Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resource use in the last 6 months of life among patients with heart failure in Canada.

BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) is a debilitating and chronic condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, much less is known about end-of-life (EOL) costs among patients with HF. METHODS To examine trends in resource use and costs during the last 6 months of life among elderly patients with HF, we evaluated data regarding all patients 65 years or older with HF who died between January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2006, in Alberta, Canada, and examined costs associated with all-cause hospitalizations, intensive care, emergency department visits, outpatient visits, physician office visits, and outpatient drugs in the 180 days before death. Overall costs and predictors of costs to the health care system were also examined. RESULTS The study population included 33,144 patients with HF who died. The mean age at death was 83 years. The clinical profile of patients changed during the study period, with an increasing comorbidity burden over time. Between 2000 and 2006, the percentage of patients hospitalized during the last 6 months of life decreased from 84% to 76% (P<.01); and the percentage dying in hospital decreased from 60% to 54% (P<.01). In 2006, the average EOL cost was $27,983 in Canadian dollars. In multivariate analyses, increasing age was inversely associated with EOL costs and comorbid conditions were associated with higher costs. CONCLUSIONS Resource use in the last 6 months of life among patients with HF in Alberta is changing, with a reduction in hospitalizations, in-hospital deaths, and an increase in the use of outpatient services. However, EOL costs are substantial and continue to increase.
Roles of Nonstructural Protein nsP2 and Alpha/Beta Interferons in Determining the Outcome of Sindbis Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Alphaviruses productively infect a variety of vertebrate and insect cell lines. In vertebrate cells, Sindbis virus redirects cellular processes to meet the needs of virus propagation. At the same time, cells respond to virus replication by downregulating virus growth and preventing dissemination of the infection. The balance between these two mechanisms determines the outcome of infection at the cellular and organismal levels. In this report, we demonstrate that a viral nonstructural protein, nsP2, is a significant regulator of Sindbis virus-host cell interactions. This protein not only is a component of the replicative enzyme complex required for replication and transcription of viral RNAs but also plays a role in suppressing the antiviral response in Sindbis virus-infected cells. nsP2 most likely acts by decreasing interferon (IFN) production and minimizing virus visibility. Infection of murine cells with Sindbis virus expressing a mutant nsP2 leads to higher levels of IFN secretion and the activation of 170 cellular genes that are induced by IFN and/or virus replication. Secreted IFN protects naive cells against Sindbis virus infection and also stops viral replication in productively infected cells. Mutations in nsP2 can also attenuate Sindbis virus cytopathogenicity. Such mutants can persist in mammalian cells with defects in the alpha/beta IFN (IFN-α/β) system or when IFN activity is neutralized by anti-IFN-α/β antibodies. These findings provide new insight into the alphavirus-host cell interaction and have implications for the development of improved alphavirus expression systems with better antigen-presenting potential.
Macromolecular Synthesis and Degradation in Arthrobacter During Periods of Nutrient Deprivation

Cells of Arthrobacter atrocyaneus and A. crystallopoietes, harvested during their exponential phase, were starved in 0.03 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) for 28 days. During this time, the cells maintained 90 to 100% viability. Experimental results were similar for both organisms. Total cellular deoxyribonucleic acid was maintained. Measurable degradation rates for deoxyribonucleic acid as determined by radioisotope techniques were not observed, and only during the initial hours of starvation could a synthetic rate be determined. Total ribonucleic acid levels remained stable for the first 24 h of starvation, after which slow, continuous loss of orcinol-reactive material occurred. Synthetic and degradative rates of ribonucleic acid, as determined by radioisotope techniques, dropped quickly at the onset of starvation. Constant basal rates were attained after 24 h. In A. atrocyaneus, total cell protein was degraded continuously from the onset of starvation. In A. crystallopoietes, total cell protein remained stable for the first 24 h, after which slow continuous loss occurred. After 28 days, the total protein per cell was similar for both organisms. In the first week, amino acid pools stabilized at about 50% of the values characteristic of growth. Rates of degradation of protein decreased rapidly for the first 24 h for both organisms, but leveled to a constant basal rate thereafter. Rates of new protein synthesis dropped during the first 24 h and by 48 h achieved a constant basal rate.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms in Western Australia: Descriptive epidemiology and patterns of rupture

All abdominal aortic aneurysms presenting to hospitals and coroners in Western Australia over an 11‐year period (January 1971 to December 1981) have been reviewed. A total of 1237 abdominal aortic aneurysms were found. After age and sex standardization it was apparent that the prevalence of diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms had increased from 74.8 per 100 000 to 117.2 per 100 000 for men over 55 years of age (increase of 56.7 per cent) and from 17.5 per 100 000 to 33.9 per 100 000 for women over 55 years of age (increase of 93‐7 per cent) during this period. One hundred and twenty‐three patients were identified by coroner's autopsy after sudden death from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in whom there had been no previous diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Between 1971 to 1981, 478 patients underwent surgery; 225 had elective resection of their aneurysm with a 4.0 per cent fatality rate, and 253 had emergency operations with a 31.2 per cent fatality rate. Seasonal variations contributing to the date of emergency presentation or death from rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms indicated a possible influence of colder weather upon rupture. It is hoped that the information provided in this paper will be of use to surgeons and physicians involved in health care planning for similar populations.
Urgosedin Inhibits Hypotension, Hypoglycemia, and Pro-Inflammatory Mediators Induced by Lipopolysaccharide

Urgosedin is a newly synthesized compound especially with serotonergic and α-adrenergic blocking actions. In rat isolated thoracic aorta, urgosedin competitively antagonized norepinephrine-, clonidine-, and serotonin-induced vasocontractions in a concentration-dependent manner. In radioligand binding experiments, urgosedin had significant binding affinities on α1/α2, 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B and 5-HT2A receptors. Intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced a biphasic hypotension in normotensive rats. Although intravenous injection of urgosedin caused minor depressor actions in the normotensive Wistar rat, urgosedin significantly attenuated the secondary prolonged hypotension produced by LPS. The plasma levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) and hypoglycemia induced by LPS were also reduced by urgosedin. Moreover, the acute survival rates (350 minutes) of endotoxic shock increased from 0% (LPS group) to 100% in the groups pretreated with urgosedin. In RAW264.7 cells, urgosedin inhibited LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that urgosedin was a newly potent serotonergic and mild α-adrenergic blocking agent. Its prevention of LPS-induced hypotension and hypoglycemia might partially mediate through its inhibition activities on the iNOS expression and cytokines formation. Urgosedin might be an effective pharmacological agent against LPS-induced hypotension, hypoglycemia, and the formation of pro-inflammatory mediators.
Role of the IE62 Consensus Binding Site in Transactivation by the Varicella-Zoster Virus IE62 Protein

ABSTRACT The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IE62 protein is the major transcriptional activator. IE62 is capable of associating with DNA both nonspecifically and in a sequence-specific manner via a consensus binding site (5′-ATCGT-3′). However, the function of the consensus site is poorly understood, since IE62 efficiently transactivates promoter elements lacking this sequence. In the work presented here, sequence analysis of the VZV genome revealed the presence of 245 IE62 consensus sites throughout the genome. Some 54 sites were found to be present within putative VZV promoters. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) experiments using an IE62 fragment containing the IE62 DNA-binding domain and duplex oligonucleotides that did or did not contain the IE62 consensus binding sequence yielded KD (equilibrium dissociation constant) values in the nanomolar range. Further, the IE62 DNA binding domain was shown to have a 5-fold-increased affinity for its consensus site compared to nonconsensus sequences. The effect of consensus site presence and position on IE62-mediated activation of native VZV and model promoters was examined using site-specific mutagenesis and transfection and superinfection reporter assays. In all promoters examined, the consensus sequence functioned as a distance-dependent repressive element. Protein recruitment assays utilizing the VZV gI promoter indicated that the presence of the consensus site increased the recruitment of IE62 but not Sp1. These data suggest a model where the IE62 consensus site functions to down-modulate IE62 activation, and interaction of IE62 with this sequence may result in loss or decrease of the ability of IE62 to recruit cellular factors needed for full promoter activation.
Genetic and least squares algorithms for estimating spectral EIS parameters of prostatic tissues

We employed electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to evaluate the electrical properties of prostatic tissues. We collected freshly excised prostates from 23 men immediately following radical prostatectomy. The prostates were sectioned into 3 mm slices and electrical property measurements of complex resistivity were recorded from each of the slices using an impedance probe over the frequency range of 100 Hz to 100 kHz. The area probed was marked so that following tissue fixation and slide preparation, histological assessment could be correlated directly with the recorded EIS spectra. Prostate cancer (CaP), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), non-hyperplastic glandular tissue and stroma were the primary prostatic tissue types probed. Genetic and least squares parameter estimation algorithms were implemented for fitting a Cole-type resistivity model to the measured data. The four multi-frequency-based spectral parameters defining the recorded spectrum (ρ∞, Δρ, fc and α) were determined using these algorithms and statistically analyzed with respect to the tissue type. Both algorithms fit the measured data well, with the least squares algorithm having a better average goodness of fit (95.2 mΩ m versus 109.8 mΩ m) and a faster execution time (80.9 ms versus 13 637 ms) than the genetic algorithm. The mean parameters, from all tissue samples, estimated using the genetic algorithm ranged from 4.44 to 5.55 Ω m, 2.42 to 7.14 Ω m, 3.26 to 6.07 kHz and 0.565 to 0.654 for ρ∞, Δρ, fc and α, respectively. These same parameters estimated using the least squares algorithm ranged from 4.58 to 5.79 Ω m, 2.18 to 6.98 Ω m, 2.97 to 5.06 kHz and 0.621 to 0.742 for ρ∞, Δρ, fc and α, respectively. The ranges of these parameters were similar to those reported in the literature. Further, significant differences (p < 0.01) were observed between CaP and BPH for the spectral parameters Δρ and fc; this is especially important since current prostate cancer screening methods do not reliably differentiate between these two tissue types.
Comparison between transsylvian-transinsular and transcortical-transtemporal approach for evacuation of intracerebral hematoma.

PURPOSE Hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage in the basal ganglia is a potentially life-threatening cerebrovascular disease with high mortality. Surgical evacuation is an important treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage. However, little is reported about the comparison on the efficacy of various approaches on the prognosis. METHODS Clinical data of 80 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage which surgically treated via transsylvian-transinsular approach or transcortical-transtemporal approach were collected. The proportion of post-surgery tracheostomy, incidence of digestive tract hemorrhage, revision surgery, the average length of hospital stay, and the six-month efficacy (defined by an ADL score) rate between these two groups were compared. RESULTS The six-month efficacy rates were 75% and 50% in patients receiving transsylvian-transinsular and transcortical-transtemporal surgery, respectively (p<0.05). Compared to the transcortical-transtemporal group, the proportion of revision surgery was statistically significantly lower in the transsylvian-transinsular group, (p<0.05). The proportion of post-surgery tracheostomy, the incidence of digestive tract hemorrhage, and the average length of hospital stay were lower in the transsylvian-transinsular group, compared to the transcortical-transtemporal group, but no statistically significant differences were noted in them between the two groups. CONCLUSION The transsylvian-transinsular approach for evacuation of intracerebral hematoma demonstrates limited complications, shorter length of hospital stay, and improved long-term efficacy and prognosis. These findings suggest this operative approach has potential for wider application.
On Synergistic Interactions Between Evolution, Development and Layered Learning

We investigate interactions between evolution, development and lifelong layered learning in a combination we call evolutionary developmental evaluation (EDE), using a specific implementation, developmental tree-adjoining grammar guided genetic programming (GP). The approach is consistent with the process of biological evolution and development in higher animals and plants, and is justifiable from the perspective of learning theory. In experiments, the combination is synergistic, outperforming algorithms using only some of these mechanisms. It is able to solve GP problems that lie well beyond the scaling capabilities of standard GP. The solutions it finds are simple, succinct, and highly structured. We conclude this paper with a number of proposals for further extension of EDE systems.
High-Power High-Performance Low-Cost Capacitor Charger Concept and Implementation

A 20-kJ/s 10-kV 1-kHz repetition rate capacitor charger design and testing are described. The goal of the development was to combine high performance and versatility with low-cost design and good manufacturability. This goal was met using an energy-dosing converter topology with smart controls adapting the switching frequency in such a way as to ensure zero-current switching for all possible scenarios, keeping maximum duty cycle for high power. The switching is accomplished at a frequency of up to 55 kHz, employing relatively slow insulated-gate bipolar transistors with low conduction losses. High efficiency allows all-air cooled design that fits into a 19" × 10" × 24" rack. Design guidelines are reviewed. Comprehensive PSpice models accounting for numerous parasitic parameters and mimicking controls for the frequency variation were developed and simulation results are presented. Worst-case repeatability analysis has been performed. Both PSpice simulations and analytical tools predicted pulse-to-pulse repeatability of 0.3%; the measured figures are 0.8% and 1% for short- and long-term operations, respectively, at peak charging and repetition rates. Typical current and voltage traces and results of thermal runs are presented.
Laparoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts. DR G. MUSILA GIBSON; MBchB, MMed Surgery, DMAS. Specialist General Surgeon; Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Member of World Association of Surgeons. Project submitted towards completion of Diploma in Minimal Access Surgery, Laparoscopy H

Laparoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts offers the benefits of minimal access surgery to patients. Its role in the management of pancreatic pseudocyst is gaining momentum in this era of minimal access surgery as the scope of laparoscopy widens with advancement of medical technology. Some surgeons now seem to advocate this approach towards management of pancreatic pseudocysts in selected patients. It is however an advanced laparoscopic procedure that demands skills and expertise for safety. Aim. To review laparoscopic internal drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts and evaluate its benefits and safety based on the following parameters; • Patient selection • Operating time • Operating technique • Operative complications • Post operative pain and narcotic use • Recovery rate • Hospital stay • Cost effectiveness • Quality of life.
Tic22 Is Targeted to the Intermembrane Space of Chloroplasts by a Novel Pathway*

Tic22 previously was identified as a component of the general import machinery that functions in the import of nuclear-encoded proteins into the chloroplast. Tic22 is peripherally associated with the outer face of the inner chloroplast envelope membrane, making it the first known resident of the intermembrane space of the envelope. We have investigated the import of Tic22 into isolated chloroplasts to define the requirements for targeting of proteins to the intermembrane space. Tic22 is nuclear-endoded and synthesized as a preprotein with a 50-amino acid N-terminal presequence. The analysis of deletion mutants and chimerical proteins indicates that the precursor of Tic22 (preTic22) presequence is necessary and sufficient for targeting to the intermembrane space. Import of preTic22 was stimulated by ATP and required the presence of protease-sensitive components on the chloroplast surface. PreTic22 import was not competed by an excess of an authentic stromal preprotein, indicating that targeting to the intermembrane space does not involve the general import pathway utilized by stromal preproteins. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that preTic22 is targeted to the intermembrane space of chloroplasts by a novel import pathway that is distinct from known pathways that target proteins to other chloroplast subcompartments.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON

MARY LI and REBECCA KENNEDY; STEPHEN ) KNOX, M.D. And ERIC WARSHAW, M.D.; ) Multnomah County Circuit KELLY BURKE and DOLORES DOYLE; DONNA ) Court Case No. 040303057 POTTER and PAMELA MOEN; DOMINICK ) VETRI and DOUGLAS DEWITT; SALLY ) Supreme Court No. SHEKLOW and ENID LEFTON; IRENE ) SC S51612 FARRERA and NINA KORICAN; WALTER ) FRANKEL and CURTIS KIEFER; JULIE ) WILLIAMS and COLEEN BELISLE; BASIC ) RIGHTS OREGON; and AMERICAN CIVIL ) LIBERTIES UNION OF OREGON, ) ) Plaintiffs-Respondents, Cross) Appellants, ) ) and ) ) MULTNOMAH COUNTY, ) ) Intervenor-Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Cross-Appellant, ) ) v. ) ) STATE OF OREGON; THEODORE ) KULONGOSKI, in his official capacity as Governor ) of the State of Oregon; HARDY MYERS, in his ) official capacity as Attorney General of the State ) of Oregon; GARY WEEKS, in his official capacity ) as Director of the Department of Human Services ) of the State of Oregon; and JENNIFER ) WOODWARD, in her official capacity as State ) Registrar of the State of Oregon, ) ) Defendant-Appellants, Cross) Respondents, )
Proteomic insights into synthesis of isoflavonoids in soybean seeds

Soybean seeds are the major human dietary source of isoflavonoids, a class of plant natural products almost entirely exclusive to legumes. Isoflavonoids reduce the risk of a number of chronic human illnesses. Biosynthesis and accumulation of this class of compounds is a multigenic and complex trait, with a great deal of variability among soybean cultivars and with respect to the environment. There is a wealth of genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomics data regarding isoflavonoid biosynthesis, but the connection between multigene families and their cognate proteins is a missing link that could provide us with a great deal of functional information. The changing proteome of the developing seed can shed light on the correlative increase in isoflavonoids, while the maternal seed coat proteome can provide the link with inherited metabolic and signaling machinery. In this effort, ‘seed‐filling’ proteomics has revealed key secondary metabolite enzymes that quantitatively vary throughout seed development. Seed coat proteomics has revealed the existence of metabolic apparatus specific to isoflavonoid biosynthesis (isoflavonoid reductase) that could potentially influence the chemical content of this organ. The future of proteomic analysis of isoflavonoid biosynthesis should be centered on the development of quantitative, tissue‐specific proteomes that emphasize low‐abundance metabolic proteins to extract the whole suite of factors involved.
A Small-to-Large Unit Progression in Metaphonological Awareness and Reading?

The paper reports a series of studies of reading and metaphonological processing by children in their second year in primary school(aged 6 years). An earlier study had established that, in the first year of learning, performance was characterized by a small-unit approach in which graphemes and phonemes were emphasized. In the second year, reading became more sensitive to the frequencies of rime structures in the lexicon. Capacity to generate word analogies for nonwords also showed increasing commitment to rime-based responses, and this trend was strongly linked to reading age. The present results suggest that a small-unit approach to reading is augmented by a large-unit approach as development proceeds. This trend was reflected in performance on a test of explicit phonological awareness. When asked to report the segment of sound shared by two spoken words, Primary 1 children were poor in reporting shared rimes but relatively adept in reporting shared phonemes. During Primary 2 there was an improvement in ability to report shared rimes, and this trend was also related to reading age. These results are discussed in relation to the influence of instruction and the nature of the orthography in determining the course of reading development.