Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Clusterin Glycoforms in the Urine of BSE-Infected Fleckvieh–Simmental Cows

Currently approved tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) monitoring in cattle are based on the detection of the disease-related isoform of the prion protein in brain tissue and consequently are only suitable for postmortem diagnosis. Previously, to meet the demand for an antemortem test based on a matrix that would permit easy access and repeated sampling, two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) was used to perform an unbiased screen of bovine urine. Data demonstrated the altered abundance of particular isoforms of the multifunctional glycoprotein clusterin in urine samples obtained from BSE-infected and age-matched Fleckvieh–Simmental cattle. Unfortunately, the use of particular isoforms of a relatively abundant urine protein such as clusterin for diagnosis faces many of the same challenges encountered in tests based on PrPd detection. In both instances the specific detection of the marker protein is complicated by the high background levels of proteins with identical amino acid sequences, but lacking the disease-specific posttranslational modifications or configuration. The goal of the current study was to define the distinguishing characteristics of the clusterin isoforms observed. Biochemical and mass spectrometry analyses in combination with the generation of bovine clusterin subunit-specific antibodies enabled us to demonstrate that it was β-subunits of clusterin possessing N-linked glycans of complex structure that exhibited differential abundance in response to BSE infection. The charateristic highly glycosylated clusterin β-subunit was detectable as early as 16 mo post infection (mpi) by one-dimensional (1D) Western blot analysis of urine obtained from BSE-infected cattle.
Utilization Patterns and Outcomes Associated With Central Venous Catheter in Septic Shock: A Population-Based Study*

Objectives:In 2001, a randomized trial showed decreased mortality with early, goal-directed therapy in septic shock, a strategy later recommended by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. Placement of a central venous catheter is necessary to administer goal-directed therapy. We sought to evaluate nationwide trends in: 1) central venous catheter utilization and 2) the association between early central venous catheter insertion and mortality in patients with septic shock. Design:We retrospectively analyzed the proportion of septic shock cases receiving an early (day of admission) central venous catheter and the odds of hospital mortality associated with receiving early central venous catheter from years 1998 to 2001 compared with 2002 to 2009. Setting:Non-federal acute care hospitalizations from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1998–2009. Patients:A total of 203,481 (population estimate: 999,545) patients admitted through an emergency department with principal diagnosis of septicemia and secondary diagnosis of shock. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:From 1998 to 2009, population-adjusted rates of septic shock increased from 12.6 cases per 100,000 U.S. adults to 78 cases per 100,000. During this time, age-adjusted hospital mortality associated with septic shock declined from 40.4% to 31.4%. Early central venous catheter insertion increased from 5.7% (95% confidence interval 5.1% to 6.3%) to 19.2% (95% confidence interval 18.7% to 19.5%) cases with septic shock, with an increased rate of early central venous catheter placement identified after 2007. The rate of decline in age-adjusted hospital mortality was significantly greater for patients who received an early central venous catheter (–4.2% per year, 95% confidence interval –3.2, –4.2%) as compared with no central venous catheter (–2.9% per year, 95% confidence interval –2.3, –3.5%; p = 0.016). Hospital mortality associated with early central venous catheter insertion significantly decreased from a multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of 1.29 (95% confidence interval 1.14–1.45) prior to 2001 to an adjusted odds ratio of 0.87 (95% confidence interval 0.84–0.90) after 2001. Conclusions:Placement of a central venous catheter early in septic shock has increased three-fold since 1998. The mortality associated with early central venous catheter insertion decreased after publication of evidence-based instructions for central venous catheter use.
Evaluating Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)Through Effective Accountability

This paper addresses the immeasurable relevance and importance of accountability to the sustainability of microfinance institutions in Nigeria. It is maximally observed in this research work that proper accountability constitutes a foundational precedent and required tool for successful microfinance institutions’ operations towards economic development of Nigeria. The study however deduced that for the sustenance of the microfinance institution, it is pertinent that the principles of accountability must evolve and that the regulatory authorities need not only state policies on the principles of accountability to ensure efficient management of the microfinance institutions, but they must take a step further to ensure compliance with such policy provisions for the process of successful operational design, regulation, supervision and control of MFIs.
High speed vedic multiplier used vedic mathematics

Multiplier is main building block of all processor, which improves the speed of Digital Signal Processor (DSP). In special application in which we need to reduce the time delay. In proposed method, we design a Vedic multiplication algorithm by using Vedic mathematics formula Urdhava Tiryakbhyam method means vertically and cross wise. Vedic mathematics is mainly based on 16 Sutras and was rediscovered in early 20th century. In ancient time in India, people used this Sutra for decimal number multiplications effectively. The same basic concept of Vedic mathematics is applied to multiplication of binary number to make usable in the digital hardware system. The speed of the computation process is increased and the processing time is reduced due to decrease of combinational path delay compared to the existing multipliers. In our proposed multiplication algorithm, we get less time delay compared to other algorithms. [1]
In-vivo quantitative evaluation of perfusion zones and perfusion gradient in the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap

The selection of well-vascularized tissue during DIEP flap harvest remains controversial. While several studies have elucidated cross-midline perfusion, further characterization of perfusion to the ipsilateral hemiabdomen is necessary for minimizing rates of fat necrosis or partial fat necrosis in bilateral DIEP flaps. Eighteen patients (29 flaps) underwent DIEP flap harvest using a prospectively designed protocol. Perforators were marked and imaged with a novel system for quantitatively measuring tissue oxygenation, the Digital Light Hyperspectral Imager. Images were then analyzed to determine if perforator selection influenced ipsilateral flap perfusion. Flaps based on a single lateral row perforator (SLRP) were found to have a higher level of hemoglobin oxygenation in Zone I (mean %HbO2 = 76.1) compared to single medial row perforator (SMRP) flaps (%HbO2 = 71.6). Perfusion of Zone III relative to Zone I was similar between SLRP and SMRP flaps (97.4% vs. 97.9%, respectively). These differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Perfusion to the lateral edge of the flap was slightly greater for SLRP flaps compared SMRP flaps (92.1% vs. 89.5%, respectively). SMRP flaps had superior perfusion travelling inferiorly compared to SLRP flaps (88.8% vs. 83.9%, respectively). Overall, it was observed that flaps were better perfused in the lateral direction than inferiorly. Significant differences in perfusion gradients directed inferiorly or laterally were observed, and perforator selection influenced perfusion in the most distal or inferior aspects of the flap. This suggests broader clinical implications for flap design that merit further investigation.
Preoperative evaluation of pancreaticobiliary tumor using MR multi-imaging techniques.

AIM To evaluate the clinical value of MR multi-imaging techniques in diagnosing and preoperative assessment of pancreaticobiliary tumor. METHODS MR multi-imaging techniques, including MR cross-sectional imaging, MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced MR angiography (3D DCE MRA), were performed to make prospective diagnosis and preoperative evaluation in 28 patients with suspected pancreaticobiliary tumors. There were 17 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 8 cases of biliary system carcinoma and 3 cases of non-neoplastic lesions. RESULTS Using MR multi-imaging techniques, the accuracy in diagnosing the patients with pancreaticobiliary tumors was 89.3% (25/28). The accuracy in detecting the range of tumor invasion was 80.3% (57/71). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of MR multi-imaging techniques in preoperative assessment of the resectability of pancreaticobiliary tumor were 83.3%, 89.5%, 88.0%, 71.4%, and 94.4%, respectively. There was well diagnostic consistency between MR multi-imaging techniques and CT (kappa = 0.64, P<0.01). The fusion image could be made from MRCP and 3D DCE MRA images. CONCLUSION MR multi-imaging techniques can integrate the advantages of various MR images. The non-invasive "all-in-one" MR imaging protocol is the efficient method in diagnosing, staging and preoperative assessment of pancreaticobiliary tumor.
Coronary Perfusion Pressure and Return of Spontaneous Circulation after Prolonged Cardiac Arrest

Abstract Introduction. The amount of myocardial perfusion required for successful defibrillation after prolonged cardiac arrest is not known. Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) is a surrogate for myocardial perfusion. One limited clinical study reported that a threshold of 15 mmHg was necessary for return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and that CPP was predictive of ROSC. A distinction between threshold and dose of CPP has not been reported. Objective. To test the hypothesis that swine achieving ROSC will have higher preshock mean CPP and higher preshock area under the CPP curve (AUC) than swine not attaining ROSC. Methods. Data from four similar swine cardiac arrest studies were retrospectively pooled. Animals had undergone 8–11 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation, 2 minutes of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), administration of drugs, and 3 more minutes of CPR prior to the first shock. Mean CPP ± standard error of the mean (SEM) was derived from the last 20 compressions of each 30-second epoch of CPR and compared between ROSC/no-ROSC groups by repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). AUC for all compressions delivered over the 5 minutes was calculated by direct summation and compared by Kruskal-Wallis test. Prediction of ROSC was assessed by logistic regression. Results. Throughout the first 5 minutes of CPR (n = 80), mean CPP ± SEM was consistently higher in animals with ROSC (n = 63) (maximum CPP 41.2 ± 0.6 mmHg) than animals with no ROSC (maximum CPP 20.1 ± 0.3 mmHg) (p = 0.0001). Animals with ROSC received more total reperfusion (43.9 ± 17.6 mmHg × 102) than animals without ROSC (21.4 ± 13.7 mmHg × 102) (p < 0.001). Two regression models identified CPP (odds ratio [OR] 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05, 1.18) and AUC (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.05, 1.16) as predictors of ROSC. Experimental study also predicted ROSC in each model (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.15, 2.50; and OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.12, 2.25, respectively). Conclusion. Higher CPP threshold and dose are associated with and predictive of ROSC.
Cell Cycle Dynamics of the Nuclear Envelope

The nuclear envelope (NE) consists of an inner and an outer membrane, nuclear pore complexes, and the underlying nuclear lamina, a filamentous scaffold structure formed by lamins. The inner membrane is linked to the lamina and chromatin by its integral membrane proteins, such as lamin B receptor (LBR), emerin, and various isoforms of lamina-associated polypeptides (LAP) 1 and 2, which bind lamins and/or chromatin. During mitosis, the NE is disassembled upon phosphorylation of its core components, and the NE is torn apart by a dynein-driven microtubule-dependent mechanism. Nuclear reassembly after sister chromatid separation requires a timely coordinated and dephosphorylation-dependent association of lamin-binding proteins and lamins with chromosomal proteins and targeting of membranes to specific sites on chromosomes. Various chromatin-binding domains in lamina proteins, such as the LEM domain, present in all LAP2 isoforms and in emerin, as well as unique regions in lamina proteins and in specific LAP2 isoforms have been implicated in defined steps of NE reformation. Furthermore, novel mechanisms of membrane fusion involving Ran GTPase are just beginning to emerge.
Factors in the initiation and propagation of aortic dissections in human autopsy aortas.

Our goal was to evaluate physical factors in the initiation and propagation of dissections in human aortas. Aortic dissection was simulated in 21 open unpressurized human autopsy aortas by infusing dyed isotonic saline into the media at constant flow. Pressure during growth of the fluid filled cavity was monitored and correlated with volume to give pressure-volume curves, from which distensibility, peak pressure, and work data were calculated. Dissections in specimens occurred at a very high nonphysiological mean pressure of 79 +/- 29 (SD) kPa (596 +/- 214 mmHg). Age and tear depth had no significant effect on medial strength of human aortas but sex, location and atherosclerotic plaque formation did (p < 0.05). The mean pressure value for the female abdominal fibrous/calcified group (92 +/- 30 kPa, 691 +/- 222 mmHg) differed from that of the male abdominal fibrous/calcified group (69 +/- 36 kPa, 508 +/- 269 mmHg). We also observed a significant difference between the male thoracic fibrous calcified (80 +/- 31 kPa, 601 +/- 230 mmHg) and male abdominal fibrous/calcified (68 +/- 36 kPa, 508 +/- 269 mmHg) groups. Significant differences were observed between the female fatty/normal (75 +/- 25 kPa, 562 +/- 187 mmHg) and fibrous/calcified (91 +/- 23 kPa, 685 +/- 176 mmHg) groups of the thoracic aorta and between the male fatty/normal (86 +/- 23 kPa, 650 +/- 169 mmHg) and fibrous/calcified (68 +/- 36 kPa, 508 +/- 269 mmHg) groups of the abdominal aorta. Distensibility data showed no trends. It is probable that dissection does not occur spontaneously in the absence of a connective tissue disorder and/or surgical procedure. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Decentralized Control of Distributed Generation for Voltage Profile Optimization in Smart Feeders

Distributed generation, which is installed to exploit renewable energy sources, can also be used as a reactive power resource and contribute to tackle the voltage regulation problem in smart distribution grids. Adopting a decentralized approach with off-line coordination, the paper proposes an optimal set-point design for the voltage/reactive power control scheme of distributed generation. The objective is to improve the voltage profile along the feeders of a distribution system. Using only local measurements, the actual operating conditions of the feeder are firstly estimated; then, the set-point is evaluated by solving an optimal voltage profile problem. The off-line coordination avoids any modification to the architecture of existing control systems and requires communication only in the case of significant changes of the distribution system topology. The results of numerical simulations are presented for MV feeders with wind and photovoltaic generations. A comparison with standard control schemes is reported, as well as considerations about the off-line coordination among the distributed generations and the tap-changer of the HV/MV transformer.
Effects of environmental instabilities on endpoint stiffness during the maintenance of human arm posture

Using the upper limb to manipulate objects or tools requires maintenance of stable arm posture. The ability to maintain stable postures is dependent on the mechanical properties of the arm, which can be characterized by estimates of endpoint stiffness. In this study we quantified the endpoint stiffness of the human arm during postural interactions with mechanically imposed unstable loads. The purpose was to determine the extent to which arm stiffness is adapted according to the mechanical properties of the environment during postural tasks. We estimated the endpoint stiffness of the right arms of eight subjects as they interacted with four haptic environments: rigid, unstable along the direction of maximal endpoint stiffness and orthogonal to this direction, and a high-strength unstable environment also aligned to the orientation of maximal endpoint stiffness. The size and orientation of endpoint stiffness were quantified for each haptic condition. Stiffness size was increased along the directions of the destabilizing environments (p<0.003). However, the environments had no significant effect on stiffness orientation (p>0.26). These findings suggest that at a fixed posture interactions with unstable environments can induce moderate, task-appropriate changes in limb mechanics that are tuned to the environment. However, these changes are small relative to those that can be obtained by changing limb posture.
Residual tumour less than 0.25 centimetres and positive lymph nodes are risk factors for early relapse in recurrent ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis treated with cytoreductive surgery, HIPEC and systemic chemotherapy

Abstract Aim: The cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has showed promising results for the survival in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinomatosis, however, some of them will recur within the first year. The aim of this study is focussed on identifying the risk factors to develop the recurrence within the first year after an optimal CRS-HIPEC in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinomatosis. Methods: A total of 100 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from recurrent ovarian cancer treated by CRS + HIPEC were selected for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the variables and the early recurrence. Results: The mean follow-up was 42.5 months. The mean age was 56.2 years. Early recurrence was observed in the 36%. The group early recurrence presented a higher rate of optimal cytoreductions CC1 (16.2% vs. 3.5%), lymph nodes (32.5% vs. 15%) and the use of hemoderivates (40.5% vs. 33%). Others parameters as Peritoneal Cancer Index, major morbidity? 3, re-operations rate and time to adjuvant chemotherapy were similar in both groups. The five years OS was 58%, for the non-early recurrence was higher than the early recurrence group (64% vs. 41%). In the multivariate analysis, CC-1 (OR 5.73; 1.16–32.04) and positive lymph nodes (OR 2.26; 1.01–4.32) proved to be independent factors for the early recurrence. Conclusion: The combination of both (CC1 and positive lymph nodes) makes that the indication of CRS and HIPEC should be individualised. However, the major morbidity, stage IV and the time to the adjuvant treatment were not associated with an early recurrence, so that, a major aggressiveness is recommended to achieve a CC0.
A suppressor of SNF1 mutations causes constitutive high-level invertase synthesis in yeast.

The SNF1 gene product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required to derepress expression of many glucose-repressible genes, including the SUC2 structural gene for invertase. Strains carrying a recessive snf1 mutation are unable to ferment sucrose. We have isolated 30 partial phenotypic revertants of a snf1 mutant that were able to ferment sucrose. Genetic characterization of these revertants showed that the suppressor mutations were all recessive and defined eight complementation groups, designated ssn1 through ssn8 (suppressor of snf1 ). The revertants were assayed for secreted invertase activity, and although activity was detected in members of each complementation group, only the ssn6 strains contained wild-type levels. Synthesis of secreted invertase in ssn6 strains was found to be constitutive, that is, insensitive to glucose repression; moreover, the ssn6 mutations also conferred constitutivity in a wild-type ( SNF1 ) genetic background and are, therefore, not merely suppressors of snf1 . Pleiotropic defects were observed in ssn6 mutants. Genetic analysis suggested that the ssn6 mutations are allelic to the cyc8 mutation isolated by R. J. Rothstein and F. Sherman, which causes increased production of iso-2-cytochrome c. The data suggest a regulatory function for SSN6 .
The A and B isoforms of the human progesterone receptor operate through distinct signaling pathways within target cells

The biological response to progesterone is mediated by two distinct forms of the human progesterone receptor (hPR-A and hPR-B). In most cell contexts, hPR-B functions as a transcriptional activator of progesterone-responsive genes, whereas hPR-A functions as a transcriptional inhibitor of all steroid hormone receptors. We have created mutations within the carboxyl terminus of hPR which differentially effect the transcriptional activity of hPR-B in a cell- and promoter-specific manner. Analogous mutations, when introduced into hPR-A, have no effect on its ability to inhibit the transcriptional activity of other steroid hormone receptors. The observed differences in the structural requirements for hPR-B and hPR-A function suggest that transcriptional activation and repression by PR are mediated by two separate pathways within the cell. In support of this hypothesis, we have shown that hPR-A mediated repression of human estrogen receptor (hER) transcriptional activity is not dependent on hER expression level but depends largely on the absolute expression level of hPR-A. Thus, it appears that hPR-A inhibits hER transcriptional activity as a consequence of a noncompetitive interaction of hPR-A with either distinct cellular targets or different contact sites on the same target. We propose that hPR-A expression facilitates a ligand-dependent cross-talk among sex steroid receptor signaling pathways within the cell. It is likely, therefore, that alterations in the expression level of hPR-A or its cellular target can have profound effects on the physiological or pharmacological responses to sex steroid hormone receptor ligands.