Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
snRNP Sm proteins share two evolutionarily conserved sequence motifs which are involved in Sm protein‐protein interactions.

The spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) U1, U2, U4/U6 and U5 share eight proteins B’, B, D1, D2, D3, E, F and G which form the structural core of the snRNPs. This class of common proteins plays an essential role in the biogenesis of the snRNPs. In addition, these proteins represent the major targets for the so‐called anti‐Sm auto‐antibodies which are diagnostic for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have characterized the proteins F and G from HeLa cells by cDNA cloning, and, thus, all human Sm protein sequences are now available for comparison. Similar to the D, B/B’ and E proteins, the F and G proteins do not possess any of the known RNA binding motifs, suggesting that other types of RNA‐protein interactions occur in the snRNP core. Strikingly, the eight human Sm proteins possess mutual homology in two regions, 32 and 14 amino acids long, that we term Sm motifs 1 and 2. The Sm motifs are evolutionarily highly conserved in all of the putative homologues of the human Sm proteins identified in the data base. These results suggest that the Sm proteins may have arisen from a single common ancestor. Several hypothetical proteins, mainly of plant origin, that clearly contain the conserved Sm motifs but exhibit only comparatively low overall homology to one of the human Sm proteins, were identified in the data base. This suggests that the Sm motifs may also be shared by non‐spliceosomal proteins. Further, we provide experimental evidence that the Sm motifs are involved, at least in part, in Sm protein‐protein interactions. Specifically, we show by co‐immunoprecipitation analyses of in vitro translated B’ and D3 that the Sm motifs are essential for complex formation between B’ and D3. Our finding that the Sm proteins share conserved sequence motifs may help to explain the frequent occurrence in patient sera of anti‐Sm antibodies that cross‐react with multiple Sm proteins and may ultimately further our understanding of how the snRNPs act as auto‐antigens and immunogens in SLE.
The fate of cryopreserved nerve isografts and allografts in normal and immunosuppressed rats

Donor Schwann cells, perineurial cells, and vasculature are known to survive in grafts of peripheral nerve. In the present study, we attempted to cryopreserve nerve to determine whether these cellular components of nerve would survive after transplantation and support host axonal regeneration through the graft. Four‐centimeter lengths of peroneal nerves were removed from inbred adult American Cancer Institute (ACI) rats and placed into vials that contained a cryoprotective mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and formamide (DF) at room temperature. Each vial with nerves in DF was cooled at a rate of 1–1.5°C/minute down to –40°C at which point the vials were plunged into liquid nitrogen at –196°C. After 5 weeks of storage, the nerves were thawed and DF removed. Some of the cryopreserved‐thawed ACI nerves were transplanted as isografts into the legs of ACI rats. Other ACI nerves were used as allografts and inserted into immunologically normal Fischer (FR) rats that were untreated or were immunosuppressed with the drug Cyclosporin A (Cy‐A). At surgery, only one end of the nerve graft was joined to the cut proximal end of the peroneal nerve of the host. The cellular elements of ACI grafts were present at 5 weeks in grafts removed from ACI rats and FR rats treated with Cy‐A. Non‐immunosuppressed FR rats rejected ACI nerves as did FR rats in whom Cy‐A was stopped after 5 weeks of treatment. All surviving ACI grafts underwent Wallerian degeneration and consisted of columns of Schwann cells, which in their proximal portion were associated with regenerating host axons. The donor perineurial sheath and vasculature were also present in surviving grafts. ACI isografts only were examined 20 weeks postoperatively. All normal tissue components survived in these older grafts and contained regenerated and myelinated host axons throughout their 4 cm lengths. These results demonstrated that the cellular elements of nerve can be cryopreserved, and after transplantation, survive and function. Because nerves survived after prolonged cryopreservation, it seems feasible to establish a nerve bank from which grafts can be withdrawn to repair gaps in injured nerves. However, cryopreserved nerves used as allografts remain immunogenic and require immunosuppression for their survival. Published in 1993 by Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Monocyte CD64 or CD89 targeting by surfactant protein D/anti‐Fc receptor mediates bacterial uptake

We recently showed that a chimeric protein, consisting of a recombinant fragment of human surfactant protein D (rfSP‐D) coupled to a Fab′ fragment directed against the human Fcα receptor (CD89), effectively targets pathogens recognized by SP‐D to human neutrophils. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of chimeric rfSP‐D/anti‐Fc receptor proteins targeting Escherichia coli to CD89 or to the Fcγ receptor I (CD64) on monocytes. Both chimeric rfSP‐D/anti‐Fc receptor proteins increased internalization of E. coli by the human promonocytic cell line U937, but only after induction of monocytic differentiation, despite the fact that the expression levels of CD64 and CD89 on undifferentiated cells were at least as high as on differentiated cells. The two chimeric rfSP‐D/anti‐Fc receptor proteins did not enhance each other's effect on E. coli uptake. Targeting to differentiated U937 cells was inhibited by blocking the interaction either between the rfSP‐D part of the chimeric molecule and E. coli, or between the anti‐Fc receptor Fab′ fragment and the Fc receptor on the U937 cell. In conclusion, both CD64 and CD89 on U937 cells prove to be suitable for targeting by rfSP‐D/anti‐Fc receptor proteins. However, in addition to mere Fc receptor expression, effective targeting requires monocytic differentiation.
Pancreatic carcinogenesis: effect of secretin in the hamster- nitrosamine model.

The effect of exogenous secretin on pancreatic carcinogenesis in WO strain hamsters has been examined in the nitrosamine-ductular adenocarcinoma model. Secretin, 20 clinical U/kg, stimulated a maximal secretory response of pancreatic juice and bicarbonate when given iv. The same dose given sc for 6 weeks had no significant effect on pancreatic wet weight and DNA or RNA contents. However, when given to animals receiving N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine [(BOP) CAS: 60599-38-4] (5 mg/kg), it reduced the latency and increased the induction rate of tumor development when compared with the carcinogen given alone to animals (secretin + BOP, 15 of 17 animals with tumors; BOP alone, 4 of 13 with tumors at 15 wk; P less than .002). These effects are consistent with secretin acting as a cocarcinogen in this model of pancreatic carcinogenesis.
A comparative analysis of pedometry in measuring physical activity of children.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the step and physical activity time output features of the Walk4Life LS2505 pedometer under field physical activity conditions. METHODS Data were collected on 288 (12.62 +/- 1.23 yr) participants during a school-based structured physical activity program. Participants' physical activity levels were concurrently measured via the Yamax SW701 (Yamax Corp., Japan) and Walk4Life LS2505 (Walk4Life Inc., Plainfield, IL) pedometers, and System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) physical activity coding mechanism. Relative and absolute agreement between SW701 (criterion) and LS2505 steps per minute, and SOFIT (criterion) and LS2505 physical activity time (min) were analyzed overall, and across physical activity content themes and physical activity quartiles. RESULTS Physical activity measure correlations were moderately strong to strong (r = 0.85-0.98, P < 0.05); however, the LS2505 significantly underestimated steps per minute (M(diff) = 6.37 +/- 5.79, P < 0.05) and overestimated physical activity time (M(diff) = -7.73 +/- 3.13, P < 0.05). When LS2505 steps per minute were examined across physical activity themes and quartiles, clinically acceptable absolute error scores (<or= 10 +/- 5%) were found when physical activity was mostly continuous, or intermittent and moderate to high. The LS2505 physical activity time measure was clinically acceptable only when physical activity was continuous. CONCLUSION It is recommended that the LS2505 pedometer output of time only be employed when physical activity is continuous, or when physical activity is continuous, or intermittent and moderate to high for the output of steps.
Enrolling Children in Public Insurance: SCHIP, Medicaid, and State Implementation

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established federal grants to the states to create the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This presented the states with a number of implementation choices concerning administrative models for the new programs, as well as choices about eligibility standards, enrollment simplification, crowd-out, and cost sharing requirements. At the same time, the states were also implementing welfare reform. We describe the most important of these implementation choices, and using data from the Current Population Survey, we estimate the impacts of state policy on enrollment in this multiprogram environment. The results indicate that SCHIP programs that are administered as Medicaid expansions are more successful than either separate SCHIP plans or combination programs in enrolling children. States that remove asset tests and implement presumptive eligibility and self-declaration of income have higher enrollment levels. Continuous eligibility and adoption of mail-in applications have no effect on overall enrollment. Waiting periods and premiums reduce enrollment. Stringent welfare reform reduces children's enrollment, despite federal policy that was intended to protect children from the consequences of welfare reform. The negative impacts of a number of these policy reforms substantially reduce enrollment, potentially offsetting the more favorable impacts of other policy choices. We estimate that if all states adopted the policy options that facilitate program use, enrollment for children with family incomes less than 200 percent of the poverty line could be raised from the current rate of 42 percent to 58 percent.
Immune evasion as a pathogenic mechanism of varicella zoster virus.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a human herpesvirus that causes varicella (chickenpox) during primary infection, establishes latency in dorsal root ganglia and may reactivate years later, producing herpes zoster. VZV must evade antiviral immunity during three important stages of viral pathogenesis, including the cell-associated viremia characteristic of primary infection, persistence in dorsal root ganglia during latency and the initial period of VZV reactivation. Our observations about the immunomodulatory effects of VZV document its capacity to interfere with adaptive immunity mediated by CD4 as well as CD8 T cells, ensuring the survival of the virus in the human population from generation to generation.
Racial and ethnic identification and quality of care: an Australian perspective

Perspectives care with two dimensions — access and effectiveness. Ac means availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptab while effectiveness is operationalised as the processes of interpersonal and clinical care. Interpersonal c re relates the interaction between health care providers and their patients. Clinical care relates to the technical aspects of c This distinction is also reflected in guidelines developed in US to address disparities in health. Knowing if a patient is Indigenous can be key to improving their care
Falcon Adenovirus in an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

ABSTRACT A fatal adenovirus infection is described in a wild-caught American kestrel (Falco sparverius). Predominate lesions were a moderate to severe hepatitis with diffuse single-cell necrosis of hepatocytes and a splenitis characterized by necrosis of cells surrounding the sheathed arteries. Pan-nuclear eosinophilic to magenta inclusion bodies were abundant within hepatocytes. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a portion of the hexon gene from DNA extracted from the bird's liver and spleen. Sequence analysis showed that the adenovirus infecting this kestrel was the falcon adenovirus with a sequence homology of 99.5% to the isolate from the Northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis) variant and 98.6% homology to isolates from the taita (Falco fasciinucha) and orange-breasted falcons (Falco deiroleucus). This report expands the range of species of falcons that are susceptible to falcon adenovirus infection and disease. Given that this kestrel was recently wild caught and housed in isolation with other wild-caught kestrels, it is likely that the falcon adenovirus is present in wild populations of American kestrels.
Analgesic requirements after major abdominal surgery are associated with OPRM1 gene polymorphism genotype and haplotype.

AIMS The association between SNPs of the human OPRM1 gene encoding the micro-opioid receptor and postoperative analgesic requirements in surgical patients remains controversial. Here, we evaluate whether any of the five tag SNPs (A118G, IVS2+G691C, IVS3+G5953A, IVS3+A8449G and TAA+A2109G) representing the four linkage disequilibrium blocks of the OPRM1 gene influences postoperative analgesic requirements. MATERIALS & METHODS We studied 138 adult Japanese patients who underwent major open abdominal surgery under combined general and epidural anesthesia and received continuous postoperative epidural analgesia with opioids. RESULTS The 118G homozygous (GG) patients required 24-h postoperative analgesics more than 118A homozygous (AA) and heterozygous (AG) patients. Tag SNP haplotypes also were associated with 24-h postoperative analgesic requirements. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that OPRM1 gene tag SNP genotypes and haplotypes can primarily contribute to prediction of postoperative analgesic requirements in individual patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery.
Measurement of mucociliary function in man.

A new technique for the study of nasal mucociliary flow was used in 46 normal subjects and 7 subjects who had undergone laryngectomy. The average flow rate was 7 mm per min in the former group and 8 mm per min in the latter group. The method involves the use of an Anger camera for external detection of a single, small tagged particle placed on the nasal mucosa.
Meiotic Origins of Maternal Age-Related Aneuploidy1

ABSTRACT Chromosome segregation errors in female meiosis lead to aneuploidy in the resulting egg and embryo, making them one of the leading genetic causes of spontaneous abortions and developmental disabilities in humans. It is known that aneuploidy of meiotic origin increases dramatically as women age, and current evidence suggests that most errors occur in meiosis I. Several hypotheses regarding the cause of maternal age-related aneuploidy have been proposed, including recombination errors in early meiosis, a defective spindle assembly checkpoint in meiosis I, and deterioration of sister chromatid cohesion with age. This review discusses findings in each area, and focuses especially on recent studies suggesting that deterioration of cohesion with increasing maternal age is a leading cause of age-related aneuploidy.
Short-term Efficacy of Upper-Extremity Exercise Training in Patients With Chronic Airway Obstruction: A Systematic Review

Background, Objectives, and Measurements: Patients with chronic airway obstruction (CAO) frequently experience dyspnea and fatigue during activities performed by accessory muscles of ventilation, which competitively participate in arm elevation. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning patients with CAO addresses the effects of upper-extremity exercise training (UEET), added to lower-extremity training or comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation, on the following patient-centered outcomes: exercise capacity, symptoms, ability to perform daily activities, and health-related quality of life. Methods: Studies were retrieved using comprehensive database and hand-search strategies. Two independent reviewers determined study eligibility based on inclusion criteria. A detailed description of treatments was mandatory. Reviewers rated study quality and extracted information on study methods, design, intervention, and results. Results: Forty publications were evaluated. Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria but had serious methodological limitations, which introduce possible biases that reduce their internal validity. The outcomes measured were heterogeneous, and the results were inconsistent regarding maximal exercise capacity, dyspnea, and health-related quality of life. No effect of UEET was demonstrated for measures of arm fatigue. Limitations and Conclusions: The limited methodological quality of the studies retrieved prevented us from performing a meta-analysis, the results of which could be misleading. This systematic review shows that there is limited evidence examining UEET and that the evidence available is of poor quality. Therefore, a recommendation for the inclusion or exclusion of UEET in pulmonary rehabilitation programs for individuals with CAO is not possible. Further research is needed to definitively ascertain the effects of this training modality on patient-centered outcomes.
An evaluation of climatological data in the Indian Ocean area

This paper presents evidence that both land-records and marine products currently used to assess the interannual and decadal variability of the monsoon system are subjected to important systematic errors due to non-climatic factors. The main inhomogeneities in the NCAR's World Monthly Surface Climatology during the 1900-1984 period affect all Sea Level Pressure (SLP) time series over the Indian subcontinent. These discontinuities are mainly linked to the non-consideration of changes in the time of observation between sample periods when the data have been compiled at NCAR. The main example of such discontinuity is observed in 1961 with the change from the World Weather Records collection to the Monthly Climatic Data for the World series. Systematic biases are also revealed for Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Air Temperature (ART) and SLP ship-measurements compiled over the Indian Ocean during 1900-1986. The main spurious jumps occur around 1932 for SLP, 1940 for both SST and ART, and 1954 for SST sampled in the east Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. In addition, an artificial trend contaminates SST reports during 1954-1976. Though no attempts have been made to determine the exact causes responsible for these inhomogeneities, there is little doubt about their origins because all these dates and trends are in phase with important changes in the composition of “source-decks” merged into the marine dataset, and do not agree with fluctuations of corrected SLP and temperature measurements along the coasts of the Indian subcontinent. Finally, substantial biases in resolution of the annual cycle can be expected for all the parameters because the sampling over the Indian Ocean has a strong seasonal dependence after 1950. Many inconsistencies in the observational picture of interannual SST variations over the Indian Ocean are thought to be linked to such data problems. A comparison between land and marine trends has however suggested the existence of some significant decadal-scale fluctuations in the Indian region during the 1900-1986 period. These true climatic happenings include prominently a warming temperature trend and a general SLP decrease over both land and ocean during 1900-1939, and a sudden warming in the Indian Ocean after 1976. This recent warming does not affect the interior of the Indian subcontinent and is in phase with persistent positive SLP anomalies for the whole Indian sector. This corroborates the evidence of a climatic change in the Indian Ocean after 1976 (Nitta and Yamada, 1989).
Candida Infections in Surgical Patients

Serious Candida infections were seen in 55 surgical patients from January 1977 through December 1980. Most of the patients had compromising underlying conditions and many were elderly. Broad-spectrum antibiotics and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) appeared to predispose patients to Candida infections. Mortality rate from Candida was 38%. A high percentage of patients with positive blood or bile cultures died as a result of Candida infection. Therapy with intravenous amphotericin B was highly effective if given in adequate dosage. No patient receiving more than 200 mg of amphotericin B died, but the mortality rate was 56% in those receiving lower doses.
Noninvasive bone replacement with a new injectable calcium phosphate biomaterial.

The use of injectable calcium phosphate (CaP) biomaterials in noninvasive surgery should provide efficient bone colonization and implantation. Two different kinds of injectable biomaterials are presently under development: ionic hydraulic bone cements that harden in vivo after injection, and an association of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic granules and a water-soluble polymer vehicle (a technique particularly investigated by our group), providing an injectable CaP bone substitute (IBS). In our study, we compared these two approaches, using physicochemical characterizations and in vivo evaluations in light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and three-dimensional microtomography with synchrotron technology. Three weeks after implantation in rabbit bone, both biomaterials showed perfect biocompatibility and bioactivity, but new bone formation and degradation of the biomaterial were significantly greater for BCP granules than for ionic cement. Newly formed bone developed, binding the BCP granules together, whereas new bone grew only on the surface of the cement, which remained dense, with no obvious degradation 3 weeks after implantation. This study confirms that BCP granules carried by a cellulosic polymer conserve bioactivity and are conducive to earlier and more extensive bone substitution than a carbonated-hydroxyapatite bone cement. The presence of intergranular spaces in the BCP preparation, as shown on microtomography imaging, seems particularly favorable, allowing body fluids to reach each BCP granule immediately after implantation. Thus, the IBS functions as a completely interconnected ceramic with total open macroporosity. This new bone replacement approach should facilitate microinvasive bone surgery and local delivery of bone therapy agents.
Svm and NN Based Offline Signature Verification

Among all of the biometric authentication systems, handwritten signatures are considered as the most legally and socially accepted attributes for personal verification. The objective of this paper is to present an empirical contribution toward the understanding of a threshold-based signature verification technique involving off-line Bangla (Bengali) signatures. Experiments on signature verification concerning non-English signatures are an important consideration in the signature verification area. Only very few research works employing signatures of Indian script have been considered in the field of non-English based signature verification. To fill this gap, a threshold-based scheme for the verification of off-line Bangla signatures is proposed. Some techniques such as under-sampled bitmap, intersection/end point and directional chain code are employed for feature extraction. The thresholds are computed based on the similarity measures obtained employing the nearest neighbor classifier. The SVM classifier has also been considered for mainly comparative experimental result generation. Furthermore, a Bangla signature database, which consists of 2400 (100 × 24) genuine signatures and 3000 (100 × 30) forgeries, has been created and is employed for experimentation. An average error rate (AER) of 12.33% was obtained as the best verification result using directional chain code features in this research work. As a comparative study, a different dataset (GPDS-160) has also been considered.