibit greater ΔpHS(NH3) values. Only AQPs exhibited significant osmotic water permeability (Pf). We computed channel-dependent (*) ΔpHS or Pf by subtracting values for H2O oocytes from those of channel-expressing oocytes. For the ratio ΔpHS(CO2)*/Pf*, the sequence was AQP5 > AQP1 ≅ AQP4. For ΔpHS(CO2)*/ΔpHS(NH3)*, the sequence was AQP4 ≅ AQP5 > AQP1 > AmtB > RhAG. Thus, each channel exhibits a characteristic ratio for indices of CO2 vs. NH3 permeability, demonstrating that, like ion channels, gas channels can exhibit selectivity.