Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional Climate Impacts of the Northern Hemisphere Annular Mode

The Northern Hemisphere annular mode (NAM) (also known as the North Atlantic Oscillation) is shown to exert a strong influence on wintertime climate, not only over the Euro-Atlantic half of the hemisphere as documented in previous studies, but over the Pacific half as well. It affects not only the mean conditions, but also the day-to-day variability, modulating the intensity of mid-latitude storms and the frequency of occurrence of high-latitude blocking and cold air outbreaks throughout the hemisphere. The recent trend in the NAM toward its high-index polarity with stronger subpolar westerlies has tended to reduce the severity of winter weather over most middle- and high-latitude Northern Hemisphere continental regions.
Selective irradiation for the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma involving the vagina or rectum.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of selective irradiation in the management of recurrent or persistent ovarian carcinoma involving the vagina or rectum after initial surgery or surgery and chemotherapy. METHODS Twenty-eight patients with recurrent or persistent vaginal and/or perirectal disease from ovarian carcinoma received selective irradiation and were evaluated for local control, survival, and quality of life. Seventy-nine percent had previously received various combinations of chemotherapy after initial surgery. At recurrence, 68% of the 28 patients were treated with external beam irradiation only, 7% with brachytherapy only, and 18% with both external beam irradiation and brachytherapy. In addition, 50% of the patients received various combinations of chemotherapy before or after radiotherapy and 3 patients received additional surgery. RESULTS Vaginal bleeding was controlled in all patients and a complete symptomatic response was achieved in 79% of the symptomatic patients. Survival after recurrence at 2 years was 57% for patients who had no liver or extra-abdominal metastasis at the time of radiotherapy (21 patients) and 0% for patients who had liver or extra-abdominal metastases (7 patients). Median survival of 5 patients with abdominal and pelvic disease and 16 patients with no extrapelvic disease at the time of recurrence was 2.16 (0.16-10.67) and 2.08 (0.58-27) years, respectively, after recurrence. Fifty percent of the 16 patients without extrapelvic disease had a complete response to radiotherapy (CR group) and the remaining had a partial response or stable disease (non-CR group). The 1-year survival after salvage irradiation in this same group was 100% in the CR group and 37.5% in the non-CR group (P < 0.0001). There are 4 long-term survivors in the CR group who are still alive in excess of 5 years after salvage radiotherapy. Thirty-five percent (5/14) of the patients with pelvic disease only recurred in the unirradiated upper abdomen. CONCLUSIONS Radiation can be considered an effective treatment option for patients with vaginal and/or perirectal recurrences of ovarian carcinoma. It offers excellent palliation to patients with disseminated disease and may result in both local control and long-term survival in patients with nondisseminated disease. This location may represent a sanctuary site from chemotherapy. Pelvic irradiation alone may be effective salvage and the addition of brachytherapy may improve local control, particularly in patients with disease confined to the pelvis who undergo debulking or chemotherapy.
PROFIT MAXIMIZATION AND SOCIAL OPTIMUM WITH NETWORK EXTERNALITY

The paper analyzes the options open to monopoly firms that sell Internet services. We consider two groups of customers that are different in their reservation prices. The monopoly uses price discrimination between customers by producing two versions of the product at positive price for high-quality product and a free version at zero price for lower-quality product. The monopoly can sell advertising space to increase its revenue but risks losing customers who are annoyed by advertising. Network externalities increase the incentive to increase output; thus we find cases where the profit maximization is consistent with maximum social welfare.
Changes in the islets of langerhans in the obese Zucker rat.

Pancreatic islet tissue from lean and obese Zucker rats was investigated with histologic and immunocytochemical techniques, and the changes in cytologic composition were correlated with levels of serum glucose, lipids, and insulin. The insular changes in obese rats progressed in severity with increasing age. Changes consisted of pronounced insulin cell hyperplasia, disarrangement of islet architecture, and disappearance (degranulation? ) of a new islet cell type, the pancreatic polypeptide cell. High levels of free fatty acids, triglyceride, and insulin were detected in serum of obese rats. Upon diet restriction, these parameters decreased and islet morphology became normalized. When obese Zucker rats were treated with streptozotocin, high levels of serum free fatty acids and triglycerides remained but there was a great reduction in serum insulin levels to near normal levels. Pancreatic polypeptide cells werenot found in the islets. It is suggested that high free fatty acid and triglyceride levels in obese rats may be related to the inability to demonstrate pancreatic polypeptide cells in the islets of 100- to 300-day-old obese Zucker rats.
Diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy for stab wounds of the anterior abdomen.

BACKGROUND At present, laparoscopy is used mainly as a diagnostic tool in patients with abdominal stab wounds. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-two hemodynamically stable patients with isolated stab wounds of the anterior abdomen, thought to be penetrating, were prospectively selected to undergo treatment via a laparoscopic approach. When possible, parenchymal wounds were coagulated or sealed, and wounds to the intestines were sutured or stapled. RESULTS The results of laparoscopy were negative in 6 (18.8%) of the cases: nonpenetrating wounds in 4 cases and nonsignificant organ injury in 2 cases. A hemoperitoneum was identified in 13 (40.6%) of the cases, and significant organ injuries in 26 (81.3%) of the cases: stomach, 2; small bowel, 5; colon, 2; pancreas, 1; vascular injuries, 4; liver, 5; mesentery, 9. Laparoscopy was therapeutic in 20 (62.3%) of the cases. Conversion to open surgery was required in 6 (18.8%) of the cases. No injuries were missed, and no mortality occurred. Postoperative complications developed in 2 (6.2%) of the cases. The mean hospital stay was 4 days, with no late complications. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopy can avoid a number of unnecessary laparotomies and can treat most of the lesions found in hemodynamically stable patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds.
Autoradiographic analysis of diaminopimelic acid incorporation in filamentous cells of Escherichia coli: repression of peptidoglycan synthesis around the nucleoid

Peptidoglycan synthesis rate in nonconstricting filaments of Escherichia coli dnaX(Ts) has been studied by autoradiography of incorporated [3H]diaminopimelic acid. Analysis of autoradiograms of whole cells and sacculi showed that peptidoglycan is synthesized at a reduced rate in the nucleoid-containing parts of these filaments. The lower rate of peptidoglycan synthesis in the cell center coincides with a higher local rate of protein synthesis. DNA-less cell formation in dnaX(Ts), dnaX(Ts) sfiA, and the minB minicell-forming mutant is accompanied by a local increase in peptidoglycan synthesis at the constriction site.
Equity Fund Flows and Performance around Economic Recessions

The relation between net fund flows and performance is examined around the two most recent U.S. economic recessions for U.S. equity funds. Post-recessionary period net fund flows are positively (negatively) correlated with absolute (peer-relative) performance for the early 2000s recession, and with absolute and peer-relative performance for the Great Recession (the most recent one) according to nonparametric measures. Empirical copulas in the extreme left tails indicate a positive dependence for the early 2000s recession, and independence for the Great Recession between performance and net fund flows.
Cdc14p/FEAR Pathway Controls Segregation of Nucleolus in S. cerevisiae by Facilitating Condensin Targeting to rDNA Chromatin in Anaphase

The condensin complex is the chief molecular machine of mitotic chromosome condensation. Nucleolar concentration of condensin in mitosis was previously shown to correlate with proficiency of rDNA condensation and segregation. To uncover the mechanisms facilitating this targeting we conducted a screen for mutants that impair mitotic condensin congression to the nucleolus. Mutants in the cdc14, esp1 and cdc5 genes, which encode FEAR-network components, showed the most prominent defects in mitotic condensin localization. We established that Cdc14p activity released by the FEAR pathway was required for proper condensin-to-rDNA targeting in anaphase. The MEN pathway was dispensable for condensin-to-rDNA targeting, however MEN-mediated release of Cdc14p later in anaphase allowed for proper, albeit delayed, condensin targeting to rDNA and successful segregation of nucleolus in the slk19 FEAR mutant. Although condensin was physically dislodged from rDNA in the cdc14 mutant, it was properly assembled, phosphorylated and chromatin-bound, suggesting that condensin was mistargeted but active. This study identifies a novel pathway promoting condensin targeting to a specific chromosomal address, the rDNA locus.
In-vitro evaluation of anti-factor IXa aptamer on thrombin generation, clotting time, and viscoelastometry

Summary The REG1 system consists of factor IXa inhibitor, RB006, an ap-tamer-based anticoagulant and its antidote, RB007. The optimal use of RB006 can be facilitated by understanding its effect on the formation of thrombin and fibrin, and other standard tests of coagulation. Blood from consented volunteers was drawn into 3.2% citrate (9:1 v/v) and either used immediately or centrifuged to obtain platelet-poor plasma. Increasing concentrations of ap-tamer (6–24 μg/ml) alone or in combination with heparin (0.1 U/ml) or lepirudin (0.2 μg/ml) were added to blood and plasma samples. Activated clotting times (ACT+, low range-ACT), thrombelastometry (ROTEM™) or thrombelastography (TEG®) were performed in recalcified whole blood samples. Thrombin generation, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were performed in plasma samples. To some samples the antidote RB007 was added to neutralise the anticoagulation activity of RB006. In all experiment the ratio of RB006 to RB007 was kept 1:2. RB006 dose-dependently prolonged aPTT and low range-ACT, but, as expected, had no effect on PT. RB006 prolonged the lag time and decreased the peak of Actin-triggered thrombin generation. Thrombin-activated TEG demonstrated that RB006 decreases the rate of clot formation. These effects were potentiated when RB006 was combined with heparin or lepirudin. In all experiments RB007 reversed the effects of RB006 back to baseline. In conclusion, RB006 inhibits thrombin generation and clot formation in a concentration-dependent manner. It is feasible to monitor RB006 and its reversal with RB007 using aPTT, low range-ACT, and thrombin-activated TEG.
Differential activation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 transcription by specific T-cell activation signals

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 enhancers are induced differentially by physiologic T-cell activation signals. In contrast to that of HIV-1, HIV-2 transcription was quite responsive to stimulation of T cells by antigen presentation but weakly induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha. Like tumor necrosis factor alpha, expression of cloned NF-kappa B subunits strongly activated the HIV-1, but not the HIV-2, enhancer. The differences in response to these physiologic T-cell activation pathways may contribute to the differences in persistence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection.
Accelerating molecular simulations of proteins using Bayesian inference on weak information

Significance An important challenge has been to develop computer methods that can predict protein native structures from their sequences and satisfy the thermodynamic principle of Boltzmann's Law, which requires that the sampling method obey detailed balance. The latter is needed to study mechanisms and dynamics, which require an understanding of relative populations of states. These dual goals are met by atomistic model simulations, but they have been too expensive computationally. Here, we join together molecular dynamics (MD) with Bayesian inferences derived from loose insights (proteins have “hydrophobic cores” and “secondary structures”). We show that this method can speed up MD simulations by up to five orders of magnitude, allowing for the accurate predictions of small native protein structures with only atomistic potentials. Atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of protein molecules are too computationally expensive to predict most native structures from amino acid sequences. Here, we integrate “weak” external knowledge into folding simulations to predict protein structures, given their sequence. For example, we instruct the computer “to form a hydrophobic core,” “to form good secondary structures,” or “to seek a compact state. ” This kind of information has been too combinatoric, nonspecific, and vague to help guide MD simulations before. Within atomistic replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD), we develop a statistical mechanical framework, modeling using limited data with coarse physical insight(s) (MELD + CPI), for harnessing weak information. As a test, we apply MELD + CPI to predict the native structures of 20 small proteins. MELD + CPI samples to within less than 3.2 Å from native for all 20 and correctly chooses the native structures (<4 Å) for 15 of them, including ubiquitin, a millisecond folder. MELD + CPI is up to five orders of magnitude faster than brute-force MD, satisfies detailed balance, and should scale well to larger proteins. MELD + CPI may be useful where physics-based simulations are needed to study protein mechanisms and populations and where we have some heuristic or coarse physical knowledge about states of interest.
The Early Systemic Prophylaxis of Infection After Stroke Study: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Purpose— Early infection after stroke is frequent but the clinical value of antibiotic prophylaxis in acute stroke has never been explored. Objective and Methods— The Early Systemic Prophylaxis of Infection After Stroke (ESPIAS) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients older than 18 years with nonseptic ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke enrolled within 24 hours from clinical onset. Interventions included intravenous levofloxacin (500 mg/100 mL/d, for 3 days) or placebo (0.9% physiological serum) in addition to optimal care. A sample size of 240 patients was calculated to identify a 15% absolute risk reduction of the primary outcome measure, which was the incidence of infection at day 7 after stroke. Secondary outcome measures were neurological outcome and mortality at day 90. Results— Based on a preplanned futility analysis, the study was interrupted prematurely when 136 patients had been included. Levofloxacin and placebo patients had a cumulative rate of infection of 6% and 6% (P=0.96) at day 1; 10% and 12% (P=0.83) at day 2; 12% and 15% (P=0.66) at day 3; 16% and 19% (P=0.82) at day 7; and 30% and 33% (P=0.70), at day 90. Using logistic regression, favorable outcome at day 90 was inversely associated with baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.89; P=0.002) and allocation to levofloxacin (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.87; P=0.03). Conclusions— Prophylactic administration of levofloxacin (500 mg/100 mL/day for 3 days) is not better than optimal care for the prevention of infections in patients with acute stroke.
Cell therapy for neonatal hypoxia–ischemia and cerebral palsy

Perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain injury remains a major cause of cerebral palsy. Although therapeutic hypothermia is now established to improve recovery from hypoxia–ischemia (HI) at term, many infants continue to survive with disability, and hypothermia has not yet been tested in preterm infants. There is increasing evidence from in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies that stem/progenitor cells may have multiple beneficial effects on outcome after hypoxic–ischemic injury. Stem/progenitor cells have shown great promise in animal studies in decreasing neurological impairment; however, the mechanisms of action of stem cells, and the optimal type, dose, and method of administration remain surprisingly unclear, and some studies have found no benefit. Although cell‐based interventions after completion of the majority of secondary cell death appear to have potential to improve functional outcome for neonates after HI, further rigorous testing in translational animal models is required before randomized controlled trials should be considered. ANN NEUROL 2012;
Calcitonin precursors are reliable markers of sepsis in a medical intensive care unit

Objective: The diagnosis of infection in critically ill patients is challenging because traditional markers of infection are often misleading. For example, serum concentrations of calcitonin pre‐cursors are increased in patients with infections. However, their predictive accuracy for the diagnosis of sepsis in unselected patients in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) is unknown. Therefore, we compared the usefulness of serum concentrations of calcitonin precursors, C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6, and lactate for the diagnosis of sepsis in consecutive patients suffering from a broad range of diseases with an anticipated stay of ≥ 24 hrs in a medical ICU. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Medical intensive care unit in a university medical center. Patients: 101 consecutive critically ill patients. Intervention: None. Measurements and Main Results: Blood samples were collected at various time points during the course of the disease. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock were diagnosed according to standardized criteria, and patients were reclassified daily without prior knowledge of the serum concentrations of calcitonin precursors or interleukin‐6. At admission, 99% of the patients had systemic inflammatory response syndrome, 53% had sepsis, and 5% developed sepsis during their stay in the ICU. Calcitonin precursors, C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6, and lactate levels increased with the severity of infection (p < .01, one‐way analysis of variance). In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, calcitonin precursors were found to be the most reliable laboratory variable for the diagnosis of sepsis as compared with C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6, and lactate (p < .01, for each comparison). Calcitonin precursor concentrations of > 1 ng/mL had sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 94% for the diagnosis of sepsis. High serum concentrations of calcitonin precursors were associated with poor prognosis (p = .01). Conclusions: In a medical ICU, serum calcitonin precursor concentrations are more sensitive and are specific markers of sepsis as compared with serum C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6, and lactate levels.
Human growth hormone induces system B transport in short bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND After massive enterectomy, remnant intestine undergoes compensatory adaptation. A combination of human growth hormone (hGH) and a glutamine-enriched modified diet induces further adaptation in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) on long-term total parenteral nutrition. The specific actions of each component, however, are not well-defined. METHODS New Zealand White rabbits were randomized to control, sham operation, or SBS (70% midjejunoileal resection) groups and treated with either hGH or saline. Sodium-dependent uptake of glucose, glutamine, alanine, leucine, and arginine into brush border membrane vesicles was quantitated. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels were determined by immunoradiometric assay. Mucosal mRNA expression of IGF-I and IGF binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4) was evaluated by northern blot analysis using rat cDNA probes. RESULTS Glutamine and leucine transports were 33 and 39% greater, respectively, in the hGH-treated versus saline-treated SBS group (P < 0.05), supporting induction of system B amino acid transport. This upregulation was due, in part, to an 88% increase in glutamine carrier capacity (Vmax) with no change in carrier affinity (Km). Both hGH treatment and SBS increased serum IGF-I levels without direct correlation with increased nutrient transport. IGFBP-4 mRNA expression in small bowel mucosa of saline-treated SBS animals was significantly greater than saline-treated unoperated control values. Mucosal IGFBP-4 mRNA was not significantly altered from control in the other study groups. IGF-I mRNA expression was not detected in mucosa, but weak hybridization was noted in rabbit liver. CONCLUSIONS Human growth hormone accelerates early adaptation in SBS by upregulation of system B carrier capacity. Serum IGF-I levels and mucosal IGF-I and IGFBP-4 mRNA expression did not directly correlate with this enhanced nutrient transport, suggesting that hGH might exert its adaptive effects by mechanisms that are independent from the IGF system in this model.
Vocabularies of Motive and Temporal Perspectives: Examples of Pension Fund Engagement and Disengagement

Prior research on institutional investors’ role in corporate governance draws a distinction between engaged and disengaged pension funds. The aim of this study was to shed more light on how pension fund practitioners talk about engagement and disengagement. Using insights from 35 in-depth, semi-structured interviews and round-table discussions with pension fund trustees, executives, investment officers and financial intermediaries, we identify different types of vocabularies and temporal perspectives used to account for different stances towards engagement. We highlight a tension between a seemingly causal relationship between accounts and future behaviour and argue that these ‘accounts’, ‘vocabularies’ and ‘uses of the past’ in themselves need to be treated as an object of study because they may represent not simply the individual motivations but rather the expressions of extant norms in the broader social context of financial markets. An important policy implication is that perceived realities of investment are unlikely to cause a change in pension fund behaviour because participants seem to decouple their view of the world from their impact on the world.