Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil chemotactic activity in acute severe asthma (status asthmaticus).

Serum neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) was measured in patients with acute severe asthma (status asthmaticus) and compared with that in control subjects (mild asthma, stable chronic irreversible air-flow obstruction, allergic rhinitis, noninfective lung conditions, or asymptomatic). There were 9 subjects in each group. Statistically significant elevations (p less than 0.002) in NCA were detected in acute severe asthma when compared with each control group. Serial measurements of NCA were subsequently undertaken in 12 patients with acute asthma, at the time of admission to hospital, after 3 days of treatment, and on discharge after approximately 7 days. A highly significant (p less than 0.001) reduction in serum NCA activity on Day 7 compared with that on Day 0 was observed, and this correlated inversely with the improvement in lung function (PEFR). Gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) using Superose 6 prep grade (6PG) indicated that NCA in acute severe asthma was heterogeneous and consisted of at least 4 peaks of activity associated with proteins with molecular weights of approximately 800, 600, 150, and less than 20 kD. The 800- and 150-kD peaks were also observed in control subjects, but to a lesser degree. The 600- and less than 20-kD activities were virtually confined to the patients with acute severe asthma. FPLC chromatofocusing of the 600-MW peak from the acute asthmatics, using a Mono-P column and a pH gradient from 8.3 to 5.0, revealed considerable activity in fractions eluting between pH 6.0 and 7.0, which was not observed in the normal control subjects. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Measurements of ultra-stable langatate crystal oscillators

The use of the langatate (LGT, La3Ga5.5Ta0.5O14) crystal for the realization of ultra-stable oscillators is very recent. This material proved that it is capable of giving stability results as good as those achieved by quartz crystal. To the knowledge of the authors, until now there was no substitution material for the quartz crystal, for low noise applications. Indeed, investigations had proved that LGT is a good alternative.
Trouble créatif et position évasive : pratiques de créatifs en contexte marchand*

Cet article examine les pratiques des acteurs créatifs au sein des industries dites créatives. Nous observons leurs tentatives pour dépasser les contraintes économiques mises en évidence par la littérature, à travers l’analyse qualitative de leurs actions quotidiennes dans le secteur de la mode en France. Les résultats contribuent au débat en révélant des productions créatives qui s’articulent selon trois grands ensembles : un jeu avec le marché, une singularité cultivée et un art de la fugue. Ces pratiques entretiennent une zone d’ambiguïté nommée trouble du créatif, espace nécessaire aux acteurs créatifs pour créer tout en maintenant une position constamment évasive.
Requirements for West Nile Virus (–)- and (+)-Strand Subgenomic RNA Synthesis in Vitro by the Viral RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Expressed in Escherichia coli*

RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) of the Flaviviridae family catalyze replication of positive (+)- strand viral RNA through synthesis of minus (–)-and progeny (+)-strand RNAs. West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne member, is a rapidly re-emerging human pathogen in the United States since its first outbreak in 1999. To study the replication of the WNV RNA in vitro, an assay is described here that utilizes the WNV RdRP and subgenomic (–)- and (+)-strand template RNAs containing 5′- and 3′-terminal regions (TR) with the conserved sequence elements. Our results show that both 5′- and 3′-TRs of the (+)-strand RNA template including the wild type cyclization (CYC) motifs are important for RNA synthesis. However, the 3′-TR of the (–)-strand RNA template alone is sufficient for RNA synthesis. Mutational analysis of the CYC motifs revealed that the (+)-strand 5′-CYC motif is critical for (–)-strand RNA synthesis but neither the (–)-strand 5′- nor 3′-CYC motif is important for the (+)-strand RNA synthesis. Moreover, the 5′-cap inhibits the (–)-strand RNA synthesis from the 3′ fold-back structure of (+)-strand RNA template without affecting the de novo synthesis of RNA. These results support a model that “cyclization” of the viral RNA play a role for (–)-strand RNA synthesis but not for (+)-strand RNA synthesis.
Postembryonic Maturation of the Vertical Lobe Complex and Early Development of Predatory Behavior in the Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)

In two groups of newly hatched cuttlefish, from eggs incubated at different temperatures, the emergence of predatory pursuit was correlated with the development of some characteristics of the vertical lobe complex (namely, the development of the vertical and superior frontal lobes and the appearance of the vertical-subvertical lobe tracts) and with the state of resorption of the inner yolk sac. The temperature of egg incubation influences the appearance of postnatal pursuit behavior. Expression of this predatory behavioral characteristic is concomitant with the appearance of the vertical-subvertical lobe tracts. In contrast, the growth of the vertical and the superior frontal lobes relative to the growth of the supraesophageal mass and final yolk absorption are not correlated with the appearance of pursuit. To maintain a prey in the frontal visual field during predatory pursuit, short-term memory processes must be involved. Thus, the development of the vertical-subvertical lobe tracts, which is concomitant with the emergence of pursuit, appears essential in the maturation of these short-term memory processes.
Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in anticipation of death in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND In critically ill patients who are receiving mechanical ventilation, the factors associated with physicians' decisions to withdraw ventilation in anticipation of death are unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical determinants that were associated with the withdrawal of mechanical ventilation. METHODS We studied adults who were receiving mechanical ventilation in 15 intensive care units, recording base-line physiological characteristics, daily Multiple Organ Dysfunction Scores, the patient's decision-making ability, the type of life support administered, the use of do-not-resuscitate orders, the physician's prediction of the patient's status, and the physician's perceptions of the patient's preferences about the use of life support. We examined the relation between these factors and withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, using Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. RESULTS Of 851 patients who were receiving mechanical ventilation, 539 (63.3 percent) were successfully weaned, 146 (17.2 percent) died while receiving mechanical ventilation, and 166 (19.5 percent) had mechanical ventilation withdrawn. The need for inotropes or vasopressors was associated with withdrawal of the ventilator (hazard ratio, 1.78; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.20 to 2.66; P=0.004), as were the physician's prediction that the patient's likelihood of survival in the intensive care unit was less than 10 percent (hazard ratio, 3.49; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.39 to 8.79; P=0.002), the physician's prediction that future cognitive function would be severely impaired (hazard ratio, 2.51; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.28 to 4.94; P=0.04), and the physician's perception that the patient did not want life support used (hazard ratio, 4.19; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.57 to 6.81; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Rather than age or the severity of the illness and organ dysfunction, the strongest determinants of the withdrawal of ventilation in critically ill patients were the physician's perception that the patient preferred not to use life support, the physician's predictions of a low likelihood of survival in the intensive care unit and a high likelihood of poor cognitive function, and the use of inotropes or vasopressors.
Self‐injurious behaviour Psychopathological and nosological characteristics in subtypes of self‐injurers

This study explored the symptoms of self‐injurious behaviour (SIB) in a consecutive sample of 54 mostly female psychiatric inpatients. The phenomenological analysis presented SIB as quite a uniform syndrome the starts latest in early adulthood, is often committed impulsively, is used in the function of releasing tension and occurs in patients with eating sand psychoactive substance use but also schizophrenic disorders. The quality of mood preceding SIB was best characterized as dysphoria and was qualitively not different from patients' longstanding affective traits. Two subgroups were differentiated, those with borderline personality disorder and those without; there was some evidence that patients with borderline personality disorder present a quite homogeneous core group of SIB, whereas others show a higher variety of psychopathological features. The hypothesis is proposed that poor affect regulation is the underlying psycopathological dimension.
Vpr Cytopathicity Independent of G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected CD4+ T Cells

ABSTRACT The mechanism of CD4+ T-cell depletion in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals remains unknown, although mounting evidence suggests that direct viral cytopathicity contributes to this loss. The HIV-1 Vpr accessory protein causes cell death and arrests cells in the G2/M phase; however, the molecular mechanism underlying these properties is not clear. Mutation of hydrophobic residues on the surface of its third alpha-helix disrupted Vpr toxicity, G2/M arrest induction, nuclear localization, and self-association, implicating this region in multiple Vpr functions. Cytopathicity by virion-delivered mutant Vpr protein correlated with G2/M arrest induction but not nuclear localization or self-association. However, infection with whole virus encoding these Vpr mutants did not abrogate HIV-1-induced cell killing. Rather, mutant Vpr proteins that are impaired for G2/M block still prevented infected cell proliferation, and this property correlated with the death of infected cells. Chemical agents that inhibit infected cells from entering G2/M also did not reduce HIV-1 cytopathicity. Combined, these data implicate Vpr in HIV-1 killing through a mechanism involving inhibiting cell division but not necessarily in G2/M. Thus, the hydrophobic region of the third alpha-helix of Vpr is crucial for mediating G2/M arrest, nuclear localization, and self-association but dispensable for HIV-1 cytopathicity due to residual cell proliferation blockade mediated by a separate region of the protein.
MODIFICATION OF MEMBRANE COMPOSITION, EICOSANOID METABOLISM, AND IMMUNORESPONSIVENESS BY DIETARY OMEGA‐3 AND OMEGA‐6 FATTY ACID SOURCES, MODULATORS OF ULTRAVIOLET‐CARCINOGENESIS

Abstract–Dietary sources of lipids containing predominantly n‐3 or n‐6 fatty acids (FA) have been examined for effect upon several potential pathophysiologic parameters. Epidermal, plasma, and red blood cell (RBC) membrane FA composition exhibited marked differences between animals fed the respective dietary lipid sources. Reduced levels of 18:1, 20:3 and 20:4 occurred in the n‐3 FA fed animals which exhibited significantly higher levels of 20:5 and 22:6. Approximately equal levels of 18:2 were present in animals fed either diet. Despite marked differences in RBC membrane FA composition, only marginal effect upon osmotic fragility occurred. Lower levels of 20:3 and 20:4 found in n‐3 fed animals could result from a deficit of elongase and/or A5‐desaturase activity. Whether lower 20:4 levels in n‐3 fed animals could rate‐limit eicosanoid metabolism is unknown, but epidermal capacity to metabolise arachidonic acid in these animals was found to be closely related to n‐6 FA intake. Animals fed n‐3 FA exhibited markedly lower levels of plasma PGE2, even when the diet was supplemented with n‐6 FA. In addition, UV‐radiated animals receiving the n‐3 FA source demonstrated a reduced (30%) response to inflammatory stimulus and a greater (4.5‐fold) delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to dinitrochlorobenzene than animals fed the n‐6 FA source. These data demonstrate that dietary lipid strongly influences tissue FA composition, eicosanoid metabolism, and, in the case of DH, at least one type of T‐cell mediated immune response in UV‐irradiated animals.
Sub-fF trimmable readout circuit for tri-axes capacitive microaccelerometers

As the sensing capacitances of the recent microaccelerometers become smaller, a precise calibration method is highly required to compensate for the input parasitic capacitance mismatch. This paper presents a sub-fF trimmable readout circuit for capacitive tri-axes microaccelerometer. A charge sensitive amplifier (CSA) with correlated double sampling (CDS) and digital to-equivalent capacitance converter (DECC) is proposed. The DECC is implemented using 10-bit DAC, charge transfer switches, and a charge-storing capacitor. The DECC circuit can realize the equivalent capacitance of sub-fF range with a smaller area and higher accuracy than previous methods using series-connected capacitors. The readout circuit is implemented in a 0.18 μm 1P4M CMOS process. The readout circuit and MEMS sensing element are integrated in a single package. The supply voltage and the current consumption of analog blocks are 3.3 V and 230 μA, respectively. The sensitivities of tri-axes are measured to be 3.87 mg/LSB, 3.87 mg/LSB and 3.90 mg/LSB, respectively. The offset calibration which is controlled by 10-bit DECC has a resolution of 12.4 LSB per step with high linearity. The noise levels of tri-axes are 349 μg/√Hz, 341 μg/√Hz and 411 μg/√Hz at 2 kHz bandwidth.
Detection and tracking of overtaking vehicle in Blind Spot area at night time

The BSD (Blind Spot Detection) is one of the key functions of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System). In this paper, we propose an algorithm for detection and tracking a vehicle in blind spot area at nighttime. Since the appearance-based approach that can be used for BSD at daytime is not any more appropriate, a new feature of blobs that is due to the headlights of behind vehicle was adopted. In addition, we calculated the motion vectors of detected blobs and made headlight pairing by use of the projection map. We can successfully generate an alarm signal by tracking the vehicle in blind spot.
Quantitative Analysis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Colon Cancer

Although some studies have shown that overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA or protein is correlated with the progression of human malignancies, it is still unknown whether the VEGF level in tumor tissue correlates with tumor growth or metastasis. The present clinical study enrolled 26 patients with colon cancer and revealed that the VEGF level in tumor tissue was significantly higher than in adjacent normal tissue (220.93 ± 217.64 pg/mg protein in the tumor tissue; n = 26; 38.93 ± 20.26 in the normal tissue; n = 26) and significantly correlated with tumor size, whereas it did not correlate with other clinicopathological variables. The animal study involved orthotopic transplantation of a human colon cancer strain into nude mice and demonstrated that the VEGF level of transplanted tumor tissue (2,318.5 ± 1,340.9 pg/mg protein) was significantly correlated with tumor weight (1,856.4 ± 928.9 mg), but not with the number of the liver metastatic foci. These results indicate that VEGF produced by primary tumors of colon cancers may mainly promote primary tumor growth.
A low-voltage supply optoelectronic detector-receiver in a commercial silicon-based process

With the increasing demand for interconnection bandwidth, there is a tremendous interest in low cost optoelectronic integration for high speed interconnects. We present an important step towards this end through our design of a fully integrated opto-electronic detector-receiver circuit. We believe our low voltage supply opto-electronic circuit is the first to be completely integrated in a silicon-based commercial logic process. We obtain operation at 250MHz in 0.25mum technology with a power consumption of 4mW
The role(s) of Src kinase and Cbl proteins in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation and function

Summary: The osteoclast resorbs mineralized bone during bone development, homeostasis, and repair. The deletion of the gene encoding the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c‐Src produces an osteopetrotic skeletal phenotype that is the consequence of the inability of the mature osteoclast to efficiently resorb bone. Src–/– osteoclasts exhibit reduced motility and abnormal organization of the apical secretory domain (the ruffled border) and attachment‐related cytoskeletal elements that are necessary for bone resorption. A key function of Src in osteoclasts is to promote the rapid assembly and disassembly of the podosomes, the specialized integrin‐based attachment structures of osteoclasts and other highly motile cells. Once recruited to the activated integrins, especially αvβ3, by the adhesion tyrosine kinase Pyk2, Src binds and phosphorylates Cbl and Cbl‐b, homologous multisite adapter proteins with ubiquitin ligase activity. The Cbl proteins in turn recruit and activate additional signaling effectors, including phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase and dynamin, which play key roles in the development of cell polarity and the regulation of cell attachment and motility. In addition, Src and the Cbl proteins contribute to signaling cascades that are activated by several important receptors, including receptor activator of nuclear factor κB and the macrophage colony‐stimulating factor receptor, and also downregulate the signaling from many of these receptors.
Contractile properties of human Thenar muscles paralyzed by spinal cord injury

The electrical and mechanical properties of paralyzed human thenar muscles were measured in response to supramaximal stimulation of the median nerve in individuals with chronic cervical spinal cord injury. These data were compared to those recorded from control muscles. Spontaneous motor unit activity was common in paralyzed muscles. There was significantly more variance in the twitch and tetanic forces, twitch/tetanus force ratios, twitch and tetanic half‐relaxation times, and the stimulus frequencies which generated half‐maximal force in paralyzed versus control muscles. Approximately half the paralyzed thenar muscles were significantly weaker than control muscles and their compound action potential amplitudes were reduced significantly. Paralyzed muscles had significantly higher twitch/tetanus force ratios. The mean stimulus frequency which generated half‐maximal force was also reduced significantly. Thus for rehabilitation purposes, lower stimulation rates are required to elicit any given submaximal force from chronically paralyzed thenar muscles. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 20: 788–799, 1997
Two different types of hepcidins from the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

The cysteine‐rich peptide hepcidin is known to be an antimicrobial peptide and iron transport regulator that has been found in both fish and mammals. Recently, we found two different types (designated Hep‐JF1 and Hep‐JF2) of hepcidin cDNA in the Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, by expressed sequence tag analysis. The identity of amino acid sequences between Hep‐JF1 and Hep‐JF2 was 51%. The Hep‐JF1 and Hep‐JF2 genes both consist of three exons and two introns, and both exist as single copies in the genome. The predicted mature regions of Hep‐JF1 and Hep‐JF2 have six and eight Cys residues, respectively. The first Cys residue of Hep‐JF1 was deleted and the second was replaced with Gly. The number and positions of Cys residues in Hep‐JF2 are the same as they are in human Hep. Hep‐JF1 is specifically expressed in liver while the expression of Hep‐JF2 was detected from gill, liver, heart, kidney, peripheral blood leucocytes, spleen and stomach. Gene expression of Hep‐JF1 in liver decreased during experimental iron (iron‐dextran) overload. Expression of Hep‐JF1 in liver was decreased by injecting fish with iron‐dextran and increased by injecting lipopolysaccharide. Iron overload did not significantly affect expression of Hep‐JF2 in liver but it did increase expression of Hep‐JF2 in kidney. Lipopolysaccharide injection increased expression of Hep‐JF2 in both liver and kidney. In liver, some cells expressed both Hep‐JF1 and Hep‐JF2 while some other cells expressed just one of them. Synthesized Hep‐JF2 peptide showed antimicrobial activity, while synthesized Hep‐JF1 peptide did not against several bacteria including fish‐pathogenic bacteria used in this study.
Characteristics of clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, 2007-2010.

CONTEXT Recent reports highlight gaps between guidelines-based treatment recommendations and evidence from clinical trials that supports those recommendations. Strengthened reporting requirements for studies registered with ClinicalTrials.gov enable a comprehensive evaluation of the national trials portfolio. OBJECTIVE To examine fundamental characteristics of interventional clinical trials registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database. METHODS A data set comprising 96,346 clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov was downloaded on September 27, 2010, and entered into a relational database to analyze aggregate data. Interventional trials were identified and analyses were focused on 3 clinical specialties-cardiovascular, mental health, and oncology-that together encompass the largest number of disability-adjusted life-years lost in the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Characteristics of registered clinical trials as reported data elements in the trial registry; how those characteristics have changed over time; differences in characteristics as a function of clinical specialty; and factors associated with use of randomization, blinding, and data monitoring committees (DMCs). RESULTS The number of registered interventional clinical trials increased from 28,881 (October 2004-September 2007) to 40,970 (October 2007-September 2010), and the number of missing data elements has generally declined. Most interventional trials registered between 2007 and 2010 were small, with 62% enrolling 100 or fewer participants. Many clinical trials were single-center (66%; 24,788/37,520) and funded by organizations other than industry or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (47%; 17,592/37,520). Heterogeneity in the reported methods by clinical specialty; sponsor type; and the reported use of DMCs, randomization, and blinding was evident. For example, reported use of DMCs was less common in industry-sponsored vs NIH-sponsored trials (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.11; 95% CI, 0.09-0.14), earlier-phase vs phase 3 trials (adjusted OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76-0.91), and mental health trials vs those in the other 2 specialties. In similar comparisons, randomization and blinding were less frequently reported in earlier-phase, oncology, and device trials. CONCLUSION Clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov are dominated by small trials and contain significant heterogeneity in methodological approaches, including reported use of randomization, blinding, and DMCs.