Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Fibrin Binding Profile of two Anti-fibrin Monoclonal Antibodies

Summary Two anti-fibrin monoclonal antibodies, MAbs 1H10 and 5F3, raised to human freeze-fractured fibrin and thrombin-treated N-terminal disulphide knot (T-NDSK), respectively, were compared for epitope binding to various domains of the fibrinogen/fibrin moiety. Using plasmin-mediated fibrinogen digests, immunoblots showed that both MAbs crossreacted strongly with fragments X and Y, weakly with fragment-E and not at all with fragment D. Purified fragments D and E used in an ELISA confirmed that MAbs 1H10 and 5F3 cross-reacted in a dose-response fashion with the isolated fragment-E, while there was no reaction with fragment-D. The two MAbs were similarly shown to react with fibrin-derived fragment-E. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technology, employed to further evaluate the epitopes in fibrin, showed that MAb 1 HI0 had a higher affinity for fragment-E (KD = 8.04 × 10-9 M) than MAb 5F3 (KD = 1.13 × 10-8 M). Individual association and dissociation rate constants of 7.97 × 105 M-1S-1 and 3.97 × 10-3S-1, respectively, for MAb 1H10, and 5.16 × 105 M-1s-1 and 3.62 × 10-3s-1, respectively, for MAb 5F3 were also obtained. A SPR inhibition assay confirmed that MAb 1H10 had a greater affinity for fragment-E than MAb 5F3. However individual isolated polypeptide chains of fibrinogen fragment E (E-Aα, E-Bβ, E-γ) showed no reaction with the two antibodies in ELISA, immunoblot or SPR analysis procedures. Furthermore, SPR pair-wise epitope mapping analysis revealed that MAbs 1H10 and 5F3 have in fact distinct epitopes on fragment-E. These distinct epitopes appeared to be a conformational amalgam of linear sequences in two or three of the polypeptide chains of fragment-E, or distinct conformational epitopes on one of the three subunit chains alone.
Immunolocalization of estrogen receptor alpha and beta in human fetal prostate.

PURPOSE We examined the immunolocalization of estrogen receptor (ER)alpha and ERbeta in the human fetal prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tissue sections from human fetal prostates at 7 to 22 weeks of gestation were stained with antibodies to ERalpha, ERbeta, and cytokeratin 10 and 14. RESULTS ERalpha expression was not detected until 15 weeks of gestation with sparse staining in the utricle. By 19 weeks increased ERalpha expression was seen in the luminal cells of the ventral urogenital epithelium (UGE), basal cells of the dorsal UGE, utricle, distal periurethral ducts, peripheral stroma and posterior prostatic duct. K14 was detected in basal cells of the UGE and in several posterior acini. At 22 weeks ERalpha expression was more intense in all of these areas. ERbeta was expressed throughout the UGE, ejaculatory ducts, müllerian ducts and entire stroma at 7 weeks. Intense ERbeta staining was observed in these areas and in the prostatic buds by 8 weeks with persistent intense staining through 22 weeks. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge we report the first immunolocalization of ERalpha in the human fetal prostate and the earliest demonstration of ERbeta expression in the prostate at 7 weeks of gestation. ERbeta expression is intense during ductal morphogenesis, suggesting a role in normal glandular growth and proliferation. The induction of squamous metaplasia in the UGE, distal periurethral ducts and utricle is associated with ERalpha expression in these areas, while the induction of squamous metaplasia in peripheral prostatic acini is associated with peripheral stromal ERalpha expression. This study suggests estrogen signaling pathways in the human fetal prostate via ERalpha that involve epithelial-epithelial and epithelial-stromal interactions.
Input frequency and lexical variability in phonological development: a survival analysis of word-initial cluster production*

ABSTRACT Although it has been often hypothesized that children learn to produce new sound patterns first in frequently heard words, the available evidence in support of this claim is inconclusive. To re-examine this question, we conducted a survival analysis of word-initial consonant clusters produced by three children in the Providence Corpus (0 ; 11–4 ; 0). The analysis took account of several lexical factors in addition to lexical input frequency, including the age of first production, production frequency, neighborhood density and number of phonemes. The results showed that lexical input frequency was a significant predictor of the age at which the accuracy level of cluster production in each word first reached 80%. The magnitude of the frequency effect differed across cluster types. Our findings indicate that some of the between-word variance found in the development of sound production can indeed be attributed to the frequency of words in the child's ambient language.
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis versus automated peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND Peritoneal dialysis (PD) can be performed either manually as in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or using mechanical devices as in automated PD (APD). APD has been considered to have several advantages over CAPD such as reduced incidence of peritonitis, mechanical complications and greater psychosocial acceptability. OBJECTIVES To assess the comparative efficacy of CAPD and APD in patients who are dialysed for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). SEARCH STRATEGY We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Renal Group's specialised register and CINAHL. Authors of included studies were contacted, reference lists of identified RCTs and relevant narrative reviews were screened. Date of most recent search: May 2006 SELECTION CRITERIA RCTs comparing CAPD with APD in patients with ESRD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were abstracted independently by two authors onto a standard form. Relative risk (RR) for dichotomous data and a mean difference (MD) for continuous data were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS Three trials (139 patients) were included. APD did not differ from CAPD with respect to mortality (RR 1.49, 95% CI 0.51 to 4.37), risk of peritonitis (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.11), switching from original PD modality to a different dialysis modality (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.02), hernias (RR 1.26, 95% interval 0.32 to 5.01), PD fluid leaks (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.11 to 9.83), PD catheter removal (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.48) or hospital admissions (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.43 to 2.17). There was no difference between either PD modality with respect to residual renal function (MD -0.17, 95% CI -1.66 to 1.32). One study found that peritonitis rates and hospitalisation were significantly less in patients on APD when results were expressed as episodes/patient-year. Another study found that patients on APD had significantly more time for work, family and social activities. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS APD has not been shown to have significant advantages over CAPD in terms of important clinical outcomes. APD may however be considered advantageous in select group of patients such as in the younger PD population and those in employment or education due to its psychosocial advantages. There is a need for a RCT comparing CAPD with APD with sufficiently large patient numbers looking at important clinical outcomes including residual renal function, accompanied by an economic evaluation to clarify the relative clinical and cost-effectiveness of both modalities.
The Role of Bracing in Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Background Treatment methods in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD) have varied during the 100-year history of this disorder. This is a review of the present practice of bracing in LCPD. Methods Published articles from the last 35 years were reviewed including primary analyses of bracing, meta-analysis, and summaries of present opinion. The recent literature was also evaluated to determine the present bracing practices. Results Studies performed regarding specific braces failed to show that they offer any advantage over other methods of management, including no treatment. Similarly, meta-analyses showed that hips treated with nonoperative containment had little difference in outcome based on present methods of analysis. Opinion papers suggested that the use of braces in LCPD should be significantly decreased or discontinued altogether. There is a major controversy regarding weaning and discontinuation of bracing. The use of Petrie casts can be considered in “salvage” techniques of hips with subluxation or hinged abduction. Conclusions The present literature does not provide evidence sufficient to support the use of bracing in LCPD. On the basis of this review, our recommendation is that the abduction orthosis should rarely be used in the treatment of LCPD. Petrie casts still have a role in short-term treatment in patients with deformed femoral heads before complete reossification.
Subsynovial connective tissue is sensitive to surgical interventions in a rabbit model of carpal tunnel syndrome

The most common histological finding in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is non‐inflammatory fibrosis and thickening of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) in the tunnel. While the cause of SSCT fibrosis and the relationship of SSCT fibrosis and CTS are unknown, one hypothesis is that SSCT injury causes fibrosis, and that the fibrosis then leads to CTS. We investigated the sensitivity of the SSCT to injuries. Two types of surgical interventions were performed in a rabbit model: A skin incision with tendon laceration and SSCT stretching sufficient to damage the SSCT, and skin incision alone. Twelve weeks after surgery, the rabbit carpal tunnel tissues were studied with immunochemistry for TGF‐β receptors 1, 2, and 3, collagen III, and collagen VI. All TGF‐β receptors were expressed. The percentages of the TGF‐β receptors' expressions were less in the control SSCT fibroblasts than in the fibroblasts from rabbits with surgical interventions. The surgical interventions did not result in any alteration of collagen III expression. However, both surgical interventions resulted in a significant decrease in collagen VI expression compared to the control group. The two surgical interventions achieved similar expression of TGF‐β receptors and collagens. Our results provide evidence that the SSCT is sensitive to surgical interventions, even when these are modest. Since SSCT fibrosis is a hallmark of CTS, these data also suggest that such fibrosis could result from relatively minor trauma. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:649–654, 2012
Expression of chloride channel, ClC-5, and its role in receptor-mediated endocytosis of albumin in OK cells.

By using Western blot and RT-PCR analyses, the expression of ClC-5, a member of the ClC family of voltage-gated chloride channels, and its mRNA was detected in OK cells. The effect of chloride channel inhibitors on receptor-mediated endocytosis of albumin was examined in OK cells and compared to that of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase inhibitors. Accumulation of fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-albumin, a receptor-mediated endocytosis marker, was inhibited by 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB), a chloride channel inhibitor, in a concentration-dependent fashion. In contrast, uptake of FITC-inulin, a fluid-phase endocytosis marker, was not affected by NPPB. Other chloride channel inhibitors, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2-2'-disulfonic acid and diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid, also inhibited FITC-albumin uptake. NPPB, as well as a vacuolar H(+)-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A(1), caused a decrease in the affinity and in the maximal velocity of FITC-albumin uptake. These results suggest that chloride channel, most likely ClC-5, plays an important role in the receptor-mediated endocytosis of albumin in OK cells.
Autonomous Navigation System for Planetary Exploration Rover based on Artificial Potential Fields

In this paper a navigation system for an autonomous planetary exploration rover, based on artificial potential fields, is presented. The rover moves to a predefined final position avoiding the obstacles detected by an artificial vision system developed for that purpose. Every obstacle is associated with a repulsive field, while the target point is associated with an attractive field. All these potential fields are combined to determine the total field at the rover position and its gradient, from which the direction of the next step of the rover is defined. Numerical and experimental tests of the algorithm are reported.
Individual Differences in Preschoolers' Self-Regulation and Theory of Mind

Self-regulation, or the ability to control one's actions and responses, is essential for healthy development across varied contexts. Self-regulation comes in several forms, including emotional, behavioral, and cognitive. The present study sought to examine whether individual differences in one form of self-regulation was related to children's regulation in another domain. In addition, we explored whether different forms of self-regulation were similar in their contribution to preschoolers' understanding of false belief. Findings revealed concurrent relations among emotional, behavioral, and cognitive self-regulation. When measures of children's self-regulation were related to their performance on false belief tasks one year later, executive function predicted false belief understanding, while emotional and behavioral self-regulation did not contribute significantly to the model. These findings support the theory that self-regulation may consist of different interrelated types, including emotional, behavioral, and cognitive. In addition, the study provides important discriminant validity for the types of properties by which inhibitory control processes may be distinguished.
Phosphorus and uremic serum up-regulate osteopontin expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND Dialysis patients have accelerated atherosclerosis, with extensive calcification of both the intima and media. Cross-sectional studies have implicated hyperphosphatemia in this process, but the mechanism is unclear. METHODS To test the hypothesis that hyperphosphatemia and/or uremia induces vascular calcification, bovine vascular smooth muscle cells (BVSMC) were treated with increasing concentrations of beta-glycerophosphate, a phosphate donor, in the presence or absence of inhibitors for sodium/phosphate (Na/Pi) co-transport (foscarnet) or alkaline phosphatase (levamisole) for 48 hours. BVSMC also were incubated for various times with DMEM plus 15% pooled uremic sera from patients with low (LP) or high serum phosphorus (HP), or from pooled healthy control serum. Calcification in BVSMC was examined by quantitation of calcium deposition. Osteopontin expression and alkaline phosphatase activity were assessed by Western blotting and a colorimetric assay. RESULTS beta-glycerophosphate increased osteopontin expression and alkaline phosphatase activity in BVSMC. Inhibition of either alkaline phosphatase activity or Na/Pi co-transport abolished this effect. Compared to incubation with control human serum, BVSMC cultured with uremic sera had increased mineral deposition. Uremic sera also increased alkaline phosphatase activity and osteopontin expression in BVSMC. The addition of beta-glycerophosphate to uremic HP or LP sera did not further augment osteopontin expression. Blocking Na/Pi co-transport or alkaline phosphatase activity only partially inhibited uremic sera-induced osteopontin expression, indicating that other non-Na/Pi co-transport dependent mechanisms also are involved. CONCLUSION beta-glycerophosphate and uremic sera induce calcification and osteopontin expression in BVSMC. The uremic sera-induced osteopontin expression in BVSMC is partially mediated through alkaline phosphatase activity and a Na/Pi co-transporter dependent mechanism. However, other non-Na/Pi dependent mechanisms also contribute to accelerated vascular calcification in patients with ESRD.
Securing D2D Wireless Links by Continuous Authenticity with Legitimacy Patterns

Device-to-Device (D2D) communications enables the efficient use of wireless system resources (i.e., power and spectrum) and promotes users' privacy but may increase the likelihood of cyber-attacks due to the lack of security infrastructure. This paper utilizes continuous authenticity to develop a security-scoring measure that can evaluate and help improve the security of current D2D wireless systems, and improve the design of 5G future systems, such as LTE-Direct. Simulation results are presented to show the feasibility of implementing the proposed security-scoring using legitimacy patterns, and to compare security-scoring results from static and random allocation of legitimacy patterns. Future legitimacy patterns could account for both technical considerations and human behavior to achieve higher performance.
Prolonged heparin-free extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in multiple injured acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be used as an “ultima ratio” strategy in multiple injured patients with severe thoracic trauma. However, systemic anticoagulation during ECMO is recommended and thus traumatic brain injury (TBI) and intracranial bleeding are well-accepted contraindications for ECMO therapy. METHODS: This report describes three cases of prolonged heparin-free venovenous ECMO in multiple injured acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with severe TBI failing conventional mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Using this strategy, neither ECMO-associated bleeding nor clotting of the extracorporeal circuit occurred. All patients survived. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experience, we recommend the use of heparin-free ECMO in multiple injured patients with pulmonary failure that is not successfully controlled by lung-protective ventilation even if severe TBI is present. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, therapeutic study.
Neuronal and glial cell changes are determined by retinal vascularization in retinopathy of prematurity

We have characterized the vascular, neuronal, and glial changes in oxygen‐induced retinopathy, a model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Newborn Sprague‐Dawley rats were exposed to either 80% ± 2% oxygen to postnatal day P11 and then room air until P18 (ROP) or room air for the entire duration (controls). Retinal structure was examined under the light microscope and following postembedding immunocytochemistry in central, midperipheral, and peripheral regions. Müller cells were evaluated immunocytochemically with glial fibrillary acidic protein. The extent of vascularization was established histologically. ROP caused significant thinning of the inner cellular and plexiform layers, which became more pronounced in the peripheral inner nuclear layer of ROP animals (11.3% loss vs. 25.4% loss). Amacrine cell amino acid levels were particularly vulnerable in the peripheral retina; bipolar cells showed similar but less prominent changes. Müller cells had elevated glutamine levels and were most gliotic in the periphery. The vasculature extended to peripheral retinal regions at P18 in controls but not in ROP rats. The most striking pattern of change was evident in the midperipheral “transition zone” of ROP animals. Areas close to blood vessels showed neurochemical properties that were similar to those of the central retina, indicating a local protective effect of the inner retinal blood supply. We find that ROP produces complex vascular, neural, and glial changes that relate to the proximity of inner retinal blood vessels. J. Comp. Neurol. 504:404–417, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognosis of untreated strokes due to anterior circulation proximal intracranial arterial occlusions detected by use of computed tomography angiography.

IMPORTANCE Limited data exist regarding the natural history of proximal intracranial arterial occlusions. OBJECTIVE To investigate the outcomes of patients who had an acute ischemic stroke attributed to an anterior circulation proximal intracranial arterial occlusion. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A prospective cohort study at 2 university-based hospitals from 2003 to 2005 in which nonenhanced computed tomography scans and computed tomography angiograms were obtained at admission of all adult patients suspected of having an ischemic stroke in the first 24 hours of symptom onset. EXPOSURE Anterior circulation proximal intracranial arterial occlusion. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Frequency of good outcome (defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of ≤ 2) and mortality at 6 months. RESULTS A total of 126 patients with a unilateral complete occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA; 26 patients: median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score, 11 [interquartile range, 5-17]), of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA; 52 patients: median NIHSS score, 13 [interquartile range, 6-16]), or of the M2 segment of the MCA (48 patients: median NIHSS score, 7 [interquartile range, 4-15]) were included. Of these 3 groups of patients, 10 (38.5%), 20 (38.5%), and 26 (54.2%) with ICA, MCA-M1, and MCA-M2 occlusions, respectively, achieved a modified Rankin Scale score of 2 or less, and 6 (23.1%), 12 (23.1%), and 10 (20.8%) were dead at 6 months. Worse outcomes were seen in patients with a baseline NIHSS score of 10 or higher, with a modified Rankin Scale score of 2 or less achieved in only 7.1% (1 of 14), 23.5% (8 of 34), and 22.7% (5 of 22) of patients and mortality rates of 35.7% (5 of 14), 32.4% (11 of 34), and 40.9% (9 of 22) among patients with ICA, MCA-M1, and MCA-M2 occlusions, respectively. Age (odds ratio, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.91-0.98]), NIHSS score (odds ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.64-0.83]), and strength of leptomeningeal collaterals (odds ratio, 2.37 [95% CI, 1.08-5.20]) were independently associated with outcome, whereas the level of proximal intracranial arterial occlusion (ICA vs MCA-M1 vs MCA-M2) was not. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The natural history of proximal intracranial arterial occlusion is variable, with poor outcomes overall. Stroke severity and collateral flow appear to be more important than the level of proximal intracranial arterial occlusion in determining outcomes. Our results provide useful data for proper patient selection and sample size calculations in the design of new clinical trials aimed at recanalization therapies.
An Analysis of Printed Illustrations of Three Algorithm Design Techniques

The literature on algorithm visualizations lacks clear principles to guide the construction of effective visualizations for educational purposes. Consequently, we conducted an analysis of visualizations regarding three basic algorithm design techniques (divide and conquer, backtracking, and dynamic programming). The material analyzed was the illustrations found in prestigious algorithm textbooks, which prove to be high-quality sources. In this paper, we describe the methodology followed for our analysis and the results obtained, both general and specific of each algorithm design technique. The results are a first step in the way to identify design principles for algorithm visualizations based on algorithm-design techniques.